Javik and I marched over to the cockpit where Joker's head was resting on the back of the chair. I was debating with Javik whether or not to wake him up gently or scare him awake. Neither of us were sure we could wake him gently without breaking a few bones. So we decided to scream in his ear.

"For fucks sake. Are you 2 trying to kill me or something?" the pilot jolted. He began holding him arm in pain. I guess we broke something.

"Joker if we wanted you dead then you would be" I retorted.

"Most definitely" Javik added in a menacing tone

"What is it now? Need to know where the bathroom is? What's for dinner? Why you shouldn't startle pilots with brittle bones disease. I have the answers to all that and more?" Joker lived up to his nickname every time he spoke

"Enough of these stupid antics. Pilot we need information about Namakli"

Jeff's face fell into a black mask. "Where did the two of you hear that name?"

"Does it really matter now? Just tell us where the crew went" Javik spat

"What?"

"The question is simple human. What areas of the ship did the ground team go to after they got back from Namakli?" Javik growled

"Excuse my prothean friend. He has far less patience than I do. Joker, where did my father go after he got back from Namakli"

"Why do you need to know?" Joker asked

"Tell me or I break every bone in your body" Javik threatened

"No he won't" I growled at him. "Jeff please just tell us where he went. I want to help take the Citadel but to do that I need to know where my father went during his travels."

Joker looked at Javik and then at me. He was deep in thought, obviously contemplating whether or not to help us. "I get the feeling that I don't want to know what it is you two are doing. Just to be clear this isn't violating Dr Chakwas' orders about lack of stress is it?"

"No isn't"

He started scratching his beard and sighed "Fine just don't tell anyone I told you this. He went to the med-bay. He was unconscious though and bleeding… a lot."

"Thank you"

Javik and I strolled over to the elevator. Finding out more of my father's life was strange. Seeing all of these people I know as young men and women was weird. I'd never given much thought to how their lives were like when I wasn't around and to be honest I never truly cared.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Rylee Leigh POV

SSV Normandy SR-2, Med-Bay

Fuck, Fuck, Fuck, Fuck, Fuck! Why did this jackass jump in the way of that shotgun blast? What sane human being does shit like that?

On Namakli we found out that there was some giant, super, squid, alien called a Leviathan. A Salarian had been investigating it as part of his thesis. His name was Mordin. He told us that Leviathan was using a weird, glowy orb to mind control anyone who stayed too close for too long. His research team was fighting Cerberus off and he was the last survivor.

Cerberus got there before we did and they were loading the shit on their ship. Thankfully Jeff was able to blast the bastards out of the sky. We remained for a few minutes extra to destroy any of them remaining. The shit was giving me a major headache and I started hearing voices.

But Cerberus have always been stubborn bastards. They sent wave after wave of their own guys and adjutants whilst Joker was distracted by a group of Cerberus ships. After he'd managed to shake them he arrived and we all ran onto the ship.

An adjutant jumped in front of me and its shotgun was ready to blow me away. Eric jumped between me and the blast. He almost gave his life for me. Me of all people. I threw the adjutant away, grabbed Eric and ran onto the ship.

"Rylee it's not your fault" Hannah placed her hand on my shoulder

"I already know that. Fuck! What sane human being would even consider doing that?" I huffed. The only time I've even spoken to him was when I blasted him with my biotics when he entered the ship. Why die to try and save me?

"Then why are you still blaming yourself?"

"Get out of my head Hannah" I stormed over to the elevator. Hannah managed to get in as the doors were closing. As soon as they did I screamed.

Once we were in the med bay I just allowed my body to fall to the floor. "EDI I want you to lock the med-bay. The only people that are to be allowed inside are Dr Chakwas and Titus Vakarian"

"Understood Officer Sanders" the ship's AI responded.

Hannah sat right beside my body "That's what a leader does Rylee. It proves that he's willing to die for any one of us"

"This can't happen again. No one should ever die for me" I growled stubbornly.

"Rylee… I'd die for you" Hannah stated.

I'm not used to this kind of caring. Back when I was growing up no one gave a shit about me. Compton, California taught me that in the end of the day you had to look out for your own. Everything I got I killed for. I've done so much bad shit just to stay alive. And now someone is willing to die to save me.

"Shut up Hannah. You know weird shit like that makes me feel… awkward"

"Relax Rylee. One day you're going to find something worth protecting and dying for. When you do, you'll understand how I feel about you" the way Hannah said it made it sound so profound.

I began to recall my time with Cerberus. I joined when I was only 15 so that was about 8 years ago. I needed a way out of the gang life and I didn't care how I did it. That was before my actions led to cyanide infecting a Turian colonies water supply.

I was only 19 maybe 20 at the time and I was responsible for deploying the cyanide. Everyone was dead within weeks. That was when I realised what it is I was truly doing. When I held a Turian infant's corpse in my arms, when I saw a group of teenagers watching biotiball, even seeing an aged couple cuddling on the sofa made me realise that aliens were people too.

