Author's Notes: I hope everyone has been enjoying this fan fiction so far. I know from the comments it seems so. I do feel this chapter is really a make or break chapter. I am going for a bit of a Mass Effect 1 vibe in this conversation which in that game everyone is a bit of a walking codex. I hope this chapter does come off the way I want it to but I still feel it is up to the reader to interpret it the way they want but I can discuss my intentions in the next author's notes.

Chapter 7 – The Tale of Jerma Jones

"That's a long story Shepard but I'll try to be brief with it. First off I am not actually human. I was born over 1,310 cycles ago to a people that were very advanced but they still believed in prophecies made years before their time. I never really understood why. My birth fulfilled one of these prophecies. The prophecy foretold of the destruction of my people. It said that twins would be born of the same egg, one would bring destruction the other could bring salvation."

"Wait, how did they know you fulfilled this prophecy?"

"I was born a twin of the same egg and for my people twins are a rarity. It was determined that my brother was the one who would bring destruction as he looked nothing like my people. So they did what they always did with the worst criminals on our planet. They put him in a life pod and shot him into space."

"Why would your people do that?"

"The justice system of my people is unlike yours or at least the way it use to be. We never immortalize people that did evil things thus making them into individual monsters to fear. We mourned the victims In fact, the ones that do terrible crimes lose their identities and they would be called a certain name. I think in your language it would be translated as 'evildoers'. Then as punishment they would live out the rest of their lives in a life pod floating through space. Where was I? Oh, yeah my brother was sent into space in one of these life pods. So I lived my life with this burden. As I matured I found out I had a strange genetic abnormality. The genetic abnormality gave me the ability to understand the DNA of an individual by touch. It seems to be similar to how Asari reproduce but I haven't really investigated that. However, the abnormality allows me to replicate others' DNA so I can look like them. There were limitations to this replication though as I am only able to replicate my species and yours DNA. And with this replication ability my cells have to reproduce faster than any species I know of making me nearly physically invulnerable."

"So wait that means you can't die?"

"I wouldn't go that far. I hypothesize something like being vaporized would lead to my death otherwise I can live once my cells begin regenerating. Because of this abnormality I study genetics as I wanted to know everything there was about genetics so I could understand what I was going through. All this came to a halt when my brother came back with the Reapers. My people and the rest of the advance races fought as best they could but it didn't seem to be enough. I decided that I should use my knowledge to fight the Reapers. I thought I could develop an infinite clone army thus fight fire with fire. But because of the war I could not have a proper genetic base for my army as well as it not being safe to do the research on my planet. So I searched the galaxy for anything that I could use to build this army. I found that life on Earth, what humans call dinosaurs, had very similar DNA structure to my people. Knowing this I took a small group to Earth and set up a subterranean research base. I thought we got to Earth without the Reapers knowledge but after my research was about finished a lone Reaper descended upon Earth. It killed everyone I took with me to Earth and many of the creatures on Earth. Once I found myself with nothing to live for I decided to face my destruction but the Reaper didn't vaporize me. It allowed my to enter its hull. There I found my brother and he told me I should join him so we could conquer the galaxy with the help of the Reapers. I tried to convince him he was indoctrinated but he would have it and I was forced to kill him. The next thing I know an AI was speaking to me. It told me that the Reaper I was in was the Reaper mothership. It controlled all the Reapers by a signal and I could destroy the Reapers or control them. However, if I destroyed the Reapers all indoctrinated life would die but if I controlled the Reapers it would relinquish control of the life they were controlling. I chose to destroy the Reapers because I didn't trust the AI and something seemed off by how things transpired. I was then engulfed by flames and woke up in a white abyss to come face to face with the Observer. We talked and he told me the Reapers tried to indoctrinate me and now I had to help out the new life that was going to dominate the planet as this was my purpose. Then I regained consciousness to find the Reaper had gone. I knew if it was destroyed it would've left remnants behind so I searched the skies with some equipment I had and I saw the Reaper fly into the sun. I have racked my brain over how this happened and the only possible conclusion I can make is that my brother's consciousness took part in the indoctrination process to get me to turn. When I killed him he must have been released from his indoctrination and took control of the Reaper to destroy it. However I have no evidence to support this."

"So the Illusive Man could have been the one to set off the Crucible?"

"That is quite possible and probably one of the only explanations."

"What did the Observer make you do while you were stuck on Earth?"

