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.

35. Chapter 34

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: Honestly, I don't have much to say before this chapter because it addresses, for me, one of those moments in a game where you sit there in agony because there existed a simple solution, but for the "action" of the game, it was not allowed. So...I'm allowing it. Seriously, in a world where Space Magic exists, you would think this would have been a character based quick time option.

Toby's Note: So yeah, fair warning when Belle first played this section of the game, she loved it until the aforementioned moment. Then I felt a disturbance in the force. A force of female rage and upset that shook the heavens…

Chapter 34: Victory at Any Cost

Earth Date: November 8th, 2186 CE

Location: SSV Okinawa, In Transit

"Ooof!" Ash cried as she slammed into the mat after Jane tossed her over her shoulder. "Call me crazy, Captain, but I feel like you have it out for me for some reason." Ash sat up and looked at Jane who was doing a very poor imitation of an innocent expression while she bounced in a boxer's stance.

"I assure you, I'm just so much more used to throwing a bigger, bulkier marine," Jane said. "If you really want me to start going easy on you, you only need to say you can't take me in a fair non-biotic fight." Ash gave her a look.

"Now those are fighting words, Shepard," Ash said faking a jab to the right only to catch Jane with a left hook. Ash had a moment to smile before realizing her mistake and Jane caught the arm and once again threw Ash.

"Yet you're on the floor again, Williams," Jane said, rubbing her jaw. Ash smirked.

"Both of them are oogling your ass right now," Ash said and Jane blushed as she threw a glance over her shoulder to where Garrus was inspecting his sniper rifle while Kaidan was doing push ups...topless push ups...Jane ducked and rolled backwards, avoiding a sneak attack by Ash.

"Dirty trick!" Jane shot back.

"You need to watch out for them anyways," Ash huffed as she made a few kicks which Jane blocked before sweeping Ash's legs out from under her. Ash tapped out quickly.

"Coward," Jane hissed and Ash smirked as she grabbed her towel.

"Takes one to know one, Captain," Ash shot back and Jane sighed as she began stretches. She tried not to notice how Kaidan was now doing topless crunches and Garrus was removing his armor to treat it. Oh, those assholes were putting on a show. Jane finished her stretches before moving into a cross legged seated position. Her biotics flared and she created an orb of biotic power in her lap as Samara had taught her. She focused on the orb and let the rest of the ship seemed to vanish.

Kaidan stared at the technique Jane was practicing, it was something he hadn't seen before. He was loathed to do his next move but he looked at Garrus.

"What's she doing?" Kaidan asked as he stared at Jane. Garrus looked over.

"She learned that from a Justicar, sort of a super religious and powerful priestess-warrior of the asari," Garrus explained. "You planning to put your clothes back on. It's kind of cold."

"Noticed you didn't hesitate to remove the armor," Kaidan shot back.

"Fair play and all, Alenko," Garrus stated and the two men watched as Jane's face began to relax.

"She's gotten better," Kaidan stated.

"She has," Garrus replied. "Don't get in her way."

"I don't plan to," Kaidan said and the two exchanged a challenging look.

"Man, I could cut the tension in here with a knife," Ash stated calmly as she sat down next to the two men to drink some water. "Enjoying the show?"

"I thought you were some hand-to-hand expert, Williams," Garrus teased and Ash made a face.

"I hear that you've got some impressive reach there, Garrus," Ash comment and Garrus coughed slightly.

"Yeah, well, Turians tend to," he stated, not liking this turn of events. "Noticed you spent a lot of time on the floor. Looks like the training with Vega has been going well." Ash noticed Kaidan's expression on that and the way Garrus was trying to act nonchalant. What a fun opportunity.

"You know the Captain, she can go for hours. She and Vega have been clocking a lot of time on the mat. She probably knows his body as well as her own," Ash said casually, fighting the grin as both men seemed to tense at that.

"She's working that hard on her hand-to-hand?" Kaidan asked.

"Vega's more than willing, he's a bit of a fan boy. Reminds me of Verner, but not in the stalker way," Ash commented. "He's like a little puppy waiting for commands. He is having a field day under the Captain." The concerned looks on both Garrus and Kaidan's faces were priceless.

"You primitives are so disgusting about your pheromones, you might as well urinate to mark your territory at this rate," Javik stated as he headed for the elevator. "How your societies made it to space will never cease to amaze me."

"We're not dogs," Kaidan huffed.

"I mean...we do have a varren on the team," Garrus commented with a head nod to Blasto in the corner sleeping in his bed with all four feet up in the air and his tongue hanging out of his maw.

"Yeah...not an example I like," Ash deadpanned.

~*TF*~

Earth Date: November 9th, 2186 CE

Location: SSV Normandy, In Transit

"How goes installation of the indoctrination detectors, Mordin?" John asked. The team was meeting in the conference room. They had reviewed the information for saving Aralakh Company and John had used the opportunity to check in with his team and the crew. So far nothing had really come up as an issue. The last bit to cover was the indoctrination detectors but he didn't anticipate any prob-

"Most of the team has had them installed," Mordin explained. "Currently not enough to have the entire crew outfitted but currently making more. Kept three, one for myself, one for Dr. Chakwas and one for mechanical guide for those making more. Crew making more have already been scanned for indoctrination."

"Excellent," John noted thinking about the times he'd walked into a room and wondered just who was indoctrinated. Times like this paranoia was starting to become a common sense. "Let's do passive scans at random times. Just because someone isn't now doesn't mean they can't become indoctrinated later. How's the cure progressing?"

"Expect results soon, will go over them with Eve and Wrex soon."

"Well then, that wraps up this meeting folks. Anything else?" John questioned. He looked around the room and saw everyone shaking their heads. As he did he couldn't help but feel relieved. This crew was working so hard, trying to make a difference and to him they were.

"Then crew dismissed."

~*TF*~

Earth Date: November 10th, 2186 CE

Location: SSV Okinawa, Tuchanka, Aralakh System

The team was suiting up and doing a weapons check.

"What can we expect?" Ash asked and Jane adjusted her visor.

"Turian special ops mission gone wrong. The Primarch's son is the commanding officer. Apparently they were trying to do something on Tuchanka when they came across Cerberus and Reaper forces," Jane explained.

"Cerberus and Reaper. John was considering Reaper forces being an influence on Cerberus," Kaidan stated.

"What you saw on Mars proves that Cerberus is implanting Reaper tech into their soldiers. The chance of indoctrination of Cerberus is to the point of almost certainty," Jane sighed.

"Cerberus isn't fully working with the Reapers however," Garrus stated and Jane nodded.

"More than likely this Cerberus is indoctrinated but the Reapers are allowing them the illusion of independent thought as a distraction for the unified forces. Two attacking forces instead of one. In my cycle it was common for the Reapers to make use of troublesome civilizations. Advanced races quarantined to their home systems were indoctrinated and given tech to fight us," Javik said and Jane nodded.

