Lonely Hearts in Space

by Serenity-X-Garrus

(CD - Canon Divergent) - With The Collectors at their doorstep and The Reapers sitting in wait, time is of the essence for the crew of the Normandy. Loyalty, friendships are tested and amid the chaos Love awakens.

1. Chapter 1 - January

Hello my wonderful readers! I bring another story that is Mass Effect related!

ABOUT: Lonely Hearts in Space was just a thought for a friend's OC with mine. And then this entire universe grew when another friend of mine started shipping their oc with mine. So this is how it came to be!

Read the summary and my profile for more updates. THIS IS A MONTHLY FIC. Which means that I will update this story every month.
One chapter every month. This story is Canon Divergent as it has many changes from canon to get towards the end. It starts in Mass Effect 2.

This story is Rated M for Mature for NSFW scenes later. It will be suggestive here but on my blog it will contain the heavy stuff. (If I can write it lol.)

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To know more about our OC's: You can find it here: djfatchip . tumblr .com (/) LonelyHeartsinSpace [Without spaces] - Visit my profile for the link.

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At the bottom and top of every chapter there will be a translations for you all to go back to as some oc's are multi-lingual.
I am Bilingual myself so my main characters will mostly speak Spanish and English. OC's Celestine and Gustav speak french at times as well.

Words for this chapter: 14,378
Pages for this chapter: 61

Note: 0-0-0-0 means that the story is transitioning to a new character or idea.

Without further ado, hope you enjoy the story! And check out our OC's!

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Translations:

Mi cielo – means my sky in Spanish

Tienes un problema, hijo? - means do you have a problem son in Spanish

Papa – means dad or father in Spanish

Que tienes? - means what's the matter in Spanish

Hijo – means son in Spanish

Geai Bleu – means blue jay in French

Mama – means mom or mother in Spanish

Vas a estar bien – means you are going to be ok in Spanish

Jefe – means boss in Spanish

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Lonely Hearts in Space

Chapter 1 – January

Giggles were heard in the distance. Getting closer and closer to him. His eyes fluttered open slowly. Sky blue eyes adjusting to the bright light as his eyes tried to focus on what was in front him.

"You know you're not suppose to take a nap, mi cielo! We have work to do!"

Another giggle and he finally zeroed in on her midnight blue eyes. She smiled at him, soft nails scratching his head as she parted his hair to look at him better.

"Geai bleu?" he asked as he reached for her cheek.

She leaned into his touch, "who else would it be silly. Now come on," she encouraged with a soft pat to his head. "Time to wake up, lazy."

She got up, her long raven hair trailing after her as she jogged back into…

"Where am I?" he wondered as he slowly turned around, getting up, looking around.

"Tienes un problema, hijo?"

He whirled around at his voice, sky blue eyes widen in surprise and in sudden pain.

"Papa!" he exclaimed with tears brimming at the edge of his eyes.

"Que tienes?" his father asked concerned.

His father was met with a hug that was so strong he couldn't breathe.

"Don't break him now, Bryant," laughed his sister behind him.

Bryant turned around, happy to see her.

"I saw you… you were…" he tried to find the words to say what he wanted to say.

She smiled. Their father standing next to her. His father placed a hand on her shoulder also smiling at him. Bryant's face fell. It wasn't a happy smile. It was a pained, sad smile.

"What's wrong?" he asked as he took a step back.

"You don't belong here, mi cielo," explained his sister.

"You don't belong here, hijo. You need to wake up," his father repeated.

Bryant was confused as he took another step back. His foot hit something behind him, almost losing balance. He caught himself and turned around. He saw himself on a medical table.

"You need to wake up, Bryant," said his sister far away.

Bryant turned around, looking frantic as everything around him started to shatter, break and collapse.

His eyes zeroed in on his father and his sister. Their home in the background crumbling into nothing. He reached out and screamed.

"CELESTINE! DAD!"

He was greeted with their smiles as they vanished, leaving him in the dark.

"Wake up, Commander."

0-0-0-0

"Wake up, Commander."

Bryant's mind was trying to comprehend what just happened. A voice pulled him back. Memories rushed into him in full force.

"Bryant, do you hear me? Get out of that bed now – this facility is under attack."

He felt himself move. Rattled. Her voice was so close yet so far. He felt everything all at once. Pain. The first feeling was pain. Then soreness. His eyes fluttered open. Bright lights blinding him, prompting him to get up, pain shot from his ribs. He took a sharp intake of breath. Something exploded nearby, shaking his medical bed as he tried to comprehend what was going on.

"Bryant. Your scars aren't healed but I need you to get moving, this facility is under attack," spoke the voice again.

Bryant huffed as he felt his jaw. It hurt like hell. It was sore. It bugged him. He looked up, fire in the distance from where he sat was seen through the window. Gunfire going off and another explosion rattling his area.

"There is a pistol in the locker on the other side of the room. Hurry!" rushed the voice.

"I am going!" Bryant shouted back in pain.

He grunted as he finally left the medical bed, taking another inhale of breath and looked around him, his eyes looking at the locker that she mentioned.

He limped to the locker, opening it to see his armor and pistol. He quickly placed his armor on and checked the pistol. He raised an eyebrow as it was empty.

"This pistol doesn't have a thermal clip," he shouted into the empty room.

"It's a med bay. We'll get you a clip from… damn it!" shouted the voice in the room.

His eyes scanned the room and one canister was already about to blow from the amount of pressure it was exhaling. He took cover nearby.

"Keep your head down, Bryant! Shield yourself from the blast!"

As soon as the words left the voice's lips the canister by the entrance exploded. Bryant flinched at the sound as a face softly faded from his mind. He shook his head getting out of cover and leaving the medical bay.

"What the hell is happening?" he asked as he moved forward. His eyes finally finding a thermal clip.

"Someone's hacking security trying to kill you. Look for a thermal clip for your pistol."

"Found one!" he said as he bent to pick it up and placed it into the empty slot of his pistol.

He cocked the pistol and opened the door in front of him frowning as he saw boxes and desks piled on top of each other.

"Looks like they set up a barricade to try holding the mechs off," explained the voice now in his ear.

Bryant nodded, looking over the barricade and around him to make sure it was safe. With an awkward jump, Bryant vaulted over the desk.

"Look out!," shouted the voice.

Bryant grunted as he hit the floor in his awkward way of going over it and heard something turning on. Bryant grabbed his gun and quickly got behind cover. The mech started to shoot at him. Bryant moved his head when he felt the bullets graze his cover. He inhaled closing his eyes, trying to find some kind of calm in his mind. Kind oceans eyes looked back at him.

'You got this, mi cielo. Kick their asses. Show them what a Shepard is made of!'

Bryant opened his amp at same time he opened his eyes and got out of cover, ramming into the mech full force. The mech staggered which proved the perfect opportunity to finish it off with a few bullets.

The mech laid by his feet as his biotics subsided. He shook his head as the impact rattled him.

"Keep moving. We need to get you to the shuttles," said the voice impressed.

Bryant smirked as he continued up the small set of stairs and grabbed a few thermal clips.

"Liked what you saw?" he asked the voice as he placed the thermal clips into the pistol.

"There isn't time for this," the voice said annoyed.

Bryant sighed looking back to seeing dead bodies. A sad frown replaced his smirk as he didn't even want to think what made them lay there near where he was. With a shake of his head he opened the door in front of him. He took a step towards the room and saw the mech's at the far end of the room activating.

"Bryant! Security mechs are closing in on your position. Take cover," instructed the voice.

Bryant sprinted quickly to the cover in front of him as the shooting began. He was getting annoyed. He had no moment to really breathe.

'Good! Get angry! Unleash your fury!'

Bryant's biotics flared again and as before rammed into the mech, shooting it and the other two that came from the door next to it.

Bryant doubled over, coughing and spitting out what he knew was blood. He wiped his mouth, sighing heavily with a shake of his head.

"Nice work, Bryant. Coast is clear," praised the voice. "You alright?"

Bryant nodded, "yeah. Nothing new," he replied as he went through the next door.

He felt his lungs were trying to catch up as he breathed. His eyes widen as he saw a giant mech kill two innocents in front of him.

"NO!" he shouted as he went to the window. "No…" he whispered as the two innocents fell on the floor unconscious.

'You can't save them all, mi Cielo. Harden your heart. Keep moving!'

"Don't waste time. I can't keep the mechs distracted for long," said the voice in his ear.

Bryant shook his head as he tried to keep himself calm.

'Keep moving Bryant! You HAVE to move!'

Bryant nodded as he turned around, holding his pistol limply. The next door opened and he saw a heavy weapon in front of him. With a raised brow he approached it.

"More reinforcements heading your way. Grab the grenade launcher off the security officer's body," instructed the voice.

Bryant closed the officer's eyes. He looked away and swallowed. It was never easy. With a reluctant nod he grabbed the rocket launcher. He was still a bit weak as he picked it up, dropping his pistol in the process.

"Here come the mech's. Use the grenade launcher to take them out," instructed the voice.

