Chapter 36: Seeing Double
Shepard stared at the map of the archives. The archives were vast and full of unknown knowledge. "Direct breach for maximum effect?"
"Sounds like you're learning the ropes."
"Hell. Hang out with us long enough. You'll learn much more. Ropes, knives, thresher maws."
"Thresher maws?"
Wrex laughed. "Had to be there Brooks."
Shepard grinned ear to ear. "You weren't underneath it Wrex."
"It wasn't just any Thresher Maw. It was Kalros."
Ashley scoffed. "You name your thresher Maws?"
"She has killed every Opponent thats faced her." Wrex spoke of her exploits.
"We ain't no Kalros. But we've got you Wrex. I consider that close enough." Ashley smirked, crossing her arms. "When have all of us actually gone into combat together?"
"She makes a point." Tali added.
"Should be interesting." Wrex laughed. "Three of you cause enough problems. All of us. Doubt the Citadel has enough room for all the property damage."
Shepard thought of what they did the last time the Citadel was critically damaged. "At least they get to redecorate again."
Cortez landed the car. Shepard getting out ahead of the crew.
"Can't be any worse than making friends with Asari."
"I heard that."
Brooks joined Shepard and Carter. "How do we plan to get in?"
"Pretty simple." Carter held a large explosive device. "Should blow a decent hole. Hopefully Wrex's big head can fit."
Shepard smirked as walking over to Ashley who pulled out her rifle. Nodding to Shepard as he raised his arm to shield his eyes from the explosion. "Lets move."
Wrex jumped in first. "Krogan first! See you at the party princesses." Ashley and Liara were quick to follow.
Shepard was the last to jump in the hole. Nodding to Joker before disappearing into the darkness. He climbed down the ladder behind his crew and dropped into a small office area. He saw team Hammerhead, signalling to Miranda who had Tali and Cortez in her squad. He glanced at Mako and nodded to Garrus, Carter and Liara.
He went to move when he noticed several lasers pointed at him. "Not this again." He barely got out of the way before they fired.
"Use to take longer before bullets were fired. Or was that my imagination." Wrex yelled as charging across the battlefield. Both Shepard and Ashley glanced at him before staring at each other and laughing.
"I've missed him." Ashley got up and went left to flank. Shepard stayed where he was and drew them towards him. Ashley picking them off. She saw a soldier approaching Wrex from behind and picked him off with a well aimed headshot.
"Hey. I had him. He just didn't know it yet."
Ashley laughed as she jogged around to his side. Knocking down enemies around him. "Like those as well." She passed him and moved back around to Shepard.
"Enough." Shepard stared at the floor above.
"Shepard." Brooks had a gun at her head.
"Drop them."
Shepard saw Ashley shoved over with Wrex. He nodded to them as they dropped their guns on the floor beside them. Shepard slowly put his weapons on the ground, keeping them within arms length.
"You really think you're walking out of here alive?" Shepard had his hands on in the air. Scoping who was around him and what weapons they had.
"Yes." Shepard watched the figure jump down. Watching him step into the light.
"I'm commander Shepard. Of course I will." The clone announced himself.
"This just got a whole lot weirder." Shepard stared at himself. He was the exact same except their armour was different. "When did this happen?"
"Didn't your dear Miranda tell you? Cerberus made a clone of you. To give you spare parts. In case you needed a lung, or a heart." The clone was happy to explain as he paced back and forth. "I was replacement parts."
"You weren't me."
"No. I didn't need to be. I'm the lone wolf you were always meant to be." The clone continued. Shepard didn't think he rambled as much as his clone. "Those who abandoned their duties to join the cult of Shepard."
"Or rambled." Shepard added.
"I would never fool my supposed friends. Ashley Williams- I would have rescued the other one, Kaidan something. He seemed more useful. Perhaps the only reason Shepard rescued you was for a good screw."
"You're just a pale imitation of the real Shepard." Ashley stared at the clone.
"I'm the real Shepard perfected. Without the guilt, scars or hesitation." The clone glared at Shepard. "The cult of Shepard ends today. Execute them."
Shepard watched his clone walk out. He glanced up at the Citadel statue hanging off the roof, he picked up his pistol and fired at the display. Jumping out of the way as it collapsed and killed the two before him. He watched his crew escape and fall back behind cover.
"Everyone okay?" Shepard asked. Making sure his crew was still with him.
"Did not expect that." Ashley laughed.
