Shepard frowned at Ashley was going a few rounds on a punching bag and she only start when she saw him approach.

"I see you're getting yourself prepared," Shepard noted.

"There's a reason for everything that happened, Shepard. Even if you don't understand that the time," she said. "Your assignment to Elysium. It pretty in the right place at the right time. Your character made you rise to the occasion. And that got you here. Commanding the finest tin can in the Alliance fleet. This is exactly where the galaxy need you to be. No pleasure."

Shepard smiled. "The galaxy may need me here, but I need you next to me."

Ashley laughed. "God. You're awful. How do you come up with these things?" Shepard merely shrugged and Ashley managed to keep her face straight. "Sorry, I'll be serious. I-I need time to think. We've been focused on the mission, when were done it will be different I swear. I hope you can wait."

"There's some old song about waiting and good things isn't there?" he said leaning in close to her.

Ashley shook her head. "You are totally shameless. You need your own line of greeting cards." She then leaned in towards him and whispered in his ear. "I'll warn you though, I'm a hellcat off the battlefield to." She then walked off back to the punching bag. "Sleep tight Shepard."

Shepard decided change the subject as she began punching the bag. "What your opinion on the last mission?"

"You mean the rachni, right?" she said and he noticed that she was pointing even harder than before. "They were dangerous, skipper. They prove that two thousand years ago. I think itwas a mistake to let them go. But that wasn't my call to make. It was yours."

She then rubbed the back of her head and looked at him. "If you hadn't talked to Dr. T'Soni, you probably should. She just lost her mum. This has to hurt."

Shepard decided it was probably best to go and talk to Liara.

"If you are here to talk about Benezia's death, you need not bother. She brought it upon herself." Liara met his eyes, but he could see the tears welling up in hers.

It might have been easier, in a way, if Benezia had not managed to return to herself at all. "Don't pretend it doesn't bother you. She was your mother." Despite everything, it had still hurt to see his mother's obituary.

"She was…" Liara nodded. "But she was not. I prefer to remember Benezia as she used to be, before she was corrupted by Sovereign's power."

Shepard placed a hand on her shoulder. "The best of your mother lives on in you: her determination, her intelligence, her strength."

"That is kind of you to say," she said and she did look a lot better. "I appreciate your concern, but I am fine. Benezia chose her path, just as I have chosen mine. I am with you until the end, Shepard."

"I like talking with you, Liara. No matter what the subject," said Shepard as he sat down.

"Then let us talk about you. Are you okay?"

"I'm not sleeping well," Shepard admitted. "The visions keep me up at night."

"I wish there was something I could do to help you. You need to be at your best, Commander. The crew relies on your leadership. It can be a heavy burden."

"I can handle the responsibility of command," Shepard assured. "But if I don't stop Saren, the entire galaxy gets wiped out."

"I'm sorry, Commander. The last thing you need is someone constantly reminding you of how grim things are. Is there anything else you would rather talk about?"

Shepard shook his head. "I should go."

Shepard then had a drink with Kaidan in the mess.

"What your opinion on the last mission?" Shepard asked.

"Killing Saren's—What was Benezia, anyway? Second-in-command? Adviser? Anyway, it should set him back a bit. I'm sure Dr. T'Soni's hurting, though. Poor kid. Having to kill her own mum."

"Any opinion on the Rachni?"

"Off the record?" Kaidan asked. Shepard nodded. "If we had the option, I'd as soon have left it to the Council. We weren't out there during the rachni war. I'm not sure we have any business getting involved."

"So where is the crew at?"

Kaidan look surprised. "I didn't feel you'd have time to talk, with all that's going on. There's got to be some xenobiologists who want to read about the Thorian."

"The paperwork will keep up," Shepard assured. "Something on your mind?"

"I'm just looking for an ear. The debriefing was in the right place to say how ridiculous this is. Seems like every other race in the galaxy is wrapping up in their own problems. They don't want to see what's coming."

Shepard shrugged. "Wanting to believe everything will be fine? Sounds like human nature to me."