Bryant was relieved to hear that it wasn't going to be a group of people he had to use this on. He took cover quickly and prepared for the mech's to approach his area. As the thought left him, the door on the far side of the room opened and out came the mech's shooting at him. He aimed and fired the rocket. It hit them and a pipe nearby which exploded and fire shot out of the tank.

"Take the elevator down one floor," said the voice.

Bryant held the launcher and just shrugged, "where does this go?" he asked as he looked on him to find where to place it on himself.

"On your back, now hurry!" said the voice.

Bryant reached behind him and with a click the launcher stayed in place. He wiggled his lower back to see if it would fall and when he heard nothing fall he went to pick up his pistol and walked to the elevator, pressing a button to take him down one floor.

He paused as he left the lift. He stared at the fire not seeing a safe way through.

"Hurry! Get to the door! Run!" shouted hurriedly the voice.

"Are you crazy! I can burn alive!" he shouted back.

"Just RUN!"

Bryant groaned as he looked at the fire. With a huff he yelled as he ran into the fire, closing his eyes as he went through it.

He opened one eye then the other followed as he looked behind him. He grinned as he was seemingly ok, giving himself a double check to make sure he had no burns. He turned around jogging into the next door.

"You're doing… -Bryant. Head to the… -meet you…"

"Hey! Hey! You there?!" Bryant yelled, tapping his ear piece.

"Bryant? - read me? I've got… -closing in… -position."

He groaned in annoyance as he heard static on the other end. He looked around, feeling a bit lost. He went through another door and another, finding a himself in an office like room. He looked around, finding datapads and looking at scans, recordings, all pertaining to him. He didn't know what he was really seeing.

A noise caught his attention, taking his pistol out, it seemed he missed two mech's. He threw them against the wall watching as they malfunctioned and powered down by the force. He breathed in heavily, coughing into his hand seeing more blood than before.

'Bryant…'

He looked at the door at the sound of her voice.

"Geai Bleu…"

She smiled at him. Gesturing him to follow her. He couldn't believe that she was there. He rubbed his eyes to clear the imagine feeling his mind playing tricks on him but as he opened his eyes... she was still there. White dress flowing down loosely on her. Her hair long and black, curling at the bottom… just as he remembered her. Her red lips, her skin a soft brown, her midnight blue eyes always kind when looking at him.

'We have to move…'

She gestured for him to follow and she disappeared as she left the room.

"Wait!"

He ran after her looking down the hall where she ran. She was nowhere to be found. He swallowed. He came up the stairs and heard his name.

"Shepard!"

Bryant turned to the window, his heart racing as he looked at the window and the man behind it. Before Bryant could asked the man a question he was gunned down by the giant mech hiding behind the smoke and fire that raged behind the man.

"NO! STOP!" Bryant banged on the window, hoping to shatter it but to no avail.

The man looked at him shocked as he fell at his feet. Bryant's head was spinning. He always saved lives. He couldn't save them…

"Why?..." he asked himself.

With a sniff he turned around, pained eyes stared back at him.

"I know… I can't save them all…"

She nodded back at him and pointed to the door. He looked at the door then back at her but she vanished. He didn't want to move. He was tired. Exhausted. In pain. Sore. He just wanted to curl into a ball and stay like that forever if he could.

'Push forward, Bryant. Keep going. Shepard's don't quit.'

He frowned at that.

"That easy?" he asked her.

Another explosion rattled his mind to get back to reality.

'Move.'

Bryant un-holstered his pistol and walked to the door as the sounds of gunfire was getting louder. The door opened, hearing biotics unleashing. He found a man using his biotics and shooting the mechs at the far end of the room.

"Shepard? What the hell…" the man asked confused, pausing mid sentence as a bullet whizzed past him.

Bryant ran to his side, taking cover. With an inhale of breath he got out of cover and used his biotics to lift the mechs, shooting them as they floated towards them.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were still a work in progress," asked the man to his left.

More mechs came from the door and Bryant ducked behind the glass rail.

"First, don't call me Shepard. It's Bryant. Second, who are you and what is going on?"

"Yeah… sorry. I forgot this is all new to you right now," the man responded. "I'm Jacob Taylor… I've been stationed here for -"

Jacob paused in his introduction as a mech shot in between them.

"Damn it!" he cursed.

With narrowed eyes he got up and shot at the mech, blowing its head off.

"Things must be worse than I thought if Miranda's got you running around-"

"Miranda? Is that the one in my earpiece? Who woke me up?" Bryant interrupted quickly.

Jacob nodded quickly not really getting what he meant, "I'll fill you in, but we better get you to the shuttle first."

"Fine! But I want answers!"

Bryant cursed under his breath as he got out of cover and began to shoot them. Jacob helped with his biotics, lifting the mech's into the air making them easier targets.

Finally, Bryant was able to breathe, coughing up blood as he inhaled sharply.

"You ok?" asked Jacob as he watched him.

"Yeah. I'm fine," said Bryant with a nod and a wipe of his mouth with his arm.

"There is much to talk about but we really should get you to safety," said Jacob as he motioned behind Bryant.

"Yeah, I can see right now is not the best time to ask," Bryant gestured for Jacob to take point.

Jacob nodded and took one step when his omnitool went off.

"Check. Check. Anyone on this frequency? Anybody still alive out there? Hello?" came a voice from Jacob's omnitool.

"Wilson? This is Jacob. I'm here with Bryant. Just took out a wave of mechs over in D Wing," responded Jacob with a finger to his earpiece.

"Shepard's alive? How the hell… never mind. You need to get him out of there. Get to the service tunnels and head for the network control room," instructed Wilson.

Bryant raised a brow at the way Wilson's voice sounded either confused or surprised. That didn't settle well with him.

"Roger that, Wilson. Stay on this frequency," answered Jacob with a nod.

Bryant opened his mouth to say something but thought better of it. Instead nodding with him. He finally had a look at Jacob and the insignia on his chest looked familiar. Yet so very distant was his mind from reality as it was trying to comprehend what was going on around him. He couldn't place where he had seen it.

"C'mon, the service tunnels are this way," gestured Jacob behind Bryant as he walked past him to take point.

Bryant nodded turning around to follow him.

"I think I remember a Wilson checking on me one time when I woke up," commented Bryant as he followed Jacob.

"That's him. He's the chief medical tech. Answers directly to Miranda," answered Jacob as he opened the door and looked around.

They both heard a noise of something powering on and immediately began shooting at the mech that greeted them. Three more followed as they came through the door, Jacob quick on his feet to dispose of them with his biotics.

"Thanks man," said Bryant in gratitude.

"No problem. Let's keep moving," Jacob said. He mused something over in his mind and spoke, "Wilson? Find us another route out of there. Preferable one that doesn't lead straight into an enemy squad!"

Bryant sighed in relief to hear Jacob say that. He really was growing wary and his vision was becoming blurry.

"Oh God! They found me! Help!" cried out Wilson.

"Wilson? Where are you?" asked Jacob now concerned.

It made Bryant go ahead of Jacob running. He hoped that he could save Wilson. Jacob didn't bother stopping him as he ran.

"Server Room B! Hurry! They're out of control!"

Bryant stopped midway up the stairs looking at Jacob frantically to which it was.

"Up those stairs, Bryant!"

"Oh, God! I'm hit! They shot me!"

Bryant took two stairs at a time, reaching the top and opening the door quickly.

"Jacob. Shepard. Down here," grunted Wilson on the floor.

"Don't call me Shepard. Its Bryant. Where does it hurt?" asked Bryant as he quickly turned on his omni tool and scanned him.

"Bastards got me in the leg," Wilson answered with a groan.

Bryant looked at Jacob, pointing to his omni tool.

"Should be some medi-gel in the first aid station on the wall," Jacob said pointing to the dispenser. "Hopefully there's enough to get him up and moving again."

Bryant walked to it and added it to his omnitool, walking back to add it to Wilson.

"Thanks, Bryant. Never thought you'd save my life. Guess that makes us even now," said Wilson with a relieved sigh.

Bryant nodded, "I guess it does. I remember seeing you the first time I woke up."

"Yeah. That was me" he grunted. "I thought maybe I could shut down the security mechs. But whoever did this fried the whole system. Completely irreversible."

Bryant was about to respond when Jacob beat him to it.

"We didn't ask what you were doing. Why do you even have security mech clearance? You were in the bio wing," asked Jacob suspiciously.

Bryant raised a brow, "you didn't see the many officers dead while getting around the station?"

Jacob frowned at that.

"Weren't you listening? I came here to try and fix this. Besides, I was shot! How do you explain that?" challenged Wilson.

Bryant crossed his arms over his chest looking at Jacob, "he has a point you know. And it doesn't matter. We need to move anyway."

"You're right Bryant. We need to find Miranda. We can't leave her behind," nodded Jacob.

"Forget about Miranda," chimed in Wilson. "She was over in D wing. The mechs were all over that sector. There's no way she survived."

Bryant narrowed his eyes, "I won't leave her behind."

"A bunch of mechs won't drop Miranda. She's alive," said Jacob upset.

He looked at Bryant with a nod in gratitude.

"Then where is she? Why haven't we heard from her?" asked Wilson. "There are only two possible explanations: she is either dead… or a traitor!"

