A Gift from the Ancestors: Book 2

by Gambit84

The effects of John and Tali's decisions are felt across the universe. As the next generation begins their adult lives, a new threat emerges from the depths of space and time. New friends will be found as old relationships are tested The galaxy once again will find itself on the edge of annihilation with a Shepard to lead them to salvation or destruction.

2. Chapter 1

Chapter 1.

The vines dangling from drooping branches of trees were all that could be seen in the pre-dawn light of the swamp. The slight breeze drifting across the wet marshlands caused the vines to move constantly increasing the difficulty in distinguishing enemy forces from the surrounding nature. The overcast skies, remnants of last night's storm cut off what light they should have had from the moon and delayed the rising sun's light as well. Under the canopy of the trees, water yet fell upon the small group, residual moisture from the storm that remained on the leaves and vines of the towering trees.

Six hours they had been creeping through this swamp to the encampment ahead. Stealth was of upmost importance to their mission. A group of slavers had captured a transport ship containing a Turian ambassador and his family bound for the Citadel. The council had contacted the Retrievers, an Allied force made up of various council races who specialized in retrieving stolen items or people from smugglers and slavers. Following the last known coordinates of the transport and by extrapolating possible routes along with some educated guesswork, they found them here, in a swamp.

Vala was numb. Her armor, uniform, skin and what felt like her bones themselves were saturated with cold swamp water. Wading through the water had been bad enough, but what was supposed to have been a quick two-hour mission was now well into its sixth after the storm last night blew harder than anticipated for over four hours making forward progress impossible. The team had been forced to seek shelter under a dense copse of trees where the overhead branches had laced themselves together forming an almost watertight roof. There they had waited out the storm, damp and cold, but at least out of the swamp itself.

The Retrievers had trained for this and for good reason. The common criminal groups they pursued rarely hid in civilized places. Most of their rescues took place in some of the harshest environments far away from settled areas. Deserts, mountains, settlements still abandoned since the Reaper war, unhospitable planets and now a swamp. The hours of misery were worth the suffering though when they were successful. When they failed, they looked at it as punishment for that failure. Every member of the team had their reasons for doing this job. It was not an assigned unit, volunteers only and then only after careful screening and rigorous training would a new member be accepted into the team and allowed on missions. Vala had been with them for nearly two years and this would be her one hundredth mission.

Vala had been a new Lieutenant on her first duty posting after completing her medical training for the Alliance when she first encountered the Retrievers. She had been assigned to a the SSV Chattanooga, one of the post Reaper war cruisers constructed to assist the Asari in their rebuilding efforts. Stationed in the Parnitha System to patrol the areas around Thessia and other local Asari posts, she had seen firsthand the horror these predator groups wrought on an area. The devastation the Reapers had done across the galaxy had been so immense that it would linger for generations and the Asari had been one of the worst races hit. By the end of the war, their military was nearly non-existent, their government in disarray and their world a lost ruin. They had become an easy target for many criminal groups looking to exploit the weak and vulnerable. To help the Asari in their rebuilding efforts, the Alliance and Turians both sent a fleet of ships to Asari space who took over the patrolling duties, freeing the Asari to concentrate on rebuilding. The reality of the situation was far worse. While home worlds and major colonies could be guarded and the surrounding space well patrolled, hundreds of worlds in dozens of systems were left abandoned giving criminals plenty of places to escape and hide.

It was at one of those abandoned colonies that Vala's life would change. The Chattanooga had received a tip that a mercenary group had taken an Asari Banker hostage and was demanding a high ransom from the Asari government for her return. The Chattanooga was in range and had been asked to intervein, negotiate and rescue the Asari. Vala was chosen to go with the landing party as the field medic. She and a dozen others landed in a shuttle, miles from the mercenary camp and slowly made their way forward till they were just outside the camp's perimeter, hidden in the forest. Visual scans put the mercenary forces almost double their own, but they had the element of surprise. Commander Chavolin, a Turian who specialized in these types of operations and had thus been placed in charge of the team, gave the order to spread out and wait for his signal. He was going to try to talk them down first, but if things went sideways, concussive rounds only. The goal was to take them alive if possible.

The team crept away and Chavolin gave them time before rising and announcing his presence. Vala and another Lieutenant by the name of Darrow, a human, remained in cover behind their commander. Chavolin's greeting was answered by the mercenaries and he stepped into the ring of light to begin negotiations. At first, it appeared as though this might end peacefully. The mercenaries were told that they were surrounded. They were offered fair trial and treatment if they laid down their weapons and released the banker. Chavolin did not want to fight them. There was no reason for people to be hurt or killed today. Had it ended with then, Vala would likely still be on the Chattanooga and not in this swamp.

The mercenaries' second in charge refused, forcefully. He had drawn his gun and fired a round at Chavolin, knocking the Turian back and down as the bullet took him in the shoulder. Gunfire instantly erupted from Vala's squad in the trees and the mercenaries among the ruins. Vala was the only one not to open fire. When Chavolin had been shot, she was already moving towards the fallen Turian. Fortunately, he had been standing just outside the thick brush that his team was hidden amongst and the impact of the shot had rocked him back, so he fell back into the overgrowth. Using the decades old natural growth as cover, Vala was able to reach her commander and begin patching him up. Working fast, she had managed to stop the blood and was in the process of bandaging the wound when a woman's scream and the orders of cease fire were yelled in response.

Looking up from her patient, she scanned the ruins where the mercs had camped. Bodies lay slumped against the walls, blood pooling around a few. They must have had to switch to lethal rounds at some point she thought. Then her eyes found the source of the female scream. In the corner of a collapsed building, trapped with no way out the merc companies second in command, the man who fired the first shot, now held not only the Asari banker, but also a small Asari child in front of him as living shield. None of the reports had mentioned a child.

The man demanded they let him go or he would kill both the woman and child. Her teammates, missing two she noted, were approaching slowly, weapons trained on the man. Vala then realized she was the closest to him. Less than a dozen yards separated them. Vala's half hidden position had made the merc overlook her in his attempt to evade capture. The next few seconds seemed to take hours.

One of her teammates took a step forward, again demanding the merc drop his weapons. The merc tightened his grip on the woman and lowered his gun, to point directly at the child's head. Vala's eyes narrowed and she felt that mysterious power flow through her body. Time stood still. She could count every beat of her heart as her vision focused on the target, her hand moved of its own volition as she saw the path. A knife flew from her suddenly outstretched hand, covered the space separating her from the merc and embedded itself through the gun wielding arm, severing nerves and tendons instantly causing the merc to drop the gun and turn in surprise. His wide eyes were met with the airborne form of an angry Quarian-human hybrid flying, feet outstretched and aimed at his chest. No sooner had Vala released her knife than her already coiled leg muscles launched her high into the air in an arc that carried her into the mercenary, feet slamming into his chest, knocking the merc away from his hostages and hard onto the rubble strewn floor of the ruined building. Vala landed solidly on top of the man with yet another knife gripped in her three fingered fist and held tightly to the stunned mercenaries' throat.