Miranda asked, "What were you expecting?" kicking a mercenary off the top level.
"Not that." Ashley kicked the mercenary in the head. "Not a clone of all things."
"I didn't even know their was a clone. Well, a rumour at most. But really, a clone." Miranda laughed. "Cerberus could have been much more original with that."
Shepard finished off the last mercenary blocking their advance. "Move into the archives and we'll try to catch- ah. The other me."
"Your clone." Ashley was too calm for Shepard's liking.
"You okay with this?" Shepard asked as they pushed forward.
"If I ever get sick of you. I can move on to the next Shepard." Ashley giggled.
"That's cold." Shepard rolled his eyes. "I don't like-"
"Like finding out you have a clone?" Tali interrupted him.
"I don't want to talk about it."
"So let your clone do it." Garrus laughed. "Send him to do a job you don't want to."
"Personal butler." Cortez joined in.
Shepard stopped when he saw the size of the next room.
EDI asked. "How are we suppose to find anything in here?"
"Glyph. I need you to track someone." Shepard called on glyph.
"What is the nature of the target?" Glyph asked.
"He looks like me."
"Then I have found the target." Glyph answered
Shepard felt like slapping the drone. "It's another me. Now go." Glyph sped off. "Stupid drone."
"I heard that." Liara shouted. Shepard followed the path.
"Platform ahead Shepard. We'll lower you." Tali stopped at the panel. Shepard saw the platform lower with soldiers on it. He ducked behind cover. Ashley charged forward and sprayed the enemy before sliding and kicking out their feet before swinging around and kicking them off the platform to their deaths.
"Clear." Shepard joined Ashley as Wrex grumbled.
"Didn't even get a chance."
"Too slow Wrex. Got to keep up."
"I can keep up just find missy."
"Perhaps you're showing your age." Ashley poked at the Krogan's age.
"You've made it personal. I prefer the clone." Wrex laughed.
"I'm not even part of this argument." Shepard smirked.
"You're dating her. Close enough." Wrex pointed out.
Shepard glanced at Ashley who grinned. "Lower the platform."
Shepard turned around and saw a vault open for them when the platform lowered. He stepped in and glanced at the items inside. "This is from the first contact war." Ashley rested her hand on the M-7 Lancer. "My grandfather used this in the war."
"Take it. Doubt the council will stop a spectre." Shepard shrugged. Ashley hooked it to her back to take home. "Plus. One day. We can laugh about the time you stole from the Council."
"That's your main reason?"
"It will be funny." Shepard exited the vault and jogged forward. Ducking behind cover as Ashley joined him. "But serious talk. What else are we going to laugh about?"
"Your pick up lines." Ashley jumped the cover. "Hope your clone can flirt better."
"What if your clone can dance better?" Garrus asked.
Shepard couldn't believe it. "My dancing is not that bad."
"Oh please. I'm surprised the dance floor isn't empty afterward." Tali argued.
"Ash and me danced at the casino. People were left behind."
"Ash was dancing."
"I can dance Shepard. Quite well. Unlike you." Ashley fired off a couple of shots at the enemy as she covered Shepard's advance. Wrex had charged ahead without much regard for strategy but it was Wrex.
Shepard slammed a soldier off the railing with a biotic throw. He jumped the railing to the walkway. He sprayed the enemy with bullets before charging and smacking the last remaining soldier with the butt of his rifle.
"Shepard! We're being overrun." Garrus made the call for help. "Well. I'm fine." He was upstairs with his rifle providing cover fire for the teams climbing the stairs.
"On our way." Shepard sprinted and jumped the railing. Landing and covering his teams. "Up the ladder." He shot down several mercenaries.
Ashley stopped mid climb and turned. "We're on a ladder here jerks!" She continued up.
"This is Shepard. I need fire-" Shepard called for cover.
The entire crew sprayed bullets at the enemy, they were riddled by bullets and died quickly. "Why shoot something once when you can shoot it 46 more times." Wrex laughed.
"Jesus Wrex." Shepard laughed. Climbing the ladder to join them. "We can't be far from- The other me. We'll try to surround him ahead."
"Copy that Shepard." Garrus walked off his with his team. Miranda nodded to Ashley before jogging off.
Shepard turned to his team. "Ready?"
"I wonder if-"
"Don't even start." Shepard cut her off. "I want this clone dead. Never wanted to kill someone so much in my life."
"You're killing yourself. You know that right." Ashley laughed. Shepard glared at her.
