Back together

C-sec - cell block Alpha

Shepard

They had their evidence and as Garrus had said, it was an accident.

But he wasn't happy.

Why did he have to experience that sensation again?

He hated it.

But his body reacted with glee at its presence.

This disgusted him.

A grunt escaped his lips as he placed two fingers between the bridge of his nose.

"Thanks, Xiltar" Shepard said as he opened his eyes and turned to Pallin "You saw it was an accident… not their fault".

Pallin remained silent for another moment "Indeed. Your crewmates were not directly involved in the events that transpired in the flux casino" the turian began to write something in the tablet that he held "But as they were the main perpetrators of the stampede that produced the fire" Pallin handed him the table "We will require that you pay for the damages that occurred at the bar and the fines associated with them… and do not forget that you still owe us the fee of that patrol car your people trashed" Pallin said this last part while staring daggers at the commander.

Shepard cursed under his breath, how could he get his people out of here now? He did not have the funds to free them as the situation was now and he doubted that the alliance or the council would intercede for those that remained caged.

Fuck…

He needed a miracle.

…

The executor changed his stern face as he felt something vibrate on his arm, his omnitool it would seem.

He turned his wrist as he wished to see what this interruption was about. His face changed once more into a clear frown.

"All right Shepard, enough games" Pallin said in anger "How did you do it?".

"Did what?" Shepard asked.

Palling studied his reaction for a moment before explaining what had happened "The previous owner of the Flux casino sold the property to another owner this morning" Pallin showed him the order that resigned the charges "Furthermore, since the claims were linked to the property the new owner has resigned the charges…".

…

What?

Shepard turned to Xiltar. The alien on his part just shrugged as to indicate that he did not know what had happened.

Another message alerted the turian who then turned to his omni tool to see it once again.

Pallin's anger began to rise as he continued to read the message. After he was done he deemed it appropriate to read it out loud:

"In accordance with the mission parameters imposed on the associates of agent Shepard, the office of Special Tactics and Reconnaissance has been instructed to refund the damage inquired by our ongoing investigation into Torkan the batarian and his association with Ka'hairal Balak who's ongoing financial support by Torkan has been suspended.

-Office of Special Tactics and Reconnaissance".

…

What?

Pallin tapped more into his omnitool and scoffed as he saw that the message was legitimate and the sum that was owed in the fees of the car were covered.

"It would seem…" he began "That all the misdeeds committed by your associates have been amended…" Pallin approached the cells and began to open them one by one "Count yourself lucky, Shepard. I won't be as understanding next time".

"I… Thank you, executor" Shepard wouldn't waste this chance to get his people out.

Garrus and Wrex exited their cells as they were thankful that their freedom had been guaranteed.

Only Tali remained in her cell, as the quarian had remained asleep during the whole ordeal.

"Is anybody gonna wake her up or…" Garrus' inquiry was interrupted as one amongst them approached the sleeping figure.

Xiltar approached her with impossible silence and after a moment he kneeled and carried the sleeping figure with both arms.

(Please remain silent) Xiltar spoke into the minds of the whole group before turning to Garrus and Wrex (Whoever it was that almost crashed that vehicle into me will answer after we are done) the massive alien turned to Shepard (Lead the way, commander).

It would seem that the time was due to go on their mission…

Some time later

After Shepard was done with the paperwork that was needed he instructed his now freed team that they should go for their equipment as C-sec would release it back to them and to meet with him outside of the Normandy.

At the same time he contacted Kaidan, Ashley, Liara and Jane so that they would in turn do the same.

He was only left with a weary protoss and a still unconscious quarian.

Shepard instructed Xiltar to follow him as the elevator that would take them to the Normandy was nearby.

"Is she seriously still asleep?" Shepard whispered to the Protoss.

(It would seem so. But there's no way to know as to why until she regains consciousness) Xiltar explained.

"Okay…" Shepard said as their journey up the elevator ride continued.

Slowly.

"Do you have any earth shattering revelation to share this time?" Shepard asked as a joke since both people only spoke of said topics when they were alone.

(...) The protoss made a contemplating noise with his mind (I can share one… but I would like to receive an answer to a question of my own after that).

Shepard raised an eyebrow in amusement… and as a manner to mask the fear that had just appeared in his mind.

"S-sure…" said Shepard as he tried to hide how nervous he had become by only one request.

