Disclaimer-I do not own Naruto or Star Wars, or any other game or manga, which I used while writing this...unfortunately.
Note: found a good cover image for my fic, all rights reserved.
Darth Jeviso.
Chapter XII.
Malevolence. Darth Jeviso's personal chambers.
Once again young Sith Overlord sat in his chambers thinking about current situation. He had already prepared SR-2 for Shepard, since most of her operations will be in Terminus systems he put a new hyperdrive into it.
He hated the current situation. Council destroyed, Asari Republics still existed only because of Crusade under the leadership of Shaak Ti and fleet of Rahm Kota. The Separatists' two strongholds built on Palaven and Thessia, ruled my Darth Maul and Darth Zejyera or Morinth.
While Geisti tutored Ardath Yakshi creating an assassins' corps, Maul was building larger fleet through the usage of salarian and turian labor.
His dark thoughts were interrupted by beeping sound. He smiled, it was time to greet the hero.
With Jane Shepard.
She stood in the circle of the holo-projection and looked how image of the Illusive Man slowly appeared before her.
"Captain Shepard." greeted her Jack Harper.
"I thought that we will meet face-to-face." said Jane.
"A needed insurance. It's needed, for people like us, who knows what will happen." answered the Illusive Man.
"And what do "we know"?" asked Jane.
"That our place in the universe isn't as secured as we thought." said another voice and both Shepard and Illusive Man saw a hologram of Darth Jeviso. "Hello Jane."
"Jeviso." hissed she. "And here I thought that it cannot be worse."
"Try to focus on the main topic here." said Darth Jeviso. "Were it not for us, you still would be a piece of meat in collection of some batarian slaver or Shadow Broker. And remember Alliance deemed you dead, we returned you back to life. To deal with the problem you had already faced."
"Reapers." said Shepard.
"Yes." Interfered Illusive man. 'In current situation we are in dire need of an agent, who has an experience with dealing with problems of such kind." said he.
"Well I'm not the only one here, who has such… "experience"." said Shepard.
"You were dead for two years Jane. Situation has changed. I'm needed in other places." replied Darth Jeviso.
"What do you mean?" asked red-haired captain.
"The Alliance and Council are no more. They fell when aggressive countries from the neighboring Galaxy invaded us. Now half of the Asari Republics and whole Salarian Union and Hierarchy are CIS's colonies, just like territories of the Alliance and Batarian Hegemony are. Right now they fight over Palaven and Salarian Union. They still haven't invaded the Attican Traverse where hides the Rebellion Fleet."
"There are those, who oppose this madness?" asked Shepard.
"Yes, there are." replied Jeviso. "And we are among them, Jane. We need you to stop the Reapers. You are not the only one, who can do this, but I must take care of CIS and Empire. I will not manage to deal with the Reapers as well."
Shepard hmphed. "I heard about some kind of 'additions'. I hope you didn't take anything important and swapped it with something useless?"
"We tried to not interfere with inner workings of your organism. We needed the same woman, who managed to defeat the 'Sovereign'." said the Illusive Man.
"Aside from the fact that you used asari's DNA, to patch her up." said Darth Jeviso. "And modified several women from her new crew. So try to be cautious with, who you fuck. You are not safe around women anymore." said Jeviso "Children are the blessing, but not for you at war or during the mission."
"Something else I should know?! And what the fuck did the Reapers, so you decided to return me from the dead?" asked Jane.
Illusive Man rose to his feet. "We are at war. Nobody wants to believe that, but Humanity is under attack. While you were asleep several colonies disappeared. Human colonies. We presume that this is going according the orders of the Reapers, like Saren and Geth helped the "Sovereign". You have dealt with them before and won… This is one of the many reasons we chose you."
"Sovereign tried to harvest an entire Galaxy, why would Reapers focus their attention on several human colonies?" asked Jane.
"Thousands of the colonists disappeared. In my opinion it gets into the term of 'harvest', at least in my opinion." said Illusive Man. "It gets nobody's attention, because attacks are irregular and the targets are far apart from each other. "I don't know, why they suddenly decided to attack the Humanity, maybe it's because of our victory over one of them."
"I thought 'Cerberus' doesn't fight. What has changed?" asked Jane.
"Our goal is saving and developing the superiority of the human race. If Reapers are attacking, 'Cerberus' will interfere and stop them. If we will wait for decisions of politicians and Alliance command, we can say goodbye to human colonies."
