Chapter 4

Spectre Commander Urdnot Shepard

My Comments :

I won't tell you who, but you'll figure who I mean when I say that I have regrets making him a villian. Regardless, I hope you enjoy this next chapter!

The Story :

Today, Shepard had been completely cleared by Chakwas. Her voice had returned – for the most part, anyway. If she yelled, it would start cutting out. If she yelled too much, the doctor had warned her that she could lose her voice for good the next time. Her legs were strengthened again, but her right knee was weaker than it used to be, causing her to limp a little. And she had to watch to her spine. Miranda had warned both Chakwas and Shepard that if the implants got damaged, then her spine would be next. If the implants injured her spine, the woman may never be able to walk again.

Regardless, Shepard was in a great mood. During the last appointment with her old friend, she had managed – after weeks of being too nervous – to bring up the medicine. This meeting, Chakwas ran several tests to see if Mordin's gift had worked. And, to the cheer of both woman, it had. Commander Shepard was two months pregnant. With a half Krogan, half Human child.

Six months ago, Shepard had been brought back to life by Miranda. Two months later, she got released from the hospital. And – as she now knew – two months after that, a young Hybrid had been conceived. The last two months after that, she was cleared. Though these months had been long, the result was amazing.

Ping!

Shepard jumped as her Omni-Tool sounded. "Huh? Who's that?" A call, from a ship in the Sol System according to her location detector.

"Shepard!"

"Dad?" Hackett was on the other line, a light smile on his face.

"I just got the message from Karin."

Shepard turned, glancing towards the building. "Wow. I just left. She doesn't waste any time." With a light shrug, she turned and started back the way she had been going.

"I asked her to. I haven't been able to see you face-to-face since before the war ended."

The woman had managed to get in contact with her adoptive father only a few times in the past few months. It had been hard since she used to be in recovery and he was still busy directing recovery efforts. Two years and almost seven months later still left a lot to be done.

"I know. It's been too long. We should get together."

"Well, a ship will be there tomorrow to pick you up."

Shepard froze. In the distance she could see the building where Wrex and Bakara often worked. It was the central hub of Krogan politics. Bakara was standing outside, talking to a few female Krogan with a bright smile on her face.

"Why?" she managed, turning back to the image on her Omni-Tool. In all honesty, the woman didn't want to leave. She never wanted to leave.

"You've been cleared, Shepard." Hackett looked confused at the sudden stoicism of his daughter. "You are still a part of the Alliance. If you're fit for duty, then we need your help."

She hadn't even thought about that. She'd been dead dammit! Why would the Alliance still have her on file?!

"Dad," Shepard started, a frown starting to make its way onto her face. "I don't think that would end well."

"Hm? What do you mean?"

"Dad, I've been living here for months. And due to my current situation, I don't think Wrex would let me leave."

"Wrex? Why would the leader of the Krogan not let you leave?"

"This really isn't something I should be explaining over Omni-Tool," she growled, narrowing her eyes.

Hackett sighed, looking off to the somewhere. "I can see if I can go with the Alliance ship that is picking you up. But I expect you to come with us, Shepard. You're a hero."

"I don't care about that!" Shepard took a deep breath, realizing her voice had risen. "Listen. You can come – it will be great to see you – but I am not making any promises about going back with you."

The Admiral eyed her, suspicion flashing his eyes and mixing with the curiosity from before. "Then I shall see you then." His image cut out as he ended the call.

The Commander took a deep breath, leaning against the building she was next to. "This can not be happening," she muttered under her breath.

"What can not be happening?"

Shepard jumped, her eyes shooting upwards. "Bakara?"

The Krogan raised an eyebrow ridge, though her eyes seemed a little worried. "What is wrong, Commander? You seem flustered."

"I don't even know where to start."

Bakara smiled, hoping to calm her young friend. "Then why don't we start by heading to my office?"

~ Break ~

Bakara shifted, lips turned down in an unhappy frown. "So your father is going to come and try to take you back to the Alliance."

"Yeah," Shepard replied with her own frown, knees pulled up to her chest as she sat in the Krogan-sized chair. "Apparently, I was never removed as a member of the Alliance. And now that I'm medically fit, they want me back."

"And this appointment with your doctor. She told them everything?"

"Not everything."

At this, Bakara leaned forward, placing her elbows on her desk. "And what did she not tell them?"