Slowly, the world around her came back into focus. Vala lifted her eyes and saw that the fight was over. The Asari woman and girl were being shuffled away from the mercs by two of her team. Others were rounding up the enemy survivors. In addition to the one she was still holding down, seven others had survived the shootout, the rest were dead. Lieutenant Darrow was on the comm to the Chattanooga to send the shuttles for extraction as well as medical team. Along with the Commander, they had two others injured, none killed. All the mercs needed medical attention to some degree. Finally, Vala's eyes met those of Commander Chavolin. The Turian was upright and walking, one hand holding pressure over the unfinished bandage on his shoulder. Never speaking a word, he looked down at the Quarian woman still kneeling on the mercs chest, nodded once then looked at his shoulder before looking back at her. Vala blushed slightly as she realized she had left her commander's medical treatment unfinished. Rising to her feet as her team took the mercenary second into custody, she walked over to Chavolin and resumed dressing his wound.

The shuttle ride back was a blur to Vala, as was the next few days of debriefing. She barely remembered what had happened and only by her team's accounts did she come to understand what she had done. For eight years she had kept her power secret from the alliance. She never used it to gain an advantage, never used it to protect or fight. She would use it to heal though. That was one of the reasons she had rose so quickly through the medical training program. She had discovered that she could sense people's injuries, both emotional and physical. Over the years, she had work diligently to refine that control and had become adept at detecting issues, finding the source and best way to heal them if they were physical. On the emotional side, she had learned how to adjust how she reacted to a person's emotional state to provide what was needed for that person. She had not done this alone. Both Doctor Karin Chakwas and Doctor Felicia Hannigan, had been integral in that training as they were familiar with Vala's power.

Now Vala had exposed her secret to the Alliance. There was no taking it back or covering it up. She had sat through several interrogation boards answering their questions as best she could. After three days she had been released on limited duty. This was a standard procedure for any soldiers who were in a firefight until the medical and psychology officers gave their clearance. It had been during this down time that Vala's life took an unexpected turn.

Sitting in the practically deserted officer's mess, as most were on duty at this hour, Vala's silent thinking was interrupted with the whooshing sound of the door opening. The familiar call of "Captain on deck!" had her rising quickly to her feet while turning to face the door at attention. The Chattanooga's commanding officer, Captain Riley, a human woman, tall of build with salt and pepper hair, career military with an impeccable record was rapidly approaching. A veteran from the Reaper war, Riley had been one of Admiral Anderson's scout team commanders on Earth. The stories about what she and her teams had done were legendary. To serve under her now was a great honor to Vala.

Immediately behind the Captain was Commander Chavolin. The Turian's injury was healing well and infection negated thanks to Vala's efforts in the field. In a few weeks not a scar would remain. As they approached, Vala snapped a crisp salute which both senior officers returned in like fashion. Captain Riley indicated that they should sit and once the three people were settled, she began.

"Lieutenant Shepard, your actions in the field on mission were a combination of startling, incredible and brave. You performed above and beyond what was expected of a medical officer in that you not only risked your safety to aid your fallen commander, but you then single handedly rescued your target and captured the enemy. Commander Chavolin has recommended you for the Alliance medal for heroism and his sentiments have been fully backed by the entire team. I concur with their recommendations."

Vala was stunned. This was not the speech she expected to receive today. "Thank you, Captain. Commander." She managed to reply looking at both officers in turn.

"Lieutenant, I know these last few days have been rough on you. A normal debriefing session is always hard, worse when there is a gunfight and more so when people are injured and or killed. I believe your father can tell you horror stories about the paperwork involved." Vala had to smile at that comment as she indeed had heard her dad complaining about the amount of paperwork that saving the galaxy had entailed. "Your situation was far from normal though. Not that what happened was all that unusual, after all, those with biotics can do amazing feats as well. What made this special is that you do not have biotic power, Vala. What you did was something unheard of in anyone except your parents."

Vala had lowered her eyes as her Captain spoke. This was what she had been afraid of. She did not want to become known for her power. She wanted to be known for being herself. Her power had caused her too much pain in her young life. It had driven a wedge between her and her siblings, her twin sister Hanna in particular. It had forced her to be reclusive, avoiding close friendships and never revealing too much about herself. It had helped her as well, made her stronger, both physically and emotionally and made her a better doctor, allowing her to help people beyond what could normally be done. That is all she really cared about, helping others. Captain Riley sensed the young woman's discomfort and smiled.

"Vala." The Captain using her first name and not rank came as a shock. Vala met her commanding officer's eyes at this unfamiliar breech of protocol. "I can see that this is rough for you. I also believe that I have gotten to know you a little, if not always through direct interactions, then from reports of your superiors as well as fellow officers and the enlisted. All speak highly of you in your performance, ethics, morals, adherence to duty and above all, your compassion and willingness to help any in need. The only negative they have mentioned, is that you are a loner. You don't socialize much beyond a few close friends and what is mandated unless you are helping a patient. At those times, you open yourself to whatever need may be required. I think I better understand why now, and I think new have a solution that will help you. Commander Chavolin is here to offer you something a bit more fitting than an assistant medical officer abord a patrol ship. I will let him tell you more."

"Thank you, Captain." The Turian replied before turning to Vala. "Lieutenant first let me say thank you. I owe you that much for patching me up on that planet. I also want to commend you on your actions that day. You could have remained in the shadows, safe and out of the line of fire. Most medical officers would, as that is what they are trained to do. They work behind the lines ensuring that the troops in front can continue to fight. You do that, but from not from the rear. I watched you the entire time Shepard. You position yourself not where you will be shielded, but instead where you can watch, prepare and if needed shield others. You don't break rank or protocol, you don't endanger your fellow shipmates, but to anyone watching, you are not a mere soldier. You are a leader, an inspiration, and a protector. You are truly your parent's child.

