Twin Fates

by Tobias5

Fate played as much a role in Shepard's defeat of the Reapers as did his skill. What if fate had different plans? Did you know that the Shepard on Mindoir was born as a twin? What if both had survived the raid? How would the Reapers have dealt with TWO great heroes instead of one? It's time to find out just how much better and worse things get with TWO Shepards fighting a war.

28. Chapter 27

Twin Fates

By Belle and Tobias

Automatic Disclaimer: We do not own the rights to the Mass Effect or any other referenced copy righted material.

Toby's Note: So, here it is folks. The last chapter of the Mass Effect 2 arc. Unlike previous chapters where one starts and the other adds, we swapped it back and forth between us. A bit more difficult but it works perfectly for this chapter. I hope you enjoy it, we've been working towards this point pretty hard. We've put our characters through hell and people will be hurt. Some will come back to their humanity and others will fall to the bottom. Given our changes after the initial opening Mass Effect 3 is going to be big in the alternate time line. So those of you who are comparing the two (you know who you are and I love you making those comparisons) get your note pads ready. Lots of major changes and some new scenarios. However, before we get there, settle in. Relax. Pour a drink. Turn on this chapter's theme song (I May Fall by Casey Lee Williams). Turn down the lights. Let us tell you how this little arc ends…

Belle's Note: You all knew this was coming. We have already lost a few up to this point, how will that effect us and what will our dual heroes face on the way to the end. We are finally here and let me tell you, it has been...great. I look forward to showing you the ripples of our choices turning into tsunamis. Side note, MY music themes are different of course. I actually will regularly use the theme music of the game while writing. For this chapter, I used a mixture of the actual ME OSTs, emphasis on The End Run, Suicide Mission, and Reflections tracks from ME 2 and the Love Theme and From the Wreckage tracks from ME. I also used Take it Back from Miracle of Sound for most of the action sequences. I was actually turned ON to Miracle of Sound by this AMV /p5kbBebrbqs if the link doesn't work, look up TankistFXA - Sacrifice (Mass Effect music video) on YouTube. Miracle of Sound is a pop culture band with a HIGH focus on video game based songs. I highly recommend checking them out if you haven't heard of them before and if you have, virtual high five!

TN2: *annoyed the mood has been ruined* Seriously? After the mood I set with my first note you have to try to one up me with another kick ass song? I mean you couldn't wait for something in arc 3? Oh but nooooo Toby picked a great song so I have to try and show him up. I see how it is. We'll just see who sides with me! My song is the title of the chapter!

BN2: *shrugging* Hey, you know my feelings on RWBY, I don't mind using your song for the title, I just wasn't feeling it for writing inspiration. I'm picky about my music during writing and I WILL take hours just to get the right playlist going. That is why I have Jane's Playlist, Game Songs, Gamer, AND Mass Effect playlists on my iTunes. Also, try to one up you? Please, I wasn't even trying. *winks and v-signs the readers* Don't worry, I've still got some good rocking songs for ME3.

TN3: *glares at her* Oh I call you out on that bull shit. Ignoring the RWBY aspect of it you could have saved that song for another chapter, hell the finale of 3! Nope, not gonna happen now. My way or the highway chapter title wise. Theme songs too.

BN3: *smirks as she cracks her knuckles* Oh really? Please, we both know depending on where we post it is a courtesy to each other that we don't go changing things before posting. If you want to push it, you're going to be shocked when I post this chapter on Archive with the title "Take it Back."

TN4: That's it! *at this point the author's notes devolves into a large brawl between friends, complete with cartoon dust cloud*

Garrus's Note: Really? This again with these two?

Jack's Note: I got fifty credits on Belle. *everyone winces as Toby lets out a high-pitched manly scream as Belle hits him in the male weak spot* Make that a hundred.

John's Note: I don't know Toby can fight dirty too. *everyone blinks at Belle's scream of outrage and pain as Toby grabs her female assets*

TN5: Honk-honk bitch! *fight continues with a firm slap across the face ringing out from the cloud*

Jane's Note: Goddamn it! Fine, I'll start the chapter! And someone call Mordin!

Chapter 27: I May Fall

Earth Date: April 27th, 2186 CE

Location: Normandy SR-2

"Shepard," Hackett stated as he entered the airlock. Jane saluted and he returned the gesture.

"I thought you might be more comfortable here with an Alliance escort, Sir," Jane said and Hackett nodded as they entered the ship. Hackett locked his eyes on the elevator, but he checked out the ship on his periphery. They said nothing until they were in the elevator and Jane hit a button.

"Casual conversation?" Hackett asked and Jane smirked, eyes on the door.

"Once you leave the ship, we are heading to the Omega 4 Relay, we will progress through it and who knows what we will find on the other side," Jane confessed while Hackett nodded.

"ETA on missing?" he asked and Jane thought for a moment.

"Give us two weeks, if you haven't heard from us after then...assume KIA and we failed," Jane said. "I left you with that pet project of mine, so even if we fall against the Collectors, you will have something." Hackett nodded as they exited the elevator.

John hissed as Miranda finished cleaning his wounds. As she was finishing, the door to the med bay slid open revealing Jane leading Admiral Hackett. He had a grim expression on his face.

"Doctor, I was hoping to have a few words with your patient," Hackett said and she glanced at John. He nodded and Miranda walked out of the room. Hackett frowned as she passed him and Jane raised an eyebrow.

"Sir?" Jane questioned and Hackett shook his head.

"I believe I know that young woman," Hackett mused. "Her profile has come across my desk as a high level Cerberus operative. A profile generated by someone I trust." Jane felt her face flush. She had written that profile, and many others about the Cerberus personnel on the ship.

"Admiral Hackett, I wasn't expecting to see you here," John said, drawing his attention to him and not his crew.

"You went out there as a favor to me, Spectre. I decided to debrief you in person," Hackett explained. "Of course that was before the mass relay exploded and destroyed an entire Batarian system. What the hell happened out there?"

"Have you received any intel about what happened?" John asked but shot his sister a questioning look. Jane returned it with a flat stare.

"All I know is I sent you to break Amanda Kenson out of prison and now an entire system has been destroyed. I hope you can fill in the leap of logic between those two events," Hackett said and John sighed. He hopped off the bed and took up the data pad nearby that he had been working on. He handed it to Hackett.

"The details are in my report but to summarize I confirmed Doctor Kenson's proof. The Reapers were coming and destroying that relay was the only way to stop them," John explained as Hackett glanced over the report. "Kenson sedated me for almost two days. I started the engines with only a little more than an hour left. I tried to warn the Batarian colony and if Jane hadn't been able to warn the colonists with her contacts all of them would have died."

"The Hegemony reported that only a few thousand have survived but the Dramye have said that almost a third of the colony has survived. Reports are also coming out that the colony's Hegemony leadership were preventing civilians from leaving. The surviving colonists are defecting to the Dramye in mass and word is that there is a huge social upheaval." Hackett informed them and Jane looked surprised.

"That's fast, it hasn't even been twelve hours yet," Jane noted and Hackett shot her an amused look.

"Given recent events with your brother and your work to get the Dramye an embassy on the Citadel, our deep operatives have been reporting that things are edging toward a civil war within the Hegemony. It wouldn't surprise me if this event catapults them into one. It's only a shame that more colonists couldn't escape." Hackett noted and John winced.

"They died to save trillions but if I could have saved them you bet your ass I would," John said and Hackett waved him off.

"You're preaching to the choir, Spectre. However this could cause us issues with the Hegemony. The Reapers are coming and we can't afford to have them lashing out at us and everyone else in their way," Hackett explained.

"Admiral what are you saying?" Jane questioned. "John acted as Spectre, his own transmission identified himself as one."

"I don't know but given the shitstorm before this happened I anticipate the Hegemony trying to use it against us somehow. After your mission is done I want you to contact me, John," Hackett said, focusing on him. "We may need you to make some hard choices to keep us from being weakened by a war with the Hegemony."

"I understand," John said and Hackett handed him his report back.

"In the meantime you keep this," Hackett said, "I don't need to see a report to know you did the right thing."

"Thank you Admiral," John replied.

