"Liara!" I flagged her down as she tried to get off the ship. "I had a thought. Would you mind merging your mind with mine again?"

"What- I don't see why not, but why?" She was bewildered by my urgency.

"I think I saw where Saren is going, but I don't know where it is. It literally just now occurred to me, or I would've asked you sooner."

Right there, in the middle of everyone leaving, we mind melded. She stumbled back a few steps when she was done, blinking to clear her vision.

"I-"

I caught her. "I need to know what you saw, Li." The urgency growing.

"Ilos. I recognized it from my research." Her eyes met mine, wide. "The Conduit is on Ilos!"

"Ilos is attached to the Mu Relay, isn't it?"

"It is." She shook her head, still leaning on me for support. "Saren will have his entire fleet orbiting Ilos. We will never make it down to the surface without reinforcements. You must alert the Council. We will need-"

"I know, I know." I hushed her. "I'll talk to them. Are you okay? I kind of pushed you hard there."

"I am fine." She brushed away my concern, straightening. "I will go eat. That should help."

"Let me know if I can do anything."

"I will." She walked out, leaving me standing alone on the ship.

I put my hands on my hips, taking a deep breath. Ilos. But there was that dream of the Citadel and the Reaper, too. I couldn't just shrug it off as a nightmare, not when we were closing in on Saren and Sovereign. Looks like I had two things to say to the Council.

...

"Council." I nodded in deference to them as I approached the terminal where Udina stood. "New details have come to light, since the reports were turned in."

The asari Councilor gestured for me to continue.

"We believe Saren is heading toward Ilos, through the Mu Relay. We also believe he wants to attack the Citadel. Whether that's before or after Ilos, we're not sure."

"Should he really attack the Citadel, we will be prepared. Patrols will be stationed at every mass relay linking Citadel space to the Terminus Systems."

I nodded again, stepping back to stand behind Udina. That was the best we could hope for. Ignoring Ilos was expected, honestly, since it was a long-lost planet, the relay to get there having been lost to time, as well.

"I'm glad you recognize the need for discretion, Shepard." Speaking of Udina. He turned to me. "Saren's greatest weapon was secrecy. Exposed, he is no longer a threat. This is over."

I kept my expression blank.

Yet, somehow, the motherfucker-

"Ambassador Udina, I get the sense that Shepard isn't willing to let this go." The turian Councilor chimed in, derisive.

I hadn't done anything!

Maybe that was the issue. I was keeping my own counsel, and he figured that was my way of overriding whatever their decision would be.

"There are serious political implications here, Shepard." Udina growled at me, a finger in my face. "Humanity's made great gains thanks to you. But now you're becoming more trouble than you're worth."

Aca-scuse me? He really... He really just said that to me.

It was then that I realized some of my team had gathered on the outskirts of the catwalk.

"You bastard! You're selling us out!" Kaidan scowled.

He tried walking onto the platform, but Wrex and Garrus held him back, Ashley moving to stand in front of him.

Ignoring him, the ambassador pressed a few keys on the terminal. "It's just politics, Shepard. You've done your job, now let me do mine." I had a bad feeling about this. "We've locked out all the Normandy's primary systems. Until further notice, you're grounded."

I shrugged, the picture of nonchalance. "That's fine." A glance to the Council. "Council."

With that, I walked away, flicking out my fingers and snagging Kaidan's sleeve. Dragging him, and the others, out of the Citadel Tower.

We walked in silence all the way to the back alley in the Lower Market.

"Please refrain from making a scene." I rubbed the bridge of my nose, letting go of him as the others filled out the space around us. "I understand. Trust me, I do. But making a scene will only encourage him."

"What are we going to do?" Garrus asked, frustrated.

"There has to be something you can do. You're a Spectre." Ashley had her arms crossed, looking pissed.

I held up my hands. "I'll figure something out, don't worry. Maybe I can reach out to some contacts, pull some strings. Trade in some favors. The problem is, this is the Council. Not a lot of people are willing to go against the Council, you have to remember that. In the meantime, stay close to the ship. Tell the crew the same thing. When something comes up, it'll probably be a quick getaway, considering we'd be breaking about fifty laws. So, if you're not cool with that, you can stay behind." I looked at each of them in turn. Paying special attention to the marines. "This could fuck up your records, for you two."

"I don't care. We've come this far. I can't back down now. Wouldn't feel right." Kaidan frowned.

Ashley shook her head. "I won't, either. We're a team."