The team was prepped and got onto their shuttle heading down. As they broke through the atmosphere and the data of the crash came in, Jane frowned.

"This crash site's a nightmare," Jane hissed. "Garrus, see if you can raise Lieutenant Victus." Garrus began sending out a signal from a terminal in the shuttle.

"For a Turian commander, what happened here is...let's just say the Turian code is not forgiving," Garrus stated. "And that it's his son is bad for the Primarch. Promoting family without merit can bite you in the ass. What's strange is, the Primarch knows that."

"But it's a crash, opposing forces attacked and caused the crash," Jane said. Garrus shook his head.

"Turians are a hard lot to please," he said.

"I'm glad you're not like other Turians," Ash commented.

"Perhaps you are broken in some way," Javik suggested and Kaidan covered a laugh with a cough.

"Still, it looks like we're landing further back from the initial crash site than I would like," Jane said, shaking her head. "Ash, you're on point, Kaidan, you watch her six, Javik and I will flank, Garrus, you take Blasto and get the rest of our six."

"Yes ma'am," Kaidan and Ash both said with salutes.

"Let's try to get all surviving Turians off Tuchanka before the Krogan realize they are here," Jane ordered.

~*TF*~

Earth Date: November 10th, 2186 CE

Location: Nimah Cluster, Mulla Xul System, Utukku

John stood behind Cortez as he piloted the shuttle down. He watched as the pilot smoothly guided the shuttle in. He felt calm as they headed down despite the potential to encounter Rachni. Liara had received an urgent call from one of her agents so he'd opted to bring Vega and EDI on this mission. He was curious to see how James functioned in this kind of situation and to see what EDI's body could handle. He usually opted to bring a biotic on a mission for a variety of options on a mission but he figured having Krogan commandos would more than make up for that deficiency.

"Any updates, Shepard?" James' voice came from behind him and he turned to see the marine had stood up.

"Our back up is waiting for us at the drop point. Aralakh Company. Krogan commandos," John noted.

"That's correct, Shepard." EDI chimed in from behind James. "They are an accomplished unit. Their decisive action in liberating a colony from Batarian pirates made them famous."

"Good to hear. Other than that there's been no word from a team of Krogan scouts since they went through the Rachni relay. We don't know much but no Rachni activity has been reported." John explained.

"Still, it's troubling there are rumors at all. It's been years since your sister released the last Rachni queen," EDI commented.

"Jane wasn't about to condemn a sentient species to extinction. The queen was also desperate to save her race," John noted. He'd never really had any doubts about Jane's decision. He just hoped he didn't have to show her that she had been wrong.

"You're telling me the Captain let a Rachni queen go? Are you kidding?" James said incredulously.

"That she did," John noted and sighed. "So far it seems to have been the right call. Just be ready for anything." He moved towards the door as the shuttle finished its landing and stopped. John led the way out and noted the terrain was mostly rock and dirt. It appeared to be a mostly desolate place but there was a prefab camp set up near a cliff edge overlooking several caves. As they headed into the camp he took a good look at the Krogan. They all wore thick, heavy armor of similar make but the colors and clan tags varied. He raised an eyebrow at them, noting that several clans were mixed in together. As he approached a familiar voice was barking orders.

"Yeah, shuttle just arrived. You better get moving, Team Two. See anything, let me know."

"Grunt?" John said in surprise. The aforementioned Krogan pushed his way past the men he was ordering.

"Shepard? Heh! Shepard! Heh-ha-ha-ha-ha!" John grinned and braced himself as Grunt stomped up to him, giving him a few friendly smacks before they shook hands.

"What are you doing here?" John said, happy.

"I could ask you the same question. Didn't those idiots lock you up?" Grunt grumbled.

"They did. Put me in lockdown to keep the Batarians off me. Didn't want problems with the Council while they prepared for war. But the situation changed." John noted.

"Yeah, they got bigger problems, all right. It's why I'm out here running Aralakh Company. They're tough, think they're invincible. Reckless, but effective." Grunt noted, gesturing to his men.

"Sounds familiar, Grunt." John noted and Grunt laughed. "How did you go from being new and unproven to your own command?"

"Wasn't easy. When Wrex put Aralakh Company together, he needed a leader who represented the future of our species. Thanks to you, I completed my Rite of Passage on Tuchanka and became part of Clan Urdnot. I was an equal. And being the strongest, I was chosen to lead this honored company." Grunt stated, boastfully. John felt pleased the Krogan had come so far.

"I bet some didn't like a tank-bred Krogan being in charge." John noted and Grunt smirked.

"I collected a few scars earning my place here. These Krogan respect me."

"You were a pain in the ass, Grunt, but if your Krogan are half the soldier you are, we might make it out of here," John noted

"Heh. Glad you're here to crack some heads, Shepard. Hard to believe this might be Rachni. Seems crazy. The Rachni? A chance to face the old enemy? Impossible to resist!" Grunt declared and John just shook his head ruefully with a smile.

"We don't know if the Rachni had anything to do with this. We're here to find the scouts. I didn't see any signs of activity during our approach," John noted.

"Agreed. But this place smells wrong. Like a bad wound. Our scans show the tunnels down there lead to a large central point, if we're lucky, it's a nest."

"Rachni have nests?" James chimed in, not sounding too pleased by that as Grunt chuckled.

"Aralakh Company...move out! Grab what you need, Shepard. Meet me at the scout camp ahead." Grunt said moving off to lead his men in. John noted and led his team in to check out the camp.

~*TF*~

The team dropped from the shuttle and looked around.

"So for those of us who have never been to Tuchanka before...how much of this is normal?" Kaidan asked and Jane and Garrus shared a look.

"Honestly?" Jane asked. The team did not look hopefully. "Look at Blasto." The varren was just casually sniffing around some debris. "Some of these ruins have been here in this state longer than humans have had telescopes."

"What should we look for?" Ash asked.

"Big fires. Krogans don't tend to waste burnable material that easily," Garrus added.

"Did you raise Lieutenant Victus?" Jane asked and Garrus didn't look pleased.

"Yes, but the connection is bad," he said.

"Try to patch us in," Jane said and Garrus tapped at his omnitool. The connection indicated success. "This is Captain Jane Shepard, Alliance Navy. Do you read?"

"This is Lieutenant Tarquin Victius of the Ninth Platoon. We're pinned by Reaper Harvesters and taking heavy casualties. Also, there are pockets of my men scattered along the crash trajectory," Victus informed over the comms.

"Lieutenant. I need you to fire a flare so we can find your position," Jane explained. A flare went up and Jane used her visor to pinpoint a destination. "Got it."

