Hey all! I told you I'd be back with an update this weekend, and low and behold I made it just in the nick of time with 2 hours to spare! This chapter was kind of a bitch to write, but it's necessary to lay some of the ground work for the rest of the story. The problem is that the Lazarus Station section doesn't offer much room for reinterpretation, so I kind of just have to slog through it. It's not much fun. Luckily we are off to Freedom's Progress next, which personally is one of my favorite parts of the game, and I have some fun ideas in store for it. So hang on kids this is going to get fun, I promise!

Disclaimer: No copyright infringement is intended. The world of Mass Effect and all of its planets, characters, histories, and story lines belong to the awesome folks at Bioware. I own nothing here.


Chapter 3: Betrayal

Jacob Taylor was pissed off, plain and simple. The station--his station--was in a state of complete and total chaos. It felt like Eden Prime all over again. It had just been two hours ago that he was finally pouring himself into his uncomfortable too-small bed for his sleep cycle.

That's when the alarm had sounded; Code Red--enemy infiltration. He had leapt from his bed and made a mad sprint for the armory, finding that most of his security force was already there waiting for him, ready to fight off whatever foe was threatening the project they had spent the last two years of their lives keeping secret from the outside world.

He shuttered as he recalled how the expressions on his squad mates' faces had shifted from that of determination to shock and horror as they had turned a corner just in time to witness the station's security mechs gun down half a dozen scientists--faces frozen in fear as their lifeless bodies collapsed to the ground. The last scientist's body hadn't even hit the ground before the mechs had turned their weapons on Jacob's security detail. He had lost half of his group in the confusion and mayhem brought about the mechs' initial attack, the rest had been picked off gradually as the mech force had slowly begun to overwhelm them.

Just like Eden Prime.

He was pinned down now. The breeze-way he was in offered little in the way of cover, he was stuck behind a clear Plexiglas panel currently, giving the four mechs firing upon him a perfect view of any movements he made. The door to the shuttle bay was right behind him, but with so little in the way of cover around him there was no way he could make it there without taking multiple shots. He couldn't wait out the mechs, and he was low on thermal clips, and what happened when more mec--

Jacob's train of thought was abruptly interrupted as two of the mechs suddenly exploded in a flurry of fire and sparks. He quickly snapped his head to the left, just in time to watch as the figure slowly approaching him launched another grenade at the two remaining mechs on the opposite side the breeze-way. Jacob recognized him instantly; surprise carved into his every feature. He knew what they were doing at this base, knew that somewhere aboard this station laid the body of the most famous and important human in the galaxy. He knew they were bringing Shepard back from the dead, rebuilding him. But that didn't lessen the shock he felt as the dead man sluggishly plopped himself down on the bench behind Jacob, breathing harshly.

"I take it you're surprised to see me?" Shepard asked with a slight smile on his face. He had been awake--alive--for all of an hour and he was already dripping with sweat and past the point of exhaustion--he had vomited twice. I can't wait for this damn day to be over with, he thought as he waited for the officer before him to shake the bewildered look off his face and final say something. "You know, I think I'm the one that should be in a complete state of shock right now, not you." Shepard said, hoping that this would jar the man from his daze.

Jacob shook his head trying to clear it, realizing that he probably looked like a complete fool. "Sorry Commander, it's just…shit must be really bad if Miranda's got you running around." He frowned, "As far as I knew you were still a few weeks away from, uh, completion."

Shepard grimaced at the man's choice of words. He made it sound like Shepard was a science experiment instead of a person. "I just woke up, who are you and where in the Hell am I?" Shepard asked, frustration seeping into his voice as he finished.

