Hey guys! Thought I'd updated this story a couple of days ago, but guess I'm still getting to grips with FF's interface! Can see that there have been some follows and faves, so I have to assume that you like what I've started with. Thanks to JrBenson and Zizania for the reviews ;-)

Just a little bit about my stories... I like happy endings. That being said, I also like tension and build up, so hopefully there will be a fair few chapters to come before I reach a conclusion... of sorts. I've written a few chapters in advance so will be updating regularly for a few weeks, but as I haven't finished yet I can't guarantee that I won't be reviewing earlier chapters to keep continuity as clean as possible.

Right now I plan on leaving this story on a 'semi cliff-hanger', so expect there to be some unanswered questions at the end. However I am entertaining the idea of a sequel. All will depend on my muse!

Enough of me droning on... hope you enjoy the next couple of chapters.

TWO

Shapes, colours, voices; everything passed by in blurred sequence making little to no sense. Shepard knew she wasn't conscious, her surroundings were too disjointed to be real, but she felt her awareness slowly beginning to sharpen. Her legs moved without command, their destination instinctual and after a dozen or so steps Shepard began to recognise her surroundings.

"This looks like… Therum," she muttered to herself, puzzled. Why was she here? Could it be… Was Liara here too?

No sooner had the thought entered her mind when her sharp hearing caught a familiar voice on the wind. "Can you hear me out there? I'm trapped; I need help…"

Excitement, anxiety, anticipation all flooded through her in quick succession. Her legs stopped moving and once again her vision darkened. The scenery shifted rapidly around the Commander making her dizzy and nauseated. When the shifting stopped she was in an elevator, but a quick look at her surroundings told her she was no longer on Therum.

"Noveria? Christ, what the hell is happening?" With conscious thought this time she stepped forward, hands reaching for purchase on a nearby rail.

"I imagine you want to talk to me Shepard, about my mother…"

"Liara?" Shepard stumbled, legs weak now, like they were damaged and hadn't been used in days. "Liara!?"

"She is not here Commander Shepard."

Walls blurred again, spinning until Jane found herself on her hands and knees, head pressed into the cold metal floor, willing the images to stop moving. 'That voice. I know that voice.'

"You must… listen to me."

Familiar and desperate, the voice spoke of pain and suffering. The Commander lifted her head, slowly settling her gaze on the Asari Matriarch. "Benezia? Where's Liara?" She asked pleadingly.

The figure before her winced, fighting an invisible force. "… must listen. My Little Wing… losing the will to fly."

Shepard shook her head, her mind fogged with images from her memory, all trying to 'correct' the vision before her. "I don't understand," she groaned through clenched teeth.

"Her heart grows colder… hopes and dreams… fade."

*Flash*

Liara touches her forehead, words spilling unbidden from her mouth, stumbling over her tongue as the Commander looks on in mild amusement.

*Flash*

Eyes black. Minds and bodies move as one. Shepard cradles her lover's body with tender loving care.

*Flash*

Liara bangs her fists ineffectually against the escape pod's port-hole. Tears stream down her cheeks, her voice silent in the vacuum of space.

*Flash*

A child comforts her mother; sea green eyes brimming with unshed tears; the date shows Shepard's birthday, ten years after the end of the war.

*Flash*

Benezia glares at her. The pain in her eyes is deeper than before; the pain of a mother for her child.

"She gave herself to you. Heart, body and soul… You promised to return to her."

The spinning had stopped, replaced by throbbing pain that lanced white hot through her mind.

"I promised," Shepard repeated, remembering clearly now her conversation with Liara after the young Asari became the new Shadow Broker.

"Then you must… return to her." Benezia glowed with biotic power, her hands spread wide with deadly intent. "It is time to wake up Commander."

Arcs of blue biotic power shot through the battle hardened soldier, lifting her high above the Matriarch's head before slamming her through a wall. Darkness engulfed her, the images disappearing into an abyss. Slowly she began to feel her consciousness returning to reality, somehow knowing that the pounding along her temples was the only part of her dream that was real. Photo-sensitive cells recognised the light filtering through her closed eye-lids and the sharp pain that followed told her it was too bright. She wanted to turn away from the source, but couldn't remember how to move her head.

