A/N: For those of you who are waiting for the next chapter of DA:O Prequel, sorry I haven't updated. I've hit a block with that story currently. If you want me to try and make it faster, put more reviews on!

Recap: "Alright, everybody hang on!" Joker's voice said over the intercom. The Normandy zoomed away as the nuke detonated, leaving a big mushroom cloud. In the hangar of the Normandy, Shepard had a small smile on his face. His team was safe and they didn't lose anyone.

Now

The team was in the hangar bay getting back up from having hit the floor entering the Normandy. Shepard got on his feet but wobbled a little. He wasn't as sore from the beating Saren gave him as he was a minute ago, no doubt due to his healing. But still... Saren did a pretty good number on him. He walked over to the elevator before leaning on the interior wall of it. Every second, he was feeling a little better. Everyone got in, including Kirrahe and his squad. Shepard noticed that their numbers had shrunk by at least half. The elevator closed on them and it was crowded. It climbed slowly upwards. Everyone had been used to it by now, but apparently no one told the salarians.

"Ghost." Kirrahe said grabbing his attention.

"I believe your elevator my have a malfunction." Shepard merely grinned.

"No, I'm pretty sure this is nothing more than an oversight in the construction." He replied before groaning. Everyone turned to him.

"I knew it. I knew this elevator was gonna be the death of me." Everyone chuckled except the salarians who wondering what was with this human. The door opened and everyone got out before moving to the med bay where Chakwas was at.

After getting a concerned scolding from her, Shepard was the first one out and headed to his room. As soon as he was in, he locked the door and passed out on his bed.

"It was an honor working with you, Ghost. Despite the losses, our mission was a success. Your actions and that of your crew has earned humanity a great deal of respect from my people." Kirrahe said to him as the team was in front of Normandy. Both shook hands briefly before letting go. They had docked on a small supply station and were bidding Kirrahe and his team goodbye.

"I'm not really part of humanity, but... thank you for the compliment. It was fun fighting with an STG team. I just hope you guys don't forget this or get into too much trouble."

"Rest assured Ghost, my men and I will not forget what you accomplished here. Perhaps we will have the opportunity to work together again someday." Kirrahe assured.

"Maybe someday, though I hope it is under better circumstances." Kirrahe nodded.

"Agreed." With that he walked back to the hangar bay. That was when Commander Rentola walked up to him. They had spoken briefly on Virmire when Wrex had blown a gasket about the plan.

"You have my gratitude Ghost. The captain considers the mission a success. I defer to his judgement." Rentola said. Shepard took that as salarian military slang for 'good job.'

"Glad I could help."

"Good luck, Ghost." With that Rentola met up with the rest of the team. Shepard watched them before turning to his team, smirking. His whole team that could have lost 3 people if he hadn't been careful.

"Come on let's go. We got things to do too." Shepard said ushering them to the ship.

Everyone stepped into the comm room and began talking about what happened on Virmire.

"Thanks, Shepard. Things got pretty hot down there. Saved my life." Ashley said as she sat down beside Kaidan.

"Saved both our lives. I don't know how you got that thing Shepard, but the Alliance will come up with a whole new medal for what you pulled off here." Kaidan said with his hands gesturing about it.

"If they don't give you a severe reprimand first. You endangered the entire mission. Why didn't you just leave one of us behind?" Ashley cut in. Shepard was sitting down in his chair with his arms crossed, looking like he couldn't give a damn about anything now.

"I don't like loosing people. No one gets left behind. Not while I'm in charge." Shepard replied back.

"We might have tried Shepard, but I don't think either one of us could've pulled this off. Anyone else? I'd say they got lucky." Kaidan said back.

"Kaidan's right. Nobody else could have made a stunt like that work. Put anyone else in charge and someone gets left behind or the mission fails." Ashley finished. Shepard nodded with a proud look. Not many complimented him on his missions so he enjoyed it for a moment.

"Shepard?" He looked at Liara. "Excuse me for interrupting, but I have an idea. I think the beacon you found in Saren's base was similar to the one you found one Eden Prime. I may have filled in the missing pieces of your vision. I might be able to help you put all those pieces together."

"You want to join our minds again, don't you? Okay. Go ahead." Shepard stood out of his seat the same time Liara did. Both got within arms length of each other.

"Relax, Shepard." She closed her eyes. Shepard closed his having already known what was coming. "Embrace eternity!" Liara said before her eyes opened, revealing black orbs.

