Twin Fates

by Tobias5

Fate played as much a role in Shepard's defeat of the Reapers as did his skill. What if fate had different plans? Did you know that the Shepard on Mindoir was born as a twin? What if both had survived the raid? How would the Reapers have dealt with TWO great heroes instead of one? It's time to find out just how much better and worse things get with TWO Shepards fighting a war.

10. Chapter 9

Twin Fates

By Belle and Tobias

Automatic Disclaimer: We do not own the rights to the Mass Effect or any other referenced copy righted material.

Toby's Note: Okay so here is the finale for ME1. Ten will pick right up with 2 and 3 is somewhere out there. *points to the future* Chapter ten is almost done as Belle has been working on it since the start so hopefully after this has been posted ten will follow shortly along with eleven.

Belle's Note: Ten will sort of pick up with the beginning of ME2, unfortunately the Shepards are going to have to die for this story to continue, but they'll only be mostly dead. *give Toby a look* I did not start 2 right from the start, I knew what I wanted to do, I started writing 10 while Toby was writing 8.

Chapter 9: A Moment in History

Earth Date: July 24th, 2183 CE

Location: SSV Normandy, Docking with Citadel

John felt relief creeping its way into his heart as he watched Joker dock the Normandy. They would finally be getting the help they needed. No longer a solo mission they'd be getting an entire fleet to go after Saren. He glanced at Jane who was standing by his right side, her arms crossed and tapping the fingers of her right hand impatiently on her armor covered left elbow. Chakwas had given her a clean bill of health just this morning but John had already decided to privately suggest to Anderson that she be given an advisory role on the Normandy while he led the ground teams. Jane might see right through it and he knew she'd be pissed about it but she wouldn't defy an Admiral's orders. Jane had been through enough already and John had no qualms about seeing that she was safely-

"Docking procedures completed, Commanders," Joker called out, breaking John's train of thought. He glanced back and saw the docking clamps restraining the Normandy.

"We'll call you in a few hours Joker," John replied, heading for the airlock with the others following.

"Ask about the tickertape parade for bringing Saren in!" Joker called after them.

"I'll ask about a statue on the Presidium like the Krogan," Jane called over her shoulder just before the door closed shut behind them. John just shook his head as the decontamination ran over the group, tightly packed into the airlock. After a few minutes it finished up and opened the outer doors. Just as they were existing the John caught sight of an Admiral waiting impatiently for them. John blinked in surprise but luckily Kaidan was on the ball.

"TEN HUT!" Kaidan called, snapping off a salute. John, Jane, and Ash reacted with the speed of officers with years of experience, quickly snapping to attention and saluting. The Admiral returned the salute and relaxed. The others seemed a bit startled and Garrus quickly began whispering to Wrex.

"Rear Admiral Mikhailovich, Fifth Fleet." He introduced himself. John eased into an at ease position the others quickly mirrored.

"We weren't told to expect your, sir. I would have prepared a formal greeting." John replied and noticed Garrus slowly easing the others to the side and out of the Admiral's attention. He'd have to thank the Turian later.

"Spare me the pleasantries." Admiral Mikhailovich drawled. John heard Jane growl softly and was halfway tempted to elbow his sister. "I command the 63rd Scout Flotilla. You and the Normandy were slated for my unit after shakedown. Then the Council got their paws…claws. Tentacles. Whatever. They got them on our ship. And you four."

"We still serve the Alliance, sir." Jane piped up, drawing the Admiral's glare from John to her. "As Spectres, we can advance our interests to the Council."

"Hmph. Do you and your sister still know what your color you blood is, Shepard?" Admiral Mikhailovich snarked. John saw Jane's lip curl slightly at that and John felt acutely aware of his alien friends watching carefully from nearby. "I don't begrudge the politicians' decision to throw you to the Council. It's an…opportunity. I do begrudge this overdesigned piece of tin, though."

"The Normandy is a fine ship, sir." John retorted. "She's served us well so far."

"It's a gimmick, Commander. Useless in a stand-up fight. This experiment," Mikhailovich slapped a fist into his palm at the word experiment, "diverted billions from our appropriations bills. For the same price, we could've had a heavy cruiser. But no, we had to make nice to the Turians. Throw money at a co-developed boondoggle. I'm here to make an inspection, Commander. Normandy is an Alliance warship. I intend to see she's up to snuff."

"We'd be honored to show her to you, Admiral." John replied, even though his sister didn't feel the same way.

"I'll just bet." The Rear Admiral snarked. "Wait, here, I won't be long." With that the Admiral stormed by them, scowling. As soon as the airlock closed behind him John let out a sigh of relief as the Alliance personnel all relaxed.

"Well…he's pleasant." Jane remarked and John just shook his head.

"It sounds to me like he's already made up his mind." Ash remarked as the others came over. "How long do you think he'll be?"

"Not too long, especially if he doesn't want us with him." Kaidan remarked. John sighed and closed his eyes to rub at his temples. He felt a headache trying to creep its way in.

"Do you want us to wait here with you guys?" Garrus asked. John considered it for a moment before exchanging a look with Jane. Jane raised an eyebrow at him and John gently shook his head.

"Go get the supplies" Jane stated, sending a list from her omnitool to theirs and John nodded in agreement. "We'll...entertain the admiral."

"We'll meet you guys at our meeting with the council in a few hours. Restock on what we need, okay? We'll do a bit of restocking ourselves after the admiral's inspection." John added. Garrus nodded and led the way to the elevator with the others but Liara lingered for a moment.

"I-I have a few places I'd like to show you after the meeting John. If there's time between the meeting and our next deployment would you like to see them? Maybe some dinner?" Liara asked hesitantly and John smiled at her softly while ignoring a look from Jane.

"I'd love to Liara. We'll talk more after the meeting, yeah?" John asked and Liara nodded, blushing. Impulsively he leaned towards her and planted a kiss on the Asari's blushing cheek. Liara's blush intensified, especially as Wrex of all people wolf-whistled from the waiting elevator. As she scurried over to the waiting non-human crew members John turned to his sister and the remaining Alliance personnel. Ash had a wide-eyed look of surprise while Kaidan was watching completely unsurprised. Jane was grinning smugly at him and John instantly knew why Kaidan wasn't caught off guard.

"What? Name me one protocol I broke." John said quickly making Jane laugh, holding up her hands.

"I didn't say anything…lothario."

John just grumbled as they settled in to wait for the Admiral to return.

~*TF*~

"I don't like it," Jane grumbled as they headed to the shops to restock the Normandy.

"You don't have to like it, but the Council has time to meet with us in an hour," John said and Jane shook her head.

"You think they're going to blow us off?" Ash asked and Jane shook her head.

"No, I just don't like that we have a meeting and they scheduled us, I thought Saren was a higher priority," Jane sighed.

"We don't know what they are working on, but it may be a good thing," John said but Jane suspected he was with her. Their mission was not just something weak and pointless, they just put down a damn Krogan clone factory, after saving Feros, and after shutting down a Rachni plant...Saren wasn't an idle threat, but the Council seemed determined to play it cool. That did not bode well for the assault on Saren. Jane did not like being put on a schedule when she was anticipating a direct line to the Council.

"Commanders! I've been waiting for you to get back!" a familiar voice called and Jane was not in the mood, it took all her will power to turn. Conrad Verner...again. Jane looked at him. "I've got an idea and I wanted to run it by you." Jane was irritated but maybe talking to Conrad could remind her why she was doing this job and doing it by the books. Helping Garrus with Heart had helped her face her demons, maybe talking to Conrad would cool her nerves.

"What's on your mind?" she asked.

"With so many human colonies being attacked I'm not sure that one Spectre team is enough. What if you signed me on as another Spectre?" Conrad said and Jane was dumbfounded. The Council was out of her mind at the sheer surprise at Conrad's idea.

"Conrad, I don't think that's a good idea," Jane said, cutting off John, the look on his face made it clear whatever he was going to say would probably be blunt, not intended to hurt Conrad's feelings...but going to hurt Conrad's feelings.

"But I'd make a great Spectre. I'd be right there with you showing the Council what humanity is capable of," Conrad said. His passion was in the right place and Jane knew she was doing this job for people like Conrad who believed. "I know you're afraid to trust people after losing your team at Akuze but I'd never let you down." John tensed and Jane quickly moved her hand in the hold position by her side. Akuze was still painful, she was still not over it, but it wasn't something that froze her anymore. She smiled at Conrad, his heart was in the right place even if he was a little bit odd. She had a team, she needed to do this by the books, with the Council, to show them what humanity was capable of for people who believed like Conrad.

