Hi everybody, sorry for the long delay in replying. Truth be told I hadn't realised that long had gone by since the last time I had updated this story, time files as they say.

Thank you for the inquiries about the story and the new favourites, reviews and everything else despite the inactivity on my part. This is only going to be a short filler post to get things going again, hence the 8.5. Chapter 9 will be a full length Chapter, I will aim to get out real soon.

RevanN7

Chapter 8.5: The Meetup

Being on the same level as the restaurant, and thankful that the Citadel's layout was the same as in the game, I knew exactly where to go to get there from the Citadel Tower and spotted the elder Ashley easily, who smiled when she saw me and stood up.

"It's good to see you." She said as she stood up and walked over to me with a smile "I have a place down in the wards where we can talk, just in case someone spots us."

I nodded and followed Ashley as she lead me to the Rapid Transit System and picked one of the lower wards, it took a few minutes to arrive and when we did, she lead us to a small building, barely larger than the main room in the old base.

"It's very basic, but we can talk here freely for now and it has all we need, beds, living area, bathroom, Extranet access and if you need a place here it will do until you earn some more credits and get something better." Ashley said "Assuming you managed to get onto Shepard's team that is?"

I smiled and nodded "Yeah, the Commander invited me to join after my chat with the council."

Ashley nodded and returned my smile "That's great and good that you saved him." She replied.

"Yeah, was close though, but there's something you should know…I don't think we're where you think we should be." I replied, watching as Ashley frowned in confusion.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"Well you said the Commander was a guy in your time right?"

Ashley nodded "Yeah."

"Well he is a she here."

"What?" The former Gunnery Chief/Spectre asked as she walked across the room to a computer and typed in something on the holographic keyboard and read over something.

"Commander Jessica Shepard: Born on Mindoir, April 11th 2154, parents killed in Batarian slaver raid on the colony, Shepard survived and was rescued by the Alliance military…enlisted in the Alliance Military several years later and rose in the ranks." She paused to take a breath as she read through Shepard's info; at least I was getting her background, which was a plus.

"During a mission to the planet Akuze, Shepard's squad was ambushed by a Thresher Maw, she was the only survivor…eventually assigned to the S.S.V Normandy as it's XO under Captain Anderson….that's not right." She muttered as she finished reading the report.

"What about you? You're history, does that match up?" I asked.

Ashely turned to look at me before going wide eyed "My sisters!" She gasped, quickly turning her attention back to the computer. A long silence washed over us as she searched before letting out a long breath "They still exist here and my history looks the same."

I nodded "Well that's good; maybe you should check and see if anything else is different, just in case."

Ashely nodded "I will, in the mean time you can fill me in on what happened."

"Well it started with the Geth finding me while they were on patrol and the shuttle got shot down, then I had to run for my life and try to get to where you said Shepard, Kaidan and the other you were…" I started as I began telling her what had happened on Eden Prime.

"…and that was when Shepard invited me to join the team." I finished, seeing Ashley nod before smiling.

"Well you certainly had an equally interesting welcome as your first time here, and even though we might not be exactly where I thought we would be, things are still happening the same way, at least for now and although there are a few small differences, most of what I checked appears to be the same so hopefully that won't affect things too much." She replied.

"Let's hope so, I've had enough surprises for a while." I grinned "Still having to adjust to the fact I'm here first, it's so strange being on the Citadel and in a place that only existed in a video game to me for so long."

Ashley smiled "I'm sure."

I returned her smile and chuckled "Of course you've probably heard this before."

"Yes, but hearing it helps me remember the good things about my Rob." She said with a smile

I nodded "Well that's good that you can remember the good, I'm still sorry you lost him."

"Me too, but you got here and you saved Shepard, albeit a different one…you still have a chance to help save the galaxy, which is what he…what we wanted."

I nodded "What will you be doing, while I'm off with Shepard?"

"I'm going to head back to Eden Prime, help them with the Colony, it's what I would have done, had I not gone on the Normandy, but I'll always be around to help you if you need it."

I nodded "I'm sure I will and I'll keep you updated with what I can during the mission."

"I'd appreciate it, but remember this is yours and Shepard's mission now, I can't be directly involved, especially with the other me around so I imagine we won't see each other much, at least not until you stop Saren and Sovereign." She replied

"That seems wrong somehow, especially given everything."

Ashley smiled "Don't worry, was always part of the plan, besides I know where you'll be and where I'll be if and when we need to contact each other, but you better go, Shepard will be wondering where you are."

I nodded "Thank you Ashley, I'll talk to you soon."

Ashley smiled and stood up "You're welcome, and thank you for doing this…again." She replied, giving me a hug, a small amount of water forming in her eyes "Now you promise me you'll stay safe out there."

I smiled "As safe as I can be, promise."

"Good." She smiled before stepping close and pulling me into a hug, which I returned "Now go on, go stop that Turian bastard."

"Yes ma'am." I replied with a lazy salute before bidding her another goodbye and leaving, ready to meet up with Shepard and start this crazy adventure.