I'm Nobody

by free man writer

He didn't have anything when he was born. Just a name and number. But over time, what he had grew. He, with his friends began to understand that there was more to their existence then just their name and number. They will prove that they were meant to be real. To exist. To become something more than just a Nobody. Co-written and created with Jebest4781. Fem Shepard. Now on Ao3.

41. To Oaths and Promises

We've got a lot to cover, lot to set up, lot to show.

Let's keep it going.

Rate Read and Review and as Always Have Nice Day.

I'm Nobody Chapter 41: To Oaths and Promises

Where… where was this?

It…

It was never-ending…

…

…

…

Darkness…

Endless darkness.

No light in sight as far as the eye could see.

A perpetual void that seemed to reach for infinity.

The fall… it's endless… eternal… no bottom…

Where am I falling to?

Where was I falling from?

I… I hear… nothing…

I can't hear myself talk…

Thinking feels… so far away…

…

…

…

Who… am I?

I… wait… that sound…

There was something in front of me… they look familiar…

Floating and shining in the dark…

Why are they so familiar?

Why can't I reach them?

They're right in front of me…

…

There's a name on them…

My name?

Or someone else's…

Why… am I…? Why can't I remember…? What have I forgotten…?

Is there anyone else here?

Am I… alone…?

Just… wait…

I hear them…

My… who are they?

They sound so familiar. So… kind and warm…

Those voices…

…

…

…

No…

NO!

They're… they're drifting away!

Please!

I know they can… they can hear…

…

…

…

Please…

Please, I know they're there. They're right in front of me!

I can reach… I know I can…

…

…

…

Head is foggy. Chest hurts to the touch.

Looking down at my chest, I don't see anything wrong, yet I feel something is missing.

I feel so empty… hollow… but… is it sorrow? Loneliness?

What… what's happening to me?

Anyone… is there anyone out there?!

Please!

I'm… all alone…

-Scene Cut-

*THMP*

"Welcome back, Clan Leader."

Urdnot Wrex, leader of Clan Urdnot, huffed a greeting in response to the Krogan that awaited his return.

The Krogan wore grayish red armor, head crest a darker shade of brown with yellow eyes and an indent on the right side of his crest.

"I trust things have been held down here in my absence, Fikson?" Wrex gruffly asked, walking past the Krogan that had greeted him. Taking his flanks were Dagg and Darg, the newest inductees into Clan Urdnot.

"We had a brief skirmish with Clan Weyrloc." Urdnot Fikson grunted in irritation. "However, we received unexpected aid from Clan Nakmor."

"Nakmor?" Wrex said in surprise, hmphing in satisfaction a moment later. "So the old man finally made up his mind."

"So it would seem." Fikson murmured.

"Good." The red armored Krogan Battlemaster declared. "One more clan to our cause. One step closer to our goals."

The pair continued their talk, Fikson catching his Clan Leader up on what had transpired since his absence.

As they did so, the pair walked through the wreckage and destroyed terrain of their native world.

Scarred by bombardment craters, radioactive rubble, choking ash, salt flats and alkaline seas; Tuchanka can barely support life since the natives and inhabitants ruined their planet with their nuclear war. What plant life remained from the event was killed off in their "little ice age". Since then, the global temperatures rose considerably to finalize it becoming a true desert planet.

Edible meat was plenty with whatever animals ran rampant across the globe. Of course, there was the issue with the thresher maws to make a number of hunts a relative issue. Asides from this, gaining other foodstuffs, drinkable liquids and supplies from off-world were quite common.

Moving onward, Wrex was briefly greeted by his fellow Krogan before they went on with their respective tasks. Some eyes merely lingered on as they eyed the gravity hammer strapped onto the Battlemaster clan leader. Wrex could tell their gazes were either in some bit of awe or out of jealousy and desire. He had such a weapon in his possession as it was the only one in existence as far as they knew.

And speaking of another one-of-a-kind possession…

There was a small commotion that went on from the other side of the hollows, Wrex idly lifting a brow in that direction. At first, it was the sound of Krogan shouting then came the rapidly pattering sound of multiple round footsteps followed by a familiar bark that made the Battlemaster snort out a barking laugh.

A moment later, he turned just in time to see a six-legged creature with a wide and flat face that held a derpy sort of expression. It reached up to Wrex's knees as it was still growing but its mass was still considerable enough to notice.

"Cal." Wrex boisterously greeted, arms wide out in a welcoming gesture. "There ya are, ya overgrown troublemaker."

His calot barked before leaping up slightly to let its blue tongue lick its master. Wrex only laughed, wrestling the growing Calot off of him and proceeding to retaliate with affection of his own, scratching and rubbing Cal's underbelly which immediately made the Calot drop to the ground and rolls over on his back. His six legs kicked about in the air with a lazy, happy tongue hanging from the side of its mouth, panting happily at Wrex's belly rub.

"There ya go, ya lazy bastard." Wrex stated with a wide, crooked grin as Cal let out a sigh of satisfaction, rolling back onto his feet and falling in line next to his owner.

The Battlemaster wondered how long it'll be before his pet will grow to such a size as Woola back on Barsoom. Hopefully a good height within a year so he will take Cal out for some hunts and properly train it as a good companion out on the field. Until then, he'll train Cal as much as he could like others with their Varrens.

Like before, other Krogan nearby witnessed the display, eyeing both pet and master as this sort of display was as alien to them as a thing called peace was.

"Wrex." Fikson spoke up, gaining his leader's attention. "Clan Nakmor is just ahead at your meeting chamber."

The former member of the Normandy nodded before commanding Cal to head back to their place. With some reluctance, the calot sped away with some Krogan shouting as a result some distance away.

Wrex huffed in amusement before becoming a tad more serious as he walked into the meeting chambers of Clan Urdnot with his two guards standing at the entrance.

There were five in total though his eyes were solely focused on the one in the center of them all.

"Wrex." Spoke an elderly, bone-covered Krogan with a lighter yet more tired voice than any other Krogan on the planet.

"Nakmor Drack." Wrex greeted respectfully. "Welcome to Clan Urdnot's Hollow. I heard what you did for my clan while I was away. I owe you a debt."

"Help me help you and your clan and we'll call it even." Drack bluntly stated, eliciting a rumbling chuckle from the battlemaster.

"Straight to the point." He approvingly said. "I like it. You're gonna fit right in."

"I hope you don't disappoint."

"Drack." Said a female Krogan beside him in a disapproving tone.

"What? Ah come on Ru'shan, you know I'm just trying to be honest here." Drack unapologetically said. "Would you rather I lie?"

"I would rather you have a bit more tact in this matter, grandpa." "Ru'shan" flatly said.

"Don't mind Kesh too much, Urdnot Wrex." Drack remarked. "She's just looking out for this walking corpse."

"With your age and experience, it's hard not to see why." Kesh muttered, shaking her head, turning to Wrex a moment later. "We thank you for accepting us into your hollows and hope we do not disappoint in our endeavors to strengthen your clan with our own."

"Sounds to me like you wish to join Urdnot."

"We wish to join in your cause." Kesh firmly stated. "A cause worth fighting for."

Wrex simply nodded at the female, momentarily reflecting on just how this situation and new alliance came about.

Pure happenstance, really.

One could imagine his surprise to see these Krogan at his figurative doorstep one day. He didn't expect to see them so soon, given the clan's reputation. Wrex figured he may have to pull favors to gain their audience this early in uniting the clans. Or at the very least hunt them down and negotiate.

But for them to reach out first, courtesy of a random encounter from one of their most elder and experienced warriors with a specific group of people on the Citadel…

In some sense of humor, his friends from the Normandy caused it to happen in the most hilarious way possible. Even when they were apart, they were still helping him.

Wrex needed to make sure that warm and fuzzy feeling was squashed and beaten into submission.

The last and only time he allowed for such a sensation was when he was saying goodbye and having to witness Xion's waterworks. Tried as he might that instance, the Krogan was unable to deny the bone-crushing hug the teen human gave him as he departed for Tuchanka that day.

It was a foreign sensation to be sure but even he couldn't fight it.

That somber and melancholy feeling of bidding farewell to a group of strange and bizarre individuals he had come to call friends.

Even another clan.

They were crazy, emotional, batshit insane honestly.

But loyal, friendly, kind, and always willing to help and they trusted him outright.

That was a new one.

A couple of aliens openly trusting a Krogan and proudly stating their friendship with one. He had lost faith in his people, in his clan a long time ago.

For a couple of strangers to reinvigorate his faith and give him the ability to try again. To try for his species and give them a future that doesn't end in their extinction…

The sense of comradery is rare for him, given how much he was betrayed in the past. The means of earning his respect can be hard to obtain.

But with the Normandy, not only did he get camaraderie but friendship and allies that he knew he could rely on.

And that was something he never would have considered in his 700 years of life.

There was also the advent of him gaining strength and power unlike anything he had ever experienced.

Of course that came from the advent of the enemies that he had faced when traveling aboard the Normandy.

Those two runts and that sarcastic redhead introduced him and the others to enemies far beyond anything anyone in their galaxy had ever faced. It was eye-opening, to be sure, facing creatures that can one-shot a Krogan in an instant only for scrawny humans taking them out with ease.