"You could have hired an entire army, for all those money you used for my resurrection." said Jane.
"You are unique Shepard." interfered Jeviso. "I'm not speaking about your skills and experience, I mean what you truly are. In moment of great peril, in you Humanity found protector. You are more than a soldier, you are symbol. I'm not sure that those metal bastards can even feel fear, but after you killed one of them, they sure as hell respect you. Enough to send their satellites to kill you."
"Satellites?" asked Shepard.
"Yes, we presume that Collectors are satellites of the Reapers. That will answer many questions, actually." said Darth Jeviso.
"If all you say is true… About Reapers and Collectors… I will consider your offer." said Shepard.
"If you took it right in, we would have been greatly disappointed in you." said Darth Jeviso. "I have a shuttle ready to carry you to the "Freedom's Progress", the latest colony that has been abducted. Miranda and Jacob will brief you."
"Miranda killed Wilson in cold blood." objected Shepard. "And Jacob is just a hired soldier. You presume that I will trust them?" asked she.
"Wilson was one of my best agents." Said the Illusive Man. "But he betrayed us. Miranda did what was needed to be done. She saved your life many times. Jacob is a soldier, but he is one of the best. He had never trusted me, but he had never hid it from me. You will be fine… for a while." he breathed in another cloud of smoke.
"What I must find there?" asked Shepard.
"If I knew that I didn't need to send you there." said Illusive Man. "Find any kind of clue. Check if it has any connection to Reapers threat. I brought you back. Everything else is yours and Jeviso's matters to deal with."
Shepard left the holo-room when Illusive Man cut the transmission. She got to the higher levels, finding Miranda working on one of the terminals on the station.
"The Illusive Man was very impressed with you. I'm eager to see, if you are up to his expectations on next mission."
Shepard scoffed. "I can't have anyone disobeying my command, when we get there I expect proper subordination."
"I know, who I work for and while you are not trying to betray "Cerberus", I'm following your orders."
Shepard smiled 'What's the matter Lawson? Are you angry that you are not his favorite anymore?"
She stopped working "I proved my value to Illusive Man. Let's hope you will do the same." said she.
"Are you naturally this bitchy? Or is it just me?" asked the red head.
"I have the outmost respect for your abilities, Shepard." said she. "It's your motives I'm worried about. I believe in "Cerberus" goals. And where your true loyalty lays can be shown only with time."
"You know I wanted to know more about Lazarus project right from its curator." said Jane.
"I wasn't commanding the project, it was Illusive Man's work. If it was up to me, it would have been a bit different."
"Give me an example."
"For starters, I would had put some sort of controlling device in you. But Illusive Man didn't let me. He feared that it would change you and your characters. He didn't want to hinder your potential even with slightest change."
"Can't say that I am alright with idea of being resurrected with control chip in my brain."
"Illusive Man and Lord Jeviso, took a great risk in trusting you. I can only hope that they will win this match." said Miranda.
"What do you know about the colony, where we are going?" asked Shepard.
"'Freedom's Progress'? It's a typical human colony in Terminus Systems. They had a small squad of battle robots and security drones. They had yet to swear their loyalty to the Neutral Alliance. Wherever you look it's just another small and silent colony… But all those disappearances…"
"Any thoughts of what we can expect to meet there?"
"A bunch of small, empty buildings and one big mystery."
"Tell me a little about yourself."
"worried about my qualifications? I can crush robot with my biotic power and shoot it right into the head from one hundred yards. Take your pique."
"So you and Jacob once worked for Alliance?"
"No. Illusive Man found my abilities when I was still a little girl and took me into his organization."
"How old were you?"
"Enough to understand what I need."
"Hey I'm just trying to know you better."
"I don't need friends Shepard. Just focus on your mission."
Jane passed her and went to Jacob.
"I'm glad that illusive Man managed to persuade you to join our cause." greeted he her.
"I just agreed to work with him. I'm still not trusting him."
"You are not trusting me captain?"
Jane smiled. "You are good guy Jacob, you are just working for wrong people."
"Maybe." Shrugged his shoulders Jacob "But I thought the same, when I was working for Alliance. That's why I'm here."
"You said that you served in Alliance military?" asked Jane tried to change the subject.
"Five years in total. All around the Galaxy." he huffed. "Even was a Corsair for a couple of years."