The images came like last time only it was more slower, easier to process. The whole thing was similar except for only a few things. Images of a place he had never been to. Some type of metal construction that frightened, but could have sworn he had seen it some place. Then it all turned to the viewpoint of a system with a blazing sun. Suddenly he was turned to the planet. It was shadowed from the position he was at. He came toward the planet at a very fast but stable pace. Shepard could see something as he approached the center but this time he knew it was a reaper. Then the vision ended. Liara backed away from him, looking flushed and fatigued.

"Incredible. I... I never thought the images would be so... intense. I need a moment to collect myself." Shepard didn't saying anything, silently giving her time to collect herself. When he thought she had enough time he began talking.

"Did the vision make any sense to you?" Liara glanced at him.

"It's a distress call, a message sent out across the Prothean Empire. A warning against the Reapers, but the warning came too late."

"What about the Conduit?" She looked down at the floor, going over the vision in her head.

"There were other images. Locations. Places I recognized from my research..." Her head snapped up in realization. "Ilos! The Conduit is on Ilos! That is why Saren needed to find the Mu Relay! It is the only way to get to Ilos."

"How come you never told us about Illos before?" He figured if she had seen the vision once before from him, she should've recognized the planet immediately.

"The Mu Relay links to dozens of systems and hundreds of worlds. How was I to know Ilos was the one we wanted? Without the Cipher, the images in your visions were never clear. Only now do I recognize them as landmarks from Ilos." She made a good point. It was difficult to make out those shapes and be able to tell that they were landmarks.

"Well then, we need to get to Ilos!" Shepard said about to tell Joker to plot a course to Ilos.

"Forget it. The Mu Relay's inside the Terminus Systems. Alliance ships are not welcome there. Neither are Spectres." Shepard gave her a blank stare before pointing to himself.

"Hello? Ghost of the Terminus right here! I can walk right into the Terminus Systems and tell people to either join me or die." Shepard said seriously. Tali's eyes widened.

"I had actually forgotten about that." Tali admitted. Everyone started smiling at him remembering that he had access to anywhere in the Terminus Systems, or at least had more pull in it than most.

"So we're in agreement? The Conduit's on Ilos. That's where Saren is heading. We'll be waiting for him when he gets there!" Shepard said lowering his hand.

"Saren will have his entire fleet orbiting Ilos. You will never make it down to the surface without reinforcements. You must alert the Council. We need a fleet to- ohhhh." Liara listed off before she stumbled dizzily. Shepard moved forward and grabbed her shoulders. Everyone looked at her in mild worry at her sudden state. Shepard pushed her gently back up until she was standing normally but still kept his hands on her shoulders.

"I am sorry. The joining is... exhausting. I should go to the medical bay and lie down for a moment." Shepard rose an eyebrow. He could understand the first time would be exhausting but after Lis joined him the first time, it was easy from there.

"Are you sure it was the joining? I feel fine." Shepard said.

"Your role in our communion is passive as you know. I am the one who must submerge myself in your mind. Drown myself in your thoughts. The human subconscious instinctively resists the joining, Shepard. A strong personality like yours makes it even harder. I just need some time to recover." Wait a minute, so all those times he and Lis did it, she wasn't tired from just the action, she was tired from melding with him? Oh that is it. When he get's back they were going to have a long talk. But first things first. Take care of the people in front of him.

"Dr. Chakwas should take a look at you."

"That will not be necessary. I just need some rest. Somewhere quiet." Shepard nodded in understanding.

"Fine then. We're done here. Dismissed." He said. Everyone left the room except for Ashley. Shepard noticed her almost immediately.

"Yes, Ash?" She walked up to him and gave him the most endearing look she had ever given. Before he could say anything else she hugged him tightly.

"Thank you. Thank you. Thank God for you." She said. Shepard froze for a split second before returning it to her. They stayed that way for two minutes before she looked up at him. He looked back into her eyes before her face came closer and looked her lips with his. They felt a spark go up their spines. Shepard hesitated before kissing back. The kept at it before he forcefully pulled himself from her and backed up to the chairs behind him.

"I can't... I can't do this Ash." Shepard said sliding into a chair. She looked at him sadly. Walking up, she kneeled down to give him a hug. He didn't hug back. It wasn't because he didn't want too, but if he did he would feel like he was betraying Lis. Dammit they were having a baby! He was going to be there for both of them! A small voice at the back of his head told him she would be fine with it. Yes, she had brought someone else to bed with them before. Yes, they were asari, human, turian, drell and at one point even a quarian he let stay at his place for a couple of days. And yes all of them were female, but things were different now! A baby wasn't part of that! A baby can't be raised in that! The voice came back saying he loved Ashley. He loved Liara. He loved both of them just as much as he loved Lis.