Shepard made a face for a moment before looking her Krogan friend in the eye. "The medicine worked," she admitted. "I'm pregnant."

The female Krogan's eyes widened. "How long?"

"Two months, Chakwas said. I just found out earlier, so I haven't told Wrex yet."

"Hm," her friend hummed in response. "He would prefer to start war with the Alliance than let you leave once he finds out."

"I'm pretty sure I can talk to them, apply to leave the Alliance or whatever. But it wouldn't happen right away. Even if I use my own authority, it would probably take at least a month." Shepard hugged her knees, sighing in defeat. "A month that they would make me work."

"And a month you would be away from Tuchanka," Bakara added. "They would not be as forgiving as the Council?"

"The Council was willing to give me anything since I nearly died saving all of their home worlds. Humans are hard to please. They're fickle. Especially the Alliance." Shepard leaned back, raising her head to look at the ceiling. "I haven't been able to think of anything that would allow me to stay."

"Wrex would threaten war, Commander. There is no doubt in my mind."

"I know," Shepard groaned, closing her eyes. "That's the problem. I can see that Krogan relations have only been improving – quite well too – but you're still not on great terms with Humans. The galaxy is still recovering from fighting the Reapers. We don't need another war."

"But perhaps a talk with your father, the Admiral. You are, in the eyes of Tuchanka, a Krogan as well. Do not forget that. Maybe the leaders of Tuchanka would be able to convince him otherwise."

"You think you and Wrex could do that?"

"Not just myself and Wrex, Commander. You and my mate, Kilrava, as well." Her lips turned up at Shepard's surprise. "Mates generally take part in Krogan politics. In this case, while we may be discussing you, you are still an important factor."

Shepard tilted her head, eyes still closed, as the statement. "I can't imagine many cultures that do that."

Bakara chuckled, her eyes sparkling. "Not many, Commander. However, the Krogan are well aware that we rely on our mates for issues of great importance, so we merely cut out the middle man."

The Human nodded, opening her eyes to look at Bakara. "And this would happen when he arrives?"

"Yes. I shall make sure to send a formal message out immediately." The Krogan leaned forward once more. "And then it is only a matter of time before this matter is settled. Either my way, or Wrex's."

A familiar voice from outside cut off their conversation, startling both women. "Hey, Bakara! I'm coming in!" Without even waiting for a response, Wrex pushed open the door and walked in. When he raised his eyes off of his data pad, he frowned. "Huh? You aren't supposed to be having a meeting right now."

Shepard tried to curl up, and slid over in the chair a little, hoping Wrex wouldn't see her. Now was not a good time.

"It is an emergency meeting, Wrex," Bakara responded in a dry tone, leaning back in her chair. "However," she added, glancing at her friend with an apologetic expression. "It may be beneficial to tell you this now, rather than later." Turning back to the other Krogan, gesturing towards the other open chair.

Wrex sat in the other chair, looking a little annoyed. He glanced over at the other chair and any annoyance turned to surprise in seconds. "Shepard?"

"Hey, Wrex." The Human waved a little, eyes still seeming sad.

"Aren't you supposed to be with Chakwas?" he asked, suspicion flashing in his eyes along with some worry.

Bakara coughed into her hand. "Her appointment finished and I met her on her way home. However, the reason for this meeting is more important."

"What's wrong?" Wrex growled, eyes still locked onto Shepard.

The Commander shifted in her seat, looking very uncomfortable. "My dad," she said after a moment. "Admiral Hackett. He's coming with an Alliance ship tomorrow. To take me back to the Alliance."

"No," he snarled in response. "Not happening."

"That's not all, Wrex." Bakara turned to her friend. "What did Karin tell you today, Commander?"

Shepard looked away, stretching her neck and scratching the back of it. "It worked," she mumbled, turning to Wrex. The Krogan looked confused. "Mordin's medicine." She watched his eyes widen and found herself looking away once more. "Chakwas told me I'm two months pregnant."

Shaking off his confusion, Wrex stood. The fierce look in his eyes made Bakara wonder if looks could kill. "I'm not letting them take you," he snarled.

Bakara raised her hands in an attempt to sedate him, if only a little. "Calm down, Wrex." She lowered both arms, leaning forward on the desk. "Tomorrow afternoon, when they arrive, we will have a meeting with the Admiral."

