XxX-XxX-XxX

Official Supporters:

Compulsive Reader, The Impossible Muffin

Commissioner, Gib, Death Daddy, Le Spork, Polemoduke

If you want to be on the Supporter list, PM me for details or join our private server for details. Hope you enjoy reading my stories, please leave me a comment to let me know if you did, or where I can improve. Link here, where able to be seen : /2UZncAm

Second link here, remove ( and ) and it SHOULD work : D(i) (slash)kfhkfUb

I have a kofi account now, too, under this name for those interested.

Beta(s) :

XxX-XxX-XxX

Requested By :

Espacole and Spork

XxX-XxX-XxX

"That's it, then." Shepard grunted, standing and flicking each of them a small nod. "Debriefing - done. You may all be at ease, and get some rest before the next mission. Approximately four days until then. And a full brief for the operation will be forwarded to those of you on it two days ahead of time. Grunt, Nikos, you can both expect to be deployed."

"Understood."

"Hmph."

With that done, the group finally dispersed, Vakarian and Grunt headed through the access doors into engineering so Grunt could rest and Garrus could… Do whatever he had planned in Engineering. She joined the rest on the elevator, headed up to the Crew Deck, and turned to invite Zaeed to her quarters for the conversation she'd planned.

"Not right now." He grunted, seemingly… Distracted by something as he glowered at the floor, "I… Need to work on my rifles. They need a tune up, so I'm headed for the Armory."

"I-I see…" She nodded, turning as the lift opened and she and Kasumi stepped off. Before the thief could head for her quarters she turned and grabbed onto her shoulder, grimacing when the woman stiffened and turned to give her a confused look.

"Yeah…?"

"I-I'm sorry." She muttered, suddenly anxious as she made up her mind and let the woman go, gesturing at her quarters with a bob of her head "I just… There's something I wanted to talk to you about? Privately?"

"Uhhh, alright?" She shrugged, "Why not?"

Pyrrha nodded and lead the woman up the hall, to her and Penny's shared quarters. The young android girl was sitting by the window when they came in, watching the stars, and turned to pay them a smile and cock her head.

"Friends!" She beamed, "What brings you both here? I had thought you would want to rest and eat first after your mission."

"It was a lot less intense than we believed." Pyrrha chuckled quietly, leaving the vonfused thief for a moment and pacing over to the smaller woman. Quietly, she said, "I've… Been thinking, of late, that we should… Perhaps be a bit more open about ourselves. With our comrades."

"Oh?" Penny thought for a moment, realized what she meant, and her eyes widened just a bit as she nodded slowly. "Oh… I see. And you chose her first?"

"Zaeed was busy…" She shrugged, "And Kasumi was next on my list regardless, after we'd… Convinced Zaeed."

"I see…" Penny hummed, nodding curtly and smiling a bit more widely. "Well, if you trust her, that is all that matters to me."

"Wait, just like that…?"

"I have been keeping this secret because you seemed to wish to, Best Friend." Penny shrugged, her bright, eager smile never once wavering. "If you wish to share it now, then I am more than happy to go along with you! Keeping secrets has never really been something I enjoy."

"I see…"

"You both know I can hear you, right?" Pyrrha turned, chuckling awkwardly, and found Kasumi leaning against the bulkhead by her door. Both eyebrows raised in amusement and curiosity, she quipped, "And I am certainly worried if, after all the other stuff, you have another secret to share with the rest of the class."

"Yes, well…" Pyrrha sighed and waved a hand at the crates they sometimes used for seats, meandering over to sit while the thief stayed standing at the doors. Shrugging - Kasumi could stand or sit as she liked, it wasn't her decision - the Mistralian explained, "It's… Not something that affects anyone else. At least, not directly. Its not that kind of secret."

"Then what kind is it…?"

"The hard to believe kind." Penny offered quietly, turning to look out at the stars. "But, in all honesty, given what we've seen since coming here…"

"A lot's made easier to believe when you make friends with Geth and tell me a bunch of giant bug men are stealing colonies for a bunch of ancient, genocidal robo squids." Kasumi chuckled dryly, "So, what? No, lemme guess… Ah! You're reincarnated super soldiers from another galaxy, sent here on some divine quest to stop the Reapers?"

