When Lanaya had been passed into her arms by Jack, Jane felt like they had been reunited. She remembered the day she gave birth to her with clarity, the shock, surprise, terror and fear all mingled to the back of her mind, at the forefront shinning most brightly was adoration, love and a fierce need to protect her child. She'd held her for only a few moments before she'd been torn away and then for months she'd thought she was an orphan, deep down she still had felt the protective motherly urge.
"She's beautiful isn't she?" Jane whispered looking up to Jack with a beaming smile. The knowledge that Jack had been the primary caregiver when she or Garrus had been out on missions, had surprised her now she had her full memory back, whereas before it seemed natural to Jane without her lack of memory to supply her previous experience of Jack. Seeing Jack holding Lanaya seemed right somehow, and Jane felt it was truly the next safest place save her or Garrus.
"She is. Looks a lot like her dad though." Jack barked out a harsh laugh and Jane snickered with her. Garrus was standing behind where she sat on the couch in the starboard observation deck, leaning over her on his forearms on the back of the sofa.
"You say that like it's a bad thing Jack. I'm considered a catch among Turian…and a certain Human." He whispered the end quietly and Jane looked up with a knowing smile. He nuzzled her hair and Jane sighed in contentment, despite everything going on around them she'd never felt this whole. The Reapers were gone and she had a family with the man she loved, her friends had made it through and the ones who hadn't would be remembered. Garrus looked happier than she'd ever seen him, he's mandibles spread so wide with a grin she thought they'd fall off.
"That you are big guy." Jane breathed and sent him a wink before looking back down at Lanaya.
"Shepard, Miss Lawson has looked through the files thoroughly from Doctor Ettlemens Lab. She believes she has information that might be of interest." EDI interrupted their small perfect moment and Jane groaned loudly causing Lanaya to wake up startled, cue crying.
"Oh crap! Uh, Jack!?" Jane called urgently and Jack rolled her eyes before taking Lanaya back and allowing Jane to quickly retreat to Liara's office where Miranda worked. Garrus had opted for staying with Jack and Lanaya stating he was sure Jane could handle Miranda on her own.
When she entered the room Liara was sat in front of the screens typing away as usual and Miranda was seated behind the desk on the opposite side of the room. They both looked up when Shepard entered and she smiled brightly at Liara before quickly pulling her up and out of her seat into a hug. The woman was a bit shocked by the gesture but returned it with a firm squeeze back,
"Everything okay Jane?" She asked with a little worry and Jane pulled back to look on her friends face,
"Yes! Nothing could be better! Have you not read the brief from the last mission?" Jane queried and Liara looked a little sheepish,
"Truth be told no, I have had a lot of work elsewhere and Miranda has been looking through the files you've brought back with you from Ettlemens lab." She admitted and Jane shook her head with an indulgent smile,
"Look at you Blue, always working. Who'd have known when I released you from that bubble back on Therum you'd turn into the Shadow Broker no less!" Jane uttered quietly, truthfully not knowing whether Miranda knew about Liara's work or not.
Liara's eyes widened with a gasp as she grabbed Janes shoulders, "you remember!" She exclaimed and Jane nodded eagerly.
"Yep! Near death experience kicked my brain into gear!" Jane announced and Liara chuckled with a fond smile,
"Off course that's what you needed. Why am I not surprised?" Liara asked rhetorically and Jane laughed. When she took a step away from Liara she saw Miranda looking on with a happy but withheld look,
"I'm glad Shepard. That excellent news." She dragged out with a tight lipped smile and Jane sighed heavily before dragging the chair on the opposite side of her desk round to Miranda's. Sitting down gracefully she braced her elbows onto her knees and tented her fingers analysing Miranda above them. Miranda turned in her chair to face her but leaned away unsure,
"Miranda I owe you an apology of sorts" Jane began and Miranda snorted,
"Of sorts-" she started to retort but Jane shot her a withering glare,
"Yes. Of sorts. I didn't have my memory so I can't be held fully accountable for my actions when I wasn't fully aware of the whole story behind my reconstruction back with Project Lazarus." Jane said firmly but then took a deep breath to carry on, "However, that being said. I had every right to know you'd used alien genetic makeup in my rebuild. What you did, withholding information from me…important information jeopardised the entire Reaper war." Janes voice turned incredibly stern and Miranda looked beyond furious which Jane catered for by not losing her own cool,
"No one else good enough to fill your shoes Shepard?" Miranda snapped and Jane smirked at her in a smug fashion,
"Clearly not, otherwise the Illusive man wouldn't have paid to bring me back, and I don't know about you but did you see many others wanting to be in my shoes during the war?" Jane asked and Miranda opened her mouth to argue back but found no words so closed it again rather lamely. "Miranda I don't want you to see my anger at you as something so finale, I need you to understand that so long as this doesn't happen again we won't ever have an issue. I don't know about you but I'm not planning on another Reaper war." Jane smiled earnestly towards the end and Miranda returned it albeit a bit reluctant to form.
