Suave Remnants

by UrbanPhoenix

They abandoned her. Left her to the proverbial wolves. But one man that supported her no matter what, but they have a secret. How will everyone react? How will Kaidan? Or will he ignore Shepard in favor of his new LT?

12. Guidepost

Mass Effect belongs to Bioware – I only play the game to enjoy the story.

Thanks to Nightodie from KAAS for betaing. I took a lot into consideration, but some things stayed the same due to the wording I original had. D Tough cookies. Also to Sirius I changed some things for her. You better love me now.

'Guidepost is by Takanashi Yasuharu and Yaiba from the Naruto Shippuuden 2nd Movie

---

Thane walked into the Starboard Observation. He looked at the couch to his left and saw Brian sitting against it. There was a pad of real paper in his left hand and in the other hand was a pencil, which was sketching over the paper gently.

"Are you here to ask about Samara?" Brian asked not looking up.

"It would be beneficial to hear about her current state." Thane answered as he stood beside the human.

"She is still comatose," The White Lotus leader replied. "But I have faith that she will awaken soon."

"The justicar is strong," The assassin agreed.

Brian just nodded as he continued with his sketching. He had felt the shift in his sister's biotics twice last night. They both knew as soon as Fox was back in the eye of the Spiders, that they would try to kill her. Narrowing his eyes at the paper, he began to shade the darkened areas. He could feel the drell's eyes watching him as he continued with his masterpiece.

"I know there is a question in there about this drawing Krios," said Brian. "You might want to ask it before you go jumping to conclusions."

"I just didn't…a man who has so much violence in his life, doesn't seem like one who would be able to draw with such skill." Thane said eloquently.

"Though my hands are bloodied and stained, they have uses outside of fighting," Brian said as though quoting someone. He reached down beside him to switch his drawing utensil before continuing. "But there is something I would like to discuss with you."

Thane tilted his head to the side and stared down at the man. He was curious to what this Shepard wanted from him. "And what would that be?"

"I wish to teach you, a man who can move without being seen, how to track my sister's biotics from a distance." Brian said as he finished his drawing and looked up at the green alien. As he stood he stared into the black eyes of the drell. "I need your discretion as well as your skill."

"For what reason do you wish to teach me this?" Thane asked.

"I need to ensure that another biotic will be able to handle her." He answered. "Samara is bound by her code. Not only that, but the mere brush against my abilities sent her into a coma."

Thane's eyes blinked as he stared at Brian. "I assume you want to test if the same thing will happen to me."

Staring thoughtfully at the assassin, he realized Thane knew more about the situation then he original thought. Krios was observant he'd give him that. He could feel the drell's abilities and knew that he might be able to stand a chance of not falling into a coma like Samara. He handed Thane the pad of paper as he spoke.

"It's not a test Thane, it's a precaution. I just want to know if my sister loses control, that the biotics on her ship will be able to handle it. Meet me in the cargo bay if you are ready to try this."

Thane examined at the drawing as the human left the observatory. The picture was of Commander Shepard and her reflection in a mirror. Within the mirror, the Commander was turned slightly to her side, her lavender eyes looking down in despair. Against her back was an exact duplicate of her, except this Shepard looked at ease and laid back. She was back to back with the grief stricken Shepard, her head was tilted back on the sad one's shoulder. Thane's eyes blinked slowly as he began to notice one distinct difference.

The tranquil looking Shepard had green eyes.

---

Having heard the whispering gossip in the casino, Kaidan walked into the pool area with purpose. Everyone was talking about the assassination attempt last night. Apparently she had stayed with a man only known as The Admiral. Kaidan guessed that he must have been the man Shepard had danced with last night and who came to her rescue while she was drenched in blood. Biting the inside of his cheek, the Alliance man remembered how Jessica tried to get him to comfort her after the commotion, but he wasn't having it. He was too worried about Shepard to cater to Jessica's whims.

"Are you sure she's okay down there?" Joker's voice echoed throughout the large tiled indoor pool room. As Kaidan walked into the room he saw the pilot sitting on the edge of the pool, with his legs in the water while an asari sat next to him.

"She's a marine," She said. "She can hold her breath for five minutes if she needed."

Joker glanced at the blue skinned woman. "That's the Navy SEALS."

The asari shrugged. "She's always been good around water."

"Well excuse me," Joker shrugged. "I don't particularly like it when she sends her security detail away so she can to play in some pool."

"Maybe she's just feeling a bit high-strung because of the attack last night?" The woman said. "I mean Canderous and the Admiral told me that she was a bit out of it when they got her away from everyone."

"Fox?" Joker's eyebrows rose as he looked into the pool water. "Sometimes I think she's bipolar."

The asari laughed. "Fox bipolar?" She tried to smother her giggles. "Then you haven't seen Wolf. He goes from being as docile as a puppy to a ferocious bloodthirsty hound in zero-point-two seconds. No, she isn't bipolar…" She stopped talking when she saw Kaidan approaching them.

Joker tilted his head and to view Kaidan too. Snorting, he narrowed his eyes. "Look what we have here, it's our friendly neighborhood Alliance Stalker." The asari tilted her head and studied the new man as Joker crossed his arms. "What do you want dickhead?"

"What do you think I want Joker?" Kaidan crossed his own arms.

"I don't know, you were with the tacky new girlfriend last night…I'm sure you got what you needed from her." Joker replied.

The former Lieutenant's jaw tightened. "Like you have room to judge."

"Well I didn't throw my girlfriend away like a piece of vorcha trash when she appeared in my life again did I?" The pilot added with a roll of his eyes. "Nor did I bitch her out when she tried to explain…oh let's not forget that you sounded like the Council when we saw you on Horizon, might as well called her psychotic during that stunt."

His body moved towards the pilot without even thinking about it, but before his fist could even come in contact with Joker's jaw, he went flying through the air. Kaidan vaguely felt the touch of someone's biotics encircling him before he splashed into the pool. His eyes opened to see someone with silver hair floating before him and lavender eyes glaring at him. Shepard drifted up a bit, using his shoulders to kick off of him and swam toward the surface. Kaidan stared after her as she broke the surface of the pool. He heard her muffled voice as she treaded the water. He swam up just in time to hear the last bit of it.

"-piss people off too often." Unrepentant, the pilot shrugged as she turned to the asari beside him. "Thanks for saving him Mission."

"No problem!" The asari smiled at the woman.

"Just shows that Alenko needs more self-control." Joker responded.

Shepard glanced at Kaidan before swimming to the edge of the pool, prompting Mission to get up and run over to the lawn chairs to get a towel. "I don't know how I keep my control around you Joker, why should I fault him?" She said.

As Shepard began to pull herself out of the pool, Kaidan could see the patchwork of scars on her upper body and legs. She was wearing a dark green to golden ombre one-piece monokini. His mouth went dry as he saw all of her, from neck to the top of her buttocks. She climbed out of the pool and accepted the towel from the asari.

"Aw, she-Fox…" Joker began. "You know I can't make up snappy come backs when I see you half naked."

Shepard smiled as she began to pat herself dry. "I'm sorry, am I making you uncomfortable Joker?" She bent down at her waist, to show off her cleavage to him. "Am I?"

The pilot grinned and leaned forward toward her. "How many times are you going to tease me she-Fox?" He said his grin widened at her glare. Joker saw Kaidan tread the water glaring at him. Was that jealousy he saw?

"How many times do I have to tell you don't call me that?" Shepard asked as she stomped over toward her chair. She sat down on the towel that was laid out over it and began to scrub the water out of her hair. "Why don't you go find Garrus and see if he found our hooded friend yet?"

Joker shook his head and stood up. "Mission, would you like to go see a turian?"

"Why I see a lot of turians! I want to see her…"

"You've never seen one that epically failed to catch a missile in his teeth though." That caught the younger asari's attention. She followed Joker out while asking questions.

"With his teeth? Can his mandibles open that wide? What was the missile from?"

Shepard smiled a bit at the fading questions. She never expected to see Mission here, but when the young asari came into Carth's room this morning she was glad. Mission had brightened her up enough that she was able to leave the man that made her feel safe last night. Her smile softened as she remembered how she woke up this morning. Carth tenderly kissed her scars gently asking about them. She had told him about being spaced and how Cerberus literally patched her back together to fight the Collectors. He didn't judge her. He just continued to kiss her scars. It was sweet and comforting, something that she hasn't felt since she woke up in Cerberus's lab, that she had pulled him back into the bed when he tried to leave.

Mission had suggested going to the pool so she agreed. She sent Garrus and Miranda to go find Kasumi while Tali and Jack scoped out the area for any more hostiles. Joker opted to stay with her after parting with Sarah. Mission stayed with Joker at the pool's edge as Shepard dived in. She swam to the deepest part of the pool and turned around to gaze up at the surface. Letting her body float near the bottom of the pool, she thought about how she got spaced. The burning in her lungs was the same, except this time she could save herself if she desperate. She watched the memories of destruction of the Normandy drift in her vision. The pool rocked her a little, lulling her body to relax. She remembered the last thought as she fell through space with her last breath. It was of Kaidan…

That's when he fell through the pool's surface.

"We need to talk." Kaidan's voice said from behind her. She turned to see him sitting in the chair next to her. Her gaze studied his once loose black slacks and dark blue blouse. Both of which were molded to his body now. Definitely, not attire for the pool.

"I don't think there is anything to talk about." She said as she turned away and pulled her hair over her shoulder to rub the water from the ends. "I said all that I needed to…" She tensed up when she felt fingers touching the back of her neck.

Kaidan was leaning over the other side of the chair looking at the star burst scar on her neck. He traced the scar, causing her to shiver at the action. "Talk to me Drusilla," He murmured to her. "Don't shut me out."

"Don't shut you out?" She questioned softly ignoring the fact he called her by that name. Lowering the towel, she turned toward Kaidan staring at him. "You are the one who didn't want to be let in!" Shepard stood up throwing her wet towel in his face.

"What did you expect me to believe?" Kaidan growled as he pulled the towel from his head. "You were gone for two years! No word or anything! Then you come back and act like nothing happened!" He glared at her as she was tying a dark red sarong around her waist. "Not to mention the company you were keeping."

Shepard couldn't believe him. After all the evidence, all the explanations that were given to him he still didn't believe her. "I had no fuckin' choice bastardi!" Her Italian accent slipped into her speech as she spun around to him. "Look at my body! Do I look like I had fun the two years I was DEAD!" She pushed him off the chair. "I wasn't flipping sides, I wasn't in a coma…I was dead!" She ran an agitated hand through her silver locks as she began to pace. "Damn fuckin' creepy pervert man watching my every move. Couldn't trust anyone at my back…" Shepard grew more agitated as she paced.

Kaidan crossed his arms. "Think about it for a second from my point of view! My girlfriend was declared dead…KIA. Then two years later she comes back, guns blazing, with a new team at her back. What did you want me to think?"

She stopped, her shoulders dropping a bit. "I can understand your anger Kaidan that's not what I'm pissed about." She looked at him then sighed. "But you disregarded my warning about the Collectors and the Reapers controlling them."

"You were working with Cerberus!" Kaidan glared at her. "The people who were responsible for Kahoku! Then when you come back you are affiliated with the White Lotus. What did you want me to think?"

"Don't even start with me about that!" She rolled her eyes at him. "If it hadn't been for the White Lotus everyone who escaped the Normandy would have been dead!" Shepard could feel herself beginning to shake in anger, frustration, rage…she didn't know which. "Cerberus wouldn't have cared to try to put anyone else but me together! The White Lotus saved your life!"

Kaidan moved away from the chairs and walked up to her. "I don't owe them anything! They came because of you. We had nothing to do with the rescue. I…" He stopped as he looked at her. He didn't know what he wanted to say anymore. He didn't know if there was anything else to say.

"Wolf and I have an understanding…" Shepard replied, her anger dropping a bit. "Even if I truly did die, Wolf was supposed to pick up where I left off."

"What?" Kaidan's eyes opened wide in shock.

She looked at him, her eyes becoming sad. "Wolf has been prepping himself to either return to the Alliance or lay way to allow him to do what I did." She paused, her eyes softening as the sadness deepened. "Basically, if I wasn't here to stop the Collectors…Wolf would have made sure the Council didn't get in his way so he could. But luckily, I did return and he didn't have to do that." Shepard crossed her arms over her stomach as she looked at him. "Then he tells me about you and your lieutenant."

The silence after that statement was louder than any comment either of them could make. Shepard shook her head and turned away from him to look at the pool. Kaidan watched her and sighed.

"You didn't come back Dru," Kaidan murmured. "You had disappeared for a second time…what was I suppose to believe?" He walked over so he was standing beside her. "I waited for you…I…when it didn't look like you survived the Omega 4 relay, I…"

"Well I'm sorry that I returned to ruin your life Kaidan." Shepard said as she reached up to rub her closed eyes. "Look, Wolf wants to see if the artifact will react to me like the beacons did."

Whiskey brown eyes blazed as he turned to her. "So Cerberus isn't using you this time, its Wolf now isn't it?"

Lavender eyes darkened as she snapped her head to the side to look at him. "Don't you dare think this is the same! He's better than them!" She growled at him, her anger rising. "Can't you…" She stopped as she let out a frustrated growl at him. "He was right. I can't trust the Alliance any more! They are just like they were when…" Sneering she stopped and turned to march away.

Kaidan's hand snatched out and grabbed her arm spinning her back toward his chest. Once she was there, he raised his free hand and grabbed her other arm. "When Dru?" He asked in a stern voice. The woman turned her face away from him not answering. "Just like they were when they experimented on you when you in the lab when they declared you a N7?"

Her eyes widened as Kaidan said that. No…that would mean that he read her file. Kaidan read the files that she had sealed away from the eyes of anyone below Hackett. He saw the pictures and read what they did to her. Shepard began to struggle against his hold, her breathing catching in her throat as she started to remember what she fought so hard to forget.

"Dru! Drusilla!" Kaidan was trying to get through to her. He hadn't realized her reaction would flip so easily from anger to this. Thinking of only one thing to be able to shake her out of this, Kaidan pressed his lips to Shepard's. Her body tensed up, turning to stone in his hands. His eyes were open, watching as she blinked. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw her raise her hand. He readied himself for a blow, but it never came. Her hand went to the back of his neck, pulling him closer to her body. Shepard opened her mouth allowing him to dive his tongue into it. His arms enclosed around her body as his body tingled with something he hasn't felt for years. Passion for the woman in his arms.

Kaidan moved his hands from her waist to her butt, only to freeze when a gunshot echoed through the room and the bullet buried in the tile beside his feet. In reaction, he pulled away from Shepard, glowing blue while trying to shield her.

The sound jerked Shepard back from the emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. Anger, love, relief…they all rolled through her as she looked at Kaidan's swollen lips. She lost control of herself. This wasn't supposed to happen! Simultaneously they turned to see Carth standing a few yards away with a handgun in his hand. Kaidan felt Shepard relax at the sight of the man and ground his teeth as jealousy raged over him. He allowed his biotics to fade as he watched the man.

"Sorry, did I startle you?" Carth walked closer to the duo. "It seems my aim is off, must be my old age."

"You aren't that old." Shepard spoke causing the man to chuckle.

"Can we help you?" Kaidan asked at the same time as Shepard's comment. His eyes were glaring at the man.

"Oh no, not me…but you might want to consider the turian with the sniper rifle aimed at your head." Carth nodded toward the other entrance of the pool.

Kaidan turned to see Garrus just inside the pool area with sniper rifle out and the scope trained on him. He knew the turian was just itching for an excuse to shoot him and he knew that if the Admiral hadn't interrupted him, he might be lying on the tiles with a bullet through his head. He looked back at the human and saw he didn't put his handgun away as he walked over. Kaidan glared at the man as the barrel of the gun touched his temple lightly before pulling away.

"Dio mio, se lo male…" (My god, if you hurt him…)

"No need for threats beautiful," Carth noted the fact that Shepard slipped into her Italian dialect. "But I suggest you go over to your guard, before his trigger finger slips and puts one right through the kid's head."

"Perché sei qui?" (Why are you here?) She narrowed her eyes at the man.

"Can't I check up on my favorite Dea della guerra?" (Goddess of War) The Admiral asked his eyes turning to her with a faux lustful glance.

Shepard frowned. "…I'm not a Dea…"

"Fox!" Garrus called over, he still had Kaidan on his scopes.

"So you say…" Carth smiled gently at her. "Go, I'm just making sure the kid doesn't follow you."

"If something…Wolf hanno il culo," (Wolf, will have your ass) Shepard's speech kept slipping into Italian. She slowly began to back away glancing at Carth all the while.

"Wolf can have my culo all he wants, doesn't change what I'm doing." The man replied. Both men glared at each other and waited until they heard Shepard leave the area until they began to move.

Kaidan lunged forward, grappling for the handgun. He twisted it out of the man's grasp and quickly turned it in his hand to aim at the man. He didn't expect was the Admiral to pull out an identical gun from behind him and raise it in defense. Both guns were directed steadily as the men stood their ground glaring at each other.

"Who are you exactly?" Kaidan asked.

Carth tilted his head slightly before smirking. "You are a tech-head, figure it out, boy." He pulled his gun away, letting his trigger finger up to show he wasn't going to use it. Kaidan straightened and handed back the handgun cautiously. Carth put both guns away and crossed his arms. "Never thought anyone would try to hack into her file…"

"No one is giving me the truth. I had to find out on my own." Kaidan didn't bother to hide his anger.

"Well your truth just brought a swarm of unwanted memories back into her head." Carth informed him, his tone was thoughtful as though recalling something. Before Kaidan could reply, Carth recovered and stabbed two fingers at his chest. "Listen, you have your little romance going on with your Lieutenant now, stop trying to get back your old girlfriend."

