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Chapter Text

Arcturus Stream - Arcturus Station – Conference Room C821 – Anderson

Capitan David Anderson sat in a rather comfy chair for a conference room.  He knew this would be a boring meeting from when it was called.  A part of him wondered if Hackett felt the same after smelling the scent that came off the beta man sitting between them.  Udina had been appointed as the ambassador to the Citadel Council, but as far as Anderson knew had done little to help the relations between the council and Humans.

Udina was frustrated by those they had put forward already, his own choices left much to be desired.  This was not the first time he had wondered how this man got to his position.  He was sure that Hackett could tell Udina was compensating for something but said nothing.  

They had been here for hours discussing candidates to put forward at the council’s request, but Udina had vetoed every one of them.  The ones he had wanted to be considered were not the best of the best as they wanted to put forward.  A part of him wondered if he was really trying to sabotage their chances.  His voice grated his ears as he spoke once again, pulling him from his thoughts.  

“Well, what about Commander John Shepard?” Udina was endorsing Shepard.  That was confusing to him.  The man had already vetoed another N7, stating their training wasn’t extensive enough.  “He’s at the top of his field, he’s intelligent, has the clearances, and is an Alpha.”  A voice cut through the silence of the room.  The other two occupants looked at the balding man with questions in their eyes.

“Why are you bringing his gender into this discussion, Udina?”  Anderson asked quickly, not that he did not think that the N7+ rank that Shepard had obtained would help him with what they were trying to do.

“Some of the people in Parliament think that an Alpha would be best for the first one.  They have been trying to push for us to see what we can do.  With the offer from the council, we are going to have to make small concessions, but if it gets us what we want, Parliament is all for it.”

“Well with Shepard’s record, he was on Elysiam as well as had boots on the ground on Torfan, he would be ideal.  With all his training, we would be hard-pressed to find a better candidate.”  Hackett stated once he thought about the idea.  With his background, he could envision that Shepard would be able to complete what was asked of him.  His opinion on the matter would help sway it.

There was something else going on behind the scenes, and it made Anderson uncomfortable, and there was that itch inside of him that said something was wrong here.  He had known the Shepard family for years.  Both John and Jane had extensive training and were capable fighters.  Both the elder Shepard’s were still active duty.  Hannah Shepard was a captain of a carrier, while Michael Shepard was training soldiers on Sparta.  The whole family was career military, and he was proud to know them

He could see that Hackett would approve Shepard to be their candidate, but he wanted to check something first.  A pattern had been coming in his head as they had spoken for the last few hours.  It was time to check his theory.  

“What about Staff Lt. Kaidan Alenko?”  Anderson said once, just testing out what would be said.  He knew that it would be a long shot considering the way Udina was bringing gender into the talks.  There was a part of him that knew that was about to come out of the man’s mouth, but he wanted the old man to bite his own bullet.

“No, he has most of the training that’s needed, but he wouldn’t be as good as Shepard.  Plus, he’s an Omega.”  Udina almost spat the last word.  There it was the man’s dislike for a gender.  He would need to speak with Hackett after this, he hoped the man caught onto everything that Udina had said in the meeting.  

Anderson could smell the contempt that came from the man.  Being a beta, he figured that Udina didn’t understand much about Alpha or Omegas beyond what was taught in schools.  Neither of the others in the room could come up with another candidate than Shepard that would fit what they were looking for.

Looking around the room, neither of the other men had said another word.  It looked like they had their candidate to send to the council.  

“I guess we agree, then.  It will be Shepard we put forward.  Anderson, the Normandy will ship out in two days, make sure all your crew is ready and then head to the Citadel to pick up their envoy for the mission.”  The meeting broke up after that.  Anderson felt a bit off about the whole meeting but did not think too much about it. 

Udina had left the room as soon as the meeting had broken.  Hackett had stayed back and was picking up a few data pads.  Anderson looked over at the man and raised an eyebrow. 

“That man is not working for all Terran interests.” 

“Even I could get that from him.  I wonder what his problem is with Omegas.  All the Omega candidates that we put forth had been vetoed by him.”

“I am not sure, but he obviously has not been around many omegas in his life.”

“Do you want me to assign Alenko to your crew?  You could use another N7.”

“I wouldn’t say no to the addition.  How fast can he be transferred?”

“Currently, he is stationed on Luna, teaching low gravity and zero-g training to troops.  But he is on R&R on Arcturus now.  He would probably need a day or so to grab his gear from Luna base and head back here.”

“Can you make it happen, sir?”

“I’ll cut the orders as soon as I get back to my office.”

“Thanks Admiral.”

“Good luck Anderson.”

It was a quick trip from the conference room to the dock yard that housed the Normandy.  It was the one thing he was thankful for when Hackett had called the meeting.  Most of the current crew were on station doing last minute things either gathering supplies or having a good time on R&R.  

Entering the airlock, he inhaled deeply.  He took in the artificial air that was pumping through the ship.  There were lingering scents of the crew, but no one had recently been through the airlock.  They still had two days to finish their last-minute things before they shipped out.  

“Welcome aboard Captain Anderson.”  A feminine voice said over the decontamination rooms speakers.

“Thank you, Athena.  I take it most of the crew is on station?”

“Yes, sir.  There are currently only 11 crew members now on board.  Do you wish for the rest of the crew to be recalled?”

“No let them have the rest of their shore leave.  Our next mission might not allow for us to be docked for some time.”

“Yes, sir.  Is there anything I can help you with before you retire to your quarters?”
  
“Could you send a message to the crew letting them know that we ship out in two days, and for everyone to return by 2000 local tomorrow night.  They are free for the next day and a half.”  He started to walk further into the ship towards his quarters.  “Oh, can you have Shepard and the new crew member Alenko come see me when they get on board.”

“Acknowledged sir.  Have a good rest.  Let me know if you need further assistance.”

“Thank you, Athena.  Just keep monitoring as you always do.”  He said to the 10th generation AI.  He always did appreciate any of the AI’s that he had worked with over his career, Athena was no exception to that.  This was going to be an interesting mission he could already feel it in his bones.

Arcturus Station - SSV Normandy - 4 hours later - Shepard

As the XO of the prototype ship, Commander John Shepard had been immersed in a whirlwind of responsibilities and interactions for the past several hours. The tension that had gripped his body ever since he arrived at the station refused to dissipate. All he yearned for at this very moment was a moment of respite in the comfort of his quarters.
His role as the Executive Officer wasn't overly challenging when it came to the ship's operations, but it involved grappling with an endless stream of paperwork and requisitions that inundated his desk on a daily basis. It was this mountain of administrative duties that had prompted him to leave the confines of the ship for a few hours. His mission: to track down the elusive supplies that were supposed to have arrived earlier that day.

The hunt for these supplies had led him on a wild goose chase through the bustling station. One dockworker had pointed him to another, and this chain of referrals continued until he had followed the trail all the way up to a Staff Lieutenant who oversaw the supplies on the station. This Staff Lieutenant was the very same individual he had spoken to the day before when he was initially directed to the dockworker. Frustration had reached a boiling point during a heated confrontation, as he spent a good half hour relentlessly demanding the delivery of the vital supplies. When he finally left the office, he was reasonably certain that the supplies would soon find their way to the ship.

This ordeal had devoured more than two hours of his day, and he still had the unenviable task of delivering a few more reports. These were the other hours he had spent on Arcturus, shuffling between different offices in a determined effort to ensure the timely arrival of the supplies his ship desperately required.

The prototype vessel had already undergone a rigorous shake-down run, traversing the distance from the Alpha Centari Shipyard to Arcturus Station. However, there was a cloud of uncertainty looming over Commander Shepard. He was well aware that a mission was scheduled, yet the specifics of this mission remained a closely guarded secret. Despite his impressive qualifications and the numerous titles attached to his name, he had been informed by Anderson, the ship's commanding officer, that the mission details were classified, at least for the time being.

This lack of information was deeply unsettling for him. Commander Shepard had always been a proponent of thorough preparation, and the prospect of embarking on a mission with little to no information left him feeling vulnerable and uneasy.

After what felt like an eternity, the ship's decontamination protocols finally concluded. The normally sterile air of the ship enveloped him as he stepped into the hallway. Inhaling deeply, he detected faint traces of the crew's presence, evidence that some had already returned to the ship. However, it was apparent that the majority of the crew had yet to come back, likely planning to return later in the night or early the following morning. The ship, like its commander, awaited the impending mission with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension.

“Good evening, Commander Shepard.”  Athena said quietly as he walked.  Her voice was chipper as she spoke to the young Commander.  

“Evening, Athena.”  Shepard said to the AI as he stood waiting for the lift to arrive.  

“You have 12 new messages on your work terminal, as well as more requisitions that have been filed before we ship out the day after tomorrow.  Also, Captain Anderson would like to see you in his quarters now that you are back on board.”

“Thank you, Athena.  I will head that way now.  Are there any pressing matters I need to attend to right now?”

“No, sir.  No messages are marked urgent, but there are two on your personal account one from your mera and another from your sister.”  Shepard rolled his eyes at the thought that both would write him at the same time.  “You should be thankful that they love you Shepard.  Also, most of the requisitions should be easy to fill before we ship out in a day and a half.  If you get them approved before noon tomorrow.”

He had to smirk at her.  For only working a few weeks with her, before shipping out, she pretty much had him pegged as a procrastinator for paperwork.  They had worked out a system early on when he first came on board, and she was installed in the ship.  He was nearing Anderson’s cabin at this point.

“I will get on the req forms when I get to my quarters Athena, so don’t worry your pretty little digital head about them getting done before tomorrow morning.” 

“Thank you, Shepard.”  She stated one final time.  

Shepard just looked at the door for a moment before swiping his hand across the sensor pad letting Anderson know he was here.  Seconds later the door opened to admit him.  Sitting behind his desk looking at a data pad Anderson did not even look up at him as he approached. 

“You wanted to see me sir?”

“Yes, I did.  I know that you do not like the unknown when it comes to missions, but there are reasons for our current mission to be need-to-know, and most of them are classified right now.  I can tell you that when we ship out in 36 hours, we will be heading to the Citadel to make a pickup and then head out on our real mission.  When we pick up at the Citadel, I will tell you everything once we are underway.”

“Can I know what we are picking up sir?”

“It will be a person.  An envoy for the Council.  Most likely one of their Spectres.”

“And we do not know who?”  The way Anderson spoke, he knew that the man did not know who exactly was coming on board.  That made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.  He was curious about why they would have a Spectre on board an Alliance ship.  This told him there was more to this than a simple delivery mission.  

Normally the Alliance tried their best to keep Spectres off military ships and or other Terran ships.  
He had read reports from ships Captain’s that stated they had found bugs and equipment after having Council species on their ships.  Most of them had been salarians leaving things behind.  He knew that all the equipment that was found was disabled and then scanned before it was then destroyed.  

“No, we will not know until we get there.  It’s a two-day trip from here to the citadel through slipspace, so we might learn before we get there who we are picking up.”  This time would probably been best to make sure that the ship was running perfectly.  He would need to make sure all the crew were working at their best.  

“Yes sir, I am not really that comfortable with all the cloak and dagger stuff when I don’t know everything.”

“I understand Shepard.  You are your parent’s child.”  Anderson said with a laugh.

“Don’t let mera hear you say that.  She would deny that I am anything like her.  She blames dads alpha side for my entire personality.”  He said with a bit of pride in his voice since he loved both of his parents and his sister.  He was mature enough to admit he did have some of his father’s personality, while Jane had their mera’s temperament.  Anderson just laughed at him and his antics.

“Well, you are your father’s son too, but you do get some of the way you worry about your crew/team from your mera.  She was one stubborn woman, true to her omega genes, always caring for others.”

“That is true.  Was there anything else you wanted to tell me sir?” 

“No Shepard, I am sure you have some work to do before lights out.  Be sure to make sure we have food and rations before we head out.  We might have to make some changes for rations if the Spectre is Turian.”
  
“I will make sure it is done sir.  I’ll see if the supply here has any dextro rations before we depart just in case.”

“Thank you, Shepard, Dismissed.”  He said with a formal tone letting him know he could retreat to his quarters and finish his paperwork.

It was several hours later while in his quarters finishing the last of the requisitions.  Several of them were from engineering asking for some spare parts that he finally let himself unwind.

“Athena, can you play my relaxation play list, alternative music please, before logging out for the night?”

“Yes Shepard.  Enjoy your evening.”

The music filled his cabin while he willed himself to relax.  It was then that he took a deep breath trying to relax, that something caught his attention.  There was a soft scent that wafted into his quarters filling his lungs.  It smelled good, he wondered who was walking through the hall holding coffee and dark chocolate there was a hint of something else he could not quite figure out to the combo.  

It was an odd combination to be coming from the hall, but after a few minutes he figured that one of the crew could have made a coffee chocolate concoction.  Filing that thought for later perusal he walked through his quarters to his bathroom to finish his nightly ritual.  After his shower, the music had softened a bit as he walked through his room and looked out the windows at the station around him.  

The sight had been magnificent when he had first seen it, a true testament to human engineering.  The station was over 30 km long and had parts of it over 10 tall.   It was slightly smaller than the citadel, but humanity had made this station in decades after being in space for over 1000 years while the citadel had been there for a billion years according to the records humanity had from the protheans.  

With his high N7+ security clearance he had been told much over the years.  When he had been told that an actual prothean had been found on Mars almost 900 years ago he had been shocked.  All the files pertaining to Torvath were available for him to access.  Humans knew that the protheans had been the ones that messed with humanity on a genetic level and changed them from a two gendered species to what became six.  What most did not know was that it was one Geneticist that was frozen on Mars for millennium.  

He had learned much about why humanity had not developed eezo tech, at Torvath’s insistence.  It was in that debriefing and reading of files that he had learned how the protheans had fallen.  He knew that the reapers would come again but did not know when.   

Most of the members of Parliament and some other high-ranking people in the Systems Alliance had known all this info, but he had often wondered if they would disseminate all the information to humanity.  He figured that they had a few years or so before they would need to let the people know about the reapers.

Putting thoughts of galactic apocalyptic mayhem behind him he did his best to relax before falling into bed exhausted from his day.  He knew that the next few days would be a bit hectic.  There as the rest of the crew that he needed to meet.  The ones they picked up today after the shakedown run, as well as he needed to inspect the marine detail.

Chapter Text

3.5 days later – Slipspace on approach to the Citadel

Shepard was standing beside the captain watching his tactical display.  It was displaying most of the information that was needed to request docking clearance at the Citadel along with readings from the ship.  Athena was filtering all the erroneous data that he did not need to know, and he was grateful for that.  

“Sir, we are two minutes out from Citadel space.  Per your request, we are exiting slipspace 1 million km away from the station.”

“Thanks Joker, when we arrive let’s test the new stealth systems, and see how they fare against the council sensors.”

“Yes sir.  Athena has the stealth ready to go once we exit.  30 seconds to normal space.”

“All hands reverting to normal space in 30 seconds.  Brace for deceleration.”  Athena said over the ship wide.  Shepard just watched as his chair grew out of the deck plating before he parked his butt in the chair, 5 seconds before the forward view screen and windows on the bridge showed the cosmic blue-green haze of slipspace fade away to show the Serpent Nebula’s purple gas.

He had been to the citadel a few times before, but the view of it always inspired a sense of awe.  The large station hung inside the nebula provided a wonderful background.  It had been one of the most requested pictures in human space.  

“Stealth systems engaged.”  After a few seconds, Athena spoke again.  “It does not look like any of the ships on station have detected us.  How would you like to proceed, Captain?”

“Joker, take us closer to the station before dropping the stealth and send a hail to the citadel docking authority.  We have a package to pick up.  Either it will be delivered, and or we will have to dock to grab it.”

After what seemed like several minutes to Shepard of watching Joker communicate, with the Citadel docking authority, they had been informed that the package would be delivered by shuttle in 10 minutes and to hold their current position.  Shepard smiled at the thought and would call the test of the stealth a success.  

It was quite a bit of ingenious technology that none of the council species had.  The salarians had a type of stealth, but human sensors could detect their ships, and had already fired on a few of them that showed up in human space with warnings to not try again.  Funny enough, a year after the last attempt a new ship showed up slightly modified, but they could still detect it.  It got the same treatment, and no other ships had shown up in human space in the last 5 years.  

“There is a shuttle upon approach, ETA 2 minutes, Captain.”

“Thank you, Athena.  Shepard, can you go check on our guest.  Assign them guest quarters and I will come meet them after we head out.”

“Yes sir.”  Shepard did as he asked.  As he walked through the ship towards the docking area, that coffee smell was back, and he could not pinpoint it.  

He could see the shuttle coming through the shields and entering the bay area, it turned slightly around to head back out once the passenger was out.   He heard the tale-tale sound of turian boots and claws on the deck plating before he saw the man.  

It was then that the smell of a turian hit his nose.  He had never been repulsed by the smell of aliens, besides the smell of unwashed batarian, but that had more to do with being unwashed and not the alien smell.   He was tall for a Turian but was still shorter than his 215 cm height, he was also slender where Shepard probably weighed more than double this man with his armor.  Extending his hand.

“Welcome aboard the SSV Normandy.  I am Commander John Shepard the XO of the ship.  Captain Anderson is setting course for our next destination and will be joining you in a few minutes.  I am to show you to guest quarters.  If you will follow me, please.”  The turian just looked up and down the Alpha before nodding.

“I am Nihlus Kryik Council Spectre.”  Shepard did not speak any further and just directed him towards the lifts in the back of the bay.  

“Destination?” Athena’s voice had some slight amusement as she spoke.

“Deck 3 Section 2.”  He could tell that the Turian was a bit uncomfortable being on a human ship.  It would take a minute or so moving through the ship, so Shepard figured that he would give Nihlus a breakdown of how the ship worked.

“There is a terminal in your room that will allow you to do any work that you need.  If you need any data feeds or anything you can ask Athena and she will be able to pull what she can provided it is not classified.  There will be a food processing unit in your room its programmed with Turian dishes, and we have some dextro ration packs in the cantina located on deck 6 section 1.”

“Who is Athena?”

“The ships AI.  She will be able to answer any question you have.  Just speak to her and she will answer.”  He could tell that the alien was even more nervous about working with Athena like many of the other races in the galaxy.  The lift door opened at that point and Shepard just walked out of it towards their destination.  There were only a few rooms in this area of the ship.  He figured that it would be easy for the turian to get lost in a human ship.

Reaching the door Shepard waved his hand over the sensor on the door frame and motioned for Nihlus to follow.  

“These will be your quarters for the rest of your stay.  Before you leave the room be sure to ask Athena to link your omni tool to the door lock, or you will be locked out, and only Captain Anderson or I will be able to let you back in.  The food processor is behind the table in that alcove there with the white tray. If you have any further questions, please let either Athena, Anderson or I know.” 

“Thank you, Commander Shepard.”  Shepard could feel the ships velocity as it changed and knew what was about to happen.  Looking at the alien before speaking once more.  

“We are about to enter Slipspace, you might want to get a better footing, so you do not fall.”  

“All hands we are entering Slipspace in 10 seconds.”  Athena’s voice called out over the intercom.  Shepard just smiled as he saw the alien alter his stance before the ship lurched and threw him off balance.  He could only smile at the alien since he did not even budge from his stance.    

“It takes some getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, it will not matter where you are on the ship it will not bother you.  There will also be a warning of about 30 seconds before deceleration happens when we exit slipspace, I would recommend that you sit down for that one.  Even veterans of slip travel have a hard time staying on their feet.  If there is nothing else Captain Anderson should be on his way in a few minutes.”  

“Thank you, commander.”  Nihlus said as he turned to walk out of the room.  

As he passed a few of the rooms heading towards the lift he could already smell Anderson on his way down, which was confirmed when the lift opened to produce the man.

“We are on course for Eden Prime right now.  It will be a two-day journey.  I need to go debrief the Spectre.”

“Yes sir, I will make sure the crew know that we have two more days of travel.  The Spectre is a Turian by the name of Nihlus Kryik.  I explained to him a few things and warned him about slipspace travel since he almost fell on his ass.  If you do not need me for anything else, I will be on the bridge.”

“That is fine Shepard.  Oh, before I forget, we got a last-minute crewman before we departed that I am not sure you have met.  He is with Joker up at the helm, I was going to introduce the two of you today, but we did not get the chance.  Staff Lt. Kaidan Alenko, he is a good marine and was added to the list the day before we shipped out since he was on Station at Arcturus already.”

“I will be sure to meet him before turning the bridge over to the night crew.”  Shepard watched the man walk away from the lift.

“Destination?”  

“Bridge, please.  Since we have a few moments before we get there, can you bring up on a holo of Staff Lt. Alenko’s records for me.  I would like to see what his specialties are.”  As the lift began to move the screen appeared with a picture of the man.  

Shepard couldn't help but acknowledge the undeniable allure of the man before him. He was, without a doubt, extraordinarily attractive, and his physical features left a lasting impression. What struck Shepard most were the man's eyes—those captivating orbs that seemed like a unique blend of deep whiskey and honey hues. They possessed an intensity and warmth that was rare among humans, a mesmerizing shade that seemed to defy categorization. These eyes had a magnetic quality, a gravitational pull that Shepard found himself unable to resist. It was as if they held a secret, a depth of emotion and experience that intrigued him, beckoning him to explore a realm of understanding he had yet to fathom. As Shepard gazed into those enigmatic eyes, he couldn't help but wonder what stories and emotions lay hidden beneath that beguiling gaze.

Shaking himself from the further train of thought, Shepard refocused on the personnel file displayed on his datapad. As he delved deeper into the details of the man who stood beside him in the lift, he couldn't help but be impressed. Though only a few years his senior, this officer possessed a wealth of talent and an impressive array of commendations in his service records. Learning about his combat specialties and training only deepened Shepard's curiosity, making him ponder how this skilled officer would seamlessly integrate into the diverse missions they were bound to undertake together.

The lift arrived at the bridge, and Shepard stepped out, immediately greeted by that alluring aroma of coffee once more. It was a scent he had thought he had mastered the art of ignoring, but now, it beckoned to him like an old friend. Instinctively, he yearned to take a deep breath, to identify the source of that intoxicating fragrance. However, he knew that doing so would reveal far more than he intended, so he summoned every ounce of self-control to suppress his primal instincts. His breathing became shallow as he fought against the overpowering urge to sniff the entire bridge crew just to pinpoint the elusive scent.

His sharp eyes didn't miss the fact that Staff Lt. Alenko was seated beside Joker at the second helm position. His mind worked at lightning speed, cataloging and identifying the scents of the bridge crew he was familiar with. But, more prominently, his instincts were shouting at him that the tantalizing scent he craved so desperately was emanating from Alenko, and in some primal way, Alenko was meant to be his.

Shepard gritted his teeth, struggling to keep any untoward noises from escaping his throat. It was undeniable: Alenko smelled undeniably, irresistibly good. Too good, in fact, and Shepard was acutely aware of the uncharted territory this newfound attraction would lead him into.

As he made his way to his station his senses were cataloging everything it could about the man, but one scent that hung in the air still baffled him.  Sitting at his station he darkened the holo screen while pulling up Alenko’s full record to confirm what his senses were screaming at him.  After seconds of searching the file, he saw it.  Alenko was an Omega, and according to the file and unmated Omega at that.

That groan ended up leaving his throat after he read about the mans unmated status.  Several of the bridge crew including the man he was looking into turned their head to look at him.  A deep part of him hoped that they would just think that he was frustrated.  Waving his hand across the screen to remove the contents he pulled his will together.  He walked closer to the helm and did his best to take shallow breaths.

“You must be Staff Lt. Alenko.  I am Commander Shepard, XO of the Normandy.  I wanted to welcome you to the ship.  The last few days have been crazy, and we haven’t had a chance to meet before now.”    Shepard held out his hand to the man and watched as there was a slight hesitation on Alenko’s side to return the handshake.  He could see that Alenko’s nostrils flared a bit as he got close.  Alenko cleared his throat before he spoke.

“Thank you, sir.  It is a pleasure to meet you.” Their touch was brief, but he could feel the heat that was emanating from the others body.  It felt as if that hand had branded something into his skin upon the touch.

Shepard took in the smooth face of Alenko and noticed his dark hair slicked back.  An idle thought crossed his mind about what it would feel like to run his fingers through that hair scratching the man’s scalp.  Pushing his instincts further down, he knew he needed to keep that part of himself in check.

“I hope that everyone is making you feel welcome Lieutenant.  If you need anything, please let me know.”

“I will sir.  Everyone has been helpful with getting around the ship.”  Not taking his eyes of the lieutenant he spoke to the other helmsman.

“Joker can you handle the bridge, I need to finish some work in my quarters?”  Even he could hear a bit of strain in his own voice as he spoke.

“Yes sir.  Enjoy your nap.”  He yelled as Shepard turned to leave.  Shepard could practically smell the slight fear that came from Alenko with the way Joker spoke to a commanding officer.  He just laughed and yelled back at joker to stay off the net while flying the ship.

Once the doors to the lift closed his shoulders fell and he slumped against the back wall.  

“Destination?”

“Athena, can you recycle the air in the lift quickly?”  Shepard said in shallow breaths as he did his best to not breathe deeply of that intoxicating scent.

“Yes sir, is there something the matter?”  He could hear the air start to cycle faster.  The sweet chocolate smell started to dissipate as the seconds passed. Taking a few deep breaths of the clean air he spoke up.  

“Nothing much, but I might need the same when I get to my quarters.  There are just some new scents that are getting to me is all.”  

“The only new scent that you have not been in direct contact with over the last two weeks since the shakedown mission started is Lt. Alenko and the Spectre.”  She was curious about why Shepard would act like this.  His normal demeanor was not indicative of his current behavior.

“It would be Alenko’s that’s overwhelming.  He smells like coffee and chocolate and it’s distracting to me.  It took more willpower than I care to admit to just be on the bridge with him.  It’s putting me on edge having to breathe in that scent.”

“Humans often say that each person’s scent is always different from person to person.  Not having a nose, I will have to take your word for it.  I take it you would like to go to your quarters?”

