Epilogue

Absolutely exhilarated she pushed her way through the undergrowth on this unfamiliar alien planet. How long has she been following the river? She couldn't be certain but she must be close now. She could no longer see the other river bank and she could hear she was almost there. She pushed the final branches out of the way, finally clearing the forest completely and was greeted by the planets' wondrous natural beauty. This was what she was searching for. She crossed the final few meters and stood on the precipice of a gigantic waterfall, the yellow water cascading down thousands of feet bellow. The noise was tremendously loud but somewhat relaxing. There was always a drumming sound inside her head, a war raging on, a passion, her drive and ambition. The wind whipped her long raven hair around her face and she closed her stormy blue eyes, the same as her mothers, and she inhaled deeply.

"ASHLEY?!"

Ashley Alenko spun round as the source of the voice made his appearance. Phoenix Vega stumbled out from the undergrowth looking as mad as hell. Phoenix was easily 6"4 and was probably the beefiest guys she knew. The resemblance he bore to his father in that respect was striking, but his fathers features had been somewhat softened by the unquestionable beauty of Phoenix's mother. Clearly influenced by his parents mutual love for tattoos, Phoenix was already supporting an array of his own. So, yeah, Phoenix was tall, muscular, rugged and handsome but boy did he know it. Having known him her entire life, Ashley was also completely immune to his charms and he hated it. Their parents had all played a part in saving the galaxy together and were considered heroes but they'd also remained good friends. Ashley pretty much considered Uncle James and Auntie Jack surrogate parents and loved them dearly.

"Could you not run off like that?!" He said aggressively.

Oh yeah, Phoenix was pretty pissed.

Almost exactly a year older than her Phoenix had already been able to enlist in the Alliance Military. Although it was also Ashley's ambition to join and she'd beaten any record he'd ever set when it came to fitness or weaponry, she still had time to wait, which of course he never let her forget and would have her believe it meant he knew better.

Ashley wasn't sure her father had been too happy about her following in her parents' footsteps, but he respected her wishes with a slight muttering about Shepard women and suicide missions. But the galaxy had been peaceful since the Reapers and Ashley had an older brother with no desire to join the Alliance. Thane-Steven Alenko (T.S. for short) was a big deal in the medical world, considered to be somewhat of a genius, at a young age he'd published a paper, subsequently received a grant and was well on his way to curing Kepral's Syndrome. Her Mom always explained it like this, T.S. was an embodiment of everything good, the things that had made her parents want to save the universe, a hope for the future and Ashley had inherited all their skills and was exactly everything that had enabled them to save it. The motive and the opportunity. Ashley liked that.

Phoenix had caught up to her now. He was currently based on a training facility orbiting this planet and Although he was allowed the occasional visitor, he was not allowed to kit them out with Alliance armour. He was certainly not allowed to bribe the shuttle pilot into taking them down to the planet.

"Do you realise how much trouble I could get in for bringing you down here?!"

"Why risk it then?" She asked playfully, arching one eyebrow.

"You know exactly why." He replied huskily, placing a hand on her hip and drawing her close so his face was just inches away from her own.

She laughed and shoved him in the chest so hard he stumbled backwards.

"Ashley..." He sighed, rolling his eyes at her.

"Not going to happen, Vega. And we wouldn't have such a problem if you weren't so slow!" She teased. "Come on, I'll race you back to the shuttle! See if you can actually keep up this time!"

Vega, his pride a little wounded, watched her perfect form as she span around and sprinted back towards the forest. A swathe of silky black hair blowing behind her. He sighed, adding another failed attempt at claiming her for his own to his mental tally and began to chase after her again.