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Bea watched the chrono in the visor of her helmet as she sat slumped on the couch that hadn't been shot to shit from the standoff with Garrus. The bodies of the mercs that they had killed littered the building's walls and floors and she didn't care. All she wanted to do was get off the station and head back to Klencory. Her crew was not that far away and no one was stupid enough to come into a killing zone even if the mercs were dead.

But it wasn't over. Freedom's Progress had been hit before they could react with a counter measure some of the fine STG teams cooked up from samples that their investigators collected. She was confirming that Shepard was alive and working for Cerberus or with Cerberus. That was he mission on Omega and now she had confirmation.

The high, wispy whine of a car quickly coming closer and she watched the car carrying two, or three, of her crew land on the bridge. She stood and walked out of the building, moving absently around the bodies to get to her getaway car. The roof hatch opened along with the side door and Davids stepped out. He gave out a low whistle at the amount of carnage in the area.

His eyes locked onto her helmet and nodded. "What now?"

"We get the fuck out of here before more show up." she replied climbing into the front passenger seat. "Head back to the ship. We need to go to the Citadel."

Davids slid into the empty seat behind her and the doors lowered back into their closed positions. Their driver was deft at handling the car around the winding airways of Omega. Ten minutes later they were back where she had started. The docking bay that held their ship was behind the depot and she made a quick scan of the area for Shepard or Garrus before turning away from the club's front entrance and through the doors to her ship.

The winding corridors that led to her ship were lined with trash, sentient and not, the harsh lights from the signs from the buildings giving the station a grimy desperate and sinister air. Though she was not as tall as her crew her weapons and armor made it clear she was not to be bothered with. It was such a juxtaposition from what her heart was telling her. She was not forged for fighting, she was not hard steel and piercing energy.

Their ship was gone from the system long before the report of her success could make it to their Councilor.

C-Sec academy was not the same as it was two years ago. More security and even she needed to check in her weapons before entering the Presidium. The message at her personal terminal upon entering the hazy purple nebula surrounding the Citadel left her no chance to head to her apartment. The Council had contacted Commander Shepard and she was not far behind him. Her plan was working, she could get Shepard back under Citadel authority and keep Cerberus close enough to keep the Illusive Man in check.

The receptionist at the front desk of the Embassy greeted her with a smile. "Councilor Anderson asked that you go in right now."

"Thank you," she gave the young asari a polite smile and headed up the stairs and into the Embassy's offices.

The Alliance Embassy was the closest to the entrance and she didn't wait for an announcement to enter.

Anderson stood before the holograms of his fellows Councilor's with Shepard beside him. In her periphery she caught Garrus and a Salarian off to the right by Anderson's desk. Garrus nodded at her while the Salarian studied her. Anderson turned to where he heard the door open.

"Dr. Alenko, glad of you to join us." he replied.

Shepard frowned at her or maybe at her surname. He didn't get the memo concerning her marriage, he was dead and no one told him. She stepped into the view of the rest of the Council.

"I came as soon as I could." she replied evenly. "Shepard."

"Alenko." he said and turned back to the Council. "The Collectors are working for the Reapers and Cerberus are the only ones that are doing anything about it."

"The human colonies are not under our jurisdiction. They knew this when they left Council Space."

"Cerberus aren't the only ones doing something about it." Bea replied. "The Alliance has been sending ships into the Traverse trying to find the Collectors' ships and we have an outreach program dealing with setting up defense towers and relays. Gunnery Chief Williams is heading the project."

"Dr. Alenko is correct." the Salarian Councilor said. "To force our help onto the colonies would anger them. We are in a delicate situation."

"The Collector's are working with the Reapers."

"We know Commander," the Turian Council stressed. "We have been studying the remains of Sovereign for the past two years. Developing new weapons and shielding against their attacks if they should happen to get into Council Space."

"And until then? Are you just going let human colonies disappear?"

"The Council's hands are tied legally. They can't force the colonists to leave their homes and the colonies won't let us annex them so that we can protect them. We don't have the ship numbers to pull off a major defense without leaving other areas weakened to pirates and slavers."

