Twin Fates
By Belle and Tobias
Automatic Disclaimer: We do not own the rights to the Mass Effect or any other referenced copy righted material.
Toby's Note: Good to see you guys again! I have to apologize; my work has been crazy lately and its left me little time to write. I tried to write a little every day, half hour here, an hour there. I'm just happy my boss is okay with me writing during my lunches and breaks. Thankfully it all added up and now here is the chapter! Next couple of chapters I'm starting off so I hope you folks enjoy. Belle and I had a pretty good argument about the end of this chapter too. We worked it out though.
Belle's Note: Honestly guys, I'm stoked with how the story is going. I spent the entire time since we posted the last chapter telling Toby there was no pressure. Actually, my job was miserable through June, so I'm thankful it is over for now. Anyway, I was so shocked by this part of the game…especially when I played my Thane Romance playthrough…anyone who played a Thane romance knows just what I am talking about. One of the things Bioware DEFINTELY got wrong was how they ended the Shrios ship. While Toby teases me for being torn between Kaidan and Garrus, I honestly adore both their romances, not only because they were the only het ships that made it to the end but because Thane's fate in ME3 sealed the end of my Shrios days; while the whisper of Siha is absolutely swoon worthy, his death was heart wrenching and I was so certain he would make it through the power of…romance plot hole armor. I was wrong.
Chapter 36: Betrayals & Sacrifices
Earth Date: November 16th, 2186 CE
Location: SSV Okinawa, Citadel, 1000 hours
Jane was looking over messages as she submitted paperwork for the Alliance and Spectre ops. A message from Bakara gave Jane more hope as she saw that the Krogan females were rejoicing. She smiled at that hope. New life would come from their actions. Her omni-tool rang with a call from Kaidan.
"Hey Kaidan, what's up?" Jane asked as she sat back.
"Do you have any plans for tonight?" Kaidan asked and Jane blinked.
"No," she answered honestly, her heart beating slightly at his tone.
"Then would you be willing to let me treat you to dinner?" Kaidan asked and Jane blushed at the invitation.
"I'd be honored, when and where?" Jane asked.
"I can get a reservation for Ryuusei Sushi in the Wards," he stated and Jane thought about it.
"Is that the really nice place?" Jane asked and Kaidan chuckled.
"A friend asked if I would be able to buy his reservation off of him, I contacted you as soon as I saw where," Kaidan said and Jane blushed. "The reservation is at nineteen hundred."
"I'll look forward to that," Jane said.
"See you there, Jane," Kaidan said as he ended the call. Jane smiled before she realized there was a dress code for Ryuusei.
"Shit!" Jane hissed as she looked up the restaurant, sure enough, dress and tie expected but dress uniforms were excusable. Jane did not want to show up to the place in Alliance Blues. She groaned, she needed an expert. She headed down to the hold. Ash and James were talking weaponry when Jane approached.
"Ash, got a minute?" she asked and Ash smiled.
"Sure thing, Captain, what do you need?" she replied and Jane coughed a look at James.
"Girl talk, I got it," he headed over to his corner.
"Pfft, frivolous female chatter," Javik commented and Jane rolled her eyes.
"Kaidan asked me to go to Ryuusei Sushi, but I don't have anything nice to wear," Jane explained and Ash's eyes widened.
"Wow, that place is nice. So you want to ask me to go shopping with you then?" Ash teased and Jane nodded.
"Your advice for the Officers' Ball was top notch," Jane said and Ash grinned.
"Let's get into civilian clothes and I'll take you to a nice boutique I know of," Ash grinned and Jane smiled. "Wear that outfit I made you buy." Jane made a face.
"We're going shopping for a dress," Jane whined.
"Trust me, dressing up to buy a dress gets you a better dress," Ash commented and Jane groaned as she headed to the elevator. Once the elevator door was shut Ash quickly sent a message to Garrus.
Jane got to her cabin. The outfit was a trendy outfit for most Citadel citizens. The top was tiny, exposing Jane's stomach and waist, but the vest that connected to the skirt had a lower back which hid Jane's scar, plus it had a high neck which Jane liked. The skirt was long, down to her feet and she had to wear a pair of boots with slight heels to keep from dragging it along the ground. Nothing like Miranda, but there were heels involved. Jane put the outfit on and looked at herself in the mirror, she brushed her hair and put on slight make-up. She felt ridiculous but Ash wouldn't make fun of her.
"Look at you, Shep," Ash chuckled as Jane approached the air lock.
"Damn, Lola," James whistled and Jane blushed.
"Watch yourself," she warned and James gave her a clear up and down.
"Guess I'll have to," he winked and Jane shook her head. Ash was in a dress similar to Jane's two piece but with cutouts on the sides and long sleeves.
"Let's get you ready, Captain," Ash said with a wink and Jane chuckled as they headed off the ship.
~*TF*~
Location: Presidium Commons, Citadel, 1300 hours
Jane and Ash were finishing lunch when Jane's omnitool went off.
"Are we due back?" Ash asked as she noticed the smile on Jane's face as she responded.
"It's Garrus, he's got some sort of surprise for me," Jane said. "Guess Kaidan let it slip he got a date for me."
"Probably," Ash said, relieved Jane did not notice who Ash was favoring. "Want me to take your dress back for you?"
"That would be great, thanks Ash, I'll go meet him right after this," Jane said with a smile and Ash grinned brightly.
"Have fun," she cheered and Jane smiled at that.
