Mass Effect Belongs to Bioware….I just buy the retail.
Sad but True is by unknown.
"So I have all the devices streaming to Legion," Kasumi said as she and Shepard walked through the Zakera Wards toward the docks. They had stopped to look at some weapons and armor before going back to the ship.
"Legion?"
"EDI is more focused on repairing the systems with Joker, so I figured Legion would be able to analyze it and see what is important and what's not." The thief answered.
Shepard nodded. "That's fine, let's just hope it doesn't get as bad as I think it will." She said.
"Do you really think they will come after you like Mr. Illusive?" Kasumi questioned softly. Shepard walked over to one of the windows overlooking the ward arms.
Crossing her arms, she waited for her companion to come to her side before speaking. "I've been dead for two years Kasumi. A lot has changed and I've missed the subtlety of it. Everything is coming at me so hard and fast," She glanced at the thief with a small smile. "And I'm not enjoying it."
"Sorry Shep," Kasumi answered with sincerity.
"I'll survive Kasumi," The Commander said as she uncrossed her arms. "It's what I do best."
"That it is," A male voice said from behind them. Shepard and Kasumi turned around to see Brian. He was dressed in his old military pants and a tight black shirt. A duffle bad lay at his feet as he smiled at them. Shepard raised an eyebrow at him questionably. "Well…" Brian returned the eyebrow raise. "That wasn't the welcome I was expecting."
"You promised two days," Shepard replied.
He waved his hand in dismissal. "What is two days for this mia sorella?" He knelt down and pulled out a long case from his duffle and handed it to Shepard.
"A present? Is it your birthday?" Kasumi asked with a curious tone.
"No," Shepard said softly as she took the case and stared at it. It couldn't be what she thought it could be… "Bri…"
"Open it," The man said with a smirk. "Took me a while digging through all your stuff, but I found it."
Curious to what he found, Shepard quickly opened the case. She felt herself being filled with nostalgia as she stared down into the case. Ten silver push knives were sitting in the black cloth of the case and a small leather carrying case. She let her hand caress one of the knives. The knives each had an engraving of a set of wings on them.
"I thought I lost these…" Shepard murmured.
"Just one of the many things you left when you joined the Alliance. I have most of your things on Earth," Brian answered.
"Don't tell me you went to Earth just for these," She asked while closing the case.
The man rubbed the back of his neck. "There were some White Lotus matters that needed to be handled."
Shepard looked over at her companion. Kasumi tilted her head at the woman. They both heard the tone and knew what it meant. The Commander sighed. Whatever Brian needed to settle, it wasn't done yet or it hadn't gone the way he wanted.
"So, what now?" The thief asked.
Brian grinned. "Now you show me to the ship so I can drop off my bag, and then tomorrow I show you another surprise." He grabbed his bag and turned.
"I don't like surprises…" Shepard said in semi-hearted bitterness as she and Kasumi followed him to the Normandy.
Sarah Williams frowned as she walked through the warehouse area. Yesterday her Commander told her that they were to keep an eye out for the Normandy crew. His instructions insinuated spying on them. Spying wasn't something that Sarah did; she was a soldier for god's sake. The other thing that bothered her was that they were asking her to spy on Commander Shepard!
When Ashley was on the Normandy, she told Sarah about Commander Shepard. From everything she heard, there shouldn't be a reason why they needed to doubt Shepard. What confused her even more is that it was Commander Alenko, a former subordinate of Commander Shepard, asking to spy. She wondered what happened between the two of them. In Ashley's last extranet message to her, things were getting a bit cozy between them. With everything that she was told and what she saw she would have thought that her Commander would jump at the chance to be with Shepard again. But then again…there was a problem in the way.
Jessica Chavis.
She didn't get a good vibe from the Lieutenant. But there was little she could actually say. Not only was she a lower rank, but everyone on the Piedmont was in support of the secret affair Commander Alenko and she had going on. Sarah had a feeling it wasn't so secret in the Alliance. She bet anything that they are hoping to use this to keep her Commander away from Shepard. Sighing, Sarah began to walk a bit faster.