"You've done a hell of thing, Spectre." Hackett said and turned to leave. John watched the Admiral go and sighed as he seemed to slump.

"You okay John?" Jane asked and John shook his head.

"I sentenced thousands to die just to save trillions. Men. Women." John paused. "Children. Slaves and free batarians. I get the math but I think this will haunt me to the day I die." Jane bit her lip as her brother left the med bay.

~*TF*~

Jane followed John up to the CIC as they looked over the holographic display. Hackett was gone as they looked at the Omega 4 Relay.

"EDI, what's our ETA?" John asked.

"We will arrive at the Omega 4 Relay in eighteen hours," EDI reported and Jane blinked at that.

"I'm going to try and get some sleep. Maybe look over my equipment. You should look over the weapons systems with Garrus," John commented. Jane smirked.

"You're a hell of a wingman, John, getting a good friend AND your sister laid tonight," she commented and he gave her a look.

"Unnecessary," he huffed. "I am your older brother."

"Only by fourteen minutes," Jane stated as she headed to the elevator, she needed to get some things ready, first off, putting Blasto with Grunt. The krogan would enjoy playing with the varren for the night. Plus, between Samara and Mordin, Jane had a few ideas.

~*TF*~

The door pinged and Jane opened it, Garrus started in and froze when he looked at her. She smiled shyly. Kasumi had been more than willing to let her borrow the dress she had worn to catch Morinth again. Garrus' eyes were on the peek-a-boo panels showing off her waist. Credit to his willpower, he whipped his eyes up to her face. She smiled more.

"You can come in," she said and he entered, holding up a bottle.

"I brought wine...the best I could afford on a vigilante's salary," he said and Jane noticed he was out of his armor as he entered. He blinked as he noticed the mat on the floor. "You got a turian futon." He sounded anxious and Jane nodded.

"The vids," Jane said and he nodded as he swallowed nervously.

"If you were a turian, I'd be complimenting your waist or your fringe. So...your, uh, hair looks good. And your waist is...very supportive," he stammered and Jane caught the side of his face with her hand.

"Garrus, you don't have to be nervous...I'm a sure thing," Jane said and he stared at her for a moment. His blue eyes intense as he gazed at her face.

"I just...I've seen so many things go wrong, Jane. My work at C-Sec, what happened with Sidonis..." he said as he moved towards her. Jane looked up at him. "I want something to go right. Just once. Just..." Jane ran her thumb over the compression bandage on his cheek and their heads came down, pressing their foreheads together in a turian kiss. His hand finally touched her shoulder, the talon was smoothed to a blunted surface, not razor sharp. He had to have filed them so that as he stroked her skin he would do no damage. "You're so soft." She chuckled as she twisted her head to kiss him. So different from a human, still so comforting, like home. She clung to him as she kissed him and slowly his arms began to wrap around her.

For a moment they forgot to speak, instead letting their bodies explore one another. Fingers running over skin and clothing, embracing each other as they nuzzled and cuddled. Both races bonded through touch and the two of them had kept touching so minimal between them. It was too easy to move to sitting on the floor, Jane's legs slipping over Garrus' hips in a way that made him gasp in a pleased way. They hugged, chests close, as their faces buried into the other's neck.

"I don't want to mess this up," Garrus said and Jane caught his cheeks, bringing her head back so they could look at each other.

"I promise you, you won't," she said and he stared at her, his arms tightening around her, pulling her tightly to his chest as he ducked his head under her chin to rub his face and mouth against her neck. The tracing of his sharp fangs against her throat sent a thrill rushing low on her body and she gasped in pleasure. Her hands moved up behind his head, remembering Samara's advice, she stroked the delicate skin under his fringe and Jane was crushed to him as he groaned. It was a deep, primal noise that made her breath leave her in a pleasure shaken exhale.

"Again," he pleaded and she gave him what he wanted as she wrapped her legs around his waist, pressing her groin against his and he made a strange noise. "Your...legs..." He gasped in her ear as one of his hands cupped the back of her head and he slowly pulled back. "Please..." His voice was desperate.

"What is it..." Jane panted, there was something so needy in his voice.

"Please...I want you..." he groaned and Jane smiled up at him as she brought his hand up to the clasp of the dress.

"I'm yours...if you'll be mine..." she said. She felt a slow fear as he caught the clasp and stared at it. She couldn't take rejection again...he swallowed as he pulled the clasp and the dress began to open. Jane felt vulnerable for a moment before his face glowed as if he was being gifted something he always wanted. Garrus looked her in the eyes with his cold blue gaze pleased and joyous.

"Your mine and I'm yours," he said as he initiated his first human kiss. "My Jane..." Part of Jane broke under the immense relief and she felt the tears. She was embarrassed. "Did I do something wrong?" he sounded frantic and she shook her head.

"No...not at all...something just went very, very right," Jane said as she helped him to remove her dress.

~*TF*~

John crossed his arms as he took the call from the Illusive Man. After he had finished a call to Liara, EDI had informed him the Illusive Man wanted to speak to him. As the hologram sprung to life in the room John noted the man was staring at the sun John still wasn't able to identify.

"John, word is you're hitting the Omega 4 Relay tomorrow. I wish I had more information for you. I don't like you heading through that relay blind, but we don't have much choice," he said as he turned to face John.

"I've got some of the best working with me. I know we'll make it." John noted.

"I knew we brought you back for a reason. I've never seen a better leader, despite recent events I still say you're the best man for the job. Despite the danger it's a great opportunity. When you get back we'll deal with the Hegemony situation."

"I'm going to destroy the Collectors to stop their attack on humanity. As for the Hegemony, I'll deal with that when we make it back." John retorted.

"Understood. It's still impressive." The Illusive Man said. "I just wanted you to know I appreciate the risk you're taking. When you come back, know that Cerberus will be here if everyone else turns on you. You're a valuable asset. To all of humanity. Be careful Shepard."

~*TF*~

Jane woke to the warmth of being tucked against a chest. She stared at the wall as Garrus' breath remained smooth in rest and she smiled as she realized one of his hands was gently cupping her breast. Ever so slowly she turned, his hand slowly relinquishing its handful of her flesh, instead wrapping around her. One of his arms was tucked under his head, acting as a pillow. She mirrored the pose, the other hand touched his chest and he made a happy gurgle, pulling her body close. His head dropped and they were forehead to forehead again. Turian kisses were rather special since they could be done with little help for aiming.

The compression bandage was on the side he was sleeping on, but Jane could make out the scar on his lip. Across his body were scars. They made quite the pair. During a moment of reprieve last night, he had traced her scars, later she had returned the favor. He had actually giggled when she traced the bullet wound she had cost him on Haestrom. She had definitely made a noise that was not a giggle when he had followed her talon scar on her back with his tongue. He was truly a bad turian. She reached up and stroked the scar on his lip with her thumb, jumping when he kissed the digit. She looked up into his eyes and his mandibles jumped in turian self satisfaction. She pressed her forehead into his gently and he sighed as his arms wrapped around her. One arm pulled her leg up over his hip. It fell into the notch there well and he rolled her beneath him.

"You are a really bad turian," Jane sighed and he chuckled.

"I just feel a little tense about the mission today," he stated as he pulled back to look at her.

"I thought my impressive flexibility would have done something about that last night," Jane teased and Garrus chuckled.

"How about I use my reach for a rematch?" he suggested and Jane looked at the clock. She hooked her other leg around his waist.

"I'm game," she said, they would have plenty of time to have a morning go, shower, and prep for the Omega 4 Relay.

~*TF*~

Earth Date: April 28th, 2186 CE

Location: Omega 4 Relay, Normandy SR-2

"We ready?" John asked as he stood behind Joker. The pilot nodded.

"Approaching Omega 4 Relay, everyone stand-by." Joker called out over the intercom. Jane was not too far from John, her arms crossed but totally relaxed. John kept his eyes trained on the window as they approached.

"Let's make it happen," John said and Joker nodded as he laid in their course.

"Reaper IFF activated." EDI announced. "Signal acknowledged."

"John drive core emissions are off the charts!" Tali called over the comms.

"Drive core electrical charge at critical levels." EDI smoothly informed them as they flew toward the relay.

