AN: I apologize for not replying to the reviews this week but I was extremely busy with work. I'll do so now then - I know I did all the loyalty missions so the entire squad should've lived but that is game logic - there is just no way that could've happened. SO I killed off Jacob (not a fan), Zaeed (meh) and Kasumi (I almost cried when I did it). Sorry.

23 - Stage Five: Acceptance

Shepard walked out of the QEC room with a big smile on her face – flipping TIM the bird was so satisfying. Then her smile turned to a frown at the memory of the three symbolic coffins in the mangled cargo bay. Then it came back, even if more subdued – Zaeed, Jacob and especially Kasumi would've delighted in her telling the boss of Cerberus to fuck off. And thanks for the ship. Ta!

He was fuming. And then she hanged up on him. Delicious.

"EDI how are we with the repairs?" Shepard asked.

"About 45% complete" the AI replied swiftly, "But dry-dock will be necessary for complete repair."

"I know. We will do what we can, take a small vacation and then we can dry-dock when I turn myself in to the Alliance" Shepard nearly whispered the last part, obviously dreading it.

"Several members of the ground team have already confirmed that Omega will suffice for all of them. They will take separate transports from there"

"Already?" the re-head exclaimed.

"No one seemed in any particular rush to leave. Quite the opposite"

"Good, good"

"Indeed"

"I will miss you too" Shepard said warmly and stopped walking, "You have been a true friend. Will, will you be alright? The Normandy will be impounded for a while."

"Jeff said he had a plan"

"Oh boy"

"He seems confident"

"Sorry, I was just being a wise-ass, you know me" the vanguard smirked apologetically.

"I know. Trev once called it charming"

"She did, did she?" Shepard grinned widely, "Might be why she loosened up a little. I truly am a wonderful commander."

"As you say"

"I don't like wise-assery on other people"

"Doubtful, judging by the ground team roster"

"You learn too fast" the woman said with faux-grumpiness and a wink.

"Thank you"

Shepard sighed "Ahh, I am really going to miss you. Miss this. And while we are on the subject, did you download the JAG files?"

"All the information is on your terminal. I had taken the liberty to highlight passages that might be pertinent in your case"

"Books on martial law have provisions for rising from the dead?"

"Should I download the Bible as well?"

"Funny"

"I have also compiled a list of current JAG personnel along with their win-loss ratio"

"Usually you don't choose which JAG will be representing you" Shepard pointed out.

"Some of them might find to have problems with their license or behavior, such as possible errors in their tax returns"

"Those are filed for us, but thank you for the sentiment. Please don't hack the Alliance"

"Very well. The offer stands"

"You're sweet" Shepard smiled.

"Thank you"

The red-head entered the mess hall which was surprisingly deserted – most people were busy with the repairs plus nobody wanted to linger in the kitchen lest be asked to actually cook something. The day before they made do with energy bars and packaged meals. Shepard sighed – with both Gardener and Zaeed gone, nobody was clamoring to fill their spot and she was hungry. And not for those cardboard-tasting emergency rations.

With another sigh the vanguard opened one of the cupboards to take a look around. Her scavenger hunt had meager results as Shepard was no cook, but breakfast food, she could do that. Powered eggs, powdered milk, some dried vegetable, and her prize - a block of hard cheese. Omelet it was.

Because of the unfamiliarity with the powdered forms Shepard donned the same apron Zaeed had. She felt foolish but it did help a lot.

It didn't take all that long. The commander slid the ready omelet onto a plate and turned around to bring it to a table. Then she gaped. Somehow the whole damn crew managed to sneak in while she was distracted with the unfamiliar task of cooking and sit behind the tables. They all watched her like a pack of hungry, and very hopeful, wolves.

"No" Shepard narrowed her eyes.

The crewmembers directed at her such looks of desperate pleading it was heart-wrenching.

"No," she reiterated firmly, unmoved, "EDI, how did they know to come here?"

"I called them"

"I take it back, you're not sweet at all"

"No backsies"

"Trev?"

"Yes, EDI?"

"You once asked me about the correspondence between operative Lawson and the Illusive Man about you. I no longer have a block preventing me from answering"

Trev frowned anxiously "And?"

"I cannot adequately evaluate them, so I sent the relevant transcripts to your omnitool"

"Thank you"

"Although it is of note that text cannot appropriately convey the entirety of the message"

"I'll keep it mind. Thank you EDI"

"You're welcome"

As the AI fell silent, Trev delved into the surprisingly few messages. She had expected worse. She quickly skimmed them, then bit down a growl as she read them properly the second time.

