Kaiya Smith: True dat, true dat. -_-

BAMS: Maybe… ;)

Liege Lord: I still might write parts of it anyway, just for you. :) Let's see what Kareck's news is, eh?

Hopelessly Blue: Don't judge me! It's not my fault I like you too much! DB I'm glad you liked the chapter though, and thank you. Seriously, I'm glad I've had you from the beginning (that sounded wrong didn't it? I refuse to rephrase!). Anyway, Jasin says hello and all that stuff. But her smirk tells me she's thinking something completely different, which I think you can guess… And really? You really have to ask at this point? *sighs* Of course I'm yours! Jeez, what kind of a question is that? It's like asking me whether I want to go to Burger King; completely a given. Oh, but I can't help but get all fired up, I'm sorry… *smiles apologetically* Love ya! ;) (I wrote a Dragon Age one-shot last night if you want to read it, BTW)

Hound Akragth: Hound! Why must you invoke such a chaotic law at this point in time? Goodness…~_~

Kachie Takahashi: I hadn't thought of that… Now that I think on it though, I recall reading a fic where those two get together and are actually mostly caring. You know. After they get past the hate and the sexual frustration. Maybe that's where the hate came from in the first place… *strange one-shot idea pops into head* I don't know if I should actually write that one though… O_o

A/N: Alright everyone, let's pick up where we left off… Mostly, anyway.

"How much longer are you going to stall?" Miranda asked, arm crossed. Her expression of arrogant distaste would normally irritate Adel but at that moment she worried only which route to take.

The left one would take longer but it ensured Emperor Haieven would be elsewhere. Another problem with that route was the apparent influx of 'volunteers' ranging from human children to turian generals and asari matriarchs. It was, after all, a main hall used for many secular and recreational activities.
The right route on the other hand, was shorter and faster in terms of leaving the ship. It would be Adel's first choice in a heartbeat save for the small fact of that hallway being Emperor Haieven's way of moving from one end of the Grey Star to another end without being bothered by too many people.

But which to take…?

…

"Raegas!" Kareck gushed, running to me as if we hadn't seen each other in years. I smiled and gave him a welcoming hug as soon as he jumped into my arms. Such a puppy, I thought.

"Kareck! It's been a while, what brings you here?" I asked, grinning at his shining eyes of excitement.

"I've got the best new ever! Tali's back! We can go get her on Haestrom right now! Let's go let's go let's go!" he spoke so fast I had to struggle to keep up and his bouncing wasn't helping things at all. The next thing I knew, someone grabbed me from behind and hoisted me up in a giant bear hug.

Once they put me down and I tuned, I saw it was Ayldrik of all people!

"Brother, what brings you here? Both of you came so fast, I don't even…" I grinned, seeing Ayl's excited eyes as well. He crushed me in a hug once more, pulling me off the ground much to Kareck's distaste.

"It's Ashley! She said she got confirmation from Counselor Anderson on the Alliance outreach! She's going to join up!" he announced, too happy for his own good.

I knew he and Ash had always kept up constant contact when possible but they'd only really been able to talk recently since she now knew of our people being alive and well. Unfortunately, she scolded him over a long message for not trusting her and telling her even just little hints. Still though, she said she understood and would talk to Anderson about possible ways of helping us out with galactic relations given they were so new at this point.
A few hours later, they came up with some outreach program with my father. The three of them and the rest of the Council talked it over with me, given I would be given command of both my people's' volunteers and this galaxy's volunteers if we decided to implement it. That was what father called me away for when I had tried to tell Shepard what happened when she was 'out of commission' and Adel took my place.

Once Ayl put me down I smiled up at him, glad the program pulled through.

"So there were enough volunteers to implement it?" I asked, curious as to how many believed in us or some such. My brother held up two fingers with a grin before chuckling happily to himself.

"More than two thousand people from this galaxy volunteered to serve with you and Shepard on your ship. Four thousand of our own volunteered as well." His smug grin of satisfaction was mirrored by my own. Who knew that many wanted to help against Reapers already? I felt like it was fake but even if it was I accepted it in stride. I was just glad to have so much support. Shepard would be as well, I was sure.

"No! We have to get Tali first!" Kareck declared, wrapping his arms around my shoulders and pulling me away from Ayldrik as if he were claiming a toy. Vetrali chuckled to herself as she simply watched, no doubt entertained from the scene.

Ayl leaned forward and grabbed my hands, pulling them toward him possessively as well like he was offended by Kareck's action. I realized at this point I was caught between a proverbial love battle between the two brothers. The only thing Kareck didn't realize was the fact that we had to pick up our crew before we'd be allowed to leave the system for any missions. After all, we couldn't have anyone acting all suspicious and getting people scared.

"Ashley first!"

"Tali first!"

"Ashley!"

"Tali!"

"Ashley!"

"Tali!"

"Ashley dumbass!"

"No! Tali!"

"We need our crew and that mean Ashley first!"

"I need Tali and that means Tali first!"

"Enough!" I suddenly barked, startling both of them. I huffed as they let go of me and stepped back, slightly cooling off in the brain before I spoke once more. "Ayldrik is right, Kareck; we need to pick up our crew before we can go on any missions to help Shepard out. We're leaving tomorrow so if you're coming you should get ready." I said, getting teary eyes from my youngest sibling.

"But-" I held up a hand to stop him from crying like a child. He was so attached to Tali that, sometimes, I felt as if he missed her even more since she didn't know he liked her- probably loved her. I couldn't help but feel sorry for my brother as he stared into my eyes with that pleading look he only got when he really felt for something.

"She'll be the first one we go to get once we leave, alright?" I proposed, getting a sniff and a nod in return. I ruffled his hair affectionately and got a small smile out of it. I guess there was no way out of it then; we were going to leave to go back to saving the galaxy the next day and Shepard and I would be thrust right back into the tough game. The past few days felt like a fairytale, having Shepard back. I suppose good things never last, eh?

Either way, I still had a lot of work to do and a lot of talking to do before we set out the next day. First stop? Shepard's arms. I needed a break already.

…

"I suppose it should be right, but… and then the left is…" Adel muttered, thinking so deeply she didn't notice the looming figure approach her and Miranda.

"What are you mumbling about? I have somewhere to be." Miranda stated impatiently, tapping her foot on the ground and making an irritating clacking noise. Adel absentmindedly covered Miranda's foot with her own to stop her from making the noise as she struggled over the decision for a few more moments. Unfortunately, Miranda was offended in some way by the other woman's move and yanked her foot from under the Vertoakan's angrily. Even so, she didn't start tapping again.

"I would prefer right, but the Emperor…" Adel look up then, finished with her contemplation. She was going to go the safe route of left; even if it was longer there would be less of a chance of the Emperor showing himself. Still, she did not notice the figure moving ever closer, silent as a shadow.

She took a few steps toward the left route then, moving quickly. Miranda, surprised but pleased with being able to move along, followed suit.

"Lord Adel!" said woman froze in the middle of her strode at the deep, commanding voice. Miranda paused as well, seeing Adel's expression as she slowly turned behind them. "What rush are you in?" the scary, looming, amused man asked, eyes glinting just like Raegas' when she was assessing something. Too late.

It was Emperor Haieven.

A/N: Hah! I cut it off right when it got exciting! I know you love it. Review; it makes me update faster. ;)