A/N:
After re-reading this after I wrote this two years ago I found it kinda funny how I got some of the things right in the actual story line. While the Illusive Man's base sounds more like the Shadow Brokers base tho (and different locations). Oh well, I find it ironic enough to keep this way.

Chapter 10

Sacrifice

Jane leaned on the table of the com. room rereading the two reports Miranda and Jacob had given her. She had spent all night reading them and despite her current distrust in the two, they had been very throughout. Even in things she was sure she really did not want to know.

It was slightly irritating to read how Jacob had nervously admitted that he had a small obsession with her during the two years she was in a coma and for a few months after she had regained consciousness. A small headache had formed between here eyes and she pinched the bridge of her nose hoping it would go away. She was very grateful he had chosen not to act on those feelings. It was true that she was always very nice and cordial with every member of her crew but in her whole commanding career she had never initiated anything other than friendship except for two: Kaidan and Garrus.

Kaidan was long since history in Jane's book. Even when she had flirted, and later taken him to her bed, it was no-where near what she had with Garrus. At least those feelings Jacob had subsided over time. It was probably true that Jacob was not the only one to have some sort of "crush" on their beloved Commander. It was not like there were very many female crewmembers that were desirable. However, sometimes logic did not dictate their choices. They had more chances for shore leave and romance with those outside of their work. Jane did not have such a luxury, she was lucky that she had found her love inside of her work and now, she was carrying his child. Jane sighed and tried to refocus. She was paying too much attention to the parts that did not really pertain to the subject at hand. Well, it is my fault. I did tell them not to leave anything out. The door hissed open, interrupting her thoughts, as Garrus and Liara entered the room.

"Please tell me you found something." Jane had an uneasy feeling that time was running short, much shorter than any other mission she had ever been on.

Liara gave her a skeptical look. "I did, but I don't know if we have time to check them all."

That was not a good sign, she checked over the reports again before continuing. "It doesn't help that Miranda reported that even though the Illusive Man stays on a massive space station that can move anywhere in the galaxy and has a IFF drive."

Liara handed her a data pad with all the possible places she had found while investigating on the Citadel. "So, we are right back where we started."

"Not necessarily, Dr. T'Soni." EDI's blue orb formed in the middle of the com table.

Garrus gave EDI a doubtful glare. "There isn't anything to cross check, EDI. And it's not like the Illusive Man is just going to sit in the last place we knew he was. He's bound to know that Jane is going to come for him and that she won't be happy."

EDI's glow flashed its eye lines a few times. "On the contrary, it does mean we can rule out one possible place, and there is another option on how to find where the Illusive Man is."

Jane lifted and eyebrow and crossed her arms. "Go on EDI."

EDI remained quite for a moment as though preparing to answer her question. "When you disconnected our link with Cerberus a year ago, the Illusive man was unable to continue his surveillance to this ship and that limited my ability to access classified files." They already knew that and EDI was well aware of it, but Jane let her continue. "If we reactivate the link, I should be able to find where the Illusive Man is located."

Garrus's mandibles twitched unsteadily as he growled loudly at the AI. "And so would he! He could take over your system in a matter of seconds and have control of the whole ship! It's too dangerous!"

Jane placed a calming hand on top of Garrus's. She could feel the blazing heat of him even through his armor. "Garrus is right EDI. It's too big of a risk. You are part of our family too; I won't risk the possibility of him damaging your systems. Who knows, maybe he has a safeguard already up waiting for you to try so he can take over the ship, or worse: delete you."

EDI's light pulsed as if she was in deep thought. All three of them stood watching her, waiting for her to say something when there was a loud crunching noise followed by a distraught murmur on the other side of the door. Their eyes all fixed on the door as it slid open and a Geth marched into the room and a grumbling Quarian not far behind. Tali was carrying what looked like a squished piece of metal that was no longer identifiable, which must have been the source of the crunching noise they had just heard.

