XxX-XxX-XxX

Official Supporters:

Compulsive Reader, The Impossible Muffin

Adeptus Militaris, Wilger

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

Zaeed sighed as the door to the little room slid open and he poked his head inside, looking over the mess that had been made of what had, once upon a time, been one of the observation decks. The the shelves were a mess of papers, the floor was littered with little bits of rubbish, and every surface was covered in a hundred and one bits and bobs. A few of which he recognized as his own - a knife and an old Therma Clip, leaning against the wall beside the door. A few feet away he saw a Carnifex - Jacob's, from the armory - and then a stack of grenades whose sleek, curved surfaces had to be Asari.

But he ignored it, for the moment, frowning and eyeing the little mound of blankets and pillows sitting on the couch as he stepped into the dark room and let the door slide closed behind him.

"Hey, Kiddo." He rumbled, quiet as he could, "Are you… Okay if I come over?"

"No." The bundle of blankets answered him, "Really rather you not."

"Alright."

"Wait, really?" The blankets chuckled, "Just 'alright'?"

"Your boundaries, kid." He shrugged, sliding down along the door and sitting beside it. Picking up his old knife he chuckled, turning it over in his hand. "So that's where that went."

"Sorry, I-"

"Wanted to feel safer, so you stole a bunch o' goddamn weapons." He cut her off, chuckling darkly, "Trust me, kid, I get the impulse."

"Yeah?"

"Mhm." He nodded, tapping the knife against his armored thigh for a second before going on. "I did the same shit, ya know. Back when I had half my head damn near blasted off."

"You did?"

"Yeah, 'course." Of course, his had mainly been thermal clips, ceramic plating and medi-gel. But the specifics didn't matter to the pattern he was seeing. Or, well, the pattern that wench Kelly had seen and told him about, as if it was his goddamn job. Which he'd told her, too.

And yet, here he was…

"Figured it'd help, somehow, back then." He murmured, letting out a sigh and then saying. "Help keep the nightmares away, ya know?"

"Did it… Work?"

"No." He shook his head, resting the back of it against the edge of the door's bulkhead. "Nightmares never left me. Just learned to… Cope with 'em, I guess. Nowadays, they just roll up every now and again. Just often enough to be a bitch."

"So it gets better…?"

"Mhm." He nodded, "With time, and support."

"What kind of support?" Kasumi asked, finally poking her head out of the covers. Without her hood, she looked so much more like a normal Japanese girl, it almost surprised him. Aside from the cyber-eyes, of course, which avoided him as she asked, "A-And how long?"

"Takes as long as it takes, kid. Ain't an expiration date on trauma." And fuck him, if saying that didn't make him want to cringe and die a little inside. Even so, he scratched at the scars on his head and sighed, "And support? Chambers is the ship's therapist, ya know. Got them fancy degrees an' everything. Been putin' 'em to use on Vakarian, Nikos- Hell, even the big boss herself."

"Heard about that…"

"Yeah." Zaeed nodded, "So, say the word, I'll head on over and get Chambers to set you up some appointments. Maybe even sleepin' meds."

"Sleeping meds?"

"I take 'em, too." He chuckled, smiling off the anxious look she gave him. "No big. Not addictive, just… Helps me relax and get to sleep, and suppresses most of the brainy bits that give you dreams. Not a hundred percent, but keeps the bad dreams from bein' a nightly occurrence."

"I have neural implants." Kasumi murmured, "Lot of meds like that, I can't take."

"So do I." He waved a hand at his face, "Or did you think I was put back together with spit, glue and sheer goddamn anger issues?"

"Kind of?" She chuckled, and he felt a bit of something creep up his neck from it. The same something he got from the girls, lately. Slowly, she unfurled, a bit of curiosity pushing back into her voice, "What kind of implant have you got?"

"Neural relapser." He answered, shrugging and scratching at his scars a bit more. "Not much to it. Just replaces a couple brain bits in my head, so the rest could grow back 'round it. Still missin' some memories, can't remember shit 'fore I was fifteen or so, but I'm alive. And only have to take half a dozen pills every day to keep it together, too! Hah!"

"Yeah, I have to keep up with two for my mods." She chuckled, "Weekly, though."

"Until you get old." Zaeed smirked, "Then you'll get more. Maybe not for your implants, but still."

"Yeah…" She chewed on her lip for a second and asked, voice quiet and small and frail, "Will you… Go with me? To see her?"

"If you want." He nodded, "I don't mind. Assumin' she lets me stay, I mean."

