Author's Note: Some readers a couple years back asked for more Aethyta. If you guys are still reading, this chapter is for you!

Also, chapters twenty eight and twenty nine have been newly edited.

Chapter Eighty Six: Dilemmas

"Is this thing on?"

"It is. Go ahead."

"Alright, umm, my name is Miranda Lawson. I am the leader of Project Lazarus. Today marks the one hundred and eighteenth day of the project. Let's see, the musculoskeletal team has deemed the subject's legs, specifically below the knees, to be completely unsalvageable. They believe that there may be salvageable pieces above the knee, closer to the pelvic girdle. They also report that they're closer to synthesizing a muscle and skin stand-in for the areas where the subject's own biological muscle and skin has degraded past salvation. They believe they can come up with something that will self-heal without outside intervention. I think your decision to provide additional funding to them was the right one, sir. I think they can do it and I think it'll provide the Commander an extra edge he needs in battle."

"The cardiovascular team has asked for an additional inch of height to accommodate his two hearts and two separate vascular systems. I have spoken with Wilson and he's approved the additional inch. This change will result in Commander Shepard standing at six-foot-four. The other teams have been briefed on the change and are adjusting accordingly. It should be noted that this change may require some genetic modifications. As per your orders, we will try to keep these genetic modifications to a minimum."

"The other teams are progressing well. I've outlined their milestones in a previous recording, so I'll skip them. The only exception to the progress thus far is the neurological team. Unsurprisingly, they have been met with tremendous challenges. They have recovered the subject's brain and are starting the process of determining viability. Unfortunately, the brain tissue seems to be more damaged than anyone thought. They're still coming up with possible fixes to ensure the full reanimation of the subject. I'll keep you updated on the progress. Lawson out."

"Miranda Lawson here. Today marks the one hundred and twenty-eighth day of Project Lazarus...I have bad news. Richardson, the neurological team leader, told me that the subject's brain is not viable. Ummm, I don't know what that means for the Project. I've let everyone know that funding may be cut. Please advise on the next steps. I'll send you Richardson's full report so you can make your decision. Lawson out."

"Miranda Lawson here. Today is the one hundred and thirtieth day of the Lazarus Project. First off, I would like to personally thank you, sir, for insisting that the project move forward. It means a lot to me and everyone working on the Project. Secondly, I am hopeful that the neurological team can come up with an alternative. I'll keep you posted on their progress. Lawson out."

"Miranda Lawson here. Today is the one hundred and thirty-sixth day of the Lazarus Project. I have exciting news from the neurological team today. I'm assuming that you've already received the packet sent by Richardson. In it, you'll find three separate propositions for dealing with the unviable brain. The first involves a complete replacement of the subject's brain with a computer. The AI would need to be programmed to the best of our ability with the Commander's memories and abilities. This method would have no need for any of his original brain tissue. Richardson believes that this will be the most successful of the options, as well as the least costly. It would also be much easier to control Shepard. We could implant a control chip and ensure his loyalty to Cerberus. The major drawback is the repercussions associated with fooling an AI. If it were to ever find out it wasn't the original Shepard, the situation could turn on us."

"The second option has the least likely chance of succeeding. It would involve resuscitating the dead brain tissue through cybernetics. This would be the second most costly option and the hardest for the neurological team to pull off. The chance of success is less than five percent. It would, however, revive the original Commander. It would keep all his memories and abilities without the need to add in any programming."

"The third option has only a slightly higher chance of success at around eleven percent. This option would also be the most costly. It would involve some...experimental methods, however. Namely, the use of Reaper technology. The neurological team believes that they can reprogram the tech in Dragon's Teeth in order to revive the subject's brain. This may, however, result in unforeseeable consequences. If I may insert my own opinion sir, I think this option might be playing with fire."

"The packet Richardson sent goes into more detail for each option. The team has asked for your decision to be complete in a week. Any longer than that, and they're afraid they won't be able to stick to your timetable. Let me know if you need anything else. Lawson out."

