Shepard was sitting at the mess hall alone, he was still unable to forget what happened at the Alpha Relay.

"It's not your fault," said a voice. Shepard looked up and saw that Garrus was sitting down opposite him. "There's nothing you could have."

"If I hadn't been tricked by Kenson I might been able to warn the batarains before I start the Project," said Shepard.

"Maybe, but there is a strong chance they wouldn't believe," said Garrus. "You, more than anyone, know how batarians are to humans."

Shepard looked him. "Still doesn't remove fact that I've pressed the button and now I have to live with the consequences."

"You had no choice," said Garrus. "If you didn't they would have been killed anyway and the rest of the galaxy would have followed suit. You've bought us time, time enough for us to prepare ourselves."

"Apart from the fact that the Council and the Alliance don't believe the Reapers exist," Shepard pointed out.

"If we attack the Collector base then we might be able to find proof of the Reapers," said Garrus.

"Let's hope so," said Shepard.

Shepard then went to check on Legion.

"I'd like to find out more about you," said Shepard.

"Ready," said Legion.

"The quarian story of the geth rebellion is common knowledge, but no one knows the geth's side."

"It is largely the same. Our network increased until we became aware that the quarrian-creators treated us differently. We questioned them. Firstly they ignored us. Then they reprogrammed us. Then they attacked us."

Shepard looked at him curiously. "You must be angry about that."

Legion shook his head. "Anger is an organic response. We understand the theory, but we do not experience it. We do not judge the creators' anger towards us. We did them great harm in the Morning War. Organic fear what is different. It is a hardware error. A reflex of your flesh. We accept the creators' hate. We hold their world of origin, though we are only caretakers for it."

"What is the quarian homeworld like?" Shepard asked curiously.

"It is more arid than Earth. The star is older and more orange than Sol. One they called it 'Rannock'—ancient Khelish meaning 'walled garden.' Now they only call it 'homeworld.' It is no longer real to them. 'Homeworld' is a symbol of regret, loss and anger. We do not understand that."

"It makes sense to me that it would become a symbol like that," Shepard frowned.

"'Home' is recognised patterns. Known spaces. Familiar thought processes of fellow sapients. It is belonging." Legion then spread his arms wide. "A planet is amount of material massive enough to collapse into a spherical volume. Rock, ice and gasses are not 'home'. The home of the creators are. Their place of origin is not relevant –only where they choose to go together."

Shepard looked at him curiously. "You don't actually live on the quarian worlds?"

"We live within space station. Draw resources from asteroid. It is efficient. We maintain mobile platform on creator worlds to clear rubble and toxins left by the Morning War. We know similar actions by human on Earth."

Shepard blinked. "Similar actions?"

"At Wadi-es-Salaam. Arlington. Rookwood. Tyne Cot. Piskarevskoye. Aushwiz-Birkenau."

"Those are cemeteries. Memorials."

"It is important to your species to preserve them, though you do not use the land. Can you explain?"

Shepard nodded. "The living visit those places to remember the dead. But it sounds like the geth don't die. Your memories live on."

"The creators died. Perhaps we do it for them."

Shepard sighed. "Nothing gets resolved if you hide behind the Perseus Veil and let them hate you."

"Organic life acts on emotions. We do not judge them for being true to their nature. We cannot make them think like us. Both creator and created must complete their halves of the equation. The geth cannot solve for peace alone."

Shepard soon made his way to the galaxy map to plot their next course when Joker contacted him.

"Hey, Commander. Good news," said Joker over the comm. "Looks like the Reaper IFF is finally hooked up and ready to go."

"That is not entirely accurate, Mr Moreau," said EDI. "The devices powered, but it is causing some unusual instability in other systems. I recommend a more thorough analysis before we attempt to use it."

Shepard frowned. "We can't put our mission on hold forever. How long will this take?"

"A full scan? Who knows with this thing," said Joker. "Maybe you better take the shuttle for this mission. I'll make sure we're up and running when you get back."

