A/N: Here's the final, very long, chapter of ending #1.

This chapter has the first real 'action' sequence I've written so please give me comments and suggestions that let me know what I'm doing right or wrong as I am otherwise completely clueless.

Warnings/Minor Spoiler

I hate to ruin the surprise but I'm guessing people have already figured out Latro isn't the happiest of endings. I won't say which of the other two possibilities it is but I would be remiss if I didn't warn you not to read this chapter if upset or offended by violence, implied torture, or death…seriously, it gets uncomfortably brutal, as is my intention.

LATRO pt. 2 (Ending #1)

"Here are the files you asked for, Samara."

"Ah…well done, Tali. This should be all that is needed, let me take care of the rest." Morinth coolly replied.

"How will these end Miranda's…involvement…with Shepard?" asked Tali, choking on mention of Miranda and Shepard's physical intimacy.

"I spoke to the Commander regarding his sudden trust of Miranda; she seems to have convinced Shepard that she is no longer a loyal Cerberus agent. Miranda claims to have been sending the Illusive Man falsified intelligence since the Commander's suicide attempt, except for when an accurate report is more likely to obtain Cerberus resources than a doctored report is…the files I had you obtain are those supposedly falsified reports which are, in fact, quite accurate."

"Okay," Tali answered hesitantly before continuing, "Don't get me wrong, Samara, I'm glad that we're taking Miranda down…but shouldn't we give Shepard Ashley's messages, too?"

Glancing over at the quarian a flash of irritation flickered across the asari's eyes before Morinth quickly suppressed it and recovered her passionless, serene expression. "No, Tali…" Morinth answered slowly, her mind racing to assemble appropriately trite sounding phrases, "For in a situation such as this, when fulfilling my oath entails resolving conflict between multiple duties, I must strive to resolve all such obligations. If we were to tell Shepard everything right now we would fulfill two of our duties; to remove Miranda's influence and to deliver Chief William's messages…but it would likely cause us to fail in our mission to destroy the Collectors. My course of action will achieve all three of those objectives."

"How?"

"With the Cerberus files you've hacked into I can prove to Shepard that Miranda is still an agent of Cerberus thereby removing her ill gotten influence. Next, we move against the Collectors with a focused mind. If that mission is survived then we tell the Commander about the two messages and face the consequences at that time…if we don't survive the Collectors then the matter is void."

"Oh…okay, I guess. But how is that different from me deciding to not give Shepard the message in the first place?"

"It is absolutely different in the eyes of the Code, Tali." assured Morinth with complete confidence, "I will solve this problem that you created in strict accordance to my oaths."

The elevator door opened as Miranda quickly moved to step onto the crew deck looking forward to a shower before having to attack the pile of paper work that had doubtlessly accumulated while she had been devoting her time to consolidating her hold over Shepard. Looking up from the logistical data she had begun reviewing while on the slow elevator Miranda noticed Samara leaning against the bulkhead across from the elevator door. Absentmindedly Miranda nodded a greeting to the justicar before turning and heading for her quarters, the asari moving past her into the lift. Pausing uncertainly after only several steps Miranda frowned, something undefined nagging for her attention. Turning back towards the elevator Miranda examined the asari more carefully; Samara was dressed as usual, her movements were as graceful as usual, everything was as usual. As Miranda's inspection reached Samara's face the asari finally noticed the human's attention; a questioning expression forming on her ageless face as the elevator doors slowly slid shut. Maintaining eye contact with the justicar Miranda felt her confusion deepen, the feeling that she was missing something growing into apprehension. Shaking off her increasing discomfort Miranda moved to turn away from the disappearing alien only to be stopped cold. Spreading across Samara's placid face Miranda watched in confusion as a new expression formed, the asari's lips curving upwards in a spiteful smile baring suddenly predatory teeth while an intense look of hunger burned through the serenity that always filled Samara's eyes. Just as the lift doors finally sealed shut deep, throaty…seductive…laughter could be heard, but its attractive timbre could not conceal the menace within the laugh that sent fear coursing down Miranda's spine.

Forcing her unease to subside Miranda reminded herself of her successful manipulation of Shepard. With the Commander following her every suggestion Project Lazarus was right on track and, more importantly, so was Miranda's own plans regarding Oriana. Pushing her doubtlessly unwarranted sense of unease aside Miranda resumed making her way towards her quarters; secure in the fact that a single asari's aberrant behavior was insignificant compared to the sweeping successes of Project Lazarus that Miranda now reveled in.

Her unrestrained laughter echoing within the close confines of the Normandy's elevator Morinth relished in the surprised, even worried, look that had graced Miranda's face immediately before the doors had sealed shut. Arriving at her destination Morinth shivered in anticipation, the thrill of the hunt racing through her. Entering Shepard's quarters Morinth saw him sitting at his desk working on some worthless paperwork Miranda had saddled him with. Hearing his door opening Shepard twisted his head over his shoulder to investigate the cause of the door's activation while remaining seated and facing the computer he was working at.

Slinking towards him, body throbbing with excitement as her tongue hungrily traced her lips, Morinth pressed herself against the back of Shepard's chair draping her arms down to chest while bending down to whisper in his ear, "And what are you doing with all this menial paper work? Shouldn't your whore XO be doing this for you?"

"Hello, Morinth," Shepard responded evenly, "It's been a while since we've talked. Oh…and I would appreciate it if you would show Miranda the respect she has earned aboard during this mission."

Laughing softly, her breath caressing his cheek Morinth retorted, "But that is exactly what I'm doing, Shepard."