"What about your wife, Conrad? She trusts you too. Aren't you letting her down?" Jane asked. She had people she trusted, people she knew had her back. John, Ash, Kaidan, Garrus, Wrex, Tali, Liara, Joker, Chakwas...Conrad looked shocked.

"What? I don't understand," Conrad said and Jane gave him a good look.

"You know what keeps me going out here?" Jane asked and Conrad gave her a confused shake of his head. "Knowing that people back home are keeping humanity strong." He stared at her.

"You...you're right," he said and Jane nodded. "I just so caught up in all of it. I wanted to help. I'll go home. Thanks for setting me straight." He turned and headed off. Jane watched him go.

"You let him down very gently," John commented and Jane gave him a look.

"You were worried when he mentioned Akuze," Jane said and John gave her a look. "I know you. He is the reason I fight. He believes in humanity, in the best of us. I give the best of myself for people like him, who want us to rise up."

"That's a nice way to think about it," Kaidan said and Jane nodded.

"Let's get the shopping done before we face the Council," Jane said.

~*TF*~

As John walked up the stairs with his sister at his side and his friends behind him he had to admit to himself that he felt anxious. He knew the Council was finally going to act against Saren but he still felt like it was up chance now. Still, how the council had acted before was causing him to felt a doubt. He glanced at Jane whose face was unsurprisingly blank. Jane wanted Saren taken down, blamed herself for letting him go, this would be her chance to fix what she deemed her mistake. He hoped for her sake this bad feeling she'd mentioned earlier was just nerves. John stepped up next to Udina who glanced at them.

"Good job, Commanders. Thanks to you, the Council's finally taking real action against Saren." Udina said, a bit smugly. Jane rolled her eyes at that, making John grin.

"The ambassador is correct." Tevos began. "If Saren is foolish enough to attack the Citadel, as you believe, we will be ready for him."

"Patrols are stationed at every mass relay linking Citadel space to the Terminus Systems." Sparatus stated. John nodded in agreement. That seemed reasonable, defend home base while your strike teams attack the enemy.

"How many ships are you sending to attack Ilos?" Jane asked, "We'd like to accompany them on the Normandy."

"Ilos is only accessible through the Mu Relay, deep inside the Terminus Systems, Commander." Valern stated and John felt an icy knot of worry form in his gut. "If we send a fleet in there, the only possible outcome is full-scale war."

"Now is the time for discretion, Commanders." Udina smoothly interjected. "Saren's greatest weapon was secrecy. Exposed, he is no longer a threat. This is over."

"Sovereign's the real threat," Jane stated, ignoring Udina and glaring at the Council. "Saren's just a servant of the Reapers."

"Only you have seen the Reapers." Tevos pointed out and John saw Jane clenched a fist at her side. "And then only in visions. We won't invade the Terminus Systems because of a dream."

"Secrecy isn't his greatest weapon. The Conduit is!" John snapped back before Jane would reply.

"Saren is master manipulator." Valern replied in a condescending tone, like he was talking to a child. "The Conduit is just a distraction from his real plan to attack the Citadel."

"If Saren finds the Conduit we're all screwed," Jane snapped. "We have to go to Ilos."

"Ambassador Udina, I get the sense that the Commanders aren't willing to let this go." Sparatus replied, ignoring Jane entirely.

"There are serious political implications here, Shepards." Udina scolded. "Humanity's made great gains thanks to you two. But now you're becoming more trouble than you're worth."

"You bastard! You're selling us out!" Ash snarled at Udina. John glanced behind him at his team. Ash and Kaidan were both making fists at their sides, but the entire team looked murderous, even Tali's body spoke of rage.

"It's just politics." Udina said with a smug tone. "You've done your job. Now let me do mine. We've locked out all the Normandy's primary systems. Until further notice, you're grounded."

"Are you insane? After everything we've done, you still don't believe any one of us?" John snarled. Udina looked back at him, smiling smugly at them.

"I think it's time for you and your team to leave, Commander." Udina replied and John blinked, noticing for the first time several members of C-Sec were moving in around them, outnumbering them two to one. "This is no longer a concern for any of you. The Council can handle this. With my help, of course."

Jane said nothing but whirled around to stomp off. John glared at Udina for a moment. Now he knew why the Council was acting this way. Udina had been whispering in their ears the entire time. They may have gotten reports from him and Jane directly but Udina had positioning himself for this moment.

"Very well. Good day Councilors." John said, nodding to the Council before turning back to Udina. "I'll remember this…Ambassador."

With that, John turned and followed his sister. He had an idea, and he needed Jane to pull it off.

~*TF*~

"This is probably the stupidest God damn idea you've ever had in your entire life."

"Well do you have any better suggestions?" John snapped to his sister. Jane just huffed and crossed her arms. Satisfied that he had won that point John turned back to the console display in front of him. After Udina had yanked the floor out from under them the team had stormed off, most heading for the Normandy. John had taken Jane by the elbow and after assuring Liara that they'd talk later he'd dragged his sister to a taxi kiosk. Quickly finding his destination, he'd dragged his fuming sister to Ward 42, infamous for having more used ship stores than anywhere else in the Citadel. Then he continued to lead her around as they begun browsing the shuttle and smaller ship options available to them.

"Do you even think we can afford a ship?" Jane asked after moment. John grunted affirmatively. He'd checked their joint savings account on his omni-tool on the ride over and found it stood a little over thirty million. The profits from the farm had been building and they'd both just dropped the mineral rights proceeds into the same account. He knew his own personal accounts were built up to about five million total as he really only used his pay during vacations and when he needed something the Alliance didn't supply. Not to mention picking up the occasional weapon or mod from a merc corpse and selling it later. He'd be willing to bet Jane was sitting on a similar amount and that might let them purchase a shuttle or even a ship to continue pursing Saren. Although…

"John if we do this it means we'll be officially AWOL from the Alliance." Jane bit out and John sighed. He'd considered that and while he didn't want to face those charges when they came back he'd been given no choice. The more time they wasted here, the closer Saren got to the conduit and people would die. John would gladly face jail time if it saved lives.

Even Udina's.

"I won't let that stop me and I doubt it'll stop you either. Besides if we use our authority as Spectres we might get a slap on the wrist." John replied, pulling up the details on a decommissioned Turian destroyer that looked promising. Stripped of weapons and about forty years out of date it was still fast. Maybe Garrus could…

"Commanders," A familiar male voice spoke up behind them. John turned around to see Jane smiling faintly at Kaidan and Liara who were approaching them.

"Kaidan, Liara." Jane greeted them and John closed the display on the ship to greet them as well.

"Joker has been trying to contact you both for the last hour. Captain Anderson has been trying to reach you both." Kaidan explained. "Liara thought you might be here." John ignored the look Jane sent him at that last part.

"We turned off our comms while we explored…ideas." Jane replied. Kaidan shot a look at the sign overhead and smiled.

"You never know when to quit do you, Shep?" he said, directing a look to Jane that had John raising an eyebrow. He looked at Jane and noticed she was blushing.

"Did he say what he wanted?" John asked Liara, beginning to walk away from his sister and his LT. He took Liara's hand in his to tug her along. Unlike Jane, he preferred to keep out of his sibling's love life, despite how against regulations it was.

Well he would mostly keep out of it. If Jane told him three months from now she was pregnant Kaidan was going to becoming Wrex's new sparring partner.

Without armor.

And biotic inhibitor strapped to his skull.

And John shooting him in both knees and elbows before Wrex started in on Kaidan.

"The captain asked for you two to meet him at Flux in an hour." Liara explained, tightening her fingers around his. They were silent for a moment as they walked, enjoying the others company before Liara spoke again. "I cannot believe they did this to you. I am so sorry."

"It's not your fault," John reassured her, giving her hand a squeeze.

"It's not right. You did everything they asked for and more. Nobody else could have done what you did!" Liara proclaimed and John chuckled.

"Don't let Jane hear you say that," he teased and Liara blushed.

"Still, the Council owe you two everything and instead they strip you of your command and ground the Normandy."

"I don't care if they ground me," John honestly mused as they walked, turning his gaze from the Asari with him to the view of the Nebula and the other Citadel wards. "but they're refusing to go after Saren. If they don't stop him we're all dead and time is wasting. Rather than waste my time trying to convince them to change their minds I'm going to try and find a way around them. Hopefully Anderson has an idea how to do that."

