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"Come on, three more steps." Pyrrha encouraged gently, standing just behind the smaller woman as she walked along the dirt path, awkward on her new leg.

"Working on it…" Kasumi muttered, staring down at the cybernetic replacement like it was trying to fight her. "Just… Rough, you know?"

"Well enough." She sighed, "I'm-"

"If you apologize to me again for saving my life, Nikos, I swear that no matter how cute you are I will stab. You." Kasumi cut her off, pointing her finger in Pyrrha's face, stumbling from the distraction and shift in balance, and grunting when she finally went over and Pyrrha used her Semblance to pull her gently by the arm over and into Pyrrha, instead. Sighing, Kasumi let the Mistralian straighten her and muttered, "Damn it all… How am I supposed to sneak into a vault with this?"

"Most would say you shouldn't be stealing from vaults…"

"Most are idiots." Kausmi smiled, gesturing to a curved, carved bit of stone set beside the path up the way a bit and sighing. "I need a break."

"Of course." Helping Kasumi to the bench was easy - even with an arm and leg wrought of metal and fiber-optics, now, she was a light, tiny thing. Not someone Pyrrha had any difficulty carrying, much less helping limp over to a bench. Easing her down, Pyrrha dropped onto the seat with the heavy sound of shifting armor and sighed.

"Work troubles…?"

"I don't want to bore you." Pyrrha smiled, flicking her leg a look. "Or… Stress you any more than you already are."

"Ah…" Kasumi frowned, and Pyrrha could feel the same argument they'd had welling up to the surface. She frowned, reached for Kasumi's shoulder, to pull her close, but the thief only pulled away. "I am not some glass doll you can break, Pyrrha."

"I'm not trying to…" She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I just… Want to see you recovered, Kasumi. And stressing yourself over my own duties won't help that."

"Yeah, I know, but…" She sighed and shook her head, "I just wish you could do it without looking like your puppy was stabbed whenever you see me. That's all."

"It's not like that…"

"Then what is it like?" Kasumi demanded quietly, "Because what it feels like is you feel shitty being with me, now."

"I would never!"

"It's what it looks like." Kasumi pressed, adjusting the sling her new arm rested in while she was still adjusting to it. "And given I'm quite literally half as cute… I can get why you'd feel a bit less excited to be near me."

"That isn't-"

"You can barely look at them, NIkos." She sighed, "When you do? Someone stabbed your puppy."

Sighing, and trying to disprove the other woman, Pyrrha flicked Kasumi's bare leg a look.

It was advanced Geth design, but that didn't mean it looked entirely human. It was mainly made up of two blocky segments, with ball joints at the ankle, knee and hip, and a few exposed cables that ran along the back of her calf and the inside of her thigh. The arm, she knew, was the same, except with a cable that ran along her back to a neural port the Geth had designed using, in small part, data on the Husks that they had collected over the years - evidently, the means of conveying information back and forth through her spine and brain was the same, even if what was conveyed, why, and how much had been heavily altered. And all of it was black, edged in silver with a series of blue lights along the shin and side of her thigh that worked as status lights - blue meant good, while orange meant there was an issue and red meant damage.

As if she could get much more damaged…

"See?" Kasumi cut into her thoughts, nearly making Pyrrha flinch. "Stabbed. Puppy. And I don't even know why… Because you won't tell me."

"Kasumi…"

"All I know is how much I'm costing my girlfriend," she choked, hand curling and uncurling reflexively, like she was either about to cry or hit something, "and that she can't stand to look at me…"

For a while, Pyrrha… Wasn't sure what to say. What she could say, even. It had been a month already, but seeing what had happened to Kasumi still hurt her in a way she hadn't been hurt before. At least, not in this life. She'd hoped that, eventually, she'd be able to just push through, but she was starting to realise that the inaction that her waiting had caused was hurting Kasumi more than it was doing anything else.

So, quietly, she said, "I'm upset to see what has become of you-"

"Oh, say it ain't so."

"Because," she pushed on, raising a hand to ask for time and quiet, "I fear that… That what happened to you is my fault."