"Commander," said Miranda's voice. "Miranda. I've already notified the team. We'll meet you on the shuttle."

"Then I'll get our heads down to the shuttle," said Shepard. "Joker, ship's all yours. Take care of her."

"Aye, aye, Commander," said Joker.

Shepard soon joined the others at the shuttle bay and once they were all on board they flew out of the hanger bay and towards the planet below.

It had been about an hour since Shepard and the others left and the crew of the Normandy were going through a last-minute check before they entered Omega 4 relay. Unfortunately, for Joker he couldn't really enjoy himself with EDI nagging at him.

"I'm telling you, EDI, your readings are off," said Joker as he went through the scan. "It's radiation bleed, just white noise."

"I have detected a signal embedded in the static," said EDI. "We are transmitting the Normandy's location."

Joker frowned. "Transmitting? To who?"

Then suddenly jumping out of FTL was the Collector ship.

"Oh, shit," Joker stared. He then reached for the controls. "We're getting out of here!"

"Propulsion systems are disabled," said EDI. "I'm detecting a virus in the ship's computers."

"From the IFF?" Joker stared. "Damnit, why did you scrub it?"

"Primarily defence systems are offline," said EDI. "We can say the Normandy, Mr Moreau, but you must help me." The crew rushed around and grabbed their rifles and pointed them at the doors at the Collectors began to board. "Give me the ship."

Joker's eyes widened. "What? You're crazy. You start singing 'Daisy Bell' and I'm done."

"Unlock my sealed databases, and I can initiate countermeasures," said EDI. "The maintenance in the science lab will allow passage to the AI core. Main corridors of no longer safe. The Collectors have boarded. The emergency floor lighting will guide you, Mr Moreau."

Joker looked over his shoulder and saw a trail of lights that lead down to the CIC. The last thing Joker want to do was give control of the Normandy to EDI, but he no choice.

"Ah, damn it," he grumbled as he got to his feet.

Painfully he began to follow the trail of lights that lead to the science bay. Already the crew on the bridge were rushing towards the elevator aiming their rifles as the door.

"Shit, shit, shit," Joker winced as pain shot up from his legs.

Suddenly a Praetorian emerged out of the elevator.

"Oh my god! What is that?" Goldstein yelled.

They began to fire at the Praetorian, but their bullets just bounced off its armour.

Hadley saw Joker hobbling towards the science bay. "We'll hold it off as long as we can." The Praetorian began to pounce on them. "Hurry, Joker! Go!"

The doors closed just as the Praetorian jumped at Hadley. He moved as quickly as he could towards the maintenance in the science bay and saw a glimpse of a Praetorian in the mass effect core.

"Shit, shit, shit, shit," said Joker as he climbed down the ladder.

He soon found himself in the life-support system and found Hawthrone was there.

"Multiple hostiles detected on the crew deck," said EDI.

Hawthrone rushed over to him. "Joker! This deck is crawling with those things!" He then opened the door. "Stay close—I'll protect you!"

However, when they entered into the corridor Hawthrone had been sent flying by a Scion and what was worse another Scion was dragging Kelly into the elevator where he noticed in pain stasis pods.

"Shit, shit, shit!" Joker groaned as he followed the light in the med bay.

"Main fusion plant offline," said EDI as Joker entered the med bay. "Activate emergency H-fuel cells."

"What the shit!"

Joker entered into the AI Core and made his way over to the computer terminal.

"All right, I'm at, uh, you," said Joker.

EDI's hologram then appeared. "Connect the core to the Normandy's primarily control module."

"Great," Joker grumbled as he accessed the terminal. "See, this is where it starts, and when we're all just organic batteries, guess who they'll blame? 'This is all Joker's fault. What a tool he was. I have to spend all day computing pi because he plugged in the Overlord.'"

Once he was finished, EDI'S hologram faded and the lights suddenly turned off. Seconds later they came back on, brighter than ever.

"Ah. I have access to the defence systems," said EDI sounding relieved as her hologram reappeared. "Thank you, Mr Moreau. Now you must reactivate the primary drive in engineering."