"I believe in you, John." Liara replied, and John turned back to see her smiling hopefully at him. "I am with you every step of the way." John stopped and pulled Liara out of the main way of the foot traffic and pulled her into his embrace. Liara sighed happily and slipped her hands around him.

"After all this is done, I promise we'll have a proper date. Just you, me and anything you want to do." John whispered into her ear. Liara rested her head on his shoulder.

"I'd like that."

~*TF*~

They were heading towards Flux when Jane noticed the collection of humans apparently protesting.

"Hey! Excuse me? You're the Spectres, right?" A man called and Jane paused. "Commanders Shepard. It's an honor to speak with the two of you."

"What's this demonstration about?" John asked as he looked at the people.

"I'm Charles Saracino of the Terra Firma Party. With Armistice Day coming soon, we're making our voices heard by the alien-appeasers on the Presidium. Can I count on your support in the next election?" Charles asked and Jane fought to keep her face blank. Terra Firma, they were better than the human supremacists of Cerberus but they were still not a great group.

"You're marking the end of the First Contact War with a protest?" John said with a deadpan tone.

"As we have every year, for the last 26 years. The war taught humanity a lesson that some would forget," Charles said. "If we don't stand up for ourselves, no one else will." Clearly Charles did not do his homework. The Shepard family had been Independents for generations, preferring to judge candidates on their own merits instead of what party they were a part of, to her knowledge no one in her family had ever voted for a Terra Firma candidate.

"What are you running for?" Jane asked and Charles smiled at her. He made her think of Udina...he would not be getting her vote.

"I'm seeking one of the five spacer seats in Parliament. They have certain baroque conditions for a citizen to be able to vote for them. You have to spend more than six months a year in space. But you can't have stayed in any one settled system for more than a month. You do spend most of your time in space, Commanders," Charles said and Jane gave him a look. Alliance Space teams were the largest number of spacer votes, Charles was clever thinking to talk to them, John and Jane had qualified as spacer votes since they left boot camp.

"Remind me," Jane said, her voice turning sweeter than normal and she could feel the team behind her tense, they knew she wasn't happy. "What is Terra Firma's platform again?"

"Our core value is that Earth must "stand firm" against alien influences. Politically, culturally, and...in the worst case...militarily," he said and Jane gave him a cold look.

""What you are talking about sounds like a racial issue," Jane said and John moved to stop her but she gave him a sharp look. John might be older, but he was not her boss and she was pretty pissed, Charles had gained her wrath and by God she would be showing him the truth of the Shepards.

"I can't deny that some of our supporters have extreme views. But out platform is also supported by economists, sociologist, and medical professionals," Charles said and John stepped up.

"The problem is, you don't do anything to curtail the racist comments of your members," John said and Charles gave him a look.

"Of course not, Commander. Whether I disagree with them or not, they have the right to express their opinion," Charles said and Jane was annoyed.

"Sorry, I believe we need to work peacefully with other races," Jane snapped.

"I thought you of all people would understand what we want to accomplish," Charles said and Jane gave him a look.

"Batarian slavers decimated the colony I grew up on," Jane said giving him her killing eyes and Charles looked concerned. "I would die to defend anyone from the horrors of slavers, it doesn't matter if they were Turian, Batarian, Human, Asari, and I would not wish the horrors of what I saw on Mindoir on any race. Everyone remembers the Skyllian Blitz, the slavers there were Human, Batarian, Krogan, Turian, and a collection of others, I would protect anyone from another who would take their lives by force. I nearly fried my brain on Mindoir the day I fought to stay out of Batarian hands. I would have died without Asari doctors who knew how to implant me, stressing my brain out the way I did. I only have the control I do of my biotics today because of Asari trainers. The only reason we have adult biotics who are not vegetables is because of alien technology. You protest all you want, but I'll be voting against you and against any Terra Firma candidate until they remember we have enemies to unite against...more than you know." Jane turned and walked off. She was followed.

"I heard you were a xenophobe, Shepard," Wrex joked.

"I heard I could kill a Krogan in under thirty seconds," Jane shot back.

"I heard you needed your brother to do that," Garrus added and Jane felt better.

"I think you hurt his feelings," John said.

"Wrex will get over it," Jane replied as they entered Flux.

"He meant that Terra Firma asshole," Ash said and Jane nodded.

"He's lucky I didn't throw him," Jane replied.

"There's the Captain," John said and the joking ended.

"Go by the bar," Jane ordered.

"Yes ma'am," Kaidan said and the two Shepards approached the table.

"I'm glad you came, Shepards. I heard what happened," Anderson said.

"They pulled us off the mission. Just like when they forced you to give up the Normandy," John said and Anderson nodded.

"I know. I'm sorry. I wanted to warn you, but there was no way to get a message to you before you docked," he said. "I know you're pissed off right now, but you can't give up. They all think this is over, but we both know it's not. You have to go to Ilos. You have to stop Saren from using the Conduit!"

"There's only one ship that can get us into the Terminus Systems undetected, and she's grounded," Jane said.

"Citadel control's locked out all the Normandy's systems. But if we override the ambassador's orders we can get them to bring the Normandy back on-line. You can be in the Terminus Systems before anyone even knows you're gone," Anderson said. Jane gave Anderson a look before looking at John. Anderson was risking it all for them.

"If we steal the Normandy, you're the one left holding the bag," John said.

"And if Saren finds the Conduit, life as we know it is over. The Reapers will destroy us. Humans, Asari, everybody!" Anderson said. "You two are the only ones who can stop him. So I'll do whatever it takes to get you on the Normandy and off this station."

"Stealing the Normandy is mutiny. What if the crew won't help us?" Jane asked, but she had a good idea about the crew.

"The Normandy's your ship now, Commander. Her crew will follow you to the ends of the galaxy. We all know that," he said giving her a look and Jane felt a little silly, but she trusted Anderson.

"We won't forget this, Captain, I promise," John said.

"We promise," Jane added.

"I can unlock the Normandy from one of the consoles in the Citadel control center. You'll have a few minutes before anyone realizes what's happened," Anderson began.

"That's a restricted area patrolled by armed guards. How are you going to get in?" Jane asked.

"Leave that to me. Just make sure you're in the Normandy when the systems come back on-line," Anderson ordered and Jane gave John a look.

"You're going to get yourself killed. There has to be another way!" John said.

"Ambassador Udina issued the lockdown order. If I can hack into the computer in his office, maybe I can override it," Anderson said, clearly thinking about it.

"He's not going to let you just use his computer," John said.

"Hopefully, he won't be there. If he is, I'll just have to think of something," Anderson said.

"Udina won't let this slide, Captain. You'll be charged with treason, a capital offense," Jane said.

"We don't have a lot of option. I break into the ambassador's computer or I take my chances with the patrols in Citadel control," Anderson said and the Shepard twins shared a look.

"You'll have a better chance if you go after the ambassador's computer," John said and Jane nodded.

"I was hoping you'd say that. The ambassador has made this personal," Anderson said. "You ready to get the hell of this station, Commanders?"

"Let's do it," Jane said.

"I'll take care of the lockdown. You get down to the Normandy and tell Joker to stand by," Anderson ordered and the twins saluted.

~*TF*~

Joker hung over the controls while Jane and John stood flanking him, watching the controls. It had been almost too easy to load the Normandy and get back on without alerting anyone.

Joker gave them a look as he rubbed his thumb over the side of his fingers, he was anxious and John couldn't blame him. This was dangerous. All eyes caught the release.

"Get us out of here, Joker...now!" Jane growled and the pilot smirked as he pulled them out of the dock and the ship slipped away from the Citadel.

"Think he punched him?" John asked as they headed for the galaxy display.

"I hope he cold cocked the son of a bitch," Jane replied and John smirked.

"I can picture that," he said.

"We both can," Jane said as they headed to set the course for Ilos.

~*TF*~

Earth Date: July 25th, 2183 CE

Location: SSV Normandy, Approximately 6 hours from Mu Relay and Ilos…

The ship was quiet, unnaturally so, even for the Normandy. As John walked her decks and took in the Normandy's crew and their mood he had to wonder if he wasn't leading them into a carefully planned ambush. There was one nagging thought in his mind as he made his way down the stairs to the crew deck.

The Council could be right and Saren had played them like a fiddle. John trusted Jane, with his life and the lives of the men and women he served with, but this was an entire galaxy at stake. Here he was racing after a genocidal madman mostly on a vision his sister had gotten from a long dead species. John sighed to himself and shook his head. His mind was wandering and doubts were creeping in. The Normandy was running on a skeleton crew right now, as most personnel were getting some sleep or rest before Ilos. It was easy for Jane to fall asleep, it was when she did normally but it was the start of his shift and he felt raring to go. Granted they would get to Ilos while he was still in command so he wouldn't be fighting tired but this waiting…

"John, may I speak with you?" a familiar and welcome voice called out to him. John turned to his left and saw Liara was standing nervously by the entrance to the medical quarters.