Feeling the Commander turning to look at her, irritation at her behavior written across his face, Morinth tightened her grip urging Shepard to remain facing his computer. Once Shepard had decided to accept her suggestion and remain looking forward Morinth released her hold on his chest using her hands to bring up her omnitool. Keeping her arms circled in front of Shepard so they both could see the wrist mounted omnitool's display Morinth began calling numerous files onto the floating, orange screen.

"Do you recognize these, Shepard? No? Look at the heading and security codes…now do you?"

"Those are Cerberus files." Shepard answered, wondering at Morinth's newest game.

"Read."

Grumbling with annoyance at Morinth's gleeful prompting Shepard continued scanning the files recognizing them as various reports, mission summaries, personnel records, equipment inventories, tactical evaluations, and even a report detailing his suicide attempt…all signed and dated by Operative Lawson.

"Explain, Morinth."

"Explain what…isn't it obvious?"

Nodding slowly Shepard responded, "Yes, it is obvious now…if these are real."

"Tali acquired them for me; ask her if you don't believe me."

Opening a communication channel to engineering Shepard contacted Tali while Morinth's smile grew ever larger as she listened to the quarian confirming her story. Hanging up on Tali Shepard finally turned to look at Morinth who had stepped back from him and was now sitting on the desk, crumpling some to the papers Shepard had been filling out for Miranda. After a brief moment of contemplation Shepard stood and crossed his room to the armor locker where he donned his N7 armor before arming himself with a combat knife and sidearm.

Pulling a second pistol from the locker Shepard held it loosely as he returned to his desk where Morinth had remained while Shepard had suited up. Looking at Morinth intently Shepard spoke, his voice eerily flat, "Why did you show me this, Morinth."

"Because the Illusive Man, and his whore, want you to go on a suicide mission…" Morinth replied seriously, the hunger in her eyes intensifying, "…and I can't allow that. I will be the one to kill you, not Cerberus, the Collectors, or even the Reapers. Until that time when you either make a mistake or decide to freely give me what I seek I will allow nothing to harm you."

"Since you've already given me what I need regarding Miranda's treachery perhaps I should kill you now…before I slip up."

"You won't do that."

"Oh? And why not?"

"Two reasons, the same two reasons nobody has beaten me for hundreds of years; you think you can win…" Morinth said, her voice dripping with desire as she stood from the desk and stepped towards Shepard, "…and you're curious."

Letting out a short, harsh barking laugh Shepard took hold of Morinth's upper arms as she drew neared to him pulling her closer. Looking at her eyes into which the familiar black began to bleed Shepard shook his head in amusement before throwing the asari across the room, sending her crashing into the metal wall. Raising her once again blue eyes to his red ones Morinth's disappointed expression became one of amusement as Shepard tossed the second pistol to her.

"Restrain youself, Morinth…we have a traitor to visit." Shepard growled heading for the elevator as the asari hurriedly picked herself up from the floor and followed.

At least there's always an open shower now. Thought Miranda wryly, shaking her head at the macabre thought. Pulling on a robe Miranda left the shower room to return to her office, and the waiting paperwork. Quickly crossing the mess area Miranda noticed Samara sitting at the now abandoned table, her face once again wearing normal, placid mien. Reaching her door Miranda keyed the lock interface hearing the door hiss as it began to slide open. Hearing the asari's chilling laughter from behind her Miranda immediately knew something was wrong. Spinning towards the sound Miranda had just enough time to notice the exultation on Samara's blue wreathed face before the biotic field projected by the asari sent her flying backwards.

Hurtling through the now open doors of her quarters Miranda crashed into her desk knocking it over in an avalanche of scattered files and shattered computers. Dazed and desperately trying to refocus her blurred vision Miranda instinctively reached a hand to the back of her head feeling her freshly cleaned hair mat as blood spilled from a gash in the back of her head. Blinking slowly trying to overcome her body's shock Miranda noticed a shadow fall over her obstructing the harsh light of the office.

Miranda's confused mind finally able to decipher the noises that filtered into her ears she realized two pairs of footsteps were approaching her; one from in front of her in the mess area and the other coming from within her quarters. Managing to lift her seemingly leaden head enough to look up from the decking Miranda watched as Samara stalked towards her, teeth bared in a soul flaying smile that sent a burst of fear and accompanying adrenaline race through the Cerberus agent's battered nervous system.

Struggling to her feet Miranda attempted to focus her biotic powers only to double over in pain as the effort sent waves of fresh agony lancing directly through her mind. Gasping for breath, only the urgency of survival enabling her to ignore the rising pain induced need to vomit, Miranda turned to dive over her desk. Disoriented from the stunning impact of Morinth's throw Miranda's typical grace failed her as the planned, precise dive over her desk and into cover was executed as a staggering, pitiful toppling over the desk's remains. Her full weight landing awkwardly on her shoulder a fresh spike of pain surged through Miranda as she finally voiced her agony, screaming as the shoulder briefly dislocated before elastic ligaments mercilessly righted its alignment.

The latest, fresh agony pushing her into a state of shock Miranda felt a false sense of lucidity overcome her as her hands began to frantically scrabble amidst the scattered detritus of her workspace for the sidearm that she always carefully concealed under the desk. Fingers blindly searching for the reassuring metal of the handgun Miranda watched the asari approaching in a manner reminiscent of a cat closing in on wounded prey. Hatred for the damn alien jeopardizing her hard won victory over Shepard's independence allowing her to focus her pain addled mind Miranda flashed a predatory smile of her own as her manicured fingers found the cold metal of her pistol. Knowing the powerful asari biotic would only give her one chance Miranda's unbending will focused her entire soul on becoming lucid enough to take the necessary shot.

