"Hey Mel can I talk with you for a minute?" asked Ashley.

"Yeah sure, I could use a touch up."

"Ladies room?"

"Sounds good."

"What were you expecting a Gunfight?" asked Ashley teasing as we went to the washroom.

"Almost," I spoke as I moved the tags Kaidan gave me and then took out my lipstick from my cleavage, she gave me a odd look, "Don't tell me you never thought of it?"

"Hiding makeup in my clothing or cleavage nope, that's news to me."

"It never hurts to learn something new everyday, regardless of the generation gap." I spoke with a smile as I applied my lipstick in the mirror.

"I gave the General a com from our time period, I think I should give you one too."

"Alright." I said as Ash put it into my good ear, and just like the previous times I gotten another static shock, "What's with the electric shocks lately, it's been happening quite a bit."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah like hours before we met I had this strange dream I lived in your time frame chasing Savick through Halifax fighting both Reapers and Cerberus forces. The City looked like a hell hole."

Ash's face went white, "My god. Is that all you remember from it?"

"I chased him to a beam thing like the one in London that lead from Citadel hill to the Citadel itself, there's a few dark patchy areas in it but I don't know what to think of it."

"What did you think the first time when you woke up?"

"I thought I was playing the games too much, then those things and you guys showed up. I just knew I had to fight those things."

"Like a an angel spoke in your ear."

"Yeah seemed like it or a Deja-Vu feeling."

"Commander," said Wadup on the com, "The Volunteer Security guards are missing."

"Oh boy," I spoke, "Get the other officers to help getting all civilians out of there."

"What should we say?" asked Wadup.

"The truth or make something up."

"I know," said Hadfield as the com picked up his voice as he piped up out loud, "I'll be doing a live reading down in the food court in 5 minutes."

Ash and I went out as the whole ballroom was clear, "Hadfield better write another book after this." I chuckled as then Mercs entered the room. They didn't have tech for my era, but theirs.

"Ah... Barrier?" I yelled as Kaidan acted fast making one. I grabbed a mass effect prop as it changed from prop to a real weapon as I fired it at the mercs.

"Holy crapola you were right amiga." yelled James taking cover with Ash.

"Grab something then return it once we're done in here." I spoke as I tossed a table on it's side and ducked. James grabbing one that was a nerf Vulcan EBF-25, "Say Hello to my little friend! I've always wanted to say that!"

"We might have to split up, Ash, James you two call a shuttle out of here and meet us at my place. Kaidan and I will buy you time and meet you there to debrief."

"Well we could confuse the hell of out them."

"If it works sure! Oh right the frilly bottom comes off." I yelled as fired some shots while I remembered that detail of the gown.

"Good thing you thought of it."

"Glad I thought of it, I didn't like the idea of ripping up a perfectly good dress."

James and Ashley got out of there as the Mercs automatically went after them, only to see Kaidan and I ambush them with using his stasis ability and a few good old fashioned punches to the bad guys faces.

Back at my place

James and Ashley were on my Balcony as I let them inside.

"Well that was Fun." spoke Ash as I gave her back the bottom to her dress. "Thanks for bringing it."

"You're welcome, it's a tad bit cold out there too."

"Well, not the kind of fun I'd rather but some of the guys had a old Cerberus logo on their tee-shirts." Mentioned Kaidan.

"The Cops found the Volunteer Security guards," spoke Wadup on the com, "they were found drugged in the Janitor's supply room. They're being treated at the hospital."

"Are they going to send you a copy of the toxicology test?"

"Yes, I'll be forwarding it to you once I get the email."

"Good, Let the cops take it from here, but I need a copy of their reports."

"I'll take care of it, Commander."

"Merci General and out." I spoke as I took the com out. I had a sudden thought as I remember seeing a photo of the bioware forums, I immediately found on my phone as I showed it them, "Kaidan is that the symbol you found?"

His face went white confirming what I just found, "Yes, but Cerberus wasn't founded for another 100 years why is it here now?"

"I've already investigated these Cerberus guys, they were completely unaware about the games that had used the same name and similar symbol as theirs."

"Any theories?" asked Ash.

"The only thing I can think of the mercs were wearing those shirts to throw us off their true trail."

"But if that's true where are they really?"

"Not sure."

"Well James and I will find out from our end, you and Kaidan look for clues down here." suggested Ashley.

"Well that kinda was the plan you drummed up earlier today, but with a slight change." I recalled.

"I'm sure we can come up with something, at least this time I'll be able to contact you once we find something."

"Yeah that should fix the communication problems between here and the Normandy for now." said Cortez entering the Apartment from the Balcony, "It's an honor meeting you Madam."

"Cortez isn't it?" I recalled.

"Yeah, oh and the food you let us have up there was great I just wanted to thank you."

I chuckled, "You're welcome. Ok everyone dismissed, Kaidan let's get out of our formal clothes and get busy."

"Yes Ma'am."