Chapter 7: Final Decisions

"Where the hell is Shepard?" Joker said as he rubbed his forehead. "We have shit to do, and this new reading from the sensor we dropped at Osun isn't a good sign."

"I am confident that they will return shortly." Said EDI.

"It was supposed to be a quick in and out, not a banging session."

"Banging session?"

He looks to EDI's holo. "Full blown sex EDI."

"I understood the reference, Jeff. I do not, however, understand the use of it."

"Eh, you had to have been here back in the day to understand it."

EDI pauses for a split second to process what Joker told her. "Are you insinuating that Shepard would have sexual relations with both Tali and Liara?"

He just pinches the bridge of his nose. "Yeah, EDI, that would be the idea of it."

"I do not think Tali would take part in such a thing."

"Well, who knows what kind of freakiness lies underneath that suit. Everyone has a kink, even if they don't know it yet."

EDI pauses once again before responding. "I do not think Liara would take part either."

"Ha! Liara would totally jump Shepard the second he said yes. She's been pining for him ever since he saved her from that Prothean bubble she was in."

"Interesting. Perhaps I will broach the subject with Shepard to further understand sexual courtship."

Joker's eyes go wide. "No, don't talk about this with Shep…"

"Joker." Cole said, his voice coming in over the comms.

"Uh, yes Shepard, EDI and I were just talking about you. We were hoping you'd finish up with your conversation with Liara by now."

"Yeah, we're done. EDI, I'm sending you a recording of what happened with my last mission. Analyze it and highlight the Reaper armada that's off in the distance in the recording."

"Wait," Joker said, cutting it. "there's a recording?"

"Having the Shadow Broker in your back pocket can be very helpful." He pauses for a second. "If you can EDI, give me numbers on how many Reaper forces are visual in the video and save it to the recording. Afterwards, put a copy in an OSD."

"It will be done Shepard." EDI said, just before her holo disappears.

"Why an OSD?"

"I'll be having a date with Ashley soon."

"Really Cole, a date?" Tali said, her voice lightly coming in over the comm.

"What? You know I wasn't being serious." There's a slight pause. "I'm just trying to lighten the mood."

Silence fills the cockpit as Joker waited for someone to continue the conversation. Unfortunately for him, it was lasting a few seconds too long. "Uh, guys… I know you two still have a thing going on, but can we focus up for a little longer?"

Tali once again comes in from the background. "I… yes, we should focus on the task at hand."

"So, why are we meeting up with Ashley? Did you contact her when you were with Liara or something?"

"Not exactly." Said Cole.

"She's the one hunting us." Said Tali.

"Liara sent her to the Osun system and gave us an opportunity to get the jump on her."

"Right. So, that's what that ping was then."

"She's already there?"

"I assume so. I left a sensor back at Osun. Can't imagine who else would be in this corner of space."

"So much for the jump on her. We'll talk more once we dock with the Normandy."

"Okay, Shepard." He cuts off the comms. "EDI."

While her holo doesn't appear beside him, her voice does come through the speakers. "Yes, Jeff?"

"Do not talk to Shepard about what I said earlier."

――――――

The rest of their journey back to the Normandy was met with silence. While the air between Cole and Tali wasn't tense or negative, there was a sense of a misstep on Cole's part. Once the shuttle landed, Tali was the first to get up and make her way out, though Cole was quick to follow after her.

"Tali." He said as he leaned against the doorway of the shuttle.

She slows her pace and eventually stops half-way to the elevator. "Yes, Cole?" She said as she half turned to him.

"I'm sorry."

"I know." She then looks down at the floor. "I kind of feel I'll be hearing this a lot."

"What makes you say that?" He said, walking towards her.

She looks back up at him. "If we're entangling ourselves with Ashley… she going to bring up past feelings within you."

"I don't believe she will. If what happened on Horizon is a preview of how she'll act, then she'll most likely be combative."

"Then how do you plan on dealing with her?" She said, fully turning to him.