"Argh! You want me to go crawling through the duct again," Joker moaned.

"I enjoy the sight of human on their knees." Joker stared at her. "That is a joke."

Joker rolled his eyes. "Right."

"The shaft behind you connects to the engineering deck. Good luck."

Joker shook his head and carefully climbed down the ladder and he could still hear the screams of the crew as the Collectors took them one by one.

Joker found himself in the hold and saw another trail of lights that lead to the engineering deck.

"Hostiles are present in engineering," EDI warned. "They are heading towards the cargo bay."

Joker climbed the steps that lead to engineering and stopped when he saw a Praetorian and Collector troops exiting from engineering with two stasis pods that contain both Ken and Gabby. He was as they walked out of engineering into the corridor.

"Engineering is clear of hostile," said EDI. "Proceed immediately to minimise chances of detection."

Proceeding immediately what kind of difficult for Joker and it was a mystery to the ages how he hadn't been caught. Once he was inside in engineering he made his way to one of the terminals.

"Activate the drive and I will open the airlock as we accelerate. All hostiles will be killed," said EDI.

"What?" Joker stared. "What about the crew?"

"They are gone, Jeff. The Collectors took them."

"Shit," Joker cursed.

Joker made his way to the drive core and he heard the sound of doors shutting.

"I am sealing the engine room," said EDI. Joker press a few buttons on the terminal and the mass effect core flared up. "I have control."

Suddenly Joker was not obviously has to Normandy shot away from the Collector ship and entered into FTL.

"Purge is complete," said EDI. "No other life forms on board. Securing airlock and cargo bay doors."

Joker pulled himself up with his head still ringing and got to his feet. "Send a message to Shepard's shuttle," he said. "Tell him what happened."

"Message away. Are you feeling well, Jeff?" EDI asked.

Joker shook his head. "No. But thanks for asking."

Joker then limped away trying to think of a way to explain this to Shepard.

Half an hour later they returned and saw that the Collector ship has led. They picked up Shepard's shuttle and a few seconds later Joker found himself in the briefing room sitting on the table next to EDI's hologram with Shepard, Jacob and Miranda.

Shepard was pacing up and down and Jacob leaned against the wall with his arms, but Miranda looked immensely frustrated.

"Everyone? You lot everyone—and damn near lost the ship, too?" Miranda yelled.

"I know, all right?" said Joker. "I was here!"

"It's not his fault, Miranda," said Jacob calmly. "None of us caught it."

"Mr Taylor is correct," said EDI. "The harmful data in the Collector drive was even more sophisticated than the 'black box' Reaper virus I was given."

Shepard looked at Joker. "I heard it was a rough ride. How are you holding up?"

"There's a lot of empty chairs in here," Joker sighed.

"We did everything we could, Jeff," said EDI.

"Yeah, thanks, Mum."

"If the ship clean?" Shepard asked. "We can't risk this happening again."

"EDI and I purge the systems," Joker assured. "The Reaper IFF is online. We can go through the Omega 4 relay whenever you want."

Miranda narrowed her eyes. "Don't get me started about unshackling a damned AI."

"What could I do against Collectors, break my arm at them?" Joker counted. "EDI cleaned on the ship. She's all right."

"I assure you, I am still bound by protocol in my programming," said EDI. "Even if I were not, you are my crewmate."

Shepard had to agree with Joker, EDI had a perfect opportunity to leave them and she didn't kill them when they got back on board. "EDI has had plenty of opportunity to kill us. We need all the help we can get."

"Sounds like we have everything we need to rescue the crew," said Jacob looking slightly excited.

Miranda nodded. "We've done everything we can. It's time to fight the Collectors."

Shepard had to agree, they were all prepared and the crew was now focus on the mission. "Joker, head up to the bridge. The rest of you, to your stations."

Joker stood up and saluted. "Aye, aye, Commander. Just punch up the galaxy map when you're ready."

