Disclaimer: I don't own Crysis or Mass Effect.

Thanks to DN7 for betaing this as always. Also sorry for this chapter being a week late.

CryNet Phantom Operative designation Wraith

Current assignment: SSV Normandy SR1. Aide to Lt. Com. Shepard, Spectre

Current Location: Operative Wraith's office, SSV Normandy.

Current time: January 21st 12:21

"What the hell is your problem Duncan?"

I narrowed my eyes at Shepard who had just come striding through my previously locked door, a rather annoyed look on her face. It was the day after our deployment to asteroid X57 and I had spent the entire time since being picked up by the Normandy in my office, tending to some of the paperwork that was beginning to stack up, along with using CryTell in an attempt to locate Balak without results.

"Shepard." I greeted her coolly. "My office was locked for a reason. I do not wish to be disturbed."

She merely rolled her eyes impatiently. "You've been avoiding everyone ever since we got back from that hunk of rock. I would almost say that you're pissed because we let Balak get away and saved that engineering team instead."

Shepard paused, obviously giving me the chance to defend myself. When I didn't, and merely continued regarding her, she stared at me in disbelief. "I don't believe it. You are? You would have let those people be killed so that you could kill Balak?"

"I would have." I said with an expression of distaste. "It would have been a necessary sacrifice. But that is usually the case with batarians."

"You would have let innocent people die just so you could satisfy your hatred of batarians? What, would you have gunned down those batarians that surrendered as well?"

"My personal feelings had nothing to do with the matter. Killing Balak would have made sure that he would not have been able to endanger any more human lives. Sure those few people would have died, but in the long run more people would be saved. As for that other batarian, you heard him yourself! He had signed on for a slave raid. That alone was more than enough reason for him to die." I retorted angrily. "You may very well have cost more people in the future their freedom or worse their lives by letting that bastard get away!"

"You can't just justify that sort of thing by saying that he might kill more people in the future!" She shouted at me. "You're just a goddamn heartless bastard if you do!"

"Am I? Then what are you? After all didn't you do the same thing when you sacrificed your squad on Torfan to kill those four eyed fucks!" I accused, I noticed that I had risen from my chair and was glaring at the commander across from my desk.

Shepard's expression immediately closed up tighter than a clam.

"You sacrificed the few there so that they wouldn't kill any more later!"

"The difference between here and Torfan," Shepard said coolly, a dangerous edge to her voice. "Is that on Torfan they were soldiers. On that asteroid they were civilians." With that statement Shepard turned and stalked out of my office, the door sliding shut behind her. My burning gaze stayed fixed on the door as various conflicting emotions raged within me.

"You could have handled that a lot better." I turned my attention to the holographic figure that had appeared over my desk.

"Nova. What are you doing." I growled.

"CARLA contacted me the moment things started to get heated." Nova told me. "Good thing she did as well."

"Wonderful." I snarled angrily.

"Hey, I understand. I know why you're pissed."

"Do you?" I spat. "Do you really? Nova-"

"Ah ah ah." She wagged a finger at me. "You can't send me to my room anymore. I'm too old. And you need to listen."

I glared at her, clenching my jaw until I finally managed to grind out a single word. "Fine."

Nova didn't hesitate. "You're confused. Confused and angry. You expect that Shepard would feel the same about batarians as you. After all she did lose most of her family on Mindoir. So you expected that she would also hate batarians, just like you do. Insteadshe goes and lets a group of batarians go, whoopenly stated that their intentions were to enslave the people on that asteroid. Then she goes and lets Balak go, someone who was willing to use an asteroid to wipe out Terra Nova and kill millions of people. Someone who may very well have ties to that raid on Mindoir. Now you don't know what to think."

I grunted, unwilling to admit that she had struck straight to the heart of the problem.

"But she has moved on. One could say that the Mindoir raid was worse for you than it was for her. She lost most of her family, but she still had her sister. And as far as I know they are very close. Even if they don't see each other in person too much anymore. So Shepard was able to move on with her sister, while you never really recovered. You know I'm right."

I sighed, burying my face in my hands. "Fuck. I messed things up didn't I?"

"Nothing that you can't fix. It really is understandable from your point of view. Just go to her, apologize, explain your position and I'm sure that she will understand."