~*TF*~
Location: Presidium Commons, Citadel, 1301 hours
John used to hate going shopping. He could never understand the people in the crowd. Strolling around, gazing through windows, talking with someone but never buying anything. He had always been very focused on what he wanted. If he couldn't order it and get it in a timely manner. He looked up what to get, where to get it and the shortest routes there and back. In, find what he wanted, pay for it, get out. He never really got making a day of going shopping, until now.
When Liara had suggested going out to have lunch and strolling through the Citadel he'd agreed right away. He'd gotten dressed in a pair of jeans with a red shirt and his leather jacket over it and to his surprise Liara was wearing a set of her own jeans with a white blouse. As they were walking to a little café in the middle of the Presidium he'd teased her about it making her smile. As they ate in the outdoor café he saw a familiar Asari working the bar. He'd frowned when he saw her, that nagging feeling that he'd seen, even spoken with her before. Then Liara drew his attention away and time just seemed to slip away. A long lunch where he didn't eat like he had dozens of things to do, then paying the bill. Now he was strolling through markets he'd never been to with Liara's fingers intwined with his. He finally got why people did this. He saw the looks they got from lots of different people. Envious, knowing, romantic, annoyed and one person who looked disgusted, John reveled in them all. This was his lover and he was hers. They were just enjoying their company but the public display without a care in the world.
"I've never seen a store like this before," Liara mused. John focused his attention back on Liara as she slowed to gaze into a window. He looked inside and understood, he'd seen them planet of times on Earth and a few other human settled worlds.
"It looks like a flea market," John said as he peered inside. Inside the large shop were several humans with tables with a wide variety of items. "We have these large open areas where people show up to sell old goods or large quantities of new goods. Some people even sell for retailers or try to market products they created directly to people. It looks like the owner set this store up as a flea market since you can't sell in open areas of the Presidium. Pretty clever."
"If they're used goods what guarantee do you have that they will work?" Liara inquired. John shrugged.
"You look them over but it's really you buy as is. You can find great deals and even rare items." John noted. "My Dad used to take us to a farmers' market once a week that's similar to this. We'd sell some of our extra produce and look for things. Dad got Mom her favorite rifle at one and my guitar a few weeks after that."
"I didn't know you played John," Liara said, surprised. John gave her a smile that was little sad.
"I used to play when I was younger. Just some songs my Dad taught me when he saw me strumming on his when I was ten. I haven't played since the Batarian raid."
"Why not?" Liara asked as John's omni-tool beeped.
"I never liked to play without anyone I cared about to listen," John replied as he let go of Liara's hand to check his omni-tool. As he read the new message, he missed Liara turning to gaze into the window thoughtfully.
"Anderson sent me recording. Apparently, he wants me to go to an apartment and play it. Want to come along?" John asked as he closed the program. Liara smiled and nodded. John held out his hand and Liara's smile widened as she took it again.
"Where is this place?" She asked as they resumed their stroll.
"Apparently just off the Silversun Strip," John replied.
"If we have the time, I think I'd like us to stop by a casino afterwards," Liara noted. John chuckled.
"Sounds like fun. Expensive but fun."
~*TF*~
Location: Citadel Normandy Dock, 1320 hours
Garrus was leaning against a railing when Jane approached. He gave her a look, his eyes lingering on her exposed waist before he got into a full standing position.
"I think I should have warned you this wasn't a formal event," Garrus teased and Jane chuckled.
"I was shopping with Ash, she had a dress code," she explained and Garrus nodded at that. "Am I okay for what you have planned?" Jane asked, holding her arms out and doing a slow turn. Garrus clearly was trying not to focus on her waist.
"You are always good for what I have planned," he chuckled. "But I've planned something that doesn't involve fighting Reapers." Jane noticed the skycar next to him.
"A drive on the Citadel?" she asked.
"Something like that, I had an idea…" Garrus moved to the car and opened it up. He moved to the passenger side and offered a hand. "My lady." Jane laughed and took his hand, letting him help her into the car. He moved to the driver's seat and took off. Jane smiled as she looked over at him.
"So where are we going?" she asked.
"Somewhere we're not supposed to," Garrus purred.
"Now you're talking," she replied.
"Ever have that one thing you always wanted to do before you died, Shepard?" Garrus asked. Jane looked at the scar on Garrus' neck and face. She reached out to stroke the scar with her fingertips.
"I've already woken up with a turian next to me," she said. He gave her a slight look.
"Still trying to make me blush, huh?" he shot back.
"Until it works," Jane chuckled. "So…what's your one thing?"
"The whole time I worked at C-Sec, I'd stare up at the top of the Presidium and say to myself: I want to go up there…but I never did. There were 137 regulations telling me I couldn't," he explained.
"So…you got them changed?" Jane asked. Garrus' face twitched at that.
"No. Now I just don't give a damn," he commented as he landed the car and Jane laughed.
"Sure does help to be romantically involved with a Spectre," Jane commented and Garrus chuckled at that as he got out of the car.
"It doesn't hurt," he replied as he offered her his hand again. She took it and he helped her out before unloading some other equipment. "I figured it's time to do something stupid just for the hell of it. Might be the last chance we ever get." Jane looked over the Presidium and smile.
"It's incredible," she sighed. Garrus turned to her.
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't hope it would inspire a certain…mood," he stated. Jane turned towards him. It was very romantic.
"Something on your mind?" she asked.
