"Eat this!" A voice Shepard hadn't heard in a long time shouted loudly as the doors opened, She watched as a familiar friend flanked by two students flared her biotics before blasting the Cerberus troopers back.

"Jack?" Shepard asked loudly, the woman turned to the doorway, just as surprised.

"Shepard?" Jack asked, surprised, the two women slowly moving to meet at the center of the room but the sound of a heavy mech working it's way into the room cut them off. Both of them looked over to see an Atlas Mech kneel down in a doorway, aiming it's missile launcher at a student. Jack sprinted across the room, sliding across the floor to get in front of the student, getting a barrier up to protect the both of them just as it fired a missile, the two biotics unharmed by the explosion. The driver in the Atlas wasn't one to give up, eventually getting through the doorway.

"Maker, what is that thing?!" Bethany shouted as Shepard's squad started firing at the machine, distracting it and stopping it from firing at Jack again.

"It is an Atlas," EDI answered as she moved into cover. "Or, as you would see it, a Metal Ogre," she added, putting it into terms that the mage would understand.

"Everyone, get down! This thing's outta your league," Jack said to the students, as her fists glowed blue as the student she saved ran up the stairs. "Shepard, keep it off us," she ordered-the former convict never requested things-as she followed after her student, getting to higher ground.

Garrus found himself moving to cover as well. "Don't worry, it still goes down after you pump enough bullets into it," he assured the younger Hawke, as he lined up the machine in his sights. "It just might take a little longer to do is all."

"Aim for the orange glass protecting the cockpit." Shepard ordered. "If we break through that and kill the driver, we won't have to waste time trying to blow it up." she was hiding behind a pillar, breaking cover to fire a triplet of shots from her sniper rifle before leaning back in and reloading. Repeating her actions, sometimes alternating with an overload as well.

Eventually it fell, exploding into scrap metal, Shepard kept moving, she had heard the Cerberus troopers coming down the staircase. Her Valiant singing it's song as she knocked the heads off a few troopers and froze a Centurion before blowing him up with a well aimed biotic throw.

"That's all of them!" Garrus announced, when he killed the last one. He then put his weapon away on his back and approached the Commander. "Honestly Shepard, I swear you hog all the enemies," he teased her, as his mandibles twitched.

The woman in question simply smirked as she approached the stairwell. "Kahlee said she was putting out an SOS. I had no idea the Queen of the Girl Scouts would show up," Jack said, earning the Commander's attention.

The tattooed biotic then turned her attention to her students. "Alright, amp check! Prangley, those fields were weak," she told him, putting a finger in his face as she spoke to him. "Cerberus isn't going to lie down outta pity like that girl you took to prom." Her commented earning a female student to playful shove the reprimanded boy from behind.

"Grab juice and an energy bar. We move in five," Jack told them, before moving and hoping over the balcony. Glowing blue to slow her descent. She then marched right up to the Commander and punched her across the face. "Damn it. How many times did I tell you not to trust Cerberus?" came the demand.

"You're preaching to the goddamn choir Jack." Shepard snapped. "I just saved your ass from those fucking troops."

"Aw, you feel bad?" the younger biotic said stepping into the redhead face. "Well shit, I bet that's a bit comfort to all the people Cerberus has killed."

"Jack's personality appears largely unchanged." EDI spoke as she approached the tattooed woman, her arms crossed,Jack leaned back slightly.

"Hey EDI, nice body. Now you look like a sex bot instead of a sex toy." Jack joked.

Realization then hit the eldest Hawke. "Oh, I remember you," she exclaimed, earning Jack's attention. "You were the one who got to fighting with Miranda, when Goldie Locks and Blueberry were fighting," pointing at the ex-convict with her finger. "You look nothing like I remember though," earning a jab in her side from her sister. "Ow. What? It's true!"

"Shepard? What the hell?" Jack asked of the green eyed woman. "I thought we left them back on their homeworld."

