The years following Akuze had been relatively quiet for Shepard. She had to endure a lot of paperwork and people looking for answers about the botched operation at first, but eventually that died down.

Now, for the first time in years, the Commander walked towards a ship with anticipation of the mission she was about to undertake. She walked towards the Normandy, a few techs looking up with surprise at the redhead's presence.

She walked up to the entrance of the vessel, guarded by three soldiers holding standard Alliance rifles. They stood at attention while she walked past them, each step closer to the vessel she had twice commanded and seen destroyed filled the woman with fear. Knowing that every person she saw on board was probably going to die made the Commander uncomfortable.

Some said that it would be nice to know what was going to happen at any moment in the future. They clearly hadn't considered the consequences of knowing when everyone around you is going to die.

Shepard walked into the CIC, and just stared at the flurry of activity. The SSV Normandy was about to take its maiden flight, so all hands were on deck, to ensure that nothing went wrong.

The Normandy's XO looked at the people around her, all bathed in a blue glow, accented by touches of orange from their workstations. Standing at one of the stations was Lieutenant Kaidan Alenko. Curiousity compelled Shepard to walk forward to him and say, "Frater meus es tu in spiritu, aut inmortale sit cecidit spiritus tuus?"
He looked at her for a moment then said, "Nostri sunt, quia propinquus es."

The Commander nodded, and said, "You're ready for anything?"

"Sarah, if I weren't there'd be a serious problem with me."
"Don't be cocky, Alenko."
"I still remember kicking your ass with my biotics all those years ago."
"I was a bit fucked up when you did that try it now and your ass'll be on the floor so fast that you won't be able to tell what happened."

"Geez, manage to outsmart tenebrarum frater and suddenly you get cockier than a new Spectre."

"I didn't just outsmart him, I used his own plan against him."

"Yeah, and now you can't use that again, if it's needed."
"It won't be needed, Kaidan. This time I'm going to kill him. Six feet under will be an underestimate for how deep that sonofabitch is going to be buried."
"I thought you were going to incinerate him. Leave no remnant behind, just to be safe."
"I considered it, but that could cause issues."

"Yet risking him somehow coming back wouldn't?"
"Should he die and find a way to come back, then I'll just address that issue when necessary."

"What if you can't?"
"Then I'll do what I always do. Learn from my mistakes."

"What if you take him out, he comes back, and then kills you, Shepard?"
"Then I guess I'm shit out of luck, Kaidan. But why don't we worry about this once we've figured out how to stop him."

"Alright."
"Also, I read your file a few days ago, Kaidan. You've done some good work. That mission on Torfan was a textbook example of psychological warfare on the batarians."
"It was the only way to get the job done. But it also screwed me. I'm completely unpromitable after that. What would you have done on Torfan, had you been there?"
Sarah leaned backwards, and said, "It would have made your actions seem tame."

"That would be pretty tough."
"You just killed them, I'd have done more. I'd have cut their heads open while they were still conscious. Then put an electrified needle into the part of their brain responsible for the sensation of pain recognition.

"They'd twitch on the ground, unable to control themselves as the pain just got worse and worse. I'd do it to each and every one of them. I'd leave them in a worsening tide of pain that they are powerless to sooth.

"If anyone on my team tried to stop me I'd restrain him until the batarians were dead. The batarians who would probably be begging for mercy, only to receive even more pain as they struggle against forces they are powerful.

"Once all but the leader of the group was dead, the pain being too much for their brains to handle, I'd interrogate him. Using any and all torture techniques to get him to speak. If he refused to talk, I'd forcibly rip the information from his mind.

"And then, I'd kill every last sonofabitch responsible for the batarians attacking humanity. I'd gut them, force them to eat their own entrails. Had I been there, Kaidan I wouldn't be known as the Butcher of Torfan, I would be public enemy number one."
He looked scared, then said, "What are you going to do to tenebrarum frater?"
"I'm going to end him, as quickly as possible. He isn't a mere batarian, if I took my time chances are he'd use it to get an advantage and end me."
"If you could take your time?"
"I wouldn't." Sarah replied.
"Why not? I know how protective you are of your girlfriend, and he went after her."
"Because I know that if I did no one would be able to look at me without fear. If I took my time to kill Halthas, it would make what I described to you seem normal."

"Sarah, surely you wouldn't." Miranda said, walking forward.
"Miri! What brings you to the Normandy?" Sarah asked, a huge smile on her face.

"My boss does still have influence in the Alliance. Between that and my skillset it was easy to get me on this ship."
"I'm surprised he'd let you come here."

"He's as curious about this ship's performance as the Alliance."

"I suppose he would be. So, have you been given the full tour?"
"You just got on board, Sarah, surely you don't know the ship well enough to give a tour."

"You say that like I don't know every nook and cranny of a ship the instant I step on board." Sarah said, smirking at Miranda.
The Operative shook her head, and said, "I suppose you do have an uncanny ability to know everything about a ship just by walking on it."