“Yes please, and just in case can you recycle the air in there too.  I realize now that I could smell him for the last two days and it was kind of distracting.”

“That would most likely be because his quarters are on the same deck and section as yours.”

“Great, I guess I will just have to get used to it since we have two more days of slipspace.”  

“Yes, Commander.  If you need anything further, please let me know.”

Shepard just put his head back on the lift wall and waited the minute before his concentration came back to him.  He had never reacted to a sent as alluring as Alenko’s before.  Being told about the intoxicating allure smell of a potential mate was not the same as experiencing them.

This was going to be a long mission if he was distracted by the man the entire time.  A part of him contemplated if he should go to Anderson and request after their mission to Eden Prime if Alenko could be reassigned to a new ship.  He did not need the distraction that this could cause.

It was when he returned to his quarters, and he could clear his head of the smell, while he was cursing the damned Prothean scientist that messed with human genes so many millennia ago.  Walking to the food replicator he asked for his normal coffee.  Smelling the beverage as it materialized made his mind come back to Alenko.  

For the rest of the night, he buried himself in work trying to get those honey-colored eyes, that stared at him earlier, and the sound of his voice that sounded like whiskey tastes, out of his mind.  It was not until about 2100 ship time that his thoughts were interrupted by Athena announcing Anderson was at his door requesting entry.
 
“Enter.”  Shepard watched the captain enter his quarters.  The coffee smell that he now associated with Alenko came through the door with him and made him want to growl.  “What can I do for you sir?”

“I was just checking on you.  Joker said you came to the bridge spoke with him and Alenko and then retreated to your quarters quickly, but he did not know why.  Care to tell me?”  He just stared at Anderson before debating if he should tell the man the truth or not.  

“Its after hours sir can I interest you in a drink?”  There was a nod from his CO.  Anderson could tell by the way Shepard was acting that this conversation might need a bit of liquid courage.  Shepard put down his tablet and walked to the replicator before pressing his hand on the control panel.

“Whiskey, neat. Two glasses and no synth-ahol.”  

“Authorization recognized.  After hours mode activated until 0200.”  The beverages materialized after a few seconds.  He picked them up and walked back to where Anderson took a seat in the chair next to the sofa.

“Thank you, Athena.”  

Giving the glass to his CO he took a pull from his own.  The slight burn as it went down helped him calm some.  For replicated alcohol it was good whiskey.  Next time he was at Arcturus he would need to buy a bottle of the real stuff.  

He tried his best to come up with a good explanation as to why he left the bridge so quickly after getting there.  He knew that he was not really needed while the ship was in slipspace, most of the ships systems were automated at this point and monitored by Athena.  She would let them know if there was anything wrong.

“Now that you have had a drink you want to tell me what happened.”  Taking a deep sigh Shepard looked at the man once more.

“Ugg… it is mostly having to do with new scents on the ship.”  Anderson just looked at him wondering what he was talking about.  “What does Alenko smell like to you?”  That question was not one he thought would come out of his XO, and kind of threw him for a loop.

“He smells like sweet honey and Alliance issue soap.  Why?”  There was confusion on his face as he answered the question.  People really did not bring up how others smelled unless they had a point.

“Oh, he smells like Alliance issue soap and detergent alright, but to me he smells like coffee, chocolate and cherries.  It was the cherries one that threw me for a loop for about two hours and numerous replicated fruits until I figured it out.”

“Really?”  Anderson’s eyebrow went up at the question.

“Yea, his scent was distracting from the instant I smelled it days ago when we left Arcturus.  When I got to the bridge his scent was intoxicating being that close to it, it was hard for me to concentrate just being around him.  

“From that brief interaction we had, I could smell that he is an unmated omega, and we all know that I am an unmated Alpha.”  Taking a deep breath, he was assaulted once again by Alenko’s scent that had come into his quarters when Anderson walked in.  With a groan he continued his line of thought.  “Even I know that compatible people smell wonderful to one another.”

“That is true, I met a woman once who took my breath away, and she smelled of strawberries and pineapple.”

“I assume that was Kaylee?”  A nod was all he got from his CO.  He was happy that he got that right.

“When I left the bridge, I had Athena cycle the air in the lift and in my quarters, but that only does so much.  His quarters are 5 doors down from me.  I know for a fact that he is already off duty and in his quarters because the moment you came through the door, I could smell him again.”

“Well, this might be a problem since he is the ranking officer for the marine detail.  He will be going with you on missions.”  There was a loud groan that came from Shepard.  

“This is going to be a long mission, isn’t it?”

“Well, this is a pickup mission from Eden Prime back to Council space.  Once that is over, we can see about getting Alenko reassigned, if you would like.  For now, can you please try and not get distracted by this.”

“I will do my best to get used to the scent and not get distracted.” 

“That is all that I can ask Shepard.  Get some rest, we have another two days in Slipspace, we will talk when we get closer to our destination.  Just go about your duties and be mindful of eyes and ears.”  Anderson put the glass down on the table before making his way out.  

Shepard took a deep breath once more and was assaulted by the scent of Alenko.  It was more potent than it had been before, and a deep part of him was aroused.  Suppressing that arousal was harder than he thought.  A hot shower helped to relieve the pressure that he knew had been building since the first time he smelled Alenko.  It was not until he looked at his hard cock in the shower that he knew he needed relief.  

Chapter Text

SSV Normandy – Slipspace en-route to Utopia System – Date: Classified
Personal log Staff Lt. Kaidan Alenko – Classified Ultra-Black and Encrypted 

You know, I was so thankful that my orders had changed, and I was assigned to a ship.  My last couple of assignments had been boring, and terrestrial.  With my last posting being teaching Low Gravity Combat and Tatics on Luna and before that out on a station near Mindior.  Sadly, both were lacking in some excitement.  Alliance Command had said they would try and get me ship time for my next assignment.  So, when the orders came to me while on leave on Arcturus to report to the SSV Normandy, I saw it as a boon.  

Not sure if I would classify it as being one now, being assigned here has been a bit of a dream.  So far the crew is amazing, and the ship is state of the art.  Don’t get me wrong, I am excited to be here, but I am just not sure why I was assigned to the crew.  I have been left questioning why I am here.

The day that I got on board, I looked over the crew roster.  Several things jumped out at me immediately, it looks as though my being added to the crew was an afterthought.  I am sure that Captain Anderson could probably inform me of why I was assigned to a crew that was already full.  

Speaking of the crew, so far, they have been exemplary.  The voyage from Arcturus has been easy and calm.  I had thought after being on the ship for a few days that I had met the entire crew, but I was wrong.  Oh, how I was wrong.    

When I came aboard and met Anderson, he had informed me that I would be reporting to the XO and that I would be in charge of the marine detail of the ship.  But learning that the XO is none other than Commander John Shepard, the Hero of Elysium, it gave me more pause to wonder about my addition.  

The man is a highly decorated soldier, with accolades and medals to guarantee any assignment he wants.  Why would he not want to oversee the marines under his command.  

After thinking it over for a few days, I am still unsure as to why they would need another person to lead the Marines detail.  Maybe since he is the XO?  That’s a possibility.  Him overseeing the ship while I work with the marines?  I am not sure what to make of this. 

The marines under my command are dedicated people.  The ship's AI, Athena, gave me copies of their files so I would be able to assess their strengths and weaknesses.  Each one of them seems to have been handpicked by either Shepard or Anderson.  Shepard had already issued training schedules and a few orders before I arrived, and after looking them over I realized I would have done the same, so I will be continuing them as time goes on.  

I will admit right now I have a small problem.  After being on the ship for a few days, I finally found the source of that scent that I talked about previously.  Ever since I got on this ship, I have smelled something that was akin to coastal air and rainstorms.  Well, I finally found that scent earlier today.  It was John Shepard that smells like rain and sea air.  That was a bit of a shock to me.

He came onto the bridge earlier while I was at the helm with Joker, but only stayed for a few minutes before going to his quarters.  I thought that the scent was strong in my quarters, but the instant he came onto the bridge I felt overwhelmed.  

That scent hit me like a tidal wave and knocked me for a loop.  Lingering in that overwhelming scent, I could smell that he was an unattached Alpha.  

I will readily admit that I do find the Alpha attractive, but fraternization rules in the SAMC forbid a romance between commanding officers and subordinates. So, no matter how attracted to him I am or how fantastic he smells to me, nothing is going to happen.    

Fucking biology making me attracted to Shepard.  If that god's dammed Prothean wasn’t dead already, I would kill him myself. 

When he came to the bridge earlier and spoke to me, it took all the control I could muster not to get on my knees and submit to him.  I even had to hold in a whine like a needy Omega.  What the fuck is wrong with me.  The more rational part of me wants to stay away from him and hope that he is only interested in female Omegas.

END LOG

SSV Normandy – Slipspace en-route to Utopia System – Date: Classified
Personal log Commander John Shepard – Classified Ultra-Black and Encrypted 

I don’t know what the fuck is going on with me.  I almost made a fool of myself while on the bridge earlier.  Running into Alenko and finding out that he was the source of that chocolate coffee smell I have been scenting all over the ship was… hard on me.  

There isn’t much that I could really say about my behavior when I left the bridge to Joker(Lt. Moreau).  It could only be called running away.  That scent was so overwhelming to me.  Even after the extensive training I had it was hard to fight to concentrate.  

Like I told Anderson I will just have to get used to being around the man. but fuck if he doesn’t smell wonderful.  This is going to be a long mission I can feel it. 

Alenko was just assigned to the Normandy three days ago while he was on leave.  If Anderson goes ahead after Eden Prime is finished, he will wonder why he is being transfered so quickly yet again.  It also might look bad on his career if it does happen. 

A part of me wants to keep him close, while another part wants to run.  I am really fucking confused right now.  For once in my life I don’t know what to do.  

I just know that I need to get used to being around him if this mission is going to work.  

Who knows maybe he will want to transfer after this trip.

END LOG

Chapter Text

Edge of Utopia System – Enroute to Eden Prime – SSV Normandy - Two days later – Shepard

For the last two days as he did his job on the ship, he could see and feel eyes on him.  As he made his way through the ship, he would first catch the scent before feeling eyes on him.  He had noticed the turian was watching his every move and taking notes.  The alien even went to the gym to watch him work out.  If he did not know any better and could smell it, he would think that the alien was infatuated with him.  

Athena had come through with a bit of data that she had pulled before their journey and gave him access to minimal records of possible spectres available for this mission.  Like himself there were minimal records for the man’s activities.  What he could find showed that the turian was not attracted to humans.  

They were both currently on the bridge, waiting for the ship to drop out of slipspace at the edge of the system.  Shepard was still not used to Alenko’s scent, but he was getting better at ignoring it.  The last two days had been trying at the best of times.  Taking small breaths, he was able to concentrate, which was good, since Alenko was at the helm with Joker.

“All hands reverting to normal space in 30 seconds.  Brace for deceleration.”  Athena’s ethereal voice sounded quickly though the silence.

Shepard just had to laugh when a seat grew and materialized behind Nihlus forcing him to sit down.  A smirk crossed his face as he was still standing behind both pilots.  Seconds after, the ship gave a small but powerful lurch with the reversion. He was a veteran of slip travel, and most jumps never rocked him.

Shepard watched as the blue-green streaks of slipspace faded to show the stars of the galaxy once more.  He would never tire of looking out at space and feel the same sense of calm he always felt.

“We have arrived in the Utopia System, 500 million kilometers from the local star, Stellar drift within margins, Fifteen hundred kilometers off target destination.  Stealth systems are active.”  Joker reported, but Shepard could tell that Nihlus was impressed.  It was his first time on a human ship, but he had been warned, most likely by others who had been on one before.  

“Fifteen hundred is good, your captain will be pleased.”  

Shepard could only roll his eyes, the turian did not know what he was talking about, he was still thinking like a mass effect ship where drift through the relays was up to half a million kilometers different.  An alliance ship could pretty much put itself almost in the atmosphere of a planet if needed.  He had a feeling that Joker was trying to show off for the turian.  The three of them watched as Nihlus took his leave of the bridge, walking to the lift. 

“I hate that guy.”

“Nihlus gives you a compliment, so you hate him?”  There was a curious and mirthful tone in Alenko’s question.  

Shepard’s mind brought about several thoughts at once.  One, did Alenko know that his voice matched the honey and whiskey color of his eyes.  Both smooth and with a bite.  Something he would love to stare into at the end of a long day.  Two, he was funny, and smart.  Three, he was highly trained according to his records.  Shepard had seen him work out in the gym earlier this morning, easily throwing Private Jenkins during a small sparring session they had.  

“You remember to zip up your zipper on the way from the bathroom that’s a good job, I just jumped us halfway across the galaxy and hit a target the size of a germ.  That is more than incredible.  Besides, I hate having a Spectre onboard.  Call me paranoid.”
  
“You’re paranoid, Joker.”  That damn voice was getting to him again.  He did his best to remember everything from his training to tamp down on his arousal.
  
“I still don’t know why he is on this ship.  This is an alliance ship.”

“According to the official report, we are picking up a council asset on Eden Prime.”

“That is the official story, but only an idiot believes the official story.”

“I agree with Joker, they don’t send Spectre’s on a shakedown run, and especially a shakedown of an Alliance Prototype vessel.  There is too much tech on this ship that the council doesn’t know about, and the Alliance would like to keep it that way.”  Shepard put in his two credits with how he felt.

“I just have a bad feeling about this Shepard.”

“You always fear the worst, don’t you?”

“Bad Feelings are an occupational hazard, I guess.  We normally don’t go anywhere unless there is a good reason, so… make of that what you will.”

Anderson’s voice cut through on the comms at that point, asking for a status update.  Shepard just had to roll his eyes at Joker’s antics, getting him in trouble with the captain.  He did his best to suppress his laughter when he reported that Nihlus was on his way back to meet Anderson.  Shepard was already heading towards the lifts by the time Anderson had requested his presence in one of the conference rooms a few decks below.  

Making his way off the bridge, he was a bit off after spending time with Alenko, but he knew it was for the best.  He knew that he still needed some time to get used to that intoxicating smell that came from the man.  Even after all the training he has had during his life he was still unprepared for meeting someone that caused this kind of a reaction.  

He noted that Nihlus was the only one in the conference room when he arrived.  It seemed odd that Anderson said to meet him there and only to have the turian that had been following him around the ship to be standing there alone.  He wondered where Anderson was.  

“Ahh, Commander I was hoping that you would arrive first.  It will give us a chance to talk.”

“Anderson said he would meet me here.”

“He is on his way, he said he needed to stop by his office.  I am interested in this world we are going to, Eden Prime, I have heard it is quite beautiful.”

“They say it’s a paradise.”

“Yes... a paradise.  Serene. Tranquil. Safe. Eden Prime has become something of a symbol for your people, hasn't it? Proof that humanity can not only establish colonies across the galaxy, but also protect them.  But how safe is it, really?”  That last statement caught Shepard’s interests.  Most human colonies were almost impenetrable to people who are looking for a fight.

“Do you know something I don’t know?”  That was saying something.  Last time he looked into intel about this sector, nothing came up to be brought to his attention.  Shaking from the thoughts he looked at the alien.

“Your people are still newcomers, Shepard. The galaxy can be an extremely dangerous place. Is the Alliance truly ready for this?”

“We may be new to the Citadel, but we are far from new to space.  Remember Humanity has been in space for over a millennium at this point.”  

That statement seemed to cause a slight bristle in Nihlus.  It seemed as if the alien was a bit unhappy to be reminded that humans were not as primitive as most in the galaxy seemed to think.  Even if the spectre had not said it in so many words.  The species of the council had often thought that Terran technology and they themselves were backwater primitives.  If only because they had only been known to the council for under half a century.

Off the top of his head, he could think of many things that the council still didn’t know or understand about humans, since the first contact war happened 30 years ago.  The vast difference between the technological level of the council and humanity was laughable at times.  

Some of his contacts over the galaxy told him that Salarians were still scratching their heads about the food processors and slipspace drives.  

Coupled with the fact that the council did not have an accurate count of how many Terran's were alive inhabiting the galaxy, or where most of the TSA colonies and space stations are located, it made him wonder if they could ever truly be equals.  

The last intelligence report he had seen from his contacts stated that the Salarians believed there were less than 100 billion humans in Alliance space.  He wasn’t about to be the one to burst their bubble and informing them their count only had about 15% of the total human population.

Anderson’s entrance into the room caused his line of thinking to stop.  Shepard looked at the man once and resisted the urge to salute him as normal.  After exchanging greetings, he could sense that Anderson was a bit nervous.

“I think it’s about time we told the commander what’s really going on.”

“This mission is far more than a simple shakedown run.” Nihlus put in his two cents to the conversation.

“I figured there was something you weren’t telling me.”  Scoffing at the implications that the Alpha could not put two and two together to make four.

“We’re making a covert pick-up on Eden Prime. That’s why we needed the stealth systems operational.”  Anderson was trying to give him this information piecemeal, and it did not sit well with him.  He understood operational security, but he liked it better when he oversaw the information.

“There must be a reason you didn’t tell me about this, sir.”

“This comes down from the top, Commander. Information strictly on a need-to-know basis. A research team on Eden Prime unearthed a beacon during an excavation. It was Prothean.”

“Really, working Prothean tech is hard to come by, since they have been gone from the galaxy for the last 50,000 years.”  Shepard was not too excited that this mission was about Protheans since it might cause Alliance secrets to come out.  

“Yet their legacy remains. The mass relays, the Citadel, our ship drives -- it's all based on Prothean technology.”

“You mean council technology.”  Shepard could not help putting in that one dig that humanity had a leg up on council species.  

“This is big, Shepard. The council is wanting the beacon and since Eden Prime doesn't have the facilities to handle something like this, we need to bring the beacon back to the Citadel for proper study.”

“Obviously, this goes beyond mere human interests, Commander. This discovery could affect every species in Council space.”  Shepard wanted to roll his eyes to the back of his head.  The turian was trying to sell him on the fact that Council tech was superior to Human tech, but he knew better.  The boffins all over the galaxy could not make heads or tails out of most of human tech.  To them it was a bit like magic.

“So, the question is why did the Alliance share the fact that we found a beacon on one of our worlds with the council.”

“You humans don't have the best reputation. Some species see you as selfish, too unpredictable, too independent, and even dangerous.”  He wanted to laugh at that.  They were all those things and more, yes, but the fact that their tech was better is what made them all of that.

“Humanity has always offered to allow the council species to learn from us about our science, but most of the mathematical equations goes over the heads of the most brilliant Salarians.  Most, if not all the technology, stolen from humans becomes a paperweight and stops functioning.  As our first ambassador told you, we are not just giving our tech away.  You must learn how to use it and understand it if you want it.

“We worked hard to make our place in the galaxy.  Every piece of technology that we have was due to our people studying and advancing our science beyond what it was before.  We have a reason to be selfish if it keeps our tech out of the wrong hands.  We have reason to be independent because we can fight back, and we are even dangerous because some of our tech if used improperly it could cause untold devastation, but each advance we have had over the last 2000 years has been for the betterment of Humanity as a whole.”  

Shepard felt like he was getting on his soap box preaching about humanity and its superiority.  It wasn’t how he really felt, but he knew that most Turians felt that Humans were primitives that needed to be put in their place.  Nihlus did not say anything about his rant.  

“Sharing that beacon will improve relations with the Council. Plus, we need their scientific expertise. They know more about the Protheans than we do.”  That was a lie, and he knew it, he just was not sure why people would think that just because they did not deal with much Prothean tech did not mean they did not understand it.  

“The beacon’s not the only reason I’m here, Shepard.”  There was the other shoe he had been waiting for to drop.  What other reason would the Turian have to be there?

“Nihlus wants to see you in action, Commander. He’s here to evaluate you.”

“What kind of evaluation sir?”

“The Alliance has been pushing for this for a long time. Humanity wants a larger role in shaping interstellar policy. We want more say, with the Citadel Council. The Spectres represent the Council’s power and authority. If they accept a human into their ranks, it shows how far the Alliance has come.”  That might be true, but most of the Alliance brass would not care if they were involved in the council.  It could be a way for them to get involved before informing them of the Reapers.  Only time would tell on that one.  

“Not many could have survived what you went through on Elysium and Torfan. You showed a remarkable will to live and a particularly useful talent. That’s why I put your name forward as a candidate for the Spectres.”  Well, that would be interesting, and not something that he ever thought he would do.  His current rank and skills had pretty much made him a Spectre in Human space, this would just extend that authority into council space.  That might be interesting. 

“Why would a turian want a human in the Spectres?  We don’t have the best relationship since Shanxi.”

“Not all turian’s resent humanity. Some of us see the potential of your species. We see what you have to offer to the rest of the galaxy... and to the Spectres.”  Shepard could only think that the aliens wanted human tech to help boost their hold on the galaxy.  Shepard had seen the vids from the first negotiations humanity had done with the council, and he thought their offer was outlandish for any species to consider. 

“We are an elite group. It is rare to find an individual with the skills we seek. I do not care that you are human, Shepard. I only care that you can do the job.”  That was the truth since he could not smell a lie coming from the alien. 

“I assume this is good for the Alliance.”  He already knew what was happening here at this point.

“Terran Parliament needs this, Shepard. We’re counting on you.”  Thanks for the vote of confidence Anderson.  He was not too happy that they were putting everything they had into making sure Shepard was to be their poster child.  After Elysium he thought he had escaped this.

“I need to see your skills for myself, Commander. Eden Prime will be the first of several missions together.”

“You’ll oversee the ground team. Secure the beacon and get it onto the ship ASAP. Nihlus will accompany you to observe the mission.”

“I'd like to know more about Eden Prime before we touch down.”

“It's a peaceful farming world, but it represents something much bigger. Eden Prime is one of our newest and most successful colonies. It proved we were ready to face the challenges of settling new worlds, to forge a place for humanity beyond Earth. It symbolizes humanity's growth and evolution as a spacefaring species. And after this, it will be known as the world where humans made a discovery of galactic importance.”

“Why is this beacon so important?”

“All advanced galactic civilization is based on Prothean technology. Even yours uses some prothean based tech.”

“If we had not discovered those Prothean ruins buried on Mars, we'd still be stuck on Earth. That was just a small data cache. Who knows what we can learn from this beacon? What if it is a weapons archive? We cannot let it fall into the wrong hands.”  All of that was a lie that humans told Aliens.  Most humanity knew about the Prothean they found as well as what was in the archives, but those secrets were theirs to keep.

“Wrong hands like whose?”  If the damn Turian said human hands he was going to hit him.

“The Attican Traverse isn't the most stable sector of Citadel space. There are plenty of raiders and criminal groups active in the region. They might figure a Prothean beacon is worth the risk of attacking an Alliance ship. Plus, Eden Prime is right on the border of the Terminus Systems.”

“The Attican Traverse is under Citadel protection. If the Terminus Systems attack, it is an act of war.  Not to mention the fact that Eden Prime is a human colony, and under human control.”

“Technically, yes. But some of the species in the Terminus might be willing to start a war over this.”

“The last thing the Council wants is to get dragged into a major conflict with the Terminus Systems. We must keep this low-key.”

“Just give the word, Captain.”

“We should be getting close to Eden…”

“Captain! We’ve got a problem.”  Joker’s voice filled the room over the intercom.  Well so much for a smooth run he thought.  This was going to be one of those fun missions where he got to shoot a ton of things.  

“What is wrong, Joker?”

“Sir, we got a transmission from Eden Prime. You better see this!”  Joker sounded a bit panicked.  This did not bode well for the mission.

“Athena, can you bring it up on screen.”

The screen came to light to show several Alliance soldiers are under attack. A female soldier got close to the camera.  

“GET DOWN!”  The woman yelled as the camera moved quickly and shaking.  All three could tell that she was dodging projectiles.  

“We are under attack! Taking heavy casualties. I repeat heavy casualties! We can’t… argh!  --eed evac! They came out of nowhere. We need…”  The rest of the message was static.  Shepard had to wonder what was going on.  Why were the orbital defense cannons not firing on any ships deemed a threat?  There was something going on here and he was not too thrilled. 

“Everything cuts out after that. No comm traffic at all. Just goes dead. There is nothing at all coming from the inner system.”  

“Reverse and hold at 38.5.”  Anderson said to Athena, he knew he saw something in the image, but wanted to check it out to be sure.  The image on the screen reversed and he finally saw it.  A large black ship that he had only seen images of before during his Epsilon Black Clearance meetings.  They were coming.  He looked at Shepard to see if he understood the significance of that ship, but when he saw the young man pale, he knew they were both on the same page.  The reapers were coming.  

“Joker, give me a status and how long before we reach Eden Prime.”

“We are seventeen minutes out, Captain. There are over a thousand Alliance ships in the area, but most were by the relay.  Do you want me to use your authority to move them from their position and help the colony?”

“I will have Athena issue the orders Joker, just take us in, fast and quiet. This mission just got a lot more complicated.”
    
“A small strike team can move quickly without drawing attention. It’s our best chance to secure the beacon.”  Nihlus said quickly.  Always thinking of the mission and not the fact that something on that planet was now killing humans.  The planet had over 1.5 billion people on it, but the alien did not care about it.  Only the mission and the council’s beacon.  
 
“Grab your gear and meet us in the cargo hold.”  Anderson said to the alien.  He did not say a word just turned on his heals and walked out of the room.  

“You know what this means, Shepard.”  There was a nod that passed between them.  “Athena, tell Alenko and Jenkins to suit up. Commander, you have a mission, so you are going in.”

Chapter Text

Two minutes till drop - Eden Prime 

Anderson was looking over the three of them doing final prep for the drop onto Eden Prime.  

“Your team’s the muscle in this operation, Commander. Go in heavy and head straight for the dig site.”

“What about survivors, Captain?” Alenko asked.  Shepard had to wonder how the Omega would do under pressure of a fire fight.  He figured with the number of commendations in his record that Alenko would handle the mission.  There was that small nagging fear that he had in the back of his mind that said things about Omega’s biology.  They were known by most humans to care for others more than fighting.  