I chuckled "What happened to that little girl that I found on Terra Nova?"

Nova smiled "She was found by the best adoptive big brother a person could ask for."

"I am pretty awesome aren't I." I said puffing out my chest.

"And arrogant as all hell." She muttered.

I grinned in amusement, and decided to switch gears. "So, how's Raven without me."

The silver haired Phantom shrugged. "Not all that interesting. X57 was the first op that we did as a team since Edolus. Most of the time we're just hanging around, doing various one man missions." She paused for a moment regarding me. "But then you probably already know that."

I shrugged "That's a safe assumption. So how was the entire situation with that freighter. What was it? The Worthington?"

Nova nodded. "Worthington, yeah. Rather depressing really."

"I can imagine. Girlfriend of that guy goes insane and kills everyone. Messed up."

"Well, you know what they say about denial."

I nodded. "Yeah, its a bitch."

She grimaced. "Yeah, I tried to talk her down. But SECOND pretty much said she had gone completely insane."

"Don't worry about it. You did what you could. It was a mercy killing really."

"Still leaves a sour taste in my mouth."

"I'd be worried if it didn't." I told her.

"Yeah, I suppose so." Nova paused turning around to look at something on her end before turning back. "Listen I got to go. Viper is calling for a meeting. You wouldn't know anything about that would you?"

I shook my head. "Nope, no new missions for you guys just yet."

"Figures." she muttered. "Well, anyway. Go talk to Shepard. And keep yourself alive."

"Always." I smiled as I cut the transmission.

I didn't immediately leave my office, instead I tried to think of exactly what I would say to Shepard once I did go to talk to her. Eventually I took a deep breath, put on my facemaskand walked out of my office. The moment I did I faltered. I had no idea where Shepard would be. Shrugging I decided to try the captain's cabin. Steeling myself I knocked on the door. After a few seconds of no answer I tried again, still without result. Sighing in disappointment I turned to go, only to freeze when I saw Shepard standing there, watching me.

I cleared my throat nervously. "Um, could I talk with you?"

She nodded before stepping past me and opening the door to her quarters. "Uh sure, there's something I wanted to talk about as well."

I hesitated, confused. "Uh right." I stepped back to let her enter and followed her in.

The moment the door slid closed I locked it and pulled off my helmet. Taking a deep breath I turned around to look at Shepard who was facing away from me.

"I'm sorry." The two words brought me up short.

"What?" I asked bewildered.

She turned to face me a pained expression on her face. "I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking before. I didn't think to try and see it from your point of view."

I shook my head perplexed. "Why are you sorry? I should be sorry. After all I said that you are heartless, that you sacrificed your squad on Torfan without care. That you should be willing to do the same to those civilians on that asteroid. No, I am to blame here. I expected you to have the same morals I do."

"But I did the same!" She protested. "I was the first one to say that you were heartless!"

"No." I interrupted her. "You expected me to have the same morals that most people have. That would be a normal assumption." I grimaced "As for the heartless comment. Well I can't really argue that point." I chuckled mirthlessly at her shocked expression. "Strange right? Someone admitting that." I sighed, staring off into the distance "Unfortunately, one could very easily say that I am a heartless bastard. Being in charge of an organization like CryNet Operations, an organization that is pretty much a black ops organization, forces one to regularly foray into the territory of the morally questionable."

I walked forward past Shepard and leaned over her desk, propping myself up on my hands as I stared down at the plastic surface unseeingly. "Do you know how many deaths I've ordered over the years? How many people I've killed? How many people I've let die in order to hunt down a criminal or terrorist? How many of them had families? How many had wives? Or husbands? Brothers or sisters? Sons and daughters? How many joined up with some merc gang in order to support their families and then were hired by some criminal, only to be killed when I sent in a Phantom?" I pushed myself back from the table to look at Shepard who had come up beside me. "And you know what?" I asked her, staring into her eyes. "I would not hesitate in doing so again."

"You do what you need to do." Shepard murmured softly. "The unfortunate circumstance is that someone has to do the unsavory things. I understand that. Even if most of the galaxy doesn't. Most of the populace believes in the ideal of a perfect galaxy, no need for weapons or war. However they would get crushed by those who have no such ideals. And to combat those criminals, there is the police. And the military. But they have morals, they have ideals of their own. Which means that the terrorists who are not limited by such things have an advantage. And that's where we need those willing to do whatever it takes to bring the criminals down."