"Well, I watched the evolution of mankind and found that I had the ability to replicate their DNA so I could look human thus making it easier to blend into society once it was formed. It was a struggle for me because humanity had so many prejudices toward each other. I had to witness humans killing each other because of race, gender, religion, sex orientation and the list goes on. I never thought they would actually be able to achieve galactic space travel. But once they did I got off this rock and traveled around until I heard about you fighting a Reaper on the Citadel then you died. So I joined the Marines thinking I could replace you in some way since the Reapers seemed to be coming back. Of course you came back and saved the day so I really wasn't needed. Anyway, Shepard, tell me about your indoctrination experience?"

Shepard hesitated but it seemed Jones knew what he was talking about so he told him everything starting from the dash to the conduit. But once he got to talking about the Observer he decided to leave out the part about Tali as his personal life was not something he wanted to share freely with someone he did not know. Shepard ended his story by saying. "…and he was in my hospital room still trying to convince me to go with him because I was going to destroy the relationships that I had forged. Then I woke up in the real world. I know it wasn't real but I still can't stop feeling as though I am responsible for all the Geth and EDI being wiped out too. I've done so much to stop the extinction of so many races and I have to commit genocide to save the galaxy."

Something in what Shepard said caught Jones's attention as he pulled his gaze from the setting sun to look at Shepard. "Genocide. That was not genocide." Jones shook his head in disagreement. "I have witness many genocides over my lifetime and what happen to the Geth and EDI was an undemocratized sacrifice."

"A what?" Shepard interrupted.

"Well, Shepard, the Geth and EDI were fighting this war and were willing to sacrifice themselves for the cause. Correct?" Shepard nodded. "So the Reapers could've easily wiped them out like any other race during the battle. In the end they had to be sacrificed but they didn't have any say so, which makes it seem unethical. But your other choices would be worst especially that synthesis one. That is the endgame to genocide right there. Purify the civilization and make everything conform to a certain way of life."

"It still doesn't make things right. I was able to broker peace between the Geth and the Quarians. And my pilot and EDI started a romantic relationship. All this seems to mean nothing with this result. Maybe the Observer was right. Maybe I should've stayed dead."

"Shepard, don't say that. You obviously decided that there was something worth living for in what is left in the galaxy. So don't lose that. Maybe this thought will make you feel better. If EDI had been destroyed by the Reapers before your decision would you feel this way? And what if you had choose between the Quarians and the Geth and the option of peace was not one the table who would you choose."

This brought memories of his time on Rannoch flooding back. There Shepard decided that if it came down to saving one race he was going to choose the Quarians because he wanted Tali to be happy even if it meant turning on Legion who he had considered a friend. However, he was able to brokered peace.

"I think hundred times out of a hundred you would pick the Quarians. But I guess love makes you do crazy things."

Shepard gave Jones as confused look as he started to wonder if he knew about his relationship with Tali. "What do you mean by that?"

"Well, you and Admiral Zorah are in a relationship or at least an intimate one."

"What makes you think that?" Shepard said then he remembered Javik who knew about the relationship from his pheromones. He thought Jones found out the same way.

"My olfactory receptors are better than a normal human's but they are much better in my original form. To get to the point, I can smell that you had physical contact with a Quarian out of his or her suit within the last 24 hours. Because I feel you would only achieve this through a sexual relationship with a Quarian I deducted that could only mean it was with Admiral Zorah as she is the only Quarian I see you with."

"How do you know what a Quarian smells like?" Shepard said absentmindedly then he realized he may regret getting this information.

"It happened when I was rediscovering the galaxy once I had access to travel via Mass Relay. Anyway, I see these thugs trying to kill a Quarian named Cartra'Raan, so I save him. It turns out he was on his pilgrimage and looking for information on the Geth or something that could get his people back on Rannoch which got him caught up with these thugs. I helped him but their leader double cross us and killed Cartra. I tried to save him but I couldn't because of his weaken immune system. This was the time when I first smelled Quarian flesh as I had to touch remove some of his enviro-suit to see if I could help him in some way." A silence came over the two soldiers. Then Jones continued. "I decided it was best to take his body back to his people. When I got there they were pretty hostile towards me even accusing me of killing Cartra. Cooler heads prevailed as it was determined that a killer would not return their victim to his or her family. As I was leaving a Quarian woman stopped me and told me her husband, who was on the Admiralty Board, wanted to talk to me. They introduced themselves as Rael and Tulya'Zorah."

"Tali's parents?" Shepard interrupted.