"Things get worse by the minute. My men are dying!" Victus' voice was strained.

"We're here for you. Keep fighting," Jane said before looking at her team. "Let's move."

"This looks worse than I feared," Garrus confessed as the team began to move into the flaming wreckage. "A secret Turian mission on Tuchanka is especially odd. Thoughts?"

"Not good ones," Kaidan stated.

"Agreed," Jane added.

"You're the Turian," Ash pointed out and Garrus hummed.

"I got nothing," he sighed.

"We got husks," Ash stated and Jane saw the small group.

"I'll throw a singularity, Kaidan, use a warp, the rest shoot once they are caught in the singularity," Jane ordered. The plan was flawless and the husks were dead in seconds.

"Nice and clean," Garrus stated.

~*TF*~

Nothing was ever as simple as John wanted. After speaking with Grunt again, as they were checking out the scout's camp at the edge of the cliff, the cliff had given way under one of the prefab units. Sending John and his team tumbling into the cave area below. After taking stock that his team was okay and calling up to Grunt to stay in radio contact they had headed deeper into the caves. Almost immediately they had found dead scouts with flamethrowers and black webbing lining some of the walls and openings. As they had gone deeper into the caves, they had found large egg pods with black cords connecting to them. He'd ordered the team to destroy them all and had to deal with little Rachni bugs.

Then they'd headed into a large cavern where husks and modified Rachni had attacked them. It was obviously a trap with barrier generators strategically placed to give the Reaper units a boost. Though he hadn't fought with them much James and EDI had worked well with him. James was a soldier like himself and seemed to anticipate John's strategies, adopting a staggered firing pattern so as one man reloaded, the other was always firing. EDI used a hologram to pull troops away and give them breathing room to work. After a few minutes it was over.

"Well done you two," John said before contacting Grunt. "Grunt, Rachni presence confirmed. Modified and very dangerous."

"Finally, something to kill!" Grunt growled. "Nothing here yet. Lost a Krogan to a sinkhole. Bad way to go."

"The Reapers must be protecting something important here," EDI noted and John nodded in agreement as he led them out of the cavern and deeper in, destroying pods as they went. As they turned a corner James whistled at the sight of an even larger cavern with large pieces of Reaper tech.

"Reapers have messed this place up," James noted.

"Agreed," John commented. "Let's find out why…"

~*TF*~

Jane saw the first escape pod and shook her head.

"Escape pod. Our first casualties," Garrus stated.

"Looks like a Harvester got them, probably right as they were trying to get out of the pod," Kaidan stated, shaking his head.

"I hope the explosion was what did it and not the husks," Jane stated and Ash nodded before holding up a hand.

"Hear that? Eyes up," Ash hissed and the team slowly moved forward. A collection of cannibals were firing on the very live members of an escape pod.

"I have visual on the enemy...and there an escape pod just beyond. Looks like the Turians are in tough. Enemies up ahead don't know we're here," Jane said as she scoped.

"Surprise on our side for once. I like it," Garrus said in a pleased tone. Jane's face went tight. She wanted to save as many of these men as possible.

"Let's light them up team," Jane ordered. With precision the team quickly named their targets and head shots quickly removed the opponents on almost all fronts.

"Couldn't take yours down with one bullet, Williams?" Garrus teased and Ash made a vulgar hand motion.

"Harvester! Incoming Harvester!" one of the Turians warned as the creature landed. .

"Hold on, I'm going to try something," Jane said and the team looked at her. "Get that harvester's attention on us!"

"Yes, ma'am!" Ash replied as Jane closed her eyes and took a breath before putting up a barrier between the harverster and the Turians. It was far away and clearly not as strong, but it was there. Garrus caught the harvester in the side of the head with a concussive shot. As the harvester's head turned to the group, Jane dropped her barrier and pulled her Scorpion, she peppered the harvester's head again and again. As it took off, the explosion that ended it was beautiful.

"So...when do I get one of those?" Garrus asked and Jane holstered it.

"Should have hit up Mordin when you had the chance," Jane shot back.

"You wound me," he huffed.

"You good over there?" Kaidan called to the Turians.

"We're fine. Keep moving. We'll head to the main crash site. There's another pod ahead!" one of the Turians yelled as the pod emptied and the Turians headed to a doorway behind them.

"We got a ladder here," Ash called and the team headed over.

"We need to keep moving. We want to help that main crash site group," Jane said.

"Being the son of Adrien Victus is a lot to live up to," Garrus commented. "It's a big military name on Palaven. War's expected to run in the Victus blood.

"It doesn't always work that way," Jane commented, looking at Ash. "Sometimes you should be allowed to make your own name and not have the burden of it."

"Ah, thanks, Captain," Ash grinned and Jane rolled her eyes. They came up behind another group of Reaper forces and it was almost too easy to use Singularities to capture the Reaper ground forces and let the others decimate them. Jane was pleased by every Turian saved.

~*TF*~

John couldn't help but scowl in disgust as they crawled through this narrow passage next to the destroyed pods. His armor scraped along the rock and there was a slimy, squishy sound as they moved.

"What is this crap?" James muttered as they crawled.

"Logic suggests this is a mixture of pheromones and frass," EDI said helpfully behind them. "Or the Rachni equivalent."

"What the hell is frass?" James muttered as the passage opened up into a large opening.

"Ant shit," John said absently as he looked the area over.

"Ugh!" James bit out as he stood up. As he looked out he had more pressing concerns. "What is that?"

The that looked very familiar to John. He easily recognized the Rachni queen Jane had set free years ago but she was twice as large as from John had last seen her. She was held in place by large webbing and looked like she couldn't move.

"Grunt, we've located the central chamber," John reported, his eyes narrowing.

"Good! We got your back, Shepard!" Grunt growled and John nodded. He didn't see any Rachni or other Reaper troops in the immediate area. If he could, he'd try to talk to the Queen. So far none of the readings of this indoctrination detector were going off. If he got close enough maybe he could scan her. If she was clean and freed she might be able to help them. Gesturing for them to follow him, John dropped down from the ledge into the chamber itself. There must have been a sensor on the floor because the moment he did, large metallic steels plates that resembled Reaper tech began to shoot up around them.

"Move it!" John barked, breaking into a run for the Queen, trying to get to her before the trap sealed them in. He booked it across the way, noting the plates slamming into place as he moved. He was just a few feet from her when one shot into place, trapping them and cutting him off from the Queen. "Damn it!"

"Where is the switch?" James said as he looked around.

"There, higher up on that rock formation," EDI called and John sighed, thankful there was one. A few quick shots from his rifle and it was destroyed. Unfortunately, they didn't slide the plates down leading to the queen but to his left, which showed dozens of husks and Rachni drones.

"Heavy resistance!" EDI exclaimed.