As such and considering your special revelation, I wish to offer you a new assignment. First though, have you heard of the Retrievers?" Vala shook her head in response. "No, I didn't think so. The Retrievers are a new allied unit, part of the Citadel Council and made up of specialists from all over the galaxy. Our primary duty is to return that which was taken be it person or thing. After the Reaper war ended, there was a short period of peace, but that quickly ended. Soon many saw the value in items that had been lost or abandoned. With those items ranging from the mundane of clothing and trinkets to the more serious, weapons, government data, ships and so forth. Worst of all, people were again becoming a hot commodity as the slave trade returned in force. Colonies everywhere needed labor to rebuild and with the diminished militaries, the slavers had free reign. For a long time, little could be done. The resources simply could not be spared. That time has at last ended. The Council called a handful of people, me included to build a team to combat these slavers, thieves and the mercenaries who work for them. For a year I have been looking for others to join our fledgling unit and I am hoping that you might be willing to join."

Vala had sat silent through Chavolin's speech, listening closely to what he was saying. She was more than interested, of that she had no doubt. This felt like what she had been searching for. This was a way she could truly help those who needed aid. Yet, she held reservations. "Commander, I am honored that you would ask me to join you. I am greatly interested in the work you are doing, and I feel that I could be a great asset to your team and them to me. However, I do not want to be just a tool to be used so please tell me truthfully, is this because you want me, or do you want my power?"

Commander Chavolin looked at the Lieutenant for a few moments as he thought of how to answer. Turning, he met Captain Riley's eyes and an unspoken question passed between them. She nodded in reply. "Lieutenant." Chavolin began. "I see that you are a woman who appreciates honesty no matter how much it hurts. That is commendable and rare these days as most would rather be lied to and be comforted even if that comfort is false. What you can do, your power, ability, whatever it is you call it, is indeed remarkable. I've seen the vids of what happened on Earth when you were a child. I was at the battel of Rannoch and watched as your parents channeled that power and destroyed Cerberus. To have that ability within my team's ranks would be a boon unlike any other. I will not deny its advantage nor my desire to have it helping us. That is not however, why I sought you out." Vala's eyes, which had been downcast as she listened to the Turian talk now shot upward to again meet his. With eyebrows raised in an expression of curiosity she waited for the commander to continue.

"Vala, over a year ago I began searching for people to build this team with. I needed experts from many fields of study, military tactics, biotics, snipers, hostage negotiators, hacking, and medical. I need people who can stand on the front, engage in any scenario, endure extremes and passionately care about what they are doing. Some of those I have found, others I still search for. A few months ago, your name began to pop up around the medical community. I had been talking to every fleet doctor, teacher, nurse, anyone with an opinion on who they considered a forerunner in field medicine. After two dozen separate people spoke your name with praise as a young woman with a passion for helping and healing, tough and smart, I knew I needed to meet you. The only negative they spoke of was your standoffish nature, you are not a loner per say, just not a social creature.

I thought you sounded perfect for my team. I asked Alliance Command where you were stationed and found you here. I contacted Captain Riley and asked her opinion of you, to which she told me almost word for word what she told you earlier, which as you just heard, echoes what many others have been saying. I wanted to see you in action for myself and when this mission came up, the Captain and I arranged to have us assigned together. I had already planned on extending the invitation to you when it was done. The Captain has those orders with her now and as you can see, they are dated the day before the mission. I wanted you on my team before I knew you had that power.

Lieutenant Shepard, you are bound for great things, if you do not hold yourself back. I can understand wanting to keep secrets, maintain privacy, and not feel as though everyone is staring at you like a freakshow creature. If what you truly want is to remain in the background, doing what you can from there, then I will let you. No one is forced to serve on this team. We all choose to do so for our own reasons. However, if you are ready to come out of the shadows, live up to your potential and truly help those who need it, then I would be honored to have you join us."

Silence descended on the room as the Commander finished speaking. Vala had to wipe tears from her eyes. She had been certain that she was going to be in trouble. They had no idea how powerful she truly was, how dangerous. It scared her every day that she would lose control and hurt someone, kill someone. She spent so much time in isolation, not because she didn't want friends or to socialize. She did it to keep them safe from her. For years, she practiced control. Felicia had coached her on finding ways to control her mind and her emotions. To not let them lead her to making rash decisions. Kris had taught her to control her power and that hunger for more, much as she herself had had to do. Her mom and dad allowed her to vent that frustration as they knew what she was going through. They had done this, indirectly and unintentionally, to her after all. While all that support was nice, they were family, friends. They were the people who helped raise her. She played with their kids when they were young. They knew her and she them. There was a comfort, a trust that had been built over the years between them. Commander Chavolin was a stranger and the people under him, even more so. To know what she could do and to be welcoming to that, was something she had not been prepared for. Yet, it felt right.

"Commander, I will join your team if Captain Riley grants me permission. I do not want to abandon my post as I still have six months left on this tour."

"Permission granted Lieutenant. You can make up those six months you owe me by getting out there and doing some good."

"I will Captain." Vala replied. Captain Riley rose as did Commander Chavolin. Vala quickly composed herself and stood facing the two superior officers. They exchanged salutes and Riley and Chavolin departed leaving Vala alone with her thoughts. The next day, she had been given her official leave and was on a transport ship with Chavolin to the Citadel where she would meet the team and begin training to become a Retriever.

Commander Chavolin's hand signals to stop and get down flashed across her field of vision and brought Vala out of her reminiscences. As one, the squad froze in place, squatting low to conceal themselves among the foliage of the swamp. Using silent sign language, Chavolin relayed the situation to his team. The enemy camp was ahead. They were using a cave in the rock wall ahead for shelter. Six guards were on the outside keeping watch. Two snipers in the trees. The leader and another, possibly more, were inside the cave along with the hostages.

Assignments were given in the same way. He pointed to Klavin and Duranta, former Salarian STG agents and told them to take out the snipers. The two Salarians silently vanished into the swamp. Vala and Nelis, a Drell formerly of the Hanar's assassin unit, were to flank the camp, and take the high ground above the cave entrance. Lina, their Asari biotic specialist, would create a shockwave to knock down the remaining guards while the remaining four would move into position and subdue them. The goal was to draw out the leader and, if necessary, for Vala and Nelis to take him from behind. The safety of the hostages was priority one.

Vala and Nelis made the climb up the rock face quickly and silently. Having worked together since the early days when they were in training, the two women knew each other's movements as though they were their own. Staying hidden behind boulders and plant growth, fingers and toes finding the tiniest of cracks for purchase and pulling each other up from one ledge to the next, they worked their way to a spot overlooking the camp, concealed from view by a rocky rise, scrub bush and hanging moss, their perch also had the advantage of being directly over the cave entrance and only a short drop of ten feet to the ground below. Nelis smiled at Vala as the two assumed their positions and waited for the action to start below.

