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.

30. Chapter 29

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.

Belle's Note: *gathering her spilled notes and muttering* Oh! Hey guys, how are you doing?! Um, to be perfectly honest, Toby and I did not fully flesh out who is doing which chapter until recently and I got this chapter suddenly. Ha ha, no worries, I can do it and I'll get to do a two-fer because the next chapter is one I called dibs on, for obvious reasons you will figure out almost IMMEDATELY after reading this chapter. Can I tell you all how STOKED I am to be getting into the ACTUAL ME3 arc, I know we technically started it last time, but *whispering behind her hand* I don't really count the ME3 arc starting until the attack on Earth. Still, you are going to LOVE what we do in this chapter and while some of you may be mad, understand, there is a method behind our madness, the ripples we have been making are becoming waves, so let's ride them together!

Toby's Note: You guys need to thank Belle completely for this chapter. I got it within the week that chapter 28 was posted. She worked like a machine on this and my only job was to encourage her when she needed it. No, seriously, she would call me and without directly saying it, tell me to motivate her. When she asked me about one scene, she had planned I literally said I didn't care and it sounded fine, she just whimpered. All I did was roll my eyes and completely lied my ass off saying it was the greatest idea ever and she should do what made her happy.

I still don't care about the scene she wanted by the way.

BN2: *Belle stands behind Toby with a handmade "Thank you for the support" card, her bottom lip begins to tremble as her eyes start to water*

Chapter 29: Yesterday is Gone Tomorrow Has Not Yet Come

Earth Date: May 16th, 2186 CE

Location: Omega Nebula, Amada System, Alchera

Jane stared at the wreckage as her team worked to remove the engine.

"This tech is amazing!" one of the engineers gushed and Jane nodded.

"I'm glad it hasn't been salvaged," she said as the team began carrying the pieces from the wreckage towards the Okinawa.

"Until now, huh, Captain?" a sarcastic voice called over the comms.

"Keep your opinions to yourself please," Jane chided as she watched.

"So...the Alliance gave us permission for this, right?" Green asked and Jane chuckled.

"So little faith in me, how do any of you even follow my orders," she sighed as she moved towards the statue.

"Captain, we've got all the components," the engineer reported and Jane smiled.

"Excellent, let's go, Hackett is waiting with a dock for us to install this," Jane said as she headed aboard the Okinawa.

"Do you think it will work?" Flight Lieutenant Green asked from the cockpit. Jane smiled.

"It will work and it will be a God send," she said.

~*TF*~

Earth Date: May 24th, 2186 CE

Location: Local Cluster, Sol System, Earth, Vancouver

John pushed himself to do another set. He grunted, sweat pouring off his face as he sat up, his legs hooked over the bar he had forced into the doorway of his bathroom. He hadn't really pushed himself to find a new exercise routine since his resurrection. His typical routine on the Normandy had been easy for the better lack of term. He still sweated and felt a slight burn in his body as he exercised but nothing like it used to be. Now he had nothing but time on his hands. He saw no one outside of the guards who delivered his meals and what was shaping up to be Anderson's weekly visits. Even his calls while he tried to retain a lawyer were audio only. He was going stir crazy having not much to do during the day. No reports, no books, not even vids and screen to vegetate. The room was pretty spartan: a bed, a desk with chair, bathroom, and dresser with clothes. All military issue, of course, but blank. No rank, insignia, nothing. He had blank data-pads and a decent set of exercise equipment and he used them as much as possible. He'd already started detailed reports on Collector types and tactics along with detailed reports of everything else that had occurred during his time with Cerberus. He had only glossed over one portion, the Shadow Broker and Liara.

John growled to himself, pushing harder as he thought of her. God, he missed her. This isolation only made it worse and he ached to touch her. To snuggle into a couch with her in his arms, to run the tips of his fingers along her arms and sides, caressing those spots he knew she liked him to touch. To watch a vid or the news as he spent time with her, either reading a report in free hand or having a cup of coffee. Those moments in her apartment had been wonderful and when she would eventually give in and turn to him to- A chirp rang out, taking him out of his thoughts.

"Come in," John called out, not even stopping his work out. The doors slid open and Anderson walked in. He glanced around and spotted John after a moment. He raised an eyebrow at the Spectre clearly amused at John's choice of exercise. John kept moving, not minding that he was only in pair of sweatpants and soaked with sweat in front of his mentor. He kept his arms crossed over his chest as he moved. "How can I help you Admiral?"

"I wanted to let you know we've set up a better choice of quarters for you. It will have a bedroom, a small personal gym, and a few amenities. I was going to take you there today," Anderson said, amusement clearly in his voice. "Though it looks like you're making do."

"I thought I would be here for the duration," John said between crunches. "I've been making the most of my time. I complied reports on the Collectors, Cerberus, and everything else I encountered. I wasn't sure who to send them to however."

"I'll take them and review them. I still have a good working relationship with several of the ambassadors on the Citadel and if they're as detailed as I suspect they will be, they'll make for some good intel to share. I'm sure we can use them for the Alliance at the very least." Anderson noted, heading over to the desk. He went through the stack with interest and noticed a blank data-pad with a timer running. He blinked in surprise as it showed three hours plus. "You've been doing that for three hours?"

"The tech in my body seems to have extended my limits. I'm trying to find out what they are now," John explained. He finished one last set and reached up to grip the bar. Holding tightly, he slid his legs out and swung down, setting his feet down. "Give me a moment to shower and get changed."

"Just throw on a shirt and your shoes. You'll enjoy the new showers in your quarters more," Anderson noted with amusement. John sighed but complied, heading for the dresser. As he dressed Anderson continued. "Your personal belongings have been returned but no weapons I'm afraid, they're locked up in the armory on the Normandy. You'll have an omni-tool, books, music, vids, some other things. Calls will still be screened however you won't have extranet access."

"I can live with that," John replied as he finished. Anderson gestured toward the door and John paused only to take the few unfinished data-pads with him as Anderson took the others. As they walked out John saw James Vega standing there with couple of other guards.

"Shepard." James said and nodded respectfully. John returned it.

"Vega."

"Lead the way, Lieutenant," Anderson spoke up from behind. James nodded before heading for the elevator as the other guards took up position on either side of John. The group was quiet as they headed upstairs and walked down a short hall. John noted they never left the detention center and as Vega walked into what was to be John's new quarters it was even plastered next to the door. As John walked in, he had to admit this was vast improvement. He had a large window and living room, a small kitchen and dining area, with a small hallway to the right. John checked it out and found doors to a decent bedroom and an attached bath with a shower and even a small Jacuzzi tub. As he walked back out, he saw Anderson waiting expectantly with only Vega by his side.

"Pretty extravagant for a detention cell," John noted and Vega snorted in amusement.

"Yes, well the Alliance board was in a bit of a quandary as to where you should be. Technically, since you're seeking asylum, I got you placed in quarters for people who do seek asylum with the Alliance," Anderson explained.

"Thank you for that," John said sincerely. Anderson nodded and gestured to the hallway behind John.

"Your personal effects are in a box next to the bed and there should be a data-pad on it detailing the rules and regs you need to adhere to while you're here, Shepard. Your lawyer is scheduled to be here around three. I'd suggest getting cleaned up for your meeting," Anderson as he walked out with James following. John glanced around and found a clock showing it to be a little before noon. A shower and dip in that tub before he had to meet with someone to help fight to keep his life.

~*TF*~

Earth Date: May 30th, 2186 CE

Location: Serpent Nebula, Citadel

Jane fought the smile as she crossed the hatch first, right behind her were Jaimini, Anik, Javik, Tarzia, and Remicius. The Asari and Turian experts on Protheans had been with the Protheans since the reanimation and were the two main liaisons as far as the Protheans were concerned. Jaimini stared in awe as they entered the Citadel. Anik stroked her arm and Jane looked at them.

"How do you feel?" Jane asked.

"In our cycle, the Citadel had fallen into Reaper control," Javik explained and Jane nodded.

"We are here to try and stop that from happening again. I need your testimony and the evidence you have all collected to prove it," Jane said and the three Protheans stared at her, their eyes practically glowed with determination.

"You have us too, Shepard," Tarzia said with a grin and Jane nodded as she led the way, her crew acting as security. As they moved, Jane could see the various Spectres she had tapped for escort. All kept their eyes on the Protheans for a moment, but it was easily dismissed as curiosity for a new race. Jane was pleased, Chirum greeted them at the entrance to the Council's chambers.

"How's it look?" Jane asked and Chirum's face melted into the expression of pure pleasure at their own skill that all Salarians seemed to have.

"Udina, was too shocked to stop the meeting, although he made it clear he disliked showing you favoritism," Chirum stated. "Both Tevos and Valern were pressed by the governments of Thessia and Sur'Kesh to allow this and Sparatus dislikes Udina enough he claims it is his curiosity that he wants to satiate." Jane grinned.

"Glad to know political infighting is still useful," Jane chuckled and Chirum nodded as a page opened the door.

"The Council will meet with you in the secure meeting room," the page said and Jane nodded as she began to lead the group.

"Why a secure room?" Anik asked and Jane sighed.

"The Council needs to hear your testimony and we don't want to create a panic," Jane explained. "This meeting will be private but trust me, I'm going to make sure this information is not hidden for long."

"Will you go against your government's wishes to expose the truth?" Javik asked and Jane stared at him.

"Tell these leaders how the Protheans treated the initial invasion and I'll fill in how well it worked out," Jane said and the three Protheans looked angry. They had seen Jane's evidence about the Collectors, it had made the Protheans furious to see how their people had fallen and been genetically enslaved.

The group entered the room and Jane moved to the side. The room was designed like a courtroom with the Council sitting at a long, raised table in the front of the room, towards the center of the room was another long table with several seats. There was a gap between. The Protheans and scientists entered the room and sat at the lower table.

"Real live Protheans," Tevos said in surprise as she looked at the three representatives.

"As opposed to fake dead ones?" Javik sneered and Jane had to bite her tongue to keep from chuckling. She honestly couldn't tell if the Prothean had a sense of humor or was just incredibly, unintentionally funny.

"Jane Shepard, it has been a while," Valern said in a tone that spoke of caution but civility.

"You completed your last mission well," Sparatus stated, looking pleased with the irritation he saw on Udina's face.

"I should have been briefed, Shepard," Udina barked and Jane simply gave a look to the rest of the Council.

"You were provided with all of Councilor Anderson's materials, this was among them," Valern explained and Udina looked more upset.

"I approached you twenty months ago with the information that there was a possibility of answering one of the greatest mysteries of the galaxy," Jane began and the Council gave her rapt attention. "I discovered the locations of two hundred and sixty-eight living Protheans in cryo pods. All survived the waking process I began thirty-three days ago. Today I am here to have them explain to you the greatest mystery of our age, what happened to them. This is Doctor Jaimini, the third scientist in command of the remaining Protheans. She volunteered to come here as her two superiors are working on something we would like to present to you after giving you this answer. Beside her are Anik and Javik, the second and third in command of the military members still surviving. Their superior sees it as his duty to keep watch over their remaining people. Doctor Jaimini." Jane moved to stand against the wall watching the space between the Council's table and the table the Protheans and scientists were sitting at. Jaimini got up and looked at each of the Councilors carefully before she called up a schematic of two versions of the galaxy, one was the Prothean Empire and the other was the modern galactic set up.

"In our cycle we had already noticed all of your races," Jaimini explained, bringing up a Prothean display showing ancient Asari, Turians, Salarians, and Humans. "But all of us remaining were born long after the beginning of the end. I have never known a Citadel inhabited by free minded organics." She pulled up another display, this time showing the Citadel with the unmistakable shape of a Reaper attached to the spire above the Council chambers, Reapers moved through space around the structure like squids swimming in reverse. "This image is the last known visual confirmation of the Citadel in our cycle. Our Empire fell due to an eradication effort by a synthetic species. We called these creatures Reapers and we tried to protect all of your races from their harvest."

"Is this a joke, Shepard?" Udina demanded.

"Why do you talk to her when we are speaking?" Javik asked coldly. Udina blinked and noticed the other Councilors were listening without comment.

"We did not realize our communication methods would be so dependent on our physiology, our studies of the Asari showed they had similar methods of communication through mental means. We were wrong. As our Empire fell, we made the effort to try and leave warnings for those that would come behind us about the Reapers. The artifacts your species have been collecting held many such warnings which were meant to buy you time to prepare. The warnings we left behind were not received and now we awaken to find that you are at the brink of the end," Jaimini explained. "Shepard has shown us the attack on the Citadel by the Reaper known as Sovereign that she and her brother thwarted. It was the one to begin the invasion of our cycle as well. You are running out of time because the Reapers are coming and we have evidence to prove to you that you need to begin your preparations." Jaimini began transferring the documents that the Protheans had been working on for the last month to the Council. Jane sat back and simply watched. Tevos paled while Valern's eyes began to rapidly blink, Sparatus' mandibles began to flick, and Udina reeled. No one spoke as the Council looked over the evidence. Jaimini was still transferring documents for several minutes and the tension was so thick it felt like a weight on the entire room. Jaimini moved back to sit and Anik gently stroked her hand behind the table. Jane only saw it from her angle, the Council could not see it.