"No shit!"

"This is it, people!" John barked. "We shoot our way through to another switch!" John led his team into the horde of Reapers.

~*TF*~

The team took out the last harvester between them and the crash.

"The Reapers really put up a fight," Kaidan stated as they approached the survivors.

"Lieutenant Victus?" Jane asked as she approached.

"Captain Shepard, my men and I are in your debt," Victus said as he approached. "Thank you for saving so many."

"What happened here?" Jane asked. A Turian soldier beside Victus grabbed him by the carapace.

"He screwed up!" the soldier accused.

"Stand down, soldier!" Victus ordered.

"These men are dead because of him!" the soldier cried.

"I said stand down!" Victus repeated. Jane got between the two and pushed them apart.

"Hey! My team just saved all your asses, so everyone just calm down!" Jane barked. The solider backed away. "Lieutenant, what's going on here?" Victus hung his head, a shameful Turian expression. He looked up.

"I made a bad call. This is all on me," Victus confessed. "I chose cautious and clever tactics over a head-on attack...and my men paid the price."

"You mean the crash? You couldn't have anticipated the attack," Jane said.

"Yes. We could see on holo that Cerberus forces were blocking our intended path...staying on course guaranteed heavy casualties," Victus explained. "So I chose a safer route, skirting the enemy, and that took us low and through these ruins. When we encountered Reaper forces there was no room to maneuver. Suddenly, we were in a fight for our lives. A lot of my men lost that fight." Jane looked at the fallen.

"Owning up to your mistake requires guts. But it is essential that you learn from this moment so that it can never happen again," Jane said. She knew the pain of losing men.

"Of course...it's just fresh right now," he explained. "Our mission's still a failure. When we've stabilized the injured, we'll head back to the fleet." He looked even more shamed.

"You're abandoning your mission?" Jane asked.

"We're down over thirty men. It'd be suicide with the Cerberus forces between us," Victus explained.

"What exactly did you come here to do?" Jane asked.

"There's a bomb on the planet. We were sent to defuse it," Victus said and Jane felt concern. A secret Turian mission with a bomb on Tuchanka...not good.

"A bomb? How big?" Jane asked. They were currently very close to the Kelphic Valley where many of the female clans gathered.

"Enormous. Cerberus has it," Victus said and Jane's face locked down.

"Lieutenant, if Cerberus has that bomb, you have to finish your mission," Jane said.

"Haven't these men sacrificed enough?" Victus exclaimed.

"I understand. This kind of sacrifice is the hardest to ask for but your men signed on for it and so did you," Jane said.

"My men have lost hope, Captain. Even if I wanted to finish the mission, they don't," Victus said. Something about his tone spoke of broken.

"It's your job to make them want to," Jane said. "If it helps, we are located not far from one of the Krogan havens. The place where their fertile females and children are considered safe. I'm taking a guess that your bomb is closer to that location than we are. The Turian forces need the treaty with the Krogan. You need Krogan boots on Palaven. If Cerberus has that bomb, I guarantee you, those females and those children will be slaughtered. The blame won't be on Cerberus, it will be on the Turians. Your ship is now evidence Cerberus can use to turn the Krogan against your people." Victus looked Jane in the eye then and Jane could feel her team looking at her as they realized what this situation meant. Victus' mandibles twitched in shock.

"How do I motivate them?" he asked, on leader to another.

"I know few warriors more honorable than the Turian. Their sacrifice means that others will never face what they faced here today. Remind them that those sacrifices have no honor if the mission fails," Jane said. She stayed back as Victus approached his men. He looked like he was carrying the weight of the mission and he was.

"Men! I own what happened here today, but we have to carry on!" Victus began.

"No, we don't. Who cares about a few dead Krogan? It's over!" one of the soldiers snarled.

"We are Turian, and we will not let Cerberus succeed. Our sacrifice is the difference between life and death for this entire galaxy!" Victus barked. Authority oozed from him and Jane nodded. There was a deep feeling of pride that came from seeing failure make someone stronger instead of weaker. Victus was being honed like a sword being beaten into a better and stronger weapon. "Let the heroes of the Ninth Platoon be remembered for performing their duties with bravery! All right, men! Shuttles are arriving within the hour...we're moving out!" The soldiers seemed to snap back at that. They began to salute and move as only Turians with purpose could. Victus turned to Jane.

"Captain. We need to get rid of the Cerberus forces. They have anti aircraft weaponry in the rubble. I can give you the coordinates. I worry about our shuttles while those weapons in Cerberus hands," Victus said and Jane nodded.

"Give us the coordinates, we'll take out these anti-aircraft guns and then meet you at the bomb," Jane said and Victus nodded. Quickly passing her the coordinates through his omnitool. "Lieutenant...get some water and double check who is physically able to complete the mission. Send those who can't back to the fleet." Victus nodded and Jane looked at the team. "Let's go decrease Cerberus' holdings here on Tuchanka."

"Feels good going after the bad guys," Ash said.

"I owe them...personally," Kaidan said and Jane gave him a look. The image of him in Dr. Ava's grasp made her throat hurt.

"You can have first shot," Jane said.

"Really?" Garrus asked.

"If he sees them first," Jane continued.

~*TF*~

John let out a deep breath after they killed the last drone. As they did the Queen roared, sending a few of the mini-Rachni spawn scurrying. As he was wiping some Rachni gunk off his face his comm came to life.

"Shepard the Rachni are backing off!" Grunt growled. "Whatever spooked them won't last. Finish the job."

"Copy that," John replied, taking stock of his team. James was panting heavily, covered in Reaper filth as well. EDI seemed no worse for the wear with just a few smears and dents on her armor and was calm only as an AI could be. He led them to the last Reaper switch and activated it. The last panel slid its way down allowing them access to the Queen. As they approached and got a closer look at her he actually felt bad for her. She was affixed in place by Reaper webbing and devices with Krogan corpses strewn about her, Reaper tech everywhere, attached to her eggs and the webbing.

"Si...lence..." The corpses all spoke at once, echoing throughout the hall.

"What the hell!" James exclaimed, pointing his pistol at one corpse but John stopped him.

"Easy Vega," John said, "I've seen this before. It's how the queen communicates with us."

"The...maddening sour note has ceased." The Queen continued. "We listen for the children...they are silent, hollow. The machines come and take them to war. They die alone, silent, far away."

"The Reapers did this to you?" John stated the obvious, to be sure.

"Yes. The sour note of the machines was everywhere in here," the queen boomed. "They invaded our nest, used our children!"

"John, if we are able to relocate the queen we could provide the shielding we used to block the Leviathan signal around her new nest," EDI noted. "Modifications are already underway to adapt this to several allied strongholds.

"When my sister agreed to free you then you swore not to interfere anymore. The Rachni were supposed to disappear," John stated.

