Chapter 38

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System Unknown: Location Unknown...

He looked at the OSD momentary before growling and throwing it across the room nearly hitting the assistant that brought it to him.

"Double the patrols at all other facilities." He yelled slamming his glass down on the arm of his chair.

"Yes Sir" The pretty brunette said as she collected the fragments of the OSD and quickly hurried off into the shadows.

He tapped a few buttons and a holographic display popped up in front of him showing several bases and systems that had Cerberus Operations currently going on. He tapped another with the data that was given by the assistant and several of those bases turned red indicating they had been destroyed.

~Where are you you son of a bitch~ He growled inwardly.

He tapped another and it showed Cerberus financial figures and growled once again at the number. Some how someone had managed to steal nearly 30 million credits. Oh and it didn't just stop there... according to the updated figures another 3 has went missing and so far they've been able to find out how its being stolen and where its going to... but he had a hunch.. he believed it was the same persons taking out his bases.

He growled has he shut the holographic display off and sat back in his chair. He sighed as he inhaled a puff of his cigarette and blew the smoke out.

He picked up another OSD beside his chair and after reading it for a few minutes he smiled "Project Lazarus" was going along well. At least it was some good news as far as he was concerned.

His com beeped and he tapped a button on his chair opening up the com. The face of a man with dark hair and piercing eyes greeted him.

"Yes Lt. Stone?" He asked taking a sip of his drink.

"Sir.. Another colony has went dark" The Lt. Said.

The Illusive Man growled... Shepard had better get better and fast.. Too many Human lives have already been lost.

Location: Geth Controlled Space...

I smiled as I walked through the corridor on Tier 3. The ship was coming along nicely. It was about 60% completed and should be ready in another month or so.

A couple of Geth platforms passed me carrying cables and heading for the elevator.

My com beeped and I quickly tapped a button on my suit and an image of Stacey appeared in the corner of my HUD.

"Would you quit drooling over you new toy and get back here so we can have a decent meal as a family" She growled and her image promptly vanished.

I sighed and turned heading back down the corridor. This would be the crew deck. I couldn't wait until the core was installed. I bet Tali would just love to see it.

That's when I felt a little sad.. Tali and I have barely gotten to talk recently. The flotilla has been sending her on more and more missions.

The last Vid message I got from her was five days ago. I wasn't worried. I believed she could handle herself.. after all she was pretty good with that shotgun of hers.

As I stepped out of the elevator onto the bridge I bumped into Legion. "Will. Commander This unit reports that progress is ahead of schedule and the first test flight will begin in four weeks time instead of seven weeks like originally .. is this satisfactory?" The machine asks wit its eye flaps turning this way and that.

I smiled before placing a hand on its shoulder "That's excellent news my friend." I said.

I smiled as I studied the CIC. It was massive the galaxy map was sunk into the floor with the hologram screen hovering several feet above with four separate walkways leading up to the map. The other terminals around the galaxy map had chair styles similar to what was on the Normady SR2. I smiled as I looked at the white and blue walls.

If you enter the ship for the first time you would immediately notice several data lines running throughout the walls. As part of this new alliance with the Geth we believed it to be most necessary. Since we didn't have a version of EDI the networked platforms of Geth were the next best thing.

Legion continued to walk beside me as I entered the airlock when it suddenly stopped. "This unit also wants to report that oxygen has been enabled to the crew deck if Will. Commander wants to stay" It said with its flaps moving.

I chuckled "I wish I could but I'd rather spend time with my sister and my niece right now." I hit the door panel and the airlock closed and the decom cycle started.

I walked down a corridor inside the Geth station heading towards the Dawn. We've currently been docked at this base which I had no clue as to the name of it. Legion tried explaining it but once he started with 000.00 I was like that's cool.

"About time" Stacey grumbled as I walked into the airlock of the Dawn. "You came to greet me.. I'm honored sis" I said with a smirk.

She shook her head and hit the button to start the cycle.

It finished and we made our way towards the mess hall. As I entered the mess Jack turns towards me. "About god damn time. Your sister has been driving us nuts." The convict said.

I nodded and made my way over towards the table with all the food on it. I began to pile food onto my plate when Eve walked up to me and held out a OSD. I looked at her curiously and took the OSD from her with my free hand . I read a little and my eyes widened with shock. "Are you sure about this?" I asked hesitantly. She nodded. "Thank you Eve.. I will speak to the others after Dinner" I said.

I turned and proceeded towards the table with my food. As I sat down and poured myself a glass of Asari vintage wine I heard Tella clear her throat. She held up her glass of wine and began to speak.

