They were all huddled together behind that sharp rock, and they would have inevitably died there if it wasn't for a glowing blue bubble encompassing them. Ivy slowly opened her eyes when she realised she wasn't dead, to find herself in a familiar drells arms, pressed up against the rock. She met his gaze for a brief moment before looking to see Kyre, holding up a perfect biotic barrier, the bullets suspended in midair within its shield. "Kyre…"

"Don't waste any time ma'am, get your gun and find the bastard. I can't hold this barrier forever." He closed his eyes to focus all of his energy outward, maintaining the barrier that was keeping his friends and comrades alive. He could hear the group loading their weapons and turning their safeties off, which brought him great comfort. "Is anyone hurt?"

"No, Kyre, we're all alive and well, thanks to you." Shepard loaded her assault rifle, heading to the edge of the barrier, "Does anyone see any-"
Just then a roar of a shuttle engine was heard, and the group saw the firebird's shuttle take off, speeding away at speeds faster than they knew a shuttle could, "No, not my baby!" Lyre called, looking at the shuttle, "He turned off the safety caps, he's gonna fry the engine! Nooooo!"

Ivy knelt to the ground, peering down her scope, "I can get him, I can." She took a deep breath, exhaling as she pulled the trigger, and the bullet went cascading towards the shuttle. She closed her eyes and prayed for a mark that she knew she wouldn't get. There were too many variables. The speed of the shuttle, which was gradually accelerating. the unsteady changes of wind speed, and the centripetal force of her own bullet. "Please tell me it hit, Thane, Kyre, anyone."

"I'm sorry, there was no way any of us could have made that shot. He's already out of the atmosphere." Garrus knelt down to look at her, still clutching onto her gun, "It was still quite the impressive shot, we can talk about who taught you to shoot later."

"Did someone at least get a good look at him?" She set her gun down, too ashamed to look at anyone, "I'm so sorry, I should have seen it sooner. It was so obvious it was a trap, I'm so sorry." She closed her eyes, forcing back the tears that begged to be released, and the soreness of her throat.

Shepard stood beside Garrus, looking down at Ivy, "Look, none of us would have caught it in time. If you hadn't when you did, it's very likely that Garrus, Thane, and Kaidan would be dead. Let's be thankful for that. We can track the bastard who did this down and make him regret the day he started taking down spectres for sport. Let's just get back to the ship… err… which ship"

"I could try hacking into the shuttle's interior cameras from the firebird. I suggest we go there, that way at least we can have an idea of who we're up against." Kyre said, dropping the barrier, falling to a knee, panting. It had been quite some time since he had used his biotics, and it was obviously taking a toll on him more than he thought it would. "But… We will not be able to fit all of us on that boat. We'll have to make two trips."

Kaidan nodded, "Kyre, Ivy, and Shepard should go first, that way you can get to the firebird and have everything set up by the time the rest of us get there. I'll pilot the ship both ways."

Ivy nodded in agreement, finally looking up at the others, "Yes, a sound plan. You make sure to pick up Ra as well, he'll hopefully be done treating the girl by the time you arrive on the shore." She looked at Kyre, eyes filled with worry. He didn't look nearly as lively as he usually did, if that word could ever be used to describe him. "Kyre, please rest on the boat."

"Ma'am, I will be fine. Please, let's get going. The sooner we get there, the more likely I'll be able to access those cameras." He stood up, hiding the shaking in his legs well, walking over to pull Ivy up. "Don't make me carry you."

"I would shoot you." She got up, thanks to his assistance, "See the rest of you on the ship. Oh, and do try not to bring any bugs. I'll be doing a security sweep after you leave." She bent down to pick up her gun, switching the safety back on, ashamed to be holding it, knowing that had she hit her mark it would have saved the lot of them a whole lot of trouble.

Kyre locked himself in the computer lab to be left alone while he worked, and so that left Shepard and Ivy in the main room, Ivy hunched over in her chair, head in her hands, thinking over all the mistakes she had made. She would certainly never make those mistakes again, ever, for as long as she lived.

Shepard watched her curiously. The woman seemed completely oblivious to her presence, "So, how is Thane?"

"The perfect patient. He recovered even better than expected, even though he's still in the recovery phase. He's reflexes should be slower than they are, and his speech should be slightly impaired, but neither is true. Even his thoughts are collected, from before he died as well. It's remarkable." She sat up, leaning back against the chair, the thought of her research on the Drell having distracted her from her solemn thoughts. "Kolyat said he was quite a good soldier, but I thought that was just a son idolising his father. I cannot wait to see what he will be at full recovery."

She shook her head, thoughts of a certain Salarian researcher coming to mind. Mordin would have gotten along well with Ivy. "I meant how is he doing, personally. Does he seem comfortable here? Stressed? Is he adjusting well?"