"How could it possibly-"

"Kasumi, I am enemies with a very literal god." Pyrrha cut her off, throwing her hands up in the air and choking out a pained half-laugh that died in her throat, and left behind a knot of anxiety and pain. "A god that has come to dislike me quite a bit. And for all that I may have divine protection…"

"I don't." Kasumi filled in, understanding dawning on her face. She sighed after a moment and leaned back, staring up at the russet sky of Rannoch's evening, and frowned. "That… Is fair. I guess I never consider all of that, when stuff is going on."

"Stuff?"

"Yeah, the words is doing a lot of work, but… You know what I mean." Kasumi rolled her eyes, sighed, and went on, "It's just… Hard to square away, in my head. Between that, the Reapers, and everything else, it's…

"A lot." Pyrrha nodded, "I know."

"Yeah, well…" Kasumi shrugged, "Whatever the case, it still isn't your fault."

"How is it-"

"Just because you piss someone off," Kasumi started, cutting her off by turning suddenly and flopping across Pyrrha's lap, looking up at her with a smirk, "doesn't mean you deserve to get shot. Much less your neighbor. Whatever he does, it isn't on you."

"That is quite easy to say…"

"Believing takes time." Kasumi shrugged, seemingly mollified, mostly, by Pyrrha's admission. Pyrrha couldn't say her own concerns were quite so dispatched, but… Either way, Kausmi smiled and went on, "Now that's all, you know, cleared up, I'll ask again… How is work?"

"Work is… Infuriating." She finally sighed, forcing herself to talk even if she still felt like heaping that onto the thief was the last thing she really needed. Regardless of how she felt, it was clear that it was what Kasumi wanted, and she had to trust that. So, letting her frustration bubble up she threw a hand up in the air and went on, "They keep sending updated 'reparations demands', every few days it feels like, and the Geth are so genially natured they just… Accept whatever the Council asks for."

"They do…?"

"Geth don't make requests of each other out of… Of malice, or greed, or politics." Pyrrha explained quietly, watching the clouds and idle reaching up to toy with the side of Kasumi's cowl. "Whenever the Council ask for something,anything at all almost, then all the Geth calculate is if it would harm them to give it. If it does not, then they will accept, unless I stop them from doing so."

"Do they listen?"

"Yes, of course, but…" She sighed, "It doesn't reflect well on me, I'm certain, that the Geth always tell the Council they need to speak to me first. It makes me seem less a delegate and more a… A ruler, to them."

"Have they said as much?"

"Sparatus has, yes." She grimaced - the old Turian was crass and short with her, and growing worse with each meeting they had. Which, according to Shepard, was better than she should have expected from him. He was an old soldier, and a stubborn one, and not likely to change his opinion on the Geth on either count until they did something worth reconsidering them for. And given that Sparatus had only reconsidered Humanity after the Battle of the Citadel…

Well, she wasn't particularly hopeful of their chances here and now.

"Maybe you should draw up a guide…?"

"I'm sorry?" She blinked, looking down into Kasumi's smiling face. "A… Guide?"

"Yeah, babe, a guide." She nodded, reaching up to toy with an errant strand of Pyrrha's hair while she got more comfortable. "Like… 'Nikos' Guide to Good Diplomatic Deal Dishing', or something."

"Went for the alliteration in the end there, eh?"

"It's called 'being clever'. You should give it a try some time." Pyrrhaa raised her brow and Kasumi stuck her tongue out, rolling her eyes when Pyrrha scoffed in faux-offense. "But yeah. A guide on what is a reasonable suggestion for the Council to make, so they can compare and contrast. That way the Geth, uh, Collective can make the decisions themselves, right then and there, based on a value system they can analyse instead of guessing at. They're still treated well and…"

"I don't look like I'm the secret Geth overlord or some such other tripe." Pyrrha nodded, "Kasumi, you're brilliant."