"I'm looking forward to killing myself. Happy?" Shepard sighed.
"Whatever works." Ashley let Wrex take point. "Take point Wrex. I'll cover our behinds."
"You'd like that." Wrex laughed as leading the way. Ashley gestured for Shepard to follow.
"Sometimes I really need to think before-"
"Hey Ash. When has that ever stopped you?" Garrus yelled.
Shepard laughed. "Never."
Wrex stormed into the next room. Slamming the soldier into the wall behind him, he turned and fired his shotgun. "Meat shield." He laughed.
Shepard sprinted and jumped, slamming his biotic fist into an enemy soldier. His helmet cracked and Shepard finished him off. He turned and fired his pistol, knocking down approaching enemy soldiers.
Shepard glanced at Wrex, he finished off the last enemy soldier. "Ready Ash?"
Ashley jogged over quite breathless. "You two missed the damn shielded bastards."
"Figured give you a challenge." Shepard smirked.
"Yeah. Leave the heaviest opponent for the lightest member of your team." Ashley took a jab at them.
"Are you saying I'm fat?" Wrex turned to Ashley who gulped a little. Shepard continued forward.
"There is just more of the legend to love." Tali chimed in before Ashley could.
Ashley nodded. "What she said." Ashley walked around Wrex and caught up to Shepard. "Remind me to never wake the beast."
"Says the one who called him fat."
"I did not." Ashley nudged Shepard as they walked into the next corridor.
Shepard loved when Ashley was teasing him. Despite appearances, it was what initially attracted him to her. "You can't help yourself."
"Says the man whose wants on the floor and give me twenty still?"
"Public channel Ash."
"What does on the floor and twenty mean?" EDI asked. Ashley blushed.
"It's Shepard's way of getting Ashley into bed." Liara answered.
"For sexual intercourse?"
"Do not want the answer to one EDI." Tali laughed.
"But if it is important to me becoming more-"
"Joker will explain it later." Ashley knew Joker would have a field day with this one. "I think-"
"We should turn your radio to mute." Garrus laughed.
"I second that." Shepard smirked. Ashley shoved him playfully. "You need it honey. Foot in mouth disease hopefully doesn't run in the entire family."
"It does." Carter laughed. "Lynn suffers from it."
"Would it mean any offspring you have could potentially have all of Ashley's traits." EDI asked.
"Woah! Where did children come from?" Shepard touched his earpiece. "We're dating but neither of us have even discussed children."
"Ah. I may have mentioned it to Liara on the Normandy." Ashley let the cat out of the bag. "What. I said our children would be cute."
"A little fast to be talking about children."
Shepard stopped in front of his team. He dived to the side as an atlas mech fired at them. "Where the hell did that come from?" Shepard glanced at Ashley who was across from him.
Ashley yelled. "I'm still trying to work out how they got in!"
Shepard saw Wrex sprint around with no problem. "Follow Wrex! Now!" He yelled. Ashley nodded and followed Wrex. "All teams focus fire on the Altas Mech!" Shepard jumped over his cover and sprinted to the closest cover. He fired at the mech.
Ashley ditched a grenade towards enemy soldiers trying to flank Shepard. She riddled them with bullets until they collapsed. "Shepard. Watch your left flank."
"But I enjoy-"
"I really don't want you to finish that line." Liara piped in. "You two with the dirty talk."
"Oh please. We can organise Traynor to talk dirty." Shepard laughed. Finishing off the mech with a well aimed biotic warp.
"I wish I'd had someone to talk dirty with." Tali sighed.
"I can try." Garrus smiled. Tali was in his team and he enjoyed the last month of her company. Their friendship had strengthen and his feelings for her had changed.
"Is that flirting Garrus. Cause if it-"
"Oh please. I've heard your flirting Shepard." Liara scoffed. "Maybe we're a matching set of luggage."
"You told her?"
Ashley giggled, "It was one drunk night."
"I don't remember how we ended up at the beach the next morning." Liara laughed.
"Neither do I."
Shepard couldn't believe what he was hearing. He charged forward into an opposing soldier before firing a round into the chest. "Keep moving you lot."
"Don't you want to hear what happened at the beach?" Liara asked.
"Maybe later." Shepard grinned towards Ashley who rolled her eyes.
She walked up to his side. "I could always show you the outfit I wore." She turned off their team microphones briefly. "But you need to do something for me."
"You are pure torture." Shepard smirked. "Name it."
