A/N: I'm incredibly sorry about the lengthy update gap. I have literally had no time to work on this story. I wrote this entire chapter today, so please don't be expecting this to be some incredibly fine-tuned work of art that would require the month its taken to reach publication. I just tried to get it out before something else came up. It's been the busiest month I've had that I can remember. School work has been such a pain of late. Hope you enjoy it, either way! Please read, review, laugh, cry, lift your glasses in a toast, whatever floats your boat!

Chapter 26

Signal

The bullet sped clean through the Illusive Man's forehead, a small blink as the projectile slammed into his head his only acknowledgment of its existence. He blinked again as it exited, frowning distastefully as he heard it impact the wall behind him.

"Shepard, I hope you know you're Turian friend just cost me thousands of credits in repairs," the Illusive Man stated matter-of-factly, seeming unaware of the shot that by all rights should have killed him, would have killed him had it passed through any more than an image, a mere projection of a living being.

Garrus stared in shock after recovering from his brief stumble, his grip on his assault rifle tightening unconsciously. He raised the gun once more, and fired experimentally at the figure, this time assuring Shepard had no time to impede his test. He watched as the bullets passed harmlessly through the human's body, the only result of the impacts small rippling distortions of the image, as if reflected on water. Shepard looked up once again as the piercing sound of the gunfire had subsided.

"Garrus, just what in the Hell do you think you're doing?" he whispered quietly.

"Target practice. Just like one of those silhouettes they have at shooting ranges, except this one has a realistic anatomy."

"But why did you shoot in the first place? Before you knew he wasn't there, that he was just a damn hologram?" The words were harsh, carrying an ominous, unseen weight with them.

"I," the Turian paused, grasping for the right words, but with none forthcoming. "I don't know. Something just came over me, some kind of hatred. Everything he's done to hurt our races, I thought he deserved to die. God knows he's killed people in his time."

"That isn't an excuse!" Shepard was on the verge of shouting, stepping forward and glaring up at the Turian. Garrus stepped backwards, not wanting to further anger the livid human.

"I'm sorry," he said, the words coming out stronger than he felt, his voice remaining stable. The words didn't carry any true conviction.

Scowling, Shepard turned once again to face the Illusive Man. "You deceiving asshole. I didn't think I'd ever find another reason to be glad I blew that damn collector base to Hell and beyond. You can't even meet anyone face to face, can you? How many people have you actually been in the same room with in the last twenty years? Filthy coward." He spit the last words out venomously, swiveling away from the hologram as he did so.

"Adam," Tali spoke up suddenly from where she stood. "I've just traced the signal we discovered earlier."

Shepard's head snapped upwards to look at her, Illusive Man momentarily forgotten. His attention turned away from the man who still sat, puffing at cigarette, he did not see the human's disinterested features tense for a moment before he once again gained control of his cold, wintry façade.

"Any explanation?" Shepard asked contemptuously, attention once again returning to the hologram, icy gaze staring him in robotic blue eyes that readily returned the glare. "It would certainly make my life a hell of a lot easier. Or you could do as you've always seemed so fond of doing, and leave me fumbling in the dark. But know this, if you keep me guessing this time, I will find you, and I get the distinct feeling that our meeting will not be as cordial as this one. I might even give Garrus the opportunity to take some more target practice. He always does need to stay on top of his game."

"Shepard, you're mistaking me for an enemy here," the Illusive Man replied calmly, as if trying to placate a child. "When have I ever committed an atrocity that would implicate me? Please stop trying to cast me as a villain, Shepard."

"I wouldn't be doing it if I hadn't seen the horrible things Cerberus has done in the past," Shepard began before he was cut off.

"I was simply looking out for the welfare of the human race, one that seems to have been forgotten by every institution in this galaxy, including the Systems Alliance, which was originally created to defend it. Cerberus is merely making sure humanity isn't used as a stepping stone for the other races, a species to be cast aside by the Turians and the Asari, as we've seen happen so many times."

"What about the Quarians?" Tali suddenly said sharply, threateningly. She took a menacing step forward, but the gesture was wasted on the image that contemplated her coolly. "I'd like to hear your attempts at justifying the attack on the Idenna."

"The Quarians have the largest armada in the galaxy, and with the geth fleet attacking the Citadel, with you as their creators, we had no way of knowing if the two events had any correlation."

"So you killed my people? Innocent, productive members of society?" Tali asked, growing openly hostile.

"I don't want to hear you explain yourself," Shepard cut in. "What I want to hear you explain is the origin of the signal that we've picked up, and are now tracing."

"I'm afraid I'd prefer to keep that information to myself."

"As I said before," Shepard said, his voice dropping with barely constrained anger, "It would be greatly beneficial to both of us if you would simply tell me what it is that you're hiding. Please try to understand our position here. Somebody is killing my people, including Nyxeris, who is apparently an operative for the Shadow Broker, whom you are evidently in contact with. A good chunk of the evidence puts you out as the prime suspect in this matter, and when we trace this signal, you're going to have Hell to pay if you don't give us a forewarning as to what it is we're going to find."