"Of course," he replied and followed the Asari through the empty medical bay into the office in the back where she had set up shop.

~*TF*~

Jane needed to get to sleep, but it was hard, she looked over what was known about Ilos...precious little. She wanted to scream, sleep would be hard but she needed to get as much as possible. Her mind had different ideas however, her door opened and she turned to see Kaidan enter.

"Commander?" he asked and Jane stood up, moving to greet him.

"You probably shouldn't call me that...I probably shouldn't be wearing this uniform," Jane sighed as Kaidan approached.

"Yeah...a hell of a thing," Kaidan said, looking at her. "We broke our oath to defend the Alliance so we can keep it." Jane chuckled softly. "What happens if this doesn't work out?"

~*TF*~

John didn't miss the beep as Liara closed the door behind them and locked it as well. He made his way to the desk and leaned against it. He drank in the sight of Liara, clad in the form fitting medical jumpsuit and nervously fidgeting with her hands. He waited a moment before Liara took a deep breath and began to speak.

"I have been thinking about you, and what we are about to face." Liara began, softly at first but getting louder as she became surer of herself. John got the feeling as she spoke that she'd been practicing it a bit, at least in her head. "I do not know what is going to happen on Ilos. I hope we will stop Saren, of course, but part of me fears we are already too late. There is something I must tell you, in case we fail."

"We're not going to fail. I promise." John stated firmly. Liara blinked and softly smiled.

"Please…I am not looking for comfort. Saren might already have the Conduit. It is time to be completely honest with each other." Liara replied and John blinked at that. He'd thought they'd been pretty damn open during their talks…and other things. "There could be our last moments together. Our last chance to show each other how we feel. I want this to be special."

John, being a hetro-male of the human species, couldn't stop the thought of 'Oh hell yes I'm gonna get sex tonight!' that blared through his mind. This mental thought was under scored by the fact that Liara was an Asari and damn fine example of that species. So, while John would readily agree he still had feeling for Liara that went beyond primal caveman thoughts of ravaging her. So, he had to ask…

"We don't have to do this, not unless you're sure." John reassured her. Liara smiled.

"I have never been more sure of anything in my life." Liara affirmed and John's mental-self did a happy dance. "Will you join with me, Shepard? Let our bodies and minds unite."

"Just tell me what to do," John said and stepped closer to the Asari. Liara smiled happily and slipped her hands around the back of his neck pulling him to her…

~*TF*~

"We a hell of an example of humanity's best and brightest, huh?" Kaidan said, looking into her eyes.

"I keep reminding myself that we're doing the right thing...I don't believe me yet," Jane confessed and Kaidan moved close. Her eyes were on his and his said a lot more than he was.

"Well if I didn't think you were doing the right thing, I wouldn't be here," he said, his voice soft yet intense. "It'll really hit the fan when we get to Ilos. If things don't go well...I want you to know, well, I've enjoyed serving under you." He stepped close and Jane's brain suddenly realized what this was. Kaidan was going to take this...opportunity to explore their...relationship. Jane's heart began to pound.

"Was that all you wanted from me?" Jane asked, surprised to hear herself practically purr. Kaidan chuckled, it sent a shiver down her spine.

"Hehe, I suppose there is more...I suppose we could get drummed out of the corps for fraternization, but that will fall well after the charges for mutiny," he said as he got closer, they weren't touching, but he was so close she could feel the warmth of his body against her chest. His eyes were dark and his pupils wide. "You know what, you're right...about everything. When I think about losing you...I can't stand it." His face was so close to hers, it wouldn't take much to close the gap between then.

"The galaxy will keep going. Everything. Even the Reapers will come around again but you and I...we are important right now," Kaidan said. "This is what will never happen again. Us. Shepard...you make me feel...human." Jane stared into his face. She knew how it felt to be the odd one out. Biotics often were made to be the weird ones, she looked at him and smiled.

"I can make you feel much more than that," she purred and his lips quirked up into his relaxed smile. She wanted him and this was going to happen.

"Is that an order?" he teased.

"Read my lips," Jane replied as her hand caught the back of his neck and she brought her lips to his.

~*TF*~

John lay on his back on the cot Liara had setup in the office, the aforementioned Asari was lying atop of him, tracing circles on his chest with her finger. Her blanket covered them both as they relaxed. His right arm was under the Asari as his left hand slid up and down her hips, caressing her. Liara laughed softly and he smiled.

"What is it?" he asked, curious. The room was thoroughly trashed and their clothes were scattered about the place.

"By the Goddess, that was incredible John." She said, planting a kiss on his chest. John chuckled before planting a kiss on her crest.

"You're incredible." John replied. "I think you've ruined me for human women." Liara laughed and slapped his chest playfully.

"Five minutes ETA to the Mu Relay." Joker's voice called out over the ship wide intercom. Liara sighed regretfully and sat up.

"You should go get ready. Duty calls." Liara said. John sighed himself but gently extracted himself from Liara's cot and got dressed. As he made his way to the door Liara's hesitant voice spoke up behind him.

"John?" He turned back to face her and saw her biting her lip. "Whatever happens on Ilos, I just wanted to say…thank you. For everything."

"The same to you luv," John replied stepping back to her quickly and planting a linger kiss on her. After they separated he shot her a cocky grin. "I still owe you that date."

~*TF*~

Jane and John stood on the bridge, flanking Joker.

"Have I mentioned how intimidating it is to have you both over my shoulders?" Joker asked.

"We want to see what we are getting into," John said and Jane nodded as she stared at Joker's various screens.

"We've got company," Joker said and Jane read his primary screen.

"Have their sensors picked us up yet?" Jane asked.

"Stealth systems are engaged. Unless we get close enough for a visual, they won't have any idea we're here," Joker reported.

"If we pull this off, the Normandy better be labeled an overwhelming success," John muttered.

"She already is in my book," Jane replied.

"Picking up some strange readings from the planet's surface," Pressly interrupted.

"Take us down, Joker. Lock in on the coordinates," John ordered.

"Negative on that, Commander. The nearest landing zone's two klicks away," Pressly said and Jane blinked. That was too far to do them much good. Saren was already on the planet and that meant he had time to find the Conduit.

"We'll never make it on time on foot. Get us something closer," Jane ordered.

"There is nowhere closer! I looked!" Pressly snapped, he was upset, he wanted this done too and he was not happy to have nothing. John and Jane shared a look, if the Normandy couldn't land, there was one option.

"Mako," they both said.

"You need at least a hundred meters of open terrain to pull off a drop like that. The most I can find near Saren is twenty," Pressly said, he sounded pissed.

"Twenty meters?" Liara gasped.

"We'll never get in close enough for a drop," Kaidan growled. Everyone knew this meant their prey was going to get to the Conduit.

"We need to try," Jane said.

"Find another landing zone," John ordered.

"There is no other landing zone!" Pressly cried.

"The descent angle's too steep!" Tali added.

"It's our only option," Liara pointed out.

"It's not an option," Kaidan cried. "It's a suicide run! We don't..."

"I can do it," Joker said with the calm of Buddha. Jane and John both looked at the pilot.

"Joker?" they asked in unison.

"I can do it," Joker said.

"Gear up and head down to the Mako," John ordered.

"Joker...drop us right on top of that bastard!" Jane purred as she turned, her prey would not escape.

"Let's suit up," John called and the team headed to the Mako.

~*TF*~

The Mako came to a stop in time to see the massive doors close.

"Damn," Jane muttered. "We need to get in there and fast."

"There's no way we're getting through that door with brute force," John stated as they unloaded from the Mako.

"Saren found a way to open it. There must be a way," Tali said and Jane nodded.

"I know who will be doing the major portion of the hacking," John commented as they headed backwards. Tali using her omni-tool to look for possible terminals. Wrex and John took point. Liara watching over them while Ash and Kaidan watched over Tali. Garrus and Jane took up the rear as they discovered the Geth troopers and armatures waiting for them.

"This way!" Tali pointed, directing the group, adding her shotgun when they encountered Geth. They reached what appeared to be an ancient elevator.

"Tell me this is not functioning," Ash muttered as they approached.

"It is fully functional," Tali said and the group stared.

"This has to be it," John said and the group stepped into it.

