Allers: Not exactly the homecoming you were expecting.

Ashley: Honestly, I didn't know what to expect.

Allers: But you told Tali the truth.

Ashley: Not the whole truth, but enough of it.

Allers: We all know what's coming Commander.

Ashley: Of course you do

It had taken all the strength I had not to punch something when we found out about the madness of the Council. They had all the facts but because there wasn't enough evidence they ignored it, and that traitor Udina agreed with them. Politicians who needs them. We were in lockdown, not allowed to leave the Citadel yet confined to our respective ships. It was frustrating, I had no idea what the Commander must have been feeling, pure anger no doubt. When the call came through from the Normandy to get ready to launch we were in disbelief, even having a high ranking official on our side wouldn't have helped us in this instance. Yet there we were sat at the helm and waiting for the stupid red light to turn green, telling us to go. I was sat there thinking this isn't going to happen, the light isn't going to change green, yet it did. Whilst I was in the highest state of disbelief the light changed. We watched the Normandy leave the dock and followed.

"So I wasn't actually expecting that to work."

"It was a bit of a long shot."

Glad to know I wasn't the only one who had doubts about the whole procedure. At least it worked; the Commander would have to fill us in once we rendezvoused above Ilos, which was several hours away via the relays. Perhaps now I would be able to read Tennyson, but then again why should this mean I'd be able to read. Every other so called quiet moment has ended up with the book being forgotten as I'd been needed to do something.

"You going to read some more Tennyson Ash?"

"Hopefully. I've only managed the first few pages due to everything that's been going on."

"Once we've hit the relay, I'll come join you."

We weren't due to hit the relay for another ten minutes. At least Miranda wouldn't interrupt me on purpose. Who knows she might even pick up a book herself. I had just sat down and started to read when the communication came through. Bloody typical.

"Sorry to do this Ash but the Commander is on for you."

"On my way Miri, she'd best have a good reason."

Back at the helm the Commander was on a screen in front of the pilot's seat and waiting not so patiently for me to arrive.

"Commander."

"Ash, when we reach Ilos I want you on the ground crew."

"Okay. I'll be there."

"Once we're in orbit, dock with us and we'll discuss the plan. Shepard out."

"Really that's all she wanted. That could have waited until we were in orbit."

"It did seem a bit strange for her to get in contact just for that. We'll be hitting the relay in a minute."

With a nod of my head I acknowledged Miranda and sat in the co-pilots seat. Might as well wait until we hit the relay before picking up where I left off. We went through with no problem and turned the auto pilot on and left the helm, allowing me to read. Which I did for the entirety of the journey it was great and unexpected.

We hit Ilos several hours later, with both ships in orbit we docked and discussed the plans. The ground crew was the Commander, myself and Garrus all piled into the Mako. We would search the planet for any signs of the Conduit and Saren and stop any plans that he had set in motion. It was simple really, the only problem being finding a landing area. There was nowhere big enough for the Normandy to land and the only spot close enough to Saren's location for the Mako to be dropped didn't have enough room for a successful landing. But Joker was adamant he could make it, not that his life would be on the line doing it. That didn't stop the Commander from believing him and putting our lives on the line. With that settled we headed towards the cargo bay, but I was stopped before I could reach the elevator.

"Ash stay safe."

"Don't worry I'll be back, you can't get rid of me that easily." With that I whispered one last word. "Miri."

Before I could get into the waiting elevator Miranda quickly grabbed me by the waist and pulled me in for a deep passionate kiss. They're may have been some wolf whistling involved by the men of the crew, but to us there was nobody else involved, it was just us and our moment. It felt like it was over just as it had begun and I was riding the elevator down to the Mako.

The Mako plummeted down to the ground at a more alarming rush than normal. Joker's free fall plan was put into motion and we soon found ourselves hitting the ground and almost killing Saren in the process. Only almost though. He managed to escape behind a security door just out of reach of the Mako. We piled out and examined the door which was blocking our escape; it was a high security door which had no visible way of opening from here anyway. The building behind could hold the key to unlocking the door, luckily for us it was teaming with Geth. The Commander led the way past the Mako and into the open ground before the building, where two Geth Armatures were waiting for us. With the limited cover provided we had to time our shots and hope for the best, luckily due to their bulk they weren't quick at moving, so speed was our strength. Rushing from cover to cover we managed to deplete their shields, after that it didn't take long. With the two Armatures down we moved further into the complex, encountering groups of Geth along the way. When we finally reached the control room we were greeted by a Geth Prime and several other units, including more Armatures. The terrain wasn't the most suitable for attacking a superior number of Geth but we'd have to make do. It took us a while but we were eventually able to defeat the Geth, with only a couple of scrapes and bruises.