"I just wanted to say that our raid of our fifth Cerberus base was a success. We shut down that base that was experimenting on animals of various species. And we also raided their food stores" She paused as a round of cheers broke up from Stacey and Emily. Jack just snorted. It was then that I noticed Faith creeping into the mess hall. She looked like she just woke up. Everyone turned to her as she entered "Sorry.. I overslept" She said making her way towards the food. Tella nodded before speaking again. "So I would like to give a round of thanks to everyone.. Especially Jack who showed us all how well she can fight. Cheers!" She said holding her glass up high.

That's right.. We've been hitting Cerberus run bases for a few months now.. And thanks to the assistance of the true Geth its been all going according to the plan to take down Cerberus. Our next phase of the plan would begin in two weeks time. But for now.. It was time to celebrate.

"CHEERS!" We all said in unison before downing some of our wine.

As we began to eat Faith came over and sat down beside of me. I poured her some water and she thanked me as she tore into her food. This girl could eat I'm telling ya.

"I have to say I'm starting to feel like a pirate though" Emily said across from me.

"Your only a pirate if your pillaging everyone.. Were just riding the universe of an evil" Stacey said while stuffing her mouth.

"Ewww that's disgusting... don't talk with your mouth full" Emily said as bits of food flew out of Stacey's mouth at her.

This caused everyone to laugh even me. "Well said sis" I said taking a bite of my sweet roll.

"How's the Ship coming along?" Tella asked.

"Oh god don't get him started" Stacey said causing everyone to laugh and my face turn red.

"Yeah its like its his secret lover or something" Emily said causing even more laughter at my expense.

"Girls! Girls! You've got it all wrong..." I said trying to shush their laughter but failing.

"It's ok Will we get it. Your happy about your new toy... so go back to what you were going to say" Tella said as the girls quieted down.

I cleared my throat "As I was saying Legion said the construction is a head of schedule and should be finished within the next three weeks and the first test flight in four weeks"

Everyone nodded their approval before turning back to their food. I smiled at what I felt was quickly becoming my family in this world.

XXX

After dinner was over I asked everyone except for Eve and Faith to remain in the mess so I could discuss something.

"What is it? I'm want to catch some sleep already piss ant" Jack said folding her arms over her chest and leaning back against a table.

I held out the OSD that Eve had given me.

"What's that?" Emily asked.

I sighed deeply before I began "I just wanted to let you all know that over the last few weeks as per my request Eve as well as Legion and the Geth available to him at the time were working on a small side project for me." I paused as everyone was watching me.

"I wanted to find out everything that had been done to Faith regarding Cerberus experiments and future plans for her" I said.

Stacey stared at me in horror.

"What did you find out?" She said quickly making her way over to me and snatching the OSD out of my hand.

I turned towards Jack "They were going to use her for experiments like they did you Jack"

This brought the convict up to a standing position and with a very pissed off look grasping her features.

"I've had those fuckers fuck my life up I'll be damned if I'm going to let them do it to someone else." She growled as Biotic energy formed around her.

I sat there in silence for a moment before I began again. "That's not all.. What they did to you on Pragia Jack.. That base may have been shut down.. But I've recently found out that their planning on starting the experiment all over again."

This caused the Biotic's face to pale slightly but when her color returned she turned red in cold fury.

"Not again... I will not let those bastards start again" She said quickly as she came over to me.

"Where?"

"A small planet called Tol gigat... It's located in the horse head nebula in the Cross system." I said as she bore holes into me.

"When can we leave?" She asked. "Two weeks" I said.

"Why the fuck are we going to wait two weeks?" She asked.

"Because.. right now their patrols are most likely doubled and even with the firepower that the Dawn has we will have a time getting through their lines at the moment. Well wait a few weeks until they get slack than well hit them and wipe that base off the face of the universe." I said curling my hand into a fist.

She glared at me momentary before turning and walking back towards the table.

"Jack.. there's one other thing" I said as she paused mid step and looked at me over her shoulder "What?" She snarled.

"I've got the location of Pragia" This caused the Biotic to freeze up before cold fury once again replaced her features.

"I want to blow that place off the face of the planet." She growled.

I nodded "When can we go?" She asked through clenched teeth.

"Well leave in two days.. be ready" I said. She started walking towards the door but stopped and looked over her shoulder at me "I've been ready for years.. Now I'm ready to finish it" She said walking out the door.

A/N: Hello once again to everyone. I just wanted to say thanks and I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. My next project will involved the next chapter of the Mass Effect trilogy. So till next time thanks everyone!.