Over the millennia since their genes were changed some of their biology has eroded away, but the generalities that each sex had, still was somewhat accurate.  With omegas when it came to friends and family, they would fight to protect them.  He was sure that Alenko was a competent soldier given his record, but this would be a nice live fire test to see what the man was capable of.    

“Helping survivors is a secondary objective. I am having Athena get some Alliance ships from in system to head this way to help with survivors.  The beacon’s your top priority.”

“Approaching drop point one.”  Athena said over the intercom.  
                                                                                  
“Nihlus, are you coming with us?”  Jenkins asked quickly.

“I move faster on my own.”  His voice grated on Shepard’s nerves.

Shepard could not help but roll his eyes at the alien.  He was apparently there to see him in action, but he was going off on his own.  Shepard just patted him on the back and slapped a portable shield generator on him before letting him go on his way and watching as he jumped out the cargo bay door towards the ground.  

“Nihlus will scout out ahead. He’ll feed you status reports throughout the mission; otherwise, I want radio silence.”

“Yes sir, we will do what we can.”

“The mission’s yours now, Shepard. Good luck.”

“We are approaching drop point two.”  Athena said quickly.  The three of them just looked at one another before stepping off the back of the ship and letting themselves fall to the ground.  Seconds after before they could hit the ground, their thrusters in their suits fired, letting them land safely on the ground.  All three of them raised their guns and assessed the area for threats.  

It was a good 15 minutes of walking through the wilderness towards where the dig site was supposed to be before they saw any type of combatants.  Jenkins was hit a few times by mechanical drones, but like most of the galaxy who ever made the drones used mass effect tech.  The three of them made short work of the drones before making their way further.  

“I have got some burned out buildings here, Shepard. A lot of bodies. I am going to check it out. I will try to catch up with you at the dig site.”  Nihlus’s voice over their comms channel cut through their search.  

Both Shepard and Alenko turned at noise off in the distance.  Both drew their guns quickly and slowly walked around a few of the larger stones in the area.  Jenkins bringing up the rear he looks quickly around his two commanding officers.  All three of them see a young woman running towards them being chased by drones.  

All three men watched as the woman turned quickly and fell on her back holding out her pistol and showering one of the drones in a hail of bullets.  Shepard quickly shot another with two quick shots before Alenko destroyed the other drone quickly.  He notices the young woman slowly get up off the ground and look at the three of them.

“Thanks for your help, Commander. I did not think I was going to make it. Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams of the 212. You the one in charge here, sir?”

“Yes, I am Commander Shepard of the SSV Normandy.  Are you wounded, Williams?”  

“Just a few scrapes and burns. Nothing too serious. The others were not so lucky. Oh man… We were patrolling the perimeter… when the attack hit. We tried to get off a distress call, but they cut off our communications. I have been fighting for my life ever since.”

“Where is the rest of your squad?”

“We tried to double back to the beacon. But we walked into an ambush. I do not know where the others are.  We got split up after the ambush, I hope that I am not the only one left.”

“None of this is your fault, Williams. You could not have done anything to save those that might be lost.”

“Yes, sir. We held our position as best as we could, until the geth overwhelmed us.”

“Wait, those are Geth?  They have not been seen outside the Perseus Veil in nearly 300 years. Why are they here now?”  Alenko was right, even with all that he and humanity knew about the AI collective known as the Geth there were still too many unknowns about them.  There had been some talk previously trying to find a way to speak to the AI and see if there was a way to secure peace between them and the quarians, but there was never a majority vote in the Parliament for the vote to pass.

“The only thing that I can think of as to why they are here would be the beacon.  We are close to the dig site, it is just over the rise.  It should still be there.”

“Well, for the mean time you are with us, Williams, I think we could use your help.”

“Aye, aye, sir. It is time for payback.”  She was checking over her gun and cocking it back while she spoke.  Shepard could tell that she was itching to destroy some of the geth to avenge her fallen comrades.  

“Tell me, do you know anything else about the beacon.”
 
“They were doing some digging out here to extend the monorail and expand the colony. A few weeks ago, they unearthed some Prothean ruins...and the beacon. Suddenly, every scientific expert in the colony was interested. That is when they brought us in to secure the site. I do not know much about the beacon itself.”

“You have not seen a turian Spectre running around here, have you?

“There aren’t any turians on Eden Prime as far as I know. None that I have ever met. Not sure, I had been able to tell if one was a Spectre, anyway.”

“If you saw this guy, you’d know. Carries enough firepower to wipe out a whole platoon. Luckily, he is on our side.”

“Sorry. Like I said, no turians.”

“Let’s go, we have a beacon to find.”

“The beacons at the far end of this trench.”

Shepard could see the smoke rising from the colony’s outskirts. The once-pristine fields were now scarred with craters and burning wreckage. The once peaceful colony had been transformed into a warzone.

Shepard was the first to disembark, his boots hitting the ground with purpose. He scanned the area, taking in the devastation. Buildings lay in ruins, and the once-thriving fields were now littered with debris and bodies. The air was thick with the acrid smell of smoke and burning metal.

Kaidan and Ashley joined him, their weapons at the ready. Kaidan’s biotic aura flickered faintly around him, a subtle reminder of the power he wielded. Ashley’s eyes were sharp, her posture tense but controlled.

"This wasn’t just an attack," Shepard said, his voice low. "It’s a massacre."

"They didn’t stand a chance," Ashley muttered, her voice tinged with anger. "Whoever did this… they were thorough."

Kaidan knelt beside one of the fallen colonists, his fingers brushing against the ground. "No sign of Geth yet, but these wounds… they look like they were made by energy weapons."

"Stay alert," Shepard ordered. "We need to find any survivors and get them to safety. Then we’ll figure out what the hell happened here.   Let’s head out and find the beacon."

They moved forward cautiously, navigating through the wreckage. The sound of distant gunfire echoed through the air, drawing their attention towards the colony’s central square. Shepard signaled for them to move quietly, keeping to the cover of the broken buildings.

As they approached the square, they spotted a group of colonists huddled behind a makeshift barricade, firing desperately at a squad of Geth soldiers advancing on their position. The Geth were relentless, their synthetic forms moving with precision and efficiency. The colonists were outnumbered and outgunned.

Shepard didn’t hesitate. "We need to draw their fire. Kaidan, Ashley, take up positions on either side and hit them with everything you’ve got. I’ll move in and flank them."

"Understood," Kaidan replied, already moving to the left, his biotic energy crackling around his hands.

Ashley nodded, taking cover behind a fallen beam on the right. "Ready when you are, Commander."

Shepard checked his rifle one last time before giving the signal. "Go!"

Kaidan unleashed a powerful biotic wave, sending two of the Geth flying back, their metallic bodies crashing into the ground. Ashley opened fire, her shots precise, taking down another Geth before it could react. The sudden attack drew the Geth’s attention away from the colonists, giving Shepard the opening he needed.

He moved swiftly, using the debris as cover, his rifle spitting out rounds as he advanced. The Geth were focused on Kaidan and Ashley, giving Shepard the advantage. He reached the flank of the Geth squad and opened fire, cutting down two more of the synthetic soldiers in quick succession.

The remaining Geth turned to face him, their cold, glowing eyes locking onto Shepard. But before they could retaliate, Kaidan hit them with another biotic attack, sending them crashing into each other. Ashley finished them off with a well-placed grenade, the explosion tearing through the last of the Geth.

The square fell silent, the only sound being the crackling of flames from the burning buildings. Shepard lowered his rifle and approached the colonists, who were still huddled behind the barricade, their faces pale and shaken.

"Are you all alright?" Shepard asked, his tone gentle but firm.

One of the colonists, a middle-aged man with a bandaged arm, stepped forward. "We… we thought we were done for. Thank you, Commander. You saved our lives."

Shepard gave a small nod. "We’re here to help. Can you tell us what happened?"

The man glanced around nervously before speaking. "It was the Geth… they came out of nowhere, attacking everything in sight. We tried to fight back, but they were too strong. They… they took something from the dig site. A beacon. Said it was Prothean."

Shepard’s eyes narrowed. "A beacon? Do you know where they took it?"

"They… they were heading towards the spaceport. I think they’re trying to get it off-planet."

Shepard exchanged a look with Kaidan and Ashley. "We need to get to that beacon before they do. Can you lead these people to safety?"

The colonist nodded. "There’s a bunker not far from here. We can hold out there until it’s safe."

"Good," Shepard said, already turning towards the spaceport. "Stay safe. We’ll handle the Geth."

With the colonists secured, Shepard, Kaidan, and Ashley made their way towards the spaceport. The closer they got, the heavier the Geth presence became. The once-bustling spaceport was now a battlefield, with Geth soldiers patrolling the area, their cold, mechanical forms stark against the burning wreckage.

Eden Prime - Spaceport - Nihlus

The air was thick with smoke, the acrid scent of burning metal and scorched earth permeating every breath. Nihlus Kryik, the Turian Spectre, moved silently through the ruins, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. He had received word of unusual activity at the spaceport and had gone ahead of Shepard’s team to investigate.

The wreckage of downed shuttles and destroyed cargo containers provided ample cover as Nihlus approached the main terminal. His hand hovered near his sidearm, a precaution born of years of experience. There was a tension in the air, an unnatural stillness that set his instincts on edge.

As he rounded a corner, Nihlus stopped abruptly, his eyes narrowing as he spotted a familiar figure standing near the beacon. Saren Arterius, another Turian Spectre, was there, his imposing form backlit by the eerie green glow of the Prothean device. Nihlus felt a surge of confusion. He hadn’t been informed that Saren would be on this mission.

“Saren?” Nihlus called out, stepping into view but keeping a safe distance. “What are you doing here?”

Saren turned slowly, his eyes cold and calculating as they locked onto Nihlus. For a brief moment, there was no recognition in those eyes, just a detached, predatory focus.

“Nihlus,” Saren greeted, his voice smooth but lacking any warmth. “I didn’t expect to see you here. This mission is more complicated than I was led to believe.”

Nihlus studied Saren carefully, noting the tension in his posture, the way his hand rested on his weapon. Something was off. Saren’s presence here wasn’t just a surprise—it was a threat.

“The Council didn’t mention anything about your involvement,” Nihlus said cautiously, his eyes flicking to the beacon behind Saren. “What’s going on, Saren? Why are the Geth here?”

Saren’s mandibles twitched, a slight movement that Nihlus barely caught. “The Geth are here for the same reason I am. The beacon. It holds secrets, Nihlus—secrets that could change the fate of the galaxy.”

Nihlus felt a cold knot of dread forming in his chest. “Saren, what are you talking about? The Council entrusted me with protecting the galaxy, not exploiting ancient artifacts for our own gain.”

A flicker of something—annoyance, maybe even disdain—crossed Saren’s face. He took a step closer, his voice lowering. “You’re still clinging to those outdated ideals, Nihlus. The Reapers are coming. The Council is blind to the real threat, but I’m not. This beacon could give us the edge we need to survive.”

“The Reapers?” Nihlus echoed, incredulous. “Saren, you’re talking about myths. Stories to scare children. This isn’t the way. We don’t betray the Council. We don’t work with the Geth.”

Saren’s gaze hardened, any semblance of camaraderie between them vanishing. “I’m doing what needs to be done, Nihlus. The Council’s methods won’t save us. But the beacon… it’s the key. And I won’t let anyone stand in my way.”

Realization dawned on Nihlus, and his hand instinctively moved towards his weapon. “Saren… don’t do this. You’re making a mistake. We can stop the Reapers together, but not like this.”

But Saren’s mind was made up. His eyes were cold, devoid of any hint of the friendship they once shared. “You’ve always been too trusting, Nihlus. That’s your weakness.”

Before Nihlus could react, Saren’s pistol was in his hand, aimed with deadly precision. Nihlus saw the flash of the muzzle, heard the sharp crack of the gunshot, but the bullet found its mark too quickly. It struck Nihlus in the side of his head, the force of the impact sending him sprawling forward.

For a brief moment, Saren’s expression was one of grim satisfaction, confident that he had eliminated a threat to his plan. But he missed the telltale flicker of a shield barrier that had flared briefly around Nihlus’s head, its blue glow barely visible in the dim light of the ruined spaceport.

His mind was already on the next step, on securing the beacon and escaping before Shepard’s team arrived. He didn’t spare another glance at Nihlus, assuming the Spectre was dead.

As Saren walked away, his form disappearing into the shadows, Nihlus’s body lay still on the ground. The kinetic barrier had absorbed much of the shot’s impact, but not all. The force had been enough to knock him unconscious, the delicate circuitry of the barrier barely holding up under the strain.

For several minutes, Nihlus remained motionless, his body lying in the dirt. But gradually, a faint twitch of his fingers signaled the return of consciousness. His eyes fluttered open, his vision blurry and his head throbbing with pain. The world spun around him, and for a moment, he struggled to remember where he was, what had happened.

Then it all came flooding back—the confrontation with Saren, the betrayal, the gunshot. Nihlus groaned, forcing himself to sit up. He felt the back of his head, wincing as his fingers touched the sensitive spot where the bullet had struck. His barrier had saved his life, but just barely.

He tried to stand, his legs shaky, but the urgency of the situation pushed him forward. Saren had the beacon, and Nihlus had to warn Shepard. He had to stop Saren from whatever madness had taken hold of him.

Nihlus staggered towards the direction of the spaceport’s exit, his vision still swimming. He could hear distant gunfire, the sounds of battle drawing closer. Shepard was out there, fighting the Geth, unaware of Saren’s betrayal.

But Nihlus’s body refused to cooperate. The blood loss and the trauma of the shot were too much, and after a few steps, his vision darkened again. He collapsed to the ground, unconscious once more.

Saren, now far from the scene, continued his path toward the Geth dropship, the beacon secured and his mind focused on the next phase of his plan. He never looked back. If he had, he might have seen the faint shimmer of life still left in Nihlus Kryik, a shimmer that would prove crucial in the days to come.

Eden Prime - Spaceport - Shepard

Commander John Shepard moved swiftly through the smoldering ruins of the Eden Prime spaceport, his senses alert to any sign of movement. The Geth were relentless, and though his team had managed to clear out most of the immediate threats, there was no telling when another wave might strike. Kaidan Alenko and Ashley Williams flanked him, their eyes scanning the environment with the same vigilance. The eerie silence that had settled over the spaceport after the battle was unnerving, a stark contrast to the chaos that had just unfolded.

“Commander, over here!” Kaidan called out, pointing toward a cluster of cargo containers stacked haphazardly near the edge of the platform.
Shepard jogged over, his heart sinking as he recognized the  armor lying crumpled on the ground. Nihlus, the Turian Spectre, who had been sent ahead to secure the beacon, was sprawled out among the containers. A pool of dark blood had formed beneath him, staining the dirt and gravel. His head was turned to the side, his face obscured by the shadows.

“Damn it,” Shepard muttered under his breath as he knelt beside Nihlus. He reached out, carefully turning the Spectre’s head to get a better look. The back of Nihlus’s head was a mess, blood matting the feathers and pooling in the wound. The sight sent a cold shiver down Shepard’s spine. 

Ashley, standing a few steps away, looked on with a mix of shock and sorrow. “Is he…?”

Kaidan crouched down opposite Shepard, his biotic aura still faintly shimmering from the adrenaline of battle. “It looks bad, Commander. That’s a lot of blood.”
Shepard’s fingers brushed against something cold and metallic near the wound. He frowned, then carefully lifted the edge of Nihlus’s collar to reveal a faint blue shimmer—an active shield barrier, its energy flickering weakly.

Shepard’s eyes widened in surprise and a small measure of relief. “He’s alive.” His voice was firm, filled with determination. “Barely, but he’s alive.”

“What?” Ashley asked, stepping closer, her rifle still held ready. “How?”

Shepard gently turned Nihlus’s head back, taking a closer look at the small device embedded in the collar of the Turian’s armor. It was a portable shield generator, a piece of tech that had likely saved Nihlus’s life by absorbing most of the energy from the shot. The generator was struggling to maintain its integrity, its light flickering like a candle in the wind, but it had done its job.

“Shepard?” Kaidan’s voice was tight with concern as he carefully checked Nihlus’s pulse, finding it weak but steady. 

Shepard allowed himself a small, grim smile. “I threw one of these into Nihlus’s gear back on the Normandy, just in case. Damn glad I did.”

Kaidan glanced up at Shepard, surprise evident in his eyes. “Smart call, Commander. You might’ve just saved his life.”

“We need to stabilize him,” Shepard said, his voice taking on the no-nonsense tone of a soldier in command. “Kaidan, get the medigel. We’ll patch him up as best we can and get him back to the Normandy. He needs serious medical attention, and fast.”

Kaidan nodded and quickly retrieved the medigel from his pack. Shepard worked with him, applying the gel to Nihlus’s wounds. The substance seeped into the Turian’s injuries, sealing the bleeding and knitting the tissue together. It wasn’t a permanent fix, but it would keep him alive long enough to get him proper medical care.

As they worked, Shepard kept his eyes on Nihlus’s face, watching for any sign of consciousness. There was none—the Spectre remained still, his breathing shallow but steady.

“Damn,” Ashley said quietly, her voice filled with a mix of anger and confusion. “Who the hell did this? And why?”

Shepard’s jaw tightened as he considered the implications. The wound on Nihlus’s head was precise—too precise. It wasn’t the work of a Geth. This was an execution, plain and simple. 

“I am not sure, but it wasn’t Geth.” Shepard muttered, the name tasting bitter on his tongue.

With Kaidan’s help, Shepard carefully lifted Nihlus’s unconscious form, supporting the Turian’s weight between them. The portable shield generator flickered one last time before its energy reserves were fully depleted, its job complete.

Shepard glanced at the generator, his thoughts heavy. If he hadn’t thrown it into Nihlus’s gear as a precaution, the Spectre would be dead by now. It was a small thing, a simple decision made in the heat of the moment, but it had made all the difference.

“Normandy, this is Shepard.  I need a med-evac quickly.  Nihlus is injured and is in need of immediate assistance.”

“Copy Shepard.  Shuttle is inbound 6 minutes until at your location.”  Athena informed him.  

They moved quickly, navigating through the wreckage of the spaceport with Nihlus’s limp form between them. The Normandy shuttle was waiting just beyond the ridge, its engines humming, ready to take them back to safety.

As the hatch opened with several medics jumped out of the door and made their way towards them.  Moments later there was a small trade off that allowed them to help put the patient into the shuttle to finish stableizing him for transport.  

“Commander.”  The sargent said once before hopping back inside.  The three soldiers watched as the shuttle rose into the air.  

“Lets continue this mission.  We need to get to the beacon.”

The sun had long since dipped below the horizon on Eden Prime, casting the planet into an eerie twilight. Fires burned across the colony, their flickering light dancing on the horizon as the once-peaceful settlement smoldered in ruin. Commander John Shepard, Kaidan Alenko, and Ashley Williams moved cautiously through the devastated spaceport, their weapons ready and their senses heightened.

The beacon was their objective, and it was close—just beyond the next set of cargo containers. But the Geth were everywhere, their metallic forms moving with cold, mechanical precision through the wreckage. The eerie hum of their synthetic voices filled the air, mixing with the crackle of burning debris and the distant screams of fleeing colonists.

Shepard held up a fist, signaling his team to stop. “Kaidan, Ashley, get ready. We’re almost there, but the Geth won’t make this easy.”

Ashley nodded, her grip tightening on her assault rifle. “I’ve got your six, Commander. Let’s send these bastards back to whatever scrap heap they crawled out of.”

Kaidan gave a quick nod, his expression resolute. “Ready when you are, Commander.”

They moved forward cautiously, using the cover of the cargo containers to mask their approach. Shepard could see the beacon now, its green light pulsing with an otherworldly glow. But between them and the beacon were more Geth—three foot soldiers and a hulking Geth Destroyer, its massive frame illuminated by the flames around them.

Shepard motioned to his team, pointing at the Geth soldiers first. “Kaidan, flank left. Ashley, cover me. I’ll take out the big one.”

With a single, synchronized motion, they moved into position. Kaidan darted to the left, using the wreckage as cover, while Ashley stayed back, providing suppressive fire. Her controlled bursts found their marks, punching through the shields of the Geth foot soldiers, sending one sparking to the ground.

Shepard wasted no time. He dashed forward, his shotgun primed and ready. The Geth Destroyer turned its head towards him, its glowing optic narrowing as it locked onto its new target. Shepard could hear the whirr of its internal mechanisms as it prepared to fire, but he was faster.

“Not today,” Shepard growled as he slid into cover behind a container, just as the Destroyer unleashed a volley of plasma rounds. The projectiles slammed into the metal container, leaving it scorched and smoking, but Shepard remained unharmed.

With practiced ease, Shepard leaned out from cover, aimed, and fired. The shotgun’s blast hit the Geth Destroyer square in the chest, shattering its shields and sending it staggering back. It tried to regain its footing, its weapons systems recalibrating, but Shepard was already moving in for the kill.

He closed the distance in a few quick strides, firing again at point-blank range. The shotgun blast tore through the Destroyer’s armor, ripping out wires and circuitry in a shower of sparks. The massive Geth shuddered, its optic flickering erratically before it finally collapsed to the ground with a resounding crash.

“Big one’s down!” Shepard called out, reloading his shotgun with a smooth, practiced motion. He turned just in time to see Kaidan engage the last remaining Geth soldier, his well-aimed shots disabling its shields and sending it crashing to the ground.

Ashley lowered her rifle, glancing around to ensure the area was clear. “That’s the last of them, Commander.”

Shepard took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the beacon just a few meters away. The green light seemed to pulse faster now, as if it could sense their approach. “Good work, both of you. Let’s secure the beacon and get the hell out of here.”

They moved towards the beacon, their boots crunching on the debris-strewn ground. As they drew closer, Shepard could feel a strange energy emanating from the device, a subtle tug at the edges of his consciousness. It was unlike anything he had ever felt before, and it sent a shiver down his spine.

Kaidan approached the beacon cautiously, his eyes narrowed as he studied the ancient device. “This thing… it’s Prothean, maybe. But I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Ashley nodded, her gaze fixed on the beacon. “Whatever it is, the Geth wanted it bad.”

Shepard frowned, his mind racing. The beacon was important—he could feel it. But why? And what did the geth hope to gain from it?

Letting himself breath a moment, Shepard, was relieved to see the beacon was still intact so one part of the mission could be counted as a success.  Contacting the Normandy to let them know they were ready for pickup was a simple matter.  It was not until Shepard turned his back that the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. 

“Be careful,” Shepard warned, his voice tense. “We don’t know what this thing is capable of.”

As if in response to his words, the beacon suddenly pulsed with a bright flash of light, the green energy swirling around it intensifying. Kaidan, who had been standing closest to the device, was caught off guard as the light engulfed him, lifting him off the ground.

“Commander!” Kaidan shouted, panic in his voice as the beacon’s energy began to pull him toward it.

“Kaidan!” Shepard reacted without thinking, rushing forward and grabbing Kaidan by the arm. The force of the beacon’s pull was overwhelming, but Shepard held on with all his strength, trying to pull his teammate back.

But the beacon wasn’t letting go. The energy crackled around them, the air humming with power as Kaidan was pulled closer to the device. Shepard could feel the energy now, seeping into his skin, tugging at his mind, filling him with a sense of both dread and awe.

“Commander, it’s too strong!” Kaidan gritted his teeth, struggling against the force that was pulling him toward the beacon.

“No!” Shepard shouted, his voice filled with determination. He wasn’t going to lose another team member—not today. He pulled harder, digging his heels into the ground, using every ounce of his strength to fight the beacon’s pull.

But then, the energy shifted. A surge of power coursed through Shepard’s body, and he felt his grip on Kaidan slip. In a final, desperate move, Shepard shoved Kaidan away from the beacon, throwing himself into the energy field instead.

The world around him exploded into light and sound. Shepard felt the energy of the beacon flood his mind, overwhelming his senses with a torrent of images, voices, and emotions. He saw glimpses of distant worlds, vast fleets, and towering machines—machines that dwarfed anything he had ever seen, machines that filled him with a deep, primal terror.

And then, just as suddenly as it began, the vision ended. The energy released its grip on him, and Shepard was flung backward, landing hard on the ground. Darkness closed in around him, and the last thing he heard before losing consciousness was the sound of Kaidan and Ashley shouting his name.

As the darkness took him, Shepard’s mind echoed with the images the beacon had forced into his mind—images of the Reapers, of extinction, and of the terrible war that was yet to come.  A single word was felt throughout his being right before his world faded to black.    

“DANGER!”

Williams and Alenko jump into action as the XO of the Normandy falls in a heap on the ground.  As the beacon explodes, they can both hear that the ship is inbound, and they are going to need a few more marines to help them.

Anderson is barking orders at people as the back cargo area ramp lowers down.  People start to collect the pieces of the beacon.  Alenko grabs Shepard with Jenkins help and carries him to the medical bay to be looked over.  That was where Alenko stayed for most of the next day.  

Williams was happy to get involved on a ship since Anderson had requested her to be reassigned to work under him and help with the marines working under Alenko.  Anderson knew that this was going to be a gods damned mess no matter how the report it.  They had an injured Spectre, and the beacon blew up according to the report from the three marines on the ground.  

After two hours of scouring the area, they seemed to find all the pieces of the beacon.  He pulled everyone way from the beacon and made them go about their day. 

“Athena, do we still have the detailed scans that were done of the beacon before it exploded?”

“Yes sir, is there a reason you are asking?”

“Do you think that some of the nano tech from the Omni-Gel could fix the beacon?”

“Theoretically it could work sir, but we are still unsure of the reason for the explosion.  What if we fix the beacon and it explodes once more?”

“Not really our problem then.  We found a beacon and we delivered a beacon.”

“It will take approximately 41 hours for me to complete the repairs to the beacon.  Should I have some of the maintenance bots get on the repairs?”

“Yes, keep me informed and make sure that area of the cargo bay is off limits to human personnel.”