The biotic grabbed his hand and tightened his grip on it. "I deserve the truth!"

"You deserve nothing!" Carth bellowed his voice echoed off the tiles. Kaidan was stunned momentarily at the loudness of it. "I understand the trust issues! Really, I do! But if there is something you learn when fighting along side her it's this: she always tries to do what is right! The end justifies the means kid! What other choice did she have? The man controlling her ship and watching her every move, was trying to isolate her, trying to make her do things she didn't want to. But she found old allies, old friends! She made it through each mission thinking what how would the Alliance handle it, how would her Lieutenant handle it!"

Kaidan jerked in shock as he let go of the man.

"She was on her own, on a mission that she might not have survived! Do you want to know why she did all this?" Carth questioned. "She did it to keep you safe. So you wouldn't have to face the Collectors, so you wouldn't have to be the one going to the galactic core and their base. Yes she was used, yes she had to put up with Cerberus, but she did it to save humanity! She did it all at a cost!" He shook his head. "But why am I telling you? God, my second wife turned me soft."

"What cost?" Kaidan's voice was soft, he was stunned at all the information that was being yelled at him. When the Admiral didn't answer him, he repeated the question louder. "What did you mean she did it at a cost?"

Carth regarded Kaidan with a frown. He couldn't tell if the man was genuinely interested or not. "I should leave you questioning what it is, but in truth I cannot exactly know. She has not told me, but I can see the change in her. She's acting like she was when she was after…" He stopped and shook his head. "Take this as a warning kid, that's all I can give."

---

A few hours later most of the poker players were seated or waiting around for the clock to hit five so they could start. Kaidan sat on a stool at the nearby bar talking to Callen and Jessica, but his eye was on the Admiral as he sat at the poker table playing with a few chips. He watched as the man rolled the poker chip in between his knuckles, his body relaxed as though he hadn't a care in the world.

"Alenko," Callen called. "You did get the notice about the finals?"

"Everything from cheating to seduction is allowed, if it is not caught." Chavis said. "That's one hell of allowance they are letting be played."

"They want people out faster," Kaidan said. "We'll just have to figure something out as we go."

Callen nodded. "I'll find Williams and stick with her." He quickly left before either of them could say anything.

"That man is weird…" Chavis murmured as she leaned into Kaidan.

"Everyone has their quirks." Kaidan jerked his head toward the lone man at the poker table. "Find out anything about him?"

"He is only known as the Admiral, he's the leader of Rebellion." Chavis observed him as she continued. "Rumor has it, that after the assassination attempt he took Shepard back to his room. No one knows what….Are you listening?" She trailed off as she followed his gaze to the entrance of the poker pit where everyone had turned their heads to. Even she couldn't deny that the presence drew her attention. She vaguely noted on how the Admiral looked immensely pleased.

Shepard entered the room, her Fox persona in full force with Garrus and Tali behind her. Her hair was twisted up with chopsticks at the back of her head. Her chin length bangs were side swept to the left, some tucked behind her ear. Shepard had a hair ornament that extended down, draping over her shoulder. It was a black leather sheath with lavender beads in it. She wore a dark brown vest that stopped just below her hips and had three black buttons. Under the vest was a long sleeve shirt that flared a bit around her wrists and continued down to her ankles. High on her thighs, the shirt split into four tails, making it look like a skirt rather than a long shirt. The openings revealed that she indeed had her push knives as well as a black garter belt holding up her thigh high stockings. The shirt and vest were cut low to show her cleavage which no doubt was pushed up by a corset. On her feet were black heeled ankle boots. Shepard wasn't known for wearing jewelry but today was different. Around her neck she wore a satin jacquard lace-up neck band which held a medium sized pear sapphire wrapped in a white gold setting. Hidden within her boot was a matching anklet that had small sapphires on it too.

Both her guards were also wearing blue. Garrus wore his armor that Wolf had gotten him while Tali was draped in scarves that held a crane pattern on them. They immediately split off from Shepard as she got closer to the table. Shepard quickly glanced out of the corner of her eye noting exactly where they were, but didn't break her stride.

Carth stood up, a grin widened on his face. He walked up to Shepard and grabbed her hand. He bowed a bit and put a tender kiss on her knuckles. "Good evening Fox," He said so everyone could hear. "I hope everything was bearable this morning?"

"As expected," She answered stoically, but let her hand cup his cheek as he stood up. "I would like to formally thank you for your assistance."

"I think you thanked me enough last night," He and Shepard had discussed this act earlier this morning. This was to show that Rebellion and White Lotus were in fact acquaintances and perhaps even allies. They would let everyone speculate, allowing the rumors to spread before Wolf and Carth took action. He moved in close to her so he could whisper to her. "I got the seat across from you, no holds barred."

"The merry-go-round rhythm then," She looked past Carth's lowered shoulder to Kaidan. Her face didn't change, but she could feel her heart ache when she saw Chavis leaning on him.

"As the lady wishes," Carth pulled away, keeping her hand in his, he kissed her knuckles again. "Allow me to escort you to your chair Fox."

Shepard nodded, letting Carth lead her to the chair that held her chips in front of it. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes as he pulled out the chair for her. Once she was seated, Carth returned to his side of the table and his chair, which had a beer waiting for him. "Starting early?"

"Best kind of poker is the drunken kind," Carth raised his bottle to her.

"You pilots are all the same," She murmured as she picked up a few chips to play with.

"It's our profession to be the amusement for the rest of the crew." He noticed the other players were heading their way. "I guess its show time."

Two hours into the game, two people had been disqualified for getting caught cheating while three others busted. Kaidan surprisingly hadn't had to resort to cheating, but could feel the pressure on him. He had folded out of this hand and was watching Shepard, the Admiral and one other player contemplate their moves. His eyes went to the Rebellion Leader's hand that held his drink. Kaidan narrowed his eyes slightly as he watched the man's fingers tapping four times on the glass. Turning, the Staff Commander looked at Shepard reached up and wiped her thumb across the sapphire pendant five times. Kaidan knew that Shepard was never fidgety, and quickly concluded that these two had their own code and were utilizing to it. They were cheating with each other in order to eliminate the competition. He watched as the Admiral folded letting Shepard raise the stakes enough to make the other player go all in. He watched as she pulled out with a full house to beat three of a kind.

Kaidan continued to watch them for the next few hands and he slowly started to understand what was happening. For each hand they were dealt the means for the movements shifted. If at one hand, four taps meant that they had a straight, then in the next hand, it would mean a flush.

"So tell me…" The only other player left asked nonchalantly as he raised the bet. "Why did the legendary Fox come out of her hole in the ground?"

Carth's eyes darted to the man as he threw in his chips. He glanced at Kaidan to see the man raise an eyebrow. Turning to Shepard, he saw her lean back after she threw in her chips and wrapped her arms around her stomach. She seemed relax, but he could tell by the focus in her lavender eyes, that her mind was calculating a retort.

"Why do you ask? Feeling a bit threatened?" She tilted her head to the side, her hair ornament slipping into her cleavage.

"Not at all my dear," The man said with grinned in a way that made Kaidan want to draw his weapon. "I just heard an interesting rumor about the people who tried to kill you last night."

Kaidan didn't miss how both Shepard and Carth sat up straight at the same time. He eyed Shepard. He could see her lips tighten as she gazed stonily at the mysterious man.

---

The drell yanked the human's hands from his head. Thane gripped Brian's wrists tightly, his lizard-like eyes glazing a bit. That kind of power…it was enough to kill someone. Even asari matriarchs were not as powerful.

"You can only access that power…" Thane started.

"When I have my anger," Brian nodded as he stepped away forcing Thane to release him. He felt pride in knowing that his sister's team was not all weak biotics like the Cerberus Security officer. "My sister's abilities are different. While mine is a constant whirlwind of anger…hers can alter between the calm before the storm, the storm itself, or the eye of the storm."

"She doesn't have a constant?" Thane asked in wonder.

"No unfortunately, it has to do with the experimentation the Alliance did on us." Brian said referring to the information he provided the drell with before they started this exercise. "Anyway, now that you've felt my power you should be able to identify my sister's biotics a bit better now."

Thane closed his eyes as he tried to locate out Shepard's biotics. He nodded to himself as he felt the faint pulse of her power. "Is this how you feel her power across galaxies?"

"We have the same blood; therefore it's a bit easier for us to sense each other." Brian explained. "But with practice you could sense her just as you would any other biotic in the area."

The drell nodded and let his biotics flare up. He felt the man in front of him more clearly than if he was looking straight at him. Thane marveled at how clearly he could identify individual biotic energy. He could feel Jacob in the armory while sensing Samara in the infirmary.

"Samara is awakening," He said.

"I know," Brian answered. "Let's go greet her."

Thane allowed his power to flicker out as he followed Brian. Neither man said anything as they headed to the medical bay.

"Gentlemen…" Dr. Chakwas said as she turned toward them. "I was just going to have EDI call you up." She nodded over to Samara, who was sitting up on the cot.

"How are you Samara?" Brian asked.

The Justicar rubbed her forehead before looking at the human. "Strained, but ready should you need me."

Before anyone could say anything, Brian's omni-tool beeped, signaling a message. Everyone in the room looked at him as he raised his arm to look at the activating orange device. How was he getting a message within the station?

---

"What do you know?" Her tone was frigid.

"You were a bit eager to kill them weren't you?" The man continued as though she hadn't spoken.

Carth narrowed his eyes. "They were trying to kill her, I would have done the same."

The fourth player grinned. "Always jumping to her rescue you aren't you Admiral?"

"What do you know of us or our relationship?"

The man let out a loud laugh that sent chills down Kaidan's spine. He let his fingers brush against the gun in his shoulder holster. Something about this man didn't sit well with him.

"I know a lot, especially about Fox and her faux life." The man said.

Carth let a low growl rumble in his chest as Shepard narrowed her eyes dangerously. "I lived the life I was given. You are nothing but a man trying to sway my concentration from the game because you have no charms…or breasts for that matter. By the way, I would suggest you stop staring at mine."

"Ah but my dear, I haven't seen them in such a long time." The man laid his cards down flat as he looked at her. "It has been a bit overdue? What has it been…almost fifteen years?"

"Who are you?" Shepard asked sharply making Kaidan look at her.

"Ah, I think our reintroduction should start with a bang don't you?" The man tossed something on the top of the pile of chips. Before Shepard could look down to see what it was, she heard Carth and Kaidan curse. The Admiral kicked his foot out against the table causing his chair to tip back so he could roll away. Shepard found herself under a mass of muscle as the stationed rocked with explosions.

Kaidan had flown out of his chair diving to the side, grabbing Shepard, as the small detonator blew on the table sending chips everywhere. He covered her with his body as a bigger explosion in the back of the poker pit rocked the station. "What the—"

His voice was drowned out as Shepard shouted into her comm. device. "Fuck trying to find me Garrus! Find Joker and the others! Tali, Kasumi I need you to disable the lock on the Normandy we need Wolf!"

Shepard and Kaidan both turned when they heard the man clapping.

"Nice going Alliance," He said. "But my dear, you should know me well, I am the man that chased you that fateful night. You remember that night don't you? Before Julian and the Admiral's wife here came to save you?"

Kaidan didn't dare take his eyes away from the man, as he felt Shepard stiffen in his arms.

"But we seem to be missing a player…" He said.

---

"Alma?" Brian asked in surprise. "How did…"

"Now is not the time!" She shouted causing him to become even more shocked. Alma never raised her voice at him without reason.

"What's wrong?" Thane questioned.

"I was doing the background check with our contact for the crew of the Piedmont." Alma hurriedly explained. "Only the problem is, one came up as a Code 7-Red!"

"Seven-Red?" Chakwas asked.

"Danger to the White Lotus and myself directly. It means we've been in contact with them before."

"Not you! Shepard!" That caught everyone's attention. "It was flagged as a Crimson Spider Brian! And they are targeting Fox not you!"

Thane looked up as the ship shook. Samara frowned and looked around. "What was that?"

"Explosions…" Thane murmured.

"EDI?" Chakwas asked.

"There has been a large explosion on the main casino floor. Near the poker pit." The computer said.

Brian's eyes turned to stone as he glared at Alma's image on his omni-tool. "Who's the rat!"

Alma frowned, knowing that the object of his anger was going to die in the most horrible way possible. "She infiltrated the Alliance, climbing the ranks within two years. She had a transfer into Staff Commander Kaidan Alenko's command a month after the Horizon incident."

"Alma who's the snake that is trying to kill my sister!" He barked at her.

"Lieutenant Jessica Chavis."

Thane pulled Chakwas and Samara back as the human in front of them flared with biotic energy, his eyes glowing blue with anger.

"EDI open the hatch and get everyone assembled." He growled. "I'm going hunting…"

---

"Who…" Shepard questioned as another explosion erupted to their right.

"Someone you know very well," The man said. "But enough for now I need you to come with me."

"Fat chance," Shepard murmured as her eyes light up with biotics. Kaidan held in a groan as he felt her power rush over him. He suddenly felt like a torrent of wind was brushing past him as she made the mnemonic gesture, causing the man to fly back.

"Come on," He murmured pulling her with him. Taking out his gun, he took her hand and ran across the pit. Another explosion rocked the station, forcing Kaidan to slam against a pillar pulling Shepard to his chest. "I need to get to my crew."

"Joker's with Sarah, I sent Garrus to get them." Shepard replied. "If your last man is with them, he'll be found."

"What about the Admiral?" He questioned softly.

Kaidan saw her smirk before shaking her head a bit. "He can take care of himself. If anything I'd be more worried about anyone getting in his way."

"Get her!" They heard the man shout.

"Great…" Shepard murmured.

"They have back up…" Kaidan looked to the left. He tensed up as he saw a large blue aura explode in the distance with a feminine shout. He felt Shepard laugh. "Friend of yours?"

"That would be Jack," Shepard moved forward, only to stop when Kaidan tightened his arm around her waist, his gun aimed at the people coming toward them.

Shepard narrowed her eyes trying to see through the smoke. She needed to know if they were allies or…

"They're Crimson Spiders!" A voice roared over the explosions.

"Shoot them!" Shepard said as she swiped one of the tails of her skirt aside pulling out her push knives. Immediately, two of the people advancing on them had knives in their foreheads. Kaidan followed her example and began to shoot the people around them. "Target anyone wearing red masks, they'll use them to see through the smoke."

Kaidan nodded following Shepard as she made her way through the pit. He covered her back as she retrieved some of her knives. Hearing something behind him, he spun around to see Jessica there in a red dress, her pistol drawn. He lowered his gun, but realized a moment too late that she didn't lower hers. As swift as a fox, Shepard appeared in front of him as the gunshot sound rang over the roar of everything. He watched as a long throwing knife embedded itself into Chavis's shoulder.

"Lotus Bitch!" Chavis shouted.

"Crimson whore," Shepard hissed back.

"Shepard!" He shouted as she stumbled back into him. His hands grabbed her, but she pushed him away. Kaidan frowned. "Jessica what's…"

"Let's go before she..." She trailed off, but was stopped as they were surrounded by Crimson Spiders. "Cazzo…" (Fuck)

"That was a good show my dear," The fourth poker player said as he clapped while walking through the ring of Spiders toward Chavis. "But you've hurt someone close to me."

"Get over it," Shepard's words slurred a bit. She blinked then narrowed her eyes.

"What did you do?" Kaidan asked, his arm going around Shepard as she began to sway.

"Just a mild sedative, though it should have worked as soon as Jess shot her," He tilted his head to the side. "How are you feeling my dear?"

Kaidan felt her jerk before she turned to the side and threw up the little food she had in her stomach. His hands moved from her waist to her back rubbing it slowly. He knew something was wrong when she dropped to her knees while spitting out the taste of her vomit. He narrowed his eyes at the man that was putting his arm around Chavis. "What did you do to her?"

"You'll find out soon enough Alliance…" The man grinned. He made a motion for one of the guards to shoot Kaidan, but just as the gun went off Shepard maneuvered her way into Kaidan's spot, while pulling him down to kneel before her. Kaidan's head snapped up to see a tranquilizer dart in her neck just above her satin collar.

"Puttana,"(Bitch) Shepard murmured glaring up at Chavis.

"Her reflexes are still fast…" Chavis murmured. "That shouldn't be happening."

The Staff Commander couldn't get up because of Shepard holding him in the kneeling position. He watched as she shook her head trying to clear it. Reaching out behind him, he let his hand brush against her shin. Shepard seemed to take comfort in that as she squeezed his shoulder a bit.

"I have more immunity than you think." Shepard said with an accent. Kaidan frowned. Whatever that sedative was, it was affecting her quickly. "Do you want a taste?" She asked as her eyes lit up. Her hands rose up as though she was starting some kind of wave move. Everyone around them immediately rose into the air. Kaidan could see small bubbles of energy surrounding them before they crashed up into the ceiling, than the power disappeared in a flash. She took his hand, and he quickly moved to lead her somewhere else.

Pulling her into the elevator, he hit the button for them to rise to the residential floors. Turning to her, he watched her squeeze herself into the corner holding onto the bar handles that were bolted into the mirrored panels. Kaidan moved to her, his hands grabbing her cheeks forcing her to look at him.

"Are you alright?" He tilted her head up trying to see into her eyes. He was worried as her normally lavender eyes were ice blue with power. The sedative must be affecting her more than he thought, her eyes weren't glowing the normal electric blue color, which she had showed before.

"Something is wrong…" She murmured, her words slurring badly. Her hand shook as she reached down. Cursing she looked at him. "My anklet on my left foot. Take it off and wear it around your wrist."