"We remember. We kept our promise. Retreated back through the relay. We started a new home. Beautiful children. Harmony. But...the machines came. They heard our song. Their shriek of sour notes drowned us out." The Queen snarled.

"They can't hurt you anymore." John soothed her.

"Yes, we...understand." The Queen growled.

"Can you still feel the Reapers? Can they influence you?" John wondered

"We hear the machines, but they cannot control us. Remove this last shackle and we are free." The cavern ceiling rumbled and cracked, pieces falling. "What? The children return. They will destroy us all. Release us!" The Queen demanded. John quickly brought up the indoctrination scanner. He used it on the queen and it reported back negatively. Whatever the Reapers were doing here, they couldn't indoctrinate the Queen. It probably explained all the devices and modifications to the Rachni.

"We're getting movement here. A lot of movement…" Grunt reported over the comms as John shut the device down.

"Copy that, Grunt." John reported. "Are you capable of fighting the Reapers?

"We hate the machines. We will fight for our unborn children. Release us!" The Queen agreed.

"She's a mess. She needs too much time to escape!" James countered as the cavern shook.

"Shepard, we're out of time! We stay here, Arlakh Company dies! Is that clear?" Grunt snarled. John ground his teeth, hating it every second as he made his decision.

"Listen up! Aralakh Company holds the Rachni off while the queen escapes." John said looking quickly at the queen. "We'll buy you some time. Grunt, fall back to our position and lead us out!" John ordered.

"Damn you, Shepard! I'm leaving my team. On my way!"

"Shepard…" James started to protest.

"That's an order! She's too valuable an asset to lose!" John barked as he hurried to the last control and shot it a few times to release the queen. There was a rush of light and heat as the bindings dissolved around the queen. She bellowed and reared up before crashing to the ground.

"Now get us outta here." John ordered. The wall opposite them exploded and Grunt was there with a now empty rocket launcher he tossed aside. He gestured the way he had come and the team headed out of the cavern, the Queen's steps thundering as she ran out another way, away from the approaching horde. Grunt led the way as the team shot anything in their way. They ran as hard as they could, turning a corner before John halted backing up to stop the team. There were dozens of Reavers and Swarmers in the way.

"Shit," John muttered, thinking. His eyes met Grunt who snarled.

"The shuttle's down that path! I'll hold them off!" Grunt said gesturing to the tunnel opposite the Reavers and Swarmers. John went to protest but Grunt cut him off. "Get out of here, Shepard!" John stared at the man and glanced at his team. He knew it was the right call but it still left a bitter feeling. John placed a hand on his friend's shoulder and nodded, no words needed to be said between the soldiers. Then he turned and led his team down the path. He heard Grunt growl something before laughing. Then the shrieks and gunfire as Grunt waded into the mass of Reavers and Swarmers. John refused to turn back, knowing he'd join in too, consequences be damned as he tried to save his friend. A few minutes later he led the team out back onto the surface. He saw the shuttle waiting there for them and he sighed.

"Cortez, we're the last ones out," John reported, unable to keep the misery out of his voice. That was a rough mission. Already he felt like he'd made the bad call.

"Copy that, Commander. Shuttle is waiting." John rubbed at his face and wondered how the hell he was going to explain this Wrex. As they boarded the shuttle John couldn't help it. He glanced back one last time and blinked in shock. He barreled out of the shuttle and ran for Grunt, who was limping out of the tunnel, covered in viscera and blood from head to toe.

"Grunt!" John shouted as he got near.

"Anybody got something to eat?" Grunt mumbled before his knees buckled. John caught the man and shook his head.

"Let's get you patched up buddy."

~*TF*~

The Cerberus anit-aircraft base was ridiculously easy to take down and Jane contacted some friends in Urdnot to secure it in Krogan hands after the team headed out. The team was getting on the shuttle to meet Victus and his troops near the bomb.

"Do you think Urdnot suspects anything?" Kaidan asked and Jane shrugged.

"When I contacted the scoutmaster he didn't seem shocked to hear from me, so I suspect Wrex gave Urdnot the heads up I was planet side," Jane said. "I'll contact him after we defuse the bomb," Jane said.

"Do you think Cerberus is going to blow that bomb soon?" Ash asked and Jane nodded.

"They know we know, besides, they probably knew about the Turian mission," Jane said.

"Indoctrination?" Garrus asked and Javik nodded.

"Assume indoctrinated in each species, however, once the indoctrination detection tools spread outward from the Citadel, those spies will become useless and the Reapers will lose their greatest advantage," Javik said with a grin. "Betrayal from within was their preferred method. Use those they controlled mentally and spread indoctrination like a disease."

"Okinawa shuttle, this is Lieutenant Victus with the Ninth Platoon. Do you copy?" Victus said over the comms.

"We hear you, Ninth Platoon. We took care of that annoyance we mentioned before," Jane said.

"We're approaching the bomb site, Captain," Victus reported. "Getting bounced around pretty bad."

"This is as close as we get, Lieutenant. Look for somewhere to set your platoon down," Jane said.

"Copy that," Victus said.

"Talk to me about this Cerberus bomb," Jane said.

"It's not Cerberus, Captain. It's...Turian," Victus explained and several things clicked for Jane.

"How old is this bomb, Lieutenant?" Jane asked.

"Over a thousand years old," Victus said and the team swore.

"What does that mean?" Javik asked.

"This bomb was planted at the end of the Krogan Rebellion," Jane said shaking her head. "Cerberus will want this bomb to explode. Because it will be Turian technology and it will start a war between the Krogan and Turians. We cannot fail."

"No pressure," Kaidan sighed.

"The bomb was a safeguard against another galactic war," Victus confessed.

"Brutal, but it makes a certain kind of sense. Put the Krogan down hard if they tried anything," Garrus said and Jane nodded.

"Turian tactics at their best. Be prepared for anything...except Cerberus finding out about it at the worst damn time," Jane groaned. "It wasn't meant to earn trust."

"We focus on disarming that bomb," Victus said and Jane nodded. "Detonation means all-out war between my people and the Krogan."

"And we are here to get the opposite. Krogan boots on Palaven fighting Reapers," Jane said. "What's the plan?"

"The bomb is located in those buildings, sending your team the coordinates. The Ninth Platoon will cover your flank, Captain," Victus said.

"I told the Urdnot I was clearing out a Cerberus infestation in this area. I let them know that I would contact them if I needed back up. That should buy us enough Krogan free time to let them think the only Turian I am working with is Garrus," Jane said.

As the shuttle landed it was clear Cerberus was ready for the team. It looked like a war zone.

"Let's get the attention on us, team. I want the Ninth Platoon walking in on that bomb," Jane said as she used her biotics to pick up a chuck of a building and hurl it into barrier where Cerberus goons were crouched.