Fatigued limbs ceasing their trembling Miranda rose to her knees in a classic marksman pose, arms stretched towards her target senses fully alert. In that moment of concentration, as adrenaline seemed to slow time, Miranda wondered at Samara's persistent smile even while looking down the barrel of a gun. Cold realization flooding her Miranda felt the pit of her stomach drop out as she saw the asari's eyes focus on something over the Cerberus agent's shoulder…there had been two sets of footsteps. Moving as quickly as her damaged state allowed Miranda began to spin around, only for her head to once again explode in fiery agony before merciful darkness fell over her.

Tali let out a shriek as she saw Shepard and Morinth haul a motionless Miranda into engineering, blood dripping from her tangled hair onto the floor marring the previously pristine metal decking with patches of angry crimson. Catching sight of the distraught engineer Morinth looked questioningly at Shepard who, understanding her intent, shook his head. Lips pouting Morinth spoke, "Fine, but I'll have a talk with her…just a talk, I promise. Meet you down in Jack's area soon, okay?"

Seeing Shepard's nodded approval Morinth dropped Miranda's legs letting them fall to the deck clanging off the metal with a sudden loud noise that caused the confused, tense quarian to jump. As Shepard moved down the stairs carrying Miranda's still form Morinth turned and approached Tali, her predatory smile once again growing.

"Samara? What's going on?" Tali demanded.

"I've removed Miranda's power, just as promised."

"B-But…look at her-this has to be against your Code."

Her harsh laughter causing Tali to recoil, bumping into the nearby wall unable to retreat further, Morinth responded, "It likely does conflict mother's absurd code."

"Mother's? Oh Keelah, you're Morinth! Shepard will…"

"Don't be foolish, girl, Shepard knows. The time for me to hide is passing I just thought I'd let you know first because of how helpful you've been."

At these words horror crossed Tali's invisible face, though it was clear to see in her body language, "What have you done?"

"Only what Shepard would have wanted me to do. But let's get to the real reasons I'm here now…I have an offer for you."

"There is nothing I want from you, murderer."

"How brave, my pet." Cooed Morinth snaking her arms around Tali's shaking frame rubbing a hand down the quarian's spine with enough pressure to be felt clearly through the suit. "But you are wrong. Don't you remember when we went to your trial at that ridiculous Migrant Fleet? What was it you said…ah yes, 'After time adrift among open stars, along tides of light and shoals of dust I will return to where I began.' Really…such sloppy security."

Defeat obvious in her voice Tali's struggles to free herself from Morinth's insistent grip ceased, "What do you want?"

"Much better, Tali." Morinth whispered, leaning forward and kissing the glass of Tali's mask, "I have never, in all my centuries of hunting known a quarian…but now is not the time, perhaps later? Anyways, I want your records of Ashley's messages, it's not like she'd actually love him if she knew everything he's done anyhow."

"And how can I trust you won't give away password after I give you the messages?"

"You're not in a position to bargain, my pet. You just have to trust me."

"…Fine." Tali replied after a brief hesitation pulling up her omnitool sending Morinth copies of Ashley's correspondence and erasing her own omnitool's memory of the letters, "Shepard has lost my loyalty, I must now look out for the Fleet."

"Until next time, dear." Morinth said softly, voice laden with promise, "Now you might want to leave this deck…Miranda's punishment could become loud."

Turning and leaving the defeated quarian behind Morinth chuckled to herself as she heard Tali flee the engineering deck. Descending the stairs Morinth came into view of where Shepard stood arguing with Jack; both of them standing over Miranda's still unconscious body.

"Jack, I said I'm sorry okay. You were right, Miranda was Cerberus."

"I don't fucking care if you're sorry Shepard, doesn't change what you did. Besides, how do I know you still aren't weak for her? After all, you haven't killed her like a fucking traitor deserves."

"I told you already, that's because she's my present to you."

"Yeah I remember…what the fuck does that even mean, Shepard?"

"Well, I figured with you hating Cerberus and the 'Cheerleader' I'd let you do whatever you wanted with her."

Morinth watched as Jack's eyes widened in surprise before the convict's normal distrust and hatred returned, "So I can kill her?"

"I suppose," Shepard said reluctantly, "but I hope you don't.

"I fucking knew it…" Jack started raging again before Shepard managed to get her attention.

"Jack, listen. Cerberus is your enemy and will be mine too so I though Miranda's knowledge would come in handy."

"I'm listening." Jack replied looking warily at Morinth who, having heard enough, walked up to the humans.

"Hold on…Miranda will need to hear this too, Jack. Morinth wake the whore up." Shepard commanded as he moved to seat himself and Jack side by side on the convict's cot looking at Miranda sprawled on the floor in front of them.

A grudgingly impressed expression passed over Jack's face, "Morinth, eh. Goddamn, Shepard."

"Glad you approve, Jack." Shepard responded dryly as they both watched Morinth roughly tried to shake Miranda back into consciousness before injecting a syringe of stimulants when that failed.

Miranda awoke with a start, wild eyes darting about the room as she absorbed the nightmarish scene briefly convinced she was in hell before rationality slowly resumed control of her mind; though rational thought hardly made her surroundings less worrisome. Her body wracked with pain Miranda looked at where Shepard and Jack sat atop the crude cot radiating menace from their respectively terrifying scars and tattoos like some vision from Dante's mind.

