The Will To Survive
By: Vergil1989 the Crossover King and Archer83
Summary: It all began with the simple choice to refuse the options 'given' to her by a broken machine. While she knew what her choice would cost those she had sworn to defend, Erica Shepard would not bend, would not give into fear. Her momentous decision would cause the light of Will to find her in her blackest night.
Disclaimer: As much as we'd love to, we own neither Mass Effect, Green Lantern: The Animated Series, or the DC animated film, Emerald Knights.
Authors Notes: Archer83: This time Vergil was the one to take me on a wild and crazy ride, and I absolutely love where we ended up with it. I hope you, the readers, enjoy the beginning to this story as much as I have! I take full credit for poking and prodding Vergil until he finally watched both seasons of GL:TAS in less than a week. : )
Vergil; He did do that, I'll admit it lol. In all seriousness, this is what happens when I stay up too late watching Emerald Knights and looking through the countless fanfictions, and finding not one that has been done between these two. The only one I DID find was for the comics I believe, and unfortunately there's so many grammatical errors that it made it impossible for me at least to read through it. The idea was solid, I will say that.
That aside, Archer's aid in yet another crazy endeavor of mine, has already been quite instrumental, and I hope we're able to finish this, and the countless other stories we have going, in the months to come. I just had to get this at least started before I forgot it.
Archer83: Talking time is over, time to get to the ring slinging already!
Vergil; Whatever ya say ya poozer! D
Chapter 1: The Will To Survive.
Looking out to the fire filled skies around the Crucible and Earth itself, Shepard knew her answer even before she turned back to the holographic image of the child she 'couldn't save', back on what was left of her home planet. She gazed at the three apparently color coded options that ranged from horrible to unthinkable, and immediately knew where the Catalyst could shove them. "Go to Hell. If these are my only choices, then I'd rather refuse you altogether and let my planet burn than freely help you enslave the galaxy any longer. I choose to survive, I choose to carry on the fight, no matter the cost, because it is MY CHOICE!"
The 'child' glowered at the grievously wounded marine and its true nature burst forth at her continued defiance. "SO BE IT!" With a final, cold and malevolent glare, the Star Child disappeared, and the Crucible began to power down, and with it, the galaxy's most likely only chance of winning this conflict. But for her, 'winning' was not an option with the Crucible, after finding out it was yet another Reaper trap that ensured their interests, one way, or another.
Well this is it. At least I can die knowing that I was right all along. Little comfort that's going to be for the trillions that are going to lose their lives though. The Reapers had us running through their little maze the entire time. And now... they're going to exterminate their lab rats. But I'd rather die free than live as a slave any longer. I just hope Liara...that everyone can forgive me for what I've done. It just wasn't our time, maybe someone in the next cycle will succeed where I've failed. Letting her legs give out at last, Shepard sighed in what could have only been relief since it looked like her long and arduous journey had come to an end at last. It wasn't like she could get off of the Crucible anyway since it was in orbit around her planet, Earth, and locked in place with a Reaper infested Citadel. She was backed into a corner, wounded, near death, and she had a front row seat to the end of her galaxy. Erica Shepard closed her emerald eyes for what would most likely be the last time, and waited for the end, knowing it wouldn't be long now. For all of them. Just need a bag of popcorn and I could almost pretend this was a bad movie instead of the end of all life as I know it.
Shepard found herself mildly annoyed by the strange bright green glow she could make out through her closed eyelids. Couldn't she be allowed just one moment of peace before her inevitable death at this point? Erica Jane Shepard, your Will is too strong to be allowed to be extinguished in such a wasteful manner. Do you accept the power of Will that is to be bestowed on you? She didn't recognize the voice in her mind, but something about it promised a chance to change things.
Opening her eyes was a challenge in and of itself, but she wasn't about to go down without a fight if there was even the most miniscule chance she could do something about the situation she found herself in. Once her vision cleared, it took Erica a moment to realize there was a ring right in front of her, of all things, floating a foot off the deck, that radiated a green energy she had never seen before. The only thing that came close to the color was the projections caused during her assault on Project Overlord, and that particular shade of green had been more sickly than radiant.
Well, looks like I have officially cracked. Not too surprising really, should've probably happened a lot sooner. At least Anderson and the others don't have to see me like this. Still... if this is real, and not just my mind finally falling apart, then what have I got to lose? I've done crazier things based on less info than this. Screw it. Here's goes nothing. With a small, weak shrug of her shoulders, Erica nodded her head. "If it means the difference between freedom and a slow death, or continued slavery to the Reapers, then my choice is easy." Shepard gave the ring a quizzical look as she talked to the inanimate glowing object. "Um... I accept?"
Before Shepard could even blink, the ring had slipped onto her right ring finger. Instantly, she found her mind flooded with a vast array of images, voices, and of most interest to her nearly overloaded brain, the ways in which she could use said ring to a minimal degree. She didn't realize she was even speaking until the cacophenus ocean of new information in her mind suddenly ceased moments later.
"Shepard?! I think I got her back on comms!" Jeff 'Joker' Moreau's olive eyes widened, his brows shooting up in confusion and shock at the voice he was hearing in his head set. "Um guys, you might want to hear this." Joker flipped a switch on his control console and the entire ship was soon flooded with their Commander's voice. Something was different about it though, because Joker was sure there was dozens of echoes behind her own, as if an entire crowd was saying the same thing. Whatever was going on in the Crucible, it was big. Swinging the Normandy around to face the giant machine, Joker was the first to see a green light flare to life at the far end of the Crucible platform. Whatever was going on, Joker felt something stir in his heart that had been lacking for months. Hope, true and unfettered hope.
Holding her closed fist before her, Shepard spoke words that had burned themselves into her very being, filling her with power she hadn't known existed. Whatever was happening, she wasn't about to stop, she couldn't stop even if she had wanted to. That was the last thing on her mind anyway as the green light of Will flowed over her, and filled her with strength unlike any she had ever known. The ring's automated training would now ensure her survival until its programing deemed her safe from immediate attack.
"In brightest day, in blackest night,
No evil shall escape my sight.
Let those who worship evil's might,
Beware my power... Green Lantern's LIGHT!"
A shockwave of green energy shot out of Shepard's body, completely obliterating the Crucible. The radiantly glowing former marine and Council Spectre was now determined that it would be the last in a endless series of traps to ensure Reaper control over the galaxy. And after scanning her memories, the ring agreed with her subconscious desire to destroy the sentient machines once and for all.