"Why?" He asked, but moved to do what she requested.

"A…sigillo." (sigil) Shepard said as her eyes became cloudy. "You are of mine…"

Kaidan quickly moved back up after fastening the anklet around his wrist. His hands grabbed her cheeks again. "Stay with me Shepard." He demanded in a stern voice. She murmured something in Italian as her eyes slipped shut. "Damn it! Open your eyes!" He shook her hard, her head cracking the mirrors as it hit the corner. Kaidan frowned, but felt a bit of relief when her eyes snapped open. "Until we find the rest of your crew, you have to stay with me. Understand?"

"Va…bene." She whispered, staring into his eyes.

"Good," Kaidan said, letting his thumb caress her cheekbone. "I don't know what they sedated you with Shepard, but it can't be good."

"No…" She murmured as the elevator doors opened. Kaidan turned and silently checked down the halls from the door. Shepard struggled to stand as she pulled out one of her push knives. Going to the door, she slid the push knife into the crevice making it stay open and not allowing the elevator door close thereby locking the elevator on this floor. She quickly moved past Kaidan, heading down the hall.

"Hey!" He whispered out urgently. "Where are you going?"

Shepard said something in Italian as she moved. Kaidan watched as she stumbled as though she was on a ship that was rocking on the ocean. But she was moving in the opposite direction of her room on the left. When she stopped in front of a room, he looked at the closed door. He was about to kneel down to hack into it when Shepard swiped her omni-tool over the pad. His eyebrows rose as she moved into the room as though it was her own.

Walking into the room, Kaidan noticed the male clothing that was on the chair. Those were the same clothes that the Admiral was wearing at the pool. Circling the adjoining living room and kitchen, Kaidan memorized the layout so he wouldn't have trouble with it later. Walking further back, he went the open door that was directing straight from the first door. He turned his head to Shepard to see her crawling across the bed to grab the shotgun that was laying there. Taking the gun, she laid against the headboard. She was sweating profusely as she made sure the thing was loaded. She grinned when she saw that some cryo-bullets were already in it.

"Got to love that man," She said to herself as she slowly moved off the bed to the side table. She pulled out a box that had the shells for the gun and went to the living room toward the entrance, where Kaidan moved to already. He was looking down the hall while Shepard knocked over the furniture and set the weapons down. She then went into the kitchen and came back out with a towel and a glass.

Kaidan watched as she crushed the glass inside the towel and sprinkled the semi-fine dust in the hallway. He quickly realized what she wanted to do and shot out the hallway lights while she went back into the room. Kaidan quickly made his way to the over turned couch and frowned as Shepard was trying to contact someone with her omni-tool. "What's wrong?"

"Jammers," She murmured before glancing around the arm of the couch at the door. She then ran her arm over her chest and neck. She made sound in the back of her throat as she frowned. "They've slowed down the nanos…" She murmured her voice had a steady waver in its slur.

"Why are you steady now?" Kaidan asked in wonder.

"Slowed my heart," She replied in an emotionless voice. "Hard to do, too much concentration but essential. Need to last until Wolf or Ordo find us."

Kaidan leaned back against the sofa and shook his head. "I can't believe the Alliance missed this."

"Alliance missed a lot of things. Wolf has spies within their ranks." Her sentences were getting terse as she spoke. "They think they can manipulate the spies to lead them back to the main source, to their bosses. It's happened and failed before."

He looked at her as she picked up the shotgun in her hands. "Did you know about Chavis?"

Shepard looked at Kaidan with a blank expression. He was starting to hate it. It made him feel as though she didn't care about anything. Or that she knew something that could have prevented the situation they were in. "I…suspected." She said. "Even C-Sec was more courteous than Chavis. She was threatened, felt her cover would be blown if had I recognized her immediately."

"Did you?"

"No. Memories of the night I ran into Crimson Spider territory on Earth are vague and I was young." Shepard shifted into a kneeling position as she stared at Kaidan. "It is not your fault."

"I should have done a better background check." He snorted. "It is my fault."

"No," She said sternly her hand reaching out to turn his face back to hers. "It's mine." She stated. "I shouldn't have survived, if Dru and Bri hadn't saved me…"

Kaidan blinked at that. Did she just refer to herself in the third person? "What are you…" He cut himself off when a crushing of the glass was heard.

Both Marines were at attention immediately. Shepard turned around the arm of the couch and fired two shot through the wall. She ducked back under cover, smirking as she heard shouts. Kaidan shook his head at her glee as they heard more footsteps running down the hall. They systematically started to mow down anyone who came in view of the doorway.

The Staff Commander looked over as his companion watching as she reloaded the heat sink. She was murmuring to herself in her native language as she looked over the gun. Kaidan felt his heart ache as he spotted the sweat on her face and neck. She was fighting tooth and nail to suppress the effects of the sedative. Reaching out, he put his hand on the back of her neck. She moaned and leaned into his palm, tilting her head back. He frowned. She was clammy, like she was sick.

"Shepard…"

She looked at him with dazed eyes. "Andare…" (Go) She grabbed his arm and began to push him away. "Devi andare," (You have to go) She murmured. Kaidan's jaw dropped as he realized what she was trying to do. "You need to find Wolf. Tell him where I am…"

"I'm not leaving you!" He growled at her. "So figure something else out!"

Shepard hissed at him. "I can't protect you!"

"What do you need to protect me from?" Kaidan asked heatedly.

Before Shepard could reply someone called out from down the hall. "Oh Fox!" She and Kaidan threw dirty looks at each other before stepping out from behind the couch. They swiftly made their way to the door and pressed their backs up against either side of it. "I have someone here for you…"

"Yeah?" Shepard asked with a slur. "Who would warrant your attention enough to get to me?"

"Speak," The curt command was from Chavis. When there was silence there was a gunshot and a scream.

"Mother fucker! Cock-sucker! Son of a bitch!" It was Joker.

Kaidan tried to stop Shepard, but she immediately stepped into the hallway with an expression of concern on her face. He saw the emergency lights illuminate her face. He silently cursed and stayed in the room. Shepard was facing the right, away from the elevators. He could see her expression soften a bit before it turned stern.

"I'm not hurt, just put the bullet a little too close." The pilot said. Shepard didn't even acknowledge him.

"What did you do with his escort and companion?" She asked.

"Oh don't worry," Chavis grinned. "Your quarian and the convict were with her…after we put a few bullets in her."

"She's fine Commander, Tali made sure." Joker said earning a butt in the face with a gun. "Son of a…"

"Joker!" Shepard stepped forward only to stop when Chavis raised the gun at her.

"Tell Kaidan to come out here. I wouldn't want him to miss the party." Without being prompted Kaidan immediately stepped into the hallway, slightly in front of Shepard as though to shield her. Chavis grinned at him. "Even after everything she has put you through and what we've done, it still always was about her."

The Staff Commander glared at Chavis.

"Don't worry Kaidan," She said nodding to Shepard. "It seems the drugs are picking up now."

He glanced over to Shepard to see her head drooping a bit. Moving, he put himself in front of Shepard wrapping an arm behind him and around her. Her free hand rose shakily and gripped the back of his jacket. Kaidan ground his teeth a bit as she stepped a bit to the side. She didn't know when to stop! She could never sit it out and let someone be the leader or save her! Before he could say anything, she swayed into his side forcing him to turn and take her weight.

"Surrender…or we start breaking his legs." Chavis said.

Shepard snorted a bit drunkenly. "Always picking on the crippled guy, can't take your sorry ass anywhere…" She murmured before slipping forward, the drugs finally taking over.

Kaidan caught her as she fell, twisting her so she was leaning against his bent knee as he knelt on the floor. She was sweating profusely and her breathing became labored. He could feel her heart pounding and growled a bit. He narrowed his eyes as he looked up and glared at Chavis.

"So what are you going to do now? Kill us?" He questioned.

Chavis smirked and aimed her gun at Kaidan. "You are such a downer. No…I have more humiliating ideas in mind for you two…" With that she fired at Kaidan. The sentinel looked down at his chest to see a small dart injecting liquid into his chest. He struggled to put Shepard down as darkness crept into his vision. He heard Joker calling his name before his body gave out and he toppled over, lying on top of Shepard. Struggling to stay coherent Kaidan heard Chavis's voice.

"We got what we wanted, better get them off the station before the station manager or Wolf catch up with us."

"What about the pilot?"

"Take him with us. He'll witness what we have in store for the bitch."

If he had the energy, Kaidan would have laughed. Shepard would have thanked the woman for the compliment.

Then everything went black.

---

Legion was commanded to go ahead to find Tali and hack into the security system to get the footage for the last couple days as well as of the attack. Jacob and Samara went with him to provide back up. Mordin and Thane were with Brian as he marched his way into the station after the security measures went offline.

Brian had gotten changed into his deep gray N7 armor with the shield harness that had a dark red strips and a vague camouflage pattern. Since in truth no one really knew what he looked like, Brian wore his Recon Hood. The retinal glow of the hood's visors was bright against the darkness of the station. He kept growling as they began to run into the Crimson Spider foot soldiers. But the unfortunately for the soldiers, Brian had grabbed Shepard's M-22 Eviscerator shotgun.

They efficiently moved up the station into the poker pit. Thane felt himself flinch as the biotic energy around Brian began to escalate. Mordin was about to say something when the drell immediately intervened. He didn't want the salarian to get in the path of this man. It was a good thing too because as soon as a pocket of the Spiders saw them, they tried to attack.

Tried being the keyword.

Brian had used a biotic charge so powerful it sent shockwaves into the small group. Mordin and Thane immediately took out their weapons and began to provide support for the human. The flames from the explosions seemed to bend to Brian's will as he threw one of the Spiders into them, causing them to flare higher.

The station pitched to the side throwing everyone off balance as the water sprinklers finally went off. Brian struggled to stay up when a flare of biotic energy erupted to his left. He looked over to see a young asari lift three water tanks and twisting them in the air to douse the fire surrounding her. His own blue corona flared around him causing the blue woman to snap her head toward him.

"Wolf?" She whispered in wonder before being thrown to the ground by a Crimson. She groaned and turned just in time to see her gray haired comrade tackle the person.

The older man rolled with the enemy before coming to a stop a few feet away from Brian. He quickly sent two jabs to the soldier's face before taking his chin and snapping his neck to the right. He stood away from the dead man and looked at the asari. "Mission you alright?"

"Canderous?" The White Lotus Leader tilted his head to the side before raising his hand, signaling the two squad members not to fire on them.

The gray haired man raised an eyebrow and looked up. "Well I'll be damned. The Grey Wolf is here. Finally come to join the fun?"

Brian's hand shot out and grabbed the older man's throat. "Where is she?"

"Don't know," He answered, not really bothered by the fact Brian was slowly squeezing his throat. "I've been trying to find our favorite Rebellion leader while saving the girl's ass."

"HEY!" Mission glared at older man.

"Onasi's here?" Brian let go of Canderous and stepped back as Mordin and Thane ran up to him. "Have you seen him?"

"I saw him running toward the stairs," Mission came closer. "I saw Fox and the Alliance dude take the elevator up, but it never came back down."

"Shepard must have jammed it somehow," Thane said. "She had done that at the base where we found Alma."

The asari shrugged and pointed over toward the bar where she had been standing. "Couldn't find our favorite people, but I was able to find her guard." As Brian looked up, he already saw Mordin racing over to the downed turian. They joined the salarian as he tried to scan him, only to have Garrus push his arm away.

"I'm fine!"

"Can you stand?" Brian asked.

"Better than anyone who tried to come over here." Garrus answered wearily. "I saw Legion take off with Tali. Jack and Miranda are searching for Shepard."

"Must take it easy, fractured arm and shoulder. Broken leg. Residue on armor…" Mordin said.

Garrus struggled up with Thane's help. "I was right next to the first blast." He turned his head to look at the N7 Vanguard. "I don't know how they got in, but I heard that they are going to disable the ships."

"I'd like to see them try…" Canderous sneered.

"Mordin, take Mission and Garrus and head back to the ships. We'll need you guys to protect them. I'll send anyone we find back as well. We can't let them tamper with anything down there." He commanded. "Canderous, Thane and I will head upstairs. If I know my Fox, she'll try to get to her weapons."

"Wait!" Garrus called out as they began to separate. "They are after her. They knew she would be here…"

"I know…" Brian turned away from the turian. "Mordin will explain who the treacherous rifiuti is."

"Rifiuti?" Garrus's eyebrows furrowed as the three walked away.

"It means trash." Mission answered as they began to head toward the ship area. "Someone close must have betrayed the White Lotus."

"Yes, close…but not. On Alliance side. Horizon's Commander." Mordin said.

"Kaidan betrayed Shepard?" The former C-Sec officer asked, shocked.

"No, no, no, no. Commander's Lieutenant. Woman who Shepard reportedly punched. Must have had bad vibes. Distrusted her. Subconsciously knew of treachery. Wolf has sworn to kill….has sworn to spurn Alliance for their negligence."

---

Thane's assault rifle was the first thing out of the stairwell. He shifted out further, looking in all directions to make sure they were clear. Signaling to the two men behind him, the drell walked out of the doorway and into the hall. Brian and Canderous followed soon after with a shotgun and assault rifle. The White Lotus leader quickly passed both of them heading toward the elevator. He frowned when he spotted the jammed push knife. He grabbed the small handle and yanked it out of the doorway. The elevator slid closed and proceeded to descend.

"They did not come or go out this way." Thane said as he looked down the hallway.

"I smell gunpowder," Canderous headed toward Carth's room. "It's stale but it's there."

As the trio moved down the hall they heard shuffling inside the room. Readying their guns, Brian was the first one into the dark room. He immediately reacted when a dark blur lunged at him. Using his biotics, he threw the person down on the ground. Stepping on their chest, he aimed his shotgun at the man's face while three pistols were aimed at him. Two from the man he had pinned down with his foot, and one resting on the side of his neck.

"Kasumi?" Thane blinked as Brian felt the machine pistol being lifted from his neck. Canderous immediately went to the pad by the door and turned the lights on.

Kasumi stepped away from Brian and looked at Thane. "So the station isn't falling out of orbit then…"

"Not today girlie," Canderous replied.

"Can you get off of me?" Carth wheezed from under Brian's foot.

"Oops," The man lifted his foot and put his gun away. "I was expecting Crimson Spiders."

Carth coughed a bit as he stood up. "You are a bit late."

The N7's eyes narrowed behind the hood. "What do you mean?"

"Take a look Wolf," Carth glared at the man. "My room is trashed and the shotgun I left for Fox is missing."

"They ransack it?" Carth's guard asked as the White Lotus leader began to walk around. He was searching for something.

Kasumi raised an eyebrow as she watched Wolf stalking about the room, his hand glowing with biotics. "I just arrived five minutes before you guys. I had gotten stuck helping station security try to push back the Spiders. Ah…excuse me, what is he doing?"

"He's trying to sense out Shepard's biotics." Carth turned toward the Lotus man, before heading into the bed room to check on something.

Brian growled in frustration. His sister was either too busy to leave even a trace or they had been taken earlier than he had hoped. Fists flexing, he slowly moved to the doorway and out into hall looking on the floor. If anything, his sister would have tried to fortify the room.

"The room was defensible," Ordo stood by the doorway. The hooded man didn't say anything to him.

Thane was kneeling a few feet away looking at something on the ground. Brian walked over to him and looked over his shoulder. "What is it?"

"Shards," The drell answered. "Crushed finely enough to be missed by the emergency lights but big enough to be heard."

Wolf nodded. "So she did set up defense in the room."

"It would seem," Thane stood up. They both turned to the doorway to see Kasumi and Canderous standing in the hall.

"So that leaves one question," Ordo said.

"Why would she leave the safety of the room when she had the advantage?" Kasumi murmured.

Brian put a hand to his chin. "Hostage is the only thing I can think of…" Shaking his head he sighed. "That means we won't find them fast enough. The Spiders already could have escaped with her. Now with no lead to their whereabouts or which direction they were going in they will be able to get further away!" His anger was edging into his voice as he fought to be calm. His sister was in danger and now he had no idea where she was!

"Maybe not," Carth said as he came out of the room holding a thin black square jewelry case. "Remember my second wife's penchant for trouble?"

"Yeah, she had a matching set of jewelry as Fox, who had turned it into a locator for you…" Brian trailed off.

Turning the box around, Carth showed them the jewelry. There was a set of earrings, a ring, a bracelet and hair pieces in there. They were all a sapphire color…except for the necklace and anklet which were dark indigo color.

"Seems our Fox still has some of her old tricks," He smirked.

Brian grinned and nodded. "Let's just hope she is in range. Let's get back…."

Kasumi's omni-tool went off. She looked down and opened it, raising an eyebrow at the person. "Jack? What's wrong?"

"We're at the Normandy, by the way Rebellion's shuttle is gone. Had a timer on it," The convict said.

"Damn it!" Ordo growled. "I had some of my best armor in there…"

"What else?" Brian interrupted Canderous's anger.

"We can't find the hat-boy, found out that the main group left with him, Shepard, and the Alliance-boy about fifteen minutes after this all started."

"An hour ago," Thane murmured.

"Is everyone alright?" Kasumi asked.

"Shepard's favorite Blue-boy is injured and the cheerleader is overtaxed. Everyone else has scratches. But Tali and the tin-can were able to get what Wolf wanted and bring back a few guests to the ship."

"What guests?" Brian asked sharply.