Anderson was kind of worried about his crew.  He needed to check on those in the Medical Bay.  Nihlus was a bit of a concern for him, he wondered if he would be up to catching Saren off guard.  He was not sure if he would go along with the plan to report his untimely death, but he still had a few hours left to heal before he could ask him.  

Even with the shield generator that Shepard had slapped on his back, the point-blank shot in the back of the head was still going to require some healing.  That shield had saved his life, and Anderson was glad for Shepard’s paranoia.  This was going to be a long call to the Council and the Alliance brass.  

The alliance brass was not going to like the fact that the Reapers were making a play for the Galaxy already.  According to the records that Torvath had given them they should have already come about 20 years ago, so if the Vanguard were working now, it would mean that they were imminently inbound.  They would most likely have less than 5 years before the galaxy was crawling with reapers.  

With a deep sigh Anderson went to his quarters and thought that it was time to go play politics.  There were going to be many meetings over the next few hours.

Chapter Text

SSV Normandy – Slipspace en-route to the Citadel– Date: Classified
Personal log Staff Lt. Kaidan Alenko – Classified Ultra-Black and Encrypted

FUCKING OMEGA BIOLOGY… Did I mention that I hated my biology more than anything else right now? It’s ironic, really—being an omega has always been my gift, my curse, my identity. But now, here I am, trying to keep my head straight while my body and mind are at war with each other. All because of one man.  

The mission on Eden Prime should have been routine—an easy in-and-out with a beacon to secure. But nothing went according to plan. The sight of the colony in flames, the smell of burning metal and scorched earth, and the sounds—the screams of colonists, the distant thuds of explosions—it was like stepping into a nightmare. The Geth came out of nowhere, their cold, synthetic eyes glowing in the twilight, moving with precision, leaving devastation in their wake.  

We lost Jenkins almost immediately. It was a miracle he wasn’t killed outright. The kid’s tough, tougher than he looks. But seeing him go down… It shook us. I wanted to stay by his side, to make sure he’d be okay, but we had to keep moving. Jenkins was breathing, at least. We stabilized him as best we could before moving on. He’ll pull through, I think. But it’s not something you just walk away from. Eden Prime changed all of us.

Then there was Nihlus, a Spectre, someone who people looked up to—a symbol of everything most of the galaxy could aspire to be. Finding him… gods, finding him like that, slumped against those cargo containers, covered in blood, barely alive… It was a shock. I’d expected the worst, expected him to be gone. But Shepard, somehow, found the tiniest glimmer of hope. That portable shield generator he’d slapped on Nihlus before departure, the one that barely held up, saved his life. I don’t know how Shepard knew or why he did it, but it’s the only reason Nihlus isn’t dead. We managed to get him stable, too, but just barely. His breathing was shallow, his pulse weak. Every second felt like it could be his last.

And then, there was the beacon. That damned beacon… We had no idea what it was really capable of. As we got closer, the air felt thicker, like static building up before a storm. The scent of ozone mixed with the burning wreckage, and the hum of the beacon—it was almost hypnotic, a low thrumming that got under your skin. The closer we got, the more my skin prickled, like it was trying to tell me something my brain couldn’t understand. It was ancient, powerful, and dangerous. 

We weren’t prepared for what happened next. One minute, we’re assessing the situation; the next, I was being pulled into the beacon’s energy field. It was like the air around me rippled and cracked, and then it was just… gone. I was thrown away from the field by Shepard. It was like nothing I’ve ever felt before, and believe me, I’ve felt a lot. He saved my life, pushed me out of the way, and took the full brunt of whatever the beacon was dishing out.

Now, I’m sitting here in the Med-Bay, watching over him while he’s out cold, and I can’t get the damn mission out of my head. I should be thinking about what we’re up against, what Saren’s really after, what the Alliance brass is going to say about the mission, but instead… all I can think about is him. Shepard.

Thirteen hours. That’s how long I’ve been sitting here, watching over him. The med-bay smells like antiseptic and burned flesh, but underneath it all, there’s his scent—something warm, earthy, and just… Shepard. It’s messing with me, messing with my head. He’s been out this whole time, barely moving, but every now and then, he twitches like he’s having some kind of dream. Chakwas says it’s the aftereffects of whatever the beacon did to him, that restraining him would do more harm than good. But still, I can’t help but worry.

And it’s not just the worry. There’s something else, something deeper that I’m not sure how to handle. Seeing Shepard out of his uniform, vulnerable, and still somehow so damn strong… It’s not making this any easier. He’s attractive, more than anyone I’ve ever met, and I’m struggling to keep it together. What the hell have I gotten myself into? 

Part of me wants to talk to Captain Anderson when we reach the Citadel tomorrow. Maybe request a transfer, put some distance between us before I do something stupid. But then I think about what we’re up against—what we’re all going to face—and I know that leaving isn’t an option. Shepard’s the best chance we have. The galaxy needs him. And… so do I, apparently. 

It’s his scent that’s driving me crazy the most. Every time he’s near, it’s like I can’t think straight. My heart speeds up, my skin tingles, and all I want to do is pull him close and… God, I want to kiss him, to lose myself in him and forget everything else. And then there’s this other part of me, the part that I didn’t even know existed until now, that just wants to submit to him. It’s primal, something deep inside me that wants to bare my neck to him and be claimed. It’s terrifying, but at the same time, I can’t shake it. 

I don’t know how to deal with this. I’m a soldier, for God’s sake. I’ve been trained to face down enemies, to stand strong in the face of danger. But this… this is different. This is something I never saw coming, and it’s got me off balance. I just hope I can find my footing before it’s too late. 

Tomorrow, we’ll be at the Citadel, and maybe I’ll have a clearer head by then. Maybe I’ll figure out how to handle this, how to deal with these thoughts and feelings before they get us both in trouble. But right now, all I can do is sit here and hope that Shepard wakes up soon. I need to know that he’s okay, that we’re okay, and that somehow, we’ll make it through this. 

But until then, I’m just going to sit here and keep watch. Because if there’s one thing I’m sure of, it’s that I’m not leaving Shepard’s side—not now, not ever.

END LOG

SSV Normandy – Slipspace en-route to the Citadel– Date: Classified
Personal log Commander John Shepard – Classified Ultra-Black and Encrypted

My head’s still pounding after whatever the hell that beacon did to me. It's like trying to piece together a shattered mirror—fragments of images, sounds, emotions, all swirling around in my mind, refusing to form a coherent picture. Something happened when the security field on that beacon activated. I don’t know if it was a vision of the future or a memory of the past, but whatever it was, it’s got me rattled.  

The images I do remember are like something out of a nightmare. Blood pooling in the streets, the sounds of screams—human, alien, I can’t even tell. And then there were the synthetics, cold and unfeeling, cutting down everything in their path. Was that the fall of the Protheans? Or was it just a battle that happened on Eden Prime? I can’t make heads or tails of it right now.  

But there’s one thing I can’t shake, something that feels like it’s burned into my brain: a sense of impending danger. Like a storm on the horizon, something big and terrible, something that’s going to change everything. And there was a word, a name, that kept echoing through it all—Reapers. It feels right, somehow, like the beacon was warning me about them, like they’re the ones responsible for the destruction I saw. How I know that, I can’t say. But I’m sure of it, deep down, in a way that goes beyond reason.  

Trying to explain what I’m feeling is damn near impossible. My mind’s all over the place, like someone’s taken a sledgehammer to my thoughts and left the pieces scattered. I filed a report with Alliance command about the visions, but I have no idea how they’re going to take it. It sounds like madness, even to me, but I know what I saw. I just hope they believe me before it’s too late.  

Then there’s Nihlus. I still can’t believe he’s alive. When we found him slumped against those cargo containers, blood pooling around him, I thought for sure he was gone. But that portable shield generator I made him take—just in case—it’s the only reason he’s still breathing. It barely held up against whatever hit him, but it was enough. I don’t know what I’d have done if he hadn’t made it.   

When I woke up in the med bay, Chakwas told me that Alenko hadn’t left my side since they brought me in. Thirteen hours, she said. He stayed there the whole time, just watching over me. I’m not sure what to make of that.  

The Alpha part of my brain—hell, the human part—was happy, relieved even, that someone cared enough to stick around. And the fact that it was Alenko… I hate to admit it, but it meant something. More than I’m willing to say out loud. I’ve known for a while that I find him attractive, but it’s more than that. There’s something about him that makes me feel… grounded. Like he’s someone I can trust, someone who’s got my back no matter what.  

But this is where things get complicated. I’m a Sigma, which means I don’t have to follow all the same rules as the others when it comes to relationships in the Alliance. But Kaidan… he’s an N7, and that means the regulations are still in full force for him. I hate that nothing can come of this, whatever *this* is, because of those rules. But I know better than to let personal feelings get in the way of the mission.  

Still, it’s going to make things… interesting. This mission is shaping up to be the longest, hardest fight of my life, and now I’ve got to keep my head straight while all this is going on in the background. I’ll figure it out, eventually. But right now, all I can do is keep moving forward, one step at a time.  

And as for Kaidan… well, we’ll just have to see what happens. Because something tells me this mission is only going to get more complicated from here on out.

END LOG

Chapter Text

Slipspace - En Route to the Citadel - SSV Normandy - Shepard

Commander John Shepard paced in his quarters, the steady hum of the Normandy's engines a subtle reminder that they were still moving, still heading toward the Citadel. The mission on Eden Prime had shaken him more than he cared to admit. The beacon’s vision lingered in his mind, a chaotic swirl of images—blood-soaked streets, synthetic monsters, and screams that echoed in his skull. He couldn’t shake the sense of impending doom that clung to him like a shadow, but he knew he had to stay focused. His crew needed him to be strong, even if he was still wrestling with his own uncertainty.

Deciding he needed to check on his team, Shepard made his down the hall towards where Athena had told him where Kaidan’s quarters were.  Pausing in front of the door, he hit the button to announce himself.  After a moment, a voice husky voice called him to enter as the door slid open.  His sense of smell was assaulted by the overwhelming smell of slightly distressed omega as well as the personal scent that screamed Kaidan in his mind.  

Pushing aside the thoughts that were now assaulting him of the things he would like to do to the man.  He took notice that Kaidan was sitting on the sofa in his quarters, a datapad in hand, his gaze was distant, thoughts clearly elsewhere. Shepard cleared his throat, drawing the lieutenant’s attention.

"Got a minute, Lieutenant?" Shepard asked.

Kaidan looked up, quickly setting the datapad aside and standing at attention. "Of course, Commander."

Shepard gestured for Kaidan to sit back down and took a seat in the chair opposite him. He could see the strain in Kaidan’s expression—the same strain he felt in himself over the last several hours.  

"How are you holding up after Eden Prime?" Shepard began, his voice even. "That was… a lot to take in."

Kaidan ran a hand through his hair, exhaling deeply. "I’ve seen combat before, but that… that was something else. The Geth, the beacon… And what happened to you—I’ve never experienced anything like it.  All those people we were unable to help."

Shepard nodded, feeling the weight of Kaidan’s words. He was still trying to make sense of it himself. The beacon had done something to him, showed him things he couldn’t fully comprehend. But he couldn’t let that uncertainty cloud his judgment.

"I’m still trying to make sense of it myself," Shepard admitted. "But we’ll figure it out. What’s important now is that we stick together and stay focused. We’ve got a mission to complete, and I need everyone at their best."

Kaidan met Shepard’s gaze, concern evident in his eyes. "I’ll be ready, Commander. You can count on me."

Shepard offered a reassuring smile. "I know I can, Kaidan. We’ll get through this. Get some rest; we’ve got a long debrief ahead of us when we hit the Citadel."

Kaidan nodded, visibly relieved. "Thanks, Commander."

After leaving Kaidan, Shepard headed to the cockpit. The journey back to the Citadel was giving him too much time to think, and he needed a distraction. Joker was in his usual spot, hands moving deftly over the controls of the Normandy. The pilot’s focus was on the ship, but Shepard could tell something was on his mind.

"How’s she handling, Joker?" Shepard asked, leaning against the bulkhead.

Joker glanced over his shoulder, flashing a quick grin. "Like a dream, Commander. Normandy’s got the best crew in the fleet, and she’s flying smooth as butter."

“I’ll take that as a compliment, Lt, Moreau.”  The cool ethereal voice of Athena came out of here holo pad, her form materialize as she spoke.

“You know I love you, Athena.”  Joker’s voice had a bit of a flirty tone to it as he spoke to the AI.  

Shepard crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Good to hear. But something tells me there’s more on your mind than just the ship."

Joker’s grin faded slightly, his usual sarcastic edge softening. "Yeah, well… Eden Prime wasn’t exactly the walk in the park I was hoping for when I was assigned to this mission. The Geth, that beacon… and Nihlus almost bought it out there. That’s some heavy shit, Commander."

Shepard nodded, his expression serious. The mission had been a close call, and the weight of it was still pressing down on him. "It was. And it’s going to get heavier before this is over. We’ve got to be ready for whatever comes next. But I trust you, Joker. You’re the best pilot in the Alliance, and I need you to keep this ship running smooth."

Joker’s grin returned, a bit more genuine this time. "You can count on me, Commander. Just keep bringing us back in one piece, alright?"

Shepard chuckled, clapping Joker on the shoulder. "That’s the plan. Keep us on course for the Citadel. We’ve got a lot of questions that need answers."

Joker gave a mock salute, his mood lightening. "Aye, aye, Commander."

Finally, Shepard made his way to the armory, where he found Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams inspecting her gear. She looked up as he approached, straightening up and giving him a respectful nod.

"Commander," Ashley greeted.

Shepard returned the nod, his expression neutral. "Williams, how are you holding up? Eden Prime was your home turf, and we didn’t exactly leave it in the best shape."

Ashley’s expression tightened slightly, but she maintained her composure. "It was tough, sir. Seeing the colony like that… it wasn’t easy. But I knew what I was signing up for when I joined the Alliance. I just… I wish we could’ve done more."

Shepard understood the sentiment all too well. He had seen the devastation firsthand, and it was never easy leaving a mission with the feeling that you hadn’t done enough. "We did everything we could, Chief. The colony might be in ruins, but we saved lives, and we’re bringing the truth back to the Citadel. The Geth, Saren… they’re not going to get away with this."

Ashley’s eyes hardened with determination. "Damn right, sir. We’ll make them pay for what they did. And if there’s anything I can do to help, just say the word."

Shepard appreciated her resolve. It was one of the reasons he had wanted her on his team. "I’m counting on it, Williams. Keep your head in the game, and we’ll get through this. We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us."

Ashley nodded firmly. "You can count on me, Commander."

As Shepard made his way back to his quarters, the images from the beacon resurfaced in his mind. The sense of dread that accompanied them was hard to shake, but he knew he couldn’t afford to let it paralyze him. Eden Prime had been a disaster, but it had also been a wake-up call. Whatever was coming, he had to be ready, and so did his crew. The Normandy’s journey was far from over, and neither was theirs. The fight was only just beginning, and Shepard was determined to see it through—no matter what it took.

“Athena, can you play relaxation music for me before you log out?”

“Yes Shepard, have a good night.”

The sound of classical string instruments filled his quarters before he did his best to relax.  It was going to be another long night.  

Slipspace - En Route to the Citadel - SSV Normandy - Anderson’s Quarters - Shepard

Shepard stood at the door of Anderson’s quarter’s for a moment waiting for the man to allow him entry.  Moments later they slid open with a soft hiss, revealing the dimly lit room beyond. Inside, Anderson was seated at his desk, the faint glow of the terminal casting long shadows across his face. The room was a stark contrast to the rest of the Normandy—personal effects were few, and the only decoration he could see was a framed photo of the SSV Hastings, Anderson's first command. He had a feeling that there was another one in his desk drawer of Kaylee Saunders, the one that got away, but he wouldn’t ever mention that thought.  

The air was heavy with the weight of the conversation that was about to unfold as he stepped inside, the door closing behind him. Anderson looked up, gesturing for Shepard to take a seat. There was a tension in the air, something unspoken that Shepard could feel pressing down on them both. 

"Shepard," Anderson began, his voice low, almost a whisper. "We need to talk about what happened on Eden Prime—and what it could mean."

“Agreed.”

“Athena, Clearance Triple black protocol.  Disconnect all monitoring devices.  I will message you when it is to be lifted.”

“Yes sir.  All monitoring devices are deactivated and you are logged out.  Genetic scan will be required to reinstate lock out and allow you and the Commander to leave this room.”  There was a moment and the finality of the his and the bolts of the locks engaging as well as the small shimmer of a force field activated around the door. 

Shepard nodded, taking a seat across from Anderson. The vision from the beacon was still fresh in his mind, a jumble of images and emotions that refused to settle into any kind of clarity. 

"The beacon showed me something, Captain. Something… terrifying. But I can’t make sense of it."

“We both saw that black ship on the visual feed that Williams got out before communications was cut.”  

“Yes sir.  It’s the Reapers.  They have returned.”

“We have been waiting for this day since Torvath gave us the information about the fall of the Prothean Empire.”

“It’s been awhile since I was in on that Black briefing.  WIth everything I have seen, I think the beacon showed me a more personal experience of the fall of whatever prothean colony was on Eden Prime before.”  

Anderson leaned forward, his expression grave. "What you saw, Shepard… I am sorry.  Torvath only had a few pieces of video archives saved of the Reapers in action.  Mostly they were space battles between the two.”  

“Are we going to tell the crew if we have to follow this?”

“I am not sure that would most likely be up to ONI since the information is highly classified—ultra black clearance. Only a handful of people in the entire Alliance even know about it."

Shepard felt a chill run down his spine. The Office of Naval Intellegence was also know as the Spooks.  Shepards status as a Sigma allowed him to have one of the highest clearances known to mankind, but there was still information that ONI deemed undesireable for anyone to know.  

"All of the research that we uncovered over the last thousand years has shown that the Reapers are an ancient race of synthetic-organic starships that wipe out all advanced civilizations in the galaxy every 50,000 years. We’ve only recently begun to uncover evidence of their existence—most of the evidence was buried by time and the extinction of the Protheans."

Shepard’s eyes narrowed this had been a few years since he had been in that brief. "The Protheans had learned little about them over their 38,000 years in space.  They had seen some signs that they had wiped out the species before them the Inusonna, but they did little to try and combat it."

"Yes," Anderson confirmed. "But they left behind warnings.  The beacon seems to be one of them.  We have our information that was given to us by Torvath, he alone seemed to be one of the few who understood the magnitude of the threat. All of the classified data that was given to us by him in the Mars facility too centuries for us to go through.  Much of it was information about Mass Effect technology and how it worked.  But there were some things as well as weapons we have used over the years and improved upon."

Shepard leaned back in his chair, the weight of the entire situation was pressing down on him. "From what I remember they should have been here about a century ago?  So why now are they coming back?"

"Torvath’s research indicated that the Reapers operate on a cycle. Every 50,000 years, they return to purge the galaxy of advanced life. And if your vision is any indication, that cycle is about to begin again." Anderson replied, his voice grim. 

Shepard’s mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. The images from the beacon—the blood, the destruction, the synthetics—it all pointed to a threat far beyond anything the galaxy had ever faced. "If that is the case and they are returning.  Is the Alliance prepared to make this public? The galaxy might need to know what’s coming."

Anderson shook his head. "You know it’s not that simple, Shepard. The brass believes that even with our technology we might only be able to hold them at bay. The Reapers are beyond anything the council can currently combat. If word got out, it would cause mass panic."

“I have a feeling that some people in the Admiralty will just try and push this all aside and deny its happening.”

“You and me both Shepard.  Some will bury their heads in the sand.”

Shepard clenched his fists, frustration and fear warring within him. "We will do what we can.  Hackett will believe me on the visions.”

"We’ll figure it out," Anderson assured him, though there was a hint of uncertainty in his voice. "But you need to be prepared for what’s coming. If the Reapers are returning, then the galaxy is in more danger than it’s ever been before. And you… you might be the only one who can stop it."

Shepard met Anderson’s gaze, the weight of his words settling on his shoulders. The vision from the beacon was more than just a warning—it was a call to action. And as much as he hated to admit it, Shepard knew that he had to answer that call, no matter what it cost him.

"I’ll do whatever it takes, Captain," Shepard said, his voice steady with resolve. "We won’t let the Reapers destroy everything we’ve fought for."

Anderson nodded, the faintest hint of a smile touching his lips. "I know you will, Shepard. We’re all counting on you."

The room fell into a heavy silence, the enormity of the task ahead of them settling in. As Shepard left Anderson’s quarters, he couldn’t shake the feeling that the events on Eden Prime were just the beginning. The Reapers were coming, and the galaxy had no idea what was about to descend upon it. But Shepard knew one thing for certain—he would be ready to face it, whatever it took.

Chapter Text

Serpent Nebula - The Citadel - Ambassador Udina’s Office - Shepard

Ambassador Donnel Udina’s office was a sterile, angular space, dominated by a large, imposing desk that faced the windows overlooking the sprawling cityscape of the Citadel. The room was dimly lit, a sharp contrast to the bustling light of the Presidium outside. The walls were adorned with Alliance banners and the Citadel emblem, giving the room an air of authority and bureaucracy.

Commander John Shepard stood in front of the ambassador’s desk, flanked by Lieutenant Kaidan Alenko and Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams. Captain David Anderson stood to Shepard’s right, his expression as stoic as ever, but there was a tightness around his eyes that betrayed his concern. Udina, seated behind his desk, was reviewing the data on a holographic display, his face set in a deep frown.

"The Council’s response has been… less than satisfactory," Udina began, his tone clipped and frustrated. He deactivated the display and looked up at the group, his eyes narrowing. "They’ve reviewed the logs and video evidence you brought back from Eden Prime, but it’s not enough. They’re demanding more—something they can’t easily dismiss as human propaganda."

Shepard clenched his fists, the tension in the room mirroring the frustration bubbling inside him. "We have Nihlus’s logs, the beacon data, and footage of Saren killing him. How is that not enough?"

Udina leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. "The Council needs indisputable proof that Saren has gone rogue. Nihlus’s injuries are severe, and his testimony is being considered, but it might not be enough to strip a Spectre of their status. They’re cautious—overly so. They’ve asked for corroboration from sources outside of human databases. Something more tangible, more undeniable."

Anderson stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "Nihlus is still recovering in the Normandy’s med bay. He’s one of their own, a fellow Spectre. His word should carry weight."

Udina’s eyes flicked to Anderson. "It does. But the Council is hesitant to act on the word of a single Spectre, especially when it involves one of their most trusted operatives. Saren’s influence within the Council is strong. We need to be prepared for the possibility that his reputation could shield him from repercussions."

Shepard felt a surge of anger. "So what, they’re just going to ignore the fact that Saren murdered Nihlus and helped the Geth attack Eden Prime? How many more colonies have to burn before they’ll listen?"

Udina shook his head. "They’re not ignoring it, Shepard. They’re stalling. They want more evidence—something irrefutable. Which means we might need to look outside our usual channels. If we can present them with something that can’t be dismissed, we might have a chance at stripping Saren of his Spectre status and holding him accountable."

Alenko, who had been silent until now, spoke up. "What kind of evidence are we talking about? We’ve already got the beacon data, and Nihlus’s testimony once he’s stable enough to give it. What else could they possibly need?"

Udina sighed, rubbing his temples. "We might need to reach out to sources beyond the Alliance. There are records and data caches scattered across the galaxy—Prothean ruins, independent research archives, possibly even unaligned Spectres who might have run-ins with Saren. We need something that ties Saren directly to the Reapers, something so concrete that the Council can’t ignore it."

Shepard exchanged a glance with Anderson. The idea of going on a wild chase across the galaxy, searching for evidence that may or may not exist, wasn’t appealing. But if that’s what it took to stop Saren and the Reapers, then it had to be done.

"And if we can’t find this evidence?" Ashley Williams asked, her voice hard-edged with frustration. "What then?"

Udina’s expression darkened. "If we can’t find it, then the Council might refuse to act at all. Saren will continue his plans unchecked, and we’ll be left trying to stop him without the backing of the Citadel. That’s a scenario we can’t afford."

Shepard took a deep breath, trying to keep his emotions in check. "We’ll find what we need. If there’s evidence out there that can take down Saren, we’ll find it. But we need to act fast. The longer we wait, the more time he has to cover his tracks."

Udina nodded. "Agreed. I’ve already started discreet inquiries with some of our contacts, but we need more. You’ll have access to all the resources you need—ships, personnel, whatever it takes. Just bring me something the Council can’t ignore."

Shepard’s resolve hardened. "We’ll get it done. Saren won’t get away with this."

Anderson placed a hand on Shepard’s shoulder, a gesture of both support and solidarity. "We’re with you, Shepard. We’ll see this through."

As they turned to leave, Udina’s voice stopped them. "And Shepard… be careful. The galaxy is full of secrets, and not all of them are meant to be uncovered. But if anyone can do this, it’s you."

Shepard nodded, the weight of the mission heavy on his shoulders but his determination unwavering. "We’ll find the proof. And when we do, the Council will have no choice but to act."

As they left the office, the group moved with purpose. The stakes were higher than ever, but Shepard knew one thing for certain: they were running out of time, and the fate of the galaxy was hanging in the balance.

Serpentine Nebula - Citadel - Wards - Chora’s Den - Shepard

Commander John Shepard stepped out of Chora’s Den, the chaotic energy of the nightclub fading behind him as he walked into the more subdued atmosphere of the Citadel’s Wards. The mission on Eden Prime was still fresh in his mind, and the weight of the Council’s skepticism hung heavy on his shoulders. But he wasn’t one to give up easily. He knew that gathering more allies and evidence was crucial, especially if they were going to take down Saren and uncover the truth about the Reapers.

As he made his way through the crowded streets, his thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice calling his name.

“Shepard!”

Shepard turned to see Garrus Vakarian, a turian C-Sec officer he had met briefly during his investigation into Saren. Garrus was walking toward him, his expression determined, as usual.

“Garrus,” Shepard greeted him with a nod. “I take it you’ve got something for me?”

