Chapter 29
"Isn't that Michaels from weapons control?" Harry asked, as they observed a Normandy crewman ducking into an alley.
"Don't change the subject." Shepard said, folding her arms. Harry sighed.
"I don't know, where do you want to eat?" Harry asked. Shepard shrugged.
"Anything really." Shepard said.
"How about seafood?" Harry asked
"Nah, not in the mood." Shepard said.
"Pizza?" Harry asked.
"We had that last time we were on shore leave." Shepard countered.
"Chinese food?" Harry proposed.
"Gives me gas." Shepard said. Harry groaned.
"How about I make us some pasta and we go watch the sunset on the beach?" Harry asked.
"I dunno..." Shepard said. Harry's eyes widened when she saw her lips quirk.
"You're doing this on purpose..." Harry said. Shepard laughed.
"God, when have I ever been that indecisive?" Shepard asked.
"You know, it's not nice to tease your boyfriend..." Harry said.
"That's rich coming from you..." Shepard said. Harry turned his head and looked back at the alley, just in time to see another Normandy crewman walking into the alley.
"That's Roberts from communications..." Harry said.
"Ok now it's getting weird." Shepard admitted.
"Maybe they're just looking for a quiet place to make out?" Shepard proposed.
"Maybe.. still I don't like this." Harry said. Shepard took out her wand and tapped her head.
"Stealth mode." Shepard said. Harry nodded and disillusioned himself too, and they both crept towards the alley.
"-los... Something about a conduit?" Roberts said, barely audible.
"It's all on this datapad." Michaels said, handing a figure in a hooded sweatshirt a pad.
"Excellent work. The Illusive Man will be pleased. Inform me if there are any new developments." The man in the cloak said. Harry felt an invisible finger tap on his shoulder, then grab his hand, leading him away. When they were far enough away they cancelled their charms, startling a group of tourists who weren't expecting two people to appear out of nowhere.
"Damn.. Didn't Dave vet the crew?" Harry asked.
"He did... We need to talk to him." Shepard said.
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"THEY WHAT?!" Anderson bellowed, shocking Shepard and Harry. It was rare to see Anderson so visibly angry.
"Sorry.. This is just... inexcusable!" Anderson said.
"Agreed." Shepard said.
"I'll have them arrested immediately. We'll have replacements ready before you disembark." Anderson said.
"We don't have time to vet new crew. If they know about Ilos and the conduit, they might know about the Mu Relay." Harry said.
"Shit..." Anderson said, scratching his chin.
"Shepard. Head for the relay immediately, I'll recall your crew. We're working against the clock here. Stop him at all cost. This is the last thing we need with Sovereign out there..." Anderson said.
"Yes sir." Shepard said. Harry's omnitool lit up and he cursed.
"Dave I'm gonna need you to pretend you're not seeing this." Harry said. He activated his omnitool and Jacob's face appeared.
"Harry! Listen I don't have a lot of time..." Jacob said, the screen shook and sparks flew from behind him.
"What is it?" Harry asked.
"Miranda and I are on the run, get ready to receive all of the data we scraped off their system." Taylor said.
"Negative! Get to the relay!" Harry shouted.
"Too late." Jacob said. The lights behind him went out briefly and ship behind him shook.
"We've got to go they're catching up!" Miranda said. Jacob tapped some controls on his panel and Harry's omnitool started receiving a download.
"Harry who is that?" Sheaprd asked.
"Morally grey shit..." Harry said, concentrating.
"Ok it's done now get out of there!" Harry shouted.
"We'll meet up on the citadel!" Jacob said before cutting the comms.
"Shit shit shit shit shit." Harry said, punching wildy on his omnitool. Anderson's lit up as Harry transferred the information.
"Get that to alliance intel now! Shepard we gotta go!" Harry said.
"Go!" Anderson shouted. Harry apparated them directly into the hangar just as several crewmembers, including the traitors as well as Tali and Garrus ran in behind them.
"Joker you better be here!" Shepard said.
"Yeah but I'm not alone... I'll explain later. Orders?" Joker said.
"Get us to the Mu relay now!" Shepard ordered.
"On it!" Joker said. They felt the ship shake as it lifted off and headed out to space.
"Tali, Garrus, go get Wrex, Ash, Kaidan, Liara and Shiala. Meet us at the CIC" Shepard ordered.
"Of course commander." Tali said.
"Harry, if you've got any cards up your sleeve now's the time." Shepard said.
"On it." Harry said still working on his omnitool. Shepard lead him up to the CIC, his gaze never leaving his omnitool. When he arrived, everyone was there waiting along with Joker, who was still in casual attire as well as Benzia who was wearing a bathrobe and blushing furiously. Harry went to make a remark but was cut off.