"We did." Shepard answered back, looking at Jack. "I went back for the Hawkes. I've been trying to find the time to figure out the research of the late Doctor Bryson, figured I could use the help of a mage." she nodded at Bethany."But some people..." she pointed her finger at Jack. "Are sending out SOS signals out for Commander Shepard's Communications Specialist to find when she's bored."

The biotic in question simply snickered in amusement. "We can talk about those later," she said. "Right now, all I care about is getting my guys out of here."

"Your guys?" Shepard parroted, Jack chuckled softly.

"Yeah, I guess so." she looked up at the balcony fondly as Shepard shook her head.

"How in the hell did you end up teaching people?" the Commander asked dryly.

Jack gave her a shove in response. "Well, I had some free time while you were off playing prisoner," the former convict informed her. "Alliance brass knew I helped you, they offered me this," Taking a step back, cross her arms over her chest, and glancing up at the balcony. "And apparently the students responded well to my teaching style," amusement in her voice.

"The psychotic biotic!" Prangley said as he leaned over, smiling wide and bright.

"I will destroy you!" the girl who had pushed Prangley earlier commented, making a fist.

Jack turned around fully. "Drink your juice Rodriquez. You couldn't destroy wet tissue paper," she teased the younger woman.

Cortez to extraction team, his voice coming in through the Commander's earpiece, causing her to bring a hand to her ear. The Cerberus cruisers are coming back.

"How long have we got?" Shepard asked

Two minutes tops Commander, after that there is no way we can get past them. Cortez responded, Shepard looked up at Jack's class then down at the two Hawkes, all of them looked exhausted.

"Get outta here and back to the Normandy, we'll find another way off this station." she said.

'Roger that. Good luck Ma'am." the line went dead as Shepard lower her hand for a moment, pacing in a quick circle before bringing her hand back up to her ear.

"Shepard to Sanders." she declared. "The students are safe but the shuttle is a no go."

Understood. I might know another way off the station, but I need station wide camera access, she responded. Can you disable the Cerberus security override? It's routed through Orion Hall, so it should be nearby.

"How does camera access get us off this station?" Shepard asked as she looked around, eventually spying a terminal off in the corner of the room. She pointed at EDI then at the terminal, the Unshackled AI nodding and going towards it.

We need to reach the Cerberus shuttles. The cruiser won't target friendly ships, which gives us a fighting chance to escape. Give me back the cameras and I'll find a path that will keep Cerberus from boxing you in.

"So, how are you two holding up?" Garrus inquired of the Hawkes while the Commander scouted around for the security override.

"I'll admit I'm enjoying the new fighting style. It's very..." Sabrina trailed as she made a hand gesture as she struggled to come up with a proper word. "I don't know. I like the rush," she finally settled on after a few moments. "I'm more drained than I normally would be at home...which makes me feel so out of shape," giving a sigh.

Bethany chuckled. "Too many bon-bons sister," the mage teased, although she was in the same boat. They had fought-they'd been in fights all their lives-but Shepard's fighting was so much different from their own.

It was faster, like a haste had been cast on everything. It was more duck and dodge, than outright charging, which Sabrina herself wasn't all that used to; Bethany, however, was used to being a distance fighter and was adjusting faster than her sister in that way.

Shepard had made a comment about Sabrina fighting like a Krogan...which got laughs from their other two companions, but left the sisters clueless as to what she meant. Though Garrus countered that Hawke and Shepard both had that in common; seeing as how both women just loved diving into the thick of things and tearing down their enemies.

Just Shepard had a knack for making things explode...of course Garrus' comment also got him the finger from the redhead, causing him to laugh more.

"I just need to disable the locks and get that door open." Shepard said as she pointed at the door down into the atrium. "Shouldn't take that long." she looked at Bethany then at Jack. "Bethany, I want you to join Jack's squad, you'll be safer and more useful there."

The golden eyed female gave a nod. "Fighting from a distance is what I do best," she remarked with a chuckle.

