Whoo boy its been awhile since my last update and I have to apologize. I've rewritten this chapter severel times, in my head and on paper. I feel this version is much better than my first attempt. I've already started on the next chapter so hopefully that one will be up sooner.


"How've I been? Is that really the best you have to say?" What was he expecting; they didn't make cards to deal with old grudges. No 'Opsies! I sent you to the hospital for six months, Don't be mad and get better soon.' If they did it probably didn't sell very well.

"Well, what would you have me say? 'Oh Jeff I was a dumbass, I never should have bullied you. Ever since my life has gone down the crapper and I'll never be the same again' Is that what you want to hear?"Lynn's voice was rising. She had shifted her guilt to anger, sarcasm just seemed simpler than humility. "You've accomplished so much and belittle me with your almighty presence.' Does it make you feel better?" She met his bright green with her own steely grey.

"You know what it kinda does." His voice didn't have the same strength, but what it lacked in force it made it up with pure venom. "Now Corporal are you going to fix the com or are you going to stare at me all day?" the bastard was pulling rank, and Lynn was almost irked enough to ignore it.

It took all of her discipline to reign in a less than polite retort. She clenched her teeth and lowered her voice, "Almost done Lieutenant."

The small cockpit was filled with waves of hostile energy that almost visibly rolled off its two occupants. The silence now was less uncomfortably awkward than downright dangerous. Even the Normandy's climate control couldn't prevent the temperature rising several degrees.

She tried unsuccessfully to keep her voice neutral while returning to soldier mode. "The program has been patched. It might glitch now and then, if it does let Adams know and someone will be up to re-patch it." Lynn didn't even bring herself to look at the man before turning to leave.

"Hey Weston" she paused "Watch your back." It was an open declaration of war. Justified or no she wasn't just going to lie down and take it, she'd spent too much of her life playing dirty to submit to a direct challenge. She didn't have any idea how Joker would act, but this was payback fourteen years in the making. She'd set the standard when she pushed a crippled kid down the stairs. It was a low bar, to reach it Joker would probably have to dig.

Lynn simply nodded at the pilot "Lieutenant Moreau" she turned and stalked through the CIC.


"Where's Corporal Weston?" the briefing room was short one marine for the ground teams, and Shepard getting slightly irritated. He Buzzed the cockpit, "Joker, contact Weston and get her in here now." He was short on patience. Paul couldn't do much about the speed of the ship, but he would be damn sure his team would be prepped to go the second the Normandy docked.

About five minutes later she entered the room still buckling together her hardsuit. She was looking mildly exasperated. Her appearance did little to garner any pity from the equally annoyed commander.

"Care to explain why you're late Corporal?"

"Not particularly" She did her best not to look directly at Shepard focusing on the clasps. The soldier shell she'd worn earlier slipped. He'd wanted her to be less formal, but the timing was poor. Her terse reply garnered nothing but animosity from the commander.

He crossed his arms and stated bluntly. "Humour me."

Lynn looked up at the piercing blue eyes focusing on her, and she quickly reminded herself to be professional. Officers had little use for obstinate soldiers. "There was a miscommunication Sir. It was my fault, I'd misinterpreted Joker's message and had the wrong time."

It was grade A bullshit. The bastard in the cockpit hadn't relayed the message until she was supposed to be in the briefing room. He was taunting her, showing her that he could make her life hell. It was petty but she wasn't about to throw any stones, all too aware of the glass house she'd built up. She'd never been one to favour the moral high ground anyway. Lynn was thankful she was a good liar, it wouldn't do her any good to shift the blame. Besides that wasn't the way she played, Joker could have his small victory but soon enough she'd begin a counter attack.

She'd just spent the past six hours mulling over her karmic score, and it wasn't looking too good. In the past two days unwanted history had been showing up like Batarians at a picnic. Lynn came to the decision that Karma was no longer a bitch but in fact The Bitch, and Lynn had now become its new favourite target.

Thinking about it soured her mood so she decided she'd roll with the punches, it was a familiar strategy that served her well; though it seemed if Jeff had a mean right hook. That's not to say she didn't have some tricks of her own.

"It won't happen again sir." She'd have to be a little more focused on shipside events, but she was confident this was a stunt she'd only let Jeff get away with once.

The Commander acknowledged her apology only to speed the briefing along. "Lieutenant what do we know about Feros?" Paul's eyes didn't leave Weston as she cautiously took a seat. Nor did he avert his gaze when Alenko began to relay the information he'd already memorized.

"Feros is an old Prothean world recently populated with a colonization effort by Exogeni." Lynn deliberately focused on the Lieutenant, Shepard's survey reminded her of a teacher eyeing a trouble student to make sure they behaved. It was making her uncomfortable, so to avoid showing that discomfort she listened intently to Lieutenant Alenko. "The Alliance received a distress communication from the colony. It appears the Geth have attacked Feros just like they hit Eden Prime. All attempts of contact in the past fifteen hours have been nonresponsive." Nonresponsive was never good, but the term was more positive than dead.

"Alright Williams, Wrex you're with me, we'll be the first to hit ground. Be prepared for Hostiles but be aware of the colonists. We don't want to shoot everything that moves." This was clearly directed at the Krogan.

"No promises Shepard."

Shepard raised his chin and looked down at the seated Krogan. " I want a guarantee Wrex. If you pull a stunt like you did with Fist you'll be dealing with my shotgun. Understand?" Wrex seemed unimpressed with Shepard's threat, but let out a guttural Hmmph. It seemed a good enough answer for Shepard because he continued.

"Alenko you've got Weston and Fredricks, cover us as we leave the ship. If we run into trouble you three are backup. We have no idea the state of the colony hopefully we're in time to give these synthetic bastards hell" Lynn inwardly approved, the victims of Eden Prime deserved nothing less.