"You are fortunate that Shepard's brother was able to destroy that Relay. It was the Reaper failsafe incase the Citadel did not function as it should," Anik began and both Tevos and Valern shot Jane a look, she stood at parade rest and did not return the look. She could see Sparatus nod at her behavior. "You have more time because of this, but it will be within the year. We request to reconvene tomorrow, allowing you to look at this data we have given you. We feel we have provided a lot for you to look at, but as I said, we do not have much time."

"I believe a recess to look over this information is acceptable," Tevos said, her voice breathy. The others nodded and Jane moved to attention.

"Please escort these guests to the high security rooms within the Councilors' wing," Valern commented and the group got up. Jane, Chirum, and a few other Spectres moved the Protheans and scientists to the high security wing. Jane entered the main suite and the group sat down.

"Shepard, your Council is weak," Javik said and Jane shrugged.

"They are a good Council for more peaceful, prosperous times," Jane commented and Javik thought about that.

"Why would you follow them now?" he asked and Jane thought.

"Sparatus is a warrior, he believes in service, while I don't get along with him always, we both agree action should not be wasted. Valern and Udina are both politicians and neither has either the combat experience nor the charisma to lead warriors. Tevos acts benevolent but she is extremely loyal to her people above all others," Jane explained. "While I do agree, they are weak, they are not stupid. I believe your evidence will be all that we need to do what must be done. This Council is not a good war time Council, but they are smart enough to know their weaknesses and they know how to delegate to those better suited for jobs they find unsavory," Jane said and Javik snorted.

"War is war," he said and Jane nodded.

"And they have known more peace than war," Jane replied.

~*TF*~

Earth Date: May 31st, 2186 CE

Location: Serpent Nebula, Citadel

The meeting between the Protheans and the Council reconvened and the Councilors looked a lot more concerned. Jane felt petty satisfaction at that as she stood to the side.

"We have...looked at your evidence," Tevos said, looking at the Protheans. "Tell us in your words what happened?"

"Do you want a day-by-day retelling?" Javik sneered and Anik coughed as he got up.

"To simplify our cycle. All organics of a certain level of development became Prothean. We had many races to make us up and the Citadel was the center even then. We know now that it was by design. The Relays make it easy to set up the center of the galaxy in the same spot, every cycle. Ours was not the first cycle just as yours will not be the last...unless we stop them," Anik explained. "Sovereign appeared in our cycle as just a rogue ship, or so we thought, but once it was detected...it did not take long for our Empire to fall. Sovereign was the flag ship, it would monitor our galaxy, it was just dumb luck our sensors saw it at all, but Sovereign sent a signal to the Citadel...this is where the Reaper invasion started, but something changed for your cycle. Jaimini." Anik sat down and let his wife stand up. She revealed Ilos and the data for Vigil.

"Jane Shepard filled in some of the missing data for us," Jaimini explained. "We did not approach you until now because we were repairing Vigil. While he is only a VI, he has been invaluable for explaining what we did not know. As we all went into our cryo stasis, our Empire was shattered. Separated. Teams worked towards a goal of survival, but different groups worked on different paths without being aware of the others. As we explained in our evidence you reviewed. Indoctrination made espionage a constant fear. We self isolated, hoping all teams would find success, but never knowing to what ends for any team but our own." She projected a Keeper. "These creatures are Reaper constructs. The result of the reprogramming of a 'useful' species the Reapers harvest. Our own brethren have suffered such a fate." She projected a Collector and compared it to a Prothean. "Reapers use their harvested organics for multiple purposes. I do not know if I should be thankful ours are manufacturers or thankful, we were not as honored as the human species has been." Jaimini was smart as she put up the humanoid Reaper image from Jane's visor during the Collector Base battle. She looked at the Council, it was clear they were not liking being in the hot seat. "You knew after the Battle of the Citadel what the Shepards' team brought you from Ilos. You knew that the Keepers were augmented by our scientists making them non-responsive to Sovereign's signal. Even with this knowledge, even with the attack of Sovereign itself, you did not want to see the truth. This John Shepard destroyed the Alpha Relay and that is our best hope to buy time. We need to prepare and we need to access all known Prothean artifacts. Our own records are barely surviving and we need your clearance to access as many of our data stores as possible. The team that altered the Keepers could not have been the only successful team, we need to get to as many sites as we can." The Council looked at each other.

"What do you hope to find?" Sparatus asked and Javik grinned in a way that made Jane a little nervous.

"My team was a seed team; we were supposed to wake up a few millennia after the Reapers were gone and try to prevent this from happening again. We were found out and my team died leaving me as a sole survivor because our computer systems were damaged and could not reactivate us. The Reapers would have prioritized attacks on seed teams, this would leave the science teams, the majority of those who are alive today, all working on ways to stop and defeat the Reapers. Rumors of multiple teams who were working on deactivation or destruction methods. We want to find out what those teams did," Javik said and the Council looked at them.

"Dr. Selessia, what do you advise?" Tevos asked and Jane thought she saw Anik's eyes roll, it was a pretty cool image.

"The majority of the Protheans we have saved are science teams. Over one hundred and fifty fall into a science specialty, over sixty fall into an engineering specialty, the soldiers are a minority of these three classes making up only a little over thirty individuals, and the remaining Protheans tend to be of a support class," Trazia explained, the asari scientist looked rather calm given this was her first time being acknowledged by the Council. "In our initial attempts to find surviving teams, we managed to find more than a few new sites to explore. We gave some of the engineers access to the relics and they were able to repair them. Most of the Reaper data you were given, came from Prothean artifacts repaired by the revived Protheans." The Council seemed dumbfounded and Jane felt satisfaction. She wished she could record this and show John, Garrus, Tali...all the surviving original Normandy crew. If this moment were a food, she could survive the rest of her life on it.

"What do you need from us?" Valern asked. The three Protheans all smiled at that and Jane noticed how Udina seemed to squirm.

"We need to be able to go to sites and collect data," Javik said.

"We understand the necessity of our existence being classified for the most part," Anik added.

"We have multiple teams made up of only a handful of individuals, we would like Spectre operatives to escort us in stealth to and fro," Jaimini stated.

"How many teams?" Sparatus asked.

"Fifteen teams, each comprised of four," Javik reported and Sparatus quickly began to work on his omni-tool.

"STG would be able to handle all of them," Valern suggested.

"This should fall to Spectre teams," Tevos commented as she began to check her omni-tool.

"If it is a Spectre, I would like to request to work with Jane Shepard," Jaimini said and Jane blinked at that. The Prothean smiled at her. "You were a lone sentinel warning other of this dark fate and you did not give up. I respect that tenacity and I would like you to help us do what we can to help prepare for this war." Jane nodded in respect to that as the Council worked.

"That would remove the only current human Spectre from active rotation," Udina stated and Javik huffed.

"As I understand it you have another that you do not help because of your silly politics. Why do you not simply recommend more humans as Spectres?" Javik asked and Jane fought a smirk as Udina sputtered. She really wished she could tell if Javik was a comedian or not.

~*TF*~

Earth Date: June 1st, 2186 CE

Location: Local Cluster, Sol System, Earth, Vancouver

"Court is now in session. All rise for the Honorable Judge Angela Rossi," the bailiff announced. John rose to his feet with everyone else as the door to the back opened. Mr. Granger had warned him but he just still couldn't help but watch the woman stride to the bench. A short redhead, barely four foot ten tall, her face was blank as she walked to her seat. She sat primly at the bench. Knowing to expect it from Harry's warning, John waited as she went through her data-pads. A few who hadn't expected it began to shift as they waited. The Hegemony ambassador and lawyer were frowning and scowling at her. After she was done, she looked up and stared at each of the participants for a moment. When she looked at John, he was suddenly struck by the feeling that he was little boy again called into the principal's office.

"Be seated," she said after looking at everyone for a moment. As they all sat, John glanced to the right and saw the Hegemony ambassador was glaring at him. He refused to look away until the ambassador did. As the ambassador finally relented John caught a good look at the lawyer who was beside the ambassador. A male human with thick brown hair, he wore a high-end suit with a thick and tall collar. He glanced back at Mr. Granger who was waiting patiently.

"Who is that next to the ambassador?" John asked softly. Harold, call me Harry, Granger glanced past John and sighed.

"Arthur Trent. He's been around since the Dramye established an embassy on the Citadel. He's been arguing a few cases for the Hegemony. There's even word he might be a slave owner in the Hegemony. No one can confirm it however," Harry explained. John frowned at that.

"Councilors, please state your names, client names, and purposes for being here for the record," Judge Rossi called out. "Let's start with you gentlemen." John glanced to his right and saw Arthur Trent stand.

"Your honor, Arthur Trent, representing the Hegemony of Khar'shan with Ambassador Derour Elpour present. We seek the extradition of convicted criminal, John Shepard, to Khar'shan to serve his sentence," Trent stated coldly. He quickly glanced at John as if expecting an outburst. If Granger hadn't warned him John may have but the man had prepped John for court, stressing that no matter what to never react with an outburst. If he needed to say anything or tell Harry something, he was to write it down on the notepad on the table and slide it to him. After a moment of waiting Trent scowled and sat down. Granger stood up next and faced Judge Rossi.

"Harold Granger, representing Spectre John Shepard for these proceedings." Harry declared. John heard murmurs break out in the gallery at that and felt a bit surprised. It was public record he had been reinstated. It made him wonder just how much research people were doing for this trial. As Harry sat, the final participant who sat the table to John's left rose. John hadn't paid much attention to her till now. Another Batarian but this one seemed to have an approachable and even welcoming demeanor to her.

"I am Ambassador, Slont Ekudan, from the Dramye Cooperative. I serve at the embassy we established on Earth. I have no need for council as I am one, well versed in Alliance and Council laws. Along with laws for both Batarian governments." She explained. At this the Hegemony Ambassador exploded.

"The illegal government has no right to be here! Just give the war criminal to us and be done with this farce!" Ambassador Elpour roared. The gallery broke out into excited talking and Judge Rossi banged her gavel several times to quiet everyone down. John glanced at Harry who was grinning.

"That was bad choice of words." He murmured to John who nodded.

"Ambassador Elpour! You will restrain yourself or I will have you escorted from my courtroom!" Judge Rossi snapped. "I do not allow histrionics in my court!"

"Your honor, may I speak?" Harry said, rising to his feet. Judge Rossi gestured for him to continue as Trent whispered urgently to Ambassador Elpour and convinced him to sit back down.

"Do so, Mr. Granger," she said.

"Thank you, your honor. I realize you have not yet started official proceedings, but I object to Spectre John Shepard being declared a war criminal. There exists no declaration of war between the Alliance and the Hegemony. These proceedings are to determine if extradition hearings should proceed regarding Spectre Shepard's actions as a civilian in Hegemony space." Harry stated before sitting down. Judge Rossi nodded in understanding.

"Objection sustained. For the record, these proceedings are to either validate or reject the Hegemony of Khar'shan's request for extradition of Spectre Shepard under the Citadel Species treaty with the Dramye Cooperative. I intend to hear from all parties today as they summarize their briefs requesting extradition hearings take place. Mr. Trent, you may start."

~*TF*~

Earth Date: June 19th, 2186 CE

Location: Ninmah Cluster, Maskim Xul System, Kashshaptu

Jane was standing near the entrance of the long buried Prothean lab. Her team from the Okinawa were patrolling. She was the "escort" for the Prothean team currently investigating the site. The site itself had been a Prothean dump site, meaning it was only a data cache with no Protheans to draw attention to it. Currently, both Jaimini and Kajal were working to repair the tech enough to see what this site held. Anik was watching his wife with gentle eyes while Javik was patrolling. Jane felt rather useless until her comm pinged. She looked to see a letter from Garrus. She opened it.

She smiled slightly at his update. His mother was improving each day and was currently in the family home. His father had taken Garrus' warnings all the way up to Primarch Fedorian and Garrus was being considered for a role as an advisor for "home world readiness." That would make meeting up a very unlikely prospect. Jane's smile faded as she quickly wrote a reply. She explained without details that she was on a top-secret babysitting mission and hopefully it would be worth it in their combined futures.

"That got it!" Kajal cried as she slipped out from under a panel. Jane approached as the machinery came to life. Jaimini was quick to begin interacting with the system. She was collecting, copying, and preparing to send the data once they got to the surface.

"You are really good at fixing this," Jane said and Kajal grinned.

"My father developed half of the current systems that still function. I grew up assembling and disassembling these pieces," she bragged.

"Putting Jaimini and Kajal on a team together is why we decided to put two warriors with them," Anik chuckled.

"Because you worry about your wife and spawn," Javik commented and Jane blinked at Jaimini.

"Congratulations," she said to Jaimini and Anik, Jaimini looked down. "Use them as the motivation to keep fighting. Give them a future." The Prothean stared at Jane for a moment before her lips curled into a smirk.