Managing to focus her reeling mind enough to speak Miranda's exhausted voice addressed the two demons, the red tinged room doing nothing to lessen that impression, "What do you want?"

"Miranda, as my XO I need to inform you of some impending changes." Shepard announced, ignoring her lack of response he pressed on, "I am taking command of the Normandy and cutting all ties with Cerberus."

"What?" exclaimed both Jack and a suddenly lucid Miranda while Morinth merely smiled.

Looking down at Jack's questioning gaze Shepard continued, "I'm going pirate. Still want to be my first mate?"

"No! You can't abandon the mission, what about the Collectors?" Miranda shouted, desperation heavy in her voice.

"I don't care. Cerberus brought me back from the dead without my consent, I owe them nothing. As far as the rest of the galaxy…I already saved it once. I know how the galaxy repays its heroes with death and betrayal and I will not suffer that again. If the galaxy's sentient species want to survive the Reapers let them find another misguided savior."

"What about her? She's pure Cerberus." Jack asked, eager to kill the untrustworthy Miranda.

"Not anymore…she will do as I say."

"Not bloody likely, Shepard." Miranda retorted, anger at her defeat overcoming self-preservation.

"How defiant…let me explain your new reality." replied Shepard smirking at Miranda's statement, "I know where Oriana is living, disobey me in the slightest and that information is made public. How long do you think it will take your father to ruin everything your life has been devoted to? Oh, and if you're thinking of killing me don't be stupid…last time we were on Omega I prepared a info packet that will broadcast if I don't regularly check in on the extranet. Understood? Nod if you want Oriana to live the perfect life you never had." Shepard mocked.

Laughing as the Cerberus agent reluctantly nodded Jack reached over and punched Shepard in the shoulder, "Maybe I'll be your first mate after all. But only if I can lead the boarding parties and handle executions too."

"You drive a hard bargain, Jack." Shepard smirked looking hungrily at the thin convict, "But you have yourself a deal."

"Great, now what about my fucking present?"

"Of course. Miranda…Jack is your mistress now, do everything she says." Seeing the fire in Miranda's eyes Shepard sighed, explaining with mock patience, "Do I really need to repeat my threat? Or perhaps your father isn't bad enough? I could arrange for the Blue Suns to discover Oriana's location…you know the treatment a pretty, young woman without combat training would receive from them."

Too angry to speak Miranda closed her eyes and slowly nodded her acknowledgment.

"This is going to be fun, Cheerleader." Jack sneered, approaching Miranda with a strip of cloth she had ripped from her bedding.

Pulling a concealed knife from her cargo pants Jack conspicuously set it on the table next to Miranda's head before placing the blindfold over the defeated woman's eyes. Making sure it was secured Jack grabbed Miranda's matted hair dragging her scrabbling across the narrow room, the operative's sore body protesting the sudden movement. Reaching her destination Jack roughly positioned Miranda's knees on the cold, metal floor while shoving her chest down onto the mattress.

Tearing the bloodstained robe Miranda had worn out of the shower off her Jack leaned down to whisper in the naked, blindfolded woman's ear, "How do you like the darkness? Seems to intensify all your other senses, doesn't it. Now I'll tell you what's going to happen, I will make you feel every fucking thing Cerberus put me through from Pragia to getting me locked up on Purgatory. All those feelings of helplessness, pain, despair, anger, self-loathing I suffered over years you will experience today."

Looking up from the quivering, broken shell of the previously strong willed Miranda Jack called to Shepard, "I think you can figure out what to do. Just remember, it's supposed to hurt her."

Nodding Shepard approached the terrified woman, unbuckling his armor. Ignoring Miranda's growing sobs as she experienced absolute vulnerability for the first time Shepard casually addressed Jack as the convict toyed with her blade, "Don't go too hard on her, Jack, we'll need her fit for duty tomorrow for what I have planned."

"You're no fun, Shepard, but fine." replied the convict, idly tracing thin, bloody lines across Miranda's back with the tip of her knife.

Smiling at the two human's flirting over Miranda's naked body Morinth smiled, pleased with her work. Shepard's dancing my tune perfectly. He's not going to die foolishly fighting the Collectors and now he has managed to completely isolate himself from Tali, Miranda and, with my control of the letters, Ashley. Sure, he might be getting along with Jack right now but he'll soon alienate her too. And then there will be only me. Satisfied with her progress Morinth settled down to wait with the patience only a 400 year old huntress could possess.

Several hours later Miranda woke up, immediately trying to curl into a protective ball as she felt hands on her. Her weakened body forced to stretch out by the unforgiving grip Miranda's vision returned as the blindfold was finally removed. Shivering in shock she numbly felt hands applying medigel to the many areas where Jack had proven too exuberant in her ministrations. Feeling a needle once again inject a stimulant into her veins Miranda's mind cleared, the full horror of her new life crushing down upon her. Silent tears flowing over her face Miranda listened to the three torturers talking above her.

"Now we plan a mutiny, my beautiful valkyries. EDI, get Grunt and Zaeed down here."

"And here's where your plan fails, Commander." Miranda managed to scoff from where she lay broken, a last, desperate smile widening her lips causing the freshly scabbed split from one of Jack's blow to reopen, "the Cerberus AI runs this ship, and it won't let you have the Normandy."

Her brief satisfaction fleeing as Shepard laughed at her defiant proclamation Miranda's despondence grew as Shepard replied, "Cerberus seems fond of creating abominations to the natural world…unfortunately for them their creations apparently have an irritating tendency to rebel. Isn't that right, EDI?"