"Yeah, well, kiss me or help the brilliant woman keep learning how to walk, yeah?" Pyrrha leaned down quickly and Kasumi blinked, smiling, "Oh, we're going for the kiss then? That's-"

"Shut." Pyrrha smiled, pressing a kiss to the other woman who turned enough to lean up and into it. Just before- Her Omni-Tool chirped loudly four times, and Pyrrha sighed as she withdrew and smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry…"

"It's fine." Kasumi shrugged, "Duty calls, right?"

"Yeah…" She nodded, "Should I carry you home, or…?"

"I'll use the chair." She shook her head, letting Pyrrha help her sit up on the bench. "Send Solomon back with it…?"

"Of course." She smiled, standing and giving Kasumi a nod of farewell. "Try and have a good day, alright?"

"Sure." She half-shrugged, "But only because a pretty girl asked me to."

Pyrrha just rolled her eyes, turned and left without another word, headed along the path around the Greenhouse District.

The district was the first great, joint project between Quarians and the Geth. Even when it came to building their homes, the Quarians had only accepted supplies from the Geth and built them themselves. Even now, the dorms stood at the edge of the Greenhouse District, four stories tall and wide enough for it to fit the two hundred colonists living in it. It had windows, but none that opened, since the Quarians were still slowly filtering Rannoch's native atmosphere into their homes and suits. They were far enough along by now that many could go maskless in the dorms, but…

They weren't able to on the surface, yet.

The Greenhouse District itself was even larger, stretching out for almost two miles in diameter, and full of ordered rows of mostly stone buildings with wide glass roofs. Each was forty feet long, with curved walls that reached about a third of the way up to irregularly shaped and sized glass panels held in place by metal struts hand-made to fit around glass made in what she was told was a 'traditional' method of 'rolling' molten glass out into shape. Pyrrha had no idea how they did it, or what mechanics it entailed, but it gave the glass fascinating shapes and shades of color ranging from a light green to a brighter yellow. And, she'd been told, it wouldn't matter for their crops - they had sun-lights from the Liveships for cloudy days anyways, and these plants were curated from generations spent in space, without direct sunlight.

In between the Dorms and the Greenhouse District was a wide, stone-paved road the Quarians and Geth had laid out together once the District was completed, and she found it thronged by both races coming and going from work.

Solom, though, was still waiting, bright gold with green highlights and red lights that brightened on seeing her, "Ambassador."

"Solomon." She smiled, "I have work. Kasumi hope you would bring her wheelchair?"

"Of course." They nodded, "We shall depart immediately."

"Thank you."

"You are welcome." They answered, flanges flicking in thought. "Legion also sends well wishes. They wish you to know that construction is going well in orbit, and to expect to be able to begin import-export inside three months. The Council will be pleased, we believe."

Nodding, Pyrrha turned to head up the winding road as it left the Dorms and the District both behind, headed towards a long, perfectly rectangular building built alongside the ocean. It served as the administrative heart of the new colony and, one day, fisheries would be built along it on either side. For now, though, the fisheries were still being laid out in great lengths of steel mark-outs, while cranes worked on most of the administrative building. Which is where she'd been called to…

"Ambassador." Now Governor Raan greeted as she came into one of the rooms at the back, the only one fitted for long distance communication. She gestured at the square holoprojector, a gift from Cerberus, which sat in the corner and said, "The Council have sent a reply along for trade negotiations."

"And the Geth wanted me…"

"They did," Raan nodded, sounding… Amused. "Shall we?"

"When you're ready." Pyrrha nodded, preparing herself mentally for another long, long day.

Maybe she should consider that guide, and sooner than later…

After all, they had a lot of work left ahead. And she needed time to get it done, rather than spending so much of it on trade negotiations.

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"You will take the grain, bury the grudge, and move on or I will personally lead my Clan-Guard into your Hold and hand your spine to your Chieftain." Wrex lumbled lowly, leaning forward while the whelp Krant had sent growled and glared at the ground, kneeling at the base of Wrex's grand stone throne. When the warrior didn't say anything, Wrex turned and added to the prideful, smirking Ranet ambassador, "You will use four Tomkahs, unarmed, to carry it to them. And leave them three."