"You are right, Shepard," she said as they continued to collect the information. Kajal made a startled noise and the team looked to her. Her eyes were wide.

"It is a record of teams," she gasped. "It has more seed locations we did not seek out. There could be more of our brethren alive."

"Get me the coordinates, I can have teams launching within the hour," Jane said and she quickly collected coordinates to send on to the Council.

Kajal's discovery would lead to another hundred live Protheans being added to their ranks.

~TF*~

Earth Date: June 28th, 2186 CE

Location: SSV Okinawa, In-Transit

Jane petted Blasto as she looked over the current navigation display.

"Shepard, we have news," Kajal stated as she approached with Jaimini. Jane looked over at them.

"What is it?" she asked and the two shared a look.

"Why did you not take us to the Prothean ruins in the Sol system?" Jaimini asked and Jane blinked.

"I thought you guys would have already accessed the information we had on it," Jane said and the two shared a look.

"You did not realize then..." Jaimini said and Jane blinked.

"What? What's wrong?" Jane asked. Kajal raised her hands in a placating manner.

"You misunderstand. The data we received is corrupted and incomplete," Kajal explained and Jane blinked.

"We didn't store it properly for your access methods," Jane winced as she realized what happened. "Why are you so worried?" The two Prothean women smiled.

"We were just informed that another team discovered a hint. A massive advantage was being stored in one of the systems of interest," Jaimini explained. The systems of interest were systems with species that the Protheans studied. Jane realized what that meant.

"We need to check the Mars ruins," Jane said and Jaimini nodded.

"It was recommended we have a larger team for this excavation, there is a secondary chamber," she said and Jane's eyes widened. A secret chamber on Mars. She smiled.

"Green," Jane called into the cockpit.

"Yes, ma'am?" he responded.

"We need to head to Mars," Jane said and he nodded.

"Aye aye, ma'am," he replied and Jane grinned as she turned.

"Where are you going?" Jaimini asked.

"Making sure our clearance is good and getting a friend to meet us," Jane said.

~*TF*~

It was extremely easy to get the Alliance okay for the Mars Prothean ruins. While Udina hated Jane, he was not going to make humans look bad on the Council. She was set and a secure Alliance team would be escorting the twenty-man Prothean team to the site. They would arrive first. But now was the nice part. The screen opened and Jane stared at Liara.

"Ah, Jane, I did not expect to see you until after the next trial date," Liara said and Jane smiled.

"So... how much have you been able to find out about Project Prometheus Unchained?" Jane asked and Liara looked irritated.

"Upsettingly little, just that it deals with Prothean artifacts," Liara confessed and Jane smiled. It lasted longer than she thought.

"Glad the extra security worked, it's not Prothean artifacts, Liara," Jane said and Liara blinked. "It's actual Protheans." Liara's face was frozen for a moment. Her eyes were hyper focused and Jane could see the moment when Liara's brain processed it.

"How many?" she asked, her voice airy in shock.

"We've managed to revive almost four hundred," Jane said and Liara reeled.

"Four hundred Protheans..." she gasped.

"They presented the evidence of Reapers to the Council," Jane explained and Liara smiled.

"So that's why the communications about the Reapers and military preparedness has been going up throughout the Citadel races' hierarchies. I suspected it had something to do with you," she confessed and Jane nodded.

"Liara...there's something on Mars, a big find that we didn't even know was there. Do you want to come along?" Jane said and Liara stared at her. "You'll meet a nice big team of Protheans..."

"You don't need to bribe me like a child, Jane," Liara said before she clearly went into deep thought mode. Jane kept quiet. "I can make it to Mars within four days." Jane nodded. "Jane...are you certain about this...about me?" Jane looked at Liara. She smiled, Liara's large blue eyes looked vulnerable for the first time in a long time.

"Liara, if I didn't make it clear. I forgive you. You saved John. While I am still bitter you didn't tell me...John's back. You made sure my brother is alive today. I don't think I could ever thank you enough for saving him. That's why I contacted you to tell you this myself and invite you personally," Jane replied her voice rough with emotion. "However, you do need to remember. Top secret, we don't talk about the Protheans." Liara rolled her eyes at the last comment but smiled gently.

"I suspected as much," she said.

"John doesn't get to know either," Jane said and Liara's face twitched.

"Understood," she said. "Unfortunately, none of my messages have been able to reach him. I miss him."

"I do too. I'll see you soon," Jane replied as she ended the call. Hopefully, this would put her on a better relationship with Liara.

~*TF*~

Earth Date: July 2nd, 2186 CE

Location: Local Cluster, Sol System, Earth, Vancouver

"As I expected, Judge Rossi recommended that we move on to extradition hearings." Harry said as he reviewed the ruling. "She has set the start date as July 25th. At the very end of the window of when she must set a date to start but she covers the reason for it well using the distance between our planets as time for the Ambassadors to be here if they wish to be."

"So how long do extradition proceedings usually take?" John asked.

"No more than a week but I have it on good authority that Ambassador Ekudan is going to file for dismissal. They're going to declare the Hegemony request as illegally given, they have no embassy on the Citadel. As this hasn't happened before I anticipate the extradition proceedings being put on hold and the upper court will have to rule on the legitimacy of the Hegemony's standing in our system. I suspect that they will be recognized as having a legitimate request and that the request will be allowed to move forward. When we reconvene after that I will then file that the Hegemony and Dramye are in an internal civil war and this is an effort to drag us into it. That will cause another delay while another court rules on our status regarding these governments. I expect it to fail but it must be addressed. By the time that is resolved I estimate the actual extradition hearings will start in early October. After the tomorrow's hearing we shouldn't be in court again for at least a month."

"It's damn agonizing to hope the Reapers attack by then," John muttered and Harry sighed as he moved his data-pads into his briefcase.

"They haven't left us much choice John," Harry said as he snapped his briefcase closed and stood. "I'll see you tomorrow." John walked the man to the door and as it opened Admiral Anderson was on the other side, just reaching for the door pad to signal the doorbell.

"Ah John, pardon my intrusion but I wanted to speak with you," Anderson said.

"I was just on my way out, Admiral," Harry said. "I'll see you tomorrow at the courthouse, John."

"Have a good night, Harry," John said. He stepped back and waved a hand towards the dining room table. "Come on in, Admiral."

"Thank you, Shepard," the admiral said and moved in, placing the data-pads in his hands on the table. "I bring some good news."

"I can use some Anderson," John noted joining the Admiral at the table.

"First is that your reports are being distributed far and wide. Even those governments that don't acknowledge the Reaper threat openly have taken your reports as one package. They're calling it the Terminus Tactics package," Anderson said and John rolled his eyes.

"At least Jane got to name the Mindoir Review," John muttered and Anderson looked amused.

"Yes, well I look forward to the day your name is revealed as the author instead of redacted as it is now. Still the reports are helping immensely. We have had no run ins with the Geth since you issued them. In fact, one Alliance cruiser was aided by a Geth scouting vessel when it had drive core failure. I think you'd like to know that there were Quarrians serving on the ship as well." Anderson explained and John smiled softly to himself.

"At least one thing is going right," John said and Anderson nodded.

"Now I have one last thing. Two actually but they're linked," Anderson said and slid one of the data-pads across the table to John. He picked it up and read it quickly, raising his eyebrows as he did and giving Anderson a look of shock.

"An offer of reinstatement to the Alliance? A request to donate the Normandy SR-2 as an Alliance vessel with a provision for me to be its Commander and officer in charge?" John exclaimed. "How did you pull this off Anderson?"

"Please with those Cerberus Admirals out of the way and with me back on the Admiralty board the votes swing our way. It's conditional and top secret until your extradition proceedings are finished but we need you to start training officers on Reaper ground force tactics. You know intimately how to fight Collectors and Husks. Sign it already will you?" Anderson said, an amused tone in his voice. John stared at him for a moment before looking intently at the data-pad. After a few minutes he tapped away and handed it back to Anderson. As the Admiral took it John got up and headed for the kitchen to make another cup of coffee.

"Excellent now we can-" Anderson cut himself as he saw the big red letters at the bottom.

DECLINED.

"John explain this!" Anderson barked, friendly demeanor gone and all Alliance Admiral. John sighed and made his way back to the table.

"I'm sorry, Anderson. I know you went through a lot to set this up but I don't want to go back." John explained. "I felt like I got more done as a Spectre than I ever did in the Alliance. I'm not above working with the Alliance but you have Jane. I don't want to be shackled by Alliance protocols and regulations. The Normandy and I can do more as I am now."

"The Normandy is already being retrofitted!" Anderson exclaimed. "Do you really want to turn your back on the Alliance?"

"I highly doubt you'd be able to keep it," John countered. He was getting clandestine messages from EDI and she had said no one knew she was an AI and that the firewalls in the port area of Vancouver were easy to infiltrate. "Besides the Alliance turned its back on me first. Not all of those Admirals that booted me out were Cerberus compromised."

"That's true but we need you onboard to train the men," Anderson countered.

"I'll still do that but I'll do it my way. As a Spectre," John offered. Anderson stared at him before angrily shoving away from the table.

"Very well, we'll do it your way," Anderson said before storming for the door. John sighed as the Admiral left. He wished that would have gone better.

He just wondered what Jane would say when she heard.

~*TF*~

Earth Date: July 15th, 2186 CE

Location: Local Cluster, Sol System, Mars

Jane smiled as the line picked up and Garrus' face appeared.

"Hey there, Leader of the Palaven Reaper Task Force," Jane congratulated and Garrus blinked.

"I forget...Liara..." he chuckled. "Thanks, can I ask how things are going?" Jane blinked as Blasto nudged her, placing his heavy head in her lap for her to pet.

"You can. I can't give you specifics, but it is easy work. I'm safe. I have a new sparring partner who...I can't tell if he is funny on purpose or just has the most unfortunate way of saying things that are funny in complete seriousness. I really hope I get a chance to introduce you to him," Jane said and Garrus' mandibles flickered in a pleased way.

"Should I be worried?" Garrus asked and Jane thought about Javik and being in a relationship. Ew.

"No," she said quickly. "You should worry more about Wrex than this guy."

"That's not good, you already have the name Urdnot-Shepard," he teased and Jane smiled.

"I kind of asked for it when I got hyped up over killing the Thresher Maw alone," Jane laughed.

"Which is why Wrex likes you," Garrus pointed out.

"I like your scars better," Jane replied and Garrus looked pleased.

"So, I have to ask, are you the mystery author?" Garrus asked and Jane blinked before realizing what he was talking about.

"Ah, the Terminus Tactics. No. That's not mine, but I have a theory about the author," Jane stated. The Terminus Tactics was recommended reading for colonies near the system, but Jane had tagged it to be a recommended reading with the Mindoir Review. She had even been giving it a good word. She suspected John was behind it, but she doubted he was doing most of the advertising and distribution. That had Anderson's fingerprints.

"Do I know him?" Garrus asked and Jane simply smirked.

"I literally cannot tell you for a fact, I don't know, but I have my suspicions. Still, it is good reading," Jane commented and Garrus nodded.

"I know I'm recommending it for all Turian combat forces," he said.

"We both know that they are extremely effective methods," Jane said. They then spoke about nothing for about an hour before a buzz sounded at Jane's door and she sighed. "Duty calls."

"It was nice, Jane," Garrus said and she nodded.

"Be safe, Garrus," Jane said.

"Keep extra ammo on you," he replied before the call cut and Jane sighed as she headed to the door.

"Sorry to disturb you," Liara said after Jane opened the door and Jane shook her head. "We're about to start up the new data core." Jane's eyes widened and she pulled on her uniform jacket and headed down the hall. They quickly descended.

The Mars Archives were proving to be wealthier than they thought. With actual Protheans to activate and access the Archive, new information was being discovered and spread out across the galaxy. Most governments were keeping the information on need-to-know basis. So far Reaper designs and scanning methods had been sent out. Buried within the archives was the biggest find, a device capable of immense power, capable of destroying the Reapers. The device was originally named Crucible, but the Protheans felt that it wasn't fitting. They had a long discussion and it would be presented to the Council with a new name: Project Redemption. The Protheans felt that since they had failed to stop the Reapers in their cycle, this weapon would allow them to aid in stopping the Reapers this time. The device was going to be presented to the Council next month, it was not complete...in fact, based on Jaimini, Kajal, and the Prothean engineers' calculations, to use the device would destroy every known Mass Relay in the galaxy. Right now, this was a Hail Mary project, but with more races working on it...maybe the device could be altered.

Liara and Jane entered the main chamber and headed to the elevator. Only last week, Anik and Javik had found the hidden passageway and it had revealed a second data core. This one was in worse shape and Kajal and an entire team of engineers had spent the last seventy-two hours around the clock repairing it.

"We are ready," Trazia said with the expression of a child on Christmas morning. Liara did not look much better, the two asari with a passion for Protheans had become rather close friends. Jane crossed her fingers.

"Come on super weapons for ships and soldiers," Jane said and Anik laughed.

"I hope for that too," he said and Jaimini huffed before he wrapped around her and rubbed her stomach. Jane thought the couple were sweet. She hoped their child would never know the fear their parents faced.