"I was in communications with her before I ran into Jacob over here," said Bryant as he nodded towards Jacob's direction. "She was a bit busy trying to make sure she got out of wherever she was alive." Bryant paused for a moment trying to get this thoughts in order. "Besides, that makes no sense? Why did she wake me up and warn me about the attack?"

Something in Wilson changed. Bryant saw the shift in his personality.

"Okay, maybe she's not a traitor. But that doesn't change the facts. We're here, she's not. We need to save ourselves," suggested Wilson. He looked behind him and pointed to the canisters blocking their way, "the shuttle bay is only a few-"

He didn't finish his sentence as mechs came from the other side.

"Use overload on the canisters!" advised Wilson as he got behind cover.

"I don't have overload!" Bryant barked back as he tried to peek over the edge of his cover.

Wilson muttered a curse and slowly peeked his head over his cover and overloaded the canisters, ducking quickly once they exploded.

"These mechs don't know when to quit!" exasperated Jacob.

Bryant huffed, "they are programed to not quit."

Jacob laughed, "true."

Bryant smiled. Finally something that was familiar to him. Joking around.

Wilson rolled his eyes, "that's it. Let's get out of here."

Bryant rolled his shoulders to alleviate the tension on his upper back. The armor felt a little off for him. He hoped he would be able to get a different kind. Maybe one he can tinker with.

"Ok, we took 'em down, but this is getting tense," said Jacob making Bryant pause in his step towards the door. "Bryant, if I tell you who we work for, will you trust me?" asked Jacob a bit skeptical.

Bryant turned around slowly with a tired sigh he stared at Jacob.

"This really isn't the time, Jacob," interjected Wilson.

"We won't make it if he's expecting a shot in the back," Jacob challenged back.

Wilson huffed with a shake of his head, "if you want to piss off the boss, it's your ass, Jacob."

"Whatever. Just say what you want to say," Bryant interjected. He was starting to get a headache.

"The Lazarus Project, the program that rebuilt you... it's funded and controlled by Cerberus."

The name awoken a pain in his heart as he stared wide eyed at Jacob. Like a shot to the heart, he staggered back.

"It was a rogue faction calling themselves Cerberus."

"Its major Kahoku.."

"Why can't she remember, mama…"

"LEAVE ME ALONE!" she screamed, gripping her head in pure pain.

"So long as she is alive, he will never stop hunting her down!"

"She has a chance to change the galaxy! To unite us all!"

"This is for the best… it's best if i'm not there…"

"Bryant!" Jacob grabbed his arm as Bryant tripped and almost fell on his back.

"Don't touch me!" he seethed at Jacob as he pulled his arm from his touch.

Jacob let him go with a raised brow.

"Your organization caused my sister to die on Virmire!" He cried out in anger.

Jacob looked down as Wilson rolled his eyes. Bryant looked at his hands.

"All she wanted… all she ever wanted was a normal life… a life to grow up with no reason to look over her shoulder…" whispered Bryant as he closed his eyes, tears fell onto the palms of his hands. "And you took that away from her… since she was born…"

Jacob looked at Wilson with a raised brow in question. Wilson just shrugged as he folded his arms across his chest.

Bryant sniffed and wiped away his tears, looking at them with anger.

"I would never work for Cerberus," Bryant barked.

"Look, I'd be suspicious too. But right now, we have to work together. I thought you deserved to know what's what," Jacob began. "Once we're off the station, I'll take you to the illusive man. He'll explain everything. I promise."

Bryant raised a brow at the name.

"Illusive man?"

"Not his real name," spoke up Wilson.

Bryant shook his head, "whatever. Let's just move. I don't like you or any of this. But I won't leave you two behind."

Bryant turned around and continued to go through the station. Not trusting him at his back he kept behind Jacob and Wilson. Memories haunting his every turn as she saw her. Leading the way, running. Her loose white dress flowing behind her. She looked back at him with a smile and a nod.

'Why did you have to leave me Geai Bleu?' His mind asked. A question he wished she answered.

"C'mon, through here. We're almost at the…" said Wilson breathless.

He put in the code and the door opened, on the other side a woman started at him, teeth bared.

"Miranda! But, you were…"

Miranda didn't give him a moment longer to talk, shooting him point blank on his chest with her SMG.

"Dead?" she asked coldly.

Bryant did a double take as he could have sworn it was his sister standing in front of him. Hair, mannerisms, voice, and as she looked at Jacob it seemed she had the exact same eye color. The only difference was her skin. But other than that, Celestine Claire Shepard was standing right in front of him.

"What the hell are you doing?" asked Jacob shocked as he came in running.

Bryant took out his pistol. Celestine or not, it didn't, matter. He didn't just risk his neck for Wilson to die in front of him.

"My job. Wilson betrayed us all," Miranda said with a glare.

"Even if you're sure, did he deserve that welcome?" Bryant asked.

"He sabotaged the security system, killed my staff and he would have killed us."

Bryant narrowed his eyes as she stared at him. The same eyes like hers. The same that said 'I tell the truth.'

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

"I am never wrong. I thought you'd have learned that by now, Jacob," Miranda answered calmly.

Bryant's ears rang at that.

"I am never wrong, Bryant. You should know that by now."

Bryant shook his head as he lowered the gun, "either way. You should have taken him alive or something. With Cerberus, I would expect torture," Bryant said with a glare to Miranda.

"Too risky. But I can tell Jacob here, couldn't keep things to himself."

"Lying to Bryant isn't the way to get him to join our cause," responded Jacob with a nod.

"Cause? Pfttt. I ain't going nowhere with you," Bryant huffed.

"You can leave if you wish after you talk to my boss."

"The Illusive man."

Miranda nodded, "come on. He is waiting."

"We are going to another station?" Bryant asked.

"You can stay here if you wish and die with everyone else," Miranda suggested in a dark way.

Bryant muttered something under his breath as he followed Miranda into the shuttlebay.

0-0-0-0

Jessica sighed. Another life gone. She hoped Garrus would be ok. She placed the blanket on the last of the members of his squad. She should have been here sooner… they might -

"Don't."

Emerald eyes looked at his ice blue ones as he entered the room.

"It's not your fault. It's all mine," he began as he approached their beds.

"It's not, Garrus."

Garrus chuckled. It was humorless. Devoid of anything other than pain.

"It's not?" he asked her. "I made them continue to stay doing justice to the citizens of Omega… they just wanted peace to live," Garrus sighed as he touched one of the blankets.

Jessica didn't really know what to say. She felt in part, responsible. She should have been here too.

Garrus looked up, his visor going off.

"Looks like we are found," he said as he grabbed his sniper rifle nearby and went to the other side of the room.

Jessica followed him out of the room, with one look over her shoulder to each blanket. She nodded and went to the other side of the room with Garrus.

"How many?" she asked him as she looked through the binoculars she had nearby.

Garrus paused in his answer as the count on his visor was still going.

"Too many to count. Get ready."

"I am always ready," said Jessica with a smirk.

Garrus' mandibles fluttered.

Their moment disrupted as a rocket flew past them and hit the other end of the room. Jessica grabbed her pistol nearby and ran down the stairs going all the way to the bridge.

"Be careful down there, Kitten," said Garrus as he placed his helmet and positioned himself to snipe anyone who came through the bridge.

"And what fun would that be?" she joked.

Garrus sighed.

0-0-0-0

Bryant held his head in his hands. Her face was all she could see. Staring back at him.

"We should be there shortly, Shepard. The Illusive Man put us under your command. Do you have any orders?" asked Miranda.

Bryant groaned, "don't call me Shepard. Bryant is all you need to say. And not that I can think of besides the usual," he said as he looked at Jacob and Miranda, finally sitting upright. "Watch each others back and if we find any survivors, make them a priority to keep safe."

"That's unlikely, Bryant. No one was left at the other colonies. They were completely deserted," said Miranda with a raised brow.

"Be nice to find somebody," Jacob interjected. "Anything's better than another ghost town."

Bryant sighed, looking out the shuttle's window. He really just wanted to sleep. Just...

'Keep going, mi Cielo. You got this.'

"Yeah…" he whispered. "Anything for you…"

Miranda and Jacob looked at each other and then at him with confused expressions.

0-0-0-0

Jessica rolled and ducked behind her cover. Her biotics coming to life as she stood slowly. The mech becoming a problem now.

"Jessica?!" came in Garrus' concerned voice.

"I'm ok," Jessica replied. "Annoyed, but ok."

"I need a good shot at this bastard!" Garrus seethed.

"Then we do this the old fashion way, up close and personal."

Jessica vaulted over her cover, despite Garrus' protest. Her biotics flaring out, wips formed in her hand.

"Alright, you shit. Bring it," she taunted as she whipped her wips on the floor.

The sound of a whip made some of the eclipse mercenary's flinch. With a flick of her wrist, the whips were able to get the said mercenaries out in the open for Garrus to snipe them and lastly she wrapped the mech in front of her and pulled bringing it down.

With two more shots and wasted SMG bullets on it's back, the mech exploded. Jessica sighed breathlessly.

"You ok, Kitten?" came in Garrus' voice in her ear.