"Be ready," Jane said.

"True, Saren wouldn't leave it unguarded," John muttered.

"Nothing is every simple," Jane muttered.

"You always say that," John chuckled.

"No, Mom always said that, now we do," Jane muttered as the elevator began to move.

The doors opened and a massive collection of Geth slowed them down, but it was not as bad as if they had been a smaller group.

"This terminal," Tali said as she led them up to a small control room. "Saren's already got a headstart. We have to go find him before he reaches the Conduit." She moved to a terminal and began working.

"Hold on," John said as a nearby terminal began to display something holographic, but it was clearly a message but obviously damaged. Jane stared at it.

"-too late...unable to...invading fleets...no escape..." a voice said between bouts of static.

"Sounds like some kind of message. But I don't recognize the language," John said and Jane blinked.

"It's probably in Prothean," Liara whispered in awe.

"This recording is over 50,000 years old. No wonder we can't understand it," Tali muttered.

"The message is all broken up, but I recognize some of the words. It's a warning against the Reaper invasion," Jane said.

"Incredible! The Cipher must have transferred an understanding of the Prothean language into your mind!" Liara gasped and Jane wondered if she wouldn't have to fend off Liara's questions in the future.

"-ot safe...seek refuge...side the archives..." the hologram cried, still filled with static.

"What's it saying?" John asked.

"-alled Reapers...the Citadel...overwhelmed...only hope..." the hologram cried. "...act of desperation...the Conduit...all is lost..." Jane shook her head.

"It said something about the Conduit, but it's too degraded to help. We should go," Jane said as Tali moved away, they headed back, the door was opened and Saren wasn't going to wait for them.

~*TF*~

"I don't like this," Jane remarked, leaning over John's shoulder to look at the front monitor of the Mako. John grunted, swerving around a tree of some kind that had grown in the years since Ilos had last been inhabited. "Saren could have easily laid a trap for us so why didn't he?"

"They must have been in a hurry commander. It must mean the Conduit is still some ways off and they were on foot." Liara chimed in. She was studying a camera feed on her Omni-tool, her eyes never moving trying to see everything she could. "My words those are defunct stasis pods! They may have been trying to outwait the Reapers!"

"I don't think it worked then," Garrus chimed in. "Otherwise the Protheans would still be around."

"The pods are dead," Tali said as she reviewed some readings she was taking as John barreled through a group of Geth that had been waiting for them. "So are everyone who was inside."

"Well someone is still alive," John replied, hitting the brakes and slowing the Mako to a stop. "There's an energy barrier here. Either Saren set it up or he went around."

"We're going to have to get out and turn it off, Commanders," Ash replied, looking at a feed behind them. "There's a barrier behind us now too."

"Damn it," Jane mumbled. John shifted the Mako into park before turning behind him to look over the group.

"Ash, Wrex, Tali, I want you three to stay with the Mako. The rest of us are going to get these barriers down." He ordered, making his way to the Mako's back hatch. John slammed a fist on the release console and the door opened a moment later, John leading the way. As the others fell in Jane caught up with him and shot him a look. John ignored it, purposely not looking at his sister and her face where the graze mark on her cheek was. An inch to the left she wouldn't have had a head. It still unnerved him.

John scowled as they reached an elevator and after the others hurried in he hit the activation pad with a bit too much force. It bent in a bit and sparked before activating. It began to lower them down at a slow pace and John glanced to his left where Liara moved close to the view port on the left. She saw John watching her and she sighed.

"I have studied the Protheans for decades, but I have never felt this sense of foreboding. What will we find down there?" she mused.

"Answers, hopefully." Garrus replied from behind John. Jane shot a smile over her shoulder at the Turian and John grunted. The elevator finally it reached its destination and opened to a long walkway and the room filled with cryo pods. At the end of the walkway appeared to be a VI holographic interface with a badly degraded hologram.

"You are not Prothean. But you are not machine, either." A robotic voice spoke as they approached, reminding John of a VI. "This eventuality was one of many that was anticipated. This is why sent our warning through the beacons."

"It looks like a VI program," Jane murmured and John nodded in agreement.

"It looks pretty badly degraded." He noted.

"I do not sense the taint of indoctrination upon any of you." The VI continued. "Unlike the other that passed recently. Perhaps there is still hope."

"This is incredible. An actual Prothean VI, and I can understand it!" Liara exclaimed and John couldn't help smiling a bit at Liara's joy.

"I have been monitoring your communications since you arrived at this facility. I have translated my output into a format you will comprehend." The VI explained and Jane let out an amused chuckle. "My name is Vigil. You are safe here, for the moment. But that is likely to change. Soon, nowhere will be safe."

"What are you, some sort of AI program?" John asked, curious.

"I am an advanced ono-organ analysis system with personality imprints from Ksad Ishran, chief overseer of the Ilos research facility." The VI explained. John blinked at that. He'd heard of VI's created to resemble people but one made from some one's actual scanned brain? That was new…or old depending on your point of view.

"Why did you bring us here?" Jane inquired.

"You must break a cycle that has continued for millions of years. But to stop it you must understand or you will make the same mistakes we did." Vigil began. "The Citadel is the heart of your civilization and the seat of government. As it was with us, and as it has been with every civilization that came before us. But the Citadel is a trap. The station is actually an enormous mass relay. One that links to dark space, the empty void beyond the galaxy's horizon. When the Citadel relay is activated, the Reapers will pour through. And all you know will be destroyed."

"If Saren turns on the Citadel relay, the Reapers will wipe out the Council and Citadel fleet in one fell swoop!" John exclaimed.

"That was out fate. Our leaders were dead before we even realized we were under attack. The Reapers seized control of the Citadel and through it, the mass relays. Communication and transportation across our empire was crippled. Each star system was isolated, cut off from the others. Easy prey for the Reaper fleets. Over the next decades, the Reapers systematically obliterated our people. World by World. System by System. They methodically wiped us out."

"And none of you surrendered?" Kaidan asked, surprised.

"No offer for surrender was given. The Reapers had one goal, the systematic eradication of every intelligence lifeform in the galaxy. Through the Citadel, the Reapers had access to all our records, maps, census data. Information is power, and they knew everything about us. Their fleets advanced across every region in the galaxy. Some worlds were utterly destroyed, others were conquered, their populations enslaved. These indoctrinated servants became sleeper agents under Reaper control, taken in as refugees by other Protheans. They betrayed them to the machines. Within a few centuries the Reapers had killed or enslaved every Prothean in the galaxy. They were relentless, brutal, and absolutely thorough." Vigil explained.

"You said you brought here to break this cycle. How do we do that?" John demanded.

"The Conduit is the key." Vigil explained. "Before the Reapers attacked, we Protheans were on the cusp of unlocking the mysteries behind mass relay technology. Ilos was a top secret facility. Here, researchers worked to create a small scale version of a mass relay. One that linked directly to the Citadel, the hub of the relay network."

"The Conduit isn't a weapon, it's a backdoor on to the Citadel, right past every defense it has!" Jane exclaimed.

"The Mass Relay statue in the Presidium, it's actually functional!" John realized, snapping his fingers.

"What happened here? To this research facility? Liara asked.

"We lost all communication with the outside and our facility went dark. Personnel retreated underground, into these archives. To conserve resources, everyone was put into cryogenic stasis. I was programmed to monitor the facility and wake the staff when the danger had passed. But the genocide of an entire species is a long, slow process. Years passed. Decades. Centuries. The Reapers persisted. And my energy reserves were dwindling." Vigil explained.

"Yet you still have power." John said pointedly.

"I began to disable the life support of non-essential personal. First support staff. Then security. One by one their pods were shut down to conserve energy. Eventually only the stasis pods of the top scientists remained active. Even these were in danger of failing when the Reapers finally retreated back through the Citadel relay." Vigil stated.

"There are hundreds of stasis pods in here! Thousands!" Liara exclaimed in horror.

"My actions were the result of contingency programming entered upon my creation. I saved key personal."

"There is no way they told the non-essential staff about that." Garrus grumbled.

"So what happened then?" Jane questioned.

"When the Reapers retreated and the top researchers woke, they realized the Prothean species was doomed. Only dozens remained. Yet, they vowed to find some way to stop the Reapers from returning. A way to break the cycle forever. And they knew the Keepers were the key."

"How are the Keepers the key?" John wondered.