With the ever-looming threat hanging over their heads, the Battlemaster needs to step up and show them he can clearly pull his own weight around in more ways than one.

"So, you brought yourself a Krantt, Drack," Wrex noted.

The bone-armored Krogan nodded. "These are some of the best my clan has to offer in helping rebuild Tuchanka."

"I doubt not all of them are just merely muscle." Said Wrex, eyeing Kesh and a few others.

"They're not just brawn, but others are more brains." The elderly Krogan said. "My Ru'shan here already has a myriad of ideas that can benefit from your efforts."

"And what ideas are these?"

Kesh stepped forward with her Omni-Tool flickering on. "Defensive measures that deter other Krogan from getting any ideas for a power grab. Keeping fertile females more safe and protected so Krogan males are less likely to try and kill each other. Improving the structural build of your clan base and-"

"You came in with the big guns." Wrex commented in amusement.

"Kesh doesn't like to go for half-measures." Drack shook his head in mirth.

"Where do you think I get that from?" Kesh dryly said, making her grandfather chuckle fondly.

Wrex turned back to Kesh. "When you have the time, go speak with Clan Leader Uta. She can help direct your project to her plans."

"Plans?"

"A neutral ground." Wrex stated. "It was the females of Clan Urdnot's ideas. I'm trying to bring the Clan's together but I know not all Krogan agree with it. We're building a new hub and you're standing on ground zero. We need to make sure what we're doing stands lest other Krogan get any ideas."

Kesh nodded, stepping back as the leader of Clan Urdnot now eyed another male Krogan who stood to the left of Drack.

"And what can you do, whelp?" Wrex asked, eyeing the male Krogan analytically that was close to around Kesh's age.

"Vorn, Urdnot Wrex." The Krogan male sounded young and eager. Just what the Battlemaster needed. "Botanist, sir."

Wrex had to blink at that. "Botanist? You trying to make a garden on this radioactive rock? What the hell are you even growing?"

"Anything and everything that I can." Vorn stated. "Tuchanka may be ash but like all life on this planet, even its fauna can survive. I've been traversing the planet and neighboring systems of old colonies, gathering plants and seeds of any kind that can survive in these harsh conditions. Have some roots and seeds I've been storing in a vault. Just need some fertile ground is all."

"Not so easily found here, kid." Wrex pointed out. "Good luck finding a viable spot."

Vorn shook his head. "Doesn't need to be here. I've been scouting out neighboring planets and systems where we can get something going. Investors or other people who can help me out in return for some hired muscle."

"You would exchange Krogan lives for some plants?"

"I would exchange my own for the future of my clan and now, my people." Vorn declared without hesitation. "Even what infants make it from birth still need the nutrients to survive and grow strong in our future."

Rather than appearing bold and strong, he was promptly whacked across the head by Drack who growled irritably.

"Idiot, don't go saying suicidal shit like that." Drack grumped. "Our clan needs you more than it needs me so don't go getting any ideas."

"Was that really necessary?" Kesh asked, unamused.

"Just smacking any stupid ideas out of this reckless idiot's head before he gets anymore." Drack countered, ignoring the annoyed glare Vorn was directing at him. "Last thing we need is him taking a bullet for us when we need him now rather than later."

Wrex only shook his head, a toothy grin in place.

"Even scrawny runts can be surprising if given the chance." Wrex stated, gaining the attention of the aged Krogan. "Don't count him out just yet."

"We don't need his guts, we need his brain." Drack rebuked. "Where else are ya gonna find a Krogan Botanist?"

"Fair point." The battlemaster admitted as they did have a few other scientists but primarily for healing and weapon purposes. "But every Krogan has their moment. Welcome to the Urdnot Hollows."

The representatives of Nakmor nodded in gratitude, departing from the chamber a moment later.

Wrex turned to his Krogan guards, nodding at them both who returned the gesture and they left the chambers.

Stepping out, they didn't walk for before being interceded by another Krogan.

"Botany? So Krogan are now supposed to be gardeners?" Spoke an aggravated tone. "Oh, how the mighty Urdnot has fallen."

Wrex's eye twitched, hearing the growls of Dagg and Darg behind him.

He slowly turned his head in the direction of a Krogan with a head crest similarly colored to his own, only a darker shade of reddish-brown.

"Wreav." Wrex grunted out, narrowing his eyes at the Krogan approaching him. "Have something to say?"

"Something to say?" Wreav parroted. "That's a funny thing, really. Krogan "talking" out their problems, huh, brother."

The Battlemaster only glared at his "brother". Brood brother, really. They shared a mother with him being older than Wreav by ten years.

But as far as Wrex was concerned, that was all that they shared in common.

Without any prompt, Wrex walked up to his younger brother and headbutted him with such force that Wreav stumbled back and fell to the ground on his ass.

Wreav was quite stunned by the display and the strength, looking up at his older sibling in shock and awe.

A headbutt by Krogan is usually used to display and assert dominance over others. If a Krogan backs down, dominance is assured. If a Krogan strikes back in the same way then expect a fight.

But with the means and dominance that Wrex just displayed, Wreav was unable to formulate any form of response other than staring dumbly up at his clan leader.

"Remember your place, Wreav." Wrex growled savagely. "I will not allow your shortsighted, bloodthirsty savagery to lead our people down the path to ruin again. If you wish to be a part of our future, know that you will always stand beneath me and serve our people first and your urges last."

Not speaking or even sparing another glance at the downed Krogan, Wrex walked past him, shoving past the entourage of Krogan that followed his brother with the smug brothers following after him. Wreav remained on the ground in a state of shock.

He sat there for a time, unable to move until he felt himself twitch. That twitch changed into a shudder, his fists slowly clenching up tightly as he shook with barely restrained rage.

He didn't even realize that he had gotten back up to his feet and his two fingers had actually punctured his suit.

With gritted teeth, he turned around and stomped away, not knowing of the slight flicker of a dark aura coming off of him. It may be biotics or something else. Who's to say…

-Scene Cut-

"Welcome back, Tali."

"Hey, Auntie Raan." She greeted dejectedly.

The older Quarian didn't make any remark or comment on the sorrowful tone her niece carried, only walking up to her and enveloping her in a tight hug.

"I'm sorry for your loss, my dear." Raan quietly said, hand gently rubbing Tali's back. "I know how much the commander meant a lot to you."

The young Quarian nodded. "I still can't believe it. I almost… refuse to."

Raan only hushed her quietly. "Take all the time you need my dear. Even your father encourages you to do so. He understands what a loss this is for you."

Tali sniffled, feeling tears well up out of the corner of her eyes. She felt herself choking up for a moment but refused to devolve into tears.

She had cried enough as is.

Now wasn't the time for tears.

Now was the time to make Shepard proud and never let down the promise she had made with her friends.

To prepare her people for the coming darkness of the Heartless, Organization and the Reapers.

She pulled away from her aunt, a look of fierce determination visible to the elder Quarian despite the helmet.

"I've already grieved with my friends, Auntie." Tali said with great purpose in her voice. "I need to make sure Shepard's death wasn't for nothing."

This was certainly a surprise from the normally demure and friendly "niece" Shala would usually know. She was dead set, focused and fierce.

A far cry from her usual personality.

Taking a step back, Shala'Raan couldn't help but admire the woman that Tali was turning into yet also mourn for the sweet and innocent child she once was.

'If only your mother could you now.' She mentally said to herself, fond as she was wistful.

"I need to call an emergency meeting of the Admiralty." Tali stated, breaking Shala out of her thoughts.

"Wait, what now?" She said in bewilderment. "An emergency meeting with the Admiralty? What is this about, Tali? Has something happened?"

"Shepard died, Auntie." Tali said, trying to sound strong yet her pain was evident to hear. "She died and we're still here. I promised my friends that we wouldn't let her death be in vain. Which is why I'm not waiting around for something to happen. I need to start now. For our sake and the galaxies."

Without another word, Tali walked past the crewmate of the Tonbay in a state of momentary shock before she was unable to contain her mirthful chuckle.

"She really is your daughter, Rael."

With another shake of her head, Raan turned to quickly jog after the younger Quarian was marching down the corridor with a purpose.

Tali sent out the emergency code that called for the meeting of the Admiralty and it didn't take long for the responses to come flooding in.

Many or frankly, all of the Admiralty were in a state of confusion, but due to the code coming from none other than Tali'Zorah, most were quick to acquiesce to her calling.

While not all were present physically, every admiral of the Flotilla was in attendance in the atrium of the Rayya.

Really, most of the Flotilla was listening in.

Tali stood at the center podium, surrounded by seated Quarians, staring at six Admirals positioned upon the elevated platforms that face the crowd.

Among the six Quarians were her father and her Aunt along with Han'Gerrel Vas Neema, Zaal'Koris Vas Qwib-Qwib and Daro'Xen Vas Moreh.

"Admiralty, thank you for coming together on such short notice." Tali appreciatively stated, nodding at them all.

"One does not simply utilize an emergency meeting so haphazardly." Han'Gerrel said respectfully. "Is there a reason why you've requested us so suddenly at this time, Tali'Zorah?"

She nodded in response. "Yes. I first want to thank everyone here again for coming when I called. And second, I believe we are now ready for the next phase of upgrades that I have been able to bring back from my pilgrimage."

