A/N: Enough disclaimers. o.o; I've got 12 previous chapters stating I don't own Mass Effect, so.. xD No more.

w00t 13th chapter! To be quite honest I've yet to have a fanfic surpass 10 so this is a record.

I have an announcement to make. I have decided this a bit ago, but I figured it's time to share it with all you awesome people. After this story is over, I have decided to write.. well kind of like a sequel for this story. Basically, it'll be a side story, with no real plot, the only point in it is to fill in some blanks, maybe add some extra fluff, and that sort of thing. Probably won't even be very long, at the time of writing this, I'd guess under 10 chapters.

I will be sure to let you all know what the name of it is on the final chapter for this story.

But onto the the next. =3

Chapter 13

They were at the final Mass Relay gate that would take them to the Omega space station in the Terminus Systems. Kate figured it was as good a place as any to start getting answers on the where abouts of the Reapers. Not to mention if they really were they many might take shelter at the old former mining facility.

"We'll be at Omega in an hour." Miranda said as everyone gathered in the briefing room. Katelyn nodded as she took to leaning forward against the table. She took a few steadying breaths as she tried to think. "We've had this virus for years, in some part to Cerberus. We need to figure out how to make it spread." Shepard said before standing to her full length.

She looked around to her team. With Samara, Legion, and Thane gone, the first two being hard to find she figured she may want to find a few new people. "If you can find the communication array, it may be able to spread easily and quickly." Mordin said matter of factly. Liara nodded in agreement as she looked back at her bondmate. "I'm in agreement, Shepard." she said.

Liara only ever used the human's last name for a couple reasons. She was either upset with her, or during moments such as this. Mission first, intimacy later. Shepard looked up at Tali who was busy making calculations with her omni tool. She then felt eyes on her as she looked up at the rest of them. "Well?" Grunt asked roughly.

The Quarian nodded as she looked to Shepard. "It's the best bet. They have to communicate with each other somehow, or they wouldn't have been so successful with their cycle of genocide." Shepard nodded in agreement as she folded her arms over her chest watching her crew. She suddenly realized how they were quite possibly utterly alone. This wasn't anything like they've faced before.

"I'm not going to lie, people. This is the most dangerous task we will ever face. This isn't like the Collectors. No ammount of prudence will assure all of us coming out in one piece..." She started as she looked to Liara to her right. She gave her a quick worried look. Liara wanted to say something, anything, but Kate cut her off.

"There is a high chance that some of us may not come out of this alive. I will not blame any of you if you back out of this, but I will ask, I will beg, that you stay. I cannot do this on my own, and we are the only chance this galaxy has to survive." She went on. For the first time, the crew had seen a real concerned, perhaps mildly scared Shepard. But she still stood tall, and ready to do what had to be done.

The crew only watched their Commander. Silence had fallen for all of ten seconds. "I think I speak for all of us when I say, we're behind you 100%, Shepard." Miranda spoke up. Shepard gave a small smile as she looked to every one else. They all nodded at her in agreement. If they didn't do this, who would? "What I think Cheerleader is trying to say," Jack started as Miranda shot her a half glare. "Lets fuck them up so bad they'll regret ever stepping foot on our turf." Jack smirked.

Shepard grinned in return. "Alright people, we have a job to do, lets not waste anymore time. It's time to put an end to this. For good." Shepard said as everyone began to file out, ready to attend to their stations. They were determined to not fail Shepard. The galaxy was at stake, any mistakes would not just cost them their lives, but everyone else as well.

Liara was about to walk out as well, but Shepard grabbed her arm before she could take more then a step. Liara stopped as Kate waited for the room to empty out. She then faced Liara as she gave her a worried look. "Liara, lets talk a moment." Kate said as she gave the asari a look that was hesitant.

Liara blinked once as she watched the Spectre before her. "If shit hits the fan, I want you to run. Get as far away as you can, hole up somewhere, stay alive, stay safe." Kate began. Her voice was laced with a sense of fear, concern, but it was firm in what she said. Liara was about to speak but Kate held up her hand to stop her.

"Listen for a moment." She said gently. Liara looked down at the floor a moment. She wanted to protest, tell Kate that wouldn't be necessary. She wanted to tell her she wasn't going to fail but she knew her concern was real. She nodded her head as she looked back at her bondmate standing before her. Right now Kate wasn't playing her role as Commander, or Spectre, but a woman with real concerns.

"There is a very real possibility I wont make it out of this. I have to be the one to deliver the package, if something goes wrong I have to be there to do some quick thinking. I wont let anyone else fall from any mistake if I can help it." She stated calmly. Liara gave her an upset expression. Kate could understand the concern, but she wasn't going to let Liara leave this room without her promising her she would get away.

"I need you to swear to me, if something happens, get the fuck away from this ship. Get on an escape pod, and jettison away from the Normandy. Take who you can, but get out. If I die I want to die knowing you and our baby is safe." Kate said pleadingly. She even got onto her knees, taking the asari's hands in her own. "Please promise me this, Liara." She said begging the other.