"I understand that you're still trying to figure out your feelings between me and Kaidan…but I missed you. The mission on Tuchanka…it was nice to be close to you again," he said and Jane reached out, stroking Garrus' scar, her thumb gently running over his lip.
"Garrus…I do love you…" Jane said and Garrus nodded as he kissed her thumb.
"But you love Kaidan too," he commented.
"I told you that I don't deserve either of you if I can't choose," Jane started to pull away only for Garrus to catch her hand and press his cheek into her palm.
"I'm not asking you to choose right now. I know you will get there. Saving the galaxy is a little more pressing for you…and I get that. I just want to spend some time with you," he said. Jane's heart ached at the sight of him. The morning right before they left for the suicide mission played in her head. God help her, she loved this turian so damn much. She leaned forward and kissed him chastely. She moved to pull away only for Garrus to wrap his arms around her and dip her, giving her a deeper kiss. It was amazing, the location, the kiss, everything.
"Well…" Jane gasped as he pulled her back up. "That was…unexpected." Garrus flared his mandibles in self-satisfaction.
"Now there is another reason I brought you up here. We're going to settle once and for all…" he moved to the things he brought and pulled out a sniper rifle. Jane smirked. "…not saying you don't know how to handle a gun. Just saying some of us know how to make it dance. So let's find out who's really the best shot." He tossed Jane the gun with one hand and held up a bottle in the other. Jane smirked as she looked at him, extending the weapon.
"There are a few people in the galaxy who've seen me in action, Garrus. They seemed impressed," she said, making sure to rest the rifle against her shoulder while the other hand pushed back her vest to show off her waist. His eyes moved down a bit and she smiled.
"Yeah, but I've actually seen you dance, Shepard. No comment," he teased and Jane considered dragging his turian ass to a club to show him just how little he'd actually seen her dance.
"All right, Vakarian, you're going down," Jane moved the rifle into both hands.
"And don't worry. I loaded it with practice slugs for when you miss," he teased and Jane laughed as she let the bottle arch before she hit it. "That was an easy one. Let you build up your confidence. Long range, I wrote the book. Nobody alive can do this not even Captain Shepard. Give me a tough one."
"Don't cry when you miss," Jane returned as she took the bottle. She threw it, causing it to spiral. Garrus hit it no problem.
"I said a tough one!" he complained and Jane grinned as he handed her the rifle.
"Step aside," Jane said.
"This one will be the deciding factor on who is the better shot," Garrus grinned and Jane aimed. The bottle flew and Jane destroyed it. She turned to Garrus and sauntered over.
"I was tempted to let you win, but we both know who the better shot is," Jane said with a wink. Garrus chuckled as he looked at her.
"Just you wait, this isn't our last competition, Shepard," he teased.
"I'll be waiting for your next challenge, Vakarian," she replied.
~*TF*~
Location: Silversun Strip, Tiberius Towers 1342 hours
"I can't believe Anderson gave me and Jane his apartment," John said, shaking his head as they locked up said apartment.
"It is extremely generous of him but the reasons are sound," Liara noted. "You do need somewhere to relax between missions."
"And now we do after I verify the security," John replied. Liara's smile turned into a grimace as her omni-tool beeped this time.
"I wish we could just turn these off and be left alone for at least one day," she grumbled as she checked her own message.
"After we beat the Reapers I promise, one full week with omni-tools off," John said as she read the message. Liara hummed as she read, sounding as she disbelieved they could actually do that. John brought up the specs of the apartment as she read, doing his own research.
"John, I think we need to see Bailey in C-Sec," Liara said after a few minutes. John looked up to see Liara scowling at her omni-tool.
"What's wrong?" he asked and Liara shook her head with a sigh.
"Two weeks ago, I noted several forgers the previous Broker used had been going missing. Nothing overly alarming as they were close to worlds being attacked by Reapers. Now IDs forged in their style, as it were, have started showing up in the C-Sec access records." Liara noted.
"So, someone could have been using the forgers to get access to Citadel and then killed them to keep them quiet," John mused. "Anything in the forged IDs to let us know how this could be?"
"Just one thing," Liara said as they hurried to the elevator. "The IDs are all for humans."
"Cerberus then. This seems like something they would do." John mused and as they waited for the elevator he opened his omni-tool. "I'll call Jane and see if she can meet us there. Better to have two Spectres trying to sort this out plus with my ties to them I might be suspect."
~*TF*~
Location: C-Sec 1411 hours
Jane got out of the cab, Garrus had returned to the Normandy, Ash had messaged to let Jane know her dress was out of the bag and ready to go for dinner tonight. John had told her to get to C-Sec as soon as she could. As she got out of the cab she looked to see if John had beat her here.
"Shepard, it is a surprise to see you," a voice called out and Jane smiled as she saw Thane. He looked her over. "You look very beautiful in civilian clothes. Would it be unwelcomed to have my company?" Jane smiled.
"You are wonderful company, Thane," Jane said and he offered his arm like a gentleman. Jane smiled as she took it with an amused grin, the great Spectre Strong Jane Shepard on a gentleman assassin's arm. "What brings you to C-Sec?" Thane's other hand gently covered Jane's on his arm.
"My time is short. I wanted to thank Commander Bailey for all he has done for my son and myself. It is powerful to have been able to express my gratitude to him while I still could," Thane explained as they walked. "What brings you here?"
"Liara found something of importance for Citadel security. John just told me to meet them here and gave me almost nothing else. I guess it looks good to have a second Spectre, plus I'll vouch for Liara if the Council makes a stink," Jane explained. Thane nodded.