"Rerouting!" Joker replied, shunting the excess electrical energy. As the Normandy approached the relay and shifted as it entered a standard jump, John blinked as the usual relay blur was red and not blue.

"Brace for deceleration!" EDI called. The blur ended and John jerked. They were flying straight at debris!

"Oh shit!" Joker cried and his hands flew over the controls. The Normandy ducked and weaved, making its way through the debris field. After they made it through he let out a breath. "Too close."

John took a breath and looked out the window. Thousands of ship wrecks floated not too far from them.

"Jesus, Joker...we need to have you make a fucking flight training sim for the Alliance one of these days," Jane muttered as she stared at the wall of derelict space vessels.

"These must be the ships that tried to make it through the Omega 4 relay. Some look…ancient," Joker noted.

"Shepard-Spectre, our local scans have detected several ships belonging to Asari, Salarian and Turian exploratory vessels, along with several independent vessels." Legion informed them over the comms.

"Space-cowboys," Jane noted tersely and John nodded.

"I have detected an energy signature near the edge of the accretion disk," EDI noted and John looked away from the debris field. A large station floated in the distance.

"That has to be the Collector base," she mused.

"Take us in for closer look Joker," John ordered. "Nice and easy." The Normandy moved smoothly toward the station for a few minutes before EDI spoke up.

"Careful Jeff. We have company." She noted. John glanced at the radar image and frowned. It looked like a large probe. Joker's hands flew just before it opened fire, making the Normandy dodge and weave.

"Taking evasive maneuvers!" Joker called out as he worked. Several more flew in to intercept them and Joker's hands flew over the controls. The Normandy fired at several, shooting them down. "These things are pissing me off! EDI take these bastards out!" The Normandy shook as one hit the ship.

"I hope the new plating holds," Miranda noted and despite the danger John couldn't help but wonder when she got there. The Normandy shook and Joker snarled something under his breath. The Normandy twisted and turned as it moved. The Normandy jerked and EDI called out.

"Alert. Hull breach in the cargo bay!"

"I've got it, John." Jane said and John nodded as she moved off.

~*TF*~

"Jack, Grunt, meet me at the elevator, we've got an uninvited guest on the ship," Jane said over her comm as she got into the elevator. She stopped at the engineering deck, the two heavy hitters grinned as Blasto barked.

"How was your night?" Jack purred and Jane grinned.

"Competition to see who blows this fucker up first, if I win, you don't say shit to me about how I spend my nights ever again," Jane challenged and Jack laughed.

"Fuck that, two hundred credits I kill it first," the biotic chuckled and Jane shook her head.

"Fine, be a bitch," Jane shot back.

"What if I kill it?" Grunt asked and Jack and Jane shared a look.

"Fishdog Tastee Bites," the two women said in unison and Grunt smiled brightly before laughing happily.

"I'll kill it," he chuckled happily.

"I swear, your little tail is almost wagging," Jack sneered at the krogan and he laughed more.

"Want to help me make it wag? I might break you," he said, looking at the biotic with one blue eye. Jane began to laugh hysterically at Jack's expression.

"When the fuck did you start making sex jokes?" Jack cried as the elevator opened and they stared at the probe.

"Down!" Jane cried, pulling up her biotic barrier and rushing to the right with Blasto. Jack dove for cover under the control panel in front of the elevator and Grunt laughed as he began firing as he ran to the left.

"I'm getting Tastee Bites," Grunt roared. Jane and Jack both threw warps at the probe. The targeting "eye" bounced between them before aiming at Grunt. "Yes!" The two biotics began throwing warps at the probe's exposed back again and again.

~*TF*~

"Ah, come on, find some room," Joker muttered as John watched. The Normandy shuddered as it scraped some debris.

"Kinetic barriers at 40 percent," EDI Informed him and Joker scowled.

"Reroute non-critical power!" Joker ordered. "This is gonna hurt! Grab onto something!" He called over the comms.

"Oh you've got to be shittin' me!" John exclaimed as he saw where his pilot was heading. He clamped his hands onto the back of Joker's seat. The Normandy shot through a gap barely as big as it, scraping and slamming into the wrecks. "Damage report!"

"Kinetic barriers steady at 30 percent. No significant damage. Intruder still on board in the cargo hold." EDI informed them. A loud bang echoed over the ship just then. "Correction, intruder destroyed."

"Good work Jane," John said into the comms as he calmed his racing heart.

"Thanks, John."

"Fucking bitch, you cheated!" Jack's voice cried.

"Looks like we're clearing the debris field, you better get back up here." John noted

~*TF*~

Jane approached the area beside John behind Joker in time to see the Collector Base.

"There it is...the Collector Base," Jane whispered.

"You cheated?" John asked and Jane shrugged.

"Apparently throwing myself onto storage containers for a better shot was 'cheating' in Jack's book," Jane stated as they approached the oddly organic structure.

"See if you can find a place to land without drawing attention," John ordered.

"Too late. Looks like they're sending out an old friend to greet us," Mirada pointed out as the Collector ship they had tussled with before emerged from the side of the base.

"Time to show our new teeth. Fire the main gun," John ordered. A stream of energy flew at the Collector ship, shredding through it.

"How do you like that, you sons-of-bitches?" Joker cried in victory.

"Nothing like revenge therapy, huh, Joker?" Jane said with a smile meanwhile John shot Garrus a look.

"You calibrated that?" John stated and Garrus shrugged as his eyes moved to Jane's form as she high fived Joker.

"You'd be surprised what I can do with the right motivation," Garrus hummed contentedly.

"Get in close and finish them off," John ordered.

"Everybody hold on...gonna be a wild ride!" Joker cautioned. "Give'em hell, girl!" As the light tore through the Collector ship, causing it to explode, Jane's eyes narrowed in vindictive pleasure.

"Eat that, you assholes," she purred. That ship took away the first Normandy and sent Jane to hell, it was really therapeutic to watch it explode.

"Watch out!" Miranda cried out as the shockwave from the Collector ship's explosion rocked the Normandy. Jane slammed into a wall, clutching a panel to keep on her feet. John grabbed the doorway, Miranda slamming into him and his grip keeping them both up as Garrus clutched at the wall to stay up.

"Mass effect field generators are offline! EDI...give me something!" Joker cried.

"Generators unresponsive. All hands brace for impact," EDI warned.

"Fuck," Jane hissed as she threw a barrier around Joker's body as they hit. Those not in barriers slammed into the ground, luckily, most armor protected them.

"Joker? You okay?" John asked before noticing the barrier.

"Yeah...yeah...I'm okay," Joker said as the barrier dropped and Jane stood up. "Thanks, Jane."

"Anytime, Jeff," Jane said as she patted his shoulder.

"Multiple core systems overloaded during the crash. Restoring operation will take time," EDI reported as John and Joker shared a look.

"We all knew this was likely a one way trip," Miranda said softly and John frowned.

"I'll do whatever it takes to stop the Reapers, but I plan to live to tell about it," John snapped.

"I'm glad you're in charge," Joker muttered. "What's next?"

"How long until the Collectors find this landing zone?" Jane asked.

"I do not detect an internal security network. It is possible the Collectors did not expect anyone to reach the base," EDI explained as Jane and John shared a look.

"If we're lucky, their external sensors were hit like we were. They might not know we're alive," Joker said.

"Or they could be as arrogant as some of the heretic geth with their 'no windows' policy," Jane sighed.

"Joker, you and EDI get the ship back online. Jane, Miranda, let's gather the others. We need to make a few scans and finalize a plan," John ordered and the two women nodded.

~*TF*~

The team was in the conference room, finishing weapon checks and preparing for the attack. John entered and Jane nodded from one side of the table with Garrus, Tali, and Jack.

"This isn't how we planned this mission, but this is where we're at," John said as he moved to the front of the table. "We can't worry about whether the Normandy can get us home. We came to stop the Collectors, and that means coming up with a plan to take out this station. EDI, bring up your scans." The base appeared before them and the team looked the scans over.

"You should be able to overload their critical systems if you get to the main control center here," EDI explained. The location was a good haul away from where the SR-2 was located.

"This is going to require going through the heart of the station," Jane pointed out, pressing on her omni-tool to put a pin on the image. "Right past this massive energy signature."