"I'll think of something." She took point towards the elevators. She spotted several soldiers who hadn't seen them yet. "Several enemy soldiers ahead. Not aware of our presence."
Shepard nodded as he signalled to Wrex to wait. "Let us get close and then you charge."
"You taking a shot at my size too? I can sneak." Wrex took his place behind a stack of crates.
"Never Wrex." Shepard crouched and followed Ashley through the field of crates. They took position close. "Wrex. Start charging. Ashley. Drop a grenade on their asses."
Wrex charged towards them. Ashley saw them move pass and she tossed a grenade below their feet before moving behind cover. Shepard opened fire to keep them distracted from the grenades Ashley was tossing out.
"Grenade!"
Ashley smirked as it exploded and wiped out the enemy troops. She saw Wrex rumble pass carrying an enemy soldier. "Damn."
"Elevator rising Shepard."
"Wrex. Ashley. Take position. More incoming." Shepard ordered. Moving to cover. 4 armoured soldiers came up on the elevator, they opened their shields and charged.
"They really want to tumble with a Krogan. And I thought Shepard was nuts." Garrus laughed.
"Says the one who has missed his shots."
"Just mirroring you Liara. Haven't seen you land a shot." Garrus took a dig at Liara.
"You sure you're not missing because you're not attached to Shepard's hip." Liara laughed.
"Which hip?" Miranda asked. "Ashley and Garrus share."
"I don't share." Ashley laughed. "Garrus should find another hip."
"That hurts." Garrus jumped up and fired his sniper rifle. "I don't see you helping Shepard."
Ashley glanced at Shepard as he threw a soldier off him. "He doesn't need help." She managed to disabled the shield before driving her Omni-blade through the chest.
She got to her feet and was picked up and slammed into the crate behind her.
"Got the girl!" He yelled before Ashley pulled a grenade off her belt. Hooking it to him and grabbing his shield.
"And you got the grenade!" She activated the shield as he exploded. Shepard watched her slide several metres and hit the wall behind her.
"Ash." Shepard touched his radio as he ducked behind cover.
"I'm good." Ashley answered. She was slow to get up, her eyes were blurry but she'd recover quickly. She saw something large sprint pass and assumed it was Wrex.
"Keep moving forward. We cannot be far off." Shepard pushed forward. He walked in and grunted as his earpiece fried. He pulled it out and sighed. He turned and saw Ashley remove hers. "You too?"
"Yeah. Trying to disrupt communication?" Ashley asked.
"Doubt he'll succeed otherwise." Shepard opened his Omni tool. "Team Mako? Team hammerhead?" He tried to communicate.
He got no answer.
"Goddamn it." Shepard sighed and sprinted forward to find his teams.
"I'm sure Miranda and Garrus are fine." Ashley was calm. "They know how to hand themselves."
Shepard fired at the enemy as he spotted team Mako zip pass. "Team Mako."
"Told you there fine." Ashley covered their advance. "We're close. Keep moving."
Shepard jumped the desk he was using for cover. He kicked the enemy soldier over and popped a round in the head before sprinting pass Wrex and slamming a soldier into the wall behind him. He popped another round in him, "Wrex!" Shepard shouted and pointed at the armoured soldier. Wrex nodded and charged.
Ashley fired at the soldiers advancing on Shepard. "Ive got your back!"
Shepard pointed towards a sniper as advancing forward. Ashley knelt behind cover as switching to her sniper rifle. She glanced at the sniper in a fortified position. She moved quickly, aiming up and firing off a round. She put a bullet through their head. "Sniper down."
Ashley switched back to her rifle and rejoined Shepard and Wrex at the next door.
"Got eyes on the clone. Should I ask for an autograph?" Miranda laughed. Shepard was surprised to hear their voices.
"Do not engage until we get there." Shepard tried to stop them.
"Not if team hammerhead beats you to it." Garrus argued.
"Keep pushing forward." Shepard heard The Clones voice, he glanced at Ashley who felt a cold chill down her spine.
"Shepard. I've been shot." Brooks radioed.
"Where are you?" Shepard asked. He pushed forward.
"I'm not sure. Agh!" She screamed.
"Brooks!" Shepard yelled for her. He saw her across the room. "I've got eyes!" He sprinted for her, but was stopped in his tracks when a barrier erected. He fired a couple of shots at the barrier. "We're stuck Brooks!" Brooks disappeared from view. He turned to check if his team were stuck with him. Ashley put a hand on his shoulder, he nodded to her. "I'll get us out."
