The Normandy left dock to take an orbit around Illium. Shepard communicated with Liara on the surface daily via email. Days passed after the bounty for Jack was seeded through the proper channels. There were still no replies, as of yet, from any of the other ex-members, save one. A polite message from Dr. Solus' family regretfully informing them of his death, natural causes. Shepard was disappointed, but not surprised. Mordin had been quiet elderly for his species and endured surprisingly well through the stress of the mission involving the Collectors. She would always remember him fondly.

Almost a week went by. Liara was becoming more impatient, though she had gotten no closer to the Shadow checked her mail from the private terminal on the command deck, deleting the typical junk mail she often received, when Joker's voice came over the com.

"Hey, Commander? I've got a shuttle requesting permission to dock. I think it's Jack."

"Great. Probably here to kick my ass for putting a bounty on her." Shepard replied.

"That would be my guess, except I think Grunt is with her." Joker added.

"Of course he is, and they want to put a stolen shuttle on my ship." Shepard shook her head and pinched the bridge of her nose is frustration. "Let them in!" She ordered with a wave of her hand, "And have every gun meet me in the loading bay."

"Aye, aye, Commander."

Moments later Shepard exited the elevator to the loading bay in full armor toting her assault rifle. Garrus, Thane, Ken, Gabby, Jacob and Miranda were all armed similarly. If Jack intended to cause trouble, they would be ready for it.

"Maybe Grunt told her about the mission and she's here to help." Jacob suggested.

"Not likely," Miranda said. "She's in a stolen shuttle."

"We must be prepared for all possibilities." Thane stated.

"I agree." said Shyra. "We don't know all the details. All we know is she's here and Grunt is with her."

"Don't forget the com went static and she hasn't communicated since." Garrus added.

"There could be any number of reasons for that." Shyra defended.

"Yeah, like her and the krogan got into a troid and the inside of that shuttle is a wreck. Either that, or the two are goin' at it like rabbits." Ken smiled.

"Ken! You're talking to the Commander!" Gabby rebuked him with a bright blush of embarrassment in her face.

"Both possibilities are... feasible." Thane said. He shifted uncomfortably at the thought of seeing the latter.

"Well, we'll find out soon enough." Shepard said. She took her position behind the barriers they'd set up and readied her weapon. Thane and Garrus flanked her. The others took their positions behind their respective cover.

"Engaging retainment field." Joker announced over the com. The electrical song of the forced field hummed as a bright blue barrier materialized in front of the loading doors.

"Opening loading bay doors. Shuttle is on approach. Everything looks good."

The doors opened and the UT-50 drop shuttle Karelian, of which the theft was recently reported, entered the loading bay of the Normandy SR-2 and settled to the floor. It's engines hissed as pressure was released and the flight systems disengaged. The bay doors closed and sealed. The solid object permeable force field blinked off with a sizzling sound. Shepard flexed her fingers, then readjusted her grip on her weapon.

"Be ready." She ordered.

The shuttle doors opened. A large armored krogan stepped out first. His weapons were still securely on his back. A smaller figure followed, the silhouette irrefutably feminine, bald and human.

"Nice welcome party you got goin' here, Shepard." a familiar voice echoed off the walls.

"What do expect me to do when you're flying stolen property, Jack?" Shepard called back.

"I would have turned me in for the bounty." Jack said with a smirk. "I didn't know you missed me so much."

Shepard stood up and rounded the barrier. She walked up to Jack and extended her hand.

"It's good to have you back. We would like you're help." She said.

Jack's face suddenly changed to a snarl as she leaned into Shepard and pointed a finger in her face.

"Just because I'm here doesn't mean I'm going to help you!" She spat.

"Then why are you here, Jack?" Shepard replied calmly.

"Jack ass needed a ride." Jack nodded to Grunt and backed away.

"You two are on speaking terms now?" Shepard pressed, crossing her arms and eyeing the krogan. He had a knowing smirk on his face.

"You could say that." Grunt chuckled then smacked Jack on the ass.

"Hey!" Jack shouted. "What the hell!"

"Aw, you know you like it." Grunt scoffed at her.

To Shyra's surprise Jack simply smirked and averted her eyes.

"So what's the plan." Jack grumbled.

Shyra smiled. So she was there to help.

"First we've got to return the Karelian." She said, pointing with her chin to the shuttle.

"No way. I stole that fair and square. If they valued it so much they would have kept it under better security!" Jack shouted.

"It's not an option, Jack. Don't worry. We'll tell them we found it abandoned. I'm not going to turn you in." Shepard assured her.

"Fine. But I want my old bunk back, and no one bothers me. Got it?" She threatened.

"Sounds good to me." Shepard nodded. She signaled to the others to 'lower weapons'. A succession of clicks echoed through the space as rifles and pistols found their armor clips.

Shepard turned to Grunt.

"What about you? Where would you prefer to bunk?"

"I could sleep in the fresh hide of a thresher maw and not care." Grunt answered.

"It's good to have you back, Grunt." Shepard nodded to him.

"It's good to be back, Battle Master." Grunt nodded back to her, never taking his eyes from hers.