Xiltar looked at Shepard with what must have been devious glare before he uttered something he did not expect.

(Mass effect technology was not a principle native to my universe) were this words.

…

Wait…

What?

How could that be?

Everything Shepard knew off and everything he now witnessed in the galaxy was as such only because of mass effect technology.

If that principle then, how did Xiltar's people manage an interstellar society?

And if its limitations did not affect Xiltar's people…

Then what were they capable of?

Shepard was about to scream a storm of questions but was cut short by Xiltar as he glared at the shorter creature.

(Do not scream) Xiltar motioned to the sleeping quarian in his arms with his head (I will not divulge the secrets of my people… I am just stating a fact and nothing else) He moved a little to better support their companion before he resumed (The technology that you use for faster than light travel was not the means by which my people journeyed the stars. We did not know of it).

Shepard understood that the Protoss would prefer that Tali remained asleep so he began to think what he wished to say (How come it wasn't discovered in your universe? As I understood, the Xel'naga were your ancients. Did they not leave you that knowledge?).

(No. They left us other gifts…) Xiltar began (But it was not the lack of the technical knowledge that deprived us of mass effect technology. It was the lack of the substance that you use for its use… Element zero as I remember reading).

(Did eezo not exist in your universe?) Shepard asked.

(Not as far as I am aware) Xiltar began (I was a military commander and an artificer before that… not a scientist).

(Wait… artificer?) Shepard asked (What is that? Some kind of engineer?).

(...) Xiltar pondered for a moment (An engineer would be a badly appropriate term. In truth, I examined relics and reverse engineered some aspects of them for my people… translations and interpretations of the Xel'naga language).

(So an archeologist and partly an engineer?) Shepard proposed.

(That feels more fitting, yes) Xiltar shifted a little to accommodate the sleeping quarian into a more comfortable position (Do not tell the quarian of this conversation, friend Shepard. I fear that she would pester me with even more questions that I care to explain).

(My lips are sealed) Shepard turned to the Protoss and could perceive confusion in his eyes (A human expression).

(Understood… I will pull at your cords if deceived) Xiltar said while leaving Shepard in confusion (An expression of my people).

Shepard chuckled but then remembered his part of the bargain.

(And… What was the thing you wanted to know?) The commander asked the obvious question and waited for the protoss to make it.

(...) Xiltar hummed for some reason and then spoke (Did the council take the threat of the zerg seriously?).

Shepard nodded (Serious enough to appoint a Spectre to investigate…) the commander saw that the protoss still looked on edge and thought of another detail that may reassure his companion (Nihlus was given the case. But something tells me you may have wanted to have an input on what was to be done… or even to lead-)

(No)Xiltar interrupted the commander's mind (I will have to trust the rest of the galaxy on this despite my better judgment…) Xiltar turned his gaze towards their sleeping companion (You may only be able to track the activities of those responsible but an infestation should be contained if my people can intervene… Just pray that I am able to bring them here in time).

Shepard nodded before they resumed their journey in silence.

In truth, he wished to ask the protoss about the truth of his people's whereabouts as he still did not understand why it was that only Xiltar had managed to arrive at their galaxy and while no other of his kind that done the same…

But Xiltar seemed more relaxed after the commander had disclosed the matter of the zerg as something that was being actively being investigated upon.

The elevator ride suddenly stopped as they arrived at the bay where the Normandy was parked.

(We are here) Shepard thought as he saw figures near the entrance of the Normandy (And I might know who that over there is).

(Lead the way, commander) Xiltar responded.

Shepard and the alien approached the figure of who was clearly captain Anderson and now retiring navigator Pressly.

"Anderson, Pressly. Good to see you" Shepard said as they approached.

"Ah. Hello, commander" Pressly welcomed the commander as he approached.

While his time with the old navigator had been a smooth and welcoming ride he was utterly shocked when the old man confessed to Shepard that his life had been cut short by a condition of his.

His condition had been progressing at a slow rate ever since he entered the later stages of his life. But by the time it had been discovered his life as an officer of an alliance vessel was swiftly cut.

As they were arriving at the citadel the middle aged man had approached Shepard and told him that his duty was coming to an end and that it had been an honor to work next to the first human Spectre.

Shepard thanked the navigator for his service and understood that his time alongside the crew was over.

He hoped that Pressley could find something else to do in his impromptu retirement.

Regardless, Anderson accompanied Pressley as they took the elevator ride down.