She nodded looking back at him.

An explosion behind them was heard and Jessica ran back into the building.

"Where is that coming from?" she asked as she looked around.

"Damn it. They've breached the lower level," Garrus sighed. "Well, they had to use their brains eventually," Garrus mused over a strategy as he came to the stairs. "We need to shut the shutters before they can get through." Garrus grimaced.

"I'll go. You stay here and keep that bridge safe," advised Jessica as she checked her SMG and Pistol.

"Kitten you have to be careful. Promise me," said Garrus as he gave her a stern look.

Jessica nodded, "always."

Garrus' heart was in turmoil, "don't give Gustav a reason to hunt me down," he grimaced as he tried to lighten the mood. More for his sake than hers. "I would like to live, you know."

Jessica paused in her step. She shook her head in humor as she went through the back of the stairs door and down the flight of stairs.

With her biotics powering up and SMG at the ready she ran to the first shutter. Once she pressed it she threw grenades onto the other side and took cover. She only had to wait ten seconds for the shutter to close. She moved on to the next which she needed to vault over half raised walls to get to the other shutter.

She gasped and slid almost getting caught in a vorcha's flamethrower as she rounded the corner. With a powerful throw she was able to make the tank on the flamethrower blow. Covering her face as flesh was rained down on her.

"Ewww…."

She shook her head and continued moving, throwing anyone coming through the shutter. Again, touching the big red button she needed to wait for ten seconds. She threw more grenades and took cover by the button. Varren growled as they came towards her. She sighed in relief as the grenades exploded and the shutter closed.

'One more to go.'

"Garrus?" she asked as she ran to the other side of the place to reach the next shutter.

"I'm here. You ok?" he asked as he grunted, taking cover and reloading.

"Yeah. Got one more," she said as she slowly walked into the last shutter.

It was eerily quiet. The hairs on her neck stood on end and her gut telling her they were hiding.

She took cover and as quiet as she could, made her way to the shutter's button. She heard a varren's growl nearby, making her pause in her step. Her emerald eyes narrowed as she saw the big red button. It was so close yet she didn't want to alert anyone nearby to her presence just yet.

Reaching into her belt pouch on her hip she mentally counted how many more grenades she had. Which wasn't much but if she could get to the door she could make them count. With a deep breath she counted to three.

One

Two

Three

She took out her pistol and made a run for it, the varren picking up on the noise. She threw her pistol at the big red button and threw the grenades on the other side as the VI made the countdown from ten seconds. With her biotics flaring she threw the varren that came after her, glad that it was only two and shot a warp at the vorcha in hiding. Grenades exploded behind her as the shutter finally closed. She was so glad it was now over as she took cover and was able to take down the last of the vorcha nearby.

"Get back here, Jessica! They're coming through the doors!" Garrus said alarmed as the door was being pried open.

Garrus positioned himself with this sniper rifle by the stairs.

Jessica inhaled a breath and ran as fast as her legs could carry her.

"Watch my back. I'll deal with Archange!" said Garm, the Bloodpack's krogan leader.

A vorcha nearby was thrown against the wall. From the impact broke it's neck and fell on the floor.

"Over my dead body," Jessica said darkly as she came into the room.

Garm smirked as he signaled for another of his team to take her on.

Her biotics flared as her wips formed in her hand. She unleashed everything she had on the damned korgan so it wouldn't regenerate and used his size to her advantage to take cover and shooting the vorcha shooting at her. With a grunt, she flipped over the krogan, her whips tangled on it's neck. One she landed on the other side, the krogan fell on its back. Jessica wasted no time in shooting its headplate. Blood splattered nearby.

She ran up the stairs as she heard Garrus grunt.

With the little energy she had left she threw Garm away from Garrus. Breathing heavily as she stared him down.

"That is precious, Archangel. Need a tiny human to protect you," Garm taunted.

Garrus' mandibles fluttered, "you just pissed her off," he smirked. "She doesn't like to be called tiny."

And with that Jessica ran to him, whips in hand wrapping around the korgan. Like a bouncy ball she threw him towards the window. It shattered upon contact. Garm yelling as he went out, holding onto the whip. She let her biotics disappear and the last thing she heard was Garm's yell of terror.

Jessica fell on her hands and knees as she tried to get air in her lungs. She exhausted a lot of energy.

"Kitten?! You ok?" Garrus asked as he came beside her.

Jessica could only nod. She was too tired to speak.

Garrus went back to his position, trying to find something for Jessica to eat or something to help her when his visor had a big red dot in the center of it.

"Arcangel!"

Garrus turned towards the open area where he was taking cover as a helicopter hovered over their place.

Jessica's heart stopped as the gunship open fired on Garrus.

"You think you can screw with the Blue Suns!" yelled Tarak from inside his gunship.

"GARRUS LOOK OUT!"

With shaking legs she got up.

"No Jessica! Stay back!" Garrus ordered of her.

Garrus rolled out of the way as a bullet whizzed past him.

"This ends now!" Yelled Tarak as he shot a rocket.

"Garrus!" Jessica cried out.

The blast blew her away from Garrus. With a grunt she hit the wall. Her vision swimming, trying hard to focus, she inhaled sharply as she got up. She looked at Garrus' unconscious body, blue blood pooling around him.

Emerald eyes narrowed as her biotics violently exploded, red was all she could see as she walked menacingly towards the gunship.

"You're dead," she threatened as she unleashed the full force of her biotics on the gunship.

0-0-0-0

"Bryant? Is that… you're alive?" asked Tali as if she was dreaming.

Bryant smirked, "is that surprise I hear in your voice?"

Tali blinked.

Bryant paused trying to give her a reason to trust that it was really him.

"Remember when Gustav gave you the Geth data? Did it help you complete your pilgrimage?"

Tali's eyes widen at that, "y-yes… it did. It's really you!"

Bryant nodded with a smile, "I have to admit. It's good to see a friendly face."

"Put your weapons down, Prazza. This is definitely, Commander Bryant Leon Shepard," introduced Tali.

"Just Bryant will do, T," he sighed. Already annoyed.

"How do you know? And why is he working for cerberus?" asked Prazza skeptical as he placed his shotgun behind him.

"No one else was there to give her the data besides her, me and Gustav when he came aboard the Normandy," responded Bryant.

Tali nodded, confirming his story.

"And I don't work for Cerberus. They brought me back to life. I just want to know why people are disappearing from human colonies."

Prazza blinked as Tali looked at him.

"Likely story. No organization would commit so many resources to bring back one soldier," said Prazza skeptical.

Bryant's eyes narrowed at that.

"You haven't seen Bryant in action, Prazza. Trust me. It was money well spent," interjected Tali.

Bryant was surprised to hear that from her. She was that confident in his abilities that she would praise him as such? It was laughable to him. To him it was money and resources wasted. The one they needed, was his sister. Not him. He didn't do anything. She did. She did it all.

"Perhaps we can work together. We're here looking for a young quarian named Veetor. He was here on pilgrimage," began to explain Tali.

Bryant raised a brow at that, "isn't that a little strange?" he asked. "A quarian visiting a remote human colony?"

Tali shook her head in amusement, "Quarians can choose where they go on Pilgrimage remember?" she asked with a pause. "Veetor liked the idea of helping a small settlement. He was always… nervous in crowds."

Bryant now understood. And of course he remembered. He would ask her a million and one questions about her people whenever they had a moment to talk.

"She means that he was unstable. Combine that with damage to his suit's CO2 scrubbers and an infection from an open-air exposure, and he is likely delirious," corrected Prazza.

"When he saw us landing, he hid in a warehouse on the far side of town. We suspect he also programmed the mechs to attack anything that moved," finished explaining Tali.

Bryant inhaled deeply as he thought for a moment.

"Veetor's the only one who can tell us what happened here. We should work together to find him," suggested Bryant with hope in his voice.

"Yes," nodded Tali. "I was going to suggest the same. Two teams are better than one," she paused. "Besides, you will need two teams to get past the drones."

Bryant groaned, "it's never easy is it?"

Tali laughed, "if it was easy we would have left by now."

Bryant chuckled, "yeah I know."

"You still like to whine don't you?" Tali said with a shake of her head.

'It wouldn't be Bryant without his whining.'

Bryant rolled his eyes at his own Celestine in his mind.

"Now we're working with Cerberus?" asked Prazza incredulously.

Tali rolled her eyes as she looked at him, "no, Prazza, you're working for me. If you can't follow orders, go wait on the ship," she huffed. "Head for the warehouse through the center of the colony. We'll circle around the far side and draw off some of the drones to clear you a path."

Bryant raised a brow, "your people really don't like Cerberus. What did I miss?"

"They killed our people, infiltrated our flotilla and tried to blow up one of our ships," Prazza responded with disdain in his voice.

"That's not how i'd have explained it, exactly. It was nothing personal," interjected Miranda.

"We can argue over who killed who later. Right now, we've got a job to do," cut in Jacob.

"Agreed," said Tali. "We work together to get to Veetor."

Bryant nodded, "keep in radio contact."

Tali smiled, "will do." She turned around and took one step forward only to pause and look at him over her shoulder. "Whatever happens… it's good to have you back… B."