"As quickly as possible along with added insurance." He said as he stops in front of Tali and reaches for his omni-tool. "Grunt, Garrus, meet me at the elevator. We have some trouble headed our way."

"Heh, heh, that's what I like to hear." Said Grunt.

"What's the situation Shepard?" Said Garrus.

"We unfortunately have some business with Ashley. Need you two for insurance."

"I'll be there."

"Insurance? That doesn't sound like there will be a fight."

Cole lets out a small chuckle. "Don't worry Grunt. If there's no fighting today, then I'll bring you on for the next mission."

"Hmm… I'll take that deal."

"Good. Meet you at the elevator."

"Grunt and Garrus." Tali said as she put her hand on Cole's chest. "You're not pulling any punches."

"Nope. She will not throw me off guard this time around." He said as he grabbed a hold of her hand and linked hers with his.

Both of them quickly made their way to the elevator with Cole hitting the panel for Engineering. Once they reached that floor, they found waiting for them at the door was Grunt, clad in his original silver-white and black armor.

"Shepard." Grunt said with a nod.

"Grunt." Cole said before gesturing to him to move behind him.

Next stop was for the Crew's Quarters, and just like Grunt, Garrus was there waiting for them at the elevator's doors.

"Shepard." Garrus said as he moved his way in behind Tali. "So, what's the play here?"

"Well, hopefully the play will be simple." He said as he hit for his cabin. "Bring Ashley in, give her the data, then send her on her way."

"Ha, right. That's why you brought Grunt to this party."

"Every time I come along Garrus, it's always a party."

Everyone had a physical reaction to Grunts comment. Garrus simply shook his head while Tali added to his expression with a facepalm. Cole, as per usual, couldn't help but put on a shit-eating grin. As much as Cole disliked the Illusive Man, he gave him a fantastic group to find and work with.

"Well Grunt, for this particular party, you'll be the bouncer." Cole said as the elevator doors opened to his cabin. "I want you posted outside the door here. The second you hear any kind of struggle, you come in and deal with the problem."

"Doesn't sound like much of a challenge."

Tali walks out of the elevator and heads for the cabin door. "The challenge Grunt, is to get pass me to get to the trouble." She said as she sidestepped to the door's panel.

"Hmm… you've proven yourself plenty of times, but you're not much of a challenge compared to me."

"But I'll be in the room, and I'm much quicker than you."

"Fine, I accept that challenge."

Cole holds up his hands and moves to Tali. "Okay, okay, this isn't a kill mission if things get heated." He then turns and points to Grunt. "No killing this time around."

"Very well." Grunt said begrudgingly.

"So Tali is holed up in your cabin and Grunt is on the outside. What's my part?" Garrus said, hanging back in the elevator.

"You're the escort and secondary bouncer in all of this. You'll escort me and Ash to the cabin, then wait outside."

"Isn't this all a bit overkill? I know it was rough on Horizon with her, but is she really going to be that combative?"

"She's the one hunting us."

"Oh." He reaches behind his back and pulls out his assault rifle. "Well then, that changes things."

"Hang here for a second while I get suited up." Both Tali and Cole enter the cabin, and as soon as it shuts, Cole grabs Tali's arm just before she could head down the steps to their bed. "The whole killing bit applies to you as well."

She just stares at him, her eyes going slightly wide at the sentiment that he amused the idea she would go that far. "Please Cole, I'm not bloodthirsty like Grunt is. I have my issues with her, but I wouldn't go that far."

"But I would." He pauses for a moment to let the words sink in. "I'm compromised. There are so many things stacking the deck against her for me. Sure, there are lingering feelings that will always be there, but not only has she burned me, I have Harbinger and the Reapers swimming in my head. If she gets hostile, I do not know how I will react. That's why I'm saying it out loud because I know you and Garrus will keep me in check should the worse happen."

Tali, slightly fluttered, nods and pulls Cole into a hug. "Okay. Okay. It won't come to that, but I understand."