"Here we go!" Kajal cried as she pressed a button. The data core began to flicker and glow and then shut off. "No! Damn it, find where the surge was!" The engineers moved like lions attacking a water buffalo. One even climbing up the side. There was an angered squawk before the engineers began fiddling.

"This does not instill me with hope," Javik commented and Jane fought another laugh.

"Now...here we go," Kajal sighed as she pressed a button. This time, the flickering lights went solid and the engineers preened as the scientists moved to access the data.

"When do you take the advisory team to the Citadel?" Liara asked and Jane looked at Jaimini.

"Depending on what they find now...I'll be putting in the request either tonight or tomorrow," Jane said and Liara nodded.

"It will take a long time to build it," Liara said.

"It's not the building that I'm worried about it, "Jane confessed.

"We need it to work without destroying the Mass Relays," Liara nodded.

~*TF*~

Earth Date: July 20th, 2186 CE

Location: Local Cluster, Sol System, Earth, Nevada Desert

It was hot. The desert sun beat down on John but he had his head tilted back as he relished it. He'd been cooped up inside for weeks and relished the fresh air. He wore nothing but a jumpsuit and boots with just his knife, a few throwing knives, and his omni-tool. Anderson had provided the barracks and equipment he had asked, the VI driven husk and collector replicas being the most important. The training course was also setup as he'd requested for day one. Each night the crew who'd would maintain the facility would change it according to the layout and schedule John had discussed with them at length. There were observers and trained medics as well but they had express orders not to interfere unless directed by John to do so. As the officers lined up across from him, he noticed most of them eyed him disdainfully. When they were done, he looked down and focused on them. Most were higher rank than he had been when he was in the Alliance. Twenty-five men and women, all at least captains, majors, a few commanders, and two sergeants. The two sergeants and one of the commanders were the only ones not looking hostile towards him. It was this moment he wished that his jumpsuit at least had the Spectre logo on it.

"I'm sure most of you recognize me but for those who don't I am Spectre John Shepard. The so-called Monster." John said, sneering at that last bit. "You men are here to learn ground tactics for fighting Reaper forces. Unfortunately, I don't know everything they will use against us. I do know th-"

"So, what good is a civilian then?" A voice mocked him from the back of the men with a thick Russian accent. John frowned and gestured for the officers to move aside. They did and a large bear of man stepped forward.

"And you are?" John asked darkly.

"Major Igor Dyatlov," the man growled.

"And did you read the Terminus Tactics reports as was required for this training? Specifically, the ones regarding Collectors and Husks?" John inquired as he approached then man.

"Dah, I did, useless as it is. Brainless corpses and flying bugs? Pathetic that we need tactics to fight such things." Igor snarled. John looked the man over, noting his armor was in working order and he had only a pistol at his side.

"Well then if you don't need this why don't you test out?" John inquired. He gestured to the training course behind him, setup to resemble a small colony town. "Make it from the red flag to the green flag. I trust you have the paint modification to your weapons?"

"Yes, but I only have my pistol," He growled.

"Then that's all you have. Shall we start?" John inquired. Igor nodded and John led the group to the starting point, a small red flag on pole jammed into the harsh desert ground.

"In thirty seconds start at your leisure, Major. I will be in town to monitor you." John replied as he strolled past the man. John heard the man mock him as he walked away hearing most of the soldiers laugh. Ignoring it John took up position where he could have a good place to watch in concealment. A few minutes later Igor came strolling around the corner. He seemed smug and confident as he punched a solitary charging husk out of the way. The man was brazenly walking, not even noting the husks slowly gathering behind him. He had obviously only glanced at the reports and only read on how to kill the husks and not the tactics they used. John watched him stride past before quietly activating the Collector units to fly in a swarm, like what the real ones had done on the ship. He also triggered the husks to attack in mass and start using their personal area EMPs. Igor shouted in shock as he was suddenly facing four full squads of collectors and husks swarmed him. John watched calmly as he tried to get his pistol free only to be overrun. His shields gone the husks began to hit Igor, the light blue paint on them smearing the Major with each hit. John left his post to stride forward as they pinned him down. When Igor noticed him with panicked eyes he began to shout at John.

"Shepard make them let me go! I learned my lesson!" Major Dyatlov shouted as he struggled to get free. The Collectors units were moving back and forth, buzzing but none of the replicas attacked John as he approached as per their programming. John remained silent as Major Dyatlov kept demanding to be freed. As John got closer, he freed a couple of throwing knives from his belt. Not even hesitating, he threw one and then another. One pinned Dyatlov's left hand to the ground making the man scream, the other sank deep in his right thigh. John ignored the mix of English and Russian profanities the big man was spouting at him as he got next to him and knelt down. From the other pouch on his belt, he pulled out a thick red paintball. Saying nothing John smashed the paintball on the man's forehead and smeared the paint down his face.

"These husks and Collectors just captured you, Major Dyatlov," John snarled at him causing the man to stop shouting but just glare at him. "They brought you to an indoctrinated Reaper unit, me. I just did something to you with a Reaper device we didn't know about and now you are indoctrinated too. I will be sending you home with similar devices. You will indoctrinate your friends, your family, even your children." John stood and turned to glare at the other officers watching with wide eyes. "This is what we will be training to stop. When you go back to your commands you will then train your men while I train more officers between my court appearances. Maybe, just maybe we can save lives. Until then get over yourselves and your bullshit." John strode away and passed by the observers.

"Medics clear the man and observers reset the field. We have work to do."

~*TF*~

Earth Date: July 23rd, 2186 CE

Location: Serpent Nebula, Citadel

Jane escorted her Protheans, because she now considered Anik, Jaimini, Javik, and Kajal as her people, across the Presidium when she noticed a collection of familiar people.

"Admiral Tali'Zorah?" Jane cried and one of the figures turned. A hand went up in greeting and Jane looked to see one of her fellow Spectres nod at her. Jane headed over and Tali's arms opened. The two women went into a hug.

"Captain Jane Shepard!" Tali said happily.

"Thank God it was you; I was worried I was just horribly racist with the suit," Jane chuckled and Tali laughed as they moved apart.

"It is good to see you. How is your brother?" Tali asked and Jane winced.

"I'm prohibited contact with him," Jane explained and Tali pulled back.

"Why would they do that?" she asked and Jane gave her a look.

"Hackett informed me that it was partially due to the conflict of interest. He is my brother and only family in the universe and I have a very bad track record with the Hegemony," Jane sighed. "Plus, the new Human Councilor doesn't like me very much at this moment and Hackett wanted to keep Udina off my case." Tali was still before muttering Quarrian curses.

"I suppose that makes sense," Tali sighed and Jane looked at the Quarrians looking over at them.

"Does it look like the Council will be allowing an embassy for Rannoch?" Jane asked and Tali shrugged.

"We have started the process of reopening the Quarrian embassy, but this is actually a Rannoch delegation to petition the Council for the acceptance of the Geth as a race," Tali explained and Jane's eyes widened.

"Wow...I bet that's not going very well," Jane commented and Tali nodded.

"We petitioned the Council to allow us to bring a Geth unit with us, but we were very much denied," Tali sighed and Jane nodded.

"To be fair...they still remember Saren and his heretics," Jane comforted with a hand on Tali's shoulder.

"Who are those people?" Tali asked, looking at Jane's group moving towards the Council chambers.

"I can't tell you, but if you've been hearing about the new galactic recommendations from the Council...that's what we are working on," Jane said and Tali blinked.

"It only took two years and your brother dying," she commented and Jane chuckled.

"I need to go, but it was great to see you, Tali," Jane said and Tali nodded. Jane turned to leave before looking at Tali. "How have your names changed?"

"If we live on a ship, we aren't changing anything, but if we take up a full-time residence on Rannoch...our names are all nar Rannoch," she explained and Jane smiled brightly.

"Until we meet again, Admiral Tali'Zorah nar Rannoch," Jane said and Tali waved. Jane jogged to catch up with the group.

"Was that your lover?" Kajal asked with a tone of disapproval and Jane laughed. Protheans were xenophobic when it came to sex, seeing cross species relationships as unnatural. Strange for a race that demanded all other races refer to themselves as Prothean.

"No, a dear friend, like a younger sister. Since we don't share emotions as you do, we use contact to show affection," Jane explained and the Protheans nodded. Touch for them was a very deep, intimate bond, more common between romantic partners and family than friends and companions. "She is now a high ranked leader among her people. I'm very proud of her."

They once again met in the secure Council meeting room and, once again, Jane stood to the side as a Spectre.

"Welcome back," Tevos said with a nod of her head. The Protheans were not very friendly.

"We have had success," Kajal stated as she stood up and showed the schematics for the Crucible. "Located in the Sol system was a data cache filled with designs for a weapon known as the Crucible. It is incomplete, however. Those who hid the data, did so because they were hunted, and so the incomplete plans are here. We believe bringing in the most talented engineers and minds of this cycle would be the best decision to finish this device. We would like to name this endeavor Project Redemption." Kajal moved the schematic.

"It looks fairly completed," Valern stated and Kajal shook her head.

"It is not. While the basic design is functional, the output and the results are not," she explained. She pulled up a projection. "While it can use the Citadel itself in a reverse manner than the past cycles' invasions, it is not properly constructed or calibrated to succeed. If it is used as is, this would be the result." The projection showed the Citadel sending out a beam of energy, the Reapers disintegrating and the Mass Relays exploding. The Council made various noises of concern.

"Your people do not have members familiar with this system?" Valern asked and Kajal shook her head.

"All of our current members were on projects that were much smaller in scale. But that is not our only finding," Kajal stated moving to the side to allow Jaimini to take over.

"We have analysis of Reaper materials, indicating which types of ammunition are better for combat. We believe these should be priorities across the galaxy as soon as possible for all militaries. We also have found multiple designs for indoctrination detection. We cannot verify their functionality until we encounter those whose minds have been contaminated by Reaper technologies, but again, we believe that it is imperative to build as many prototypes and activate them in areas essential for our control," Jaimini explained and the Council pulled up the data on their personal devices to study.

"Mass production should be relatively simple," Valern commented.

"Implication of dispersion would also be easily completed," Sparatus said.

"However, unless we can prove they work, it would be a loss," Udina sneered and Jaimini's eyes narrowed on him as she pulled up the image of the Human Reaper prototype.

"If we do not prepare for the Reapers in any way possible, this will be the future of the human race," Jaimini said with killing calm as the Human Reaper was replaced by a Collector. "This will be the future of my remaining people." Her eyes flickered to the others. "I wonder what your races will be harvested for?" The room was quiet and Jaimini sat down and Anik came up. He coughed gently before smiling.

"Fortunately, we also found an excellent battle record explaining Reaper tactics. In some cases, these devices of indoctrination detection would make many of the Reaper tactics worthless. They rely on the betrayal performed by their indoctrinated slaves to make the openings they prefer to use for attack. By being able to find those indoctrinated we can eliminate these preferred tactics and force Reapers to attack head on, a method they dislike," Anik explained as he transferred the tactics. The Council glanced over.

"It will be essential to test the efficiency of indoctrination devices," Valern commented.

"We are confident in these designs. Multiple members of our surviving science teams worked on developing scans for indoctrination. These devices cut the time we need to develop them based on our research. We merely need baseline reading for known species of the Citadel to start developing detection for all," Jaimini explained.

"How long will you need?" Tevos asked.

"A month, we would like to station a team here on the Citadel to allow your scientists to work with them on the device development and production," Kajal added.

"It will take weeks to gather such a team," Udina stated, sounding sour.

"Actually, with aid from the Shadow broker, we have been able to reach out to several scientists and engineers using our Citadel contacts, those we believe will be most useful will all have arrived on the Citadel within this week," Jaimini explained.

"Who approved this?" Udina demanded looking at Jane.

"At this point, those the Protheans tapped do not know it was Protheans who reached out to them. We have them here awaiting Council approval. We informed them the project was not certain, but if it were approved would need to start ASAP," Jane reported.

"Are you planning to lead the team?" Sparatus asked and the group at the table shook their heads.

"The archives on Mars are immense and we wish to make sure to have gotten everything we can from them. My superior is already here waiting with his selected team," Jaimini explained.

"My protégé is among that team," Kajal added.

"With the Spectres on the Citadel, we have limited our members who are on guard. There are only three military escorts here," Javik reported.

"Shepard, you are the primary author of the Mindoir Review, are you not?" Tevos asked and Jane nodded. The Asari Councilor looked at her. "I believe you would be the best choice to take this document and create a Reaper Tactics Review." Jane blinked at that.

"I have only fought Sovereign and I did most of that here on the Citadel against Saren. Besides, I have already seen the Terminus Tactics report, it covers everything well enough," Jane explained and Tevos shook her head.