"Oh lord I hope not. And, for what it's worth I'm sorry I didn't tell you. In hindsight had I known you'd end up with Garrus I would have mentioned something." Miranda confessed and Liara put her two pence in,
"You mean you couldn't see it? Garrus has been making eyes at Shepard since the Normandy SR-1." Liara uttered and Jane went a little wide eyed,
"Really!? But Kaidan and I, we kinda had something going on then." Jane mumbled a little too flattered by Liara's revelation,
"Oh, yes even with that going on. Don't think he fully understood it himself to be honest. He's from a very Turianfamily, basically blue blood as Humans would call it and a Human bondmate would have been unacceptable for him." Liara explained and Jane pursed her lips in thought, that would explain why she'd never met the Vakarian family.
"So when do you think he knew he had feelings?" Jane asked curiously, her serious conversation with Miranda forgotten as she tried to peer inside the mind of her other half.
"After you died," Liara sighed sadly "when I saw him at your funeral after the collectors destroyed the SR-1 he, he'd changed and then he dropped off the face of the galaxy a few months later." Liara's tone was somber and Jane frowned at the truth, she'd known her death had harmed others and she would have done anything to takeaway the pain from her loved ones.
"Oh, Um, I didn't know." Jane spoke softly as if to herself. Her mind went to the heartache he must have been in realising his feelings but only after her death, pushing the thought away and vowing herself to speak to him later she turned back to Miranda. "EDI said you found something interesting among Ettlemens files?" Jane asked back to business. Miranda turned back to the console on her desk and let her fingers fly over the keyboard,
"Yes, after he purged his laboratory the remaining subjects perished, I'm happy to inform you as far as I'm aware you are now the only Shepard left in the galaxy. Save maybe Lanaya?" Miranda's statement saddened Jane momentarily because of the unnecessary loss of life but then she quirked her eyebrows up in intrigue,
"You know I've never given her a last name, guess that's a conversation for Garrus and I." Jane answered honestly and Miranda shrugged all the same.
"Well regardless of that tidbit of information. He erased all the date off the computers, but he forgot the travel manifest and it last automatically updated around the time he would have vacated the estate." Miranda explained and Jane smiled deviously at the raven haired woman.
"You beautiful woman. Where's he going?" Jane asked eagerly and Miranda gave a rare chuckle,
"He's heading to Omega of all places, probably would have thought it would have been the last place you'd see him." Miranda swivelled back round with a proud smile and Jane happily thumped her on the shoulder as she stood,
"Good work Lawson, Joker!" Shepard called as she marched towards the doors, "set course for Omega."
"Oh…yay!" Joker called back sarcastically. Before she left Liara's room Jane paused at the door and turned back to both ladies, quirking up an eyebrow she gave them a crooked smile,
"So, when you going to announce the little thing you two have got going on here?" Jane asked as she used her index finger to point between the both of them. Miranda blushed but smiled knowingly at Liara who just turned a dark shade of blue.
"Shepard, we are, well-" Liara stuttered awkwardly and Jane laughed heartedly,
"Oh please? Sharing an office!? I don't think I've ever seen Miranda leave your quarters." With a satisfied look at their dumbfounded expressions Jane finally left the room.
Heading for lift she pressed the button for the CIC and Joker came over the comm again.
"Uh Shepard you have Admiral Hackett on the line for you." He informed her and Jane smiled actually genuinely pleased to be able to see the man, Anderson's loss had never truly healed, not that she'd been given the chance to let it and this felt like a pleasant form of nostalgia.