I sighed. "Yeah. Like CryNet."

"Like CryNet. I really do understand now. Before, I only thought I did. But I didn't fully understand. Just like most people. Most people herald you as heroes, they applaud you for your actions against the lawless. But it seems as if hardly anyone respect you for the sacrifices that you have to make."

I gave a short dry laugh. "What changed? I feel like you came to this conclusion after our last... discussion."

Shepard smiled "Would you believe if I said Wrex?"

This time I let loose a real quiet laugh. "I would actually."

"I get the feeling that you two know each other rather well." Shepard said.

"Yeah. We've done a couple of missions together. I also think that he can read people rather well."

"You got that right. He went and told me to think extremely carefully about why you reacted like you did, even without me telling him what was bothering me."

"Heh, he's a lot like Nova."

"Oh?"

I nodded. "Yup. When you came storming in, I was doing various logistical work for CryOps. Of course because of that I was in communication with CARLA, so when we had our argument, she immediately contacted Nova without my knowledge who then heard part of our argument. It was Nova who got me to think clearly."

"So, you two seem to know each other well, or is that just because you are both part of the same team?" Shepard asked casually.

"Well, all Phantom teams are close. Hell most of the phantoms are pretty close. But yeah, Nova and I are close. Six years ago I was on Terra Nova, doing something or other, I forget exactly what. But anyway I was distracted by some kind of dispute in an ally. When I went to investigate I saw two brutes trying to mug Nova, she was sixteen at the time. Keyword there was 'trying'. She took both muggers down by herself. Pretty impressive really, for a sixteen year old to take down two giant slabs of meat by herself. Anyway when I saw that I had to get her out of there. It wasn't easy convincing her that I wasn't about to attack her, but when I did, she told me how she grew up an orphan on the streets of Terra Nova." I smiled. "She told me that she didn't even remember her name so she called herself 'Nova'. Anyway, when I heard that, I was eventually able to convince her to let me take her in and give her a place to live that wasn't on the streets. So there I was, living with a sixteen year old. Then after two years, she demanded that I let her become a Phantom."

"That was a difficult dilemma for me. On one side I had the Director and Operative sides of me saying that she would make a great Phantom as I had been training her a bit in self defense over those two years. On the other side, there was my 'protective' side that didn't want her to become a Phantom. Eventually however, her arguments and my CryNet sides won and I let her begin the Phantom training. Needless to say she passed, with flying colors I might add."

"I see." Shepard said, her smile seemed slightly forced to me, but I quickly discarded that idea when she smirked mischievously "It seems like you have a thing with saving 16 year old girls."

I smiled "Well when you say it that way..."

"Any other stories that you have of rescuing 16 year old girls?"

I shook my head, "Nah. Just Nova, you and your sister, how is Maela doing by the way?" I asked. "I heard that she left the Alliance a while ago."

Shepard sighed "Yes. Mae never really was happy with the alliance. She seemed to think that the Alliance should have stopped the attack on Mindoir, then when Elysium happened and I was the only one defending against the slavers she had enough. She told me that she was leaving and asked me to join her. When I wouldn't join her she said that she suspected as much and left, saying that she would go and join some private security firm. We haven't seen each other in person much since then. My leave and hers rarely line up properly for us to meet up. At least we still keep in contact, although apparently she got assigned to some kind of security detail or something, somewhere where the extra-net doesn't reach. But I don't believe her when she says security." Shepard told me.

"Oh?" I asked curiously.

"Yeah, what kind of security detail wouldn't have access to the extranet? No I think she's a merc, and I think that she's trying to keep that from me."

"Why do you think she's a merc?" I asked. "There could be plenty of places that don't have extra-net access. She could be doing security out on some undeveloped world or another. Maybe security for a dig site or mine."

"Maybe." She mused "But I don't think so. Sometimes I can see her weapons in the background of our calls. She has more weapons than I would expect for someone performing security. Tons of mods and ammo blocks as well." She paused narrowing her eyes, obviously thinking hard. "Hold on. I think that I remember a few of them, and I think that I know what they are now."