"The Keepers are controlled by the Citadel. Before each invasion a signal is sent through the station compelling the keepers to activate the Citadel relay and let the Reapers through. After decades of feverish study the scientists discovered a way to alter this signal. Using the Conduit, the researchers gained access to the Citadel and made the necessary modifications. This time, when Sovereign sent the signal to the Citadel, the Keepers ignored it. The Reapers are trapped in dark space." Vigil said, and John swore there was a bit of a smug tone in the VI's voice.

"So Saren's using the Conduit to reach the Citadel and manually give control of the station back to Sovereign! Sovereign will then allow the Reapers back through!" Jane realized.

"Correct, and the cycle of extinction will begin again."

"Is there any way we can stop them?" John asked.

"There is a data file in my console. Take a copy when you go. When you reach the Citadels' master control unit, upload it to the station. It will corrupt the Citadels' security protocols and give you temporary control over the station. It might give you a chance against Sovereign." Vigil replied. John stepped forward, already inserting a disc and letting the VI insert eh program. John took it back as soon as it was done and slid it into his omni-tool.

"Thank you Vigil." John replied.

'Wait, where's the master control unit? I've never heard of anything like that." Garrus said.

"Through the Conduit. Follow Saren. He will lead you to your destination." Vigil replied.

"Saren's got enough of a head start. Let's move people." Jane ordered, heading back to elevator at a jog. Liara hesitated for a moment and John slipped an arm around her waist, guiding her back to the elevator.

"I know its tough Liara but we can come back. Time is against us right now." John explained softly. Liara sighed.

"I understand John but finding this…Vigil could explain so much." Liara murmured. John gave her a slight squeeze as Jane activated the elevator and it carried them back to the Mako.

"I'm sorry but it's the best we can do for now. Saren needs to be stopped, now."

~*TF*~

"Jane, take the gun," John ordered.

"With extreme prejudice," Jane responded and he nodded.

"Awe, I wanted to shoot the Geth," Wrex playfully whined.

"Not this time," John said and the twins got into position. John began to race through the tunnels. Jane switched between gun and rocket launcher, clearing the path through Geth troopers and armatures.

"Forward," John stated. "Backward." He announced his moves with the Mako, giving Jane time to prevent the waste of shots and to keep her targets locked as the Mako moved.

"This facility is massive," Liara muttered as she looked at the readings on her omni-tool.

"It had to be," Ash said.

"They were the hope of the Prothean Empire," Kaidan added.

"For what good it did them," Wrex muttered.

"More than their predecessors," Jane commented as she blew another Geth trooper into scrap. They crested a slope and there was a miniature relay, glowing.

"There...the Conduit," Tali whispered.

"We don't have time to admire the view. We have to get through that relay," Kaidan said.

"And these Geth aren't going to make it easy on us," Ash muttered.

"Jane?" John asked.

"I'll aim out, do your best, I'll aim at the ones closest to the relay first," she said.

"Let's do this!" John roared as they headed down. Jane caught sight of four armatures. She began firing. "I think I can just dodge them." One blew up.

"Then do it," Jane said and he chuckled as he rushed through. Tali let out a shriek as they raced through an exploding armature Jane had shot apart just seconds before.

"This is crazy!" Garrus shouted as John banked hard off a rock and shot over another and the mako zoomed straight for the relay.

"We don't have enough time to get out!" Liara exclaimed and John grinned ferally.

"Who says we're getting out?" he asked as he shifted, the gears grinding as the mako shot up the ramp, rocking from an impact to one of its rear tires.

"No!"

"Yes!"

"Noooooo!"

"This is going to be weird," Ash grumbled.

"What about this entire experience has been normal?" Garrus asked.

"Hold on tight!" John cried out, the mako rocking from one last hit that sent them at a skew and Jane braced herself as they were taken into the relay. There was a second as the world flashed into view. Jane had one moment to appreciate the difference between a ship and the Mako as they hit two Geth and John fought to bring the Mako to a stop before it hit the wall of the Presidium. A ship had all space to come out of the relay. The Mako rolled and Jane was glad everyone was in the habit of strapping it. Her head hit the top of the turret and she felt blood start to ooze into her hair. She was upside down.

"Everyone okay?" John called. A chorus of 'fines' began to ring.

"I got a good hit to my head," Jane said as she began unbuckling her straps. Masculine hands helped her out of the turret seat and she smiled at Kaidan. He quickly applied med-igel and they crawled out of the Mako. John looked at Jane and she held up a hand.

"Flesh damage only," she said and he gave her his usual overbearing brother look. "I will be continuing, I'll put you in a stasis and lift you if I have to."

"What's the plan?" Ash asked. Jane and John shared a look before looking at the team.

"We need Citadel Control," Jane said.

"Wrex and Garrus with us," John said. "Ash, Kaidan, Liara, and Tali, go to Citadel Control. Tali, get this mess under control."

"We need to find Saren," Wrex said and Jane looked at Avina. She was glitching badly, but she tried to follow Jane as she approached.

"Where is Saren Arterius?" Jane asked.

"Former Spectre agent Saren Arterius is nearing the vicinity of the Council Chamber," she said. "A warrant has been issued for his arrest, though Citadel Security is unable to respond at this time."

"Come on. We need to stop Saren before it's too late," John said. The team split and the Shepards led their group to the elevator.

"The control terminal must be in the Council Chamber," Jane said and John nodded as they headed up. They watched as the Citadel arms closed.

"That's not good," Garrus muttered as Sovereign flew by.

"That's worse," Wrex added before the elevator stopped.

"Damn," Jane snarled.

"So close," John growled. "Suit up, we're walking it." The team made sure their helmets were on before the twins aimed at the side of the elevators and shot.

"Hopefully the other team made it to C-sec," Garrus muttered.

"Garrus you need to cover us with the sniper," John said.

"I got the biotic coverage," Jane replied.

"Let's do this," Wrex purred as John and he advanced.

The shadow of Sovereign loomed over the field and, overshadowing each step of the battle from Geth troopers to drop ships. The hardest part of passing the turrets, part of the Citadel turned against them.

Finally they reached the hatch to the Citadel Chambers.

~*TF*~

"Come on, come on, come on…" John muttered under his breath, storming up the stairs with Jane at his side and Garrus and Wrex just behind them. All of it for this moment. They just had to reach Saren, stop him, upload Vigil's file and…

The reach the Council chambers, a large holographic interface ablaze and there he was, Saren. John raised his pistol and Saren calmly stepped off into the chamber below. John's eyes widened as a familiar hum began to ring out from where Saren had just fallen.

"Get down!" John barked, diving to the left with Garrus as Jane and Wrex dove to the right as Saren burst out from the chamber on his hover board. Just in time as Saren tossed a grenade at them. It exploded just as they all reached cover. John glanced to his side and saw Jane had thrown herself back down the stairs. She wouldn't be able to get a decent shot with Saren staring them down with the high...ground.

"I was afraid you two wouldn't make it in time." Saren mused.

"In time for what?" John called out, checking his pistol. He locked eyes with Jane who shook her head, she couldn't get up and get a shot.

"The final confrontation. I think we both expected it would end like this. You're very persistent. Like myself. Only you've lost." Saren gloated. "You know that, don't you?"

"It's not over yet, Saren!" Jane shot back at him.

"Oh but it is." Saren said with a smug tone. "In a few minutes Sovereign will have control of all the Citadel systems. The Citadel Relay will open. The Reapers will return."

"We've still got a few tricks up our sleeves." John retorted. Saren seemed taken aback by that but then chuckled darkly.

"You survived on Virmire, but I've changed since then. Improved. Sovereign has upgraded me." Saren revealed and John felt his head swim for a bit. He'd let a Reaper put implants in him?!

"You let Sovereign implant you? Are you insane?" Jane hissed, horrified.

"I suppose I should thank you, John." Saren mused, ignoring Jane completely. "After Virmire I couldn't stop thinking about what you said. About Sovereign manipulating me. About indoctrination. The doubts began to eat away at me. Sovereign sensed my hesitation. I was implanted... to strengthen my resolve! Now my doubts are gone. I believe in Sovereign completely! I understand that the Reapers need organics. Join us, and Sovereign will find a place for you, too."

"Sovereign's just controlling you through your implants! Don't you see that?" John bit back.

"The relationship is symbiotic. Organic and machine. Intertwined. A union of flesh and steel. The strengths of both, the weaknesses of neither. I am a vision of future! The evolution of all organic life! This is our destiny. Join Sovereign and experience a true rebirth." Saren cried.

"Sovereign has not won yet. We can stop it from taking control of the station! Step aside, and the invasion will never happen." Jane snapped.

"We can't stop it! Not forever! You saw the visions. You saw what happened to the Protheans! The Reapers are too powerful." Saren snarled.

