Chapter 48 Family or Death

Jenny Shepard sat in the her makeshift quarters on the Normandy, since she had no official quarters she had taken up residence in what she had thought was the empty port side cargo hold. She had set up a cot and some other personal items. She knew that there was armed marines standing outside of the door but she didn't care as she kicked off her shoes and laid down on the cot. She closed her eyes as deciding that the only thing to do now was sleep and wait for whatever came next. Suddenly the doors leading into the room opened up.

"Listen John I don't care to listen to whatever you have to say, just send the report about what I did to the Alliance JAG core so that they can either imprison me or kick me out of the military." Stated Jenny without even opening her eyes.

"I am not your kin." stated a harsh voice as Jenny sat up only to see the two Prothean enter the room.

"Why are you down here?" asked Jenny as Javik walked over toward a large water basin washing his hands.

"This is my quarters you moved in while I was done on New Caprica." explained Javik as he washed his hands.

"I see." answered Jenny as she sat up stretching a bit before slipping on her shoes, before heading toward the door "If that is the case I can find somewhere else to sleep before I am kicked out of the military."

"What a waist." stated Javik as Jenny stopped in her tracks before turning her gaze toward the male Prothean. "Don't you agree Vegter?"

"Agreed, she wants to throw her life away." Confirmed the female Prothean as she looked at the human. "She doesn't know how lucky she is."

"Luckily all my friends died on Earth or on some other battlefield." snapped Jenny "I didn't say anything but my boyfriend was stationed in Vladivostok I may have blown him to kingdom come."

"Do not speak of lost to us human." Growled Vegter as "My father was the last supreme commander of the Prothean fleet, he sacrificed himself along with my mother and two brothers when they lured the Reapers into the great trap."

"Great trap?" asked Jenny

"We blew up two mass effect relays causing an explosion which created the section of space you call the void." Explained Javik "In fact it was the third relay which we were going to destroy that we just reactivated, it was blown into this section of space by the destruction of the other two."

"I still don't see how I am lucky." stated Jenny

"You still have a brother, you have family." Explained Vegter "Those family members who are in the bunker on New Caprica had to sacrifice members, only three members of each family was allowed to enter the bunker the rest were killed by the troops who were going to defend their families."

"You killed the civilians you couldn't take into the bunker?" asked Jenny slightly stunned at the news.

"We couldn't let them be found by the Reapers, if they became indoctrinated then we would be found." Explained Vegter as her four eyes were locked on Jenny "Mothers and Fathers had to pick which of their children where sent into the bunker and who stayed outside to die. The luckily families only had three members and all made it through but those are rare."

"Do you some sad tear jerking story about families being destroyed by the war will have any effect on me?" asked Jenny as she gave a stone cold face to the two Protheans.

"Do not try to hide the truth from us human." stated Vegter

"You have your brothers eyes you are ashamed of what you did and you want to end it all." explained Javik "However I have a question for you Jenny Shepard what would adding your soul to the company of countless trillions who have died at the hand of the reapers matter."

"I would regain my honor." explained Jenny defiantly.

"As I once told your brother in this very room Stand in the ash of a trillion dead souls and ask the ghosts if honor matters." Stated Javik as Jenny looked down "If you want to regain your honor, honor those people who have died by doing the one thing that will honor them."

"And what is that?" asked Jenny still looking at the deck.

"By living." Answered Javik

A few decks up her brother sat behind his desk in the Captain's cabin trying to process the fact that his sister was a border line suicidal and wanted to die in a blaze of glory and she was willing to start a war to get it done. A blank document sat on his computer screen as he wondered how he was going to write the report about the destruction of the Cylon Resurrection hub at the hands of his sister using a weapon banded by not only the Citadel Council but by the System Alliance.

"John are we going to talk about it?" asked Ash as she sat in a chair of her own watching John.

"Nothing too really talk about, she will likely be sent either to Fort Leavenworth or some other prison for a few years or just kicked out of the military." explained John as he shook his head a bit "And if she is kicked out of the military she will join with some mercenary group."

"I hate to say this but your likely right." admitted Ash as suddenly EDI's voice came over the speakers.

"Sorry to interrupt Shepard but we have a broadcast coming in from Earth on your private channel." explained EDI as both Shepard and Ash raised an eyebrow at the idea that someone was sending them a personal message while on mission.

"Alright EDI, send it up here." ordered John as he cleared his computer screen moments later the image a woman in her early fifties her long red hair pulled back into a tight bun as her green eyes stared at John.