Bryant smiled at that.

0-0-0-0

Jessica watched as the gunship blew up in front of her, falling pieces rained down around the area. She turned around checking Garrus over, her omni tool on as she contacted Mordin.

"I… need... a… team… Mordin…. please… Garrus… is…." Jessica tried to explain to Mordin but she was exhausted.

"Say no more. Help is on the way," came in Mordin's voice.

Jessica nodded as she scanned Garrus with her omni-tool.

"If you die... I'm kicking your ass," she said with gritted teeth as she tried to keep herself awake,

Garrus breathed out as Jessica pumped his system with medigel.

"Hang in there big guy," she encouraged as her heart hammered in her chest out of relief.

Garrus gurgled, his hand holding onto the tip of his sniper rifle, bringing it closer to him.

"Stay with me, Garrus," said Jessica as she completed her scan of him.

Voices were heard in the distance. She got up and looked through her binoculars. She sighed in relief as she saw people with a medical bed for him.

"Hang in there big guy. Help is on the way. Ok?" she asked of him as Garrus could only see her eyes.

"Over here!" she yelled at the team that were already in the building.

Her omnitool beeped at her. She opened the message quickly, her eyes widen in alarm.

"Quickly!" she said as she gestured for the medical team to help her with Garrus. "There isn't much time, move!" she exclaimed as they quickly added Garrus onto the bed.

The entire team of five plus Jessica all ran as fast as they could. The lower floor exploding beneath them. They were already going over the bridge's platform. With one last look to the top area of their hideout she ran after the medical team, the grenades she set on the wall, exploded, caving everything in.

0-0-0-0

Bryant sighed in relief as the heavy mech exploded. He was so exhausted. He had to use everything he knew about his abilities just to take that damned thing down.

"How are they, T?" asked Bryant as he opened his omni tool, ready to help her if needed.

"They are going to be fine. This is your chance to talk to Veetor," Tali advised as she looked at him.

Bryant nodded. With a pat to her shoulder he left her to attend to her people. He slowly approached the door taking a deep breath as the door slid opened for him. What he found… well, it was a bit unsettling for him.

"Monsters coming back. Mechs will protect. Safe from swarms. Have to hide. No monsters. No swarms. No-no-no-no-no-no."

"Veeor?" asked Bryant as he approached the quarian cautiously.

"No Veetor. Not here. Swarms can't find. Monsters coming. Have to hide," responded the quarian.

"Nobody's going to hurt you anymore," responded Bryant as his brows knitted together to understand the quarian.

"I don't think he can hear you, Bryant," responded Jacob as the quarian didn't answer.

Bryant hummed in response as he powered up his omni tool. Finding the frequency in which the monitors were currently in, Bryant shut them down all at once.

Veetor looked at the monitors confused. Bryant powering down his omnitool made Veetor turn around.

"You're human. Where did you hide? How come they didn't find you?" he asked surprised as he got up from his chair.

"Who didn't find us?" asked Miranda.

"The… monsters. The swarms. They took everyone," explained Veetor.

"Why didn't the colonists fight back, Veetor? What happened?" Bryant asked him softly.

"You don't know. You didn't see. But I see everything," said Veetor ominously as he went to the console and pressed a button.

Bryant's heart hammered in his chest, drowning out any other noise as his eyes scanned the entire panel of screens. All showing the enemy, taking people away in caskets.

"Looks like security footage. He must've pieced it together manually," said Miranda as she took a step closer to the console.

"What the hell is that?" asked Jacob.

"They can't be… my god. I think it's a Collector," responded Miranda as a soft gasp escaped her lips.

"Is that some kind of alien?" asked Bryant as he finally found his voice.

"They're species from somewhere beyond the Omega 4 relay. Only a few people have ever seen one in person," began to explain Jacob.

"They usually work through intermediaries, like slavers or hired mercenaries. If they're involved with the Reapers somehow, it could explain what happened to the colonies," concluded Miranda.

"The collectors have advanced technology, they could have a weapon that disables an entire settlement at once," added in Jacob.

"The seeker swarms. No one can hide. The seekers find you. Freeze you. Then the monsters take you away," said Veetor terrified.

Bryant sighed softly. There were a thousand and one questions he wanted to ask but the more he looked at the quarian the more he couldn't. He was traumatized and needed medical attention.

"We need to get this data to the Illusive Man. Grab the quarian and call the shuttle to come pick us up," ordered Miranda.

Bryant's mind came back to him as he raised a brow in her direction.

'Well… I thought you were giving the orders.'

Bryant was peeved at that remark. Before he could answer, the door behind them opened.

"What? Veetor is injured! He needs treatment, not an interrogation!" came in Tali's angry voice.

"We won't hurt him. We just need to see if he knows anything else. He'll be retuned unharmed," said Jacob as a way to make her see reason.

Bryant wanted to laugh as Celestine laughed in his mind.

'Poor dumbass. Doesn't even know who the fuck he is dealing with.'

"Your people tried to betray us once already. If we give him to you, we'll never get the intel we need," said Miranda with a smirk.

Bryant looked up at the ceiling as Celestine laughed in his mind.

"Prazza was an idiot, and he and his men paid for it. You're welcome to take Veetor's omni-tool data but please. Just let me take him," pleaded Tali.

"You don't have to take Veetor and go. We could work together. Just like old times," said Bryant hopeful. A familiar face is what he needed amidst the chaos that surrounded him.

"I want to, Bryant. But I can't…" she began to explain. "I've got a mission of my own. It's…" she paused to think over her words. "It's too important for me to abandon. Even for you."

Bryant's eyes widen at that. In part understanding. In another, he couldn't believe that she was saying no to him. Two years could really change people, he guessed.

"When it's over and I'm still alive…" she shrugged. "We'll see what happens."

"Wait," said Bryant as he fluttered his eyes. "What do you mean if you are still alive?" Bryant asked as he tried to comprehend her statement.

"I don't think Cerberus needs to hear about it. But it's in geth space. That should tell you how important it is," informed Tali.

Bryant's eyes widen, "are you crazy!?" he exclaimed. The laugh in his head made him pause. "Don't answer that," he corrected.

Tali shifted her feet.

With a sigh he turned to Miranda, "first, he's traumatized and he needs medical care. Tali will give us the omni-tool data and take him to the flotilla," Bryant ordered.

"Understood, Bryant," said Miranda surprised at his annoyed voice.

"Second, the next time you decide to give an order, how about you keep quiet? Say it as a suggestion? I thought I was in charge."

Miranda raised a brow but nodded nonetheless.

"Thank you, B. I'm glad you're still the one giving orders," said Tali with a smirk. "Good luck out there. If I find anything that can help you, I'll let you know," she concluded with a nod.

"Take care, T. Whatever you need, I will be there," he said to her as he extended his hand for her to shake.

Tali stared at his hand and smiled. Instead surprising Bryant with a hug.

"Vas a estar bien," she whispered to him.

Bryant laughed, "been practicing I see," he said as he wrapped his arms around her to hug her tight.

Tali nodded, letting him go.

"We're ready for pickup," said Jacob into his earpiece.

Tali went to Veetor as Bryant watched her help the quarian. His sky blue eyes looked above her to the panel, eyes narrowing.

'They will pay, tenfold," hissed Celestine in his mind.

And of that, he was certain that they would.

0-0-0-0

Jessica sighed in equal relief and enjoyment as she took a shot of tequila to calm her nerves. She was glad Garrus was going to live to fight for the rest of his life. And she was glad to finally rest a bit. Still, she helped anyone who needed it. His clinic really was busy. She thought she was going to lose Garrus to the virus that happened in the area. She analyzed the threat on her omni tool. The virus seemed complex. No wonder Mordin was having a difficult time.

"Another one, professor," came in the nurse who rushed to the professor's side.

"Jessica?" asked Mordin as he looked up.

"I got it," she answered as she went to grab an IV nearby.

"You're going to be ok," she told her patient as she put gloves on and began to find a vein on the sick salarian.

0-0-0-0

Bryant couldn't believe it. He just couldn't believe that he was following the same cripple from two years ago.

"I can't believe it's you, Joker," said Bryant already ecstatic to see a familiar face. And this time one of them was staying.

"Look who's talking. I saw you get spaced," said Joker in a joke but they both gave each other a sad smile.

"Got lucky, with a lot of strings attached," said Bryant as a way to change the subject. "How'd you get here?" he asked.

Jeff sighed, "it all fell apart without you, Bryant," began to explain Jeff. "Everything you stirred up, the Council just wanted it gone."

Bryant rolled his eyes.

'Of course they did.'

"Team was broken up, records sealed and I was grounded," Jeff continued to explain. He was still a bit peeved at that prospected. "The alliance took away the only thing that mattered to me. Hell yeah I joined Cerberus," he cheered.

Bryant hummed at that, "you really trust the Illusive man?" he asked as they stopped by a window.

"I don't trust anyone who makes more than I do."

Bryant chuckled at that and poked him on his arm.

"I made more than you."