He tried to fight it. Hell, he's been fighting it since he told them his plans for after this mess with Saren was done. He noticed the looks they gave him afterwards. He noticed that they tried to seduce him when he trained in the hangar. He noticed when Ashley would bend over the work bench with one hand under her chin while the other would be tweaking a weapon. How her breasts and ass would pop up. Same thing with Liara when she would practice with him. She'd get too close and noticed something, or some things, brush up against him. He noticed how she would use a throw and she would make these slightly over-exaggerated moves and positions that would make his mind stop before thinking of something completely different from any earlier thoughts.

"It's ok. I understand. I know Shepard. I know." Ashley whispered gently to him. He steadied himself before she let go and walked out. He waited for a few minutes before Joker's voice came over the intercom.

"Shepard, there's a comm buoy nearby. I can link us in if you want to report back to the Citadel Council. You know, to warn them about Sovereign." Shepard inhaled and exhaled as he got out of the chair and turned to the comm.

"Set it up, Joker. They need to know."

"Setting up the link now." The Council appeared on the hologram.

"Ghost. I'm pleased to see that mission on Virmire was a success." Tevos said smiling.

"Saren is formidable enough without an army of krogan serving under him." Sparatus said with some small time approval.

"The krogan would have served Sovereign. A Reaper." Shepard replied grimly. He noticed Valern would speak next.

"Yes, we saw mention of this on your report. Sovereign. A sentient machine. A true artificial intelligence. This news is quite alarming..." Why oh why did he get the feeling he was about to be disappointed? "if it turns out to be accurate." And there it was!

"Sovereign's a Reaper. Saren admitted it." He said.

"He's playing you Shepard! Saren still has contacts on the Citadel. He probably saw your earlier reports. The one talking about your vision. And the Reapers." Sparatus said condescendingly.

"It's highly possible Saren is using false information to throw you off balance. Our own intelligence has never turned up any corroborating information." Shepard actually face-palmed himself.

"Have you guys had anyone actually looking into it?" Shepard asked. Valern was thrown off balance by the question.

"Yes we have."

"Anyone serious?" Valern didn't answer that time. Shepard nodded and paced back in forth. Sparatus became annoyed at Shepard's behavior.

"Come now, Ghost. You can't honestly believe that these visions of your are real?" Shepard's eyes snapped to Sparatus and the turian had to suppress a flinch from the look Shepard gave him.

"Then tell me why did Saren have a working prothean beacon on Virmire. And don't tell me it was a fake because when you encounter a beacon like that, it is not an experience you forget." Shepard said cooly. They looked to one another and didn't answer. They couldn't.

"Sooner or later you're going to have to take something I say on faith, Councilors." Shepard added annoyed.

"Try to see it from our perspective, Ghost. Saren is a threat we can recognize. However as far as we know, the Reapers only exist in your visions." Tevos placated. Shepard simmered down but not by much.

"Our decisions affect trillions of lives. We cannot act on the accusations of one single person. Even a Spectre. not without solid evidence." Valern said hoping it Shepard would understand. He knew he was not without reason. Shepard sighed.

"Your decisions, or rather your indecision, is going to cost trillions of lives. Sovereign and Saren both will eventually come to the Citadel to take you down. I know where he is now. He's on Ilos. I'm going to need a fleet. I can smooth things over with Aria first if you are worried about her or any pirate/merc interference." The Councilors looked to one another again before both Tevos and Valern looked to Sparatus. The turian considered it briefly before shaking his head.

"The Council cannot take any action here. That is why we created the Spectres. You have the authority to act as you see fit." Tevos putting her hands behind her back.

"If you truly believe Sovereign is the real threat, you must take whatever steps are necessary to stop it. And Saren."

"Good luck Ghost. From all of us." Sparatus logged off but Tevos and Valern didn't.

"Is there something else Councilors?" Shepard asked.

"About Saren. Did you find out if he's under control or not?" Valern asked. Shepard nodded.

"Yes, he has the same thing Benezia had, but I'm not sure if I can save him."

"Why not?" Tevos questioned.

"Because I don't even know how I saved Benezia. This type of mind control is unlike any I have ever seen. I've seen control chips, hypnotizing and the Thorian's method but indoctrination is something else. It goes deeper. You know this Councilor Tevos. I'll figure out what to do next. But still, to get to Illos and to Saren, I'll have to go through his fleet. And I'll need a fleet to do that." Tevos and Valern sighed before thinking it over.

"We'll think over it, Ghost. But that is all we can promise for now."

