A/N: This idea has been fluttering around in my mind for a while. Thought I'd take a swing at it. Enjoy!


The Mako was bumpy but that was to be expected. All the marines were intently focused on their assigned task as they had been for the past three hours. "What the hell are we supposed to be doing all the way out here?" Chief Warrant Officer Clarence Daniels groaned. "We were assigned to search the area for enemy activity, or did you forget to read the briefing again?" came the snarky reply from Ensign Phil Cotter. "Now is not the time to discuss whether or not someone actually read the briefing. We've had reports of Cerberus activity in this sector so we were sent to check it out. End of story." Came the sharp voice of Lieutenant Lakota Shepard. She fought the urge to roll her eyes as the Mako shook, rattling the occupants inside. "I'd like to get to the site in one piece Cotter; if you would be so kind as to oblige my request I would be grateful." "Ma'am, it's not the Mako that's shaking; there seems to be a spike in seismic activity." Petty Officer Bianca Brookes interjected. This caught the Lieutenant's attention, there was no history of seismic activity on Akuze; something wasn't right. She unbuckled herself and paced over to the Petty Officer's station to glance at her screen, before she reached her destination a sickening scream sounded from outside the Mako making everyone jump. Before anyone could ask what was happening the Mako was on its side with a gaping hole in the hull. Lakota grasped her skull in pain and looked around the sight of Bianca's melted legs and her blood curdling screams greeted her.


Lakota bolted upright gasping for air before frantically looking around in search of her squad. Her first sweep of the room made her realize that she had been dreaming. She wasn't a Lieutenant. She was no longer on Akuze. Her squad was dead. No matter how many times she dreamt about that mission the reality that hit her after she had awoken was always crippling. Taking a deep breath and exhaling shakily she places her feet on the floor; a mumble comes from behind her and she glances over her shoulder at her bedmate, the woman was curled up around a pillow sound asleep. She pushes off the bed and collects her clothes a quick glance at her Omni-Tool tells her she doesn't have time to wash away last night's activities. She dresses in record time, and after one last look at the slumbering woman she exits the apartment smirking. 'Shore leave well spent.' The ride to the docking bay was uneventful she met up with Captain Anderson on the elevator by chance but she was always glad to see him. "Commander Shepard, did you enjoy yourself?" he asked with a knowing glint in his eye. Lakota chuckled but there was no real feeling behind it –not there ever was anymore- before answering, "I suppose you could say that Captain." He smiled at her again but there was something guarded in his eyes, it was clear that he was hiding something. "What does the Brass want us to do now?" Lakota asked seemingly uninterested. She was hoping to get some answers through his body language, "Just a supervised shake down run, we are needed to retrieve an artifact; nothing major." Anderson states as he shifts his weight from side to side. 'He's holding back…' Lakota observed from the corner of her eye. "Supervised? Who is going to be supervising us exactly?" Anderson clears his throat uncomfortably, "A Council Spectre." 'Terrific.' She groaned internally, she could practically feel the headache coming on from all the red tape she'd have to wade through to do anything.

While Lakota knew that Anderson was leaving things out she was more concerned about getting to her cabin; she was already starting to crash thanks to the news that she would be under an observation glass for the next number of days. As soon as the Normandy came into view her nerves settled slightly. She and Anderson parted as soon as they boarded thanks to her excuse of having some paperwork backlogged. Which was true, but she may have exaggerated the amount that needed to be done. The elevator ride was a little too long for her tastes but not unbearably so. The doors to her personal quarters hissed open and she made her way to her bathroom; she pulled on the edge of the mirror causing it to swing on its hinges. She grabbed a nondescript pill bottle and popped the cap open, dropping two blue pills into the palm of her hand. She replaces the cap and puts the bottle back into the cabinet and swings the mirror back into place. She swallows each of the pills reverently and stares at the mirror waiting for the pills to take effect. A warm burn spreads across her chest and slowly spreads out to consume her entire being as the Hallex pushes through her system. She has gotten so used to the drug that her body rarely shows any outward signs of its ingestion, it's a fact that should cause her to feel some shame but she can't bring herself to care. She doesn't feel much of anything anymore. She heads to her desk and submits the already finished report before heading to the bridge. She arrived just in time to hear Joker finish his tirade of how people that get paid more than he did couldn't be trusted. She wasn't sure if it was Joker himself or the Hallex but she was always chuckling at his crassness and conspiracies. She'd like to think it was the former but she could never really be sure, but that didn't really bother her. She reached the bridge just in time to catch the tail end of Joker's latest rant about how he doesn't trust anyone that makes more money than he does; barring her. The exception doesn't surprise her, but it wasn't totally expected either. "I've got a feeling that there's more to this mission. I mean a Spectre wouldn't be here if this was all routine." The pilot stated. "Joker's right, I doubt this is an ordinary pickup. We'll find out soon though." Lakota says taking silent pleasure in seeing both occupants jump at the sound of her voice. "Commander, Captain your presence is requested in the CIC." The emotionless voice of the ship's VI droned. "Well, that's my cue to leave. Carry on gentleman."

On her way to her destination she sees Dr. Chakwas conversing with a twitchy looking Corporal Jenkins. She makes a mental note to talk to the physician at a later time. She approaches the doors and waits as they hiss open revealing its sole occupant: Spectre Nihlus Kryik; one of the most decorated Turian Spectres that the council has to offer. 'I knew there was more to this mission than the Captain had let on.' Lakota considered herself well-read when it came to the council, which extended into the Special Tactics and Reconnaissance division. She had a feeling that things were going to get a lot more complicated in the coming days. If only she had known how right she was…