"A doubtful friend is worse than a certain enemy. Let a man be one thing or the other, and we then know how to meet him."

Aesop, Aesop's Fables


Doubt


No matter how far humanity goes, the ego is still the ego. Not every male likes to serve under a female... no pun intended.

And Javik was probably right to call them primitives. She had to show him her strength to earn Zaeed's respect. That day, Shepard broke his nose, three of his ribs, and his left arm in hand-to-hand sparring.

Ever since, he learned a priceless lesson: do not underestimate the Shepard girl again.

And the first time he laid his eyes on Butterfly, he knew she was another Shepard. She looked very similar to the Commander and although she was surrounded by fully armed mercenaries, she still had the eyes that said,touch me and you'll be fucking dead.

She only tilted her eyebrow when her daddy said he would surrender.

"Are you kidding me?"

Kaidan nodded. "I don't want to risk your life."

"Wise decision," a woman in light armor praised him. She gestured her men to lower their guns. However, her voice sounded creepier when she ordered. "Bind their hands."

"Dad..." The girl was growling now. "If mommy knows..."

"Everything will be alright." The Major touched the tip of his nose. "It will be like in your favorite tale."

Butterfly blinked, suddenly realizing. "Oh, right! It's going to be ok."

Two mercenaries walked towards them. But as soon as they laid their hands on her, she threw the guy to the floor and shot him with his own gun that she snatched from him. The Major had done the same. He also threw reave at a man who tried to shoot them.

"I'd surrender if we were unarmed. But we're biotics. We're never unarmed." Kaidan winked at the angry woman.

"Shit! Put them down, idiots. Use a tranquilizer." The woman cursed and then ran to the waiting shuttle.

Not so brave, that woman. Zaeed thought. He hated this kind of people.

Butterfly activated her annihilation field. It burned everyone near her except her dad. When she shot them with throw, it caused a biotic explosion. In the small area, that created a chaos.

Unknown by the father and child, Zaeed and his friend were hiding in the far range. The man aimed his sniper at the girl but Zaeed shot him down. "Sorry, but I won't let anyone hurt the Shepards."

Kaidan and Butterfly fought fiercely, but there were too many enemies. Zaeed shot those snipers down as the two were taking care of mercenaries in close combat. Once, Butterfly punched a guy and shot her biotics from her fist at the same time, which sent the target flying away like a ragged doll.

"Wow, you can do that better than your mom!" The Major praised.

"Thanks, daddy. But I have a bad feeling..." She shot dark energy at the last enemy. It killed him almost instantly. "I can feel. Mommy is in danger."

Kaidan didn't have time to ask. A man in armor walked towards them, still handing a rifle. The big scar on his face was threatening but he didn't look hostile. In fact, he seemed very relaxed like a lion in its territory. The older man puffed smoke off his mouth, causing Butterfly to sneeze. He threw it away.

"I remember you, Shepard's pretty boy." He pointed.

When the guy dropped Shepard's name, Kaidan lower his gun but still flared his biotics. "Who are you?"

"Zaeed Massani. I worked with Shepard during the suicide mission." He didn't offer a handshake, though. "Who's that girl?"

Kaidan Alenko didn't trust easily. "How can I know you aren't an enemy?"

Unlike others, Zaeed understood Kaidan's trust issue. He had the same problem since his old friend shot him in the face. "Shepard can answer it."

"Right. I'll call Shepard."

But before he could do that, Joker was on the line. "Emergency, Kaidan. Shepard needs backup."

"What... What's happened?" He didn't hear the shooting or fighting in the background, so Joker must have been in a safe place. "Aren't you two at the Sushi bar? Shepard needs help ordering her dinner or something?"

"It isn't funny." He could see Joker's eyes roll. "There are these guys. They have a lot of guns and they started shooting. And yeah, Shepard used me as bait!"

"Easy, Joker. Calm down and tell me what happened."

"I... Ok. Shepard and I were at the bar when a staff analyst named Brooks came to see us. She said something about someone trying to steal Shepard's personal data. That's when those guys marched into the bar and started shooting."

"Damn! What about Shepard? Is she with you now?" The mercenaries in the bar were probably involved with the men who attacked him and Butterfly. Someone was targeting his family, Kaidan couldn't stand it.

"She helped me escape so I can call you and the others. Liara probably already knows about it, though."

Can't Amala spend shore leave like other marines? He wondered. "It's time for us to save the day, then. Do you know where she is?"

"I tried to locate her but the channel is blocked. I'll call Brooks. She might know something."

Butterfly grabbed her father's arm. "I know where mommy is."

That sounded impossible. But Kaidan knew his daughter too well to doubt in her words or ability. "Alright. We'll go rescue her together. But first, we need weapons and armor."

"The Normandy is there." Zaeed pointed helpfully. "I bet you guys can find everything you need there."

For a minute, the Major debated with himself if he should trust Zaeed. In the end, he decided to take a risk.

"Will you come with us?"