"You'd know what to do," Sarah murmured as she turned the corner. She paused as she saw Wolf and Garrus leading the main ground teams for the Normandy into a large warehouse. Curious, she quickly set about looking for a way in to watch. Something had to be going on for the Normandy crew to be in a warehouse.
"Is this really necessary?" Miranda asked as the team was led into the warehouse by Wolf and Garrus.
"A better question is, should we trust a gang leader?" Jacob said backing her up.
Shepard stood tall on one of the higher platforms. It had been early that morning after making sure that Brian didn't harass the female crew too much, that they decided today they would tell everyone the truth about their relation. It was agreed upon that they would tell everyone about the biotics without going into too much detail. Hopefully.
"You once didn't trust assassins," Thane answered, his hands behind his back.
"Gang leaders are different…" Jacob rebuked.
"You got no say buddy," Brian answered as he saw on the lower platform. "So shut up and listen to your Commanding Officer before she kicks your Cerberus ass off of the ship."
Jack looked at Wolf approvingly. "I think I like this guy."
Brian grinned at Jack. "Why thank you kindly!" He said in a southern accent.
"Enough," Shepard said glaring down at Brian. "I had Garrus and Wolf escorted you all here to tell you the truth. It has been buried by not only the Alliance, but Wolf and I as well."
Samara tilted her head. "I have sensed nothing but truths from you Shepard. Have you lied to us?"
"It's nothing like that Samara," Shepard assured. She glanced at Garrus and Tali who were on the platform just below her behind Wolf.
"Then spit it out," Grunt said.
Shepard ruffled her own hair as she sighed. Taking a deep breath, she began. "Alright, since I can't find a more subtle way to break this to you guys. Wolf and I are fraternal twins. He is my brother." Silence permeated the air. "Kind of figured that would be the reaction…"
"Impossible." Mordin said. "File said single child. No family. Cannot have sibling from thin air."
"It's very possible Professor." Brian said. "Because of my defection from the Alliance, my sister was able to take over my files and seal them away. Which the Alliance allowed because what good would it do them to have an N7 operative going rogue to build his own organization?"
"So your background in the Reds…" Jacob questioned.
"Fabricated, I was with my brother, who was building the White Lotus. Both my brother and I left for Alliance in the early years. We were both put through N7 training." Shepard said as she shifted to lean back on her leg.
Miranda's eyebrows rose. "I know everything of your past Shepard, even you having a brother was not an unforeseen possibility. What else could there be?"
Brian watched at the different expressions on everyone's face as Shepard allowed her biotics to encase her body. He could feel her power like a raging squall at his back. She had some control, but if she didn't get full control it would be a hurricane. Brian's focus went back to her crew. Miranda looked absolutely livid. Her Cerberus partner looked out in shock. Jack was spitting out curse words. Grunt did as his name sake not caring for the display. He supposed the Krogan didn't care for the change, Shepard was still his battlemaster. Samara's eyes were calm, but Brian could sense a bit of spiking interest from the way her biotics shifted. Mordin was looking on with interest, his omnitool already out and scanning Shepard. Thane and Kasumi were the only ones who seemed not effected by the display, but he could assume that is from already hearing about this. As Shepard's biotics winked out, he heard her sigh.
"That's about it…" Shepard murmured.
"That's is?" Miranda glared at Shepard. "How the hell do you have biotics! We didn't implant you!" She began to glow as her anger got a hold of her.
"I suggest you stand down Lawson," Brian answered nonchalantly. "Wouldn't want you to get hurt."
Jacob shifted up next to Miranda. "What are you talking about?"
Shepard let Brian explain how they were natural biotics as she closed her eyes and tilted her head up. Opening her eyes, she saw a shadow shift in rafters. Her eyes quickly darted to her most nimble and swiftest crew member.