Garrus stopped in front of Shepard, his mandibles flaring slightly. “I’ve been looking into Saren, just like you asked. There’s something big going on here, something C-Sec doesn’t want to touch. But I’m not going to sit back and let this bastard get away with it.”

Shepard appreciated Garrus’s direct approach. “What did you find?”

“There’s someone you need to meet,” Garrus said, glancing around as if to make sure they weren’t being overheard. “A quarian. She has information about Saren—something that could blow this whole thing wide open.”

“A quarian?” Shepard’s interest was piqued. “Where is she?”

“She’s in hiding,” Garrus explained. “She was attacked in the Wards, but she managed to escape. She’s at Dr. Michel’s clinic right now. I figured you’d want to talk to her.”

Shepard nodded, already moving in the direction of the clinic. “Let’s go.”

Citadel - Wards - Dr. Michel's Clinic - Shepard

The clinic was quiet, the sterile smell of antiseptics hanging in the air. Dr. Chloe Michel, a young human doctor, was tending to a patient when Shepard and Garrus entered. She looked up, recognition flashing in her eyes when she saw them.

“Commander Shepard, Officer Vakarian,” she greeted them, stepping away from her patient. “What brings you here?”

“We’re here to see the quarian,” Shepard said, his tone firm but not unkind. “Garrus said she’s got information that could help us.”

Dr. Michel nodded, her expression serious. “She’s in the back. Poor thing was in pretty bad shape when she got here, but I’ve patched her up as best as I could.”

“Thanks, Doctor,” Shepard said, giving her a grateful nod. He and Garrus followed her as she led them to a small examination room in the back of the clinic.

Inside the room, a young quarian sat on the examination table, her hooded suit making it difficult to see her face clearly. She looked up as they entered, her body language tense and wary.

“It’s okay,” Dr. Michel said gently to the quarian. “These are the people I told you about. They’re here to help.”

Shepard stepped forward, keeping his movements calm and non-threatening. “My name is Commander Shepard. Garrus here tells me you’ve got information on Saren.”

The quarian hesitated for a moment before speaking, her voice slightly distorted by the suit’s audio filters. “My name is Tali’Zorah nar Rayya. I was on my Pilgrimage when I came across some… data. It’s an audio recording of Saren and another turian named Matriarch Benezia. They’re talking about something called the Reapers and how they plan to use the Geth to bring them back.”

Shepard exchanged a glance with Garrus, who looked as surprised as he felt. This was exactly the kind of evidence they needed.

“Do you still have the recording?” Shepard asked, his voice steady.

Tali nodded, reaching into a pouch on her suit and pulling out a small data disk. “I made a copy. I thought it was important enough to keep safe.”

Shepard took the disk, careful not to damage it. “This could be exactly what we need to convince the Council that Saren’s gone rogue. But we’ll need to move quickly. If they find out we have this, they’ll come after you.”

Tali’s shoulders sagged slightly with relief. “I’ll do whatever it takes to stop Saren. He’s a monster. He’s using the Geth to destroy anything in his way.”

“Shepard,” Garrus spoke up, his voice carrying a note of urgency, “we need to get this to the Council as soon as possible.”

Shepard nodded in agreement, his mind already racing with the next steps. “Agreed. But first, we need to make sure Tali is safe. Garrus, I need you to escort her to the Normandy. We’ll regroup there and figure out our next move.”

Garrus gave a sharp nod. “On it, Shepard.”

Tali looked up at Shepard, her voice tinged with gratitude. “Thank you, Commander. For believing me.”

Shepard gave her a reassuring smile. “We’re in this together, Tali. Let’s make sure Saren doesn’t get away with this.”

As Garrus and Tali left the clinic, Shepard turned back to Dr. Michel. “Thank you for looking after her, Doctor. You might have just saved the galaxy.”

Dr. Michel gave a small, humble smile. “I’m just doing my job, Commander. Good luck.”

With a final nod, Shepard left the clinic, his mind focused on the battle ahead. They now had the evidence they needed, but the fight was far from over. The Council wouldn’t make this easy, and Saren was still out there, plotting his next move. But for the first time since Eden Prime, Shepard felt like they had a real chance to turn the tide.

The Normandy was waiting, and with this new ally by their side, they were ready to take on whatever came next.

SSV Normandy - Med Bay - Shepard

The Normandy’s med bay was quiet, the soft hum of the ship’s systems a comforting background noise. Dr. Karin Chakwas, the Normandy’s chief medical officer, was already preparing for Tali’s arrival when Shepard and Garrus walked in with the quarian.

“Commander,” Dr. Chakwas greeted them with a professional nod. “I’ve got everything ready. Tali, please have a seat on the examination bed.”

Tali did as instructed, her movements a bit slower now that the adrenaline had worn off. Chakwas immediately began scanning her with a medical device, her brow furrowing as she examined the results.

“You’re dehydrated and suffering from mild exhaustion,” Chakwas said, her voice calm but firm. “You’ve been through a lot, but you’ll be fine with some rest and fluids.”

Tali nodded gratefully. “Thank you, Doctor. It’s been… a rough few days.”

Shepard stood nearby, watching as Chakwas worked. “Take your time, Tali. We’re safe here. We’ll talk once you’re feeling better.”

As Chakwas continued her work, a soft, melodic voice interrupted them.

“Commander Shepard, medical diagnostics indicate that Tali’Zorah nar Rayya is stable but in need of rest. Shall I adjust the environmental controls in her quarters to ensure optimal comfort?”

Shepard turned slightly, acknowledging the ship’s AI, Athena. Though not as advanced as some AIs in the galaxy, Athena was a vital part of the Normandy’s systems, managing everything from environmental controls to communication protocols.

“Thanks, Athena,” Shepard responded. “Do that.”

“Of course, Commander,” Athena replied, her tone warm and professional. “Tali, if there is anything else you require, please do not hesitate to ask.”

Tali looked up, slightly surprised at the AI’s gentle tone. “Thank you, Athena. I appreciate it.”

Chakwas finished her scan and stepped back. “You’re all set, Tali. I recommend some rest before we debrief. The Commander can fill you in on the details when you’re ready.”

Shepard nodded, his voice reassuring. “Get some rest, Tali. We’ll go over everything once you’re up to it. You’re safe now.”

Tali gave a small nod, her fatigue starting to show. “Thank you, Commander. I… I think I will rest now.”

SSV Normandy – Shepard’s Quarters - Shepard

After making sure Tali was settled, Shepard returned to his quarters, the weight of the day’s events pressing down on him. The information Tali held could be the key to taking down Saren, but it also meant they were now targets. 

As he sat down at his desk, Shepard couldn’t shake the feeling that the battle ahead was going to be harder than anything he’d faced before. But with Garrus, Tali, and the rest of his crew by his side, he knew they could handle whatever came their way.

“Athena,” Shepard called out, his voice steady.

“Yes, Commander?” Athena’s voice replied, always attentive.

“Monitor Tali’s condition closely. Let me know if anything changes.”

“Understood, Commander. I’ll keep you informed.”

Shepard leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes for a moment. The mission was far from over, but for the first time since Eden Prime, he felt like they were moving in the right direction. They had allies, they had evidence, and soon, they would have the Council’s attention.

Whatever came next, Shepard was ready. The Normandy was more than just a ship; it was their home, their shield, and their sword. And with the crew he was building, they would be unstoppable.

Citadel - Council Chambers - Shepard 

The Council Chambers loomed ahead as Commander Shepard, Captain Anderson, and Ambassador Udina walked in, their footsteps echoing across the vast hall. Shepard's crew—Kaidan Alenko and Ashley Williams—followed closely behind. Tali’Zorah nar Rayya, who held the key evidence, walked beside Shepard. The three Councilors, representing the Asari, Turian, and Salarian races, sat at the elevated platform in front, their expressions stoic and unreadable.

Saren Arterius stood in the middle of the chamber, unphased and calm, his piercing eyes scanning Shepard and the others with disdain. This hearing was a farce to him, a mere inconvenience. He had been a Spectre for decades, above the law and the scrutiny of any governing body, but today, things would be different.

Ambassador Udina stepped forward, his voice sharp and authoritative as he addressed the Council. “Councilors, the human race has brought forward irrefutable evidence of Saren’s betrayal. We demand you revoke his Spectre status and take action.”

The Asari Councilor leaned forward, her fingers steepled. “You bring serious accusations against a Spectre, Ambassador Udina. We require substantial proof before we consider such a request.”

Captain Anderson shot Saren a cold glance before turning to the Council. “We have that proof. Commander Shepard was on Eden Prime when the Geth attacked. Saren was there. And we have witnesses, evidence that ties him directly to the events.”

Shepard, his voice steady but resolute, stepped forward. “We have more than just word of mouth. Play the video.”

Tali stepped to the side, activating her omni-tool. The screen in the Council chambers flickered to life, showing a recording from a helmet cam on Eden Prime. The footage showed Nihlus Kryik and Saren meeting on a cliff overlooking the colony, exchanging a few words before Saren casually shot Nihlus in the back, the sound of the shot echoing in the video. The image paused on Saren’s face, his cold, calculating expression unmistakable.

The Salarian Councilor frowned, studying the video with narrowed eyes. “It does appear to be Saren… but this could be fabricated. The timing and the angle—”

“We’re not finished,” Shepard interrupted, his voice stern. “Tali has more evidence—an audio recording from a Geth data core. It was taken during a raid on a Geth outpost.”

Tali nodded, tapping a few more keys on her omni-tool, and the sound of Saren’s voice filled the chamber. His unmistakable, mechanical tones rang out, discussing the return of the Reapers and his plans with a mysterious figure—Matriarch Benezia.

Councilor Sparatus, the turian representative, leaned forward, his mandibles twitching. “This voice… Saren. Do you have an explanation for this?”

Saren, still calm, scoffed. “I don’t deny that it is my voice, but this is taken out of context. The Geth have been using my voice in propaganda for years. This is a forgery—fabricated evidence by the humans, who are clearly grasping at straws to tarnish my name.”

Shepard clenched his fists. The arrogance was palpable. “Out of context? You’re talking about bringing back the Reapers, Saren. The Geth follow you. The attacks on Eden Prime, the destruction—you’re behind all of it.”

The Asari Councilor’s eyes flicked between Shepard and Saren, clearly conflicted. “These are serious accusations, Saren. If true, they could have far-reaching consequences.”

Before the conversation could continue, the chamber doors hissed open. The tension in the room spiked as a familiar figure walked in—Nihlus Kryik.

Gasps echoed throughout the chamber as the Council members stared in shock. Nihlus, alive, battered but alive, strode forward, his face grim. The once-assumed-dead turian’s voice cut through the room like a blade.

“I’m not dead, Saren.”

Saren’s calm demeanor shattered, his eyes widening with a brief flicker of surprise before he quickly masked it with a sneer. “Nihlus… how?”

Nihlus stopped in front of the Council, his gaze focused solely on Saren. “You shot me in the back. Left me for dead on Eden Prime.”

Councilor Sparatus’ mandibles flared in shock. “Nihlus? You were presumed dead! We… we saw the footage—”

“I was fortunate,” Nihlus interrupted. “A portable shield generator saved me from a fatal shot, but I was knocked out for hours. When I woke, Eden Prime was in ruins, and Saren was gone. I managed to get a distress call out, and Shepard’s team found me.”

Shepard stepped forward, his eyes locked on Saren. “This is your betrayal, Saren. Nihlus is here, alive, and you can’t deny what you did.”

The turian Councilor stood, his expression hardening as he turned to Saren. “Explain yourself, Spectre.”

Saren’s calm façade began to crack. He sneered, the cold arrogance fading into something darker. “The Council has always been blind to the true threat. The Reapers are coming, and I will not let this pitiful alliance of species stand in the way of survival. You’re all too weak to understand what needs to be done.”

Councilor Tevos, the asari, rose slowly. “Saren, you have violated the very principles the Spectres were founded on. Your Spectre status is hereby revoked.”

Saren’s eyes glowed with barely contained fury. “You’re making a mistake. You’ll regret this. The Reapers are inevitable, and your ignorance will doom the galaxy.”

Before anyone could react, Saren’s omni-tool flickered, and in an instant, his hologram vanished, leaving the chamber silent in his wake.

Councilor Tevos sighed heavily. “Saren has gone rogue. The Council will issue a formal warrant for his arrest. Commander Shepard, you and your team are tasked with bringing him in.”

Shepard stepped forward, his voice resolute. “I’ll stop him. Whatever it takes.”

The Council exchanged glances before Councilor Sparatus nodded. “Then you have our full support, Commander. Saren must be brought to justice.”

As the Council adjourned, Shepard glanced at Nihlus, who was still standing, weary but resolute.

“Thank you,” Shepard said, meeting his gaze. “You just saved this investigation.”

Nihlus gave a tired smile. “I may have survived, but this fight is far from over. Saren isn’t just trying to save us from the Reapers. He’s using them for his own power.”

Shepard nodded grimly. “And we’ll stop him—together.”

Shepard's mind was racing, the weight of the recent events on Eden Prime still fresh. The vision from the Prothean beacon echoed in his thoughts, fragmented and unclear. The attack, the death, the destruction. The stakes were higher than ever now, and the galaxy was blind to the looming threat of the Reapers.

The asari Councilor, Tevos, stepped forward, her voice calm but authoritative. "Commander Shepard, the testimony and evidence you have brought before this Council is undeniable. Saren Arterius, once one of our most trusted Spectres, has gone rogue. His actions are a betrayal not only to us but to the principles the Spectres were founded upon."

Sparatus, the turian councilor, glanced at Tevos before speaking, his mandibles flaring slightly as he regarded Shepard with a neutral expression. "But we face a greater threat than just one rogue agent. The Reapers, as you have described them, pose a threat to all sentient life in the galaxy."

The salarian Councilor Valern adjusted his robes, his gaze sharp and analytical. "The Council has decided that in order to stop Saren and uncover the truth behind the Reapers, we need someone with both the courage and the resourcefulness to act outside the law. Someone who understands the gravity of this situation. You, Commander, have proven yourself worthy of this responsibility."

Tevos raised her hand slightly, her eyes locked on Shepard. "It is the unanimous decision of the Council to grant you the status of Spectre, Commander Shepard. You will be our first human Spectre."

The weight of the words hit Shepard like a punch to the gut. His jaw tightened, but he held his stance, standing tall as the room felt suddenly too small, too charged. His mind raced with the implications. Spectres operated with authority above the law, beyond conventional military rules. It was a responsibility—and a burden—few could bear.

Shepard’s gaze flicked to Captain Anderson, who gave him a subtle nod of approval. His mentor’s support bolstered him, reminding him of the trust placed in him by the people he respected most.

Ambassador Udina, standing beside Anderson, couldn’t hide his smug satisfaction, though it was clear this was a victory for humanity as much as it was for Shepard. His voice cut through the moment, though measured. “This is a great moment for humanity, Commander Shepard. You will represent us all in the eyes of the galaxy.”

Tevos, ignoring Udina’s interjection, continued. “From this day forward, you are a Spectre, an agent of the Council. You will be granted the autonomy to complete your mission as you see fit. No restrictions, no oversight.”

Sparatus stepped forward, extending his hand toward Shepard in a rare show of camaraderie from the typically stern turian. “We will be watching your progress, Commander. But the burden of your mission—Saren and the Reapers—falls on you now.”

Shepard met Sparatus’ gaze and shook his hand, feeling the weight of the galaxy settle on his shoulders. “I won’t let you down. Saren will be brought to justice, and if the Reapers are real, I’ll find a way to stop them.”

Valern nodded, his face thoughtful but firm. “We hope you’re right, Commander. The galaxy is counting on you.”

As the handshake ended, Tevos gestured to Nihlus Kryik, who had been standing silently nearby. Nihlus, now fully recovered from his injuries, stepped forward. His eyes met Shepard’s with respect. “Shepard. I knew you had potential when I first saw you on Eden Prime. Today, you’ve proven me right. The path ahead won’t be easy, but I have no doubt you’re the right one for this mission.”

Shepard appreciated the turian’s confidence in him, but the tension in the room made it clear that the Council’s trust was tentative at best. This wasn’t just a vote of confidence—it was an assignment of the highest importance.

Tevos raised her hand once more, signaling the end of the ceremony. “The Council will provide you with the necessary resources to begin your investigation. The Normandy is at your disposal, and we will remain in contact should you need further assistance.”

Sparatus’ voice cut in with a warning tone. “But remember, Shepard. As a Spectre, you answer to no one. This is both your greatest weapon and your greatest responsibility.”

Shepard gave a nod, knowing the weight of his new title. “I understand.”

The Councilors stepped back, the meeting adjourned. Udina, brimming with pride, turned to Shepard, his voice lowered but excited. “You did it, Shepard. Humanity’s first Spectre.”

Shepard didn’t respond right away, his thoughts still on the task ahead. “It’s just the beginning, Ambassador. Saren’s out there, and we need to find him before he gets too far.”

Captain Anderson clapped a hand on Shepard’s shoulder, his voice steady. “I believe in you, Shepard. You’re ready for this.”

As Shepard turned to leave the Council Chambers, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this was a turning point not just for him, but for the entire galaxy. Saren was out there, and the Reapers were looming in the background—a dark, insidious threat.

But now, as a Spectre, Shepard had the authority and the means to act. And with his crew behind him, there was nothing that would stop him from uncovering the truth.

Chapter Text

SSV Normandy – Docked at the Citadel– Date: Classified
Personal log Staff Lt. Kaidan Alenko – Classified Ultra-Black and Encrypted

Personal log… entry number… hell, I’ve lost track at this point. Feels like days are blurring together since we left the Citadel.

We’re back aboard the Normandy now. Shepard… Commander Shepard… is officially a Spectre. First human Spectre in history. I was there when the Council announced it. Standing off to the side while they made the whole thing sound like a great honor and not the political chess move it really is.

Still, watching Shepard stand there—shoulders squared, jaw set like stone—you’d think he was born for this. Like he was carved out of leadership and stubborn willpower.

And I… yeah… I was proud.

I shouldn’t let it get to me. Not like this.

But every time I’m near him… every time I catch a whiff of him in the hallway or brush shoulders by accident during a debrief… something inside me sparks. It’s stupid, really. Unprofessional. But it’s not just about being an Omega or instinct or scent triggers. It’s more than that. The way he handles himself. The way he looks at people—not down at them, but through the bullshit, like he’s always ten moves ahead but still willing to bleed beside us when it counts.

And when he looks at me… I feel seen. Fully. Not like an officer. Not like another file in the personnel database. Just… me.

Damn it, Kaidan. Focus.

We’ve got a mission now. Saren’s out there, and it’s not just about chasing a rogue Spectre anymore. This is bigger. Ancient technology, Council politics, and whispers of something worse waiting on the horizon.

I should call home soon. Check in with everyone.

Mom and Dad are probably glued to Alliance news feeds, trying to read between the lines about why I’m on a Spectre’s ship. My little brother will want every combat story I can safely tell without violating three levels of clearance. And my sister… she’ll just be happy to know I’m still breathing. She always worries too much. Funny how I used to be the one protecting them when we were kids.

Now they’re all adults with their own lives, and I’m halfway across the galaxy, chasing a ghost.

I miss them more than I want to admit.

And I know… I know Mom will ask if I’ve met someone. She always does. She’s good at reading me. Too good sometimes.

How the hell do I even explain… this? Whatever this thing between me and Shepard is turning into.

It’s not like we’ve crossed any lines yet. Nothing physical. But there’s this... pull. A gravitational shift whenever we’re in the same room. And the way he watches me when he thinks I’m not looking… yeah. He feels it too. I know he does.

But until this mission is done, until we stop Saren… it’s just one more thing I’ll bottle up.

One more thing to survive for.

Anyway. 

End log.

SSV Normandy – Docked at the Citadel– Date: Classified
Personal log Commander John Shepard. – Classified Ultra-Black and Encrypted

Personal log. Commander John Shepard.

I don’t even know where to start with this one.

It’s official now. I’m a Spectre.

Council made it sound like a triumph. Like some grand step forward for humanity. First human Spectre in history—history books will love that. But standing there in the Council chamber, with every eye on me, all I could think about was how political this all really is. This wasn’t about me. This was about optics. About leverage. About control.

They want a human Spectre? Fine. I’ll give them one. But I’m not playing by their script.

I don’t owe the Council anything. My loyalty’s with my crew. My people. The ones out there fighting and bleeding for this mission.

Speaking of which… I’ve been watching Kaidan more lately. More than I probably should.

Every mission, every debrief, every moment of downtime… he’s there. Steady. Reliable. Always giving more than he has to, always the first to put himself between danger and the rest of us. The kind of man you want watching your six in a firefight—and maybe more than that, if I’m honest with myself.

And I’m trying to be honest.

It’s more than instinct. More than just… Alpha/Omega biology messing with my head. He’s sharp. Grounded. Compassionate in ways I’m still figuring out. There’s this quiet strength in him, like steel under velvet. You wouldn’t know it at first glance, but once you see it… it’s impossible to ignore.

And the way he looks at me sometimes… like he’s trying not to let himself hope.

God, I want to close the distance between us. Feel him. Claim him. Hell, just hold him for five minutes without the galaxy crashing down around us.

But there’s still Saren. Still the Reapers. Still, whatever the hell is coming that none of us are ready for.

So I keep the distance.

For now.

We’re heading out again soon. The Normandy’s already prepping for the next jump. More leads to chase. More places to search. And every day we wait, Saren gets further ahead.

But I’ll find him.

I don’t care what I have to do.

My mera and sire should probably hear about me being a Spectre from me and not from the Alliance Brass and the media.  I should really call her.  Jane is another story, maybe I will just leave her to flounder with the information. 

This is bigger than me. Bigger than Kaidan. Bigger than any of us.

And yet… when I catch his scent in the corridor—coffee, chocolate, cherries, and something else I can’t name—I remember there’s something worth fighting for.

For now… I focus on the mission.

But when this is over… when the galaxy finally stops trying to kill us for five damn minutes…

We’re going to have that talk.

End log.

Chapter Text

SSV Normandy - Knossos System - Shepard

The Normandy glided smoothly through the shadow of the Knossos System, stars gleaming faintly through the viewport as Commander Shepard stood just behind Joker in the cockpit. The faint, familiar hum of the engines buzzed underfoot as Joker handled the descent with his usual easy confidence, fingers tapping deftly across the controls.

Ahead, the system's star cast a reddish glow, a blood-orange smear across the blackness of space. It illuminated the rocky planet below them, painting it in hues of deep brown and copper. This was Therum, a world both unwelcoming and strangely beautiful in its starkness. Rugged mountains stretched like twisted fingers across the surface, the jagged formations cast in harsh shadows from the dimming sun. The surface was littered with deep gorges, thermal geysers, and the telltale metallic shimmer of deposits—Therum’s renowned mineral wealth gleaming like veins through the crust.

Shepard took in the view, exhaling slowly. This wasn’t going to be a peaceful landing.

Joker glanced back at Shepard, his tone dry as ever. “Therum…not exactly a vacation spot, huh, Commander?”

Shepard managed a brief smile. “We’re here for a scientist, not the scenery. But if we’re lucky, we won’t have to do much digging.”

Joker scoffed. “Yeah, sure, Commander. It’s not like there’s a whole mining colony or a mercenary force likely between us and your Prothean expert.”

Shepard leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the planet. “Just get us down there in one piece, Joker. I’ll handle the mercenaries.”

Once they cleared orbit, Shepard and his team assembled near the Mako, preparing for the descent onto Therum’s surface. The mission briefing echoed in Shepard’s head. They were to locate Dr. Liara T’Soni, an archaeologist studying Prothean technology, who might hold the key to understanding the Reapers. It was a lead he couldn’t afford to lose, especially with Saren one step ahead of them.

The Mako’s engines roared as it exited the Normandy’s bay, landing with a harsh, metallic thud on the rocky terrain. They were immediately greeted by the dry, acrid smell of sulfur and scorched minerals. The planet’s atmosphere carried a thick, almost burning odor, intensified by the geothermal activity seething beneath the ground. Shepard could smell it even through the filters of his helmet—hot and bitter, mingled with the faint scent of iron and ash.

Kaidan's voice crackled over the comm, the slight strain in his tone hinting at the tension shared by them all. “Commander, geothermal readings are off the charts. This place is boiling.”

Shepard looked out over the landscape, the red-tinged haze rising from crevices and fissures that crisscrossed the ground. Streams of molten rock flowed sluggishly across the rocky terrain, pulsing like sluggish veins. In the distance, ash clouds rose from the peaks of towering mountains, dispersing as they mixed with the planet’s thin, gritty air.

The ground beneath them was cracked and brittle, splintered by centuries of tectonic activity. Shepard could feel the subtle vibrations through the soles of his boots, a deep, unsettling reminder of how unstable this world was. The silence was only broken by the faint hiss and pop of cooling magma, like the planet itself was breathing, slow and menacing.

Ashley adjusted her rifle, her eyes sweeping across the stark horizon. “Can’t say I’m loving the neighborhood. Keep your eyes peeled, everyone.”

The Mako’s sensors blipped, and Joker’s voice filtered in through their earpieces. “Alright, Shepard. You’ve got a straight shot to the mining site, but it’s crawling with Geth signatures. Looks like our rogue Spectre tipped them off.”

Shepard’s jaw tightened. “Figures Saren would send his lackeys. Alright, everyone—mount up. We’re not letting them get in our way.”

With a nod to his team, Shepard climbed back into the Mako, feeling the adrenaline kick in. As they began to move forward, navigating through the jagged paths and sharp drops, Shepard’s senses were on high alert. His heartbeat thudded in his ears, punctuated by the steady hum of the Mako’s engine. He could feel the weight of the mission pressing on him—the need to find Dr. T’Soni, to secure a lead on Saren and the Reapers.

The planet loomed around them, inhospitable and raw, every crack and crevice a reminder of its hostile nature. And as the Mako powered forward into the unknown, Shepard knew that they were in for one hell of a fight.