The response was immediate, audible whispers of disbelief and excitement being shared amongst those gathered and those observing from all ships of the Flotilla.

The sentiment shared was quite obvious.

There was more that Tali had brought back with her?

"You're telling us you have more for the Flotilla, Tali'Zorah?" Koris questioned, almost not wanting to jinx it. "Are you… certain of this?"

"What's the matter, Admiral?" Xen teasingly questioned. "To scared of a good thing?"

"Rightfully so, Admiral Xen." The Admiral of the Qwib-Qwib freely admitted. "The universe has a tendency of course-correcting anyone that has been undergoing a fortuitous time. I fear what other advancements Tali may bring that can incur such wrath."

The other Admirals in attendance couldn't help but chuckle at that.

Said Quarian simply smiled beneath her helmet and inputted the commands on her Omni-Tool to display the next project that she believed her people were ready to undertake.

"Mind explaining to us what exactly we're seeing now?" Han-Gerrel asked, leaning forward with clear intrigue at what he was looking at.

"Ship designs to expand the fleet." Tali proudly revealed. "Something I've been trying to organize but I believe now I have it down pat. It's ready. We are ready."

There was a palpable excitement in the air upon hearing that proclamation.

More ships that can be added to the Flotilla? That hasn't happened in many decades.

There were, however, some obvious skeptics.

"Tali, you know we don't have the proper materials to make new ships." Said Zaal'Koris. "It takes years, even Pilgrimages to obtain some used ones. Far more to build them from salvageable scrap and parts."

"We actually do now." Said the young Quarian. "With the gummi blocks, we can make it happen."

"But we've been using them to transition many of our ships. Such resources we've acquired recently are spread very thinly." Her father now spoke, arms crossed in thought.

"What you're asking for is a monumental task that may hurt us in the short-term and long-term." Even Xen had to admit but there was an underlying tone of hope that she would be wrong.

And it would seem that to be the case considering the way Tali's posture straightened up, proud and smug.

"That's where you're wrong."

The admiralty board glanced at each other before focusing back on Tali.

"Elaborate." Han'Gerrel requested.

"There is someone that my friends have introduced me to, someone I've contacted fairly recently who wishes to assist us in this endeavor." Tali said, revealing to all an image of an anthropomorphic duck.

"Interesting…" Raan mused, rubbing her covered chin in thought.

"This individual here is Scrooge McDuck. We've been in contact for only a short time but he has already made several designs in mind that can be integrated into the Flotilla."

A litany of different Gummi-hybrid ships, all in the style that the Quarians were known for, appeared in front of the Admiralty. Everyone stared at the ships in open wonder and amazement.

"Roxas was the one who set me up with his contact and he's apparently been interested in meeting with us for a while now after his niece traveled alongside me and my friends on the Normandy." Tali revealed. "I can set up a vid-call to negotiate business in acquiring more materials for new ships; mayhaps even producing ships for us."

The admiralty board glanced at each other before Tali's father spoke up.

"If you'll excuse us, we'll need to speak privately on this matter. We will come back to address our decision for possible negotiations."

The Admiral standing on the platforms was joined by two dozen additional Quarians that were seated close to them, the large contingent of ship leaders walking out of the meeting hall.

Tali was then surrounded by a dozen of the other Quarians while the heads of the Flotilla all met in private. She was still getting used to all this attention since her return from her Pilgrimage as she seldom had time to herself anymore aboard the Flotilla.

She was basically the most famous person in all of the fleet by this point.

The private meeting went on for a couple of minutes until they had all returned. Everyone quickly moved to reseat themselves save for Tali who stood before the admiralty board again.

"Tali'Zorah Vas Neema." Han'Gerrel spoke with authority. "How soon can a meeting be established between us and this… McDuck."

The young Quarian smiled underneath her faceplate. "How soon do you want it to be?"

-Scene Cut-

It was strange, really, to be without a crew, without a ship, without a commander or set of friends that one can fight alongside.

These were the thoughts that have plagued Garrus Vakarian the last few days since Commander Shepard's death.

One would consider it odd that this feeling would develop in such a short amount of time but when one undergoes life or death missions coupled with soul-changing experiences…

Well… you get the idea.

He found a home. A home of eclectic, strange, bizarre and outgoing personalities that became the famed Normandy crew.

They saved many lives, many planets and the galaxy itself.

On top of their galaxy, they went and traversed into not one but TWO other galaxies. Who in the Milky Way can attest to doing something like that in their lifetime?

"You alright there, Garrus?" Asked a familiar female voice.

The Turian Detective raised his head up to see his two friends Ashley and Kaidan looking at him expectantly.

"Huh?" Was his response.

"Are you alright?" Kaidan reiterated. "You looked really tense there for a second."

"Sorry. Just spaced out is all." Garrus murmured, sighing as he propped his arms up on the table he sat with his two friends.

"Something on your mind?" Williams asked, seeing the Turian shake his head.

"That's one way of putting it." Garrus reached up to rub the side of his head. "It's a jumbled mess in here. Can't think straight even if I tried."

"I hear that." Alenko grumbled. "This is worse than those damn headaches I have whenever my Biotics are overused."

"You too, huh?" Ash murmured, the trio looking down for a moment. "... It's not the same, is it?"

"No, no it is not." Kaidan remarked, accentuating the T.

They fell into silence again, not really sure on how or what to even talk about. Their mood was just… well, "just fine" would be putting it politely.

They felt dejected, dour and just unable to properly motivate themselves at this time.

All three of them were there. They saw it happen. Though they didn't see Shepard fall, they felt it.

They didn't know how to explain it but Shepard's passing was felt by them all and it was clear to them that their crewmates away from the Normandy experienced the same thing.

Now that didn't mean that the three of them were just gonna quit.

Far from it.

The crew of the Normandy all made a vow, a promise to each other and to their fallen leader. When the time came, when the galaxy called upon them once more, they would answer.

But still…

All of them just wanted to be back aboard the Normandy again. To be with each other going on some whirlwind adventure. Either some run of the mill mission, courtesy of the Council, or exploring some new world foreign to the natives of this galaxy.

There was a small ping that emanated from Kaidan who wordlessly held up his arm and turned on his Omni-Tool.

"Message from someone?" Garrus inquired, the biotic nodding.

"Yeah, it's my old man. After what happened, I needed to get in touch with my family."

"Hmmm." The Turian hummed. "Never really talked about your family, really."

Kaidan shrugged. "Haven't really got one other than my folks back home. We don't talk much as my parents respect my space. But it doesn't hurt to catch up every so often to let them know I'm alive and kicking."

"So you're an only child."

Kaidan nodded.

"Do you want one? One of my sisters?" Ash offered. "I got plenty to spare."

The biotic snorted, shaking his head. "Thanks but no thanks Ash, they're your problem. Sides, I think Xion and Roxas qualify as my younger siblings."

"That's a cheat and you know it."

"Oh, like you didn't treat them the same way." Alenko shot back.

The Operations chief simply held her hands up in a surrendering manner. "Alright, guilty. But what's your dad messaging you for?"

"Had thought of inviting some of our friends over to Earth to show them my family hospitality. Something to help take some edge off with our new roles."

"But~~~"

"Yeah." Kaidan nodded. "Looks like that trip is gonna have to hold off for a while till we see our friends again."

Nods were received from Garrus and Ashley.

"My sisters thought of the same thing… but more towards a particular trio."

The two men already could tell who she was referring to. "Oh? Why?"

"They thought they were interesting. Not to mention thinking both Roxas and Axel were cute and hot respectively."

"Isn't that a little bit too much on the nose, as the humans say, towards Axel?" Rhetorically asked the detective.

"Please don't." Ash faux-pleaded. "Those fire "puns" have already been done to death. And I feel like if we do them, Axel will just appear to rub it in."

"Oh that would be a sight to see." Kaidan chuckled before trying his best Axel impression. "What's this I hear? I believe my ears are burning-"

"Shut it, you."

They shared a laugh with each other, the LT-Commander returning his attention back to the message he received from his father. He typed in a response of a possible rain check with a small explanation.

A stray thought occurred in Garrus' mind, something that maybe Kaidan can relate to.

"Hey Kaidan."

"Hmmm?"

"Have you told your dad yet about you possibly becoming a Spectre?"

Alenko paused for a moment, frowning at the question in a contemplative manner.

"Huh… no actually. Not yet. Have you?"

Garrus shook his head before looking over to Ashley.

Getting the unsaid question, she gave the response. "Oh yeah, I told my family. They just didn't expect I'd get such an opportunity after my promotion."

"And what'd they say?"

"To not blow anything up… or as frequently as I did when we were hunting Saren."

Garrus hummed to himself, bobbing his head side to side, glancing back at Kaidan.

"What do you think your father will tell you once ya tell him?"

"Don't know, really." Kaidan sincerely said. "Will be a shock, no doubt. Spectre's are known by everyone really and if he hears his only son becoming one, don't know what the reaction will be. Maybe a heart attack, god forbid."

"What, he's worried enough as is?"

Kaidan nodded. "Kinda. I mean, he knew the risks the minute I joined the Systems Alliance but can't imagine what his thoughts really are after everything I've been through. Our crazy journey hasn't exactly been hidden from the public eye. My mom was bawling when she called me after Saren died."