"Well…" Pyrrha grimaced, "Some of that is true…"

"Wait, don't screw with me-"

"Technically, we aren't here just to stop the Reapers." Penny argued thoughtfully, "We were reincarnated for a sort of balance. Not a quest. And I wouldn't call us super soldiers, either. You were top of the class, but you were only excellent."

"Oh fuck me, I think I'm going to need a drink for this…"

Grimacing, Pyrrha nodded, "Possibly. If you'd prefer we not tell you about it, then-"

"No, if you want to share, I'll listen." She sighed, pushing off the wall and hitting the door release, "Just let me grab some of that nice wine Miranda bought. Back in a few, her security is crap on that locker."

"Shouldn't we stop her from stealing…?"

"Most likely." Pyrrha nodded, sitting back against the wall and trying to quash her anxiety. "But, well… It's Miranda's wine."

"Ah," Penny nodded, "a very good point, Best Friend. She can spare it."

"Sure," Pyrrha chuckled, "that's what I meant."

XxX-XxX-XxX

"And that's the report done for Anderson done, dusted and sent off." Shepard sighed, leaning back in her sleeveless undershirt and kicking her shoes off, enjoying the quiet, sterilized chill that ran across her feet and up her calves to the bottom end of her shorts. Sighing, she muttered, "Ah, that's better…"

"You know," Tali chuckled from her spot on Shepard's couch, not even having to face her to know what she was doing, "if I didn't know you better, I'd say you were showing off, suitless and all."

"Ah, but there's the trick." Shepard laughed, standing and padding around the corner, jumping over the corner of the couch to land right beside the Quarian and earn a surprised little 'ap' from the woman. And then a little glare from behind her mask. Smiling, Shepard shrugged, "What?"

"You weigh enough to break me if you land on me doing that…"

"Ah, but you know I won't land on you." Shepard smiled, "Because, like I said, that's the trick. You know me really, really well."

"Too well, sometimes, I think…"

"Yeah, well, it's too late to go back now." Shepard chuckled, waggling her finger to show the little ring off and smirking playfully. "You already married me. And I'm not signing the divorce papers, either, so you'll have to do it the hard way."

"You're in a good mood."

"Yeah, pirate busting has always been…" Shepard shrugged, leaning into Tali's hug when she lifted her arm to offer it to her. Sighing contentedly, she settled in against her and went on, "It's just… It's nice, you know, s'vit? Most of the type we'd be sent after are just evil, so I'm just doing good. Flat out, straight up, good. Not… Qualified, like most of my work."

"I understand." Tali chuckled, her voice reverberating through her chest in that oh so familiar, comfortable way. It was strange, Tali's voice was so light that in a Human it never would have done it, but apparently that's just how Quarians' bodies worked. Not that she minded - it was nice to hear and feel. Quietly, running her fingers through Shepard's hair, she went on, "Our jobs are usually so complicated. Politics, nuance, the Reapers… It's nice to just be able to fly out, save some people, and drop them off with the Alliance. Everyone wins."

"Except the pirates."

"Everyone who matters wins." Tali chuckled, rapping a knuckle against her head gently. "Dummy."

"You love me."

"That doesn't mean you aren't a dummy."

"Would you kiss a dummy?"

"Maybe if she asked nicely." Tali hummed, turning her head a bit as Shepard turned and reached up, tapping a finger on one of her seals. Chuckling, Tali added, "And remembers the order to open the seals in this time…"

"I said I was sorry."

"Words." Tali tutted, chuckling quietly as Shepard reached for one. "Actions speak louder…"

"Then I guess I should-"

"I am very sorry to interrupt your relaxation, Commander." EDI cut in, sounding at least a little bit penitent for interrupting them. Sighing, Shepard sat up and, more than aware that - when she wanted to - the AI could see her even in her quarters, waved for the AI to get on with things. "Ambassador Nikos and Polendina are requesting your presence for a… Team meeting, in their quarters. Evidently, they plan to share something with the team."

"Yeah?" Shepard's brows furrowed, "Like what?"

"They did not enlighten me, though they have said I am welcome to listen in." EDI answered, "However, it was evidently enough that Miss Goto went to retrieve alcohol for those who desire it after the fact."

"That's not foreboding at all…"

"On the contrary, it has left me, personally, quite curious and anxious in equal measure. 'Foreboding', thus, would be rather apt." EDI responded, adding wearily, after she and Tali just traded confused looks. "That was a joke, Ma'ams."

