There was a certain novelty to this visit. Had things turned out differently Anderson might have had his name engraved here when he died. The Remembrance Hall was where the heroes of the Citadel Council were commemorated, and for some, if the rumours were true, even buried here. To an outsider it might sound grand, but now seeing it for the first time left him rather disappointed. It felt sterile. Dead. Much like its occupants. He could see vases with flowers, but it did little to cover the gloom of the place. It must be depressing, being buried here in cold metal. It was an honourable idea, but one he couldn't back. Personally, he wanted his grave in real dirt. He was a boots on the ground kind of guy, always would be.

Ruby never noticed his discomfort. Seated in her wheelchair, she stared blankly ahead in a near comatose state as she let Anderson push her along. She hadn't said much since aking from her medically induced coma almost two days ago. Losing a friend in combat was never easy, something Anderson understood all too well. It was easy to set your feelings aside during a mission, but as soon as you had a chance to think everything came crashing back to reality. He wasn't sure how deep her relationship with Nihlus went, but they were close, close enough to hurt.

They reached the end of the hall, where the more recent memorials were added, and there stood a hologram of Nihlus, standing tall against the drab backdrop. Anderson parked the wheelchair before it and waited.

Ruby said nothing and stared at the hologram, as if willing the projection to come to life and offer some modicum of comfort.

Anderson longed to say something. Anything. Who knew what was running through her head. Guilt. Anger. None of it was healthy. Though he hated himself for thinking from a tactical standpoint, it was dangerous to let it continue. Survivors guilt was a tricky thing. It made people think irrationally, do dumb things. And Ruby had lost enough friends for it to be a real concern.

They should go, even if it cost him their friendship.

"You were right, you know," Ruby whispered, bowing her head. "I am scared."

It took Anderson a moment to realize she was addressing the hologram. His curiosity peeked, he knelt beside her. "Of what?" he asked cautiously.

Ruby's jaw clenched, realizing she had spoken aloud. "Nothing," she said at last. "Just... talking to ghosts, I guess."

Anderson sighed, gently resting a hand on her shoulder. "Ruby please, I've known you long enough to know when you're avoiding the issue." He nodded toward the memorial. "So did Nihlus."

"Maybe. But it's my problem, not his." She looked over at him. "Or yours."

Now he really was curious, and a little worried to honest. Anderson shrugged. "Sometimes the best thing you can do about a problem is talk about it."

"No."

"Why?"

"Just... no, I can't"

"Why?" Anderson asked. "Orders? Fang?"

She shook her head, voice thick with emotion. "Just stop, Anderson, please. You're not making this any easier. You don't understand-"

"Then help me understand." Her elusiveness was frustrating, but Anderson forced himself to remain calm. He only wanted to help. "You're scared. Why? Is it something that happened? A nightmare, perhaps?"

He immediately felt foolish after the suggestion. Did he really think a nightmare could scare someone like her. Maybe, maybe not. He was just probing for information, trying to prompt her into revealing the issue. So it took him by surprise when she nodded.

"Sort of," she said, her voice choked. "You wouldn't understand."

"Try me."

Ruby looked at him and the shear anguish on her face almost made him abandon the cause. "I want to help you, Ruby. Please, talk to me."

Her face twisted to somewhere halfway between despair and loathing, then settled into a grim mask. She turned away without answering, staring up at the hologram.

"Why don't we start at the beginning," Anderson said, choosing each word with care. "When..."

"Agaus," she said, almost choking on the word.

"Okay." He nodded, processing this new information. He was starting to get somewhere, but now he had to tread carefully. This was crossing over into classified material and he wasn't sure how much he was authorized to know. He thought about it for a moment and decided to screw protocol just this once. Ruby needed support, not regulations. "And what are you afraid of? Something down there?"

A reluctant nod.

"And what-"

"Beautiful day today, isn't it!?" Ruby cried, clapping her hands and putting on the biggest smile she could in a painfully obvious attempt to distract him. She looked around. "Why I could just... uh... g-go for a walk! Yes! Yes. Let go for a walk, Anderson, I uh, I need some... air. Yes, air. Not that there's none here but... uh..."

Anderson kept a firm grip on her shoulder, a sign that he wasn't going anywhere. After a full minute her facade dropped and her mask settled back into place. "I don't want to talk about it, Anderson, please."

"Why?"

"Because you won't believe me. You, everyone, you have idea what I've been through."

"Then help me understand," Anderson said. "I'm only trying to help you, Ruby."

