Mass Effect Shepard Rises.

Ambassador Udina sat on his leather chair inside his private apartment a smug smile on his face as his terminal in front of him waited to connect to a very important person. The screen turned from a flashing hour glass to a dark room with a red and blue star in the back ground, a man cast in shadows on the screen a cigar in his left hand and a whisky glass in his right.

"Ambassador Udina I am the illusive man, I believe you have been contacted by an associate of mine a Miranda Lawson."

Udina studied the man on screen but couldn't see much aside from his unnatural glowing blue eyes "Yes and as I told Miranda, you can count on me working for Cerberus but what do I get out of this arrangement?" he sat back and smiled smugly at the illusive man's image. He watched as the man raised his cigar and took a long drag before he spoke.

"I will give you whatever funding you need, once we agree on a sum you will put Cerberus's goals ahead of the alliances."

Udina smiled and he leaned forward resting his elbows on his table "I want you to deposit 20 million credits into my private account every four months, only then will I agree to your terms." He studied the image for any signs of deceit while he held his breath, while waiting for the illusive man's reply.

"Agreed the first deposit will be made within the hour, now you're first goal is to get Commander Shepard under my direct control."

Udina laughed at the image "I have locked down the Normandy and grounded the commander, only I can override the lock down so it should be a simple matter of searching his records for something to use against him." He watched as the image nodded and took a sip from his whisky.

"Do it I'm sure your office has the access required to see to it?"

"Indeed it does illusive man now if you excuse me I better get to it." He watched as the image nodded and the connection was cut now alone Udina called for a cab and waited for it to arrive.

SSV Normandy.

Shepard entered the Normandy fuming at Udina and the council for what they have done, as he walked through the CIC his body trembled with biotic power he struggled to get his anger under control and as soon as he made it to his locker outside the med bay he slammed a biotic powered fist onto the bulkhead denting it, he collapsed onto his knees as his biotic power flowed through him objects around him either got crushed or started to shake.

Behind him he heard a gasp and turned slightly to see Tali walking towards him on shaky legs.

"Please calm down Shepard."

He nodded and took a shaky breath as he felt Tali's slim slender arms wrap around his neck and her head rested on his shoulder, the biotic power around him fell away and he took a shaky breath "I-I'm fine thanks." He fell back onto Tali's body "I have failed all of you." He said in a whisper.

"John you haven't failed anyone, it's the council's fault they are not taking the threat seriously you have done more than enough."

He sighed and shook his head "there must have been something I could of done differently anything at all." His hands balled into fists as he thought of Ashley and her sacrifice was she happy in the end or did she blame him, tears of frustration welled in his eyes "I can't do anything and because of that I failed Ashley just like I failed all the lives that will be lost if I don't stop Saren."

He felt Tali shift until she was in front of him looking into his eyes "listen to me john because I'm only going to say this once, stop this the lives of those lost are not on your conscious but the council's you have done everything expected of you and more, I will hear no more of this self-loathing." He lowered his eyes from hers as tears slid down his face, he felt a hand under his chin as it lifted his head to meet Tali's two glowing eyes.

He smiled at her and nodded "I love you Tali." He said and placed his head on her mask.

"I love you too John."

"I FOUND THEM." A voice shouted as Liara ran out the med bay and flushed seeing the position Tali and Shepard were in "oh excuse me Shepard may I have a word." Both Tali and Shepard nodded and quickly jumped apart from each other.

"What is it Liara?" Shepard asked as he walked towards her clasping his hands behind his back as he stopped in front of her.

"After searching through my old research and using the memory from our meld, I have found out were the conduit is."

Shepard watched Liara for a minute seeing that she didn't continue he finally spoke "Well?" he asked in annoyance.

"Ilos Saren is going to Ilos, its deep in the terminus systems we will need the council help to get there though."

Shepard looked to the floor for a minute before his eyes found Liara's again and he spoke in a cold voice "the council won't be helping us." He watched as Liara absorb the information then nodded.

"Then we must get there as soon as possible."

Shepard shook his head and balled his hands into fists again before he felt a three fingered hand pry open his hand, so he took a deep breath "We can't the Normandy is in lock down, there is nothing I can do even my SPECTRE status has been suspended."

"Then Saren has won." Liara said sadly and turned on her heel and walk back into the med bay.

Shepard watched Liara go and stood outside the closed med bay doors and then turned to Tali and walked towards Tali and held her around her waist as he placed his head against her helmet "Come on let's get some rest."

Citadel.

Captain Anderson was pissed not only had Udina sold Shepard out but also blocked Anderson's Omni-tool and clearance, so he couldn't get to the Normandy or Shepard by himself so using his contacts with the volus Barlon Von he arranged for the volus to send a message to Shepard using a code name only known between the two of them to meet him in Flux night club.

But of course it wasn't as easy as that Saren had agents hidden every were that attacked him no matter where he went so he was reduced to finding hidden and forgotten routes to Flux night club just like at the minute as he crawled through an air ducted that should hopefully bring him out by Dr Michelle's clinic.

"I'm getting too old for this shit." He muttered to himself as a small keeper crawled past him paying him no mind at all


hope you all had a good Christmas sorry I didn't update before Christmas but last minute shopping stopped me anyway please review and don't be afraid to message me shout outs to Kill-phil and not forgetting blueSpartan107.