M-Angel: Is soooo happy!

Knight: I don't have a hangover! Why would you say that?

M-Angel: Oh! What?

Knight: And even if I was, that's not why this chapter is late!

M-Angel: Huh?

Knight: And another thing! Getting drunk after just five beers is totally respectable for someone who is 6'4''!

M-Angel: Why are you so mad?

Knight: *Small voice* Because only five beers got me drunk and hungover and made this chapter late. I'm sorry.

Chapter 12: Truth

I watched as Nihlus explained to the Council what had occurred, including my mysterious appearance. He'd been telling them this for the last hour or so. Before that, I had been given the choice by both him and Captain Anderson, as to how the Council would find out about me. Either I let Nihlus tell the tale or let Ambassador Udina tell it. I opted for Nihlus because A.) The Council would be more likely to listen to a Spectre, especially a turian Spectre. And B.) Because Udina and Councilor Valern never got along, and probably wouldn't even listen to it even if it was the truth.

So here I was, sitting before the Councilors in a wheelchair next to Specter Nihlus. He was on my left, and was about finished with his report. Captain Anderson, Ambassador Udina, and Commander John Shepard were at my right. Udina looked like he wanted to kill both Anderson and me for letting Nihlus be the one to tell the Council.
As Nihlus finished, the Council began to talk to each other quietly. A moment later, they looked back at us. It was the Asari Councilor, Trevos, that spoke first.

"This is grave news, Specter Nihlus," She said. "Are you certain that everything you've said is the truth?"

He stiffened at her accusation. "I have never bent the truth Councilor," He said sternly. "By my ancestors' bones and all the spirits, I swear that this is the unaltered truth,"

The Council's frowns deepened. "Very well," She said as her gaze shifted to me. "And what about what you've told him, is all of it true?"

I was about to answer when Valern interupted. "Yes, this tale is… too much to believe," He said. "I do not doubt him, but I do doubt you,"

I frowned at his words.

"Which is why I asked Spectre Ya'lara to be here." Nihlus said. Ya'lara? Doesn't he mean Ylara? I wondered as the Asari Specter walked forward. She looks the same, but different pronunciation of her name? Why? I frowned as these thoughts swirled in my mind.

"I will do a melding with the young human girl," She said. "If she lies, then we'll know. And if that is not enough for you, Valern, then Trevos could easily repeat the process,"

I gulped loudly as she walked up to me and placed her hands on either side of my head. "Relax," She said. "Clear your mind."

Her eyes focused on mine and I found myself unable to move. "Do not resist." She whispered as her eyes became completely black.

"Embrace eternity!"

I found myself looking at many memories. First one was of me and my grandfather, at his home, fixing the swingset. I felt tears prickle the side of my eyes before falling. I hadn't thought of my grandfather in years. Not since my grandmother's death almost a decade ago. He was saying something… but before I could concentrate on what he was saying, the memory vanished.

Another came up. My sister's wedding. I was about six, then, and I was wearing a stupid green and white flowergirl's dress. Next to me was my first crush, my neighbor Mitchell. He was picking his nose and wiping it on his tuxedo. My sister walked down the aisle in her puffy white dress. My soon-to-be brother-in-law looked like he was about to cry. The service was about to begin when suddenly the memory disappeared.

Another memory came forward. This one was sad. It was my grandfather's funeral. I saw my younger self hiding up the stairs. I didn't remember this one at all and suddenly I didn't want to, either. Thankfully the memory vanished.

Next memory was a ballet recital, my ballet recital. I was dancing to When You Wish Upon A Star in front of an entire crowd. This memory I remembered fondly. I wanted to stay a little while longer but, like the others, it was swept away.

Next one was my grandmother's funeral. I was thirteen. One after that was my sixteenth birthday party at the local roller rink. After that one was my twenty-first birthday and the first time I ever drank a beer. Next came my brother's wedding and how afterwards I got drunk with a friend. Boy, I never remembered all the stupid stuff I said that night, and hoped I never would. Then came the night I vanished from my reality and ended up in the Mass Effect universe. This one was flipped on by.