"I don't need your help."

"Really?"

"...Yes."

"Then why are you afraid? Tell me that at least."

The question struck her like a hammer blow. The fight in her eyes vanished as quickly as it had appeared. With a groan she sagged into her chair, silent tears starting to flow down her cheeks. It tore Anderson apart to see her like this and he began to doubt if he was doing the right thing. Was he pushing her too hard?

Probably.

"I killed them."

Ruby was so quiet Anderson barely caught her words. He was smart enough to put together her statement with her earlier admission about Agaus and the revelation sent a chill down his spine. Without a word Anderson wrapped and arm around her shoulders. Words couldn't possibly ease her pain, but maybe the comfort of another human being could.

"You hate me, don't you?"

"What? No!" he shook his head vehemently. "Why on earth would you think that?"

"Because I betrayed them, Anderson," she said in a choked whisper, looking down at the floor. "I told them everything would be alright, and they believed me. They trusted me, that I was going to take care of them." She looked up and Anderson shivered. She bore the same haunted expression he'd seen on Agaus. "And then... I killed them. Put them down like dogs."

Anderson turned away, unable to meet her gaze. He didn't know what to think about that. Suspecting the impossible was one thing, but hearing it from her own lips was something else entirely.

"And do you know what's the worst part?" Ruby moaned. "I got promoted for it. Killing my own men."

"So the Admiralty knew," Anderson noted flatly.

"They did."

They sat in silence for a long minute, neither able, or just unwilling to say anything. Finally, Ruby raised her tear stained face and looked at him. "Well?"

"Well what?" he asked.

"Aren't you going to run?"

Anderson blinked in bewilderment. "I'm sorry?"

Now it was Ruby's turn to be confused. "I'm a monster. I betrayed their trust, the Alliance's, everything I stand for-" She trailed off, shaking her head in despair. When he stayed silent she began to tremble. "Anderson, please say something."

Anderson merely stared at the far wall, very carefully considering his options. If he said something wrong who knew how Ruby would react? But something wasn't making sense. Her story was lining up, but something was off, a critical detail she was leaving out.

"No." He shook his head. "I'm staying right here. But I want to know something. Why?"

"W-why what?"

Anderson sighed. "I'm not blind, Ruby. I've known you your whole life, and I know you would never do something like that. So why? Why did you do it?"

"You'd never believe me if I told you."

"Ruby-"

"I'm serious, David!" she snapped. "You would never believe me! No one would! Even Fang would call me insane."

"Is that why you're afraid then?" Anderson asked.

Ruby hesitated, then nodded reluctantly. "Yes...And I'm afraid it'll happen again. That I'll snap, that I'll break, just like Agaus." She choked. "I'm weak... I didn't fight... I just waned it to end..."

Anderson pulled her, squeezing her as tightly as he could. Then Ruby began to whisper in his ear, revealing the secret she'd kept for so long.

-ooo000ooo-

"You were right, Nihlus. I'm am scared... I'm just sorry you had to die to show me that."

It was simple, modest. Ruby knew he would have wanted it that way. No long, boring speeches about past accomplishments and honors. Nihlus wouldn't have stood for it, if only because he hated bureaucracy with a passion. He always said that long winded speeches at funerals were for the corrupt and outsiders, people who had no place in life and preyed on the feelings of others. She didn't didn't entirely agree with that, but if you knew the diseased then you knew what to say, and Ruby knew Nihlus would be happy with her. She said what needed to be said, taking his last words to heart.

More than that, she acted on them. He'd be proud of her.

Nihlus' death stung, but she would move on, just like he wanted. They both understood that a life of combat might abruptly cut their relationship short. But they accepted that. There were dangers to every act in life and this was no different. She had treasured her time with Nihlus for this very reason, that one day one of them might be gone for good. Now that he was gone, she needed to carry on without him. It was what he would have wanted.

With that revelation came a feeling of peace.

It was wiped away as her anxiety returned full force.

She glanced back at Anderson, standing with his back to her with his arms crossed. He hadn't said a word since she revealed the dreaded truth. It was worse than an angry reprimand, that you could anticipate. But this? Was he mad? Yes, of course he was. Who wouldn't be after what she dropped on him.

This is it, she thought grimly. The end of my career. The end of everything.

She'd revealed classified information and a secret that, while not classified, was no less terrible in scope. She'd be lucky if a court marshal was all she got.

Then again, Udina wouldn't let that happen. Not while I'm in the running for the Spectres.