Bea crossed her arms over her chest and thought for a moment. "Councilors, have you reinstated Shepard's Spectre status?"

"No, he is working with Cerberus, an avowed enemy of the Council, by right he should be tried for treason." the Asari Council answered.

"That's too far!" snapped Anderson. "Shepard is a damned hero."

"What are your thoughts regarding Cerberus?" Bea asked Shepard quickly.

"Shepard frowned. "They rebuilt me but they are terrorists and pro-human to a fault. The only reason I'm with them is because of the Collectors and my crew. I do not support them."

"But you can trust the crew."

"Since it is a human matter we shall let you handle this as you see fit, Anderson." the Turian Councilor replied and the other two Councilors nodded their approval.

"Thank you." he replied and the holos flashed off leaving them alone.

"I'm reinstating your status as Spectre, Commander." he turned to Bea. "You have been far deeper into the Reapers problem than anyone, Alenko. If the Collectors are working with the Reapers then Shepard is going to need your help. Don't let me down."

Shepard grinned and offered his hand to her. She shook it happily. "It wouldn't feel like the Normandy without an Alenko on board."

Garrus came over and thumped her on the back. "Good to have you aboard, Spectre."

The Salarian came over and Bea smiled at him. "Mordin Solus. Good to meet you Dr. Alenko."

"Ah, yes Dr. Solus." she offered her hand and he shook it. "One of the leads on Klencory worked with you on one of your missions. It is a pleasure to meet you."

Bea grinned back and took the handshake. "Alright then, there is a lot you need to be caught up on on what we've learned from the other attacks."

"Before you two go off to play hero," Anderson interrupted. "You should go do to the labs in C-Sec and get the countermeasures that the Salarians cooked up after the attack on Liberty Point."

You have already manufactured a countermeasure?" Mordin's quick speech made Bea smirk. "I would like to analyze this at the lab."

"Sure." Bea replied. "I'll let Hemmins know I won't be returning with him to Klencory and grab my gear."

"Garrus go ahead and escort the Doc to the C-Sec labs. I'll take Alenko to her ship."

"Sure thing Commander." the turian replied and the two aliens walked out of the office.

"Lets go," Bea replied. "The sooner we get gone the sooner we can get to the Collectors."

"Right." Shepard agreed.

Only Hemmins was aboard The Raven when Bea and Shepard came aboard to retrieve her gear. He eyed the resurrected Spectre but said nothing as Bea went into her cabin to grab her hard case and a duffel bag. Quickly she typed up a note for him on a datapad and left it on her desk.

"So you work for Kumun Shol too?" she heard Shepard ask. He sounded as if he disliked the silence and was trying to pass the time with her gruff captain.

"No, we crew work for Dr. Alenko's family." Hemmins answered proudly. "We were the ship that took her to Ilos and we stayed in the system to spy on the geth when they tried to use the Conduit."

Bea beamed at his proclamation and rounded the corner as if she had just left her quarters. Shepard smiled. "You have a good crew, Alenko."

"Every time you say Alenko I'm going to think you're talking to Kaidan." she replied with a smile. "Bea, please."

"Alright, Bea." he stressed her name to accept the name. "Then don't call me Shepard. My name is Richard."

"You take care of my boss, you hear?" Hemmins growled. "Can't have her husband comin' after me if something happens."

"We'll be fine, Hemmins." she chuckled and gave him a farewell hug. "See you soon. Give the crew my best."

"Aye, ma'am." he nodded as he stepped away from her.

"Come on." she replied with a pat on Shepard's shoulder.

The airlock hissed behind them as they exited the ship. The light from the sun in the center of the nebula casting a lavender hue to their armor as they walked down the dock to the ward on the other side of the large metal doors.

"So... you and Alenko. Married." Shepard started and left it to hang in the air.

Bea looked over at him with a smirk. "Yes, Kaidan and I. Married."

