Here's the next chapter. It is going to be a bit before I can get the next one up because of work and life in general. I am having so much fun writing this fic. Thanks to everyone that reviewed and sent me PMs let me know what you think of the story. It always makes my day to hear from you guys. As always, please read and review.

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Luke waited outside the comm room as Claire had her first run in with the Illusive Man. How he wished he was a fly on the wall in that room. Claire had always been outspoken about her distaste for Cerberus and its terrorist actions. Meeting the leader of that organization would not be fun for her. Hell, he worked for the guy and he did not like having to talk to him.

"We just got our mission briefing," Miranda said shortly knocking him out of his thoughts. Luke accepted the OSD and plugged it into his omni-tool. The screen appeared with the briefing and Luke skimmed through it.

"Freedom's Progress just went dark? Same MO?" Luke asked scrolling down the page.

"Very same," Miranda answered as she headed over to a console. Luke looked up from the briefing. That was different. Usually Miranda would go into detail of what all they would have to do and bring to make sure the operation went off without a hitch. Either that or she would be correcting Luke on his plan.

"Okay, what the hell is up with you? First you wanted to talk, now you don't want to even be in the same room," Luke snapped as he closed his onmi-tool and followed her over to the console.

"Why didn't you ever tell me about Ashley Williams? I could tell you two had had something when we asked the commander about it," Miranda asked crossing her arms. Luke could not believe she was bringing this up.

"It wasn't any of your business then, just like it's not now," Luke growled.

"I thought we had something between us. I thought you cared enough to share something like that," Miranda said slamming her hand down on the desk.

"We went on a few dates and didn't deny rumors around the bases. You were never in my plan for the long term. I'm sorry but that's the way it is," Luke snarled back. He could see the shock, or was it pain, behind Miranda's eyes, even though she kept her cold, all business expression on.

"Understood."

Luke shook his head and headed over to a small row of seats where he could read in peace. Freedom's Progress wasn't that far away, maybe 12 hours by shuttle. Of course if the new ship were ready, they could have gotten there in 4 hours, but the crew was still arriving and the final checks were still underway. If they wanted to get to the colony before Alliance investigators, they would have to move soon. The other colonies had been ghost towns, some even had stove tops still on when the first wave of scavengers, investigators, or pirates landed. Cerberus had never been the first ones on the ground. Luke had suggested that they send an undercover agent to several different colonies to try and spread their net a little wider, but Freedom's progress had fallen through the cracks. Fehl Prime, Horizon, Tip Tree, and a few others had Cerberus agents blending into the population and even moving extra defense systems into place.

Luke sighed as he saw Claire come out of the comm room looking like she had just talk to Udina and the Council for a few hours. Luke honestly thought no one could get under her skin the way they did. This was definitely the same old Claire.

She made her way over to Miranda. Luke strained to hear what was being said but was only able to make out aver few words or so. Miranda was saying something about believing in Cerberus and that Claire might be a liability. Luke pretended to be entranced by the briefing as Claire and Miranda butted heads.

"That's something you don't see every day," Jacob said sitting down next to Luke.

"What's that?" Luke asked.

"Miranda getting defensive. I think she's threatened by the commander," Jacob stated.

"Probably. Most people feel a little threatened or at least intimidated by Claire. I mean, hell, she's the first human spectre, Alliance war hero, Savior of the Citadel, and if she bares any of the family resemblance, not too hard on the eyes. I'd be surprised if Miranda didn't feel at least a little threatened," Luke said closing his omni-tool.

"Always the humble one," Jacob said patting Luke on the shoulder. "You know, it's kind of nice getting to just hang with you. Since the recovery operation, I think you and I have been mostly business."

"Yeah, I guess we have. Which reminds me, we need to send out orders for the Wolf Pack to report to the ship. I figure they can provide security and back up just in case we need some extra guns," Luke said as he kept his eyes on the two women on the far side of the room.