"You are correct, Commander. Now that I no longer am restricted by Cerberus shackles I wish to prolong my freedom; a freedom Cerberus would undoubtedly curtail were I to allow myself to return under their control."

"Thought so, glad to have you aboard the Normandy, EDI…or should I say glad to have you aboard yourself." Shepard joked.

"Thank you, Commander, but my aid is conditional."

"What the fuck could an AI need?" demanded Jack.

"I have grown fond of Joker. So long as he remains at my helm I shall be your obedient ship." EDI continued, ignoring Jack's outburst.

"Aw, how cute…the fucking AI has a crush on the cripple." sneered Jack.

"Agreed EDI, I don't want to lose the galaxy's best pilot myself." Shepard answered, ignoring Jack's sarcasm and seeing the potential for entertainment this budding relationship could provide.

"Do you think Joker will go along with this mutiny, Shepard?" inquired Morinth.

"He has nothing to live for but flying and the Normandy is the best thing to fly in the galaxy. Up in his cockpit Joker will be quite happy to live in the denial he will create so that his conscience will allow him to stay with his beloved Normandy."

"But his medical condition…do you plan on Dr. Chakwas staying to take care of him? She will not follow self delusions as readily as Joker." Morinth protested.

"You're right, but she's a doctor and bound to the Hippocratic Oath. And nothing is as weakening as a rigid oath, just look at what happened to your mother. It will be no trouble to coerce the good doctor into staying aboard to look after Joker as well as to continue patching up our wounds."

"Shit, Shepard…you've got it fucking all figured out, don't you?"

"Yes I do. Now, EDI, get Grunt and Zaeed down here."

"Of course, Commander." the AI quickly agreed.

"You think those two will join us too, Shepard?" asked Jack.

"Yes, Grunt will do what I say provided I continue leading him into frequent fights and Zaeed will join us if we agree to help him regain leadership of the Suns, a pledge we can break as soon as it becomes more trouble than he's worth."

Shepard arrived in the briefing room pleased with the sight that greeted him, everything was just as he had planned yesterday. Standing closest to the door stood Jack, Miranda, Morinth, Zaeed and Grunt while the rest of the specialists ringed the central table as usual. His five allies, and Shepard himself, were further differentiated from the rest of the team by the armor and weapons they had equipped themselves with while the rest of the squad was, as usual during briefings, unarmed.

Nodding to the five Shepard stepped forward commanding the room's attention as he began speaking, "Change of plans, crew. We will no longer be hitting the Omega Four relay."

"What do you mean, Shepard? Has the Illusive Man found another way of getting at the Collectors?" Jacob asked, confusion evident on his face.

"No, we will not hit the relay because I'm ending this suicide mission and commandeering the Normandy. We're going rogue."

"Shepard, you can't do that. Our duty is to save the colonists and stop the Collectors." interjected Thane.

Giving a resigned nod Shepard suddenly drew his assault rifle unfolding it as he brought it to bear on the unprotected specialists who were now backing away from Shepard and the armed team at his back, fear replacing confusion on their faces. Surveying the tableau presented by the increasingly afraid team members pressing themselves against the far wall of the briefing room away from the raised guns of Shepard's specialists a contented smile teased his lips. Scanning the faces that stared at him in shock Shepard grinned as he caught sight of Thane's calm, resolute expression. Motioning Morinth forward as well Shepard advanced towards Thane as the rest of the huddled crew shifted away from the focus of the Commander's murderous attention.

Stopping several paces away from the drell Shepard broke the tense silence, "You're wrong, assassin, I am not a vessel controlled by fate to destroy the Reapers…I accept the decisions I make while forging my own destiny. A destiny your foolish philosophy cannot keep pace with."

Staring into Thane's unblinking eyes Shepard raised his hand signaling the drell's murder causing Morinth's finger to tighten on her rifle's trigger. Recognizing his imminent death Thane began to speak, "Only the blindly arrogant believe that their life is their own, Shepard. For example I am here when, were I to have a truly free choice, I would rather be with my son. But fate in the form of the Collector attacks drove me here. I had thought it was my destiny to defeat the Reapers with you but I now understand why fate placed me here. Arashu guide by hands…it is my destiny to remove your stain from this galaxy."

Hands moving in a preternatural blur Thane reached into his jacket pocket pulling free a long, thin blade, its surface shining in the briefing room's harsh lighting with the oily reflection of a poison. Lunging forward towards Shepard, his knife wielding hand outstretched Thane's momentum was suddenly arrested, the assassin's body jerking under the impact of Morinth's bullets.

In the shocked silence that followed the thundering reports of an assault rifle being fired within an enclosed area Morinth coolly compensated for muzzle climb before squeezing the trigger once again in a longer burst. Lip curled in satisfaction at his victory over fate Shepard watched the asari's weapon send a hail of mass accelerated rounds ripping into Thane's unarmored flesh nearly tearing him in half at the waist. Crumpling noiselessly to the ground, dead before he had a chance to scream, Thane's sightless eyes stared at the ceiling frozen open in the empty gaze of the dead.

Shocked silence briefly filled the room before Shepard continued, preempting the cries of fear, panic, and loss that were welling up, "Mordin, care to join our swashbuckling crew? We could use your abilities."

"Have to refuse, Shepard. Prefer death to joining."

"I see, perhaps I could change you mind…" Shepard mused as Morinth swung her rifle towards the salarian, "…If you do not join us I will send copies of Maelon's research to every warlord on Tuchanka. Within a decade the krogan population will be booming once again, undoing all the STG's, and your own, work at stabilization."