Klavin and Duranta made short work of the two snipers. Moving stealthily through waters was as natural to a Salarian as breathing. Tranquilizer darts loaded with a poison that rendered a victim unconscious a second after injection pierced both targets at nearly the same time. The snipers were pulled from their perches, bound and secured to the base of the tree for security and easy retrieval later. No sooner had they finished than a bluish glow flashed through the trees and startled exclamations were heard as a dozen mercenaries found themselves slammed to the ground by a wave of biotic energy. The two Salarians sprinted towards their teammates.

Lina had timed her work beautifully. The shockwave had caught all six guards at once and sent them sprawling across the ground with all but two disarmed. Her team quickly neutralized those first with the same tranquilizer rounds the Salarians had used. Chavolin had told them that the goal was always to take as many alive as possible. Justice could not be served on a dead man. As the remaining guards were tranquilized and all six securely restrained, she took up her position slightly behind the Commander. Her job was to shield them, and she did it well. Barriers had always been her specialty. She could create the standard dome or wall with little effort, but her unique ability was in creating multiple smaller shields that she could deploy simultaneously to protect individuals or separate groups. Doing so took an enormous amount of effort on her part and so Chavolin had ordered her to only do so when necessary. Wait, watch and be prepared was his command to her.

Chavolin watched his people finish securing their prisoners just as Klavin and Duranta emerged from the trees to join the unit. Seven individuals including himself now stood ready, weapons pointed at the cave entrance. He looked at the rocky mountain towering overhead. Somewhere amidst those rocks, trees and shrubs lay hidden Vala and Nelis. He had received no communications from them, nor would he, but he knew they were there. He exhaled slowly. It was time to end this hunt. "Brennen Vask! I am Commander Chavolin of the Retrievers, charged by the Citadel Council to rescue the Turian Ambassador, his family and bring you to justice. My team has captured your guards and snipers. We now hold the entrance to the cave. Come forth, no weapons and with hands raised. No harm will come to you or anyone else with you. This does not have to end in violence."

From within the cave emerged a human male of average height and build, thin grey hair cut short and a matching beard framed a lined face, tanned by a lifetime of living outdoors. His clothes were simple yet of good quality, suitable for a life of changing environments. In his right hand was a pistol, pointed at the figure his left held in place directly in front of him. The person shielding him was a Turian female, the ambassador's wife. Hands bound behind her back and leg shackles at her feet made her movement awkward.

"Ah, Commander Chavolin. Your reputation precedes you. I was hoping we would get to meet one day." As Vask talked his eyes moved over each of the figures standing in front of him. He could see the prone figures of his captured men behind them to one side. "Tsk, tsk." Vast shook his head upon seeing his men. "They ensured me they were the best, that no one could take them by surprise. Apparently, you are no one Commander. I know for a fact that your team is made up of no ones. Oh, don't look so surprised. It is my job to know my enemy just as it is yours. We are not all uneducated pirates Commander. At least we know who and what we are, unlike yourselves. STG, Alliance N7, Shepard Academy, Asari Commandos, washouts all of you. Each of you in your own ways discovered that you couldn't cut it in your own militaries and so you left to join this vagabond. Now, you go around pretending to be heroes. Sure, you have beaten some of my colleagues, but how many continue to best you? You have never stopped us. Not truly. Your victories ring hollow for we will never cease. Someone is always ready to replace anyone of us that falls. Can the same be said about your team? Will there always be someone ready to step in and replace you?"

The Retrievers had shifted nervously as Vask spoke. His words were not new ones to any of the veteran soldiers in that clearing. They did however have a truth to them. A twisted and manipulated truth, yet still a truth. It touched on many of the doubts and uncertainties that were felt amongst them, not only of what they did but of secrets and insecurities known only to themselves. Chavolin however never twitched, never wavered. Still as stone he stood listening, giving strength to his team and defiance to his enemy. "Shall we test your theory today Vask? Shall we see who the wash outs truly are and if there is anyone to replace us. I have heard these words before. They are far from original and others, much more terrifying than you have spoken them. Their voices are now silent and if you are representative of what will replace them, then I would say we are indeed winning as the replacement is but a fraction of the original."

"There have indeed been better than me Commander. I acknowledge that fact with pride as they are ones to look up to, aspire to. Perhaps one day, people will speak of me that way. Killing you may well help me to reach those heights." Suddenly, Vask froze and his eyes widened. Quickly scanning the opposing group of people an expression of confusion and then worry crossed his face. "Wait a minute. Where is that Quarian bitch that was rumored to be so powerful. Where is the Shepard heir? I know she travels with you Commander and I know what she can do. Show her to me or I kill the Turian."

Several things seemed to happen at once. Nelis had been slowly leaning out over the edge of the rock lip above the cave. Vala holding tight to a rope that was in turn holding Nelis in a near horizontal position, far out of concealment yet still above and behind Vask. As soon as he stopped speaking, Nelis release the small bundle she was holding as Vala gave a tremendous haul on the rope bringing the woman back into safety. The bundle clanged on the ground between Vask and the cave. As the Human slaver turned, it exploded in a blinding flash of light and mind-numbing reverberation of sound. Vask fell to his knees in shock, temporarily blind, deaf and disoriented. The ambassador's wife did likewise as she was caught in the non-lethal blast. Out front, Lina had watched her teammates progress from the edges of her vision. It was all she could do to keep a straight face as Nelis swung by a rope above their target. She knew what was about to happen and prepared her biotics. As Nelis dropped the bundle, Lina set a shield around the team to protect them from both the light and sound.

No sooner had the explosion ceased than Vala and Nelis, now free of the harness dropped from the rock ledge to the ground below. A shot fired from Nelis' pistol rendered Vask unconscious. Two more in quick succession came from Vala's own weapon and the two snipers that had been hidden in the cave's shadows till the flash bang sent them reeling now fell limp as the tranquilizer did its job. Vala's eyes instantly adjusting to the dim cave light, went first. Keeping low and moving fast she was but an unidentifiable shape in the shadows. Nelis immediately behind her, used her enhanced light goggles to aid her vision. They rounded a corner and were met by a burst of gunfire. In the flash of light from the weapons muzzles, the women caught site of the hostages bound and gagged behind the final three shooters. They dove for cover as their shields flashed with bullet impacts.

"Did you see any way around them?" Nelis whispered. "I counted three but didn't get a good look at the room."

"There is no other way. That is the back of the cave." Replied Vala. Both women stayed crouched behind the rock wall, breathing heavily as adrenaline surged through their bodies. "Val, you're a damn good doctor. Be sure to get whichever one I miss."