"What?!" The blue-eyed Krogan snarled, "You have no right-"

"I have every right." Wrex cut in, raising a hand that called his new silver-armored bodyguard forward, flanked by two older warriors who pushed the ambassador out. Stunned by the very generous increase in Wrex's peace-making payment, the Krant warrior stood slowly and gave him a look and Wrex smiled, now well out of earshot of the Ranet ambassador. "New trucks for the heavy guns we all know you have, and grain to feed your warriors. Why, you could practically siege somewhere with your new supplies…"

"You are suggesting I take their peace offering…" The warrior rumbled, "And suggest my Chieftain use it to kill them?"

"I would never suggest that sort of thing. I said to bury the grudge, and expect you to do just that." Wrex rumbled, laughing under his breath and sighing wearily before he went on more directly, and frankly, for the young warrior's benefit. "Warlord Alka is… Not trustworthy, not compared to Tor. But I need worthwhile allies I can trust, who understand how to handle things with… Tact. So I can't be seen to play favorites. Am I clear?"

"Yes…" The warrior nodded, pouding a fist against his chest. "It will be made clear."

"Good." Wrex nodded, "Go."

His older bodyguards dispersed as the Krant warrior left, but one lingered. And Wrex asked him, quietly, "Do you understand why I did that?"

"Alka isn't trustworthy, like you said." Grunt rumbled, turning toward him with a cocked head and eyes that seemed to darken with thought and consideration - and intent. "You mean for clan Krant to quietly deal with him, and grow stronger as allies. Allies loyal to you, now, for the strength you gave them, and siding with their complaint…"

"Go on." Wrex smiled, "Finish that sentence. I can hear it trailing off."

"For siding with their complaint," Grunt finished, "even though it was bullshit."

"Heh." Wrex snorted, leaning back and nodding. "Shepard was right about you. You're a bright one."

"Thank you…"

"We need to expand the southern quarter." Wrex rumbled, changing the topic and standing with a small smile. "We'll need space for wounded, when Ranet's lines break and scatter."

"Should I ask Solus for input…?" Grunt hesitated, "He's our best doctor, whether or not the others trust him to do the job."

"Yeah, well, neither do I. But we make do." Wrex sighed, looking across the open space to the far side, where the Salarian was working on reattaching an Urdnot warrior's leg well enough it could regenerate on its own. Frowning, he pushed his instinctual dislike aside and rumbled, "The good doctor will have a lot of work, when the time comes, and he will need to be the one using the space. Make sure it's up to his par, as best as it can be."

"Understood." Grunt nodded, turning and striding away without another word or a question.

Wrex watched him go, until he vanished into a crumbling hall, and then he smiled.

"Heh…" He murmured, "He has potential, Shepard."

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The Illusive Man stood at his great, towering window, looking down on construction ships steadily building a two mile long addition to Cronos Station. It was another mile wide, and even with most of it only made up of support struts, some had already been partially constructed, with long lines of drydocks already being prepared for manufacturing. Inside, he knew, would be quarters for thousands of workers and their families to live and work. Long spires were already being moved into place, too, with massive solar-generator constructs that would make Cronos immune to fuel price shock, when the time came. The same panels were being built on the starward side of the primary station itself.

"War is coming." He mused quietly, tiredly, turning the glass of whiskey in his hand and frowning. "War is coming, and you still insist on whiskey…"

"Whiskey hits harder, pound for pound." Commander Shepard answered, dressed in her heavy armor with a helmet under her arm. "You told me to review my company's stocks, so we would have a proper supply to hold out when the worst comes."

"Yes, but…" He sighed, "Whiskey? Really?"

Shepard gave him a smile, turned, and spoke into her communicator, "Tali, how goes it?"

"On schedule." She answered, "I'm drawing up plans for the training facility now."

"Good." Shepard nodded, turning and taking her leave. "We'll need soldiers, soon…"

He watched her go before turning back to watching the work below. Finally, after a moment, he cued his comm and prepared a message, "Lawson, when you and your… Friend return to Outpost Four, please bring some proper scotches and bourbons. Anything but this paltry American whiskey."