"That's the central chamber. If our crew or any of the colonists are still alive, the Collectors are probably holding them in there," John sighed as the team looked at the scan.

"It looks like there are two main routes," Tali said, using her omni-tool to point out two pathways on the scan.

"It might be a good idea to split up to keep the Collectors off balance, then regroup in the central chamber," Garrus suggested.

"No good. Both routes are blocked. See these doors? The only way past is to get someone to open them from the other side," Miranda pointed out.

"It's not a fortress; there's got to be something. Here, maybe we can send someone in through this ventilation shaft," John said.

"That's narrow, it could be suicide and it would need to be a tech expert to get the doors open for both pathways quickly," Jane pointed out. John looked at Tali and then Legion.

"You're right, we need someone with tech skills to hack that security system. Legion, you're up," John said and Legion nodded, head panels moving. "The rest of us will break into two teams and fight down each passage. That should draw the Collectors' attention away from what you're doing."

"I'll lead the second fire team, Shepard. We'll meet up with you on the other side of the doors," Miranda said, moving to stand next to John. Jane smirked but kept her mouth shut. From next to her Jack snorted.

"Not so fast, Cheerleader. Nobody wants to take orders from you," Jack stated.

"This isn't a popularity contest! Lives are at stake, Shepard...you need someone who can command loyalty through experience," Miranda said, sneering at Jack. John looked at the group. Jack and Tali openly disliked Miranda too much and John wanted to have Jack with the second fire team.

"Garrus...you're in charge of the second team," John said and Garrus nodded at that. "Tali will accompany me and Jane on the first team, everyone else will follow Garrus."

"Well, at least he knows what he's doing," Miranda conceded.

"Once we're in they're going to throw everything they have at us." John said and everyone turned their attention to him. "I won't lie to you and say this will be easy. We've lost people on the way. Friends, comrades, even the very people we've tried to save. We may lose more." John paused and Jane watched as he stiffened, clenching his hands into fists. "But I gathered this team because I need your help to take these Collectors on. When we go into this base just remember, not one more. They attacked our ship, took our comrades. We will get them back and then we're going to stop them here and now. They want to know what we're made of? Then I say we show them on our terms. You know your assignments. So trust in each other and yourselves. I know we can do this, now let's go and do it."

"Hell yeah, let's tear them a new asshole!" Jack cheered and led the way out of the room. As the others followed behind Jane came up next to John as they approached the airlock.

"You with me little sister?" John asked.

"Only by fourteen minutes," Jane commented before whistling and pointing Blasto at Joker.

"I don't need him!" Joker cried.

"It makes me feel better to know someone has your back while EDI focuses on the ship with you," Jane said. John grinned and stepped out, dropping down to the ground. As he began to walk away he heard Jane drop down behind him. Jane waited for Tali before they began to move towards their entrance. As they headed down the path, Jane looked over to see Garrus heading out. He gave her a head nod and she drew her sniper, holding it up. He returned the gesture before they broke eye contact. He would make it and she would too.

~*TF*~

"We are in position. Exterior temperature slightly elevated. No obstructions detected." Legion informed them as they headed deeper in.

"It seems to be an obvious choice sending Legion into the ventilation shaft, John," Tali noted.

"He's a mech built to withstand hardier conditions rather than an organic. It seemed appropriate," John noted, opening fire as they went further in and Collectors began to fly. Jane's sniper rifle roar as she shot down a horned type.

"Second team are you position?" John asked into the comms after they finished putting down the Collectors.

"In position. See you on the other side of those doors." Garrus replied and John grinned.

"Anyone else and I'd be worried," He said to his sister, making sure his comm was muted before he spoke. Jane just smiled.

"Garrus will never let us down," She noted and John raised an eyebrow at her tone. He was about to ask when Legion called them.

"Pathing failure. There is an obstruction in the tunnel." John looked around and saw Legion waiting near a junction control. As they moved towards it more Collectors began to move in.

"Tali, clear the way for Legion we'll cover you," John ordered as he opened fire. Tali moved and after just a few moments the console beeped and the shaft vented as the door slide open.

"Obstruction removed. Proceeding." Legion replied. "Thank you Creator-Zorah."

"You're welcome, Legion," Tali said before focusing on John and Jane. "The display also indicated there are seven more ventilation controls."

"Put them on our HUD Tali, let's get to them before Legion does," John said and they moved deeper in.

~*TF*~

The battle plan was simple, John and Tali dealt with Collectors stupid enough to get close while Jane picked them off with her Widow. Once they reached a control, Tali would go for it to open the path for Legion while John and Jane covered her.

"That should be it," John said as the group rushed to the door. The door didn't move and he gave Jane a look, they shared the 'well shit' look as Jane switched to her assault, biotics flaring. "Come in!"

"Look out. Seeker swarms!" Garrus cried over the comm, gun fire in the background.

"We're in position," John said. "We need this door open now!"

"Go, we'll cover you!" Garrus ordered on the comm as John started firing on the approaching Collectors. The three holding suppressing fire successfully.

"Malfunction detected. Rerouting door access," Legion reported and Jane's blood ran cold. The team could do without them if Garrus was leading.

"Hold the line," Jane stated as she put a barrier on Tali, John, and herself. She took a deep breath, feeling her center.

"Corrected," Legion said and the door opened behind them. Jane's biotics flared.

"Tali go," John ordered, he was about to order his sister through, but with her barrier like that, he covered her from behind as she moved back. "Here they come! Fall back." Jane quickly turned and headed within the door to cover fire.

"Suppressing fire! Don't let anyone through that door!" Garrus ordered and the team got into position. Jane went to one knee in the front to help hold the door as Legion rushed to close it. The Collectors barely started approaching the door before it snapped closed.

"Nice work, Legion," John commented and Legion nodded his head before his little panels flickered. Jane wondered what the geth's calculated chances of their survival was at that moment. She wasn't going to ask.

"Shepard! You need to see this!" Miranda called.

"What is it?" John asked as he headed towards Miranda. The room was vast with hundreds of thousands of pods. They were connected to hundreds of large pipes leading deeper into the base. John approached the one closest to him and wiped the front of it clean. Inside he saw a little blonde girl with pig-tails, about eight to ten years old. She was holding her doll in one hand.

"More over here as well, Shepard," Mordin noted, John glanced and saw several colonists and his taken crew further back. "By my count sixty-two colonists remain. That does not include our crew."

"That's it?" Jane muttered as she came up behind him. "They took almost three quarters of the colony."

"John!" Tali screamed in horror pointing behind him. He whirled around and the little girl was conscious as she thrashed about in her pod. She began to scream and even though it was muted by the pod John felt it strike at him. His eyes widened as the horror truly sank in as her skin began to dissolve.

"NO!" he screamed clawing at the pod, trying to find a control. Not seeing one he tried to pry it open at the seams. Jane was suddenly there, her blade was digging into the seam, it sunk in and she was jerking, the pod began to open. John's eyes were locked on the child's as she screamed, beating on the glass and blood smearing the insides. She visibly melted before his eyes and as the process finished a grinding, gurgling came from the pod as her remains were sucked up and into the tubing. Jane stared at the mess, the pod barely opened.

"Get them out of there now!" John screamed rushing for the next pod. He yanked his shotgun free but not to fire. He turned it around and frantically beat of then glass. It shattered and he reached in, grabbing an elderly man with dark skin and yanking him out as the bottom of the pod began to fill with a small writhing mass of machines. John got the man free just as the bottoms of his boots began to melt. John hurriedly grabbed them and yanked them off, flinging them away. Jane was nearby, her blades slicing through the seams so she could use a pull to rip the pod open, freeing her colonist.

"Mordin check him!" John barked, setting the man down and running for the next pod. The process repeated dozens of times, by the time the last colonist was free his shotgun so smashed it was just a broken mass of wires and metal. He dropped the gun and checked on everyone. His team had gotten everyone free before anyone else even got close to that grisly fate. John went from person to person checking on them. He saw Kelly, Gabby, Chakwas, Gardner and everyone else from the ship near the end of the occupied pods.

"John? You came for us?" Chakwas said and John helped her to her feet.