"You seem very dressed up for that," Thane teased and Jane nodded.
"I have a dinner date tonight," she explained.
"With your human biotic or with Garrus?" he asked and Jane blushed as they stood looking over the Presidium.
"Dinner with my biotic and I just had an afternoon of shooting with Garrus," Jane said and Thane nodded. "I must seem rather frivolous."
"No, you seem alive, more alive than our time on the Normandy. Is this a polyamorous relationship?" he asked and Jane laughed.
"Sorry, I didn't expect you to ask that of me…and no, I had a relationship with Kaidan before Garrus. When John died…Kaidan blamed himself and left me. During the Collector mission Garrus was there and Kaidan wasn't. I love them both and I'm trying to decide. I don't want to hurt either," Jane sighed. Thane hummed at that. "I just don't know who to pick."
"Look to the future," Thane said in a paternal tone. "Who is the one that you can see being there when it is time for children. Who will wake up for diapers, feedings, and show up for emergencies. Who will be at your side when old and wrinkled, when the days of glory are behind you." Jane blinked at that.
"Thank you for your advice, Thane," she said and he smiled.
"I am at the end of my journey, it is easy to give wisdom for those seeking answers I can help with," he nodded. They stood looking at the Presidium in silence.
~*TF*~
Location: C-Sec, Docking Area 1425 hours
As they exited the shuttle taxi John glanced around. It seemed quiet for the most part. A couple of Atlas mechs were standing by, unmanned but ready to be used. Guards were posted here and there but they all seemed to be relaxed. No one was tense or twitchy. Either no one had picked up on the IDs or it had already been handled. Still, it was better to be safe than sorry.
"John, Liara!" Jane's voice called out to them. John turned to his left and saw Jane not too far away with Thane standing by her. John headed over to her with Liara following. There was a turian C-Sec officer standing nearby, looking tired.
"Hello John, Liara," Thane greeted them as they approached. "I had not expected to either of you Shepards here today while I thanked Bailey for his help with Kolyat."
"We need to pass on some information to Commander Bailey the Shadow Broker gave us," John said to Thane before shooting Jane a dark look. "We do that, without people telling us what to do like they know better." Jane looked at him in shock like he had slapped her.
"Are you still upset about…" she started.
"You folks have a habit of showing up at the damnedest times," Bailey interrupted as he approached. "I'm afraid we can't go upstairs right now. The Council is meeting with the Executor and C-Sec has been locked down. High security access only. I'm afraid Thane and your Asari friend here don't have that right now."
"That's fine we can pass on our information here," John said. "We've got reports from the Shadow Broker, at least fifty people have infiltrated the Citadel who might be Cerberus agents."
"What?" Jane exclaimed and Baily scowled.
"Damn it, the timing couldn't be worse. What do you have?" Bailey asked. Liara strode forward activating her omni-tool. Bailey turned his on and Liara initiated the transfer.
"All of these IDs were created by forgers the Broker has used before. They all died within the last two weeks and each of these IDs showed up in the Citadel records within the past week. All for humans and doing some research on the ride over I was able to discover ties to known Cerberus middlemen for at least seven of them using a few of my own contacts." Liara explained. Bailey reviewed the names and he paled.
"What is it?" Jane demanded.
"These aren't just travelers. These are new transfers into the security offices and maintenance for C-Sec. We had a large rotation out just a few days ago, against the Executors wishes. Its why the meeting is happening now with two Spectres as security."
"They infiltrated and used the infiltration to lure the target into a vulnerable position," Thane noted. "In this case targets. I've done this myself."
"They're going to take out the Council," Jane whispered in horror. "Bailey, you need to get us in there and lock down this building now!" Bailey activated his comms in a flash.
"This is Comman-" Bailey was cut off with a loud screech that echoed out over all the C-Sec personnel comms. Before they could even demand to know what was that the docking area was rocked with explosions. All C-Sec shuttles and both Atlas mechs were destroyed as hidden explosives took them out. Shortly after gunfire rang out as several officers turned on their fellows gunning them down.
"Shit, shit, shit!" Jane exclaimed, shielding the group with a barrier as they were under fire too. Liara lit up with a blue glow as she grabbed some nearby shuttle wreckage and threw it into a squad of Cerberus agents. As they were crushed John activated his advanced shields from his omni-tool and drew his side arm. He stepped out of his sister's shield and quickly shot the approaching C-sec traitors. He turned saw another squad approaching from the other side. He snatched up a nearby assault rifle and shot them down too. With the Cerberus threat on the docks neutralized Jane dropped the shield and hurried to Bailey. John just noticed the man had been shot and was sitting on the ground against the railing, holding a hand to his side.
"Son of bitch," Bailey grumbled. "I should have seen this coming."
"They had to have help," Liara noted as she knelt to render aid to the C-Sec commander. "Someone in the inside, high up in C-Sec to get their IDs into your system and cleared."
"Or the Council," Jane noted. "Councilors get a say in some of the C-Sec hires and they pass that on through their staff."
"Too many damn holes, too many possibilities," Bailey growled and winced as Liara sealed his wound. "Thane's gone." John looked around and realized the Drell had disappeared but one of the vent covers was removed on a large access vent.
"If I know Thane he's going to protect the Council," Jane noted. John nodded in agreement as the few remaining C-Sec agents gathered around them. All of them were Turians and Asari except for one lone human.