Wrex narrowed his eyes. "But that would mean-"

"Yes. Both Shepard and Kilrava will be there representing the Krogan."

"And this is supposed to help how?"

"It will give time for the Commander to officially leave the Alliance, Wrex. If the entirety of the Krogan leaders request for her to stay, there really isn't anything they can do. Not with relations the way they are." Bakara leaned back. "Besides. If they even dared to take a leader of the Krogan, there would be many consequences. They cannot expect complete peace if they take her."

Shepard shifted, eyes crinkled. She was starting to feel uneasy. This whole situation was really screwing with her head.

"Fine," Wrex grumbled. He moved over, pulling Shepard out of her chair. "We're going home."

"Huh?" the woman gasped, tensing. She managed a glare at the older male.

Bakara raised an eyebrow ridge, amused. "Make sure you're here on time tomorrow. Shepard and Kilrava will wait here while we get the Admiral."

"Yeah, yeah," the other Krogan replied, pulling the Human gently out of the room.

Not a single word was spoken on the way back.

~ Break ~

Wrex walked straight into a side room of the house the moment they got back home. It had been designed as a bedroom when the house was built, but he had changed it into a training room. There was also a table to mod his guns if he wanted to.

It also happened to be were he went when he was annoyed.

Shepard, deciding it was best to let him be, managed to get herself up the stairs. While she was recovered, it was still hard running and climbing. The stairs here were pretty steep too. Once at the top, she walked straight into the first door on the left; the baby's room.

The walls were a bright beige, toned down enough not to blind you, but bright enough to lighten up the room. Both the crown and molding of the walls were red, a combination of her hair color and Wrex's head plate. The floor was made of wood, birch. According to Bakara, Wrex had it sent from Earth in an attempt to make her feel more at home. The ceiling was the same color as the walls. Most of the room itself was barren since the couple was waiting to see what gender their child would be before getting any furniture. Besides, there was still the off chance there could be more than one.

Turning the one piece of furniture in the room towards the window – a rocking chair – and slipping in it, Shepard gave a contented, though still worried, sigh. She looked out the window at the still barren landscape with small tufts of grass peeking out. Well. At least what looked like grass. A flower pot sat in a special container on the windowsill. It was the flower Aria had given her as thanks for all of the Human's help over the years. The small plant was beautiful. It was on a single vine that rose up in a spiral pattern on its own before lifting straight up and revealing a white and sky blue blossom that reminded Shepard of a mix between a carnation and a rose.

Somehow managing to tear her eyes off of the flower before her, Shepard turned her eyes to the sky. Bright pink and orange tendrils had begun to snake across the sky, signaling the fast approaching evening. Her mind was wandering to the task set before her and Wrex. So far, the largest hurdle of their relationship had been telling the crew. Even now, that's all who knew, besides some of the Krogan. The Krogan weren't really gossipers, though, so that particular tidbit had yet to reach other ears. And Shepard was pretty positive it wouldn't anytime soon. Most Krogan were happy living on the Krogan colonies and reproducing to their hearts content. Anyway, Wrex had let loose the secret during the final stand when he kissed her in front of his men and Javik – the latter of which seemed amused at his Commander's embarrassment – and Shepard had chosen to tell all of her crew.

However, neither had gotten around to telling her adoptive father, let alone the Alliance. And, judging by her father's willingness to tear her from this planet, no one else had either. But what was she supposed to do now? One hand lowered to her still flat belly as she frowned, a pained expression taking root on her face. If this summit yielded no fruit, Shepard would have to tell Wrex she wanted to leave in order to stop a war between the Alliance and the Krogan. And the Commander had no doubt a war would happen. Even is she hadn't taken a huge role in Krogan politics yet, the people of Tuchanka were happy to have her as a leader. Hell, she was the reason the Genophage was cured. Shepard knew that a war would occur if Wrex told them that Hackett had taken her away. And the Krogan would fight even harder if they knew she was pregnant. It was something the Human had noticed. Despite the females having just as much authority as the males, if not more, they were still being protected. Shepard didn't think the females cared that much, if she was being honest about the situation. Bakara had ended up warning her about how protective Wrex could become when and if the Human was able to carry their child. And now she was doing just that.