"I think she's waking up."

Shepard reacted to the new voice, her muscles reminding her suddenly how to turn toward a stimulus. Sensations rushed through her nervous system, prodding numerous memories which flooded through her now conscious mind. The Reapers, Cerberus, the Catalyst. She had chosen to do what the Illusive Man could not, to control the Reapers. She could still recall the heat, like fire engulfing her skin as she struggled to hold on. How was it she was still alive?

"Commander?"

'Is that…Miranda?' Shepard tried in vain to open her eyes.

"Commander Shepard, can you hear me?" The ex-Cerberus officer's voice held a note of desperation and concern.

"It's no use Princess, Shepard's gonna lie back and let us finish all the hard work first. Shit, not that I blame her. Must have hurt like a bitch, whatever the hell that machine was doing to her."

'Jack too? Damn, why can't I move faster?' Her head felt heavier than ever, but she managed with great effort to turn it toward the other voice.

Miranda sighed, exasperated. "Jack, could you for once just try to say something positive?"

"Like what? How everythin's sunshine and daisies since she did her hero bit? We still have a few dozen big ass machines hangin' in space just waitin' for the next opportunity to crush us like bugs. I say we nuke the fuckers before it's too late."

The Commander managed to open her mouth to speak, but only succeeded in croaking through the dryness in her throat. She tried opening her eyes instead; her attempt bringing nothing but artificial brightness and more pain.

"She is waking up," Miranda's voice lifted with carefully controlled excitement. "Go and fetch a doctor."

Jack huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Do I look like a dog to you, or a slave?"

Jane opened her eyes a fraction more, focussing enough to catch the genetically engineered woman rolling her eyes.

"I could buy you a collar and chain if you'd like to make it official," she suggested with a hint of something that the Commander wasn't sure she was supposed to be privy to.

'Are they… flirting?'

"Kinky," the ex-convict shot back with a grin as she left the room.

What felt like many hours later, following medical exams, probes, needles and a stream of officials popping by to update, congratulate and wish her a speedy recovery; Commander Shepard had a moment to reflect as she sat on her hospital bed, propped up by many pillows.

Jack had only stayed long enough to tell her to stop lazing around and get her ass moving, though the order was softened somewhat by the grin she couldn't seem to contain. Miranda was kind enough to fill in some of the gaps for her, informing her that per her orders Jack's kids had not seen any front line action and with only a few really serious injuries they were all going to pull through. Not that the biotic trainees had slouched through the fighting; many soldiers had escaped fatal hits thanks to their barriers. Jack was practically skipping she was so giddy. There were definitely new tattoos to be had from their victory.

Shepard couldn't help but feel good about the news, but the smile she held was short lived as Miranda began listing the casualties.

Admiral Anderson was found dead on the scene when rescue teams moved onto the Citadel and Crucible. Grunt and Javik had both taken direct hits from a Reaper, though it hadn't stopped the tank-grown Krogan from taking down a Brute and half a dozen Marauders before his body finally stopped functioning. Jacob's body had been uncovered from amongst the rubble with Kasumi's uncloaked corpse only a foot or two away. The list just kept getting longer.

And those were the ones they had bodies for. Many more were MIA; Cortez, Dr. Michel who had been evacuated from the Citadel and had given herself as a field medic, Ash and James Vega.

The Commander listened stoically, eyes closed, to the names; anxiously waiting for and cringing when she heard those from her own squad. When Miranda came to a stop she opened her eyes and frowned at the former Cerberus officer.

"What of the Normandy?" she rasped desperately; her throat still sore.

Miranda ducked her head; she had known this was coming. "We don't know yet Shepard. The fleet reports seeing it in the middle of the fight, weaving around the Reapers like it was in some bizarre ballet, but nothing of where it went when that energy wave hit. Knowing Joker, he probably tried to outrun it."

Shepard nodded, trying to picture it herself. "Do we know who was on board?"

"I can get you a crew roster if you'd like. As far as I know Liara returned to the Normandy before you advanced," she offered with a knowing look.