"And afterward?"

"They congratulated me when I told them of my promotion yet were quite concerned when I brought up of me getting a different implant and the reason behind it."

Garrus gave a brief nod. "Such a thing would make 'em worried. They knew of your headaches and what happened during your training days if I got it right." Garrus took another sip of his drink. "So getting the details of you nearing death's door when facing Sovereign and the reveal would've freak 'em out considerably."

The LT-Commander only shrugged.

"Even right choices has consequences." Kaidan said with a bitter smile. "My father taught me that, something I often have to remind myself time and time again."

"But is becoming a Spectre the right thing to do?" Ashley inquired, a deep frown marring her face. "Been thinkin' about it and honestly, can't deny it feeling forced on us."

"What makes ya say that?"

"Coming out of nowhere. Not knowing if we actually earned the opportunity or given to us out of convenience. We followed a Spectre but did we do anything that would qualify us as Spectres?" Williams scrunched up her face in frustration. "All I was at the time was a Sergeant, Alenko was already with Shepard and you Garrus were a detective."

"You've really thought about this, haven't you?"

"Just a lot weighing on my mind." Ashley earnestly said. "Figure it's the same for all of us really."

"With what we went through in these past months, some may argue we got the opportunities because of them." Garrus pointed out.

"The opportunity may be soured if it weren't for Anderson offering it." Kaidan stated, Ashley nodding along in agreement.

"Same. Wouldn't know if it were anyone else." Williams rubbed her chin in thought. "I know my sisters sure are excited for me. They assume I can help them get away with anything now."

The three friends chortled at that.

"Speaking of… that reminds me of something my father told me a few years ago." Garrus remarked. "With how he relates a number of things with Spectres."

"Being what?"

"It relates with how I'm like at times, trying to be flexible with how I do my job. Him comparing such a thing with his concerns with our upcoming roles in the galaxy." Garrus took a wig of his drink before continuing. "We can't be bending the rules all too often. We think it's merely a job, but we don't see the bigger picture with causes and effects." Garrus' eyes swept towards the people around the trio. "There are millions of people on this station, each with their own ideas of how society works, and some days we're the only ones holding this place together. It's not meant to be easy, but we need to do the right things."

"I can't argue with that. We've become symbols these past months when hunting down Saren and soon enough with the Organization." Said Kaidan, exhaling a sigh. "Like it or not, we're gonna need to be better examples, more than those who failed spectacularly."

"Shepard set a high standard for us to live up to." Garrus stated, his two friends agreeing wholeheartedly. "But man does my dad hate the Spectres. He despises what they are and what they represent. No accountability, seemingly no responsibility other than getting the job done. You should have heard his rants on them."

"Did you tell him then about-"

"No, but he likely already knows." Garrus whimsically said with a tired sigh. "Bet he's gonna "love" hearing his only son joining up with the group he despises most. As if we don't have enough problems as is."

"Problems?"

"Haven't exactly been on speaking terms, really." Vakarian scoffed. "And Joker said I have a stubborn stick up my ass. Spirits his is a mile long. Don't even know or understand how he can walk properly with how he is."

The two humans briefly eyed each other before Kaidan spoke. "Hey, with your father…"

"We hardly saw each other. We barely say a word to each other these days, only upon my sister's insistence."

"Did you guys have a fight or something?"

"More or less." Was the vague response.

A familiar ping was heard, causing them to see who's Omni-tool it was. Of course it was Ashley's, who saw a message before getting up from her seat.

"Where ya off to, Ash?" Alenko asked, seeing her stand up whilst gazing at her Omni-Tool.

"My sisters are calling." She answered with a fond, loving smile. "They've been lookin' for me apparently and wanted to see me."

"Well don't let us hold you up." Garrus waved her off.

"I won't."

With this recent discussion with family, Ashley thought being with her sisters felt appropriate. They can help her with her time of grief of losing not just her commanding officer, but a good friend; just like what happened with Eden Prime with her squad.

The pair still left seated watched her walk off, her waving back at them before Alenko cleared his throat and stood up himself.

"I'm gonna head back to the embassy for now." Kaidan said to Garrus. "I think Captain Anderson should still be there. Want to talk to him about Spectre training."

"Alright."

"What about you?" The human asked. "You wanna come with?"

Vakarian crossed his arms in thought, momentarily mulling it over before waving his hand in denial.

"Later. Gotta get over to C-Sec to take care of some things."

"Right. Chat with you later."

The Turian nodded and saw his friend off before parting ways.

Eventually entering C-Sec, Garrus saw Harkin leave with a disgusted scowl on his face. He noted this as he ventured further into the workplace.

At the desk, he saw Bailey typing away on the console. Said man looked up briefly to see Garrus approach.

"Vakarian." The man casually said, returning to his work.

"Bailey." Garrus greeted him. "Saw Harkin storm out just now."

"Yeup." was the nonchalant response, not prying his eyes away from the screen.

"What is it this time? Suspension? If so, how long?"

With Harkin getting in trouble as of late, news spreads quickly with some officers wondering what exactly he did this time.

"Actually, he got fired." Bailey said, having the Turian blink in mild surprise. "You missed quite the show."

"Must've been entertaining."

"Oh yeah, Pallin had enough of him and things got a tad heated. If the yelling match went any further, you'd see Harkin be escorted out of here."

"And his stuff? Didn't see him carry anything out."

"They're cleaning out his desk and locker as we speak before shipping it out to him. They didn't want the risk of him tampering with things if he stayed longer than he should."

"What exactly did he get fired for anyways?"

Bailey only shrugged. "Didn't get to hear the specifics."

"Then it's just assumptions with his past offenses."

"Yeup." The human officer soon paused his work to focus a tad more on the detective. "What about you?"

"Hmmm?"

"What brings you here, Garrus?"

The Turian stared at the man. "Uh, is that a rhetorical question? You do know I still work here, right?"

"Yeah but we all know you've been up to crazier things as of late."

Well he wasn't wrong there.

Really, he has only reported to C-sec once and that was at the very beginning when he joined up with Shepard. Being a Spectre and all, Jane's authority superseded that of C-Sec; so there weren't any complaints when he left for that period of time.

Hell, he even felt weird coming back here after all this time.

Regardless, he was still a detective and a member of C-sec.

"On top of that, been hearing some additional rumors 'bout you yourself actually becoming a Spectre."

Garrus' mandibles flared slightly, jaw-dropping upon hearing this.

"What… how in the… where did you even hear about this?"

"Through the grapevine." Bailey retorted smugly. "Word gets around."

"Grapevine? What Vine are you- wait, is this a human thing?"

Bailey nodded.

Garrus sighed, shaking his head. "How'd you hear about it?"

"Like I said, word gets around. The Normandy crew are celebrities by this point really. You guys saved the Citadel twice in like a month and after all those freaky creatures started popping up, your faces were always plastered alongside them or vids of you guys taking them out were everywhere."

"Guess privacy is out the window then." Vakarian grumbled beneath his breath, his head hung low.

"Could be worse."

Bailey only received a flat look before Garrus walked by him.

"Whatever." He said. "I'm just gonna go to my desk, see what I've missed."

"It's nothing compared to your type of crazy."

"Doesn't matter, still gonna look. Gotta pass the time somehow."

"Oh, so we're just a placeholder until something happens to you again now, huh?"

Garrus simply rolled his eyes, opting not to warrant a response, instead walking further into the C-sec building.

He walked by several faces, new and old, the latter greeting him in surprise. Garrus nodded at them all, small murmurs of "hello's", "hey" and "how's it going" as he passed by them all.

Upon getting to where his desk was, Vakarian actually stopped in his tracks and just stared at it. It was so alien seeing that desk again after all this time.

He almost didn't recognize it. Slowly walking around it, his fingers trailed over the top of the desk before settling on the back of his chair. The Turian tested it, hearing it creek about slightly, signifying nobody has sat here in some time.

There was a brief moment of hesitation before the detective seated himself in his old chair, squirming slightly in being here.

He sat there for a few seconds until he let out a derisive snort.

This was seriously his life at some point. Sure he had gotten into some harrowing situations before, shootouts, drug busts and so on and so forth.

But all that fell by the wayside when he joined Shepard.

Fighting literal monsters, hunting down Spectres, traversing to other realms of existence, surviving shit that didn't seem feasibly possible.

He flew out of a Black Hole on board a ship that looked as though it would belong perfectly in any human museum with the sails using the solar explosion as its wave.

And that was just one of many scenarios.

Then there was the change in his literal anatomy.

His reactions became faster, stronger, more precise.

The visual perception of the Turian increased to the point that he can see a good distance away without the use of his visor or scope.

In terms of eyesight, Garrus quite possibly could be developing the best set of eyes in the entire Milky Way Galaxy.

And speaking of exceptional eyesight…

His head and eyes twitched, blinking several times at the movement he got out of the corner of his eye.

He was about to dismiss it until he now saw something far more distinct.

Well… distinct to him specifically.

No one else seemed to regard or react to it and it wasn't hard not to "see" why. Whoever was moving in between the office was not one that can be seen so easily.

Unless you pay attention or have an exceptional ability in sight.

A shimmer, a faint one at that. That was all Garrus needed to deduce that what had caught his eye was invisible.