Kaidan nodded. "Yeah. I guess some things carry across species well enough. I should remember that after what happened with Vyrnnus."

Shepard frowned. "I'd think you'd carry a grudge over the crap you took from Vrynnus."

"Before I met Vyrnnus, I knew as much as any other civilian. Aliens were weird, superior, and tried to tell us what to do." He shrugged. "I mean, it's only been 26 years since first contact. That's not a lot of time to understand them." He finished his own plate, and pushed it aside. "It was Vyrnnus who made me see how human aliens are. They're not different or special. They're jerks and saints, just like us." He wrapped a hand around his coffee cup. "Hell, by the time I got payback, I didn't even want it anymore."

"I don't see you snapping very easily." Shepard laid his fork down. "What finally did it?"

"He hurt a girl. Broke her arm." He saw a strange expression cross Shepard's face before the commander nodded in response. "She reached for a glass of water instead of pulling it biotically. She just wanted a drink without getting a nosebleed, you know?" He shrugged. "Like an idiot, I stood up. Didn't know what I was gonna do. Just something. Any Vyrnnus lost it. Beat the crap out of me. Kept shouting how they should have bombed us back to the stone age. That's when the knife came up. A military-issue talon. Right in my face." He looked down. "I cut loose. Full biotic kick, right in the teeth. Almost as strong as I can manage now. At seventeen, that's something."

"You wanted to help a girl you cared for," Shepard nodded. "That's a noble thing."

"Maybe my intentions were noble. But I lost control." Kaidan turned the coffee cup around. "I killed him, Shepard. Snapped his neck. They probably could have saved him, if they got him to an infirmary quick enough. But they didn't. Caused a stir when they shipped him back home. BAaT training was shut down. Conatix folded a couple years later." He shrugged. "So yeah, maybe I hated that turian. I mean, if one ass was enough to judge a whole race, I'd hate humans too."

"Staying reasonable is about all we've got left." He shook his head. "Everyone else in this galaxy seems to have gone out of their minds." He nodded to Shepard. "Present company excepted, of course."

They had managed to track Nassana's sister and discovered that she was in fact a slaver. It became clear that Nassana wanted her out of the way to save her reputation.

They had also eliminated the slaver and smuggler that Helena Blake had asked them to eliminate. After which he met would be with her and managed to convince her to turn away from a life of crime.

Shepard was about to relax when Joker's voice was heard. "Message coming in. Patching it through."

"Commander, I'm glad you were in the area," said Hackett's voice. "We've got an emergency situation, and you're the only one I trust to get the job done."

"How can I help, Admiral?" Shepard asked.

"Biotic fanatics have hit a medical research station with a psychotic drug," Hackett explained. "The drugs have temporarily driven research is crazy, and the biotics are effectively using them as human shields."

"So if I shoot everything that moves, a lot of researchers are going to die," Shepard surmised.

"Exactly. A normal team could handle the biotics, but a lot of innocent researchers would die during the operation. That's why I contacted you. I'm hoping that you can keep the casualties to a minimum."

"I'll do everything in my power to bring those researchers back safely, Admiral," Shepard assured.

"I know you will, Commander," said Hackett. "I'm sending you the coordinates now. Fifth Fleet out."

Shepard then made his way to the cargo bay and wasn't at all surprised to see that Garrus was still fiddling with the mako and only stopped when he saw him.

"Commander," he said washing his hands. "I… What can I do for you?"

"Something bothering you?"

"It's Saren," said Garrus. "I'm starting to wonder whether we'll ever find him. He's always one step ahead of us. And he's got those damn geth…"

"We're getting close, Garrus. We'll find him," Shepard assured.

"I wish I had your confidence," Garrus sighed. "I just can't stand the thought of him getting away with everything he's done." He then looked up at Shepard. "I know you're doing what you can. And if anyone can catch him, it's you but… If there's anything I can do to help. Anything. Just tell me what you want me to do and I'll do it."

"Thank you, Garrus," Shepard nodded. "I'll keep that in mind. Just make sure you're ready to go when we do catch him."