Colt woke up slowly. It was always difficult to wake up after intense dreams, especially ones that contained bombshells like an unviable brain. Miranda's almost mechanical voice stayed with him as he sat up and checked the time. God, he'd slept sixteen hours. At least he could tell Hackett he'd used his vacation to rest.

Light poured through the window in front of him and made it all the more difficult to shake sleep off. He looked around the apartment, half expecting Miranda to be sitting in the corner.

Even though Miranda's messages were relayed to him via dream, there was no doubt that they were authentic. Reaper induced but true nonetheless.

He was going to kill Miranda.

A slight burning and tingling sensation in his hands caught Colt's attention. He pulled his gloves off and stared. His breathe caught in his throat and he swallowed hard. All his previous thoughts about Miranda and Cerberus disappeared into thin air.

Black lines were creeping up from his fingers and heading steadily upwards. Holy shit. He itched at the lines, hoping it was just some weird hallucination. But they continued on to his neck and inched their way over his face. An intense burning sensation flowed just beneath the surface of his face. Despite the sixteen-hour-sleep, exhaustion crept in. He struggled against the tiredness before finally giving in and falling back asleep.

…

Consciousness invaded suddenly. The sharp ring of his omni-tool brought Colt back from sleep. He lifted his arm to his face and pressed the answer button.

"Hello?"

"Shepard! There's my seventeenth favorite non-asari."

"Aethyta?" Colt opened his eyes and sat up. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I talked to Liara last night and she said you were taking some R and R, so I figured we could get some lunch."

"Liara's idea?"

"Of course."

Colt rubbed his eyes and thought about the multitude of crazy shit that had occurred in the past twenty four hours. Having lunch Aethyta would probably be the straw that broke the camel's back. "Look, I've had an insane past couple of hours or… maybe days? Anyways, do you think we could do this some other time?"

"Sure, as long as you're okay with blowing off your future father-in-law," Aethyta said, "That'll be a great story to tell the kids."

"Future-father-in-law? Did Liara say something?"

Aethyta shrugged. "I think that inevitability is pretty obvious."

Colt couldn't help letting a shit eating grin cover his face. "Meet you at your bar in an hour." He closed down his omni-tool.

He'd have to deal with Miranda and Cerberus at another time. It was probably for the best. He needed time to think. At this stage, he was much to emotional and angry. Dealing with Miranda required a level head and measured questions. He'd take a day or two to think and then he'd confront the former Cerberus operative.

…

"Garrus."

"Oh, hey, Liara," the turian said without turning around, "Everything okay?"

"Ya, ya. I just wanna ask you some questions."

"Shoot."

"Okay, well," she started, "Let's hypothetically say that you liked Tali."

This prompted Garrus to turn around. "...Okay."

"And let's say that you guys wanted to, uhhh, become bond mates. How would you go about doing that?"

"Well, I would make sure she would say yes when I asked. Nothing would be worse than us being on separate pages on that kind of issue."

Liara nodded before sitting down on a little metal stool in the corner of the gun battery. "So, you'd ask her opinion about bonding and kids and all the big stuff?"

"Exactly."

"And after that?"

"Well, then, I suppose I'd choose a location to ask. It would definitely be somewhere private. The idea of a public proposal makes me shudder and I think it would make Tali feel pressured," Garrus said, "Then I would pick out a nice bonding stone, one that matched her personality. What's this about anyways?"

"Just wondering."

"Uhhuh," Garrus said, leaning back and crossing his arms, "Just wondering my ass."

"Just don't say anything to him, okay?"

…

Aethyta looked up from cleaning a glass and caught sight of Shepard walking towards her. Goddamn. For a human, he was incredibly sexy. Passerbys seemed to agree, turning to look at him and stare. His beard and hair were too long to be easily identified as Commander Shepard. No, no. Those looks were solely because he was a goddamn specimen.

"Aethyta," he greeted, sitting down on the bar stool just in front of her.

"Anyone ever tell you that you're smokin' hot?"

"Yes."