The older man stared at them as if he didn't believe his ears. Eventually, he smiled. "Why not? I have nothing to do anyway."


"And then we went to the Normandy. They grabbed their guns and armor before taking off to find Shepard. I don't know how, but the Angel really knew where she was. We made it to the skycar lot just in time to save our Commander's ass."

Zaeed cleared his throat. Traynor hurriedly poured him another drink. He murmured thanks to her.

"When I saw that shuttle arrive, my gut warned me that we couldn't just leave so easily. So I jumped behind cover before those mercs began shooting. I didn't get shot." The old man bragged.

"And you hid behind cover when I showed up. Krogan airdrop on that shuttle and then got rid of those bastards, with my bare hands." Wrex boasted.

"You have talons. Your hands are also weapons." James protested. "But I'd like to see a krogan airdrop. It must be awesome."

The krogan laughed. He never got bored listening to compliments. "Of course it was. I did it."

"But you would have had a bad time if I hadn't driven the Kodiak to pick you guys up." Protested Joker. "I made my way, avoided the lockdown, and saved you. I think I am the one who saved the day."

"Um, but I still wonder. Why there was no news about the shooting in the sushi bar in the news channels or extranet?" Before the guys began fighting, Traynor changed the subject.

"Don't know. Someone covered it up, perhaps." Wrex guessed.

"The council probably wants to keep it as quiet as possible. People won't trust the Citadel is safe if there are people with guns walking around, shooting the innocent." The ex C-Sec officer huffed. "And C-Sec has to do their dirty job."

"Does that mean we have to take care of this thief by ourselves? Not that I'm complaining. Just curious." James still worried. He didn't mind fighting but he knew Butterfly would go with them if it was the case. If he could help it, he didn't want to drag her to the fight.

"I'm afraid so. Commander Shepard doesn't want to push more people in danger. Anyway, I can't help with that..." Traynor said, but she didn't finish her sentence because the team made it back safety with Khan's computer.

And then, another mission began.


"You have to be kidding." James exclaimed as he saw their destination.

As EDI hacked the door and everyone kept their eyes on her, Shepard took a deep breath. James was right. The Archives was massive for a place that kept the council's important information. They sealed the place from people, only high-ranking officers were allowed to enter. Although it kept her data as a Spectre, she had never set foot in the place or even know about it.

But EDI found her nemesis' trace there. The thief and the gang were locked down by the Archives' security system. It was her best and only chance to end the problem once and for all.

Would it be that easy? She wasn't sure.

A hand touched her arm. Shepard looked up to see Butterfly smiling at her. The Commander didn't want to bring her daughter with her, but she didn't have many choices. Besides, the girl insisted to come along.

Smiling back, Shepard touched Butterfly's forehead with hers. She always did this with Kaidan before a mission. It was like a ritual and her way to say; 'I love you' and 'be careful'.

"We will order the biggest pizza for dinner tonight." Somehow her heart felt heavy, but she tried to reassure the girl. "Everyone will have dinner with us. A party."

"We will, mom... Commander." Butterfly corrected herself. In the mission, she had to call Shepard by rank. It was their agreement.

"Good." Something caught in her throat, she couldn't say more.

The security system couldn't match EDI's magic. Not waiting long, the door was opened. Shepard gave her crew a speech one last time before the mission.

Most of her crew except Traynor who was called back to the Normandy and Joker who wasn't in condition to fight was there, waiting for her order.

"Alright. We will spilt to two teams. Kaidan, B, James, Brooks, Cortez and Zaeed will be Mako team. The rest come with me. We're Kodiak team." The Commander gave the order. She knew the Major would look after their daughter.

Butterfly opened her mouth to protest, but James gave her a side glare, reminding her to act like an adult. So she just nodded. "Aye, ma'am."

The Kodiak team moved first. The other team followed and watched their rear. All the time, the Major couldn't help but look after his daughter. After all, he was a father, and as a father he didn't want his daughter to get hurt.

And that's why he was distracted when it began.

The Mako team was on the balcony as the Kodiak team walked under it. Butterfly looked through her sniper scope and saw the movement ahead, so Shepard and squad went to investigate.

And then... BOOM!

The ceiling over Shepard's head collapsed by the explosive. It happened so fast. Kaidan almost didn't have time to react as Butterfly tried to climb above the fence. Involuntarily, the girl tried to jump down but James pulled her back.

"Let's go of me! I have to help her." Crying, Butterfly struggled hard.

"Are you crazy? You will get hurt or even kill yourself if you jump down from this height." The lieutenant shouted.

She knew he was right. It wasn't easy to accept. Butterfly was trembling all over as she cried. "But... But mommy..."

"You're Commander Shepard's daughter?" Brooks exclaimed, staring at the Major as if she was asking the question.

But Kaidan didn't care. He just waved the staff analyst off to fiddle with his Omni-tool. "Amala, do you read me? God, don't you dare leave us."

They heard only silence for awhile. But finally Kaidan's tool glowed as it received the response.