"No one gets left behind," John said and Kelly took in a trembling breath.

"Thank god you got here in time. A few more hours and, and…I don't even want to think about it." Kelly said softly.

"The colonists were…processed. Those swarms of little robots, they…melted their bodies into grey liquid and pumped it through these tubes." Chakwas said, gesturing up to the ceiling of the chamber.

"Monstrous." John growled.

"Why are they doing this? What are they doing with our genetic material?" Jane asked in a cold, killing voice, a light in her eyes that John didn't like.

"I don't know. I'm just glad you found us when you did," Chakwas said and rubbed her eyes.

"So are we but we need to get you back to the Normandy," Jane noted, the sight of Chakwas alive clearly calming her and John nodded, turning his comms onto the Normandy.

"Joker? Can you get a fix on our position?" John asked. There was a moment before Joker's voice filled their comms.

"Roger that John. All those tubes lead into the main control room right above you. The route is blocked by a security door but there's another chamber that runs parallel to the one you're in." Joker noted.

"I cannot recommend that," EDI chimed in. "Thermal emissions suggest the chamber is overrun with seeker swarms. Mordin's countermeasure cannot protect you against so many at once."

"Biotics are a weakness to the seeker swarms," Jane stated before looking at Jack and Samara. "We could create a biotic field to keep them from getting near us." Samara nodded at that.

"Yes...I think that may be possible. I wouldn't be able to protect everyone, but we might be able to get a small team through if they stayed close," Samara said and Jane felt her rage burning.

"I could do it, too, in theory, any biotic could handle it. Shepard, who do you want to maintain the field?" Miranda demanded, once again being a right pain in Jane's ass. God, she loathed that woman.

"Jane," John said without hesitation and Jane blinked. She felt like a ball of biotic fury, she could do it. "She and I will take a small team through the seeker swarms. The rest of you provide a diversion by going through the main passage. We'll open the security doors from the other side and meet you there."

"Who should lead the diversion team?" Miranda asked.

"Garrus is doing fine, he can keep it up," John stated and Jane nodded at Garrus again, he returned the gesture.

"What about us, Shepard? We're in no shape to fight and the colonists are in even worst shape," Chakwas said.

"Commander? We have enough systems back online to do a pickup, but we'd need to land back from your position," Joke said over the comms.

"We can't afford to go back, Shepard. Not now," Miranda stated.

"They'll never make it without help," Jane argued and John nodded at that.

"I'll send a couple people with you," he replied. "Mordin is a doctor, he can help with medical treatment once you all are onboard as well. Kasumi, you help Mordin with escorting the civilians back."

"Joker, need location of landing zone. Will meet you there," Mordin stated as Kasumi began gathering the colonists.

"Samara and Tali are with us," Jane said and John gave her a look. "Samara and I have done biotic shield training together, we know how to read each other's fields."

"Gay!" Jack cried from the back and Jane flipped her off.

"No one can predict your level of psycho, bitch," Jane shot back.

"We've all got our assignments. Let's move out!" John ordered and the teams split.

~*TF*~

The team stood by the door as Tali hacked it open.

"You ready for this?" John asked and Jane took a breath.

"Would you like me to create the barrier?" Samara asked and Jane shook her head.

"No...I need to get my head right, I can do this," Jane took another deep breath. She thought about the little girl in the pod. Thought about the fear and terror in that child's eyes. Thought about her helplessness. Rage welled drawing Jane to the greatest pain of her life. The feeling of weakness, the pain, the horror, the smell of their father's body burning. The sight of their mother's corpse. The helpless rage of a child. Her eyes glowed biotic blue as the door opened and she brought her arms to her sides, her glowing fists near her waist in a similar arm position as the horse riding stance. She might not be able to hold it forever, but that's why she tapped Samara. Better two biotics. "Moving out. Stay close." Jane let her rage power her biotics, controlled rage. When they were in school, Jane remembered hearing that stars were controlled explosions. The fusion of the cores made energy, trying to explode, but the gravity kept it contained. Supernovas were when the explosion won, black holes were when gravity won. Jane's rage would be the explosion and her control would be the gravity, she would go as long as she could and tap out to Samara if need be. Jane focused on her power, creating a bubble around them, she barely paid attention to anything else.

"Garrus here. Team is in posit…waiting…pard…" Garrus's comm signal broke into static.

"Damn. The swarms are interfering with radio contact." John snarled. The team moved deeper into the room. Only a few moments later Collectors flew into the room.

"Cover, " John ordered and Jane moved to a covered spot as the team began to fight. Collectors attacked but Jane focused on breathing and thinking of rage.

John was no better. He tried to keep his mind on the job, to focus. Every time he saw a Collector he heard that girl's screams. One stupidly tried to rush them and as they got close John grabbed it by the throat and slammed it into a nearby waist high wall. It broke over it with a sickening crack, no longer moving. A few minutes later the team finished taking out the Collectors. John approach Jane who was leaning against her cover, breathing heavily. He tapped her on the shoulder. "We can go." Jane breathed deeply and began to walk again.

"Hostiles ahead," Tali called out and Jane took another deep breath as she moved behind a pillar. Samara used a push to send husks away. This was hard, but she had done harder. Samara helped Jane take cover again as more Collectors appeared, the Justicar clearly impressed as she began firing. John tapped Jane's shoulder again after the collectors were taken care of. Jane began to move, her breathing was hard, she might need to tag out. Then the sound of more husks. Jane glared at the creatures. Not all the colonists had been liquefied. She needed more rage. The children. Jane thought about the colonies she had investigated, the ones cleared of all their colonists. She thought of the empty cribs. The toys. The beds. The holos of families. She focused on the crib. They stole babies. Literal babies. They liquefied babies. Rage rose again and Jane felt her second wind of rage as she stared at the Scion. Samara hit it again and again with warps and a well placed bullet ended the monstrosity. Jane could see the door. She focused on the door, thinking about the children who came to this God forsaken station and would never leave. She screamed in rage as the team took on the husks, ending them as Jane pushed for the door. Exhaustion was on her mind as she stepped over the barrier.

"Hold on, Jane, we're almost there," John said.

"We must move quickly," Samara stated but the Collectors seemed to figure out what they were up too. Husks began to swarm up from the sides. John opened fire on the left clearing the way. Tali did the same on the right as Samara cleared the path directly ahead for Jane.

"They're pushing. Keep it up!" John snarled. Jane felt the tingle of blood from her nose as they hurried down the ramp towards the door. Jane closed her eyes, picturing the crib and then thinking of the melting child in the pod. One foot in front of the other, it was close...each step closer. Then Jane heard the sound of a husk. Her eyes opened to see one of the red husks, as red as the blood dripping down her lip. She had a moment frozen in time before it rushed her. Then John was there.

"Fuck you!" John snarled. Ignoring the risk to himself, he grabbed the husk, throwing it away. It exploded just as he flung it away. They moved through the door and Jane turned towards the oncoming Collectors. She let her rage build and fill her. Her eyes began to glow and all she felt was rage. Rage, rage, rage. Control the blast.

"Supernova, bitches..." she growled as she shoved her biotics towards the Collectors in a wave of power as she screamed her rage. She panted as she turned and limped out of the door. Her body felt sore, like she had run too far too fast. She pulled a biotic energy bar out of her belt and began to eat it quickly as the doors shut behind her. Wiping her nose on the back of her other hand.

"...repeat, Shepard, do you copy?" Garrus' voice came over the comms.

"I copy. What's your position?" John responded as Jane got her breathing under control, drawing her rifle.

"We're pinned down at the door. Taking heavy fire," Garrus reported and the team ran for the door.

"We're coming, just hold on!" John cried. He looked at Jane, her kill face was on as she switched from her sniper rifle to her assault rifle. She was ready to fight. John hoped they were in time. Tali got on the door. "Get that door open!" The doors opened under Tali's quick fingers and the team rushed in. Jane, John, and Samara laying down suppressing fire as the team began rushing in, doing the same for those behind them. "Seal the door!" A shot slipped between the doors, hitting Garrus in the gut and Jane caught her breath as she moved to his side. He looked at her and caught her shoulder, hand near the base of her neck.

"Armor got it," he stated. She took a breath of relief. "It's not nearly as bad as a rocket to the face."