"Well...good," Aethyta said, "I can see why Liara wants to jump your bones at every opportunity. Because, well…" She looked him up and down and let out a low whistle. His face turned a curious shade of red and his eyes widened a bit. "Don't get your panties in a knot. I'm just fuckin with you."

Shepard smiled at that before saying, "My panties are officially unknotted."

"Ryncol, as always?"

"Nah," he said, shaking his head, "I'll take a beer. Do you have White Horse on tap?"

"Sure do. One beer coming up," she said while filling a glass up. She slid the glass over to him once it was full.

He took a healthy gulp before saying, "There are very few things better than a cold beer after a long day."

"You got that right, kid," Aethyta agreed. She watched him take another sip before saying, "So, Liara was telling me that you've taken a week vacation. Why is that?"

"My mother passed away suddenly, violently. Then a good friend also died. The Alliance thought I needed time to get my shit together. They're probably right."

"You don't sound too convinced?"

"This is my war. I mean, it's everyone's war. But I've been fighting the Reapers longer than anyone. I know them better than anyone," he said, "It doesn't feel right to sit on the sideline while everyone else is fighting for their lives."

She nodded. "Makes sense. But enough about the Reapers. I wanna know more about you."

"Like what?"

"There must've been a time before the Reapers," Aethyta said, "What did you do then?"

"Sure. Right before I was put in charge of the Normandy, I fought in the Batarian War."

"That was caused by Elysium, right? You must hate Batarians after all that bullshit."

Shepard looked up from his drink and into her eyes. It was almost like he was trying to asses if she was serious. "I did," he admitted after a long moment, "I hated all of them. And I mean hated them. I don't anymore."

"Why is that?"

He gave her the same measured look before answering, "I was planetside towards the beginning of the war. It was spring."

"Which planet?"

"That, I cannot say," he said before gulping down more beer, "Anyways, it was an exhausting, excruciating day. I was an N7 operative by that time and my squad and I were hunting down some high priority targets. All we did was walk and walk some more. We took a lunch break and I sat under this huge tree that overlooked a field. As I was eating, I saw two little batarian kids run out from their hut and start to play in the field. They knew I was there and yet they played. They didn't have weapons. They probably didn't even know why humans were invading. After watching them, I had to reassess what I thought I knew about batarians. There are some real batarian assholes out there," he continued, "But the same can be said of humans. There's enough hatred in the world, Aethyta. Why add to it?"

"Hmmm...Not a very exciting story."

He shrugged. "You asked and it seemed like you wanted the truth. I could've told you the story of my batarian lover, Sheila, and how her four eyeballs and semi-moist skin changed my mind."

"Fucking hell. That is, by far, one of the most uncomfortable sentences anyone has ever said to me," she said.

He laughed. "Good."

"I heard you've been awarded the Galactic Peace Prize," she said after a moment, "What do you think about that?"

"It leaves a sour taste in my mouth, honestly. Me winning that award is the equivalent of Udina winning the Most Loyal Award."

"You took care of that possibility."

"I damn well did," he said, grinning, "Bastard."

"I wouldn't wanna be on your shit list, Shepard."

"And I wouldn't wanna be on yours."

Aethyta laughed at that. "I gotta give it to you, kid. You've got wit and spunk."

"Thanks."

"But I sometimes wonder if a wood shrew is controlling your brain."

"Thanks?"

"I mean, come on, for fuck's sake. You've won the goddamn Galactic Peace Prize and you're sitting at a bar looking all gloomy and shit. Hell, if I won that thing, I'd throw a party with hookers and Red Sand for seventeen days."

He blinked rapidly before saying, "That's an oddly specific amount of time."

"Point is, lighten the hell up," she said, "Sure there are some very real shitty things going on, but you've gotta a lot of good in your life too. Remember that."

"You sound just like my dad. A lot more offensive and demeaning, but my point still stands." He took another long sip.

"Ya, well, I'm like a fountain of fatherly advice," she said while picking up another glass to clean.

"I might have to hire you onto the Normandy," he said, "At least like a solid eighty percent of the crew could use a father figure."