"I'll take it. Good day Councilors." Shepard said before the comm disconnected. He sighed before walking down to his room. He sat down in his chair looking at the monitor screen. The Iron Man robot's results had transmitted back to his Personal OSD. The geth had tried to hack through its cyber defenses but luckily the firewalls Shepard and Isaac both wrote and installed along with the four VIs that were used held up just long enough for the bomb to go off.

The Iron Man had four VI's installed into it. The first was to govern its functions: Motor, combat, aerial and even speech. It was able to discern the difference between friend and foe, but only to a certain degree. Whatever enemy was already programed and what ever was firing at it could be considered a threat. The second VI was used for cyber defense incase the firewalls were breached. The Iron Man has no need to hack for it was built for security reasons and possible find and destroy so there was no need to hack when it could simply rip and blow through walls. The third and fourth are on stand by just in case one of the Primary VIs was malfunctioning or was hacked out.

From the data that came back though, it was really close to being completely hacked. The firewalls had held up for a while, but they were designed to fight VI hacking. While they could hold up against maybe a few geth programs but as more and more brush up against it, they begin to break through. Isaac had written those firewalls himself and had Shepard install several of them in the Iron Man. But Isaac had wrote them only believing that the hacking it'd face would be from mercenaries and possibly STG Agents. They noticed that STG had been sniffing around through the years and Aria had told Shepard that STG had very excellent hackers so it would be best if they had very good cyber defenses. But now Isaac had to work on it more since the geth broke through all of them and had to fight not one, not two, but three VIs before the bomb detonated. They had been afraid that if the geth had successfully hacked it, ooooh boy. They would have some serious upgrades to add to their bodies. Then he looked at the data on the genophage cure. His eyes poured over it lazily before widening. He quickly reread it two more times before stopping himself. He activated his omni-tool and called Wrex up. A few minutes later the krogan walked in.

"Yes, Shepard?" Shepard didn't react, he just simply had his head down on top of his hands, elbows on the table.

"Shepard?"

"It's not a cure." Wrex's eyes narrowed in confusion.

"What?"

"It's not a cure. It's a double-edge sword, Wrex." Shepard said looking up at Wrex. The krogan's eyes widened briefly before narrowing in anger.

"What do you mean by double-edge sword?" He asked with a growl forming on his lips.

"The 'genophage cure' does get rid of the infertility, but it accelerates growth exponentially." Shepard mumbled out.

"I don't understand. What do you mean by accelerates growth?"

"It means that the krogan that would be born would grow faster. Gestate faster, be born faster, grow into adulthood faster, etc." Shepard replied.

"How fast?"

"Let me put it to you this way: As we both know, krogan can live almost as long as asari, but this" Shepard said gesturing to the screen that showed the genophage. "Will cut the krogan's lifespan to an astonishing 20 years." Wrex growled at the logistics.

"Can you change that?" Shepard shook his head negatively.

"No, Wrex. Ask me to make a machine or a weapon and I'm your guy. But biochemistry or genetics? A blind man has a better chance of navigating a minefield." Shepard replied.

"Then what now? All that for nothing!" Shepard looked at Wrex.

"It was not for nothing! If you and I hadn't done that, chances are the krogan would've taken this no questions asked and what's left of your people would be in jeopardy. Now, I know a guy who can probably help with this, but it'll take a long time before we may see any real positive results."

"He any good?"

"He's a fast learner, helped keep me from the Shadow Broker and also made a medium business empire out in the Terminus. He's the best." Shepard said talking about Isaac. There was silence for a few moments before Wrex spoke.

"Shepard, things got heated back on Virmire. I just want you to know that despite that argument or the choice to 'destroy' the cure, I respect your choice." Shepard nodded to him.

"I appreciate what you did Wrex. I won't forget it." Shepard replied. Wrex glanced at the terminal before looking back at him.

"Just make sure it was worth it. Saren has to pay for what he's done."

"We'll have him soon enough. Then he can answer for his crimes." Wrex's eyes narrowed at the statement.

"He'll do more than just answer if I have anything to say about it." With that Wrex turned to leave the room.

"So long Wrex." Shepard said.

"Shepard." Was all he got back before the krogan left. Shepard turned back to the terminal and began looking over things. Making sure everything was safe, he looked at his omni-tool before talking.

"Isaac."

"Yes, Shepard?"

"Do you think you could look over the genophage 'solution' and possibly fashion a cure from it?" Isaac took a once over on the data before answering.

"Hmmm. I could but it will take time, resources, and sadly testing." Shepard winced at testing.

"How much time?"

"If I have plenty of resources at my disposal, a few years, perhaps a decade. Without proper information on the genophage, I can't exactly tell."

"And without test subjects?" Isaac didn't answer at first making Shepard nervous.