"I hope it won't. With Garrus as a memento of the past, Grunt as a deterrent, and you as how she should act, I'd like to think she wouldn't try anything. She is however, a very stubborn woman."

"She definitely is." She pulls back, places both of her hands on the sides of his cheeks, and gazes deeply into his eyes. "I wish I could comfort you the way I want to."

"Me too." He said without missing a beat.

The next few minutes go by quickly as Cole puts on his armor, with Tali's troublesome help, as well as mentally preparing himself for whatever was going to happen with Ashley. As much as he hoped nothing would happen, deep down, he knew nothing would stop her from capturing him. Edan Prime proved that to him. She alone held out to survive against Saren's surprise attack with his Geth followers. After that day, she wouldn't let anything stop her from getting back at Saren.

She will betray you…

Suddenly, an orchestra of soft and loud whispers fill his mind. The whispers swirling and haunting in tone as they constantly switched from elongating their words to speeding them up.

Betray. Betray. Betrayer… Liar… Liar. She is a liar. She will hurt… the ones you love… just to get to you… She will… She will… hurt you. Hurt you.

"Shepard, we're about fifteen minutes away from the Osun system." Joker said, his voice coming through the speakers in his room.

"Thanks Joker, I'll be down in a few."

There is nothing… they can do to stop… her.

"Any chance of letting me know what our play is?"

"I'll tell you when I get down to you."

Nothing. Nothing… Nothing will stop her.

"Cole?" Tali said as she reached up to the scared side of his face. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm okay. I mean, I'm a bundle of nerves right now, but I'm good."

Her eyes narrow at him, but eventually she slightly nods. "Okay. It's just your cybernetics were flickering for a moment. I thought perhaps you were about to have another attack."

Cole takes a moment to process the last minute or so. "I… I don't think so. Just my lingering thoughts and worries attempting to get the better of me."

"Okay." She said, feeling a bit more confident about Cole being alright. "You better get down there before Joker loses his mind to worry."

"What? When have I ever lost my mind about anything?"

"Never, and that worries me."

"Nothing you've seen, and I rather not talk about the time that I did. However, thanks for letting me know that I continue to keep up a calm exterior when facing an armada of Reapers as well as the Council's and Alliance's forces."

Tali looks at Cole and shrugs. "Well, good to know he has had a breakdown at some point."

Cole just smiles, pulls her in for one last hug, then makes his way to the elevator. As he exited his room, he saw Grunt, shotgun in hand, standing guard as ordered. Garrus was leaning against the elevator door's opening, but the second Cole showed, he stood up straight and immediately entered the elevator. Nodding to both of them, he too enters the elevator and hits for the CIC.

With his helmet in his hand, both Cole and Garrus make their way to Joker. Along the way, he gives various crew members crisp salutes if they bothered to look at him. After walking past the gangway, he takes his position behind Joker in the cockpit.

"Joker."

Joker swivels his seat around. "So Commander, what exactly is the plan with your date with Ashley? Simple conversation or… will it be a fight." He stops for a moment to look at both Cole and Garrus. "I guess it's going to be a fight."

"I certainly hope not."

"Right, that's why you brought Garrus to this date."

"I also have Grunt and Tali on this date too Joker. I call it insurance."

"Well I call it overkill, but it's your date." Cole just smiles as he shakes his head. "Seriously though, what are we doing?"

"Did EDI make up that OSD?"

EDI's holo pops up next to Joker. "I did."

Joker pulls out the OSD from his pocket. "It's lucky that Liara had any kind of evidence from what all went down with your mission."

Cole grabs the OSD and puts it in one of his compartments on his belt. "I agree. Did you get any numbers, EDI?"

"Near three thousand Sovereign sized Reaper ships, along with nine thousand four hundred and twenty-six smaller sized craft. This was just a fraction of what I could make out, however. There are likely several thousands more based on how many cycles we believe have transpired since the beginning."

That's far too many at once. We barely took down just one. How the hell are we going to deal with them all?