Jeff grinned, "but they aren't all bad. Saved your life. Let me fly-" he paused as he pointed to the window. "And there's this. They only told me last night," he said a bit excited.

Bryant placed his hands on his hips as the lights turned on in what appeared to be a hangar bay. Bryant's eyes marveled at the new ship that was parked. He whistled as he placed his hands on the glass.

"It's good to be home, huh, Bryant?" Jeff asked as he too placed a hand on the glass.

"She is beautiful…" Bryant said in awe of the ship. Suddenly he frowned. Sadness replaced his awe. "Geai Bleu would have loved to see this…" he confessed softly.

Jeff looked at him sadly. Understanding the pain. He missed her to this day still.

Bryant shook his head, "I guess we'll have to give her a name," suggested Bryant as he looked at Jeff.

Jeff smirked at that.

0-0-0-0

Bryant needed a few minutes alone to finally gather his thoughts but even that wasn't granted to him as he was called by Miranda over the PA system. With a reluctant sigh he got up from his seat and walked towards the ship. New ship, new home. The name was the only thing that made it something unique. Something that could be home. A reminder that not everything was lost. Even if it's new. Part of him still wondered if anything at all was not really him. He was brought back to life after all. Who's to say that he wasn't a clone or something? He was very paranoid about that.

With a breath he walked into the Normandy's doors, Jacob and Miranda flanking him from behind.

"Welcome aboard the new Normandy, Bryant," said Jacob as Bryant looked around, walking in.

Jeff turned around in his seat, saluting him, happy to be a pilot again. He continued to walk down the ramp, seeing all the new faces. It was brighter than the old Normandy that was for sure. He had to blink several times to adjust to the light. He walked down a few stairs to take a look at the hologram of the ship in the center.

"I've been looking over the dossiers. I'd strongly recommend starting by acquiring Mordin Solus, the salarian professor on Omega," suggested Miranda from behind him.

Bryant nodded as his gloved fingers touched the new table in which the interface of the ship showed.

"We know the collectors use some type of advanced technology to immobilize their victims. We'll need him to develop a countermeasure to protect us," she continued to speak her mind.

Bryant turned around with a nod, "without that countermeasure, we'll be helpless if we ever run into the Collectors."

"Acquiring Professor Solus seems like the most logical place to start," stated a voice that sounded like a VI.

Bryant looked around him and then up, "what? Who?"

A blue ball appeared behind him. Miranda gestured with her chin to the table behind him. With a whirl Bryant came face to face with a blue sphere.

"I am the Normandy's artificial intelligence. The crew like to refer to me as EDI," EDI introduced herself.

Bryant chuckled in surprise, "well aren't you cute. Helmsmen aren't happy when someone takes control of a ship away from them. Especially Joker," he said with a laugh.

"I do not helm the ship. Mr. Moreau's talents will not go to waste," EDI explained. "During combat, I operate the electronic warfare and cyberwarfare suites. Beyond that, I cannot interface with the ship's systems," she paused. "I observe and offer analysis and advice. Nothing more," she concluded as she vanished.

Bryant turned around with a laugh, "oh man. Joker is going to blow a gasket," he shook his head. "Anyone else I have to meet?" he asked amused. "I'm guessing it takes more than just the three of us plus Joker to fly this ship."

"The Normandy has a full crew. They're at their stations awaiting your orders," responded Miranda with a smile.

Bryant nodded.

"Final preparations for takeoff are complete, Bryant. When you're ready to go just pick a destination from the galaxy map in the CIC and i'll plot a course," Jeff explained via the PA system.

"Jacob and I should return to our posts. Come find us if you have any questions," said Miranda with a nod and began to walk away.

Jacob saluted him and walked away, following Miranda to their rooms.

Bryant rubbed his neck as he turned around. His thoughts were finally his but he still needed a moment to get himself together. For the time being however he had to plan the destination to get to the Professor, so he went to the galaxy man. A ginger woman with lovely green eyes looked up from her current task and smiled at him.

"Yeoman Kelly Chambers. I've been assigned as your administrative assistant," she introduced herself with a salute as he walked up the ramp for the galaxy map. "I'll manage your messages and help you monitor the crew," she paused as her eyes lit up. "And I must say, it's such an honor to work under you, Bryant."

"Nice to meet you, Kelly," he smiled at her as he quickly punched in the coordinates to the professor. He turned around seeing her smile, "what's a cute thing like you doing aboard a ship like this?" he asked as he walked down the ramp and casually leaned on the rail.

Kelly giggled, "many things really. But we can have time to talk later. You seem exhausted. You should see Dr. Chakwas down in the medbay."

At the sound of her name Bryant's eyes widen.

"She is here?" he asked unable to really believe that.

Kelly nodded.

Without another word Bryant looked at Kelly and then at the elevator and went in, pushing the number three on the elevator to go down one floor. Once it reached the floor he was a little lost as he looked down both corridors and walked slowly around the elevator to see a kitchen, tables and the medbay with more corridors and doors.

He entered the medbay slowly, seeing grey hair first behind a chair.

"Bryant Leon Shepard. I watched the Normandy crumble with you on board. It's good to see you alive," Dr. Chakwas said as she spun around in her chair and stood with her arms opened.

Bryant couldn't believe that she was there. Right in front of him. Tears suddenly fell from his eyes as he went into her arms. A sob escaped him as he embraced her.

"It's ok Bryant. Let is out."

And he did. All the pain and frustration, anger he felt since waking up finally catching up to him. He couldn't stay on his feet anymore and Dr. Chakwas helped him onto a medical bed, slowly taking off his armor, revealing his nanosuit. She scanned him, gave him a physical as he stopped crying but the tears remained to fall. He was going with the motions to let her do her job. Once she was done she went to get water for him and placed it in his hands.

"Drink. It's good for you," she advised with a smile, wiping his tears with her thumbs.

Bryant nodded, drinking the water.

"Ugh. What is in this?" he asked as he made a face.

Dr Chakwas laughed, "what you were suppose to take upon waking up. It seemed they brought you back exactly as you were. With all your problems."

Bryant shook his head holding the cup in his hands.

"I miss her," he said to her.

Dr Chakwas nodded as she sat on her chair, her desktop showed the picture of her and Celestine hugging each other and smiling at the camera.

"I miss her too," she said softly.

Bryant debated whether to tell her about his make believe Celestine in his mind or not. If he was being honest with himself, he wanted to keep her in his mind. It gave him a sort of… peace. The stability he required at the moment. She was awfully quiet in his mind. But when he would close his eyes if just for a moment he would see her, smiling at him, her white dress flowing around her.

"So? Serving on a Cerberus vessel now?" Bryant asked with a chuckle. "What the Alliance got boring for you?"

Dr. Chakwas shook her head. A smile on her face to hear him laugh a little at least.

"Surprising, even to me," she responded. Shrugging she continued, "Yet, here I am," she paused looking at him. "The kind of trauma you endured would've changed most people, but not you I see. Welcome back, Bryant."

Bryant nodded with a laugh, "thanks. I guess… it feels good to feel welcomed… though you know…"

Dr Chakwas nodded, understanding.

Bryant looked around the small medbay. Well it wasn't small anymore. Plus the windows were a nice bonus that way she wouldn't be closed off from everyone. She could keep an eye on everyone.

"Do you have everything you need?" he asked her as he got up from the medical bed.

Dr. Chakwas nodded as she looked around her desk, "I believe so. This medical bay seems very much like the sick bay on the original Normandy." She paused with a frown, "only thing missing are my private reserves," she sighed.

"Private reserves?" asked Bryant as he looked at her.

She nodded, "I even had a bottle of Serrice Ice Brandy that I was saving for a special occasion."

Bryant laughed, "already doc?"

Dr Chakwas nodded with a chuckle.

"I'll keep an eye out for a replacement bottle," he winked at her.

Dr. Chakwas shook her head, "you needn't worry. It's expensive and we have much larger concerns ahead."

Bryant smirked, "last time I checked, I was loaded."

Dr. Chakwas laughed at that.

"Alright doc. Thanks. I'm going to take all of this armor and go to my room, explore the ship get to know the crew… at least it gives me something to do. And I should get to know them."

Dr. Chakwas nodded, "I will be right here should you need anything."

Bryant picked up his armor pieces, some putting them back on to carry less with him. He walked to the door and paused as it opened.

"It's good to see a familiar face… that is all I need," said Bryant and walked off.

0-0-0-0

Bryant made the rounds after he placed his armor in his locker and put on the white and black Cerberus civivices. He really felt odd wearing something that didn't belong to him. He was happy to take a hot shower and finally get something in his stomach. Though he wished it was less iron based foods and more what he just liked to eat but he understood how the doctor was concerned for his health.

He went to the kitchen first to talk to Mess Sergeant Gardner. Though he actually placed him more on plumbing than the food. He would rather keep it that way. Gardner was actually very hostile towards the idea of not cooking but Bryant was also a cook, so there was no need to worry and less plumbing in the food.

He got to meet the engineering crew and was surprised that they were Alliance and laughed about what the Alliance and the Council wanted gone and the nonsense they were spewing but that was politics.

At least he wouldn't be bored while working with them. Though he felt that they were a bit understaffed. Especially where it mattered most.