"Unknown." Dammit. Without proper testing and proper knowledge, it'll be impossible. Shepard thought of possible things they could do to achieve their goal. That was when an idea popped into his head.

"When we head back, will take hold of the really bad krogan. You know, the kind who kill for the fun of it, no matter who it is." Shepard said.

"That is morally debatable still." For an AI, Isaac had a good understanding or morals than most people. It was one of the reasons that he and Shepard were able to work so well without any real conflict, save for a few trivial arguments that either one lost.

"Then we leave them unconscious or brain dead." Shepard replied. Neither of those two were much better, but it was a step in the right direction.

"It's a start." Isaac said before moving on. "What are your thoughts on the Iron Man project?" Shepard turned back to the data reports.

"Overall? Better than we hoped considering it held against the geth on both a physical and virtual plane for quite some time."

"For 10 minutes, 11 seconds. The physical capabilities are to be expected, but the cyberdefenses... "

"Held up greatly having been made to prevent VI hacking. I believe had it not been for the geth being AI, they never would've made it past the first one."

"True, but if we hadn't placed those VI's in the Iron Man, the geth would have a very dangerous weapon at their disposal." Shepard nodded.

"That or whatever data they had gotten would be blown away since there was a nuke right beside them." He reasoned with a sly smile.

"Also true." Isaac replied with slight amusement. Another thing he had gained with being with Shepard.

"What do you think we should do to continue?" Isaac asked. Shepard stared at it before he began typing. He pulled up another project, The Combat Drone. Inside the file contained several versions of it. Basic ideas and additions. There were four in all. One version having flight while another version was antiaircraft. One version had rockets while another had stealth along with E.M.P.S.

"What are you thinking about Shepard?" Shepard's mind raced with possibilities of the drones. Isaac's question finally registered in his mind.

"The Iron Man is good, but as we've seen, it still could use some work. The drones are made cheaper, and with less resources. Each. The Iron Man model now could win against each drone with some minor difficulty." Shepard said before pausing.

"And?" Isaac prompted after a moment of silence.

"And despite that, I'm worried."

"Why?" What Shepard be worried about.

"The Reapers." He clarified.

"I understood that, but what about them?"

"You did hear Sovereign right?"

"Of course."

"The fact that the Reapers are legion. Probably not enough to blot out the sky of every world, and that alone is worrying enough, but if all of them are like Sovereign..." Shepard left letting Isaac think it over.

"Then each and every one of them is strong enough to cause incredible destruction. It won't matter if they have the geth as ground troops. As synthetics the only things we really need resources for would be to make something or repair something. We wouldn't need anything to sustain us, at least not like you organics. We have no immediate need for resources, which will give them a clear advantage among numerous ones."

"That's not the only reason they won't have any need for geth as troops. Remember those husks? Those things could take a few bullets. Not just that, but they have superior strength and have the ability to emit an electric pulse that plays havoc on shields. But what frightens me most is that fact that it is just humans." Shepard added.

"And if a human husk is capable of that..." Isaac said catching on

"Then imagine what a batarian or turian could do."

"Or an asari or krogan."

"Exactly. And what's worse is that I don't think that is all they are capable of. The armies of the Council and the Terminus combined are not ready for a fight like this. Our technology isn't ready, or our loyalties for that matter."

"So what do you have in mind?" Shepard took the schematics of all of the drones and placed them over each other until it looked like one drone with all of the parts. It looked just clunked together and top heavy.

"We'll have to rearrange and downsize some things on the drones before they're mass produced. Not only that but the Iron Man is going to need some serious upgrades and maybe we can link the two together." Shepard said as he began to type furiously. He created a new folder to save the other two in. He gave it a fitting name before moving on to his newest projects: Project War Machine.

A couple hours later...

Shepard walked out of his room stiffly having been sitting for a few hours, working on plans for Project War Machine. He was taking a big risk after it came to fruition but he was confident things would be fine when it would happen. After walking out he saw Kaidan and Joker at the mess, sitting down. Shepard walked over to him and sat across from Kaidan and beside Joker. Joker talked to him first in a relieved tone.

"Shepard, I know it couldn't have been easy down there. Having to nearly make the call between Alenko and Williams must have been..." Shepard looked at him making Joker lessen his jovial tone. "I'm sorry. I don't know if I could have done it."

"There is no right choice for that. Let's just hope I don't end up in that situation again. Might not be a third option next time." Shepard replied as he popped his neck. Sitting in one chair for too long did that to you. Joker raised his hands a little.

"Here's hoping."

"Anything you need, Shepard?" Kaidan asked. The man looked to be deep in thought.

"Things got desperate down there." Shepard commented. The sentinel nodded.