Thane's eyes caught her own as she gestured discreetly to the rafters. He slipped away stealthily and made his way upward toward the area his Commander indicated. Frowning, he saw a young female soldier looking down at the crew. She didn't look like she knew was she was doing or that she even wanted to be there in the first place. She shifted again trying to get back out the way she came without drawing too much attention. It is when Thane remembered her face as a gleam of light illuminated her features. This was one of the Piedmont's crew members. Thane raced forward using his speed and agility to grab the girl as he darted across the rafters toward the crew. The human shrieked in surprise and fear as he did so causing everyone to look toward them. He jumped from the rafters onto a stack of crates, using them to leap down in front of the platforms between the crew and Shepard. He put the girl down before stepping away.
"I believe I found one of our spies." Thane said as Jack and Grunt as well as the Cerberus operatives pulled their guns out to aim at the young woman.
Sarah looked up to see Wolf staring down at her with a smile. "I think you are a bit far from Alliance territory bella." He said.
Shepard rolled her eyes and turned to her crew. "It's alright." She said.
"But this is one of the people you warned us about Shepard!" Jack growled. "Let me kill her."
Before Shepard could do anything Jack's gun was taken from her while she was spun around by her throat. Brian held the convict against his chest, his left hand tightening around her throat while the other pushed her gun into her side. Samara and Mordin drew their weapons as everyone turned toward him.
Brian allowed his lips to touch Jack's cheek as he spoke to her. "You are not to kill anyone unless she commands it."
"Let go of me!" Jack squirmed, her biotics flaring up. This didn't help her as Brian's own ability flared to quell hers. Shepard, Garrus and Tali all jumped from the platforms getting closer to the two while trying to settle the rest of the crew down. Kasumi knelt by Sarah giving the girl a reassuring smile as she helped her up.
"You kill any Alliance members, and you spoil the game." He whispered.
"What game?" The tattooed woman questioned.
Shepard spoke from beside Samara and Mordin. "They are testing my brother and I. Seeing if we are trust worthy or not."
"Sneaky, devious." Mordin said. "Not like Alliance. Need to question: why?"
"Because we, Professor, are military secrets," Brian's lips were against Jack's ear that wasn't cuffed causing the convict to shiver and glare at him.
"If you aren't going to fuck or fight me, let go!" She growled.
Brian looked down at Jack as he let her go. "Feisty, blunt, rude?" He looked over at his sister. "Please tell me she's free."
Garrus's mandibles fluttered in amusement as Shepard groaned. "Wolf, Jack will attack you in your bed."
"What else is the bed for?" Brian countered as he grinned at the convict who was glaring at him.
"Shut your trap, asshole." Jack replied as she walked away him.
"Oh, I don't think so. I have better ideas I can use my mouth for." He said as he moved forward. He was stopped when Garrus held his hand out and kept Brian away from Jack. "Spoil my fun…"
"I have no problems hurting you remember?" Shepard said sharply.
Brian sighed and raised his hands in a surrender gesture as he backed away. "Fine, Fine." He looked back at Sarah. "So what do you want to do with the Williams girl?"
"Hostage," Miranda suggested.
"You take an Alliance hostage, they will see it as war." Thane answered.
"Like I'd let the corner hooker take me anywhere…" Sarah snorted glaring at the woman in white leather. "I'll gag on a bucket of rusty nails first."
Jack perked up as she heard that. "Keep talking like that Alliance and you and me might just be pals." Shepard smirked at Jack's response. That was one problem out of the way. Garrus turned to her and looked her in the eye. Their silent communication was mainly about whose marine she was. Kaidan's.
"We can't act on this one." Shepard said.
"I know," Garrus replied.
"Curious. Told to follow Normandy teams and report back. But comm. not active." Mordin interrupted as he looked down at his omni-tool. Sarah looked up at the salarian, not speaking.
Miranda shook her head. "Shepard, listen to me, we have to do something. She can't just walk away."
"With all due respect ma'am," The Commander force down a grin as she heard Ashley's attitude from the younger Williams. "I don't think she has to listen to anyone, least of all you."
As the genetically engineered woman moved toward the young marine, three of Shepard's crew moved in. Garrus, Kasumi, and Jack got in Miranda's way obscuring her view of Sarah.
"I don't think so cheerleader," Jack said. "This one is too fun for you."