"He'll be fine. He gets along well with Ra and Kyre, which is good. He seems quite comfortable in his room too, and knows where everything is well enough, given his perfect memory. I think he'll do well here. He's also keeping in touch with Kolyat, I heard them promise to send each other pictures every day." She smiled, remembering all of the nights she had spent with Kolyat, he would talk about his father every chance he could. They had certainly become great friends over those few months.

Shepard smiled, eyes growing soft for a moment. Koi didn't know it yet, but she had feelings Thane. Perhaps because she had brought him back, and probably spent a great deal of time around his lifeless body. But Shepard could hear it in her voice when she spoke of him, and she was positive that Thane felt it too. She sensed it that moment on the beach, when he had looked back to where she had been sitting, almost longingly. "Ivy, you should take some Liechroot so those rashes don't develop from being near Thane, it certainly saved my dozens of those… ugh, they're awful."

"I've already been taking it. I have been since Kolyat signed that contract for me to bring him back, but I wasn't aware of how effective it would be."

"Very. On occasion you'll still get them, but they won't be nearly as bad. It'll be like a mild mosquito bite." She looked up when she heard the airlock open, and the rest of their party came in, "Well if it isn't the nerd patrol." She chuckled softly, folding her hands together. "We're still waiting on her pilot, he hasn't come out yet."

"Neither has Kaidan, come to find out. He's so far in the closet, he's in Narnia." Garrus laughed, nudging the other spectre, who just grumbled about the fact that the majority of women he flirted with getting shot was a complete coincidence. It probably was, but that didn't mean that they weren't going to make jokes about it.

Ra popped out from behind the group, holding the human girl's hand, "Professor, can Emma stay? I fixed up her shoulder! She offered to help clean up the ship!" He smiled, dragging the human girl into the room, earning a very puzzled look from Ivy. surprised to see him drag another human onto the ship.

"She has to ask her parents. Make sure they know about the pirates, and that she'll be on a ship with several assassins." She yawned, hoping that would scare any parent half to death.

"Okay!" He smiled, and the two ran out laughing, earning more puzzled looks from the rest of the group, especially Garrus, who was wondering how a Turian could be so… giddy.

It was then that the airlock to the computer room opened, and Kyre stepped out, handing a file to his boss, "Look at the shoulder." He spoke calmly, though the pressure from having used his biotics was quickly sending him to the brink of exhaustion.

Ivy pushed her glasses up, though she still squinted to look at the assassins one exposed shoulder that the camera barely captured before it had been shot in a forcible attempt to deactivate it. There was a familiar black diamond, slowly fading into the human's skin, one that sent a chill down her spine. She felt the drink that she consumed at the confectionery curdle in her stomach at the sight of it, "Damn it, Vakarian you were right… Cerberus is still around." She put her head into one of her hands, leaning on it as she passed the file to the Commander so that she could look at it too. "They just can't die, can they? Fucking hell."

Shepard examined the picture, frowning when she indeed saw the familiar emblem of the group she had once allied herself with, and the group that she was certain she took down. "Well at least we have some clue now of who we're after. It's quite pompous of him to display that emblem, since it's hated by the majority of the galaxy. Didn't most Cerberus personnel have it removed?"

"Officers had the tattoo with a sort of permanent ink. It can't be removed with traditional laser equipment. The ink is primarily metal. I hear it's quite the painful process, something that they started after you took down the Collectors and left Cerberus actually." Her mind ran through all of the information that she had on the process, "Only officers have it as I said, and it allowed Cerberus to track their location. As well as identify when the officer died. It contained information on the individual, and had instructions on where to ship back the body in case of death. Higher level personnel had a tattoo that disappeared once all brain activity stopped. Also, quite the violent process, fortunately they don't have to feel it, being dead and all. It's not like they can have it removed anyway, as most people would call the police if they encountered a member of Cerberus."

"That's true." Shepard looked at the picture more closely, trying to make out any more details. "This is the only shot you were able to get?"

"He shot the camera within seconds, that was the best one I could get unfortunately. At least now we know that it's a human male that was previously, or currently, employed in Cerberus, and likely an officer." He took the file back when it was passed to him, "Though that's a lot of wiggle room. There could be hundred of people that fit that description."

"It's better than we had before, good job Kyre." Ivy stood up, "Well, as for the crew of the Normandy, that's all we have for you. I doubt he'll go back after you so shortly after this, but if you get any clues, please do let us know, and we'll offer you the same respect." She reached out her hand to shake the Commander's, "It was a pleasure to meet you, perhaps next time it could be under better circumstances."