"We don't need the help!" one of the students shouted. "We're great enough as it is!" there was a collective cry as both Jack and Shepard looked up. "Just because she's with Commander Shepard doesn't mean she can just start calling the shots!"

Sabrina looked curiously at her sister. "You're giving orders now Bethany?" she asked in fake surprise. "Why, I dare say I didn't even see your lips move. And, when they did, I thought you were making a statement, not dishing out orders," she then pretended to dig in her ear. "I must really clean my ears out better." Amusement filling her tone, as she eyed the students.

"Hey!" Jack pointed up at her team. "I am the one calling the shots!" she pointed at Bethany. "Take a good hard look, does she look like the type that should be on the front line with Shepard or up there, with you guys, making us stronger as a team?!"

The students were silent for a few moments. "With us ma'am," Rodriguez answered, breaking the groups silence.

"Play to your strengths kids," Garrus told them. "You'll live longer if you do."

"Good." Jack cross her arms, looking at Shepard. "Get the door."

"STOP! STOP! STOP! STOP!" The Seeker roared cutting of Varric from his tale. "What the hell was all of that dwarf? Bullshit! Bullshit!"

An amused smirk on his face. She let him get further than he thought she would before interrupting. "Why, I'm telling you the tale Seeker," he answered, sitting back in his seat. "It is what you asked to hear after all."

"Yes, I did, but there is no way this can be part of the story." she snarled. "Star Metal ships floating in the night sky? Massive metal devices with pure lyrium, Ezio, whatever! Cores? The abominations and darkspawn companions I understand, but nothing else." she was firm. "The Templar was ordered to follow the mage for their safety, why was he locked away?!"

"Oh, believe me Seeker, if you'd have ever met Junior you would have understood why," the dwarf responded. "For Shepard's world, he posed more danger than even their Reapers considering all the trouble he managed to cause within barely a day of him being there.

And, considering how he was responsible for putting Sunshine away in the Circle," leaning forward as he spoke. "He was already on Shepard's shit list from that stunt. Future actions simply dug his grave deeper. And, we all know what they say about digging a grave for someone else: to dig one for yourself as well."

"With those words, you are implying that the Shepherd's world allowed magic to control them. That is no wonder their Blight, these... Reapers were attacking them..." Cassandra said, she stopped when she saw Varric shake his head. "So that is not the case?"

"It's...complicated Seeker," he responded after a few moments. "In a way they were responsible for their Blight, and at the same time they weren't.

But those are details that come later," he assured her.

Bethany just couldn't bring herself to believe all of this. Fighting alongside a class of biotics, no threat of a Templar turning around and stabbing them in the back. She watched and helped as they laid down the fire to help Shepard and her sister navigate through the mess Cerberus was making of the courtyard.

"Rodriguez! Watch your barriers!" Jack barked as she unleashed a shockwave down at the soldiers below.

Pradley ducked behind cover, before rising and sending down a warp. "Just what type of biotic is she?!" He shouted, referring to Bethany as he erected a barrier.

The girl who had been sent with them was using powers he had never seen!

She didn't glow. She was able to use multiple powers at once; summoning her own barrier while firing off shots from a...staff?

"Stay focused Pradley!" Jack sneered. "Twenty Questions later!"

'I need fire on that Atlas!' Shepard's command came through the comms. 'We can't get a good angle down here!'

"Alright, you heard her!" The biotic teacher shouted. "Hit that overgrown Cerberus toy with everything you got!

Hey Cupcake," calling to the Mage and getting her attention. "Think you can hit this thing with something we can't?"

"Cupcake?" Came the question as the group ducked a missile.

Jack! Shepard's cry came in over the comms. We can't keep running around like this!

"Stay focused kids!" Jack ordered. "Just keep dodging Shepard!"

Bethany channelled her mana, charging it, as she moved forward to be slightly closer. Once it was locked in her sights she struck; her arm coming out, her hand covered in her magic and eyes glowing, as she reached out for the mech.