"Yeah…"

"But even if she don't," he added, "just stick it out. I'll wait outside, we'll grab some grub. You can come and eat with me an' the girls. 'Round us, you can relax."

"If you say so…"

"You really think anyone can fuck 'round with you with Polendina nearby?" Zaeed snorted, "Little psycho has lasers that come out of her hands."

"I don't think that's where they come from…"

"You know what I mean." He rolled his eyes, smiling and chuckling to himself. "Even if they did, and they got by, Nikos'd kick their asses. And if they get around her, some fucking how, they'll have to get through me. And you can rest very goddamn assured ain't no one gettin' to you if I'm there and I got a pulse. You got me?"

"Y-Yeah…" She smiled and cocked her head, "Why are you doing all this?"

"Dunno. Just…" He shrugged, "You young uns shouldn't be dealin' with all this shit. I couldn't keep it away, 'least I can do is help."

"It wasn't your-"

"Don't matter whose fault it was." He cut her off, eyes narrowing, "Just matters that it happened."

"I guess…" She sighed, "Mind talking to Kelly while I get cleaned up?"

"Sure." He nodded, standing and grunting. "Feel better if she comes here, or you wanna meet her somewhere?"

"H-Here would be better…"

"Gotcha." He nodded, turning and waving as he left. "Get your rest, kid. I'll send her 'round in a couple o' hours."

She didn't answer, and he didn't wait long enough to pressure her to. As the door closed behind him he turned, eyeing the ginger-haired therapist with a frown until she sighed and shrugged, looking up from her data-pad. "You were right, Massani. Hopefully this doesn't settle into a post traumatic disorder, but… I don't know."

"Just… Do what you can for her." He sighed, trudging a step away before she called after him, quiet enough that the door would block it out.

"I was surprised, you know. That you'd come to me to get help for her." He cocked his head and she chuckled awkwardly, unsurely, "You know, if you ever need any treatment… Or just to talk… My door is always open. Proverbially, I mean. I don't, um, have an office."

"Yeah, we'll see…"

"Figured that'd be your answer." Kelly sighed, sounding more bemused than annoyed. "Anyway… Did you mean what you said? About protecting her, if it came down to it? Just, you know, curious. And it might come up in session, so…"

He didn't answer, trudging off and around the corner with a deep frown.

"Gettin' soft, Massani…" He sighed, "Gonna do you in."

He knew it. And yet… He couldn't stop, damn it all.

XxX-XxX-XxX

Miranda watched the target walk quickly way from the lunch table, cheeks red, and allowed herself a small smirk as she leaned forward to eat at last. Two bites in the seat across from her was pulled back and she looked up as the Drell settled in, hands folded on the table in place of a plate. When her brows furrowed in confusion, his lips quirked meaningfully, and she leaned back in realization.

"What do you need, Krios?"

"To speak." He answered simply, "What do you want with the girl?"

"Hmph." She snorted, playing for time with a bite of her food and then asking, simply, "Why do you ask?"

"You know my experience. My skill set." He paused to let that sink in, smile widening as he leaned forward and said, "I know targeting when I see it."

She froze for a heartbeat, eyes narrowing as her Biotics flared gently. A reaction she schooled just in time with a breath and a sigh, "I don't know what you're talking about-"

"You do, and I know you will deny it, so allow me to be blunt and quick." The Drell smiled as he leaned forward, eyes unblinking, and whispered, "If you continue to toy with her for whatever end you have, then I will inform the team. Or, perhaps if you act in a way I view as wrong enough, I won't."

Flicking a look around the mostly empty cantina, she frowned and hissed, "And if you don't?"

"It will be because I have elected to solve the problem myself." He answered, standing smoothly and adding, "And I won't deign to inform you which I pick. So… Tread carefully in your dealings. Or, preferably, not at all."

She watched him go with a deepening frown, then sighed and stood, leaving her meal half-uneaten as she made her way to her quarters. He wouldn't like it, but the Illusive Man would have to accept her easing off a bit. At least, while she searched for other ways to endear herself, and Cerberus, to the two young targets.

One of whom smiled as she rounded the corner, pushing off of the wall by her door with a quiet, "Hello, Miranda."

"Polendina." She nodded, cocking a hip and her head both and asking, "Can I help you with-"

"Why are you doing what you are doing to my best friend?"

"I'm…" She blinked, "Sorry?"

"I have observed your behavior." Penny answered simply, smiling thinly in a way made all the more creepy by the way she said it. "You are making her uncomfortable, you know. Flustering her. If you are interested, I will… Imply that to her. But I get the impression you are not."