Jane shot Miranda a thankful glance, but didn't linger on the topic. The day's physical and emotional upheaval was beginning to take its toll and she knew she needed to sleep soon. "Keep doing what you can to find out where the Normandy is, or at least in which direction to start looking." Shepard missed the amused raising of a perfect eyebrow as she automatically began issuing orders. "I need to talk to Hackett; check in with the fleets. I'm not sure what to do with the Reapers yet, I'd like to get a closer look and see if there's any way to communicate. I really need to know when I can get out of here."

Lawson put a hand on the Commander's shoulder and squeezed lightly. "I spent two years rebuilding this body. You'd better take care of it Commander."

It was Shepard's turn to look amused now. "Or what? You'll tell your girlfriend?" She grinned remorselessly at the sudden note of panic in her friend's eyes.

"What? How…?" Miranda sighed, reigning in her emotions. Jack was still a topic of some confusion in her own mind; she wasn't yet sure how she was supposed to explain it to anyone else. "How long were you eavesdropping?"

"I think the word you're looking for is 'overhear'. I don't think I can be accused of eavesdropping when I couldn't even move." She shimmied down into the hospital bed a little more and dropped her head back into the pillows. She reached out to find the hand that had been resting on her shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Are you happy?"

The slender brunette sighed as though studying the topic was painful. "We bicker and argue about how insane we are to think we'd be good together. We have nothing in common. I tried to take her out to a restaurant once; she stuck out like a sore thumb and obviously didn't want to be there. We left when she started threatening the waiter for ogling me." Miranda shook her head at the memory. "It shouldn't work."

"But?"

Miranda smiled genuinely. "When she kisses me, none of that matters. I'm not my father's failed experiment, or an ex-Cerberus operative. I'm imperfect and insecure, but it's ok because she wants me, and God help me I want her too."

The Commander smiled in support of what was clearly a complicated issue for other woman. She could feel her concentration slipping with the need to rest, but wanted to offer as much support as she could. "Is it enough?" she enquired curiously.

"I don't know. For now it's enough. I guess we'll just have to see where it goes."

"There's nothing to say that couples have to do everything together. You're both very independent. Neither of you strikes me as the type to be tied down… Emotionally at least." She grinned at Miranda's almost blush. "You could be perfect for each other."

Lawson cocked her head in thought, chewing on the Commander's words; even half delirious the woman could speak sense. Maybe it was that simple. Had they been too focussed on what constituted a conventional relationship to really consider what would work for them? "You might have a point there Shepard."

"Of course I do," Jane yawned, her eyes shut as she listened to her friend. "I'm full of points."

"Get some rest Commander. I'll have a report ready for you when you wake up."

Shepard collected helmet and gauntlets after fixing her greaves in place. Reluctantly she'd let her second help her dress in her battle gear, fervently ignoring the teasing innuendos from Miranda's biotic lover. She knew she was pushing her body's limits, but lying in bed while her ship, crew and partner were still lost to the galaxy was more than she could bear. Besides, so long as she could stand and walk, getting out and about would kick the stiffness out of her muscles and help her heal faster, right?

The war might have been over, but the information she'd gleaned over the past three days in hospital had painted a fairly dire picture. All allied fleets were stuck in the Sol system without the Mass Relay up and running; outside communication was non-existent; the static Reapers ominous loitering was causing low level panic and authorities were furiously trying to shield the public from threats of starvation. There were many mouths to feed and Earth was not the self-sustaining planet it used to be.

The Crucible Child had told her that her choice would give her power to control the Reapers. At the time the Commander had understood that her essence would be given in sacrifice to take that control, thus killing her for a second time; a choice that had gone against every fibre of her being.

Besides breaking her promise to Liara, who was she to hold that kind of power over another sentient being? Destroying them completely went against her nature, with so much destruction already plaguing the galaxy they could be useful in helping to rebuild. She could rebuild Earth, Palaven… Thessia… Rannoch.

Synthesis though? With limited time to consider the full ramifications of combining all synthetic and organic life, Jane was reluctant to press the button that would instantly evolve all life in the galaxy.