"Shit, it's Shepard!" one cried.

"Better tell your bosses!" Ash cried as she ran in firing. It was back into the fire.

~*TF*~

Earth Date: November 10th, 2186 CE

Location: SSV Normandy, Mid-transit

"John you made it out of there!" Wrex exclaimed as John left the comm room and John sighed. "Sounds like I missed a hell of a fight."

"It was bloody Wrex," John noted. "We could have used you, buddy."

"Too busy talking rather than fighting, feeling restless. A war going on and I'm stuck keeping the peace. Bah!" Wrex said waving a hand. "I heard you made some kind of deal with the Rachni queen? First your sister now you? If they get out of hand again it's your ass."

"Understood," John noted, amused. Trust Wrex to look on the bright side of things.

"I heard Grunt managed to get out of there with a few scratches," Wrex noted and John shook his head.

"You could say that," John replied.

"Well don't worry, we'll get him patched up and back into the fight," Wrex noted and sighed. "I should get back to it. Your sister is cleaning up this Turian situation on Tuchanka."

"We're already heading back there now. Tell me more about this Turian situation." John asked as the two men headed for the digital war display.

~*TF*~

Earth Date: November 10th, 2186 CE

Location: Tuchanka, Aralakh System

Jane watched as the Cerberus shuttle headed up into the air.

"I'm at the control panel, Commander. Cerberus set up a firewall around the trigger mechanism to slow us down," Victus said over the comms and Jane headed to where she could see the Ninth Platoon gathering. As she approached Victus looked at her. "I need to create a bypass. That'll take time. Like you said 'no trigger, no explosion.'"

"You men, get into cover. I swear you Turians think you're indestructible," Jane scolded and the guards gave her a look. She held up her sniper rifle and the guards got into cover.

"Some of us can catch rockets with our faces," Garrus commented and Jane slowly turned to give him a scolding look. He shifted his mandibles in a carefree grin. "Still not funny?"

"Not the time, Vakarian," Jane warned as she approached Victus. "Are you sure you can do that?"

"Yes. It's old tech. I know what to do," Victus said and Jane nodded. "Buy me a few minutes, Captain."

"We'll make sure you have the time you need, Lieutenant," Jane said.

"Understood. Starting bypass," Victus explained before giving her a look that Jane was starting to recognize as a Turian gratitude look. "Thank you for making sure I get this chance." Jane patted Victus' back as she turned.

"Just make it right, soldier," Jane said. A bullet hit the concrete that one of the Turians was crouched behind, almost taking his head off. Jane put up a barrier around the Turians. "Team, I'll keep the Turians safe, take out those Cerberus pains in our asses."

"You got it, ma'am," Ash stated as she and Javik charged the approaching Cerberus forces.

"Captain?" Victus asked.

"You know this tech, Lieutenant, you've also lost enough men. My team can take out these Cerberus goons easier. They didn't survive a ship crash a couple hours ago," Jane stated as she watched as Kaidan and Garrus were clearly stealing each other's kills." She tapped her comm ear against her shoulder to let her team hear her. "Boys. Now is not the time for this. Please defend the hill while I keep the barrier up." Garrus and Kaidan separated after that. Jane watched her team until the Atlas showed up. "Dropping the shielding." She dropped the shield and pulled the Scorpion. A few good shots to the cockpit and the driver was exposed. Jane pulled the pilot out of the mech. She switched to her sniper to keep the Cerberus forces at bay.

"Captain! Firewall's down. I'm in!" Victus said over the comms. "Spirits! Cerberus hacked the trigger mechanism! It's set to detonate!"

"Disarm it!" Jane cried as she turned to head back to Victus.

"No time! I have to separate the trigger from the bomb! Now!" Victus was working as fast as he could as Jane came up to protect him from behind. "Cover me!" Jane watched as the young officer quickly began to scale the bomb. Jane kept him safe, keeping an eye for any Cerberus forces that might have taken aim at him. It didn't take long for Jane to see that one of the arms wasn't releasing. A thousand years on Tuchanka or Cerberus had damaged it and it wasn't going to release. Jane could see the countdown, time was not their friend. Jane took out a few more Cerberus troops. She looked up again to see Victus pull out a support. The arm began to fall only to catch on the remaining support. Jane's eyes met Victus'.

"Victory...at any cost," he said. As he pulled the support free Jane dropped her gun and reached. It was a tight window, the biotic flare hurt as Jane created a barrier around Victus, then pulled hard. The arm barely missed cutting the young Turian in two as he landed on Jane. It hurt as she caught him directly on her and they skidded across the ground. Heavy...painful...stupid...brave...Turian. Victus was on top of Jane, he looked surprised to be alive. He got up and looked down at Jane. "Captain...you saved me..."

"Victory, at any cost. This one didn't need to be that high," Jane said. "Now could you please get off of me. This looks kind of bad." Victus then realized he was on the Captain, his knees between her legs.

"Sorry, ma'am!" he cried as he got up and offered Jane a hand. She took it and looked at the members of Ninth Platoon as she got up.

"You soldiers remember that move. He was willing to die for the cause. A stubborn human didn't let him," Jane said as she moved her shoulders and looked at her team. Neither Garrus nor Kaidan liked that show. She didn't have time for their feelings. "Let's go. You Turians are needed back home."

~*TF*~

Earth Date: November 11th, 2186 CE

Location: SSV Normandy, Mid-transit

Mordin had requested a meeting between himself, Wrex and Eve to explain the cure to all of them. John had been all set to gather all the principals involved but Mordin had informed him that this needed to be kept quiet. Raising an eyebrow at the Salarian he had arranged it shortly after he got word Jane's mission had succeeded. He liked the Turians but they could do some pretty damn cold blooded things. Planting a bomb on Tuckanka? At least they had committed to cleaning up their own mess, despite Cerberus forcing the issue.

"We're all here Mordin," John said gesturing. "At three in the morning and EDI will make sure no one knows about this meeting. Now what is it?"

"Appreciate the measure undertaken results of cure have been finalized. Needed to explain to you as Spectre not closely connected to the Krogan and the leaders of the Krogan. Must clarify this cure is not a true cure," Mordin explained.

"You mean you lied to us?" Wrex snarled.

"Listen to him, Wrex," Eve scolded and Wrex glared at Mordin before seeing the look on Eve and John's faces.

"Fine, but I bled for this too," he huffed as he crossed him arms. Mordin nodded at this.

"Maelon was using bypass evolutionary path. Not true cure because reclaimed fertility was not reversing genophage. Was working around genophage. To work around, rudimentary systems augmented preexisting Krogan healing and fertility. Not perfect. Side effects, must be discussed," Mordin stated and Wrex blinked in a slow, dangerous way.