He might have missed it upon a simple, naive glance. Yet things were different now.

Discreetly as he can, Garrus stood up casually and moved to follow after this shimmer at a normal pace.

He had a small hunch as to where this invisible individual was going.

Rounding the corner he saw the shimmer go to, he called upon the latent power that had been festering within for some time; feeling a surge within himself that was foreign yet so natural now.

Magic.

The magic that had been developing since meeting Roxas and coming back from their meeting with Yen Sid.

It was still a new sensation that he was adjusting to but if anything, Garrus was a fast learner and quick to adapt.

Focusing on some magic in his eyes, he could see a more clear outline of the shimmer walking in the hallways.

'This is rather useful when not in a firefight.' Was his thought. 'Wonder what else I could use this trait for on my assignments.'

Putting such thoughts aside, he focused on the small task at hand in tracking down this intruder.

A number of thoughts ran through his mind as to who or what this individual was and why it was sneaking around in C-Sec.

He doubts it's a Heartless as the figure doesn't match anything he knew thus far, both from personal fights and the index that had been collected from their battles with them. The shape was bipedal and upon a closer inspection, clearly a human.

Or possibly an Asari with a hood on since the outline was of the female form.

His movements were as silent as hers, footsteps barely letting out a sound. She moved with grace and ease, ducking and weaving around any that got in her way.

Garrus simply greeted them in a friendly manner, sharing some small talk here and there to make it seem like he wasn't following her.

His face was cool and collected and he briefly saw her looking back at him but the way her head turned made it clear for the detective to deduce that she wasn't really treating him like a threat.

Or so he hoped.

Her hood obscured her face almost as well as the coats Roxas, Xion and Axel wore save for her mouth and lower nose.

Still, her face was hidden enough that he couldn't see her eyes, unable to tell if she was aware of him following her.

He continued watching her, noting her rather dexterous flexibility as she bent low and curved her body gracefully back from two C-Sec officers who passed her by, one of them carrying a pole of some kind, whatever that was for.

Garrus soon saw her entering the files room, eyes narrowing at that.

He waited some moments to plan out his next moves before finally entering. Once closing the door, the detective practically saw no one was in here.

Focusing again, his sight was able to catch the intruder was tucked underneath a desk with whatever cloaking technology they had on them.

Garrus played it cool, acting normally to go to a nearby console to check on a few things. He sought to make it appear he didn't notice anything off and make the intruder drop their guard.

After some moments, he continued on with the act when moving elsewhere in the room. Making it appear he was checking out some cabinets for something in particular.

From the corner of his eye, he saw the outlined intruder move from the hiding place and sought to move elsewhere.

It was with this did he finally strike.

Just as she turned around to make it to the door, Garrus's hand shot out and grabbed her arm. He heard a small "eep" of surprise and shock and his new captive decloaked herself.

"What the-" She whispered in disbelief. "How did you-"

"You made yourself a bit too obvious." Vakarian answered before she was able to finish the question.

The reaction was immediate, the woman gaping in astonishment and denial.

"Too obvious?" She sounded affronted. "I got all the way in here, didn't I?"

"Yeah, most people wouldn't see you." Vakarian stated. "But not someone… like… me…"

He trailed off as he got a proper look at the woman who surprisingly had yet to make a move to break the grip he had on her.

The Turian slowly leaned forward, slightly weirding out the human woman.

"What? What are you doing?" She then put on a coy smile. "Something on my face? Or am I just a pretty sight?"

He ignored all that as he got a more proper look at her.

"Wait…" Garrus squinted at the woman, not letting go of her wrist. "You… I know you."

The hooded woman blinked. "Really?"

"I saw you."

"Just now?" She wryly said.

Garrus shook his head. "No, from before."

It was at this time did the woman choose to get a proper look at her captor and her eyes widened slightly beneath her hood.

"Hang on…" She leaned in, causing Garrus to jolt back with how close she got. "Vakarian? Garrus Vakarian? Garrus from the Normandy? That Garrus Vakarian?"

It took a few moments but a memory slowly drifted into place for the Turian. One where he was with the others and there was clothing surrounding them.

"You… I met you at Edna's shop with the others." Vakarian whispered, making the hooded girl blink in surprise again. "What was your name again? …Kasey?"

The woman was unable to contain herself and found herself giggling.

"Close but no cigar."

"Cigar?"

"Kasumi Goto, at your service." She managed a curtsy bow despite Garrus still holding onto her. "Figured the one who managed to catch me deserves that much."

"I just wanna know what are you doing sneaking into C-Sec?" He plainly asked.

"Hey, I gave you my name." Goto said with a pout. "Like I'd just give out my motives."

Garrus gave her a flat look, having yet to let go of her hand.

She gave him a mischievous smile with a hint of pleading as she wiggled slightly in his grip.

"Please Mister Big Bad Police Man." She accentuated each letter, getting Garrus to arch a brow at her. "Can't you just let this little meetup slide? For a friend?"

"This is literally the second time we're meeting."

She fluttered her eyes at him. "Pwease?"

Vakarian deadpanned at that. "Seriously?"

"What? It usually works."

"Usually?" He dryly said, releasing a sigh, reaching up with his other hand to rub his eyes. He was honestly amazed she didn't try anything drastic yet to escape.

"I'm gonna regret this…" The Turian muttered. "But, in the event that I do let you out, you didn't steal anything that would hurt anybody, would it?"

"Not anyone that doesn't deserve it." Was her answer.

She got a look that made her quick to amend her statement.

"No one is going to get hurt from this. It's a personal endeavor to right some wrongs." Her tone was more serious this time around.

Garrus stared at her for a few seconds when he surprised her by reaching up and pulling her hood back.

She had slightly wavy, jet black hair down to her neck, eyes to match and he couldn't deny being a bit surprised at the embarrassed blush she had on upon him seeing her face properly.

"Wh-what was that for?" Kasumi asked, averting her gaze from him.

"Just wanted to see what you looked like. Making it easier to track you down if you aren't in this get-up."

"You know that's the point of the hood and invisibility right? To be inconspicuous and hard to find?"

He didn't respond, slightly irritating the thief.

She huffed, still staring away from the Turian. "Well, ya got my face. Are ya happy now?"

Vakarian didn't say anything at first before he surprised her once again by stepping closer, this time right in her personal bubble.

Goto wanted to move away but the grasp Garrus still had on her prevented her from doing so.

"Look at me." Vakarian said in an uncharacteristically gruff but soft voice.

The woman was put off by such a request yet acquiesced all the same. Kasumi was further thrown off by the intensity he gave off as they both looked into each other's eyes in complete silence.

She didn't realize it but she found herself getting drawn into the detective's eyes, unaware that he was searching for any form of deceit she might hold.

Whilst Garrus was unable to find any form of deception, there was that mischievous playfulness that she had before.

After a few more seconds, Kasumi regained a bit of her nerve, shooting a teasing smirk.

"Is there something you're trying to pull here? Cause I doubt it's working." Her smirk grew. "What? You just wanted to see my face? Is this how you get all the ladies to fall for you?"

Vakarian didn't verbally respond for a few seconds. Instead, he released a sigh, letting go of her arm and moving to pull her hood back on.

He saw her surprise, reaching up to lightly tug on her hood as if silently asking "why?"

"Alright, go on now." He quietly said, gesturing to the move. "Before I change my mind or someone comes in."

Once more, she was caught off guard and she actually hesitated for a second until her usual confident air returned in force.

Unable to help herself, she placed a dainty hand on the Turian's chest, playfully smiling at him whilst trailing a finger up to his chin. He almost recoiled at the gesture, eliciting a giggle from the thief.

"Aren't you just a sweetheart." She coyly said, disappearing a moment later. "You're just full of surprises, aren't you?"

Garrus opted not to follow her figure, only barely hearing the woman leave the files room.

When he knew he was alone, the detective exhaled, slumping on a nearby wall.

Why did he have a feeling he just dug himself a hole he can't get out of?

-Scene Cut-

Glowing green and blue circuit board patterns could be seen upon the many corridors and chambers of the latest discovery of Mars.

Lush vegetation was growing across the once barren world, oceans, lakes and rivers springing up along with it.

It was truly as if a magical spell had been cast over the formerly red planet though in hindsight, one might as well call it that.

Though it was really transdimensional technology… that came from a magical portal of sorts.

So magical technology, so to speak.

On top of the now garden planet were many spires that were found across the newly formed continents of this world.

Multiple research teams were set up at every uncovered spire that they were able to find, more undoubtedly on the planet waiting to be discovered.

On top of the spires were consoles that seemed to stretch out from them and upon closer inspection, they formed some type of web-like pattern that stretched away from the base spire they were closest to. Whatever consoles were available to be accessed, glyphs were seen with many people seeking to truly decipher the language. Each glyph contains immense amounts of information in a single symbol.

Occasionally in some areas of the spire, they were arranged in a grid, which was carefully being arranged as some sort of puzzle.

This factor was learned in a displeased manner with some people not "solving" the first puzzle they came across, causing security measures to be activated.

Several individuals were harmed when a number of Remnant mechs came out of the walls and floor and attacked. It was from taking care of them did the researchers obtained more material to study with… on top of more muscle needing to be present in case anyone messed up on any other puzzle.

