AN: Hello, this is probably my favorite chapter so far if only because Sky gets a well-deserved talking to. I really hope you enjoy it as much I did. Any spelling and grammatical mistakes are on me (and by on me, I mean on my beta, ya know who you are :P)

metaladdict: there will be a few more cameo appearances by the cast before their canonical debut and that will be probably be the only time that Sam and Leo would actually meet pre-SR2. Key word: probably. And no you didn't miss anything, according to the Mass Effect Wiki page, Elysium happens in 2176, Akuze in 2177, and Torfan in 2178. But I will set it up and have the appropriate character(s) be where they are supposed to be.

Onto the talking-to!

Milky Way, Earth Systems Alliance Space, Arcturus Stream, Arcturus Station, Hackett-Kenson Household

October 15, 2174—Earth Standard

Apollo would deny it if he were asked, but he looked up to his older sister. Some would even say he envied her. She had everything he ever wanted: a fiercely protective streak, a tactical mind, a reasonable height, and Calleigh Frayser.

Key word 'had.'

Skylar was still protective (especially over Artie), she still retained the tactical mind (even if it was out of practice), she was still tall (much to Apollo's chagrin), but for once in Po's short, short, life, Sky didn't have something—namely someone—that he wanted.

He should've been happy, excited even, that Calleigh wasn't "taken" anymore, and that finally—finally—his older sister and her girlfriend broke up for good this time. He should've been happy. He should've been, but he wasn't. In truth (and Po would deny it vehemently if asked), he felt like shit.

His greatest hero, his idol, his older sister was packing up her bags and running away—running away!—from her so-called "bad memories." Apollo knew that if the Hackett family would ever get a motto or a saying that would define them to the 'T' it would be "We Don't Run."

But lo and behold, there she was, the eldest of Admiral Steven Hackett and Major Penelope Song-Hackett's children, running away with her proverbial tail between her legs.

"Do you have to leave?" Artie asked, softly, her camera half-heartedly following Sky as she packed her bag, "Cal's not here anymore—"

"For the last time, Artie," Sky practically growled, and the hairs at the back of Po's neck stood. He has heard her use the same tone to anyone bullying Artie, but never, ever, has he heard it directed to either him or Artie, "I'm not leaving because of her, I'm leaving because I got a job in Elysium."

"As security!" Po couldn't help but scoff, "You passed Basic with flying colors, you passed Leo, and she's been nominated for N-School! And you're going to be a glorified security guard at a colony where. Nothing. Happens!"

"No one asked you, Apollo," Sky spat.

"So you'll just leave us?" Artie whispered, her voice betraying the tears that she was fighting back, Sky didn't acknowledge it, but Po knew she knew. Nothing got passed Sky, especially when it came to Artie.

"I don't know why you're making a big deal about it," Sky said, keeping her back to Artie's camera, "You're only here because classes are off during Thanksgiving. You spend the entire solar year at Grissom Academy anyway, whether I'm here or not shouldn't matter to you."

A choked sob got stuck in Artie's throat and Po knew that Sky had heard her, he knew it but she made no effort to move to comfort her (as would be the norm). Instead she went on packing with no care that she hurt Artie's feelings. He had enough of his older sister being a world-class ass. He had enough of silently comforting Artie whenever she notices that Sky was hurt. Po has had enough of his older sister as he finally stomped over to his stupid older sister and kicked her shin. Hard.

"Ow, what the hell is wrong with you?" Sky hopped on her uninjured leg while rubbing the throbbing one.

"Me?" Po asked, "What the hell is wrong with you?!" He pointed at their crying sister, "Look at her! Look at her! She's crying because of you! Because you are too much of a fucking asshole to notice that Artie is upset! That all Artie ever cared about was you, and you treat her like crap! She's your sister, shit-for-brains!" he was tempted to spit on the floor by Sky's feet, but ultimately decided it was overkill—not to mention that he'd have to clean it up afterwards—instead, he gave his baffled older sister the best glare he could manage, "I can't believe I ever looked up to you."

He stormed out leaving his sisters in the bedroom. He walked out the front door and heard the sound of trimmed claws scrapping against the floor. He smiled softly, and waited for Dakota the varren to catch up with him. Despite her being a gift to Artie from Sky, the varren took a special liking to Po, and he wasn't complaining. Some affection—even if it came from a shark-dog—was better than none.

Po, with Dakota trotting happily at his side, found themselves in the artificial park on the station. He sat on the artificial grass with Dakota's head on his lap, and was grateful it was late in the evening and that the park was empty. No one there but a boy and his varren. He stroked Dakota's head softly, and smiled as her large black eyes closed in contentment.

He briefly wondered how Artie and Sky were doing after his little—well deserved, in his opinion—outburst, and whether anything he said managed to get through Skylar's thick skull. He sighed, knowing just as much as Calleigh did that nothing gets into or out of Sky's head unless she wanted it to. He frowned; figuratively speaking, of course. It would be beyond awkward to see brain matter oozing out of his sister's ears. Po snorted at the image, Sky couldn't afford to lose anymore.

Dakota's ear swiveled and she raised her head to look behind Po. Her tongue lobbed out of the side of her mouth and he turned to greet Artie. She was the only one who could get that reaction from Dakota.

"Hey," Po said, unintentionally making it almost sound like a question.

"Hi," Artie mumbled, plopping herself on Po's other side. She pulled her knees up and hugged them to her.

Silence followed, and Dakota realizing that Artie wasn't here to play with her, rested her head back in its rightful place on Po's thigh. He went back to petting her. Dakota closed her eyes. More minutes passed before Po heard Artie failing to hide her sniffles.

"She's leaving tomorrow?" Po asked, conversationally.

He felt rather than saw Artie nod.

"Well, look at it this way," He shrugged half-heartedly, "the worse thing that she's gonna get at Elysium is a hangover."

A surprised laugh erupted from Artie and Po smiled, triumphantly. She shoved his shoulder lightly, trying not to disrupt Dakota's nap, "Shut up."

A comfortable silence settled around them, and soon Artie leaned into her brother, and rested her head on his shoulder. He took her closest hand and squeezed reassuringly.

"Was she right?" Artie asked quietly, "Is it selfish of me to ask her to stay when I'm not even here most of the time?"

There was no right answer, Po knew that, but sometimes not answering was worse than the truth. This was one of those cases.

"Maybe," Po started, and Artie sniffled, "But that doesn't make it right to make you cry."

"Not crying," Artie mumbled.

"Right, sorry: doesn't make it right to give you allergies."

Artie half-laughed half-sobbed, "Shut up," she said again.

"I wanted to beat her up," Po confessed.

Silence followed before being broken by Artie's hysterical laughter.

Po flushed, "Shut up. I'm serious."

She kept on laughing, and Po was pretty sure her sides were starting to hurt.

"Fine, forget I said anything," Po grumbled, "I was trying to be a good big brother."

"You're not my big brother, you're my twin," Artie said, trying to sober up despite the chuckles that were trying to escape from her lips.

"I'm four hours older," Po pointed out.

"I walked before you," Artie replied, just as smugly, "I was potty trained before you. I talked before you. And I rode my bike before you."

Po flushed, "Yeah, well. I was still born first."

Artie smiled, "Thanks, Po. For everything."