Brian leaned back against raised platforms. "What do you think about the Alliance bella?" He asked causing everyone to look toward him.
"What do you mean?" Sarah asked as Thane helped her stand.
"You were just informated that the Alliance was testing their famed Commander Shepard because of her genetic mutation of biotic abilities." Brian said. "Not only that but you were to spy on her. How do you feel?"
"You got to be kidding me," Sarah looked at Shepard. "You're kidding me right? He's trying to play psychologist?" The Commander shrugged at her. The drell beside her tilted his head to the side as she shifted her weight as she cocked out her hip. "Listen, when I was told that I would be spying on the Normandy's main team, the first thing that popped into my head was my sister Ashley."
Shepard smiled at this. Of course Ashley would tell and teach her sibling about the inner workings of the Alliance. It would be the best way to protect the girl from falling in most of the devious political traps that happened in the higher ranks.
"She always told me that I should follow my gut, because the Williams' gut has always kept us strong." Sarah turned to look at Miranda with a determined look in her eye. "And my gut didn't like the orders the Piedmont was given." She turned to look at the Commander. "Ashley told me she learned many things on the Normandy while she was there. One of them was always leave…"
"A way out…" Shepard finished with a grim smile. "Yeah, we all learned that."
"You believe in your sister's stories of Shepard then," Tali said in a light tone.
Sarah nodded to the quarian. "I don't' see why dying would change the Commander, especially if Cerberus wanted her back exactly the same as she was before."
"Molto buono, (Very Good)" Brian said he stepped forward to the girl. "You are just what we need."
"What we need?" Kasumi raised an eyebrow.
Shepard's mind blanked out for a moment before it started to work again. This time instead of working things out like an Alliance N7 Marine, it was working like a White Lotus operative. "Wolf no!" She caught herself, making sure she called him by his leader name instead of Brian.
"What?" Jacob asked in confusion.
"You can't think I would allow you to use her sister like that!" The female Shepard marched up to Brian as she glared at him.
"Use me like that?" Sarah blinked. She had lost them as soon as Shepard became angry.
"Wolf wants to you to be a double agent," Samara stepped toward the two siblings. Both were starting to glow with their biotics, Shepard's being more out of anger while Wolf's was more in defense. "He wants you to be our spy for us against the Alliance." She said in a calm soothing voice.
"I won't allow it…" Shepard growled. "You'd be just like them!" Her hands flew out toward Jacob and Miranda.
Due to the lack of concentration, Shepard's biotics let loose. Jacob flew a few feet backwards, landing roughly on his back. Both twins immediately snapped their head in his direction, their blue aura dimming. Miranda and Mordin went over to Jacob to make sure he was alright while Shepard stared on. She had thrown Jacob almost all the way across the warehouse.
"We have to start training you immediately," Brian murmured lowly.
"Ma'am," Sarah said softly not wanting to disturb her but knowing she had to settle the dispute. Shepard gave the woman a vague nod of acknowledgement. The younger woman frowned, but looked up when Garrus put a hand on her shoulder and nodded. "I'd gladly help you Commander. I don't think what they are doing is right."
"We could use the insight Shepard," Garrus suggested. As her new second-in-command, he knew that his decision and suggestion would help her decide. Even more so in a time such as this where she had an emotional stake in it. When she did, Shepard often looked to Garrus for advice and help. She would let the decision be broken by him.
"I want to do it," Sarah added. "Plus there is something on the Piedmont that has got my stomach flippin' and I want to find out what."
"Then its settle," Kasumi stepped in. "Sarah with be our Piedmont confidant!"
"Oh very clever," Shepard voice with a sigh.
"I try." The thief grinned.
"I'll entrust someone to watch over her," Brian began but Shepard shook her head. "Mia sorella…"
Shepard shook her head again firmly. "No, I don't want White Lotus involved with her." She answered as she glanced at Brian before watching Mordin and Miranda helping Jacob up. He seemed to be stunned from the throw, might have a few bruises on his back in the morning though. "I want someone I know that can be discreet, someone who I know will be able to hide themselves better than any of the White Lotus."