Entering the war room she went to the communications console and accepted the call. Hackett appeared as usual dressed in his dress blues and Shepard saluted which he returned eagerly,
"Damned good to see you sir." She stated her voice feeling a little tight with emotion. Hackett was silent for a moment before his posture relaxed,
"Same to you Admiral, I can't believe you're actually alive. When Lawson and T'soni told me about you, I had to do all I could to get you back. You were there for us when we needed you Shepard, it was time for us to return the favour." He announced and Shepard nodded firmly feeling overwhelming pride, then shocked at what he'd called her.
"Admiral?" She questioned her brows furrowing in confusion, Hackett merely smiled at her,
"Yes, when you died we tried to honour you in what way we could, you're now an Admiral, Shepard." He confirmed for her and she let out a huff of air bracing against the bar of the comm table.
"But I- what?" She said lamely and he chuckled,
"Shepard it's the least we could do, you saved all our asses. Plus it's more a formality that anything. You don't have to do the actual job." He reassured and Shepard sucked in a breath she didn't know she'd been holding and went straight away from the topic.
"We all worked together and defeated the Reapers. It wasn't just me." She corrected with a shake of her head, falling into parade rest.
"Shepard, you and only you were capable of bringing the galaxy together. You reached the beacon and you used the crucible." He reaffirmed and jutted his finger at her with each point. Jane looked to the ground in a mix of emotions,
"Anderson?" She breathed out finally and her jaw clenched painfully hard to stop tears. Hackett breathed in deeply before expelling a gust of air,
"I'm sorry Shepard, Anderson didn't make it." Hackett said sombrely. She already knew that she just needed to hear it from someone official. "We buried him by your grave back on earth, there's a memorial for you both back in Vancouver." His words felt hollow but she nodded all the same, perhaps she would visit someday when this was all over. "He left you a video message. I'll forward it to your personal email." That surprised her but she stayed silent still not really knowing what to say in her grief. Hackett allowed her a few moments before breaking the quiet. "Lawson sent me the the updates on the mission a few hours ago, are you certain all the clones are gone?" He asked and Jane nodded, she could do work just not emotions.
"As far as we're aware yes, Ettlemen fled to Omega and we're on his tail. They'll be a bullet between his eyes within the fortnight." Jane promised with a grim smile and he huffed out a raspy chuckle.
"Good. I wish I could be of more used to you Shepard God knows you more than anyone deserve a rest. I'm speaking to the Admiralty board end of this week, excluding you of course. We're thinking of doing something to show you our appreciation for your continued efforts to keep the galaxy safe. It's about time you get your due." He said firmly and before she could question him further, "Hackett out." And he hung up leaving her a little dazed and irritated.
"Rude." She snorted but then smiled despite herself, she'd missed the man. She went to leave but Joker piped up again.
"Shepard the council are on the line…please don't shoot the messenger." He said hurriedly and Jane cursed loudly before turning back to the communications terminal. Her relationship with the council had been fickle to say the least, she'd never liked them they'd always ignored her warnings and brushed her under the carpet. Still she accepted the in coming call regardless.
All three of them appeared and Jane momentarily groaned inwardly at the fact the Reaper war hadn't at least killed off Sparatus.
"Commander Shepard-"
"Admiral now actually." Jane corrected Tevos a little too quickly, she hated the title she'd been bestowed upon her death but she would dam well use it for her advantage. The councillors looked perplexed but quickly recovered,
"Well Admiral, we received news from one of our agents on Bekenstein that they saw you. We didn't believe the report till we contacted The Alliance and Admiral Hackett filled us in." Tevos informed Jane who folded her arms over her chest and took a wide stance.
"Why didn't you inform us right away Shepard? We've thought you dead for over a year?" The Salarian councillor Valern chimed in a Shepard sent him a scathing glare.
"I didn't inform you right away Councillors because I have been a hostage for over a year and had the majority of my memory suppressed. I'll get the reports of my capture and subsequent new assignment to you immediately so you can better understand why contacting you to say 'Hello' wasn't my top priority." Jane snapped and councillor Tevos pinched the bridge of her nose in exasperation, "What I am more curious about is why the hell there isn't a Human Councillor amongst yourselves now?" She demanded and Sparatus held up his hands in appeasement.