"Uh huh…"

"Oh, it was funny enough." Shepard chuckled, standing and offering her wife a hand up. When she took it she spoke to EDI, "Tell her we'll be there in ten. Need to wash my face and triple-check Tali's seals before we head back out."

"Understood, Commander."

XxX-XxX-XxX

Zaeed lay on the floor of the Observation Deck, his arm curled up against it like he'd been lifting weights. But instead, all he was doing was slowly rapping his knuckles, one after the other, on the thick, armored glass. At the corner 'above' him, Shepard was sitting, with her back tucked into the corner snugly and her Quarian sitting in front of her, wrapped up in her arms. Jack was further along, staring at the floor while the Krogan and the Turian both paced in front of her and Miranda sat in the corner, staring off at nothing and muttering under her breath with Jacob beside her, nursing a beer. Which wasn't a bad idea, in his mind. Krios and the Asari were closer, sitting beside the door and… Meditating.

Or so he guessed from their poses.

Goto was on the other side of the door, her knees tucked against her chest and her arms wrapped around her legs. And Solus and the Geth- Legion, he amended to himself, stood in the exact center of the room. Stock still, hands clasped behind their waists. What they were thinking, or even if they were still thinking about it at all, Zaeed couldn't even begin to want to guess.

Fuck, he was still processing…"

"And we're just… S'posed to fucking believe you?" Jack, the first to speak, finally managed, waving a hand wreathed in Biotics at them. "God exists-"

"Gods." Penny corrected gently, "Gods exist. A lot of them."

"-and you both fuckin' died, and one brought you back…" Jack snapped, ignoring them as her fire finally died and, in its place, Zaeed could only hear… Fatigue. Shock. He was familiar - had seen it in the field enough to recognize it as she forced herself to finish, "To get even with his brother?"

"Actually, it was done by way of an apology for having gone behind the Dark Lord's-"

"Fuck me, that name…"

"-back to continue acting upon Remnant, in spite of their pre-existing agreement to not do that. And for reviving Ozma when the conflict was initiated based more or less entirely on a refusal to revive him for Salem!" Penny recited in her usual chirpy way, smiling and bouncing on her heels where she stood, watching them all sharply in spite of the impression her demeanor left on people. "While you missed a few crucial details, that was a decent summary of the primary events that are to thank for our continued existence, Friend Jack!"

"How many times do I have to tell you-"

"Why tell us now?" Shepard finally asked, voice… Quiet. Enough to worry him enough to drag him out of his own shock, a bit, so he could look up at her. So he could watch her. "You've both kept this particular bit of your secret this long."

"Shepard is correct." Samara hummed, drawing his attention to her as, face as flat as her voice, the Asari turned to regard the two of them. "You can expect to gain little by exposing this truth now. Just mistrust. So why risk it?"

"I only kept the secret for my best friend's sake." Penny answered, turning to Pyrrha with the quiet question hanging between them.

"I… Did not wish to be seen as an insane woman." Pyrrha answered simply with a shrug, extending a hand and calling a metal crate from between Shepard and Tali and Jack and tugging it out into the middle of the room while they all watched. Smiling thinly, she went on, "I did not know at the time that your people truly had no Aura, and so made little effort to…. Hide mine. And by the time I even knew enough to think to be more subtle…"

"You were fighting a Krogan."

"Not quite," she sighed, "but near to then, yes. I wasn't used to it, to Aura not being so intrinsic. And being raised from the dead is a far cry from simply having some… Unique capabilities."

"Any other ship, and that'd track." Grunt rumbled, huffing a laugh and turning to the Commander. "Here? Bit different."

"Careful…"

"It's fine." Shepard said, reaching up to massage the Quarian's shoulder soothingly. "I'm… As past it as I can be. And he makes a good point. Still… Nikos, I have to ask-"

"For proof." The woman nodded, standing and turning to the Salarian as she reached for the zipper on her suit, tugging it most of the way down over her breasts. There, just above them in the center, rested a nasty looking scar and she nodded toward it, "Doctor, scan my chest. In detail. Tell me how my scar looks."