Brian raised his eyebrow. If his sister thought highly of this person, they must really be good. No on in the Universe is better at hiding than his top spies. If she is replacing them with someone on her crew, then he knew that this person was the absolute best. His violet eyes watched as she turned to the drell beside the Williams girl.
"Thane, will you do this for me?" She asked in a soft voice.
The assassin stepped forward from where he was standing and grabbed Shepard's hand. He brought it up and bowed his head forward until his forehead touched her knuckles. Thane began whispering to himself, allowing himself to relax as the tension seeped out of his Commander. He was murmuring a prayer to ease her pain as well as guide him on his new mission to watch over his charge. Pulling away from her knuckles, he quickly allowed his lips to grace them before stepping away.
"I'll do as you ask siha," he answered.
"Thank you," She replied allowing her hand to drop to her side. "Don't forget to come back to the Normandy regularly for you check-ups."
"Of course," Thane said before turning to the young Williams girl. "Shall I escort her out?"
"Would you?" Brian questioned. "I will send instructions through a secure line to your omni-tool Sarah."
Sarah nodded. Her eyes drifted to Shepard. The woman was pale, her pupils dilated a bit as she looked around. Garrus passed her, going to his Commander. Sarah watched as the turian interacted with her, allowing light touches on her lower back signifying that he was there as he murmured to her. Thane grabbed her elbow and gently guided her out of the warehouse, but not before Sarah saw Shepard slip her Commander mask back on without dealing with her emotions. Ashley's last words from one of their last contacts floated through her head. She didn't notice Thane melting into the shadows or that she began her quest back to the Presidium and her ship.
'Every soldier has issues, but with the Commander you wouldn't be able to tell. She has this air of confidence around her, like a fighter, that seems impregnable. But it is people like that Sar, they fall hard. Real hard. I'm just glad scuttlebutt will be the one keeping her afloat when she does.'
"But he's not there anymore Ash," Sarah whispered. "He's moved on, so who will keep the Commander floating now?"
The next few days were strenuous for everyone. After Shepard's biotic display on Jacob, she and Wolf immediately dived into her new training regiment. In between the training they would come up with ideas to get their allies ready for the coming of the Reapers that they knew would be upon them. When however, no one knew but everyone liked to be prepared. Grunt had already been dispatched back to Tuchanka to train with Wrex and hopefully gather more krogan allies, but it was mostly training. Shepard would swing by Tuchanka to fully negotiate with the other krogans later. Everyone else seemed to be relaxing a bit more before they started whatever they needed to.
Tali sat in the control room of the warehouse looking down at the two glowing biotics in the center. Brian was pelting objects at Shepard, forcing her to react and maintain a barrier at the same time. At first the quarian didn't think that was a big deal. Until Shepard's barrier nearly fried her own arm if she didn't concentrate on it enough.
"How is she?" Garrus walked into the room from the back door.
"Tired it looks like," Tali replied. "She's been at this since late last night." She turned to the turian as he leaned forward on the console and looked down at the two siblings. "Why did she keep this from us." She was a bit hurt that Shepard didn't trust them enough to tell them about her biotics or her brother. They were her friends, allies from another life, one before she died.
"Why didn't you tell her about the parts of the geth you were sending back to the Flotilla?" Garrus countered. He knew how Tali felt but in the end… "Everyone has secrets Tali, Shepard's is just a bit more complicated than most."
"But her story…they are gaps. Things that don't add up." The quarian said. "Wolf told us before that he made the White Lotus before the Alliance. Now he's saying its construction was after he left. Come on Garrus, even a vorcha can see the holes."
"Shepard told me," He glanced at Tali. "That she was never with the Reds. That the gang she was with was the White Lotus, before it got its name and prestige. The group hadn't even properly started when both of them went into the Alliance. I'm assuming they left it in the hands of someone they could trust." The turian turned back to the two siblings training. "She told me something happened…wouldn't say exactly what, but said that the Alliance betrayed them. They went back to the White Lotus, but Shepard…she returned to the Alliance. It was when Shepard went to Akuza that Brian slipped back for a brief time. That's how he ended up on Elysium. As soon as he heard that the Commander survived Akuze…he went back to being the White Lotus leader. Took him a few years to get the organization squared, but he did and Shepard would 'accidentally' run into him and the group sometimes."