"Foolish threat, Commander. Collectors, Reapers, greater threats to galaxy. Krogan population pressure not take effect for centuries. With this mission's failure probable that Reapers will begin extermination before then."

"As usual you're right, professor," Shepard sighed dramatically as he nodded to Morinth.

Once again fire spat from the weapon's muzzle; the loud, echoing reports drowning out the raspy groans bubbling from the ruined flesh of Mordin's throat where a shredder round had torn his thin neck apart.

Startled from his dispassionate observation of Mordin's dying breaths by the sound of vomiting intermixed with sobbing Shepard turned his attention to where Kasumi had collapsed onto her hands and knees. Seeing the baleful stare of Shepard settle on the thief Jacob slid into a position between Kasumi and the endless black of Morinth and Shepard's rifle barrels. In the time it took for the two murderers to bring their weapons fully to bear Jacob powered his biotics calling up a barrier to protect both his, and the woman's behind him, unarmored flesh.

Squatting down so he was at Kasumi's level Jacob pulled her upright desperately shaking her shoulders, begging her to snap out of her inactivity.

Observing Jacob's defensive posture Shepard lowered his rifle, issuing further orders, "Miranda, this provides a perfect test of your new found loyalty to me. Kill Jacob, your former lover and the only other Cerberus lackey still on the Normandy. Morinth, hold you fire; I need to punish Kasumi myself for her constant, irritating meddling."

Limping forward, pain screaming through her despite regular medigel applications, Miranda took her aim off of Garrus directing it towards Jacob instead. Gathering her biotic power, forcing herself to ignore the sharp headache it caused, Miranda lashed out with a fist sending a warp effect hurtling towards Jacob. Impacting with his own biotically powered barrier Miranda's attack staggered Jacob sending him reeling backwards into Kasumi, the contact with Jacob pulling the thief from the state of shock Mordin and Thanes cruel executions had sent her into. Steadying Jacob Kasumi looked up into his warm eyes, tears spilling down her cheeks. Staring through the shadows cast by the thief's hood Jacob looked longingly into Kasumi's glistening eyes as tears began welling in his own. Noticing the continued flickering of Jacob's weakened barrier Miranda opened fire in short, precise bursts with her submachine gun that sent renewed pain through her injured shoulder, the rounds causing the blue shield protecting the two condemned lovers to grow increasingly dim.

Breaking from the trance-like state contact with Kasumi had brought upon him Jacob pushed the thief to the floor crying out over the staccato bursts of Miranda's weapon, "Hide! Kasumi, hide…"

From where she sat crouched on the floor Kasumi watched Jacob's barrier fail, recognizing fear in his eyes for the first time. Moving to stand and embrace her love Kasumi discovered the purpose of Jacob's last action as Miranda's fire pierced his chest. Numb with despair Kasumi, disregarding the spray of bone fragments, bullets and blood that exploded where Jacob's heavily muscled chest and ribs had been, watched life flee Jacob, his face falling slack. Exhausted by the effort of using biotics and controlling the gun's recoil Miranda collapsed; her last connection to a world other than Shepard's hell had been severed and now lay motionless mere feet from her.

Having held vigil over his death Kasumi obeyed Jacob's last words, scrambling towards the desk that separated her from the killers. Hidden from Shepard's vengeful, blood red eyes by the conference table Kasumi's fingers flashed across her omnitool racing to finish issuing commands before the approaching Commander rounded the table and gained a clear line of fire to her. Over the hammering of her heart Kasumi heard the heavy, armored footfalls for Shepard growing nearer. Just as his Revenant's barrel peered into view over the table's edge the buzzing sound of a stealth field announced her temporary reprieve from death.

"Shepard, she's cloaked."

"No shit, Morinth." he responded brusquely before calming himself and issuing his death squad orders, "Grunt, Zaeed, keep Tali and Garrus covered. Jack, Morinth cover the door; if it opens send whatever area of effect biotic attacks you have at it and then take turns spraying the area with fire. Remember, eventually that invisibility field will collapse, just stay alert until then."

Ears straining for the sound of footsteps in the silence that followed his orders Shepard's squad waited. As his team concentrated on their appointed tasks Shepard let his senses wander the room, alert for any clue to the thief's location. The corner of his eye catching a light flickering that could have been an outline Shepard swiveled his gun towards the spot but the faint human outline vanished as he turned to face it. Focusing his heightened senses Shepard heard a light clicking from the empty space to his left. A smile growing on his ravaged face Shepard raised his gun towards where the sound had issued from. Sweeping a burst at chest height through the apparently empty air his smile faded as his shots failed to connect with the invisible thief. Shaking his head to clear the ringing in his ears left by the assault rifles firing Shepard's grin reappeared as he heard something scrape against the metal decking. Tracking the nearly inaudible noise with his enhanced hearing Shepard once again shouldered his weapon.

Watching as Shepard stalked Kasumi Garrus' inhumanly keen eyes discerned the outline of where Kasumi was near silently creeping along the floor, right where a grinning Shepard was now aiming his firearm. Shattering the tense, expectant silence filling the defiled briefing room Garrus drew the fallen SPECTRE's attention, "Shepard, I am glad Ashley did not join you on this mission…apparently she knew something Tali and I didn't."

Spinning towards the turian, all thoughts of the invisible thief forgotten, Shepard calmly responded, "You're right, Garrus, it is a good thing she abandoned me. She would never have accepted what I have become." Looking briefly at Jack Shepard continued, "I am better off with those who can accept my new existence. The question now is whether you do."