"Some part of you must still realize this is wrong! You can fight this!" John snapped.

"Maybe you're right. "Saren sounded confused now. Doubt was creeping into his voice. "Maybe there is still a chance for..." Saren cried out suddenly clutching at his head. "The implants…Sovereign is too strong. I'm sorry. It's too late for me."

"That's not true!" John cried, moving out from cover.

"John no, get back down you damned fool!" Jane yelled at him.

"It's not cover yet." John said, ignoring his sister. He'd read Saren's Spectre file dozens of times and he knew what kind of man Saren was. He may have hated humans, cut corners but he always did what he thought he had to for the good of the galaxy. He had to reach that Saren, He had to try. "You can still redeem yourself! We can stop them and get you help! The Reapers can be beaten! Here and now!"

"Goodbye, John. Thank you." Saren said softly and raised his pistol under his chin. John watched in horror as Saren pulled the trigger and fell bonelessly from his hover board, smashing through part of the glass and impacting on the floor of the chamber below.

John shook his head as an odd silence filled the room. As he made his way to the controls he felt nothing but pity for Saren. Yes he'd become a genocidal madman but was that before Sovereign got ahold of him or after Sovereign had finished altering his mind. Now they would never know. John ignored Jane's angry mutterings as he activated his omni-tool and tied it into the console. After a moment it chirped and displayed that John had access to…well…anything.

"Vigil's data file worked. I've got control of all systems." John said, turning to his team. Garrus sighed in relief as Wrex grunted. Jane was glaring at him with the oddest expression on her face, a mix of pride and anger.

"Quickly, you need to pen the stations arms. Maybe the fleet can take Sovereign down before he regains control of the station." Garrus replied.

"And open the comms too." Jane chimed in. John nodded and hurried sent the commands needed.

"Comm channel open. Distress call sent. Now we just have to wait for-" John was cut off as another signal blared over open comms.

"-this is the Destiny Ascension. Main drives offline. Kinetic barriers down forty percent. We're not going to make it. The Council is on board. I repeat, Council is on board!" an Asari's voice cried out.

"Normandy to the Citadel. Normandy to the Citadel. Please tell me that's you Commanders!" a familiar and welcome voice called out. John felt relief flood through him.

"It's us, Joker." Jane replied. "Please tell me you did what we told you to do just before we made our run to the Conduit."

"Aye, aye ma'am, I'm sitting here in the Andura sector with the entire Arcturus fleet." Joker replied and Garrus laughed happily. "We caught that distress call. We can save the Ascension. Just unlock the relays around the Citadel and we'll ride in with the cavalry!"

"John-" Jane began but John was already one step ahead of her. He sent the immediate command and the system instantly unlocked all of the relays.

"It's done Joker, now go!" John snapped.

"What's the order? Come in now to save the Ascension or hold back?" Joker replied.

"We need to save the Ascension, no matter what the cost!" Jane called. John sighed in relief and turned to eye Saren's corpse in the area below them. The Spectre had shot himself in the head but still…

"Make sure he's dead." John ordered, focusing on his omni-tool and getting the Citadel's arms opened. Garrus and Wrex both moved off to head down while Jane approached, giving him a look.

"I trust you, John, but there are limits of who you can talk down. This wasn't like with Talitha," Jane said. John grunted as the Citadel's arms finally began to open and he saw hundreds of ships zip in. He turned off his omni-tool to shoot Jane a glare.

"I had to try." John replied. Jane rolled her eyes.

"He was trying to commit genocide John." Jane retorted. John rolled his eyes and turned towards one of the windows to watch the fleets start hitting Sovereign with fire. He felt the tower shake with some of the impacts.

"Was that him or him after the Reapers finished messing with his mind?" John wondered and Jane bit her lip. She was about to reply when a gunshot rang out below them. They both looked down to see Garrus holding a gun at Saren's head.

"He's dead." Wrex growled over the comms. Jane sighed in relief and John shook his head sadly. He knew you couldn't save everyone but still…

John's musing was cut off as the room began to shake and sparks a red energy flickered here and there. Saren's body lit up with red energy like a mass effect field. Saren's body began to cry out, a guttural sound as the body convulsed. The flesh parts of Saren were melting away and then an explosion of energy sent Wrex and Garrus flying back. It also collapsed the walkway and the Shepard lost their footing. They tumbled down with the walkway, slamming into the ground. John shook his head and glanced at Jane. She was picking herself back up and John got his own feet under him. Meanwhile Saren's body was still crying out and the flesh falling away as the remaining bits were warping and changing. The arms and legs elongated and ended with sharped claws. Not much remaining except for glowing red eyes and glowing red energy in the center of what had been Saren's chest.

"Oh shit!" Jane gasped, quickly pulling up her pistol while surrounding herself with a biotic barrier. The Saren-machine creature focused on the ceiling and leaped, much like a Geth jumper.

"I am Sovereign! And this station is MINE!" It bellowed. John dove to the side as it opened fire, throwing bolts of pure energy at them, almost like snipper rounds.

"Oh, that is straight up bullshit!" Jane cried, pulling the trigger with every word, trying to get bead on the jumping and leaping machine. John and Wrex both opened fire with their assault rifles, spraying the areas Saren was going with fire.

"Try and pin it down!" Garrus cried. Easier said than done. Jane tried to follow the machine but it was too fast for her to get a beat.

"I'm going to have to go straight up adept," Jane stated and John nodded.

"Do it!" he barked and Jane glowed blue. The Saren-Sovereign launched itself at her. She quickly threw a Lift at it, rolling under it, giving the three others time to begin a weapon assault. As the Lift began to wear off Jane hit it with a Throw. The machine hit the wall and was stunned. John used a couple grenades on it. It bounced along the walls and Jane hit it with a warp, causing it to pause.

As the group battled it became clear that the Saren-Sovereign was starting to aim for Jane. She was keeping it back but it was getting better and better at dodging her biotics. John and the others were hitting it with everything as Jane dodged and moved, countering every moment she could.

"Jane!" Garrus called out. Her eyes flicked to a piece of the floor above dangling from a piece of rebar. She nodded focusing on the concrete and Just as the Saren-Sovereign targeted her Garrus hit it in the side of the head with an impact shot, throwing its aim off. Jane grunted as she put all of her will into it and ripped the concrete away, throwing it to smash into the Saren-Sovereign machine, sending it flying back. John and the rest of the team stopped, trying to catch their breath. Then a blood curdling shriek filled the room, the concrete being thrown at John and Wrex making them dive out of the way. It charged Jane, batting Garrus away and lunging at her, slashing at her with its deadly talons. Then came the horrifying moment when it grazed her with a limb, throwing Jane across the area, into a wall. Her body left cracks from impact. She dropped to the ground.

"Wrex go left!" John snapped, ignoring the beeping of his overheated assault rifle and trying put out of his mind where Jane had landed. If she was hurt…no focus John. He stormed right, slapping every grenade he had onto the rifle. When Wrex dropped his own assault rifle and blasted the Saren-Sovereign machine with a blast from his shotgun it whirled to face him, slamming the Krogan with a wicked back hand that sent him flying, but it worked just like John hoped. He tossed his assault rifle over its head and whipped out his shotgun. He clicked the Carnage setting on it and fired at his own gun as it arced over Saren-Sovereign's head. It struck and the resulting explosion sent John flying. He slammed into the wall before dropping to the ground. Then something struck him in the right side of his face, whipping his head left and making him involuntarily spit out a few teeth. John shook his head and turned back to face what had hit him. It was the Saren-Sovereign machine and it was smoldering and smoking from the explosion. It had just struck him with its right fist and he noted the left arm was gone. It reared back to strike him.

"No." John hissed. He had to get up. He would not die like this. Get up John. Get up, get up, get up get up get up, GET UP!

John let out a roar and tackled the thing about the middle. It missed hitting him and snarled in frustration. It beat on his back and John felt every impact. Each blow a sharp pain and his armor was creaking and cracking. John screamed in frustration and straightened, before slamming it down. The Saren-Sovereign machine seamed dazed and John let go for just a second to readjust his grip and pin its remaining arm as well. He had it in front of him and it was struggling, snarling. It kicked and thrashed as it tried to get free, cutting open a gash on John's face as it struggled.

"Jane shoot!" John cried out, closing his eyes and concentrating. Hold it John, hold it, just hold it. Jane will kill it, she can do it.