"Accidentally huh?" Tali tilted her head.
Garrus smirked and looked down to see Shepard using a charge on Brian. "You know Shepard…she makes the impossible happen." He crossed his arms as he spoke with confidence. He trusted his human Commander. She's never lead them wrong before.
He slipped out of bed, leaving Chavis alone as she hugged his pillow in her sleep. Moving out of the room, Kaidan went to his den. As he walked in he made sure to lock the door so Jessica wouldn't be able to get in for a few moments, if she decided to pick the lock. Sitting down at his computer he looked at the three monitors he had set up.
"Time to find out the truth," He said to himself as he began to log into the Alliance database. Kaidan knew that if he was going to find out anything about Wolf that he was going to need to hack into the files that Shepard had sealed away. His heart ached as he though about the two being together as he hacked into her file. There was something about their closeness that bothered him. Kaidan decided he would check out Shepard's file first. Hacking into her file, he quickly put the earplug in so the sounds would not wake up Jessica, as the computerized voice began to read the file. As he looked at the name he noticed it glitched quickly from a different name. That was strange…
'Commander Drusilla Lethe Shepard, N7 Infiltrator. Survivor of Akuze, Hero of the Citadal. Age is unknown due to history with Earth gangs.' Kaidan let his eyes scan over her height, weight, and other physical atrributes that he knew and were necessary in the file. He frowned as he tried to click on a link in the file but was restricted. He leaned back and thought as the computer continued to speak. 'Commander Shepard has shown bravery and diligence in the line of duty. Due to her skills, she was accepted into the N7 program during her time within the laboratory. After it's destruction, she was hand picked by Captain David Anderson to accompany him on the SSV Normandy. When the Eden Prime mission expanded into a search for the former Spectre known as Saren Arterius, Commander Shepard was given authority of the Normandy as well as Spectre status. This marked her as the first human Spectre.'
Kaidan raised an eyebrow. What laboratory? He tapped a few keys forcing the computer to skip ahead to the documentation of the Normandy's fall.
'Commander Shepard was seen falling through the atmosphere of Alchera by Flight Lieutenant Jeff Moreau. There has been no evidence to state that she has survived, therefore has been labeled Killed in Action. In lieu of reports from various crew members, the Alliance did not receive a distress call from the Normandy. The belief is that Commander Shepard sent a message out to the Project Moros.'
Kaidan tried to open the file labeled Project Moros. He frowned when he got a restricted warning as well as a password pop up. How high level is this? He wondered. Kaidan knew he had to find out though. He quickly began to type away, allowing his decryption skills to try to find a way around the restrictions. He hadn't used them in a while, but he learned a few new tricks to get the information he wanted.
It wasn't too long before he was granted access to the file. His eyes widened as he looked at it while the computerized voice began to speak.
'Project Moros, subject Brian Firenze Shepard. N7 Vanguard. War Hero of Elysium. Age unknown due to history with Earth.'
"She has a brother…" Kaidan scrolled down to scan Brian's file. He saw everything that he was told from Anderson and Hackett. His eyes widened when he saw a picture of who Brian Shepard was. "Wolf!" He looked at the military issued picture. "Wolf is her brother…"
'Fraternal twin of Commander Shepard.' The computer said continued from where Kaidan scrolled to. 'Both twins have exhibited biotic abilities without the need of implants. Due to the unusal case of their biotic abilities, Project Apate was started on their entrance. Project Apate is broken down into two sub-projects in order to build the perfect biotic soldier. Project Moros is specifically named and catered for the experiments and tests that were done on Brian Shepard. His high level of aggressiveness and forcefulness to use his biotics forced the Alliance to label him a Vanguard.' As the computer continued, Kaidan opened up the picture file on one of his other monitors. It held a picture of Brian in a statis tube with IVs attached to him and a mask over his nose and mouth. A biotic field hummed around him while there was a needle in the base of his neck, where an amp would go. 'Tests concluded that due to the exposure his mother had to the different biotic enhancement drugs and the time he had while in her womb, that her biotic abilities as well as the effects of the drugs were absorbed into him. Both he and his sister are the first natural biotics in human history. Endurance tests, mentality tests, and other tests were performed to see the side-effects of such a being.'