"The man who owns the station and his guards…"

---

Jack raised an eyebrow as the N7 cladded man marched into the room. He was flickering blue as a quartet of people followed behind him. She crossed her arms and glared at the man in the business suit in front of her. It looked like Wolf was pissed and in the mood for bloodshed. Good, she was still a bit high from the thrill of the fight she had earlier. She was left out of the ship with the young asari, Samara and Jacob, not that she was complaining. Chakwas had immediately pulled her rank as CMO and had Mordin take Garrus and the cheerleader to the med-bay. They also had another human, one of the Alliance's soldiers and her CO with them. Apparently they were apart of the team the Alliance sent for the Prothean tech too. Tali and Legion had gone inside to sort through what the footage they had been able to acquirer.

The man that she had been babysitting was medium height and old. His grayed salt and pepper hair was slicked back and his mustache did little to hide the wrinkles on his face. The black suit he wore was awfully traditional and boring. His wizened purple eyes were watching as Wolf stalked toward him with amusement. All in all, Jack could smell money off him and his guards.

"You better have a goddamn good reason to show your face, Floyd," Brian hissed as he came to a stop a few feet away from the man.

"You know well enough that I just had to come see you my boy," The English man replied with a small grin.

"Fotititi!" (Fuck yourself) The Vanguard straightened to tower over the man menacingly. The two guards stepped forward only to have Carth and Canderous stand immediately by Brian aiming their guns. Over by the Normandy, Jack was grinning hoping for another fight. "What do you want old man?"

"Just to give you information since those videos that Fox's pet geth and quarian recovered don't have audio." Floyd answered calmly.

"Speak and speak quickly."

The old man nodded. "It's Aaron Vachis and his sister Jessica…"

"Chavis is an anagram…" Kasumi said with wonder.

"The same Aaron Vachis that attacked Fox that night…" Brian raised his hand stopping the man.

"Enough," He commanded. "I get it. Anything else?"

Floyd made a motion with his gnarled hand. The guard to his right picked up a medium sized metal box and held it out to Brian along with an OSD. "This is the Prothean artifact that was the prize, after all the trouble, I think you should have it. The OSD is the audio that my men were able to pick up from the garbled radio waves."

Brian nodded and Jacob immediately stepped forward and grabbed the objects. "Good, now if you will excuse…"

"Don't you need a new pilot?" Floyd asked. "I can provide…"

"I don't need any of your spies on a ship that doesn't belong to me." Brian said as he turned and walked past the man. "Plus, the Admiral will be piloting her until her helmsman is returned."

"You know, I'm a call away if you ever need me Brian!" He called knowing that his real name was common knowledge among them.

The young man stopped. Silence reigned as Jacob hurried onto the ship with the Prothean artifact before they could change their minds. "If I ever need you?" He slowly turned around. "Where were you when we were in the laboratories?" His voice started to rise with his anger. "Where were you when she died? Or when Fox died? Or when the Admiral's wife went missing? WHERE WERE YOU WHEN WE WERE BORN?" He yelled as he spun around, everything echoing in clarity despite the Recon Hood. "You are nothing to us. You are nothing but the old man who runs the neutral zone. Fox doesn't even remember or know you, something that I'm very proud of." Silence fell over the small group again. Brian's breathing was slow and precise. "Be thankful I don't have time to waste with you. I've got to do go tail a Fox." He turned and headed up the ramp of the Normandy.

The rest of the group followed him. Carth and Canderous backing in quickly while keeping their eyes on the three men. Jack grinned as she sent a bit of a shockwave toward them just before EDI closed the door. She enjoyed the shouts as the old man fell backwards. Ah, how she enjoyed the little things. Turning toward the group she watched as Brian pulled off the hood and immediately began giving orders.

"Jacob, take the artifact to Mordin's lab and tell him to see if he can get anything from it. Canderous, see if you can get in contact with Alma and if she can meet us on Omega." Turning to Kasumi, he handed her the OSD. "See if you can get any clues from this with Tali and Legion. Admiral with me, the rest you can assist in whatever way you want, but be prepared to jump at a moment's notice."

"Wolf, there is only so much I can do without a helmsman," EDI said. "We would need to find one before we take off."

Brian smirked. "I'm bringing you one EDI."

"Is the Admiral sufficiently skilled to fill Jeff's seat?" She asked. The White Lotus leader just nodded his head and grinned viciously.

"Do some homework before we get up there and look up the name Carth Onasi. That should answer some of your questions."

---

Groaning, he shook his head a bit to try to wake up, only to have the pain invade his senses more. He heard a woman's voice whispering in a language that was not English and a man sighing deeply. Opening his eyes, Kaidan looked around to see that he was in an emptied out room of what appeared to be a space ship. He tried to move his arms and legs only to realize they were restrained. Looking up, Kaidan saw his hands and forearms together, fully covered by some kind of metal gauntlet that was chained to the ceiling. Glancing down, he saw that his legs were simply cuffed to a bar between his ankles. Tugging on the restraints he tested them a bit.

"Oh look sleeping beauty's up." Kaidan looked up to see Joker sitting on the only cot in the room. "About damn time too…"

"Get the number of that truck that hit me?" He murmured.

"Yeah, it read Puttana (Whore). Seems the black haired, blue eyed Lieutenant of yours packs a punch," Shepard replied with a heavy accent. Kaidan's eyes spotted her sitting in the corner next to the end of the cot with one of her knees propped up. He noticed the thin metal collar high on her neck as well as the restraints on her arms too. "They made sure you couldn't use your biotic abilities…they took your amp."

That's when he felt the emptiness. He blinked. "Didn't notice it until you said something," He murmured.

"That's because of me." Shepard looked at Kaidan. "Residual effects of being at close range when I used my biotics."

"Wait, did you give Alenko a high because of your powers?" Joker questioned, cutting into the conversation. Both Commanders looked at him. "What? I just want to know if you could do that to normal people?"

"No," She smiled a bit. "You'll have to get your high the same way everyone else does Joker."

"So you'll let me get some…"

"Not on my ship," she cut him off with a playful glare.

"Alright, alright…" He raised his hands up. "No getting-high drugs for the pilot, got it."

Shaking his head, Kaidan looked at the two before testing his restraints again. He tried to pull himself up to add weight onto the chains. He needed to get out of them in order to help them escape.

"Aw, isn't he cute?" A voice said as the door opened. It revealed Jessica and she had three guards with her.

Kaidan let himself drop as he saw Shepard share a look with Joker. The pilot slid onto the cot further, so he was in the back corner away from them and closer to her.

"You won't be able to escape." Jessica walked into the room. Two of the men went to Shepard and roughly grabbed her arms, forcing her to stand while the last one stayed by the door. "The chains are specifically designed for biotics." She walked to Kaidan and raised a hand to his cheek. When he tried to move away she tusked at him. "After all the sex and secrets between us, you flinch now from my touch?" Jessica let her fingers drift down to his shirt, slowly unbuttoning. "Do you remember how much fun we had after dancing on the station Kaidan?" He glared at her but didn't say anything.

"Having a bit of a problem?" Shepard's icy voice sliced through the show. "You seem to have lost your touch with men cagna." (bitch)

Jessica narrowed her eyes and turned to look at Shepard. "Interrupting me has consequences…" Just as she finished her sentence, one of the guards holding Shepard punched her in the gut. The Normandy Commander bent over from the force, but didn't make a noise other than the releasing of her breath. Standing straight, Shepard glared to the guard as he took a hold of her arm again. "You see Shepard…there are few things you should know." Jessica stepped toward her. "Wolf will not be able to find you, nor will your lover, the Admiral. The other Alliance Members that were with us are dead and so are some of your crew members…especially that turian…"

Before Shepard could say anything Kaidan spoke, "You killed Sarah and Callen?"

Joker noticed that Shepard's eyebrow twitched, her lips mouth the last name. He frowned and wondered what that was about.

"Of course, leave no evidence." Jessica turned to Kaidan with a smile.

Shepard snorted.

"What's so funny?" The Crimson Spider woman glared at her White Lotus prisoner.

"You really don't know? Not only don't I think any of the people you claim to have murdered are dead…but Wolf knows I'm alive…he lost me once, he won't lose me again."

"He won't be able to find you."

"You don't seem so sure." The Commander of the Normandy said quietly.

"I am sure!" Jessica hissed to hide her fear. There was no way anyone could find them!

Shepard tilted her head back, looking down at Jessica. "Run little spider, run and hide." The black haired woman froze as the lavender eyed woman sang. "Deceived, conned, and even lied." She nodded to Kaidan. "You took something precious from the vengeful God. You will be hunted and slaughtered and clawed."

"Shut up!" The woman shouted.

"So run little spider, run across space. Stalking his prey is just his pace..." Shepard continued with a hiss. "And when the Wolf of the Lotus finds what belongs to him. Remember this, any chance of survival will be very slim."

"I said shut up!" She cried out as she raised a fist and punched Shepard in the jaw. The guards held Shepard up as Jessica gave the woman one more good punch. They let the White Lotus woman fall to the ground as their superior stepped away from her breathing heavily. "You are lucky that Aaron has laid his claim on you."

Shepard turned her head toward Jessica with a harsh glare. "I am claimed by no one."

"Oh?" Jessica grinned viciously. "Then any claim Kaidan had on you means nothing then. Or for that matter the claim the Admiral laid last night?"

Shepard was silent.

Kneeling down, Jessica grabbed Shepard's chin tightly. "You left him a mess when you died Shepard…" Her grin growing when she saw Shepard's lavender eyes move past her toward Kaidan. "I took him the night of the anniversary of your funeral one year later. Did he tell you that?"

"What!" Joker questioned in shock as he looked at Kaidan, but the man was too busy staring at Shepard.

"You knew him before you came into the Alliance…" Shepard murmured.

"Oh he didn't, did he?" She swiped her thumb across Shepard's cut lip, bringing the lavender eyes back to her. "I was just supposed to be a quick fuck. But then I joined the Alliance. I bet he didn't tell you a lot of things when you saw each other, but…then again you have been lying to everyone all along haven't you?"

"I don't what you are talking about." Shepard answered in a stoic voice.

"I'm sure you don't. But did you ever tell them about the other?" Jessica asked sweetly. "No, of course you haven't. The lengths that you, Wolf, and the Admiral went to…you erased her from existence."

"How do you…"

"Hello my dear."

Shepard's eyes slowly turned to the door, her head not moving. Her eyes widened as she saw a bald headed man in a white coat. When the man stepped into the room, the reaction was immediate. Fear was the first reaction before Shepard flew from Jessica's hold toward the man. The guards intercepted her just before she could reach him.

"Lurido porco!" (Filthy pig!) She shouted struggling against the guards hold. "I will kill you!"

"Is that the way you greet an old friend?" The old man asked.

Shepard spit into his face.

As the man wiped off his face, Jessica grabbed Shepard's hair and forced her down to her knees. She roughly pulled the fighting woman's head back and growled in her face. "You will respect Patrick."

"I bet you respect his cock."

In response to that, Shepard received a knee to her stomach. Falling to the floor, the Commander gasped. That was a particularly hard hit.

"Shepard!" Kaidan called out behind her.

The man known as Patrick knelt beside her and made a show of pulling out a needle. "Do you remember this?" Shepard tried to move away only to have the man grabbed her throat on the side of her neck and force her up as he stood. "This is a new concoction. Stronger than the last time you had it. I want to see what it will do to your biotic abilities."

She struggled against his arm, but the last hit still left her a bit stunned. She didn't want this man anywhere near her! She didn't want that thing injected into her! Not again! He was supposed to be dead! Everyone from the station was supposed to be dead!

"Now, Now…" Patrick mocked. "We either inject this into you…or we inject it into him." He nodded to the struggling Alliance Commander. "And you know what Minagen can do to a biotic in this large a dose…"

"I will enjoy ripping your heart," She snarled.

"And I will enjoy watching you suffer," He used the needle to inject the new drug into her neck. After he was done, he threw her onto the bed next to her pilot. Turning to the guards and Jessica, he motioned them out. "Let the drug spread through her system. It will take a few hours for it to fully take effect."

Jessica grinned and went over to Kaidan. She grabbed his face and gave him a kiss on the lips. "See you later lover." Turning she walked out of the room with Patrick and the other guards.

The trio listened as the locks slid into place and the barriers in the hall activate as the footsteps began to fade. Shepard shifted and sat up. She grabbed one of the sheets and began to rip them into pieces.

"Joker help me," She said quietly. "I need six strips."

Not questioning, Joker began to help her rip up the sheet.

"You did good," she added looking at the pilot. "Thank you for not drawing a lot of attention to yourself."

"Shepard," Kaidan called.

"Do I get my kiss now?" Joker asked with a small smile. He didn't like what was happening but he knew when to listen to his Commander.

"Kiss?" The hanging Alliance Man quipped.

Shepard laughed and put her hand behind Joker's head. Bringing him close she gave him a small kiss on his forehead. "That's all you are getting," She began to tie one of the four strips she made around her thigh.

"Damn it Shepard answer me!"

"I have nothing to say to you," Shepard replied as she tied another strip just before her knee.

"Will you answer me?" Joker asked as she repeated the process on her other leg. At her nod, he continued. "What's the deal with Callen?" Shepard looked up at him and raised an eyebrow. "I saw you twitch…"

"Callen is Alliance…" Kaidan said before Shepard could. "He's been in the service for years, before Shepard's time."

"For your information…" She threw a glare at Kaidan before adding a strip to her right wrist with her teeth. "Callen is one of Wolf's oldest and most skilled spies." Turning to Joker she continued. "Wolf has a few in the Alliance in case he needed to pull me out quickly."

"Damn, he's got them everywhere." Joker murmured.

"What can I say? He likes to stalk."

Kaidan was getting frustrated at being ignored, despite the information he got about one of his own. "What did Jessica mean about the other?"

"How about this one? Did you really have sex with her on the anniversary of Shepard's death?" Joker glared as he helped Shepard tie the strips at her elbow and shoulder. "Is that why you didn't make it to Liara's memorial service she had for her?"

"Some of the other guys set me up," Kaidan's voice was angry. "It just happened! I didn't think I'd see her again!"

"Enough," Shepard's cold voice cut through both of them stopping their argument before it started. "Joker, finish this."

After the pilot nodded, he quickly finished putting on the strips. Shepard moved off the bed and onto the floor in the back corner where she was before. Joker sat on the back of the bed near her.

"What did he inject you with?" The bearded man asked after a while.

Shepard played with her fingers a bit before sighing and speaking softly. Might as well tell the two people she trusted while they were waiting. "We were not enlisted into the military, but in a secret biotic development program instead." Shifting she brought both her knees to her chest. "During some of the testing, they would inject us with doses of Red Sand and Minagen X3. I was the one that was more receptive to the dosing." She gave a low sarcastic chuckle as she put a hand to her head. "No, that's not right…we were more receptive. I was the runt of the litter, so I had more tests. I was female and at the time I wasn't the strongest…not then, not yet…"

---

Brian had left Carth to get familiar with EDI and the piloting interface. He caught Canderous in the med-bay chatting it up with Garrus, which was unusual for him. Mission was probably off talking with Samara or helping Kasumi with the audio logs. Sarah was still unconscious and in the med-bay. Thane was resting, Miranda was in her office, Jacob was with Mordin trying to get readings off the artifact, and Tali and Legion were still sorting through the videos. There were two people on this ship he had to have a chat with though.

Going into the space under engineering, Brian silently made his way into the small area. He leaned on the bulkhead watching her for a bit. She was sitting there thinking to herself. He grinned was malicious as he surged forward, taking the woman by surprise. He grabbed her by her throat and threw her up against the bulkhead on the left side of the room. Growling at her, he glared.

"What the FUCK!" Jack shouted as she tried to take Brian's hand away from her throat. He bared his teeth at her like a dangerous wolf.

"You think you can attack anyone you feel like? You will never attack that man again unless I say so you hear me!" He snarled.

"Why should I listen to you?" She growled as she tried to struggle more. Brian pressed close to her, his body trapping hers.

"Because I am more powerful than you will ever be." He explained. His hand tightened around her throat. "You have power and anger, but you lack proper training and restraint. You may be a powerhouse, but I will always be bigger than you."

"Get off of me!" Jack pushed at his chest. Brian's eyes stared hard into hers, before his head bent down. He savagely and brutally kissed the convict. Jack's momentary shock was quickly overcome as her legs wrapped around his waist, her arms scratching down his neck and arms. He grunted and pressed his body against hers making her lose her breath, but he didn't stop his kiss. She felt her biotics hum as the lack of air in the savage kiss sent a thrill through her body. Just as her abilities were about to spike, he pulled away abruptly letting her lean against the wall. Jack panted as she looked up at the man. "The fuck…?"

Brian looked down at Jack, his expression blank but his eyes were feral and a darkened lavender. "Just a reminder…who is the top dog here," Turning away, he stalked out of the living space quietly. No footsteps were heard as he went up the stairs nor were any other sound other than the opening or closing of the doors was heard as he left. Other than Jack's bruised lips, it was as if he was never there.

Running a hand over his head, Brian growled as he entered the cargo bay. Her abilities as well as her anger were appealing to him. The aggressiveness set his instincts on edge…a pleasurable edge that he was fighting. Now was not the time to practice his normal tendencies. Not when he still had one more person to take care of and had to find his sister.

"Callen!" He called out as he neared the space at the back of the cargo bay. His voice echoed through the empty room. The man appeared as though summoned, walking out of the shadows of the room. Callen, a man only known by his last name, was taller than Brian. He was muscular, his arms as round as a tree trunk. His dark black hair had a blue sheen to it as his gray eyes stared at the man known as Wolf. Despite Callen being older than Wolf, he knew which one of them had more power and which one would win in a fight.

"Shepard…" Callen said standing at attention. Before the man could bring himself to full height to greet his leader, his body was spinning away with his jaw throbbing.