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

She nodded slowly. "Yeah, three of them stand out now that I think of it. I think that she has a couple of CTA weapons. A DSG-1, a Majestic and a SCAR if I'm not mistaken and I'm remembering them correctly."

"Hmm. Interesting. At leastshe's using good weaponry." I said.

Vanyali snorted "Yeah, sure. Also expensive. Do you know how much CTA weapons cost?"

I merely cocked an eyebrow at her. Causing her to grumble "Oh yeah. Of course."

"Anyway, I was only recently able to afford my Marshall, and it took me quite some time to save up for my SCAR as well."

"So she's making a lot of money. Why does that mean that she's a merc and not just with a very good security firm?"

"Well, she said that she was leading a team in this security firm. So I went and checked all the firms whose team leaders would be making that much, you know SiCom, Zsec, ERCS. Anyway I went and checked out the names of all of their team leaders. Mae wasn't one of them. And besides, she has way more ammo blocks than I would expect would be required by a security firm."

"Well, I suggest that you just go ask her. I'm sure that if you ask her, she will tell you if you really want to know. Especially since it sounds like you've given this a lot of thought. But I don't know if she would appreciate you snooping around instead of just asking her."

She gave a deep sigh at my advice "Yeah, you're right. It's just that-"

"You don't know how to react?" I suggested. At her nod I continued "I'd say don't make a big deal about it. I'm sure that you trust her enough not to get into any real trouble."

"Yeah, I guess I do."

My attention was drawn away when my helmet beeped, accompanied by CARLA's voice "Excuse me, but there is an incoming priority message for you Director."

"Thank you Carla. Well Vanyali, duty calls." I said turning back to face her.

"Yeah, there is probably some report or another that I need to do as well. Thank you."

"And thank you." I said smiling before pulling on my Helmet and sealing it. "Until the next time we have something to do."

CryNet Phantom Operative designation Wraith

Current assignment: SSV Normandy SR1. Aide to Lt. Com. Shepard, Spectre

Current Location: Operative Wraith's office, SSV Normandy.

Current time: January 21st 13:02

"What do you have for me CARLA?" I asked the moment I sat down at my desk.

"A possible breach of the Accords."

That drew my attention real quick. "What? Who?"

"Binary Helix. I'll let Director Petersen tell you more."

"Yeah, he better." I muttered.

"Martin." Axel greeted me curtly the moment our transmission was established.

"I'm not liking what I'm hearing here, what do you have for me?"

"Some suspicious shipments to the Binary Helix research facility on Noveria. Based on the contents of these shipments it is definitely possible that Binary Helix is attempting to create a semi-organic carbon based nanoweave."

I furrowed my eyebrows "Why would Binary Helix want to create nanoweave? They are more in genetic engineering."

"And biotechnology, and really, nanoweave like that would fall into the category of bio-tech."

"I suppose, but what do you want me to do? Get a mole in there, find out whats going on. Phantoms and Inquisitors are not exactly the most subtle choice for this kind of thing."

The director of Intelligence grimaced "I would, except just recently, Binary Helix has recently quarantined their facility. Apparently some 'biohazard' or another was released and they are attempting to keep it under wraps."

That got my attention. "Well, I'd love to see what has Helix in such an uproar. I'll see what I can do." I muttered bringing up a new program on my terminal. "Lets see here, Titan is actually available and stationed on Noveria right now. I'll have them look into this."

"I'm glad, if we can get some solid evidence, find something that could shake their grip on the genetic market."

I smirked, "Hoping to get ATaS in a better spot eh?"

Axel chuckled "Of course, after all, the way events keep going, CryNet may very well be taking over ATaS within the decade."

"You've been talking to Niel a lot haven't you? He keeps going on about wanting to unify both companies, even though CryNet is a subsidiary."

I leaned back in my chair, studying the other director closely. I noticed some irregularities that I hadn't seen before. His usually neatly trimmed hair was growing longer, his beard which was usually kept at a fine stubble was growing longer and looked like it hadn't been trimmed in days. And as I looked closer I was able to tell that dark bags had formed underneath his eyes, which, as best I could tell in the hologram, were bloodshot. I arched an eyebrow as I took this in "You don't look so good Axel. What time is it over there?"

He shrugged, "It's three, but what does that have to do anything."

I frowned as I though for a moment. "Wait, it's three in the morning, and it looks like you haven't slept in a week!"