The whispers return. There is… nothing you can do… Just wait and… die…

Joker half turns to look at EDI. "That's just a fraction of what you could make out? How the hell are we going to deal with a force like that?"

"By getting the galaxy on our side, and it starts with getting this information to the Alliance or the Council. Whoever Ashley is answering to."

"With our luck, it'll be both." Joker said as he swung back to face the console. "So how are we doing this?"

"You know the drill Joker, as stealthy as possible. EDI, keep a sensor sweep of the area as we go. We need to find them before they find us."

"Of course, Shepard."

Five minutes go by, then ten, then twenty. Around the thirty-minute mark, everyone in the cockpit grew increasingly nervous with the inability to find their quarry.

"This is impossible." Joker said as he gestures his left arm in frustration. "There's only two things possible here. One, she's left the area. Two, she has the same stealth system as us."

"There are no emissions near the Mass Relay that suggest anyone has left." Said EDI.

"Great… we're dealing with someone who has the same capabilities as us. Apparently that conversation you had with Admiral what's his name about the original Normandy allowed this to happen."

"From my memory Joker, he was a Rear Admiral."

"Whatever, still means he made more than me."

EDI once again chimes in. "It is entirely possible that his report green lit many projects to mimic the Normandy's capabilities. Would you like me to investigate Shepard?"

"I… don't think so." He said as he rubbed his chin. "Hacking the Alliance Intelligence network right now seems like a bad idea."

"Yeah EDI, just because we're fugitives doesn't mean we should stop keeping up the appearance that we're still the good guys."

"Right, point taken. Go ahead EDI."

"One moment… done. There is nothing current within the Alliance military, but I found several records referring to something called the Andromeda Initiative."

"The Andromeda Initiative?"

"Pulling up various ship schematics."

Her holo changes to each ship's diagram as she goes through them. The first diagram showed off the Nexus. To Cole, it was oddly shaped. On either side of a ring-shaped construction were curve-like wings. It wasn't a ship per se, more like a large station with the wings seemingly mimicking the Citadel's arms.

Next was a ship called the Hyperion or Ark. This too, was oddly shaped to Cole. Four arms came off the back end of this squared, tube-like shape. Based on the diagram, it looked as if they could extend up and out from the base of the ship. While interesting, this wasn't a ship designed for stealth.

The last ship EDI put up was called the Tempest. Far smaller than the prior diagrams and highly similar in look to the Normandy. It was about half as big as the Normandy SR2, but built just like it for extended time out in space. Most importantly, this ship had a stealth system confirmed only when EDI highlighted it in red on the diagram.

"The Tempest, a small scout vessel. Meant for long distance scouting for habitable planets. There is no other specific information about it other than the stealth systems from the original Normandy. Based on the initial readings from our sensor, this is the best match for the vessel that came through."

"Well, this is kind of good news." Joker said as he stared at the diagram closely. "She's not made for combat, so there's no chance of an ambush."

"Why give her a ship that can't defend itself?" Cole said to himself. "EDI, open a comm channel."

A few moments go by before she responds. "Ready Shepard."

"This is Commander Shepard of the Normandy SR2. I'm aware of your presence here in the Osun system. I'm also aware that your ship, the Tempest, has stealth capabilities much like ours. We can keep up this charade of hiding from one another or we can drop it and talk. It's your choice."

Several minutes go by with no response. "I know you're out there, Ash. As proof of my wiliness to talk, I'll drop our stealth. Go ahead EDI."

"Stealth systems disabled, Shepard."

"Come find me when you're ready. Shepard out."

Joker swivels back to Cole. "Are you crazy? Even though that ship isn't made for combat, someone could have made it combat ready."

"I don't believe so. For how quickly she got out here, there's no way they could outfit a ship like that properly."

"I mean, this is just a blind guess on both of our parts, but okay, yeah, that might be true, but she could still have a surprise up her sleeve."

"Not with that deafening silence she gave me. She knows she can't take on the Normandy. If I was her, I would have been waiting out here to follow us and then strike when we made port."