But surprisingly she felt... relief. Her secret was out, and her crime along with it, but to finally get it out and face the real issue was... well, she didn't know what to call it. She'd probably never see the light of day again, but at least it would be justified.

Ruby shifted uncomfortably in her wheelchair, longing to just get up and pace off her tension, but she didn't want to try Anderson's patience. Physically she was fine, the bruises she'd received from Eden Prime were long gone. But the doctors weren't convinced that the effects of the Beacon had worn off yet, and they would have preferred it if she hadn't left the hospital at all. Surprisingly it was the Council that stepped in and let her pay her respects. The wheelchair was the compromise, an effort to reduce the strain on her brain.

"Time to go."

Ruby started as Anderson appeared behind her and guided the wheelchair away back the way they came. When she chanced a glance, his face was an inscrutable mask. He didn't even look at her. It tore her apart, even though she expected it. She'd betrayed his trust, on top of everything else she'd done.

"You hate me, don't you?" she asked quietly.

He shook his head with slow deliberation. "No." He finally met her eyes. "Disappointed with you, yes. But I could never hate you, Ruby."

She couldn't hold his gaze and looked down.

"You know I'm obligated to tell them everything?"

Ruby nodded. "I do."

"You'll lose your commission. Imprisonment would be the least of your worries."

Ruby snorted, but there was no humor in it. "On that I have to disagree. Udina would never let that happen, not while I'm in the running for the Spectres. As for my commission... they promoted me for it, you know."

"So you agree they did the right thing?"

"No!" She looked at him with indignation. "Why would you even say that?"

"Ruby, you've been lying to us for the last three years," he retorted, real anger entering his voice for the first time. "You say you're afraid it'll happened again but you covered it up. What did you think was going to happen? That it would magically get better?"

"What did you expect me to do?" Ruby protested.

Anderson stopped suddenly and knelt beside her, looking her dead in the eyes. "You could have told us for starters. Hell, it's what you should have done in the first place!"

"And get called insane? Voices in my head! You know they never would've believed me."

"And this is better?"

"Isn't it?"

Anderson said nothing, but his expression said it all. Then he stood and continued to push her down the hall. "You never should have kept this to yourself, you know that."

Ruby swallowed nervously. "So... what happens now?"

"I'm telling Fang everything. He may be a bastard but he has the resources to help." He gave her a pointed look. "This is for your own good, Ruby. You never should hidden this from us.."

"I know." She waited a minute, letting his anger cool before she dared speak again. "I... I'm sorry, Anderson."

He didn't reply, and that hurt more than any wound she'd ever suffered.

The halls of the Citadel Tower were empty, giving them a clear path to the private suite that the Council had set aside for her private use. It was rare for them to cooperate with an outside organization like Alliance Intelligence for such a simple reason, though with Ruby involved nothing was ever simple. Intelligence was paranoid about her security, no thanks to Fang, and that seemed to have spread to the Council.

Experts were still being brought in to study the effect of the beacon and both the Alliance and Council decided that the hospital wasn't a secure enough location. Therefore a private suite in the Citadel Tower had been put aside for her and the examinations that were to follow. The only reason she was allowed to visit the Hall at all was because it was just a dozen stories down from where she was staying. In fact, Ruby was expected there as soon as possible, so she was surprised when instead of headed for the elevator Anderson headed towards the shuttle bay.

That wasn't right. Hadn't he been briefed on the way here? Or maybe he was bring her to Fang personally and save him trouble.

I know he's upset, but he wouldn't take it that far, would he?

The bay was flurry of activity when they entered. Politicians hurried from one transport to the other and C-Sec security patrolled the area. One group of roving guards noticed them and moved to intercept them.

"Uh... Commander Rose. It's an honor," the Sargent said, stopping them with a raised hand. "We weren't expecting you."

Ruby smiled ruefully. Her reputation proceeded her. But how much longer would it last?

"We're expected back at the hospital," Anderson replied. "Has our shuttle arrived yet."

The Sargent frowned, a sentiment Ruby shared.

"Uh... Anderson?" said Ruby. "I'm suppose to stay here."

He looked at her sharply. "What?"

"We're staying here in the Tower. Fang's orders. Extra security and stuff."

"Precisely," the Sargent nodded. "Just letting you know, Commander, a search warrant was put out a few minutes ago when you failed to check in at the elevator. I can call you in now if you want?"

"That would be great, thanks."