"I've been busy alright! I've been monitoring intel on Saren and the geth. Sending it to whoever needs it most." He snapped defensively.

"Alright, alright. I understand. Just, remember to get some sleep. CRISTINE can cope while you sleep, and we need you rested or you might start making mistakes that could cost us." I cautioned.

He sighed. "Yeah, you're right. I'll go and get some rest. Petersen out."

I narrowed my eyes as the hologram vanished. I didn't believe for a second that he was going to get some rest. I gave a slight smile at how much alike we were in that matter before punching a command into my terminal. "CRISTINE, make sure he gets some sleep."

"Of course Martin. Axel has been working himself far too hard recently. I think that he believes it is his responsibility for the information gathering."

"Yeah, I know the feeling." I muttered. "I do something similar sometimes."

CARLA's voice cut in "Sometimes? Its almost a regular occurrence with you Director."

"Yes yes, take it out on the organic."

"Well someone has to keep you bags of fleshon your toes." CARLA teased.

I chuckled, "Just keep an eye on him, alright?"

"Of course Martin. Is there anything else I can do for you?"

I shook my head "No, that's all. Thank you CRISTINE."

"You're welcome. Goodbye."

"CARLA, would you please connect me to Atlas? I should inform him of his next mission in person."

"Very well Director. One moment please."

A few moments later, the serious, no nonsense voice of Atlas filled my office. "Go for Titan Lead."

I let my voice fall into the normal Director's personality, going straight to business. "Titan, this is Director Duncan. A new development has arisen."

"Solid copy Director. Be advised however, we have a priority target in sight. Uploading helmet feed now."

"Helmet feed received." I turned my attention to a new window that had opened, showing me the video feed from Atlas. I leaned forward, slightly surprised at what the feed was showing me. "Uh, Titan lead, please confirm presence of HVT Matriarch Benezia."

"Facial and voice recognition confirmed. Lady Benezia is here on Noveria with a sizeable Commando escort."

"Well that changes things." I muttered to myself, thoughts racing. "Understood Titan. What is the HVT doing?"

"Target has just left the Hanshan Administration Office, is now heading for the onsite Binary Helix office."

"Binary Helix." I narrowed my eyes in thought, I remembered something about Saren being connected to Binary Helix, but I wasn't sure exactly what. I decided to investigate this further before giving Titan their new orders. "Roger that Titan, Continue tailing the HVT until further notice. Director Duncan Out." I finished, cutting off the communication channel. "CARLA, do a search for anything linking Saren to Binary Helix."

"Done. Three-hundred-eighty-three-thousand-eight-hundred- and-forty-three hits."

I rolled my eyes. "CARLA..."

"Oh very well. I believe that the information you are looking for is here." She said as a new window opened up with Binary Helix's extra-net site, showing a list of shareholders. And right there at the top of the list, was Saren listed as majority shareholder.

"Majority shareholder. Bingo." I muttered to myself as I fit all the puzzle pieces together. The only thing that was still an unknown, was that I didn't know exactly what Binary Helix was doing. And that was where Titan came in.

"Reopen channel to Titan CARLA."

"Reopening. . ."

The moment I saw that the channel opened I started the conversation. "Titan lead, this is Director Duncan."

"Go for Titan."

"Titan lead, we recently received intel that Binary Helix shipped some suspicious materials to their Peak 15 research facility. These materials would indicate the possibility of creation or development of Ceph derived technology. Matriarch Benezia is probably acting as a proxy for Saren in a possible attempt to pick up or oversee the development of this technology. You are being deployed into the field Titan. Continue following the HVT. If we are correct, she will lead you to Peak 15. Once there, you are to investigate the facility and report back with your findings. If Binary Helix is developing prohibited technology, then we will act accordingly."

"Affirm on mission. Follow the HVT to BH facility where suspected Ceph related research is on going. Observe and report. Next check-in in one solar day. Titan out."

A/N: I am so sorry for this chapter being so late. It just ended up happening. Anyway, this chapter was mainly about a bit of past history of Wraith and Nova. It also got into a bit of info about Shep's sister. The end of the chapter is a build up to Noveria which will be happening soon.

So as always, if you guys have questions or feedback don't hesitate to ask.

~LEGION