"Right, sorry. This has whole day has been a fucking nightmare, and I'm sure you're confused as Hell right now." Jacob started, noting that Commander looked like he had already been through a meat grinder. "My name is Jacob Taylor; I'm head of security for this station, and while I'm sure you have a ton of questions for me, chances are that a lot of them are above my pay grade." He looked at Shepard unsure of how to continue. "We should keep going and try to make it to the shuttle bay. Pretty much all of my security detail is dead and the whole station is overrun with mechs." He concluded in a rush, hoping to get moving as soon as possible. Not only to ensure they survived, but also to try and dissuade Shepard from asking him too many questions.

He wanted to tell Shepard more, Jacob wasn't much for lying, and this was Jack Shepard, the Goddamn hero of Eden Prime and first human Spectre. But Jacob also knew that Miranda and even The Illusive Man would have his ass if he told Shepard too much too soon. So he waited for Shepard to acknowledge the need to get to the shuttle bay, and hoped the Commander wouldn't push too hard for answers now--putting their survival above the need for answers.

"Well Taylor, it's nice to meet you," Shepard said casually as he shakily stood up from the bench he was seated on and held his hand out to Jacob. As Jacob shook his hand Shepard asked, "I'm guessing Miranda is the angry woman who's been yelling at me to get moving up until recently?"

Jacob nodded, "Glad to hear she's still alive, although I'm not really surprised. She's in charge of this whole operation, are you still in contact with her?"

"I lost contact with her about fifteen, maybe twenty minutes ago." Shepard said with a huff.

"Miranda can take care of herself, and we don't have the firepower to go find her right now. If she's anywhere, she is heading for the shuttle bay, as we should be." Jacob said hoping to goad Shepard into not asking anymore questions.

"Alright, alright Jacob, I get it, I'll save my questions for latter. Let me just ask one and then we can get the hell out of here." Shepard said with some annoyance.

Shepard steeled himself for the answer as he asked the question that was burning hottest in his mind. "How long have I…" he trailed off before he could finish, "How long have I been dead exactly?"

Jacob was surprised. This was not the question he had been expecting at all. He was expecting more along the lines of 'who do you work for?'. But as Jacob gazed at the panting man in front of him, face etched with pain and grief--as if waiting for the worst news imaginable--he realized that he wasn't talking to a galactic super hero. He was talking to a man whose entire world had been flipped on its head, Shepard was a man lost.

"It's been approximately two years since the Normandy was destroyed, sir." Jacob stated, as if he were telling a soldier's wife that her husband had died in battle. Concerned, yet detached.

Shepard was silent. But he felt like he had just taken a punch in the gut from a krogan. His face contorted further in pain, his eyes squeezed tightly shut, a single tear falling from one of them. It made Jacob want to turn away; it felt like too private a moment for him to observe this man's pain at this revelation.

"How many survivors?" Shepard asked, his voice laced with emotion.

"Most of the crew survived, only twenty causalities, not including you. All non-Alliance crew members made it off as well. The krogan, turian, asari, and quarian all made it off. Most of the causalities were from the lower decks. Engineering was hit hardest." Jacob stated bluntly. He had read over the Normandy Report several times after it was first released, and then again after Shepard's remains were brought to the station.

Shepard stood there for a long moment. He was almost shocked that there were so few casualties, he had been certain there would have been more. But that wasn't what was most painful to hear. He was a military man, he could handle casualty reports, could compartmentalize the sadness that went along with the loss of crew members. It was part of a soldier's life, people die, and you respect them by moving forward with the mission. But two years? He had been dead for two years? What did that mean for him, and more importantly what did it mean for his crew? Where were they all now? Had they all moved with their lives? And what about him? What would he do? Where would he go? His primary question had been answered, but now a million more replaced it.

He glanced at Jacob who was looking at him expectantly, hoping to get moving no doubt. "Thank you, Jacob." He said, nodding absently, "We should get moving I suppose."

"Right!" Jacob exclaimed, he was ready to get moving and was glad that Shepard hadn't pressed him for more answers. "The shuttle bay is this way," he said pointing to the door behind them, "I'm not sure how many mechs will be in our way, but it's our only option."