"Not funny again," Jane said, a hand running over the dent in his armor. The bullet had broken his shield, but not his armor. Garrus gently squeezed her shoulder and they shared a look before they both turned to follow John and the others.

John was gazing at a mobile platform docked near them just below the pipes that had fed the liquified people into this chamber. He had a thoughtful look on his face clearly thinking about what to do next.

"Mordin and the others made it okay," John informed her. "I radioed in while you were checking on Garrus. EDI said this platform can take us to the main control console. We're going to overload the system and destroy the base from there."

"John please be aware there is a problem. The Collectors are amassing just outside the door and attempting to override it. It will not be long before they are through." EDI informed them on an open channel.

"You're thinking of who to leave behind," Jane noted and John nodded before giving her a look.

"I want Garrus and Miranda with us," John said. "Tali can stay in charge behind and I know Miranda has some charges we can use." Jane nodded her agreement. It made sense. John turned to the Quairan.

"Tali you stay behind with the others. Garrus and Miranda will come with Jane and I to overload the base," John said as Jane climbed up onto the platform. Garrus and Miranda followed quickly as Tali nodded in understanding. John climbed up himself but paused before he headed for the console. He turned and faced the others.

"You people are my comrades and some of you have even become my friends," John stated. "I'm leaving you behind to give us time to destroy this base. I expect all of you to be alive when we get back. I know the Collectors are a threat to not just humans but everyone else in this galaxy. It's been a long journey and none of us have come to this point without scars but it all comes down to this moment. We win or lose it all in the next few moments. Make me proud. Make yourselves proud. And when we're home after we've destroyed this horror factory I'm buying you all a drink."

As the crew cheered John turned to activate the console.

"You're getting better at those speeches," Jane noted as she took up her place next to him. John shot her a grin as the platform lifted into the room.

~*TF*~

The platform moved slowly upward through the tunnels. Pipes flowed in and it looked oddly organic as they moved up. Garrus and Jane had their sniper rifles at the ready while Miranda kept her pistol and John had his assault rifle.

"This is it. All the tubes lead to this spot," John said. "EDI. What can you tell us? What are they doing?"

"The tubes are feeding into some kind of super-structure. It is emitting both organic and non-organic energy signatures. Given the readings, it must be massive," EDI said over the comms as the platform entered into a chamber. "Shepard. If my calculations are correct, the super-structure...is a Reaper." At that moment the platform cleared the tunnel and the team stared up in horror at the massive partially built structure. A humanoid ribcage, arms, and skull, with enough spine to look like a tail.

"Not just any Reaper..." John started.

"A human Reaper..." Jane added. Tubes ran to the structure and disgust gnawed at Jane as her brain raced. Humans melted down to their core components...elements that could be used to make something like that. The platform connected to a few in front of the structure.

"Precisely. It appears the Collectors have processed tens of thousands of humans. Significantly more will be required to complete the Reaper," EDI explained.

"What do the Collectors gain by turning humans into this...Reaper shell?" John asked.

"They may be facilitating the Reaper equivalent of reproduction. Or it may serve another purpose. I do not have the data to speculate further," EDI said. "It is clear that the Collectors are merely pawns. The technology and ability needed to create this Reaper is not their own. It is likely that different species construct each Reaper. In this case, the Collectors provide the labor."

"The Collectors are just Protheans. Why would they help the Reapers?" John muttered and Jane bit her tongue. She would be telling her new "friends" back in Citadel space what was found here.

"The Reapers subdued the Protheans long ago. Probabilities suggest they attempted to create a Prothean Reaper. And failed. Over time, they adapted the Protheans to suit their needs. Change them. Turned them into workers. Tools for the Reaper," EDI hypothesized.

"Which is worse, being...processed into a Reaper...or being turned into their puppets like the Collectors and the Keepers?" Jane muttered.

"Still why build it to look human?" Miranda added as tubes above the Reaper opened up to reveal glowing liquid being pumped into the Reaper. Raw materials...

"It appears that a Reaper's shape is based on the species used to create it," EDI explained.

"Reapers are machines, why use organics is the point," Garrus said.

"Incorrect. Reapers are sapient constructs. A hybrid of organic and inorganic material. The exact construction methods are unclear, but it seems probable that the Reapers absorb the essence of a species; utilizing it in their reproduction process," EDI said and the twins shared a look.

"How many more humans do you think they'd need to finish this one?" Jane asked.

"Millions. Perhaps more. Impossible to know for certain," EDI stated. "This Reaper appears to be in a very early stage of development. An embryo in human terms."

"So it's not alive yet? We can still stop it from being...created?" John asked.

"The process can be stopped, but it is unclear exactly how much it has developed. I cannot, for example, tell you if it has awareness," EDI explained.

"This thing is an abomination. EDI, how do we destroy it?" John asked.

"The large tubes injecting the fluid are a weak structural link. Destroying them should cause the supports to collapse, and the Reaper to fall," EDI explained as a platform approached.

"We've got to take care of some old friends first," John said. "Garrus, Jane, take out the tubes, Miranda and I will take care of our friends."

"I have right side," Jane said.

"I'll take left," Garrus agreed. As the tubes were exposed, the two snipers focused on different tubes. They exploded and the other two tubes sheathed. Jane and Garrus switched back onto the Collectors attacking. It was easy to stay low as the Collectors focused on John and Miranda, then put a bullet through them.

Once the tubes were exposed again, Jane and Garrus aimed at the tubes again, taking out the support. The Reaper began to drop as the tubes all disconnected.

~*TF*~

"John to ground team, status report?" John ordered as he stood over the platform edge and watched the Reaper fall to its death.

"John, it's Tali!" the woman's voice called out on the comms. John could hear gunfire and explosions on their end. "We're taking a beating but we're still holding! I don't know how much longer we can keep this up!"

"Head to the Normandy!" John ordered before switching comm channels. "Joker prep the engines. I'm about to overload this place and blow it sky high." John ordered as he headed for the main control console. Jane already had it open and John knelt before it digging into its wiring.

"Uh, John I have an incoming signal from the Illusive Man. EDI's patching in through." Joker informed him. John didn't turn around from his work, following the layout the techs had given everyone during the mission briefing. Jane glared at the Illusive Man as Miranda's omni-tool project a holographic image of him. Even now he was arrogant enough to demand attention.

"John, you've done the impossible." He stated, smugness plain in his voice.

"I was part of a team. I couldn't have done it without them, some even died to get us here," John noted as he worked.

"I know, their sacrifice will not be forgotten." Illusive Main said and John felt like that was total bullshit. "You did what you had to do and you acquired the Collector base. I'm looking at the schematics EDI uploaded. A timed radiation pulse would kill the remaining Collectors and seeker swarms. It would leave the machinery and technology intact. This is our chance John. They were building a Reaper. That knowledge, that framework, could save us."

"What?!" Jane exclaimed in horror. "You can't be fucking serious!" John said nothing just continuing to work.

"Don't be short-sighted. Our best chance against the Reapers is to turn their own resources against them." The Illusive Man said, focusing on Jane.

"I'm not so sure. Seeing it firsthand, using anything from this base seems like a betrayal." Miranda said and Jane looked at her in surprise.

"If we ignore this opportunity, that would be the betrayal." Illusive Man countered. "They were working directly with the Collectors. Who knows what else is buried there? This base is a gift we can't just destroy it."

"No matter what kind of technology we might find, its not worth it!" Jane snapped.

"I don't know, Jane," Garrus murmured, he didn't meet her eyes as he spoke. "What happened here was horrible but we have to stop the Reapers. If we destroy this base all these people died for nothing." Jane felt betrayed but kept her face blank as she glared at the Illusive Man.

"John, you died fighting for what you believe." Illusive Man said, focusing on the man still working. "I brought you back so you could keep fighting. Some would say what we did to you was going too far but look what you've accomplished! I didn't discard you because I knew your value. Don't be so quick to discard this facility. Think of the potential!"

"We'll fight and win without it," John said as he finished the alterations. "I won't let fear and greed for power compromise who I am."

"Miranda!" Illusive Man cried, turning to the only Cerberus operative on the platform. "Do not let them destroy the base!"

