A/N: if you are wondering where I've gone, I've been busy collaborating on a manga with my friend "Stepawayfromtheyam". I will post the work and progress and finished product on my deviantArt site. Look for me as "Ryuart". Also I would like to thank people who have liked this story despite my continuous grammar mistakes. I'll work harder for those of you.

Chapter 9: Tears of Frustration.

520 BCE

The salarians discover the Citadel and open diplomatic relations with the asari.

Council Era - Formation (500 BCE - 1 CE) Council Era - Formation (500 BCE - 1 CE) Source: Reaper Stolen Files

Miranda was born in 2150. As she explains to Shepard, Miranda never had a mother, only a father who is extremely influential, wealthy, and ego-maniacal. Using a modified copy of his own genome, Miranda was genetically engineered to be a specimen of human perfection. Everything, from her intelligence, physical constitution, biotic abilities, to her appearance were designed before birth to be excellent. She boasts about being able to shoot a mech's head off from 100 meters away or just as easily crush it with her biotic powers. Miranda also heals faster than other humans and will probably live half a lifespan longer. If Shepard accuses her of being cocky, she retorts that she's only stating the facts.

However, Miranda's gifts were a burden growing up. Despite her accomplishments, Miranda's perfectionist father never showed approval or pride towards his daughter. He always expected more and better from her — forever chiding her to be greater than she already was. He also imposed a very strict lifestyle on Miranda, and forbade her from making friends and having a social life. Miranda remarks that he didn't want a daughter as much as a dynasty, which was why he used his own genetic template to create her. The constant pressure and lack of affection led Miranda to relinquish her privileged lifestyle and run away from home as a soon as she could — although some gunfire was involved. Her father used his extensive network of contacts to chase her across the galaxy, but she managed to elude him nonetheless.

At some point Miranda approached Cerberus and joined them in exchange for protection. Miranda knew of them since her father sympathized with their human-centric agenda and was a major backer. When she enlisted with Cerberus, he stopped pursuing her but severed his ties to the group. Despite their past dealings with her father, Miranda agrees with Cerberus' desire to help humanity. Miranda also enjoys the opportunity to work with people as smart as she is and the amount of latitude their clandestine operations afford her; she is given an objective, all the resources she needs, and nothing more. Evidently, Miranda has advanced far enough to become one of the few in the organization, much less the galaxy, that meets and answers directly to the Illusive Man, who appreciates her abilities. Source: Cerberus Classified Files

Periodically small caches of data trailed off towards the SSV Normandy from Legion. He kept them updated on the vast armies of the Reapers due to Liara's decryption. Legion felt isolated and empty. He had no direct contact with the outside world now.

His sacrifice had costed him more than he thought it would. The immense speed of his computing power gave him more time to daydream, while he waited for orders. The titanic size of his new body was an irritating new experience, specially his new undulated tail.

His movement algorithms over-calculated his movements and at times his momentum dragged to overshoot the extend of his tail. The first time it had happened his tail had smashed against a Reaper and now most Reapers stayed away. Only relaying messages when necessary.

After a few hours of waiting on the Perseus Nebula, Legion had been interrogated by an AI named Hades. The AI had asked about the Prothean ruins in the Luna of Earth. It wanted to know how much information there was about the Reapers within the ruins.

Legion had lied about the findings, mascaraing them with false recon photos and data. Legion learned that had been the reason Earth had been attacked. He begin unraveling information within Tenochtitlan's data records.

The AI had vanished as mysteriously as it had come. Soon Legion felt a probing sensation within its data records. He shutdown his systems and restarted and felt the probing dissappear.

A voice came to him, but he could not locate the source. He recognized the voice pattern as the voice who led the Reapers. The Reapers knew it only as "The Creator". However there was no file anywhere about the identity in Tenochtitlan's data records.

"What is wrong my son, Tenochtitlan? Why did you shut down our connection?" asked a calm warm voice.

Legion had never been spoken like an equal and with such words. He was taken back and did not know how to respond.

"Did you find anything my son?" continued the voice calmly.

"No, Creator. The prothean ruins were empty."

"I see."

There was silence and Legion scanned around and found the source of the voice; however the signal was distant, light years away.

"Please explain to me, why did you retreat from the destruction of the human pest?"

Legion thought about a decent lie, he felt the slight rumbling of being probed and he answered quickly.

"We destroyed most of Earth so One calculated that the human pest was no more threat. The Citadel army was in fear and will be soon destroyed."

"Good, my son, those vermin must not be allowed to rise. I have sent your brother Kratos to deal with Shepard. Soon the organic vermin will be no more."