"What kind of side effects?" he growled.

"Effects that will change us," Eve explained.

"I don't know if I like that," Wrex stated.

"Why I want to explain. Do not want to make same mistake twice," Mordin said. "Eve already altered. She and her children will always be changed, will pass down this ability. Won't save all Krogan."

"So...how will this...cure...change us?" Wrex asked. Mordin moved to Eve and brought up a display.

"Cure will allow for genetic process occurring in Maelon's victims to be replicated in all Krogan. Gene therapy more than cure. Side effects will be obvious," Mordin stated. "First thirty percent deduction in life expectancy."

"Deduction in life expectancy. I don't like that," Wrex growled.

"A thirty percent decrease in our life expectancy still gives us four times the lifespan of a human, Quarian, or Turian," Eve said and Wrex blinked.

"Life expectancy still variable with Krogan. Some Krogan reach fourteen hundred without complications...most being female," Mordin added. "Will still see female Krogan live a thousand years."

"Clan Nakmor boasted of more than one member well over a thousand," Eve added. "Thirty percent is worth the increased fertility."

"Increased? Not cured," Wrex snarled with a very angry expression on his face.

"He's still talking about the first part, Wrex," John chimed in. "Hear him out."

"Genophage affected meiosis. Cell division for gametes. Increased amount of aneuploidy. Most gametes too many or not enough chromosomes. Evolutionary work around decreases amount of cell division in gonads. Less sperm, less egg, less aneuploidy. Each Krogan makes better quality gametes, just less gametes," Mordin explained.

"How does that decrease our lifespan?" Wrex asked.

"Decrease in cell division not just meiosis. Mitosis affected as well. Krogan cell division key part in longevity. Similar to Asari in a way. Krogan cell division very fast. Healing can be instantaneous. Would slow. Still faster than all other species, but slower than Krogan used to. Will have fatalities due to blood rage in later life," Mordin said and Wrex nodded at that.

"I guess that's not terrible. If our females can all be mothers again...I would...I would accept a shorter life," Wrex admitted.

"Secondly will affect sex distribution," Mordin stated and Wrex looked irritated again.

"What does that mean?" he growled.

"It means the female population will go up," Eve explained and Wrex blinked.

"Do I want to know how?" he asked.

"Sex determined by male gamete. Krogan sperm greatly favors male chromosome. Meiosis makes smaller sperm for male chromosome, sperm is faster, higher rate of male offspring. With less cell division, sperm become similar size, more chance for female offspring," Mordin said with a smile. "With equal population of sexes, more stability. Current population status is one female to every ten males. This will bring closer to one to one ratio."

"So we live shorter, but we are all fertile again and we have more females born," Wrex summarized. Mordin nodded. "It's not a cure...but it is better. We've never had a large female population."

"Lastly, decrease in clutch size and frequency," Mordin noted.

"Smaller clutches I get, but frequency?" Wrex asked.

"Due to decrease in meiosis in males, sex distribution affected, due to decreased meiosis in females, clutch size and frequency affected," Morin explained. "Female cycle normally producing roughly one hundred eggs every thirty-nine point eight days. This historically created hordes. Due to decrease in mitosis and meiosis female egg production dropped more radically than sperm as is common in dioecy species. More sperm more common, with Krogan this will be radical drop. Clutches will drop from a hundred to two to four eggs at a time. Also will affect fertility cycle, females no longer capable of pregnancy as often. Will be fertile twice a year."

"So, no more hordes of Korgan," Wrex growled.

"You'd be more like the other species with pregnancies," John noted. "I think this might make it easier for the others accept. You have to admit Wrex that your species does multiply faster than resources can be found. Think about the planets you destroyed after the Rachni wars."

"And we wouldn't have dozens of dead children at a time," Eve noted. "No more heartbreak as we crack egg after egg to find only dead children Wrex." Wrex grunted and thought it over.

"This will have to be explained carefully," He said after a few minutes. "After this cure has been distributed, we'll gather the leaders of all the clans together and explain it them before we announce it at large. Some may want to go back to the old ways but we need them onboard to keep everyone in line."

"If waiting to reveal after dispersion, less concern, will not be able to build up numbers as fast for war," Mordin commented.

"You'll have to find a way to appease them," Eve said and Wrex nodded.

"Stress that it is a cure just not in the traditional sense," John noted before smiling as he remembered something Okeer said to him. "You'll still have the genophage but you'll inflict upon its creators the greatest insult an enemy can suffer. To be ignored." Wrex laughed.

"I like that. Very well, let's do this."

~*TF*~

Belle's Note: The scene with Victus has ALWAYS irritated the shit out of me. From the first playthrough I thought for sure I would get a quick time event to save him but no. He falls to his death and I'm standing there like "Excuse me? Space magic, I could Pull him to safety!" It was a pet peeve. A great scene to be sure, but it seemed like it could be so much more.

Also, I got super misty eyed the first time I played ME3 and you had to leave Grunt to save the Queen. I cannot tell you how long I sat there going back and forth on the Queen or Aralakh Company. I saved the Queen because that poor girl got SCREWED and she needed to get her revenge. I was wiping away tears when Grunt told you he would hold them back. I was blubbering when Grunt showed up at the end of that mission. As they started the music and then panned to him I think I actually went "My Grunt Baby made it!"

Toby's Note: Belle has such a thing for Turians. I mean I love them, they're bros and awesome but I've never really thought of them that way. *stops and thinks for a moment* Well Vetra was cute. You know I take that back, I think I'd like to try sleeping with a Turian once but…chaffing. *shivers and Mordin pats him on the back* Anyways Belle she loves missions with the Turians but when Victus died? Whew, the upset! I thought he went out like a badass but I understand her point. I get it happened for plot reasons but Belle was very upset.

Yeah the first time I played the Grunt missions I thought I fucked up. I was cussing up a storm as my first Shepard was heading back to the shuttle and then Grunt comes staggering out covered in blood…fuck yeah! One of my favorite memes is a picture of Grunt walking out but they added shades and put an explosion behind him. Though I liked how it ended if you killed her off it was kinda cookie cutter, the same with mostly changed dialogue. Though to be fair I only did that on my renegade play through where I killed or got killed everyone I possibly could. FYI, I wasn't impressed they just swapped Grunt out with Dagg though he was a badass. "Time to die." Bad-ass.

Also a side note folks, if any of you are hardcore paragons like Belle you really need to do one pure renegade playthrough. The differences with some of your choices, wow. Some of them are insane. There was only one I couldn't play anymore and that was when Tali committed suicide. There was a lot of screaming of "No!" and "what have I done"s on my end.

Belle: I still have not, nor do I ever intend to play a full Renegade.

~*TF*~

OMAKE 1

Belle looked at the cast and brought her hands together in front of her as she looked at Jane, Kaidan, and Garrus.