"Or what? You'll replace me next?" she sneered to Jane's shock.

"I gave you an order, Miranda!"

"I noticed. Consider this my resignation," she said, turning the comm signal off.

"You're not such a bitch after all," Jane said to her as John finished and stood, activating the command to lower the console.

"No, you're right, I am a bitch just not his bitch," Miranda noted and Jane couldn't help chucking.

"Let's move we've only got ten minutes before the reactor blows this whole station apart." John noted. As they turned to head for their platform a deep metallic groan echoed in the chamber. The walls began to shake and John's eyes widened as the proto-Reaper climbed up. It focused on them and bellowed.

"Why doesn't anything we kill stay dead?" Jane screamed, thinking of Saren.

"Move!" John screamed. The team ran and just as Garrus and Miranda crossed onto their platform the Reaper's arm crashed into the platforms. The platforms broke apart with everyone scattered. Garrus and Miranda made it to the one they had ridden on but it went spinning away from them. Jane screamed as she felt her feet gave out from under her. She had the brief sensation of falling before she jerked to a stop. John had jammed his knife into a platform and had grabbed her by the arm. She looked at him just in time to see the Reaper lunge for the platform they were hanging from.

"Oh fuck!" Jane screamed just before the Reaper crashed into their platform. They screamed as they fell below in a crash of metal.

~*TF*~

Everything seemed burned. The metallic floor and walls were covered with debris that was on fire. There was a groaning, creaking sound from where pieces were scattered and moving against each other. Large gashes were dug in the sides of this massive pit and some were scattered into access tunnels for the collector delegated to work on maintenance. In one a pile of debris shifted and moved. As it moved aside a Shepard worked herself free. Jane groaned as she pushed up before gasping in agony. Breathing hurt, ribs were broken. She moved her left leg and white pain blinded her.

"Jane!" John called out for her, his voice echoing down the tunnel she was in.

"Here!" Jane screamed out as she rolled onto her right side which hurt so much less. She looked down her body to see her left leg was in bad shape. "Fuck."

"Fuck..." John hissed in agreement as he approached and he saw her leg was bent in an extra direction below the knee and lay strangely. "What's the damage?"

"My left side hit bad as we went down," she groaned. "Obviously snapped both lower bones but I'm pretty sure the leg is dislocated at the hip...oh, and some ribs are broken, thankfully it feels like fractures." John looked grim as he looked at her leg, he gently cupped one hand under the knee and the other at the ankle.

"Oh God I thought you-" Jane was cut off as John jerked hard, pulling her leg back into the joint as he pulled the broken bone straight. Jane bit back a scream as her vision went white again for a moment. She blinked her eyes a couple of times and noticed John splinting her lower leg as she continued breathing. She gave him a look that was less than thankful.

"Doesn't hurt as much if you're not expecting it." He said tersely continuing to work. Jane wanted to roll her eyes at him but just bit her lip as he stabilized her leg. "Do you think you broke it anywhere else? Your armor looks...rough in a few spots."

"I don't think so, but the ribs and the leg are going to slow me down," Jane bit out and looked over John. He only had his assault rifle left, grenade belt, and his armor was scuffed. "How did you walk away from that?"

"I got those enhanced shields with Grunt remember?" He said as he shot her leg with something. Jane hissed but sighed in relief as the pain ebbed away. "If I could survive a shuttle crash I could make it through that."

"Well, help me up, brother, so I can-" Jane was cut off as the Reaper screamed. The entire room seems to shake as it smashed into the walls. "It's looking for us, son-of-a-bitch!"

"This seems to the be an access tunnel to the central chamber. The good thing is I saw a few dozen of them. The bad thing is they're all small like this." John noted. He glanced up the way at the central chamber. "If I drag you to the edge can you focus enough to use your biotics?"

"Give me some credit, I can still focus despite this. What's your plan?" Jane asked. John got to his feet and a carefully picked Jane up, slinging her right arm over his shoulders. He helped her down the tunnel to the edge. Their tunnel was higher up and they had a decent view of the Reaper. It was bellowing and digging around as it looked for them, metal and sparks flying.

"If you can distract it with a warp or singularity I can get a shot at its power core." John said setting her down by the edge so most of her body was inside the tunnel with just her shoulders and up were on the edge. "You can slip back until you're charged and can do it again."

"You're going to fight that on the ground?" Jane exclaimed. "John don't be stupid! Let's just leave and let the base blow!"

"No guarantee that will kill it." John said tersely checking his rifle. "If we don't kill it, it may get to the Normandy." Jane was quiet but she understood what John wasn't saying.

"Not only that...if we destroy the core, we could destroy the Reaper so nothing is left of it. But if we kill it, the others get away," She said and John nodded. Jane closed her eyes and took deep breath, she thought of Garrus, she was still mad he suggested keeping the Reaper...but she wanted him safe. "At least we'll go together this time."

"Together," John agreed. He peered out and when the Reaper turned its back to their entrance he slipped out and slid down the sloping walls. He primed a grenade in one hand and waited. The Reaper turned towards him and just as it saw him a singularity went off in its face. John threw his grenade and it went in its core. The Reaper screamed and it bucked wildly when it exploded. John dove to the side as it opened fire at him, large explosions of energy impacting all around him. John rolled and feeling strangely calm he ran beneath the Reaper getting behind it.

Jane focused on her pain as she knelt on her right knee, her left leg pushed out straight to the side. She watched as John moved and she focused, the Reaper had eyes. She noticed an energy in those eyes, that core, and as it blasted, from the mouth. Might as well try to hit the glowing targets.

"That was the stupidest thing I've ever done," he muttered to himself. The Reaper was whipping its head back and forth as it looked for him. Suddenly a warp hit it making the monster writhe and scream. John primed another grenade and threw. The Reaper screamed again and zeroed in on him. John moved to run and was fast enough. One of its arms swung for him and John barely activated his fortified shields in time. John felt like his entire body was ringing as the blow struck. He went flying through the air and smashed into the wall. His shields collapsed and he went crashing to the ground. He barely pushed up to his hands and knees when a blast of energy hit him. He screamed as his entire body lit up with pain. Just as suddenly as the pain had filled him it stopped. John panted in relief and looked up. The Reaper's mouth was charging again and John knew he couldn't survive another hit. Then a warp went off in its charging mouth. The energy detonated in place blowing off its jaw and part of its throat. A mechanical grinding, gargling issued as it tried to scream.

"Damn you got good aim, sis," John muttered. He forced himself to his feet as the Reaper thrashed about. He reached for his grenade belt and took it off his hips. He narrowed his eyes as the Reaper thrashed on the ground as another and monumentally stupid idea hit him. "Fuck it." John charged the thrashing Reaper and with everything he had he leaped. He crashed into its chest and scrambled towards its core. He pulled the pins on his remaining grenades and shoved the belt into the core ignoring the burning pain in his right arm. He then turned to jump off and saw the Reaper's hand coming right at him. John knew he couldn't get off in time and felt a cold peace hit him.

"I'm sorry I went first again," John said. Then suddenly blue filled his eyes as he was pulled through the air. The Reaper's hand crashed onto its own chest as John was pulled right to Jane who was glaring at him with tears falling down her face.

"You are a fucking idiot!" she screamed at him. John didn't reply, just dove over Jane and covered her. Then his grenades went off detonating the core and their world filled with a roar of an explosion, with blue and red light.

As he heard the sound of debris clattering, falling John looked up. He watched debris fall down into the tunnel and was amazed to see a thick, black scorch mark only inches from their heads. A haze wafted from the tunnel opening and John did know if it was luck or not that they had survive. He crawled towards the opening as Jane started to take a couple of deep breaths as she checked her bandages. John looked out and down, wincing in the heel. He gave a low whistle. The bottom of the pit was red hot and covered in molten slag. The Reaper didn't look very human before, just large chunks of it here and there with melted metal everywhere. He slipped back down to Jane.

"It's dead?" she asked.