Shepard raised her brow. "Never heard about Corsairs."
"It was Alliance program. They hired captains of independent ships and used them… in expeditions, beyond the jurisdiction of Alliance. Formally we weren't part of Alliance, if we were to be captured, we have to deny any kind of connection with Alliance. We thought to be beyond any kind of limits and rules, but there was enough bureaucracy to destroy a ship. In the end I got fed up with it."
"Then why did you join "Cerberus"?" asked Jane.
He once again shrugged his shoulders. "I think I'm just tired with all that indifference. Too many things of what we had done for Alliance seems meaningless. I thought that after attack on Citadel something will change. Nothing changed. Then came CIS and Empire and I once again hoped for some sort of change. But they brought with them same kind of crap. Politics, bureaucracy. Same shit, new faces. With "Cerberus" and Neutral Alliance everything is different. If colonies are going down, we are not creating a team to write a report about what we must do. We just stand up and, fucking, doing it."
"Do you know anything about the planet we are going to?" asked Jane.
"It's called Freedom's Progress. Don't know anything more than that. I think we will know more, when we will arrive to the colony." said Jacob.
"That's all."
"Yes ma'am."
Sometime later. Shuttle. Near the colony "Freedom's progress".
"Soon we will arrive, Shepard." said Miranda. "Illusive Man placed you as commanding officers at that mission. What are your orders?"
"Are you sure you can work under my command?" asked Jane.
"We returned you from the dead, just on second guess, Capitan. If the Illusive Man says that you are in charge, you are in charge."
Jane nodded "What did you find at the other colonies?" asked Shepard.
"Nothing." said Jacob. "No signs of attack. No bodies. To even a trace of alien genetic material. No clue. They just disappeared and we gained a target to go out."
"Why do you think that this investigation will turn up as anything new?" asked Shepard.
"In other causes official investigation was held before ours. Sometimes looters were savaging there as well. This time we hope to get there first. We hope to find the hot traces this time, before somebody destroys them."
"That is good. But our first priority is search for survivors."
Miranda moved her head. "That unlikely, commander. There were no one in other colonies. They were completely deserted."
"It will be nice to find someone alive, still better than walking over another deserted town." said Jacob.
Shuttle landed in the colony, when night was still young. Snowflakes slowly fell to the earth as Jane get out of the shuttle and got her weapon ready. They walked into the empty room that served as cafeteria for colonists.
"Looks like everybody just stood up and walked away during the dinner and left without saying goodbye." said Jacob.
They followed Shepard to the next door and went down the stairway, to the street, that was behind it. "Strange." said Miranda looking around. "There are no bodies. No visible signs of damage. And no signs of battle.
They walked further, a bit frightened by that unnatural silence all around them.
They opened the doors to another part of the colony and were met with LOKI robots.
"Strange in other causes, the security systems were off-line." said Miranda, while three of them dealt with LOKIs.
"Why are those machines hostile?" asked Jacob, putting another clip in his pistol. "They should recognize humans."
"Someone reprogrammed them to do it." said Miranda. "We are not alone here."
Another pair of robots waited for them near one of the homes but Shepard's biotic power ripped them asunder.
They opened the door and to their surprise met a bunch of quarians.
One of them a male in bright green suit pointed his weapon on them.
"Freeze!" said he.
"Prazza you said that you let ne deal with it." said none other than Tali. "Wait… Shepard? So what admiral said was true?"
"Even if Darth Jeviso himself would be there, I still wouldn't had worked with operatives from "Cerberus"!" said Prazza.
"Put those weapons down!" insisted Tali. "Shepard… is that… You are alive?
"Remember that Geth data I gave you?" asked Shepard. "Did it helped you to succeed in your Pilgrimage?"
"Yes, it did. Prazza move away your weapon. It's truly Commander Shepard."
"Then, why is your old commander is working for "Cerberus"?" asked Prazza.
Tali shook her head. "I don't know, maybe we should just ask him." she turned her head to him.
"'Cerberus' rebuild me, but I'm not taking the orders. We can discuss the specifics once I know why you are here."
"Things have changed after your death, commander." started Tali. "Migrating Fleet joined the Neutral Alliance, Geth aren't our enemies anymore. And according to the orders of the admirals all those, who still didn't manage to succeed in their Pilgrimage must return and serve on the fleet as soldiers technicians and so on. One of our own was here on Pilgrimage. His name is Veetor we must found him. It was a decree from the Council of Admirals. Admiral Jeviso also warned us that we may meet you on this mission. But I couldn't believe that you were alive until this moment."