"Must have been hell of a party." he replied as they came over to the depot to hail a cab.

"Oh, yes, it was. The Alenkos can party with the best of them." she chuckled at the memory. "So how is this going to work? Are you going to take Anderson's advice or are you going to stick in the a corner? Just let me know so that I can grab a few e-novels."

Shepard was horrified. "Are you kidding and depend on the two Cerberus Operatives that are tagging along with me? Fuck that. You and I are going to be going over every piece of data together to make sure nothing gets past us. I want the Illusive Man to know exactly where I stand with his organization. That means that you are my go to guy instead of Miranda Lawson."

Bea shook her head. "Use her as a resource and trust her to a point. I've read files on her for a mission just after you died. She's smart, genetically enhanced to be perfect, she would be a very good Spectre if she wasn't brainwashed by Cerberus. Who else did they leave you with?"

"Jacob Taylor. Said he was ex-Alliance, saved the Council from Batarians?"

"I remember that," Bea sighed. "Should've done better by him, something more that just a simple thank you. Miranda and Jacob both stopped the Batarians. The Council wasn't at its greatest then. Hmph, sometimes I don't think it's ever at it's greatest."

"Yet you're still a Spectre."

"I am proud to be a Spectre and so should you," she replied tartly. "Being a Spectre isn't glamorous, Richard. You are given an objective and told to do it, anyway you see fit as long as the public isn't harmed. I was mentored by an asari who had been a Spectre for 400 yrs. She taught me a lot and I'm glad to do what I do. By the way: Keep all receipts for whatever you purchase for your mission. The Council reimburses you."

Shepard smiled. "I'll keep that in mind. Are you my mentor?"

"Only if you need it Shepard." she focused her attention to the depot that the car was landing on. "Zakera Ward? Captain Bailey's prescient."

The car sat down at the depot and the two Spectres exited the vehicle. "We've met." he nodded over to the cafe. "I need to purchase some extra food stuffs for the crew. Our Mess Sergeant requested something special since our mission is dangerous."

"Sure thing. Keep the receipt." she quipped and her partner chuckled at her remark.

He was in there for a few minutes and came out of the cafe with a satisfied grin. "Delivery in ten minutes."

"Sounds good. Lets go." she replied nodding over to the C-Sec building where they could access the docking bay.

The new Normandy was shinier than the last frigate by the same name and the inside was brighter too. More people were at their stations pressing orange holo screens, not turning in their seats to see who their Commander had brought on board. Joker was the first to notice their new teammate. He didn't get up but he did grin at her.

"Hey Doc!" he greeted as she came over with Shepard following behind. "I got back my baby! Ain't she beautiful?"

The handicapped pilot was happiest at the helm of a ship. He had been a boon to her and he was playing like she had not put him as a mole in Cerberus. She smiled down at him like a proud mother admiring her child's new toy.

"She is beautiful, Joker." she replied. "How've you been?"

"Can't complain." he shifted his gaze to Shepard. "The doc here hired me on for a couple of assignments when she was doing Spectre stuff."

"Come on I'll show you the rest of the ship." Shepard gently took Bea's arm and guided her away from the pilot.

"See ya Commander." Joker replied and swung his chair back around to his console.

Shepard let go of her arm as they walked down the rows of crewmen at their consoles. They rounded the galaxy map to where a young red head stood reading from a console. She turned to face her commanding officer as he brought Bea over.

"Commander," she greeted with a short nod of the head. The young woman studied Bea for a moment.

"Bea this is Yeoman Chambers my personal assistant and the ship's unofficial counselor." he introduced. "Kelly this is Beatrice Alenko, she'll be joining us for this mission."

Bea smiled and offered the younger woman her hand. "It's nice to meet you Miss Chambers."

"And you ma'am." the young woman was as impressed with the legend of Dr. Alenko as she was with Commander Shepard's legend. "I am honored to have you aboard ma'am. What you did for the Council and on Elysium was inspiring."

Bea felt her cheeks flush a little and she fought to control it. She wasn't big on tooting her own horn. "Thank you, Miss Chambers I am glad to be aboard."