"You misunderstand. I am asking you because the Terminus Tactics is extremely useful, but it was clearly designed with more military aim. You know our modern procedures for most of the Citadel races outside of military. The Mindoir Review is used by almost every major race now. I would like you to review these tactics and give us a basic strategy based on our weapons and the tactics most often used with the aim of making it for more civilian based methods," Tevos said and Jane thought about it. She had written the Mindoir review based on the race, mercenary band, and other factors. It would be harder to do this, especially since Jane had little firsthand knowledge of fighting Reapers.

"I will do my best, Councilor," Jane said.

"The only active human Spectre is more than a report writer!" Udina muttered.

"You bring up a good point," Valern stated. "Shepard, with your brother immersed in the unpleasantness with the Hegemony, we are finding the lack of Human Spectres...straining." Valern's eyes flickered to Udina and Jane wanted to groan. How that man got so high would forever escape her. "Udina has produced a list of candidates, I am certain you will know many of them. We would ask you to pick a few that you also recommend."

"Do you doubt my selection?" Udina asked, clearly angry.

"It is not your selection we doubt, it is the number we need to cull," Sparatus sneered. "You recommend twenty individuals. That's ridiculous in a single appointment. One to three is the usual offering. Exemplars, not just anyone."

"Jane Shepard, you know the job you perform; we ask that you select a handful from Udina's list," Tevos said and Jane nodded. Tevos transferred Udina's list to Jane. Jane recognized all but two of the names. She quickly searched them and was not impressed. Both were highly commended by some of the Admirals that Jane exposed as Cerberus sell outs. Jane looked over the list again. Kaidan and Ash both made the cut. Udina couldn't ignore them as they were both part of the team that stopped Sovereign. Jane tapped them both and selected three other N7s she had served with on some of the Collector investigation teams.

"I hope that helps you, Councilors," Jane said. The Council returned to the Protheans.

The meeting ended well, the indoctrination device team was formed and located on the Citadel, a team was being collected to develop the Crucible, and last, the resources for the construction were being calculated. Jane felt confident as they headed out.

~*TF*~

Earth Date: September 3rd, 2186 CE

Location: Local Cluster, Sol System, Mars

Jane was reading up on various reports across the galaxy. Thessia was holding some sort of biotic tournament. If Jack were there, she would place a bet with the biotic, but chances were good that Jack was busy with her new job. Jane would never have considered the Psychotic Biotic to be a good teacher, but apparently, she was a natural.

As she read, she was pleased to see that Ken and Gabby had been released, Joker and Dr. Chakwas had both been cleared when Jane had sent in evidence proving they had been manipulated by the Illusive Man and Cerberus by having their communications deleted or erased. Ken and Gabby had not had that so had faced trial. Both were found innocent of terrorist activities and had been set free. Jane was pleased to know the two were safe.

The Turian military were running some interesting new military tactics in Palaven space. The team leading the maneuvers had a familiar face. Jane wondered if the Hierarchy knew or cared that one of their leading advisors was a former vigilante. She downloaded and saved the image of Garrus and another Turian discussing maneuvers over a war table. She smiled at the image before she realized it had been a while since they spoke. She sent him a copy of the image before getting up and heading over to her desk. She had to review the Prothean reports on Reaper tactics. She had come up with very easy maneuvers for both humans and Turians because the two races did share a lot of similarities when it came to conflict. The asari tactics were mostly done, but Jane didn't feel like they were polished enough. The Salarian tactics were killing her because of how Salarians preferred to use espionage over brute force. Tevos had given her quite the assignment. Still, the human and Turian recommendations were already being passed around and practiced.

The sound of the wind howling outside let Jane know another storm was incoming. She looked out the window at the massive wall of storm. Blasto snored in the background.

~*TF*~

Earth Date: October 6th, 2186 CE

Location: Kite's Nest, Harsa System, Khar'shan, Chagatai

Derour Elpour stretched his shoulders and rolled his head to release the tension in his neck. The pathetic Dramye were making his efforts to secure the Monster for execution miserable. The two strike teams that had been sent to assassinate the Dramye ambassador in charge of the case on Earth had both failed. Both teams had been slain by Spectre agents. While there was no proof, Derour was positive that the Terror of the Hegemony was behind it. Issues with the comms had cut his morning work short so he decided to take a break and stretch his legs.

His teeth creaked in frustration over the strike teams as he marched down the street. He glared at a nearby serving caste member and they quickly moved back. Personally, he wanted to see the Monster with his head shaved and his brain reduced to stem. It would feel so good to see such an arrogant human cut down to a mindless slave. Derour could not stop the smile from forming on his lips with the image. Still, when he got the Monster and brought him to Khar'shan he would have a front row seat at the execution. The Terror would be broken to see her only kin slain and left to rot on this world. With his mood greatly improved by his thoughts, he considered going to his favorite restaurant when there was a scream. The high caste woman was staring at the sky and he looked up.

Black vessels seemed to drop from the sky, if Derour had spent more time travelling space instead of mastering bureaucracy and the art of manipulating the laws of other races he might have recognized the impressive nature of the vessels, but he did not. The ships seemed to fall from the sky carelessly before landing as if it were completely normal. His four eyes were wide as he watched a smaller vessel land and begin firing. How had the scans missed this? Was it the problems with the comms? He was frozen up until a blast hit the line of people before him. All castes, from worthless slave to highest leaders were charred ruin. His body knew to fear before his brain did and as he ran, he realized he was heading to the office of the local military general.

Yes, General Sakon Dhas'ferk would be armed and would know what to do. There had to be a safe room or something Derour could make use of to protect himself. He body checked a woman out of his way, sprawling her and her child in the street, but Derour did not look back. He rushed to the doors and pulled out his security chit. It seemed to take forever to scan but soon enough he was in. Relief ran through his veins as he looked around. It was odd, the atrium was practically empty. He moved past the desk where a secretary would usually direct visitors. He knew this building passably well, he could make it to the General's office. He heard a noise and he froze. It sounded like a yell. Was he hearing sounds from outside?

The building was so neat...until he passed an open office door. Usually the door was shut, but today it was open. The building shook slightly and Derour knew it was the ships attacking outside. He looked in the office. It looked like there had been a struggle at each of the eight desks in the room. There was a small splattering of blood. Small, like someone had been struck in the face and busted a lip or nose. Derour had attended enough interrogations to recognize the mess. What had happened in here? He felt fear, he did not like it. He left the puzzling room and headed to the General's office. He entered and while empty, the General's office was much like it always was. Neat and organized. Still, behind the window Derour could see several of the ships destroying the city. Thankfully, gunfire was coming up. Perhaps the General was out there, the office was a mess because the occupants had left. Derour's mind paused...but why would the occupants go out into that? Again, there was a muffled noise of screaming. It was odd, not like it was outside. As Derour approached the window he could see outside, people were screaming but he couldn't hear them. So where was the screaming from inside the building coming from?

Derour watched the ships as they moved, wondering if it was the humans or maybe the Citadel itself running this attack.

"Who are you?" a voice barked and Derour threw himself back to turn to the door. There stood General Dhas'ferk. Relief flooded Derour's body.

"General, am I relieved to see you safe. Have you seen this?" Derour cried as he waved an arm at the window and the General's face twitched in a way that seemed off. Derour couldn't place what was wrong about it. The General turned all four eyes on him and Derour felt strange again.

"A mess let's get you secured, Ambassador Elpour," the general said and Derour felt better. He would be fine and the General seemed confident.

"Is there a safe room?" he asked and the General nodded.

"It is very safe," he explained and Derour felt exhausted as he followed the General to a stairwell. The sound of screaming occurred again and Derour jumped.

"How are we hearing that?" he asked and the General kept walking.

"The air vents most likely," he explained and Derour nodded. The external vents had to be letting in the sounds from outside. That made sense. They walked down several flights of stairs, the sounds of screams were irregular, now, and again. It seemed odd for some reason.

"Will you summon aid from the colonies?" Derour asked.

"No, what could they do?" the General commented and Derour chuckled. Many colonies were only made up of a few higher castes and many lower castes.

"You are right, mercenaries would be better at fighting," Derour commented as he saw some soldiers at the end of the hall in front of a door that looked to be a storage area. It must be the safe room the General was taking him too.

"There are better ways to do things, " the General said and Derour paused, this felt wrong, of course, the General was going to seek aid from outside the Hegemony.

"You cannot seriously be thinking of begging for help from outside our space. The Council? The humans? You cannot be!" The General kept walking and Derour rushed up to him. "Tell me it is not so!" The General looked at Derour and smiled. There was something wrong with that smile.

"Why would we ask any of them for help? We need no help from those we shall rule," he said and Derour felt relieved up until the soldiers grabbed him.

"What are you doing?!" he cried as he was lifted. A soldier held each limb and he was unable to break free as the General opened the door. Derour's jaw went slack. A woman was held over a triangular device by more soldiers before a spike shot up through her, lifting her up several feet into the air. Her screams of agony were familiar...exactly like the screams he had been hearing since he entered the building.

"We were almost finished, you came at a most opportune time," the General said. Derour looked around the room and saw dozens of spikes, at the top of each was a body, some looked odd, bulbous, but it was clear, they were all still alive, impaled on these devices. The screams were these people. They had been murdering their own caste!

"What are you doing?! Let me go!" Derour cried, his voice held tones of fear he had never heard from himself before. He writhed between the soldiers' grips, but he could not break free.

"Soon you will understand, this is the way," the General said. Then Derour realized what was wrong. There was a dazed, not quite present look in the General's eyes, he looked at the men holding him and they all had the same gaze. One of the soldiers that had speared the woman was crawling onto another device. He lay peacefully over it and as he was impaled, he made no noises, just seemed to sigh.

"Let me go! Let me go!" Derour screamed as he was carried and as he saw the device he was being carried towards and he could not keep his bladder from releasing. "No! You can't do this to me!"

"You will see soon," the General said. "This is the way. We will rule all. They promised us it would be so." He looked like he was in ecstasy at the thought. Derour struggled as he was brought up over the device. He tried to break free as he was pulled over and as his back pressed down... agony. He stared at the spike coming up through his stomach and the pain was blinding. He made gasping noises as he vainly tried to pull himself up and off the spike. His heart was pumping fast and he wondered how long it would take to die. He stared at the others around him. One by one the soldiers rose on their own spikes and Derour noticed a metallic shine appearing on others. His brain began to relax.

"I am dying," he thought he looked at his chest only to notice a line of metal moving up through him. He felt no pain. "The pain is going...this isn't so bad..."

Time had no meaning but death did not come, instead a sense of purpose began. He felt his flesh begin to bubble as slowly he heard the slide of the other devices. He watched as his fellows began to leave the building. They were going to be finished being augmented by the Reapers. They would rise to serve the Reapers. He was part of them all, he knew his purpose, he would be essential to conquering this galaxy. The device lowered him to the ground and he headed out. He saw a woman crouched down trying to avoid one of the others. He grabbed her. As she shrieked and struggled, he began to drag her back into the building and down the steps. She would understand. She would be a part of the harvest.

~*TF*~

Earth Date: October 13th, 2186 CE

Location: Local Cluster, Sol System, Mars

Jane was eating lunch when she saw Liara come into the cafeteria looking like she was sucking on a fresh lemon. The asari got a meal and moved to sit next to Jane.

"What's wrong?" Jane asked and Liara sighed.

"We have a new specialist," Liara commented and Jane blinked at that.

"I thought we were good," she said and Liara nodded.

"Her name is Dr. Eva Coré," Liara explained and Jane looked at her.

"What don't you like about her?" Jane asked and Liara took a bite before looking at Jane.

"I honestly don't know, there is just something about her," the asari confessed before she looked up as a woman entered the cafeteria. Jane looked at the woman as she scanned the room. There was something about the way she held herself, like she was making mental notes.

"That her?" Jane asked as the woman's eyes scanned over her. Her eyes froze on Jane for a moment and Jane felt the hair on the back of her head go up. Oh yeah, that was her. "Never mind, I can tell and yeah, I feel it too." She looked at Liara.

"That's not all," Liara said and Jane blinked.

"What else?" Jane asked.

"Dr. Jaimini outright refused to work with her. Actually, demanded that she not be in the room while Jaimini was present," Liara said and Jane blinked. Jaimini was one of the nicest Protheans. While the race was rather prudish and still clung to their imperialistic natures, the ones on the team were open to cooperation, viewing the fight against the Reapers as more important than petty differences between races.

"That doesn't sound like Jaimini," Jane said and Liara nodded.

"The other Protheans wouldn't acknowledge her, but so many of them are colder to new people at the beginning anyway," Liara sighed. Eva left the room and Jane nodded.

"What have your contacts got to say?" Jane asked and Liara flickered her eyes.

"Her record is spotless...however, there looks like she is missing a large portion of her teenage years as well as her post doctorate time. Nothing I can put my finger on, but it looks off," Liara commented. Jane got a bad feeling.

"I'll keep an eye on her," Jane said and Liara nodded. "We may want to invest in fail safes."