Jane was only getting to her feet when she heard John call. The damn Saren-Sovereign had knocked the wind out of her, she had been gasping on the ground for a few frantic second after it had hit her. She looked up to see John wince as he found the Saren-Sovereign, clearly feeling it pulling, kicking. Her left eye stung, and she wiped the side of her head, her armor coming back crimson, her cut was open again, probably when she was thrown into the wall. John was going to lose his hold, the Saren-Sovereign was cracking his armor and soon it'd make him let go. Jane had to shoot. Now. She whipped her sniper rifle up over her shoulder, her eyes were blurring and of course her damn brother was using a fucking wrestling hold on the machine. Her sight landed on the moving head.

"SHOOT!" John screamed at her. With a breath of air out, she pulled the trigger.

John heard a gunshot and the Saren-Sovereign machine went limp, before falling onto him. John fell back with a grunt and his head impacted with the ground with a crack. He felt dazed and looked blearily up and through the machine's rib cage as it dissolved right atop of him. Then Jane was there, her head wound was open again, oozing blood down the side of her face, and her sniper rifle clutched in one hand, the tip smoking. She used a lift and then a throw to remove the dissolving machine.

"Couldn't you have done that earlier?" John muttered and Jane laughed weakly, brushing her blood away before holstering her rifle and bending down to pick up her brother. Just as John took her hand his eyes moved up to see a large piece of a ship coming flying towards them. John blinked in shock and Jane looked up. She snarled and then used a throw to shove Wrex and Garrus away from them before wrapping herself around John. He saw her raise a biotic shield that was practically solid. Then the world seemed to buck and he blacked out.

~*TF*~

Kaidan and Ash lead the C-sec teams through the Council Chambers, Liara lifted large pieces of Sovereign, revealing Garrus and Wrex stunned but alive.

"Captain Anderson, over here! I found them!" a C-sec officer cried. Anderson was quick to approach the Normandy non-human crewmembers.

"Take it easy...it's over. You're safe now," he said. Looking around for the Shepard twins. "Where's the Commanders? Where are the Shepards?" Both Garrus and Wrex looked at the burning wreckage. There was a moment that the whole team took in all the burning and all the material.

Biotic blue shoved a chunk of Sovereign over, revealing Jane, her arm held close to her stomach. John had one arm over her shoulder as he leaned on her. They began to move, John limping as Jane winced as her arm was jerked. They smiled at their crew, giving each other a look as they met the rescue team.

~*TF*~

After Jane's arm and John's leg were set, treated enough that they could move without pain but still not completely healed. They were summoned to meet with the Council. Councilor Udina and Captain Anderson flanked them as they met the Councilors on the Presidium.

"Ambassador. Captain. Commanders," Tevos greeted. "We have gathered here to recognize the enormous contributions of the Alliance forces in the war against Sovereign and the Geth."

"Many humans lost their lives in the battle to save the Citadel, brave and courageous soldiers who willingly gave their lives so that we, the Council, might live," Valern added.

"There is no greater sacrifice, and we share your grief over the tragic loss of so many noble men and women," Sparatus said. Jane nodded towards the Council, it had been her order that sent the members of Fifth Fleet to their deaths, and she wondered if Admirals felt this weight after a costly battle.

"The Council also owes you a great personal debt, Commanders. One we can never repay," Tevos said and John recognized the power in that statement, he wished he could share a look with Jane, but he suspected she was wishing she could do the same. "You saved not just our lives, but the lives of billions from Sovereign and the Reapers."

"Commander Shepard and Commander Shepard, your heroic and selfless actions serve as a symbol of everything humanity and the Alliance stand for," Valern said.

"And thought we cannot bring back those valiant soldiers who gave their lives to save outs, we can honor their memories through our actions," Sparatus said. Both Shepards fought to keep their faces calm and collected.

"Humanity has shown it is ready to stand as a defender and protector of the galaxy. You have proved you are worthy to join our ranks and serve beside us on the Citadel Council," Tevos said. Then Udina spoke and both Shepards were annoyed.

"Councilor, on behalf of humanity and the Alliance, we thank you for this prestigious honor and humbly accept," Udina spoke as if he were ready to join them himself. That had to be stopped.

"We will need a list of potential candidates to fill humanity's seat on the Council," Valern explained.

"Given all that has happened, I am sure your recommendations will carry a great deal of weight. Commanders, do you support any particular candidate?" Tevos asked and the twins shared a look.

"We need someone with the courage to stand up for what he believes in..." Jane stated.

"...someone like Captain Anderson," John finished.

"Him? You must be joking! Anderson prefers to let his fists do the talking," Udina sneered.

"Only with you, Ambassador," Anderson retorted. "Only you."

"Are you sure about this, Commanders? The Captain's a soldier, not a politician," Udina sneered as if being a soldier was something bad.

"We've already got too many politicians on the Citadel," John said, leaving the 'like you' silent. "The Captain would be perfect for this job."

"I think it is an inspired choice," Tevos said. "The Council would welcome him with open arms should he accept." They all looked at Anderson.

"I'm honored, Councilor, as humanity's representative, I'll do everything in my power to help the Council rebuild," Anderson said and neither twin could keep from smiling. Anderson was a great choice.

"Sovereign's defeat marks the beginning of a new era for both humanity and the Council," Sparatus said.

"Sovereign was only a vanguard, the Reaper fleet is still coming. Hundreds of ships, maybe thousands and we're going to find some way to stop them," Jane said before nodding at the Council.

"Let's get started on that," John said as the twins turned and headed off. They needed to see how the Normandy faired.

"Shepard's right. Humanity is ready to do its part united with the rest of the Council. We have the strength to overcome any challenge. When the Reapers come, we must stand side-by-side, we must fight against them as one, and together we will drive them back to the dark space," Anderson said as the twins exited.

~*TF*~

"Oh, I hurt so much." John muttered, walking with Jane from their meeting with the Council.

"Oh you big baby, suck it up." Jane said happily. John rolled his eyes.

"It hit me in the face, a lot." John retorted. "I had to have cloned teeth implanted."

"Big baby." Jane teased and John couldn't help but laugh and slung an arm around his sister's shoulders. Jane put her own arm around him and they met up with the team waiting for them. John separated from Jane as Liara lunged at him to wrap her arms around him. Jane smiled as John enfolded Liara in his embrace and murmured softly to Liara, resting a hand between the Asari's shoulder blades and the back of her crest.

"I take it went well?" Ash said, smiling. Jane looked over the team. A few scrapes, cuts, and even a bandaged gunshot but they were all here. They had made it.

"Humanity is joining the Council and we recommended Anderson for the spot." Jane explained. Garrus nodded knowingly as Wrex just grunted. Kaidan smiled softly at Jane who smiled back.

"So what now?" Tali asked. John separated from Liara, but had one of her hands twined with his.

"Now we go get completely totally drunk." John said and the others cheered.

"I know this great place that serves amino and dextro." Garrus said, turning to lead the way. "It made it through okay and I know I can convince them to open for us."

"Sounds good to me." Jane said. The others all nodded and followed their Turian friend. Jane sighed happily and smiled at John as he and Liara brought up the rear of the group and Kaidan fell instep beside her. Jane blinked in surprise as she felt Kaidan slip his hand around hers. She smiled at him and he smiled back.

"After this I think I'm going to end the day with a good eight hour sleep in the Captain's quarters." John replied.

"How do you think tomorrow will go, my fourteen minute older brother?" Jane asked. John smiled and glanced at Tali.

"I think we might help out someone on her pilgrimage. Maybe buy someone a shuttle and fill it to the brim with parts and supplies." John replied.

"Oh Lord, but her hot rod why not?" Jane muttered. Liara and Kaidan both laughed. "But I meant with us, the team, the Reapers."

"Just like you told the Council Jane. We'll stop them, together." John replied. Jane smiled.

"The Shepards against the world?" Jane teased and John chuckled.

"How about the Shepards guarding the galaxy."

"Together?"

"Always."

"Hey you guys catch up! Wrex is buying the first round!" Garrus called back to them. Jane laughed at that.

"Ten credits it's some sort of rot gut."

"No bet sis, no bet."

~*Chapter End*~

End of Arc 1. Arc 2 to start with chapter 10, the start of Mass Effect 2!

~*TF*~

Toby: I wrote and then re-wrote and re-wrote the fight scene with Saren so many times. It was a hard scene as I wanted to show the twins as equals. A lot more difficult than I thought.

Belle: This is a BIG deal for us. It makes the first part of the journey done and soon we will break away from the script and create our own story. The what if will change drastically soon. So thank you for coming this far, care to stay and see what else we do?