I saw myself on the computer reading a story. My friend had sent it to me; she'd written it for the Mass Effect writer's contest. Then me looking at pictures of the different characters from the game. Me saying how stupid it was, how unrealistic Asari looked and how the Salarians looked like the Prophets from Halo. Then me, getting into bed and falling to sleep. The next memory was me waking up on the Citadel, near the Presidium. Wandering around aimlessly. Then how Ylara found me, took me to the Human Embassy, how Udina treated me like I was nothing, and how she took me to her home. The pronunciation of her name and her bondmate's name.

That was when things got blurry. Memories passed too quickly for me to see them clearly. I caught Joker's face once, and then twice, and just thought of him and I how I felt safe with him, no matter what happened. He remained the same. Then it began to slow down as the memories of the Collector Base raced by followed by me death and waking up on the SSV Normandy. And then darkness.

As my eyes opened again I found John looking at me with worry. I felt lightheaded, woozy, and like I was about to vomit, but somehow held it back. He was saying something and and it slowly became clearer. "Are you okay?" He asked.

I nodded slowly. "Y-Yeah." I said. "I think so, but just in case you might wanna back off. Your cologne is not helping with the whole trying-not-to-vomit thing," I said with a smile, causing him to cough out a laugh.

"Okay," He said, his eyes twinkling. I blushed. As soon as he moved away I spotted Ylara finish speaking to the Councilors.

The salarian councilor looked at me. "Looks like Specter Ya'lara was indeed able to prove what you've said to be truthful, Miss Lavargus." He said, and turned his attention back to Nihlus. "You were sent to evaluate a member aboard the Normandy. Have you finished your evaluation?"

"Yes," He said. "Commander John Shepard is indeed the best humanity has to offer at this time. I have been around many human soldiers and none are quite like him. Those around him see him as a strong leader, but also as a hero. He survived the Mindoir attacks as a child, he survived Akuze, and he has survived the Prothean Information loaded into his mind. He is strong in hand to hand combat, an excellent sharp shooter, and has great control over his biotics." I watched John shift from foot to foot.

"He fights for not just himself or humanity, but other species as well. I have interviewed many non-humans and all of them agree with one thing: John Shepard would make a fine Specter," I watched as Valern's jaw seemed to drop a bit before he recovered.

"Is this your final evaluation?" Trevos asked.

"Yes," Nihlus placed both his hands behind his back.

The three councilors looked at each other. Valern looked up. "This is a complex issue. We shall convene tomorrow with our answer," He said.

"As for the charges against Specter Saren," Trevos began, "We have Detective Garrus Vakarian, from C-Sec, looking into it. He will give us his report tomorrow as well,"

With that all three stood to leave. I felt myself being pushed out by John, and I also heard Udina going off at Captain Anderson. When we reached the Human Embassy I saw Specter Ylara waiting. She approached me. "May I have a word with you?" She glanced at John. "Alone?"

I looked at John and nodded at him. She began wheeling me towards the artificial lake and stopped and sat down on the bench.

"How is what I saw possible?" She asked.

I took a deep breath. "You know, I asked myself that everyday." I chuckled. "When I first arrived, I thought I'd gone insane."

"I can imagine… but insanity is perfectly clear to asari during bonding… there are inconsistencies, cracks in the mind. Which you do not have," She paused and began twisting her fingers. "How much do you know about Ya'isha?" She asked, looking quite nervous.

I looked at her and noticed she had no Bondmate Bracelet. My eyes widened."She's not your bondmate yet," I said as I realized what she was asking.

Her face became a bit purple around the cheeks. "No," she said. "I've planned to ask soon." She looked at me. "She makes a good second-mother for my Little Wing Nala?"

