a/n: My roommate and I were discussing possible explanations about what happens with the crew before the EC came out. We both felt that this was entirely possible and could prove an interesting twist. There was a scene that while talking with EDI she questions the possibilities of alternate realities and how one could move between them. My roommate and I felt that there had to be a reason EDI would question such a thing. So… our theory was that while Joker was trying to escape the blast, he jumped into an alternate reality. In this reality the Reapers never existed but other foes did. This is a story we plotted that could happen if our theory had been correct. I am using the good-bye scene from the EC but that's it.

Also, I am still working on Rae Shepard's story. This is not connected to it in anyway. Alarice Shepard, Spacer, War Hero, Paragon, Infiltrator.

Enjoy

-brittsis

They climbed out of the vehicle and cursed at the scene before them. Harbinger had landed and started blasting at anyone that ventured to close. Reaper forces swarmed the area, picking off the ones that Harbinger missed. The chances of success were slim but they had no other choice. Alarice took a few minutes to empty her snipers clip. She took out a few of the Reaper forces, saving some of the Alliance forces. Once the weapon was empty, Alarice placed the black widow aside. It would only slow her down during the final run.

"This is it Shepard." Anderson laid a gentle hand on her armored shoulder, giving it a squeeze.

"See you on the other side sir." She grinned at him before turning to her companions. Garrus, he had become a brother to her. From the beginning he stood beside her, never once questioning her. He had picked her up and dusted her off when she had been her lowest just as she had. Shepard and Vakarian, forever bound.

Her eyes went to the Asari that stood beside him. Liara T'Soni. Just the sight of her caused her gut to tighten. There wasn't a second that Alarice didn't want the Asari. Not a second that she hasn't loved her. Liara smiled at her reassuringly, her love shining through her eyes.

"We're behind you Shepard." Garrus's mandibles flared in the Turian equivalent of a smile.

"You're buying the first round Vakarian." Alarice joked before turning back to the battle. She turned on her cloak and speed onto the field, here eyes glued on the goal.

They had made it three quarters of the way when it happened. A Mako had been flipped, almost landing on them. The flames and the force had wounded them. Liara pushed up and hissed. Her arm was definitely broke, along with a few ribs. Gritting her teeth, she rose to her knees just as Alarice launched herself over the Mako. She rushed over and helped the Asari to get behind cover.

"Normandy!" Alarice yelled over the comms. "Do you copy? I need an evac. RIGHT NOW!"

Liara tried to protest but one look from the Commander stopped her. Alarice was determined to get her help and Liara knew there was no arguing. She could hear Joker over the comms before the Normandy swung into view. It hovered near by, the bay doors opening. The three of them rushed over, keeping their heads low.

"Here, take her…" Alarice ordered Garrus and Liara's stomach dropped. She wasn't coming with them.

"Alarice…" Liara begged, tears welling up.

"You gotta get out of here." Shepard explained, motioning to her wounds.

"I'm all right. Shepard…"

Alarice frowned, "Don't argue with me Liara."

Liara shook her head. "You're not leaving me behind. You promised."

That had been below the belt, Liara knew it. Alarice was a woman of her word, never reneging on a promise. Alarice looked back at the battle before closing her eyes, shaking her head.

Alarice turned back toward her, stepping forward and cupping her cheek. "No matter what happens, you mean everything to me Liara. You always will."

Tears trailed down her cheeks as she leaned into the touch. "Alarice I…"

She let go, turning back to the battle and taking out her pistol.

"I am yours!" Liara called out, causing the human to turn back and smile at her.

The smile faded as Alarice remembered the battle. Her face turned furious as she spotted Harbinger. "Go!"

Garrus helped her limp inside as the door closed. Joker called out for everyone to hold on as they took off, leaving the battle behind. She wanted to go to a window, to watch the woman she loved fight for their freedom but Garrus wouldn't let her. James came forward, a bloody bandage across his face, and took her from the Turian. Together they went to the med-bay where Chakwas began to fix their wounds.

After some quick x-rays it was found that she needed surgery. The blast had caused internal bleeding, some of her organs suffering damage. Chakwas reassured her as she was put under, promising to wake her up as soon the surgery was over.

It had been a week since they crash landed on the foreign planet. They had out run the red beam but at the cost of the Normandy's engines. Edi and Joker had pulled every last ounce of power out of the ship but at a cost. The core had leaked into the engine compartment, costing Donnelly, Daniels, and Adams their lives. Allers had been severely injured and no one knew if she would ever wake up. They didn't have any working shuttles and communication was out. Liara tried everyday and often, all in hopes to hear something about Shepard.

"Glyph," Liara called out as she entered her room.

"Yes Shadow Broker?" The drone asked as it flew into view.

"Has there been any reply to our hails?"

"No Shadow Broker." The drone flew across the room, "None of our agents have made contact either. All channels are nothing but static."

Liara sighed, fighting back the panic and depression that tightened her heart. She limped over to her chair and sat down, putting her face in her hands. "Thank you Glyph, return to standby mode."