Around it, a light blue barrier forming around it. Then, the sound of crushing metal could be heard as its prison started to get smaller; the Cerberus operative trying to escape but to no avail.

Then, Bethany closed her fist, and the Atlas was nothing more than a crushed pile of metal.

"Shit!" Jack swore loudly. "I don't think even I can do that!" she looked at Bethany, all of the students looking at her. "I know Shepard know's how to pick them, but... damn... we should have stolen you from the start."

The mage flushed under the praise. Outside of her sister and their companions, no one had ever really praised her magical abilities before; she wasn't used to it.

"Spirits...I'm starting to wish mages existed here as well," Garrus remarked. "Especially if they can do this kind of damage," looking at the scrap heap.

"That...was..." Prasley was still looking at the heap. "You gotta show me how you did that!"

Jack, we're moving onto the Atrium. Shepard's voice came in. I just hope this ends soon because I'm running getting to the end of my rope with these bastards.

The biotic waved signalling that she'd heard. "Fawn over her later Pradley," she told the boy, shoving him to get his mind back in track. "Right now, we've to to focus getting the fu...the heck outta here.

Let's move it people!"

Jack had the group of them pause, take a break, check their amps again while waiting for Shepard's signal. Rodriguez had taken a bullet to the arm because she let her barrier slip. She pressed up against a wall and slid down, trying to catch her breath. Even from fighting from such a distance, everything was so fast paced, the way Shepard's squad just tore through the atrium. With no doubt in her mind, she was positive that just half of the Normandy team could just

massacre all of Meredith's Templars in a heartbeat.

"That's an impressive barrier you got there Octavia." a muffled voice came in through Jack's Omni-Tool, having left the channel open with Shepard, so full conversations could happen without them being in the same room. Something Bethany still didn't understand. "Our file says you've been working on shield technology."

"Mark!" Shepard's shout interrupted the voice and the sound of two gunshots could be heard, Jack growled softly.

"Blasted Cerberus."

"Live fire!" a Cerberus operative shouted as more gunfire filled the channel for a couple more seconds, the biotics looked up at their teacher who was keying something into her Omni-Tool , eventually getting a video feed from EDI. The Cerberus troopers were dead, and Shepard was in the lead slowly walking towards their fellow students behind a barrier.

"Oh thank god." one of the girls spoke. "Archer is still alive."

"I'm Commander Shepard, here with the Alliance." Shepard spoke. "I'm here to help."

"I didn't buy it from the last guy, and I got no reason to buy it now." Octavia spoke. Garrus nodding along. The girl was paranoid, a good quality to have."

"The square root of nine hundred six point oh one equals..."

"Thirty point one." Shepard answered softly.

"Hello Commander Shepard." came the response. Jack started to chuckle as the conversation continued through the tool.

"David, you know her?" the other male inquired in surprise.

"Yes. She rescued me from Cerberus. Sent me here. She made it quiet," David informed the other boy.

There was a moment of silence on Shepard's end. The sound of something being powered down; probably a barrier. "You did a great job keeping yourselves safe." Shepard spoke, a few students looked at Jack then at Bethany.

"You are so lucky to know Commander Shepard." one of the boys spoke to Bethany. "She's a hero."

Bethany let out a chuckle. "That's what people keep telling me," she responded. "But, honestly, she's no different than my sister. They're no different than you or I," she told him.

The mage was very familiar with this type of adoration, her sister got it quite often. She wasn't jealous, being a mage she preferred little to no attention on herself; but, just because she did not outright get it, did not mean that Bethany was unfamiliar with it. It was something about Shepard and her sister that just made people hold them in high regards. The things they did, that anyone could accomplish if pushed enough, seemed to always stand out even if others had done the exact same thing; the air they gave off...it seemed to inspire people.

It's what made people want to be around them, follow them, even met them for a fleeting moment.

"He looks much healthier." EDI spoke, David moved closer to the camera on the feed.

"I remember you. The Normandy computer. Sorry."