"Operative Lawson and Operative are in the briefing room." Chambers said to Shepard.

"Thank you, Kelly." he replied and gestured for Bea to follow him through a door to their left.

The duo passed through a couple of doors into the tech lab where there was a console for research an upgrades and Dr. Solus. The salarian was hunched over a terminal with a high powered microscope to his left. He did not look up from his work so the two took the the door to the left to the comm/briefing room. The two Cerberus operatives were waiting for them and looked as if they had been in a heated discussion until their Commander and his fellow Spectre came in.

Jacob stood at attention and saluted, Bea couldn't tell who he was saluting and she didn't want to show that she cared. Miranda, as beautiful as she was couldn't not hide her irritation.

Dr. Alenko," Jacob greeted. "It is an honor to meet you. If there is anyone who can help us defeat the Collectors and the Reapers its you."

"Thank you Mr. Taylor." she replied with a smile.

"The Council reinstated you as a Spectre?" Miranda asked expectantly.

"Yes, and in a show of support Dr. Alenko has volunteered to help." Shepard gave the woman a warning look.

Miranda looked like she was going to argue about her being on the ship but turning a Spectre away would further discredit Cerberus in the Council's eyes. The woman was a hero to most of humanity and she had kept herself well away from Cerberus on Klencory. Since her joining of the team there Cerberus had been kept in the dark by the extreme security awarded to the planet because of Dr. Alenko's Spectre Status.

"Where shall we put you?"

"A room with a view and close to the women's lavatory will be fine." she replied with a shrug.

A blue holographic sphere popped up in front of her."The starboard observation room sounds appropriate."

Bea's eyebrows climbed up her forehead and she turned to Shepard to explain.

"Bea this is EDI. She's the ship's AI." he looked over to Jacob and Miranda. "Dismissed."

Jacob saluted again and walked passed Shepard as Miranda gave Bea a disapproving glance and stalked out of the room. Once they were gone Bea activated her omni-tool and pressed in a command. A small holo of the comm room appeared and twenty dots of red appeared. She pressed another command into her interface and the red disappeared.

"Your ship is positively littered with listening and tracking devices." she tsked. She grinned. "I don't think Ms. Lawson likes me." she replied in a sing-song voice. "Almost like I was going to steal her boyfriend."

"She spent two year bringing me back but she is fairly stuck up. The less I talk about her the better off we'll be." Shepard leaned against the wood counter top that lined the holographic image of the Normandy. "I have to ask about Ash."

Bea looked down at her hands, splayed on the cool wooden surface. "She took your loss really hard. Really hard. Still don't think she's completely over you which will work for you if you tread carefully. She crashed at my apartment on the Citadel for about a month, eating chocolate, praying, grieving, reading loads of Tennyson." she stared at him for a few quiet moments. "Two years makes no difference to you in your feelings, does it?"

"Seems like only a few days ago." He looked down at his feet. "This might be a suicide mission. We might never come back from this."

Bea snorted. "So convinced of that are you? Going to give into that, are we?"

"No, but it would be stupid to think of it any other way."

Well, I plan on coming back in one piece, Richard. I have a son and a husband and I refuse to leave them this early in the game. You should think like that too if you really want to be with Ash. She's my friend and I don't want her hurt. We can always to to Horizon and see her? She would probably want to see you alive."

Shepard scratched the back of his neck. "You can always make up a story about where I was."

"No, you can't lie to her about this, she doesn't like Cerberus too much but lying to her about you being dead is not the way to go."

Shepard sighed and nodded. "I'll plot a course to Horizon, I need to get my feelings settled before I can deal with this mission."

Bea gave him a reassuring smile."Good idea, Richard." she straightened and grabbed her gear. "I shall be in the starboard observation room should you need me. I have loads of paperwork to deal with."

"Thank you, Bea." he replied as she walked out the door.

He didn't see the smile on her face as she left. Things were going to go right on this mission and the Reapers were not going to win.