That left Shepard, Xiltar and a sleeping Tali to wait for the rest of the team.

(Is your eye recovering well?) Xiltar asked as he approached some crates near the entrance by which they were waiting and carefully accommodated the quarian between them.

But… What did he mean by… ah.

(Yes, I'm surprised you were the first to notice it) Shepard thought as his whole week went by without him remembering that his mother had left him a black eye.

(Is the endangerment of your eyes a type of familiar rite?) Xiltar asked.

(No, this was due to a punishment) Shepard answered.

(Hmm… Crude) the alien said as they continued to wait for the others.

The first people to arrive were Liara and Kaidan. The former he had sent earlier to go and fetch her things since Shepard wanted to leave the citadel as soon as possible and the situation in the prison wasn't exactly a nice place to be in. He was surprised to find Kaidan so downspirited, he had not seen him since they met on the market with his sister and Ashley.

Did their double date go that badly?

"We are here, Shepard" said Liara as the two finally approached them while she looked a bit saddened. As they approached Liara was surprised to see something "Why is Tali…".

"It's a Long story" explained Shepard before he noticed something "Everything alright Kaidan?" he turned to the one crew member who had not done anything to make him angry as of yet.

"Yeah commander. Just… thinking about some things" he answered while trying to form a faint smile.

Shepard understood that it would be a bad idea to patronize him.

"Would you like to go inside while we wait for the rest?" Shepard asked Kaidan and Liara if they wished for some alone time. They refused and decided to wait for the rest of the team.

The next group to arrive was one that surprised him…

"Oh I forgot" said Shepard for the group to hear as he saw the trio of his mother, his new officer (Heaven save his soul) and Ashley "Team. Allow me to introduce our newest navigator, Jane Shepard and accompanying her is staff commander Hannah Shepard" he said this while standing at attention.

Both his mother and Jane were dressed in their military uniform. He expected as much from his sister, but to see his mother in such a display meant that she came as an alliance officer not truly as his mother.

Hannah saluted him "At ease, commander" she ended the salute and he followed suit. She then began to inspect those crew members that were present "Is this all of your ground crew?".

"Most of them. We are only missing two but they should be arriving shortly" Shepard said as he turned his attention to the other two women who had arrived.

Shepard could see that Jane was in a better mood than earlier that day. He knew that regardless of her attitude she held as a family member he could still count on her being a completely professional person, since she truly loved her job in the navy. And Shepard knew that to a certain extent her mocking nature would be reigned in for one simple reason…

He was now her boss.

"I gotta admit…" the words of her sister got his attention "The vids and reports don't do your team justice" she approached the rest of the crew and after a moment she offered her hand to Kaidan "I guess you didn't expect to see me here" Kaidan looked at her with a guilty expression before answering.

"I didn't, sorry" Kaidan said as he tried to turn his head from a certain direction.

Shepard followed his gaze and stopped at Ashley…

Oh lord, what had happened to her?

His friend looked as if she had gone through seven layers of hell and back…

But he could also see that she was avoiding to look in the direction of lieutenant Alenko.

…

Did they do it?

…

Sigh. Nevermind.

Jane then turned to Liara and offered her a hand "Jane Shepard, a pleasure to meet you doctor T'soni".

"You know me?" Liara asked.

"Well of course. Once Shepard explained to us how they managed to find you trapped in a cave he spoke fondly of you" Jane approached the commander and whispered something in her ear. Whatever it was, it left Liara with a deep blush accompanied with the faint trace of a smile.

Shepard looked expectantly at Xiltar as he wished for the protoss to disclose the content of their private conversation but he found that Jane's attention finally turned to the towering alien.

"And you must be elder Xiltar" Jane extended a hand to the protoss and waited for him to reciprocate the salute but he seemed to leave her hanging for some reason.

(...) A hum was heard from his mind (I thought that this gesture was only used to apologize…) the protoss extended his hand and shucked Jane (A pleasure to meet you. Jane Shepard).

"Huh… Neat" Jane answered in amusement at her first interaction with telepathy "You sound too young to be called an elder… A pleasure all the same".

She let go of his hand and realized that somebody else was present amongst them.

"I presume that quarian must also be a part of your crew" Jane said as she approached the figure of the sleeping Tali and gently tapped her helmet to see if she would wake up.

"Hmm… five more minutes" Tali shifted in her sleep as she tried to swat away Jane's hand but the navigator was persistent "Hmm".