"Shepard, what motive could I possible have for killing your people? None of them represent any threat to humanity, and most even seem to owe us some loyalty. I'd be foolish to eliminate any possible benefactors. And as to me having Hell to pay, I believe that will only happen after my death, and I plan on staying alive for many years to come. It isn't as if you know where I am, either way. Nobody who knows my true identity does. I'm a very cautious man, Shepard. I haven't exactly laid out a trail for you to find me. There isn't anything with which you can threaten me."

"I'm a firm believer in the theory that nothing is impossible," Shepard replied matter-of-factly. "I've already annihilated a race of machine Gods Hell-bent on the destruction of organic life, machines that had been in existence for countless millions of years, and had their craft down to a science. Somehow, I think finding the location of a single man will be child's play, illusive as you may be."

"In that case, I'd like to wish you the best of luck. God Speed, Shepard." The image of the Illusive Man slowly began to fade, the points of light that made up his body beginning to flicker and fade, esoteric nodes of pale, ghostly luminescence. After a few moments, even the glowing tip of his omnipresent cigarette had faded into Oblivion. The image of the swirling gases of the sun remained projected against the back wall, its haunting image reflected in the sleek black surface of the floor. The large room seemed to stretch on for miles, the solid walls seeming almost non-existent in the strange shadows cast by the sun's illumination. Instead, they seemed to stretch on for miles before meeting the ceiling at some distant, artificial horizon.

Suddenly, the voice of the Illusive Man crackled over a distant intercom system. His voice was distorted through the heavy door, but they could still faintly decipher the distant words.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, please be aware that we have a group of esteemed guests in our humble facility today, including the seemingly immortal Commander Shepard. They have free run of out entire complex. Please make no attempt to impede their progress, or there shall be Hell to pay." Shepard could almost hear the humor in the man's voice with the last line.

Mordin turned where he stood, swiveling on his heel to face the thick, black doors, the sun's image clearly reflected in its polished surface. Tendrils snaked outwards, the star's corona shone with a bright radiance, the dark surface only serving to further illuminate the projection.

With a gentle push, the door swung inward, its only sound the rush of air as the door cut swiftly through the dead calm on silent, greased hinges. Miranda glance around the room as they exited, allowing the others room to pass her by.

"Are you alright?" Liara asked, pausing in the doorway to look back at the woman, who stood alone, seemingly transfixed by beautifully haunting image.

"Yes, I'm fine. It's just sinking in that I'll probably never see this again. I mean, I had already figured that when I left to help bring Shepard back, but being here, seeing this place, now it actually feels real. I'm walking away from more than half my life."

"While that may be true, it also gives you the freedom to look back on what they've done, what they're still doing. Leaving this behind may well prove the single greatest decision you've made in your life."

"I know, even when I was working with Cerberus, there were nights when I would lie awake and wonder if I was doing the right thing. I convinced myself pretty well, but there always was that one shred of doubt. I think that shred was what kept me from going over the edge. If I ever did something I couldn't make myself justify, I don't know what I'd do. I'm glad I'm cutting my ties with this place, don't get me wrong. It just feels like I'm also cutting ties with myself, the self I've been since I was a teenager." Miranda was silent for a moment, taking a final glance around the room before letting out a sigh. "We've let them get far enough ahead, already, Liara. We should probably start trying to make up lost ground. And all this nostalgia can't possibly be good for me." The two women exited the room, the door closing shut behind them with an indisputable finality. They walked side by side, together in mutual respect.

They stepped outside into the desolate ruin of the abandoned factory, blinking in the sudden onslaught of light that exploded after the dim, artificial lighting of the hidden complex. They had proceeded through the building untouched, as the Illusive Man had ordered. The one person who had chanced across their path had simply looked up, given a curt nod, and continued on his business.

Garrus had thought the entire trip had turned out with far too little hostility against them. Something had seemed too easy about the entire venture, despite the fact that they had learned nothing of value. Perhaps that had been the reason they walked with free without having faced any form of opposition. They were no more a threat then when they had walked in. That, and the fact that the facility didn't maintain a huge permanent workforce, and of those it did employ, relatively few were likely to have more than a preliminary education in the use of firearms. The Cerberus facility was built for stealth, not displays of power.

Absorbed in his thoughts, Garrus barely registered their return trip on the taxi to the space dock. He once again retreated into contemplative thought as they meandered through the throngs of people, until he almost ran headfirst into Shepard, who had pulled up short, and was staring at something in the crowd. Or rather, someone. Garrus traced his line of sight to the retreating head of a man, moving slowly, carefully through the crowd, his pace inciting angry whispers of those who pushed themselves furiously passed him in their rush. He flinched as one bumped into him roughly, a hand reaching up to massage his arm. A long outdated hat rested on his head, a throwback to the times when baseball still existed on Earth. He looked remarkably familiar.

"Joker!" Shepard called out from beside him.

A/N: Despite the fact that this story has no credits, I've decided to implement the use of a credit song, anyway, because everything is made more awesome with music. So, I'll be including a link to the song at the end of each chapter, just remove the spaces and copy and paste it in to the website bar! (It's name escapes me right now, I'm afraid), and enjoy it over the imaginary end credits! Oh, and have a piece of candy. Not that many trick or treaters came by today, so I have a surplus of candy sitting around in a big bowl!

http :/www. youtube. com /watch? v=cB61QMSwAsg

The Sound of Muzak - Porcupine Tree