a/n: Saga is the third story in Raegan Shepard's cycle. It follows Mass Effect 2's story line with a few tweaks. I recommend reading Genesis then Odyssey but it isn't necessary. Though a few friends from previous cycles may make an appearance. /wink.

Sorry it took so long. I went back and forth with how to start this. I have a few excerpts done of Liara's story and wanted to start it there, but it wouldn't quite fall together. It gave me a horrible block until I set it aside for now. Maybe I'll get it together and do it as a separate short story.

-brittsis

"Why should I give her to you?!" Liara growled, standing guard over the casket behind her.

"Because I assure you we can bring her back." Miranda, Liara's contact, spoke softly. "We need her alive Doctor. More than anything. I've shown you the data."

Liara understood her reasoning, the need to have the Commander back on her feet and fighting. But this was Cerberus, the terrorist group Raegan had fought against. They've done nothing but cause pain and suffering. Investigation after investigation was started as a result of Raegan's work and here Liara was about to hand over the woman's body to them. Raegan wouldn't have wanted it but Liara was feeling selfish. She had so little time with the Commander and she wanted more.

Liara turned from Miranda and placed her hands on the casket, hanging her head. "Please forgive me." She whispered to the one with in and stepped aside.

Miranda waived to her team and placed a soft hand on the asari's shoulder. "It's for the best Doctor."

Liara moved quickly. Her biotics washed over her and her hand was around the woman's throat. Eyes glowed with anger long held back. "Listen to me carefully Miss Lawson. If anything should happen to her or if she's different in anyway, I will hunt you and every scientist down. I don't need to tell you what I went through to get her back and I'll do it again. Do we have an understanding?"

Miranda nodded and fell to her knees when she was released. She waved the guards off and rose to her feet slowly. "Where will you be Doctor?"

"Illium," Liara answered, "I have debt to repay and the information network there will be my best bet."

Awareness slowly trickled in. Pain like she never experienced spread through her body as she gasped for breath. Rae could hear people talking but couldn't make out the words. The drugs in her system were trying to drag her down but she fought against them. She had to wake up, she had to check on her crew. Something wasn't right. Her eyes opened as she fought to speak but nothing would work. A woman walked into view and tried to calm her but it only caused more panic. Rae didn't know who the woman was or where they were.

Her hand lifted into view and the woman pushed it back onto the table. More words were exchanged and Rae could feel the pull again. She struggled against it but the fight was useless. The drugs won the battle and pulled her under again. Part of her mind called out for help while the rest embraced it.

"Shepard! You need to get up!" The words were muffled, barely recognizable. She could hear alarms and gun fire but they all seemed far away. Instinct had her rolling off her bunk but her body was clumsy and heavy. Rae couldn't seem to concentrate as she stumbled forward, pulling herself up with a locker. She could hear someone yelling at her, giving her instructions, but couldn't make the words out.

"I'm working on it Sir!" Rae slurred out.

"Shepard, get up and get your gear on! We're under attack."

Rae nodded and forced her body to cooperate. It took twice as long to gear up. As time went the haze was lifting but it was a slow process. Only instinct and years of being on the war front kept her going. She stopped at the door, leaning against the frame to get her breath back. It was then that she noticed the needles and bottles that filled one of the tables. Gritting her teeth, she stumbled over and began reading the labels.

"What are you doing Shepard?" The voice demanded filled with urgency.

"One… I just nee…" Rae found the bottle she needed and carefully filled one of the needles.

"We don't have time for this!"

Ignoring her, Rae took a couple breaths and jammed the needle into her neck. She pushed the plunger down and closed her eyes. It took but a few seconds for it to take effect. The haze lifted and Rae could think clearly again. The adrenaline wouldn't last long but without it she wouldn't have been able to fight.

"Are you done yet?"

Rae frowned as she examined the pistol in her hand. It was of foreign design and didn't have any ammunition. "There's no clip."

"It's a med bay Shepard. We'll find you a clip later. Right now you need to move, the mechs are heading your way."

Rae peaked out the door before stepped out. She moved down the hall carefully, checking her corners. "What mechs? Where am I?"

"I'll answer your questions later. Right now we have to get you off the station."

Questions filled her but she pushed them aside for now. Rae found a fallen guard just beyond the door with the clips she need. She knelt to pick them up while testing for a pulse. There was none. The voice urged her on and Rae growled in response. She wouldn't be hurried past each body, there was still a chance she'd find someone alive. The next room held a single mech which she quickly dispatched. She grabbed its extra clips before continuing on.

"Stay in cover while you dispatch the mechs." The voice warned.

Rae decided to listen and ducked out of sight. She leaned out and delivered a head shot before returning to cover. It took a couple more tries but she dispatched of the rest and rose from cover. Part of her was beginning to wonder if this was a test. Did the Alliance find her after the attack broken and bleeding? Had she been in a coma and just woke up? Then why were the mechs using live rounds? Sure she'd gone through tests with real rounds before but that had been after months of training and briefing before hand. Surely the Alliance would've waited until she fully recovered before testing her abilities.