"What is going on out there?!" Liara shouted, her computer screens showing her images that shouldn't have been possible. The Crucible's destruction was merely the tip of the iceberg. "She's alive... By the Goddess, she's ALIVE!" Tears of utter joy streamed down the jaded young asari's blue cheeks as one of EDI's external camera's picked up a very familiar form, now shrouded in a brilliant green glow. "I don't know what's going on, but stay with her Joker!"
"Easier said than done, she's quick!" Joker managed to take a moment to realize he was chasing after his FLYING Commander, and after a split second pang of irrational jealousy, did his best to stay on her six. "Um... EDI?"
"Please do not bother asking Jeff. To put it mildly, aside from a very strange energy spike aboard the Crucible before it was obliterated, I have no idea what just happened to the Commander. It is...beautiful, however." EDI replied, her human like emotions getting the better of her as she watched, just as transfixed by the green star they were chasing as the highly focused pilot at her left.
"Is that your professional opinion EDI?" A gloved hand gripped the back of the AI's seat as a pair of silvery eyes watched in wonder from behind a tinted visor. Wry tone now completely gone, Tali spoke as if in awe. "Keelah...is she doing what I think she's-" Finally reaching the front line of the fight, Tali's unspoken question was answered when Shepard threw her right hand forward moments before she made contact with the first Reaper in her path. Her aim was true, just as it always was, and she passed right through the hull of the dreadnaught and out the other side like a hot knife through butter.
"I'd take that as a big yes Tali." Garrus managed to reply, after picking his mandibles up off the deck. "O...kay, what exactly did I miss? One moment I'm helping Tali drag Liara onto the ship, never expecting to see Shepard alive again and now..." Garrus was at a loss for words as he gestured towards the incredible sight before them. She hadn't stopped at one Reaper, she had proceeded right to the second, third, and was working on a fourth even as Garrus spoke. Having ripped the leg off one that had tried to smash her aside, Erica had swung it around in her arms and threw it back at the injured Reaper, smashing apart what passed for its face in the process.
Admiral Steven Hackett had seen countless things in his life, but standing on the bridge of his personal dreadnaught, he was treated to a front row seat to something entirely new. When the Reaper that had been bearing down on his crippled ship turned away from him, it was soon completely devastated by a green streak of energy in the shape of a certain Alliance marine. Not five seconds later, the SSV Normandy flew by, giving chase as Reaper after Reaper fell to the unstoppable being of green light. To his credit, Hackett kept his cool under the exceedingly strange circumstances as he addressed his communications officer. "Lieutenant...get me the Normandy. I'd like to know just what in the Hell I'm seeing here."
"Um hey, Admiral, this really isn't a great time. Maybe you could call back later or something? HOLY SHIT! Did you guys see th- I mean, Normandy out." Hackett couldn't keep the subtle grin from forming on his lips even as he frowned at the disconnected comm link. He couldn't blame Joker for his shock at the sheer level of destruction they were witnessing against the Reapers. Passing through yet another sentient machine, the dreadnaught split right down the middle before exploding violently well after Shepard had passed by.
"I don't know what happened or why, but I'm glad it happened to her." Hackett said, more to himself than anything as close to two dozen Reapers, and their leader, Harbinger, lined up to take shots at the green light that had turned the tide in a few short minutes. Looking to his stunned crew however, he noticed a distinct lack of activity. "What are you all looking at?! I still see a shit ton of Reapers who need killing on my screen. Order all ships to fire at will!" Restoring order on his ship, Hackett looked to the battle outside, and focused his attention to the streaking green blur that was leading the charge as she had always done. Good luck Commander, let's finish this fight once and for all.
Any other enemy would have thought to retreat the moment it became clear that the odds were suddenly no longer in their favor, but for the commanding Reaper, Harbinger, fear had no place in its decision to turn and face the rapidly approaching green figure. Only one human, one vermin organic life form could be so resilient, so hard to kill, and he had had enough of her. "Prepare to meet your end here, Shepard." On some unspoken signal, every Reaper within range opened fire on the darting figure that was far more maneuverable than any fighter. Red streams of molten metal reached out to annihilate her, but nothing came close as she all but danced around them. That didn't stop them from trying, until Shepard had closed the distance and was eye to eye with Harbinger itself. "You will fall here Shepard. You are nothing before our might. And when you die, the Cycle will con-"
As if to prove that Harbinger's words were as empty as its future, Shepard's only reply was to smash her glowing fist into Harbinger's main cannon, and the massive Reaper flagship's front crumbled under the blow. Even with every Reaper having turned their attention to her, and only her, Erica withstood the barrage and continued to pound away at the flagship while the energy around her only burned brighter with each devastating blow. After half a dozen attacks, Erica 'jumped' backward and brought to bear a large sphere of green energy, similar to a biotic Warp in appearance.
Damaged beyond repair, a feat in and of itself since it had survived countless eons, Harbinger saw its final defeat looming before it, and felt fear for the first time in its existence. "NO!" If Harbinger had hoped for anything more, it didn't get a chance as everything in front of the Reapers' greatest threat was soon atomized in a blaze of radiant green. The Alliance fleet had since scattered to the four corners once it became clear that Shepard was about to do the impossible. For the first and final time, the Reapers tried to run, but any stragglers that were left after the initial 'Warp' slammed into their front lines were soon dealt with by the remnants of the fleet that had allied under one banner for this moment. Without Harbinger calling the shots, the Reapers were much easier to deal with, but they still posed a threat. A threat that the united fleet from every major race in the galaxy was more than happy to neutralize with a literal glowing icon leading the charge across the Sol System.
While raucous cheers and shouts of victory filled every deck of the hundreds of surviving ships, the pilot of one small frigate had kept his attention focused on one thing and one thing only. Joker was the first to notice that the green darting flash of light, which he had locked his gaze onto from the very first instant he saw it, suddenly started to drift slowly through space as the last of the Reapers exploded in a futile effort to escape through the Relay.
"Guys... Hey guys... SHUT UP!" The entire CIC deck instantly fell silent as Joker stared at the flicking green light that he was carefully closing in on. "Somebody get down to the hangar bay, now! I am NOT letting her die twice!"
"Hangar bay personnel are responding Jeff, maintain course but decelerate as soon as we get within five hundred meters." EDI hadn't wasted any time in getting everyone moving as soon as she came to the same conclusion. Their Commander had used up whatever that power had been, and she was about to become spaced once more, unless they got her inside the ship before it disappeared completely.