"If Veetor survived, maybe he can tell us what happened here." said Jane.
"That's what we hope for." said Tali. "We saw him. He isn't in best shape for any sort of tales. He was wounded… and rather nervous…"
"Se means that he was rather unstable. Damaged suit plus infection in the air, guy can be hallucinating now." said Prazza.
"When Veetor saw, how we landed, he hid in warehouse in far side of the town. We think that he also ordered robots to shoot anything that moves."
"Veetor is the only one, who can tell us what happened here. We must find him together."
"Good idea. We will need two squads to pass the mechs." said Tali.
"I know that admiral told us about them… but Cerberus…" started Prazza. But Tali instantly interfered.
"No Prazza, you are working for me. And if you can't follow orders wait on the ship." sated she firmly. She turned to the Shepard. 'Go to the warehouse through the center of the colony, we will circle around and get the mechs out of your tail."
Seeing the reaction for 'Cerberus', Jane decided to asked several questions. "Your people really don't like 'Cerberus', why is that?" asked she.
"They killed our people. Infiltrated our Flotilla and tried to blow up one of our ships." said Prazza with his voice reeking venom.
"That's not how I would see it actually. It was nothing personal." said Miranda.
"We can argue on, who killed who later on. Right now we have business to attend." said Jacob.
"Okay, we will work together to save Veetor." said Tali.
"Be sure to stay on contact." said Jane.
"Good luck Shepard… Whatever happens… I'm glad that you are with us again."
"Be careful Shepard." said Tali's voice through his com-link. "There is squad of security droids up ahead."
"Thanks for that Tali." said Jane, opening fire. "We will deal with it."
LOKI robots that they met weren't all that impressive. They met near the warehouse, quarians were already waiting for them. Along with the giant robot.
"That tough bastard is heavily armored. The quarians never stood a chance." said Shepard taking cover.
"He will be one tough son of a bitch to take down." said Miranda. Shepard activated her biotics to deal with the giant mech. Unfortunately IMIR was equipped with a lot of heavy weaponry. So, pulverizing him while being shot with rockets wasn't something that Jane enjoyed greatly.
Finally they dealt with him. Tali waited with wounded while Shepard with others searched for the medicaments. After patching up quarians, they entered the warehouse where Veetor was hiding. He sat alone, in complete darkness, lightened only by screens' monitors and muttered something under his nose. When they came closer they managed to understand what he was saying.
"Monsters. Monsters are coming. Need to hide, Robots will protect. There is no monsters. No swarm. No, no, no, no…"
"Veetor?" cautiously asked Jane, stopping behind his chair.
"No Veetor. Not here. Swarm will not find. Monsters are coming. Need to hide." answered he.
"Nobody's gonna hurt you anymore." assured him Shepard.
Veetor was silent.
"I don't think that he can hear you commander." Said Jacob.
Shepard decided to use radical means and used her omni-tool to shut off the systems Veetor was working with.
He stood up and looked behind his back, as if only noticing that somebody stood behind him. "You are human. Where did you hide? How did you managed to evade them?"
"Evade… who?" asked Miranda
"Those monsters. The Swarm. They took all."
"We aren't from this colony Veetor. We have just arrived." Said Shepard
"You don't know. You don't see. But I see everything.' He pushed some buttons and screens once again came back to life, showing what happened in the colony.
"Looks like the taping from security cameras. Seems that he rebuild it himself." said Miranda.
"What the hell is that?" asked Jacob, pointing at insect-like thing and long levitating constructs. Tape stopped when humanoid figure followed one of them.
"My God." said Miranda. "I think it's a Collector."
"Is that some kind of an alien?" asked Jane.
"They are species from somewhere beyond Omega-4. Few had seen them." said Jacob grimly.
"They usually work through third hands, like slavers or mercenaries. If they are somehow connected to the Reapers it will explain what happened to the colonists."
"The collectors have advanced technologies." said Jacob. "They may have weapon that can disable an entire settlement at once."
"A Seekers Swarm." said Veetor. "Nobody can hide. The seekers will find you. Freeze you. Then monsters will take you."
"I want to know more about Collectors, Jeviso said that they are satellites of the Reapers." said Shepard.