"Mrs. Williams." said John as he tried to remain calm.

"Mom?" asked Ash stunned that her mother would be contacting them.

"Good you're both there." stated Kimberly Williams "Is there some reason why I had to find out about the engagement of oldest daughter on the news."

"Crap." whispered Ash

"Yes, crap young lady." confirmed Kimberly as the long time military wife and mother of four girls spoke in a tone of voice that even Shepard had to respect.

"It is my fault, I told the Citadel Council since it is required by law to inform them if a Spectre gets engaged and I told them not to inform anyone else until we told you at the family reunion at the end of the victory tour." explained Shepard as Ash's mom nodded her head in understanding "I guess the council released the news."

"They did." confirmed Kimberly "Besides the fact that you have a sister it is the only thing the news is covering."

"I see." Added Ash

"Well now that it explained, congratulations." said Kimberly Williams with a huge smile on her face "I couldn't be happier, welcome to the family John."

"Thanks mom." said Ash with a smile "And it is my fault that you didn't get to see the proposal in person."

"Really?" inquired Mrs. Williams

"She found the ring in my nightstand." explained John as Mrs. Williams laughed a bit.

"I should have guessed, you always found your Christmas gifts when you were a kid." laughed Mrs. Williams "I just wish your father was here to see you two, he would be so happy with your pick of a man dear."

"I know he is looking down from heaven mom." explained Ash as suddenly EDI's voice came over the speaker system for a second time.

"Commander Shepard Admiral Hackett is on the line for you." Explained EDI as Mrs. Williams shock her head at the news.

"Well just my luck." exclaimed Mrs. Williams knowing that they would have to end the call soon "Now hurry back to Earth your sisters already want to take you dress shopping and plan everything."

"Sorry mom, love you." apologized Ash

"Love you to." answered her mother as the call ended, seconds later Admiral Hackett appeared on the screen.

"Shepard just to let you know the fleet has left the Citadel it will arrive at your location in three hours forty five minutes." Reported Hackett as Shepard nodded his head. "Has the situation there changed?"

"Yes sir, we have destroyed the Cylon Resurrection hub which means the humanoid Cylons can no longer rise from the dead." reported John

"You don't seem pleased by that?" inquired Hackett

"Sir my sister destroyed the Hub by firing a Cylon nuke at it without my permission in hopes that the Reapers would restart their harvest in this area so that she could die." explained Shepard as Hackett lowered his head "We are just lucky that the Reapers didn't care about the destruction of the hub or the fact we used a nuke to do it."

"Never thought we would be thankful for the forgiveness of a Reaper." stated Hackett "What is the state of your sister?"

"She is confined to quarters and waiting to be sent back to the Citadel or Earth for a trial." reported John as Hackett shook his head. "What is it?"

"There isn't going to be a trial Commander." Reported Hackett as both Shepard and Ash raised an eyebrow at the news "The council let the whole galaxy know about your sister and now they want to see the both of you side by side, a family brought back together after the war. The PR people of the Alliance and the Citadel are already making plans and they are even making a documentary video about her history to play next to ones they already have for you and the rest of your team."

"Sir, she fired a nuke rising another Reaper attack and she was the one who destroyed Vladivostok during the reaper war." explained Shepard "And that may not have been the only thing she did she got a nickname from the Reapers not many people get them."

"We know." Said Hackett as both Shepard's and Ash's eyes widened "We captured multiple Reaper Data cores from destroyed Reapers they had information about her actions in Vladivostok and dozens of other battles across the world. War isn't black and white Shepard you know this better than most so we have sealed the files on her actions during the war just like we did for thousands of other soldiers who are still alive. No point in making their lives worst. And having her join your team brother and sister united after decades apart will give a lot of people hope while they rebuild their lives and hope is something we can always use."

"I understand sir, are you ordering me to release her?" asked Shepard

"Yes, but keep her away from the nukes from now on." ordered Hackett as the link was cut.

"Well I didn't expect that." said Ash

"Me either." confirmed Shepard as leaned back a bit in his chair. "Well I guess I don't have to write up the report now."

"That is something good at least." laughed Ash knowing that John hated writing reports.

Far away from the Normandy the Colonial refugees where in the process of getting off their ships as they entered a world they could never had dreamed of. The colonial civilians some of whom had only the cloths on their backs walked off the ships and into the bright lights of the Citadel docking ring. Waiting for them where armed C-Sec officers, doctors and a lot of other help. Several people jumped back as they saw an alien member of C-Sec but most people rushed straight toward the rows of tables which had been set up ahead of time which was covered with premade plates of food. Standing on an upper observation deck watching the whole thing was Commander Bailey.