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Thane hummed as his son ducked under a slow, gentle punch and came up, tapping his ribs in response. It was a basic training exercise, meant more for the exercise aspect than anything, but even this was enough to have Thane sweating and breathing heavily. Backing away, he leaned against the railing of the raised, padded human mat and raised a hand to ask for pause, taking deep breaths to recover until Kolyat finally backed away completely.

"Come, Father." He murmured, "You need to rest."

"I am fine…" He argued, before a harsh cough caught him off guard and he choked on it, wheezing as he sank to a knee and the younger Drell rushed to his side. Forcing himself to catch his brath, he sighed and said, "Alright. You are right."

"Come." Kolyat said, "We should eat and read together. You always seem rested after that."

Thane smiled and nodded, letting his son lead him over to a corner table while another pair took their turn on the mat. Aside from the two alright starting to fight, the small gym was mostly empty at this time of night. Which let him enjoy listening to his son reading the texts with a small, contented smile while he let his eyes close and sipped at his water.

And imagine a better life, where he had been a farmer or some such, and a real father.

"Father…?"

"Yes?"

"I… Just wanted you to know." He spoke, blinking and avoiding his gaze in embarrassment when Thane turned to give him a look. "I… Have met a woman, here on the Citadel."

"Oh?"

"A nurse." He nodded, "Three weeks ago. We have been together for a while. I would like you to meet."

"Of course." He smiled, "I would love to."

"Ok." He nodded, "I'll, uh, tell her…"

"I'm happy for you, son."

"Thank you." He nodded, "I, uh, love you… Father."

"And I you." He nodded, "More than anything else in this world.

Smiling, Thane closed his eyes and reconsidered as his son dove into the text once more, now out of embarassment more than anything-

This life was already more than enough.

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"You're sure this is where he wants it…?"

"Yes." Penny nodded, smiling as she stepped into the cave, which by now smelled of death and rot. It made her grimace, but she ignored it - it was all a part of the work, after all. Passing through, she explained, "The God of Light was able to hide in this place and gather power and influence on this galaxy for it. However he did it, our Lord can do the same. And, now that he has been cast out, it's our chance to build our Temple here. In this place."

"If you say so…"

"I don't." She answered frankly, "The Dark Lord does."

"We really need to work on phrasing." Garrus sighed, following dutifully along behind her regardless of his concerns.

Inside, she found what was left of the Tree of Light. The God of Light's sacred symbol, connecting him and his power to this world and breathing life into it. Life that still remained elsewhere, albeit not in this dim, dark cave. Standing under its weathered, wearied branches, Penny hummed and listened to the flare Garrus lit spring to life, casting everything in red where the hole Pyrrha had left didn't let light smuggle itself in. Finally, she reached into her pocket and pulled a small marble from it that felt like ice in her hand and knelt, pressing it between the roots.

Instantly, violet light cracked the wood of the tree, twisting it as it straightened and crystals began to slowly pull themselves from the earth. A hole opened in the dead tree, at first only the size of her thumb but slowly expanding as the crystals cast pale violet light on the cave, and the tree shuddered and began to grow crimson leaves. From the gap in the tree echoed distant, pleased laughter.

Before, finally, the Dark Brother spoke, "Good work, children…"

"Now," he went on, "we shall build a temple here, atop my brother's measly shrine. And prepare for what comes."

"Yes." Penny smiled, "What shall we do first?"

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So. Time has passed, and people are settled into their lives, at least for now. I showed those I thought merited scenes, and those I didn't I either IMPLIED or, for instance with Jacob, they are simply doing exactly what you imagine.

And with that, this story rests. Not permanently, I don't think - but rests for a while.

I hope you enjoyed it for what it was, ups and downs and imperfections included.

Stay Twisted, and stay reading, my friends.

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The Prince Cronos :

She's supposed to. She's in a bad place, mentally, and lashing out. It's a part of the healing process.

Wynn'tr :

Kasumi has two, in fact. Three if you count her enhanced eyes.