"Nobody knows much. They are so rare that many don't believe in their existence. I know that Lord Jeviso was studying them. When we will return, you can ask him about them."
"More importantly why are they abducting the human colonies? What do they need?"
"Maybe the Illusive Man can figure it out." shrugged his shoulders Jacob.
Shepard once again turned to Veetor.
"Why didn't Collectors take you?" asked Shepard.
"Swarms didn't find me. Monsters didn't know I was here." replied quarian.
"The Collectors aren't known for being careless. Maybe his suit protected him from their sensors?" asked Jacob.
"Or their technologies are specifically designed to detect humans. Only human colonies have been attacked." said Miranda.
Tell me more about these swarms." said Shepard to Veetor.
"They've been built to find you. Seeker clouds. Mechanical insects. They are everywhere. They will find you. Then they sting you. Freeze you." said Veetor.
"Sounds like miniature drones. They found their prey and use toxin and stasis on them." said Miranda.
"What happened next?" asked Shepard.
"The monsters took the people to their ship and flew away. The ship flew away. But they will return for me. No one escaped."
"I think that's probably all we can get from him, commander." said Jacob.
"We appreciate your tale, Veetor. You helped us greatly." said Shepard.
"I studied them. Monsters. Swarms. I recorded them on my Omni-Tool. Lots of readings. Electromagnetic. Dark energy." said Veetor.
"We need to get this data to the Illusive Man. Take the quarian and summon the shuttle, to take us out."
"This will not happen." doors opened and Tali entered the room. Veetor is injured, he needs medical treatment."
"We don't wish to harm him. We just need to check if he knows something else, he will return safe and sound." said Jacob
"Your people tried to betray us once, already. If we will give him to you, we will not receive any data." said Miranda.
"Prazza was an idiot and he and his men have paid the ultimate price for it." said Tali. "Please take his Omni-Tool, but leave Veetor with me."
"You shouldn't just take him and go." pleaded Shepard. "We can work together like old times."
Tali shook her head. "I want to, but I can't. I have a mission to finish. I cannot give up on him. Even for you." said she. "When I will finish it and if I will be still alive… I will join you."
"That sounds creepy." said Jane. "What are you doing?"
"I don't think 'Cerberus' needs to hear about this, but it's in Geth Space. I think you can understand, how important it is now." said Tali.
"He is traumatized and needs medical care." said Jane to Miranda. "Tali will give us an Omni-Tool and Veetor will go to Flotilla."
"Understood, commander." gritted her teeth Miranda.
"Thanks Jane." said Tali. "It's good to see that you are the same. Good luck, my friend. If I will find something useful I will instantly notice you."
Jacob touched the comm.-link. "We are ready for pick-up." said he.
Holo-room. Shepard and Illusive Man.
"Shepard." greeted her Illusive Man, taking a drug from his cigar. "Good work on 'Freedom's Progress'. The quarians gave us all the information found on Veetor. Nothing new, but it's like an olive branch from them. You and I have different methods, but I can't argue with your results."
"You never thought of playing nice, once in a while?" asked Jane.
"Diplomacy is great when it works, but if everybody sees you as hostile, it's just another obstacle. But more important is that you managed to find a proof that behind all those strange disappearances stood Collectors."
"Why do I get the feeling you knew about them already?" asked Jane.
"I had my suspicious, but I needed the proof. Collectors know, how to held their secrets. They periodically went to Terminus Systems and collect some worthless, at least at first glance things or specimens. Usually they change them for examples of their own technology." he took another breath. "When their transactions are complete they vanish as fast as they appeared, they return somewhere beyond the Omega-4 Relay. Until now we haven't any kind of evidence of their aggression." Said he breathing out a smoke cloud."
"What are the Collectors getting from these deals?" asked Shepard.
"The collectors aren't very talkative about their true motives." said the Illusive Man getting the dust from the cigar. "Generally they seek out species with weird genetic mutations or abnormalities. They pay slavers and mercenaries enormous sums and then just disappear. But they never focused on one species before. And before they took dozens not thousands of captives."
"Any idea why they focused on humans?" asked Shepard.
"If they are agents for the Reapers there can be a number of reasons." said the Illusive man. "Without a doubt Humanity played the main role in taking down the "Sovereign". It should have been enough to get their attention. But what really concerns me is their thirst to take the colonists. Why not just kill them while they are stunned and helpless?"