"Commander Bailey." came a voice behind him as the C-Sec officer turned around only to instantly salute as the Asari councilwoman Tevos walked up to him.

"Councilwoman." answered Bailey as he lowered his hand as the councilwoman looked out over the mass of humanity which was now making its way into the refugee camp which had been set up for them on the docking ring. Suddenly a load cry filled the air as everyone turned toward the source of the sound only to see a man dressed in a black robe holding a book in his hands. He had his head back and his arms raised as he started praying, within moments a group of colonials gathered around him dropping on one knee as they joined him in prayer.

"Reminds me of when the first group of refuges from the Reaper war arrived here." added Bailey

"Those where dark days. I thank the Goddesses every day for giving us a chance to live." added Tevos in a personal note.

"Same here, councilwoman only to my own God." confirmed Bailey

"How are things down here?" inquired Tevos as she put her hands behind her back as she turned her mind to back to current situation.

"We are just getting started but no problems yet." reported Bailey "Since we have reports about how these colonials reacted to Commander Shepard we are taking extra steps to keep everyone safe."

"How so?" inquired Tevos as Bailey pointed toward another outpost across from them only instead of having standing C-Sec officer there lying on the ground were two members armed with sniper rifles.

"I have six different sniper teams keeping an eye out and I have ordered all patrols to happen in groups of four and no officer is to discuss religion." Explained Bailey "Best to avoid that subject."

"Good, how are we on food and other issues?" asked Tevos

"We are good, we had a lot of practice during the war so we have the protocols in place to handle things down here but if I may ask what is the plan in the long run for these people?" asked Bailey "I mean they can't stay here forever."

"That is for the System Alliance to decide but from what I heard the Earth Nation of European Union wants them in the state of Greece." Explained Tevos as Bailey nodded his head.

"Makes sense they are speaking Greek and it is the historical homeland of their religion." Added Bailey "But the religion will still be a problem."

"In time they will be assimilated by the rest of your race." Explained Tevos

Back on New Caprica Ellen Tigh along with Galen Tyrol stood in a small room deep within the heart of the Cylons detention center surrounded on all sides by centurions even though they were inside the room.

"Well this is fraken nice." grumbled Ellen as glared at the centurions who kept a constant watch over the two of them. "Can you believe that fraken stupid reason why they brought us here?"

"No." answered Galen as he sat on a small bench located near the center of the room. "There is no way we are Cylons, I have a kid."

"But Athena has a kid so can you Galen." explained a new voice as Galen turned to see his old lover Boomer standing in the doorway. For a moment all eyes were on her as she walked into the room. "First I would like to say how sorry I am for this but you are at great risk. With the lost of the Resurrection Hub you could die and we would lose all chance of ever getting resurrection technology back."

"Alright let's say this crazy idea is true, how would we give you this technology I can't even figure out how a plot an FTL jump?" asked Ellen

"According to Cavil you five where from Earth but not the Earth that the System Alliance is from. You rediscovered resurrection technology before the destruction of that Earth in a nuclear holocaust." explained Boomer "From there your journey to the 12 tribes took thousands of years at slower than light travel, you arrived near the end of the 1st war. It was then that the deal was made."

"What deal?" asked Galen

"In return for resurrection technology and creating humanoid Cylons we would end the war with humanity." Answered Boomer "You then went on to design every model of Cylon you know now."

"I don't believe a word of this." Snapped Galen as Boomer smiled a bit. "What?"

"Well from what we now know you based my body off your former fiancée who died in a car wreck before the holocaust that claimed your world." Explained Boomer "It explains why we were together on Galactica. Cavil is based on Ellen's father, Six off Ellen's younger sister and so on. Only Cavil knew all this before now."

"Ok now I know you are crazy because Cavil forced me to sleep with him to keep my husband alive." Asked Ellen as Galen's eyes widened at the news.

"Because Cavil is a sick son of a fraker." answered Boomer as Ellen and Galen nodded their heads in agreement. "But you will remember it all soon, the Colony is supposed to arrive soon and then you will be transferred up to the ship."

"And then what happens?" inquired Ellen

"Then using an old style of wired resurrection we will transfer your to the waiting bodies in the Colony and you will remember everything." answered Boomer as a three walked in.

"The Colony has arrived." Reported the three "It's time to go."

Well I happy New Years and now until next time I hope you keep on reading. Thanks Wilkins75.