"Yes, sir. I'll be ready." He then looked at Shepard slightly uneasy, but he seemed to have managed the work of his courage. "Can I ask something, Commander?"

"What is it?"

"Are you worried that the Council might be protecting Saren?" Garrus asked. He then spoke quickly. "I mean, they were really dragging their heels before. What if we find him, bring him back to the Citadel, and they refuse to act?"

"I get the feeling this isn't a question," said Shepard placing his hands on his hips. "Speaker mind, Garrus."

"Well, maybe we shouldn't give them the chance, Commander. In my opinion, Saren's too dangerous to be kept alive. Too much could happen. He could escape, or the Council might let him go…" He then looked at Shepard firmly. "If we find him—when we find him. I say we make sure we stop him. Permanently."

"If Saren won't listen to reason, if he forces my hand, I'll kill him in a heartbeat," Shepard assured. "But only if it's absolutely necessary."

"But what's the point in keeping him alive?" Garrus protested. "It just give him an opportunity to escape or convince the Council to listen to him. And what about the geth? They might try and free him!"

"We know more about Saren's plans than anyone, but what do we really know?" Shepard asked. "If we just kill him, we lose the chance to find out."

Garrus nodded. "Yeah. I see your point." He then looked at Shepard questionably. "Do you really think there's more to know? Other than the fact that he's a raving lunatic?"

Shepard shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not. But it's not a chance I'm willing to take."

They soon landed on the planet below the coordinates that Hackett had given them and made their way to the research station. When they got inside they had indeed encountered crazed biotics and what was worse was the scientists were moving around in a daze.

Fortunately, Shepard had only taken Ashley, Garrus and Tali with him. He feared that that there biotic members might have harmed the hostages he didn't fancy bringing a krogan to such a delicate mission. They had to check their fire, but they were able to take down every single last biotic in the station.

When he returned to the Normandy Hackett was already congratulating him.

"I didn't think it could be done, Commander," said Hackett in impressive voice. "You managed to secure the base and utilise the biotics without a single civilian casualty."

"Just doing my job, Admiral," said Shepard. "I couldn't let innocent lives be lost."

"I wish every soldier had your definition of 'just doing your job'. You're a credit to the uniform, Shepard. We're in your debt. Fifth Fleet out."

Shepard had a nice talk with Wrex as he began to relive one of his many adventures during his mercenary career. Apparently he was hired by a volus diplomat to kill to kill an old friend of his. The old friend turned out to be an old acquaintance of Wrex an asari commando.

The two of them fought on an old space station trying to kill one another and in the end both of them walked away. In the end Wrex told the volus that he would have to hire him in order to stay alive and so he didn't until he died of natural causes.

When Shepard returned to the CIC Joker's voice was heard. "Message for you, Commander. Just came over on a secure channel."

"Shepard, this is Admiral Kahoku. I found out who set that trap for my men. The ones who killed by the thresher maw. Damn, I hope you get this message. It was a group called Cerberus. An Alliance black ops organisation. Top security, highest-level security clearance. They vanished a few months ago. Dropped right off the grid. Nobody knew where they went or what they were up to. They've gone completely rogue, Shepard.

"They're conducting illegal genetic experiments, try to create some kind super soldier. I don't have any proof, but I found the cornets for one of their research worlds. I'm uploading them with this message. The completely out of control. Somebody needs to stop them. I've done my part. Now it's up to you. This is… probably the last you'll hear of me. Cerberus is after me now. I need to disappear before they find me."

"Joker, set course to those coordinates," said Shepard.

"Aye, aye, sir," said Joker.

They follow the coordinates that Admiral Kahoku had given them and began to investigate the nearest lab to their coordinates. Which contained rachni, no doubt they had some contact with people from Noveria and shipped them here. However, there was no signs of Admiral Kahoku.

They attacked the second base and found it full of Cerberus commandos and they certainly fought furiously. It was a tough fight and they had clearly been trained well, but not well enough. Still there was no sign of Admiral Kahoku.