"No apology is necessary."

"Shepard's great." Jack said, sounding more sarcastic than anything. "But only when she isn't being the Paragon of the Knights of Good." she chuckled. "Thankfully, that doesn't happen often. I mean, how else would have she talked Saren into committing suicide?" she laughed before killing the video feed. "Hard to believe she might just be our last hope."

The students nodded before the boy turned his attention back to Bethany. "So, you gotta show me how you crushed that Atlas!" he pestered in excitement. "I mean, your biotics are nowhere near as intense as ours and yet you crushed that thing like a can!"

His praise of her just flustering the youngest Hawke all the more.

"Forget that, I wanna know how you managed to be on the Commander's team," another student spoke up, eyeing the golden eyed woman.

Shit, all Cerberus operatives to the shuttle bay! Came the command as it filled the entire station.

"Jack! Move! Move! Move!" Shepard's command came in through the coms as Jack looked at the squad.

"You heard the Commander. It's time we get out of here!" she barked. "Shepard will cover us, break for the shuttle in groups of twos!"

"Okay we're clear. Move your asses before backup arrives," Jack said as the Commander blasted the Atlas into pieces, before ushering her students along.

Hurry, Commander! The Normandy has pulled the cruiser out of position. We need to leave now! Sanders said over the Commander's Omni-Tool as she and her team headed for the door leading to the shuttles.

The two groups converged inside. Kahlee accessing the terminal, getting the shuttles open; the students quickly hurrying to get inside. Once they were in Shepard's team and Kahlee went next.

"Wait...where the hell's Rodriquez?" Jack demanded when she didn't spot the black haired student.

The sound of gunfire drew their attention. They saw Rodriquez back in the previous room, running and dodging bullets from Cerberus soldiers. She ended up falling, quickly scrambling to take cover behind a row of chairs as the soldiers slowly advanced on her.

"She needs covering fire!" Shepard shouted as she ran up to the window, smashing the butt of her rifle against the glass a couple times, managing to crack it. "Crap!"

Jack slowly approached, beginning to glow blue. "She needs more than that!" came the statement, as she pulled her fist back before swinging it at the glass window, shattering it instantly, as well as knocking the Cerberus soldier's off their feet.

The Commander hoped over the threshold and went to Rodriguez, who had covered her head from the spraying shards. She helped the girl up and assisted her back toward the shuttles; the Cerberus soldier's rising to their feet and beginning to fire.

The bullets missing their targets as the group of three made it to the shuttle, the door quickly shutting behind them, as the engines came to life, before it was airborne and through the bay doors, speeding toward the Normandy.

"Joker." Shepard spoke up, placing her hand against her ear. "We've escaped in a Cerberus Shuttle, watch your fire."

Right, I've got you on sensors. Should just be a minute, the pilot responded.

"Thank you Commander." Kahelee spoke. "We would have never gotten off that station if you had never come." she smiled softly as Shepard moved around in the shuttle, eventually coming to a stop to stand in front of the Hawkes, her back to them.

"I... I cannot believe it." Bethany whispered in awe to her sister, as Jack started talking to her students. "Their biotics... everything about them is so different."

Sabrina leaned over. "Maybe it...maybe..." she let out a sigh when she couldn't think of anything. "I don't know what to say to that," the older Hawke confessed. "Perhaps, though...they," referring to the students and them glowing blue. "Are what you could have been if you were born here." Bethany looked away from her sister for a moment, a life like this, she would gladly accept.

"Maybe." Bethany answered as Shepard said that Jack's squad was better off for support roles, earning a choir of complaints. "I should ask Doctor T'Soni about how one discovers they are a biotic."

Commander, we've got a visual on you now. Preparing to dock, Joker's voice came through the comms. Hey Jack, now that you're military, you gonna wear a uniform? He teased the former convict. Or are you just getting the officer bars tattooed on?

Jack looked up. "Screw you, f...Flight Lieutenant," she said, casting her gaze to the ground as she managed to catch herself.