Ashley put her hand up against the barrier. "Someone put this up. Team Mako. Team hammerhead." She tried to contact them. "Im getting nothing. Despite the fact we heard them only moments ago. Hope they're not stuck."
Shepard heard gunfire and an explosion. "Bet you Garrus gets my clone."
"We'd never hear the end of it. Specially if they found us lot in this vault." Ashley laughed. She walked around and examined the items. Wrex nudged Shepard and pointed forward. They both saw The Clone enter.
"My my. What have we here. Three girls stuck in a vault." The clone laughed.
"When I get out of here. You won't think I'm a girl." Shepard screwed his fists in anger. Ashley walked over and saw The Clone give her a glance.
"You won't do a thing to risk your crew. The rest of them have been dealt with. Locked in iridium vaults like you are now." The clone smiled. "You'd be surprised how easy it is to direct them over radio."
Shepard sighed. "I'm going to kill you when I get out of here." He wanted his Clone dead. "The Alliance knows I'm here."
"That will be difficult." The Clone moved to let Brooks approach.
"I wouldn't know." She walked up to the clones side. "I don't actually work for the Alliance."
"I'm going to enjoy killing you both." Shepard wanted to get out.
"You won't get the chance." Brooks stepped closer. "You lost."
The Clone walked over and opened Shepard's files. "This is a great opportunity for you and your entire species."
Ashley glanced at Shepard. She knew what that was, she remembered that day so well. Shepard didn't know what he wanted with his files. "No matter what you do. You'll never be him. Your just a Clone. You were made for spare parts. Never to be the man. You will never be capable of filling Shepard's shoes."
"Great opportunity but you forgot about your species. You've saved more aliens than humans. Right now. Earth is suffering and you're interested in saving every other species." The Clone thought Shepard was weak and his interests were against humanity. "You're weak. You always were. Update Spectre profile. Biometric."
"I'm not weak. Every life is important and Earth is waiting for the fleets I'm gathering. Not you. You're not half the man I am."
"Good day Commander Shepard."
The Clone turned to Shepard. "You're not Commander Shepard. Not anymore. You're not half the man I am."
"I guess this is where legends go to die." Brooks walked away. Urging The Clone to follow her.
The Clone stopped briefly and turned to Shepard. "I should go."
Shepard felt strange hearing his own phrase. He often spoke that before departing from crew members. Shepard nearly lost his feet when the vault moved.
"Refresh my memory. Didn't we use to win these things back in the day?" Wrex asked.
"One of our finest moments." Ashley sighed. She glanced at Wrex.
"I don't sound like that do I? I'm open to feedback." Shepard asked.
"Figured it was a human thing." Wrex shrugged.
"Since Eden Prime." Ashley added as she examined the vault they were sealed inside. "Not a lot of air in here."
"It's I SHOULD GO. I'm much more forceful." Shepard pronounced it again and again, to differentiate his from The Clone. "I SHOULD go. I should GO."
"Ah. Shepard. We've been sealed inside an impregnable vault, we have more pressing issues." Ashley yelled at Shepard to get his attention.
"I- huh?" He heard Ashley. "What?!" He raised his voice at her.
"We've been sealed in a vault and your clone is stealing the Normandy! Think." Ashley needed him to focus. She grabbed his chestplate. "We need to get out and stop your clone before he steals the ship!"
Shepard nodded. "Glyph!" He called for Liara's drone. "Open this damn vault. And find the others."
"Yes Commander." Glyph answered.
"Nobody steals my ship. Not even me." Shepard screwed his fists together. The vault opened and Shepard sprinted back to the entrance. He climbed out and helped his crew out.
Ashley waved down Joker who opened the skycar upon landing. "Your Clone is stealing the Normandy! I can take you plus two."
Shepard walked over and hopped in, he turned to his crew. "Ashley! Wrex!"
"I wish you'd pick me." Tali sighed. "I never seem to get picked."
"Don't worry." Shepard looked at his team. "Joker will come back for you."
Joker quickly sped off for the Normandy. "What should we expect?"
"Heavy resistance. They'll stop us from boarding. Only one of us need to make it onboard."
"Traynor should be onboard." Ashley remembered Traynor stayed behind to help with the tune up due to her experience with the retrofit. "Contact her?"
"Communication is blocked. Probably to make it easier to steal my ship!" Joker yelled.
"They won't get away." Shepard wouldn't let them escape with the Normandy.