Ashley's voice crackles through the open comm. "Shepard, it would seem that Liara set me up here."

"What can I say Ash; the friendships I have are strong and long-lasting. Too bad ours never fell in that circle."

"Don't say that. Look, I'm sorry for all the things I said at Horizon, but you came in the worse way possible."

"Right, the whole Cerberus deal. Didn't matter that I had Garrus and a Salarian with me."

"I… I was confused, flustered even." A few seconds of silence passes before she comes back. "Look, all of that doesn't matter anymore. You know why I'm here. Please, just turn yourself in before this gets worse."

Cole gestures to mute the comm. "EDI, do you have a location on her?"

"No, their stealth systems are still active. I am, however, attempting to trace them through the comm. Please continue the conversation."

Cole nods, and EDI opens the comm again. "Things are more complicated now, Ash. Believe me when I say that if I could turn myself in, I would. I have an issue that I must deal with before I do so."

"The people I'm under are not allowing the extra time you may or may not need. In fact, the same people can probably help you with whatever is wrong."

"Bullshit Ash, and you know it." Cole said as his cybernetics flared up.

"So, you won't turn yourself in."

"I just want to talk. Is that such a hard thing to ask for?"

His omni-tool lights up with a message from EDI. 'They are off our port side, drifting towards our position.'

Cole types back, 'Are you capable of disabling their systems?'

"As of this moment, yes." Ashley said in the middle of Cole's conversation with EDI. "The Alliance, the Council, they are not looking for conversation, which means I'm not looking for conversation."

His omni-tool pops up again with a message. 'In process now.'

"You disappoint me, Ash. I had hoped we could meet properly, but now you've forced my hand." As if on cue, several alarms ring out over the comm as EDI's successful brake in of the Tempest's systems shuts down everything but the life support systems.

"Son of a bitch!" Ashley yelled out over the comm. "Fine, you'll get your damn talk."

He lets out a sigh. "Close the channel EDI and position us next to their airlock."

Joker, still turned towards Cole, tilts his head to better look at Cole's expression. "You okay Shepard?"

"No." He said, staring blankly at Joker's feet. "She's proving that this whole thing will not go well."

"Yeah. Well, just don't do anything stupid. That should keep her from doing the same." Joker said as he watched Cole put on his helmet.

"That's the problem Joker, I'm already doing something stupid." Joker's expression goes somber as he knew full well what he was saying. "EDI, pull whatever data you can out of their ship. I'm curious to know more about it."

"I was already in process of doing so."

As Cole turned to the airlock, he saw Garrus just leaning against the door of the airlock with his helmet on. It almost surprised him to see Garrus there because he hadn't said one word to anyone since they got here. But as Cole moved up to the airlock, his silence broke.

"You sure you're up for this Shepard? You can simply give her the OSD and leave."

"I know Garrus." He said as he hit the panel for the airlock door. "But I feel like this is my only chance for her to understand completely about what I'm doing out here."

"Shepard, she knows what you're doing out here." He said as they both entered the airlock. "She just refuses to take a part in it." Cole just lets out a heavy sigh, causing Garrus to place his hand onto Cole's shoulder. "Don't worry Shepard, you're not the only one who was confused by her response that day."

They remained in silence as the airlock depressurized. After a few minutes longer, Joker comes in over the radio in their helmets. "Looks like we're lined up. You're clear to open up the exterior door."

"Copy that, Joker." Garrus said as he was checking over his assault rifle one last time before aiming it forward.

Cole reaches for the panel and opens the door. Ice crystals and particles fill the space as they take in the surrounding darkness of space and the Tempest. With EDI's precise maneuvering capabilities, she got close enough that the sides of their ships nearly touched. Across the way was Ashley, clad in her Alliance blue colored armor with her arms crossed. Beside her stood another Alliance marine who, like Garrus, was armed with an assault rifle.

"Looks like we think alike, Shepard." Ashley said as she uncrossed her arms and took a step forward.