"I agree, perhaps next time you could meet us on the citadel to exchange information. I may have some contacts that could help you out in your search." Liara would know something, being the Shadow Broker. "I'll see what I can do."

"Thanks." The redhead nodded, watching as the members of the Normandy turned and left, and once she was sure they were gone and out of range, "I can't go to the Citadel, so if we ever need to dock there, it'll be up to you two and Ra. Kyre, plot a course for Omega, and then go get some rest. I know you're not feeling well, don't hide it idiot."

"Yes ma'am. I'll set it to take off when Ra arrives." He walked off, heading up towards the cockpit. His walk was slightly more relaxed, and his exhaustion showed. It wasn't often that one got to see a tired Salarian, given that they were always brimming with energy.

Ivy yawned, rubbing her eyes, "Thane you too, go rest… I'm going to wait for Ra to show up crying over the fact that the girl's parents said no." She sat back down, fighting the urge to close her eyes.

He sat down across from her. Humans had a tendency to hurt themselves for the sake of their pride. Actually, they had a tendency to hurt themselves for a lot of reasons. Most of which were completely insane. "Why don't you go rest? You look exhausted. And I know you didn't sleep last night."

"That's none of your business. And I don't sleep when my people need it more, and that includes you. Once everyone is asleep, and the alarms are primed, I will then sleep." She stifled another yawn, not wanting to show how tired she was, especially now that Thane was paying attention, which caused her eyes to water from holding it back. "We'll land at Omega probably two days from now, given the distance between here and the nearest relay."

"I don't rest when my employer is in duress, so forgive me if I stay here to make sure you don't hurt yourself." He folded his arms, arching a brow, "You can't stop calculations for a moment, can you?"

"No I cannot, are you trying something, Krios?" She sat back up, meeting his gaze. "What if I order you to go rest?"

"I'm not trying to start anything, professor. I'm simply saying that my job as an assassin would be pretty void if you were to go and injure yourself. I also made a promise to keep you safe, and I don't break promises."

"Mind telling me who you made that promise to?" She folded her arms, narrowing her eyes at him, refusing to back down. She was tense, he could see it, they was her shoulders were slightly higher than normal, fingers curled against her arms, nails digging into them ever so slightly.

"Nope, Employer confidentiality. What kind of assassin would I be if I went about telling everyone who asked me to complete certain tasks?" He wanted to get her some tea and spike it with a sedative, but he would resist that urge. After all, Ra had told him that Ivy was quite the demon when she was angry.

"Does that mean you'll keep any secret I ask of you?" Her head tilted ever so slightly to the left, lips parted curiously, "No matter how ridiculous?" She noticed him shift nervously, and smirked, starting to laugh, "You're funny, Thane."

"I am?" He stared at her confused, replaying the conversation in his head to find where he possibly said or did anything humorous, and found none. "I don't think I'm very funny."

That was when Ra ran in with the human girl, Emma, "Professor! Her parents said she could come!"

Ivy fell out of her chair, startled by the sudden noise, Thane expecting it and catching her. "You're joking! Did you mention the assassin part?! The pirates?! There is no way they said yes to fucking pirates!" She jumped up, thanks to the Drell's help.

Emma bowed and curtsied, "My parents were members of the Alliance, so they think it would be good for me to be on a ship… And believe me ma'am, I have no intention of fucking a pirate." Ra beside her started to chuckle at her wordplay, and Ivy sighed, shaking her head.
"Fine, she can stay. Ra, show her around the ship and set her up a cabin. I'm going to check on Kyre, and then I'm going to sleep." She picked up her sniper, and started for the elevator. "Try not to get up to too much trouble, please."

Thane looked at the laughing youngsters, who immediately took off to the elevator. Well at least Ra had a friend around his age now, and having someone else to help would take a lot of stress off of the Turian, who seemingly did a lot for the ship's maintenance.

Certainly this group was becoming a handful.

He headed up to the cockpit to check on Kyre for himself. It was never good to have a tired pilot, but a Salarian pilot was definitely a plus given how little sleep they actually needed. He peeked through the door to see Kyre alone, standing over his navigation systems, punching in various coordinates. There was no sign of Ivy, so he stepped in knocking on the door gently as he did, as to not give the man a heart attack. "Feeling any better?"

"Slightly, I haven't used my biotics in over a year, so when I did, it sent me into some strange form of shock. I'll be better after a short rest though." He punched in the final coordinate, "You should rest too, I don't think your body is fully recovered yet." He passed him a glass of water from the cooler.

He took a sip, nodding in thanks, "Did Ivy come up to see you?"

"No, something amiss?"

Thane shook his head, putting the glass down. He wouldn't say any more, but something was indeed amiss.

She lied, and so she was hiding something. He was going to find out what.