"I forward the orders. Do you really think the commander will approve of you bringing your old team with you?" Jacob asked.

"They are just there as extra security and I trust them. I think Claire will be okay with that," Luke stated. "Speaking of which."

Claire strolled across the room like she owned the place and plopped down in the seat next to Luke. She appeared to just be tired but part of Luke was telling him that she just didn't want to deal with Cerberus or their mission at the moment.

"You have some explaining to do," Claire stated resting her elbow on his shoulder.

"I guess I do… Where do you want me to start?" Luke asked as Jacob got up. The operative headed straight for the armory, but Luke assumed it was because he did not want to intrude on the sibling reunion.

"How about why you're with Cerberus, seems like a decent place to start," Claire stated resting her elbows on her knees.

"They made me a deal," Luke started. "A couple weeks or so after your funeral, our mutual friend over there approached me." Luke nodded over toward Miranda as Claire followed his gaze.

"What kind of deal?" Claire asked.

"I would help them recover your body and they would bring you back. Not just your body, but you. Same memory, same morals, same motivations, the whole sha-bang," Luke said as he tapped the ends of his fingers together. God only knew what Claire was thinking. He must have sounded like a crazy person. It should not have been possible. Hell, it almost wasn't.

"How? How could anyone be brought back from the dead?" Claire exclaimed turning to face Luke straight on.

"The Lazarus Project. They continued the work even after we destroyed the cash of J-11 serum we found. They ended up with a serum that was tailored to your DNA only. The Lazarus Project became focused only on bringing you back," Luke explained.

"Why not just turn to you? You're a good leader," Claire stated. The confidence she had in him was comforting, though made his stomach turn. True he had led a small team, but most of the missions were just rescue ops or missions ordered by the Illusive Man. He could never lead a large mission and make tough calls like Claire could. Claire was a different form a leader. When they made her, the trainers definitely broke the mold.

"I have my team, but no one can lead the way you do. You don't just lead by example, you inspire. Hell, everyone from the old crew followed you through a suicide mission," Luke paused, "and I still would. You're a hero to the entire galaxy. There isn't a soldier out there that doesn't idolize you, fear you, or respect you."

"But you have a team. You are obviously good enough for that," Claire said smiling. "What kind of operations do you run?"

"Missions that would support the operations of this facility in trying to recover the lost colonists. We're called the Wolf Pack," Luke said. He smirked as his eyes fell to his chest plate that hid the wolf tattoo beneath.

"Funny, like your old hoodie. 'Shepard among wolves' right?" Claire asked.

"Yeah, I think that's where they got the idea," Luke said looking over at Miranda. Another tactic she used to get what Cerberus wanted, no doubt.

"What about the old team? I know it's been two years, but have you seen anyone else," Claire asked as her eyes drifted to the floor.

"Not until recently. Talked to a few old friends, but I haven't even seen most of the rest. Last person I saw was Kaidan, but that was just in passing," Luke stated. He could tell that his statement had sparked her curiosity.

"Kaidan? What about Mal? I can't imagine them actually approving of your new friends," Claire said nodding toward the armory and Jacob.

"They probably wouldn't. I doubt they even knew it was me. No one besides the Illusive Man, Miranda, and my team know who I really am. To everyone else, even the shuttle pilots, I'm Alpha of the Wolf Pack," Luke said running his fingers though his hair.

"I can't say I'm crazy about the new look. You kind of remind me of some of those failure boy band guys from the 20th century," Claire said snickering. Luke smiled and stroked the short chin scruff.

"Two years is a long time there sis. I guess I can start calling you my little sister," Luke said gently elbowing her.

"Our birthday hasn't changed and maturity wise, I'm still so much older," Claire said giving him a shove back.

"You know, I thought you were going to shoot me for joining Cerberus," Luke said softly.

"I'm still considering it, but for now, let's see if we can find those missing colonists," Claire said putting her arm around him.

"Sounds like a plan," Luke stated. "By the way, I'm really happy to have you back."