I was responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent people. None of my squad even cared. I despised them for it, how could you take any sort of joy from being a part of that. I snapped and killed the rest of my squad and ran away.

When I defected the Illusive Man had leaked my identity to the Turian hierarchy. They wanted to keep it private and low key so they only sent bounty hunters, assassins and mercenaries after me.

How can someone be willing to die for someone who's committed the atrocities I have. Maybe if he knew he might have let me die. Or he might have kicked me straight off of the ship.

"Hannah… will I ever… lose this guilt?" I whispered

She sat beside me and put a protective arm around me. I dug be face into her shoulders and began to cry. "I don't know Rylee. I can't answer that for you. All you can do is carry it with you and learn from it"

"Do you think he'd care if I told him" I looked at Eric

"Yes I believe he would. But I also think he'd understand… you were young and… don't worry about how the Cmdr. will react. I'd be more worried about how Titus will react" she stated.

I needed to get my mind off of what I was thinking about. All it was doing was either pissing me off or making my head hurt. I made the decision that I'd stay by his side until he woke up. Hannah stayed as well. She helped me comb through the information which Mordin had given us and any that we had found on Namakli. I tried to see if there was anything with ties to Cerberus.

"God this is going to take forever. There are too many middlemen and intermediaries for us to get through all this in a day"

"Did you honestly think this would be that easy?" Hannah chuckled

I pouted I then mimicked what she said.

"Jesus, Rylee you can be such a child sometimes you know that" she broke into laughter

"Could you two please quiet down. I'm trying to sleep here" Eric groaned

His sudden revival caused Hannah and I to jump up from the floor. "DAMMIT ERIC! Don't you know to warn a girl when you wake up" Hannah shouted whilst clutching her heart.

"I'll try to remember that the next time I'm unconscious" he drawled

"Thank you" Hannah smiled. "How are you feeling?"

"Like the morning after shore leave" he groaned "Why are you two in here?"

"Someone needed to be here to watch your ass" Hannah retorted

"I should start charging people to do that. I could make a fortune" Eric chuckled

"Get a room you two" I groaned.

"What is it you two are doing anyway?" Eric inquired

I proceeded to explain that we were searching for any links to Cerberus in the files we discovered. I also told him that Mordin would be joining the crew. I even apologised for my mistake and promised to do better. He wasn't angry at me, he was just glad that I was alive.

That was when he told us that we were wasting our time. Apparently there was a geth aboard the ship who could process all of this information and tell us what we were looking for in under a second. His name was Legion. It turns out that Cerberus had a research facility on Novaria dedicated to studying Leviathan. It was called Peak 15.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Nate POV

"Did you encounter any memories that involved Novaria"

The Prothean soldier marched over to the elevator and I followed. On our way to the cargo bay I began dreading what I would find. What if I find out what it was that my father discovered during his travels and what he had done. Would I ever be able to forgive some of his actions?

We walked into the middle of the Cargo bay. He held his hand out and I placed my forehead in it.

Kieran POV

Man Shepard can take a beating. He was fighting Wrex hand to hand and he was holding his own. Wrex was pummelling Eric like no tomorrow. Eric tried his best to use Guerrilla warfare. He would hit Wrex fast and hard and slip away before the Krogan could react. However, that last one he was too slow and Wrex had gotten a hold of his arm.

"Remember you two, the Doc doesn't want any broken bones or deaths" I hollered

"How about you step into the ring and make it a fair fight Alenko" Wrex challenged me

"It wouldn't, considering I broke my arm saving your ass on Novaria"

We were fighting Cerberus combatants on our way to the Peak 15 research facility. One of them launched a rocket at on metal girder which was being stood against the wall. It was about to fall on Wrex when I pushed him out of the way. My arm got caught and it snapped.

"Come on I'll use one hand and one eye"

"Don't get complacent Wrex. Pay attention!" Eric growled. He connected with a biotic punch to the Krogans side.

Wrex began favouring his right side and Shepard knew where to focus his onslaught. They once again began their game of cat and mouse. Shepard coming in quick and hard with Wrex

Whilst the two were engaged in their battle the elevator doors hissed open. Out of it came a lithe form. She wore her beautiful chestnut hair in a bun. She had strong, yet delicate features: her full lips, high cheek and soothing hazel eyes.

However, delicate would be the last words I'd ever use to describe Rylee Leigh. She was aggressive, independent and ready to kick anyone's ass that crossed her. Her soothing hazel eyes became slits as they turned their focus to the Krogan and Shepard battling in the middle of the deck.

"Are you two seriously fighting after what happened on Novaria" Rylee asked in disbelief. "Kieran broke his arm, Eric you have severe burns on your leg and Wrex got blown up and lived"

"Don't question our methods woman just stand back and watch" Wrex ordered

"I told you to pay attention" Shepard grunted connected with another blow to Wrex's side.