Shepard's other hand lowered to join the right on her stomach. She wanted nothing more than to raise this child with his or her father on this still healing planet. And she wanted to be there too. After losing her parents on Mindoir, the woman had wanted nothing more than to have kids of her own and make sure they grew up with their family around them. If her adoptive father got his way... well. Shepard wasn't going to make her kid or kids spacers. She'd send them back home. Here. To Tuchanka. But she still didn't want to leave. Her pained expression grew worse. What would she do if Hackett did force her back to the Alliance? If he knew not only about her relationship with Wrex – and for some reason didn't approve – but also about her desire to leave the Alliance, she could see him trying to impede the process at every turn. Maybe even find a way to make it so she couldn't leave.

With a grimace, Shepard sighed. She was really thinking about the worst case scenarios here, and it wasn't helping. It had only been this bad once that the woman could remember. It was right after she'd gotten the Normandy back and the Reaper War had started. 'The War to End All Wars' many had started calling it. After rescuing the new Turian Primarch, she'd had to meet with the Victus as well as the Salarian Dalatrass and Krogan Chieftain. At the time, Shepard had been so exhausted and confused with everything that had been going on, she hadn't even considered that Wrex would be there. Of course, they were in a political meeting. It wasn't like she could show how much she missed him in front of everyone there. That would have been an awkward situation just waiting to happen. And as much as she wanted him too, Wrex couldn't show any affection towards her as well. In fact, he'd acted almost the same as when they'd first met. The same, gruff attitude of Shadow Broker agent Urdnot Wrex. Despite the beginning being rocky, the woman felt a smile began to grace her lips as she recalled old events.

It wasn't until they were rescuing the, at the time unnamed, Eve that he showed any inkling of a worry. Just when Cerberus attacked, while yelling at her to 'get the female out of there', he added a 'don't do anything stupid'. The tone in that particular phrase had a deeper meaning. More of a 'die and I'll never let you hear the end of it'. And it had been true. During the battle, the Commander had spent a lot of time standing in front of Eve's transport pod and taking bullets meant for her. It wasn't surprising that her shield had gone down a few times. Bleeding a 'little' – as Shepard had called them 'merely scratches' – and despite Garrus' protests about her needing a large amount of Medi-gel, she'd kept fighting. By the time they took the Mech down and Wrex could land, the Krogan was livid. Even Vega was impressed by the Krogan's less than eloquent way of saying she shouldn't put herself in danger because it worried him.

The situation had ended on a higher note, however. If only by a little. After Wrex had tried to help Eve out of the transport device, with a look that earned him a good glare from Shepard, Vega had made a comment about the Krogan getting right to it, ending with a remark that made his commanding officer laugh. After which he proceeded to call her Lola. A comment that, after noticing Shepard's fond smile at the nickname, earned her a glare from Wrex. After maintaining a stare-off for almost two minutes, Eve stepped in and had said, "the best women never back down. I don't suspect the Commander will." It was at that moment Shepard decided she thought that Eve, or Bakara as she later found out, was one of the coolest aliens she'd ever met. Right up there with her ground crew from previous missions. Later, Wrex had finally gone to see her in private and the two reconciled in a civilized manner. Mostly. There had been a lot of yelling which only stopped when EDI cut in and mentioned to Shepard that if her stress levels got too much higher and she didn't slow her heart rate she might have a heart attack right then and there. That had gotten Wrex to calm down some. Not much, but enough for them to make up.

Still, Shepard shook her head. Now wasn't the time to be losing herself in the past. Outside, the last tendrils of pink and orange were leaving the sky, allowing the night sky to take over. The night sky on Tuchanka had a bit more of a greenish tinge compared the bluish tinge on Earth. It had taken some getting used to, but the Human now found the sight comforting. Now, however, it only seemed to make her feel worse. The night had never been a great time for the woman. Night reminded her of the attack on Mindoir. And now, while she was also remembering that, her mind was stirring up feelings of dread as she thought up all of the worst case scenarios. Spirits. What if the Krogan did start a war. Over her?! Shepard gripped her arms a little tighter around herself, the pained expression returning. The more she thought, the more she hurt. Maybe Wrex would have been happier if they'd separated and he'd gotten together with a female Krogan instead. At least then he wouldn't have to worry about the Alliance trying to take her away.

"Shepard," Wrex's voice called from downstairs, wondering where she was.

The woman jumped, raising her left arm to wipe her face. She was worried that she'd started crying. Her fears were realized and she grimaced. It would be hard not to given the situation, right?