~*TF*~

Earth Date: October 14th, 2186 CE

Location: Local Cluster, Sol System, Earth

"Given recent events I find that the Hegemony of Khar'shan's request for extradition to be meritless." Judge Rossi announced. John glanced at the table where the Hegemony Ambassador would normally be. That Arthur Trent was by himself spoke volumes. "I find that the supposed trial by the Hegemony of Khar'shan to be political in nature. While tragic the events of Bahak system were as Spectre Shepard stated, he acted to save the rest of the galaxy from a mass Reaper invasion on all fronts. I summarily dismiss the extradition request." She waited for the customary objection but Trent did nothing, staring meekly at the table in front of him. "Court is adjourned." Judge Rossi banged her gavel and stood moving away. John felt a weight lift off him and sighed. So, one thing was taken care of, now to move onto the bigger obstacle.

"Thank you, Harry," John said as he stood and Harry held out his hand which John shook.

"Happy to help, Shepard. Now if you don't mind…" Harry trailed off and John nodded. Harry was going to get his family to safety. All these months working together he had become a believer. He heeded John's warnings to heart and his family had retreated to safe place in the Rockies where they hoped to wait out the war.

"Go, Harry. And good luck," John said. Harry nodded and quickly snatched up his briefcase. John took in a deep breath. The courtroom was mostly empty, no one really cared what John's legal problems were now that the truth was out there. Anderson was the only one left and he approached John.

"We need to go," Anderson said. "Admiral Hackett has mobilized the fleets. Word has made it to command. Something big is heading our way."

"The Reapers?" John asked as they hurried out. "We're not ready yet."

"Tell that to the defense committee," Anderson said as they hurried down the hall. "I have Alenko, Vega, and Williams prepping the Normandy. I want to get everything in the air that I possibly can. The defense committee wanted to pull you out of the hearing, but I convinced them to let it play out. We needed you free and clear of that so you can work in the open."

"Hopefully we-" John never finished his statement as the world seemed to explode into red light.

~*TF*~

Location: Local Cluster, Sol System, Mars Archive

Jane was walking with Blasto at her side, her heart was heavy, when her comm was pinged.

"Shepard here," Jane said.

"Captain, Admiral Hackett is calling...it's bad!" Green cried. The Okinawa was in orbit over Mars as a guardian angel. Cold washed over Jane...that old dark foreboding feeling was back.

"Patch him through, now. Admiral?" Jane asked.

"We've got something big coming from Batarian space," Hackett warned and Jane's heart stopped.

"What's its destination?" Jane asked as she stopped.

"Projections show it heading for Earth, the fleets are mobilizing but..." Hackett's tone said it all.

"Did you use the recommended scans?" Jane asked.

"Whatever is coming is composed of the matching elements," Hackett confessed.

"Orders, sir," Jane asked more than spoke.

"Protect the Protheans as much as they will let you. Prevent Reapers from getting the data. Evacuate if it looks too dangerous to remain," Hackett said and Jane nodded.

"Aye, aye, sir," she replied. She quickly headed to the data cashes. Javik looked at her and his jaw set.

"What is it?" he demanded and Jane looked at the team as they slowly turned their attention to her.

"Our sensors are detecting something matching Reaper constructed materials coming our way," Jane announced and the Protheans all looked serious. "We all hoped we had more time, but it looks like evacuation will be happening sooner rather than later. Set up the fail safe, if things look dicey, we're going to be leaving the Reapers that present we prepared." Several Protheans made less than friendly expressions at that thought. Javik looked at Jane.

"They will be here sooner than you think," he warned and Jane nodded.

~*TF*~

John groaned. He pushed himself up onto his hands and knees, forcing his eyes open. All he saw was rubble around him and felt something weighing him down. He grunted and shifted his body, the piece of plaster and wall studs sliding off his back. His left arm throbbed with a burning ache. As he stood up, he glanced at it. The entire side away from his body from his shoulder to the back of his hand was burned, almost sizzled away. He could see muscle below and even the red glow of his nerves. He cradled the arm to his side; glad he could still move it. He glanced around and felt his heart sink. The building had been blown apart; rubble was everywhere with most of it being on fire. People that hadn't been vaporized on contact were here and there, but not one of them was moving.

"Shepard!" John turned at the call and felt relief fill him. Anderson was making his way to him, alive if a bit banged up. The Admiral glanced at John's arm.

"I'm good it just looks worse than it is. I can still move it and fight." John assured the admiral. "I just need a bandage it."

"We'll get something on the way," the admiral assured him. "We need to get to the military space port."

"That's on the other side of the city," John countered as he looked out the hole in the building. "The civilian port is a few blocks away. If we can signal for pickup there should be enough space to get us."

"That will do," Anderson said turning on his comms as they made their way out of the rubble. John saw a guard nearby, partially buried under the rubble. What really caught John's eyes was the pistol still on the man's hip. John made his way over and cleared some of the rubble off the man. Taking the pistol and belt off the guard, strapping it on over his suit pants. Anderson was talking to someone as John took the guard's omni-tool and test it out. An omni-blade appeared as he activated the device. It wasn't his knife but it would do.

"-we're at the Normandy and she's lifting off right now!" Ashley's voice suddenly rang in John's comm and he glanced at Anderson who was patching him in. "Lt. Vega and Lt. Major Alenko are prepping a rescue squad!"

"We need you to meet us at the civilian space port for pickup!" Anderson ordered. "We were inside the courthouse when the Reapers attacked!"

"Aye sir, ETA ten minutes!" Ashley responded.

"Come on, Shepard let's get moving, that's a haul even in the best of times." Anderson noted. John hurried down the rubble onto the street. He jerked when a car went screaming by and a group of civilians ran by, not even caring to look for survivors.

"Ah, this is a god damn mess!" Anderson growled as he finished making his way down the rubble. John turned and headed right, after the civilians, with Anderson by his side. "Every minute these machines are here tens of thousands die. I won't be responsible."

"It's hard enough fighting a war, its worse knowing no matter how hard we fight we can't save them all." John noted, seeing a huge Reaper in the distance firing on the military area. The Reapers were focusing their fire there it seemed, after destroying the civilian areas of leadership.

"Exactly," Anderson grunted. "They hit so fast, I thought we'd have more time to evacuate the civilians."

"We knew they were coming," John muttered. A woman stumbled and fell in the group ahead of them. The others didn't even notice she was behind them as John hurried up to help her to her feet. She thanked him and hurried after them.

"We can't do this alone." Anderson noted as more and more civilians joined them as they headed for the port. "We need to go to the Citadel Council."

"The Citadel? The fight's here," John argued.

"It will be everywhere soon enough, you said it yourself the Reapers will destroy everything. The Council has to help us. You're a Council Spectre you can make them listen." Anderson noted. John grunted and winced as a pissing civilian bumped his left side making his arm flare in pain.

"There's the port," John noted as they turned a corner. Shuttles were moving and leaving frantically. Some of the civilian officers were trying to keep order and load the shuttles to max capacity. The entire ground seemed to shake and a bunch of people screamed. John turned and saw a shock wave in the distance from an exploding Alliance cruiser. It wouldn't affect them over here but it did rattle everyone.

"The Normandy should be able to hover and pick us up on the right." Anderson noted, gesturing. "That should keep out of the way of the civilians."

"INCOMING!" someone screamed. John glanced up and large, pulsating balls of red impacted near the space port. John blinked in shock as several new husk creatures scurried away from the impact crater. They vaguely resemble Batarians and each had guns affixed to their right arms. They screeched and began to shoot into the civilians.

"Shit!" John snarled, pushing his way through the panicking crowd, ignoring the pain in his arm. When he was clear he started to open fire. The creatures turned to face him and started focusing fire on him, just like he'd hoped. John dove for cover and slide behind a fallen pillar.

"Get those civilians out of here!" Anderson ordered the officers. John popped up from behind cover, shooting which ones he could but more seemed to swarm from the space port as more of these strange drop pods impacted. He knew he didn't have enough ammo but he had to draw them away from the civilians.

"Calvary's here gentlemen," A welcome voice called over the radio as John heard a welcoming roar of engines. The Normandy did a pass over, opening fire on the Batarian husks, mowing them down. As the Normandy circle back, the ramp opening John gestured to Anderson.

"Time to go, Anderson!" John called. Anderson glanced at the hovering Normandy and the officers loading civilians on shuttles.

"I'm not going!" Anderson replied and John frowned. "You saw those men back there! There's a million more like them and they need a leader!"

"We're in this fight together, Anderson!" John snapped as the Normandy hovered behind them.

"We need to go, soon!" Ashley called to them from the ramp, opening fire on some approaching husks.

"It's a fight we can't win, not without help! Go talk to the Council, convince them to help us! That's an order!" Anderson snapped.

"I don't take orders from you anymore, remember?" John snapped. Anderson frowned and fish out a set of dog tags. John was shock when he tossed them at him. John caught them and saw they had his name on them.

"Consider yourself reinstated, Commander." Anderson said and hurried toward a waiting shuttle. John frowned but clenched his hand on the tags as he hurried to the Normandy.

"Get us airborne!" John shouted to Ashley over the roaring engines. She hurried inside and as they lifted away John watched. Anderson got away but John watched as other civilians were shot down by husks before they even got to the shuttles. As the ramp began to close John saw a Reaper come storming through a building. He knew Anderson had gotten away safely but he still felt his heart sink as an evac shuttle was shot down and wondered how many people were just killed. He growled and forced himself to walk deeper into the Normandy as she buttoned up for space travel. For the first time in his life, he felt like a coward as they left to get help.

~*TF*~

"Ma'am, you've got bogies coming straight for the base," Green cautioned and Jane blinked as she looked up from her data table.

"From Earth?" Jane asked.

"No, from deep space. That's the thing, ma'am, these are human designed. We only saw them on sensors, but they read like several Kodiak shuttles," Green reported.

"Thanks for the heads up," Jane growled as she connected her comms to the base's communications. "This is Captain Jane Shepard. Red alert, red alert. We have human bogies incoming. Prepare for internal attack." She ran back to the tram to the site. She pulled up the security feed. Sure, enough there were several Kodiak shuttles outside the main door. Cerberus colors giving them away. She connected her comm to the communications again. "Visual confirmation! Cerberus! Repeat we are under attack by Cerberus!" She switched to her comms. "Green. They were Cerberus Kodiaks; we are under attack by Cerberus!" As Jane reported her eyes widened in rage as she saw the form of Eva Coré opening the doors for the Cerberus agents. "Mother fucking bitch!"

"Ma'am?" Green cried as Jane returned to the building comms.

"Eva Coré is a Cerberus plant. Repeat Eva Coré is aiding Cerberus! Do not trust Eva Coré! All personnel get to the Archive!" Jane cried before switching to the Okinawa's channel. "Green, warn Fifth Fleet."

"Can d-" he started and then the comm dropped to static. "Green? Fuck!" Jane ran for the tram. Blasto seemed edgy next to her. She whistled and made a hand sign. The varren went into attack ready mode. The tram felt like it took forever before the door opened to reveal all the Prothean soldiers and a few of the engineers. Liara stood to the side and Jane smiled. Everyone was armed and to the ready. "Are the scientists evacuating to the Okinawa?"

"We only have two shuttles on this roof section. We loaded up both, we won't be able to get everyone on the Okinawa," Liara stated and Jane nodded.

"We can get the Prothean team off world easily, I care more about the non-combatants," Jane said as the tram headed back. Hopefully, it would come back with only friendlies.

"It seems we were correct about Dr. Coré," Liara said and Jane nodded as she pulled her sniper rifle and patted the pouches she had for extra ammo. All were full, Jane only used the ammo by the firing range during practice, nothing from her armor.

"I'll gloat about it later," Jane said and Liara nodded.

"Were you able to warn the Okinawa?" the asari asked and Jane nodded this time.

"He cut out right after, I'm hoping he has better luck reaching someone outside the atmosphere," Jane said and Liara sighed.

~*TF*~

"Where the hell are, we going? Where's Anderson?" Vega snapped as John stormed to the weapon's locker. Kaidan was there with Ashley, suiting up. John glowered at the biotic who refused to even look at him. John yanked open his locker and was relieved his armor and weapons were inside. "Hey!"

John ignored Vega, fuming to himself as he dressed, those tags Anderson had given thrown into the locker without a care. He would deal with that later.

"We're leaving, Anderson wants us to get help." John noted tersely.

"Leaving?" Vega said in disbelief.

"What's going on?" Alenko asked and Ashley sighed.

"Anderson stayed behind to lead the fight and ordered us to get help." She explained.

"Bull shit, he wouldn't order us to leave," Vega snapped.

"We don't have a choice, without help this war is already over," John snapped as he strapped on his armor.

"Forget it drop me off someplace-" Vega began but John had enough.

"Enough!" John shouted whirling to face the man. "Don't you think I'd rather stay and fight! We are going to the Citadel! If you want out you can catch a ride from there!" James scoffed but moved away. Ashley approached John's side with a canteen and some bandages.

"At least let me clean and wrap that before you put on your armor, Shepard," she said and John blinked realizing he had forgotten about his arm.

"Thanks," He muttered as Ashley started to clean it.

"Shepard!" Joker called over the coms.

"Joker, you doing okay?" John asked.

"Alive and kicking! Got an emergency message from Admiral Hackett!"