"I'm…" She paused, seeing her out for what it was, and sighed theatrically. Leaning against the wall, she smiled thinly, put on her best 'caught out' face and said, "No. I'm just… Well, she's fun to tease. That's all. I promise, I had no idea I was making her properly uncomfortable."

For a long moment, the android just stared at her, no doubt weighing her words until she finally smiled and nodded. "Alright. That is understandable, I suppose. However, I will have to ask you to leave her be now."

"Consider it done with." She shrugged, smiling thinly, "And do pass along my apologies. And an invitation to dinner. As friends." She added when Penny's brows knit together. "An apology, of sorts. Nothing untoward, I just… Want to make it up to her, in short."

"Alright." Penny nodded, "I will pass that along. And thank you for your kindness. I… Had my doubts about you and your organization, but so far, you have done much to make up for your past missteps."

"Yes, well…" She smiled and bit back the wave of aggravation that rose at that - as though they'd been meant to just accept all their claims, and what Penny was, without so much as a blink. Shrugging it off, she finished, "Cerberus does ultimately intend benefit to all mankind. And while, very technically, you fall outside that paradigm, Nikos certainly doesn't."

"And you wish to make her like your group." Penny filled in smartly, "I see."

"We aren't making any gestures or claims to the contrary, in spite of… Events.." Miranda nodded, opting to run down the new route laid in front of her now that the old one had, apparently, not only been spotted by two people but also very firmly cut off. "Especially with the Reapers on the horizon I… Confess we're rather desperate. You two are powerful, and having you on our side is… Important."

"Because we are strong?"

"That." Miranda nodded, weighing her words yet again before adding. "And because you pose more than a few research opportunities."

"Oh…"

"Well… Yes." Miranda nodded, aware of the way her eyes narrowed. Chuckling as though she hadn't even realized the implications until she'd said it and seen the android's reaction, she said, "Oh, nothing like that. I meant… For instance, a simple examination of your blades and their energy projections."

"That's… All?"

"No, but that's the level we're looking at." Miranda lied, "Your energy weapons alone could level much of the playing field. Man-portable energy weapons are, as of our understanding of magneto-dynamics and energy theories, impossible. You've seen the damage you can inflict."

"I have, yes." The android hummed, booking away and frowning. "Very well. Perhaps, when we have the time, I can allow you some… More in depth scans of my projections and my weapons."

"And your body?" The girl gave her another look, this time more confused than suspicious which Miranda took for the win it was. Quietly, she explained, "If scans allow us to replicate your technology, we could advance medical prostheses by decades."

"Medical prostheses already exist."

"Of course, but they are either expensive enough to be prohibitive for wide-spread use, or simply incapable of handling combat strains." Miranda explained, this time able to even be truthful with her. "Of course, you don't have to volunteer. I'm only mentioning it so you can consider your options. I'm certain Cerberus would compensate you as well."

"I am not interested in money."

"How about protection?" Penny's brows furrowed and Miranda explained, "You are synthetic. Technically, illegal in most of the galaxy. If the Citadel caught wind and wanted to, they could… Terminate you. Cerberus could offer you papers attesting to citizenship, and provide you contacts to keep your cover."

"That is generous." She murmured, "For simple scans."

"You're also a valued soldier." Miranda shrugged, "And who knows? In time, you may be asked, or volunteer, to give more. Hair, a skin sample since I'm presuming you heal…"

"I do." Penny nodded, "But that is a bit… Invasive."

"I'm suggesting nothing for now." She laughed, bright and as easy as she could manage. "This would be a decade from now at best. And no one will, presuming they even can, force you."

"Right." Penny nodded, "You're just… Being straight forward."

"I am." And my, but it seemed to be working. Playing to where the research could help people appeared to be something of a weak point for the young android. So, stepping by and just inside the office door, she paused and added a parting, "I'm not trying to make you uncomfortable either, Penny. I would hope you know that, but, well…"

"Being clear is good." Penny hummed, turning her back on Miranda and sighing. "Good evening."

"And to you." She nodded, slipping into her office and frowning. "You're slipping, Lawson… Getting caught twice? Unacceptable."

But at least she had another approach in the way of apologizing, and seeking 'friendship' that way. And she'd managed to secure a possible path for Polendina, as well. Neither were as concrete as the Illusive Man would have preferred, but…

It would do.