"Nice and easy Joker, you can do this." Garrus lightly gripped the helmsman's shoulder before rushing towards the elevator, Tali not three steps behind him. "Doctor Chakwas, we're going to need you to prep for... I honestly don't know. It's Shepard." Not a lot needed to be said after that, given their Commander's reputation for doing the impossible.
The good Doctor, having been far more distracted by dealing with the crew's multitude of injuries during the battle, had yet to hear of the amazing events that had just played out before the fleet. "Shepard?! She's alive?! You have exactly two minutes to get her in my med bay Garrus!" Most turians wouldn't be all that intimidated by the veteran Alliance doctor. But as he was likely to point out, Garrus wasn't like most turians. It might have had something to do with the fact that he'd rather take on a pissed off squad of Blood Pack mercs before having to face the elderly doctor's possible wrath.
"Hold on Garrus." With only that slight warning, Tali started to quickly hack the insufferably slow elevator.
"Wait, what?" Garrus got the answer to his question as Tali managed to get them from the CIC deck to the hangar in under ten seconds. Hacking the lift had been child's play for the quarian mechanic, and she had to wonder why she hadn't done it sooner. But the thought of losing one of her closest friends, again, had inspired her quick thinking.
"Well that was fun." Garrus only clutched at his stomach for a split second before darting out the still opening doors. Predatory blue eyes instantly locked onto the now even fainter approaching green flicker, Garrus tapped his comm. "Okay Joker, looks to be fifty meters. Nice and slow...but not too slow. Whatever that field is around her, it doesn't look like it's going to last very-" Garrus' blue eyes widened as Shepard's still mildly glowing form, almost within his reach as he raced towards the open hangar's atmospheric barrier, pulled away from his grasp at the last moment.
Tali dashed for the barrier with absolutely no thought for her own safety, seeing her goal so heart achingly close. "SHEPARD!" The quarian tried to push past Garrus, but the turian sharpshooter stopped her, barely.
"No Tali! You'll never survive long enough to help her!" Garrus shouted, fighting to gently restrain the desperately writhing quarian wrapped in his arms from physically throwing herself into the void after her motionless captain and friend. As if to prove his point, a large, deadly cloud of Reaper wreckage floated aimlessly between the ship and it's ever more distant Commander.
"EDI! Give me everything we have into the engines!" Joker shouted, but he knew even as he gave the order that they'd never catch Erica. She was moving faster than she had a right to. It was only then that the crew noticed that there was a disturbance on the far edge of their sight, and Shepard was heading right for it.
"Warning. An unknown spatial rift has begun to form nearby. Even with the engines redlined, I estimate we will be two point five seconds too late to intercept Shepard before she enters it. I… I am sorry Jeff." EDI finally replied, hating what was happening as much as her human counterpart as she glanced at the near frantic pilot, a single artificial tear flowing from her left eye.
Liara watched alone, having a feeling she wasn't going to see Erica again as the woman that had made such a change in her life, and the lives of everyone around her, started her final approach to the bright, swirling tear in the fabric of space and time itself that had spontaneously appeared. "May the Goddess be with you, wherever you end up Erica." Glyph, her VI assistant, was wise enough not to say a word as its mistress collapsed onto her seat and proceeded to cry into her cupped hands.
"God dammit! FINE! EDI, give me everything you can!" Joker only took half a second to flick back to the ship comm link. "Listen up guys, see the weird ass bright white hole in space on your monitors? We can't stop Shepard from falling into that thing, so we're gonna have to follow her through and bring her back!" In a testament to the crew's ultimate devotion to their Commander, not one person throughout the Normandy listening to the pilot's determined voice so much as complained about what anyone else would most likely call utter suicide on his part.
Ring 147, the moment you're through, slam the portal shut before that ship can follow. I will not have them interfering in Green Lantern affairs! The ring said nothing back, could say nothing back. It could only obey its Oan masters. It had scanned every Will user that had ever used the ring, just as every ring had done since the beginning of the Corp, but this one was different. After having scanned this Will user's memories, her experiences, the ring suddenly wanted to say something to its Guardian overlord that would have been quite rude, but its programing prevented any such action.
The Normandy continued to dash at a breakneck pace towards her goal, only to have the spatial rift seemingly evaporate like mist on the vessel's battle scarred hull. "No, No, NO! EDI! What the hell just happened?! Where's Shepard?!" Jeff futilely slammed his fist against his console hard enough to hear a familiar sounding CRACK! as the AI slowly turned to face him. A dull, numb stare had replaced the pilot's usual snark and confidence as he gazed into empty space.
"Jeff... she is gone." EDI stood from her seat and gently took the man's clearly broken right hand in her own, before he could injure himself further. "She is truly gone this time….but the Commander gave us an incredible gift in her last moments. Hope. I can already hear the cheers across every ship in the fleet." Having hacked her way into the PA systems of every ship within range, EDI let the crew of her own hear a sample of what she was 'hearing' already. "You know what she'd want us to do, Jeff."
"She'd want us to carry on the fight." Jeff replied softly, looking at his broken hand nestled between EDI's own. "Plot a course for the Relay, where's the nearest reported enemy fleet EDI?"
Gazing at the thousands of enemy and friendly wrecks on his monitor, Hackett noticed a large group of ships from every allied species in the system quickly making for the Relay, the Normandy at the lead. "Admiral Hackett to all surviving ships, cut the victory bullshit now. We still have at least a few hundred more Reapers who need killing. In the name of our fallen, of every race, I say we finish what Commander Shepard started. All ships form up and prepare to transit the Relay on my mark." The resounding cheers he got back put a smile on the grizzled officer's face. Battered, beaten, and having been on the brink of defeat, it amazed the Admiral to hear their willingness to charge right back into the meat grinder once again.
Back on Earth, a certain grisled merc was yelling his lungs out to get a transport ship loaded as quickly as possible. "Get these guddamn injured out of here, now! YOU! Get up that bloody ramp NOW or I swear to Christ I'll pull your spleen out through your arse! Come on, move it you fucking useless infants!" Even the few krogan soldiers rushing aboard thought better than to question the righteously pissed off mercenary.
"You heard the human! MOVE IT!" Wrex shouted, cocking his heavy shotgun for further emphasis. Grunt's menacing laugh beside his clan leader didn't help matters.