"That can't be right." Anderson said, pulling up his omni-tool to show them some documents. "I was ordered to bring her back. See?"

After a moments examination the Sargent shook his head. "I'm sorry, Captain, but we've been on tight alert for this very reason. Rose is staying here. I don't know where you got those though."

"I got them from the Colonel himself," Anderson growled.

"In person?"

"No."

"Then I'm afraid I'm going to have to take the Commander off your hands, sir," the Sargent said firmly. "We can verify this discrepancy now if you want, but the Council requests that Rose be taken up immediately."

Scowling, Anderson glanced at Ruby, who shrugged. She had no clue what was going on, but Fang didn't make mistakes like that. He lied, sure, but never when security was involved. He'd also briefed her in person, and explain with some reluctance what was going to happen. This didn't make any sense.

"Very well," Anderson sighed, but he didn't release his hold on the wheelchair. "But I'm bring her there personally."

"I'm afraid not, sir. This is a breach in protocol during a high security situation and all subjects must be treated with caution."

"You think I'm kidnapping her?" Anderson demanded.

"I'm just following orders, sir. Colonel Fang is currently out of the Tower, but if you follow me to my office we can have this cleared up in seconds."

Anderson's scowl deepened, but he nodded reluctantly and relinquished the handles. "Fine, but let's make this quick."

"We're doing our best, Captain. Right this way please." As they headed off towards a door on the far side, another Turian guided Ruby back the way they'd came towards the elevator. But Ruby just couldn't relax. Whether it was about Anderson and her secret or something else entirely she wasn't sure.

As the elevator crawled up, she forced herself to take a deep breath. Everything would be alright. For a bit, anyway, until Anderson revealed everything.

But it won't be that bad... Will it?

-ooo000ooo-

"Dammit, hold him down!"

Anderson snarled past the gag, staining against his captures. A sharp blow to the back of his head sent him reeling, allowing his abductors restrained him to tighten their grips. He'd known there were some dirty cops in C-Sec but this was ridiculous. His escort had jumped him the instant they were out of sight, slapping him in cuffs before he could react. He fought back valiantly, but there was only so much he could do against five armored Turians while restrained. He did his best though, even if it cost him a few knocks.

But where the hell had they come from?

Finally they shoved him into an office, straight into the arms of a waiting Krogan. Another blow sent Anderson to his knees, grunting through the gag.

"Hey, none of that!" a voice growled nearby. "We need him alive, you idiot!"

Slowly, Anderson shook off the disorientation and was able to take in his captures. The squad of Turians, the Krogan, and a lone human standing before him. Aside from them the office was empty, in fact it looked to have been abandoned for years.

"I'm really sorry about that," the human said, kneeling so he could look Anderson in the eye. "But we couldn't afford to take chances. I hope you understand."

Anderson only scowled at him. Now that he could get a good look he saw that the man's armor was very high quality. So whoever he was he had money to throw around, certainly not someone in C-Sec but more than a common thug.

"Did you know it only really a kidnapping if we remove you from the building?" the man asked. "It's still a criminal act, holding you here, but we wanted to make this as easy as possible."

Easier than sneaking into the Citadel Tower? They must have had inside sources. Sources, Anderson realized with dread, who had access to Alliance Intelligence Encryption keys. It was the only possible explanation. Someone had sent him forged documents so C-Sec wouldn't bat an eye when they pulled him aside for verification, because god forbid that Fang would mess up communication like that. But he could worry about that later, right now he needed to get word out, call for help. Seven on one, with a Krogan no less, was far from a fair fight.

"I don't want trouble with you, Anderson," the man continued smoothly. "But it's gonna hurt if you don't answer my questions." He tore off Anderson's gag. "We understand each other, yes?"

"Go to hell."

A slap sent Anderson reeling. A slap, not a punch. They wanted him coherent then.

"Come on, man, we just want to let you go." The man pulled out a pistol and waved it before his eyes in a pitiful attempt to intimidate him. "Trust me, this isn't exactly a great situation for us either. It ain't easy smuggling people into the Citadel Tower. So just tell us what we want to know and we'll be on our way."

Anderson clenched his jaw and said nothing.

"First, the Normandy." The pistol was pressed hard into his shoulder in an obvious threat. "I want full access to the ship, got it? Everything. Access codes, Alliance transponders, the works."

"Forget the ship," the Krogan grunted. "We just need to kill Rose. Forget the damn piracy, Fist."