Once done, she stood up abruptly and strode towards the XO's cabin. She passed Samara on her way but the justicar seemed content to let her go on uninterrupted, obviously noticing the angry look on Trevelyan's face.

She struck the green glowy symbol and entered the office without knocking. She had the bare bones of her angry tirade prepared, improvisation was always better when yelling, but all that vanished when she didn't see Miranda behind her table as always. Instead she noticed a big lump under the covers of the bed.

The lump moved and revealed enough of the brunette's face to see a glower "What?"

Trev was torn between yelling in anger as she wanted at first, ask what was wrong - because obviously something was, or laughing at how adorable the view was. She settled onto the second option "Are you alright?"

Miranda snorted and burrowed back under the blanket.

The templar arched her eyebrows in utter disbelief. Then she approached the bed at the back of the cabin. She eyed the lump again and finally sat on the edge of the bed "What is it?"

It took a moment but Miranda resurfaced. She squinted at Trev, exhaled loudly and turned onto her back. She threw her arm over her eyes "Consider this my resignation. What was I thinking!"

Trevelyan stayed silent, trying not to look too happy about that.

"I don't know what came over me. I always plan! Think things through"

"Do you regret saying it?" the templar cocked her head to the side.

Miranda shook her head slowly, her arm never leaving her eyes.

Knowing fully this wasn't really the time for it, Trev cleared her throat "Does that mean you won't ship me to Cerberus research?"

"What?" the brunette finally took off the arm from her eyes and frowned.

"EDI is just looking out for me"

"How... oh. The messages"

"Yes"

"I wouldn't have shipped you even before" Miranda met the templar's eyes, "The samples Chakwas got would be enough. And besides, he wanted your willing cooperation."

"Not going to happen"

"Of course not, you're a ridiculously decent human being" a corner of the brunette's mouth quirked upwards.

Trev smirked "You say it like it's a bad thing."

"Just those people tend to get screwed over badly" Miranda sighed.

"Shepard manages"

"She's on her second life already"

"Good point" Trev hummed, "What about you? Are you a decent person? You did tell TIM to fuck off."

"Only when it got too much even for my conscience"

"Sooo, not a decent person?"

"I don't know, was Leliana a decent person, spymaster and all? And Shepard is a bad influence on you, you weren't this insolent in the beginning" Miranda chuckled.

Trev shrugged with a smile "Maybe I just realized there was no decorum to maintain and no code of conduct on this ship."

"Shepard's fault" Miranda reiterated with a sage nod.

"So, what are you planning to do now?" the templar looked out of the cabin's window.

"I don't know. Honestly it is a little scary" the brunette bit her lip, "I guess I will have to fall off-grid for a while, I know quite a bit about Cerberus. Things the Illusive Man would prefer I would never have the opportunity to reveal." After a beat of silence she turned her gaze to Trevelyan "But I imagine your situation is even scarier."

"It is... uncertain"

Miranda nodded "Well, I would advise against going to the Alliance – it is quite probable you'd end up in their research, if not ours." Then she halted and frowned "Cerberus' research. God, this will take some getting used to."

"Would it make me a bad friend if I told you I'm glad for it?"

The former operative chuckled "No, you've made your opinion about Cerberus clear from the beginning. And it is better than 'I told you so'. Surprisingly nobody said that to me. Not even Jack. Though she is smirking at me smugly, so maybe I spoke too soon."

Trev hummed and after a moment of hesitation she spoke "I always wanted to ask, are you two flirting? Because what you do could be sometimes be categorized as aggressive foreplay."

"What!" Miranda's eyes bulged and she sat up on her bed, "Over my dead body!"

"That was illegal in Thedas" the templar smirked and got hit in the leg for it.

"You're such an ass sometimes"

"I blame Shepard" Trev's smirk widened.

Miranda smiled "Of course. But no, I am most definitely not into bald violent psychopaths, reason for it or no. And I'm not a fan of tattoos. And prefer people who don't use a swear word for every three normal ones."

Trev smiled and nodded.

They sat in silence for a while and then the brunette hummed absently "You know, Garrus once told me that when he doubted everything, Shepard was the only one to make sense. I find myself in a similar situation. Or well, instead of Shepard it is the fight against the Reapers. But I simply do not know what to do now."

"You have Oriana" Trev reminded.

Miranda shook her head "I can't go there, I would only put her in danger. Not even the Illusive Man knows where I hid her right now and joining her would be just tempting fate. But I will keep an eye out for her and her family."