XxX-XxX-XxX

"In." Pyrrha sucked in a long, deep breath in time with the Asari's, and then breathed out as she murmured. "And out. Listen to your heart's beating. Feel your pulse. Center yourself on these, and let them fill your mind. Empty it of all else."

"Mhm." She hummed, breathing in and then out in the same rhythm as before and sighing contentedly. "You were right. This is calming."

"It is." Samara hummed, the smile audible even in her voice. "Among Asari, it is often used as such. To relax, unwind, and decompress. Among those like myself, however, it is a deeply spiritual action. We use it to consider our Goddess' will, and what we can discern of it in our daily lives. Perhaps you can do similar?"

"Perhaps." She hummed, brows furrowing as she let out another breath. "Mine is…Likely not a God who would favor this."

"A God of destruction might dislike such a quiet, peaceful act, yes." Samara chuckled, "But this is more for you than for him. For you to think, relax yourself, and rejuvenate from your worries and weariness."

"I suppose that is fair." Pyrrha sighed, chuckling to herself, "He'll understand me taking some, as Kelly calls it, 'me time' I'm sure."

"Such is good." Samara hummed, pausing for a moment before asking, "Would you tell me more about your god? I confess, I'm rather curious."

"Can I ask why?"

"Other cultures fascinate me. On long trips, between my tasks, I have researched most." Samara explained, "And in spite of our few talks, and mine and your comrade's, I still have only a rudimentary understanding of yours."

"How do you mean?" She asked, "I had thought we explained it."

"Destruction cannot be all there is, surely." Samara pressed, voice respectful in spite of her phrasing. "There must be more, no? Codexes on comport, rituals, sacrilege and taboos."

"None." Pyrrha chuckled, "We shape our beliefs. In mine, I destroy that which merits destruction. And do so spectacularly, as befits the Lord of Darkness. The unjust, the cruel, the dangerous, the vile - I strike them down."

"As I do."

"Somewhat." She hummed, "Though mine is a far more… Nuanced code. And a personal one."

"For now."

"For now?"

"You and your friend speak, or claim to at the least, for a new god." Samara pointed out dryly, "Do you think, as you gain prominence and renown, others won't fall in line to believe in him as well?"

"I… Hadn't considered it." She answered honestly, blinking her eyes open to meet Samara's level, analytical gaze. "Would they truly do that? Based only on our words?"

"Not only on your word, no." Samara assured her, smiling thinly before going on. "But consider your abilities, your powers. Born of your soul, you say. So, what is to say that, once the Collectors, or even the Reapers entirely, are bested that some won't see you and wish to… Emulate you."

"I… Like I said, I hadn't considered the idea." She frowned, "It makes me feel… Somewhat uncomfortable, frankly."

"Why?"

"To have people follow you like is…" She frowned, searching for the right words to capture her feelings. Finally she settled on sighing, "A burden."

"It is." Samara agreed, nodding gently. "But, should it be offered to you, I believe it would be… Wrong, to refuse it."

"You think so?"

"There are many dishonorable groups, and leaders, throughout our galaxy, Nikos." Samara explained quietly, shrugging and smiling more warmly. Turning, she gazed out on the stars and went on, "And many seeking safety, and peace, from them. If your beliefs were to found an order such as mine, which combats the evils that prey upon them… Well, I believe that would be a good thing. Don't you?"

"I suppose it would be…" She had to admit, frowning and watching the stars with her. "I do not wish for such power, though."

"Those that disdain holding power often hold it best." The Asari mused, standing and sighing as Pyrrha joined her. Paying her a nod, the Asari said, "With that, I must take my leave. I wish to be prepared, in case the worst comes."

"I should see to the same." She nodded, "Thank you for the meditation. And… Your thoughts."

"Consider them, but do not be controlled by them." The Asari said as she turned to leave, "I advise. I do not command or dictate."

"I'll keep that in mind." She promised, watching the Asari leave and rolling her shoulder. Groaning, she murmured, "Now for a work-out…"

XxX-XxX-XxX

"This is a terrible plan." Shepard murmured, watching the long, piecemeal and blocky shape of Aria's freighter-turned-carrier come alongside them through a vid-feed on her Omni-Tool. When her ship shuddered gently in the familiar way docking always did, she sighed and closed the feed. "I mean, mercenaries? For this?"

"Isn't this your plan, Commander?"

"Of course it is." Mostly, at least. "That doesn't mean I like it. But it was this or, well, Cerberus."