"Nelis wait! Fuck!" Vala tried to grab her partner as the Drell pulled a second pistol from its leg holster and still crouching, spun out from the safety of the wall to square off with the shooters. The sudden movement caught the mercs by surprise and in that second of hesitation Nelis fired both weapons. The center merc went down before he could react and the one to the left immediately followed but not before getting a shot off himself. That shot took Nelis square in the chest, her shields flared to life and she was rocked back from the impact. The mercs were not using tranquilizer ammo.

Vala had reacted instantly after Nelis' move. On the heels of her friend, her own pistol raised and ready, she threw herself into the fight and as the third merc squeezed the trigger to his own riffle releasing a three-round burst, Vala pulled the trigger. The tranquilizer round covered the distance between them seemingly in an instant. The final merc dropped before he could squeeze another round and the rifle fell from limp fingers to clatter on the rock floor of the cave. His first shot though had not been wasted. All three rounds found the downed Drell body and Vala had heard the crackling sounds of the armor's shields igniting.

Vala moved like a well-oiled machine. Her eyes scanned the hostages and saw they were fine. No injuries. None of the mercs were moving, but she could see chests rising and falling with their breath. As she turned to Nelis, she hit her comm. "Clear! Nelis is down!" She dropped to her knees and began examining her friend. The shields had done their job well as two rounds had slammed into the woman's chest, one in the stomach and the last in her arm. Vala was good, but outside a hospital, Vala wasn't certain she could have saved her had all those rounds punctured her body. Instead, Nelis would have be extremely sore for the next week and wake up with a bad headache and new dents in her armor.

Commander Chavolin along with the rest of the team had arrived as Vala was finishing her exam and giving Nelis a shot to put her body at ease till she woke. Looking up at the Commander, Vala silently answered his question, Nelis was okay. He nodded in return and turned to the ambassador who was being set free by Klavin. "Ambassador Greivis, I am Commander Chavolin of the Retrievers. We have been sent by the Council to rescue you. You wife is outside with one of my own, safe and uninured other than some ringing in her ears due to a flash bang grenade. Do you or your children require medical attention?"

The Ambassador shook his head. "No, we are all uninjured other than some bumps and bruises. Thank you, Commander and your team for the rescue. Do you by chance know what happened to the other people on the transport?"

"Unfortunately, they were all killed sir. Only one lived to deliver a message. He is currently at a hospital on the Citadel as he was badly injured and malnourished by the time a passing patrol discovered your ship." The Ambassador sighed. "That is too bad. They were good people. Innocents caught in the middle." Taking a few deep breaths, he watched as Vala inspected his children for injuries, cleared them and let them be carried off by other members of the team. As Vala approached to examine the Ambassador he held up a hand stopping her.

"Please, Commander if we may, I am not seriously injured, and my exam can wait till we are aboard your ship. I must return to the Citadel immediately. My original message has become even more important and we cannot afford further delays." Chavolin acknowledged the Ambassador and helped him to his feet.

"Duranta, bring the Ambassador to his family. Lina should have the shuttle arriving any minute. The rest of you, get these prisoners secured and ready to load as well. We depart as soon as possible. Vala, a minute please." Chavolin watched his people carry out his orders and within a few minutes only he and Vala remained in the cave. He looked down at the Quarian, face expressionless. "So, who's dumb as fuck idea was it to play hero this time?"

"Nelis sir, but I did not try to stop her." Vala's reply was soft yet sure. She would speak the truth, but she would not let her friend take all the blame.

"I swear, you two girls get off on the excitement, don't you? Nelis. That woman does not do half measures I will give her that. I had hoped you would be a calming influence on that woman. Instead, I think she is breaking you out of that shell you like to hide in." Vala blushed at the Commander's words. They spoke true. Nelis had joined the Retrievers at the same time Vala had. They went through the training program together and became close friends. Not overnight, Vala wouldn't allow that to happen. She had still been nervous about revealing what she could do and those walls protecting her from others were built high and thick. Nelis was patient and persistent until one day she decided it was time for Vala to smash down those walls.

It had been during hand to hand combat practice. The two women were sparring with each other and Nelis, who had been a trained assassin prior to the Retrievers, and could read body language like a child's book, noticed that Vala was holding back. What or why she wasn't sure, but she could tell Vala was capable of more. So, she started taking cheap shots to wind her up. She wanted Vala pushed to her limits. She threw in some tough mental work as well. They had gotten to know one another well over the weeks and Nelis had discovered some deep held secrets and insecurities about her new friend. The gym was busy that day, but they were off to a side and no one was paying them attention. It was time to get mean.

As the two women fought, Nelis did and said everything she could think of till she had Vala on the edge. It was time. Nelis moved in fast, closing the distance between them in a blink taking two punches from Vala, and shrugging them off as she had been trained to do. She hooked Vala's leg with her own and sent the Quarian sprawling to the mat. Vala rolled and tensed her muscles to spring back to her feet, but Nelis had anticipated and simply dropped to the mat, slamming her elbow directly into the Quarian's solar plexus, knocking the wind from the girl and wining the match. Nelis got to her feet and spat. "You know, I met your sister once. Hanna told me you were pathetic. Just an attention seeker who liked to blame her failures on her parents and some invisible energy. I guess she was right." Nelis turned, her heart aching for what she had just done to her friend when suddenly she was thrown across the room.

Vala could hardly believe what she was hearing when Nelis started using things she had told her in private as a weapon against her. When the cheap shots started to land and Nelis merely laughed, Vala's confusion became anger. As the fight went on, Vala began to forget this was a practice match as her anger began to overwhelm her. She knew she should stop. She needed to regain control, but Nelis wouldn't relent. Then that final blow came. Vala found herself, breathless and aching on the mat, and Nelis spoke those words about Hanna then turned her back on her. Vala's rage exploded. Before Nelis had taken two steps, Vala had sprung to her feet and unleashed her power. While screaming in rage, a wave of purple energy flew from the Quarians hands, slammed into the back of the Drell woman and tossed her like a rag doll across the gym where she slammed into a wall and crashed onto a table below spilling bottles of water and towels across the floor.

The gym was dead silent. No one moved, no one spoke. Eyes flickered back and forth between the crumpled Drell laying in spreading puddle of water and the Quarian, standing braced for action, breathing heavily while tears fell from her intensely glowing eyes. Seconds turned to minutes when Nelis stirred. A moan and then the woman slowly rose, first to her knees than with care, to her feet. She gained her footing and lifted her head to face Vala. The two women watched each other for a moment before Nelis began to clap. "Well, I'm glad that finally happened. Didn't think it would be quite that painful, but at last Vala you stopped holding back!"