"Why isn't Omega-4 Relay on the map? What do we know about it?" asked Jane.
"Only the fact that none of the ships, which passed through managed to return. Our best guess is that Mass Relay somehow reacts to Collectors ship, passing them by. If they can manipulate the Mass Relays that is just another fact for the version with Reapers."
"You are holding something back." scratched her chin Shepard. "How do you know that the Reapers are in it?"
"Their traces can be found in nearly all kind of data. CIS and Empire are too busy fighting each other and Rebel Alliance is too busy with sabotaging them, only 'Cerberus' and Neutral Alliance can do something. But because of Collectors and different mercenary bands, Darth Jeviso can only defend. If we help him a combined might of Neutral Alliance will be behind our backs."
"If this is war I will need an army and pretty good team." said Jane.
"I have already created a file of mercenaries, soldiers and scientists, you will get dossiers of the best. They will be hard to gather, but you are natural-born leader. I will continue to track the Collectors, and I will notify you when they will appear next time. Be ready."
"Keep your files. I need those, who I can trust, those who helped me to stop Saren and Geth."
"It has been two years, commander. Most of them moved on… or their priorities changed."
"Where is Shiala?" asked captain.
"On Illium. My sources reports that she Alongside with Liara T'Soni, Matriarch Benezia and Matriarch Aethyta are part of the diplomatic mission, which serves as connection between the asari governments and the Crusade."
"Crusade?"
"It's an organization, which is unofficially allied with Neutral Alliance. You need to speak with Darth Jeviso, when he will arrive, to know more." said the Illusive Man.
"Where is Garrus Vakarian?" asked Jane.
"The turian has disappeared several month after you death was made official. Even we couldn't find him."
"What about Tali? She already helped us on 'Freedom's Progress'."
"That was unexpected, I need more intel to answer you." said Illusive Man.
"What about Ashley Williams?" asked Jane.
"When Empire conquered Systems' Alliance, several admirals rebelled a lot of soldiers followed them, she was among those, who followed. Last time I heard about her she got promoted. Her dossier is highly encrypted though and it happened when Rebel Forces got a strange technological update, with it also rose difficulty of their encrypting protocols."
"Where is Urdnot Wrex?" asked Jane.
"He has returned to Tuchanka and haven't left it for more than a year. Judging by rumors he is trying to unite the krogan tribes. Since Tuchanka is basically a radioactive rock, nobody cares enough to check the rumors, all battles are roaming near Palaven and Sur'Kesh. I think krogans are laughing over the irony of it."
She massaged her temples with a groan. "Okay I get it. They are out of the reach."
"You are leader Shepard you will get all, who you want." said Illusive man.
"You will worry about the Collectors. I will make sure that my team is ready."
"Good two advices before you go on your mission. First. Go to Omega and find Mordin Solus. He is a brilliant salarian scientist. Our intelligence suggests that he knows a way to neutralize the Collectors' paralyzing seekers. However be warned, Omega is a territory of Darth Jeviso. You need to speak to him first."
"Good and second?" asked Jane.
"I found a pilot, which you might like, I heard that he is one of the best. Someone you can trust." hologram disappeared and Jane heard the footsteps, he turned to see the one walking to her.
"Hey, Commander! Just like old times, hah?" asked Joker.
"Joker! I cannot believe this!" said Jane.
"Look who is talking, I saw you get spaced."
"Well… I owe my life to somebody here. How did you get here?" asked she.
"Without you, commander everything fell up. All your hard work was buried by Council and Council themselves were buried by CIS." said Joker. "Team was fired, records got sealed and I was grounded. Alliance took away from me the only thing I held precious, when Empire consumed it, old admirals still held enough power to not let me fly again. I'm with "Cerberus" now."
"You trust the Illusive Man?" asked Jane.
"I don't trust anyone, whose salary is bigger than mine. But he isn't half bad. Saved your life. Gave me work. And this." said Joker as slight behind their illuminator slowly activated revealing the insides of the hangar. "It's good to be home."
Suddenly Shepard gasped. She felt cold all of sudden. Judging by the Joker the temperature didn't change then what…
"That wasn't him." they turned to a see a blonde man, clad in dark armor, covered by black cloak and half of his face hidden behind the respirator mask. "It was me."
"What do you mean, it was you?" asked Shepard standing in between the Joker and Jeviso.