To a select number of individuals who were more in the know, they somewhat wish Xion and Roxas were present to help unlock more of the Spires to uncover more of their secrets. Only a few, a literal handful were able to be openly accessed and even then, the restrictions came from their lack of knowledge.

But while some viewed these restrictions as a problem, the head of the research team on Mars viewed them as a challenge.

There were at least a few silver linings.

Some of the discovery leeway's can be credited to Alec Ryder with some technical know-how. In truth, it was due to some secret… assets of his. Ones which he can't reveal or else he and many others would be in serious trouble given a number of laws being broken.

That certainly didn't assuage any concerns for a majority of those present but for one Liara T'soni, was rather accommodating on this matter and left it as is. She herself was well aware that she had likely broken many laws when she had traversed the galaxy with Shepard and co so really, who was she to judge?

When looking further into the technology, Remnant is actually less advanced than Prothean for some reason. There was quite a difference between them with Prothean being "plug and go" whilst Remnant "thinks differently".

With the tower, it appears more in a "standby" state as hardly anyone was able to properly interface with it. The Quarians seemed to have some natural skill to interface with it, perhaps with their old knowledge of the Geth all those years ago. Even a number of Asari were similar in nature once getting more work clocked in.

They were a welcomed addition to her team.

"Liara, we found that some of these consoles react differently depending on the sequence of patterns you utilize." One of her Quarian teammates said through their radio. "We've recorded some of the sequences and are forwarding them to you now."

Liara smiled at that, seeing the notification appear on her Omni-Tool.

"Thank you Sola." She appreciatively said. "Anything else?"

"Nothing since then but we'll let you know what else we uncover."

"Please keep me updated when you can."

Sola promised on her end and the line was cut off.

With a satisfied hum, Liara resumed looking over the litany of data that had been collected during her time in this research project.

The data kept growing as time went on with more and more being added on even as she looked through her Omni-Tool.

She was seated at a desk with several screens in front of her, some showing additional analysis data whilst another showed live footage of another team around one of the spires. There was a cup of fresh hot tea on her desk with a small bag of snacks she was munching away on.

If one were to look closely, you could see the bags under her slightly reddened eyes.

There was a shake in her hands with every movement, even with the help of the soothing tea that would normally calm her nerves. She was so distracted that she didn't realize someone had come over to her.

"Distracting yourself with work is not a healthy outlet."

Liara didn't look to the side to know Zo was present.

"I'm not." She quietly refuted.

"Yes. Say that to a person who has vast experience with the concept." The silver-haired scientist sat down as he took a sip of his own drink. "From what I've heard since your return from the Citadel, you've been all over this planet. From the various Spires to the Prothean Archives."

"And there's still more to be done."

"It can be done, yes." Zo acquiesced. "But more can be accomplished with a moment's reprieve. I was thought to be a workaholic at one point but you've completely blown me out of the water, Ms. T'soni. There is a thing called 'taking a break'. I've also heard naps does wonders."

"Zo, please I-"

"Want to take a break?" Zo cut her off dryly. "By all means. Come Liara, with how much this planet has changed, you deserve it."

It was clear for the man to see how resistant she was to his suggestions, making him sigh aloud.

"I get it. Putting many personal thoughts and worries aside to focus on your job. Yet doing it for so long is truly damaging."

"I'm doing this… for her." Liara forcefully said, voice cracking. "Shepard died and I-"

"I'm fairly certain that Commander Shepard, with how much she has been framed and the standard in which you hold her, would not want one of her friends and comrades to be in this state." Zo cut her off, shaking his head. "Come, I believe a proper meal and a moment's respite is the best remedy for you at this time."

She wanted to reject such a notion but then her head began to spin and she felt herself momentarily blacking out.

The Asari felt two hands on her shoulders to help hold her steady and her vision cleared up a second later.

"I understand that Asari are fairly long-lived but like the rest of us, they do need to take the time to keep themselves healthy if they are indeed to live that long." Zo knowingly said and at that, Liara didn't have the heart nor the strength really to counter his statement.

Begrudgingly and willingly, she stood up and left her desk with Zo by her side.

Their first stop was the nearby mess hall that had been made for this research site and it was sparsely populated.

"Oh my." Liara muttered to herself. "I didn't even realize it had gotten so late."

"I had heard that when you returned, you'd either been holed up in your office or studying the spires personally. For an entire week. Have you even gotten any sleep?"

Liara opened her mouth to answer when Zo shook his head.

"Do not answer that, that was a rhetorical question. Your eyes and shaking hands are enough to satisfy my query."

T'Soni frowned and was about to rebuke him when a yawn escaped her mouth and she found herself blushing in embarrassment.

"Hmmm, yes, a proper night's rest is in order for you." Zo all but made it official.

"And I can ignore such an order." Liara childishly said.

The silver-haired man simply rolled his eyes at that. "Sure you can. And sooner or later you'll pass out while on the job and harm yourself in the process."

"That will-"

"Happen, whether you like it or not." He ignored the grumpy huff the Asari gave off, instead waving at one of the chefs to give them their meal.

It was a Turian male who simply nodded, quickly moving to put together two trays with a great deal more on one than the other.

The tray with the most food was handed to Liara.

"I don't need all this."

Zo gave her a flat look. "Yes you do… Well not all of it. I'm having some with you."

He then began to nudge her towards a nearby table, further annoying her.

"I'm not helpless, Zo."

"You seem like it with the state you're in."

They sat adjacent to each other, Zo not eating, staring expectantly at Liara to start. It was almost like a parent forcing their child to eat. Eventually, she surrendered underneath his gaze and began eating.

Upon her first few bites, Liara let out an inadvertent moan of satisfaction, shoulders sagging as she munched on her meal.

"Better?"

The archeologist silently looked up at him with an appreciative gaze, nodding rapidly.

"Just take your time on it. It's not going anywhere."

Liara nodded again yet ignored his warnings, chowing down quickly, making Zo unable to hide his chuckle.

The food was consumed soon enough and the pair now sat there in a more pleasant atmosphere with Liara gaining a slight glow after having her first proper meal in a week. They held a casual conversation, simply talking about catching up whilst not addressing T'soni's recent loss. There was no need to in Zo's mind

Time passed before a familiar chime came from Liara's Omni-tool.

She looked down as to who contacted her and her face brightened up upon seeing who it was. She was quick to open her Omni-tool up to respond to the contact.

"Hmmm? Speaking with someone."

Liara nodded. "Yes, a good friend from the Normandy. Sending him some data that he can find most valuable."

"Oh? And that would be?"

T'Soni's face was one of bemusement and a tinge of disbelief. "Botany. Still trying to figure out when Wrex decided to pursue that but I'll do what I can for him."

"Wrex…" Zo parroted. "The Krogan?" She nodded. "...Why botany? Are Krogan not warriors by nature?" She shrugged. "Huh, fascinating."

"It still surprises me to be sure but Wrex is not like most Krogan." Liara remarked. "He wants what's best for his race as a whole and is willing to do unconventional practices to accomplish this."

"I can respect that."

Liara smiled at him, returning to her Omni-Tool, sifting through several files before settling upon one labeled Ilos. It appears that the team she had sent to investigate those ruins had uncovered more data and had forwarded it to her during her time eating with Zo.

"I feel that time to myself will soon become a rare commodity." Liara admitted, leaning her elbows on the table, a tired look in her eyes. "On top of what I'm doing here, there are still other projects and matters that require my attention from my other profession."

"And would this have something to do with the Protheans?" Zo guessed, seeing her nod at that.

"You would be correct." Liara affirmed. "In my travels with Shepard and aboard the Normandy, we had found a planet that held a facility that contained multiple Protheans that had all perished in their cryo-pods. It was tragic, honestly but the data left behind is beyond anything I would have hoped to have found. What they were researching, data logs on their society, their military prowess and even their war against the Reapers."

Zo was silent in this regard, expression holding one of contemplation as he gazed upon the Asari.

"These Reapers…" Zo murmured. "What can you tell me about them?"

The Asari was about to do just that when she paused and shot him an inquisitive gaze.

"You… you don't believe the Reapers exist, do you?"

Zo quirked a brow at her question. "I've read the reports. Seen what news coverage there was on the day the Citadel was attacked." He took a swig of his drink. "Plus, how can I so haphazardly discard the notion of Reapers when impossibilities such as those creatures with the yellow eyes exist. What was it that they had been called again? Heartless, yes? This galaxy has shown me that the unlikely exists, it just needs to be found and proven. If there are any skeptics, they need not but simply come to this once barren planet and tell me the impossible remains as such."

Liara couldn't help but stare at the man before breaking down in a fit of giggles.

This threw Zo off slightly, staring at her strangely and almost bashfully.

"What? Did I say something wrong?"

She shook her head. "Far from it. It's just… I've never seen you become so passionate. It was rather amusing to see, really."

Zo found himself deadpanning at the Asari which only made her laugh again.

"So glad I am able to benefit your amusement."

"You are the one who told me I needed a reprieve, yes?" She teased.

Zo's flat look soon fell away, the man closing his eyes and letting out a small 'hmph'.

"Glad I was able to alleviate some tension from you."

"Of which I am most thankful for." Liara earnestly said. "I didn't realize how much I needed this."