"I sent you into the Alliance to keep an eye on her! To keep her safe!" He said with anger as he stood up. He glanced at his fist to see a bit of blood on it. "Why did I send you to get close to Alenko?"

"To make sure the Alliance didn't manipulate him against your sister again." Callen answered with precision.

Brian walked up and swept Callen's legs from under him. He put his foot on the back of the man's head and pushed his face into the floor. "That includes making sure the people around your target aren't a SEVEN-RED CODED ENEMY!"

Callen's accent slipped as he spoke. He was from the south of Romania, so his accent was like a thick drawl mix of Romanian and the Italian he had learned. "I apologize ser Shepard." He stated, his eyes looking straight into Brian's. The one thing you learn in the White Lotus is that Brian doesn't like to stand above anyone unless provoked. Callen knew he was in the wrong for not making a more thorough check of the crew. "But I was informed by dama Goto that Madonna Fox has taken the Admiral's wife's locator jewelry."

"Just the necklace and anklet," Brian answered. "They are not enough to make the signal extend out here. That is why we are going to Omega."

"Omega…" Callen echoed. "You are going to the asari?"

"Alma and the Vercelli will be meeting us there," The White Lotus Leader answered.

"Will Alma be sending out a message?" The spy asked.

Brian nodded as he pulled his foot off of Callen. "Once at Omega, Alma will come to the Normandy. I have a message to send to all of the underground…"

---

It had been a couple hours since she'd been injected, she knew. She could practically feel her biotic ability start to buzz with extra juice. Flexing her fists, she glared at the tie around her wrist. She was trying not to move, so it wouldn't spread faster.

"How long do you think they will keep us in here?" Joker asked as he walked to the door. Looking at Joker, she raised an eyebrow.

"Long enough for one of us to ask that apparently," Shepard answered, glancing at her wrist she hissed. She wanted to wait for Brian to get them but she had to do something. Standing up, she began to run her hand along the wall as she walked the room.

"What are you doing?" Kaidan asked. She stayed quiet as she concentrated. He sighed and shook his head.

Joker smirked and stood in front of Kaidan. "How do you like it being hung out to dry?"

Kaidan jerked and tried to attack the pilot. "Just wait Joker," He said. "When I get free the first person I'm going after is you."

"Oh I'm so scared!" The crippled man mocked. "At least I knew what was happening. I went to Cerberus knowing that I would be used, the Alliance just did it without telling you."

"Joker…" Shepard scolded.

"What it's true!" Joker crossed his arms. "They sent Kaidan out to Horizon to see if they could not only draw out Cerberus but the Collectors and you as well."

"Joker…" Shepard sighed as she stood at the far wall. "Despite you trying to sound smart, I knew this from the beginning and I had Wolf set up parameters."

"Say what?"

"What?" Kaidan looked at Shepard as she stared at them with a calm exterior. "You knew something like this would happen?"

"Freedom's Progress…" She said from Joker to Kaidan. "My first mission the Illusive Man sent me on with Jacob and Miranda, where we first ran into Tali and her quarian unit. After she told me what happened between Cerberus and her people, I knew the option was there. The Alliance…well…" She paused for a moment before her gaze hardened. "A few that were dead were people I recognized. While the other two were distracted I quickly hacked their omni-tools and left a message for Wolf."

"What did you tell him?" Joker asked quietly.

Shepard turned back to the wall. "We are time's subjects, and time bids be gone."

"Cryptic," Kaidan murmured.

"Shakespeare," Joker countered.

The female in the room let out a bark of laughter. "So our favorite pervert reads something else other than porn!"

"Well….you know when you've seen everything…."

Shepard shook her head as she continued around the room with her hand on the wall. "I left the message and took off. There was nothing more I could do." She turned keeping her eyes on the two men. "It was not until we went to Horizon that I got my answer."

Kaidan's eyes darkened at the mention of Horizon. After the fact, he had felt horrible about the things he said to Shepard. She had tried to get him to understand what had happened, but he didn't see it. He threw all sorts of accusations into her face and she took them with grace.

"How'd you get a message there?" Joker questioned with confusion. "The report said you didn't stop. You didn't talk to anyone but Delan…"

"So I lied," Shepard answered with a shrug. "Wolf had done a good job. He had White Lotus on Horizon."

"He lost people didn't he?" Kaidan looked at her.

"He lost two of the three teams he sent." She said. "During the fight to protect the cannon while EDI was fixing it, my omni-tool was pinged. It was a message from the last team along with one from Wolf. The team's message told me of their mission and that Kaidan was still alive. That they had been able to draw the Collectors away from you after you were frozen."

"That's how you knew…that's why you weren't surprised." Kaidan said as it dawned on him.

"What was their mission?" Joker questioned. "Protect Kaidan?"

"'Assure Alliance and Cerberus manipulation is voided. Staff Commander Alenko must not fall to their plans.'" Shepard cited. "They were to make sure you lived, nothing else."

Kaidan blinked. "How do you know that wasn't from Cerberus? How do you know that was real?" His voice rose.

"Wolf's message. One line, but it was in response to my own one line messaged." Shepard gave a small smile. "Lost time is never found again." Tilting her head, her gaze softened. "He answered so many questions with that one line. Did he get the beacon? Was he looking for me? Did he know I died? Did he miss me?" Turning away from the two men she turned toward the door and let her hand glide against the edges. "He knew about Cerberus and knew what I would do. He let me do as I pleased. We never had any contact after that, other than me spotting a few the White Lotus members within the Citadel and Omega."

"Gets around, doesn't he?" Joker said with a roll of his eyes.

"More than you know…" Shepard replied as she sighed and walked to the middle of the room and looked up at the ceiling.

"What are you doing?" Kaidan narrowed his eyes as he looked up at the ceiling too.

"Nothing," She murmured. Moving back down to the corner she sat down and sighed.

"Anyone else going crazy in here?" The pilot asked.

"Joker…" Both Commanders sighed causing the man to laugh.

Kaidan was the first to calm down as he looked at the woman. He slowly let out his breath from his nose. He needed his patience to ask her this. "Shepard…" She turned her eyes to look at him. "You told me back at the casino that you didn't trust the Alliance."

"Yes…" She drawled not seeing where he was going with this.

"I'm Alliance, you trust me." It was a statement more than a question.

Joker wisely stayed silent as Shepard turned her body toward Kaidan. Her eyes looked deeply into whiskey eyes. "I trust the man hiding behind the Alliance uniform and protocol."

Kaidan started into her lavender eyes knowing that despite her distrust about the Alliance, she was telling the truth. Shepard trusted Kaidan the individual, not Kaidan the Staff Commander. His heart ached when she turned away from him. He longed to tell her that she could trust him, but something told him now wasn't the right time.

Time started to tick by again and the drug started to take a major effect on Shepard. She shifted to lay on the cool floor trying to ease the heat building up in her. But it was when the hallucinations started that she knew that she was too far gone to do anything, any more.

"Shepard…" Joker was kneeling by her side, gazing into her unfocused eyes. "Her eyes are dilated and unfocused."

Lavender eyes shifted from gazing at the pilot to the hanging man. She saw her green eyed reflection standing beside Kaidan. Ghostly hands reached up to touch his cheek. Shepard's body jerked as she tried to move.

"That's not good," Kaidan tried to shift his weight off his shoulders. As soon as Shepard went down, he went back to trying to escape from his chains again. "If the drug is as strong as she says it is, she might be in more danger than we think."

"What do we do?" Joker looked up at Kaidan.

"Nothing," A voice said from door. "The pilot will be escorted to get you both some food." Chavis walked in with a guard. Joker stood and used his cane to follow the lone guard out. She smirked and went to Kaidan as he let his weight drop. Grinning at him, she called in two other guards. "Move him to the wall and hang her up like Aaron wanted."

He didn't go quietly. He struggled and tried to escape. Kaidan manage to free his arm and get a few free hits at both guards, but they were resilient and were able restrain him against the wall again. When they moved to Shepard, she didn't even fight them. She was chained up so she was all the way off the floor. Her arms were on either side of her head, a chain went around her hips holding her up and then her legs were also chained, but held apart. Shepard's head fell back too heavy for her to support it, letting her hazy eyes face Kaidan.

Chavis moved to Kaidan and pressed against him. "She doesn't look so strong now does she?" She grinned and lifted her hand to show the Staff Commander the remote in her hand. "Patrick told us a few ways to get to her." Flicking the switch, a blue glow appeared around Shepard's neck.

An ear piercing scream echoed through the cell as Shepard's body convulsed. She twisted and pulled trying to get away from the shock, but she was just hurting herself more.

Kaidan watched, his fist curling so hard that they started to bleed. "Stop it," He growled.

Jessica had a malicious grin on her face as she played with the remote. Shepard's voice started to become hoarse from screaming. Her thrashing was becoming wilder the longer the collar was active.

"Jessica stop it!" Kaidan roared. The black haired woman switched off the collar letting Shepard sag in her chains. Tears ran from Shepard's eyes as she started to murmur in Italian. Jessica walked to Shepard, putting her hand on the Commander's cheek. "Why are you torturing her?"

"Because she ruined us…" Jessica said. "But that is not why I am here…" She nodded to one of the guards. He tapped away at his omni-tool, allowing a full body projection to appear in the empty side of the room.

Kaidan and Shepard turned their head to see a man in N7 armor and a recon hood.

"As most of you know, I am the Grey Wolf of the White Lotus. I am sending a message out to inform all organizations of my actions to keep the underground from going into a full war. As most of you may know, there was a poker tournament in the neutral zone known as Rorthang. In my stead, I had sent my second in command, the Arctic Fox, to play for me."

"Wolf…" Shepard murmured looking at the hologram. The chains jingled as she tried to move closer to the image.

"While on the station, Fox was attacked by a group of assassins. Not only did she confirm their group, but so did the Admiral from Rebellion. They were slain, but the group did not stop there. In the final round of the tournament, Aaron Vachis and his Crimson Spiders broke the one law that everyone in the underground agreed to: No hostility on Rorthang." Wolf's voice turned stern and firmer than before. "Fox and two allies of the White Lotus were kidnapped. I do not wish to bring anyone else into this fight, but if you are hiding them or associated with them in any way. I will bring you down. Rebellion has given me their full support due to the fact that their leader was caught in this attack too." He paused before continuing. "Most of you know how vicious I can get when someone of mine is taken from me. Do not attempt to cross me in my search for what is mine. And should this message get to Aaron and his Spiders, consider this your one and only warning." He turned his head and it seemed he was looking straight at Shepard. "Rimanete sorella forte. Ti troverò Requiem." (Stay strong sister. I'll find you, Requiem.) The hologram terminated causing Shepard to cry out.

"Tornare!" (Come back!) She jerked in her chains. "Stanno per uccidere Drusilla di nuovo!" (They are about to kill Drusilla again!)

"Poor Fox," Jessica smirked. "Your leader thinks he will find us, but he won't." She raised her hand and smacked the hanging woman.

"Leave her alone Jessica!" Kaidan glared at the woman.

Stepping away from Shepard, Jessica moved closer to Kaidan. "What will you give me?" She asked letting her hand trail from his one confined arm to his chest. "I am not allowed to set you free, but I am sure I could figure out something."

Alenko just stared blankly at her. "You betray me, the Alliance…do you think you have anything I want?"

"That's not what you said when you let me grace your bed, Kaidan…" She purred leaning close to him, her lips grazing his neck.

"Non toccare lo cagna!" (Don't touch him you bitch!) Shepard shouted as a blue glow erupted around her. Jessica shrieked as she was pulled away from Kaidan abruptly and slammed into the opposite wall. The guards tried to advance on her, but they were thrown through the door.

"Stop it!" Jessica shouted as she began to rise up toward the ceiling. Shepard wasn't supposed to be able to have control of her biotics! "Stop it!"

Blood began to drip from Shepard's nose as she lifted her body to watch Jessica rise. Her eyes were a lighter shade of their normal biotic glow as she tightened the hold around her. This bitch hurt him! She used him! She would pay for her misconduct. "Sfidando ci porta conseguenze." (Defying me brings consequences)

"Now, Now…" Aaron was at the door. "Don't do anything you'll regret Fox."

She didn't say anything.

"Let her down," The man said firmly. Shepard didn't reply or let go of her power.

"Aaron!" Jessica screamed as the glow around her darkened.

The Crimson Spider leader reacted immediately. He put himself between Shepard's raised spread legs, pressing his hips into hers. "Let her go or I'll rape you in front of your former lover and finish what I started all those years ago."

Her reaction was instantaneous.

Jessica dropped from her place against the ceiling. The guards came in and helped her stand. She angrily glared at Shepard. "Let me kill her Aaron, she is of no use to us."

"Neither is your pet, but I let you keep him." Aaron said with a malicious edge. "I will do what I please with mine." He grabbed Shepard's hips and pulled her close to him as he leaned down. "Just a few more hours and you will be ripe to play with." He whispered before moving away. "Take off the ties, I want the doctor's drug to take effect quicker." Aaron ordered as he left the room with Jessica. The guards moved toward Shepard and began untie the ripped sheets from her arms and legs. She struggled, but eventually just let them do it. They stripped the bed as well so they couldn't do it again.

Just as they were leaving, Joker came back in with two trays full of food. He wisely didn't say anything as the trays were put down on the bed, but at that point, Shepard was already blacking out from the strain of using her biotics while drugged and having a neutral suppressor on. She didn't even hear Kaidan desperately call her name as her head fell back.

---

Mission hummed as she walked beside her fellow thief. She looked at the small army that Wolf had decided to bring with him when he told them he was going to talk with Aria. Kasumi stood next to her, her expression was slightly amused too. The White Leader had chosen both thieves, Canderous, Carth, Legion and surprisingly, Alma. Mission thought the woman would be helping Chakwas in the infirmary, but she guessed she was wrong. Garrus and Miranda were still confined to the infirmary along with the downed Williams girl; Mordin was with Jacob looking into the Prothean artifact while Tali was still going through the footage. Jack had refused to come for some reason. Callen was confined to the ship per Wolf's orders because of the mishap. He had left Thane and Samara on the ship should anything get out of control or need a clear head to handle.

She turned to look at Alma, the scientist-slash-spy. Mission had never seen the older woman geared up for a battle, but there she was. Her outfit wasn't so much armor as it was declaring that a White Lotus high ranking officer of the organization was here. She wore a light gray mini-skirt that showed off her black mesh stockings. Her thigh high black boots held four white lotus buttons on the shin. Her dark gray top was tight like a bodice. It covered down to her hips, overlapping the mini-skirt. The back of the shirt went further down curtaining her ass and sides of her legs like a skirt. It was open to show off her cleavage, where there was black lace inlay to accent it. The lace ran over the edges of her chest to her shoulders before coming back in toward her neck to create a halter-like turtle neck collar. From the bottom of the collar, a fleur-de-lis made out of alabaster hung right above her cleavage. The sleeves were straight with a fleur-de-lis on the upper arm and black fur on the cuffs. She had a shotgun strapped to her right leg and a long tanto knife on her left shoulder. The spy looked every bit like a White Lotus woman. Her dark brown, nearly black hair was pulled back into a tight bun. Her bangs hung down over her eyes while a few strands hung down in front of her ears. She walked beside Wolf, in a similar way as Canderous was walking beside Carth. They were equals with their Commanders.

Mission grinned at her own leader. Carth was in a pair of brown pants with his shin greaves. He wore an off-white shirt with an orange vest over it. He finished the look with his knee length brown trench coat. He adjusted his orange-brown leather gloves as he made sure his two pistols were secure in his thigh holsters. Canderous was beside him wearing his dark blue vest and black pants. He had his large assault rifle in his left arm as he walked beside his leader. Mission herself was in a cat-suit similar to Kasumi's but hers was red with white strips.

They slipped into Afterlife without trouble after a little talk. Wolf walked off, disappearing in the crowd surprising easily for a tall man, and left Alma to lead the rest of them up to Aria's balcony. They made their presence known, drawing Aria off her couches to the steps of her private oasis.

"What is the meaning of this?" She demanded.

"Hold it right there," The batarian guard said stopping Alma and Carth from continuing. Kasumi and Mission watched the right side while Canderous and Legion watched the left side of the area. It seemed that this group was a bit trigger happy. "What business do you have with Aria?"

"That is not the concern of an underling such as yourself." Alma's voice was lilting with her mild Italian accent.

"No one sees Aria until I say so." The alien said raising his gun. Everyone in the private area pulled out their guns while Alma and Carth just looked on.

"Stand aside," Carth demanded. The batarian didn't move.

"My guards do as I order, not as you order." Aria glared at the human. "You came to the wrong place if you think you can take Omega from me."

"Obviously, you don't recognize me." The brunette haired man said with a raised eyebrow. "Who said anything about taking Omega?"

"You enter here with a small army and say you don't want Omega."

Alma looked at the asari. "We could take Omega over with little resistance. You are not that powerful."

The blue woman narrowed her eyes as began to glow with her biotic ability. "Why you…"

"I'd stop right there if I were you…Aria…"

Aria spun around to her couches and saw a human male crouched on the railing behind them. He wore tight black pants with military boots. His shirt was a pinstriped dark gray-blue button up shirt inside dark brown-black trench that reached his ankles. The sleeves of his coat were rolled back to reveal the tribal tattoo curling over his right wrist and index finger. The shirt's and coat's collar were also low enough to show the tribal-like tattoo of a vague woman's face and hair on the right side of his neck.

"Wolf…" She murmured. Not turning, she raised her hand signaling to her guards. "Stand down. These people are guests." Her guards grumbled but put their guns down and moved away from the balcony.

"That was interesting." Mission lowered her pistol.

"Legion," Brian called out. "Stand guard."