"Exactly, she was there too. But she was a child at the time yet she was old enough to be wearing a enviro-suit and she was busy playing with her drone to notice me. Anyway, they told me they are friends with Cartra's mother and wanted to thank me for bringing his body back as other non-Quarians would not do the same thing. We spoke for awhile but nothing really important came up then I left. From there I decided to do two things. First bring Cartra's killer to justice and second get the resources to help the Quarians with their weaken immune system. That led me to working with ExoGeni."

"Why would ExoGeni hire someone to work on the Quarian immune system?"

"They wouldn't. They hired me on to work on cloning. They were getting backing by Cerberus to make a clone army of human super soldier. I took part just so I could use their resources. Of course I had to show some productivity but I made sure only I was capable of generating any clones from this project as I didn't trust Cerberus. But then you died and they put all their resources in the Lazarus Project and I joined the Marines."

"That's quite the story."

"Yeah it is. I should tell you, Shepard, your relationship with Admiral Zorah will need to stay out of the public eye."

"Why's that?"

"Civilization is rebuilding this means a need for re-population even with the unity of the galaxy you brought on. All the species will want to get stronger. So both Humans and Quarians will look down upon you two as you probably won't be procreating."

These words resonated with Shepard as The Observer seemed to be harping on the point of procreating between him and his lover was not possible. "It's funny The Observer was tell me the same thing."

"Interesting. I am not sure if he was being genuine or if he was trying to manipulate you by talking about that."

"Why do you say that?"

"He enjoys evolution which leads to new life so by way of reverse psychology he wants you to try to procreate." Jones turned away from Shepard and again stared into the sky deep in thought. "He has done similar tactics to me. Although it is interesting that he would want you to procreate with a Quarian. They don't normally have intimate cross species relationship due to their weaken immune system. Not even with Asari. As for procreating, I would say naturally it is improbable and many say it is impossible due to being amino acids being different chirality. But this would leave it possible that Quarians and Turians could procreate which is also improbable. And intimate relationships between Quarians and Turians have been known to be deadly for both partners as Turian plating will tear the skin of the Quarian allowing foreign pathogens easy access to their body. And Quarian's have microorganisms they use in symbiosis that will attack the Turian because the Turian also has dextro amino acids and the microorganisms are able to feed off that. Other cases of cross species relations aren't as deadly but both partners tend to get sick and the relationship will fail. I hope this won't happen to you and Admiral Zorah."

"It won't we have been a couple since we hit the Collector base together. Getting sick is going to be the least of our worries."

"Good to hear. As I was saying, procreation between you and Admiral Zorah is only improbable as it could happen but all data says it won't. However, this conversation by most would be considered impossible as you should be dead and so should I. Thus only making it improbable." Jones paused for a minute. "Then again even if nature found a way to bring a Human Quarian hybrid it would probably turn out to be a hideous genetic mutant that should be destroyed. But there could be another way for you two to have a true genetic family. I would be interested in taking your DNA and Admiral Zorah's DNA to form a perfect hybrid." Shepard felt rage spread through out his body as he has fought against scientists who were doing similar experiments. "But I know that individuals like you and Admiral Zorah would not be accepting to something like this. And I would never do this without both of your consents. Of course, you could also adopt if you two want kids." Shepard started to relax after Jones said this. "It still makes me wonder what a Human Quarian hybrid would look like. I think due to the Quarian bodily structure being similar to that of a human a hybrid's structure would be close to that of a human's with five digits on each hand and foot. Also the legs would probably be more human like. However, the eyes and the immune system would be more Quarian with the bioluminescence of the eyes and weaken immune system. As for the internal organs….."

"Hey, Shepard, we're back." Tali voice interrupted Jones's thought. Both men turned to the doorway where Tali and Shepard's mother were entering from.

"Well, Commander, it has been a pleasure speaking with you. I am sure we will speak again." As Jones left Shepard heard him say. "Admiral Zorah. Rear Admiral Shepard."

Tali and his mother brought Shepard back to his room where he found they set up a small celebration with all those who could join. But Shepard really was not in the mood to celebrate. Yet, he kept it to himself as he wanted his friends to be happy.

After the last of their friends left, Shepard and Tali curled up in their bed to get some sleep. Shepard soon found that sleep was not going to be easy as he started to have terrible nightmares most of which involved him watching his friends die as he can do nothing to save them. Yet every time he woke he found Tali's arm draped over his body which brought him some comfort.