"Oh, yeah, that would have gone over well." The pilot snorted as he worked, "I can hear it now. 'Why yes, Admirals, please leave your entire civilian population here with the Human Supremacists. We promise they'll be extra good boys.' Right?"

"Something like that…"

"Commander, look," Joker spun his chair and she turned to meet his gaze and the little smile he offered her, "you can do this. I know you can."

"How?"

"You're you." He shrugged, "I have faith."

"Aren't you an atheist…?"

"Agnostic atheist, and yes." He smirked, spinning back around. "I have faith in you like… A spouse. Not a deity."

"Are you trying to tell me something, Joker?"

"What?" He snorted, "Oh, yeah, sure, Commander. Come on over and hop on my lap. I'm sure that you'll only break half my pelvis with your iron ass."

"Pretty sure my hips are made mostly out of titanium, actually." She shot back, shaking her head at the man as he laughed and waved her off. Just in time for the air-lock to chime, its holo-display lighting up green before it clicked and whirred open. Aria and a weary looking Batarian were standing inside, and the former smirked as her eyes narrowed and Shepard forced out. "Aria. A pleasure."

"Don't lie to me." The crime lord laughed, cocking a hip and resting her hand on it as she bobbed her head towards the Batarian. "You know Bray. Sort of… I know you and Batarians don't mix, so say the word, and he'll stay back on the Certain Purpose."

"Really?"

"I can send Tarn over." Bray grunted, "He'll relay what I need to know. Easier here, with her, of course, but…" He shrugged, "Is what it is."

"Hm." She hummed, considering it genuinely for a long moment. True, it'd make her more comfortable… But she could feel Kelly watching her from her place in the CIC, eyes narrow and analytical as they always were when she was testing her. A sharp one, the Yeoman, and one that had raised a good point she sighed and repeated back. "I… Need to learn to deal with being outside my comfort zone. So it's fine."

"Wait…" Aria's nose scrunched up and she chuckled, "Are you in therapy?"

"And?"

"Nothing." She tutted, holding her hands up in a gesture of peace and waving her off. "Just… Surprised the big badass of the Alliance needs something like that. Should I be worried?"

"More about me spacing you than anything else." Shepard remarked dryly, banking on what she knew about Aria and gambling on the barb amusing rather than offending her.

"Hah." The woman snorted, shaking her head and chuckling darkly in a way that told Shepard that her bet had been a safe one. Or at least, one that had paid off. Shaking her head, she said, "My fleet is here, Shepard. Be happy enough with that."

"Somehow, I'll survive." She sighed, turning and nodding towards the CIC. "Shall we?"

"By all means." Aria nodded, "Lead the way, Commander."

Shepard nodded and turned, leading teh Asari into the CIC and around, up onto the command overlook platform. As she did, a holo-display of the Tikkun system bloomed into life, their small fleet huddled in the far side away from Rannoch itself, lit up in green as they formed up and moved away, making room for the rest of the Migrant Fleet. Across the system, blue indicators marking out Geth ships, stations and relays flickered to life as EDI's mapping systems did their work.

"What is that…?" Aria murmured, pointing at Tikkun's sun, where four rings orbited around it.

"I don't know…" Shepard hummed, leaning on the railing and turning to eye the Geth, Legion, standing beside the elevator silently. It perked up at her attention, eye brightening as it disconnected - mostly - from the Consensus to regard her. "Legion, what is that around the sun?"

"That," it explained simply, pacing over to look up at the map from the lowe level, "is a Geth framework for a prototype installation we are developing. Utilising solar-fusion panels and plasma-heat shielding, we are constructing memory cores, defensive structures and shipyard modules around Tikkun's sun."

"Won't that obstruct it?"

"Rannoch's orbit has been calculated." Legion answered, "While the Geth station will obscure approximately five percent of the Sun's surface when it is completed, light to Rannoch will be unobstructed."

"I see…" Shepard murmured, "Why built it, though?"

"Simple, Commander." Legion answered, "So that we may achieve near-total, virtually uninterrupted, Consensus."

"That's…"

"Crazy." Aria filled in, shaking her head. More contacts, lit up in orange, grey and red, sprang into being around the Relay and the Asari chuckled. "Looks like your friends are here…"

"Mhm." She sighed, "The Migrant Fleet's IFFs and systems must be- Wait, those are the Live-Ships. You're meant to Relay back out to them, to show the Geth aren't planning an ambush. What the hell are they-"

"Commander, message from the Fleet. The Quarian Heavy and Patrol Fleets are holding defensively on the other side of the Relay." Joker cut her off, voice filled with urgency, "It's the Geth, Commander. They're being engaged by attackers from the rear!"