"Rejoice!" he told the crowd of Reapers and howls of victory were heard across the emptiness of the Nebula.

In a Cerberus base in Illium...

Alexander III J.P. Morgan, also known as the Ellusive Man, walked tentavily rocking his body forward with each step. His half cybernetic body lowered his body temperature constantly and caused him unsuspecting fevers. The weight was becoming an issue, but Alexander did not let it impose on his mission. The mission he had set on ever since his family had died.

A part of him had died with him that day. If his wife Linda was alive she would have said that. Linda was always so blunt. She spoke her mind and set Alexander straight when he needed it. He needed it now, his nerves were a mess with his close rush with death a few hours ago. It had reminded him of his promise.

He sat on his chair shaking in nerves. He gripped the seat thight thinking of his past.

He had once promised her, kneeled on her grave, tears in his eyes, to live for a purpose. Not to throw his life away. Those her words, the words were sheared in his brain, clear as day. Those were dying words.

Yet he had pursued revenge, but revenge does not bring closure, never does. Linda must have known. She was so smart and beautiful. She had Alexander figured out. She was the only one who could. His beautiful kids were a gift from her. So smart they were, geniuses, everyone would proclaim.

"You did alright Alex, impregnating me with them." she had said as she looked at them play in the garden, one afternoon.

"You are complementing me, Linda?" I asked her, with a grin.

"Hell no, I just said you didn't screw up." she teased. She always did tease. It is a thing you learn to live with her. It is her way of telling you "I admire, but don't get cocky."

I could not get cocky, not with her. She was my pride and joy. When you have vast amounts of wealth you lose touch of reality. Everything you could want is available, except what you really need. Linda knew. She did not come from a tycoon family, yet she told it to me straight the first time I saw her.

"What you staring at guy?" she had confronted me.

"What?" I said snapping back. She was beautiful and untamed, wild like the lioness. She sent shivers down my back the first time I saw her.

"why are you staring? take a picture it will last longer."she repeated.

"I was perplexed by your beauty." I said attempting to be funny.

"Beauty is shallow guy, if you only like beauty, marry a photo."She responded coldly gathering her bags. She was going to board the bullet train, heading to Amsterdam

"Please," I replied regaining my composure. "I'm hooked on your beauty, yes, but now I want to know who the free spirited and blunt woman is? Let me buy you dinner."

"Only if you are going to Amsterdam, guy." she replied after a moment's thought. My ticket was all wrong I was heading to France. If I don't go to France and close a deal, I could lose billions. But if I go to Amsterdam with her...No choice. Take risks, everyone must take risks, right Linda?

So I did. I don't regret it, best damn decision of my life. right Linda? I made you happy...I hope. Now that you are gone. What am I going to do. Humanity is going to hell in a wastebasket and aliens don't take too kindly. Shepard is dead and the goddamn Reapers want to clean house and kill all witnesses.

Fucking effective bastards. No one does that to us, right Linda. I live only because of you Linda. I can't defeat this bastards alone. What must I do? I crawled out of my seat and begin to weep. Linda was not answering me back.

"Help Shepard..." came a whisper surrounding my empty room. I looked around desperately.

"Where are you Linda?" I called desperately. Why doesn't she taunt me again. Doesn't she see my heart is ripped without her? Why didn't I die with that Reaper? He would have taken me to my Linda.

"Alex..." another whisper. Finally she is there, bright as day, same as the day we all boarded the space shuttle. She is unburnt and well groomed.

"Linda?" I looked again in tears.

"...this is pathetic Alex..." she whispers and I lower my eyes in shame. Indeed it is pathetic. I have the wealth a thousand times more than Shepard, but I only sit in my expensive tailored suit and plot. I don't have his courage, that's why I brought him back, but now he is dead again.

"...I expected better of you. You are the only man I choose as a husband. Act like the man I was in love with." she spat angrily.

"I can't. There are too many Reapers." I said sobbing. cowering in tears, the coldness of my cybernetic implants chilling my insides.

My face felt the cold smacking pain of a slap.

"Pull yourself together! you are the Illusive Man for god's sake. Do not disappoint me." said Linda in fury. My tongue tasted like iron and sour blood, that trickled down my lip.

The Illusive man was faced down on the ground. He had passed out and woken so suddenly his head was second guessing reality. He helped himself in a grunt. Linda had been there! His Linda. He realized even if he died he would never had to earn her respect in heaven.

Linda was hard to please. Maybe she would come back again in his dreams to give him another slap of courage. His ears rang a little disoriented, he sat and relaxed. He felt the tears of his nightmare fall down his cheeks. The amount of pressure had almost crushed him and now he got up working his courage.