"If not I don't want to be here when it wakes up," He said, leaning down to help Jane to her foot. Jane shook her head and gestured for him to turn around. John did so and she pulled herself onto his back, slinging her hands over his shoulders. John grunted but stood up, catching Jane by the thighs. She hissed in pain but John held his sister up as he made his way down the tunnel. They were silent as John carried his sister, unaware they were both thinking that John hadn't carried her piggy back like this since they were children. As they went deeper in a section of them was shoved inward by a biotic field and then Miranda was there.

"They're here!" Miranda called behind her and there was a rush of people down the tunnel. Jane felt exhausted as she was passed over into arms that were familiar. Garrus looked down at her face as he carried her. Miranda slipped under John's arm as she moved to help the man stay on his feet.

"We don't have much time," Miranda stated as the group ran.

"Should have gone to the ship," Jane said and Garrus chuckled.

"I'm a bad turian, remember," he said and she nodded as she saw an opening at the end of the tunnel. She pulled on her helmet and Garrus's helmet as they saw the void behind the opening. Then the most beautiful thing appeared, the Normandy's hatch. It opened and there were the others. Relief and pain brought Jane's mind to a slow down. Her head ached and she remembered passing through the hatch, but then was blessedly unconsciousness.

~*TF*~

Earth Date: April 30th, 2186 CE

Location: Ilium Orbit, Normandy SR-2

"We're entering orbit now John," Joker informed him. John nodded and sighed. He felt the relief fill him as he realized that they were finally done with the Collectors. His injured hand been relatively easy to heal, the most severe were the burns to his face and right arm. Jane had needed a few more days bed rest and was still there.

"That's a beautiful sight," Jane spoke up behind him and John turned around not in the least surprised she was already up. A sunrise of bruises were all over Jane's face and she was walking on crutches. What really surprised him was that she was wearing a biotic suppressant collar.

"I over did it during our little fight," Jane informed him at his puzzling look. "Chakwas wants me to let my brain rest for a few days."

"Good luck with that," John sighed and Jane reached out to punch him in the shoulder. John smiled at her.

"So Ilium?" she noted and John nodded.

"We can stay here, dry dock and talk to the crew. See what they want to do next and what we need to do next." John noted, turning back to the view. Jane came up next to him and John was surprised when she took his arm, lifted it up so she could slip below it, and she rested against his side. He rested his arm on her shoulders and gave her a light squeeze.

"We haven't done this in a few years," He noted after a few minutes.

"I'm just so glad you're alive and we all made it through, big brother," Jane murmured. John smiled.

"Only by fourteen minutes." He teased and Jane laughed. They enjoyed the other's comfort for awhile longer before Jane sighed.

"What's next?"

"Well I need to find out who's with us and I need to contact Hackett. He left several messages marked urgent. After that, killing the Reapers."

"Just another day for Shepard then?"

"Did you expect anything else?"

~*TF*~

Toby AN: So the end of Mass Effect 2. I hope you all enjoyed it I know we did. Thank you for reading with us so far and we hope you stay with us for Mass Effect 3.

Belle AN: Man, this feels great, so much has changed, I cannot wait for you to see what we have planned for ME3. We have the dominoes set up, but how much will we change and if you agree with our logic.

OMAKE 1

"Toby what are you doing with a fire extinguisher?" Belle asked. The entire crew were in the theater for the premiere of this chapter. Toby was standing off to the side, his arms crossed and watching the crowd with a fire extinguisher at his feet. It didn't escape Belle's attention that John and few others had one as well.

"I love being in a theater watching everyone's reactions. However, if I know you Shakarians as well as I do when that scene you wrote is going on…" Toby trailed off as said scene began to play. He watched as a slight haze began to emanate above the Shakarian portion of their fans. He reached down to pick up his fire extinguisher, ripping off the tag before he began to casually walk toward them. He got there just as Jane and Garrus both moaned on screen. A Shakrian shrieked in joy and to Belle's shock but Toby's expectation they burst into flames. Toby immediately sprayed them with the fire extinguisher.

"Thank you," the fan muttered as they wiped the foam away.

"It's what I'm here for," Toby said as another fan burst into flames and Grunt dumped a bucket of ice water on them.

Belle slinked out of the theater as the scene ended and the Shakarians began to scream for more.

"Maybe I should publish a smutty one shot," she muttered.

OMAKE 2

"It appears that a Reaper's shape is based on the species used to create it," EDI explained.

"Reapers are machines, why use organics is the point," Garrus said.

"Incorrect. Reapers are sapient constructs. A hybrid of organic and inorganic material. The exact construction methods are unclear, but it seems probably that the Reapers absorb the essence of a species; utilizing it in their reproduction process," EDI said and the twins shared a look.

"How many more humans do you think they'd need to finish this one?" Jane asked.

"Millions. Perhaps more. Impossible to know for certain," EDI stated. "This Reaper appears to be in a very early stage of development. An embryo in human terms."

"So it's not alive yet? We can still abort it?" John asked.

"Whoa! Whoa! No, we are not saying that," Jane said and John blinked.

"But it's like a fetus," he stared.

"No, it's a disgusting construct made from liquefied humans, not a fetus," Jane said and John sighed.

"Fine, how do we destroy it?" John huffed.

OMAKE 3

"So where is everybody?" Belle asked. Toby had insisted on a post arc party but so far Belle had only found Liara.

"I believe they are on the SR-2 set. Tobias thought it appropriate to have the party there since we're using the next arc SR-2 set." Liara said. Belle blinked as they entered the studio they just finished using. She had no idea where the galaxy map had gone but someone had replaced it with a dance floor. Toby seemed to have neglected to tell her he had invited their fans to join them.

"I'm not sure this is a good idea," Belle noted seeing Jane and Garrus dancing on the floor. With how close the two were she was sure there was some serious grinding going on between them. The way the Shakarian fans were cheering them on seemed to confirm that.

"Ah live a little," Toby said as he came up to her. She blinked in surprise. Toby's glasses had been replaced with sunglasses and there was neon glow-stick collar around his neck. "You should see Tali."

"What about her?!" Belle exclaimed.

"Wheeeee! Hit me again!" Tali's cry echoed. Belle turned to the elevator and noticed someone had set up a bar there. To her shock Mordin was tending bar and was shaking a mixer. Tali was following the shaker move back and forth like a cobra watching its prey. It would have looked better if there wasn't a straw hanging from the port in her helmet.

"Fascinating that you are still conscious. Concoction of my own design. Turian and Quarian mix with human watermelon flavoring." Mordin noted. "Perhaps fans should also refrain from ordering Ms. Zorah's drinks as well." Belle glanced at a few fans vomiting into trash cans.

"I am not paying for their medical bills." Belle stated flatly. Toby shrugged.

"I put up a sign," Toby said drinking his own beer. Belle narrowed here eyes as she noticed said sign said not to be a dumbass and drink things that could kill them.

"Toby…"

"Oh let them live it up. I mean its not every day we have an arc end." Toby said and Belle sighed.

"Yeah shake it baby!" a random fan screamed.

"Ugh."

"Selling tickets, selling tickets! Drunken Asari shower show! I guarantee I can get Samara, Liara and Aria to show off! Tickets fifty a piece!"

"Kasumi!"

"Biotic shown down in the cargo bay! Watch me destroy the Cerberus cheerleader!"

"JACK!"

OMAKE 4

"Hey, Alenko, did you see this?" Captain Briggs asked Kaidan as the man passed him in the hallway. Kaidan paused, confused.

"See what?" he asked.

"Third Fleet's report on Shepard," Briggs stated and Kaidan froze.

"Which Shepard?" he asked.

"The sister," Brigg said and Kaidan approached the captain. He held out the information pad and Kaidan took it. He read and his eyes widened.

"They made it through the Omega 4 Relay?" he asked and the Captain nodded.

"First Alliance officer to see the other side and make it back alive. She's sending out the IFF information to the brass with a recommendation to share the information with other Council races," Captain Briggs chuckled. "Hell of a woman." Kaidan read the report and nodded.

"She sure is," Kaidan said.

"Didn't you serve with her during that Saren incident?" Briggs asked.

"Yeah," Kaidan said as he finished the report and handed the pad back.

"What was she like?" Briggs asked and Kaidan looked at his captain for a moment.

"Even more amazing in person," he said before heading back down the hallway. He wondered if she had read his letter or not. He was thankful she was still alive.