Uh...what the hell was that?

Kahlee answered him. "Jack promised to watch her language in order to maintain the necessary professionalism we need from our teachers," she told the Normandy pilot.

What, does she have a swear jar or something? he prodded. Cause I bet if we emptied that thing, we could afford another cruiser. Came the quip.

"Cover your ears kids," Jack instructed before casting her gaze upward. "Hey, Joker, f-"

"Commander."Liara spoke as she approached the team and all the Grissom Students. "Carver Hawke has awoken in the brig. He is not pleased with James acting as his Warden.

He is demanding to be released, and is calling for either yourself or Hawke," the Information Broker added.

Jack looked curiously at Shepard. "Someone's been busy," she remarked, as she folded her arms. "Wanna fill me in?"

"You never met him." Shepard said. "But Hawke's got a sissy for a brother. Turned his own sister in."

"Damn. That's low," the psychotic biotic remarked.

"Also, EDI...have Joker set a course for the Citadel," The Commander added as she headed toward the brig with Jack following.

"Understood Shepard," the AI agreed, Shepard sighed, running her hand through her hair before making a beeline to the brig.

"You should follow me as well." Shepard told the two Hawkes. "Lest you want me to let Jack rip him a new one."

"I figured you want to do that yourself," Sabrina remarked in her usual charming manner. But, she did follow after the older woman; Bethany wanted to head back to their quarters. "I mean you did nearly crush his windpipe. Wanting to choke someone to death must be one of those...across the stars things?"

"Naw. Its a Shepard thing." Jack commented. "Everyone else it's a bullet to the brain."

Sabrina accepted that answer. "You've changed since the last time I saw you," she stated, referring to the tattooed biotic. "In truth I saw you more as killing destructive force, not a mentor," the rogue said. "No offense."

"None taken." Jack chuckled as Shepard opened the door down to the brig. They could hear Vega, loudly, talk about his time in basic.

"Then the crazy bastard started using live rounds during our training. Saying that we needed to experience the pressure of being under fire and that blanks weren't going to cut it. A few of my teammates actually cracked under the fire and the grenades and ended up getting killed."

"Shut up!" They could hear Carver shout. "Where is my sister?! Where is Shepard?!"

"BUT AS CRAZY AS HIS METHOD WAS, IT WORKED," James spoke louder to drown the man out. "WHEN WE GOT SENT INTO THE FIELD WE WERE PREPARED FOR ALL THE MADNESS OF A GOOD FIREFIGHT. AND WE ALL MANAGED TO MAKE IT OUT IN ONE PIECE."

"UNTIL SOMEONE DECIDED TO GO CRASH MY SHUTTLE INTO A CERBERUS SHUTTLE!" Shepard shouted as they arrived. "Sheesh! I should get you a roll of duct tape there James."

The marine chuckled. "But then I wouldn't be nearly as entertained," he responded amusement, giving a slight shrug of his shoulders. "Too bad he ain't like the kids back home."

"A bullet works wonders too," Jack added in, as Carver continued shouting.

"So how's Junior been?" Shepard kicked the cell door once, James laughed.

"I don't think he's been listening to me."

Shepard shook her head before banging on the door again. "What do you want Templar?" she spat.

"I want out of here!" Carver snapped back. "I also demand that you return what is mine to me," he added, referring to his weapon and armour.

"Sorry bud." Shepard almost sung. "You're on my territory now, and here. I'm a SpecTRe, I'm above the law. What I say. Goes. And a Religious Zealot running around on the Citadel is the last thing Humanity needs right now. So, for your safety and the safety of my crew. You are confined to the brig with Lieutenant Vega."

"SpecTRe?" came the echo, clear signs that he had no idea what the term was. "I have heard of no such title. Probably something you made up. Regardless! I am a member of the Knights-Templar!" Carver shouted back. "I hold authority over you and your kind!"