"Shepard like you we've had a lot on our plate with reparations-"
"Oh shut it Sparatus. I'm done being polite, I dragged you're asses through Saren, Collectors and finally the Reaper war. Which might I add, you all said wasn't true until you wanted my help!" She snarled and jabbed a finger in their direction "Humanity have done enough for this council and for the dammed galaxy! So you make this right, this is you're priority now." She commanded using the tone she'd use on her subordinates. Maybe dying twice finally gave her the 'I don't give a fuck' attitude she'd always aspired for.
They fell silent and looked at one another before Tevos nodded their acquisition. "Very well Shepard, you have a point. Though you could have said it more eloquently." The Asari breathed and Jane snorted in annoyance.
"Good, I look forward to meeting the new Human councillor." Jane uttered truthfully, relaxing her stance and letting her arms fall to her sides.
"Shepard I know our relationship hasn't been the smoothest, but we are grateful for all you have done for the galaxy and for us." Sparatus surprised her and she bowed her head in acknowledgement,
"Thank you councillor, I'll look forward to our next meeting." She said pleasantly but before Tevos could end the call Jane held up her hand to pause the action. "Oh, and I've just always wanted to say but the moment never felt right till now." Jane stopped and breathed in a calming breath before flashing an inappropriate grin. "I told you so." Then she hung up the call but not before she heard the telltale laugh of a Turian councillor and that truly did leave her dumbstruck.
"Commander that was awesome! I have never been this happy in my entire life!" Joker dramatised over the comm and Shepard laughed feeling euphoric from the sudden rebellious streak.
"Please say you recorded that!?" Jane pleaded and EDI popped into the conversation.
"Jeff advised that it would be wise to do so, argued it would boost morale." EDI uttered and Jane chuckled again. She quickly jogged out of the room and put the serious conversations with elite figureheads out of her mind, opting to enjoy a little time with her favourite pilot. Truth be told she wanted to spend sometime with Garrus but she hadn't properly reacquainted with her old crew since she came back, what with memory loss stunting reunions.
So now she found herself in the cockpit with Joker swirling round to beam a smile at her. She quickly ducked and stole his hat before seating it firmly on her head and leaning on her hip against the controls.
"There she is.." joker spoke softly and quirked a smile warmly at her, "glad to have you back Commander, or well FULLY back…before you weren't all here really." Joker explained badly and Jane shook her head in amusement and took pity.
"I get it Joker. And it's good to be back." She then looked to EDI with a wink "and I'm more than pleased to see your co-pilot still around!" She remarked and it was the truth. She was elated when Garrus had informed her back in Bekenstein that Tali had fixed EDI on their months stuck on Zorya. The Geth were still in progress but that too looked promising.
"I am glad to be around, and not only as Jeff would say, as 'eye candy.' But as a key member of your crew and…friend." She stated factually with amusement and Jane snorted out a laugh.
"You call her 'eye candy'? Joker that could be classed as sexual harassment?" Jane warned and Joker looked at EDI a little sheepishly,
"But she's not, strictly…well female." He excused and scratched the back of his neck. EDI actually shot him a glare which humoured Shepard.
"I may not biologically be a female, but the dimensions of this body are that of a Human female. The voice given to me by Cerberus also hold certain female characteristics. I also have never heard you complain about my outwards appearance before. In fact based on past experiences I would say the evidence points towards you-"
Jane cleared her throat loudly to stop EDI's words going any further, saving both her and Joker from the awkwardness of something too private being shared.
"And with that I think I'll take my leave. What's our ETA on Omega?" She asked Joker tossing his hat back to him which he quickly put back where it belonged.
"Um, 15 hours." He answered and she nodded. "Hey maybe when we're there we can drop off Kai Leng, or air lock him…either or for me." Joker jested and Jane paused in her steps turning round to look at him with a frown,
"So Kai Leng is on board? my mind didn't make that bit up?" Jane questioned incredulously and Joker shook his head slowly looking a little bemused,
"No, you've been taking him out on missions and everything-" before he could finish Jane interrupted,
"EDI, where is Kai Leng now?" She demanded through clenched teeth,
"He's in the gym Commander." She informed her and Jane darted off in a quick run.