"Okay so polyamory..." Belle said and Jane began to laugh.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" she snorted as she began to laugh herself to tears. Belle looked at Garrus.

"Do you really think I'd go for that?" he asked, mandibles flaring in a warning way. Belle looked at Kaidan. His brows were down and his frown said it all.

"It was suggested..." Belle sighed.

"She read a lot of fanfiction too," The Iron Bull said by the door.

"Not helping," Belle said.

"Is that why this chapter didn't have a lot of love triangle in it?" Jane asked and Belle whistled innocently.

"Look at the time, I should go...got another chapter to write and all," she said. Jane shook her head and headed out.

"Oh, I'm gonna let you two know, you should worry about that Vega kid," The Iron Bull said.

"Oh, don't worry, we are," Kaidan stated.

"Ash is not helping," Garrus grunted.

OMAKE 2

"Hee hee hee…and action!" Belle called. She relaxed into her director's chair for the first scene filming of chapter 34. She had so been looking forward to this, beefcakes Alenko and Vakarian strutting around showing their manly bodies as Jane and Ash sparred…

"Caw?" Belle's attention snapped to where Garrus and Kaidan were supposed to be. She felt her temper spike when she saw in place of her Turian stud-muffin was a grey and blue painted rooster with a familiar visor on its face. Her temper reached even higher levels where another rooster strutted out wearing little Alliance marine pants and muscular chest shirt. "Caw?"

"TOBIAS!"

In a safe location in the studio Toby was laughing hysterically with several others as they watched the monitors.

"Why roosters?" Aerith whispered to James Vega who sighed.

"Because they are preening cocks," James explained.

"…I don't get it…"

OMAKE 3

"Alrighty then, I call this Jane Shepard Fan Club meeting to order. I see we have a new member," Conrad said as he looked at the room filled with holographic members of his club. He always knew Jane Shepard was the right one to follow. She had survived everything and was the greatest hero he could think of. "Welcome, what's your name?" The Turian looked a little embarrassed but noticed several other Turians and seemed more confident.

"My name is Tarquin Victus," he said with a grin. "I'm glad to see I'm not the only Turian here."

"Ah, our fair Jane has more than a few admirers," Lorik Qui'in chuckled from his spot.

"Now, as a new member, you have access to the best of videos we have of Jane," Conrad said pulling up the playlist. "There is fanfiction, fanart, actual pictures, and of course, a copy of the holo I got of Jane herself. I encourage you to share your story."

"Well, I was on a mission and Jane saved my life. I was falling...I thought to my death, but she pulled me with her biotics and I actually landed on her," Tarquin said, rubbing the back of his head. Suddenly he felt danger. He looked around. Eyes were on him.

"You...landed on Jane?" Padrak growled.

"Um...yeah...she pulled me and I had no control over it," Tarquin said.

"Oh man, you are in for it," Julius chuckled.

"Pics or it didn't happen?!" Malall cried in rage.

"I didn't get any!" Tarquin cried.

"I'll just hack Garrus Vakarian's visor again, he always looking at Jane," Malall huffed.

Belle: All of the named characters in this omake have appeared in this story.

OMAKE 4

"Well of course! Let's set it up and do the trade right now. What would you like done with your trade?"

Belle paused as she was walking past the hallway to the large conference room. There was a large number of their readers and fans waiting in the hall. What made the hallway even more crowded was each of them had a pokemon of some kind with them. Belle sighed in irritation as she realized why these people were there.

"Excuse me, pardon me, let me through please," Belle said as she headed down the hallway wishing Bull was with her. She made her way into her conference room and shook her head as what she expected was happening. Toby was sitting at the end of the table, his hands folded before him as he channeled his inner-Gendo, complete with dark orange tinted glasses and sharp suit. He was flanked by an Infernape on one side and Morrigan on his other. At the far end from him was a fan who was happily hugging a shiny Bagon.

"You and Hera take care now," Toby said, waving them off as the trainer left, babbling a happy thanks. Belle glanced at the white board and sighed at what Toby had written.

NO LEGENDS

SHINIES PREFFERED

"Toby why are you running your pokemon ring out of the studio?" Belle demanded and Toby smirked at her.

"Well, we may have talked about anime and others but really our staff are all video game characters," Toby began to explain. "So, I thought since I completely owned my Shining Pearl Nuzlocke I'd share the wealth."

"What do you mean share the wealth?" Belle asked, curious.

"I had a great Nuzlocke run with lots of rares and since I beat the game the Nuzlocke rules no longer applied. That opened me up to trades and using the daycare for breeding. You know I have all the starters for every gen up to this one?" Toby said happily. "I have every dragon you can get too! I even completed my dex!"

"Yeah, but why are you using the studio to run your little pokemon ring?" Belle demanded.

"Well, I needed the space and facilities the studio has to get yours!" Toby chirped happily before turning to his starter. "Kong would you mind handing me my briefcase?"

"Infernape!" Kong replied before digging through the stacks of boxes near them with Tobias's pokemon for trade. It pulled out an expensive briefcase and placed it on the table before his master. Tobias stood and opened the briefcase, pulling out a heal ball and a luxury ball. He rolled them towards Belle.

"You got me pokemon?" Belle said skeptically as she stopped the balls.

"Yes and it took me a while to find these, go ahead and open them!" Toby encouraged her. Belle sighed, used to her co-author's nerdy overexuberance and opened the balls. In twin flashes of light Belle saw them pokemon materialize on the table before her and instantly felt her heart melt. As the heal ball opened a shiny Eevee materialized on the table before her. The Eevee had light pink collar with a name tag and everstone attached to it. The luxury ball opened and a shiny Alolan-Vulpix with soft blue scarf on appeared next to the Eevee. The Eevee stretched and shook itself as the Vulpix yawned hugely before sitting primly before Belle.

"Now this pretty lady Eevee is Rei and this handsome man is Noel. Rei, Noel? This young lady is your new trainer," Tobias said, making the introductions.

"'Vee!" Rei exclaimed jumping into Belle's arms as Noel moved towards Belle and sniffed her before licking her forearm.

"Oh, they're so pretty, aren't you both so pretty!" Belle gushed; her irritation forgotten.

"I had Bull set up some pet furniture for them in your office and gave you some evolutions stones in a box in case you need them," Toby explained.

"Let's go show you your new home, yes we will!" Belle exclaimed taking her new pets with her. She failed to miss Toby's smirk as a nervous fan slash trainer entered the room after her. Tobias sat back down placing his hands before him Gendo style as Morrigan waved her hand, causing the lights to dim and the remaining light in the room took on a sinister tint.

"Now that she has been distracted…" Tobias drawled in an ominous manner. "I was told you had something for me my friend. What is your pleasure sir?"