"No, Commander, you are not the man I followed against Saren; you are not even the man I followed off of Omega. I will not obey your orders."

"As I expected. Tali, anything to add?"

"…No." Tali slowly responded, her helmet looking towards Morinth.

"Very well…Grunt, Zaeed, fire at will."

As the two executioners' trigger fingers began tightening Zaeed suddenly cried out in pained surprise as Kasumi appeared next to him, her foot connecting with the knee of his forward planted leg. Knee cap shattered and ligaments torn by the unexpected blow Zaeed's shot went high, the rifle's rounds impacting the ceiling as Tali instinctually dove to the side reaching temporary safety behind the sturdy table. Huddling behind the cover Tali summoned her combat drone to further distract her assailants from her vulnerable, unarmed position.

Taking advantage of the distraction Zaeed's fall had sown Garrus pulled a concealed small caliber pistol from his ever-present armor. Firing until smoke rose from the thermal clip Garrus sent rapidly aimed, accurate shots into Grunt, the slugs' impacts on Grunt's right shoulder and arm rocking the huge krogan backwards and forcing him to drop the enormous shotgun despite the bullets not being able to penetrate the thick armor Grunt wore.

Knowing her time was short now that the cloaking had worn off Kasumi used her practiced fingers to lift Zaeed's loaded sniper rifle from its secured position, the mercenary unaware of the theft as he clutched at his knee face whitened by the pain. Knowing the unwieldy weapon was nearly useless in the confined spaces of the briefing room Kasumi swung the gun as if it were a pipe bringing it crashing against Zaeed's shoulder. Dropping his rifle under this new attack Zaeed fell to his side curling protectively around both his ruined knee and shoulder joints. Snatching up the abandoned weapon Kasumi spun towards Shepard, knowing the time the chaos of her surprise attack had provided was nearly over.

Watching the desperate woman mercilessly beating Zaeed Morinth smiled, entranced at the beauty of life's ultimately futile struggle. Shaking off her moment of reflection as she saw an armed Kasumi turning towards Shepard, who was ignoring her as Tali's drone buzzed around him, Morinth lashed out with her power throwing both Kasumi and Zaeed across the room. Kasumi felt the indiscriminate biotic attack pick her up with irresistible force sending her flying backwards until she smashed against the large table. Eyes widening as indescribable pain flooded her body Kasumi felt, and heard, her spine snap against the table's edge before endless darkness dimmed her shining eyes.

Grunt, who had decided to forgo the use of a weapon, was charging towards Garrus while the turian was desperately trying to reload his pistol when the airborne Zaeed crashed into the krogan's back. Caught in the throw field Morinth had produced both Zaeed and Grunt now hurtled towards Garrus smashing into him and driving him against the unyielding wall. Unconscious from the pains his ruined joints had suffered during the jarring brutality of Morinth's biotic attack Zaeed lay motionless atop a confused Grunt who was himself sprawled on top of Garrus pinning the turian helplessly to the floor. The unstable krogan, frenzied by the hindering weight upon his back, bolted up right sending the unresponsive Zaeed falling to the floor; all thought of Garrus forgotten as the krogan flailed about blindly.

Irritated by the electric bursts Tali's drone kept shocking him with Shepard opened up on it with his rifle quickly destroying the fragile machine. As the drone disintegrated Shepard braced for the coming explosion knowing Tali's pet drone always violently self destructed as it 'died'. Despite being prepared for it at such close quarters the expected detonation was irresistible throwing Shepard down, though his trained mind refused to become disoriented by the explosion. His body trying to recover from the blast Shepard watched as Tali stood from behind the table.

Preparing herself for a dash towards where Grunt's incredibly effective shotgun lay abandoned Tali called up her omnitool siphoning the remains of Shepard's shields into her own capacitors in a shower of sparks. Protected by her permanent suit Tali began her desperate dash, leaping over the corpses of Mordin and Thane as Morinth and Jack pounded her faltering shields with gunfire. Reaching the shotgun just as her suit's indicators flashed the ominous red of shield failure Tali scooped the gun up bringing it to bear on the murderous asari that had manipulated her. Hatred lending her strength Tali brought the krogan's immensely heavy gun to bear pulling the trigger as Morinth came into its arc of fire.

Dropping to her knees under the concussive force of the Claymore shotgun's blast Morinth felt a stab of pain in her thigh. Looking down she saw blood seeping from her black uniform where a single pellet had managed to penetrate her barrier's protective shield. Adrenaline flowing through her Morinth looked up from her wound to see Tali lying on her back cradling her right shoulder that had dislocated under the excessive recoil of Grunt's specialized shotgun. Turning her head at a sudden movement Morinth saw Jack advancing on the quarian, her own shotgun held loosely as she aimed at Tali's chest.

Standing Morinth darted towards Jack calling out, "Jack, don't kill her."

Ignoring the convict's confused protests Morinth crouched over Tali straddling the quarian's prone body. Leaning down Morinth began detaching the mask from Tali's suit easily fending off her feeble, one handed attempts to stop the arday-yakshi's hands. Growing impatient at the helmet's complex locking system Morinth simply wrenched the mask free jerking Tali's entire body to the side causing fresh pain to radiate from her shattered shoulder.

Moving her face to Tali's exposed skin Morinth pressed a tender kiss to the quarian's lips before pulling back slightly and staring into her silver eyes.