What a lovely change of thought. I wonder what had caused it, and in such a short time, too.

"Alright. You all, act like everything is fine. Like we're not plotting anything." I grinned. "I'm going to send some messages and then head to the gymnasium. When I hear anything, I'll let you guys know."

"There is nothing we can do?" Liara didn't like that.

"I don't think so, unless you know people high up that owe you favors." A shrug. "Sorry."

...

All my messages sent, most replying quickly. They couldn't help me. Understandable, honestly. It was the Council I was asking them to defy, after all.

When Kaidan found me, I was on the floating pole, spinning in circles with only my neck and my leg keeping me on the pole, my hair flying about behind me.

I spotted him, but didn't stop my routine. He didn't interrupt, either, choosing to wait and watch.

Hopping down onto the mat, I made my way over to the space I'd put my stuff. He surprised me by holding out my towel.

"Thanks."

"Sure." He gave me a quick once over, his eyes quickly darting back up. I fought not to raise my eyebrow. "Hear anything?"

"No bites, unfortunately. No one wants to go against the Council. Well. No one that doesn't want to overthrow the Council, anyway." I chuckled. "Be surprised how many people want that, and I'm not even talking strictly humans." I motioned with my chin toward him. "What are you doing here, anyway?"

"I just wanted to see how you were doing." I noticed his cheeks were really red.

"Thanks. I'll go get changed and then we can go... for a walk or food or something. Unless you're going to do something else, now." Now, I raised an eyebrow.

"No!" His voice cracked, and he cleared his throat. "No. I've got nothing to do. I'd like that."

"Good. I'll be right back."

It didn't take me long, just a quick shower to wash off the sweat, put on my rose gold tank top and gray sweats, and I was back out there with him.

"Lead the way." I was curious to see where he'd take me, if the decision was left up to him.

We weren't even through the door, when he stopped and turned to me. "I want to see this through. It's tough, keeping it separated from duty. But when the mission is over, it'll be different. I-" He took a deep breath, looking me right in the eye. "I hope you feel the same."

I couldn't stop the grin that spread across my face. "I was wondering when you'd speak plainly. I would like that. And you better believe that I'll be waiting."

He started up again, only to stop a few feet further. "I don't want to muddy things up. Not that it was clear to start with. Are we good enough to go against a Spectre or not?" The frustration was bubbling to the surface with him. "Are we valued agents or just... peons?"

"Not one to say 'we'll get through it' or 'it'll be alright,' are you?" I shook my head, offering a small smile. Bemused at his outburst. I hadn't seen anything like that from him yet.

"It's that easy, huh?" He cleared his throat. "Everything'll be fine, Shepard. You'll figure it out."

I laughed, shaking my head. "You're a natural."

There. That look in his eye that made me feel like I was out in the sun. He held out a hand, and I took it, curious. He snapped me toward him, into his arms, and bent his head.

A ping came from my omni-tool.

"I swear to the gods-"

He went to step away, but I grabbed either side of his face and pulled him in for a kiss. It was soft, sweet, my frustration in check and not a part of it.

Another ping.

I pulled away, smiling as I read the messages.

"Anderson wants to see me. In Flux. Says it's urgent."

"You should, ah, go see what he wants."

"Want to walk with me?" I asked, tilting my head, getting a good look at him.

His eyes were wide, his face fully red. "Ah, I should probably go to the ship. If it's about the lockdown, it might be that he knows how to get us out of jail."

"Oh, you're right." I nodded. "Well, no matter. We can pick this up another time."

"I'd like that."

I was beginning to think of that as his catchphrase.

We walked a little ways together, parting at the rapid transit area.

Wasn't long before I found myself sitting across the table from Anderson.

"I heard what happened." He started with.

"Yeah, all very on brand for Udina, honestly. Not sure why I didn't see it coming."

"You can't give up." He leaned forward. "They think this is over, but we both know it's not." He had been there at the meeting? Probable. "You have to go to Ilos. You have to stop Saren from using the Conduit."

I matched him, leaning forward. Elbows on the table, fingers steepled. "No one's willing to help. They don't want to risk the ire of the Council."

"Ambassador Udina is the one who issued the lockdown order. If I could hack into the computer in his office, maybe I can override it."

I held up a hand. "It was Udina, not the Council? You're sure?"

He nodded.

"I could hack that computer in my sleep." I pushed to my feet, ready to get my ship out of here.

A flash of a vision. Anderson decking Udina in the face, before hacking into his computer.

"You know what? You can do it. I'll get everything ready on our end, just get that order overturned."