"It's your station Jacob, I'll follow you." Shepard replied as Jacob smiled and began to head for the door. "Oh and just so you know, I can barely walk, my aim is complete shit, and I feel like I could fall over and die again at any moment…so please keep the pace manageable." He muttered with a slight grin pulling at the side of his mouth.

"Understood, sir. The last thing I want is to be responsible for you dying now." Jacob said, as he turned to look back at him, "That would pretty much mean I'm dead meat too."

As the two soldiers began to make their way through the door a new voice came over their comms.

"Hello? Is anyone still alive? Is there anyone on this frequency? Please, is anyone there?" The voice continued to ask, sounding more and more desperate.

"Shit Wilson, is that you?" Jacob called into his comm. link, "This is Jacob, and I'm here with Commander Shepard in D-wing. Where the Hell are you, are you alright?" Jacob asked.

Shepard noted that Jacob was using the same detached concern with this Wilson as he had used with him earlier. Definitely Alliance at some point, Shepard thought as he watched Jacob continue to talk over the comm.

"Shepard's alive, and with you? How in the Hell…never mind you both need to get out of there, and head for the central control room." Wilson yelled into the comm. his voice full of...agitation?

"Copy that, Wilson. Stay on this frequency." Jacob finished, turning to face Shepard again. "It looks like we're taking the long way to the shuttle, Commander."

"Like I said Jacob, I'll follow your lead." Shepard stated with a hint of amusement as they finally began to move forward again.

"Hopefully we don't run into too many mechs on the way, but luckily I'm a biotic so if push comes to shove I can always hit 'em with the good stuff." Jacob said triumphantly, his fist glowing blue to illustrate his point further.

"Good to know." Shepard muttered as they made their way towards Wilson and central control.

They only ran into a few mechs on their way to Wilson and the central control room, but for Shepard even fighting one was like fighting a war all by himself. Most of his shots missed their targets completely, and with every shot he lined up he could see and feel his arm and hand twitching and shaking. Each shot took longer than it should have. His breathing had grown even more labored as he and Jacob continued through the corridors of the station. Jacob's pace wasn't very fast, in fact, it was rather slow for a normal individual. However, for Shepard in his current state, they might as well have been running a sprint. Each step made his legs burn more, and caused his body to scream louder in protest of his movements. Shepard found himself constantly wiping the sweat from his brow as they traversed the halls. It all made him feel inadequate and useless. They'll be so glad they brought me back after they see how I can barely stand up after fighting two fucking mechs, he thought sourly. Whoever 'they' even are, he added, as he was still trying to place the damn symbol he saw everywhere around him. He knew what it was, but the name, why couldn't he remember the damn name?

When Shepard and Jacob entered the next room, they found a bald and scrawny man lying on the floor behind several supply crates wincing in pain. Wilson.

"Jacob! Shepard! Thank God!" Wilson yelled as they entered the room.

"Wilson! What happened, are you alright?" Jacob asked as he slid down next to Wilson on the floor and began to examine him for injuries.

"Do I fucking look alright?! Bastards shot me in the leg…damnit!" Wilson yelled as Jacob found the bloody hole in his right leg.

Shepard noticed a medi-gel terminal on the wall and hobbled over to it, hoping to find enough medi-gel in it to patch up Wilson's injuries.

"Good thinking Shepard." Jacob called over to him as he came back with all the medi-gel he could find. "That should be enough to get this leg patched up, and Wilson walking again." Jacob nodded, as he spread the gel over Wilson's battered leg.

"Thanks, Shepard. Never thought you'd save my life. Guess we're even now, huh?" Wilson muttered.

"I guess so."

"Although from the looks of it, you weren't quite ready to be woken up yet, that's too bad. Three more weeks and we would have had you at one hundred percent." Wilson chuckled ironically.