He got to talk to more people and finally got to know EDI and Jeff's annoyance to it. Bryant couldn't help but joke around with him. It felt natural as though the last two years never happened. It made his heart feel lighter and it made him feel ten times better.

"By the way, we are near Omega. You might want to suit up," advised Jeff as he looked at his console.

Bryant looked over his shoulder to read the report coming into the screen.

"Alright," Bryant sighed. "According to the dossiers there are two people I need to recruit."

Jeff nodded, "good luck down there and uh, you know. Be careful and all that," he said with a half salute.

Bryant softly patted his shoulder with a nod, walking away to his cabin.

'This makes no sense,' said Celestine in his mind.

"I was wondering when you were going to speak," Bryant replied as he went into the elevator and pressed the button to go up one floor.

'I was observing. I am an observer. I need to know what is around me. Not all of us can be sugar and rainbows with other people you know.'

Bryant laughed at that comment as he went into his room and into his closet.

"I really hate this armor," he commented with an annoyed whine.

'So tweak it. Change it. Make it yours. A BRYANT original.' She emphasized.

Bryant nodded, "not a bad idea, Geai Bleu."

"Alright, Bryant," announced Jeff through the PA system. "The Normandy is docked. Ready whenever you are."

"Thanks Joker."

0-0-0-0

Jessica sighed tiredly. There were so many patients, she was starting to wonder if Mordin really had everything under control. A pat on his shoulder caused her to look behind her slowly. Smiling as she looked into ice blue eyes.

"You alright, Kitten?" Garrus asked her softly as he looked at her face.

Jessica nodded looking around, "just a bit tired. That's all."

"You should get some rest then," he advised as he too looked around.

"I think that applies to you more than me," she chuckled.

"I am ok, Kitten. Really," he reassured.

Jessica nodded.

"Another one!" called a nurse.

Jessica sighed.

"I'll help. Tell me what to do," Garrus said as he looked at her for orders.

Jessica only nodded, "grab a pair of gloves."

0-0-0-0

Bryant sat on the sofa next to Aria as his mind tried to comprehend what he just heard.

"Wow…. wish I would have came a bit sooner," he murmured as his mind was in a bit of a pit.

"Yes, well. What is done is done. Archangel got what was coming to him. You don't come to Omega and try to change it," said Aria with a laugh. "Omega is freedom. So long as the one rule is followed, everyone is welcomed to Omega."

Bryant didn't like her tone. She really didn't care of any of it's citizens so long as she wasn't trifled with and everyone made wide berth whenever she came around.

"However, the Salarian Doctor, if you hurry, you might help him."

Bryant perked up at that, "explain."

"The district he is in has been… quarantined. I had it quarantined because suddenly people started to get ill. I don't want that coming into contact with me or the rest of my station," Aria elaborated.

"Then we need to go and help him," suggested Jacob as he looked at Bryant for an answer.

"Of course we will go help him. I failed one, I won't fail the other," Bryant said as he got up from the sofa.

"Yes, just, don't bring the plague back with you," Aria huffed.

Bryant smirked, "scared of little bacteria?"

"Your sister could play with me like that, but not you. So keep your head straight," smirked Aria back.

Bryant narrowed his eyes. How did she know about Celestine? Since when? Questions that he knew would never be answered. He knew his imaginary Celestine wouldn't tell him. Because she was just that, imaginary. He had no inkling of her past.

With a nod he walked off, Miranda and Jacob following close behind him.

0-0-0-0

With Garrus already understanding the basics on bedside manners, Jessica was helping at the front desk, cataloging everyone's name who came into the clinic.

"Ok. The last one is stable," said Garrus as he came from behind her.

Jessica nodded, deep in concentration with her current task.

"Heads up, three people claiming to only want to talk to the professor are coming in," said the security officer into her earpiece.

"Very well," Jessica answered.

"I need to speak to the prof- Garrus?"

Jessica looked up as sky blue eyes looked at the turian behind her.

"Bryant?!" Garrus responded incredulously.

"What are you doing here, Jefe?!" Bryant said excitedly as he extended his hand for Garrus to do their secret handshake.

Jessica raised a brow as Garrus and Bryant did their secret handshake.

"It's good to see you!" Bryant said with a grin.

Garrus laughed then groaned, "don't make me laugh, Bryant. My face is barely holding as it is."

Bryant held up his hand for him to see, "may I?" he asked.

Garrus nodded, turning to the side for Bryant to get a better look at the bandage.

"Dude, that must have hurt… what the fuck happened?" Bryant asked as his fingers softly touched the side of his face.

"Rocket to the face," said Garrus as he turned back to look at him.

"Damn, bro," Bryant laughed. "Didn't your mother teach you not be a superhero?" he snorted.

Garrus shook his head in amusement, "but it was so cool and with explosions!" he grinned as best he could.

Garrus paused and nodded in the direction of the human sitting behind the counter watching their exchange with a smile. Bryant's eyes were greeted with mischievous emerald eyes.

"Jessi?" Bryant asked confused.

"The one and only," she grinned.

Bryant laughed as he went to her and extended his hand for her to shake. They shook hands, always respectful of each other.

"Glad to see another friendly face," he smiled.

"I heard you were dead," she said.

Bryant paused for a moment looking away and nodded, "yeah. I was dead."

"How are you -?"

"No time for that. I need to speak to Professor Mordin Solus," Bryant cut her off.

Garrus moved to the side and pointed to the end of the hall.

"End of the hall to your right," he clarified.

"Thanks, Jefe," thanked Bryant with a pat to his arm and left down the hall with Miranda and Jacob following behind.

"Who do you think those two are?" asked Garrus softly to Jessica.

Jessica could only narrow her eyes. In that moment the fans were powering down and the room became slightly darker, only the emergency lights were turned on. Jessica got up from her chair and went to the end of the hall where Bryant was currently speaking to the Professor.

"Must stop plague first. Already have a cure. Need to distribute it at environmental control center. Vorcha guarding it. Need to kill them," said the Professor quickly.

Bryant inhaled deeply. Already knowing that the first fight was eventually going to be with organics.

"I'll get in and deal with the vorcha," said Bryant with a nod.

"I'll go with you," said Jessica from behind him.

"People need help here," said Mordin as he turned around to give Bryant the vials.

"I know this station. You need someone like me who knows the station and get to those controls faster," she challenged.

Bryant nodded, "then Garrus can come too. It would be good to talk to familiar faces," he said as he looked at them both.

"I am at your six," said Garrus.

"Garrus, you sure?" Jessica asked concerned.

Garrus nodded, his mandibles fluttered to give her a smile.

"You two stay here and help as best you can, if not then go back to ship," Bryant ordered.

Miranda narrowed her eyes, "all right. As you wish."

Jacob only saluted.

"Here, take plague cure. Also, bonus in good faith. Weapon from dead Blue Suns mercs. May come in handy against vorcha," said the Professor as he gave him a red pistol.

"Thanks, I will hold onto it then," Bryant grimaced.

"Come on! We don't have much time before this entire area is suffocated!" said Jessica as she walked out the room.

"Right behind you," murmured Bryant with a nod to the professor.

"One more thing," said the professor. Bryant paused and looked over his shoulder, "Daniel, one of my assistance, went into vorcha territory. Looking for victims. Hasn't come back."

Bryant nodded, "If I see him, I'll do what I can to help."

"Thank you," breathed in the professor in relief. "Told him not to go. But he's smart. Bright future. I hope," he grimaced at the end.

Bryant only nodded, "be back, professor."

"Mordin, is fine," he called out from behind him.

Bryant only shook his head.

0-0-0-0

Bryant rubbed his neck as his heart hammered in his chest. He really didn't know what to expect but he was sure that his gut was telling him that he wasn't going to like it.

'Steel your resolve, Bryant.'

Bryant sighed, "yeah, yeah."

Jessica looked at him with a raised brow, "yeah, yeah what?" she asked.

Bryant paused and looked at her with a sheepish smile, "nothing. Nothing."

Jessica looked at Garrus with a shrug and back to Bryant.

"Ok. Let's do this," said Bryant as he went through the door, Jessica locking it behind them. "I am so glad to be away from those two," Bryant commented as he took point.

"They seemed, Cerberus," questioned Jessica suspiciously.

Bryant nodded, "they brought me back it seems to fight the Collectors." Bryant looked around, his ear twitching as he walked forward slowly, "they're abducting human colonists. I can't let that continue."

Before Jessica could comment further on that, Bryant gave them a signal to stop. Two vorcha were on the other side. He signaled to Garrus to snipe them quickly and with a nod, Garrus got into position and sniped the two vorcha in the head. Bryant looked away as he did so. No matter who it was, it was never easy to take out a life.

"Reinforcements incoming," announced Jessica as she took the first cover in front of her, Bryant on the other side of her and Garrus stayed in the middle of them.

The firefight that ensued was hard for Bryant to get into. His body still needed to recover and the armor was not making it easier. Celestine in his mind also tried to tell him to keep his cool but he wouldn't listen. Of course he wouldn't. He just wanted this over with. He wanted to just sleep. Sleep forever.