"Oh, that's rich!" Fist cried, glancing up at the Krogan. "Don't tell me you actually believe her?"

"We kill Rose, we're home free. We don't need the Alliance-"

"Home free!" Fist jumped to his feet and Anderson was surprised to hear the hint of panic enter his voice. "I'll take being hunted by the Alliance any day, we are not going back to that bitch! Her and her ship can burn in hell for all I care."

The Turians shifted on their feet, seemly agreeing with him.

Fist took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. "You're on my payroll, Kull, so will you honor that or not?"

"It's simpler," the Krogan insisted. "We put a bullet in her head and run. That ship is our ticket out. Do you really think the Alliance will let us walk out of here with their new stealth ship?" He glared at the Turians. "Hell, you punks could have ended it there, but you let her go."

"We're not dying for this shit!" one of them snarled. "It was either get rid of that loyalist or get plugged full of holes, and I ain't dying for your escape."

"But do you think she'll really let us live? Anyone?!" Fist snarled at the Krogan, his voice rising. "You know what happened to those slaves we sent? Those volunteers she asked for? Phil, remember him? That thing in the shuttle is all that's left! That's us if we go back!"

The Krogan actually shuddered.

"Uh... I hate to break the news, boss, but we're out of time," one of the Turians said, checking his omni-tool. "Our scramblers were just discovered. I say we have about a minute left."

"Okay... change of plans then" Fist said, pulling a detonator out of his belt and taking a step back. "We'll bring the good Captain back to the ship and let... Phil loose. If it kills Rose, great. If not," he smirked down at Anderson. "Well, at least we'll have something to work with. There's no way they can track it to us."

"Are you sure about that?" One of the Turians said.. "I've seen some shit in my life, but that... Spirits, what if it comes after us?"

"We'll be long gone by then," Fist replied, raising the detonator. Yet even he seemed reluctant. It sent Anderson's mind reeling. Just what did they have that they were so scared of? Even the Krogan seemed anxious. Then Fist took a deep breath, and pressed the button. Anderson tensed, waiting for the explosion, but none came. A second later the Krogan tossed him over his shoulder and the group sped out of the office at dead run. But they had forgotten to put the gag back in his mouth.

Idiots.

But before Anderson could shout for help, a sound filtered through the Tower. An unearthly wail that rose in pitch, like the screaming of the damned torn from hell itself. All thoughts of crying out were wiped from his mind as he clamped his mouth shut. He felt like a boy again, scared of the dark, huddling under the covers and waiting for the monsters to pass by.

But this time the monster was very, very real.

-ooo000ooo-

"You're sure?"

Tail glanced at her omni-tool. "The transponder is still active, so unless they jumped ship this is it."

"Then what's it doing here?" Wrex asked, peering out the windows of their skycar to a waiting shuttle on the far side of the bay. "How the hell did they get access to the Citadel Tower? He may be a crime lord but I doubt even he could buy a backdoor into here."

"Saren might have given him access."

"Never thought of that... Gah, it doesn't make any sense."

None of this did. He and Tail had tracked Fist down to a ship in the docks only to learn that the mobster wanna-be had left on his own personal mission, and with the state that he'd left the ship in, he didn't intent to come back. But why would he leave a free ticket off the station? He knew he was being hunted, so why run to the Tower? He honestly didn't think the Council was going to protect him, he was crime lord. Or he was just cooperating for a lighter sentence.

Wrex didn't know, and he hated not knowing. He wanted to payed just as much as the next merc, but not if that meant getting on the wrong side of the Citadel Council. He made it a rule to avoid Citadel business while at work, no need to paint a target on his back for Spectres after all, but in this case he had no idea what else to do.

The shuttle Fist had taken was parked in Bay 3, one of six spread throughout the Tower for official business. Tali had managed to track the transponder and got them here via the transit system. All and all, this was proving to be one of the most beneficial partnerships he'd had in a long time.

"So how are we going to do this?" Tali asked.

"We can get to the shuttle just fine," Wrex said, sizing up the area. "Just a few guards on duty, so we can assume Fist is still here. They'd have him locked up the moment he stepped out otherwise." He let out a slow breath, thinking hard. "How fast can you get the hatch open?"

"All depends on encryption. If he's using a system I've encountered before I can crack it in under ten seconds."

"Then we'll clear the ship, confirm the kill, get your data and fly it on out of here. Agreed?"