"How about going after your father?" the templar proposed.

"No" was the swift reply.

"Ok" Trev said equally swiftly.

Miranda chuckled at the backpedaling but instead of explaining her position she changed the subject "What about you?"

The noble stiffened. She looked at the floor and tapped her knee in thought. Then she spoke hesitantly "I had a thought. Before. Now I am unsure. It is… a leap."

"Leap?" Miranda frowned in confusion.

"A leap of faith"

The brunette considered making a quip but decided not to, sensing this was serious "What do you mean?"

Trev sighed and rubbed her brow – she was good at action, talking came a little harder. She definitely was no Sister Nightingale. The blonde let her hand drop and her eyes met the blue of her companion's "I thought I might perhaps go with you. You intend to lay low, yet to fight against the Reapers. If you'd be amenable, that is."

"Oh" Miranda said with a humorless smile, "A leaf of faith indeed. You are not sure if my resignation form Cerberus was genuine or just a ploy to drag you along. Just as my friendship overtures were encouraged by the Illusive Man as punctuated by those messages you've seen."

"Yes" the templar shrugged without remorse.

"That's very wise of you, although it makes me sad a little. Not that you don't have recourse, more like that it has occurred to you in the first place" Miranda sighed.

"I did have an Orlesian bard for a lover"

The brunette nodded "I can't really give much assurance, only tell you I am done with the Illusive Man. And if you wish, I'd gladly have you along."

"I'd like that" Trev bowed minutely, as was customary in her homeland.

Miranda gave her a small smile "Escaping form Cerberus looks less daunting now, with a friend. And I'd like to point out, that while TIM encouraged our friendship, he didn't dictate it. I find you troublesome all on my own."

"I am troublesome now?" the templar chuckled, quite relieved – she did believe Miranda. She did take that leap. Now it was just waiting to be proven either right or wrong.

"From the very beginning" Miranda smirked, "I mean, Kelly had to teach you how to use our toilets and to turn on the lights."

"I'm still asking EDI to that for me. Unnecessarily difficult" Trev gave a grave nod.

"A herculean task" the brunette chuckled.

"Oh! I do like your mythology"

"And I do yours. And your land's tales and stories" Miranda smiled – they all took turns telling tales or funny stories during dinner. It was a ritual that brought the ground team closer together. And you are never too old for a good bed-time story. Grunt had enjoyed this immensely, not having much to tell, he compensated by listening with such child-like enthusiasm everybody was reminded that he was practically just a teenager, no matter his size or battle prowess. It was rather cute, not that anybody voiced that feeling, not wanting their heads bashed into the table for the affront.

"Really, I was under the impression you didn't like the tale of Ser Aveline" the noble hummed.

"Didn't like the ending," the brunette shrugged, "Men resenting a woman because she was better than them, not really a surprise twist."

"Ah, but the Emperor praised her even though he himself got beaten and allowed women to enter knighthood as well. Aveline died but it wasn't meaningless"

"Yeey" Miranda said dryly.

"I shall endeavor to find a tale more to your liking" Trev rolled her eyes with a smile.

"Well, it seems you'll have the time" the XO looped to their previous topic.

"Yes. Also I imagine we will have plenty to tell in the future – tales of daring escapes from Cerberus snatchers"

"Not if we do it right" Miranda arched an eyebrow.

"I am a warrior not a rogue, I shall follow your lead in this" Trev smiled.

"Well, we can start by getting rid of that templar skirt of yours"

"WHAT!"

It was fitting the last destination of the Normandy with all its crew would be Omega station. On Earth Omega always symbolized an end. Also it where the mission against the Collectors truly began so it was poetic it would end there as well.

Poetry aside, Shepard was sad and rather anxious – she would be returning to the Alliance soon and she didn't have a good feeling about it. She knew her claims would be ridiculed but if one, just one other person believed her and started preparing, it would be worth it.

The sad part was obvious as she stood before the assembled ground team and the vast majority of the crew.

"So, speech?" Jack smirked, reusing the old joke.

Shepard chuckled "Still nothing I'm afraid. But I do have something to say."

"How is that not a speech?" Thane arched his eyebrows.

"Shush" the commander winked. Then she took a deep breath.

"See, deep breath – in books you always do that before a big speech" Trev pointed out.

"I did like the one she gave on the Collector base – 'don't die'. Nice, easy and to the point" Grunt remarked.

"When was that?" Tali asked.

Garrus turned to the quarian "The final push. You were repairing the Normandy by then."