"I always aim to impress, especially such a beautiful woman." the soldier said, taking Miranda's hand. "And, on Eden Prime I know this great little pub. Never busy, and the bartender isn't nosy. Maybe if the Cap'n gives us some time off at our final destination we can relax there."
"Did you really just say Cap'n, Sarah?"
"I like to mix things up."

Miranda nodded, and whispered, "Well, Commander, what would you do if I started calling you my captain?"

Sarah laughed, and softly replied, "I'd say that sounds sexy, but I'm not a Captain, yet."
"Someday, babe. Someday."

"Hopefully. Akuze may have made it impossible for me to get a promotion."
"Please, I'm sure you'll do enough good that everyone will forget about Akuze. Eventually."

"It's been years and I was only barely able to get on this ship because of Akuze. Without that pile of shit I would have been on easily."
"Oh well, I guess some people are just idiots who worry too much about what was lost instead of the skill of someone to save anyone in a horrible mess like Akuze."
"Indeed." a turian said, walking up to the pair. "Commander Shepard, I presume?"
"Who are you?" Sarah asked, suspicion etched into her voice.

"Nihlus, a Spectre."
"Why's a Spectre coming along on a shakedown run? Don't you all usually go and do Council black ops or take care of rogue Spectres?"
"This ship was built by the Alliance and the Council working together. I am here to see if the investment paid off."

"They wouldn't send a Spectre if it were just to make sure any investment was worth their money. Why don't you tell me the truth, Nihlus?"
"You have a keen eye, Commander. But, I am not at liberty to discuss such things with you at this moment. Direct orders from the Council."

"Great." the Commander muttered, "Just tell me if my guess is right. Something was found on Eden Prime. Something... Prothean."

"I can't say."
"We found something prothean and you're coming along for the pickup to ensure nothing goes awry. We're both on board because they want the best of the best available for this. An N7 and a Spectre."
The turian just walked away in silence. And Miranda said, "Maybe my boss knew that it was prothean too, and that's why he was so willing to send me."
"Could be."

-=0=-

Bryce leaned back in his chair, sitting around him were a group of men and women. He sat there, staring at each of them in the faint uneven light of an open flame.

He examined each of their weak, tired, ragged faces. In each of their eyes he saw a different pain. What had drawn them there was different for each one, but equal in magnitude.

He looked at them, then began to speak in an unknown tongue. A language forgotten by all who lived in the modern day, but known well to those who had existed before it.

He spoke to those lost men and women. He spoke of the times long lost. Of a kingdom that had once been, but was destroyed by the greed of one.

He told them of the treachery of the betrayer. Of the darkness he engulfed his home in. And of those whose courage had sent him away and restored freedom.

And then, though they knew not what he had said, Bryce switched the way he spoke. His words now rang clear in their ears.
He said, "Just as long ago there were a few who had the courage to rise up against the dark brother, now you must rise up against the one who shares his flesh and blood.

"You must rise to the level of a great warrior. Become as one of us, and help the Shepard defeat the traitor Halthas. Currently your bodies are weak and powerless, but you shall rise above that. You shall become as Lucis Entia whilst not being Lucis
"Are you prepared to take up this duty? This honorable task of fighting those who would seek to destroy all that is, was, and will be?"
They looked nervous for a moment, then one stepped forward, and said, "Yes, mighty one."
"Then step through the flames as I speak to you what was said to those heroes of long ago." Bryce said, tossing some bright blue liquid onto the flame.

It burned brighter and larger than before, as the men and woman slowly stepped towards its warmth. As they did so, Bryce said, "Thou shalt now cleanse thineselves. The darkness of thine corrupter shall be burned away, whilst you art reborn. Through the fire shalt thou walk, into the flames of war against the Dark Brother.

"Thou shalt walk this past for the rest of thine days. Only when to the great void you hath returned shall you be free from this duty. Thou shalt always remember the name of thy foe, and the one that must be protected.

"And thou must know that the one who you shall help will surely become the enemy one day. The darkness of the Brother shall pass to the Sister. She will sacrifice herself for the good of the many, though she does not yet know it.
"As the tenebrarum frater passes away so shall the sister be engulfed in the darkness from which no light can escape. Though her name is now Shepard one day she shall be known as Halthas. Just as his current incarnation was Loganis, Halthas's next shall be Sarah Shepard. And you shall fight here once she has defeated him."
One asked, "Is there no way to stop this? No way to save the one who ends Halthas?"
Bryce looked at them, and said, "Guardians, should a method to preserve them exist, it is known to none other than Halthas."

-=0=-

A/N: I'd considered putting in another bit here, but I honestly think that it would better fit a point later in the story. I won't tell ya'll what, so if you're curious you'll have to come back.

And of course thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed it. And if you did please leave a review detailing what you did like, and if you didn't like it please leave a review detailing why.