Cole looks at Garrus and taps him on the shoulder, letting him know to stand down. "Of course, Ashley, it's part of the reason we got along so well." He then gestures for her to come over.

With a simple wave of her hand, she signals for her own ally to stand down. Then, taking a few more steps forward, she leaps towards the Normandy's airlock and lets the lack of gravity carry her to it. Cole was right there waiting for her, his arm outstretched to grab her. There was no need for such a gesture, but she took it anyway.

"Thanks." She said with a slight grunt as Cole guided her down to the floor.

Cole looks at the marine across the way and gives him a salute. "You'll have her back soon." The marine just salutes back.

"Well, that's comforting to hear." Ashley said as she looked at them both.

"I told you already, I just wanted to talk." He said, feeling a sickly warmth grow in his stomach. "She's in Joker, start the decontaminating process."

Ashley positions herself between Cole and Garrus, keeping a close eye on Garrus and immediately noting his finger on the trigger. "It's good to see you again Garrus."

"Wish I could say the same Ashley." He replied, as he turned his head to her. "We're not here for fake pleasantries."

"Easy Garrus." Cole said with a tried voice.

"Board is green Shepard. You can head on in." Joker said, coming in over their radios.

Both Ashley and Cole twist and pull off their helmets with Garrus keeping his on. After taking a moment to fix her hair, she turns to Cole and instantly freezes at the sight of his glowing cybernetic scars.

"Oh, my god… What happened to you Shepard?"

He looks at her after placing his helmet underneath his arm. "It's part of the reason why I wanted to talk to you." He then gestures for her to lead the way. "After you."

She ignores his gesture and moves closer to him – concern plastered on her face. Cole, taken aback by her change in demeanor, instinctively steps back but finds himself butted against the airlock door's opening.

She lets out a scoff. "I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to see…" She reaches for the scaring and gently traces the scar down his cheek. "Is it painful?"

"It's a funny thing, really." He said as he pulled himself to the side and away from her. "It's only painful when I get aggravated or when I'm under a lot of stress. Which, I'd like to add, I'm already feeling a fair amount of discomfort. So, I would really like to have this conversation as peacefully as possible."

"I'd like to second that." Joker said as he stared at all of them. "We've been through a lot already. Don't need to have more complications than we already have."

"Yeah, okay." Ashley said, her hands up slightly. "Where are we going to have this conversation?"

"Up in my cabin." Cole said as he pointed to the elevator at the back of the CIC. "After you."

Ashley nods, turns, and makes her way to the elevator, with Cole and Garrus close behind her. As she made her way down the walkway, she couldn't help but have a sensation of being home once again. Sure, this wasn't the original Normandy, but the air around it felt the same. That feeling, however, soon faded as she saw that everyone in the vicinity was staring at her with contempt and disgust. They all knew why she was here, and they barely tolerated it.

Cole, taking in all the gazes from his crew, stops in the middle of the CIC to address everyone. "This isn't a staring competition, people. As you were." He looks back at Ashley. "Like Joker said, we've all been through a great deal. I don't think I can stress enough about how 'on edge' we are right now." She just nods and continues her way to the elevator.

As they drew close to the elevator, Cole moves himself in front of Ashley to activate the elevator. "It's just one level up."

"Interesting." She said as both she and Garrus followed Cole into the elevator. "How many levels are there?"

"Four in total." Garrus said as he positioned himself just behind her.

"She's an impressive ship." She turns to Cole with a mild distressed look on her face. "Look, Shepard, I know you're playing this safe, but can you tone down the whole guard duty aspect of this?"

He looks at her and takes in her expression. From what little he could gather; she was genuinely uncomfortable with the situation he had put her in. "I'm sorry, Ash, but I can't take that chance. If everything goes smoothly, well, I might be convinced to drop the whole thing." He pauses for a moment. "Oh, you're going to hate this next bit." He said as the doors opened to Grunt's massive stature standing guard by the cabin door.

She looks to the massive Krogan in front of her and slumps her shoulders in response. "Oh, you got to be kidding me."