"Patch it through," John said, as Ashley bandaged his arm.

"Shepard….force was ov…whelming…sustained heavy losses….no way we can beat them conventionally." Hackett said, the comm signal staticing in and out.

"Admiral Anderson has already ordered me to the Citadel to talk to the council."

"First I need you to…Alliance outpost on Mars…..lose control of the system…. We've been working with Pro….Jane Shepard and Liara T'Soni researching the Prothean Archives…may have found a way to stop the Reapers…..contact soon. Hackett out." The transmission cutout and John sighed as Ashley finished bandaging his arm.

"Joker, set a course for the Mars archives."

~*TF*~

After two trams of the crew made it safely, the last was not so lucky, several were wounded and the doors to the Archive were 'sealed'. In reality there was an exit on the roof, the wounded were triaged to the front of the line to seek medical help on the Okinawa, but it took a lot of time for a shuttle to get up to the Okinawa and back down, so far only two trips had been completed. And Cerberus was at the other side of the tram.

"Should we try to flank them?" Liara asked and Jane shook her head.

"I won't risk a good choke point for it," Jane said before she noticed Liara's eyes on the vent system. "If you are crazy enough to do that, it's your neck, but for the record I think it is a stupid idea."

"I want to get any evidence I can on them," Liara stated and Jane sighed as she watched Liara pull the vent open with her biotics. Jane gave the Asari a foot up and Liara was in the vent.

"Be careful, my brother will never forgive me if you die," Jane growled. The alarm of an approaching tram went off.

"I'll be safer than you," Liara stated and Jane rolled her eyes.

"I doubt that," Jane sighed before she turned to the tram with her sniper. The group all put on their masks and opened the airlock for the tram. Jane looked through her Widow's scope. There was something satisfying as all hell watching the Cerberus agent's head vanish in a spray of blood and bone. The first tram of Cerberus soldiers was easily dispatched. They never stood a chance.

~*TF*~

"I've been trying to reach Mars on a secure channel no one's answering," Joker informed the team as James piloted the shuttle towards the planet surface.

"Any sign of Reaper activity?" John inquired.

"Negative."

"EDI, give me an overview." John asked

"The base appears to be online. It is possible the inhabitants were evacuated," EDI replied and John grunted.

"We'll know soon enough. Joker be ready…just in case," John ordered as he made his way to the back of the shuttle where Ashley and Kaiden both waited.

"Roger that. Normandy out." Joker replied and the comms went silent.

"We're almost there," James replied and the shuttle slowed as it came in for a landing on the outside landing area. As the shuttle finished touching down James stood up, preparing to arm up as well.

"Still no contact from the base but we have a massive storm coming," Vega informed him.

"How long till it hits?" John inquired, watching the man head for the weapons rack.

"Half hour tops. After that we're gonna have difficulty keep up comms with the Normandy," James noted.

"You stay with the shuttle then. Act as our relay with the Normandy and extraction when we need it," John ordered him and Vega frowned.

"What?" James snapped.

"If things go sideways it will help, plus, you'll have a good eye on the other exits. I don't like this and something in my gut tells me someone else is here and they're not Reapers. I don't want to leave anything to chance. Plus, out of the four of us, you're the only one who can pilot the shuttle," John stated. James stared at him before growling under his breath.

"I get it. I don't like it but I get it," James acknowledged and John clapped him on the shoulder.

"Good man. Let's move, guys," John said, opening the door. He headed out, stepping onto the harsh Mars soil for the first time in years. As Ash and Kaidan followed him out he felt an eerie sense of déjà vu. It had been a long time since it was just the three of them. John led them out, noting Ash commenting on the storm size and Kaidan talking about it as well. As they made their down John noticed Alliance security, dead.

"I don't like this," John growled as they stopped to examine the bodies. "These are bullet holes, execution style. Husks wouldn't do this."

"John, tracks, this way towards the main cargo terminal," Ash noted. John stood up, moving away from the soldier's body.

"Lead the way Ash," John said and they hurried down the path. As they got closer gun shots rang out in the Martian air. They rounded the corner and John stopped short. A group of soldiers in white, yellow, and black armor were standing around some Alliance personnel. They had a ground transport with a symbol John knew too well.

Cerberus.

"Stop them," John barked a moment too late realizing what they were doing. The lead Cerberus soldier pointed his gun at the Alliance officer, putting a bullet through his brain. John snarled in outrage and opened fire, gunning the entire team down. After they were down, he ran to check the man in vain. Even if he had survived the gunshot the helmet was blown open. The Martian atmosphere would have finished the job.

"Cerberus, what were they doing here on Mars?" Kaidan asked and John scowled.

"A good question," He muttered as they made their way to airlock for the transports.

"You don't know?" Kaidan countered and John glared at him.

"I'm not with them anymore if that's what you're asking," John snarled at him.

"It wasn't but you have to admit it is a bit convenient," Alenko said and John glared at him.

"I've got the door cycling, Shepard," Ashley said, trying to stop the conversation from getting worse. She knew why John loathed Kaidan but she didn't understand why Alenko was needling him like this.

"Shepard, I need a straight answer. Do you know anything why Cerberus is here?" Alenko demanded and John scowled at him as the airlock cycled. After it was done John removed his helmet and pinned a steely gaze on the other man.

"I joined forces with them because I had to stop the Collectors. My sister was there every step of the way. I'm sure you read her report, I have no affiliation with them. I don't need to explain myself to you of all people, Alenko," John snarled. Before the biotic could respond the garage began to echo with the sounds of banging metal and shouting. John looked up and saw one of the air vents bang open as Liara came scurrying out. Two Cerberus soldiers came out after her but Liara wavered hand and materialize a singularity. The men chasing her exclaimed in outrage before Liara took careful aim and shot both men.

"She's gotten better," Ashley noted as they approached. Liara turned around and smiled.

"John, thank the Goddess you're alive," she said. John smiled and came close to embrace her.

"You too, Liara," he murmured. He pulled away and looked her over. "You look okay. Where are Jane and the others?"

"They should be on the other side of the tram with the Prothean scientists."

"Protheans? Did you say Protheans?" Ashley exclaimed and Liara nodded and John stared at her in shock.

"It's a long story but Jane was able to rescue some from stasis. I also passed by some survivors who got Jane's warning in time before Dr. Coré vented the atmosphere. They were fighting back and heading for the shuttle pads for evac."

"The Normandy is in orbit and we have our own shuttle there as well. Can you show us the way?" John asked and Liara nodded firmly. "Good, you can catch me up on what's been happening along the way."

~*TF*~

"We are the last of the people in this part of the building," Anik said and Jane looked at him.

"You should have gone with Jaimini," Jane scolded and he shook his head.

"I rather harm those that betrayed us here, your varren will watch over Jaimini," he stated and Jane watched as the tram crossed over. Dr. Coré had a line of Cerberus agents with shields blocking the front of this one. They were smarter than the last batch, Jane had taken out most of them with her Widow long before the Protheans could try to pull their shields away. This group was rocking randomly making it hard to get a kill shot. The other tram started to move towards them. Not good.

The first tram docked and the Cerberus agents threw several grenades and smoke bombs. It was chaos and Jane switched from her sniper to her assault as the Cerberus troops began to mob. Jane was behind some crates with Javik and the two nodded at each other before firing. The Protheans were extremely efficient, but the second tram arrived and Jane felt rage as Eva Coré approached. In a full sprint, Jane rushed the woman who seemed unsurprised. Jane tackled her and there was something wrong with how they hit. Eva shook Jane off extremely quickly and Jane was shocked. The doctor did not look that fit. Jane used a pull to drag the doctor away from the door. Eva was going to answer Jane's questions, but to do that, Jane needed her alive. Hand to hand should have been easier but the Cerberus plant was extremely talented in the field. Jane was working harder in a hand-to-hand fight than she had ever done before.

~*TF*~

"Look!" Ashley said, pointing in the distance. John noticed it right away too as they were riding across the tram. Jane was exchanging blows with some woman who was dressed similarly to what Miranda always wore. She moved with unnatural grace and speed, dodging, and weaving as Jane tried to hit her, the strange aliens with Jane tried to pin the Cerberus woman down with gun fire, a few even using biotics. As the tram came to a stop, Jane caught the woman in a biotic throw, sending her crashing into a wall.

After throwing Eva into a wall, Jane noticed the panel was dented, that wasn't right for someone not in armor.

"What the fuck are you, bitch?" Jane demanded before Eva's head tilted and Jane had a second to block, letting Eva's strike throw her, to Jane it felt like a being hit by a rushing Krogan. It didn't make sense and then Jane hit the wall and her head bounced. Her bell was rung hard and she knew it. She struggled to get to her knees. Jane shook her head, her eyes moving up in time to see Eva rush into the Archive. Fortunately, there were neither civilians nor combatants in there.

"You look like shit," John said as he hurried and Jane stared at him in shock.

"John?" she asked and he gave her a look. Jane shook her head. John looked at the wall next to Jane. There were two suspicious dents, likely a shoulder and a helmet. Jane had been hit hard.

"Do you need help?" John asked and Jane pointed at the open door.

"We need to stop her!" Jane cried and Liara's eyes widened.

"Eva?" Liara asked and Jane nodded. "We need to go!" John looked at Jane as she blinked. His sister was clearing her head, she should be fine. Should be. He would talk to her after this. She needed to explain who these aliens were.

~*TF*~

"Ash," John said, nodding his head to the perimeter. Ashley nodded and moved off to circle around and try to make sure this woman didn't get out. John eyed the large Prothean archives, impressed. He'd never been allowed in here.

"You have to catch me up later," John said quietly to Jane as they approached the archive.

"You're not going to believe some of the things we've found out," Jane said as they approached Liara who was working away on a nearby console, one of the aliens John didn't recognize was standing beside Liara in a protective manner.

"I probably won't. It looks like they hit you guys hard," John noted. Jane sighed.

"They sent everyone they had at us. I don't think they expected us to put up such a fight." She said, a hint of smugness in her voice. John was about to say something when a hologram lit up not too far from them. The image of a very hated man appeared before them.

"Shepards," The Illusive Man greeted them.

"Illusive Man?" Liara exclaimed in surprise.

"Fascinating race, the Protheans." The Illusive Man said, ignoring the Asari. "They left all of this for us to discover, but we've squandered it. The Alliance has known about the Archives for more than thirty years, and what have they done with it?"

"The Shepards have done well with what we left behind." Anikinformed him. "We have seen people like you. Your arrogance will lead you to disaster."

"What?" John exclaimed, looking at Jane as he put two and two together. Jane patted him on the arm.

"I'll explain later."

"Ah and your Prometheus Unchained lies. Fake Protheans to convince the Council. Still even with this you still haven't found the data in these artifacts that holds key to solving the Reaper threat. If you had listened to me we would already have the solution." The Illusive Man said, unimpressed.

"I've seen your solution, your people are turned into monster." John countered. "Your own soldiers are partially husked!" Jane jerked in shock and horror. Those soldiers had been turned into husks?!

"Hardly. They're being improved." The Illusive Man countered.

"Improved?" John scoffed.

"That's what separates us, John: where you see a means to destroy, I see a way to control-to dominate and harness the Reapers' power. Imagine how strong humanity would be if we controlled them." The Illusive Man said.

"Earth is under siege, and you're hatching a scheme to control the Reapers?" Jane demanded.

"You Shepards have always been shortsighted. Hasty. Your destruction of the Collector base proved that."

"That base was an abomination. Hundreds of thousands of humans were murdered there." John snapped.

"This isn't your fight any longer, Shepards. You can't defeat the Reapers, even with the Prothean data."

"Then work with us!" John snapped and Jane realized John was being John again, trying to save everyone he could. "Give us control of your resources and we'll stop them. I'm sure we can find a way to save your men from what has already been done to them."

"You'd do better than most, but the odds aren't in your favor. More importantly, I don't want the Reapers destroyed. We can dominate them, use their power, harness their very essence to bring humanity to the apex of evolution." The Illusive Man said, finally admitting to what they had already suspected.

"You're insane! The Reapers will kill us all if we don't stop fighting each other!" Jane snapped.

"I don't expect you to understand, Jane. And I'm certainly not looking for your approval. You and your brother were a tools, with a singular purpose. And despite our differences, you were relatively successful. But like the rest of the relics in this place, your time is over." The Illusive Man said, the hologram beginning to fade out.

"Jane!" Liara cried.

"What?" Jane asked, noting a tone in Liara's voice.

"The data. It's not here. It's being erased!"

"Goodbye, Shepards." Illusive Man's voice echoed in the room.

"Damn it. How's he doing it?" John demanded, hurrying over.

"It's local. Someone's uploading the information." Anik said, his lips quirking slightly. "You were smart to..." He stopped speaking at the look both Liara and Jane gave him. The quirked lips became a smile. "My mistake."

"Hey! Step away from the console. Now!" Ashley snapped. They heard a loud crash and saw Eva breaking for the emergency exit. "She's got the data!"