"Honestly, I don't think three weeks would have made a difference." Shepard shook his head, "I don't think anything would have made coming back from the dead any easier or more pleasant." He ended, rolling his eyes.

Wilson clenched his fists tightly at his sides and turned his attention to Jacob. "I thought maybe I could shut down the security mechs. But whoever did this fried the system. Completely irreversible."

"Nobody asked what you were doing, Wilson. How do you even have security clearance? You were in the bio-wing." Jacob crossed his arms and his eyes narrowed as he spoke, his suspicion rising slightly.

Shepard's own suspicion was peeked again as well, as he was yet again reminded of the fact that he still had no idea who these people worked for or what their agenda was.

"Hey, I came here to fix this! Weren't you listening? And besides, I was shot! How do you explain that?" Wilson yelled back at Jacob, his voice cracking near the end.

Oh, I can think of a few ways as to how you got shot, Shepard thought to himself, possible scenarios running through his head as Jacob and Wilson both eyed each other.

"I don't trust any of you. You're all strangers to me." He said trying to defuse the tension between the two of them. "Let's get the Hell out of here before we try sort out whose fault it is, okay?"

Jacob nodded, "Right, we should try and find Miranda as well. We can't just leave her behind."

Wilson shook his head vehemently and his foot tapped the floor anxiously. "Forget her! Miranda was in D-Wing. It was hit the hardest, there is no way she's still alive…" Wilson trailed off, and the ghost of a smile came across his lips. "Unless she's the traitor."

Jacob was quick to defend Miranda, "No fucking way, this project was Miranda's baby, why would she try and destroy it?" he protested, "and besides, there is no way a couple of mechs could take her out so easily."

Shepard's anger was rising as Jacob and Wilson continued to bicker back-and-forth about Miranda and what to do about her. We're wasting time, this is pointless, he thought as he watched to two men stare each other down. A large part of Shepard agreed with Jacob, Miranda had apparently been the one who woke him up so he could escape. Hell, she was the one that had spearheaded this whole project to bring him back from the dead. He owed her his life. Shepard was an optimist, some would say to a fault, and he could see that same optimism in Jacob and his pleas to go find his boss. However, Shepard knew deep down that they would never be able to find her in this station. Wilson was no soldier, and there was little doubt in Shepard's mind that if they went looking for Miranda, Wilson would be of little use to them. He'd already taken a nasty shot to the leg, and most likely would end up getting killed, or abandoning the team in fear if they ran into a group of mechs.

Then there was Shepard himself. Jacob and Wilson had acknowledged it, but neither really knew how much pain he was in. Even now, with no enemies present, Shepard's right hand was shaking. It was only slight, but even as he concentrated on trying to make it stop twitching, it persisted. He finally grabbed it with his left hand in order to try and make it stop, and looked up at his two companions, an authoritative tone in his voice, "Look Jacob, I understand where you're coming from, Miranda saved my life, she woke me up so I could try and escape, but we're in no shape to try and go back for her. I can barely stand and Wilson has already been shot." Shepard continued with a nod in Wilson's direction, "We're low on clips, and there's no way all of us would make it back to the shuttle, even if we did find Miranda."

Jacob didn't like it. It felt like a betrayal, but even more, he didn't trust Wilson. Wilson had been all too eager to place any and all blame for the incident on Miranda and his excuse for being in central control didn't make any sense. He gave Shepard a knowing look and quickly glanced at Wilson to which Shepard slowly nodded his head. Shepard didn't trust Wilson either.

Screw this, he needs to know, Jacob thought, determined to tell Shepard the truth in hopes that it would persuade the Commander to trust him, and get him to help search for Miranda. With new found determination Jacob addressed Shepard, "Commander there's one more thing I thi…"

Jacob didn't get the chance to finish as yet another group of mechs entered through the door on the opposite side of the room. Wilson yelled something at Shepard before activating his omni-tool and overloading a group of explosive canisters, eliminating the mechs before them.