Control seemed like the best option. Perhaps with more time to think she would have decided differently. Even now, with hindsight, she was beginning to question her choice. But the choice had been made and it was one she apparently was going to be allowed to live with. In light of all that had happened, perhaps it wasn't such a bad thing.

Before she could really buy into that conclusion though, she needed to test out this whole business of controlling a Reaper. As soon as she could walk without passing out Shepard had discharged herself and taken the first military shuttle she could find off world.

"Shepard, you shouldn't be doing this alone," Miranda cautioned for the thousandth time since leaving the hospital. "We have no way of knowing what's in there, or if the Reaper consciousness is intact…"

"Which is why I am going alone. I need you guys on the outside." The steely determination in her voice said she wasn't going to budge.

Miranda huffed and continued to grumble to herself as the Commander checked her pistols. She'd planned to go low profile with the weapons; if the thing did still have a consciousness then she didn't want to appear overly hostile.

Jack was slouched on one of the benches, her feet propped up by the opposite wall while she played with a rocket launcher. "Still think you're an idiot not to take a big fucking bomb in there. If it is aware it should know that it pissed you off big time; if not..." she shrugged nonchalantly, and then grinned as she added, "Well why the fuck not? Blowing shit up is always fun."

Miranda scowled, still fussing over the Commander's armour. Shepard though couldn't help but grin along with the ex-convict. "I'll consider that as a last resort," she added with a chuckle.

The one time Cerberus officer half listened as the Commander and Jack argued about the best explosives, all the while going over and over worst case scenarios in her head. She knew Shepard had good reason for wanting this to be a solo mission, but old habits die hard and it didn't feel right letting her CO go into unknown territory without backup. Miranda checked and rechecked the equipment she'd insisted on using to monitor the Commander's progress inside the Reaper, including an on board head camera so they could keep an eye out for danger. It was all she'd been allowed to do. It would have to suffice.

A tapping from the cockpit drew their attention and all three turned to watch their destination loom larger and larger in the window until only a portion of the Reaper was visible.

When it appeared that the monstrosity was ten times their size there was a collective gasp from inside the shuttle. Directly opposite to their trajectory a small hatch had opened and what looked distinctly like a landing pad slid silently out to await their arrival.

"Guess they're rolling out the welcome mat," Shepard quipped, breaking the sudden apprehensive tension.

"There goes your element of surprise," Jack observed, most of the joking tone having disappeared. Her body tingled with biotic potential, ready to fight whatever came out of that hole.

"Jack, relax." Shepard touched the other woman's shoulder in what she hoped was a calming gesture. "I intended to enter in plain view anyway; this doesn't change anything, except perhaps wasting less time trying to find an entrance."

Jack shrugged off the gentle touch and continued to stare pensively at the colossus machine. "Whatever Shepard; it's your show, do what you like. Why should I care if you get your head blown off?"

Jane shook her head with a wry smile, but it soon faded as she came to face Miranda. It was easier to deal with Jack's concern since she always made such an effort to pretend that she wasn't concerned at all, but the lithe brunette was more open with her feelings since their time together on the Normandy SR2, and Jane could almost read her like a book. Now wasn't the time to make light of the situation, not if she ever wanted to hear the end of it

There were no more words between them as Miranda helped Shepard on with her helmet and shoved her lightly towards the exit hatch. She had made her feelings clear, now it was up to the Commander to pull off this stunt and set the galaxy moving again.

Their pilot set the shuttle down smoothly on the extended landing pad and the hatch swished open almost immediately. Shepard's boots hit the ground with a metallic thud and without a backwards glance she strolled with practiced confidence into the dim confides of the Reaper underbelly.

There was a strange feeling of familiarity that surrounded the Commander as she navigated the maze of twists and turns. Unlike the last time, there was no ominous sense of danger around each corner. In fact, the further she progressed, the more comfortable she felt; sort of like coming home.

Instinctively following her nose, Jane swiftly arrived at her destination. It wasn't like any area she'd visited before on a Reaper; it didn't have that intimidating feel of death about it. Being fairly empty of anything really interesting Shepard found her attention immediately taken up by a small podium. Without hesitation she planted her feet firmly in the centre and gripped the rail; tactile contact seemed suddenly very important; the response was instant.