Vala stared at Nelis, eyes still flooded with tears and anger, body tense and ready to spring. Purple sparks danced across her fingertips as the power coursed through the Quarian's body. Nelis who had started to walk forward froze. She could sense that Vala was not backing off, and she feared that she may have pushed too far. "Leave, now." She spoke sternly to the gym at large. "Leave us alone, I need to talk to Vala." Quickly the others cleared the gym to wait outside in the corridor. They were not certain exactly what was happening, nor certain they should go far. Lina darted off to get the Commander while the others gathered outside the doors to wait.

As the doors closed, Nelis began to attempt to diffuse the situation she had created. "Vala, it's okay. I'm sorry, truly I am for being so mean to you, but you needed to see that it is okay to be who you are." As she spoke those words, she saw a visible flinch in the other girl and a flash of surprise cross the Quarians face.

"You knew? How? Did Commander Chavolin tell you?" Vala's response was a mixture of curiosity and fear. If Nelis knew, did the others? What would happen now? Nelis, picking up on the panic in the young woman's expressions quickly reacted to reassure.

"No, the Commander did not tell me. Nor did anyone else." She replied to the unspoken question. "Vala, I didn't know what it was you were hiding. I had no idea you could do that. I'm not even certain I know what you did." Here she looked with respect and curiosity at the purple sparks still dancing between Vala's fingers. "I just knew that you were holding back, restraining yourself. I figured it was anger, or some other emotional shit. That is what normally holds people back. They don't know how to channel and release anger and aggression properly, or they did once, but something went wrong and now, they hold it back out of fear of it happening again. That is why I was being so mean to you. I was trying to make you angry, get you to unleash that rage. I didn't know your rage was a hidden bomb."

Vala released the power she had been holding. The purple sparks faded out and her body slumped. She was awash with emotion, but no longer angry. At least not at Nelis. She was mad and frustrated with herself though. She had kept the power hidden from the public since childhood. As it grew in strength, keeping it hidden became harder and after her parents became united with Rannoch, it had nearly overwhelmed her. With help she had learned ways to manage, but it was still difficult and a constant battle. Up to that point Chavolin had been the only one to know about it within the Retrievers. Now, everyone knew, and she had used it against one of them.

"I'm so sorry Nelis." Vala spoke through sobs as she collapsed to the map in exhaustion and frustration. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I didn't want to hurt you." Nelis closed the distance between them quickly and wrapped the Quarian in a hug. "Hey, easy now. I'm alright. Might be a little sore in the morning, but I've had much worse. I'm the one who should be apologizing Vala. I should have talked to you rather than what I did. It was mean. I like you; you know. You have a fire in you that is both warm and comforting as well as scary. We just need to find a way to help you channel it safely."

Just then the doors burst open and Commander Chavolin walked into the room. He looked at the two women huddled on the mat and then at the smashed table and surrounding mess. Returning his gaze to the women he asked. "Are you both okay?" They nodded and Nelis began to speak but Chavolin interrupted her. "I already know what happened. I have a dozen eyewitnesses that were all too eager to tell me. Nelis what you did was reckless and dangerous. I know why you did it, but sometimes a mystery needs to remain so." Nelis lowered her head and her body sagged as she took her scolding. "Vala, I also know why you have hidden your power. We have discussed it at great length, and I do believe that I have repeatedly told you that one day you would need to open. We are a team. We support each other, respect each other, trust each other. Your power is nothing to be afraid of unless you let it control you. Today you see what happens when your power is in control. I have seen firsthand what happens when you are in control of it. I think it is time everyone else does as well."

Chavolin turned from the girls and walked to the doors. Opening them he beckoned the waiting group back inside the gym. "Vala has something she wants to tell us. This is hard for her. It is something that has been a source of ridicule and shame by some of those closest to her. It is also a point of pride. Something that allows her to be even greater than she already is. She wants to use it to heal, to help, but like many things, it is a double-edged blade and can cut both ways."

"Commander, I'm not sure how to do this. I mean, I know how, but what should I do?" Chavolin smiled at her before answering. "Vala, I think fate may have more plans for you than either of us know about." She gave him a questioning look at those words. "It just so happens that the day you need it most, a good friend of yours just happened to be visiting the Citadel." The door again slid open and in walked a slim woman, average height, long brown hair tied up in a ponytail pulled away from a face stern and hard. A few crease lines at the corners of her mouth and eyes as well as some grey streaks in her hair gave way her age, but the athletically built body and the way she walked sent a message that this was a dangerous person. Aside from the Shepard Academy workout uniform that carried the embroidered Admiral's bars on her shoulders, she was also one of the most famous people in the galaxy and the entire room instantly snapped to attention and saluted before the Commander had finished bellowing "Attention on Deck!"

Admiral Kristin Thibodaux snapped a quick salute back as she walked past them, stopping in front of Vala and Nelis who had also leapt to attention with the others. She did not say a word but slowly began to walk around the two women, looking them up and down as though performing a dress uniform inspection. She completed her circuit and resumed her position in front of the fearful women. Vala may be friends with Kris, but Admiral Thibodaux was a whole other person, one Vala and everyone else for that matter, was terrified of.

"At ease." The Admiral spoke and around the room the officers relaxed though remained silent and barely moved as they waited to see what would happen now. Vala barely moved. Kris had spent countless hours working with her to keep control of her power. The older woman knew a lot about controlling an overwhelming force from within and what happens when emotions take control. A very famous video of her leveling a small army in a park showed the devastating outcome of one such event. "Lieutenant Shepard." Admiral Thibodaux spoke at last. "I've been asked to come here and kick your ass." The Admiral smiled and Vala at last exhaled and relaxed. This was her friend Kris. This she could handle.

"Not unless I kick yours first ma'am." Came the reply.

Both women smiled at each other and hugged, then walked to the practice ring and took up positions. The Retrievers gathered round and Lina rose a biotic wall separating the spectators from the opponents. Vala and Kris went to opposite sides and made ready. As the purple light flared around Vala's entire body, a similar light, only blue in color glowed from Kris'. Commander Chavolin's voice asked if they were ready. Each nodded and he yelled fight.

Energy fired from the hands of both women collided in a shower of sparks in the middle of the ring and before the smoke had cleared, both had begun to move. Biotics clashed with the alien energy in a flurry of light and sound as both women threw punches and spun kicks, leaping and rolling back and forth across the ring. Bolts of purple and blue sparkling energy flew striking each other, the two women and the shield Lina held when they missed the target.