Zaeed shook his head in annoyance but didn't say a word as Jack led a small group of honest-to-fucking-christ children up the ramp next. He had been too stunned at the shared laugh between the violent biotic and Lawson to even comment on the actual infants in his midst. "Well now I've seen guddamn everything."
"I think not." Samara replied, carrying two wounded asari commandos in a barrier bubble behind her while several humans of assorted ages and genders followed as best they could. "And I would request that you watch your language around the young ones Mr. Massani."
"I'll do my guddamn best then, ma'am." The merc only grinned at the cold glare he received in return as he watched several other familiar faces run towards them. "Taylor, Williams, move your asses already! Not like the bloody galaxy's at stake or anything."
"In case you forgot Zaeed, we just got out of the frying pan." Ashley growled, but there was no bite to her comment since she was more than happy to chase the Reapers down for once instead of the other way around. "For Shepard, you know I'm ready to go the distance." After pointing a gun at her own CO over that bastard Udina, Ashley was more than willing to make her Commander proud.
They would all do their best to make Shepard proud after that fateful battle. It would be a long, hard, grueling fight, but in the end, the allied forces would find themselves victorious a few short months later. This was only possible because of the many fleets Hackett had soon found joining their ranks not long after the Battle of Sol. Never had he thought mercs like Blood Pack, Blue Suns, Eclipse, and a least expected source of reinforcements, the Batarian Hegemony, would willingly follow the orders of those sworn to hunt them down not so long ago. Fleets crewed by criminals and slavers had fought side by side with soldiers and civilians to win the day. And everyone knew the effect of one woman on the galaxy around her had brought them together in that moment. Alliance Commander and Council Spectre Erica Shepard had done the impossible, even if she would never get to see the end of the massive, bloody galactic conflict herself. But her name would be remembered for eons beyond measure. Shepard would always mean 'Hero' in every language, on every world, across the galaxy.
To those that knew her best, she would always be a friend. Humble, soft spoken, but with a will that couldn't be broken, swayed, or deterred in the slightest once she set her mind to a course of action. To Ashley, she was the best commanding officer she had ever served under, and one of her closest friends. Williams had no doubt about the fact she had become far more than she ever would have, because of the Commander.
Karin Chakwas would never forget all that Erica had done for her, the least of which had involved saving her life on the Collector base. Shepard had given her the greatest gift one could ever receive, a true purpose in life. Thanks in large part to Shepard, after Karin had resigned from the Alliance, Chakwas had been allowed to ply her medical skills where they had been needed most; a good crew that needed a good doctor to look after them. After the war, Karin carried on that purpose in Shepard's name alongside the man she had pursued a quiet romantic relationship with over the years, Chief Engineer Gregory Adams. The pair opened a free medical clinic on Earth less than a year after the war's end, with some help from a fellow colleague of Chakwas, Dr. Chloe Michel. After a rather arrogant local gang had broken into the clinic to steal medication, two former crew members had appointed themselves Chakwas' head of security and her own personal medical transport pilot. James Vega and Steve Cortez respectively. It turned out that having an N7 rated marine guarding the much needed facility tended to dissuade further criminal acts.
To Urdnot Wrex, she was the savior of his people, who had given him a reason to carry on. To find hope in a new future for the krogan. Bakara, or Eve as she often preferred to be called to honor the memory of Dr. Mordin Solus, and Wrex, celebrated the birth of their twelfth child ten years after the war, and showed no signs of wanting to stop the expansion of their growing family anytime soon. With the clans united under two wise and powerful rulers, the rise of the long told krogan empire, one that would last for ages untold, looked to be within their grasp. Grunt would later accept Wrex as his new Battlemaster, but he would never forget his first. Shepard that taught him the meaning of duty and honor, and had given him a reason to exist beyond merely defeating his enemies. Future Spectre Urdnot Grunt was a true krogan, in every sense of the word, and he was so much more for having listened to her teachings.
For Tali, Erica had become the sister she had never had, a loving friend who had always been there in her time of need. When the war was over, her people had a homeworld once again, alongside the Geth as allies rather than enemies, thanks to Shepard. A retired C-Sec Detective / Vigilante / Normandy Gunnery Officer had found true happiness with her, helping the quarian people rebuild their world. Garrus Vakarian would be the first to say he was a far better turian, having had the honor of knowing Commander Erica Shepard. In their waning years, a particular recovered Geth consciousness found himself filling the original need for his species. To aid his creator in her old age as well as her cantankerous turian bondmate. Legion vas Rannoch had long since stopped wondering if he had a soul, because he saw the answer to his own question everyday in the eyes of the many friends and loved ones in his life.
Jack and Miranda, sworn enemies from the moment they had met each other, had joined forces in training a new generation of biotic potentials. They both knew their lives would have been destructive and hollow at best, if not for the new path Shepard had offered both of them. Miranda had her genetic twin, who had moved onto the prothean archives on Mars, while Jack had her teaching position at Grissom Academy. Rarely a day went by that they, Jack especially, didn't think about how they might have turned out if not for one determined Alliance marine. Between the two of them, they made an unstoppable force, and became legends in their own right well after the Reapers had been destroyed. As for Jack and Miranda themselves, the loss of several of Jack's students near the end of the war drew the two women closer together than they had ever expected. Two years later, they were busy adopting their third child.
Thane and his estranged son, Kolyat, shared what little time the assassin had left after the war had drawn to a close, doing what they could for the galaxy. Thane thanked every deity he saw fit to pray to for having had Shepard in his life, if only for a relatively short time. She had helped him reconnect with the only thing that truly mattered to the assassin in his final months. What had started as a means to honor Shepard's name, turned into a shared journey between father and son, up until Thane became too sick to travel any further. Kolyat later eulogized his father before a large gathering of former crew mates, reciting his father's last words, a prayer for Shepard to find peace in the afterlife.
Jacob Taylor always knew he had two things he owed Erica Shepard for. Convincing him to get free and clear of Cerberus before it was too late for him to do so, and hiring the woman he would eventually admit he had fallen hard for. Jacob had finally had enough of bailing his kleptomaniac girlfriend out of various jails, knowing full well she only got caught to annoy him in the first place. When told she could either keep getting arrested, or let him give her something for once, a ring, she opted for a slightly more legal life. The one and only thing Jacob never complained about Kasumi Goto stealing had been his heart. Settling down on Eden Prime, they ended up marrying and having several kids together. One of which became an unstoppable master thief, who only stole from the corrupt and illegally rich, putting them out of business before letting the police handle the rest. His big sister was usually able to do her best to cover for him. Thankfully, the organization that she worked for, which eventually replaced C-Sec, didn't think very highly of his targets either.