"We never realize it unless someone points it out or it's forced upon you." Zo admitted. "I myself have fallen victim to such instances so it is nothing too serious to dwell on."

"Still, thank you Zo." She softly said. "It hasn't been the best in these last few days and honestly, I don't know how things will go in the coming weeks."

Zo gazed upon the Asari with a difficult-to-read expression when he surprised her by reaching out to her hand. She blinked when she saw his hand near hers, him hesitating for a moment before gently placing his over her hand.

"I understand that loss is not an easy subject to endure." Zo quietly said. "I know what it is like to lose a parent and people you care for deeply. What I've learned is to know when to count the people you still do have and be there for them because they will be there for you. You have your friends from the Normandy, yes?" She nodded, greatly surprised by this display. "Good. And if it counts for anything, you can have me to speak with."

Liara was at a momentary loss for words, trying to find her voice until she settled upon a serene and grateful smile.

She turned her hand around, surprising him now by lacing her fingers in between his own.

"Thank you, Zo." Liara softly murmured. "I really do appreciate it."

Zo could only blink for a moment until he held a smile that matched hers.

"Think nothing of it."

They sat there in comfortable silence all while one ignored the gnawing guilt that had begun to fester in the back of his mind.

-Scene Cut-

The trip back to their home galaxy was relatively silent.

They hadn't said much though, in reality, they didn't need to.

For the three of them, nothing needed to be said. All of them felt the same way after returning from the Milky Way galaxy.

They had returned to the Ōkoku galaxy and exited the Gummi pathway that the Symmetry took them on to return to the Mysterious Tower.

Roxas maneuvered the ship to land on the opening patch of grass not far from the tower, him and his friends exiting the ship.

The trio didn't get far when they saw that there were two familiar faces waiting for them at the door to the tower.

One who had silver hair and the other who had platinum hair.

"Finally!" Riku bemoaned aloud, seated on one of the steps of the Mysterious Towers' entrance. "We've been waiting for you three forever."

The Nobody's blinked at Riku's overexaggerated greeting with a sheepish Namine behind him.

"Uh, what?" Roxas murmured. "What do you mean? What happened?"

"That's what I wanna know." Riku placed his hands on his hips, leaning forward with an accusatory gaze directed at the trio. "Alright, spill. What the hell happened with you guys?"

"What?" Xion was thoroughly befuddled. "What'd we do?"

"Must've been something cause I have never in my whole life seen the happy idiot so depressed like that." The silver-haired teen retorted. "Sora's been miserable all week and he hasn't spoken to anybody. I know it's hard, damn near impossible to bring that goofball down so it definitely had nothing to do with him. It must've had something to do with all of you guys cause you're not looking so good yourselves, you know."

Roxas, Axel and Xion shared looks, the former two saddened whilst the latter held a solemn gaze.

"Best we tell you all when we get up and talk with the old man." Axel stated. "Better for all of us to be present. The King here too?"

"With Donald and Goofy, yes." Namine confirmed.

"Alright then, let's go." No. VIII declared and the group made their way up the tower.

They arrived in Master Yen Sid's room, the aged wizard seated in his chair with his eyes closed in deep contemplation.

Beside him was King Mickey, gazing out at one of the windows before turning to the teens and lone adult who entered, greeting them with a strained smile.

"Finally!" Squawked a voice off to the side, the Nobody's turning their heads to the right to see Donald and Goofy walking out of the dressing room. "Goofy, go get Sora. Maybe he'll finally talk."

The captain of the guard simply nodded, waving hello at the returning Nobodies before he left the room to get Sora.

It didn't take long for Goofy to bring him in and the brown-haired teen looked positively miserable.

"Jeez, I thought you were overplaying it." Axel muttered to Riku, visibly wincing at the sight of the Keyblade Master.

"I've never seen him like that in my entire life." Riku quietly remarked, a troubled expression on his face. "What happened with you guys?"

"You'll find out soon enough." Was the redhead's downtrodden response.

That certainly didn't fill Riku with confidence as the large group now all stood before Yen Sid.

The old Master had opened his eyes, staring intensely at Roxas followed by Xion, Axel and finally Sora.

"Much happened since we last saw each other." Spoke Yen Sid. "And by how things appear, any good was encompassed by the bad." He then saw several reactions which were growing in trouble. "What happened, exactly?"

Some moments passed when composure was able to set with Roxas.

"The Normandy was attacked," he began, "and Shepard didn't make it. She's… She's dead."

Donald's jaw dropped, an action emulated by Goofy. Namine's hands shot up to her mouth, Riku's eyes widened considerably as he inhaled sharply and Mickey's expression fell.

Hearing that statement caused Xion to lower her head, lip trembling with tears poking out of the corners of her eyes.

She felt Axel's hand on her shoulder and she leaned onto him, the man moving to place his arm around her in comfort.

Roxas turned and took Xion's hand into his own, the pair squeezing each other tightly as both were nearly overcome with grief once more.

"Jeez, you're not kidding are you?" Riku asked, almost wishing he didn't.

"They're not." Sora spoke up, his voice coming out as a croak. "She really did die. Felt it. Saw it through Roxas' eyes. Xion's too."

"Through Xion's eyes?" Namine and Riku said at the same time.

Roxas looked over to his friend with a questioning look on how that was possible.

He already knew with Sora of him somewhat seeing things from his eyes and vice versa. Yet Xion… that was entirely new. When leaving the Organization, he had overheard about Xion's purpose but Xemnas, Xigbar and Vexen never brought this up.

Either it was a recent development or something which wasn't brought up at all that day.

Yen Sid let out a deep hum, shaking his head.

"I feared for the worst and to hear this only makes my prior expectations shortsighted." The old Master stated. "To have lost someone like Commander Shepard… Roxas. Axel. Xion. I am terribly sorry for your loss. She was a strong woman and a wonderful being."

Axel simply nodded on behalf of himself and his two friends before looking at Sora.

"Much as I wanna talk about other things, what was that thing you just said about seeing it through Xion's eyes?"

Yen Sid cleared his throat aloud, making everyone turn their attention to him.

"If you would allow me, Axel." Yen Sid respectfully said. "Sora, Roxas, Xion, please, step forward."

The trio all hesitated for a moment, a look of confusion shared between them until their friends basically gestured for them to do so.

They stood directly in front of Yen Sid's desk, the Wizard gazing at them in an analytical fashion.

He moved to stroke his beard, thinking over a few matters in his head before speaking.

"Firstly, I would like to apologize in advance for doing this after such a tragic loss." Yen Sid said straight away. "Normally, this would be a time where it would be best for you all to grieve but with how things are right now, that may prove to be a detriment to our plans against the coming conflicts."

They were silent for the most part, simply allowing the wise wizard to speak.

"Now, you have all since made us aware of the connection the three of you share. Roxas, being Sora's Nobody and Xion having been made with the purpose to be the Organization's puppet."

No. XIV looked uncomfortable whilst No. XIII held a more stoic frown.

"Roxas, an unknown intention was meant to be placed upon you by the Organization, due to you being Sora's Nobody." Yen Sid turned to the Ravenette. "Xion, your original unknown purpose of harvesting power from both Roxas and Sora for the Organization before your defection." He then eyed the islander. "And the Organization has a great interest in you most of all, which leaves me quite curious as to why. Originally we believed it was due to you wielding a Keyblade, yet it may be far more than that."

King Mickey then spoke up. "Thanks to your efforts Roxas, we were able to discover the deception that Xemnas and the rest of the Organization were planning. We know that the Heartless in many worlds is directly sent by them."

"Their efforts in forming their own Kingdom Hearts must be stopped at all costs." Yen Sid tacked on. "And we must discover their ulterior motives that have been kept hidden from you all."

"Well the original "plan"," Axel said, raising his hands to make the quotation marks. "Was that we were to use Kingdom Hearts to get back our Hearts that we lost."

"Gawrsh, that could be a fib your old leader used to make sure you all fall in line." Goofy observed.

"Goofy is probably right." Xion stated, a look of conviction now on her face. "And who's to say that we don't have Hearts too? That could also be a lie made by the Organization."

"There is much to discuss on that matter but let us take it one step at a time." Yen Sid placatingly said. "First, let us discuss the topic of the connection the three of you share. Let us start with what we know."

Sora crossed his arms, humming in thought. "Well, going off of what you said earlier Master, Roxas is my Nobody and Xion was a puppet who was supposed to be a copy of me and Roxas but that thankfully failed."

"And that she was meant to siphon the power the two of you held and take it for herself and most likely, the Organization." Axel added, mirroring Sora's posture.

"But how do we know if she's doing such a thing?" Riku inquired, looking confused.

"We don't exactly know," Mickey freely admitted. "But perhaps Sora seeing through Xion's perspective is a hint that it just might be happening. If she were to take power from Sora and Roxas, I believe we would have noticed it."

"Have you guys felt any different lately?" Namine softly asked, the three Keyblade wielders all looking at one another.

"I mean… other than dreams every now and then, not really." Roxas admitted. "But I've only seen things through Sora's eyes a few times."

"Same here." Sora said. "But that doesn't explain the dream of seeing Shepard…"

"Nor of you seeing through Xion's eyes as well." The brunette's best friend pointed out.