It would seem that Jane's constant pestering managed to get the querian to realize that somebody wanted to get her attention.

"What do you…" Tali trailed off mid sentence as she opened one of her eyes and was welcomed by an unfamiliar figure.

Shepard could swear that he could hear a chuckle out of his mother as she witnessed a flustered Tali frantically stand up and saluted for some reason.

"Wow! I'm sorry little gal" Jane tried to defuse the situation as she raised her hands and took a step back away from Tali.

"Sorry I-I don't…" the quarian took a moment to get her bearings and after seeing that everybody was looking at her she completely froze as stopped working all of the sudden.

"I'm…" Jane fell silent mid sentence and only patted Tali on her helmet "I'll talk to you when we get another chance" she then approached the commander and began to whisper something to him "Is it my fault or did something happen?".

Shepard smiled at her little sister's reaction and shook his head in denial "Nothing you should worry about. I just sprung her out of prison and…".

"Prison!?" Jane allowed her surprise to be heard by all and unfortunately a certain person has picked up on what she had said.

Shepard felt a hellish stare glared at him from behind at his sister's words.

The commander slowly turned around and met the gaze of the one he knew was looking down on him for what he had apparently done.

His mother.

But as the senior officer was about to berate the commander they were alerted that somebody else had arrived at the bay thanks to the chime from the elevator.

"It looks like we all are here" Shepard said in relief as he saw the shape of the rest of his crew as they left the elevator "Garrus, Wrex. Good to see you".

He could see that the krogan and turian were hauling some heavy equipment as this was most probably the gear they had somehow acquired before their impromptu mission and had most likely just recovered it from C-sec moments ago.

He would ask how they got it later.

"Shepard we managed to recover every… thing" Garrus said before trailing off as his gaze met with another of the group.

His sister.

…

"The only thing i'm willing to reveal is that he is a Turian" the words of her sister came to mind for some reason.

…

Oh god.

Garrus, what have you done?

Jane began to approach the pair with a slow but steady pace.

She stopped right in front of them… and extended a hand to Garrus.

"Good to meet you. I'm Jane Shepard, the new navigator of the Normandy" she said in a cold and professional thone.

Garrus, don't grab her hand.

"Em… A pleasure" he extended his hand to shake hers.

YOU FOOL!

Shepard could only see with regret as his sister grabbed the hand of his friend and began to squeeze his hand… and squeeze… and squeeze some more.

"Um… Jane… Jane… JANE PLEASE STOP BREAKING MY HAND!" This final scream from Garrus broke Jane out of her rage infused trance. She allowed the Turian to go free… for now.

She then turned to Wrex "Don't think I have forgotten about you" she said with malice in her voice "Next time, ask who you are messing with".

She backed these words by SMASHING her face against his.

Wrex recoiled as the surprise from the strike made him take a step back.

Shepard could see that Wrex was flaring up in anger but as he went to stand in the way of the angered Krogan another bit him to the punch.

"Wrex, don't do it" Garrus stood in front of the Krogan while clutching his still hurting hand "This isn't one we can win".

Wrex growled at the turian as his anger still showed in his face. Thankfully, Wrex turned his gaze towards Shepard and the commander made the fact clear that he would not win this fight as he shaked his head slowly.

The krogan snarled but understood that it would be best not to engage…

What a disaster.

Wrex and Garrus approached the rest of his squadmates as they hauled their stuff as best as they could.

And as they did this, Shepard turned to his mother. Who to his regret was holding the bridge of her nose with two fingers.

He knew disappointment when he saw it.

"So it's this the whole of your ground team?" Hannah asked as she retook a more formal posture and began to analyze her squad.

"Yes ma'am" Shepard answered as he saw that his mother was staring down his crew.

She approached Ashley and saw that she had recovered enough to stand at attention "Do not disappoint me Williams".

"Sir, yes, sir" Ashley struggled to salute the senior officer as she still felt awful.

She then turned to Liara who was next to her "The alliance appreciates your willing cooperation, Doctor T'soni. Please make sure that any personal motives are discarded in this mission".

"I understand" said Liara as she managed to hide her blush a little.

She turned to Kaidan next "Lieutenant Alenko, my son praised your skills and you seem to have a spotless record of service. Make the alliance proud, son".

"Yes ma'am" Kaidan saluted Hannah as she moved onto the next person.