Kaidan looked through the pictures to see Brian on a treadmill while biotically lifting a one ton weight in front of him. The next showed a target, in which there were bullet holes in only the head and heart. The next picture caused him to pause. Brian was standing with his sister. She was smiling sadly at her brother as both their biotic barriers were flaring around them while different machines were attached to them while they were in a containment field.
'Project Moros was supposed to mold the subject into the perfect Vanguard. The perfect balance of weaponry and biotics.' Kaidan looked over at the file to see that Brian scored high on all the biotic tests, high than even most asari. 'But due to him finding out about our plans for Project Adrastia, during the advance testing phase, Moros became increasingly belligerent to authority around him. After succeeding the N7 training, the subject broke into Project Adrastia's physical. His aggression over took him and he destroyed the laboratory station, killing thousands as the flaming station crashed into a nearby colony. He was only seen years later during the Elysium incident before disappearing into Terminus Space.'
"If that's Wolf…" He looked at the other name. Project Adrastia. He clicked on the name, his stomaching rolling in anxiety. He needed to know the truth and all the clues led to this. He frowned again when the computer glitched at Shepard's name.
'Project Adrastia other wise known as Project Nemesis. Subject Drusilla Lethe Shepard. N7 Infiltrator. Sole survivor of Akuze. Hero of the Citadel.' Kaidan felt a chill go up his spine as he looked at the information. Most of the information was similar to her brother's, but she had more documentary from the scientist. 'According to the authoritarian figures in charge of Project Adrastia's test, she is more powerful than her brother. Some speculated that this is because the biotic ability is more natural for females than they are for males. Her test scores were off the charts, much higher than Project Moros. Due to an aggressive scientist during her tests, Project Adrastia refused to show her full biotic abilities. This has led us to use her tech savvy skills and label her as an Infiltrator to hide her high level biotic ability.'
"Why…what happened?" Kaidan wondered out load. He opened up the picture file attached to her file and looked through it. His eyes widened as he saw a younger Shepard cowering away from a machine that was emitting mass effect field. She looked tired and worn, with the tears streaming down her face. She was cringing in the picture, but was trying to hold, what Kaidan was use to calling her Commander mask.
'This test showed how sensitive the subject was to mass effect fields at the time of her training and testing. It was assumed that her high level biotics were more sensitive to them that Project Moros's. Adrastia was subjected to long exposure to the fields in order to train her resilence as well as find her breaking point. The test failed to show conclusion when Moros found out and destroyed the equipment that was specialty designed to do this. It was this incident that sent Moros into a state of disobedience.'
The next picture showed Shepard in a tube like Brian was, but instead of being still, she was struggling. Kaidan could see it in her face.
'We tried to force Adrastia to use her power by giving her small doses of Mingagen X3. It ended up in failure. The result ended up with Adrastia's powers spinning out of her control and Moros needing to be brought in to settle them down. Despite the incidents in her early years, Adrastia stayed to serve the Alliance even when Moros left.'
Kaidan couldn't believe it. Shepard was tested on by the Alliance. She was an Alliance secret…an Alliance experiment! His heart clenched as he read the different tests that were done on her. There was more done on her than her brother. Some of these tests weren't even legal! Others were only done on criminals!
"Is this why she's with Wolf now? Because she's afraid the Alliance will experiment on her again?"
'Project Adrastia was reported KIA when the fall of the SSV Normandy was received. But due to the Alliance not receiving a distress signal, it has been confirmed that instead, Project Moros was contacted. A good strategy on Adrastia's part, because the Fifth Fleet would not have made it in time to save the rest of the crew of the Normandy. No further information is available.'