"Agreed." Tali looked out at the guards standing by the entrance on the far side. They hadn't noticed them yet, but then again a skycar resting at a transit station was a common site on the Citadel. "How soon do you think they'll notice us?"

"Hopefully not until the shooting starts." Wrex drew his shotgun and smirked at her. "You ready?"

She drew her own shotgun with a flourish, racking it for dramatic effect, as pointless as it was. "Ready."

"Go."

Wrex pushed the door open as quietly as he could and took off at a run towards Fist's shuttle. Tali fell into step beside him, sprinting to keep up. Thankfully the bay was abandoned as they wove between parked shuttles, putting as much concealment between themselves and the door guards as possible.

Maybe they could pull this off without a hitch.

As the shuttle drew near they slowed, ducking behind it and coming a gentle stop before they slammed into the hull and gave away their position. Wrex took a good look at the craft and cursed their bad luck. It was one of those crappy Mercury transports. He couldn't care less about the brand, but this model only had doors on the left side. The same side facing the guards.

"Damn you Fist," he growled, turning to Tali. "Open the hatch. We need to get this trash heap in the air as soon as possible. They'll notice us the moment we step out."

Tali was already going at her on her omni-tool, but her fingers began to slow before stopping entirely. "The doors are already unlocked," she said uncertainly. "Why would they do that."

Bomb.

The word jumped to the forefront of his mind. This might have all been a trap. He indulged the thought for a moment then rationalized the situation. Fist knew he was being hunted but not how close they were. And he wouldn't blew himself up, not if he was still in the shuttle. There was no evidence to suggest that he had left the craft, the guards would have picked him off instantly.

"The plan is still a go," he grunted. "Get ready to pilot this thing out."

The unlocked door didn't sit right with him, but it was a free ticket in, and he doubted they would be expecting a Krogan Battlemaster here of all places.

He peeked around the shuttle and waited for the guards to turn and talk to each other, then bolted for the hatch and slapped the access panel. It opened to reveal utter blackness. For a split second Wrex thought he was staring out into space, for there in the darkness were two glowing points of light like distant stars.

Not stars. Eyes.

An alien sensation of dread clutched at his chest. The feeling seemed to spill from the open hatch like a river. Then the eyes looked at him and Wrex felt his legs go weak. An unnatural fear rose up inside him, a primal instinct to run as the creature laid its eyes on him. But he was a Krogan, they didn't do running. Fear... well, they handled fear pretty well. He raised his shotgun... and suddenly he was flying through the air, landing on his back right in between the two guards almost thirty meters away.

Even when the pain in his chest began to register he was too stunned to move. The thing had knocked him halfway across the hanger!

The guards looked down at him, just as confused as he was. Then a rattle of chains caused them all to look up at the thing emerging from the hatch. It looked at them, and for the first time Wrex could remember, true terror suffused his being.

"Gods of mercy on us."

Then the thing opened its mouth and screamed.

-ooo000ooo-

Begin Operation: Bloody Tower
T+: 00D:00H:00M:00S

-ooo000ooo-

Well this took way too long. First it was those damn turkeys at thanks giving, then moving to a new apartment and then the rewrites. But honestly, I'm glad I wasn't hasty. I wouldn't call this my best work but I feel that its a turning point in my writing career. You see, the first version of this chapter were a lot different in terms of Anderson's reaction.

The abbreviated version:
Ruby: Anderson, I lied to you and a lot of other people. But I'm really, really sorry, so can everything just go back to normal?
Anderson: There there. Okay, I won't tell them anything just to make you feel better and things will go back to normal.

It was so. Hard. To write. I had to justify every word just to make it feel right. So I asked myself 'why is this so hard?' and the answer was painfully obvious: That's not who Anderson is. You can trust him as a friend, but he's still a human being and a loyal soldier to the Alliance. Yeah he's gonna be pissed when he learned that Ruby had effectively lied to them for a numbers of years, so my first version made no sense. I wouldn't call this my best work, but I feel I did right by the characters. Anderson feels like Anderson from the books to me, and I hope he does for you too

Also I was trying to pack to much in, solve too many problems at once, so I decided to stretch out a bit because I need to explain things properly. A lot of stuff is going down with Ruby with her Aura being first on the list and if I rushed that it would end in disaster. Aura is going to play a larger part in the galaxy than you realize and ties in closely with the problems Ruby is going through; Aka; her unnatural rage. I need to set the foundation right or the story will fall apart, and the Citadel arc; Bloody Tower, will settle that.

Until next chapter, have a good one, and I will catch you later!