"Garrus Vakarian, your willingness to help the alliance in their mission to stop Saren Arterius is appreciated" she offered him a hand before remembering what had happened and retreating her hand in disapproval "You made a big mistake. I hope you survive the journey" she gave him a reassuring smile while patting his shoulder.

"I'd see it as a… learning experience" the comment from Garrus got a chuckle out of Hannah who then proceeded to turn to Wrex.

"Urdnot Wrex. I hope your skills as a combatant hold up to what legends say" The comment from the commander managed to better the mood of the krogan a little.

"You'll see" Wrex gave her a grin that would have scared any other living being.

Shepard saw as Hannah began to approach Xiltar who was tapping the helmet of a still frozen quarian as if trying to break her out of a trance.

Just as the senior officer approached the towering alien he snapped to attention and faced the approaching female while trying to act as regal as he could.

Shepard had to admit that even as his armor was battered and chipped in most places and what little cloth still fluttered from his armor was stained with the dust of many worlds and the blood of certain aliens, he was still a menacing figure to face.

But this only seemed to amuse Shepard's mother.

"Hmm…" Hannah seemed to be deep in thought and remained silent for a moment before speaking "What am I thinking of?"

Oh mother don't…

(...) Xiltar looked amused for some reason (The creatures in your memories are like nothing I have seen before… What are they?).

"Something from an old movie my husband used to like" Hannah saw the confusion in the eyes of the alien "You don't know what a movie is?" The protoss shook his head "Really? What did your people do for entertainment?".

This last question seemed to take the protoss aback and now seemed to be as non responsive as that of their other companion. Xiltar then seemed to recover rather well as he thought of an answer (War… exploration…) this was not surprising to Shepard (Sailing the high seas of Arakyr when time allowed it) Now that was a surprise.

"Interesting…" Hannah finally turned to Tali who had seemed to recover as well and turned to the approaching officer with what must have been a quarian salute as she crossed both her hands over her chest while bowing her head while trembling a little.

"I-I…" Tali began to stutter but Hannah interrupted her by putting a hand on her shoulder to help her calm down.

"It's okay" Hanna's words seemed to help the quarian regain some nerve as she stopped saluting and instead began to rub her hands in a certain way "I just wanted to thank you for helping the alliance. That takes a lot of bravery".

Hannah left the quarian alone as she seemed satisfied by her reaction and moved a few steps away so he could face the whole crew while looking at Shepard "Are these the people you're betting your life on?" She began with a stern voice "Are you willing to vouch for their skills and their intentions".

Shepard did not have to think twice about his answer twice "Yes and I trust them to cover my back as I promised to cover theirs".

Hannah stared down at her son for another moment. After she saw that John did not waver she nodded approvingly and turned to the rest of the team.

She began to pace in front of them "The alliance holds loyalty and duty as its foremost beliefs. Your actions do not only reflect those values but those of your respective species and people" Hannah stopped her pacing "Know that the hopes and future of your people's ride on every action you make during this mission…" she turned to leave "Make the galaxy proud".

As Hannah left on the elevator Shepard could see as a wave of elation and pride began to sweep over the crew.

"All right people…" Shepard called to them "Time to get this show back on the road".

"Yes sir" most of the squad answered positively before they made their way to the Normandy's entrance.

The hunt was back on.

Afterword.

For all of you that did not like this part of the story I bring news…

I don't care.

Onto the answers.

vmoneywashere - The feds ain't got nothin' on good old dumb luck and some elbow grease *COUGH**COUGH* (extortion).

Randomreader - Good to have you back, m8.

Just gonna clarify a few points: I didn't leave in its entirety.

I had been rewriting and upgrading all of the story since I got annoyed at some inconsistency that I had gotten myself into as some details began to become too different from what I originally envisioned. For example I got the idea of making the Ihan-rii a splinter of the Tal'darim as a way to mirror the Khalai-Nerazim dynamic later down the line.

And to what you said about those people that wrote their opinions let them be.

I sincerely do not care.

I began to write this story out of curiosity as to how this plot could evolve given time and posted it to get an unbiased opinion on factors that I had overlooked in the lore of mass effect while also reinforcing that of starcraft as I knew it.

So don't take it as me leaving because I got offended or fed up with some people, because in truth that did not happen.

I care more about my story than I care about feeling bad due to some harsh words.

But thank you all the same.

Bye m8s.