"Shepard?" he called again, a sliver of worry worming its way into his voice.

Sniffling, the Human pulled down the sleeve of her N7 sweatshirt and wiped away any remains of the tears on her face. In her reflection in the window, she noted how puffy her eyes looked. No way she could hide that.

A sound behind her alerted her to the Krogan's presence as he stopped outside the door and opened it, the hinges moving without a sound. "There you are," he grumbled, voice soft.

"Hm," Shepard hummed, hoping he wouldn't get a look at her face. "Enjoying the view," she said after a moment, not bothering to look in his direction.

"Not much to look at yet," Wrex replied, moving to stand behind her. He lifted a hand and placed in on the back of her chair, causing her to start. She hadn't even realized she'd been rocking back and forth.

"The sky is pretty," she mumbled.

"Think you've mentioned that before." A moment of silence followed as Wrex switched his gaze from outside to their reflections. His eyes narrowed when he noticed her face. "Shepard," he said, a tone of warning in his voice.

"Fine," Shepard said just as he finished speaking. She had been waiting for him to point it out. "I'm fine." Her arms tightened around her stomach again.

"Stop that."

"Huh?" the woman jumped a little, her voice quiet as she raised her own eyes to look into his fierce ones in the reflection.

"You're doing it again."

"What again?" Her eyes narrowed.

"Garrus mentioned it. Said you always blamed yourself for everything and imagined the worst case scenario."

Shepard sighed, relaxing the grip on her abdomen. "Not always."

"He's not taking you." When the Human didn't respond, the older Krogan spun the chair around and leaned towards her until they were almost touching. "I'm not letting him take you." Without a warning he lifted her up out of the chair and held her bridal style. "Neither of you are leaving," he added.

The woman's eyes widened a little as the realization hit her. He'd been in the side room so long because he wasn't sure how to act. Sure, EDI had mentioned something offhand about him asking about Human pregnancies the last time the Normandy visited, a month ago, but this really solidified it. Looking into his eyes, Shepard could see the different emotions raging through them. Worry about tomorrow. Happiness at the realization Mordin's medicine had worked. Confusion about how to act. And the most powerful one was a mixture of hope and fierce determination Shepard had gotten used to seeing mixed together in his eyes.

"You're not leaving. And I'm happy with you here," he added. Noticing her confused look, he added, "I have a good idea what you were imagining." Shepard grimaced, and he nodded in response, realizing he'd been right. "Now come on," the Krogan grumbled. "Let's get you something to eat and then to bed."

"It's not that late," Shepard argued.

Wrex glared at her, not giving her an option as he carried her down the stairs and towards the kitchen. "You're growing a little creature inside of you. Our child. You need your energy."

The woman rolled her eyes, allowing the Krogan to – for lack of a better word – baby her for now. Since she knew later in the pregnancy, when she was all crabby, there was no way she was going to listen to a word he said.

~ Break ~

Shepard moved from foot to foot, pacing behind the set of four chairs on one side of the room. Three large chairs – built for the Krogan – and one slightly smaller chair – built for her – were set on one side of the table. On the other side, there were five chairs. Following the general thoughts on the Alliance, there was one larger chair in the middle for the commanding officer with four smaller ones for any subordinates he chose to bring. The table was wider than it was long, accommodating the large number of chairs.

"Are you Spectre Commander Urdnot Shepard?" a strong, yet hesitant voice asked.

Shepard turned in surprise. She hadn't seen the Krogan come in. As first glance, the Human could tell he was much younger than Wrex. He had a green head plate and kind, brown eyes. After just a moment, she pegged him as Kilrava, Bakara's mate. Visiting Bakara and Wrex at work one time, she had met Severus – the daughter – and Kilrava was the splitting image.

"Shepard is fine, really. You must be Urdnot Kilrava."

The Krogan nodded. "Kilrava is fine, ma'am."

Shepard raised an eyebrow as he took his seat on the left side of the chairs. The big chair next to him, the woman noted, was likely reserved for Bakara. The smaller chair next to that was hers while the one of the right end was for Wrex. Something about the females tending to hold a little bit more power. Bakara was popular among the females, and there was no doubt in her mind that the females should be at the center of an important meeting.