"Can you guys hold this spot? We can send any survivors back this way as we find them. We're going to the council," John asked.
"We can but I need your friend here to stay with me," Bailey growled as he gestured to Liara. "I need to setup secure comms and her omni-tool hasn't been compromised."
"I can do that," Liara said and John nodded. He looked over at Jane who's face hardened. They were in civilian clothing but John had his shields and Jane had her barrier. They'd have to arm up with what they found on the way. John had the Avenger he picked up and his side arm.
"Liara try and call the rest of the team. Get them here as quickly as possible." Jane ordered before turning to the C-Sec officers. "Where's the armory?"
"By the confiscated goods room," one of the Turian officers said, gesturing towards the doors. "If it hasn't been taken out help yourself."
"Lock it after us and bunker down," John said as the approached the doors. "Only open it for people you're sure of."
As the twins went through the open doors they were greeted with carnage and thick black smoke from fires. People, civilian and C-sec had been all gunned down.
"Let's do this," John growled and the twins stepped inside.
~*TF*~
"This is not optimal," Jane commented as they began to move through the atrium and John rolled his eyes at her.
"We'll head to the armory, hopefully we can get some armor there," John said.
"Stealth mode," Jane nodded as she pulled up her skirt, twisting it and tucking it back into the waist, it brought the edge up to over her knees, giving her better movement. John just shook his head considering Jane's adjustment of her skirt as overly theatric. They opened the interior doors to see two sets of guards in Cerberus armor. They weren't even trying to hide who was behind this. The twins looked at each other, taking aim on the soldiers and taking them down with quick headshots. As they turned two sentinels approached and Jane pulled their shields away, letting John get headshots. The two moved carefully, using cover and caution. Jane's biotics allowed them to bottleneck the Cerberus troops. John began to override a door with his Spectre code. "Plus side, this isn't an assault force."
"You think?" John asked.
"They have C-Sec, there are two options since the Council is in here," Jane said and John nodded.
"Assassination or opening the path like Saren did for an assault force," John questioned.
"I'm betting assassination," Jane said as they opened the door. A squad of Cerberus troopers was waiting for them and Jane quickly threw a couple of singularities. John shot each of them in the head quickly and as the singularities ended the corpses were tossed out of the Shepards' path. As they moved there was the sound of an explosion somewhere deeper in the building. The twins shared a look as they moved, checking rooms. As they checked the bathrooms to see even more dead C-Sec and Jane shook her head as they saw several human casualties. "They really don't give a shit about humanity."
"They hit C-Sec hard," John noted as they approached the elevator. A headshot killed a Cerberus engineer looking to sabotage the elevator. Jane quickly repaired the elevator with her omni-tool while John stripped the engineer of his ammo, tossing some clips to Jane. They reached the next floor and found it strangely empty. They shared a look.
"How many do we think made it in?" Jane asked as they moved in.
"At most fifty per the ID count," John commented and Jane thought for a moment.
"We've taken out over thirty, they don't have a lot left," Jane decided. She realized that she and John had been working in sync again. They'd just moved through the Cereberus' forces with barely any effort.
"Hopefully that means we will be able to stop whatever this is," John said. A few minutes later they found the armory and Jane looked in the window before she sighed. John joined her at the window a minute later. "Shit…I was hoping we would be able to grab some armor."
"That explosion we heard downstairs was probably this," Jane said as she looked at the remains of the armory, it was ruined with the sprinklers putting out the steaming remains of guns and armor for C-Sec. "Fucking timing. We need to get to the Council."
"They can't know it's us," John said and Jane shrugged.
"They didn't want C-Sec getting their equipment for an assault, we didn't come into the equation," Jane sighed as they moved on.
~*TF*~
Location: C-Sec 1609 hours
"Got it?" Jane asked looking over the open waiting room for the Executor and John grunted.
"Yeah just give me a minute," John growled. The door was erroring out and he was trying to physically bypass it. He reached deeper into the wall through a hole that had been blasted in the wall by something. After a few minutes he found the hydraulic line. He grabbed it in one fist and yanked hard. The doors sputtered and slid open a few inches. John pulled out of the hole and moved to the doors, sliding his fingers into the gap. He grunted and strained as he pushed against the door slowly sliding them open. He felt them pressing back and realized they wouldn't stay open. Jane realized this too and ducked under her brother's right arm to move past. As soon as Jane was clear John stepped forward and let go, the doors banging shut behind him.
"You need to get some of those lock breaking programs from Tali," Jane chided him as they walked up the stairs.
"Next time I see her I'll ask," John grumbled. As they walked up he heard a familiar but bone chilling sound. The quiet metal clink of grenades bouncing down the stairs. He didn't hesitate, he whirled around and tackled Jane. They went flying down the stairs to crash at the base of the door. Jane's barrier flared to life just before the grenades went off. The explosion sent the doors and Shepards flying out into the waiting room for the Executor. Jane's barrier was gone and John took the brunt as they crashed into benches. His own shields shattered as they hit and he rolled them as best he could. They came to a stop near the barrier by the stairs leading down to the dock. John shook his head his ears ringing. He looked over Jane who looked just as dazed as him.
"I can't believe you survived that," A familiar and hated voice called out. John let go of Jane and pushed himself to his feet. Scar was standing in the smoking and destroyed doorway. He was of course wearing full helmet with that damn mark on it. What concerned John was that the man wasn't alone. A man with black hair tied behind in a ponytail wearing lighter Cerberus armor. He had a visor and frown on his face. "Well, I prefer it this way."