They attacked the last base and this one contained Thorain creepers. Shepard began to wonder how much influence service had across the galaxy to transport such specimens. They then found Admiral Kahoku body lying on the ground where the creepers were being kept.

"Oh, God," Ashley gasped. "It's Admiral Kahoku."

"Cerberus must have tracked him down," said Garrus.

Kaidan made his way over to him and checked his pulse, but he simply shook his head at them. They found some data disks on his person and seen other was nothing else they could do they took his body and the discs.

When they returned to the Normandy Shepard was contacted by an agent of the Shadow Broker, who wanted the information they had taken from the bases. However, Shepard would not allow such information to go into their hands, because he had a hunch that the Shadow Broker was up to something.

Admiral Hackett then contacted them to assist with a little problem they had on lunar base. Apparently a rogue VI had gone loose and killed everyone on the base. How it happened was unknown as it was only to be used for training simulations.

Shepard took Tali along to assist with dealing with the VI and brought some heavy firepower in the form of Ashley, Wrex and Garrus. It appeared that they had to hack destroy several terminals within each facility in order to wipe out the VI.

The VI in question certainly placed obstacles in front of them including defence drones and shields, anything to prevent them from destroying it. It took some great effort but they were eventually able to wipe out all the nodes destroying the VI once and for all.

They then return to the Citadel in order to resupply and no sooner had they left the docks a reporter approached him.

"Khalisah bint Sinan Al-Jilani, Westerlund News. Would you answer a few questions for our viewers?" she asked.

Shepard noticed that the camera was on. "What sort of questions?"

She smiled innocently and Shepard had a feeling he was being led into a trap trouble. "People back home of heard a lot of wild stories about you, Commander? I can give your chance to set the record straight. What do you say?"

"So long as you understand that I may not be able to answer all questions," said Shepard.

"I'm sure our viewers will understand," she said smiling and he knew instantly that he landed himself into a trap. She then fiddled with her omni-tool and placed microphone to her mouth. "Humans have been trying to get the respect of the galactic community for 26 years. With that in mind, what are your feelings on being the first human Spectre?"

"The spectres represent the best of every species in the galaxy," said Shepard holding his chest proudly. "To be asked to join them is an honour."

"Some have said that you appointment is the Citadel 'throwing humans a bone'. Have you encountered any situation where the Citadel asked you to place its needs before the needs of Earth?"

"The Council is concerned with the needs of the whole galactic community. We're part of a community now. Our needs are on their agenda, but we're one of many."

"You really do believe that, don't you?" Shepard got the feeling that she was trying to make him look bad. "You've been given command of an advanced human warship for your mission. Is there anything you'd like to say about it?"

"Actually, the Normandy was a co-developed by humans and turian engineers. Its design incorporates many innovations. All which are classified, I'm afraid."

"So the turians have knowledge of the Normandy that is being kept secret from the Alliance public? Do you think it was appropriate to hand Earth's most advanced warship over to the Citadel?"

Shepard raised an eyebrow. "I wasn't aware it had been 'handed over' to anyone. I'm in command, and last I checked, I'm human. Same goes for my crew."

"Human, yes. But you do work for the Citadel now, Commander." She then looked at her datapad and looked back at him with questionable look. "Speaking of your new job, did the Council order you to sabotage human research concern on Noveria?"

"The Council had nothing to do with it. There was an accident at Binary Helix labs. In the interest of protecting the company's confidentiality, I can't say more."

She was quite taken aback by that comment. "That's a surprise revelation, Commander. We've had nothing but stonewalling from Binary Helix." She then looked at him curiously. "Giving your recent experiences, do you think humanity will ever get the respect it deserves from the galactic community?"

"Respects a funny thing. People always assume they deserve it. The truth is, respect is earned. And I firmly believe we can earn it."

Clearly this wasn't the response she had expected. "You're an idealist, Commander. But a sincere one. I hope you're right." She then gave him another questionable look. "One last question, Commander. Rumours back home so you're tracking a 'rogue Spectre' named Saren. Do you have any comments on that?"