"Hey Kieran do you like the red or do you think I should go black?" Rylee wondered whilst fiddling with her hair.

"I think you'd look better with black hair"

"Awesome so black it is" she decided. Is she really going to base her actions off of my response?

"Aren't you tired of seeing this shit? If Wrex hasn't beaten Eric by now then I doubt he'll ever win" Rylee stated. Wrex sent a glare in our direction that would have had most people running scared.

"I don't think Wrex likes you very much" I chuckled

"If he doesn't then fuck him" she dismissed.

The elevator door once again opened and another human woman. Her sun dyed brown, straight hair was tied into a tight ponytail. She wore a training top and leggings, both bearing the Alliance insignia. She dropped her gym bag and scoffed as she looked into the ring.

"You've got to be joking me, their still at it. I managed to go to my quarters, change and come back down and their still fighting"

"If you think you can settle it any quicker then be my guest Sanders" Rylee challenged

"Gladly" Hannah stormed towards Shepard and Wrex. Both stopped their scuffle to focus on Hannah.

"What th-" Eric couldn't even finish his sentence before Hannah through him over her shoulder. Eric was slammed on the ground with great force. His face contorted into an uncomfortable grimace. "Ow" was all he could groan.

"HA! Maybe your human women can be fun after all" Wrex chortled. "But that was a human you dispatched. You can't do the same to a fucking KROGAN" he bragged

"Your right I can't" Hannah smirked. With her boot she kicked Wrex in the crotch and the warlord dropped like a sack of potatoes. "No matter what race you are. A shot to the balls always hurts" she laughed.

"Woohoo! Go Hannah" Rylee cheered. I put a protective hand over my crotch and sympathised with Wrex.

"How much fun do you think human women are now?" Hannah boasted. She helped her CO to his feet and patted him on the back. "Taking on a Krogan hand to hand is incredibly stupid Cmdr. No more sparring matches with Wrex"

"I was winning. If you'd waited a couple of seconds I would have had him in the palm of my hand"

"I don't care if you were winning or not. Fighting him so soon after Namakli and Novaria is incredibly stupid and dangerous"

"Why do you care so much Sanders. We both needed stress relief after Novaria and this was what we both needed" Wrex explained

"So you try and potentially injure each other. We had to pump Eric full of painkillers just to get him on Novaria and Wrex every rib in your body is cracked." Hannah proceeded to really lay into Wrex and Eric about how stupid they were being whilst Rylee and I were in a fit of giggles.

"Is Eric single?" Rylee wondered out loud

"Why? Are you interested in getting some of Commander Shepard?"

Rylee lifted me into the air and dropped me on the ground. I used my good arm to regain my footing. "No you asshole"

"They why do you need to know?"

"For Hannah! She seriously needs to get laid and I figure who better than the Commander"

"Eric isn't the kind of guy who does that lightly. To be honest he's more of a relationship guy than anything else"

"That's boring. There goes any interest I had in him"

"If you were interested why did you throw me!?" I groaned

"I'm not really interested in seeing him. I just wanted to fuck him. If he wants to tie me down then that's not happening."

"You don't think the Lt. can ask for herself?"

Rylee looked at me confusedly "Oh you mean Hannah… she can ask for herself but she won't because of your regulations bullshit. I can tell she at least likes him. I mean just look at how she's tearing into him."

I furrowed my eyebrows "She's yelling at him and reprimanding him… so she obviously likes him" I said as sarcastically as I possibly could

"Listen asshole you don't know Hannah. I however actually do know her. She's only getting so concerned because that's how much she cares. That's her way of saying I don't want to lose you"

"Wow"

"You still haven't answered my question"

"Oh the single thing… yeah he is"

"Great now I can go tell Hannah." She cheered

"By the way Kieran. If anyone finds out about this conversation then I will keelhaul you" she smiled sweetly

"But we're in space"

"Exactly" she giggled as she approached Hannah to start their sparring session.

I helped Eric to his feet so I could discuss what happened on Novaria

At the Peak 15 research facility we discovered that Cerberus were experimenting with Rachni. We had to destroy almost every rachni there since Cerberus lost control of them. That's becoming a recurring theme. They fuck up and we have to fix it.

We discovered the queen of the Rachni and she was at our mercy. But for some reason Eric decided to free their queen. Wrex was pissed off as hell about that decision. Which could explain just why Eric volunteered to fight Wrex in the first place. They needed to clear the air between them but neither were the type to talk their problems out. Judging from the way Wrex was smiling I think he's over it.

We managed to recruit an asari approaching the matriarchal stage called Benezia. Apparently Cerberus were looking for the location of the Mu Relay and the queen had it. Benezia said she had given it to them at gunpoint. The only problem was that we didn't know which planet the relay led to. It hasn't been used in millennia and no one has any charts about where the relay could lead to. Fortunately, she gave us another lead. She overheard one of the Cerberus operatives discuss Feros and that was to be our next destination.