Chapter 25

"Well that does it, the stealth system on this shuttle is working now." Ken said stepping out of the Normandy's Shuttle number one and looking at Gabby and Tali with a proud grin on his face. He was always proud when he could show up Gabby or Tali when it came to solving a problem. It wasn't easy to show up either of them and to do it to both of them at the same time was a feat but this time he had managed it. He had solved a problem both of them could not figure out.

"That great." Gabby said not looking up from the console she was working at. "Now if we could only get the stealth system on a shuttle to work for more then ten or fifteen minutes at a time before giving out maybe we could get this past the prototype stage."

Tali caught herself smiling behind her mask. She had to admit that since she started working on the citadel she had missed these two, and their on again off again relationship that they tried to hide from everyone. If anyone had told her that all those years ago when she first met them, that the two would become two of her best friends, she would not have believed that person. When she first met them they had been just two more Cerberus crew members who she kept at arms length because she was sure they would like nothing better then to wipe out the inter migrant fleet, but then she had gotten to know them, almost despite herself. She learned that they were two kind souls who seemed to care as much about engines as she did if that was possible and that like her they didn't share Cerberus' views they were just there because they wanted to help Shepard. Tali found her mind drifting back to all the surprisingly happy hours she had spent working with these two first on the collectors mission and then during the war. They had been going through hell at the time but some how arguing and chatting with these two and listening to them flirt had been a bright patch in even the darkest moment and Tali couldn't help but smile to herself at the memories. Tali then chastised herself. She had no right being happy while her children were in danger and she shouldn't be thinking about anything other then getting them back. Still now thanks to Ken her chances of getting them back had just gone up a little bit, she hoped.

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Shepard was in his and Tali's quarters preparing for what was to come by getting into his old N7 battle armor. It had been years since he had last worn it and he was glad it still fit despite the twenty or so extra pounds he had put on since leaving military life. He just couldn't get the time to exercise the way he used to these days, still as he looked in the mirror he had to admit he wasn't in as bad shape as he thought he was before he put on the armor.

Just then Joker's voice came over the intercom, he sounded a little unsure as he made the announcement "Folks I think we are about to reenter normal space, so everyone brace yourselves."

The ship then shook and Shepard looked up through the skylight above the bed to see the sea of red replaced by the stars and blackness of space.

A minute or two latter EDI's panel came to life. "Shepard I have ruled out all of the planets and moons in this this system as the location of the homing device."

"I knew you wouldn't let me down EDI."

It was then that Joker broke in. "Shepard I think you had better come to the bridge."

When Shepard stepped off of the elevator and on to the bridge he found Tali waiting for him.

"What do you think is going on?" She asked him.

"Well the kids are not on any of the planets or moons so there must be a ship or a space station, so we will have to come up with a plan for getting them off of there." Shepard answered, it was then that they reached joker's station at the front of the bridge.

"You may want to have a look at this." Joker said grimly.

Tali and Shepard both looked out the window and their hearts sank with what they saw. There ahead of them were Asari ships of every size.

"No wonder Aria recalled all the ships, she had been building a fleet." Shepard said with dismay.

EDI then broke in again. "The signal is coming from an Asari crusier near the center of the fleet."

"There is no way we can get there with out being shot down." Tali said with worry and fear showing in her voice.

"I am taking the Normandy behind that moon so they will not be able to see us." Joker said and then he brought the ship into a parting orbit that put a large dead moon between them and the fleet.

"John what are we going to do?" Tali asked turning to Shepard.

"I don't know but I will think of something, we didn't come all this way just to give up." Shepard replied trying to sound more sure of himself then he was at the moment. In truth he wasn't sure what he could do but he had defeated Reapers so there was no way an Asari fleet was going to stand between him and his kids.

It was then that X.O Adams walked up to Shepard. "Sir we are getting an FTL transmission from the Citadel for you." He reported.

"I'll take it in my quarters." Shepard said and then he and Tali turned and made their way to the elevator.

When they got up to their cabin and activated the view screen Miranda Lawson appeared, she looked bruised and tired.

"Miranda what happened?" Tali asked her voice full of concern.

"No time to talk about that right now." Miranda answered quickly. "Aria figured out what you were up to and we had to bring her in. It will not be long now before the kidnappers know what is going on. Also we had to use force so the counsel will be coming for Jacob and I soon."

"Miranda I am so sorry." Shepard said with a bow of his head. "I promise I will get you out of this some how."

"That isn't important right now. We need to save those kids before we are all in a lot of trouble." Miranda said.

"Well we have a problem there." Shepard said grimly. "The kids are on a ship in the middle of a fleet. Aria has a whole fleet at her command. I am not sure how we are going to get past them yet and now we have to work against the clock."

"Shepard if I could get Aria to move the rest of the fleet besides the kidnappers' ship out of the system would that help."

"Yes of course it would but how would you do that?"

"Never mind that, just be ready to make your move when it happens."

Tali then spoke up. "Miranda thank you." She said simply. She knew the price Miranda would have to pay, she never would have thought that she would end up owing the "Cerberus cheerleader" so much but now she knew that if she did get her family back it would be because of her.

Miranda just nodded and then the comlink went dead.

Okay that was chapter 25. Sorry it was so short and it took so long but I have been sick for the past week and was in the bathroom. Plus the internet is down at my house at the moment so I have to wait until I can get into the library to post a chapter. If this keeps up in future I will posting two or three chapters at a time. Being sick is the only reason I wasn't able to do that this week/ I wanted to post something before Saturday so I posted this. Chapter 26 will be up either Saturday or Sunday. Thank you for your time and again sorry it took so long and thank you for all your support despite the delay. You guys have been so great.

Well I am off to get a tooth pulled, if the next edit doesn't come out for a day or two it will be because the pain mads put me out of it, sorry. What is it about this chapter and making me sick in some way. Well any way, thanks for reading.