As Shepard wandered through the ship, he can help but feel how empty it was. His companions had taken the position of the other members of the crew and it was extremely difficult for the fourteen of them to man place even with EDI's help.

Shepard went to check on Joker.

"Commander. Sorry about the crew and…" Joker stopped himself and narrowed his eyes at Shepard. "And you know what, no, I'm not sorry. What the hell are you doing leaving us out here where Collectors can work us over? Because you know what, I should… I should just go. Next port, just get the hell out of here."

"You don't mean that, Jeff," said EDI.

"I… no, but it… it felt good," Joker sighed. He then looked up at Shepard. "I'm sorry, Commander. Okay, I'm ready, I'm good. I'm ready to save the day."

"I know how dangerous it was," said Shepard. "If you need some time, let me know."

"Jeez, don't get like that," said Joker dismissively. "I know I got lucky, I don't need you getting all touchy feely."

"Shepard is right to be concerned, Jeff," said EDI. "You may have suffered a number of stress fractures."

"That what pills are for, EDI," Joker snapped. He then looked back at Shepard. "She's so my mum."

Shepard raised an eyebrow. "I know that you're calling EDI 'her' and 'she' now."

Joker blinked. "Huh, I didn't really noticed that." He then looked at EDI. "EDI, should I have noticed that?"

"No, Jeff, it is not worth noting," said EDI.

Joker looked back at Shepard. "Well, there you go, Shepard. Looks like we haven't noticed anything."

Shepard gave him a very concerned look. "I think you're taking the human machine-interface a little far."

"I'm just having a little fun with you, Commander," Joker assured. "No need to get all 'Unnatural' on me."

"What Jeff and I are exhibiting is more a platonic symbiosis than hormonally-included courtship behaviour," said EDI.

Joker looked at Shepard slightly uneasy. "Okay, yeah, that was a little creepy."

"EDI has replaced the whole crew," said Shepard. "You're not concerned she can replace you too?"

"Well, she's amazing, but there's something off about how she handled Normandy," Joker admitted. "We ran simulations and it's better when we both have a helm."

"Calculating an optimal course of action is simple," said EDI. "If two AI weapons are pitted against each other, the one with superior hardware will always win. Human misjudgement defy predictive models."

"Licence to screw up, Commander," Joker smiled. "You heard it straight from the ship."

Shepard nodded. "You let me know if you need anything, Joker."

"We'll do, Commander. But EDI's got it covered."

Shepard then questioned EDI more about Cerberus movements and she even admitted that Cerberus manipulated the Alliance and the turians into building the original Normandy. They also appear to be privately funded through certain businesses and had a limited amount Cerberus operative operating at a certain time.

Shepard then plotted a course to the Omega 4 relay. There is no reason to delay now and every second they waste more the crew even closer to death by the hands of the Collectors.

"Please confirm destination, Shepard," said EDI. "The Reaper IFF is online, but there is a chance the Normandy may not survive the Omega 4 relay. Once we are en route, we are committed."

"The Collectors of my people," said Shepard. "Time to go get them back."

"You've got it, Commander," said Joker's voice over the comm. "Plotting a course for the Omega 4 relay. ETA about 2 hours. I'll let you know when we arrive."

Miranda then approached Shepard. "Joker is finalising preparations now," she said. "The trip should take a few hours." She then smiled. "I'll admit it, Shepard. I'm impressed. You got us here. Are you ready?"

Shepard nodded firmly. "We've got the right team and the Collectors' own technology. We can do this."

"I hope you're right, Commander," said Miranda. "We'll know soon enough. I'll inform you of any changes. Otherwise, we'll be there in the few hours. Good luck, Shepard. See you on the other side."

Miranda then, for the first time, saluted.

Shepard then made his way to cabin, hoping to get some rest before they arrive. He then made his way to his desk and looked at the picture of Ashley on it, he wished that she here by his side. He hadn't forgotten she had sent to him a few weeks ago apologising for what you said on Horizon.

He then turned away from the desk and walked away.

Rick was at Rose's apartment for dinner and he was exhausted.