Seconds turned into minutes and the fight kept going. The Retrievers winced as blows landed with the sound of flesh smacking against flesh or the tiny pops the energy bolts made. Neither Vala nor Kris held anything back. Kris had taught her that if she was to fight, then fight to win. A bright burst of light came from Kris and the resulting shockwave tossed Vala backward. From Vala's hand flew a strand of energy which whipped around Kris' throat stopping Vala's rearward motion and yanking Kris to her knees. Kris tucked and rolled with the motion and raising her arm which was now a biotic sword, cut through Vala's rope, releasing her and fired back with a massive stream of biotic power. Vala saw it coming and release a matching stream. A noise equivalent to a sonic boom tore through the gym dropping the Retrievers to their own knees while they clutched their ears.

Vala and Kris strained against one another. This was it. The finale. They had locked themselves into a reverse tug-of-war competition and neither would back down. The force they were exerting began to return through the streams and push the women apart. Kris fired a second biotic stream against the far wall to stabilize herself while Vala's Quarian feet, a legacy of the Nthula-Dom, with their long and powerful claw like toes dug into the practice ring floor. They shredded their way through the safety mat and embedded themselves in the concrete below sending cracks radiating and concrete chips flying.

The wall behind Kris shuddered and groaned and more cracks spread at Vala's feet under the immense pressures. To the spectator's the women appeared to be at a draw, but then Kris smiled. Vala's eyes, fiercely glowing went wide and then she lost the fight. In the same moment Kris release the stabilizing stream behind her, she redirected her own forward stream into a flat plane angled towards the ceiling. Vala's stream, now unrestricted, raced towards Kris, collided with the angled shield to slam harmlessly into the ceiling, but not before the force of the impact knocked Kris to her back. Vala to flew forward as her incredibly strong leg muscles, boosted by her power and tensed as they pushed against the floor, found themselves without resistance and launched the Quarian forward towards her waiting opponent.

Kris had planned on this reaction and as she hit the ground, she coiled her legs to her chest just in time to get them under the airborne Quarian. Her boots caught Vala in the stomach, while her hands locked around Vala's arms and using the momentum of the flying woman she flung Vala over her own body and with that same motion pulled herself over as well to land squarely on Vala's chest, knocking the wind from the Quarian and winning the fight. At least she thought she had won. As Kris stared down into the glowing eyes of the panting Quarian, Vala smiled and winked at her. Kris suddenly notice the sharpened steel blade of Vala's knife pressed against her throat. When Kris had smiled at Vala, the younger woman realized what was about to happen. She had pulled the knife from the sheath on her thigh once she felt herself begin flying forward and when Kris' arms wrapped around her own, Kris inadvertently locked Vala's knife precisely where it needed to go.

"Draw!" Boomed Chavolin's voice and Lina lowered the biotic shield. The portion of the gym that had been shielded was in severe disarray. The practice ring was in shambles with the pads shredded and the roped edges tangled in piles on the floor. The concrete floor had massive stress fractures crisscrossing where it could be seen under the debris and the walls and ceiling were covered with scorch marks. Kris rose from where she crouched and helped Vala, who was still regaining her breath, climb to her feet. Chavolin walked up to them and looked both women over in awe. Then he took Vala's hand and pulled her around to stand front and center before the Retrievers.

"Retrievers, it is my absolute pleasure to introduce you to our newest member, Lieutenant Vala Shepard. In addition to holding the position as our team medical officer, she comes with a few tricks that just may help us out. I want you all to give her a big welcome." The stunned Retrievers stood there gawking as they were still processing what they had just seen. "Well, come on you bastards. She is feeling awkward enough already since some asshole just exposed her most personal secrets to her teammates."

A few chuckles were heard, and the spell was lifted. The Retrievers broke into grins and they came forward to hug the still breathless Quarian. Chavolin moved out of the way and went to stand next to Kris who was herself, still recovering from the fight. "Are you okay Admiral?"

"I'll be fine Commander. It has been a few years since I have had to fight that hard. Feels good, but Sam is going to be pissed when she hears what I did. I'll owe her a cooked meal for an apology. Maybe if I'm lucky I will get a massage out it." Chavolin laughed as he thought his own wife would probably be just as angry if it was him fighting like that. "I am proud of that girl though. She has kept up the training I told her to do. Must have been doing it in secret which is like her. She is a quiet person Commander. This will let her open more to her team. Unless they betray her, she will protect them as though they are her family. Maybe more than some of her family…" She shook her head sadly at the thought of the rift between Vala and Hanna. "Do not let her clam back up though. Make sure she continues to practice openly with her power. Perhaps not publicly, but with the team. She is growing stronger, I felt it when we fought. What she is, is something new and we don't know what that means yet. Watch over her Commander. Please, as a friend and as an order."

Chavolin nodded at Kris. "Of course, Admiral. Kris." He paused to look at Vala. The young Quarian was amid the team, answering questions, laughing at jokes and smiling as he had never seen her do before. Now she was a part of his team.

Vala's thoughts returned to the present. "Commander, we knew we could do it. We had discussed on the way up that there were likely other mercs present in the cave. We figured there would be at least one or two with the hostages and possibly more. That is why we went with the flashbang. We could have taken the leader easily if was just him, but we doubted that was the case. We figured you did as well, or you wouldn't have needed us to flank him. There are a lot of ways we could have safely stopped him if it was just him, we were worried about. Once the grenade went off though we knew we would be on the clock to reach the hostages. That is why we leapt into the cave without you. It was dangerous yes, we knew that. All our actions are dangerous. That is why they send us. As far as Nelis' actions in the cave, they made sense. She is the better shot between us with a gun. I could not risk using my power against the mercs for fear of hitting the hostages and for me to be the diversion, if I went down, well, I'm the medic and that would basically be screwing myself, sir. With the mercs targeting Nelis, I could make the final shots safely. I would also be there in case Nelis' armor and shields failed."

Chavolin was silent while he processed the response. Finally, he sighed and nodded. "You made the right calls Lieutenant. I wish you had not needed to make them. I would hate to lose either one of you. Fortunately, you are both okay if a little bruised. The ambassador is safe, as is his family. Let's go home."

"Yes sir." Vala replied and the two officers made their way to join the rest of the crew at the shuttles. They returned to their ship and set a course back to the Citadel. By the next day, Nelis was awake and on her feet, stiff and bruised as the Commander predicted, but otherwise unharmed. Vala had made her rounds inspecting the Turian family and her other teammates. Aside from some minor lacerations and a few bumps and bruises, all were in fine health. The Turians were a bit malnourished, but after the few days the trip took to reach the Citadel, they showed no physical signs of anything ever being wrong. The nightmares would take longer to heal and Vala put them in touch with a counseling service that would meet them when they reached the Citadel.