"Awaiting instructions."

The deep mechanical voice was so disturbingly familiar that for a moment Shepard lost the pleasant tranquillity that she'd begun to rely on. Harbinger. Her insides twisted in fury at the memory of the pain she'd been witness to.

"What is your purpose?" She began, using the mental list she'd compiled from suggestions of her friends and superiors. Number one on most people's list was this one.

"No purpose has been given," the emotionless reply came.

Shepard's eyebrow rose, but she carefully kept a lid on the hope that bubbled inside her. "What was your purpose; why did you leave dark space?"

"Organics are self-destructive if not cultivated. Ensuring continued existence was our purpose."

Anger flooded her once more, "By executing all space faring species; by pruning us!?"

"All other options were tested. Results were negligible … Pruning was deemed effective."

Shepard gripped the rail harder, her head bowed as she took several deep breaths. There was still no emotion to the Reaper's 'voice', even Legion with his monotone had been more expressive. Logically she knew there was no point in being angry with it, but it was just so difficult when she felt incensed by the idea that they were all just livestock to be corralled and slaughtered. Eventually she felt her anger receding and managed to lift her head.

In her mind Shepard quickly went over their conversation so far. She thought carefully about her next question. "Who do you take 'instruction' from now?"

"The one you think of as 'Star Child' has given you active control over us, Commander Shepard. We await your instructions."

"How do you feel about that?" Shepard queried curiously before she could stop herself. There was a brief pause and the Commander's past experience with AI let her know that her question had confused it.

"We do not have enough relevant date to answer that question."

Jane took a moment to consider a way to reword her thoughts; what did she really want to know? "Every time I've encountered one of your kind I sensed a great amount of antipathy towards organics. Both Sovereign and Harbinger spouted their thoughts like they were deeply held beliefs. Yet you appear to have no concern whatsoever over losing this war." She paused briefly to organise her thoughts. "Are you capable of feeling emotion?" She enquired after another contemplative pause.

"We are capable of emulating the emotion of our controller."

This conversation was becoming more and more interesting as the minutes ticked by. The Reaper's answers were only sparking further questions for Shepard. "So your controller is the one who sought to destroy us," she reasoned out loud. "Will you be emulating my emotions?"

Again there was silence. Eventually the monotone voice returned. "We have insufficient data to accurately answer that question."

"I guess we'll wait and see then."

It took some time, but Shepard eventually got through all her questions with corresponding answers, which for the most part were satisfactory. The fleet would be pleased.

The Reapers had retained the knowledge of dark matter, the inner workings of the mass relays and were equipped with communication technology that spanned across numerous star systems. They were ready to begin rebuilding as soon as Shepard gave the go ahead.

Realising that she should return to the ship very soon, Shepard had one final inquiry. "Would you be able to search for a distress signal or com traffic from any ship in this system?"

"We can scan all systems for specified signals."

Shepard grinned. "See if you can pick up anything from my ship, The Normandy SR2."

"Proceeding…" It took all of five seconds before an answer came back, "Vessel located; Local Cluster."

Jane's heart leapt, her chest filling with the hope she'd been suppressing. "Download co-ordinates into my omni-tool." She waited a few seconds, watching the familiar swirling of GUI disks attached to her arm until there came a familiar beep to signal completion. With that Shepard gave her final instructions and at long last released her hold on the rail in front of her. It was time to return to the shuttle.

In the weeks, months… possibly years to come, the emphasis would be on rebuilding what had been lost to the Reaper invasion. Though lives could not be replaced the same way that buildings could, the Commander was optimistic that the galactic future that lay ahead was brighter than any of them could have hoped for just a few short days ago.

Jack's stance was deceptively relaxed, her shoulder propping the rest of her body up against the open hatch of the small shuttle. The look in her eyes though was anything but. Shepard had been gone half an hour, and while the ex-convict loitered with intent, Miranda kept a close eye on the Commander's vitals.

For the most part she had ignored the impatient and frustrated sighs that came from her fellow biotic, but as nothing untoward appeared to be happening she let her attention drift a little.

