A/N: Sorry for the super-short chapter. It was... necessary.
Beta: pixelatrix (because she's awesome with the angst lol)
Bioware owns all.

"Massani? What's wrong?" Hackett didn't like the agitated look on the mercenary's face. And the last time he'd been the one on the other end of the vid-com, sixteen years ago, it hadn't been good news either.

Zaeed paced in front of the vid-screen in Anderson's apartment. "We need your help."

"Who is 'we' and what kind of help? Where is Katie?"

"Short version is she's locked in the brig on the Normandy, along with her clone."

"Her what?"

"When they were... rebuilding her, they built a clone in case Kate ever needed spare parts. After Kate escaped Cerberus and was sent to Earth, the clone escaped and... well, it's trying to take over Kate's life. Intends to 'become the Commander Shepard that should have been' or some bullshit."

"So what do you need me for exactly?"

"The clone took over the Normandy. We got it back, but... Kate and the clone got into a fight and now we can't tell which is which."

Hackett shook his head and muttered a litany of curses.

Zaeed sighed. "So we need you, to help us tell them apart."

"You can't do it, Massani?"

The mercenary shook his head. "Moreau and I have tried, since we've known Kate the longest of anybody on the ship, to ask questions that only Kate would know. But... the damn clone seems to know the answers too. We figured maybe there was something you knew that only Kate would know, that the clone wouldn't have a prayer of finding out."

Hackett nodded. "I'll be there in three hours."

The moment he stepped onto the Normandy, Hackett was escorted down to the ship's brig by Lt. Vega.

The two Shepards were in separate cells at opposite ends.

"Fuck," he muttered. It had been hard enough seeing Katie in the brig on Earth, but this, seeing two of them, even knowing one was an evil clone, was a whole new feeling.

"Good luck, sir," Vega said with a salute as he stepped back and closed the door behind him, leaving the admiral alone with the Shepards.

Hackett knew what he had to do. But the question he was going to ask was going to bring up painful memories. He hated thinking of it, but it was the only way. It was the only way to tell them apart.

He stood in the middle of the brig and faced both cells. "You each have a data pad. I'm going to ask you one question. Give me your answer."

The two Shepards nodded.

Dammit, this is going to be hard, Hackett thought. He sighed. "What was the first thing you said to me the first time we were alone after you came back from Omega?" He knew Katie would know exactly what he was talking about; he prayed the clone would not.

After a couple of minutes, both indicated they were done. Hackett braced himself for the answers.

The Shepard closest to the outer door had typed "Why?"

The other had typed "Where were you when I needed you?"

Hackett unlocked the second door. When Katie walked out, he said "I'm sorry."

She smiled. "I know, Dad." Then she stepped over to the other door and unlocked it. "Can I see your pistol for a second?"

He handed it to her and looked away. He couldn't watch. It might have been a clone, but it still looked exactly like her. A gunshot and then Katie was back at his side. She handed his pistol back to him and linked her arm with his.

"Let's go, Dad," she said. "And... thanks."