"Affirmative," The geth moved to stand by the stairwell.

"Ordo..." Carth looked over at his guard.

"Yeah, I hear ya." Canderous moved to the other stairwell. Aria's guards eyed him and his large assault rifle.

Aria watched them before turning to Brian. "So, care to tell me what you are doing invading my territory?"

"This isn't really an invasion." Kasumi said from behind Aria as her and Mission stepped closer. "If it was, I'm sure we would have brought Jack along."

"Then what do you want?" The asari asked. "You don't come to me with a small army just for a visit."

Brian waved his hand to Aria. The woman cautiously moved forward and sat on her couch as the man moved off the railing to settle down on her right side. Alma immediately moved forward to sit at Brian's free side. Carth moved to the left side of the couches, Mission following him and stood beside him while Kasumi stayed standing on the steps.

"How is your rule on Omega Aria?" Brian looked at the blue woman.

"Stop playing games Wolf." She stretched her arms out on the back of the couch.

"The Crimson Spiders…" He murmured leaning into her. "What have you heard of them?" He was close to her his lips nearly grazing her shoulder. The asari looked a bit unsettled, but ignored it.

Aria looked out of the corner of her eye at him. "I've heard nothing from them." Brian leaned away from her a look of disappoint on his face.

"Don't bullshit us," Carth said from his place. "Omega is the breeding ground for scum like the Spiders."

"Are you calling me scum?" Aria hissed.

"Aria," Brian's voice was stern. It drew the asari's attention to him. That's when she knew that the tone of disappointment was because he knew her lie. "I'm sure you've heard what happened to Rorthang, you are not that unconnected."

Kasumi smirked as the asari shifted, unsettled by how much Wolf knew. The club owner's eyes had narrowed and looked at the man in caution. Kasumi turned her own gaze at Brian. He was an attractive man. His tendencies were sometimes underhanded and deceitful and Kasumi couldn't help but admire them. She was, after all, a thief. She watched as Alma let her hand glide over Brian's thigh as she leaned over him. Brian's arm was wrapped around her body pulling her closer as the scientist's eyes were on Aria's. She was searching for the asari's reaction…interesting.

"I heard that they broke our unspoken law." Aria said tightly. "I also heard Commander Shepard was taken along with two of her comrades. I suppose that is why you have members of her crew with you. But it doesn't explain why she is important to the White Lotus or Rebellion."

"Commander Shepard's past lies with us." Carth answered.

"What do you mean?" Aria asked before she could stop herself.

Brian looked down at Aria, his eyes serious with a dangerous spark in them. "Did you ever wonder why she was so adept to dealing with you Aria?" He asked. He didn't wait for an answer. "Commander Shepard belongs to the White Lotus. She is my second, the woman known as the Artic Fox and my sister."

Aria's eyes widened as her head snapped to the side to look at the human male beside her. That was not possible…but it made sense. How Shepard was so calm when dealing with her. Aria could tell that had nothing to do with military training. The asari was grateful now that she had helped the woman. If Wolf heard of any angry transgressions with Shepard, then she would not be alive right now. Her narrow eyes looked over the man and his body. He, like his sister, was attractive. But it was the unconscious seduction they both put out that drew people to them she supposed. She knew she had recognized the body language from Shepard somewhere.

"Aria…" Brian called her away from her thoughts. "Tell me what you know of the Crimson Spiders."

His tone of voice suggested that she had no other choice. If she went against him, he would take Omega from her. It would be easy…he was the one who told her of the falling of the previous regime in the first place.

"My people have told me that a Spider ship had stopped at Omega almost a day ago." She said. "They were able to catch a glimpse of Aaron Vachis and said it looked like he was getting supplies for what looked like torture."

"Aaron and Shepard have a long standing history. I don't doubt he'd tried to finish what he started." Alma murmured looking at Brian. The man looked solemn.

"There is something else…" Aria nodded to one of her guards. The man came forward activating his omni-tool showing them a picture of a man. "This scientist was spotted with them while they were purchasing Red Sand and canisters of Minagen X3."

Brian stood up abruptly as the image floating over the guard's device was shown. He growled viciously and advanced only to stop when Kasumi stepped forward to stop him. Her hand pressed against his chest in a non-threatening way holding him back.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"That's Doctor Patrick." Mission said in a whisper. She stepped closer to Carth, who had also stood up.

"Doctor Patrick is the one who did experimentation on Wolf and Shepard in their youth when they first joined the Alliance." Alma kept her eyes on Aria. "Wolf and Shepard are siblings. He will destroy all of Omega to find her if you don't have more information."

Aria trembled a bit. She knew that was very possible with his power. "They headed toward an abandoned cargo ship drifting out on the edges of Omega space."

"Close enough to re-supply, but far enough for solitude." Carth said.

Aria watched as the most dangerous human she knew grabbed the thief's hand in a tight grip. The woman looked up from her hood without any fear. She could practically feel his anger as the woman beside her stood up.

"I suggest you make sure your people aren't associating with the Spiders." Alma looked at the asari.

"You are bringing them down?"

"No," Brian hissed. "We are destroying them!" He turned from Kasumi to the blue woman. "You can either be our ally or go down with them!"

"Do you think me an imbecile?" Aria asked. "I am not crazy enough to go against the White Lotus and their allies."

"Then you will join us?" Mission questioned.

"As long as I get the benefits of any other ally of the White Lotus," The elder asari said.

"I will see it done." Alma nodded. "Be mindful, the White Lotus might need to take shelter within Omega. We will take care of our own business, but we will make you aware when we enter."

"An underground organization with manners," Aria snorted. "Imagine that." She stood up looking at Wolf. "I will inform you if I gain any other information on Shepard and the Spiders."

"Much appreciated Aria," Carth said as Wolf began to stalk out with Kasumi at his elbow. "The Normandy and the Vercelli will be heading out to deal with them." Carth turned and followed Wolf out, taking Canderous and Legion with him.

The asari nodded. "When you find Shepard, tell her she brings such interesting people to my doorstep."

Mission grinned as Alma smirked. "We will leave Omega space when we are done. Good day to you Aria T'Loak." She turned to Mission. "Let us catch up with the others. I think Wolf will want to break down the front door of the Spiders' hide away. We better make sure we are prepared."

---

Callen stood by Alma as Brian paced at the head of the small briefing room. They watched their leader warily as he walked back and forth. He was agitated. Alma could feel his biotics spiking as he was thinking to himself. Carth was currently flying the ship toward the outer edges of Omega space hoping to pick up the signal from the jewelry.

"Shepard-sibling," Legion spoke. "It would be wise to formulate alternative route for a secondary team."

"Legion's right…" Tali said. "I was able to get that bosh'tet's face from the videos so if we split in two we might be able to find him quicker."

Brian just kept pacing.

Jack frowned and looked at Garrus, who was leaning on a crutch watching the man. Miranda and Jacob shared a glance.

"If you are not fit to lead us into there to save Shepard then I suggest you assign someone who is." Miranda spoke with cold calculation.

"Bad move…" Mission whispered from beside Kasumi and Ordo at the other end of the table by the door.

The White Lotus Leader stopped and narrowed his eyes at Miranda. "Not fit?" He asked. "You think I'm not fit?" Before he could argue Alma put a hand on his cheek forcing him to look at her.

"Non, Requiem ha bisogno di voi ora." (No, Requiem needs you now) She said sternly and with authority. "Formulate a plan, pacing is not helping."

He hissed at her and shrugged out of the gentle hand. He braced his hands on the table and leaned forward. "We are going in blind. Aria didn't have a layout for this abandon structure and my spies can't find any documentation of it." He turned to look at Garrus. "I am sorry Vakarian, but you will be staying on the ship." The turian tried to protest. "I will not risk her XO while he is injured. Which also includes you Lawson, you are still recovering from overtaxing your biotics." The genetically enhanced woman's lips tightened but she didn't say anything.

"Who will you be taking with you then?" Garrus questioned.

"Carth and I will take a small team right through the door of the ship. Mordin and Callen will stay here due to their medic abilities. Callen, make sure that the Williams girl stays in Chakwas's room." He commanded forcing the other man to nod in compliance. "Mission, Legion, Samara and Canderous will be guarding the entrance of the hangar we will be going into." Brian said. "Kasumi, Jack, Alma, Carth and I will take the straight path."

"Thane," Alma said softly looking at the drell, "We are hoping you and Tali will be able to get into the vents in order to search the ship while we take out the guards."

"Of course," Thane bowed his head. Alma turned her head to Tali hoping for the same.

"I'll see if I can disable some of the security cameras while I'm up there." Tali said with a nod.

"That's not necessary, but it would be appreciated." Alma answered. She noticed Brian curling his hands into fist and quieted to allow him to speak.

"Listen," He spoke in a slow dangerous tone. The crew immediately snapped to attention knowing this was important. "I am not letting anyone in the Spiders survive. If you have a problem with that, I suggest you tell me so I can leave you on the ship." No one spoke. "This will be a bloodbath." He said with a growl at the edge of his voice. "I will slaughter them all and you will not stop me."

Jack let a grin appear on her face. That meant she would be able to have a little fun. He wasn't like Shepard when she got angry. She was cold, but she was calculative, always trying to find a path with the fewest deaths as possible. But her brother…he was giving her something that she wanted. An excuse to let her anger free. Her grin widened. "When will we arrive at the stupid fuck's hideout?"

"I am going to go to the cockpit to help Carth find them." Brian stood up straight. "While I'm there, any questions of the mission will be deferred to Alma. She will take care of everything." With that said, he swept out of the door leaving the room.

"Well that was cheery…" Kasumi murmured.

Alma was silent before she called on EDI to bring up the picture of Aaron and Doctor Patrick over the table. "Thank you EDI." She said. Alma looked at the crew before sighing. She might as well explain the truth that Brian and Shepard neglected to tell them. "When we visited Aria, things got a whole lot more personal for Wolf, so I am sorry for his attitude."

"Who are they?" Tali asked gesturing to the men.

"These are the men who have Shepard, Commander Alenko, and Joker." Alma told them. "But before I go into that I would like to explain the truth to you."

"Truth?" Jacob questioned.

"She means what the kid and his sister changed or didn't tell you about themselves. What they didn't doctor up in their Alliance Files." Canderous said.

Miranda's eyebrows furrowed. "You mean what they told us about themselves was a lie?"

"No," Callen answered. "Words bent to cover up the person that was killed for the weakest of them."

"What do you mean?" Garrus questioned. "Is Shepard who she says she is?"

"Yes and no," Alma answered calmly putting at ease some of the tension. "It is true that Shepard and Brian were in creating the White Lotus before the Alliance. In fact, this man," She gestured to Aaron's picture. "Had almost raped Shepard when she was younger if it was not for Julian and Carth's second wife." Enlarging the Doctor's picture she continued. "It was after that incident that they had decided they needed to learn to control their biotic abilities. They had hoped the training the Alliance would give them would help."

"Didn't it?" Kasumi asked a bit confused.

"It did," Alma agreed. "But they were more interested in how a human could be a biotic and be able to control it properly without an amp. They began experimenting on them with Red Sand and Minagen X3…forcing them to be on a constant biotic high. But…Shepard…the one you know, was weak. She was highly sensitive to anything biotic or that have to deal with a mass effect field. They concentrated on her, giving her the higher dosage, the more strenuous testing."

"Sensitive…" Tali murmured.

"They would dig deeper," Jacob said. "They probably forced her to do things that harmed her constantly and would force her beyond the point of exhaustion."

"Doctor Patrick was the lead scientist that conducted the experimentation on her." Callen drew the attention back to the White Lotus members. "At one point he almost killed her."

"But that is when Shepard stopped using her biotics and when Brian destroyed the facility. They had been named N7s while they were there, so they didn't really need to do anything else." Alma explained.

"Explain." Legion said. "Spoke of Shepard-Commander not being Shepard-Commander."

Alma was silent before turning to Thane. "You have an inkling, you saw one of Wolf's drawings."

Thane reached into his jacket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. He laid it out on the table top. "The birth of the Shepards was not of twins…" Everyone looked at the piece of paper to see the drawing of the two female Shepards. "It was of triplets."

"Impossible!" Mordin exclaimed. "Percentage for all three to survive such previous stated conditions in the womb are slim! Not possible."

"It is very possible…" Alma said. "The woman you know as Commander Drusilla Lethe Shepard is actually Requiem Mnemosyne Shepard. Drusilla was the older of the female twins. In order to save Requiem, Drusilla switched with her. She underwent a dangerous experiment that killed her in the end. If it wasn't for Drusilla, then the woman you know as Shepard would have died a brutal death."

"What did they do?" Jack asked quietly.

"They gutted her." Callen answered when Alma stayed quiet. "They were hoping by removing organs they could replicate a natural biotic. But instead of using anesthesia that was made for biotics they used the Red Sand and Minagen. They both knew that Requiem was weakened extremely from the experimentation and they had overheard what the scientists had planned to do with her. They loved her to much to let their little sister die like that."

"Drusilla had a husband…and a child. But she still…" Alma closed her eyes.

"The Alliance did such things to their own…" Thane voice held disbelief.

"The Alliance has secrets. It is one of the reasons Requiem and Brian doctored up their files and deleted Req's original file." Mission stated.

"Requiem and Brian destroyed the facility and broke out of the lab with Drusilla's body. They took it back to her husband." Canderous said. "Details of what happened aren't talked about, but I think Requiem and Drusilla did something they weren't supposed to."

"What could they possibly have done?" Jacob asked.

Alma put her thumb to her teeth and bit down on her nail. "Drusilla forced her biotics with Requiem's while she was weak. The reaction would have caused Requiem to become as powerful as Brian…if not more so. Not only that, but it would have also left an imprint of Dru in her."

"This is not possible…biotics don't work like this!" Miranda shouted.

"No…they don't." Samara agreed. "But not even asari have strong natural biotics such as the Shepards. Their realm of abilities could be significantly different from than yours or even my own."

"True, true." Mordin agreed. "Supposing due to past, Shepard would not allow my own experimentation. Would like to figure out parameters of natural biotics. Might be able to help."

The White Lotus scientist smiled weakly at the salarian. "I have my own notes, but they are from Brian's physiology. After this is done I will allow you access to them," she answered. "But as for experimentation…that will have to be Shepard's choice."

"When she merged with her twin's power…what happened to her?" Kasumi asked quieting everyone else.

"For a while…she had an identity issue." Mission answered. "Brian had recruited some trusted asari matriarchs to help train her in her new power, but she would have episodes were she would think she was Drusilla. The attitude kind of stuck and became the Commander attitude that you know."

"Drusilla and Requiem shared a multitude of different traits," Canderous continued. "Compassion, strategic intelligence, and versatility in any situation…the most important difference was Drusilla was a bit too much of a paragon, while Requiem was a bit to renegade."

"So after Shepard took in her sister's power and had an imprint of her…she became a balanced person." Thane said with a tilt of his head.

Alma nodded. "We did not tell you this, because Brian was trying to hunt down Patrick. A few scientists had escaped the destruction of the lab but he is the only one that truly wanted to push Requiem to the limit." She glanced at Jack. "In order to protect herself, Requiem took on her sister's name as her permanent alias. She stayed with the Alliance because of a promise she had made with Dru."

"She stayed with the people that hurt her over a promise?" Jack raised an eyebrow.

"A dying request…" Callen corrected.

"Not even Brian knows what it was," Alma stated.

Tali moved closer to Garrus. "So what now?"

The turian's mandible fluttered. "She's never led us to believe that she was someone else. She told us a false name…so what? I did the same when I was on Omega. She is still the Shepard we've always known and she needs our help."

"As long as there are no real spiders, I say we all get prepared to crash a party." Kasumi said with a grin.

---

On the bridge, Brian stood behind Carth. His body was outlined with his power, but only just. He was trying to feel out his sister's own signature or even the Commander's.

"You handle the ship better than Jeff, Mr. Onasi." EDI stated.

"That kid may be the best for his generation, but he still has some things to learn about flying." Carth replied.

"Perhaps you should give him lessons?" The AI suggested.

The former Alliance pilot laughed. "We'll see how he is after we get them back."

As the conversation between the man and AI continued, Brian tuned it out and stared out into the abyss of space. He concentrated on finding even the smallest hint of his sister. His eyes were not the dark and light blue they normally were when he used his biotics. Instead they were a silver-blue color. He assumed they had a suppressor on her since it was more difficult to try to find her now at a closer range than when they were galaxies apart.

A flash of light caught the corner of his eye. Brian turned to his left to see a faded image standing next to him. The petite woman had her brown hair pulled back in a ponytail as she stood determinedly in a long white dress. It flowed around her ankles allow her bare feet to peek out from under it. Her expression was soft and almost whimsical.

'She's hurting…' The woman whispered turning her head to Brian. Her ghostly green eyes looked up at him. 'She is only so strong.'

"I know," He whispered. "I've failed in protecting her. She was the weakest of us even after…"

'I forgive you…' Brian felt a familiar weight on his arm. 'Forgive yourself…and save her.'

"Where is she 'silla? Where is Requiem?" He asked quietly almost afraid of the answer.

The ghost of the real Drusilla Shepard smiled. She moved forward until she was standing to the left of Carth. 'Follow my light mio fratello. It will guide you to our sorella…'

Brian watched as his sister began to glow from the inside out. Raising his hand, he blocked out the brightness. When it faded, he turned back to see a small orb floating near Carth's head. He watched the pilot turned, his face scrunched in concentration as he looked right at the ghostly orb. Brian followed the orb as it flew around Carth's head before shooting out of the ship into space. Its speed was swifter than any ship in existence, but Brian could still feel the trail of biotic ability it left behind.