"My kind?" Shepard leaned against her door. "Boy, your title has gone to your head. SpecTRes are not trained, but chosen. Individuals forged in the fire of service and battle, those whose actions elevate them above rank and file." she quoted what the council had told her when she was given her status for the first time. "I am above you and your petty Knights-Templar."

"Templars?" Jack echoed. "They even still exist? I thought they disappeared a long time ago or some shit like that," she voiced.

Garrus nodded. "True, but on Hawke's homeworld they're still, alive and kicking," he responded.

Carver growled at how she was simply downing his order. It made him more upset that she was a mage. "No mage is above the Maker and his servants!" he shouted through the door. "But, I grow tired of speaking to you anyway apostate," he spat the word as if to insult her.

"Where is my sister? I want to speak with her!" He demanded. "You seem to follow her, just like everyone else. So why don't you go and fetch your master for me you collared dog lord's bitch!"

Shepard snarled as she unlocked the door and walked into the cell. While slightly shorter than Caver she still towered over him. "What the fuck... did you just call me." she asked slowly.

"Pffft...whoa" Joker's voice came into the cell. "I mean, we know people call you a bitch Commander...but I think he just put a new spin on it"

"He's also the first to call her one to her face," Garrus pointed out.

An amused smirk was on Jack's lips. "Remind me to use that," she commented.

"He certainly knows how to put a spin on a classic I'll give him that," Vega remarked, stunned, as they all peered into the cell.

Despite the aura Shepard was giving off, Carver stood his ground. Weakness in a Templar would be easily exploited by a Mage; he would not faulter under her gaze.

"A collared dog lord's bitch," he repeated, glaring down at her. "That's what you are. You follow my sister around like the rest of em. Following her orders.

Do you roll over and do tricks for her too? Does she rub your belly when you've been a good girl?" He taunted.

"Do you know who's ship you are on?" Shepard asked darkly as she moved closer to him. "Who's the one in command here? Whose war your sister has volunteered to aid in? Mine." she snarled darkly. "I am Commander Shepard. Council SpecTRe! This is my ship! This is my war! If you're going to be a self-righteous asshole so help me God I will throw you out the airlock! Let us see how well a fucking goddamn Templar does in the cold hard vacuum of space! It's a rather painful way to die! Trust me. I know!"

"I think the last time she lost it was when you as Miranda almost tore the ship apart." Garrus quipped Jack shook her head.

"No. It's when Tali paid Legion a 'visit'," Jack answered.

"A war that you and your kind undoubtedly brought upon yourselves with your magic!" He snarled back, sounding more animal than human.

Shepard made a move to charge her biotics, preparing to strike the insolent bastard. But, a strange thing happened; her powers suddenly went into cool-down throwing her off balance by their sudden disappearance.

"What the fuck?!" Jack demanded to know as she felt her biotics go into cool-down. "Shepard?"

With his opponent off kilter, Carver took this moment to strike. Punching the Commander squarely in the face; sending her to the ground. She wasn't one to normally fall after just one hit-even from a Krogan-but Carver just found that one opening, one that would never happen again..

"It was a weak dampening he used." Garrus said as Shepard jumped back into her feet and tackled Carver back onto the ground. "I felt to too, forced my Omni-Tool to reset."

"Whoa," Jack said as she managed to get herself back together. "Now she's really pissed," taking in the Commander's facial expression. Her gaze then turned toward Hawke. "Your brother...was he adopted?" She asked seriously.

"No, he's my brother by blood I'm afraid," Sabrina admitted, watching the scene unfold. Normally she would have interfered by now but Carver wanted to be his own man; he made it perfectly clear that he did not need or want her coming to his aid.

Of course, she would still come to his aid; the tit was her brother after all. She wouldn't jump in until absolutely necessary or until the last minute. Carver was then thrown out of the cell. Not by Shepard's biotics, but by her raw strength. He collapsed on the steel floor, coughing as Shepard picked him back up by the front of his clothing.