Shepard crouched low behind a rock formation, his team at his side. The air on Therum was thick with the stink of sulfur and the metallic tang of scorched rock and ash. Fissures dotted the ground, spewing out faint wisps of smoke that curled upward and disappeared into the hazy sky. In the distance, the glow of lava flows threw an ominous red light across the landscape, bathing the Geth units in a flickering, hellish glow as they patrolled near the facility entrance.

"Ready?" Shepard’s voice was low but steady, his gaze never leaving the Geth units up ahead.

"Ready, Commander," Kaidan replied, his fingers crackling faintly with biotic energy as he steadied his stance.

Ashley gave a quick nod, eyes sharp. “Let’s get this done.”

Shepard took a deep breath, then motioned for them to move. In a fluid motion, they emerged from cover, weapons raised. The first Geth spotted them immediately, its optics flashing a brighter blue as it let out a mechanical whirr, summoning the others into formation. Plasma fire erupted, sizzling through the air as Shepard darted forward, dodging to the side. He could feel the intense heat as a shot grazed past him, almost close enough to singe his armor.

He raised his assault rifle and fired, the rounds slamming into the Geth’s chest. Sparks exploded from its plating, and it staggered backward, struggling to keep upright. Shepard seized the opportunity, closing the gap and delivering a crushing punch to its arm joint. The metal buckled under the force, and with a grating screech, the Geth’s arm dangled uselessly by its side. Before it could react, Shepard drove an elbow into its head module, smashing circuits and optics in a crackling burst of light. The Geth dropped to the ground, limbs twitching as its systems failed.

“Behind you, Commander!” Kaidan called out, flinging a wave of biotic energy to knock another Geth off-balance. Shepard spun, catching sight of the mechanical soldier attempting to flank him.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he delivered a hard knee to the Geth’s midsection, feeling the metal cave beneath his strike. Kaidan was at his side, hands raised as he focused his biotics, holding the Geth in place just long enough for Shepard to grab it by the shoulder joint. With a sharp, twisting motion, he snapped it downward, shearing the limb clean off. Sparks and synthetic fluids sprayed out as the Geth crumpled to the ground, its systems failing.

“Commander, left side!” Ashley shouted, her rifle’s muzzle flashing as she picked off another Geth that was moving to their flank. Her sniper rounds punctured through the Geth’s head module, sending it stumbling back, optics flickering before it slumped down in a heap.

Another Geth, larger than the others, stepped forward—a Destroyer-class unit with a plasma cannon mounted on its arm. The weapon charged with a deep hum, the sound building to a piercing whine as it prepared to fire. Shepard ducked, rolling to the side just as the cannon unleashed a searing blast of plasma that melted the rock behind him.

He came up beneath the Destroyer’s arm, ducking under its next swing. With a powerful strike, he drove his fist into the joint where the arm met the torso, hearing a sickening crunch as the armor plating buckled. The Destroyer lurched, its weapon arm now hanging limp, and Shepard used the momentum to grab hold of its head module, slamming it down into the ground. The metal split open with a screech, coolant and circuitry spilling out as the Destroyer collapsed.

Breathing heavily, Shepard scanned the battlefield, catching sight of a Geth Trooper moving in on Kaidan. Before it could fire, Kaidan raised a glowing biotic barrier, deflecting the shots that ricocheted off in all directions. The Trooper hesitated, trying to recalibrate, but Kaidan was faster—he flung a biotic burst that yanked it off the ground, the Geth’s limbs flailing helplessly in midair.
Shepard took the chance, surging forward and driving his shoulder into the Geth’s chest, pinning it against the rock wall. He gritted his teeth as he brought his fists down hard on its midsection, feeling the metal cave under each strike. A final, forceful punch shattered the control module, and the Geth’s optics dimmed as it fell limp.

To their right, Ashley took aim at another approaching Geth, her rifle sending precision shots that punctured its armor with brutal efficiency. Her accuracy was surgical, every shot finding its mark. “Nice shooting, Chief!” Shepard called over, nodding approvingly as he watched her take down the last of their assailants. Ashley gave a quick salute, a smirk flashing across her face as she reloaded, her stance steady and unflinching.

The final Geth—a scout with a streamlined frame—locked onto Kaidan, optics glinting with a cold, mechanical light. Shepard moved swiftly, stepping in between them as it raised its weapon. Before it could fire, Shepard grabbed its rifle arm, twisting it with brutal force until the joint shattered with a metallic snap. The Geth stuttered, a garbled mechanical whine escaping it, but Shepard didn’t let up. With a swift, powerful kick to its midsection, he sent the Geth crashing backward, its body breaking apart against the rocky ground.

The battlefield fell silent as the last of the Geth lay broken and sparking across the rock-strewn ground. Shepard straightened, his breaths deep and controlled as he took in the aftermath. The ground was littered with shattered limbs and broken pieces of metal, the remnants of their synthetic foes now scattered and lifeless.

“Everyone alright?” Shepard asked, glancing over at his team.

Ashley lowered her weapon, giving him a thumbs-up. “Still kicking, Commander. No way I’d let those tin cans get the best of us.”

Kaidan brushed a bit of coolant from his armor, nodding. “We’re good. I think they know not to mess with us now.”

Shepard smirked, satisfied. “Good. Stay sharp—we still have to reach Dr. T’Soni, and who knows how many more of them are waiting for us.”

The team gave quick, affirming nods as they reformed their positions. With a final glance at the remains of the Geth, Shepard turned and led the way forward, pressing deeper into Therum’s harsh terrain, the broken bodies of the Geth left in their wake.

The mine was dark and oppressively hot, the walls damp and slick with condensation that mixed with the sharp, metallic tang of sulfur in the air. The low rumble of machinery echoed in the distance, vibrating through the rock walls, and faint hisses from nearby steam vents broke the silence intermittently. Shepard stepped cautiously, his senses heightened, his gaze scanning the uneven shadows cast by the facility’s dying overhead lights.

He signaled for Kaidan and Ashley to keep low as they made their way deeper into the mine, weapons at the ready. They had finally reached the area where their scans indicated Dr. Liara T’Soni was located, but so far, all they could see were empty hallways and abandoned mining equipment.

Then, echoing down the metal-laden hallways, they heard it—a faint, muffled voice. The words were indistinct but filled with a mixture of panic and determination. Shepard tilted his head, listening closely. It was a voice he hadn’t heard before, but it was unmistakably alive and trapped.

“Shepard, sounds like it’s coming from ahead,” Kaidan murmured, nodding toward a narrow corridor. They followed the sound, weaving through twists and turns, until finally, they emerged into a cavernous room. There, encased within a bluish, humming security field, stood a young Asari woman with pale blue skin and dark markings along her forehead. She looked visibly relieved as she spotted them, her tense shoulders relaxing just slightly.

“Hello? Can you hear me?” Her voice was both urgent and cautious, resonating through the mine's stale air.

Shepard raised a hand, indicating his team to hold. He approached, his voice steady and calm. “Dr. T’Soni? I’m Commander Shepard with the Systems Alliance. We’re here to get you out.”

The Asari’s eyes widened with relief. “Yes! Yes, I’m Liara. Please, I— I didn’t think anyone would come. The Geth… they came out of nowhere, and the field went up before I could escape.”

Shepard nodded, examining the security field. The hum was low but persistent, and every so often it emitted a spark that shot off with a hiss and a smell of burning ozone. “Sit tight, Doctor. We’ll find a way to disable this thing. Just hold on.”

“Thank you,” Liara said, her voice softening with visible gratitude. “Please be careful. The field—it’s set to repel anything organic that tries to breach it. I don’t want any of you getting hurt.”

Ashley crouched down beside a nearby control panel, her hands brushing off the dust. “Commander, this system’s a mess. Whoever set this up wanted to keep something—or someone—in here.” She glanced toward Liara, her brow furrowed. “Doctor, were they after you specifically?”

Liara nodded, her expression clouded. “I believe so. I was researching the Protheans, their technology, and… other things that might not be safe to discuss just now. My findings may have led them here.”

Shepard clenched his jaw. The Council had clearly underestimated what Cerberus and others might know about the Protheans. “We’ll talk more once we’re out of here. Can you tell us anything about this field?”

Liara considered this. “There should be a control station deeper in the facility. I think if you disable that, it might lower the field.”

Shepard glanced at his team, then nodded. “Alright. Kaidan, Ashley—keep an eye out for more Geth patrols. Doctor, we’ll be right back.”

Liara gave him a hesitant nod. “I’ll be waiting. Thank you… really.”

Shepard turned, leading Kaidan and Ashley out of the chamber and back down the corridor, keeping his senses on high alert. They slipped through the twisting halls, past ancient mining equipment that hummed faintly with residual energy. The place reeked of machinery and dust, the air thick and tinged with sulfur. Each step echoed against the walls, every sound amplified in the silence of the mine.

Finally, they reached a control room. The control panel was blinking with status warnings, one of which matched the security field’s energy signature. Kaidan moved to the controls, working quickly to shut it down. “Just a few more seconds, Commander,” he muttered.

But then, metallic footsteps sounded from the far side of the hall. Shepard turned sharply, his weapon raised as two Geth troopers appeared, optics flashing as they detected the intruders. He gave a swift hand signal to Ashley, and they opened fire, bullets ripping into the Geth’s shields with a burst of sparks and shattered armor. Kaidan remained focused, his biotics flaring around him in a blue glow as he worked.

Finally, with a final tap, Kaidan hit the shutdown command. “Got it! That should lower the field,” he said, turning back to help with the fight.

Shepard pressed on, downing the last Geth as the security field back in Liara’s chamber gave a high-pitched whine, flickered, and then faded. Shepard’s heart raced as he turned back, sprinting through the corridors to where Liara was waiting.

When they returned, Liara stepped forward, smiling in relief, her eyes filled with gratitude. “You did it! Thank you… I’ve been trapped here for hours. I didn’t know if I’d ever get out.”

Shepard nodded, holding her gaze for a moment. “You’re safe now. But we need to move fast—this place is swarming with Geth, and we don’t want to be around when they reinforce.”

Liara nodded, her face resolute as she moved to follow. “I’ll go with you. My research, my findings… they’re valuable, and I’ll help however I can.”

With a final glance at his team, Shepard turned, leading them out of the mine. The sounds of faint echoes and shifting rock walls surrounded them, but this time, with Liara safely in tow, the harsh air felt just a little bit lighter.

The mining facility’s rugged approach was filled with rubble, the heavy scent of sulfur and scorched metal hanging in the air. The heat from the volcanic landscape pressed down on them, making every breath thick and every movement feel more taxing. Shepard’s eyes darted between the craggy rocks and the narrow pathways leading up to the facility. They had saved Dr. Liara T’Soni from the security field, but the price for their intrusion was already steep: the Geth reinforcements were pouring in, and they’d picked up Krogan mercenaries to help them hold the ground.

As they moved forward, a mechanical clank echoed in the distance, getting louder by the second. Shepard held up a fist, signaling the squad to halt.

“Geth mechs, coming in from the right flank,” Kaidan reported, his voice tense but steady. “I count two. Probably more out of sight.”

“Acknowledged,” Shepard said, nodding toward Ashley, who had taken position on his left, her assault rifle raised.

“Get ready,” he whispered to the group, his senses heightening as they prepared for the impending assault.

A metallic screech tore through the air, and a pair of hulking Geth mechs rounded the corner, their optics blazing in the red light of the planet’s volatile atmosphere. Behind them, Shepard caught sight of a few Krogan mercenaries, bellowing as they charged forward, their armor glinting and weapons already primed.

“Open fire!” Shepard ordered, and the team launched into action.

Ashley took the lead, firing off a precise burst that struck one of the Geth mechs in its torso, sending sparks flying as the bullets tore through metal plating. The mech staggered, but it quickly stabilized, redirecting its attention to her. Shepard dropped into a low crouch, firing off a series of rounds that pounded into the second Geth’s joint, crippling its movement.

Kaidan’s biotics flared as he lifted a nearby chunk of rock with a sweep of his hand and sent it flying toward a Krogan mercenary charging in from the side. The rock struck the Krogan in the chest, causing him to stumble back before he regained his footing, fury evident in his gaze. Kaidan didn’t hesitate—he charged forward, aiming for the weak spots in the Krogan’s armor with calculated precision. He dodged a swing of the Krogan’s shotgun and brought his fist down in a biotically-enhanced punch against the Krogan’s knee joint. The crack of armor and bone reverberated through the air as the Krogan roared in pain, collapsing to the ground in a heap.

Another Geth mech advanced on Liara, who had just begun to steady herself. She raised her hand, summoning a powerful singularity that crackled and hissed, pulling in chunks of rock and metal. The Geth flailed in the gravitational field she created, circuits sparking as it was twisted and compressed. With a final flick of her wrist, the singularity imploded, tearing the Geth apart in a rain of metal shards.

“Nice work, Liara!” Shepard called over his shoulder as he dodged a blast from another Geth mech, rolling to cover behind a large boulder. He felt the heat of the shot as it struck where he had just been standing, melting the stone with a sizzling hiss.

Suddenly, a Krogan rushed him from the left, the mercenary snarling as he bore down with his shotgun. Shepard barely had time to react; he ducked beneath the Krogan’s initial swing and aimed a brutal punch at the back of its knee. The impact sent a shudder through Shepard’s arm, but it was enough to make the Krogan stagger. Shepard seized the opportunity, driving his knee into the Krogan’s unarmored side, sending him sprawling to the ground with a grunt.

Ashley stepped up, firing a powerful burst into the Krogan’s back while it was down, the armor splintering under the onslaught until the mercenary lay still.

“Geth, twelve o’clock!” Kaidan shouted, turning his attention to a group of Geth reinforcements moving in from their front.

The team regrouped, falling into a defensive position as the Geth mechs advanced. Shepard’s senses were sharp, his every move calculated as he directed his squad’s firepower. The air was thick with the stench of gunpowder and the sizzle of overheated circuits, and the weight of the planet’s heat bore down on them, sweat slicking his forehead beneath his helmet.

Liara, beside him, raised her hand once more, summoning another biotic attack that sent a group of the advancing Geth into disarray, scattering them across the battlefield. She was breathing heavily, her expression focused and resolute.

One Geth mech managed to close the distance, swinging a metal arm down toward Shepard. He sidestepped the attack, reaching out to grip the mech’s arm and twist it sharply. The machine’s arm sparked and snapped, and with a final shove, Shepard forced it to the ground, crushing its optic under his boot.

More Krogan mercenaries charged from the rear, their guttural roars echoing through the rocky canyon. Kaidan moved to intercept, his biotic abilities flaring as he lifted two of them off the ground, slamming them into each other with a bone-shattering force. Ashley provided cover fire, her bullets hitting the Krogan with deadly accuracy, leaving them writhing in pain on the scorched ground.

As the dust began to settle, Shepard took a moment to catch his breath, glancing around at the remnants of the battlefield. The broken bodies of the Geth mechs littered the ground, metal plating scorched and circuits flickering.

Liara approached him, wiping a smear of dirt from her face. “Is it… is it always this intense?” she asked, looking both shocked and exhilarated.

Shepard gave her a faint smile. “Welcome to the team, Liara. That was just the warm-up.” He motioned to the path ahead. “Come on. We’ve still got more work to do.” 

And together, they pressed forward, leaving behind the debris of the battle and moving on to whatever challenges awaited them next.

Chapter Text

SSV Normandy - Orbit Planet Therum - Shepard

The Normandy’s shuttle doors hissed open, and Shepard stepped inside, glancing back to ensure everyone had made it aboard. Kaidan followed right behind him, helmet tucked under his arm, looking just as relieved to be off Therum’s blistering surface. Liara entered last, eyes scanning the sleek interior of the shuttle, her curiosity evident even after everything they’d just been through.

The ship gave a slight lurch as Joker took them up, his voice crackling through the intercom.

“Welcome back, Commander. Nice to see you brought company. I’m all warmed up and ready to get us out of here.”

Shepard tapped his comm. “Good timing, Joker. Let’s leave the volcanic sauna before anything else tries to shoot us.”

Kaidan smirked as he leaned back against the shuttle wall. “You don’t miss that place already, Commander? Lava pits, Geth, endless krogan—it was practically a vacation spot.”

Shepard shot him a sidelong glance, returning the smirk. “You forgot the smell. Like scorched metal mixed with, I don’t know, burning sulfur.”

Kaidan chuckled. “I’m sure some people pay good money for volcanic spas. Just missing a few amenities… like breathable air.” He shook his head, then added, “I’ll admit, though, I could do without the smell for a while.”

Liara looked between them, brow furrowed in mild confusion. It took her a moment to realize they were joking, but then a small, hesitant smile formed. “You humans have an interesting way of looking at things. Most people wouldn’t find humor after facing down an army of Geth.”

Shepard shrugged. “Trust me, Liara, if we didn’t laugh about it, we’d go insane. You’ll get used to it. Besides, there’s always more where that came from.”
As if on cue, the Normandy’s engines rumbled beneath their feet, carrying them away from Therum’s unforgiving surface. The shuttle bay doors sealed shut behind them, locking the heat and dust of the mining world outside.

A few minutes later, Shepard, Kaidan, and Liara made their way up to the cockpit. Joker swiveled in his chair, one hand still on the flight controls, his usual smirk firmly in place.

“Well, if it isn’t the hero of Therum and his merry band. Dr. T’Soni, I presume?” He gave a mock salute in Liara’s direction.

Liara blinked at him, wide-eyed. “Yes, that’s me. And you must be the pilot. Commander Shepard has mentioned your skill.”

Joker grinned and shot a glance at Shepard. “Oh, he did, did he? Glad to know my reputation’s making the rounds.”

Shepard raised an eyebrow, amused. “Don’t let it go to your head, Joker. We still need you focused.”

“Don’t worry, Commander, I’m focused,” Joker assured him. “If I can handle dodging Geth frigates, I think I can keep us on course.”

Shepard turned to Kaidan and nudged him lightly. “See, Alenko? That’s called confidence.”

Kaidan smirked. “Is that what we’re calling it? I thought it was called a death wish.”

“Hey!” Joker protested, throwing a hand over his heart in mock offense. “My death wishes are highly calculated, thank you very much.” He straightened, mock-serious. “It’s an art.”

Kaidan rolled his eyes, but Shepard chuckled. “Just make sure we don’t end up as a cautionary tale.”

Joker turned back to the controls, still grinning. “No promises.”

As the Normandy broke free from Therum’s atmosphere, the blue shimmer of the Mass Relay came into view. Shepard watched the swirling energy of the relay for a moment, the familiar sight giving him a brief sense of calm. They were back in safe territory, at least for now. But the weight in his chest told him that this mission was far from over.

Liara’s voice pulled him from his thoughts.

“Commander… I wanted to thank you. For everything. You saved my life down there.”

Shepard turned to her, his expression softening. “You’re part of the team now, Liara. We look out for each other.”

She nodded, taking a deep breath as if steadying herself. “I’ll do my best to earn my place here.”

Kaidan gave her a reassuring nod. “Trust me, Liara, you’ll fit right in. We’re just getting started.”

Shepard crossed his arms, his gaze drifting back to the relay ahead of them. “Yeah,” he murmured. “Just getting started.”

The soft hum of the Normandy’s engines was a comforting background as Commander Shepard stood at the front of the briefing room, gathering his team. He glanced around, noting the eager anticipation on everyone’s faces. Garrus, with his arms crossed, looked especially keen for any news about Saren’s recent activities. Tali, ever inquisitive, shifted her eyes between him and Liara, her curiosity apparent.

As the team settled into their seats, Shepard motioned for Liara to join him at the front of the room.

“Everyone, meet Dr. Liara T’Soni,” Shepard began, his voice steady. “She’s an archaeologist specializing in Prothean research. We just pulled her out of a tough spot on Therum, and I believe she’ll be an invaluable asset to the team.”

Liara nodded, a little nervous but maintaining a polite smile as she made eye contact with each of them in turn.

“Hello, everyone,” she said softly. “I’m grateful for your rescue, and I hope my knowledge can be of use. I know we have a common enemy in Saren, and… well, I’ll do whatever I can to help you stop him.”

Ashley leaned forward, her arms folded across her chest. “Glad to have you with us, Doctor. Anyone with insight into Saren’s tactics and the Protheans is welcome in my book.”

Garrus nodded, his sharp gaze not leaving Liara. “Agreed. If Saren’s interested in the Protheans, then it’s probably worth paying attention to.”

Tali tilted her head thoughtfully, her voice soft but direct. “Dr. T’Soni, you must have encountered a lot of data about the Protheans. Anything that could help us figure out why Saren wants that beacon so badly?”

Liara’s expression grew more serious as she looked to Shepard, almost as if asking permission to elaborate. Shepard nodded slightly, encouraging her to continue.

“That’s exactly why I wanted to speak with Commander Shepard,” Liara said, turning back to the team. “I believe there’s something… unusual about the beacon’s message. I’ve spent my career studying the Protheans, and I may be able to help decipher it, if you’ll allow me to try.” She looked to Shepard directly. “Commander, would you mind telling me what you remember seeing when you interacted with the beacon?”

Shepard crossed his arms, his brow furrowing as the memories of the beacon’s vision came rushing back—flashbacks of violence, chaos, and the eerie feeling of doom that had settled in his bones on

Eden Prime. He stared at the floor for a moment before speaking.

“It’s hard to describe,” Shepard said, his voice low. “Images, flashes of violence… synthetics slaughtering people, a sense of… doom. I don’t know how else to put it. Whatever it is, it’s like a warning.”
Liara’s brow furrowed as she nodded, clearly processing his description.

“I was afraid of that,” she murmured. “I’ve come across mentions of the Protheans communicating through visions, what they called ‘data imprints.’ They could store thoughts, memories, warnings, even emotions directly into these beacons.” She hesitated, her voice tinged with unease. “The warning you saw… it may be more than just a record of their extinction. It could also be tied to something called the Conduit.”

Kaidan straightened in his seat, glancing at Shepard with concern, the name “Conduit” clearly striking a chord with him.

“The Conduit?” Kaidan asked. “That’s something we haven’t heard much about, but it came up in the audio logs Tali found with Saren and Matriarch Benezia. They mentioned it… but they didn’t say what it was.”

Garrus leaned forward, crossing his arms with a quiet intensity. “And you think it’s somehow connected to the Protheans? Or just to the beacons?”
Liara took a deep breath, collecting her thoughts before responding.

“I think the Conduit is central to whatever Saren’s planning,” she said. “From what I’ve studied, it might be a sort of Prothean relic, a way of unlocking their technology, or even… perhaps… a way to harness it for his own goals.”

Ashley leaned forward, her gaze sharp. “So, we’re saying Saren’s trying to unlock some ancient tech that could spell disaster for the rest of us? Sounds like a classic villain move if you ask me.”

Shepard nodded, his voice steady, despite the weight of the implications. “If the Conduit’s connected to the Protheans, and Saren’s after it, then we need to find it first. Liara, anything you can tell us—anything about where the Protheans may have hidden it, or where it might be mentioned in their data—could be the difference between us stopping him and us arriving too late.”

Liara met Shepard’s gaze, her face softening with a look of quiet determination. “I’ll do everything I can to help, Commander. I may not have all the answers, but I know the Protheans left clues scattered across the galaxy. If we follow those clues, maybe we can find the Conduit before Saren does.”

Tali shifted in her seat, looking between Liara and Shepard. “And the Geth? They’re not going to make this easy. Saren controls them, and they’ll throw everything they’ve got at us to keep us from that Conduit.”

Shepard glanced around the room, his gaze lingering on each squad member in turn, the weight of their mission pressing on him.

“The Geth, Saren, any merc he hires—they’re all obstacles. But we’ve got something they don’t have.” Shepard’s gaze hardened as he spoke.

Kaidan smirked, his voice teasing. “A team that actually works together?”

Shepard smiled, but it was the kind of smile that came with resolve, the kind that came from the understanding of what they were about to face together. “Exactly. And one that’s getting better every day. So let’s get to work. Liara, you’ve got a lot of catching up to do. We’ll fill you in on everything we know about Saren’s movements.”

Liara nodded, her eyes grateful. “Thank you, Commander. I won’t let you down.”

With a determined nod from Shepard, the briefing ended. The team dispersed, each one ready to take on the next step in their mission, united in their resolve.

Chapter Text

SSV Normandy – Slipspace en-route to the Citadel– Date: Classified
Personal log Staff Lt. Kaidan Alenko – Classified Ultra-Black and Encrypted 

What the hell.  That fucking last mission was fucked up.  Shooting geth and krogan on a Hell Planet (Classification 9).  The thing that would have made the whole thing worse was if the air was toxic.  At least we didn’t have to use helmets and re-breathers.  Actually that might have helped me.   

That intoxicating scent of rain and sea was overwhelming each time I got near him almost got me killed.  I know that during a part of the mission when he helped me, I let out a gods damn needy omegan whine. If that fucking Prothean geneticist was not long dead, I would kill him myself for doing this to me.   

Over the last few missions, I have felt more attracted to the man.  His scent has become more potent over the last few weeks.  As much as it pains me to admit I am pretty sure he knows I am attracted to him since I am sure that during the fighting that he could smell that I was getting aroused over the fact that he proved he could protect me and any of our children.

WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH ME???  Children… where the hell did that come from.  I have never thought about having kids before, but this man is fucking with my head in every way.  SO, I REPEAT WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH ME?  

I should probably talk to a therapist at some point.   

I admit I am attracted to him but acting needy and baring my neck to the man was not what I had in mind.  I will admit that Shepard is a strong Alpha and would most likely be able to protect me and any children we have, and that damned scent he carries that screams HOME to me.  

That is what is fucking with me the most.  He reminds me of the safe and home feeling that I have when I think of Vancouver.  

When we got back to the ship, I almost threw myself at the man.  I do not know how much longer I can keep this up.  I keep wanting to just jump the man and let him take me, mark me, and claim me.  I am going to hell for wanting my CO.  

I am sure that Shepard wants me too because I can smell arousal when I am around him.  I wonder what I smell like to him.  The dreams I have been having of the man are most likely not helping matters either.  WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME, RIGHT NOW?