In the control room above the battlefield, we found a working Protheon conduit. From there the Commander was able to access the lockdown on the door blocking our path and also found the last transmission sent. To us it was just mindless noise, but something must have happened to the Commander when she stood in front of the beacon, she stood there and took it all in. She understood it all.

"Do you understand that Commander?"

"You don't. It must be the beacon. It's Protheon, it's their last stand against the reapers, it wasn't their proudest moment. Come on let's get back to the Mako."

We moved out of the control room and towards the ancient elevator at the back of the room, which very handily took us back to where we started. Once back at the Mako we all piled in and the Commander set of down the large creepy tunnel. Vines were hanging down from the roof and encompassed the pillars holding the roof up. Clearly what used to be proud Protheon statues, were now in disarray with vegetation growing all over it. The only way was forward and down further into the complex. This complex gave me the chills, with the Commander at the wheel and Garrus on the weapon platform, left me with the science stuff. Even with my basic understanding I was still able to scan the surroundings and what I found gave me the creeps. Very faint life signs coming from each figure, almost like they were alive but that couldn't be so. Could it? The more that we came across the higher the readings became.

"Commander, we might have a problem."

"What is it Ash?"

"All those statues we've come across, each one is reading as a life sign. If they truly are alive then it's a miracle."

"That's impossible Ash. Looking at the statues they've been here years. There's no way that they're alive. What the..."

Up against the screen of the Mako was one of the statues, it hadn't been there before. Its mouth was agape and its teeth were showing, but it was still unmoving. The bio scanner was going crazy, there was movement all around us. Apparently we were surrounded, we all quickly glanced at the scanner and as soon as we looked back towards the statue it was gone. As were the life signs on the scanner. We were now alone.

"Where'd they go?"

"I have no idea; let's just hope they don't come back. Let's get moving."

With that the Commander started the Mako up again and we headed back down the tunnel. We finally emerged out of the overgrown tunnel and into a cavern of Protheon architecture. The walls were high and what looked like pods were coming out of them. Thousands of pods. All with no life signs. The further in we went the more pods we found the cavern was just never ending; we reached what looked like the end of the cavern and into more overgrown tunnel when all of a sudden a force shield opened up and blocked our path. We couldn't turn back and we couldn't move forward the only option available to us was an elevator that led further down into the complex. The Mako clearly wasn't going to be able to go any further, so it was decided that we would take the elevator down.

"Shepard, this place is over 50,000 years old and built by Protheon's."

"What of it Garrus?"

"Their elevators are still faster than the one on the Normandy. It's over 50,000 years old Shepard, it shouldn't be possible."

"Not you as well Garrus."

"You really do need to do something about it Shepard."

"I'll get right on it Garrus, just as soon as we've dealt with Saren."

The elevator opened up to a single walkway which was home to a Protheon console. As soon as it was activated a VI opened up and started talking to the Commander, unfortunately this was all in Protheon again which only the Commander understood. After the conversation was over Shepard relayed the information to us. All I needed to know was whether the force field was down, the VI told Shepard it was but you can't believe anything until you see it for yourself. Once we were back in the Mako the force field was removed and we finally carried on our way. The further down the path we went the more resistance we encountered. The geth seemed to appear out of the nowhere, one minute there would be nothing and then right round the corner there would be an Armature waiting with several troopers dotted around the place. It took us a while but we finally reached the end of the tunnel. To our dismay the expanse ahead was littered with Armatures and the only way forward was through them. What looked like a miniature mass relay was at the far end, which could only be the conduit.

"Straight forward with guns blazing Commander?"

"That's the plan Garrus."

With that the Commander set off, down the final embankment and across the expanse. As soon as the wheels touched the ground the Armatures all fired at once directly at the Mako. Through sheer luck the Commander managed to get us through the first barrage unscathed, while Garrus concentrated his fire on those nearest. There were simply too many for us to go up against and hope to survive, the original plan of just going for it was the only option. As the Commander got us closer to the conduit Garrus carried on taking pot shots at the Geth. As we got closer to the conduit the more of a pull you could feel. We we're being pulled towards the conduit and as soon as we were in front of the conduit it's mass effect drive activated.

A/N I know it's been a while and this chapter isn't what it should be really. I got half way through it and ended up doing other stuff and just not getting back to it for what feels like ages. But it's here now and I am going to try and keep on top of it.

If you have any suggestions for what you'd like to see happen next or anybody you want including let me know.