Vega folded his arms across his massive chest. "I've gotta say Lola, I've yet to see a family resemblance," he commented. "And he's your sister's twin? I'm really not seeing a resemblance there either. I'm under the impression that you and your sister are the twins."

"Who is in command here?!" Shepard barked.

"Carver," Sabrina began. "Think very carefully about your words." He responded by snarling at her; which she answered with a warning hiss of her own.

"I do not need your help sister!" He spat before turning his attention back toward the Commander. "I will not bend to the will of an apostate!

Blessed are they who stand before the corrupt and the wicked and do not falter. Blessed are the peacekeepers, the champions of the just" he said, chanting a passage from the Chant of Light.

Shepard looked at him as if he grew another head. Shepard gave Hawke a curious look.

"It's a stanza from the Chant if Light," Sabrina answered the unasked question. "The Templars chant it as...to give them strength," she attempted to explain.

"Unlike you and your love for mages sister," Carver spat the word. "I am no longer blinded to the dangers of associate with this apostate, and have the gall to drag mother into this as well!" He shouted at her. "As if you don't give her enough to worry about already!"

Sabrina folded her arms across her chest, cocking a hip out to the side; an amused smirk coming into her face. "Given our lineage, she was more upset by you," she countered.

"A respected order. A position with a future, even if...Never mind. I do not expect you to understand," he said before turning his golden orbs to Shepard. "As for your command," he pause before spitting in the redhead's face. "That's what I think of it. Of you. And all your kind."

"Carver!" Sabrina shouted.

HOLY HELL DUDE! Joker yelled as he saw the move through the camera feeds.

Garrus's mandibles had all but fallen to the floor, and James was just as speechless as the Turian..

"Yeah...I don't think me and the Cheerleader or Legion and Tali came close to this," Jack said in amazement.

Everything just seemed to have frozen for a moment. The hand holding onto Carver's shirt started to shake. Anger. The intent was clear. Her biotics flared as she released him. Catching him in a stasis before striking him down the hallway with a full on biotic punch. She marched up to him and kicked him again before flipping him onto his stomach and stopping, realizing she had no way to cuff him.

"You've done it." she grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled him back onto his knees before yanking him back onto his ass. "On your feet."

"Why should I-" the black haired male tried to protest, but the Commander kicked him in his side, earning a grunt from him.

He glared at her, which only caused her to kick him again; harder the second time. He tried to grab her foot on the third attempt, in an effort to throw her off balance-pull her down maybe-but she was far stronger than he was.

Which truly surprised him...even though he had gotten a small taste of it when she knocked him down the hall.

Eventually, he stood to his feet. But, he convinced himself he had done so because he had wanted to; not because he wanted her to stop kicking him. "Happy now, Apostate?" he mocked, as he cross his arms over his chest, looking her defiantly in her eyes.

Garrus's mandibles twitched. "You know, I think your brother might stress her out more than the Reaper threat," he commented to the rogue. "And that's a bad thing all things considered."

Sabrina gave a shrug. "What can I say? It's my brother's best talent," she responded with her usual charm. "If you want your nerves fried within five minutes, my brother is the best one to make it happen."

"Well Shepard has a rather short fuse." Jack said as Shepard marched up to Carver again, striking him across the face before grabbing him by the hair and dragging him to the elevator.

"Fucking wish we had stairs!" Shepard shouted as she tossed Carver in before stepping in. "EDI! CIC!" she snapped as the doors closed.

"The ladders are this way." Garrus pointed over in the other direction, "We probably want to see this, or stop it."

Don't worry Garrus, I've got the cameras all set up, Joker spoke over the comm system. I think this footage would make for lovely Christmas cards. Hey, you think I'll be able to get some creds off him spitting in her face if I were to sell the vid online?

"If you make em, I damn sure want one," Jack said as Garrus led the way to the ladders.

Fun Fact #2: We started Arc 3 for fun... Chapter 14 wasn't even finished... 48 pages later... we went back to chapter 14... now we're working on chapter 17!