END LOG

SSV Normandy – Slipspace en-route to the Citadel– Date: Classified
Personal log Commander John Shepard – Classified Ultra-Black and Encrypted

Therum sucks, would highly recommend not going there for a vacation.  Molten lava flows and active volcanoes are one thing I wouldn’t want to have to deal with all the time.  What possessed the protheans to build anything on such a planet is beyond me.  I guess that the planet had changed over the last 50,000 years, but it shouldn’t have changed that much.

We picked up Liara T’soni while she was trapped in a security field.  It was funny to see her reactions when I was able to get her out and turn off the security devices with a few commands to my omni tool and a few prothean words I was told to memorize if I ever ran across the technology.  

The Alliance had run across a prison that had been created by them a few decades back and learned how to operate their security fields.  Funny enough they all had the same security on them.  No individual codes needed, which considering how the empire was very militaristic seemed to be a bit of a security risk to not have individual codes.  

I flagged the location for the Alliance to take a look, but I do not think anything/will come of it, since the krogan that had been chasing Liara decided to cause a seismic event.  This caused the entire complex to collapse.  Lava started poring in and evacuating through churning molten lava wasn’t as fun as any vids had said it would be.  

Kaidan was pinned down at one point by a krogan throwing things at his hiding place while his personal shield was recharging.  After I had used a short sword to cut the korgan down something happened.  It was faint, and just barely hit my hears with the wind blowing in my direction, but I heard it, Kaidan let out a needy whine, one that caused me to growl deeply in approval.  

This attraction is getting out of hand.  I am not sure how much more I can take before one of us gives.  I can smell his arousal when he is near me, and its getting stronger.  

Uggg….

I will admit that I find him attractive.  His scent was what lead to the immediate attraction at first, but looking into  those eyes.  It was his eyes that pulls me in more than his scent.  I have never really met anyone that had eyes that reminded me of whiskey and honey.  They were soft when he was being nurturing towards the crew, but during battle they were sharp and intense.  It is a good combination to have in a mate.

END LOG

Chapter Text

Normandy SR-1 – Slipspace En-route to Ferros - Shepard 

Shepard had always been good at juggling responsibilities, but lately, with Saren, the Reapers, and the constant pressure from the Council and the Alliance, even he felt stretched thin.
Luckily, he had Athena.

“Commander,” the Normandy’s AI spoke in her smooth, measured tone, “you have three crew interactions pending. Tali is in the engineering office and has flagged you for discussion regarding the

Normandy’s filters. Garrus is in the armory, currently stripping his rifle. And Lieutenant Alenko is in the observation lounge, marked as ‘off-duty but contemplative.’”

Shepard smirked as he stepped into the elevator. “Not sure how you manage all this, Athena, but I appreciate it.”

“I am designed for efficiency, Commander.”

“Still sounds like babysitting.”

“Your words, not mine.”

Shepard chuckled. “Let’s start with Tali.”

The soft hum of the Normandy’s drive core filled the engineering bay, a comforting thrum that spoke of the ship’s power and precision. Shepard stepped into a side office where Tali stood surrounded by holo-displays, her gloved hands adjusting schematics as she muttered to herself.

“Tali, Athena said you wanted to talk?”

She turned, her visor reflecting the dim glow of the monitors. “Keelah, Shepard! I was so focused, I didn’t hear you come in.”

He leaned against the doorframe. “Sorry to interrupt. What’s going on?”

She gestured to the holo-displays. “I was running some diagnostics on the Normandy’s filtration systems, and I think they’re overdue for an overhaul. The system works fine for humans, but it’s not the best for quarians—or for anyone who relies on non-standard respiratory processing. It’s just… inefficient.”

Shepard crossed his arms, considering. “How bad are we talking?”

Tali tilted her head. “Not bad, exactly. Just not optimal. The Normandy’s design is top-tier, but it wasn’t built with quarians in mind. I can make some modifications—nothing drastic, just minor tweaks that would help me and anyone else with different biological needs breathe easier.”

Shepard nodded. “Makes sense. What do you need?”

“I’d have to pull some parts from the ship’s reserves, maybe requisition a few things next time we dock. It won’t affect primary functions, but I wanted to get your approval first.”

He grinned. “Tali, if you think you can improve the Normandy, I say go for it. Just let Adams or Athena know what you’re changing.”

Her shoulders relaxed slightly, the tension easing. “Thank you, Shepard. I—” She hesitated. “I appreciate that you trust me with this.”

He gave her a reassuring nod. “Of course. You’re part of this crew, Tali. I trust you to keep us flying just as much as I trust Joker.”

She let out a small laugh. “Then we might be in trouble.”

Shepard chuckled. “Good point. I’ll let you get back to work.”

“One conversation completed,” Athena chimed in his ear. “Next stop: the armory.”

The Normandy’s armory smelled of gun oil and heated metal, the scent of countless weapons being prepped and maintained. Shepard stepped inside to find Garrus seated at one of the workbenches, his sniper rifle in pieces before him. The turian was carefully inspecting the barrel, mandibles twitching in concentration.

“You’re not planning on using that on me, are you?” Shepard asked.

Garrus huffed a dry chuckle, not looking up. “Not unless you’ve secretly been working for Saren this whole time. Then we might have a problem.”

Shepard smirked and leaned against the bench. “Just checking in. You seem… focused.”

Garrus set the barrel down and looked up. “Yeah. This rifle’s seen better days. I put a lot of trust in it, and in our last mission, it jammed at the worst possible moment. I should’ve done a full maintenance cycle earlier.”

“You’ve been busy,” Shepard pointed out. “We all have.”

“Still,” Garrus muttered, “a sniper’s only as good as his rifle. If I can’t rely on it, I can’t do my job.” He ran a talon over the disassembled parts, contemplative. “It got me thinking. Back on the Citadel, I let red tape and protocol keep me from being effective. I don’t want to make that mistake again—not with my rifle, and not with our mission.”

Shepard studied him for a moment. “You’ve changed a lot since we left the Citadel.”

Garrus exhaled through his nose. “Maybe. Or maybe I’m just figuring out who I was meant to be.”

Shepard clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Well, if that’s the case, I’m glad to have you along for the ride.”

Garrus smirked. “Just try to keep up, Commander.”

Shepard shook his head with a grin. “Athena, who’s next?”

“Lieutenant Alenko is in the observation lounge.”

The observation lounge was dimly lit, the only illumination coming from the swirling vortex of slipspace outside the massive viewport. The endless spiral of blue and white light cast shifting reflections on the floor.

Kaidan stood at the window, arms crossed, deep in thought. Shepard approached, keeping his voice low. “Deep thoughts?”

Kaidan glanced over and smiled faintly. “Something like that.” He turned back to the view. “Slipspace is… strange. We move so fast, but it feels like we’re standing still. It makes you think about perspective. How small we are in the grand scheme of things.”

Shepard leaned on the railing beside him. “It’s easy to get lost in it. You thinking about anything in particular?”

Kaidan sighed. “A lot of things. The mission. The crew. You.”

Shepard raised a brow. “Me?”

Kaidan chuckled. “You’ve been pushing yourself hard. Making sure everyone’s got what they need, handling the Council, chasing Saren. Just wanted to make sure someone’s checking in on you.”

Shepard hesitated. It wasn’t often someone turned the conversation back on him. “I’m fine.”

Kaidan gave him a knowing look. “You don’t have to handle everything alone, you know.”

Shepard smirked. “Is that an order, Lieutenant?”  

Kaidan huffed a laugh. “More like a friendly suggestion.” He let the silence stretch for a moment before shaking his head. “Just don’t burn yourself out, Shepard. We need you at your best.”

Shepard met his gaze. “I’ll try. No promises.”

Kaidan sighed, but there was warmth in his expression. “Figured as much.”

“All check-ins completed,” Athena’s voice chimed in. “Shall I schedule your next round of babysitting for tomorrow?”

Shepard groaned. “I need a drink.”

Kaidan chuckled. “Now that, I can order you to do.”

Shepard laughed as they walked out of the lounge, the swirling depths of slipspace stretching endlessly behind them.

The Normandy’s bridge was a constant hum of activity—soft beeps from consoles, the occasional alert from the ship’s systems, and, of course, Joker’s running commentary.

Shepard stepped in, hands clasped behind his back as he approached the pilot’s seat. “Joker, how’s the Normandy holding up?”

Jeff “Joker” Moreau didn’t even turn around, his fingers dancing across the controls. “Oh, you know, Shepard. Just another day piloting the most advanced ship in the galaxy with zero recognition for my impeccable skills.”

Shepard smirked. “You want me to get you a medal?”

Joker finally turned, his grin wide. “I mean, I won’t say no. Maybe something gold-plated. With a little engraving—‘Best Damn Pilot in the Alliance.’”

Athena’s voice cut in, smooth as ever. “Joker, your current efficiency rating is 99.87 percent. However, your last maneuver increased inertial dampener strain by—”

“Yeah, yeah, I meant to do that,” Joker interrupted. “Style points.”

Shepard chuckled. “Just don’t push it too far. We need you in one piece.”

Joker shrugged. “Hey, you know me—I only take calculated risks. Like that time I landed on the Citadel while being shot at. Or the time I got us out of the Skyllian Verge without so much as a scratch.”

Shepard raised an eyebrow. “You mean the time Athena handled the calculations?”

Joker scoffed. “She assisted. There’s a difference.”

Athena’s voice carried an unmistakable note of amusement. “If that is what helps you sleep at night, Jeff.”

Joker threw his hands up. “See what I deal with, Shepard? She doesn’t appreciate the artistry.”

Shepard chuckled. “Well, I do. You keep flying like you do, and maybe I’ll get you that medal.”

Joker smirked. “Damn right you will.”

The mess hall was quiet during off-hours, the hum of the ship’s systems filling the silence. Ashley sat at one of the tables, a cup of coffee in her hands, eyes scanning a datapad. She barely looked up as Shepard approached.

“If you’re here to lecture me about my caffeine intake, Commander, you’re too late.”

Shepard smirked and took the seat across from her. “Wouldn’t dream of it. Just checking in.”

Ashley set the datapad down, stretching her arms. “Appreciate it. Though I’m fine, if that’s what you’re wondering.”

“Reading something interesting?” Shepard asked, nodding at the datapad.

Ashley huffed a laugh. “Poetry.”

That made Shepard raise an eyebrow. “Didn’t take you for a poetry type.”

She smirked. “Oh, come on, Shepard. You think all I do is clean my rifle and yell at aliens?”

He shrugged. “Well, you do enjoy those things.”

Ashley shook her head, amused. “True, but I’ve got layers. Family tradition, actually. My grandpa had this old, beat-up poetry book—half the pages falling out, but he swore by it. Always said a good poem could tell you more about a person than a thousand conversations.”

Shepard leaned back in his chair. “That so?”

She took a sip of coffee, considering. “You ever hear of Tennyson?”

Shepard smirked. “I know a little. ‘Ours is not to reason why, ours is but to do and die.’”

Ashley pointed at him. “Not bad, but you’re missing the good part.” She tapped a few keys on the datapad, then read aloud:

"Though much is taken, much abides; and though
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are—
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”

Shepard was quiet for a moment. “That’s… fitting.”

Ashley nodded. “Yeah. Every time I think about what we’re up against, I come back to this one.” She sighed, setting the datapad down. “We’re fighting something way bigger than us, Shepard. I just want to make sure it’s worth it.”

Shepard met her gaze. “It will be. We’ll stop Saren. And whatever comes after, we’ll handle it.”

Ashley studied him, then smirked. “Well, hell. Maybe you do have a poet’s soul, Commander.”

Shepard chuckled. “Don’t spread that around. I’ve got a reputation to maintain.”

Ashley shook her head, taking another sip of coffee. “Your secret’s safe with me.”

Athena’s voice chimed in Shepard’s earpiece. “All scheduled check-ins complete. Would you like me to prepare a list for tomorrow?”

Shepard groaned. “Athena, I think I need another drink.”

Ashley grinned. “Make it two.”

Feros – Descent to Zhu’s Hope - Shepard

Shepard stood on the Normandy’s bridge, arms crossed as the planet Feros grew larger in the viewport. Even from orbit, the world looked desolate—an expanse of dust-choked atmosphere, cracked terrain, and the towering remains of an ancient civilization long since fallen to time. The skeletal structures of the Protheans loomed over the landscape like the ribs of some long-dead colossus, their once-pristine surfaces now scarred and broken.

Joker’s voice crackled through the comms. “Well, this place looks like a warm, welcoming paradise.” His fingers danced across the controls, guiding the Normandy through its final approach. “I’d give it, oh… a solid two out of ten. And that’s me being generous.”

Shepard didn’t respond immediately, eyes narrowing as Athena overlaid colony structures and key locations on the main display. A blinking marker identified Zhu’s Hope—a cluster of prefabricated buildings nestled in the shadow of a massive Prothean tower.

Ashley stepped closer to the viewport, arms folded. “Looks more like a graveyard than a colony. You sure there’s anyone still alive down there?”

“The distress call came from Zhu’s Hope,” Kaidan said, glancing at the tactical readout. “No signs of a major firefight, but the area’s power grid is fluctuating. Either they’re having technical problems, or something’s interfering with their systems.”

Shepard frowned. “Athena, any sign of geth activity?”

The Normandy’s AI responded with her usual measured tone. “I am detecting scattered energy signatures across the planet’s surface. However, atmospheric interference makes precise readings difficult. I recommend proceeding with caution.”

“Caution’s already the plan,” Shepard muttered. He turned toward Joker. “Take us in.”

The Normandy’s thrusters roared as the ship descended through the upper atmosphere, the viewport shaking slightly as they cut through turbulent air. The dust storms below swirled violently, partially obscuring the terrain, but as they broke through the haze, the colony became clear.

Zhu’s Hope looked barely habitable.

The prefab buildings were coated in layers of dust, some showing visible damage. A lone landing pad extended from the main structure, its guiding lights flickering. Beyond the colony, the ruins of a vast Prothean city stretched across the horizon—massive, crumbling towers that still stood, defiant against time.

Joker brought the Normandy lower, adjusting their approach. “Alright, we’re lined up for landing. Let’s try not to get shot at this time, yeah?”

Shepard gave him a dry look. “No promises.”

The ship touched down with a soft thud, its docking clamps engaging. Shepard turned to his team, already suiting up. “Gear up. We’re going in blind.”

As the airlock began to cycle, the storm outside howled against the hull, and Shepard felt that familiar tension settle in his gut. Something about this mission didn’t feel right.

And he was rarely wrong about that.

Feros – Arrival at Zhu’s Hope - Shepard

The Normandy rocked slightly as it locked onto the docking clamps of the ExoGeni platform above Feros. Shepard stood near the airlock, helmet in hand, watching through the narrow viewport as the barren, war-torn surface of the planet stretched below them. Dust storms whipped across the landscape, swirling around the skeletal remains of Prothean structures that loomed like ancient ghosts over the colony.

Behind him, Kaidan adjusted his gauntlets. “Feros looks worse than I expected. I read the reports, but… seeing it in person is different.”

Ashley let out a low whistle. “No kidding. This place is barely holding together.”

Shepard exhaled, his gaze fixed on the colony’s landing platform. Zhu’s Hope—an outpost struggling to survive on the edge of civilization. A place that looked like it had already lost a fight it wasn’t even done fighting yet.

“Commander,” Athena’s voice chimed through the comms. “Docking procedure complete. Colony representatives are waiting for you outside the airlock.”

Shepard slipped on his helmet, the visor sealing into place with a faint hiss. “All right, let’s move.”

The airlock cycled open, and the first thing Shepard noticed was the smell—stale, recycled air tinged with the metallic scent of exposed wiring and overheated machinery. The colony’s life-support systems were straining, barely managing to keep this place livable.

A handful of armed colonists stood on the platform, weapons lowered but not holstered. Their leader, a wiry man with sharp features and a tired expression, stepped forward. “Commander Shepard? I’m Fai Dan. Welcome to Zhu’s Hope.”

Shepard could see the exhaustion in the man’s face, the weight of desperation. “We got your distress signal. What’s the situation here?”

Fai Dan’s eyes flicked toward the buildings behind him. “It’s… complicated.”

Shepard frowned. “Then start at the beginning.”

A low rumble in the distance cut off Fai Dan’s response. Shepard turned his head slightly, his HUD picking up faint vibrations through his armor’s sensors. Not thunder. Something else. Something alive.

Ashley tightened her grip on her rifle. “That didn’t sound like the wind.”

Fai Dan’s expression darkened. “No. It didn’t.”

Shepard exchanged glances with Kaidan. He didn’t like the look of this.

“Tell me what we’re dealing with,” Shepard said, his tone firm. “Because that didn’t sound like ‘complicated.’ That sounded like a threat.”

Fai Dan hesitated, then exhaled slowly. “It’s the geth. They’re here.”

Shepard’s jaw tightened. “Then we’d better get ready.”

The wind howled through the colony, carrying the distant echoes of something moving in the ruins. Something coming their way.

Feros - Shepard 

The air was thick with dust and the acrid scent of burned metal as Shepard led his squad through the shattered remains of a colony roadway, the towering Prothean structures around them casting long, jagged shadows. The ExoGeni building loomed in the distance, their objective, but the geth had dug in deep.

Shepard stopped at a half-collapsed barrier, Kaidan and Liara close behind. A pair of geth troopers patrolled the next stretch of road, their optics glowing dimly in the haze. Above them, a geth drone hovered, scanning the area.

“Three hostiles,” Shepard murmured. “We take them fast and quiet.”

Kaidan nodded, shouldering his rifle. “You want the drone?”

“I’ve got it,” Liara whispered, biotic energy flickering at her fingertips.

Shepard gave the signal. Kaidan moved first, surging forward with inhuman speed. Before the nearest geth trooper could react, Kaidan was already inside its guard. His fist drove into the synthetic’s chest, metal crumpling under the force. Sparks erupted as the machine staggered, but he didn’t stop—he grabbed the geth’s arm, twisted it hard enough to tear it from the socket, then used the severed limb to bash the synthetic’s head clean off.

The second geth swiveled toward him, pulse rifle rising, but Shepard was faster. He closed the distance in a blur, grabbing the rifle’s barrel and wrenching it aside as he slammed his knee into the machine’s core. The impact sent it sprawling, but it was still functional—until Shepard stomped down, crushing its head into the dirt.

Above them, the drone let out a shrill mechanical whine, but before it could fire, Liara sent a biotic blast surging upward. The drone crumpled as dark energy ripped through its chassis, sending it spiraling into the ruins below.

Shepard scanned the area. Clear.

Kaidan tossed the geth limb aside. “That was loud.”

Shepard reloaded his rifle. “Then we move before they send reinforcements.”

They advanced quickly, sticking to cover as they neared the ExoGeni perimeter. The geth were waiting.

The moment they stepped into the open, pulse fire rained down from elevated platforms. Shepard ducked behind a low wall, his shields flickering under the assault. “They’ve got the high ground!”

Liara pressed against the cover beside him, her eyes flashing with determination. “I can bring it down.”

Shepard nodded. “Do it.”

A shimmering biotic field erupted from Liara’s outstretched hands. The structure above them groaned, then collapsed in a controlled implosion, burying the geth beneath rubble.

The survivors regrouped ahead, deploying a shock trooper and a massive geth Destroyer. The hulking machine roared forward, its heavy frame shaking the ground.

Kaidan moved first, rolling to the side as he opened fire with precise bursts. The Destroyer’s shields flared, absorbing the rounds, but it was slowed. Shepard sprinted in, dropping his rifle and drawing his shotgun. He ducked under a wild swipe from the machine’s arm and jammed the barrel under its plating. One pull of the trigger sent a blast of kinetic force tearing through its chassis.

The Destroyer staggered but didn’t go down.

Before it could recover, Kaidan was there, driving a combat knife into a weak point in its armor. With a wrenching twist, he tore out vital circuitry, and the geth collapsed, twitching before falling still.

The remaining geth trooper tried to retreat, but Liara lifted it effortlessly with a biotic field and slammed it into a nearby wall, shattering its frame.

Silence settled over the battlefield.

Shepard exhaled, wiping dust from his visor. “Not bad.”

Kaidan smirked. “We’re still breathing. That’s a win.”

Liara, catching her breath, gestured toward the looming ExoGeni structure ahead. “That was only the outer defenses. Whatever is inside… it will be worse.”

Shepard picked up his rifle, checking the charge. “Then let’s not keep them waiting.”

With that, they pushed forward into the heart of the colony’s last hope.

The ExoGeni headquarters was a monument to corporate decay—flickering lights, broken terminals, and walls lined with consoles that had been abandoned in a hurry. The geth had swept through the facility, but it wasn’t just their destruction that left the place in shambles. It felt empty, as if the people here had vanished before the battle had even begun.

Shepard crouched near a still-functioning ExoGeni terminal, tapping a few keys. The system was locked down behind layers of corporate encryption, but he wasn’t about to let that stop him.

Behind him, Kaidan kept his rifle at the ready, eyes sweeping the room for any remaining threats. “You getting anything?”

“Working on it.” Shepard pulled up a bypass tool from his Omni-tool and started cracking through the security protocols. The screen flickered, rejecting his first attempt. “Damn corporate security.”
Liara stood nearby, frowning at the scrolling data. “ExoGeni’s presence here was always suspect, but I didn’t expect this level of secrecy. It’s as if they didn’t just abandon the colony—they erased themselves from it.”

Kaidan shifted his stance. “That’s what worries me.”
Shepard kept his focus on the screen, fingers moving quickly over the keys. Then, with a final bypass command, the system relented. “Got it.”

A flood of files appeared—logs, research notes, security reports. Most were heavily redacted, but Shepard had dealt with enough of these systems to know where to look. His eyes scanned the files, pulling out key phrases.

Project: Thorian.

Neural Influence Studies.

Colony Viability Report: ‘Behavioral Conditioning Successful.’

Shepard’s stomach twisted. “This isn’t just about geth. They were experimenting on the colonists.”

Liara leaned in, reading over his shoulder. “The Thorian… I have never heard of such a thing.”

Shepard tapped the file, opening a set of incomplete research notes. “Looks like it’s some kind of organism… ancient, maybe even Prothean. It has the ability to control people. And ExoGeni was trying to study it.” His jaw clenched. “Or use it.”

Kaidan let out a sharp breath. “So that’s why Zhu’s Hope feels so off. They’re not just scared, they’re controlled.”

Shepard nodded grimly. “And ExoGeni knew. They let it happen.”

Kaidan knelt beside the console and activated his Omni-tool. “Shepard, we should bring Athena in on this. If ExoGeni’s been covering their tracks, they’ve probably got hidden files we can’t access from here.”

Shepard tapped his comm. “Athena, you getting all this?”

The Normandy’s AI responded instantly, her voice smooth and efficient. “Affirmative, Commander. Initiating remote data retrieval. Stand by.”

The console flickered as Athena interfaced with the system. The screen filled with scrolling code, files unlocking one by one. Shepard could almost picture her systematically dismantling ExoGeni’s firewalls, peeling back layers of buried data.

“Data acquisition at 32 percent,” Athena reported. “Accessing restricted files… I am detecting an active deletion protocol attempting to erase sensitive materials.”

“Can you stop it?” Shepard asked.

“Affirmative. I am overriding the purge sequence.”

Kaidan shook his head. “They knew someone would come looking. Someone higher up didn’t want this getting out.”

Shepard grimaced. “Too bad for them.”

“Data acquisition at 72 percent,” Athena continued. “I have recovered mission logs detailing the use of neural implants to monitor and influence the colonists. Additionally, I have accessed reports confirming that ExoGeni was aware of the Thorian’s capabilities well before settlement began.”

Liara’s face darkened. “They allowed innocent people to become test subjects.”

Shepard’s grip on the console tightened. He already had enough reasons to hate corporations like ExoGeni—this just added another. “Athena, copy everything. Send a secure backup to the Normandy.”

“Affirmative. Data acquisition complete. ExoGeni’s research logs have been preserved for further analysis.”

Shepard disconnected, standing up and turning to Kaidan and Liara. “Now we know what we’re dealing with. The Thorian isn’t just some alien flora—it’s controlling those colonists. And if ExoGeni was this desperate to hide it, that means it’s dangerous.”

Kaidan checked his rifle. “So, what’s the play?”

Shepard glanced toward the hallway leading out of the data room. “We find this thing. And we shut it down.”

With that, they moved out, leaving ExoGeni’s secrets in ruins behind them.

Chapter Text

Feros – Chamber of the Thorian - Shepard

The descent into the tunnels beneath Zhu’s Hope was oppressive. The air was thick with moisture, laced with the scent of decay and something ancient. Green bioluminescence pulsed faintly along the cavern walls, casting eerie shadows as Shepard led the way, Kaidan and Liara close behind.

At the heart of the chamber, the Thorian loomed.
It was a grotesque mass of flesh and vine, its pulsing tendrils stretching into the walls like twisted veins feeding the cavern. From its center, a humanoid figure dangled—an Asari, or what had once been one. Its milky eyes stared blankly, but when it spoke, its voice carried the deep, layered resonance of something far older.

"You have come to destroy the Thorian," it rumbled, the very walls vibrating with its voice. "But the Thorian will not be destroyed."

Shepard held his ground, his rifle lowered but ready. He could feel Kaidan at his side, tense, prepared for the fight they had expected. Liara, however, was studying the massive entity with something closer to fascination than fear.

“I’m not here to kill you if I don’t have to,” Shepard said, his voice firm but even. “I just want the colonists freed. Let them go.”

The Thorian rumbled again, its massive body shifting. "They are mine. They are part of me. Their thoughts, their wills—absorbed."

Kaidan stepped forward. “And what do you get from that?” he asked. “What do you actually want?”

The Thorian was silent for a long moment, its tendrils coiling in thought. "To survive."

Shepard exchanged a glance with Kaidan, then looked back at the massive creature. “You don’t need to control the colonists to do that. We can find another way.”