"Who's your friend?" John growled. Scar laughed and gestured at the man beside him.
"I figured if you can have a biotic propping you up so can I. Kai Leng meet the Shepards, Shepards meet Kai Leng," Scar drawled.
"So much for your big talk on Grissom," Jane noted moving to spread herself out from John. John noted how Kai Leng focused on him while Scar focused on Jane. So they were going to split them apart. That suited John just fine.
"Where are the Councilors and Executor?" John demanded and Scar chuckled.
"Just past us, in the office with a couple of dead Spectres and the dead Executor. We were going to finish them all but we heard you approaching and left them under the care of some of our men. Now let's have some fun!" Scar exclaimed charging his sister. John didn't have any time to react as Kai Leng charged him.
"Good to see you, Jane," Scar said as he got in close. Jane slipped back, Scar was good because he was training to fight her. She ducked and dodged, keeping him from making a good hit. "Already running away?" He wanted her mad. She stared at him, her biotics flickered over her body as it had when she was dancing, but now it had a purpose.
"You must think you're really good at manipulating me," Jane commented as she continued to do her best to keep him from getting a solid hit.
"I know you're worried about your boy toys," he sneered and Jane twisted around Scar carefully, blocking a swing with her forearms, Scar's arm bounced off of her. "You're using your biotics to cushion my hits!"
"No shit, your armor is also why I'm not trying to hit you. I'm not stupid enough to break my metacarpals on combat armor," Jane hissed. Scar made a noise as he began to come at her with the fury of a brawler. Jane had to focus hard on his movements to block and pull away, keeping him from getting good hits.
"You admit you can't defeat me!" Scar cried and Jane smirked her most obnoxious smirk reserved for her spars with people who knew her.
"You talk pretty big for a man in full combat armor fighting a woman in a skirt," she shot back and Scar finally broke her defense and got her good across the face. Jane rolled with it, letting the inertia carry her into a cartwheel to gain distance. Scar rushed fast to get close so she couldn't get her biotics going. He almost paused when he saw her cheek was barely red, more like she had been slapped than punched. Her close barriers were doing okay in hand to hand but she could not keep this up for much longer.
John was getting tired of this guy. He flipped and moved with moves that reminded John of some martial arts he'd seen but wasn't really his interest. He'd been trained in CQC and hadn't really been interested in much more than that. He was a brawler and mostly focused on punches to hit and how to dodge. Plus, this guy used a fucking sword of all things. John didn't have his knife or his armor. As he dodged another near miss what he was really missing was his armor. Without it he couldn't rely on it to deal with grazes or to automatically charge his shields. Seeing an opening he tried to smash Leng in the face only for the man to bend away in a pose that had to have been trained into him and then swung back with his sword aimed at John's ribs. John shifted his rifle down off his back to block the shot. The sword was deflected away from him but sliced the rifle making it useless.
"I expected more from a Shepard," Kai Leng snarked, actually saying something for the first time. Unlike Scar who talked and taunted, this Kai Leng seemed to be patient. John scowled knowing the man was trying to get him to make a mistake. This was a bad pairing for John. He was in a weakened position without his normal equipment and against an opponent better suited for someone like Jane. A quick glance behind them saw Jane having similar problems. Damn it if he could go against Scar he wouldn't be having nearly the same problems-
It hit John like lightning. That was why they had split them up. They'd planned for them to interfere. Growling at himself for not realizing it soon John quickly planned. Jane seemed to be thinking similar because she glanced at John and gestured with her hand, a simple circle. John nodded and focused completely on Kai Leng as he charged again. John ducked and moved back, letting himself move and put his back to Scar and Jane. Kai Leng attacked again and again, and John dodged back, purposely moving backwards. Then he felt it, he knew, just knew Jane was there behind him. As Leng reared back to attack again John acted on instinct, reaching back with his left arm, not even looking but keeping his eyes locked on Kai Leng. He felt a hand clap his with a loud smack. With a grunt of exertion, he yanked his arm forward with all his strength, pulling Jane around in the air her feet flying up. John whirled them around in a 180 and let go as Jane was pointed feet first at Leng. Now John was facing Scar who came up short, seeming to be surprised at what they had done. John grinned as there was a loud crash behind him.
"Surprise asshole," John mocked snatching up sidearm out of the holster and shooting Scar several times, the Cerberus agent's shield crashing as the clip ran dry. John quickly changed clips as he charged Scar, slapping the pistol back into his pocket as he swung at Scar with his free arm.
"You-" Scar tried to taunt John but John wouldn't have it. He pressed Scar back, throwing punches at him. Scar snarled and moved back ducking. He got some distance before attacking at John.
"Big broth-" Scar started to taunt with a lung right that John deflected downward with his right hand. Scar was cut off as he tried to back hand his righthand into John's face but John caught it with his left hand and slugged Scar in the helmet with his right, sending him skidding back.
"Stop that!" Scar snapped.
"Fuck you, big mouth," John snapped, stepping closer and punching Scar with a left upper cut sending him tumbling over seats with a loud crash.