"I read you. I'm fine. Everyone is fine. Just a few bruises and scratches." Shepard answered the call. Her breathing sounded heavy. She probably sprint as fast as she able to escape the collapse.

Mako team let out a breath they didn't realize they were holding. Butterfly sobbed quietly and placed her face on James' chest. Her father saw it but let it slip for once.

"But it seems you have to find another way to get inside." That suggestion attracted his attention. Shepard sent him a plan of the building. "According to this plan, you can crawl through the vent. It's a bit complicated but Glyph can guide you. I'll send him to you right now."

"I have to go through a vent again?" Brooks complained, but she sounded desperate.

"Well, that's good, we are all slim." Cortez shrugged.


Glyph was a great assistant when you needed to manage a lot of information or analyze them, but he was almost useless guiding people. The bot knew the way, of course. But he often led them the way that only a bot was able to pass. It took long time until Mako team got out of the vent.

As soon as they reached the exit, Glyph suddenly disappeared, despite James' call.

They didn't contact the other team when they were in the vent, so they were surprised by the disaster in the Archives.

There was a trace of another explosion. The floor and wall were burned although the auto fire-extinguisher put the fire out. Around the area, there were a lot of bodies. All of them wore CAT6 armors. No trace of the Kodiak team.

"Shepard did it, perhaps?" Zaeed didn't sound so sure though.

Brooks looked around, still jumpy. "Where is the Commander? I won't assume anything until we find her."

Ignoring the comments, Kaidan tried to call Shepard via her tool but received no response. The signal was blocked.

"Alright. Let's find her and the others. Start looking around here. If she isn't here, we will move further along." He ordered and everyone followed.

As everyone separated, the Major called his daughter. "Can you locate her, Princess?"

Butterfly closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "It's... clouded. Mommy isn't feeling so well. She is trapped."

"Where is she?"

"She is..." Her words were cut by Brooks yelling.

"Found her. I found the Commander!"

And then they sprinted to Brooks, forgetting about what they were talking about. They saw Brooks sitting near an unconscious Shepard. Kaidan hurried to check on her, worrying. He found a fatal wound on her head.

Her light skin was pale in comparison with the crimson blood on her face and body. Every inch of her skin that wasn't protected by armor was cut by shattered glass. She had lost too much blood.

"We have to get her to the hospital." The Major's voice cracked. This was too much for a field medic to heal. He was scared he might lose her again.

"But what about the others? We still haven't found them." Cortez asked.

"Butterfly and I will take her to the hospital. You guys stay here, search for them. According to the plan of the Archives, there's another way out. We'll go that way and call Joker. The signal outside probably isn't blocked." Kaidan gave the plan to everyone. "Two hours. If you guys don't find them in two hours, inform me. I'll call Bailey for help. C-Sec is better in searching than fighting."

"Wait, can I come along?" Brooks raised her hand.

"No." Butterfly refused harshly.

As the family rushed to the exit, they didn't hear Brooks murmur angrily. "Good luck with your new mommy."


Although Thane loved silence and peace, it didn't mean he didn't appreciate visitors, especially a visitor like the justicar Samara. Before marching to war, the asari spent time taking care of unfinished businesses. As a friend, she paid him a visit.

It was a strange visitation, really. They barely talked, just sat in silence and observed the sky.

Until another guest arrived.

"Thane, can I talk..." A girl in armor walked into the room. However, she stopped as she saw the justicar. "Sorry. I didn't see you have a guest. I'll come back later."

"It is alright, Atma." Thane said. "This is Samara. She was with Commander Shepard during the mission to stop the Collectors."

"Mommy's friend? Oh, sorry I didn't introduce myself. People call me Butterfly." She offered her hand.

As she shook the hand, Samara stared at the girl intently. "My name is Samara. I can see the resemblance. You look very much like Shepard. But your eyes remind me of someone else... The man I saw at the monastery."

"That's my dad, Major Alenko. Everyone says I got his eyes and smile." Butterfly said proudly. Her mood seemed lighter.

"You are the fruit of true love, I can tell. I am also able to say you are having a problem and seeking advise. Very wise asking it from a wise man." Praised the asari.

"How did you know?" The change of subject made her feel uncomfortable. Her hands entwined together.

Chuckling softly, the justicar gently pulled her to sit down on the chair nearby. "Even for asari standard, I am very old. I know a lot of young people like you."

Butterfly didn't look so sure. She stared at the drell as if she was asking him.

"Siha trust her. You can trust her as well." Thane assured.

Still, the girl hesitated. But eventually, she talked. "Yes, I'm having a problem. My... Commander Shepard got hurt during a mission. She is alright now. But I... It's absurd, I know. She has the same face, voice, handprint, and DNA. She has everything my mom has but the memory... But I can feel it."

Both Thane and Samara were very patient. They waited quietly for the human to speak her mind.

"She isn't my mom."


Thank for reading and thank to The Lonely Traveler for beta. :D