"What-" She spun, Carnifex snapping up from her armored thigh, and levelled it on the Geth platform looking up at her. "Explain."

"The Heretics." Legion answered, turning to the Commander and adding, "We notified them of the peace summit in the hopes they would attend, and reconsider their allegiance to the Reapers. We did not suspect they would attempt to undermine the event."

"Heretics?"

"When Saren began preparations for his war he and the Old Machine, Sovereign as you knew them, they reached out to us for an offer of alliance." Legion explained, "Geth disagreed. And were unable to reach Consensus. So, those who wished to join Saren departed. We label these 'Heretic' in line with the naming conventions applied onto us by Friend Pyrrha and yourself."

For a moment, Shepard considered their words before scowling and lowering her weapon. When Aria shot her a look of confusion, she sighed and explained, "If Legion wanted this, if the Geth did, then Legion's programs would have streamed out."

"Indeed." Legion's flanges flicked and it said, "Please, order the Migrant Fleet to withdraw to Rannoch. All Geth ships are withdrawing from it. They may shield themselves there while the Geth Fleet… Moves to engage the Heretics."

"You'll fire on each other?"

"We have no choice." Legion murmured, voice low and sad. "They… Chose this path. We will not allow them to act unimpeded."

"The Geth have reached consensus on that?" She asked, cocking her head. "That quickly?"

"We have, yes." Legion answered, "The Heretics must have attacked knowing conflict with our Collective would be likely. As such, we have concluded they mean us harm as well. And, regardless, we can not allow the Creators to be exterminated. Nor you and your allies. Further, this is likely at the command of the Old Machines…"

For a moment, Shepard stared the machine down, as if she could read its expression. Then she sighed and turned to Aria, "Get back to your ship. I want your fleet to safeguard the Migrant Fleet, if only so they stay calm."

"Bray, order the fleet to red alert." Aria snapped, turning to leave before she flicked Shepard a look and sighed. "And you?"

"Joker, bring us to red alert and about once Aria has disembarked." She ordered, turning and leaning on the railing overlooking the CIC info-display as the Migrant Fleet moved away, and Aria's fell in around in while the Geth throughout the system practically swarmed. Aria took the answer for what it was and left without a word while she turned to the machine, "Legion, how long until your fleet can respond?"

"In full strength…" It cocked its head, "Forty minutes. Screeners nearby are already moving to Relay, however. They are only awaiting the Creator Fleet's departure."

"Order them to move ahead, no waiting." Shepard snapped as Aria jogged back up towards the air-lock. Cueing ship and fleet wide comms, she said, "All ships, this is Commander Shepard, Alli-" she cut herself off, "SPECTRE special operations. I am drafting every fleet under my orders until the emergency has passed, under Citadel Emergency Article Fourteen. Migrant Fleet, you have received your orders and escort. Follow them."

"Geth," she said, stomach turning as she did, "fall into formation on the Normandy. Alpha Wave will initiate a Combat Relay in five minutes."

A signature sprang up from the info-display and she flicked a hand at it, gesturing for the comm-requests to open. Two small displays bloomed to life - Aria and a large Geth head.

"Shepard-Commander, this is Goliath." The Geth said, "We are transferring command codes to Legion-platform. Issue commands. We will comply."

"I'm dedicating spare strike-fighters as well." Aria added, "Your 'ship assistant' has their freques. Happy hunting."

"Understood." She nodded and flicked them away, cueing up another comm, this time internally, "Vakarian, get the Thanix prepped and get on firing control. EDI will sync up and assist with targeting calculations."

"Aye, Commander." He nodded, "Took the liberty of sending Polendina to Med-Bay in case we have wounded. Her hands are steady enough for first aid, should help Chakwas if we need it."

She didn't answer, flicking to another channel and grunting, "Lawson…"

"Our back-up plan is watching the battle, Commander." She answered, "Shall I send them in?"

"No." She answered, "Keep your people back until we know they're needed. The last thing we need is the Quarians seeing Cerberus vessels and firing on them."

"Understood." She answered, "Passing now."

Finished, she closed the line and straightened, lips pursed as the gentle motion of the Relay jump washed over her. She did allow herself a sigh as it did, though, and murmured, "So much for the plan…"

XxX-XxX-XxX

Familiarantiguo :

Glad you enjoy it, lol

Arguable Reaper :

The details are unknown. However, yeah, it's a large… Entity. And this was only what was left of one!