Eyes floated over to rest on a set of stiff shoulders; the skin liberally covered by ink in various shapes and forms.

When she had first laid eyes on the young convict on the prison ship Purgatory, the then Cerberus officer had not been impressed. As a point of fact, the first thing she'd done on returning to the Normandy was to recommend to the Illusive Man that they drop Jack off on the nearest planet, habitable or not. Thank God he didn't listen to me, she thought with relief.

With frequent glances at the console, Miranda continued to observe her companion, beginning to puzzle again over the intense magnetic force that had grown between them.

Feeling the gaze on her back again, Jack turned lazily toward Miranda, smirking at the mixture of confusion and desire that was directed her way. "See something you like Princess?"

Miranda blushed and averted her gaze. "You should probably stop calling me that. People might start to think you actually like me."

Jack let her weapon hang limply by her side and stepped forward so she was standing directly behind the other brunette. "I don't like anybody," the walking canvas responded unconvincingly.

Miranda snorted with barely contained derision. "Sure you don't," she drawled, turning to face Jack and capturing warm brown eyes. "'Cause you're a hard arse who doesn't need anyone."

Chocolate orbs narrowed menacingly, while an empty hand circled the operative's waist and tugged her forward. "Don't you forget it."

Miranda's mouth was much too busy then to help her with a retort; not that she really cared while Jack's tongue danced a familiar flamenco with her own. In the back of her mind she was aware that the monitors needed checking again, but the only attention she paid to it was a semi-conscious awareness of the solid surface pressing into her back, while the flamenco slowed to a sensual waltz.

Jack's rough edges pressed closer around her curves. Life and death situations had a habit of riling Jack into a frenzy of hormones and Miranda considered herself fortunate to be on the receiving end of that stress relief.

Long, strong fingers were in her hair, tugging to expose her neck as Jack's ministrations moved south. A swirling tongue at the hollow of her throat drew a small whimper causing Miranda's grip to tighten on slim shoulders as Jack lifted the operative's leg to slide closer between them.

The air crackled with biotic tension, but before either woman could make a move to continue they heard a loud throat clearing and none too subtle sniggering from the open hatch.

Jack growled with frustration, the shotgun she'd abandoned in favour of Miranda's delectable back side was back in her hand. She turned to give the source of their interruption a piece of her mind.

"Having fun?" The Commander asked with exaggerated innocence, her hands held up in mock surrender.

"Fuck you Shepard."

Jane clutched her chest as if she'd been shot. "You wound me with your words yet again."

Jack made a noise like a pissed off grizzly and lunged for the still laughing Commander. She was half way there but was quickly stopped by an elegant hand on her wrist. Miranda's brief discomfort at being caught making out while she was supposed to be monitoring her CO's vitals had passed. The Commander was unharmed and appeared to be in good spirits, which could only mean that she had good news.

"What did you discover Commander?" She asked, getting straight to the point.

Jane smiled inwardly, seeing her former XO's hand rest unconsciously on the volatile biotic's lower back, a thumb rubbing in small comforting circles. One glance at Jack's face and she knew the gesture wasn't going unnoticed. The anger and frustration that had blazed from Jack's eyes moments before now looked confused and uncertain. Jane filed this away to discuss with the young woman at a later date.

"They can rebuild the relays, though their advice is that they remain broken. They're sure that organics will survive longer without the knowledge and use of more advanced technologies." Shepard shrugged with forced nonchalance. "I aim to prove them wrong."

Shepard stowed her weapons and gave instructions to their pilot to shut the hatch and punch in the co-ordinates for the mass relay. There was a collective gasp as with less than a kilometer between them, the giant AI powered up and began tailing them.

Miranda turned to the Commander and immediately noticed the twinkle of amusement dancing in her sea green eyes. Seconds passed before the Commander's communicator began blinking furiously, demanding her attention.

Jack sniggered to herself as Shepard explained to her superiors and the other fleet commanders what was happening, all the while looking like the cat that ate the canary. Damn but Shepard had balls to pull a stunt like that. Though it was about time someone decided to have some fun with those stuffy admirals.