Two days after returning the Ambassador safely to the Citadel, the Retrievers found themselves in dress uniforms standing at attention on a ceremony platform in front of the entire Council. Pinned to each member's chest was the Turian medal for bravery, given to them by Primarch Victus and a still grateful Ambassador Greivis. Another new addition to the group were the shiny new Lieutenant Commander bars on both Nelis and Vala's uniforms. In recognition of their outstanding service the Alliance had deemed it fit to meritoriously promote the two women.

The celebrations carried on well into the evening, with food and drink accompanied by live music giving the attendees plenty of reasons to stay. Vala had been trying for half an hour to escape and had been slowly making her way from conversation to conversation, ever closer to the door when a familiar voice shouted a greeting. With a beaming smile Vala spun around to see Miranda and Felicia Hannigan, formerly Miranda Lawson and Kelley Chamber respectively, heading towards her. Vala nearly ran to meet them. They exchanged hugs, and pleasantries as they were family. Perhaps not by blood, but blood does not define family.

"What are you both doing here? I didn't think anyone from back home was at the Citadel right now." Vala was overjoyed at seeing some old friendly faces. It had been a long time since she had been able to do more than video chat with any of her family.

"We had to come on some emergency business for the Academy Vala." Miranda responded. "Something big is brewing, we think. It's complicated and wrapped up in Liara." Vala understood what Miranda meant. Liara was the Shadow Broker, a dealer in secrets and information. Usually she didn't intervene unless it was of incredible importance. "If you are going to be on station till Friday you will likely see some more familiar faces. Liara and Diana are both already here, though they could not attend this function. I know that Samantha and Kris are both arriving in a couple of days."

"I'm not certain when we are leaving. I know Commander Chavolin had planned on giving us a few days, but I do not know what that means. We typically get leave till the next mission comes in. Sometimes that is days, sometimes we do not get off the shuttle. I've got some time saved up. I could ask to take some additional leave as I would love to see you all."

"Well, we can at least arrange another visit." Felicia said. "How about we meet for brunch in the morning. Away from all this noise and crowds. Let's just sit and catch up. I'll see if I can get Liara and Diana to join us for that. Sound good?"

"Sounds wonderful Felicia, thank you." Vala's genuine happiness at the offer radiated off the young woman. They chatted for a few more minutes before saying good night and parting. As Vala was leaving, Chavolin caught up to her.

"Vala, wait a minute." Vala stopped walking to allow her commander to catch up. She was tired and ready to go to bed, but she would listen to what he had to say. "I know your tired so I will be brief. I just got word that there is to be a meeting on Friday with the Council, and they want us there. I've already passed the word to the team that they were on leave till Thursday, but to be sure to be sober and present on Friday. I didn't want to interrupt your conversation with your friends, especially Admiral Hannigan. That woman scares me sometimes."

Vala laughed at that comment. "She does have that reputation. I guess I've never really seen her that way. Of course, growing up with Aunty Miri around the house, one wouldn't think of her as a scary person." Vala started laughing when she saw the uncomfortable look on the Turian commander's face with her familiar addressing of the Admiral. "I guess that is the first time you have ever heard someone address her as something other than Admiral or ma'am. You know, she really is just another human under that stone face expression she wears. You should hear her talk baby speak, and not just to babies either! You should see her around the cat!" Chavolin's obvious discomfort sent Vala into even more laughter. Over the years she had learned that with most Turians, to get them uncomfortable, start making fun of a superior officer. Strict military upbringing does not lend itself to humor about one's superiors.

Deciding to take pity on the Commander, she relented and gave him the reply he wanted. "I will be there Commander and before you ask, I will ensure Nelis is as well. I'm sure she has disappeared from here hours ago and you won't be able to find her till she wants you to."

Sighing with relief, Chavolin thanked her and departed. Vala took advantage of the opportunity to escape herself before someone else stopped her. She made her way through the Citadel to her apartment. It was her parents place, given to them by Admiral Anderson at the beginning of the war. It had taken damage when the Citadel exploded but was fortunately salvageable. They had offered John and Tali a new apartment, but they declined. This had been a gift from a dear friend and in it, they had made many happy memories. As had their friends. John and Tali did not visit the Citadel often so they loaned it out to friends for them to use.

Vala stripped off her uniform as she crossed the living room. Jacket thrown over a chair, boots kicked into a corner and her pants dropped on top of them till she stood in her panties and undershirt and grabbing a robe from the bathroom door she wrapped herself in the soft, comfort of fleece warmth. She released her long, midnight blue hair, like her mother's, from its tight bun at the back of her head. Finally, her body free from military regulations, she poured a drink at the bar and activated the picture screen above the fireplace. She collapsed on the couch and watched as a slideshow of family pictures played across the screen. She sipped on her drink as years of memories paraded in front of her eyes. Whenever she came here, she like to watch these pictures. As she reached the bottom of her drink, the slide show stopped. The final picture was the now famous group photo of her parents and their friends during their shore leave party, taken during the war. Front and center were her parents, facing each other, and at that moment oblivious to anything else. Next to them were Joker and EDI, also in love and not looking at the camera. It was the others though that had always amused her. They were not obvious things and she had only noticed them due to long hours spent looking at this picture. Kasumi's eyes, though shaded by her cowl, were shifted to look at James' ass. Liara was holding a data pad and when she had once blown up the picture, she could see an image of Diana on it as though Liara had been in a vid conference with the reported just before the picture had been taken and she had not disconnected. Samantha sat on the corner of the couch and behind her stood Kris, then going by Jack. Just over Sam's shoulder, at the base of her neck below her hair could just be made out a few tattooed fingers.

She had been jealous of them all. Not for being heroes, that was more a curse than blessing she was learning, but for their friendships. She had always struggled with making friends. It was her own doing she knew, but that only made it worse. Since joining the Retrievers, she had made huge progress in coming out of her shell as the Commander liked to say, but friendship outside of her team, and even within it, was still difficult for her. She sighed, finished her drink, placed the glass in the sink and made her way up the stairs to bed.

The following few days passed by in a blink. Vala had had a wonderful brunch that quickly turned into lunch and dinner with Miranda, Felicia, Liara and Diana. They spent the day catching up on what they were all doing, how the kids were and what they were up to. Vala told them about some of the missions she had done and then Liara announced that they had a spa day scheduled. The girls spent the afternoon being pampered and relaxing. It had been a much-needed unwinding for them all.

Now it was Friday and Vala was sitting in a small auditorium next to Nelis and the rest of the Retrievers. Around them sat many other members of the military and scientific communities. She recognized many of the leading people assembled and like most others, she was wondering what was about to happen.

From the front row, Diana Allers rose from her seat and walked up the stage to the empty podium in the center. "Good morning." She began and the assembly fell silent. "How many here are familiar with the Andromeda Initiative?"