"Can't we just tell Hackett?" Ashley asked.
"He changed the DNA. It'd just prove he's the real Shepard." Wrex pointed out
"I could prove you're the real Shepard."
"Doubt that would help LC. Only thing that will fix this is a bullet." Shepard knew what had to be done. "But watching you tell the brass that we're dating would be hilarious."
"Probs not the best idea?"
"No." Shepard smiled at her.
"Then let's go kick your clone's ass." Ashley was ready. Wrex nodded to them.
"I can work out who would win a fight between Shepard and me." Wrex smiled.
Shepard scoffed. "Me."
Ashley smirked. Shepard looked to her. "I'm not getting involved."
"Oh please. You get involved every other time."
"You don't have a Krogan next to you." Ashley argued. Shepard rolled his eyes as going back to looking forward. He saw the Normandy prepping for take off. "Looks like we don't have much time."
"I can't get any closer with the automated defence." Joker landed the skycar. Shepard got out and glanced at the Normandy.
"Go back and get the others!" Shepard ordered.
Ashley jumped down the ladder and opened fire. "Shepard's here to stop departure. Let them know."
"They blocked the comms."
"Idiots."
Shepard, Ashley and Wrex pushed for the Normandy. Ashley kicked a sniper off the edge. "Not today." She turned and fired her shotgun at an armoured soldier. Knocking him back into Wrex's path. He slammed him over the edge.
"We need to get onboard." Shepard yelled.
"Are they skipping protocol?" Ashley asked. Noting how quick it was.
"We can't gun the engine and go." Shepard sighed. "About a hundred safety checks normally."
"Figures. He gets to do what we can't." Ashley riddled another sniper with bullets as Wrex charged forward and dealt with soldiers ahead. "Go for the Normandy. We'll catch up." She nodded to Shepard who sprinted through the fight towards the Normandy.
Shepard opened the door leading to the airlock. He saw Traynor standing at the entrance. "Traynor?" He knew she was kicked off the ship but her fury was evident, she glared at Shepard. Ashley smirked as jogging pass.
"You! How can you even look me in the eye after what you did?!" She glared at Shepard. "You fired me for insubordination! I barely had enough time to grab my toothbrush."
"Ah. I can't just fire you Traynor. That would require-." Shepard smirked when he saw her holding up the toothbrush. "Wait. Really. The first thing you grab is your toothbrush?"
"It's an expensive toothbrush!" Traynor took a deep breath to calm down.
"I wouldn't kick you off. Ever."
"Then. What the hell? You were on the ship!"
"Shepard has a clone." Ashley turned. "And it really doesn't like us." Traynor felt like laughing.
"I'm surprised. This Shepard likes you, how can his clone not?" Traynor pointed out.
"Could be worse. I-" Ashley managed to open the first door to the Normandy, they entered the airlock. She tried her Spectre codes but couldn't break through. "I'm surprised Liara didn't mention I could switch before I did."
"You are terrible." Traynor laughed.
"Is there a way to get in?" Shepard asked.
Traynor approached the escape shaft. "Escape shaft. Only meant to be accessed from the other side though." Traynor revealed the escape shaft before getting out of the way of Shepard who scanned it.
"Could be triggered with a precise mass effect field but I don't have-"
"We get it princess. You're not petite enough." Ashley sighed. "They're taking off. We cannot be caught out here." Traynor activated her toothbrush. "You've got to be kidding me."
Wrex laughed as Traynor opened the escape shaft. Shepard nodded to her, "Get back to a safe distance and notify C-SEC."
"Will do Commander." Traynor departed.
Shepard climbed down and led the way into the Normandy. Wrex closed the shaft behind him and secured it. They kept quiet as the Normandy departed.
Shepard heard footsteps above and raised his hand towards his crew. "We've got reports of breach."
"Where?" Shepard heard The Clone.
"When we deactivated the A.I. We deactivated most of the sensors. We're not sure where they are. Where Shepard is."
"Shepard is standing in front of you!"
"Wouldn't you prefer it this way. Get to kill him yourself." Brooks spoke up as following The Clone. Ashley was going to kill Brooks, she was angry that they had gone after Shepard, her man and her home. Shepard meant everything to her and she wasn't going to let a Clone or Brooks stop them.
"Find and stall him."
Shepard heard the elevator close, "I think we broke Traynosr's toothbrush. Remind me to-"
"It's my highest priority Commander."
"Later. Remind me later."