"I mean that the Illusive Man needed all money that he could get to restore you, I managed the transporting issues, so the ship is mine." said he as last lights turned on showing the mark of Neutral Alliance on it. "Since I cannot just let you go without any kind of supervision, if even the Illusive Man is sending somebody to watch over you, I need to send someone too. You should be glad to have someone like him as your official second pilot and unofficial assassin."
It became even colder to her, when she heard heavy footsteps, he came from the darkness of the corridor in front them, Appeared like he himself was part of it. Emotionless eyelashes of his mask seem to look into her soul. Raspy breathing sent chill down her spine. Black cloak clapped behind him, even if there was no wind in the room.
"Commander Shepard. Meet Lord Vader, he will be your guide during your stay in Terminus Systems and occasional visits to the other Galaxy. I hope you will get along."
Several minutes later newly christened 'Normandy' left the station docks. Shepard followed by Miranda and Jacob, inspected the ship.
"Welcome aboard the new 'Normandy' Commander." said Jacob.
"I have been looking over dossiers." said Miranda. "I recommend to star the recruiting from the salarian scientist, Mordin Solus. We know that Collectors use some kind of paralyzing technology. We need to find a way to protect ourselves."
"Without that countermeasure we will be helpless when we will face the Collectors."
"It would be most logical decision to find and recruit the Doctor Mordin Solus." said a female voice from dynamics of the ship.
"Who are you?" asked Shepard.
Hologram appeared before her. "I'm "Normandy's" AI, the crew prefers to call me EDI."
"Shut that thing down I don't such kind of a thing on my ship!" said Jane turning to Miranda and Jacob.
"Did I offend you somehow?" asked EDI.
"Shepard has been fighting AI for a lot of time. Mostly Geth. Plus that incident with system "Hannibal" on the Moon…" said Miranda.
"You mistrust is most logical Shepard, unlike the unreasonable fear of most humans. However, I'm no threat to you or somebody else. I observe, analyze and give you advice. Nothing more."
"I guess there is needed more to fly that ship to function, than you two, me and Joker." said Jane.
"The 'Normandy' has the full crew. They are all stationed and await your orders commander."
"All preparations to flight are complete all you need to do is choose a point of destination on CIC and we will go." said Jokers voice from the dynamics.
"Jacob and I will return to our posts. Lord Vader is in his chambers. If you have any questions search for us there." said Miranda, turning her back to her and walking away. Jacob saluted and followed her.
Unknown Location.
Darth Sarrai spent a lot of time healing after the beating Jeviso gave him. His wounds closed, his bones healed but his wounded pride still arched. Moreover he couldn't chase the Darth Jeviso without blowing his cover. He was working for Cerberus now and it was allied with Neutral Alliance.
His arm, augmented with different implants, connected with Kai Leng's face, instantly knocking him down.
Sasuke clenched and unclenched his fist. If he will not be able to match him with Force he will just cheat. Like all Uchihas, Sasuke didn't like anyone, who was better than him. In that case it was just something more than simple hatred and unknown for Sarrai it was mutual.
With Darth Jeviso.
Fighting in space wasn't actually Jeviso's forte. Sure, he was a second admiral so on, but he lacked the finesse and tactical genius of Grand Admiral Thrawn. Sure, with all those dangerous toys in his fleet's disposal he used the superior firepower to get the positive results.
However, Thrawn did it even without something like that.
Speaking of the dangerous toys… Naruto looked at the battle cruiser to the left from the Malevolence. "Silencer" a powerful weapon, which blueprints were found by Vader during his quest to find the Star Shipyard.
And now it was ready to be tested.
Fleets of the Empire's mercenaries swarming to try and breach the fortified borders of Neutral Alliance. By the command of Darth Jeviso, "Silencer" fired.
Nothing.
That what was left from the most chunk of the invading fleet. Naruto looked how they ran away from the might of Alliance and thought that now was time to clean up his territories from all unwanted guests. Now he had a free fleet to do so.
Meanwhile he took the datapad in his hands. Test of the secret weapon of mass destruction was fine. But he still needed to see, when Quarian Fleet will be ready.
Normandy. Jane Shepard.
Finding Mordin Solus was a top-priority goal, but Jane will never go on a mission, not knowing everything about the ship and the crew.
Hence, why she was now searching around the ship.
Firstly she decided to speak with Joker.