"Mock later, plan now." Shepard said. Harry frowned.
"We need to get to the relay, for all we know, Cerberus is already on the way, possibly Sovereign too." Harry said.
"Intel suggests Ilos is habitable, though nobody's been there for millennia. Be prepared for anything. We'll need the Mako on this one, so Harry you need to go expand the interior. When we arrive, I want you to drop the Mako and stay hidden, we have no idea what assets Cerberus is committing to this, and we don't know if Sovereign will be there. To that end, Garrus I want you on the Normandy on weapons." Shepard said.
"Understood." Garrus said.
"Yes ma'am." Joker said.
"Get down to the cargo bay and prepare your equipment. You too Garrus, I want you armed and armored in case Harry or I need to come and get you. ETA about 9 hours, so take your time." Shepard ordered. Wrex, Tali, Garrus Liara and Shiala nodded, and Ash and Kaidan saluted and they all departed.
"I'll contact my associates on Thessia and see about preparing support." Benezia said.
"Thanks. Harry, any news?" Shepard asked.
"Jacob and Miranda are safe but their ship is fucked. They're close to the Quarians though and life support is stable, so Admiral Gerrell is preparing to render assistance. I'm still reading through everything." Harry said, scrolling down several pages.
"Well at least there's that." Shepard said.
"Joker?" Harry said.
"What is it?" Joker asked. Harry looked up and grinned.
"Nice catch." Harry said. Benezia blushed wildly.
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Hours later, Harry and Shepard lay in bed, smiling and sweaty.
"I love having the captain's quarters." Shepard said with a goofy grin. Harry laughed.
"I certainly ain't complaining." Harry said, caressing her face.
"Harry?" Shepard asked.
"What's up?" Harry asked.
"What happens after this mission is done... with us?" Shepard asked.
"I don't know. Been giving it some thought though. I was wondering if the Normandy could use a full time magical expert from the civilian sector on contract?" Harry said with a grin. Shepard laughed.
"I doubt Admiral Hackett would sign off on that." Shepard said.
"I could always stow away." Harry said.
"Seriously?" Shepard asked.
"I'm very sneaky." Harry said. Shepard grinned, but then her expression fell.
"I've got a bad feeling about this one." Shepard said. Harry nodded.
"I promise to be extra careful if you do." Harry said seriously. Shepard nodded.
"We've got a good ship and a good crew." Shepard said. She paused for a moment.
"I never got a chance to ask, who is Jacob?" Shepard asked. Harry brought up an image on his omnitool.
"Jacob Taylor. Former Alliance, got disillusioned with the Navy thanks to a particularly incompetent CO, and didn't reinlist. Heard some Cerberus propaganda and signed up. I knew his dad from way back, and he figured he'd give reaching out to me a shot. I was getting ready to sneak him out when Harper called him in and personally assigned him to Miranda Lawson, a high-ranking scientist in Cerberus as a bodyguard. That high up he started overhearing a lot of shit, found out what Cerberus really is and decided to fight them from the inside. Remember the Calliope?" Harry asked.
"The freighter full of kids you rescued?" Shepard asked, her eyes widening. Harry nodded.
"Jacob's intel. He's managed to shut down tons of their ops and nobody suspected because he's 'just a grunt.'" Harry explained.
"Laughable, Jacob has a degree in computer science, was literally at the top of his classes in naval training and his service record was impeccable. If he reenlists I strongly recommend you steal him." Harry said.
"Wait... he's 'Weaver' isn't he?" Shepard asked. Harry grinned and nodded.
"What about this Miranda?" Shepard asked. Harry brought up another image.
"Jacob trusts her. I don't. He knows this. She's a massive asset, a biotics prodigy, she holds multiple doctorates, she's written papers on bioengineering that Thessia uses in its doctoral programs, but as soon as she left university she went straight to Cerberus. She's been working on artificially inducing biotics, but she asked Jacob to help her desert after she found out the 'volunteers' on Pragia that she'd been testing on might not have actually been volunteers. Harper wouldn't let her near them, claiming some nonsense about bias. I plan on keeping a very close eye on her."
"I bet you're gonna keep a close eye on her. God, look at her." Shepard said. Harry shrugged.
"Not my type, honestly." Harry said. Shepard turned to face him.
"Oh no?" Shepard asked Harry grinned and deactivated his omnitool, turning to face her.
"I like 'em tall, redheaded and able to beat me into a coma." Harry said. Shepard smiled widely.
"That, Mr. Potter, was the right answer." Shepard said before kissing him again.