Shepard narrowed his eyes. "I'm afraid I can't comment on whatever my current assignment may or may not be."

"Don't worry," she said looking slightly disappointed. "We'll find out. The eyes of Earth are on you. Don't let us down. Thank you for your time, Commander Shepard."

After dealing with a misunderstanding between the salarian and his volus partner and providing them with the data he had acquired from scanning the keepers he made his way to meet Nassana.

"Yes, Shepard? Did you find my sister?"

Shepard narrowed his eyes. "Dahlia's dead. And I know she was blackmailing you."

Nassana narrowed her eyes. "So the truth comes out. I hope you are not angry. Surely you understand why I lied you? If people find out my sister was a criminal. I'd be considered a security risk. They'd revoke my clearance, or place me on administrative leave until she was apprehended. That is why I misled you. I could not risk you exposing me. But now that Dahlia is out of the picture, it is no longer a problem."

"I would've helped if you just told me the truth," said Shepard crossing his arms.

Nassana shrugged. "Perhaps you are right. I am sorry. We have trust issues in my family."

"Obviously," said Kaidan.

"I shall transfer little something into account of the token of my appreciation. I'm sure you will find the amount satisfactory."

Shepard didn't really want money from her, because it would look like aiding and abetting. "Your diplomat on her way up the ranks. It could be handy to have a Spectre who owes you a favour."

Nassana nodded. "You make a good point. Anyone can come up with credits. But I can give you authorisation to purchase prototype asari mods." She then access to computer. "I will get you added to our manufacture's preferred client list. I think you would be very interested in what they have available. Goodbye, Shepard. It has been a pleasure doing business with you."

When they returned to the Normandy Hackett contacted them. "Commander. Ms. Al-Jilani's story on you just aired. She shouldn't have ambushed you like that. But you handled her pretty well."

"We had differences of opinion, sir. I hope she at least believe my sincerity."

"You handled yourself pretty well, Commander. She came across like a raving idiot. Just want to let you know what the response was back home. I won't keep you any longer, Fifth Fleet out."

Tali was doing some maintenance onto the Normandy stealth drive and she could see Shepard's feet from where she was laying down.

"It feels like were getting near the end, doesn't it, Shepard?" she said as she removed herself from the stealth drive. "With Saren, I mean."

"It won't be much longer," Shepard assured. "One way or another, it'll all be over soon."

"You'll find the Conduit before he does," Tali assured. "I know you will. You have to. And after this is all over, when my Pilgrimage ends and I go back to my own people, I'll be proud to say I was part of it."

Shepard placed a hand on her shoulder. "We could have done this without you, Tali."

"You've been good to me," she said looking at him. "A lot of people treat quarians like second-class citizens. They just want us to go back to our fleet and disappear. But you've treated me just like everyone else on your crew. Like an equal. That means a lot. And it says something about you. Whatever happens. I just want to say thank you for that."

Shepard nodded. "I'm going to miss you when you go back to your own people, Tali."

"That will happen for while yet. I'll be right here any time you need me."

Shepard was in his quarters having a talk with Rick on this monitor.

"I heard that you unleashed the rachni upon the world," said Rick.

"The rachni queen said that she won't restart the war," Shepard assured.

"From your report I say I have to believe you," said Rick. "Besides I can't blame you for not trying to cause genocide. Anyway, got some more information on Cerberus."

"What have you found?" Shepard asked.

"As you suspected they have been doing some unethical experiments some of which are still classified. Apparently it was formed right after the First Contact War as a way to protect us from an alien threat and to advance humanity as a species."

"I don't like where this is going," said Shepard.

Rick nodded. "I imagine that some of its members are nothing more than racists and very pro-human people. Anyway both the Alliance and the Council have announced that it is now a terrorist organisation and I can't say I blame after what they've done."

"We'll deal with them after we've dealt with Saren," Shepard assured.

Rick nodded. "Just stay safe out there, Shepard and watch your back."