"No need to call me 'ma'am', Kilrava. Please." She slipped into her seat, figuring everyone else would be arriving soon. "Makes me feel old."

Kilrava chuckled, and some tension left his body as he leaned forward. "Sorry. I just never thought I'd get to meet the woman who cured the Genophage. It's an honor."

"It wasn't all me."

"That is true. But any other being in your position may have accepted the offer of the Salarian Dalatrass. The Krogan owe you a huge debt."

Shepard smiled, hoping to not only placate his nerves, but her own as well. "Perhaps, but why don't we just consider this meeting going well and me being able to stay as repayment enough, hm?"

With another chuckle, Kilrava leaned back once more. "If that's all you want, you're an easy woman to please, Shepard."

"I try," she replied, both laughing.

The joyful sound was cut off as the door behind them opened. Moments later, Bakara and Wrex took their seats, both giving worried glances at Shepard.

"They are being brought around. Are you ready, Commander?"

"As ready as I'll ever be."

As if in response to her statement, the doors on the other side of the room opened. Admiral Hackett accepted his guide's aid and took the largest seat. Two of his officials sat to either side while two armed guards stood just behind him. His eyes seemed annoyed before the expression turned to surprise at seeing Shepard.

"Shouldn't the Commander be somewhere else?" he questioned. Shepard would have been offended if his voice hadn't sounded so strained.

Bakara shook her head. "I told you that the leaders of the Krogan would be at the meeting, Admiral. This includes the highest female official, myself, and the highest male official, Wrex. Their mates are also considered leaders."

Hackett flinched at the word 'mate'. That was one hell of a way to break it to him. Shepard managed to keep her face expressionless, calling upon her experience from dealing with the Council and all of those damned politicians during the entire fight against the Reapers.

"Therefore, all of the Krogan before you have a right to be here."

"The Commander is not a Krogan," Hackett managed, his gaze not leaving Shepard.

"Technically," Kilrava spoke up, eyes flashing with pride for being able to stick up for the woman who cured the Genophage, "Shepard was granted Urdnot status." Noticing Hackett's blank stare, he added, "that means she is a member of Clan Urdnot."

"She is as much a Krogan as the three you see before you, Admiral," Bakara stated, her voice dripping with a cold sweetness that made her words sound almost like a threat. "Though not by blood."

"You said mate," Hackett tried once more to get his daughter taken away. He really didn't want her to see him try to take her away by force in this meeting.

"Your point?" Wrex drawled, clearly not amused with the Admiral.

"What proof do you have?"

Shepard leaned forward, earning her a surprised glance from the other Krogan. They hadn't been expecting her to speak. At least not so soon. She raised her right arm, the bracelet gleaming.

"The equivalent of an engagement ring," Shepard stated, her tone dry. She ignore the surprise on her father's face as he realized that that was what the bracelet meant. "I will stay in this meeting. Otherwise, you must leave and accept our terms." She leaned back again, her eyes flashing with a ferocity Wrex only saw when she had to play politician. "That is how these meetings work on Tuchanka, Admiral."

Hackett's jaw tightened as he narrowed his eyes. "I wouldn't want to intrude upon the Krogan ways," he said, clenching his fists for a moment before relaxing and appearing calm once more.

"I hate to interject, but this meeting is not about Shepard's Krogan ties. This is about the terms of her leaving the planet," Kilrava cut in. "What is it your side desires, Admiral?"

"Shepard is still a member of the Alliance! By all rights she should be joining the fleets the moment she is cleared for duty. We want to put her on one of the defense ships working out in the Terminus Systems."

Wrex narrowed his eyes. Her own father wanted to put her in dangerous space.

"Technically speaking, Admiral," Bakara cut in, "if you declared the Commander KIA, then shouldn't she have been removed from Alliance active duty? It wasn't as if she was on leave."

"She had come back once," Hackett responded. "And had remained in the Alliance then. The same amount of time had passed."

"Two years and twenty-two days," Shepard said without looking at anyone in particular. Everyone's heads shot towards her, noticing how her eyes were distant. "That's how long I was out of contact with the Alliance before." Her eyes shot to her father's. "Two years and seventy-nine days was how long I was out before waking up out my coma after nearly dying on the Crucible. It was not the same amount of time." She shrugged. "Miranda has the footage from every hour of my second rebuilding if you plan on trying to charge me with desertion in an attempt to make me go back."