"This space is a little cramped." Wrex was cramped in the small space.
"Quiet. Or they'll hear us."
"In this death trap. I'll hide behind the Krogan. Sure he takes up most of the space."
Shepard opened the door and stabbed a soldier closest to the exit. Ashley used Shepard as cover as she opened fire. Wrex slammed a crate into soldiers trying to use it as cover.
"Uncle Urdnot is back!" Wrex yelled. Sprinting around the C.I.C taking care of soldiers. Shepard and Ashley cleared soldiers trying to protect the elevator. He hit the button for the elevator and noticed a basket full of items that belonged in his cabin.
"Please dispose of inappropriate-" Shepard didn't even finish reading it when he saw his pet hamster. "Oh he messed with my hamster. Now it's personal."
"And it wasn't personal already?" Ashley rolled her eyes before noticing something that belonged to her. "Hey." She pulled out her shirt. "Didn't take him long to move us out."
"It's my hamster."
"He tried to kill me. Does that matter."
"My hamster can't defend itself like us."
Ashley walked into the elevator and clicked for deck five as Wrex and Shepard followed. "Never mind." She shook her head at her commanding officer. She couldn't believe he was so concerned about a hamster.
"Hey Ash. Do you remember all those years ago back on the citadel when we would ask those pointless questions."
"Of course. Seem like a lifetime ago." Ashley smiled as checking her ammo.
"Do you remember when I asked who would win a fight between Shepard and you? And you thought it was a pointless question."
"I was expecting you to ask if you could beat Shepard, not if I could." Ashley couldn't believe he remembered asking her.
"Well. You're about to have your answer." Wrex told her.
Shepard turned to Ashley. "Really?"
"He asked me. I'd say you won." Ashley smiled. "We did give a new spin for on the floor and give me twenty." Shepard couldn't help but smile, he remembered that moment so well that it seemed like yesterday. He had crossed a line with her and didn't ever want to go back. Only forward.
The elevator stopped. Shepard nodded to her. "Expect anything." He was the first to step out. His cargo bay was filled with crates. "Keep within eyesight of me."
"Anything of you?"
Shepard rolled his eyes. "Just shut up and keep close."
Ashley followed Shepard and Wrex. She kept her eyes peeled for Brooks, she saw movement to her right, before noticing The Clone step out in front of them. "You've got to be kidding me."
Shepard stopped when his Clone stepped out. "That just got weird."
The Clone opened fire and Shepard and his team made for cover. "I've taken everything from you."
"Just because you put that armour on and look like me. Doesn't mean you've taken everything. I'm more than just a piece of armour. I'm more than just the looks."
"The looks help." Ashley winked.
Shepard rolled his eyes. "You're missing the one thing that makes me. You had to convince my crew. You had to convince the one person I want to spend the rest of my life with. I'm not alone. I never have been."
"You had Miranda. I've got Brooks."
"I've got more than Miranda." Shepard stood and fired back. "I've got entire crew ready to follow me to hell and back. You don't."
The Clone sprinted for Shepard, powering up is biotics as Shepard raised a biotic shield. Repelling his Clone. He sprinted after his Clone as mere armies charged in for his team.
"You go after brooks! I'll deal with these pyjaks!" Wrex charged for the mercenaries as Ashley jogged around to the right. She saw Shepard and The Clone going at it. Her Shepard had the upper hand, he was forcing The Clone towards the cargo bay doors.
"Brooks." Ashley spotted her and opened fire. Brooks disappeared behind cover and Ashley quickly went after her. She was shoved into the crate by brooks. Who tried to stab her with her Omni blade but Ashley blocked it with her own. She managed to twist her arm and throw her into the crate behind her. "Nice try. But I guess your Shepard never showed you a few tricks."
Brooks kicked Ashley's shin as making a run for it. Ashley fired her rifle as brooks hid behind cover. She knew brooks was capable of cloaking herself and had to watch her back carefully. She jumped out of the way as she heard Brooks grunt as trying to shot her.
Shepard saw Ashley and Brooks locked in a bitter brawl. He ducked before slamming his fist into the Clones breastplate. Knocking him several metres. He went to charge when everyone was knocked off their feet.
"What the hell is going on?"
Shepard struggled to get to his feet with the bad piloting. He was grateful for Joker's piloting skills. "Guess my pilot is better too." He smirked as he managed to stand.