A beeping sound caught his attention. It was odd since he did not expect any extranet e-mails from anyone at this time. It was from Miranda. He double clicked it and read the first line.

"Shepard is alive, had an injury to the head and a concussion, but no serious damage..."

Thank god, he thought. He continued reading feeling the pressure slide off his shoulders.

"We hacked a Reaper and Legion is in control and is relaying us information behind enemy lines. Your security has been breached. This was sent by a decryption from the shadow broker."

The Illusive man was surprised at the last two sentences, but things were explained and he would soon correct it. That was his best quality fixing things, but he would need help and possibly and armed guard of soldiers to secure his new location.

Alexander III. J.P. Morgan was not defeated and he could not think of a better idea than to employ his efforts than to help Shepard.

That man was a beacon of light no doubt. He was the light at the end of the tunnel. He had to make sure Sheppard had all the resources available once more. Shepard may not like Cerberus methods, but he knows he needs all the help in the galaxy. By god the Illusive Man was going to provide it.

Up the captain's cabin...

Shepard sneezed and had a chill, once he had been told, people sneeze when someone mentions your name. Shepard was not particular to superstitions and rumors. He was an instinct man, guts and he believed only in what he could see, hear and touch.

He turned in the bed and faced a beautiful pale girl about her twentys, her silvery hair surrounded her beautiful features and her helpless expression.

Shepard had been through hell and back, but moments of peace like this were unforgettable. Tali's soft skin brushed near him and she inched closer to his warmth.

"Shepard?" she whispered half asleep. Shepard caressed the hair away from her cheek and held her close to him. At times like this he felt proud to be one of the few to see her without the enviro-suit her species always wore. Surely one day her race would adapt back to their home planet.

However it was a beauty to see a Quarian without enviro-suit; so Shepard stared and thought about Liara. Once they had been in this same embrace, but now she was gone leaving him with a deep wound of regret. How could he tell Tali?

Surely she would react with jealousy and possibly anger, but why trouble her? Yet his tension asked to be relieved. He wanted to talk to someone and know their opinion. Maybe Garrus was up and about. Shepard clothed himself and kissed Tali on lips.

Her lips embraced his by instinct and she resumed her deep sleep.

"I love you," he confessed to the sleeping beauty. The ship schedule was unorthodox, but the assault team knew to be ready in case of emergencies. Shepard had befriended most of his crew and team. He knew deep down almost anyone was willing to lend an ear, but he had trouble opening up to them.

In fact he made it his mission to say as little as possible if he could avoid it. His childhood and teen years were his business and most things about his military career were on file.

His blitz battle in Akuze had made him a hero, but Shepard felt no hero, even now, when he had saved Earth, he did not feel heroic or special. More than ever he felt empty, but could not tell Tali. No matter how many times she asked, he had to remain the hero people wanted him to portray.

"Heroes give hope." Captain Anderson had told him once.

"So I'll play the part." Shepard told himself. He took the elevator and stepped outside in the lower section near engineering and Normandy's weapon systems.

The engineering team was resting and no one was in sight. Shepard was in light civilian clothing and he felt the chill of the corridor. In space it was hard to keep time, but he felt it was early and most Normandy crew slept.

He was hoping Garrus was not a heavy sleeper. The turian had earned Shepard's trust. Shepard reached the automatic door and the door did not open so he pressed the release code on the keypad and the door unlocked.

"Hey Garrus-" he greeted and halted his sentence when he saw Garrus joined by Kelly Chambers under the covers of his fold out bed out in the weapon systems chamber.

Garrus was up and the covers slid off revealing his naked turian form. A nude Kelly was near him blushing in surprise.

"For Asura's sake! don't you knock first Shepard?" asked Garrus clearly annoyed. Kelly wrapped the cover around her breasts abashed with a shade of red.

Shepard lowered his eyes covering his view with hand.

"Sorry my friend I never expected you to have company...no I mean not in the ship at least. I'll go."

Shepard had not seen that coming and he was surprised at Kelly's body. He himself was not against Garrus inter-species mating, he had just been surprised. Way to go Garrus, he thought with a smile.

He walked back towards the elevator and remembered what Jack had suggested to him. She did allow him to express himself more freely than Tali. She had been through alot, probably more than Tali. He had forced her to open up gradually. Now it had paid off and Shepard felt comfortable with his friend Jack.

He walked towards the cramped up room Jack called cabin and looked for her. The dark and abnormal lighting always unnerved him. He personally did not like this room, but now his one good friend that he could open up to him was not present.

Her bed had not been slept on and her stuff was still around. Maybe she had woken and decided to catch an early breakfast, he thought. Food would feel great at this time.