Sitting back, he stared at the information on his computer. Wolf and Shepard were brother and sister. They were Alliance Top Brass secrets. His crew was ordered to spy on them. Was it because of this? Do Hackett and Anderson know what's going to happen next if they go against both Shepards?
"There's just too much I don't know…" Kaidan closed his eyes, letting his hand drop on the keyboard not seeing what he hit.
'It was during one of Projects Adrastia's tests that Moros finally snapped. He killed his handlers and escaped from the station. It was unknown at the time, but after this Project Adrastia began to behave different. Not too long afterwards, Moros returned with reinforcements and destroyed the station in order to get Adrasstia. The station collided into a colony killing thousands. Adrastia returned a few months later to be Captain Anderson's prodigy'
Kaidan looked at the screen before exiting from the database. All this time…she's been working for the Alliance, the same people that had experimented on her and used techniques that were outlawed. He supposed working for the Councilor didn't help him, it made him a more gullible pawn for it all. Leaning back he looked at the ceiling. Back on the Normandy, Shepard never mentioned anything about what happened in her early years of the Alliance. She would give vague notions of what every marine went through. This made Kaidan think about the relationship he had with her. She didn't try to push him into anything, she always left him a way out.
The only thing she pushed him into doing was leaving her, the day the Normandy fell.
Getting up from out of his seat, Kaidan headed to the kitchen. A migraine was starting and he wanted some coffee in him before it got too bad. All this new information he got put a lot of things in perspective, things he had to think about before he faced Shepard again.
"So you going to tell me what deal went bad?" Shepard asked as she and Brian walked their way from the rapid transit around the Zakera Wards.
"I have no idea what you are talking about." Brian replied as he looked at the different eateries. He promised his sister he was going to feed her something sweet. It has been almost two weeks since he started to retrain her. It wasn't like how they were trained when they were on the laboratory station. It was a softer, more to balance her than to control her.
"You're lying," She sang quietly.
"It's not your concern," Brian sang in the same song-like voice.
"Bastardi…"
"But you love me anyway sorella," He gave her an innocent smile.
"Cute, but you aren't off the hook. If we are going to do this, you have to tell me what's going on." Shepard said as she stopped, one hand on his bicep. "I know that not coming with you is the same as what the Alliance and Council did to me…"
"You left to pursue something you knew would help people," Brian gazed at her with a hard stare. "None of us hold that against you. And it's not like you abandoned us, you made every effort to help if we need it, even when you were on shore leave. You are not like the animals that are trying to control you. You are not Cerberus, but you are not the Alliance either. You are Commander Shepard, you fight for the lost."
"Fight for the lost huh?" Shepard smiled at her brother. Brian smirked. "Nice to know that's how everyone feels. Now spill, what's going on?"
The man sighed before he continued his walk. Shepard followed him keeping in pace, as though it was the most natural thing for her to do.
"We are having trouble with the Crimson Spiders." Brian answered causing Shepard to falter in her steps. "Julian and his team were able to receive word that there will be a big party on the station known as Rorthang."
"The casino station?" She questioned with a raised eyebrow.
He nodded. "It seems there will be a big poker tournament there and everyone in the underground is being invited." He glanced at her. "The prize is a prothean artifact."
"Prothean?" She looked up at Brian. "If the Spiders are going to be there, there is no way you can go. They'd kill you on sight."
"I know," He said with a growl. "I don't like it either, but I will need to go…"
"Send me," She said abruptly.
Brian looked down sharply at her. His stare would have been unnerving to anyone else but her.
"I am the Volpe, the second in command of the White Lotus, if you are still holding rank." Shepard said stepping in front of Brian, looking up at him. "The Normandy is just about fixed enough and some of my crew will want to be leaving the Citadel."
"You do know that you will have to BE the Fox again. I can't have Commander Shepard in that casino trying to save anyone but her own." Brian…no the Wolf was telling her. "I want the Spiders crippled, they are to be made an example of Volpe."
Shepard was quiet for a moment before she let out a little seductive smile.
"When do we leave?" The Fox replied.