"We don't have time for this! We have to leave now!" Wilson spat at them, anger and fear burning in his eyes as he began to make his way for the door.

"Hold up Wilson, this is getting way too tense. We won't last to the shuttle if Shepard thinks we might put a bullet in the back of his skull. We need him too trust us…I need him to trust us." Jacob stated with purpose.

Shepard quirked his eyebrows at Jacob's odd admission, surprised that the man desired Shepard to trust him so much, but also hopeful that more of the millions of questions constantly bubbling in his over-tired mind would be answered.

"I'm surprised you didn't pick up on this sooner, what with your history and the symbol being posted on every wall in this station. But the Lazarus Project, the program that rebuilt you…it's funded and controlled by Cerberus." Jacob said, as anxiety seeped into his voice at the end.

Shepard's pistol was drawn faster than he could realize--pure instinct. His eyes widened as this critical information was revealed to him. Cerberus! The rogue para-military organization, determined to secure human dominance in the galaxy, through any means necessary, had brought him back from the dead? He had destroyed countless Cerberus installations during his time as both a member of the Alliance and as a Spectre. Why would they bring him back? They were terrorists, racists, and manipulators. This whole situation was fucked.

"I appreciate your honesty Jacob, but I think I'm going to have to tell you and Wilson to go fuck yourselves right now." He shouted with vitriolic hatred in his voice. "Cerberus stands for everything I'm not! Not to mention what you bastards did to my squad on Akuze! Throwing a squad of marines to thresher maws in the name of scientific research? Husks, Rachni, Thorian creepers! Why would Cerberus bring me back? Get the fuck away from me!" Shepard yelled as he slowly back away. As he felt his anger rising, Shepard tried to regain control of his emotions. Yet he could not get the chaos of Akuze out of his mind. The screams and blood of his friends flashed in front of his eyes every time he closed them. The unwanted emotions would only serve to make him sloppy in this, and his physical condition already had him at less than one hundred percent. His vision was beginning to blur again, the edges of the images before him smearing together. And his right hand continued to shake unsteadily as he tried to keep his aim trained on Jacob's face.

Shepard continued to point his pistol shakily at Jacob, who stood stock still, his eyes wide. This was what he was afraid of, what he had hoped to avoid by being forward with Shepard. Shepard had slowly backed out of the room towards the shuttle bay, his pistol still shaking in his hand. Jacob knew it wasn't fear or adrenaline that caused the Commander's weapon to shake; he could see the anger and determination in Shepard's eyes…not fear.

The man can't do this alone, even if doesn't want my help, he's getting it. Jacob decided, as he took a step towards Shepard, his hands raised. "Things change Shepard. The Alliance declared you dead and gave up on you. Cerberus spent a fortune bringing you back."

Aside from the constant shake of his pistol, Shepard did not move, his expression unchanged. Jacob's words had no effect on the Commander's opinion.

Jacob took a deep breath his eyes not leaving Shepard's as he spoke, "Look, I'd be suspicious if I were you too. You and Cerberus have a bad history, but right now we need to work together if we're going to survive." Jacob noted that Shepard slightly lowered his weapon as Jacob's appeal to the Commander's survival instinct began to sink in. They both knew Shepard couldn't make it to the shuttle alone--not in his condition. "I thought you deserved to know what's what." Jacob practically whispered as Shepard finally lowered his weapon, causing Jacob to let out a small sigh.

"Once we get out of here I'll take you to the Illusive Man, he can explain everything." Jacob said with relief as he closed the distance between Shepard and himself, placing a hand on Shepard's shoulder to try and reassure him.

"Illusive Man?" Shepard asked, unable to keep the uncertainty and confusion out of his voice.

"It's not his real name, no one knows what it really is" Wilson added with a laugh, "But he's the man in charge of Cerberus. And he's not going to happy to hear you've spilled all this info Jacob."

"Whatever, let's just get the fuck out of here." Shepard gave up.