Shepard cleared her throat loudly and wave her hands "Helllooo? Your captain speaking?"

"Should we fasten our seatbelts?" Miranda arched an eyebrow.

"Oooh, cheerleader humor, what a treat" Jack inevitably commented.

"Shepard is turning an interesting shade of blue, perhaps we should listen?" Samara interrupted, sounding amused.

Trev squinted at the commander "Are you holding your breath?"

"Children do that. How fitting" Chakwas smirked.

Thene smiled "I think we should give her mercy."

"Nah, this is fun" Jack shrugged.

"Average human can hold breath approximately two minutes. Cerberus upgrades will make result interesting" Mordin hummed.

Shepard let out her breath loudly and began coughing. Then she glared "You're all mean." The entire ground team, plus those that knew Shepard well, collectively shrugged.

The red-head took a deep breath again, this time glaring at everybody, daring them to interrupt again. They didn't, only grinned at her. "So," Shepard began, "We did damn well against the Collectors, we can be proud about that. But the fact is that the Reapers are still coming. We have slowed them, killed their lackeys and mucked up their plans, but they are coming. Be it a month or years, it is inevitable. Pretty much nobody believes it but the fact remains. So here is me asking that you prepare – there is no need for public preaching and the like, but if you tell your friends, your family, those you know, perhaps they will believe you and might spread the word as well. It doesn't matter if whom you tell is in power or not, this coming war will affect everybody. All the races, all people. Be prepared and be vigilant, that is all we can do now. But rest assured – believed or not, we will kick Reaper arse!"

"See, now that is a speech" Garrus grinned.

"Still liked the first one better" Grunt countered but smiled widely at Shepard, giving her an approving nod.

Getting smiles and nods from everybody assembled, Shepard smirked, blew on her nails and polished them on her shirt "I try."

Goodbyes were always awkward – most of the Cerberus crew left after the speech, only giving another smile and a nod to their commander. Some lingered, still talking, and some decided to stay and let the Alliance deal with them – that was the case of the two engineers for example. Chakwas was staying too but she never actually left the Alliance, merely taken a sabbatical of sorts. Maybe vacation – Shepard wasn't sure.

The commander let her eyes rove over the remaining people – Jack had made a flippant comment, one to her and one to Miranda, and left without much ceremony. Thane gave a small bow and words of parting and did the same, as did Samara. Mordin inhaled strongly from his nose, as if to take the smell of the ship with him and with only 'Need to check on assistant" he left as well.

Miranda lingered because of Trev since they agreed to go together and the templar wasn't done with her goodbyes. Shepard sighed – she would miss them all but the templar definitely joined the select group with Garrus and Tali. She hoped Trev wouldn't get burned with Miranda – now as they stood together it was quite obvious the blonde fancied the other woman, even if she never admitted to it out loud. Miranda was harder to read - while Shepard believed her she did quit Cerberus, it was no guarantee of anything else.

Finally Shepard got a fierce hug and Trev left with the former operative in tow. Only Garrus and Tali were left, but those too had their own plans and had to go.

Soon she was alone on the deck with only Joker once more in his leather seat. And EDI, of course. Shepard sighed once more and went to her spot over the galaxy map from where she usually input coordinates. Either Arcturus or Vancouver. She was still waiting on the message from Anderson giving her the go-ahead. She needed an ally and the human councilor was one of her closest friends. Well, before her death anyway.

"You have received priority mail from admiral Hackett. Marked urgent and classified"

"Huh?" Shepard wondered to herself and went to her terminal. The mission brief, and the sheer fact she had received a mission, made her arch her eyebrows in surprise. "EDI?"

"Yes commander"

"Did you verify this?"

"I am positive this is indeed from admiral Steven Hackett"

"Huh" Shepard said again and bit her lip. Then she sighed "Well, I guess we're off to batarian territory."

"Acknowledged. Shall I inform Jeff?"

"Sure" the woman shrugged. Returning above the galaxy map she braced her forearms on the small railing. Looking down at the holographic representation of the galaxy she sighed and murmured to herself "Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more."

AN: Aaaand done! (DLC Arrival is implied only)

There will be a sequel, obviously. I'm torn between making a few short chapters about the six months 'in between' or jumping right to Mass Effect 3, using narrative and flashbacks to fill in the blanks.

We'll see.

Stay tuned for the next episode ;-)

PS: The sequel is definitely M-rated and there will be romance – both for Trev (no points for guessing who that will be) and Shepard (points available).

See you soon.