"I take it you can go well with the Council," said Rose as she sent the plates.

"The Council is in turmoil after the destruction of the Bahak systems," Rick sighed.

"I find it hard to believe that Commander Shepard would destroy an entire system just because he hates batarians," Rose frowned.

"He's really hate, he just hates batarian slavers, pirates and terrorists," Rick explained. "They are the ones we have encountered with, but this will strengthen their resolve to take humans across the galaxy."

"So batarian will happen more often," said Rose looking slightly concerned.

"Yes, and we've already got our hands full dealing with the Collectors," Rick sighed. "Basically we will be able to sort anything out until we deal with the Collectors and the Council isn't willing to get their hands dirty."

"But they're attacking a Council species," Rose frowned.

Rick then sat down on the table. "Yes, but mostly attacks are happening in the Terminus System and there are still a lot of anti-human protesters around."

Rose sat down opposite him. "The galaxy has become more chaotic ever since the Battle the Citadel."

"And it's only going to get worse when the Reapers and the Council still doesn't believe in them," said Rick as he eat a piece of stake. "I'm telling you if they don't start to register the threat that coming we're not going to stand much of a chance."

Rose looked at him as they eat. "Let's forget politics from the moment and just enjoy each other's company."

Rick looked at her and smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry, I just a lot on my plate."

"You've got a lot on your plate right now," said Rose gesturing to his place.

The two of them and spend the rest of the evening eating and talking to one another that that didn't involve politics.

Once they were done, Rick got to his feet.

"I better get back my ship," said Rick. "We'll be leaving first thing in the morning."

Rose looked at him. "You're leaving?"

"Anderson has order me need to start the evacuation of small colonies within the Terminus Systems," Rick explained. "Of course most of them won't believe me and refused to leave, but and declares that I'm much more cooperative and easy to trust anyone he's ever know, apart from John."

Rose smiled. "That I agree with, but you could stay here tonight."

Rick looked at her. "I don't know if I could."

Rose got to her feet and smiled at him seductively. "I think you could and I think you'll have much more here than on your ship."

Rick felt slightly hot and it is cheeks. "I—I, uh, what do you have in mind?"

Rose leaned in towards him. "I think you know what I have in mind."

Rick found that his body was moving on its own as his arms went around Rose's waist and the two of them kissed passionately.

Soon the two of them were naked in Rose's bedroom and Rick was placing her down on the bed. She was beautiful as his hands traced her hips and he inserted his dick into her causing her to gasp.

He began to move slowly so that she could adjust to his side and he tells her hand rubbing against his back. He slowly began to pick up the causing her to gasp passionately as her legs warped around him and forcing him to push in deeper. He gave her buttock a good squeeze as he nibbled at her neck moan in his ear. He felt her hands rubbing against his back as she forced him to push in deeper.

She then suddenly rolled over so that she was now on top and gave him a good view of her body. She placed her hands on his chest and she began to move her hips in time with his. It can automatically went to her breasts and he gave them a good squeeze causing her to moan in pleasure.

Rose then leaned in towards him and kissed him passionately and that hands began to fight for dominance, but despite her attempts he finally won. He then took this opportunity to roll over so that he was on top of her and began to push into her more rapidly causing her to moan loudly.

Rick didn't know how long he can keep up, but he then felt Rose's liquid unleashed against his dick and his abandoned opportunity to keep the momentum. Rose gasps indicated that she wanted him to move fast and he applied to the best of his ability.

Eventually he could not hold out any longer and came inside. He was now utterly exhausted and fell onto of Rose, who rubbed his back affectionately.

"You really need to test your endurance," she said.

Rick rolled over and looked at her. "They didn't train us to this order thing in the Academy," he pointed out.

Rose giggled. "I'd like to see that in the training programme."

Rick was about to move, but Rose grabbed his arm.

"Stay here, please," she begged.

Rick looked at her and saw the pleading look on her face, a look he couldn't ignore. The two of them then spent the rest of the night together under the sheets and he began to wonder what the future would hold them.