"I think you've got that covered."

He grimaced before replying, "Those poor, poor souls." His omni-tool started to ring before Aethyta could reply.

"Hello?" he answered.

"Colt-"

"Oh, hey Liara. I'm just talking with Aethyta now-"

"-I found him!"

"Found who?"

"Your clone. The Alliance clone." Aethyta watched as Shepard's face contorted into a twisted caricature of itself.

"Where?" He asked.

"An abandoned warehouse on Zakara Ward," Liara said, "I'll send you the directions."

"Why is he there?"

"He's been contacting people like Marc Robinson and Samuel Davis about a weapons deal. He named the warehouse as the pick-up location. He gave them a fake name and used a voice synthesizer."

Shepard shook his head, "The Serpents? But why?"

"I think he intends to slaughter them. Trap them in that warehouse and kill them all. Maybe he wants to prove his loyalty to you."

"Holy shit," he said, turning to Aethyta, "Sorry, but I gotta go."

"No problem, Shepard. Go do your thing."

…

He checked the coordinates once more as soon as he was hidden. The warehouse just across the street was the right place. He was in a good position for a surprise attack. All he had to do was wait until the clone showed himself.

About three minutes later, a familiar figure appeared next to the warehouse. He was armed to the teeth and wearing C-Sec armor.

Colt stared. He couldn't help himself. There he was. The Alliance clone.

Despite his mixed emotions, he really had to give the Alliance credit for their attention to detail. The scar of the clone's forehead was identical to his own. His gait was perfect. The slight limp was right on the money.

And his personality was pretty accurate thus far. At least action wise. Colt had day dreamed about slaughtering former Serpents for years and the clone was turning his wish into reality. The only missing piece was lack of restraint. Colt had dreamed about the slaughter but he'd never carried through. Maybe it was rock-solid morals. Maybe it was trepidation. Whatever the reason, Shepard had never killed a Serpent. But maybe it was time to change that. Maybe the time had come to send a message. He was to be left alone.

The clone was checking his weapon for the final time. He checked the thermal clip and turned the safety off. If he was to be stopped, now was the time.

Colt stepped out from the building before pausing once more. He'd wanted this looming slaughter for years. And now, here it was. He didn't even have to do it himself. Really, all he had to do was turn around and go home. Except, his lack of action would be a decision. It would be casting his support for violence. Even if he didn't pull the trigger, he'd still be just as guilty as his clone.

But did that really matter? The Serpents terrorized him, his brother, and the Reds for years. If they could ever get their hands on Shepard, they'd kill him without hesitation. Why shouldn't Colt endorse the same? Why should he spare the lives of murderers and thieves? Why not embrace revenge?

After Sidonis, he had similar conversations with Garrus. Colt held firm that not killing Sidonis was the best course of action. He told Garrus that taking revenge was a slippery slope. It was an invitation to a certain darkness that wasn't easily shaken off. So why was he so on the fence now?

He shook his head. This was fucking madness. Even considering letting the clone slaughter his former enemies was a betrayal of everything he stood for. At the very least, he couldn't be a hypocrite. He couldn't dismiss revenge when it came to his friends and then partake in it himself.

Fuck.

Colt sprinted towards the clone and grabbed the back edge of his armor. He pulled the clone off the door and onto the ground.

"Hey, what the-" The clone's eyes grew wide as soon as he saw Colt's face. "What the fuck?" The clone screeched in surprise.

Colt wrapped his arms around the disorientated clone's neck. He was careful not to squeeze too tightly. After a few more seconds of struggling, the clone's eyes rolled into the back of his head and he went limp. Shepard quickly threw him over his shoulders and retreated into a nearby alley. The second they were in cover, the door to the warehouse flung open. A whole goddamn battalion of Serpents rushed out, guns raised. No doubt they'd heard the scuffle and came out to investigate.

Shepard started walking down the alley. He had no interest in watching the Serpents anymore for fear he'd wake the clone up and tell him to finish what he started.