Joker turned to EDI, "maybe get Garrus-"
"Already informing Officer Vakarian now. Her elevated her rate suggested violence." EDI Monotoned and Joker rubbed his face tiredly.
"Yep, well. She's definitely got her memories back and looks like Kai Leng is in for a world of pain." At the end of his words he let a small satisfied smile crawl across his lips at the thought.
Jane let her feet take her to her destination, her mind too full with anger, deceit, betrayal all these negative emotions fuelling her adrenaline.
Like EDI had said she found him in the gym alone, top off in loose black jog pants, beating the punching bag like he meant to kill it. He spun and let his bare foot hit the bag then lowered his foot to the ground and gave her a bemused look,
"You son of a bitch!" She snarled and darted over to him sending a push of biotics and hurling him into the opposite wall. He immediately righted himself and put up a biotic wall to block her next biotic attack,
"As friendly as ever Jane!" He yelled back as she wordlessly shouted and rolled towards him under his own biotic push.
"You abducted me! Drugged me! You took my memories away!" She screamed her anger coursing through her veins was strong and made her less effective. Kai Leng took advantage and pulled her towards him before spinning her around and putting her in a chokehold. Only half aware that people had entered the room,
"I returned your memories of us! How can you hate me for that!" He argued. Jane snorted and sent a sharpe elbow into his gut, the air escaped his lungs and she grabbed his arm around her neck and bent at the waist to send him sprawling over the top of her crashing to the mat. She went to attack but he kicked her leg out from under her meaning to pin her, using her momentum she flipped out of his potential pin and back off him onto her feet. Fist raised ready to fight,
"Our past isn't all I ever was Leng, I was Jane Shepard, Akuze survivor, saviour of the Citadel, Commander Shepard Systems Alliance and the fucking Savour of the galaxy! You took that all away! All my memories of my friends, my loved ones! All for five years worth of memories of us!" She stated darkly with a sadistic chuckle. Leng's lips turned in a feral snarl and he lashed out connecting with an uppercut to her chin. Her lip bust but before she could register he had shoulder barged her to the ground, hands pinned to the side of her head his legs straddled her hips. His face was inches from hers as his brown eyes burned with fury.
"I loved Janey, that's all I ever had in this fucked up world." He tried to excuse and Jane shook her head and licked away the blood on her lip.
"No, you had the Illusive man." She spat and bucked her hips to loosen his hold, flipping them over and pressing her forearm against his neck.
"I betrayed the Illusive man to get you back!" He breathed past her crushing his windpipe, his fingers digging into her forearm.
"You betrayed the Illusive man because you knew he was going to loose! Then you abducted me and then manipulated me! Drugged me! Abused me! Until I was nothing but your obedient little wife!" She yelled and Leng finally yanked her arm free before shoving her bodily off him. They both rose and Jane landed a solid punch onto his nose cracking it with a satisfying crunch. He grunted but did nothing more as they both landed into defensive styles. Both their breaths coming quick and harsh,
"You were happy on Aeia! That was the life we could have had together if you'd never had left me!" Jane had enough and sent a quick combo his way, left hook to the ribs breaking a few, right hook to the jaw to disorientate and then tackled him. As she straddled him she pulled a knife out from her boot and tucked it under his chin. Everything stopped and other than their combined breathing only silence.
Her eyes were hard and her hold on her knife firm as she let him hear her words very clearly,
"I am still Janey. I never stopped being her. But you stopped being the man I knew sixteen years ago." She uttered quietly, as Kai dared not to flinch in case she cut him. "You took me away from the people I loved the most in this world, you removed the memory of the birth of my daughter then you essentially raped me. Even with the memories of us I would have never slept with you knowing what you are now. You disgust me!" She snarled then moved in ever so slightly. Her voice only just above a whisper as her lip dropped blood onto his chin, "if it wasn't for your use in this mission, I'd kill you now. Nothing would give me more pleasure." She emphasised her words by letting the knife slide lightly across a bit of the skin and drawing blood. He hissed and then glowered at her with hate, "You're on borrowed time Kai. That's a promise, not a threat." She slapped his cheek then stood gracefully. She threw the knife flat side down by his head and snorted at him in distaste. Storming off she ignored the onlookers and headed straight to her quarters.
Hey! hope you're enjoying and thanks for ready. Reviews and feedback always welcomed Xx