Samara still had a daughter to love and cherish because of the selfless actions of one woman. The Justicar still considered herself bound to her oath to Shepard, never having officially released herself from it. Eventually, the call of her Code had to be answered as Shepard would most likely see fit, and Samara used the remainder of her years to lead a task force against any remnants of Cerberus she found. Even with the Illusive Man gone, the pro human group limped on. The corrupt ideas behind them had truly been strong, as were the Reapers lasting effects on those in charge of the terrorist group, but the organization saw its final end over the skies of Elysium. After a second 'Blitz', she and the last person she would have imagined at her side, before getting to know Commander Erica Shepard, continued to hunt down the last remnants of criminal groups, mercs, and slavers that hadn't had the brains to accept a general amnesty from the Allied fleets at the end of the war and cease their activities. Only betrayal and a well timed ambush stopped them from seeing their goals achieved, but there were no survivors to tell that tale to its completion, so exact details are hard to come by. Although, some still say that Zaeed Massani killed at least fifty men with a wounded Samara held in his arms. Right before triggering a Cain blast at close range to finish the rest off as they surrounded the infamous merc and the equally fearsome Justicar.
Seeking out one final, desperate cause, Javik took up the mantle of avenging his fallen comrades, and took command of the 'primitive' task force they had created. The Spirit of Vengeance had risen once more, and the scum of the galaxy had a reason to fear the last of the protheans. So successful was his campaign, that Javik decided death could wait a bit longer to claim him. Deep down, he felt he owed it to Shepard for waking him to do as much good in the galaxy as he could before finally finding peace. Until that time, every enemy in his path would burn as surely as the Reapers had burned.
One hundred and six years later...
Galactic Alliance Vessel SR-7 Normandy
Enroute to Eden Prime.
"I think that's pretty much everyone Little Wing. Oh, how could I forget, as I recall, Gardner opened a rather successful restaurant on Thessia. Kelly started her own practice on Earth, helping the many victims of the Reaper invasion. And Kenneth and Gabby had twins. I believe they are both still instructors at the fleet academy to this day." A small grin pulled at Liara's lips as her daughter seemed surprised that she had remembered every single person her current thesis research covered. "While we still don't know exactly what it was that changed the tide in that moment... I do know this, it couldn't have chosen a better person. Anyone else, and I have a feeling it wouldn't have been enough."
"Some say it was the light of her inner will and determination made tangible, but that's impossible." Shrugging it off regardless, 'Little Wing' finally asked the question that was most pressing in her mind. "And is that the whole story mother?" Standing in the CIC of the Normandy SR-7, a truly cross species crewed Galactic Alliance vessel that carried on the tradition that had started with Shepard over a century earlier, Erica T'Soni looked to the former Shadow Broker, who nodded her head at her daughter. "I certainly hope so, because I'd hate to have to find the truth the old fashion way." The look in those emerald eyes made the elder asari smirk at the challenge.
"You don't have the skill to match my cyber security measures, but I have a feeling you'd be able to get through them sooner or later. That stubborn streak of yours probably will demand nothing less, I'm sure." Liara smiled at the fond, old memories her daughter's confident smirk stirred in her mind.
"Wonder where she gets that from." Galactic Alliance Spectre Urdnot Grunt rumbled from the door, chuckling at the family resemblance he could easily see between them. "So Shadow Broker, or is that Captain Shadow Broker? Where are we going next? It better not take more than a day to get there, I'm itchin' for a fight."
"You are always itching for a fight big guy. Perhaps that's why the Assembly decided it was best to pair you with someone you knew?" EDI chuckled from the front seat, having long since taken over as the Normandy's official pilot. No one questioned the AI's desire to remain aboard, long after the need for the large ship based system to house her consciousness had passed. It almost likely had to do with the fact that her husband of one hundred and five years was apparently too stubborn to retire anytime soon.
"No one ever said that was a bad thing did they?" Joker grinned, flexing his fingers before doing their familiar dance over the console. "'Sides, I'm all for furthering the cause of the Galactic Alliance, but a destination would be nice Liara. Err-Captain T'soni, your compassionate awesomeness."
"Do not rub it in Joker. And please, Eden Prime, where it all began." Liara replied, and Erica crossed her arms over her chest as she nodded for EDI to proceed with the jump. Relays were relics these days, another in a long line of improvements to galactic life that Shepard would most definitely have approved of. Species now charted their own technological destinies and discoveries, rather than solely relying on those that came before them. When it became clear they were at the top of the galactic watchlist, the Leviathans were hesitant to step into the light of day once it became common knowledge they had been responsible for the Reaper nightmare.
"That is just too damn creepy." Jeff shivered, having never gotten used to seeing Shepard's mannerisms in Liara's kid of all people.
"Who you calling creepy old man?" Erica growled out, her emerald eyes blazing with a familiar stubbornness that just didn't know when to die down.
"You. Ya little brat. I've known sixty-seven year olds with better manners than you kid." Somehow, focused as he was on the console in front of him, Jeff seemingly didn't even notice as one of his ancient prized caps slowly started to lift off of his balding head. Instead, he simply reached under his seat and pulled out a spare. "Learned a long time ago to always keep a few handy after serving with your crazy dad. Then you came along and chucked the first one out a trash chute. Couldn't even get mad at ya either since you were just learning to crawl. You just gave me those big ol green eyes and I was space dust."
"I even have it recorded on an old security vid." EDI snickered behind her hand, earning an embarrassed groan from Erica while Grunt was reduced to belly deep laughs. Liara could only shake her head at the whole affair, doing her best to maintain the image of a stern faced captain, but she was on the verge of failing miserably.
"No, no sweetie, we don't put Uncle Jeff's stuff in the garbage compact- NNNOOOOOO!" Snickers could be heard across the deck as everyone in eyeshot of the vid took in the sight of Joker pressed against one of the SR-2 Normandy's windows, watching in utter horror as his precious baby drifted into the endless void of space. The much younger version in the vid threw his hands up in the air in defeat before spinning around to glare at the perpetrator. "What did I just- ah crap." Barely older than an infant, Erica's emerald eyes started to water at the unhappy look on her Uncle's face. "Oh no. No don't cry honey! It's okay, I'm not mad...at all. Honest." Apparently, his tone was less than convincing as a loud wail emitted from the ship's speakers as the vid continued. "Liara's gonna kill me... I mean, aren't you just the most adorable little thing sweetie! Here, wanna space Uncle Jeff's boots?" The young pilot sighed in relief, the tiny asari girl giggling now as he hopped on one foot, trying to get said boots off.