As Jane slammed her feet into Kai Leng's chest, she quickly pulled the sword from his hand with a biotic yank. It slammed into the wall behind them. Leng managed to keep to his feet and Jane flared her biotics around her. His head yanked up and Jane used Scar's own technique and got in close. Kai Leng's movements revealed that he had not been preparing for Jane like Scar. Good to know the Cerberus agent was aiming for her specifically, maybe she could figure out who he was based on his obsession with her. Kai Leng was fast, but he was used to fighting bigger and stronger opponents. He was not used to smaller faster opponents. His bare face made that a tasty target for Jane's bare hands as she found his armor was much lighter…thank God. Leng was no slouch but he clearly was more used to having his weapon and he was not used to in close fighting. There was a chance. Then backup came running into the room like a gift from God. Ash and Kaidan came barreling up the stairs from the dock with James behind them.
"Shepards!" Kaidan's voice called out.
"The Council is in the Executor's office with Cerberus guards!" John cried as he slammed the base of his ruined rifle into Scar's gut.
"We got them!" Ash replied as Thane appeared at the base of the steps, the Councilors behind him.
"I've removed the Cerberus guards," Thane explained to Ash and Kaidan as the Shepards' team began to escort the Councilors between where the Shepards were battling the two Cerberus' special fighters.
"Secure the Council!" Jane cried as she blocked several weak hits from Kai Leng, then she saw the thrust too late to block. She stumbled back, as she prepared for a hit she saw him aim his biotics, but not at her. Her eyes moved and she saw his biotics on his sword in the wall. "Watch out!" The blade flew through the air aimed at where Valern was running closely behind Tevos. Time moved so slowly and then there was Thane, the blade hit him hard in the abdomen and he fell. "God damn you!" Jane brought a biotic infused punch across Kai Leng's face, throwing the man across the room.
John caught a wild swing from Scar, opening him up. John didn't let the man's right fist go as he battered him in chest and stomach over and over with his own right fist. John ignored the jolt of pain that radiated up from his right hand at each blow, gritting his teeth as he pounded on the Cerberus operative over and over. John's last few strikes left blood on Scar's armor from split open knuckles but the Cerberus operative was reeling. John saw Jane throw Kai Leng away from her and John took the opportunity. He bodily yanked Scar by his right arm, dislocating the shoulder with a sickening pop. As Scar screamed John tossed him into Leng, making both men crash to the ground.
"Fuck this," Scar spat just before he yanked off a grenade on his belt. He lobbed it John as they hurried to their face. John reacted on instinct, batting the grenade away and then hit the deck. As it went off the two Cerberus agents retreated through the vents. John scowled and swore as he realized they had used it as a distraction to get away. Jane hurried to Thane and knelt by the injured man.
"That assassin should be ashamed," Thane coughed as Jane helped him sit against the wall, the blade still impaling him.
"This is Spectre Ashley Williams calling from C-Sec. We need special evac for the Council and we need a medevac for a wounded bodyguard," Ash called in. Jane waved her and Kaidan over to help treat Thane as best they could. The Councilors were moving towards them now that the danger had passed.
"I'll go secure the landing pad if you've got this," James said and John nodded in agreement.
"Until we get the Council to safety we need to make sure to hold this room," John agreed.
"Shepards, what happened?" Tevos demanded. Jane pulled the skirt loose and dusted it off as she sighed; she got up to approach the asari. John moved over to speak with them, as Ashley and Kaidan saw to Thane. John frowned at the angry glare Udina was sending them.
"John got a lead on a suspicious number of fake IDs that got approved for C-Sec and maintenance positions in C-Sec. The forgers that produced these IDs were being killed off and when John saw they were all human he suspected they were Cerberus," Jane explained as she looked back at John. John opened his mouth to speak but was cut off as Udina growled. Udina reached into his pocket as he stepped towards Jane, John saw metal and his brain screamed 'Gun! Gun! Gun!' to him over and over. Then it was pressed into Jane's unprotected belly as she turned to face the man, her eyes widening in realization as to what was happening. John's hand flew to his own pistol, snapping it up. Gun fire rang out as John shot the Councilor in the head. Jane stared as Udina's body dropped. The moment was silent before Jane stumbled back slightly. Slowly red began to ooze down her stomach from underneath her left breast. Jane looked down, her hand pressing to her chest before pulling back, bathed red. John went white, feeling numb as he realized he and Udina had fired at almost the same moment. Jane coughed, red splattered as she fell backwards, coughing more, a light red spray went up into the air.
"No. No, no, no, NO, NO! NO!" John screamed, lunging for Jane as she fell back, catching her. He eased her to the ground, his pistol clattering to the ground as he pressed his hand to the wound.
"Jane!" Kaidan's voice cried but Jane could feel her body going into shock from the trauma. The pain was distant and the panic was muted. She looked up into John's face and the fear there made her brother look like the boy on Mindoir reeling from the attack. Time was weird and Jane felt strangely calm.
"Sorry…" Jane gasped as she saw the look in his eyes.
"Don't speak, just breathe!" John ordered, his hand over her wound was applying pressure, but she barely felt it. It was hard to breathe right now.
"We need ASAP on that medevac, we have more wounded!" Ash's voice was harsh. The world was narrowing down on John from Jane's view. It seemed so bright around him but like Jane was looking at him from a tunnel she was falling back into. A wave of deep regret hit Jane…
"…I wish I got to be a mom…" she said as she looked at John, then her eyes rolled up into her head and her body went limp.
~*TF*~
Toby Note: Well fuck. Where did this come from?
Belle Note: Were you guys expecting this change?
~*TF*~
OMAKE 1
Below is the original author's note from the beginning of the chapter, filmed by our beloved authors. It was decided to replace the author's note after this one got a little…saucy.