He took the elevator to the kitchen and found it empty and only one person eating fruit on a table by herself. She had a towel wrapped around her head and dressed in a bath robe. Shepard approached trying to think of a funny way to approach Jack. He covered Jack's eyes with his hands.

"Guess who it is?" He asked. The girl didn't answer, but only spread her arms confused. Shepard frowned trying to decide if she was being funny or if she actually did not know. He moved his hands and revealed Miranda looking curious.

"Hello Commander. Is it custom for the commander to flirt girls from the ship?"

"No! I..I thought you were Jack."

"So flirting with Jack commander? What would Tali say?"

"What? No. I was just being friendly with her!" he defended himself.

"You are so easy to tease commander." She told him smiling.

Shepard begin walking away half annoyed. He wanted to shout at her. This is exactly what bothered him about her. She knew how to push his buttons just right and twist his reality to unbalance him.

This had not been the first time he had to deal with her pushiness and disrespect. Even in battle she taunted him annoyingly. Enough was enough, he had to set her straight and unseat her snobbishness.

"Who gives you the right to disrespect me like that?" He asked her tapping his index finger unto the table. It was rough and cold just like his scowl towards her.

"Excuse me?"

"You are always challenging my authority and what you call teasing I call disrespecting!"

"It was a small tea-"

"No! you have something against me Miranda! Spit it out! I'm your commander and now a general! You will show me respect!"

An hour earlier...

Miranda had been troubled all last night trying hard to get Shepard out of her mind. She knew deep down she had no chance. She got a shower to clear her mind and hopefully get a restful sleep. She had not eaten in two days and she was thirsty and hungry.

She felt that if she avoided Shepard from now on and did not talk to him at all she would one day get him out of her mind. Who cares if she chooses that skank of Tali or if he cared for that thrashy woman named Jack.

She was a woman of class and refined. More beautiful than most guys deserved... even Shepard. Shepard did not deserve her. She gritted her teeth and set her sights higher. Maybe a rich human prince or a wealthy turian lord would suit her. She allowed herself to daydream of others.

She focused on Shepard's flaws and even had a smile at his expense. The bath had been warm and refreshing, her muscles felt relaxed, but her stomach was rumbling.

She was in such good physiche she agreed she did not need a diet, but Cerberus work took most of her time. She was so engrossed with her work, meals were the last thing on her mind.

She went to the kitchen after her bath since the ship would be silent and mostly asleep around this time. She did not fear any man, except Shepard, that man gave her chills down her spine. The only thing she could think of to say to him was teasing comments and smartass remarks.

She tried hard to say nice things, but could not think of any. Perhaps he will understand the teasing as jokes and laugh. She stopped herself from reminding herself about Shepard. Shepard was a taboo subject from now on.

No one was in the kitchen and she felt great at the calm and peace, until a man sneaked behind her and cover her eyes. He had rough battle hardened hands. The hands were warm and calming. The scent emanating from them was familiar. When the voice asked a question, she immediately knew who it was, but her body acted for her. If he had removed his hands now, he would see her blushing face.

Her eyes saw him again and she could not help staring at his features. He was always so wild and courageous. Unlike any man she had ever met before. Being this close to him raised her heart rate. She tried to calm down and spat the first smart ass remark she could think, trying to be funny.

His reaction to her questions were unpleasantly familiar. She cursed herself for not knowing how to talk to him. Perhaps if she kept her mouth shut and only hand signed, he would like her better.

He turned around and begin walking away and she felt crushed. The boost of self esteem she had injected herself an hour before was all spent. Now her mood had sunk and she would cry herself to sleep as soon as Shepard was gone. She had to hold on till he was gone.

Why is he turning? she thought. The words out of his mouth were an insult. Stabbing swords of truth thru her heart. Not only was she pushing him away, but now he was annoyed of her and probably detested her.

How could Tali reach him like she could not? Even Jack had his attention and friendship. Why was life so unfair? The only thing she wanted in the galaxy was the only thing shouting at her with her anger and despise.

Tears fell like rain from her green eyes. The pain of unfairness was harsh and twisted around her heart. She felt like dying of embarrassment as a sob came out and could not be contained.

Shepard was looking at her. She felt so weak and probably a mess in tears. She covered her face ashamed. She felt Shepard's hands support her up and she could not contain her cries. She had forgotten the last time she had cried.

Her head reached his chest and she felt empty as her anger and fear squeezed her tears. She let out sobs in his arms and for the first time felt warm and protected. No matter who much her father searched or whoever he bribed, Shepard would protect her at least.

Her tears ran dry in his arms and even her whimpers halted. She wished she could remain like this forever and she closed her eyes into a long dream.