After only a second of hesitation, cocking his head to the side in surprise, the doctor did as she asked, arm lighting up orange. For a couple of minutes he worked, humming and leaning closer as he flicked through programs. Until his face was so close Pyrrha had to turn her head, flushing at where he was. Finally, though, he backed away, muttering a simple, "Not possible."

"On this ship?" Kasumi chuckled, whistling and taking a drink from her burgundy bottle.

"Goto, please." Shepard grunted, leaning forward as Zaeed sat up and the doctor turned, still flicking through the scans he'd taken. Quietly, she asked what everyone in the room was thinking, "What's 'not possible'?"

"Scar tissue." The doctor answered simply, "Nearly all the way through. As expected of such injuries. However…"

"What?" Zaeed grunted, "However what?"

"Scar tissue not present on organs. Not on spine. Not on primary arteries it passes through." Mordin explained quietly, almost as if he were in awe. Looking up, he went on, "Not possible. Even extensive reconstruction incapable. Organs, veins - should show some scarring. Yet… None present. Almost as if-"

"Someone used magic to do it?" Pyrrha chuckled, zipping up her suit's front again and sighing as she retook her seat. "Exactly what I set out to prove, there. The Brother of Darkness obviously wouldn't send me here so wounded I couldn't fight."

"He sent you to help us, then?" Lawson asked quietly, a hint of… Fear under-cutting her voice. And Zaeed could understand that fear, too. She and Shepard had done Pyrrha wrong, and whether she was over it or not…

The 'God of Darkness' didn't sound particularly forgiving.

"No, he only… Remade us?" Pyrrha sighed, seemingly unsure of the phrasing but settling on it. "He only remade us to make right with his brother. But he knows us, obviously. We wouldn't sit by while something like the Reapers came for the galaxy."

"He did warn us, however." Penny added, "And that could have been a nudge…"

"Perhaps." Pyrrha smirked, "Or perhaps he just wanted us to sow some destruction among them when they come?"

"That would also track…"

"Whatever the fuckin' case…" Zaeed growled, standing and rubbing at the back of his neck, leaning on the window as he did. "I need a fuckin' drink after all o' this. Hey, uh… Hey, kids, I gotta know. If Gods exist then-"

"I haven't asked." Pyrrha cut him off, smart enough to know where his mind had gone and turning looks on every single one of the people in the room, "And I won't ask. Not about… What comes after, or what makes a person, or- Anything. The mystery of life shall remain just that. A mystery."

"But-"

"It is better that way." Penny cut in, smiling as she sat down again and snatched Pyrrha's hand up, holding it gently. "Whatever comes, let it be an adventure, Friend Zaeed! You do not want to know, and nor do we, though I am certain God would tell us."

"Right." Jack grunted, standing and heading for the door, "On that note, I'm getting piss drunk, then."

"I'm coming, too." Grunt rumbled, following and turning as Vakarian hopped up to join them.

Zaeed sighed and pushed off the wall while everyone else started standing, turning to plod off to… Wherever they need to, to spend some time processing all the nonsense. Tossing the girls a wave, he followed the little shell-shocked group out the door.

And muttered, "This is a right Goddamn mess…"

Then he paused in the hallway, cocked his head and looked around at the walls, the floor, the ceiling, and grimaced, "Uh… Fuck. No offense, uh, god?"

Nothing answered, of course, and somehow that didn't make him feel all that much better.

XxX-XxX-XxX

Jack Harper sat in his seat as the recording Lawson had sent him, along with the scans Solus had shared with the ground team, finished cycling through on the wide hoo-screen in front of him. As it did, he reached for his glass, but misjudged the distance. It clattered across the floor, spilling dozens of dollars of alcohol, and he paid it less mind than he should have. Quietly, he let out a shuddering breath, and leaned back in his seat.

"Well…" He murmured, "There's a wrench in the works."

And so, so much more.

XxX-XxX-XxX

S'vit - Love, mate, partner.

XxX-XxX-XxX

Awesome Man :

Uh, probably one o' those, lol. But I'm fairly certain he got the info from Aria, back when Pyrrha was staying on Omega.

Foxcomm :

Did someone put drugs in my drugs?

Arguable Reader :

You need your team to fight the mercenaries to get through to either end-point. Zaeed's mission comes with consequences you can't avoid, which is the best part about it, lol.

Sabine :

XD WOuld you complain?

Guest W :

*ignores*