I smiled and nodded. "Yes. She will,"

She let out a sigh of relief and helped me back to the embassy. "I shall keep your secret," She said. "And I do hope you get back to your Jeff very soon,"

I felt tears prickle my eyes once again. "Me too," I whispered. "Me too,"

Next day I didn't have to be at Saren's trial or anything, at least that's what Specter Nihlus said, so I wheeled myself to Chakwas, who was in the Medical Center at the embassy. When I got there, I saw Joker lying on a cot, groaning.

"Oh, stop complaining," Chakwas said, allowing her British accent to become more apparent. "The machine says you're not in that much pain," She said, and spotted me at the doorway, causing her to smirk.
"Not that much pain!" He yelled. "Bullshit!" He laid a hand over his eyes.
"Well, you shouldn't have tried to lift those weights." She reprimanded him. I covered my mouth to stop from giggling. "Who are you trying to impress?"
Jeff grumbled something unintelligible. "N-No one,"
"Uh-huh." She said, disbelieving. "It's that pretty girl that you tripped over, isn't it?" My face heated up and she walked behind me and pushed me in. I shook my head at her. Then I began to sneak up on him.
"N-No!" He stuttered again. "I mean, yeah she's a looker. Those legs are...wow, I mean have you seen her? She's almost all healed up because of your awesome handiwork and all and I bet she won't have a single scar," He paused. "She kicks my brains ass that's for sure. It's stupid, I know… I mean, she's way out of my league. Who would want to date somebody like me, who can't do anything without breaking some part of my body?" He sat up and spotted me.

"Boo!" I said.

"SHIT!" He cursed, causing his voice to go an octave higher. "Oh come on, doc!"
Carolyn smiled. "I trust you can walk now?" she asked me.
"Did this morning," I said.
"Good, then get up out of the chair," She learned close to my ear and whispered "And put the poor fella out of his misery...hmm?"
Would it be cheating on Jeff numero uno if I flirt and stuff with Jeff numero dos? I wondered as slowly got up and walked over to him. He had pulled his hat completely over his face. I yanked it from him.
"Hey!" He yelled and then saw it was me and his face was still a bit red from embarrassment.

"Ya come to steal my dignity and my hat?" He accused. "Because I really like that hat-"
"Shut it, ya ass," I said and motioned for him to sit up, which he did while wincing. "Now, I'm gonna tell you about me and your other you,"
"Great," He muttered. "Let me guess: he doesn't have Vrolik Syndrome,"
"Actually," I leaned into his ear. "He does,"
He looked at me with wide eyes. "But you and him haven't...,"
"Actually I popped his cherry." I said smirking.
His eyes widened. "Shit,"
"You know, he said the exact same thing when I pulled him out of a bar and took him to my room, aboard the SR-2 Normandy," I smiled up at him.
"Really?" He asked with his own wicked smile. "Does this mean I have to protect my virtue?"
I giggled. "Not really,"
"Crap," He looked down. "How did, er, I do?"
"Actually I was more concerned that you hadn't enjoyed being with me," I said looking down at my hands, but he reassured me that it was 'very hot.'" I did the air quotes, causing him to laugh. "But now I'm here, and he's there… and he probably thinks I'm dead." I felt the tears prickling again.
He looked at me with wide eyes. "You're in love?" He asked.
I nodded. "I guess I am."
"Damn lucky guy," he said. "Think I could find a you in this reality?" he paused "Damn that's...uh...weird to say,"
"Try being me," This caused both of us to laugh when Joker got a com call.

"Joker, get the crew ready, including Miss Lavargus, we're going after Saren." John said.

"Aye, Aye, Commander," He said as we left the embassy for the Normandy. Well, I've helped Ann with her mission, I might as well help John. I thought as we entered the ship. This'll be fun.

M-Angel: That was longer than the last chapter. Hope everybody enjoyed it!

Knight: Don't forget to review!

M-Angel: Wait a sec… how does a hangover delay a chapter? I mean, being sick and having a

headache can't stop you from typing, can it?

Knight: Well… I, uh… slept in for a long time.

M-Angel: Wow…. Exactly how long…

Knight: Byeandremembertoreviewguys!