'She won't last long Brian…she is already fading…'

"BRIAN!" There was a sting pain on his cheek forcing him to open his eyes. Brian quickly realized that he was on the ground in the cockpit with Jack, Thane, Alma and Mordin hovering over him.

"Che cazzo…" He murmured as he sat up.

"Collapsed. Exhaustion? No. Stress? Maybe?" Mordin said as he looked down at his omni-tool. "High levels of adrenaline and beta-waves. Dreaming perhaps?"

"Who the hell slapped me?" He asked looking at the people around him.

"That would be me dumbass." Jack said with a grin.

Brian rubbed his jaw. "Felt good."

Alma let out a laugh. "He's okay."

That seemed to cause Brian to remember. He scrambled up and grabbed the back of the pilot chair as he looked out into the darkness of space trying to find the tell tale trail of biotics he felt in his dream. The tell-tale sign of blue reflecting off the metal told the pilot that Brian was using his biotics at full force. Carth stayed silent in the chair. Whatever happened, after Brian had collapsed he had felt a shift of air near him. It felt odd as an invisible weight had settled over his shoulder before lifting very quickly.

"There!" Brian pointed off to the west. "Sixty-three degrees to the left."

"Are you sure?" Thane asked as the group stood.

"Positive!" Brian sounded so certain that Alma knew that he had gotten something. "Onasi, I want a burn out."

Carth glanced at the man from the corner of his eye before quickly letting his hands fly over the holographic screens. "EDI you heard the man."

"I did," the AI's female voice said. "Please note that this act might burn out the thrusters."

"Just do it EDI," The Rebellion leader said. "I'll see what I can do about the burnt thrusters after we get there."

Alma walked up to Brian, who was staring at the one spot on the horizon that was shining the brightest in his glowing eyes. "Let's just hope we're not too late."

---

Kaidan closed his eyes as a scream echoed through Jessica's omni-tool. The woman was currently in the room enjoying both men's squirming. Somehow, both men had fallen asleep. Kaidan suspected sleeping drugs in the food. When they woke up, Shepard wasn't in the room anymore. Kaidan's fist flexed as he opened his eyes and looked at Jessica.

"Stop this," He demanded. "Stop hurting her!"

"I can't stop Aaron." Jessica said. "He deemed her ready for him." She shrugged, looking from Kaidan to the docile pilot sitting on the bed. "What's with him though? I thought he would be more active since he's the only one that's free to roam."

Joker snorted. "Like I would want to roam anywhere near you," He answered. "Plus unlike Kaidan, I have better taste and go for educated girls."

Jessica narrowed her eyes. "What the hell do you mean?"

"I mean," the pilot drawled. "You must be the stupidest whore in the universe to think you could not only kidnap Shepard, but think you could take her place." Rolling the cane on his leg he smirked at her. "And because Shepard is such a more fantastic, not mention a sexier woman than you are, I follow what she tells me to do."

"So you like playing the bitch?" She retorted thinking it will make Joker retaliate. She wanted an excuse to hit the man, but Aaron forbade her. He said that he needed at least one hostage in good condition.

Joker smirked. "For Shepard, I'd play spank the brunette cripple."

"Want to play cripple the cripple?"

"Like he hasn't heard that one," Kaidan drew Jessica's attention from Joker. The last thing he needed was Shepard or Garrus bitching at him for letting Joker get injured.

The Crimson Spider grinned. She was walked over to Kaidan and let her hand glide into his pants, fondling him. He froze and stared at her with disbelieving eyes. She would dare try and do that with Joker in the room. Jessica's grin widened as she began to stroke him. Kaidan tried to move his hips away but he couldn't. Being restrained to the wall did have its disadvantages. She pressed against him, licking his neck and unbuttoning his white shirt, but her hand did not stop.

"Jessica stop—" a shriek from the omni-tool interrupted him before it was cut off. He suspected that the other side was turned off since Jessica didn't seem bothered by it.

"You are mine Kaidan," She murmured against him as she curled her fingers around him. "All mine."

"Think again you psycho-bitch!" Joker shouted as he swung the cane at Jessica. She turned just in time to get whacked behind the ear by the heavy ornate handle of the cane. The woman dropped, her hand still in Kaidan's pants. He sighed and ran a hand over his hair. "God that felt good."

Alenko's jaw dropped. "What the fuck Joker? If you could do that the whole time why didn't you do it before?"

The pilot looked at Kaidan. "Shepard told me that she didn't want me to get in danger and to keep quiet until I knew the time was right." He lifted the cane a bit. "Wolf didn't like that I wasn't armed, so he gave me the cane." Sliding the handle from the rest of the cane, Joker revealed a thin blade attached to it. "That guy really does get around…"

"Joker…would you mind…" Kaidan glanced down to the hand still in his pants.

Joker laughed. "Alenko, I think this is the first time that a man needed help getting a woman's hand out of his pants." He looked down as he took a hold of the wrist. "You sure you don't want me to cut it and leave the fingers in there…"

"JOKER!"

"Okay, okay…yeesh." He pulled Jessica's hand out and let it drop onto her body. "You try to lift up the mood and people bit off your head." He murmured as he used the blade he had to slide it between the bolts on the wrist cuff and the wall. He began to try and pry it from the wall to free his friend. "Damn, they have this in there good."

"No kidding," Kaidan replied as he strained his arm to help Joker. It shifted a bit but that's it. "We're not going to get out of here in time."

"You never were!" It was Joker's turned to be punched down. Jessica stood, blood flowing over her forehead and cheek. "Fuck what Aaron said." But Joker wasn't paying attention he was looking at the door. Kaidan's eyes were also on the door. The whole wall was slowly glowing blue. Who…"I'm going to enjoy ripping your legs off!" As soon as she said that, the entire wall crumbled, causing her to shriek.

"Holy fucking ass crackers!" Joker shouted as he scrambled back out of the way.

Before the dust even settled, Jessica was incased in a darker blue field and raised off the ground. When she tried to struggle, one of her fingers was snapped by the field. She was thrown against the every wall of the cell before returning to hovering off to the side. Her body started to spasm. Kaidan turned his head from the sight. It was like she was possessed…and her screaming didn't help. His eyes narrowed as four shadows darted from the settling dust into the cell.

"You…" Kaidan said looking at the man he knew as the Admiral. He turned his head to see Wolf walking slowly into the room toward Jessica. He was covered in blood, but he didn't seem injured.

"Jack, stay by the door and kill anyone that comes near it." Carth said.

"With pleasure," The tattooed woman purred, going back out into the hall.

"I see you made use of the cane," Alma looked over Joker. "You don't seem injured."

"One of the reasons why I listen to Shepard," He said as she helped him up. "She keeps me out of trouble."

Carth glanced at Kasumi after looking at the cuffs and chains on Kaidan. "Hey Goto, think you could…"

"I'm already on it…" She said as she walked over to Kaidan and began to pick the locks on the cuffs.

Kaidan watched as the man turned and walked to Wolf. He stayed back far enough not be within arms length of the man, but close enough to hear his orders. His twin pistols were held tightly in his hands as he glared at the woman suspended in the air.

"Best be silent," Kasumi murmured as she worked. "He's been very temperamental."

"That's an understatement," Alma said as she walked up and began to pick the other lock.

"Where is she?" Wolf slowly asked in an icy tone.

"Fuck you…" Jessica spat. She shrieked suddenly as her wrist was crushed under Wolf's power. He didn't ask again, he just stayed silent for a few moments before her other wrist snapped. Soon every bone in both her arms was broken and she was sobbing in agony.

Kasumi and Alma silently were able to free Kaidan. He rubbed his wrists and moved to get closer, only to have Joker and the two women hold him back. They all held a look in their eyes. Do not go near the Wolf. He is on a rampage right now.

"What was that she said to Joker?" Brian turned his head questioning the Rebellion leader. Carth didn't reply back to the man knowing it was a rhetorical question. "Let's see if she enjoys ripping legs as much as she thinks she does." His other hand came up as he raised his right hand fist, palm toward the ceiling. His eyes shone brightly in the dimly lit room, like a demon's. Brian's left hand made a show of closing his fist as though it was around something. His left hand began to pull away from his right, his biotics doing as he bid with the mnemonic gesture.

The scream after that gesture shook Kaidan. His eyes watched as Jessica's left leg stretched from her body. The man stopped briefly to let the woman catch her breath. She didn't speak, she only glared at him. Obviously that wasn't the right answer. The gesture continued and Kaidan watched in a perverse wonder while was Jessica's jeans and the skin under began to stretch and rip like fabric. This was sick. It was torture!

"I see Aaron makes sure you are trained to stay silent under torture." Brian said as her left leg was dropped to the ground. Blood was dripping from the mangled stub. Joker looked pale, like he was going to be sick, but stood firmly beside Kasumi. This was for Shepard. If she was in danger, they would allow it to happen. It was only when Jessica's right leg was halfway ripped off, did Kaidan move forward.

"Wolf stop this," He stood beside the Admiral looking at the God-like man.

Brian's glowing eyes turned to Kaidan, not a hint of emotion in them. "Don't get in the way."

Kaidan felt a chill down his spine as he listened to that hollow voice speak to him. He straightened, steeling himself for Wolf. "Is this really going to help Shepard? Torturing her and ripping her limbs off?"

"If she speaks," Wolf glanced at the woman before turning his eyes back to Kaidan. "Are you trying to protect her because you still have feelings for this traitor?"

"I could care less what happens to her," Surprisingly, Kaidan felt the truth in his words. After everything that Jessica has done to him and Shepard, he didn't feel anything for what happened to her.

"You are soft," Carth interjected not looking at the younger man.

"It is not weak to value humanity!" Kaidan glared at the Admiral.

Brian's eyes widened a bit as he stared at Kaidan. In his biotic state, he could see the ghostly image of Drusilla standing beside the man. She had once said the exact same thing to him.

'If you are to kill her brutally…do it in silence.' The ghost begged.

Letting out a breath through his mouth, Brian looked at Carth. Their eyes met and whatever Carth saw it surprised him. Turning back to Jessica, the woman had tears running down her cheeks. "For the Commander, I am granting you a grace period. So speak and do it quickly." He allowed his biotics to tug on her other leg.

"The northern corridor!" Her voice was shrill and filled with pain. "I don't know which room, but he's there!"

"Thane," Carth's husky voice murmured.

Kaidan furrowed his eyes, but heard the drell speak from the Admiral's comm. "Tali'Zorah and I are moving."

"What is he doing with her? Why did he separate his hostages?" Brian asked.

"I don't…" Before Jessica could start her denial her other leg ripped off savagely.

"DON'T DENY WHAT YOU KNOW!" The man roared. "You are Aaron's whore! You are his trusted! You will tell me what you know." The field around Jessica darkened until it was nearly black. "Fine, we will do this slower." Her wrist was snapped off. Her shriek echoed through the halls. "Now I'm done being nice…." Suddenly her right breast ripped open causing blood to spurt out onto Brian. "This will continue until you are dead. And believe me…" He sneered maliciously at the woman. "I can make you live a lifetime before you die from the blood lost."

"Left North corridor! Third room on the right…" She wailed in agony. "He told me that he and the guards will finish what they started before…"

"Go!" Wolf bellowed but Carth was already out the door.

"Wolf," Alma gasped. "He could be raping her!"

"Get to her Alma!" The Vanguard shouted. "Take everyone with you."

"Thank god," Joker murmured hurrying out of the room with Kasumi. Jack blinked as they stepped out.

"What's going on?" She asked.

"We're going to Shepard," Alma pulled Kaidan out of the room.

Jack looked back in the room. Brian stood in bloodied glory, glaring at the woman who had wronged him. She was extremely turned on by the man and moved to go inside only to have Alma stop her.

"Leave him, he has unfinished business." Alma stated as she began to follow Kasumi and Joker, who had started to navigate toward the northern corridor.

Kaidan stayed just outside the door in the hallway looking in. He was wondering if he would ever go that far to save Shepard. Would he turn into a monster like that? He knew he was able to give Jessica some reprieve, but she had to lie. Turning his head away, Kaidan tried to turn his mind away from the image of the bloodied man. "Alenko!" Alma called forcing the Commander to move forward. The group began running leaving Wolf behind with the traitorous woman.

Wolf walked closer to Jessica, her right elbow twisting off causing her to scream. "I told you! Leave me or kill me quickly!"

"I never said I'd do either…" He said. "I said that I will continue this until you are dead."

The glow his eyes deepened as Jessica's screams started anew. His biotics were now seeping into her body. He raised a hand to her chest, over her heart. "Tell me, did Aaron ever tell the Spiders why I chose the name White Lotus?"

"Stop," The woman sobbed. "Please!"

"It was to make sure everyone else didn't know our true strength." Brian tapped her chest. "I've honed my abilities in the last two years when I heard my sister was gone. I have made them more deadly." His hand moved from her heart to hover above her diaphragm. He let a small pulse release from his palm into her body. Jessica choked for air as her lungs stopped functioning. The expression on Brian's face turned evil as he watched her choke for air.

"Please…" She managed to strangle out. Brian's hand stopped glowing. Jessica took in big gulps of air.

"The Admiral's wife taught me how to do that," He moved her toward the middle of the room. Circling her, his cold calculating eyes moved from her missing limbs to the missing piece of her chest. Reaching into his coat, he pulled out a metal three pronged claw. He held onto it tightly as he went to her side and gentle scratched down her side. The metal prongs were so sharp they peeled her skin with just the lightest touch. "Rebellion knows a lot of torture techniques, the Admiral's wife in particular." Brian went to her other side and pressed the claw deep into her side before dragging it down. Blood poured like a river over his hand and spurt out on his face. He felt satisfied when he saw the white of her lower rib bone. Walking in front of her, he lowered the weapon and allowed his cool eyes to stare into the traitor's pain filled ones. "She was very precise on showing just how make a person's insides burn with biotic power."

The woman choked out a sob.

Brian didn't say anything as the biotic glow around her seemed to be absorbed through her skin. He watched as her eyes began to bleed as she screamed in pain. His left hand directed the path of his biotics. It slowly crawled through her blood, forcing it to bleed out through her pores. "You made a mistake going against me." He said with a growling edge in his voice, almost like a real wolf. His left hand moved upwards toward her heart. Brian knew how it felt. The burning of the biotics inching their way up the blood veins toward the heart. He looked at her stomach as he bulged slightly. The anger inside of him was beginning to reflect in his power. It was trying to escape from her. His eyes gleamed with madness.

Jessica screamed as her skin stretched off bone and muscle. She knew in that moment that Aaron's ambitions had killed her. The last words Wolf spoke to her would echo through her mind as he raised the claw into her view.

"This will not end quickly…I will make you suffer."

---

"WHOA!" Bending out of the way, Carth looked at the weapon that was now embedded in the metal wall. He immediately recognized it as the ornament that Shepard used to keep her hair up during the last round of the tournament. The weapon glowed blue before pulling out of the wall and floating back to its mistress. Carth's eyes followed the weapon to the woman standing in the middle of the room, chains hanging from her wrists, legs and waist. His eyes looked at the bed to see Aaron on it, his throat had deep grooves in it and multiple stab wounds in his body. "Sweetheart?" He called softly.

"I couldn't wait…" Shepard murmured her voice cracking, lifting her face toward the light. The ex-Alliance pilot's eyes widened at the blood flowing from her nose and eyes. "It hurts to use them…but I had to…"

Slowly walking toward her, he put a hand on her cheek. Her wrists looked bruised from the cuffs. Blood stained the metal as it dripped from her finger tip to the floor. Her clothes were ripped at her chest and her waist to give more access to her assets. Despite the rising anger, Carth shrugged out of his long coat leaving him in his orange vest and white shirt. He draped the coat around Shepard's body, frowning when she flinched away.

"Easy beautiful…easy…" Carth murmured as he circled around her to examine the chains and cuffs. His eyes watched as the blade circled around them like a guard dog. "Dru…"

"No," She whispered fervently. "I am not going by that name any more. I killed her and then I stole her name."

Oh this wasn't good. Carth thought. Grabbing her cheeks he forced her to look at him. "You did not kill Drusilla! Do you hear me?" His voice held such conviction that Shepard's eyes softened.

"Always the chivalrous man," She murmured her hand stroking his beard in a loving caress.

"It's not all dead," He leaned down to allow his lips to brush against hers. Pulling away, he went to move to the bed to check the body when hands fisted themselves in his vest. "Requiem?"

Shepard didn't say anything to the man. She just tightened her hold on his vest. Her body knew that he was familiar to her. Shepard's heart knew that better than her mind in this particular situation. She was running on auto-pilot and it wanted Carth to stay near her. He was safe. Carth was someone who would not try to use or abuse her for his own gain.

Carth looked down at Shepard. He frowned at her behavior. Grabbing her shoulders, he tilted her chin up. "Requiem, what happened?"

Before she could even formulate an answer, a noise from the doorway caught their attention. The bladed hair ornament spun toward the door as the Rebellion Leader pulled out one of his twin pistols. Carth saw Thane pulled Tali down as the blade spun past them. They looked around at the carnage before their eyes settled on Shepard.

"Keelah se'lai," Tali murmured.

"Requiem, they aren't here to hurt you..." The human man murmured.

"I know," Shepard replied as she called back the blade to her. She caught it bare-handed; ignoring the long cut it put in her hand. She tucked it into the chain around her waist. Her eyes looked at Thane and Tali. "Tali'Zorah vas Normandy and Thane Krios…" It was as if she was trying to reaffirm their identities to herself.

"Is that the leader?" Thane questioned looking at the man on the bed.

"It was," The human man in the room said.

The quarian moved forward, to stand beside Carth. "Shepard…" She whispered. The woman turned her head toward her.