"I'm on it."

We exchanged nods before going our separate ways.

"Everyone, report back to the Normandy as soon as possible. We're leaving as soon as the lockdown is over, and not a moment later." I called over our comms, heading that way, myself.

I stood behind Joker, watching the button. As soon as it flashed green, I told him to get us out of there, rushing to the CIC to input the coordinates to the Mu Relay. To Ilos.

The trip would take almost six hours, according to the map. I bit my tongue to keep from screaming. We needed to be there now, not a quarter of a day from now. But there was nothing I could do. Just sit tight and wait it out.

I went to my room, about to silently scream into my pillow, when there was a knock at my door.

"C'mon in." I called out.

The door opened and someone walked in.

"Sorry. You caught me in the middle of," I started to explain as I turned to face Kaidan, holding a pillow. "ah, getting ready to scream into a pillow." Sheepish.

He raised an eyebrow. "Screaming into a pillow?"

"It's how I relieve stress, sometimes."

"Is it effective?"

"Well. No. But afterward, I was going to watch a movie, and that usually calms me down."

"What movie?"

"You're going to think I'm so childish." I covered my face with the pillow. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."

He laughed. "That's not childish. Definitely something I could see you watching, that's for sure."

"Do you, I mean, do you want to watch it with me? I have all the best kinds of candy and the popcorn is super buttery, plus I pour real butter on it. Only time I eat real butter."

"Why?"

"I don't like the taste, unless it's on popcorn." I wrinkled my nose, pulling the pillow away. Tossing it onto the bed.

His eyes widened as if he'd suddenly realized something. "You were asking if I wanted to watch..."

"Yeah. I figured, why not? Also, I'm not stopping at just SS. I'm going through all of them, until we get there. I'm not leaving this room unless I have to." A grin.

"I-"

"You don't have to." Although, I'll admit, my stomach sank a little. Was I being too pushy? Too much, too soon? I didn't know how he was with... Wait. We weren't even in a relationship yet. Oh, no. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel pressured." I was backing up, until I hit the wall behind me, which made me jump. My breathing came quicker, and I felt a little lightheaded. "You probably have things to do. Sorry."

"Shep-" He walked over to me, putting a hand on my shoulder. "Viridian, are you okay?"

"I need-" A wild gesture toward my gym bag.

He went through it, finding my little pill case. Handed it to me. I popped the anxiety pill, leaning heavily against the wall until the attack passed.

"What happened?" He was rubbing my arm when I became aware of my surroundings again.

"Sorry. I-" I ran a hand through my hair. "Panic attack. I get them sometimes. When I do get them... they're bad enough to need medication. Or they can last for over an hour."

"What triggered it? Was it me? Should I go?"

My hand shot out, wrapping around his wrist. Not tightly, but enough pressure to give him pause. "No. No, stay. It was... I get caught up in my own head. We're not... We haven't actually had the conversation on if we're... together or not, and I realized asking you to watch a movie, or four, was a date. And that made me realize I don't even know what we are. And that made me think that I was pressuring you into being here, and I didn't want that. And-"

"Whoa. Slow down. Breathe." His hands went to my upper arms, holding me steady. "I would like to be together. And I'd like to watch a movie, or four, with you."

I blinked, surprised. "You... would?"

He pulled me to him, pressing his lips against mine. When he pulled away, we were both breathing heavily.

A glance around, and he looked at me questioningly. "How do you watch movies in here?"

"I installed it myself." I pressed some buttons on my omni-tool, and a large screen came down from in front of the bed. "I'm honestly so excited to watch the Harry Potter movies on such a big screen." I reached up, syncing his ear piece to my omni-tool, before handing him another ear bud. "Here. This way, we won't bother the rest of the ship with the noise. You can change your own volume, too."

"You've really thought of everything, haven't you?"

I grinned, jumping onto the bed and throwing myself to the other side. Pulling boxes filled with candy out from underneath.

"I've got so much to choose from."

"I haven't seen this since I was a kid." He said in wonder, holding up one of the many types of candy bars I had. "How'd you get your hands on this?"

"It's all about who you know. They still make it, it's just not as commercial anymore." I replied, climbing back onto the bed. Getting comfy. "Sit wherever you like."

He kicked off his shoes and moved to sit next to me. Right next to me. Part of my left side was in front of him, he was that close, partially behind me. He slid an arm around my waist, and I rested my head on his shoulder after I started the movie.

It was nice. A nice way to pass the time.