~*TF*~

John watched as Eva rushed out of the room but then Jane was on her, rushing behind the woman faster than a woman who had taken such a hard hit probably should move. Eva threw Incinerates behind her blindly and Jane used her biotics to shield herself. The agent was so damn fast, it was strange and Jane ran hard, her breathing tightly controlled. Jane waited for the perfect time to tackle. Up and down ladders and across the roof. It was infuriating...until the shuttle seemed to come out of nowhere to pick her up.

"No!" Jane roared.

"Damn it! James? Normandy? Anybody?" John's voice was close behind Jane as she felt her fury rising, biotics flickering over her armor as the shuttled moved to escape. Then like a beautiful tank falling from the sky an Alliance Kodiak slammed into the Cerberus one and Jane quickly pulled one of her strongest biotic shields as she ducked low. The Cerberus vessel grazed it, but Jane was fine as she looked at it burst into flames. Her rage dropped. Eva wasn't going to be walking out of that.

"Well...shit..." Jane sighed as she stood up. She looked to see her brother. "You alright?" He nodded.

"Glad you're okay," he said. Jane looked at Liara as John moved to help her up and then at the other two. Ash was a welcome sight but her heart was thrust into her throat as she saw him. Kaidan.

"You guys made it at a great time," Jane said with a sigh of relief. "We needed evac." She looked to see the Protheans coming up, some clearly wounded in the fight with Cerberus. The Alliance shuttle landed and James came out.

"Normandy's en route. They'll be here soon. Okinawa is staying in orbit to keep watch," James explained and Jane nodded.

"They're probably packed to the gills, we tried to evacuate as many as possible to her while we were keeping Cerberus at bay," Jane explained as she moved to look at the Cerberus shuttle. The fire burned and then came a less than comforting pounding. The shuttle door flung off to reveal a synthetic...a synthetic in the shape of Eva Coré. Jane's eyes widened as the synthetic ran for her, she was suddenly on the ground again as Kaidan's helmet was caught in the construct's grasp. Jane's heart stopped, he had thrown her out of the way.

"Kaidan!" she cried.

"Let him go!" John ordered.

"Orders?" the construct requested and then turned, moving to slam Kaidan into the side of the burning Kodiak wreck. Jane screamed as she struggled to her feet. The construct dropped Kaidan's limp body and ran. Not at Jane, but at John. John fired and the construct fell. Jane ran for Kaidan.

"Grab that thing. Bring it with us," John ordered as Jane reached Kaidan. He was alive, but she could see his eyes shut and hear his labored breathing. Jane pulled Kaidan over her shoulders in a fireman carry, she hated to move him in such a way but there was no time as the Normandy descended from the sky. Jane quickly headed for the elevator, not sparing Mars a second look as she rushed into the elevator, the elevator was packed with John and Liara mentioned contacting Hackett and heading to the Citadel, and as soon as the doors opened on the third floor, Jane rushed to the medical bay. Jane gently placed Kaidan down as James dumped the remains of the Cerberus construct on the bed across from him.

"Captain?" Green's voice came over her comms as she began removing Kaidan's helmet. Her face paled in horror to see the blood dribbling from his nose.

"We will escort the Normandy to the Citadel. The remaining Protheans are onboard here. Complete a head count so we know how many we actually lost," Jane ordered as she began to remove Kaidan's armor and administer first aid. She was limited in what she could do. As soon as he was stabilized Jane moved Chakwas' seat next to his bed. She pictured his face smiling at her. Their early flirting. The feeling of his hands on her body. His lips. His beautiful eyes. She stroked his bruised face as she prayed they made it to the Citadel in time. She did not know if she could bear to see the first man, she had ever cardinally known die in an attempt to save her life.

"Why Kaidan?" she whispered as she held his hand, a tear rolling down her cheek.

~*TF*~

Belle AN: The action begins and clearly not enough has changed to spare Earth a disastrous war, but there is hope. Oh and Sharkarian fans...you might want to look away, there is going to be some Shenko on the horizon. Unlike Bioware, I know how to write a good love triangle. *watched Vega doing pull ups and smiles like the Grinch* Don't worry Shega fans...I got plans for that beefcake too.

Toby AN: And so the shipping wars begin.

~*TF*~

OMAKE 1

"You knew after the Battle of the Citadel what the Shepards' team brought you from Ilos. You knew that the Keepers were augmented by our scientists making them non-responsive to Sovereign's signal. Even with this knowledge, even with the attack of Sovereign itself, you did not want to see the truth," Jaimini scolded the Council.

"If only someone had been telling you about this for almost three years at this point, maybe we could have been better prepared!" Jane said loudly. The Councilors looked at her and she gave them a pointed look.

"Shepard is correct, you are very stupid leaders to ignore such evidence," Javik commented.

OMAKE 2

"Hmmmm," Belle sighs as she sits behind her desk staring at her bulletin board holding various notes, some red string connecting certain points. Toby walks by and then looked into her office.

"Um...what's with the Charlie Day conspiracy board?" he asked and Belle looks over her shoulder.

"I'm trying to decide how to work Jane's romance since you have cemented the Shiara romance line for John. Our fans will expect something spicier from me," Belle explained. Toby blinked and grinned.

"You know how I vote," he stated and Belle rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, yeah, I know about your Bromance with Garrus, he's the best companion, but is he the best ending lover for Jane," Belle commented as Toby looked at the board.

"Wait...you have their incomes on here?" Toby asked.

"Well yeah, Jane deserves a nice retirement and that won't happen if she has to sugar momma for some lazy man-boy who thinks giving good sex is the only way to succeed," Belle lectured and Toby stared at her. He clearly had no problems giving good sex to a Sugar Momma. Too bad no one had taken him up on that, yet.

"So why do you have pictures of their bodies on here?" he asked.

"I'm sorry you don't understand the importance here. Kaidan's ass is phenomenal. Like, I don't even like asses, but his ass makes me go DAMN!" Belle lectures. "And don't get me started on Vega's topless chest. Jane deserves the best and I damn well plan to give her that." Toby inched away before staring at the last picture.

"Wait...what the hell is that...how did you even get a picture of that?!" Toby cried in disgust as he realized what he was looking at.

"I mean...who knew that Turians had prehensile penises?" Belle shrugged only to notice Toby was gone. "Meh, he wasn't helping anyway."

OMAKE 3

"Uh sir?" Random guard number 5 spoke to Tobias from his office door. Toby looked up from his notes for the chapter.

"What is it?" he asked and the guard handed him a clipboard with a list of names. As Tobias looked it over, he recognized most of the names.

"Ms. Belle gave these people access as new staff to help keep the shipping war from affecting the studio and harassing the cast. However, some of them have…odd titles to put it mildly," guard 5 said. Tobias noted the issue as he saw Iron Bull's title was 'Motivator & Beefcake'.

"Yeah, I'll talk to her about it," Tobias said as he got up, the clipboard in hand. When they had been planning this story and the studio was being built Belle had insisted their offices be on opposite sides of the studio so they could work in peace without disturbing the other. Tobias had to admit it worked most of the time. He did raise an eyebrow as he walked, continuing to read the list. He didn't know Cullen had been hired and was listed as 'Templar to Tempt'. As he was nearing Belle's office, he was so engrossed in what he was reading he didn't notice Iron Bull was speaking to his co-author.

"Draw me like one of your Mass Effect boys, Little Lady," Iron Bull drawled. Toby placed his hand on Belle's door and pushed it open as it was not locked.

"Belle what are you plans with all these Dragon Age cast members you hired for security," Tobias questioned as he looked up and instantly reeled in horror at the sight before him. Iron Bull was stretched out on the couch in Belle's office, bare ass naked and showing off an appendage that Toby had to admit made him feel inadequate. "Jesus Christ no!" Tobias cried, holding the clipboard up to shield him from the sight, the last thing he was saw was Belle's amused look as she stood behind an easel and canvas, paints in hand.

"Come to join in?" Iron Bull drawled.

"Oh, good you're both here we wanted to ask about the Citadel and oh my," Jane said as she walked in behind Tobias with John following. The male Spectre made a disgusted sound in the back of his throat.

"This is oddly familiar," Iron Bull commented and Belle snickered.

"Hey Lola, is boss lady in there she said she had plans to add me to some sort of art collection," James' voice came from the hall.

"I wouldn't come in here if I were you Vega," John called back. "Unless you feel like getting naked."

"…I'll come back tomorrow."

"Is there a reason you're taking up my private time Toby?" Belle inquired and Toby shook his head.

"No, now I know why you gave some of the new hires the titles you did." Toby commented. "Just make sure you pay for this pastime with your own money and not the budget." He glanced into the room and winced as he saw a new collection of art on the walls with certain male cast members dressed like the Iron Bull was now. "Though now I know why no one wants to go to your office anymore."

OMAKE 4

The wind blew snow into Toby's new, thick beard. He stood atop the wall as he looked over the current fight between shippers, as the Shenkos, Shegas and Shekarians were exchanging blows in the field in response to 29's cliffy ending.

"This reminds me of the Bumble Bee and Black Sun wars. Blood baths all," Toby said. He pulled his black cloak tighter around himself as a viscous cold wind flared over the wall. He conveniently ignored the Iron Bull and Wrex who were holding large industrial fans below and angled up to him as Tali and Morrigan threw fake snow on them. "Losses of life all around and for nothing we can control. Yet time and again we face the anger and rage as passion blooms into hate. Why must we turn upon each other and not come together in the glory that is Mass Effect?"

"Boss, why is this wall made of ice?" Random guard number something asked. Tobias ignored him as he stood atop his wall that was twenty feet tall, six feet wide and just long enough to run the stretch of the TF studio property.

"In the days to come we shall look upon this moment to realize this is when it happened. When friend turned against friend and alliances were broken. For this is truly, the Game of Shipping." Tobias mused, trying to give off an air of regal, thoughtful, and prose.

"Really Toby?" Belle demanded from the studio doors as she watched in exasperation. "You're not blowing this out of proportion just a little? And why do you look like Jeor Mormont?!"

"…" was Tobias's response.

"Ma'am, there's a scary, blonde woman here demanding you have an audience with her regarding claims to the throne?" Another random guard said to Belle.

"Ah Christ." Belle muttered as she stormed inside. "At least I can add Tormund to my picture collection."

OMAKE 5

"Where is Toby?" Belle asked as she looked over the cast on stage. They were filming one of the time gaps between involving Jane and she was irritated that Toby wasn't on set to look over.

"He's showing John something to help in his isolation," Jane replied as she reviewed her script. "Something called a Nuzlocke?"

"Nooooooo!" Belle screamed in shock, startling everyone. "I know Toby likes to beat his head against the wall but I won't let him corrupt the others!" Everyone watched as Belle bolted for the door, heading for the stage where John's quarters were. She burst through the doors and realized, as she saw Toby sitting on a couch with John and Garrus, that she was too late.

"So, when one of them faints its considered dead," Tobias was explaining as Belle fell to her knees to begin weeping. "If you lose all of your Pokémon then you die as well."

"Oh, wow that's kind a dark," Garrus commented, reaching for a bowl of flaxen.

"I can see how that can make it more challenging. Your starter is chosen by your ID number, limited to the creatures you first see in an area, you can't choose which ones to take." John commented reach for the controller.

"Well, there are ways around that," Toby grinned knowingly. "If you already caught something you don't have to catch it again. So, if you know you want something that shows up in only one spot, you catch the other stuff in other spots they show up."

"So, what do we call this starter Pokémon we got?" Garrus asked.

"Reaper sounds like a good name."

"Why has thou forsaken me?" Belle wailed.

OMAKE 6

Belle and Toby watched the new Mass Effect trailer intently with the entire cast. As they watched the person brush off the snow from the N7 piece their face was revealed.

"She looks, great doesn't she?" Toby noted and Belle nodded.

"It's nice that Tali's face is revealed," Belle commented and Toby stared at her in disbelief.

"That's not Tali, that's Liara!" he said and Belle huffed.

"She was purple!"

"That was just the lighting! That was Liara! I know the markings on her face intimately!"

"He knows your face? Intimately?" John demanded as he turned to Liara.

"You forget that his waifu is Elizabeth Comstock," Liara explained, despite her thick blush. "He's met lots of different versions of me in the multiverses. I'm your Liara. He won't get that close."

"So, I guess they're killing Andromeda series then?" Garrus said and Jane huffed.

"When you need someone to save the Mass Effect universe who else but the Shepards?" Jane explained.

Belle's Note: I totally thought it was Tali because she looked so purple on my screen. Toby was NOT pleased that I did not recognize Liara. *eye roll*

Toby's Note: Yeah, I wasn't pleased. Next time to the Shiara fans show up I'll point them your way.

BN2: Don't look at me, my only Male Shepard was designed for Tali and only flirted with Ash in ME because I knew he was going to my quarian bestie. Got give my home girl the man she deserves. Anyone else here wingman/woman for their Bioware besties? I literally made Wardens for Lelianna and Morrigan, a Shepard for Tali, a Hawke for Merrill, a Ryder for Vetra, and Inquisitors for Cassandra and Josephine.