"Then maybe it's that energy siphoning aspect coming into play at last." Namine worriedly said. "What if Xion is finally starting to take power away from Sora and Roxas?"

"How would we counter that?" Donald asked. "Is it magic in nature?"

"Possibly." Axel shook his head. "Though with Vexen's work, unlikely. Who knows what sort of hair-brained bullshit that kiss ass put in when he made Xion."

"So, what should we do then?" Sora asked the group as a whole, looking at them all for answers. "There's gotta be some way to counter this whole thing."

"Perhaps the answers we seek can be uncovered from the Organization."

"Good luck getting over to HQ." Axel interjected. "With our defection, security would be at an all-time high if we seek to storm it. And with our numbers, it may not be enough to make it out all in one piece if they do a full fortification."

"You sure about that?" Goofy asked, hoping it was an exaggeration.

All the captain of the guard got in return was a shrug from No. VIII.

"They'd be on our ass the minute we set foot in that castle." The Flurry of Dancing Flames firmly stated. "Not risking any of us going in there only to get us all killed."

"Well, you guys all came from that place, we thought you'd know something at least." Riku argued back.

"I'm sorry, do we look like scientists to you?"

The individual of the discussion then let out a small gasp, making everyone turn to her.

"N-No." Xion spoke up, looking as though she was straining her mind. "I… I didn't come from the Organization's stronghold."

Everyone looked at one another then Xion.

"You didn't?" Roxas said in clear surprise.

"I…" Xion scrunched her face up in concentration. "I remember Saix and him telling me it's the last time I'll ever see it. It was a white hallway and it was also the place that Axel was lord of for a short time."

Realization began to dawn on the group with King Mickey stepping forward.

"Then we shall get to the next best source: Castle Oblivion."

Yen Sid nodded at this, mulling over their next course of actions carefully.

"This may prove risky but it's a risk we must undertake." Yen Sid spoke in a deadly serious tone. "All of you, together, shall go to Castle Oblivion and discover the secrets that place holds and what can be found to sever the connection the three of you hold that would not affect you all negatively. Despite it not being the main headquarters of the Organization, no half-measures are to be made. You will all work together to the best of your abilities to get what is needed to make sure this mission ends in accomplishment. Until then, eat, get some rest and ready yourselves for the trials to come from this undertaking."

He was met with silent nods of acknowledgment, the group all turning to leave for the time being, leaving the former Keyblade Master to himself.

Now it was time to train, plan and prepare.

-Scene Cut-

…

…

…

How long has it been since being here?

…

Hours? Days? Weeks? Months? Years?

…

There was no discernible answer I could receive.

…

All I've been doing since finding myself here was floating in the endless void.

…

…

…

Yet something seemed to change when I found myself lying down, face first on something rough.

Grunting, as if I just woke up, I pushed myself up off the ground. I looked around, finding myself in a place I did not recognize.

Rising to my feet, I saw I was on some sort of stony walkway. It was haphazardly made with the occasional floating rocks drifting about. There were even what appeared to be stalagmite-like roots jetting all over the place with dark blue lines glowing from within them.

I looked around, noticing that some of the floating rocks had grains of black falling from them yet they didn't shrink in size. They just remained in place, floating about with sand falling from them.

I found myself wandering moments later, curiosity taking hold of me. Wandering through the darkness with some light guiding my way, in a manner.

The light was fleeting at best.

They don't last long, flickering and smothering out in mere moments.

It wasn't the most encouraging thing but better to keep moving than not moving at all.

I could feel it.

If I stop moving, it'll get me.

The Darkness.

I'll lose myself entirely.

I was barely am as is if that made any sense.

And speaking of senses, they were going off like crazy. I could feel things moving about in the Darkness. They were watching my every step, waiting for the time that I'd falter and strike.

But I wouldn't let them.

If they think I'll just bend over so easily after what I survived, they got another thing coming.

…

What did I survive?

I must have survived something if I wound up here.

Just thinking about it made my head hurt.

My head then snapped up and around, teeth clenched when I heard and felt movement around me. I didn't care where I was gonna run to just as long as I got away from whatever it was that wanted to take me.

I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, feeling that which chased after me just nipping at my heels.

Gritting my teeth, I sprinted forward with all my might and proceeded to jump high into the air.

I didn't know what it was that was after me but… this sensation was familiar.

Moving and hopping along the never-ending path presented before me, I eventually found myself in some dense forest. I took a look behind me and sensed I had lost my pursuers.

Letting a satisfied exhale, I turned my attention back to the forest I came across.

There seemed to be a bit more color now, which seemed refreshing at best. Typical colors of flora all around with a dirt path beneath my feet. Above my head was the perpetual night sky… which was a mixture of dark purples and blues that didn't seem natural… I think.

The Forest, dense as it was, appeared dead and devoid of life.

But it's probably a better place to reside in for now since there are still those things out there undoubtedly looking for me.

I squared up my shoulders, a roll of my neck and trudged forward into the thick set of trees.

It was… dark, to say the least. But then again, that appears to be the theme of this entire damn place.

Darkness here, darkness there, some dark clouds above and a dark mist below.

Redundant honestly and even with the addition of some color, they were all muted or darkened in appearance.

I wanted to call out to see if anyone or anything that could be considered friendly was out here.

There just had to be.

Maybe if I could check my…

…

Strange.

Wasn't something supposed to appear on my left arm?

It was a tool of some kind, right?

"Could it be?..."

My head jolted up and I looked around wildly.

That… that was a voice!

… was it?

"Is there someone else out there?"

It was! There was someone here with her!

I need to find this person.

Concentrating on the voice, I looked in the general direction it came from.

Curious and tentative, I went after it in hopes of finding… anyone in this place.

Moving onward, I looked around for any sign of life. Looking for the one who spoke.

I didn't realize I stepped on something when I turned back but the crunch of my boot meeting metal was heard.

I looked down and saw a familiar metal shape on the ground.

Squinting my eyes, I kneeled, pulling my foot back to inspect what I stepped on.

It was oval-like in shape, with a silvery-gray tint with numbers and letters on it.

I brushed aside the dirt on it, dug my fingers into the ground around it and pulled it out with a connecting chain following.

I held up the metal item and realized they were dog tags.

My dogtags.

"Jane… Shepard…" I muttered quietly.

It was a name. My name? It felt like it was, for some reason.

"Jane Shepard." I said again, my face becoming more concentrated, stating the name one more time. "Jane Shepard."

That name… yes, that was my name.

I am Jane Shepard… right?

…

…

…

But who is Jane Shepard?

"Hello?" Jane twitched, head snapping up in the direction of the endless darkness within this seemingly expansive forest. "Please, I know you're out there."

"I'll find you." I said aloud, hoping whoever was calling to me could await my arrival.

I found myself blinking, reaching up to my throat, feeling surprised I was able to speak.

It was a bizarre sensation, honestly. It felt like I had lost my voice when falling here.

I shook my head, banishing these thoughts and focusing on the more pressing matter of finding the source of the stranger in the Darkness.

Continuing my search, I halted when I spotted some sort of marker in this dark place. One which stood out the most above all.

A white castle that seemed to reach the darkened sky. But the white castle soon had shadows surrounding it, appearing to reshape the whole structure to a more twisted and deformed reflection of its original appearance.

"What is this place?" I found myself asking.

Eventually, I continued with my trek with whatever seemed to drive me. After all, there was nothing else better for me to do in this…

Dark vapors seemed to appear in the sky with rock formations being sucked into it. A massive light burst forth from within as revealed what came from the darkness. Highlighted rocks were present as they revealed the words:

Ḑ̶̭̖̩̮̲̠̳̭͑̀̍̋͒͌̍͜͜ͅͅA̸̢̳̺̳̬͓̻̲͂͛͆̓̈́͑͂͌͊̾̀͠R̴̢̨̯̥̹̻͉̿͗͐̆̓̅̽̐͂̚͜K̴̢̧͖͖͚̮̮̳̩̓̄̆͂̓ ̴̮͎̺̼̠̲͓̏̿̾W̵̧̱̲̜̣̩̠͔͖̟͈͔̥̓͌̏͐̿͋̽̒̾̏́ͅǪ̷̠̟̲̦̬̜͕̘͎̻̖̠̣̻̐̎͊̾̑͋̔̈́̑̚R̵̩͍̠̝̞̮̀̀̾͑̌͜L̶͍̫̼̇D̸̢̖̫̣̺̱͔͎͎͇́̊̓

AN

Hey guys, back again with this one and boy oh boy, bet ALL of you are certainly surprised in the direction we just went in.

Bet ya didn't see that one coming, did ya?

If you can't read between the lines and how blatantly obvious we made it, Shepard is in the Realm of Darkness. She ain't dead, she's been taken by the Heartless.

But for one as strong as Shepard, she, like Sora, isn't one to lose herself so easily. Especially a tough woman like her.

We're currently in the transition between ME1/KH1/Chain Of Memories over to KH2/ME2. A lot of groundwork to lay out but also other plot points we need to cover that is just as important for the long term.

So next time, the crew of the Normandy goes about doing what they can to uphold the promise held to Shepard whilst our KH heroes head to Castle Oblivion.

Hope you guys are prepared for the wild shit that's coming cause Oblivion is gonna be an arc unto itself.

Rate Read and Review and as Always Have Nice Day.