"Yea, they did. Sorry for anything I said back there. Adrenaline." Kaidan replied. He appeared more subdued, possibly because of the fact that Shepard had yelled at him and Ashley or from the pressure of nearly dying or of someone else dying on Virmire. Or all of them.

"I don't like to lose people, Alenko." Shepard said trying to excuse his own behavior. He hated losing control and he had enough deaths with people near him. Kaidan snorted.

"I served for years, but never lost a soldier under my command." Then he remembered Jenkins and frowned. "Not to hostile action anyway." He looked at Shepard.

"If you don't mind me asking..." Shepard rose an eyebrow. "how did you deal with the losses during the Skyllian Blitz?" Shepard's eye closed, remembering the ground trembling, him running and everyone else dying. Elysium. Akuze. Torfan. Seconds later he opened his eyes and answered Kaidan.

"I didn't know anyone personally in any of those places, but they did look up to me and I never really did like seeing people die, not if I could help it. My coping was as soon as I got back home I just hit the bottle. I had depression and guilt which caused me not to leave the house for certain periods of time. Chances are, if it hadn't been for certain someone, I wouldn't have bothered continuing on. In the end I had to keep going because others needed me to keep going." Shepard replied as he tapped his hands on the table. It was something to help keep himself preoccupied. Kaidan looked at him for a moment before smirking.

"You're right. Besides, Williams and I are alive. I can't let what almost happened, get to me. Thanks for the advice."

"Don't mention it." Shepard and Kaidan looked around for something to do before Shepard started talking again.

"Well this is uncomfortable." Joker muttered.

"So what DID you think of Virmire?" Shepard asked. Kaidan raised an eyebrow.

"Input? Hell, I don't know. We're fighting giant machines from outside the galaxy. Should I be afraid of them? Or in awe of them? Anything so old, so intelligent..." Kaidan looked like he drifted of in thought completely.

"We may be ants to them, but humans have never managed to exterminate ants." It was true. Nearly 300 years after the invention of insecticide, and ants were still around causing all kinds of trouble for humans. He knew this because someone on Mindoir brought an ant farm with them when they moved and one day it had toppled over and broke releasing all the ants. A month later and ant hills started popping up everywhere. True, Mindoir had its own type of insects and all, but the person brought fucking Red Imported Fire Ants! Those things became top dog in their new insect world in a matter of days. Worse still, they plagued everyone on Mindoir. Eventually, Hannah had enough of them invading their homes and stinging her son, despite the fact it would heal within an hour, so she created a device that drove the ants crazy. The ants attacked each other until one colony was left and then pest control came in. The rest was history... until the larva grew up and it began again. But Shepard, digressed.

"It makes you wonder. Are ants any more aware of than we are? Of the giants that walk over their heads?" Kaidan asked.

"Oh, I'm pretty sure they're aware of us considering they eat our food in our homes and the fact that some of them get stomped on by big enormous boot." Joker replied with a small smile.

"I wonder how the crew's doing after that mission." Shepard idly wondered.

"We're all in for the duration. You can count on everyone doing their duty." Kaidan replied. That was when Ashley walked in.

"I hope we can get the Council to give us a hand, skipper." She said as she sat down.

"They're right you know? We don't have that much proof. My 'visions' and the word of a rebellious spectre." Shepard said.

"We've got our suit recordings. That's something." She replied hopefully.

"I've talked with the Councilors and I believe that the asari and salarian councilors are coming around to the idea of it. At the very least they believe that Saren is under some type of control. But that's it. No real action." Shepard replied negatively.

"I'm sure that with enough time you can convince them." Kaidan replied trying to cheer Shepard up. Joker jumped in.

"Yea, I mean if they are listening to you then you're showing or doing something right."

"It doesn't mean squat if we reach the home stretch and we can't make it past the final obstacle between us and the finish line." Shepard replied crossing his arms. Kaidan and Joker sighed at Shepard's attitude. He was really worn down now wasn't he? Well, someone wasn't about to let stay that way for long.

"There's a reason for everything that happens, Shepard. Even if you don't understand it at the time. What happened during the Blitz. It wasn't easy, I know, but it gave you the drive you needed on this mention." Ashley motioned around them. "And that got you here. Commanding the finest tin can in the Alliance fleet. This is the exactly where the galaxy needs you to be." Shepard looked at her with a small smirk on his face. She was right. Kaidan and Joker were looking at her in shock having not expected such a pep talk from her of all people.

"No pressure." She added seeing the looks, blushing before looking away. The three men chuckled at her actions. Shepard got out of his seat and prepared to go down to the hangar.