"Good, the shuttle bay isn't that far away now." Wilson said with relief as they finally made their way through the door to the shuttle.

As they traveled the corridors of the station Shepard's thoughts were a complete jumble. He had been dead for two years, the Alliance and Council apparently had given up on the search for his body, not that he blamed them. Most spaced bodies were never recovered. But how had Cerberus found him when the Alliance and Council had not? Did his allies truly give up that easily? Had Cerberus planned the attack in a hope to gain his loyalty? No, that wouldn't make sense, if he was to believe that they had spent ridiculous amounts of credits to bring him back. What did Cerberus want with him? He knew he could never work for them, especially not after he found out that they were behind Akuze. How could they honestly expect him to cooperate with them? I won't, he thought angrily. There was no way he would work for Cerberus; he wouldn't compromise himself just because they gave him life again.

His thoughts drifted to his squad and crew from the Normandy. He felt relief wash over him at the knowledge that most of them had survived the attack. He desperately hoped that he would be able to find them--all of them--and let them know he was alive, Garrus, Wrex, Liara, Joker, Chakwas, Tali, and Ashley. He hoped to find Anderson; he hoped to get his life back on track. He wanted to pick things up where he left of, the Reapers were still coming, and he wanted the people he cared for and trusted by his side to fight the threat.

But as they fought their way through the hanger to the shuttle doors, Shepard was again reminded of his weakened physical state and how no matter how much he wished for it, things were forever different for him now. The knowledge that he had died, and that his crew had most likely all moved on by now weighed heavily on his battered mind.

He tried to focus himself on the mechs in front of him, but it only caused him more frustration. His had been semi-successful in compartmentalizing the constant burning pain that shot throughout his body, but his limbs still constantly burned as he crouched behind a storage crate, and he hadn't stopped panting since he woke up. His lungs seemingly incapable of providing his body with the oxygen it desperately needed, even when he was at rest. His aim had improved, but only slightly, and that was because he had made a mental adjustment to compensate for his arms near constant shaking. He hoped that it would change sooner rather than later, that his body would return to its normal self, and that he could get beyond this feeling of helplessness, so he could feel like Jack Shepard and not a walking corpse.

As the trio dropped the last of the mechs in the hanger Wilson ran ahead of them to being to open the shuttle door--Shepard needed to use the guardrail to help steady himself before he began the climb to the top of the platform.

"You okay, Commander?" Jacob asked as he watched Shepard gasp for breath and pull himself along the railing to the top of the platform.

"I'm fine." Was the curt response Jacob received from the proud Spectre.

The two soldiers reached the shuttle door to find Wilson typing frantically into the console, cursing to himself. "Come on, damnit…got it!" Wilson shouted as the security door finally opened with a whoosh before them; a full-toothed grin spread itself across Wilson's face.

The grin vanished as quickly as it came however, as Wilson saw the last person he ever wanted to see staring at him, her eyes full of hate.

Wilson's expression was one of pure terror as he gawked at Miranda Lawson. "Miranda! You're…" he stuttered as Miranda raised her Carnifex Hand Cannon to his head and squeezed the trigger.

Shepard felt the warm spray of Wilson's blood splash against his face as he watched the man's now limp body fall to the ground, a gaping hole in the middle of his head.

"Dead?" Miranda responded to the dead man's last words coldly, a disgusted grimace on her face.

Shepard's weapon was immediately drawn, shaking in his hand, just as it had been since the moment he had awoken.

Just so you know this was the longest chapter yet by far, 1000 words to be exact. Hope you all enjoyed it. Not too much to say, I'm just glad I pumped this thing out in such a short amount of time. Hope for an update within the week sometime. No promises as always.

Also if you're looking for an excellent Shepard/Tali FanFic you have to read Dark Rendition by Mothbanquet. Seriously the guy's story is awe-inspiring.

Til next time folks.