Erica had seen enough as she turned her gaze to her mother, who was on the verge of a laughing fit at that moment. "You do know Uncle Feron might have slipped me administrative access to the Shadow Broker Network, right? I think I could easily find something to send to Fornax if I dig hard enough."
"Now young lady...you know you have to be at least one hundred and eighty to view those sites." Even Liara found it hard to take her own admonishment seriously as Erica rolled her eyes, a slight blush forming on her cheeks.
"I didn't allow myself to get locked behind a prothean security barrier at a dig site, number one. I volunteered for military life, instead of 'shaking my blue ass in a bar.' We have my grandfather to thank for that. Number two, it's too late anyway mom, Joker already showed me his bookmarks." Joker frantically shook his head in denial at the glare he received from Liara.
"And to think, my father's ideas actually resulted in this." Liara shook her head and sighed after a moment of making Joker sweat, smiling despite what she had just said. Pulling up an image of what they were being asked to investigate, Liara directed everyone's attention to the main viewing screen. "About twelve hours ago, a disturbance was detected in the Utopia system. Two hours later, something came out of it."
"It looks kinda like…." It was the first time in over a century that Joker was left speechless as recognition clicked in.
"That was my thought as well, but this light is blue, not green like the last. However, it has not attacked, nor has it done anything but gaze out into the vastness of space around it, as if looking for something. We've been asked to try to communicate with it, if at all possible. Any ship that tries to approach is gently but firmly repulsed by some form of unknown energy. Since we are among the ever rarer group of individuals who has any first hand experience in this area, the Normandy has been tasked with this urgent mission."
Jeff snickered as his fingers continued flying over his console, a wide grin plastered on his face. "So they sent out the Fossil Squad, that being us, to check out the glowy blue alien. And people wonder why I said retirement would be boring as hell. I'd have missed out on the fun."
"Watch it Glass Bones. I'm still as young, virile, and battle worthy as ever. Unlike certain annoying elders Captain T'soni won't let me punch in the face." Grunt growled, but one look from Erica and the krogan had to look elsewhere. "Or Lieutenant T'Soni…." The krogan sighed as he glanced at the familiar symbol on his armored shoulder. "Being an icon of justice and peace certainly has its drawbacks sometimes. But doing what she did, what she stood for, and making it my own. Heh, there is no better way to honor her memory." Taking a second look at the blue Spectre symbol on his shoulder and the image of the blue glowing being that Liara was just taking down, Grunt scratched at his chin in thought. "Anyone else think that shade of blue is a little familiar?"
The sudden sound of a warning klaxon prevented the group from commenting on Grunt's surprising wisdom, as EDI's voice echoed throughout the entire vessel seconds later. "I'm detecting a small object on a collision course with the ship. It seems to have autonomous tracking, evasive maneuvers have done nothing to deter its pursuit. Object is closing, hull breach imminent!"
Jeff crossed his arms and huffed from his vantage point in the co-pilot's seat, as he eyed the eerily familiar green streak of light rapidly closing out the front view ports. "Bet I coulda avoided the hell outa-" Just as he said that, the ship shook and a small hole appeared right behind Jeff's seat. "Shield's holding. Can't say the same for my pants. Getting old sucks." The old man's jaw dropped as he turned to look behind him, seeing the last possible thing he expected. A floating ring, casting off a brilliant green glow. "Well that's not freaking the hell out of me at all... How bout you guys?"
"It's emitting the same energy wavelength that was detected at the Battle of Sol. I sense no harmful radioactive emissions of any kind, but caution is still warranted." Jeff knew better than to argue with his incredibly stubborn wife as she gently helped him up and away from the strange object.
"Don't touch it." Liara tried to warn her daughter away from the strange glowing orb, but Erica had inherited more than eye color from her father. One look at her face and Liara knew history was about to repeat itself. Just as she reached out to stop her, Erica gently brushed her mom's hand away. Forcibly swallowing the lump in her throat, Liara could do nothing but whisper her next words as she looked to the deck at her feet. "I won't lose another loved one, I can't."
Transfixed by the light before her, Erica slowly reached out to the ring before her. "I think….it's alright mother. I don't know how I know, but I don't think it means us any harm." Closing her fist over the ring, the light died down, as Erica did her best to ignore Jeff's rapid gesturing towards the shiny new hole in the SR-7's deck. Holding it before her eyes between two fingers, Erica shrugged since without the green light around it, it looked like any other piece of jewelry she had ever seen.
Greetings Erica Benezia T'Soni. I am Ring 147, of the Green Lantern Corp. Nearly dropping the ring in shock at the voice in her head, Erica caught the faintly pulsing ring before it could hit the deck. Do not worry, you are not the first to have such a reaction, nor will you be the last. I assure you, I am quite resilient.
"Um….you can hear this thing talking right?" When all she got was blank stares, Erica started to question her current level of sanity at that moment.
Only the rightful wielder of the ring can hear me. Again, you are not the first one to question their sanity when first introduced to the Corp. Should you choose to accept and become a part of the Green Lanterns, you will be among the first of them to guard your galaxy and universe. The Guardians have decreed that a new Corp shall be built in this reality.
"Reality? What are you talking about?" Shaking her head, Erica had to take a steadying breath. Something truly strange was happening here, and she needed answers. "Why would you choose me?" Erica finally asked, thinking of the dozens, if not hundreds, of people that were far more worthy than her to take part in such a momentous endeavor.
Avra asked that very same question, as have thousands of others before you who have worn a ring like me. All will be made clear, I promise, should you decide to wield the light of Will. The AI system that dictated the ring's actions would not say where it had gotten such an attitude from, but something about the way it had phrased its response sounded vaguely familiar to Erica. From all of her mother's stories and first hand accounts from her crewmates, she had her answer.
Erica realized she had already made her choice the moment she had grasped the green metalic ring in her palm. "How?"
You must pledge yourself to the Corp and the Guardians in a grueling and dangerous rite of passage. Or you could just put me on any of your fingers and I'll do the rest. The choice is yours. Erica rolled her eyes at the obvious sarcasm, but said nothing as she slowly slid the ring onto her right hand.