"You're right Ash. Can't let myself get down after coming this far. Don't worry, I'll be where you need me to be." Shepard replied. As he left in the elevator, Ashley looked over to Kaidan and Joker who were eyeing her.

"What?" She asked nervously.

"We're just wondering who's got Shepard's attention more right now. You or Liara." Joker said with a cheeky grin. Ashley blushed scarlet before glaring at him.

"You are lucky you have brittle bones, otherwise I'd-" Joker was looking scared as Ashley growled out her sentence before Kaidan jumped to his rescue.

"Now, Chief. In all fairness he was just answering your question. Besides, people are wanting to know if the bet will be resolved." He said mumbling the last sentence but Ashley heard it.

"What?! What bet?!" Kaidan was now the one looking scared.

"uuuuuhhhhhh." He looked for any chance to escape which flew out the window when she grabbed him by his fatigues. Joker silently snuck away which was pretty good for a guy who needed assistance at times.

"What bet?" She growled.

"There was a bet made by Wrex and Garrus when Liara came onboard. They betted on which one of you would get Shepard, either in a relationship or just for one night. Wrex betted on you while Garrus betted on Liara. Then the bet spread all over the ship until everyone was in on it." Kaidan confessed. Ashley blushed even more out of embarrassment and anger.

"Does Shepard know about this?" Kaidan shook his head no.

"You, Liara and him are the only ones who weren't supposed to know." Ashley let go of him before walking to the crew quarters to catch some rack time. It had been a real stressful day for her with all the fighting and feelings and stuff. She knew she wanted Shepard. She knew Liara wanted Shepard. She knew that Shepard wanted both of them but stayed away out of respect and also the fact he was going to become a father within the next few months. From what she read recently about asari though, it might help persuade Shepard be a little more... open about this. If not well... she and Liara could always double team him.

The next day

Ashley walked into the med-bay. She greeted Chakwas briefly before walking to the back to where we Liara was. It was only Liara in the room now. Benezia must be helping Shepard train or something.

"Chief Williams. I was not expecting a visit from you." Liara said in mild surprise. Liara and Ashley while on good terms haven't talked much. Shepard and their interest in him had been a big reason why but today was different.

"You look much better." Ashley commented not thinking of anything else to say. Liara looked at her, wondering why she was here before answering.

"Dr. Chakwas assures me that I'm going to be fine. I am still impressed with her knowledge of asari physiology." Ashley almost said something along the lines of 'humans are than what they seem' but stopped herself. That was ignorant of her. It was time to stop that.

"Yeah, Dr. Chakwas is one of the best medics I've seen." Ashley said awkwardly.

"I've been thinking about Saren." Liara confessed trying to make the conversation keep going. "I actually feel a little sorry for him now." Ashley nodded reluctantly. As much as she hated to admit it, Saren wasn't worth hating now. Not when he is being manipulated.

"He's a slave and he doesn't even realize it." She replied.

"He is trapped inside his mind. Part of him senses his identity slowly being swallowed by Sovereign, but he is powerless to stop it. I wonder how he first fell into Sovereign's trap?" Ashley had begun to wonder that too. "Did he think he could somehow stop the Reapers from returning? Or was he driven by a lust for power and glory?"

"Shepard could probably help figure it out, but whatever his reasons were, they're long gone now. He has to be stopped." Ashley replied with conviction.

"Yes, I suppose you are right. He may be Sovereign's victim, but he still a threat to all as we know it." She began to say before stopping herself. "Let's not spend every free minute talking about Saren. It is bad enough we are chasing him across the galaxy."

"Couldn't agree more." She said before an unsteady silence descended on the two.

"Is there something you wished to talk about?" Liara asked. Ashley blushed and brushed the back of her head in embarrassment. Liara looked at her strangely having never seen her like this.

"About Shepard..." Liara's eyes widened realizing what the topic was going to be. Ashley lowered her hand and sighed before continuing. "Look, I know you have feelings for him and you I do too."

"Yes, it has been apparent to him for quite some time."

"And we know his feelings on the matter as well as his situation." Liara nodded. She had been depressed when Shepard told her the news but she wasn't going to give up. Shepard was the most interesting person to her. She had begun to have feelings for him after Therum and they grew until now she wanted him stay.

"And... Dammit, what I'm suggesting is..."

Back to Shepard (I'm evil. I know.)

Shepard was helping Garrus work on the mako. Both working on its tires considering a few were blown out and needed a rotation anyway. They were halfway done before Garrus started talking.

"Shepard."

"Yeah?" Shepard biotically lifted a tire while Garrus screwed in the bolts.

"I wanted to thank you." Shepard looked at him confused as the finished the tire.