"Shoot the damn car out of the sky!" The Clone got to his feet and charged at Shepard who booted him in the chest. The cargo bay door opened and a shuttle exited. He fired his pistol as his Clone scrambled for cover.
Ashley's fist connected with Brooks face as they fought. Ashley was relentless with Brooks, not letting her get away. Brooks elbowed Ashley in the chest, getting free and sweeping her feet before kicking her in the chest.
Ashley kicked Brooks shin as she went to walk away. "I don't give up that easy. Something you should know about me if you did your research."
"Is that why you ran on Eden prime?"
"I didn't run!" Ashley shouted as she tackled Brooks into the wall behind and laid a series of punches before landing a left haymaker. "I survived everything that's been thrown at me! And you're just another problem!" She picked up Brooks and slammed her into the ground. Ashley went to put a boot into Brooks when she kicked Ashley's leg and forced her to the ground. Brooks quickly got to her feet as Ashley scrambled to her feet when brooks kicked her into a crate.
"You left them behind." Brooks activated her omniblade. "Guess Shepard's woman isn't as good as she thinks. Not sure if it's arrogance or stupidity."
Brooks went to stab Ashley who pulled out her shotgun and fired. "One thing I learnt from Shepard. Never bring a knife to a gunfight." Ashley got to her feet. She crushed brooks hand, stopping her from using her omniblade. "You should never underestimate a Williams." Ashley put a bullet through Brooks skull.
Shepard had his gun knocked from him. He charged and tackled his Clone, both sliding towards the edge of the cargo bay doors. He managed to get in a couple of quick punches in before he was thrown off. The Clone went to get up when the piloting of the Normandy hurt his claim. They both almost fell off as Shepard and his Clone managed to grip the edge.
"Why you! And not me?" The Clone glared at Shepard. "What makes you so special?"
"Shepard!" Ashley sprinted over, sliding to the edge. She grabbed his hand and pulled him up. She got to her feet and helped Shepard to his. "What will we do about him?"
Shepard turned and glared at his Clone. "Get off my ship!" He stomped on The Clones hands until he let go. falling to his death.
"You okay?" Shepard turned to Ashley.
"Am I okay? You just killed your clone?"
"And you took on his sidekick." Shepard smirked as Ashley nudged him.
"I think he was hoping they were more."
"Where is Brooks?" Shepard asked, walking up at the ramp. He saw a skycar land in the cargo bay. He knew Joker and Cortez had done their part in stopping the Normandy leaving.
Ashley walked over to his side, grasping his hand. "She picked a fight she could never win." Ashley spoke of Brooks fate. Shepard saw her body laying in a pool of her own blood.
"I saw you laying into her."
Ashley screwed her fists together in anger. "She said I was a coward."
"We both know you're not."
"Still don't like to hear it." Ashley sighed.
Shepard wrapped his arms around her, "I'm just happy we're in one piece." He kissed her forehead. "I love you."
Ashley smirked as Shepard rolled his eyes. "You sure you're not a clone."
Shepard crushed their lips together. "Convincing enough?" He smirked. Letting go.
"Definitely." Ashley winked. She saw Cortez with Wrex. She walked up to them with Shepard in tow.
"Any survivors?" Shepard asked. Patting Wrex on the back.
"Just one crappy ass pilot." Joker answered before Cortez could.
"Is EDI?"
"I'm fully functional and once again in control of the Normandy. I am returning the Normandy back to the dry docks."
"What's the damage?"
"Garrus will be busy calibrating for the next few days. They overheated the weapon system firing at us."
Shepard laughed. "Ah. I'd say she'll need a clean up more. The amount of thermal clips laying around the C.I.C is ridiculous."
"Half of them are from them trying to stop us." Ashley grinned.
"I say we space the pilot. Javik would find that quite fitting." Shepard suggested.
Wrex shrugged. "I'd be happy to throw him out."
Ashley chuckled. "How will we explain this to Bailey?"
"Doubt anyone will believe us." Shepard laughed.
"We have footage." Joker reminded everyone.
"Rather not watch me fight myself." Shepard was honest as he walked towards the exit. Everyone following.
Ashley spotted the crew exiting S-SEC shuttles, all noting Shepard was alive. With Ashley and Wrex at his side. "Man. I love shore leave."
"Come on. Maybe we can have some actual time off. No explosions or anything. Just us." Shepard smiled, glancing at her briefly as he stepped off the Normandy.
"Hell yes." Ashley laughed. Greeting the crew as they walked away from the Normandy.