"Can you see it, captain? It's my baby! Better than ever! Suits me perfectly. Like a glove!" turning his seat to her. "And leather seats! Military always picks some strange standarts, they don't care that seats doesn't 'breathe'. Ahhh, true comfort comes from civilian side." said he.
"Reconstruction wasn't supposed to be exactly the same Mr. Moro. Some things were updated to better serve or suit your taste." said metallic voice of EDI.
"Yeah another side of the 'Normandy'. I preferred the previous, quitter version. And now it has something like this, like a cancer of this ship." replied Joker.
"It's not the same Joker, there is not even a part of the old Normandy here." said Jane.
"I know, captain. I know." answered Joker. But there is us. And we will take what we can. The last two years were… bad for me. You will see. Even if we are spied on by AI, I doubt that they had invested so much money in us, just to set us up. It will be better than before.'
"I really hope so." replied the redhead. "I died last time."
Jane turned to EDI.
"Yes, Shepard?"
"I want to know more about you."
"Any specific questions?"
"Do you get along with Joker?"
"Mister Moro don't trust me. He hates the fact that I was downloaded on the computers of "his ship"."
"Yeah, previous Normandy worked fine, even without a shit like this."
"Why EDI?" asked Shepard.
"It transcripts as Enhanced Defense Intelligence."
Meanwhile, in personal chambers of Darth Jeviso.
Young Sith Lord meditated, trying to foresee the future, or at least stop the attempts of Darth Sidius, who did the same.
He felt how black mists circled around something… Something powerful. He felt the mental presence of Darth Sidius somewhere beside him. He prepared to attack but at this moment the vision cleared and both of them saw it. And where it was located.
Blood red eyes snapped open, running from his chambers to the captain board, Jeviso barked orders, trying to make everyone move faster.
He absolutely cannot let Siduis have the Staff of Marka Ragnos.
Sometime later. Sight of the crush of the first Normandy.
Shepard ended her work. Monument was set, names of the dead were found. She turned to the destroyed Normandy and prepared to go back, when…
"Leaving already?"
She instantly turned, only to see a ghostly figure of the woman.
"Okay." Said Shepard "That's definitely something new."
"I assume this is your first meeting with Force Ghost?" asked the figure. "Then my apologies. In my life I was called Meetra Surik. And you flesh of my flesh, are my last descendant and current vessel?"
"Descendant? Vessel? What do you mean?"
"I mean that your bloodline came from the other Galaxy, in a way you are closer to them than to the people there. What's more you are Force-sensitive, that's how you managed to survive the crush."
"And you? How are you getting in the picture?"
"Ghost sighed. "You nearly passed the border of life and death, it was enough for me to attach to you, and increase the dormant Force potential inside you. I'm bound to you and I wanted to speak with you about current situation."
"What of it?" asked Shepard.
"You are traveling with a Sith. It never ends well, trust me. You need to get rid of him as far as possible."
"How about you go and fuck yourself? His master is the one, who made the ship for me, so betrayal is a bif no-no."
"Do as you wish, child. But remember that all your choice will haunt you later." Said Meetra, disappearing into the air.
Sometime later. Normandy.
Shepard stood in front of the door, still not sure how to react to something that happened on the surface. On the other hand she had a specialist, but on the other he was scary as hell.
Finally calming her spirit she raised her fist to knock into the door when it opened itself.
"Enter, Commander. I was awaiting you." raspy voice, more menacing than the Jeviso's greeted her.
Vader looked, how Shepard tried to sat crossed legged on the pillow, which was nearby his meditating sphere.
"I can sense you doubts, Shepard. Looks like somebody managed to shake your faith. Somebody… long since dead. I take it your meeting on the surface didn't go well?"
"You knew?!"
"Of course." nodded Vader. "I was placed in your crew not only as pilot and assassin, but also as teacher and advisor, should you by some way find a way to awaken your Force potential. The fact that it grew in your age was nothing but a miracle. But the existence of the ghost explains it. They are the beings of pure Force manifestation. She must have somehow changed you, to her own tastes."
"So what know?"
"Now my dear apprentice… How do you like to create your own lightsaber?"
Seeing the Shepard's bright smile, Vader smiled under his helmet.
AN: This must have been the part of previous chapter, but it was rill too big, to place it there. It will be the smallest posted, since the next one will start the "Temptation of Jeviso" or "War for the Staff of Ragnos'" ark.