"As you wish Shadow Broker." The drone flew back to its mount, setting down and going dark.

Another week had passed with no answer from the outside. A party had been formed, tasked with exploring the world they had landed on. Slowly they circled around the Normandy, traveling further every day. Chakwas had finally cleared her for full duty, allowing her to join Kaidan, James, and Garrus on the circuit.

"I found more fruit that Tali and I could eat." Garrus called out, taking the pack off his back to fill with the food.

"We were fortunate to land here." Kaidan walked over to help. "There's both Levo and Dextro based food."

"That there is." A voice called out, causing the group to look up. They were surrounded on all sides by people in armor with various guns. The one that talked stood at the edge with his arms crossed. His visor was down but his mouth could be seen. He frowned at them. "And you're taking what belongs to us."

"Who are you?" Kaidan asked, his hand resting on the pistol that sat on his hip.

"Doesn't matter." The man walked closer, pulling his helmet off. "What matters is who are you and why are you here?"

Kaidan frowned and glanced at them, looking for a signal. Liara nodded and stepped forward. "My name is Liara T'Soni, we crash landed here two weeks ago. Our ship is five clicks east."

The man looked over his shoulder, nodding at his men. Five broke off, disappearing into the dense under brush. "If you're telling the truth you have nothing to fear. Take us to your ship."

"Not until you tell us who you are." James called out.

The man frowned at him. "The name's Hunter. I'm second in command for our group. I can't tell you more, not until I talk to the Commander."

"Nice to meet you Hunter." Kaidan tried to smile at him and introduced the remainder of the group.

Hunter waved to the rest of his group and they broke off into the woods. "They will follow unseen." He explained. "Lead the way."

It took but a few hours to return to the Normandy. Tali and Samantha were waiting outside under make shift tents. They waved at them until they spotted Hunter following close behind. The man stopped at the edge of the clearing and frowned. "You have a Quarian in your party?"

Garrus's mandibles flared and her growled low, body tightening in warning. "Is there a problem?"

Hunter shook his head, "I just… reports say that their extinct."

Liara frowned as Tali joined them and more introductions were made. She had so many questions but decided to wait until they could meet Hunter's Commander. The door opened and Joker hobbled out with Edi's assistance.

"Synthetic!" Hunter called out, pushing Tali out of the way and pulling a pistol out. There was a bunch of commotion as Kaidan and Garrus tackled him, wrestling for the pistol. Their silent shadows rushed from the brush and circled them, knocking everyone to their knees and placing weapons to their head. Hunter broke free just as Kaidan and Garrus were pulled off and forced to the ground. Edi hid behind some crates as Joker did his best to shield her.

"Get the synthetic!" Hunter ordered over everyone shouting.

"Stop!" Joker yelled back, glaring at the advancing men. "Don't you touch her!"

"Shoot him!" Hunter ordered again, causing everyone to start fighting again. Chaos ensued as the crew fought their captors. Years of fighting Reaper forces has fine tuned their abilities. They moved to cover Joker and Edi, determined to protect their crew mates. A few of their men fell but they still proved to be difficult.

"STAND DOWN!" A voice called out, causing the men to stop in their tracks. The Normandy crew still remained on alert as the female figure walked into the clearing. She was followed by five men, all with a red stripe on their right arm. The woman also bore the stripe but it had SR2 on it's breast plate. She wore a full helmet, complete with the breather mask. There was a scar on the helmet that started about the forehead, went down the left side, and stopped at the chin. It had scratched the visor and obviously degraded the integrity of the helmet and yet she was wearing it.

"Lieutenant Daryl what is going on here?" She commanded, her visor watching them.

"We found them in the west orchid Sir." Hunter answered, circling over to her. "They said they crash landed so I thought to investigate and offer aid. But when I arrived I noted the ship, a Quarian, and then a synthetic. Something is wrong here Commander."

"Of course something is wrong here." She growled. "Go back to the base, prepare rooms for our guests."

"But the synthetic…"

The woman growled again and turned her gaze to him. "I gave you an order soldier, obey it!"

Hunter nodded, called to his men, and started his way home. The Normandy crew remained alert as the woman and her guards were still present.

"You can relax, no harm will come to you or your sytnthetic."

"Her name is Edi!" Joker called out, causing the Commander to nod.

"My apologies Joker."

Everyone frowned and watch the woman walked closer.

"How do you know his name?" Kaidan asked.

"Same way I know you're Kaidan." The woman sighed. "Though I thought you all dead."

"Who are you?" Liara asked, stepping forward.

"Don't recognize my voice?" She chuckled. "Guess the helmet does distort it."

The woman grabbed the sides of her helmet and released the latches. It lifted up to reveal a face any of them would know even when they grow old. There was a few more scars but there was no mistaking it. Liara let out a sob and lowered her pistol.

"Shepard? But… how?"

Shepard nodded. "Same thing I was wonder. I guess we need to sit down and talk."