"Erica!" Liara couldn't overcome her most primal instinct, that of a protective mother as she lunged towards her daugher at the last moment.
The blinding green light that followed was lost on Erica, as was the force that temporarily had pushed everyone around her out of reach. All that mattered to her, the only thought in her head beyond the green light that infused her with strength she had never imagined, was the words that brought themselves to the surface of her mind. Unlike last time, the Oath was not a call to war, but its potency was no less keenly felt. The cacophony of voices Joker and the others had heard over a century ago returned, but there was one voice that they all recognized above the rest.
"In brightest day, in blackest night,
No evil shall escape my sight.
Let those who worship evil's might,
Beware my power... Green Lantern's Light."
When it was done, Erica fell to a knee but quickly regained her feet just as the light died away. "I was right….you have nothing to fear." Even amidst the storm that had been the power of Will infusing itself to her very being, Erica had detected a faint lingering of something familiar to her and her alone. Whether it resulted from how asaris melded to their mates or not, she knew the presence that had chosen her, even though she had never met her.
"Um...good to know Erri. But would ya mind explaining the skin tight leotard? And that totally not disturbing green glow you got going on? Not that it's really bothering me, or anyone else." Joker tried not to gawk at the less than subtle costume Erica now wore, or her newly acquired glow.
"Perhaps you can ask them?" Erica pointed to the blue glowing figure that was currently keeping pace with the Normandy as they came up on Eden Prime. With the blue light, it made it impossible to distinguish any details about the person themselves. "I guess whoever that being is, it got tired of waiting for us."
Having since turned back to the view outside, Joker's eyes opened a bit wider when the figure started to fly backward, as if showing off. The elderly pilot's olive eyes narrowed when he was barely able to make out a waving arm, most likely to tell them to pick up the pace. "Oh now you've done it buddy. No one makes a challenge like that and gets away with it. EDI, let's go!" With a swift tug, Jeff freed his arm from the still suspicious AI and plopped himself down in the pilot's seat. "Sorry dearest, I call dibbs."
"Jeff, I would never try to forcefully remove you from my station. Grunt, would you forcibly remove Jeff from my station?" EDI snickered at her husband's widening eyes as she quickly sat in the co-pilot's seat, Grunt almost looking disappointed as he subtly took a step back. "I had almost forgotten what your face looked like when I told you my first joke. Your current expression is oddly similar, dearest."
Never missing a beat as his fingers flew over the controls, Joker didn't look to his right as the Normandy shot off like a bat out of Hell. "Yuck it up while you can, honey. But I plan to ram our nose up that guy's ass when we catch him. Maybe then he'll be more talkative." As EDI dutifully complied and increased thruster output, the seventh vessel to proudly bear the name Normandy entered orbit of Eden Prime in minutes.
The moment they broke atmo, the blue light disappeared into a cloud bank after slowing down to match their speed, and left the crew of the ship scratching their heads. "Where'd he go?" Liara's cautious gaze swept over the beautiful view in front of them.
"One moment he was on our sensors, and the next, our strange blue friend disappeared completely. I can still detect faint traces of its energy, but there's not enough to track it down. Wait…." Turning her head to the airlock, EDI cocked her head to the side, and...detected a faint tapping noise outside. "I think there is someone knocking on the portside airlock."
"EDI... we are still traveling hundreds of kilometers per hour... seventy-five kilometers above the surface of the planet, and someone is knocking on the hull?" An incredulous Liara managed to ask, earning an equally puzzled shrug from her daughter. "By the Goddess, I almost wish a Reaper would appear, at least that would make more sense."
"Says the Shadow Broker that went up against an army of Reapers, and who has just witnessed a ring transform someone into the same green being that destroyed them. I think the laws of physics have officially been disbanded." Grunt grumbled, not really caring one way or the other, so long as they figured out what was going on.
"Meh, no big loss Dino Boy, never liked 'em anyway. Well, need to land this bird either way. Mind if I do the honors Captain?" Jeff took Liara's distracted nod as a yes as she continued to stare at the airlock. After putting the Normandy down, the airlock immediately opened, Joker and EDI found themselves completely ignored by both their strange guest, Liara, and her still eerily glowing daughter as they watched a knee high wrinkly old crone float right by them. Leaning over to the AI, Jeff quietly appraised the strange newcomer. "The creepy floating space midget looks even older than me."
With her back to the cockpit, the Guardian of Oa cast a slightly amused smile over her shoulder to the duo. "I recognize lack of authority when I see it young man, and while your attempts to welcome me were most gracious, I'm afraid that my business is slightly urgent and long overdue. Besides, I was warned about you, Flight Lieutenant Jeff 'Joker' Moreau. Perhaps this will mollify you for a few moments at best." With a nonchalant flick of her hand, two very familiar objects suddenly appeared out of thin air and gently landed on Jeff's lap. "Do try not to lose them again, will you dear?" Joker stared down at his original SR-1 and SR-2 caps and was at a total loss for words.
Liara was quick thinking enough to shove an irritated Grunt in back of her, using 'the look' she had seen so many times on Shepard's face, before he could charge the small alien or otherwise somehow cause an interstellar incident. "Um... Let me be the first to officially welcome you aboard the GAV Normandy. As this seems to be a first contact situ-" Liara suddenly felt like a young student being scolded in class as the seemingly ancient being held up a hand for her to stop speaking.
"You are Liara T'Soni, the asari archeologist that originally theorized that this galaxy was trapped in a cycle of extinction. The primitive, emotional being behind you is Urdnot Grunt, a force grown clone with pure krogan DNA, designed to be a template clone for an army of super soldiers. The Enhanced Defense Intelligence, EDI, an artificial intelligence program that became truly sentient. And your highly skilled, yet almost childish in nature, pilot, Mr. Moreau, who I have already mentioned. I could go through the entire ship roster if you wish, but I think I've made my point. I know each and every one of you, because of the woman that came to my reality from this one." The diminutive alien paused for a moment as she laid eyes on Erica T'Soni. "But you, my freshly molded Lantern, are unknown to me. As incomprehensible as that is. May I ask your name please?"
"Isn't it customary to introduce yourself before asking another for their name?" Erica replied, her emerald eyes challenging the old crone to dispute her. "And on that note, how did you know my father, if you're telling the truth that is?"