"Who are you?!" Rae called out as she rounded another corner.

"No time… mechs…. Get…. Shuttle…" The communication cut out and Rae cursed. There went her only source of information.

Rae dove into the room, found cover, and used her pistol to help kill the few remaining mechs. There were two other men in the room as well, both choosing to ignore her until danger had passed. When the last hostile fell, Rae rose and turned to them. Her pistol remained at her side, ready just in case.

"Shepard?" The dark skinned man frowned as he rose from cover. "What are you doing here?"

"I was going to ask the same thing. I just woke up."

"I'm Jacob Taylor, this is one of my men…" The man shook his head, an oath muttered under his breath. "It must be bad if Miranda woke you up."

"I need answers." Rae spoke slowly as she looked around. "Where am I? Who are you? And what the hell is going on?"

"What do you remember?"

Rae paused, reaching for the memories. "We were attacked, the ship was falling apart. I ordered an evacuation but…" She flinched as she remembered floating, all of her air gone. The feeling of panic that flooded her as she slowly suffocated to death. Then the pain, brief before her brain had shut down.

"You were brought here, nothing but a mass of meat and tubes. They started surgery two years ago and weren't due to come out of it for a few more weeks." Jacob explained. "Look, I'll tell you everything once we're off this station."

Rae frowned still not satisfied with his answer. It had only caused more questions and a nagging doubt to tug at her gut. "Just… just one more. My crew?"

"Most survived Shepard. Only a few from engineering and Pressley didn't make it."

Rae nodded, feeling relief settle in. There was still grief over those lost but Liara had made it. "What's the quickest way to the shuttles?"

"Depends where the mechs are thickets." The other male finally spoke up, drawing Rae's attention. He was fully suited, visor mirrored to hide his face. His right arm was missing though, a robotic replacement attached to his armor.

"And you are?" Rae asked, eyebrows tight together.

Before he could answer someone started talking over the comms. "Check, check. Anyone on this frequency? Anybody still alive out there? Hello?"

Jacob frowned, "Wilson? This is Jacob. I'm here with Commander Shepard. Just took out a wave of mechs over in D wing."

"Shepard's alive? How the hell…" The voice hesitated. "Never mind. You need to get him out of there. Get to the service tunnels and head for the network control room."

"Roger that Wilson. Stay on the frequency."

Rae wanted more answers but decided to self them for now. She'd just have to watch her back as she fought through the station. "Let's go."

"Okay, we took them down, but this is getting tense." Jacob spoke up. "Shepard, if I tell you who we work for, will you trust me?"

Wilson took a step forward, a frown creasing his face. "This really isn't the time Jacob."

Jacob shook his head, "We won't make it if she's expecting a shot in the back."

"If you want to piss off the boss, it's your ass Jacob." Wilson cross his arms, fear quickly being masked.

Rae narrowed her eyes as she listened to Jacob. "The Lazarus Project, the program that rebuilt you…. It's funded and controlled by Cerberus."

At the terrorist group's name Rae growled, biotics rippling across her skin. She advanced on Jacob, arm reach out to grab him. "I don't like liars Taylor."

"I didn't lie." Jacob spoke quickly as he backed up, hands up in surrender. "I just omitted a few things."

"Same thing." Rae lunged forward only to have her wrist wrapped in an iron grip and jerked behind her. The armored soldier had used her momentum against her, placing her in a hold. For a brief second she stopped in surprise as she recognized the move. It had been taught to her during boot, drilled into her head over and over by her instructors. "Let me go."

The man held tight as she struggled, "Not until you control yourself."

"There's more to it than you think Shepard." Jacob spoke quickly. "The Alliance declared you dead. They gave up. Cerberus spent a fortune to bring you back. Look, I'd be suspicious too. But right now, we have to work together. I thought you deserved to know what's what."

Jacob sighed and signaled her captor to release her. "Once we're off this station, I'll take you to the Illusive Man. He'll explain everything, I promise."

Rae pulled away from the soldier and grabbed her gun. "I don't care what they did or what you say, I'm not working with terrorists!"

She turned and started through the words, ignoring Jacob talking behind her.

"C'mon through here, we're almost at the…" Wilson stopped as a woman emerged when the door opened. "Miranda but you were…"

Miranda lifted her gun and shot him. "Dead?"

Rae lifted her gun while Jacob ran up. He looked down at Wilson then back up at Miranda. "What the hell were you doing?"

Miranda sighed, "My job. Wilson betrayed us all."

Rae narrowed her eyes but didn't lower he gun. "Even if you're sure, did he deserved that welcome?"

Miranda shook her head. "He sabotaged the security systems, killed my staff, and he would have killed us."

"You sure about that Miranda?" Jacob asked. "We've known Wilson for years. What if you're wrong?"

"I'm never wrong." Miranda stated in a cool even tone. "I thought you'd have learned that by now Jacob."

"I've known her less than you have Jacob and even I know that." The other soldier spoke up, keeping guard at the door. "Now can we move this on? I'm getting itchy with my back exposed."