Liara looked down at Kate. She looked upset, her eyes downcast as she watched this strong woman, someone who never feared anything, on her knees and pleading for her word. She didn't like the sight of this. Kate was too good for it. She was too strong, too stubborn. "I promise.." She said quietly.

Kate smiled lightly as she pulled Liara into a hug, her cheek resting against her stomach. Liara looked up at the ceiling as she let her hands rest on the woman's head. Please, Goddess.. Don't take her away from me again. Liara pleaded this silently in her mind as she got onto her own knees hugging Kate tightly as she buried her face into her shoulder.

VWVWVWVW

"Shepard, you need to come see this. Now." Joker said over the intercom. Kate had taken Liara down to the mess hall some time ago to get her something to eat. When Liara was settled in and getting a bite, Shepard went to speak with Miranda on a few matters. Miranda and Kate looked up at the speaker in her XO's ceiling before the exchanged looks.

Miranda stood from her desk as Shepard was already at the door. They marched passed the mess hall and towards the elevator. Liara looked up from her tray as she noticed this. She could tell something was up by the look on the two women's faces. She quickly got up, abandoning her dinner as she rushed quickly for the elevator.

She had stepped in just in time as the elevator slid shut. "What's going on?" She asked looking at Kate. Katelyn shrugged. "I don't know, Joker sounded a bit shaken." she said before looking to Edi's holo projector. "Edi, CIC." She said before the elevator began to ascend. The three of them had fallen silent as they wondered what had Joker so rattled.

Once on the CIC deck the three women walked up to the cockpit, Miranda checking sensors behind their pilot as Kate stepped up behind his chair. Liara took to looking out the window trying to catch anything unusual but she couldn't see too far out into the darkness of space. "What is it, Joker?" Kate asked as she leaned over his chair looking at her console.

"We should be docking with Omega, Commander.. but I cant find it's signal." He said quietly as he checked his readings for the 20th time. Shepard's eyes narrowed as she turned towards Miranda who was seated at the other console. Miranda looked up at the Spectre and shook her head slowly confirming what Joker had said.

"By the Goddess.." Liara muttered quietly as she grabbed Kate's hand without even looking behind herself. Kate turned to look at her lover as she was being tugged towards her position. Liara pointed up at the window as Kate's eyes followed the direction of her hand. Joker too took to looking as Miranda slowly rose from her seat.

Outside the window, barely visible from the ships position, they spotted a large chunk of what was Omega. It was blazing in flames, debris floated everywhere, most of the station gone. Shepard's fists clenched tightly as she watched the hunk of metal and rock float freely as it's mass effect fields were no longer keeping it in place.

Sure the station was full of criminals of all kinds. Murderers, smugglers, thieves, mercs. But she had seen a good number of innocents living in the slums. People who couldn't afford to get off the station if they wanted to. Most of them did want off the station. Innocent lives, who stood no chance. Kate swallowed her anger as best as she could but it made the air in the cockpit tense. The Reapers would pay for this, she swore it on her soul.

VWVWVW

"This could have been prevented!" She screamed at the Council figures before her. She had never stormed out of the bridge so fast and Liara had to run to catch up with her. Kate had called up the Citadel Council in her sheer anger. It was apparent in her brown eyes, her stance, she oozed anger.

Liara tried to her best to calm the Spectre. "Those innocent lives on Omega could be alive now if you had fucking listened to me!" Kate continued to yell. The Turian, for once, was highly intimidated by Commander Shepard. He couldn't even muster up the strength to say anything back.

"Shepard, we'll do everything in power to stop any-" the asari council member was cut off by Anderson. "She's right. She tried to tell you, us, all of us, we didn't listen." he retorted of his counterpart. Shepard's fists were still clutched as she knew he was trying to avert an outburst from the Spectre.

Liara standing behind her could see small blood trails coming from the palms of her hands. Kate had dug her nails into her skin trying to keep her rage in check. "Who knows how many others are dead out here!" She yelled out before Liara stepped up behind her, her hands touching her back gently. She let nestled her head between Kate's shoulder blades. She felt every tense muscle under her skin.

"Peace, Kate.." she said lightly stroking her back gently. Kate let out a long wind of air she had trapped in her lungs. "Their blood is on your hands." Kate then said with a cold tone before she cut off the transmission. She was beyond angry. Hell had no fury over Katelyn Shepard's. She tried to warn them, countless times, to be ignored, called crazy.

Now she was stuck holding the bag while the council didn't know what to do with themselves. How was she going to pull this off?

VWVWVW

Tada. Hope I didn't go over board on the anger from Kate xD I figured.. if that were me.. I'd probably do more then scream and yell. But maybe it's just me.

Tell me what you all think! Hearts for you all =3