"Ah... must be getting a touch senile in my incredibly old age! You may call me Sayd, and I am a member of the Guardians. I certainly hope your ring has taught you at least that much, my young Lantern." A cunning grin appeared on the grey skinned beings lips that Erica did not find comforting in the least. "I should have recognized the eyes right away, the light of Will notwithstanding. The ring chose a worthy successor, as it is programmed to do. How fitting that one of our greatest 'ring slingers', as the young cadets are fond of saying, should follow in her father's footsteps." A touch of some unknown emotion flashed in the small alien's eyes. "It is a true pity that the Green Lantern Corp has lost such a formidable warrior as your... father. I do believe that is the proper term, correct?"
Erica's mind raced back to the earlier 'conversation' she had had with the device on her right hand. Thousands of others who wore a ring before me? And the ring is programed to find a worthy successor... Oh Goddess no... "Please, tell me, why did this ring seek me? What...what happened to my-"
"All will become clear soon enough young Lantern, and from your race's natural longevity, I plan to see you for many years to come. Only death or voluntary retirement, at any time of your choosing, will cause a ring to find a new host. In case you were thinking there was a catch behind that power you now possess, that is. But believe me when I say, few Lanterns ever decide to leave. I doubt you will either, my curious young asari."
Joker was liking this situation less and less as he stood up, EDI gently grabbing his arm, only seeing the little girl he used to play with in the young woman before him, being shoe horned into something none of them fully understood. "Probably got an awesome brainwashing camp next to your day spa, lady. No one is making Erica do a damn thing if I have any say about it." Never one to be subtle about making his point as clearly as he could, Jeff threw the prized caps clutched in his hand on the deck at the Guardian's 'feet'.
The Guardian had to bite back a spark of anger at such an insinuation as she turned and almost glared at the pilot behind her. "Far from it Mr. Moreau. 'Indoctrination' is far from our way, which has existed since the first Lanterns many eons ago, in a time when chaos ruled over order. The bonds that formed our Corp are ones that cannot be broken. They who wield the light of Will come from every corner of our universe, from every walk of life." Her eyes narrowed to dangerous slits as she continued, before calming slightly. "And none of them were ever forced to serve in the Green Lantern Corp. Of this fact, I give you my word."
Liara felt a mix of emotions welling up in her, profound pride and perhaps a hint of jealousy in her old friend for jumping to her daughter's defense instantly, and an increasing anger towards this new alien's possessive nature around Erica. "We've heard such promises before. While I do not doubt that you believe your own story, I can't help but wonder why you seem so fixated on Erica, while avoiding our questions at the same time." Liara was tempted to use her own power on the blue midget in front of her, but an outstretched hand from Erica stopped her from doing anything rash.
"Joker, mother, it's ok." Erica said, before taking a step closer to the Guardian. Thankfully, Grunt backed off with only a deep growl when she cast him a mildly pleading glance.
Understanding that some of her earlier wording might have been ill conceived, the Guardian lowered her head in shame for only a moment before holding her hand out to Erica. "Please, follow me. I promise you, your mother, and your friends will have all of the answers you seek, and far more, very shortly. Where we're going, is just a short walk from the docks."
"Get moving then... before I make you, Guardian." Liara felt more grateful than annoyed as Grunt practically spat the last word out and roughly pushed passed her, forcing himself between her daughter, and the Guardian.
Blinking away the noonday sun's mild assault on her old eyes, Sayd nodded before floating away at what some would consider a brisk walk. "There really is no need for such distrust or barbaric behavior, but I shall bear it since I rightfully brought it upon myself." Maybe my exile was well deserved after all? Pushing the thought to the back of her ancient mind, Sayd led the way into the fully restored colony of Eden Prime. Stopping to look over the same hill where a squad of humans had seen their first Reaper, Sayd's old eyes saw only sprawling green hills and a distant cityscape where once had been nothing but smoldering ruins. "No matter how many worlds I visit, I am always amazed at how tenacious life can be. Out of the ruins, you've risen once more, stronger than ever before. And that is a feat I never tire of witnessing. If you need an example of what Will can do, this is it."
"The will to survive is universal. That goes without saying." Liara finally replied, having lost some of the hard edge to her face as they moved on.
"Perhaps, but it still warms my old heart to see it here, especially after all that I and the other Guardians were told of the Reaper invasion." Sayd replied, casting a quick smile behind her at those that followed. "Is it true she thought about punching a certain reporter?"
Liara happened to think that was one of Erica's finer moments, and she had been there to see it in person. "She did more than think about it as I recall. Although, to her credit, she DID get through her first interview without assaulting anyone. Belittling the sacrifices of Alliance service members never tended to sit well with Shepard."
Their floating guide soon drifted into Memorial Plaza, only nodding her head at the elder asari, mildly shocked that T'soni would be willing to share even that small tidbit of information with her. The ancient being had to crane her neck to gaze at the top of the rather tall statue situated in the middle of the large square. Everyone in the small group behind her was more than familiar with this particular memorial. "The Commander Shepard I knew was so much more….humble, than this gaudy piece of work." The statue had been crafted to show her in full tactical gear, an assault rifle held high overhead and a sphere of what the locals called dark energy in her free hand.
Joker gazed up at the literally larger than life depiction of the greatest commander and friend he had had in his entire one hundred and thirty-seven years of life. "Yeah... she was. Even tried to get them to tone this damn thing down when I first heard about it, since I knew she would hate it. Planners didn't bother listening to me."
"No, but at least they listened to me when I threatened to hack their credit accounts if they insisted on adding in a pile of destroyed geth at her feet." EDI replied, remembering the conversation perfectly even after a century had gone by. "The foreman was….replaced, when certain incriminating evidence resurfaced."
Just as Sayd was about to reply, a figure enshrouded in blue light landed right behind the small distracted group. "Remind me not to piss you off. Huh, so that's where the ring wound up. Welcome to the GL Corp, newbie." Erica's emerald eyes widened as she turned to respond.
End Notes; Vergil1989; Welcome to the Corp ladies and gentlemen. And what a promising start it looks to be. From Refusal to the start of a new Corp in the ME verse at a height of technological discovery and exploration. A literal renaissance now that the Reapers are gone and the Leviathans in fearful hiding. Just what can we do next?
Archer83; Hell if I know, I'm just going along for the ride ya poozer.
Vergil; Perhaps rookie, but you're not doing so bad. D In all seriousness, you did point me to the show, so really I'm the 'new recruit' lol. At any rate, feedback, like always, is always welcome guys and gals. Adios, and keep the light burning strong. D