"I'm sorry," The quarian looked up at her Commander. Shepard's voice was soft. "I didn't mean to lie to everyone…" Tali looked at her, she moved to put a hand on the human's arm only to have her flinch away. "But I promised her…"

"I understand Shepard…its okay," The dextro-alien said lightly. "I understand."

"I'm sorry…" Shepard repeated. Tali nodded and went to investigate the bodies of the guards.

Carth turned to her and ran his hand through her silver blood soaked hair. "Its okay Requiem, they understand. Alma explained it to them."

She looked sad and wistful. "Non ho la forza di giocare salvatore dell'universo più." (I don not have the strength to play savior of the universe anymore) Her words were soft and her body was trembling with effort.

"You were held under rules that drained you beautiful," Carth let his fingers brush her cheeks. His words were soft and only for her ears. "You may not think you have the strength now, but you know I would let you fall. I'll always come to catch you before you are swallowed."

"Sempre il cavaliere bianco," (Always the white knight) She smiled a bit at him.

"Only for the most special women in my life," Leaning down, Carth pressed his lips against hers. He ignored the blood on her and the people in the room when her hands grasped the side of his neck.

They were so engrossed in the kiss that they didn't hear the footsteps coming toward the room, but the other two in the room did. Thane went to the door to check who was coming, only to step out of the way to let Alma and her team into the room.

"This is not something you see everyday." Joker's voice cut through the room causing Carth to pull away from Requiem and look at the newly arrived group.

"Where's Wolf?" He asked.

"Taking care of some business," Jack grinned. "He gets all the fun…"

Shepard eyes immediately went to Kaidan. His face was the epitome of calm, but his eyes were a different story. Her heart ached as she saw the hurt and anger in his eyes. Shepard knew she shouldn't have kissed Carth. She bit the inside of her cheek. Her heart still yearned for Kaidan. She still loved him, but Carth was someone willing to comfort her and not judge her. It was an oversight, but she couldn't help but lean into the man holding her.

Alma eyes scanned the room before resting on Shepard. That's when she noticed the faintly glowing blue eyes. "Requiem!" The silver haired woman flinched and looked up at Alma. "Let go of your abilities!" She commanded when she saw the blood coming from Shepard's eyes and the suppression collar. Shepard immediately stopped and it seemed that a majority of the tension in her body disappeared causing her shoulders to sag a bit.

"Whoa there," the Admiral stumbled as she leaned on him further.

"Shepard…" Kaidan murmured. Her eyes turned toward him from her position against man with the orange vest. He couldn't bring himself to go near her. Seeing the two kiss seemed to cement the fact that Shepard was no longer his. He wanted to turn away, he wanted to leave her…but her eyes were silently begging him not to go.

"He got to her?" Joker questioned softly breaking the tension in the room.

Carth glanced at the man. "She hasn't said."

The scientist-slash-spy of the White Lotus moved forward to examine Shepard's wounds. Her reaction was violent and unexpected. The chain of her right cuff hand came up, aimed at Alma's head. Luckily for her, Kaidan was keeping an eye on her. He was able to move in front of the woman and use his arm to block the chain. It wrapped around his forearm, the last link of the chain smacking him in the face. Shepard let out a noise of shock and displeasure as the link hit his face.

Kaidan watched as Shepard moved from the Admiral to him. Her hand rose and swiped at the blood at the corner of his mouth. Whiskey eyes watched Shepard intently as she frowned and slowly unwounded the chain from his forearm.

"She's acting unusual," Thane said.

"At least she's not bawling," Jack countered to which Joker snorted.

Alma seemed to understand what was going on and had instructed Kasumi over to see if she could talk Carth through picking the locks on the chains, but it seemed the thief could only give her a negative answer.

"Who ever made these didn't intend to let their prisoner go." Kasumi said.

"I have to get Wolf then…" Alma said. But before she could call him, the man slipped into the room as silent as a cat. "Brian…"

The man was soaked in blood. His eyes were set in a glare as he walked toward his sister. Alma didn't say anything, but motioned everyone but Carth and Kaidan away from Shepard. When Shepard caught sight of him, she smiled briefly. Once near her side, Shepard began to speak to him.

"I'm sorry fratello, I'm sorry. I let this happened because I wasn't strong like her…" Shepard's words slipped into Italian, running together.

The Staff Commander watched as the cold White Lotus Leader's face softened considerably as he listened to Shepard ramble. "It's alright Requiem. No one blames you. We did it for family, they understand." He murmured softly. "He will understand…" Brian said as he slowly moved his arms toward his sister. She flinched hard into Kaidan's chest. The Staff Commander's arms wrapped around her body, shielding her from her brother.

"Requiem," Carth's eyes widened. "Did something happen?" Shepard's Italian spoken reply seemed to cause the man to look concern before he turned to Wolf. "Brian…"

Brian raised eyebrow at Shepard's answer. "Hold still Requiem…" He said as he eyes light up.

Shepard cried out as a dark blue glow encircled the cuffs and collar on her body. Not even a second later, they broke, dropping from her body onto the ground. She looked down in surprise before slowly calming herself and nodding to him.

"Requiem," Brian called to her. Shaking her head, Shepard wrapped her weakened arms around Kaidan's neck and buried her face into neck. Everyone could hear her speaking in Italian and watched as Wolf's softened look turned hard again.

"Don't worry Requiem…I won't let him run again." Brian growled before looking at Kaidan. The Sentinel lifted her, bridal style, and nodded to him. "Time to go, Admiral stay close to Alenko and Requiem." The former pilot moved toward the pair as Brian marched out of the room. Shepard was clinging to Kaidan, letting her weight fall against him, as they moved from the room. The team followed them, no one said anything. No one dared turned Brian's wrath on themselves.

As they passed the room that Kaidan and Joker were in, they noticed it was covered in blood. No one could imagine that much blood coming from just one person. Thane, Alma, Tali, Carth and Kasumi continued to follow Brian as Joker, Kaidan and Jack stayed behind to check out the damage.

"Fuck," Jack murmured.

"Shit! You can't even see a limb," Joker said.

Kaidan stood looking at the gory. One man had the power to reduce a person to this. He knew he should feel some kind of remorse for the woman, but he didn't have it in his heart after everything. She betrayed him, almost raped him while her other boyfriend did something unspeakable to Shepard. Kaidan felt sick to his stomach as he thought of Shepard. He couldn't help her. He couldn't stop it. As if sensing his thoughts, Shepard looked up at him. Her fingers brushed against his cheeks.

"You aren't like him…" She murmured. "He takes it too far. We struggle for control sometimes."

"Let's go before they leave us," Jack said as she turned and pushed Joker forward. The pilot grumbled but hurried to catch up with the others. Kaidan slowly followed after them lost in his thoughts.

"Joker…" The White Lotus leader called.

"Ah…yes sir…er…Wolf?" The pilot stuttered. He relaxed when Brian shot a smile over his shoulder.

"I will need the Normandy to fly to Earth quickly." Brian answered as they continued. "Despite my sister's faith in your abilities, I need someone who knows where I want to go without me having to navigate them since I will be needed by Requiem's side during the jumps. So Carth will be piloting the Normandy to Earth."

"Carth? As in Carth Onasi?" Joker's eyes swung over to the Admiral who dropped back to walk along side Kaidan and Shepard. "Weren't you Alliance?"

"Let's just say I learned a bit too much…" Carth looked at Joker. He offered a small grin before turning to Brian. "We're going to Italy?" Brian didn't answer as they continued onto the garage. "If she is as unstable as I think, jumping through the relays will harm her more than she needs to be. You are risking her more pain!"

"Carth, Requiem needs familiarity right now." Brian narrowed his eyes as he glanced back at the man. "She needs people she trusts." He noted the silence behind him. "I am blood, and her mind still reacts violently to me." He shook his head. "Unless she tells me who is safe, you are the only one who can touch her without consequence…"

"Where's Garrus?" Shepard voice asked quietly cutting the conversation short.

Brian furrowed his eyes and spoke to Shepard in Italian. When she replied Brian's step sped up as he passed the second team that was holding the door to the garage.

"Fox!" Mission grinned, but stopped when she saw the woman clinging to Kaidan. "What happened?"

"We'll explain later sweetie, right now we all need to get back on the ship and get the hell out of here." Alma explained as she hurried into the ship after Brian.

The man didn't stop. He led Kaidan to the medical room with Shepard. She only whimpered when they moved too quickly for her. He didn't pay attention to who followed him, but he knew Alma and Carth would get them to the villa quickly.

"Doc!" He called as he swept into the room with Kaidan and Shepard.

"What happened?" She asked as she moved from examining Garrus to prep the other bed.

"She was put through some experimentation other than that we don't know," Alenko moved to put her down on the bed only to have her cling tighter to his neck. "Come on Shepard, you have to let me go so Chakwas can make sure you are okay."

"I'm tired…" She whispered to him.

"I need her awake, Commander," Chakwas demanded as she grabbed the equipment to set up an IV.

"Hear that? You need to stay up Dru…" Kaidan said as he pushed her hair behind her ear.

"That's not my name…"

"Then what is it?" He asked.

"Requiem," Brian said from behind him. "Her name is Requiem."

Kaidan looked over his shoulder to see Brian sitting by the bed that held Sarah Williams. Thane was on the other side of the bed, looking down at Sarah. He didn't see the two asari women, but he did see the Admiral's bodyguard as well as Kasumi Goto on the wall just inside the door. He didn't see the other members of Shepard's team and assumed they went off to do their own things. His attention was pulled back to Shepard when her hands slipped from his neck. She grabbed his hand tightly as her eyes blinked rapidly.

"Where's Garrus?" Her voice was quiet.

"Right here Shepard," Garrus called from his own bed.

Her eyes turned toward him as Kaidan moved out of the way. "I'm so sorry. You have been by my side even when I came back…you've done nothing but help me…and I lied to you."

Smiling, the turian realized what was going on. "It's alright Shepard." He answered. "It seems we'll have more time to discuss it in the infirmary."

"More than enough," Brian agreed. "After the doc checks you out though."

"Okay…" She still looked unsure. "Garrus knows I'm sorry though right?"

"Has Garrus ever lied to you?" Kaidan cut in looking at her.

"No," Shepard replied. The Staff Commander smiled at the woman. She stared at him before letting out a deep sigh. "Brian…" She called. "I'm going to need Alma to transfer our medical records to Doctor Chakwas."

"Already figured that out Foxy," The scientist-slash-spy said as she entered the room with a data pad. She watched as Shepard tightened her grip on Kaidan's hand. It seemed the doctor was able to get an IV into her while she was distracted. "Requiem, this is up to you. Chakwas and I will need you to tell us what happened when you were moved into the room with Aaron and his guards. If you don't want talk about it in front of everyone I will understand, but that would mean I would need to kick everyone out including Alenko and Brian."

Kaidan watched as Shepard's eyes lost the haze it was slowly starting to get from her biotic drain. She looked at everyone around the room before forcing herself to sit up. Kaidan could immediately tell that using her biotics had cost her a lot. He didn't know the side-effects of using them while she was drugged or on a suppressor but they didn't look good.

"As soon as Kaidan and Joker were knocked out from the food, they moved me." She grabbed the edge of Carth's jacket, which was still around her, and pulled them so it closed a bit more. "Apparently the doctor wanted to dose me again, but Aaron is one cocky son of a bitch and didn't think I'd recover as quickly as I did." Shepard shook her head as she pressed her palm against her left eye. "He…they said some things, played mind games. Between the drugging and paranoia from the last couple months, my mind was starting to believe the things he said. It was only after Aaron started to physically abuse and tried to torture me that I was able to think a bit clearly."

"How is that?" Chakwas asked.

"He started to cut me and my blood started to drain."

Alma let out a little chuckle. "He drained part of the drug out of you without knowing it. And without giving you the other dosing you were able to become coherent."

"Frankly I am a bit pissed that the drug made me forget myself enough to scream at his attempts." Shepard looked at Brian.

"What about the doctor?" Garrus asked.

"He fled just before it got physical, said he had other projects to check on." Her gaze was still on her brother.

"How bad?" Brian asked.

"Nearly five times worse than when I first reacted," She answered. Feeling a press of fingers on her arm, she looked at Kaidan as she continued. "When I realized that he opened a wave to Jessica while she was with you and Joker, that's when I remembered, they didn't check Joker's cane that well." She smiled a bit. "Then it made me remember they didn't take my hair ornament." Her hands moved under the cloak before pulling out the bladed hair accessory. "It was a gift from my sister…I always have the blade with me whether it has the hair piece on it or not."

Kaidan took the blade and looked at the bloodied end. "How'd you break your chains?"

"Biotics," Shepard answered.

"And the neural device?" Kasumi questioned. "Didn't seem like you could get out of that."

"A neural suppressor only works to the full extent if the biotic has an amp." Alma explained. "Requiem was trained as an Infiltrator, she knew the weakness of the device."

"You forced your biotic abilities to work," Thane's eyes stared at the Commander. She broke her eye contact with Kaidan to look at him. "That is very painful and dangerous to do. You could have fried your nervous system."

Shepard scoffed a bit. "Better that then the alternative."

"Oh let me end the tale!" Brian said as he leaned forward in his seat. He was proud of his sister being able to free herself, despite the dangers she was presented with. "You used the chains to choke the guards, while letting your biotic instinct to take over and use the blade to fend off Aaron until you could get to him." He grinned. "Am I right? Tell me I'm right."

"You are," Shepard rolled her eyes as bit as Kaidan looked at the man in disbelief.

"Hey Commander, if he is this happy about you killing someone, what happens when you blow up a building?" Garrus's tilted his head looking over at the woman.

Canderous let out a roar of laughter at the comment. It was soon followed by Brian and Alma. Kasumi smiled and shook her head. Shepard smiled at Kaidan as he shook his head. She knew what he was thinking, they were crazy.

"Mia sorella, you must know," His mirth still showed in his eyes as they all settled down. "We are going back to Italia, to Earth."

That answer seemed to frighten Shepard more than being drugged and tortured. "What?" She squeaked, her hand tightening around Kaidan's, her eyes going wide. "Why not Illium or even Omega? I'm sure you can give Aria something to let us stay there."

Brian immediately was out of his chair and standing in front of Shepard. He grabbed his sister's head, a hand on each cheek, and looked deeply into her lavender eyes. Searching her eyes, he tried to figure out if her fear was because she had never brought anyone to their true home or if it was because of something else, something deeper.

"Whatever Patrick gave you have made you weak. Any biotic displays or anything producing a mass effect field will hurt you." Brian stated bluntly. "While I know you and your crew are capable, there are still pockets of Crimson Spiders all around the verse. I want you safe until I'm sure that the Lotus has taken care of them."

"You can't keep me safe, not when Patrick is still alive." Shepard replied softly.

"It normally takes you about a month to recover sorella," He let go of her and stood up straight. "The villa is large enough for you to prep everything you need for the Reapers, until you are at least able to pass through the relays without pain."

Thane looked at the man. "The young asari told me that we are going to Earth. We will be jumping through several mass relays."

Chakwas shifted, a small frown marring her features. "Both of you knew this already."

"Requiem has agreed to suffer through it as long as we get to Earth quickly." Brian answered.

Kaidan stepped forward glaring at Brian. "You can't possibly mean to think that she is in the right shape to make those decisions."

"I'm right here," Shepard glared at both men.

Brian put his index finger and thumb, to the bridge of his nose. "Listen, it doesn't even matter what the fuck you say because all that matters is getting to Earth, to my villa."

"What's at the villa?" Garrus asked.

"In Req's state, she needs to visit her home." Brian answered as he slowly put his hand down to look at the turian. "She needs to see family. Mainly Drusilla and her husband and daughter."

"Wait a minute, Dru has a husband?" Kaidan questioned. He felt left out and lost. There were so many things he didn't know, that he was getting frustrated. He ran a hand through this hair. Shepard caught his arm and pulled him closer to the bed beside her. He frowned at her clinging nature, but didn't question as she buried her face into his chest.

"Oh now I'm visible? Drusilla Shepard is my twin, Kaidan." She answered quietly. "Alma will explain it all to you."

"Why can't you?" His hand was running through her blood-dried hair.

"Because frankly, I'm getting disgusted with being covered in blood and I want a shower." Shepard pulled back and gave Kaidan a small smile.

"That's right he doesn't know…" Canderous said as he crossed his arms. "Shepard took her sister name after her death."

"Canderous," Alma hissed at the man for saying it so bluntly. Kaidan turned to the White Lotus woman, his eyes wide.

"Is it true?" He asked.

"Yes," Shepard sighed. "My real name is Requiem Shepard. I took my twin sister's name and identity when she died after she switched places with me during our Alliance sheltering." Her eyes went to Kasumi. "Where is Joker?"

"He's quizzing Onasi on his pilot knowledge." The thief answered. "What about you? Are you really sure you want to do this? Going through the relays?"

"Not really, but what the hell." Her eyes drift to Kaidan's before looking back at Kasumi's. "Brian is not going to change his mind and I won't mind seeing my family again."

"Damn straight!" Brian said. "And you know Onasi, when you are involved, he'll move like a demon on speed."

Shepard frowned. "He's going to hate me…"

Garrus blinked. He saw how the other man looked at his Commander. There was no way he would hate her. "No he won't Commander."

"Yes he will," Shepard said as she put a hand to her mouth.

"Why would you think that honey?" Alma asked looking at the young woman.

Shepard looked at everyone before turning to look at her brother. Her heart ached. During her torture, both Aaron and Patrick were more than talkative before the doctor left. They even slipped out a few details of information that Shepard made sure she kept in her broken mind. "Because…I know who has Revan, his second wife."