A/N: Hello, and welcome to part two of the Woods series!
I would like to thank the loyal readers who have partaken in this journey with me so far, and I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I've enjoyed writing it. Part two is my pride and joy and I'm absolutely thrilled I finally get to post it. There will be a lot of lighthearted fun and a lot of sadness, and I assure you this won't be a journey you'll soon forget.
Thank you, a million times over, for taking the time to read this.
Zoey Shepard was a dirty fucking traitor.
After everything he had done for her - bringing her back, keeping her alive, giving her a ship - she cut all ties to Cerberus.
The Illusive Man grabbed a nearby light and threw it across the room in frustration.
Dirty traitor bitch.
He knew the truth. She was so caught up with the notion that there was a clear cut good and evil, and that evil had to be destroyed, that she missed the entire big picture. Humanity deserved advancement, not to be held back by a Commander with a skewed sense of morality and judgement.
Shepard didn't know it yet, but by crossing him she had made the most foolish decision of her life. She had no idea about his magnificent gift, his true power.
Besides, Cerberus's destiny was bigger than her. Bigger than the Alliance. Bigger than the galaxy.
A ping resonated through his office, and his new assistant's sugary sweet voice played through the intercom. "Councillor Udina is requesting to speak with you, sir."
Needing to relax himself, he took his time pouring a drink, sitting, and lighting up a cigarette. "Patch him through."
The comm channel behind him opened, and he heard Udina's familiar brown nosing. "You called for me, sir?"
The Illusive Man spun his chair to face the human ambassador. "We need to organize a coup."
A wicked smile spread across Udina's face. "Go on."
Shepard's world will crumble.