"What for?" Shepard asked as they moved on to the last tire.

"For everything." Garrus screwed in a bolt. "Taking me with you." Screwed in another. "Letting me be a part of your team." And another. "I've learned a lot." And the last one.

They both stood up and began putting away the tools.

"I've thought about what you've told me. About not sacrificing innocents to achieve the goal. About finding the best way through, not the fastest." Shepard nodded.

"Life isn't about taking the easy way out. It's about taking the right way." Shepard replied with Garrus nodding. They placed the last of the tools in the toolbox. Garrus turned to Shepard.

"I've been thinking about Dr. Saleon too. I'd convinced myself that he deserved to die, but then I started thinking about why I wanted him dead."

"And what did you find out?" Shepard asked thinking this might be it. This might be where Garrus finally starts to do things right.

"I realized it wasn't because of what he did to those people." Shepard raised an eyebrow. Well, this wasn't looking to good. Garrus must've seen his expression because he continued on, "That was part of it. But I think most of it was because he got away from me."

"Oh?" Shepard asked with interest now. Maybe he judged too soon.

"He escaped under my watch, and I didn't like that. I let it become personal." Hmm. That was better, but was that it?

"Words mean nothing until you turn them into action, Garrus. What are you going to do about it?" Shepard asked. He wanted to know what Garrus was going to do to make a difference.

"Well, I'm going back to C-Sec. I think I can make a difference there." Shepard raised an eyebrow. Working in C-Sec was the reason why Garrus was on here in the first place. All that red-tape holding him back.

"I'll also reapply for Spectre training. But I'll do it right. I won't compromise myself to get there." Shepard nodded.

"If the people I'm sworn to protect can't trust me... well, then I don't deserve to be the one protecting them." Shepard smiled.

"I'm glad you see it that way. Keep that in mind when we meet Saren."

"Don't worry, Shepard. I will." Garrus replied before Joker's voice came over the comm.

"Shepard, you're going to need to get to the CIC. There's a message from the Citadel."

"Sounds urgent. On my way." Shepard replied before walking to the elevator.

'Hopefully, things are taking a turn for the better now.' Shepard thought as the doors closed on him.

With Saren and Sovereign

Saren awoke on a bench of some sort inside Harbinger. Standing over him were two geth with operating tools. Overhead were other things used for major surgery but were the Reaper version: Pointed, purplish and looking ten times worse than normal surgical tools. The last thing Saren remembered was thinking about Shepard's words.

"Your like every other poor bastard in this place. A tool Sovereign can use, then cast aside... Tell me why Sovereign needs to find the Conduit. Tell me what it is. Maybe we can find a way to stop them... Sovereign's manipulating you and you don't even know it! You're already under its power!... Together we can stop Sovereign. We don't have to submit to the Reapers. We can beat them!... You were a spectre. You were sworn to defend the galaxy. Then you broke that vow to save yourself!... You know I managed to remove the indoctrination from Benezia right? I honestly don't understand it myself, but I did manage it. She's on my ship right now as we speak. It's not too late Saren. You can still be saved."

Each one of those stuck to him, but the last few had hit the hardest. Shepard had seen what Sovereign was capable of on Eden Prime and he still believed that it could be stopped. The fight with Shepard had left doubts in his mind as well as physical wounds. Shepard's omni-tool backhand had cracked his mandible and that biotic blast had messed up a few of his cybernetics. The human was as troublesome as the other one was all those years ago. He then felt his body was different, lighter and stronger and his biotics felt more powerful than ever.

Saren got off the table and walked to a wall before taking his synthetic arm and punching it. He made a dent in the wall. It was impressive since he wasn't using his biotics.

"Sovereign, what have you done to me?" Saren asked.

"I SENSED DOUBT IN YOUR MIND. THE HUMAN CALLED SHEPARD HAS BEEN TROUBLING YOU FOR SOME TIME NOW. THESE DOUBTS WERE UNACCEPTABLE. I RELIEVED YOU OFF THEM. I HAVE IMPLANTED ADVANCED CYBERNETICS TO REPLACE THE ONES THAT HAD BEEN DAMAGED. WE ARE LINKED. WE ARE NOW ONE, SAREN. THE STRENGTHS OF BOTH, WEAKNESSES OF NEITHER." Saren was in awe of the power he felt course through him. All doubt was gone from his mind now. He believed in Sovereign completely. He walked away to begin preparations to Ilos. It was time to herald the return of the Reapers.

Okay I know this Chapter was not on par as the last two but hey, I believe that for a story to progress it needs some time to see the character's reactions.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it! Tell me what you think!

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