"You're really smug about yourself aren't you?" Rae shook her head and lowered her gun. "Personally I don't care what happens to you Cerberus bastards as long as I get out of here."

Miranda frowned, "Ah Jacob. I should've known your conscience would get the better of you."

"Lying to the Commander isn't the way to get her to join our cause."

"As she pointed out to him earlier." The soldier spoke up again, walking over to them. "Now seriously guys, we need to leave."

"He's right." Miranda turned and walked toward the shuttle. "Besides, our boss wants to speak with you."

Rae followed behind them and climbed inside. The soldier took the pilot seat and took off as soon as the hatches were clear. Rae pulled her helmet off and ran her gloved hands through her hair. She frowned as she realized there wasn't much hair there. She was shaved to a short buzz cut, only a small fuzz capping her head.

"Sorry, we didn't have time to worry about cosmetics but with time you're hair will grow back." Miranda spoke up as she watched her. "Before you meet with the Illusive Man, we need to ask a few questions to evaluate your condition."

"Come one Miranda. More Tests?" Jacob spoke up, fidgeting in his seat. "Shepard took down those mechs without any trouble. That has to be good enough."

Miranda shook her head. "It's been two years since the attack. The Illusive Man needs to know that Shepard's personality and memories are intact. Ask the questions."

Rae flinched at the time. Jacob had mentioned it before but she was just allowing it to sink in. It felt like the Normandy was attacked yesterday and only a couple hours have passed. "I still can't believe it's been that long."

"Two years and twelve days to be exact." Jacob replied. "And you were on an operating table for most of it."

"The sooner we start, the sooner we can be done. Start with personal history."

Jacob sighed but nodded, accessing his Omni-tool. "Okay. Records show you were raised on Mindoir and survived a slaver raid. You enlisted and quickly gained the ranks. You have several achievements including Elysium and Torfan. Do you remember that?"

The memories came back, red and hot. They flashed in her mind, still fresh. "I did what needed to be done on both accounts. Depending who you talk to I'm either a savior or a butcher but in the end I'm only a soldier trying to get my mission done."

"I read the reports Shepard." Jacob leaned forward. "You did what you had to. Satisfied Miranda?"

"Almost." Miranda called up her own Omni-tool. Let's try something more recent. Virmire, where you destroyed Saren's cloning facility. You had to leave one of your squad behind to die in the blast."

"Chief Ashley Williams was killed in action. It was your call. Why did you leave her behind?"

Rae clenched her fist and stood in the small shuttle. She paced the small space, "I had no choice. The bomb needed to go off and I couldn't risk the Geth deactivating it. Williams was a good soldier and deserves respect for her sacrifice, not you using her to nit pick at my choices."

Jacob shook his head. "We meant no offense Commander. I wasn't judging your decision. Everybody at Cerberus knows that cloning facility had to be destroyed."

Rae paused in her pacing as she considered that piece of information. Part of her wanted to rip him a new asshole. She didn't bomb the place because of some human superiority complex. She opened her mouth to say something but decided better on it.

Miranda watched her carefully, making notes on the Commander's reactions. "Shepard, think back to the Citadel, after the Alliance saved the Destiny Ascension, and you killed Saren. What happened next?"

"Humanity was offered a spot on the Council. I recommend Captain Anderson for the position. The Council listened to me for once and repairs began. After weeks of celebrations and reward ceremonies." Rae answered, shuddering at the memories.

Miranda nodded, "Yes, Captain Anderson is now Councilor Anderson. Though from what I hear he preferred life in the military."

"Still good to know that the human Council member isn't going to put politics ahead of defense." Jacob grinned.

"Your memory seems solid. There are other tests we really should run…"

Jacob sighed and fidgeted in his chair again. "Come on Miranda… Enough with the quizzes. The memories are there, and I can vouch for Shepard's combat skills personally."

Miranda nodded. "I suppose you're right. We'll have to hope the Illusive Man accepts our little field test as evidence enough."

Rae frowned and retook her seat. She was looking forward to meeting the guy. Maybe then she could get some answers.

They landed and were immediately escorted to a waiting room. Rae spotted some lockers and decided to shed the armor she was wearing. She had spotted the Cerberus logo on the shoulder plate and refused to continue to wear it. Beside her Jacob was putting his weapons away in another locker. Miranda went right to a terminal and began to input data. The soldier that had accompanied them went to one of the chairs and sat down, not even removing his helmet. Rae frowned, "Isn't he going to get more comfortable?"

Jacob looked over and shook his head. "Chief rarely takes off his gear. Besides, that arm is fused to the armor. He left his out of armor arm back at the station."

"Chief his name?"

Jacob shook his head. "Just his nickname that he asked us to call him. He joined Cerberus a little over two years ago but it took a year to get him back in shape and fitted. He's ex-Alliance, a Marine that lost his arm to the Batarians. You might know him Commander, said he was at Elysium,"

"What's his name?" Rae was curious now.

Jacob shrugged, "Never told me. Said it was taken from him long ago."

Rae closed her locker and went to talk to him, only to have Miranda stop her. "The Illusive Man is waiting for you Commander."