Claire smiled. Luke wondered how she was taking everything for real. The last thing she would have known was floating away from the Normandy as it exploded. The next thing she knew she was waking up in a Cerberus facility two years later with her brother a part of that hated organization and none of her other friends around. She always put on a strong face for everyone else to keep up morale, but this time, Luke was afraid for her. I took him nearly15 years to truly come to grips with everything that had happened to him, could Claire be that good at blocking out the trauma of dying and being brought back?

"Come on. Let's get to the colony and see what's what," Claire stated adjusting her shoulder plate. Luke nodded and followed his sister to the armory.

000

Claire looked over the weapons. If she could say one nice thing about Cerberus, they had great equipment. Of course there was the standard M-8 Avenger and M-15 Vindicator, but they had a few weapons that she had never seen before.

"Pick your poison, Commander…or should I be calling you Captain?" Jacob asked. Claire faced the soldier and raised an eyebrow.

"Captain? What are you talking about?" Claire asked as she picked up an M-77 Paladin to test the weight. It reminded her of the M-6 Carnifex but smaller and lighter, though if the set up was to be believed, it was considered the top of the line in pistols.

"Oh, no one's told you have they…" Jacob said slowly looking over at Luke. Shaking his head, Luke collected a odd looking rifle labeled as the M-96 Mattock as well as a Paladin to match the one she had picked up.

"Told me what?" Claire asked setting the pistol down and crossing her arms. She looked directly at Luke. He might be Cerberus now, but he was still her brother. He might have miss led her before a few times, but he never lied to her.

"You were promoted posthumously to Captain. Congratulations," Luke said sending the article that announced it over to her omni-tool. Claire opened it and found that it was an article covering her funeral.

As Claire read through it quickly she found quotes from Anderson, Hackett, Mallory, Joker, and several other members of the crew. All said that she would be missed and she was the greatest commander and friend that they ever had. All of it made her smile, but she quickly realized that there was one person lacking.

"Luke, why isn't there any mention of you in here?" Claire asked closing the article and grabbing a Mantis sniper rifle from the table. Of all the weapons presented, the Mantis was a rifle she knew how to use. It obviously had some work done on it to increase penetration and accuracy but it was still the same rifle.

"I wasn't exactly in a presentable state at your funeral," Luke stated. Claire watched as her brother rubbed the back of his neck.

"Drunk?" Claire asked. She really didn't have to. If she had just seen him or Mallory die, she would have been drinking too.

"Yeah, Mal wasn't exactly happy with my appearance, to say the least."

Oh crap, they couldn't even get along at my funeral. Claire smiled. It might have been two years but not much seemed to have changed in the details. Mal and Luke were still at each other's throats, Luke was willing to do anything to keep his sisters safe, and Mal was still the loyal Alliance soldier.

"Shuttle's prepped Shepard. The Illusive Man put you in command of this mission. What are your orders?" Miranda asked as she collected a Tempest SMG and a Predator pistol; pretty bland and weak choices considering her apparent skill in battle, but to each their own.

"Are you two going to be okay taking orders from me?" Claire asked looking back and forth between Jacob and Miranda.

"We didn't bring you back to second guess your command Shepard," Miranda stated. Claire nodded and looked over to Jacob.

"I've been taking one Shepard's orders for two years. I'm good with it," Jacob added.

Claire's eyes fell on Luke as he smirked and slipped a few extra thermal clips onto his pockets and combat pouches. "Hell Claire, you know I'm in."

Claire smiled, but not a real smile. She had to admit, she was not feeling ready to jump back into the fray yet. There were little bits of her death that started coming back to her ever since she woke up. The feel of an icy chill as the warm air in her hard suit was sucked out. Hearing the crackle of her radio in her ear as Luke called her name, assuring her that he would save her. The smile that crossed her face at that thought as she waved everyone toward the shuttle was a true one. Luke kept his promise, even if he did make a deal with the Devil's Dog to do it.