CUE DISOLVE!
The theater is packed. It has been a few months since the last chapter and while most of that can be blamed on Tobias's work some of it can also be blamed on other things. Like video games, Belle's porn stories (you know that's what they are don't lie to yourselves!), anime, Tobias ripping out his first-floor bathroom literally to the studs to replace it after he discovered a leak under his toilet (gross but man did he replace it with something nice. He does good work), family drama, real world drama and other things I can't mention because they won't tell me and damn these spying devices don't pick up as much as they should…anyways we see our male author grinning hugely on stage, pleased that he will be in control of this chapter and next after Belle wrote the past few first.
"That's right bitches!" Tobias shouts happily as everyone sees him in control. "I'm in control again! We're gonna have some fun to forget about just how shitty our real world lives have become! I promise action!" Behind Toby a sudden gunfire breaks out as John and Jane chase after several canon and Twin Fates villains across the theater. "Romance!" John waltzes by with Liara in his arms in the opposite direction of the previous running gunfight, followed shortly by Jane and Garrus doing the cha-cha, pausing mid-stage to do a sultry rose exchange with their teeth. "Comedy!" Suddenly the Illusive Man is thrown on stage to be hit with several pies of various kinds and then zapped with a taser held by Jack. He is then quickly pushed with brooms off the stage. "And finally, and most importantly, TITS!" Several of the cast members can-can on the stage wearing skirts and stocking and only string bikinis. That a few of them are men are not lost on anyone but no one who prefers that is really questioning it. Just as they are all reaching for their strings…
"TOBIAS!" Toby doesn't stop smiling, in fact his smile is down like smirk-like as Belle storms on the stage, glaring with murder in her eyes.
"Yes my co-author?" Tobias drawls.
"Why did you force them to dress up like this?" Belle demanded and Toby actually looked insulted.
"I would never force anyone to do anything they didn't want to!" Toby chastised her. Belle has the grace to look bashful and Toby smirked to see she has fallen for his trap. "They signed waivers after I paid them double!"
"You are not turning this story into E!" she replies, stomping a foot.
"Are you just upset you didn't get a private viewing?" Tobias inquired as Belle was surrounded by a red haze. "I figured you'd have gotten that out of your system with your Ashes smut. Then again you have gone quiet on that front, I'm not getting as many notices as I did before."
"I told you I'm not in that story!" Belle snarled.
"Then what do your actors do, fuck air?" Toby countered, leaving Belle flabbergasted. "I mean someone has to stand in for the reader as you film. If what Jason says is true you're like a waterfall day of filming."
Belle was mortified at Toby's choice of words and at the realization that while Toby wasn't reading her story the cast was over here enough for them to talk to him. Though what Toby said next provoked Belle with the wrath of a Greek Goddess.
"If you need to we can always pimp Garrus and Kaidan out to you for a menage a trois." Tobias said smugly, gesturing to the can-can line behind them and two men mid-pose. Belle let out a shriek of rage and Tobias decided he'd provoked her enough for the audience amusement. Striking a runaway pose he winked at the audience before bolting. Belle screamed a war cry that had a Scottish tone to it. While the audience didn't see it sounds of violence echoed throughout the theater as Belle tried her damnedest to hurt Toby.
OMAKE 2
Belle takes an empty stage in front of the audience and sighs.
"Please ignore any and all mentions of my House of Ashes smut story in the Omakes for Twin Fates. Toby does not understand how female readers of Reader inserts prefer their stories. It has been very challenging to write a story that keeps the descriptions of the "main" character limited and while I have been very pleased and mentioned it to Toby, he has been teasing me…a lot. He also does not get that readers want to picture themselves in the position and NOT a stand in like VR porn," Belle gives a glare at Toby. "Please understand that this is because this is the first time I have ever made a pure smut story in all the years Toby and I have known one another. We have written stories before with mature scenes, but I have never written a pure smut before and he is endlessly amused by this. Thus I ask you guys forgive him for this. Especially because he knows if I really got tired of him doing this I could rat out a LOT of his secrets and my smut story is on my account. Unlike other authors online who write under two accounts where one is smut and the other is more friendly, I post my works under my name."
"Hey! You are making it sound like I have alt accounts!" Toby cried from the audience where he was hiding.
"Not everything is about you!" Belle cried back sticking her tongue out at him.
OMAKE 3
"Wait, wait, wait!" Belle exclaimed at the script reading of Chapter 36. They all paused as they finished reading the scene with the grenades and the stairs. "There were no doors at the bottom of the stairs, only the top!"
"I know, I added them," Toby replied, pushing up his glasses.
"But why? You could avoid the grenades entirely then!" Belle countered. Tobias grinned at her.
"Now where's the fun in that?"
"He says that but he's not the one getting blown up." Jane grumbled.
OMAKE 4
Belle goes to turn off the lights of the chapter before noticing the readers.
"Oh…you're still here?" she asks before the readers nod. "Oh….you think I'm going to end with some clue about what's going on or something to lighten the seriousness of the story." The readers nod enthusiastically. "No…that's not how this chapter ends. This is a defining moment of the story, we changed the Cerberus invasion. This is a big turn in how Twin Fates is going to go." Belle waves the readers out of the studio. "And Jane Shepard got shot on the left side of her chest and is coughing up blood. That's not good. It was nice seeing you…" Belle closes the studio doors on the readers and the lights go off.