Legion stopped in front of EDI's orb as his glowing eye twitched around in silent conversation. Tali just shrugged and shook her head as she joined them next to the table. After a long moment, it must have been an extremely long conversation considering how fast the AI's could "talk", Legion turned and faced Jane and the rest.

"Shepard-Commander." Legion acknowledged her. "I have come at EDI's request."

I, not we. Very strange. Lately Legion had been having what seemed like little slip-ups with his conversations. Or at least it seemed like it. The way the Geth terminal had said "I" just now did not feel like a mistake.

"Legion… you said 'I'. Why?" Jane asked slowly.

Legion's eye flaps flared up in consideration. "Insignificant data. We have not reached a consensus."

"But you did say 'I'" She persisted.

"Yes."

"Then you must know why." Legion did not answer, only flicked and flared its eye and flaps in confusion like it was unsure in how to answer.

EDI's light brightened, catching their attention. "I asked Legion to come here to assist me."

"Assist you in what?" Tali asked in a confused tone.

"In finding a way to locate the Illusive Man through me in a way to so there will be no harm done to the ship or me."

Everyone gasped. "EDI," Jane was shaking. "Just because we don't want anything to happen to you, doesn't make it right to ask Legion to do it for you."

"All 1,183 processes acknowledge that EDI's request is reasonable." Legion's eye turned its glow onto the group.

"But…" Tali sputtered. She had grown very close to Legion over the year.

Legion eyed her thoughtfully. "It is a logical risk for EDI to ask. You can order her not to proceed, but you can not order me."

"How is it logical? We don't even know how to accomplish such a thing!" Tali was nearly screaming through her helmet. Legion did not answer, only flicked its eye at her.

"It is simple." EDI interjected. Jane was really starting to get very irritated at both AI's. "Legion will act as the main conduit for the link. The Geth encryptions should keep the Illusive Man from noticing Legion's presence long enough to find out his location and sever the link."

Jane shook her head. "I don't like it at all. If I can't order Legion to not do this, at least I can restrict it. Only go as far to find out what system he is in. We can do the rest from there."

A few seconds passed as EDI and Legion conversed. "We find this acceptable." Legion answered.

"Fine. Tali, go gather as many of the crew with electronics skills and have them wait in the AI core." Tali whimpered softly but ran out the door quickly to complete the task.

A long time passed as the two AI's worked. Tali arrived with two of the strongest crewmembers in case of emergency. They all felt uneasy. Tali, gripped the railing tightly as she watched Legion. Jane was just as scared to loose Legion. The Geth had become a friend. It had been able to reconnect all the other Geth and convinced them to help the Quarians rebuild their home world and were learning to co-exist. It was slow work, but everyone had high hopes, even those more skeptical on the Quarian side.

An hour passed by before there was a weird gurgling like sound that came from Legion right before it collapsed on the floor. Tali gasped and launched herself at the Geth as she fussed over its body. The light from Legion's eye was faint and flickering very lightly. Jane waved the two crewmen waiting to rush the Geth to the AI core with Tali in hot pursuit. Turning angrily at EDI Jane crossed her arms and waited for her to tell her what they all wanted to know.

EDI flickered. "You were right, Commander." Aren't I always. Jane rolled her eyes. "The Illusive Man did place a few safeguards. Furthermore, we were able to identify the nebula that the signal came from. It is the Minos Wasteland."

Liara picked up her data pad and tapped it hurriedly. "I have here that there have been both Cerberus and Binary Helix activity in the Ceastus system."

Garrus's head perked up. "Ceastus system?"

"You know it?" Jane asked curiously.

"Yes, there are only two planets in that system. One is a Turian mining colony, but it's also an unofficial refuge for criminals."

"And the other?"

"An uninhabited rock planet."

Jane raised an eyebrow. "Well, we can probably guess where the Illusive Man has chosen to hide out and do his research. Having a Turian colony close by doesn't sit well either." She turned a glared at EDI. "Have Joker plot a course for the Ceastus system."

EDI disappeared quickly. Garrus slowly put his arms around her middle. Jane was shaking uncontrollably. She did not know if she could loose another member of her crew. It was just too painful.