"What does your side suggest?" one of Hackett's officers cut in, noticing the annoyed glare his commanding officer was giving the Krogan in the room.

"Simple," Bakara replied, leaning back in her chair. "We would like to request you allow Commander Shepard to remain here until the paperwork to officially leave the Alliance is finalized. After that, then she has her own choice."

"Unacceptable," Hackett cut in, frowning.

"I don't think you understand the possible consequences of forcing Shepard back with you, Admiral." Kilrava smiled, but the look in his eyes gave it a creepier appearance as opposed to a calming one.

"Consequences?" the other officer asked, leaning forward on his elbows.

"You see," Kilrava continued, his voice calm yet deadly, "male Krogan are especially protective of their mates when compared to other species. Now, when that mate is pregnant, well, a simple thing such as trying to take away that mate could start a full scale war."

Shepard was positive Hackett heard the threat in the sickeningly sweet voice of her new friend. His eyes narrowed in suspicion before the realization dawned on him.

"Are you telling me that Shepard is pregnant?!"

"And what if she was?" Wrex growled, narrowing his eyes at the Human.

"Impossible!"

Raising an eyebrow, Shepard reached under her chair and grabbed the lone datapad. She'd had an idea this might happen. Waving over Severus, who had been chosen as a note passer and had slipped in just after the arrival of Hackett, the Commander handed her the datapad and gestured at her father. With the guards eying her closely, Severus delivered the datapad.

"I believe you'll find all of the needed data on that to confirm the truth," she said, as this point thoroughly disgusted with her father's unwillingness to let her have what she wanted for once in her life. "The information was directly delivered by Doctor Karin Chakwas per my request this morning." Leaning back, the woman smiled, though her eyes were just as fierce. Her father, while she did hold an immense amount of respect for him for helping her, had never allowed her to make her own choices. It was his choice to send her to Akuze. And everyone in the galaxy knew how that had turned out. "If you wish to question the data, we can call the doctor here. I am sure she would just love to confirm it with you."

Hackett set the datapad down, eyes still narrowed. "Whether or not I choose to believe this information is irrelevant." He lifted his eyes, locking them onto Kilrava. "It sounds as if you are threatening war."

Wrex shrugged. "Thought you'd never catch up on that."

"Over a single person?" the Admiral questioned. "What would your people say if you chose to go to war over a single Human."

"You forget, Admiral," Bakara cut in, her voice still calm as she gave him a patient glare. "That this single Human is also the one who made curing the Genophage possible. If the Krogan found out that the Alliance had forced her off of the planet, I can't imagine what they might do."

"Not to mention the Council," Shepard added. "Who approved my staying here and advising the Spectres. What would they say if they knew I had been forced away?"

"I can't imagine the Council would be very happy." Kilrava leaned back. "Have you decided to accept our terms?"

The armed guards moved to talk to the officers as Hackett was thinking, tapping his chin thoughtfully. Shepard was confused. He almost never did that. The armed guards moved back into position, and the woman felt a twinge in the back of her head. That particular feeling always came before something bad happened.

"No," Hackett said, seeming calm as he looked them all in the eye, one by one. "We do not. We plan on taking Shepard with us. She is Alliance."

"Then I believe we have reached a stalemate," Bakara replied, leaning forward. "Do you know where this is heading, Admiral?"

"I do." He lifted a hand, gesturing across the table.

The moment his motion finished, both guards and officers raised guns, each shooting three times at their own Krogan. Within moments, none of them could move. Shepard stood, starting to back away. That explains what her bad feeling was. Tranquilizer darts filled with medicine that caused temporary paralysis. Great. It could be five minutes or five hours before it wore off.

"I apologize," Hackett said, his voice calm yet tinged with sadness. "I didn't want it to come to this. Officers, please grab the Commander. And be gentle."

Shepard tried to activate her Biotics, but as Chakwas had predicted, a crippling pain exploded at the base of her skull instead. "Ah!" She knew she couldn't run, not with her knee in the condition it was.

Within moments she was being dragged off by the two officers. No matter how much she kicked and fought back, the woman just didn't have the physical strength to manage anything substantial right now. And even as she heard a distinct growl, that had only ever made her feel safe, she couldn't break free. In her mind, Shepard knew that the others wouldn't be able to move in time. Not to stop the ship and be able to catch up.

She was as good as gone.