"What the hell was that?" Jessica asked him a bit peeved once the fight was over.

"I just came back from the dead, Jessi," Bryant answered her with a deep sigh.

Jessica rubbed her neck at that omission. He said it so casual as if she asked him what was the weather like today. It was odd to hear such a thing.

"I believe that you are you, B, but I have to ask… you sure you're not… you know?" asked Garrus as he approached them.

"I don't know Garrus. I see myself in the mirror but even I don't know that answer," Bryant responded softly as he looked at his gun.

Garrus placed a hand on his shoulder and gave it a light squeeze to show his support.

"I believe it's you," he said with a nod.

Bryant smiled, "thank, Jefe. But I need to believe that. You know?"

Garrus nodded.

"Come on. We need to move, Jessi, take point. We are right behind you," ordered Bryant.

Jessica nodded.

She actually didn't know if she should believe him or not. He was presumed dead. Was it wasted credits to bring him back? Not entirely. But then again, the Alliance didn't want to do anything. Hackett and Anderson tried their damndest to continue the fight but the Council… the Council won it over. But if it's true… she couldn't stand by and allow them to take more colonists.

"So…" spoke up Bryant. "What made you leave the alliance?" he asked curiously.

Jessica paused in her step, debating if she should tell him.

"I left because the Alliance wasn't doing anything. I knew colonists were being abducted out of nowhere. That doesn't happen en masse. But the Alliance was taking the Council's side. I wasn't going to sit on my ass and wait for orders. I did my own investigation and it lead me to Omega," she explained.

"And you Garrus?"

"I was tired of the bureaucratic crap on the Citadel. Jessica asked me to come so I did. Thought I could make a difference here," Garrus paused at that. His mandibles fluttering. "It's over now."

Bryant wanted to comment further but now they were deeper into the station. And the bloodpack heavily fortified the location further into the station.

"This is going to take a while," grimaced Bryant as he got behind cover.

0-0-0-0

He didn't know how many times he had checked his messages, waiting for her reply. Everytime he would check, it was empty. He muttered curses to himself as he passed by his crew.

"Dammit, kid. Answer," he muttered to himself.

"Everything alright, Captain?" asked one of his staff.

He nodded without looking up from his current task and continued on his way to his quarters.

With a deep tired sigh he sat on his chair, ready to set up a report when something across from him caught his eye.

He didn't know how many times he stared at the damned blade. Heavy to wield but beautiful to stare at. He still couldn't believe the reports. Bryant couldn't be alive. That was impossible. Wasn't it?

He only shook his head and went to work.

0-0-0-0

"We're close to the environmental controls. Let's get that cure in, then hit the fans," announced Jessica from behind him.

Bryant nodded as they approached the last door to the controls.

"You no come here. We shut down machines, break fans!" said the vorcha running to them. "Everyone choke and die! Then Collectors make us strong!"

Jessica's eyes narrowed. Her suspicions coming to realization at that confession.

"What do the collectors want?" asked Bryant hopeful that the vorcha would stand down.

The vorcha hissed, "Collectors want plague! You work for doctor, turn on machines, put cure in air. We kill you first!"

Bryant's eyes widen and ducked behind the first cover he saw as Jessica and Garrus took their own cover. Rocket's were coming from the top and Bryant waved to Garrus. Garrus nodded and looked around for a better vantage point. He looked at Jessica but she was already using her biotics to make way for them to get to the controls.

With a shrug he tried to keep his mind focused.

'Breathe, Bryant. Breathe,' advised Celestine in his mind.

He inhaled deeply and come out of cover, ramming into the vorcha and shooting them at point blank range.

'Steel your heart. It's your survival vs. theirs and those who need you,' continued to advised Celestine in his mind.

Bryant was glad that for the time being it was over. He quickly typed a code in the keyboard and the fans came to life.

"Quick, take cover!" ureged Garrus as he took cover by the wall and aimed his sniper rifle.

More rockets aimed at them as they worked together to get to one side place. They needed to add the cure into the fans themselves. The vorcha and krogan made it difficult for him to catch up to Jessica and Garrus as they made quick work of them. He admired their way to use each other's strengths and weaknesses to help each other survive the ongoing assault.

"Last one," sighed Bryant as he entered the vial into the fan.

"Great work," praised Garrus.

"Thanks. Though I am very tired," he smirked.

Jessica was pensive, trying to put two and two together.

"Something on your mind, Jessi?" asked Bryant as he walked passed her, putting his shotgun on his lower back.

"Why is Cerberus investigating the Collectors?" she asked with suspicion.

Bryant turned to look at her, "I don't care who is investigating them, I want them stopped. If the Alliance and the Council won't help and Cerberus is, then I will use their resources to find them. I won't let our people just die with no hope of rescue. Plus the Reapers might be involved and Celestine died for this!" he snapped at the end.

Garrus looked downcast at that.

"I won't let her death mean nothing. Those fuckers won't be brought back," Bryant huffed.

Jessica nodded, "then I will join you."

Bryant raised a brow, "seemed to me that you won't work with the others aboard the Normandy."

Jessica furrowed her brows at that. She knew the Normandy was destroyed and the blueprints were classified. She shook her head, "I will work for you and not Cerberus. I want to stop the reapers from coming back as well."

Garrus nodded, "I am going either way," he shrugged. "I want to… you know…"

Bryant nodded and smiled at him, "I don't hold it against you, Garrus. I never will."

Garrus nodded, understanding.

Their way back was a pleasant walk. Bryant walked ahead of Jessica and Garrus as they were talking softly to each other. Bryant actually felt better or more at peace with familiar faces.

'Thank you…' said Celestine in his mind.

Bryant nodded, "don't thank me. He was only doing his job. For the greater good…"

'Not many would have forgiven…'

Bryant chuckled softly, "I guess I am one of the few…"

'That you are little brother. That you are.'

They finally arrived at the professor's clinic. Bryant was very happy to know that people were getting better.

"Commander!" a voice called out to him.

"Hey, David was it?" Bryant turned to the assistant.

"Daniel, actually. I wanted to thank you for rescuing me."

Bryant nodded, "anytime man. Just… don't get yourself under unnecessary trouble."

Daniel nodded and went back to work in his room, glaring at the Professor on the other side of the room.

Bryant raised a brow at that as he entered the one with the Professor currently praising Jessica and Garrus.

"So," began Bryant as he interrupted their meeting, "we've cured the plague. Are you ready to help stop the Collectors?" he asked Mordin.

Mordin nodded enthusiastically, "yes. Unexpected to be working with Cerberus. Many surprises," he sniffed.

Bryant shook his head, "I don't trust Cerberus but I need their resources to stop them," he elaborated. With a nod he turned around, "see you aboard the Normandy, Mordin."

Mordin looked at Jessica with a nod, "glad you coming along. Need help."

Jessica nodded, "anything I can provide I will."

0-0-0-0

Miranda paced back and forth as did Jacob as Mordin, Jessica and Garrus walked into the conference room.

"We only needed the professor," said Miranda as she crossed her arms over her chest.

Bryant raised a brow, "we need all the help we can get. The illusive man isn't the only one with resources and connections."

Miranda nodded, "so, where do we put you two?"

Garrus raised a hand at that, "forward battery. I will take a look at the main gun."

"Jessica will help me. Her expertise and extensive knowledge in biology is not be turned," advised Mordin.

Miranda only narrowed her eyes as she walked out of the conference room.

"I will show you to your rooms then," said Jacob as he walked out of the room.

Bryant sighed with a rub to his neck and was surprised to see Jessica behind him.

"What?" he asked her with a raised brow.

"If we are going after the Collectors, we are going to need someone with extensive knowledge in technology," Jessica advised.

Bryant laughed, "I think I know enough about technology to work by myself in engineering."

Jessica smirked, "the more the merrier."

Bryant nodded, "alright. Who do you have in mind."

Jessica opened her omni tool without saying anything else.

0-0-0-0

Next time on Lonely Hearts in Space:

"The collectors hit the colony hard. Think anyone got out of there alive?" asked one of the crew members aboard the Normandy. Bryant raised a brow at that.

"The colonists, no. Heard one of the ships is still there though."

"What colony is this?" asked Bryant as he interrupted their conversation.

Both the crew members were startled as they looked at him.

"New Canton," informed one of them.

Bryant's eyes widen at that, "shit…" he opened a channel to Jessica's earpiece.

"Go ahead," she answered.

"Isn't Gustav stationed at New Canton?" he asked her.

There was a moment of silence, "yes? Why?"

Bryant changed the channel, "Joker, I need you to fly faster. Gustav needs our help."

---

Translations:

Mi cielo – means my sky in Spanish

Tienes un problema, hijo? - means do you have a problem son in Spanish

Papa – means dad or father in Spanish

Que tienes? - means what's the matter in Spanish

Hijo – means son in Spanish

Geai Bleu – means blue jay in French

Mama – means mom or mother in Spanish

Vas a estar bien – means you are going to be ok in Spanish

Jefe – means boss in Spanish

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Thank you so much for reading. Reviews are most certainly welcome.

-Much love, SerenityxGarrus