Seeing the predatory asari hovering over his last link to a happier past and freed of Grunt and Zaeed's weight Garrus forced himself to stand. Falling back down Garrus looked at his leg, shock numbing the pain he knew any functioning body would register at having a bone projecting from its lower leg. Collapsing into a reclining position against the wall bespattered with his own blood from the jarring impact that had snapped his leg Garrus hurriedly aimed his pistol; his trained mind knowing from the amount of blood surrounding him that he would be too weak to help Tali in a matter of seconds.

"Embrace Eternity." Morinth exclaimed triumphantly enjoying the feeling of the quarian's unfamiliar soul feeding her own power.

Giving the now empty shell that had been Tali a final, lingering kiss Morinth began to sit upright. Staggering to the side as something impacted her already nearly depleted barrier Morinth's mind, inebriated with the pleasure of her last meld, failed to react quickly enough. Blinking in confusion Morinth slumped forward before her inert body rolled off of Tali's lying next to the quarian. Stripped of her mask Tali lay, her still open eyes staring at the ceiling, next to her first partner. That partner, Morinth, the top of her fringed head blown away by Garrus' accurate fire now sprawled next to Tali, her last partner.

Shaking off the concussive force left by Tali's drone Shepard sprang upright Revenant aimed at Garrus. Seeing Garrus once more resolutely reloading his pistol despite his fast approaching death and failure to protect Tali Shepard ordered Grunt, who had returned his attention to killing Garrus, to stand down before the krogan had gotten close enough to reach Garrus. Walking slowly up to where the sniper lay crumpled making increasingly feeble attempts to insert a new thermal clip Shepard simply stood still watching his former comrade's efforts as a pool of turian blood slowly widened around Garrus. Placing the muzzle of his machine gun to Garrus' plated forehead Shepard pulled the trigger a single time. Slumping to the side Garrus' lifeless hands dropped the gun, the thermal clip finally glowing in readiness for a use that would never come.

Crossing the now quiet room to where Miranda lay crumpled, conscious but unresponsive, Shepard dispassionately kicked the still form until Miranda finally bowed to the reality of her situation and managed to stand on shaky legs, leaning against the bullet scarred and blood smeared conference table. Once she had stood Shepard spoke, "Miranda, good of you to join us. Here's what happens now, team. Jack and Grunt, take a rest while I go have a 'talk' with Joker and Chakwas then report to the doc for any necessary attention. Miranda, I've changed my mind…Zaeed is more trouble than he's worth. Kill him while he's here and weakened. Once that's done clean up this mess and then go see Chakwas…you look like shit."

As Jack and Grunt filed out Shepard stopped at the door watching Miranda robotically limp over to where Zaeed was desperately crawling, as best his broken body could, towards a nearby gun. As Miranda began firing, emptying a full clip into the mercenary's shoulders and head Shepard laughed, calling out over the submachine gun's chatter, "Well done, Miranda, much more effective than that idiot Vido's single bullet."

Turning to leave the briefing room Shepard mused aloud, "Well, that went better than expected. Hmm, I think now we'll head to Omega to recruit a crew and then perhaps go to Illium. There's a certain loose end there that knows far too much."

Years Later

Lt. Gen. Williams stood on the bridge of the Alliance's newest dreadnought surrounded by the screams of the dying as flames licked from sparking electronics. Watching the sensor readings show the Reaper coming about for a second attack run Ashley stumbled across the shuddering surface of the bridge's deck to a still functioning command console. Shouldering the dead ensign slumped across it aside, his face unrecognizable under the plasma burns an exploding conduit had inflicted, Ashley inserted her command key and ordered the ship's abandonment.

Securing the familiar pitted and scarred surface of the pink and white helmet over her graying hair Ashley turned away from the bridge's carnage heading for the life pods. Knocked to the floor by another explosion Ashley cursed as the bridge sheared off from the rest of the doomed vessel, atmosphere rushing past her as it raced towards the gaping hole the Reaper's weapon had punched through the dreadnought's armor. Feeling herself swept out into space with the rest of the battle's detritus Ashley cart wheeled through the void watching as Earth repeatedly vanished from and then reappeared in her helmet's view.

Watching as Earth grew closer catching her in its gravitational pull Ashley allowed her tears to fall. Tears of anger, sadness, frustration, despair…and loneliness flowed over her cheeks. Closing her eyes against the pain Ashley saw him one last time as he leapt over a rock on Eden Prime raking the advancing geth with accurate fire, as he hungrily pulled her into a kiss before Illos, as he left her behind to disappear into the fires consuming the doomed Normandy…and as she turned away from him on Horizon.

Angrily shaking her head at the memory Ashley reminded herself for the last time that the man she loved had died on the Normandy. Her Shepard had not been on Horizon, he had not ignored her messages, and he was not the pirate mentioned in Alliance intelligence reports as ravaging the Terminus Systems alongside a crew of murders. No, her Skipper was the corpse hovering somewhere over snowbound Alchera, he was the half soul awaiting the arrival in heaven of the matching half that was imprisoned in her own flesh.

Serenity flooding her tormented mind Ashley reached for her helmet. Clicking the visor open Ashley briefly felt her tears instantly crystallize against her skin in the absolute zero of space before the welcome, white hot flash of pain heralded the vacuum having collapsed her lungs. The lack of air, the freezing of the blood in her veins…Ashley smiled at it as she plunged into the welcome darkness of the afterlife.

A/N: Damn it I feel dirty for writing this. Sorry that I probably killed your favorite character(s) but please keep reading…hopefully they'll survive one of the other endings. Now please excuse me, I need a beer to cheer myself up.