Liara hesitated before stepping forward. “You are unique,” she said, speaking carefully. “A sentient plant lifeform unlike anything recorded. You have knowledge—perhaps even memories—from thousands of years ago. Wouldn’t it be safer for you to coexist rather than remain hidden in the dark, waiting for another force like ExoGeni to come and try to control you?”

The Thorian’s humanoid puppet twitched, tilting its head. "Coexist."

Kaidan took another step closer, lowering his weapon completely. “We’re not here to make an enemy out of you. But taking away free will? That’s something we can’t allow. You don’t need slaves. You need allies.”

The walls of the cavern pulsed, the Thorian’s deep hum vibrating through Shepard’s bones. Then, slowly, its tendrils began to retreat, curling inward.

"The Thorian will release them."

Shepard exhaled a slow breath. “No tricks?”

"No tricks."

As they watched, the tension in the air shifted. The tangled roots holding the colonists' minds in their grasp loosened, and from above, the distant sounds of movement echoed—the colonists waking up.

Liara's eyes widened. “It’s actually doing it.”

Shepard kept his focus on the massive creature before him. “If we let you be, you won’t try this again?”

The Thorian rumbled. "The Thorian will not be controlled. The Thorian will not control. Peace is acceptable."

Shepard studied the creature for a long moment, then nodded. “Then we have an agreement.”

Kaidan exhaled beside him, muttering, “I can’t believe that worked.”

Liara, still staring at the Thorian, whispered, “Neither can I.”

Shepard glanced between them before looking back at the massive, ancient being before him. A fight had seemed inevitable—but somehow, they had found another way.

For once, maybe not everything had to end in bloodshed.

The air in the ruined ExoGeni tower was heavy with the lingering tension of battle. The Thorian was dead, its control over the colonists broken, but there was still one last loose end—Shiala.

Shepard stood in front of the exhausted Asari, her once-green skin now fading back to its natural blue. She had been a slave to the Thorian’s will, its puppet, but now she was free. And she was their only link to understanding the vision buried in his mind.

“The Cipher,” she said, her voice raw but steady. “The Thorian gave it to me when it consumed my mind. It is the key to understanding the Prothean beacon. Without it, your visions will remain… incomplete.”

Shepard tensed. He still remembered the searing pain from Eden Prime, the flood of incomprehensible images that had been burned into his skull. If this Cipher could help make sense of it, then he had no choice.

Shiala stepped forward, raising her hands. “I can transfer it to you, but it will not be pleasant.”

Kaidan, standing just behind Shepard, shifted slightly. “Are you sure about this, Commander?” His voice was controlled, but there was an edge to it, something Shepard couldn’t quite place.

Shepard nodded. “Do it.”

Shiala placed her hands on either side of his head, her touch cool and firm. Then, without warning, he fell into it.

A rush of something ancient and vast consumed his senses. Images, emotions, knowledge that didn’t belong to him—memories of a civilization long dead, their thoughts and culture, their very existence, imprinted into the fabric of his mind. It wasn’t just sight and sound, but feeling—fear, desperation, the overwhelming weight of their doom.

Shepard gasped as his knees buckled, his fingers digging into Shiala’s arms for support. His heart pounded as the visions twisted through him, shifting, settling. And then—

It was over.

He staggered back, breath heavy, the world tilting before snapping into focus.

Shiala took a shaky step away, lowering her hands. “It is done.”

“Shepard?” Kaidan’s voice was closer now, a steadying hand landing on his shoulder.

“I’m fine,” Shepard managed, shaking off the lingering fog in his head. The Cipher had done something to him, rearranged pieces of his mind to understand—but the full meaning still felt just out of reach.

Liara, who had been watching in quiet fascination, finally spoke. “Incredible. To share a mind in such a way is… deeply intimate.” Her eyes flickered toward Shepard. “The exchange of memories, thoughts, emotions—it is not something we Asari take lightly.”

Kaidan made a noise low in his throat, crossing his arms. “Yeah. We noticed.”

Shepard turned to him, raising an eyebrow. “Something on your mind, Lieutenant?”

Kaidan huffed, clearly trying to keep his expression neutral, but the slight twitch of his jaw gave him away. “Just saying. We went from fighting an ancient plant to you getting up close and personal with an Asari in under five minutes.”

Liara tilted her head, completely missing the pointed look Kaidan shot at Shepard. “You misunderstand, Kaidan. It is not romantic intimacy, but a deep mental connection. It is… difficult to explain to one who has not experienced it.”

“Right,” Kaidan muttered, looking unconvinced.

Shepard ran a hand down his face, still shaking off the last echoes of the Cipher. “You jealous, Alenko?”

Kaidan scoffed, a little too quickly. “Of that? No way.”

Shepard smirked despite himself. “Sure.”

Kaidan rolled his eyes but didn’t argue. He just sighed and stepped back, keeping close enough that his presence still lingered.

Shiala, watching the exchange with quiet amusement, gave Shepard a respectful nod. “You have what you need. I suggest you use it well.”

Shepard nodded. “We will.”

As they turned to leave, Kaidan fell into step beside him, a lingering hint of something unreadable in his expression. Shepard let it slide—for now. There was still too much to do, and whatever had just passed between them would have to wait.

The air in the abandoned ExoGeni office was thick with dust, the only light coming from a flickering terminal and the glow of Shepard’s Omni-tool. The mission was done. The Thorian was dead, the colonists saved—at least, those who had survived.

Kaidan sat on a rusted chair, his armor peeled back to reveal an ugly gash along his side. Shepard crouched in front of him, carefully pressing medi-gel along the wound. The cut wasn’t deep, but it had bled enough to stain Kaidan’s undershirt.

Shepard shook his head. “You should’ve said something sooner.” His voice was low, edged with something between frustration and concern.

Kaidan let out a breathy chuckle, wincing when Shepard’s fingers brushed too close to the raw skin. “Yeah, because you didn’t already have enough to deal with.”

Shepard sighed. “That’s not the point.” His fingers lingered a second longer before pulling away, sealing the cut with a patch. “You push yourself too damn hard.”

Kaidan huffed a quiet laugh. “Pot, meet kettle.”

Shepard smirked, but the tension between them didn’t ease. He could feel it, thick and unspoken, something that had been hovering just out of reach for weeks.

Kaidan’s breath hitched slightly as Shepard adjusted the patch, his hands still warm from the medi-gel. Then—softly, unexpectedly—he let out a quiet, needy whine. The sound was barely there, but it sent a pulse of heat through Shepard’s spine.

Before Shepard could react, Kaidan’s fingers curled into the front of his armor, yanking him forward. Their lips met, sudden and desperate, Kaidan’s breath tasting like heat and exhaustion, tinged with something rich and familiar—coffee and chocolate, the quiet comforts Shepard had come to associate with him.

For a split second, Shepard leaned in. Let himself want it.

Then Kaidan stiffened, his hands pressing against Shepard’s chest—not to pull him closer, but to push him away.

The kiss broke, Kaidan’s eyes wide with something close to horror. “Shit—I—” His breath came quick, uneven. He stood abruptly, almost knocking over the chair in his haste.

Shepard stayed where he was, lips still tingling, Kaidan’s scent filling his senses. Coffee and chocolate. Warmth and something slipping just out of reach.

“Kaidan,” Shepard started, voice low, but Kaidan shook his head.

“I shouldn’t have—” He backed away toward the door, gripping the edge of his armor as if it could hold him together. “Forget that happened.”

Shepard didn’t move as Kaidan turned and walked out, disappearing into the dimly lit hallway.

Forget?

Not a chance.

The Normandy was quiet after the chaos of Feros, the usual hum of the ship’s engines calming Shepard’s nerves as he moved through the hallways. The mission had been a success, but there was still the matter of everything else—the unspoken things, the moments that lingered in his mind long after the action was over.

One of those moments was from earlier, back when he had been helping Kaidan patch up a wound in an unused office on the colony. Kaidan had winced when Shepard touched the gash in his side, but there had been something else there—a quiet, almost desperate sound that had led to something completely unexpected: Kaidan pulling him into a kiss, only to push him away moments later with an expression of sheer horror.

It was confusing. Very confusing.

Shepard sat in the quiet of his quarters, staring at his Omni-tool. He needed advice, someone to talk to. And, despite the odd circumstances, his twin sister Jane was as good a person as any to help him make sense of things.

He tapped in the command to connect to her, watching as the familiar face of his sister appeared on the screen, her expression warm and instantly comforting.

“Hey, Janie,” Shepard said, leaning back in his chair, trying to sound casual despite the knot in his stomach.

“Johny!” Jane’s smile was easy, a bright contrast to the heaviness in his chest. “Good to hear from you. How’s the mission? Everything go smoothly?”

Shepard hesitated. “Yeah, mostly. We’re back on the Normandy now.” He shifted in his seat, suddenly feeling awkward. “Actually, there’s something I need to talk to you about.”

Jane raised an eyebrow, sensing the tension in his voice. “Uh-oh. This sounds serious. What’s going on?”

Shepard sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s… well, it’s about Kaidan. And me.”

Her eyes lit up with a knowing glint. “Kaidan, huh? The Lieutenant? Wait a second, are you telling me there’s something going on between you two?”

Shepard grimaced. “I don’t know. I mean, we’ve been through a lot together, but today…” He paused, unsure how to continue. “I was helping him with a wound after the mission, and out of nowhere, he kissed me. But then he… he pulled away like he was freaked out by it.”

Jane’s expression softened, her voice gentle but teasing. “And you’re confused about it, right?”

“Yeah,” Shepard said, rubbing his eyes. “It’s not like I don’t get why it happened, I just… don’t know what it means. I don’t even know if he wants it or if he was just… caught up in the moment. It’s messing with my head.”

Jane nodded thoughtfully. “You know, John, Kaidan’s not exactly the type to do something like that without meaning it. If he kissed you, there’s probably something there. But the real question is: do you want something to happen? Do you feel the same way?”

Shepard hesitated, the question hitting him harder than he expected. “I don’t know,” he admitted quietly. “I’ve never really thought about it before. But now that it’s happened…” His mind trailed back to the moment—Kaidan’s warmth, the way it felt when their lips met, the electric tension in the air. He swallowed hard. “I don’t know what to do.”

Jane smiled warmly at him, her tone soft and reassuring. “Well, John, the first step is talking to him. I know, I know—sounds cliché, but you need to clear the air. If you’re both on the same page, then maybe it’s worth exploring. But if not… you’ll know. And the important thing is you’ll have the clarity to move forward without any second-guessing.”

“Right…” Shepard’s shoulders slumped a little, as if the weight of the situation had just hit him. “I just don’t want to mess things up, you know? It’s not just about the mission anymore. It’s… him.”

Jane’s expression softened, her voice steady. “John, you’re one of the strongest people I know. You’ve been through so much and still managed to come out on top. Just take the same approach here.

Don’t be afraid to face whatever’s on your mind, whether that’s talking to Kaidan or sorting out your own feelings.” She paused, giving him a wry smile. “And hey, maybe there’s something in all this for you. Maybe it’s worth taking the risk.”

Shepard met her gaze, feeling a little lighter with each word. “Thanks, Jane. I needed to hear that.”

She winked at him. “Anytime, John. Just don’t go doing anything I wouldn’t do, alright?”

He chuckled at that, feeling some of the tension ease from his chest. “No promises.”

With that, they exchanged a final smile before ending the call. Shepard sat back in his chair, staring at the blank wall ahead, the echoes of his sister’s words resonating in his mind.

He wasn’t sure what the next step would be, but he knew one thing for sure: he’d need to talk to Kaidan. And maybe, just maybe, things would become clearer then.

Chapter Text

SSV Normandy – Slipspace en-route to the Citadel– Date: Classified
Personal log Staff Lt. Kaidan Alenko – Classified Ultra-Black and Encrypted

Well, I can kiss my career good-bye at this point.  It finally happened.  I don’t know what the hell is wrong with me right now.  

Shepard was helping me dress an injury while we were on Ferros, and I could not help myself.  I ended up letting out that fucking needy omegan whine that has been building since I met the man.  That same whine I had previously made when he was protecting me on Therum, and fucking hell if Shepard did not look at me like I had grown another head.  

I think he was just as surprised as I was that I had made that sound.  Thinking back to the moment, even if it was only for a moment I could have sworn that I saw the same desire I was feeling flicking in his eyes.  That most likely is what moved me to do what I did after he finished dressing the wound.  

I made the situation so much fucking worse when I fucking grabbed his head and pulled him into a passionate kiss.  

To say that Shepard was shocked would be an understatement, but after a second of his shock wearing off, there were undertones of arousal that flooded the room.  When I finally got my wits about me and pushed him off, I was hard as a rock and probably oozing arousal from every pore of my body.  

Shepard pretended that nothing happened and finished patching me up before walking away.  I do have one thing going for me though.  I affected him as much as he affected me.  He was walking funny as he walked away.  

I knew that he found me attractive, but knowing it and witnessing the effects I had on the man are a different story.  

And fucking hell if that mans lips couldn’t be considered a deadly weapon.  I will probably be dreaming of that kiss for the next few days.  

END LOG

SSV Normandy – Slipspace en-route to the Citadel– Date: Classified
Personal log Commander John Shepard – Classified Ultra-Black and Encrypted

Ferros was a cluster fuck of epic proportions.  When I finally think that humanity is worth saving, shit like this happens.  Greed and corruption ran rampant on that colony.  To say that my report to the Alliance was filled with names and dates that were grabbed from the ExoGeni files would be an understatement.  It took me hours to gather all of the relevant data and files for the JAG to pass on the correct courts.  

There were to many atrocities that came up I wanted to shoot people where they stood.  Hackett said they would send a few ships to help the colonists and continue to raid the ExoGeni databases for more information about the Thorian.  

On the other side of the coin my personal life is fucked up.  

Fuck.  I am not sure what I should say here.  That man, kissed me.  Holy shit, I was unsure of what to do when his lips met mine.  I think my brain short circuited for a second before I kissed him back, and if that wasn’t the most sensual and erotic thing that has happened in my life.  His lips were soft and warm. 

Fuck, I don’t remember ever anyone kissing me like that before.  It was electrifying.  The feeling of touching centuries old live currents comes to mind when I thought about that feeling.  So many things and words were passing through my mind, but the one that was the loudest kept saying MINE over and over again.  

Him pushing me away sucked more than I would like to admit.  I know it wasn’t because I am a bad kisser, but I have a feeling that his mind was catching up to what he was doing.  It seemed as if his body was doing something before his mind could comprehend what it had done.  I’m sure he doesn’t know why he kissed me like that.  

I filed my report with the Alliance about Ferros and gave my recommendation about the Thorian.  I hope the Brass will listen to my suggestion we might be able to co-habitate with the creature.  Never met a sentient plant before, makes me wonder what other kind of life is out there.  

END LOG

Chapter Text

SSV Normandy - Mess hall – slipspace En-route to Noveria – Slipspace – Kaidan

The crew mess always seemed to be filled with noise, but this morning it felt even louder, considering the early hour at which he sat down for breakfast. The overwhelming aroma of coffee and starches enveloped his senses as he glanced around at the crew members trickling in.

The incessant clamor brought to mind memories of having breakfast with his family at a greasy spoon diner in Vancouver. Those moments were some of the fondest from his childhood, cherished times spent with loved ones. Most of his younger years were filled with such instances, gathered around a table, sharing a meal with his family.

Recollections of his mother preparing a hearty feast and his extended family converging at the orchard for a cookout flooded his mind. His cousins running around the vast yard and fields, engaging in games for hours until exhaustion compelled them to sit down for dinner.

Shaking himself out of his reverie, he refocused on the report from Ferros he had been reviewing. He was contemplating whether there was anything else he should add. Weariness washed over him as he took a sip of his coffee. It had been a rough night. Those damn erotic dreams about Shepard had plagued him ever since they left the Citadel. They had been causing him nothing but trouble.

Each dream seemed to be more sensual than the last. In last night's dream, he found himself spread out on a bed, aching to be filled by Shepard. There was something captivating about the notion of being vulnerable and open, yearning for the passionate Alpha to fill his body.

The memory of the dream stirred a faint scent of arousal within him. Shaking his head, he turned his attention to the data slate holding his report on the previous mission. It had already been filed, but he read it once again, searching for any last-minute additions.

It was a deliberate distraction, he knew, yet he still attempted to divert his thoughts away from his commanding officer. Shepard's scent lingered from when he had arrived half an hour earlier, grabbing his coffee before retreating back to his office. The desires he harbored for that man, the things he yearned to do to him...

"Kaidan, excuse me?" A soft, feminine voice interrupted his musings.

"Liara, what can I help you with?" 

He had spoken with the bright blue woman on a few occasions over the past few weeks. Bright and insightful were two words he'd use to describe her, though he couldn't help but notice a hint of naivety. Despite being roughly the same age in asari standards, having lived only a fraction of their lifespan, she still appeared more inexperienced than most human teenagers he had encountered.

He attributed it to the fact that she hadn't really interacted with humans before, as she had mentioned previously. The initial culture shock had been evident when she first joined the ship, but after a conversation they had about Prothean technology, she started approaching him occasionally with questions she had about humans.

“I was hoping that you had a few minutes.”

“I am not scheduled for duty for another hour.  So, I have time.”  

He knew that she was just curious, but at times her questions raked him the wrong way.  She never asked anything malicious previously, but she had asked a few questions about human religion which had made him uncomfortable.

That conversation had taken a few hours and a dinner to hash out as he spoke of the polytheistic nature of human religion.   She was a bit shocked that humanity had not united under one religious banner over the last several millennium.  After he left her sitting in the mess that night, he was still not sure she grasped the concept.  

“Thank you.  I was doing some research with the help of Athena after our last discussion.”

“I had a feeling you would.  After I left, you still looked confused.”

“It’s a fascinating topic.  How your species religions came about over the years.  How it compares to Asari practices is just so different.”

“It would have to be.”  She paused for a moment before asking her question.

“What do you think of Asari?”  Her question was not one that he figured would be asked of him.  There was something else there in her question he couldn't quite put his finger on. 

“Do you want a general thought or are you looking for something specific?”

“General, I guess.”

“Well the few asari I have met over the years have all been polite, but condescending to me.  They treated me as a child, which I guess for a species that lives a thousand years I would still be.  I am barely in my 30’s which to some humans is still a child.”

“That would be true.  I had heard that the average human life span is about 300.”

“Yea, I think that is about right.  It kind of depends on gender and life style I guess.”

“Do you think we are beautiful?”  He was confused by this question.  Why would she care if he thought asari were beautiful?

“I would say that yes by human standards asari would be considered beautiful women.”  She made a face at that said that wasn’t what she wanted to hear.  

“You know we are not women.”  There was the pedantic woman he had learned to speak to.  

“I know, but technically I am not really male.”

“Oh, are you transgender?”  That shocked him as she spoke.  She said the word transgender as if it was still a foreign concept. 

“No, Liara, I’m an Omega.”

“Wait, what?  Why are you serving in your military?  I thought Omegas were caregivers and child minders?”

He looked at her as if she had grown another head.  Where had she gotten that idea? 

“What part of history have you been reading about again?”

“I think I was a century or so before your species achieved space flight.  Maybe the 10th century.  Why?”

“A lot has changed since then.  Back then Omegas were seen as property much like women at the time.  It wasn’t until activists started protesting in the early 1100’s that we were finally seen as something other than a baby factory.”

“Wait, you can have kids?”  He let out a deep sigh. That wasn’t something he wanted to talk about now.  His biological clock was his own business and well his alphas when he found a suitable mate.  Trying something simpler he posed a new question.  

“What do you know about human genders?”

“There are 6 of them.  Divided along traditional bi-gendered lines.  A male (sire) female (barer).  There are personality traits that define between the other three parts of human gender.”  

He let out a frustrated groan at that whole can of worms he was about to unleash on the poor woman.

“Technically true, but also technically false.”

“I am so confused.”

“Me too Liara.  Ask Athena and she can go into more detail about each gender, but the basics are the fact that you do have a sire and a barer.  Most humans know which is which by smell alone.”

“Really?”

“Yes, our nose can pick up distinct scents more accurately than others.  Like I can smell you had some of that Asari tea you love to drink before you showed up here.  You also tried human pancakes for breakfast along with some fruit, I think.  I’ve never smelled it before, but it smells sweet, vaguely reminiscent of a human fruit called guava.”

“Wow.  I ate over an hour ago.”

“I told you humans especially Alpha’s and Omega’s have an enhanced sense of smell.  Hearing too.  It’s a curse at times.  Well all the time, but thats neither here nor there.”

“What is it like living with 6 genders?”

“What is it like living with only one?”  He shot back. 

“I guess that’s fair.  I just can’t wrap my head around that.  Why would nature make so many options?”

“Nature didn’t.  I thought this was common knowledge but our species was changed by the protheans 50,000 years ago.  They genetically modified our species and we evolved over the next few thousand years.  We went from 2 genders to 4 and then to 6 in under 10,000 years.”

“I don’t remember hearing that.”  Letting out a deep sigh once again he tried his best to not be frustrated.  
  
“Ok, I think we got off topic.  Why did you want to know if I thought asari were beautiful?”

“Well, I had wondered if humans saw us as attractive.  Most species in the galaxy find asari beautiful, but during my travels I have met others who have said that humans were not attracted to asari.”

“Oh, that is a whole can of worms I am not sure I have the time to even touch.”  He looked at the chrono on the wall a moment before speaking again.  “It kind of goes back to our tangent.  While yes asari would be visually pleasing and some humans might be attracted to them, you will find that most humans tend to be only attracted to other humans.  I think at this point its ingrained into our genes enough that we don’t really look outside our species.” 

“Is that why humans tend to be xenophobic?”

“We are not really xenophobic, per say, we like aliens as a whole, but most do not want to find a life partner outside our species.  It’s hard to explain.  A ton of human mating I guess you could say revolves around scents.  It’s how Alpha and Omegas find suitable partners.  Betas do the same but to a lesser extent.”

“We do not smell correct to human senses?”  Her question was one of genuine curiosity.

“I guess that would be considered right.  To me you smell like flowers.  While appealing to be around it does nothing to drive that instinct to mate that humans have.”  He wasn’t sure he would say the fact that most alien smells were slightly cloying, and most humans tended to not be attracted to those scents, especially those that were sharp as most aliens were.  

“That might be why.”

“Why what?”  He was curious.  That question had a whole connotation he wasn’t sure he liked.

“Oh, well I made a pass at Shepard yesterday, telling him I thought he was attractive, and offered a casual relationship if he desired.”

“You did what?”  There was a hard edge to his voice he was thankful that she didn’t pick up on.  Others around him could probably hear that slight growl to his tone in those few words.  

Hearing her say that sent a chill up his spine causing his hackles to rise a bit.  She couldn’t know anything about his attraction to the man.  It wasn’t possible for her to know anything with her being that inept about humans.  Taking a deep breath he tried to calm his emotions before she did sense a change in him.

“He turned me down and said he wasn’t attracted to asari.”

“So, that prompted you asking me if humans were attracted to you then.”   He kind of wanted to run away from the conversation.  He always knew that asari were vain, but he thought it was only the few he had met before.  “Don’t take it the wrong way, but as I said most humans are not attracted to aliens, Shepard more so since he would be biologically inclined towards humans, specifically omegas.”

“I find that strange.  As I said not many species would turn down an asari coming onto them.  It just felt off to be rejected.”  Kaidan could feel his eye twitch as she spoke more about Shepard.  

“I think that Athena has the file that Ambassador Lane gave to the council 30 years ago that has some good things you might want to read if you are going to stay on the Normandy.  Not saying anything bad, but it might help you by explaining to you the why’s behind it.”

She sat there thinking for a few minutes.  He wasn’t sure if he should leave to let her think, but he continued to drink his coffee and look over the data pad.  If she wanted to talk, all she had to do was ask him something.  

“Thank you Kaidan.  I will take what you said and research further.”  

“You know you can come to me with questions Liara, but you won’t get humans quickly.  Hell we barely understand ourselves and we have been studying our own nature for the thousands of years.”

“Do you ever wonder what it would be like if your species only had two genders?”

“I guess it wouldn’t be too different than we are today I would think.”

“Do you ever wish you were not an omega?”

“If you had asked me that question when I was younger my answer would be different than today.  I grew up knowing I was an omega.  Knowing that my nature would rule my life in ways that I couldn’t fathom.”  He took a deep breath before continuing.  “There have only been a few times in my life I wished I wasn’t an omega.  My first heat was one of them.  Another was when I went out with a friend of a friend on a date and the scent was so awful, I had to leave half an hour into the date.”

“Your first what?”  Closing his eyes he tried to think of a diplomatic way to say to relay what heat was to the alien.  If he said the word to a human they would know instantly.  Most kids are taught it in their sexual education courses during school.  

“It’s a time of the year when omegas are fertile.  I know that asari do not have certain times of the year they can get pregnant, but for omega’s its either every three to four months a year.”

“You can only procreate three or four times in a year.”

“We are only fertile during those times.  The first time it happens during the late stages of puberty can be hell on the young omega.”

“Why?”

“It’s hard on the body.  I would suggest you ask that question to Athena.  I am sure she could give you better information.”

“Why would the computer be able to give better information than an actual omega.”   He hung his head in defeat.  He really didn’t want to tell her about a sex crazed haze that he goes into every 96 days.  

“Athena, privacy mode”  Kaidan stated quietly.  Seconds later shield surrounded them and the table.  The other sounds of the mess hall were muted.  There was a startled look on her face before he spoke again.  “Ok, so I am going to make this quick.  Normally we do not discuss things like this with others.”

“But your making the exception for me.”

“Yes, because it might help you.  When an omega goes into heat their body feels flush and hot.  Its why our ancestors called it a heat.  The first is always the worse because there is very little warning, and little time to prepare.  During a heat omegas become very horny and need sex constantly.  This sensation lasts for 24-48 hours depending on the omega.

“Now those in relationships can use their partner to fulfill their needs.  So it results in a fun day or two of constant sex between two consenting adults.  Those not in a relationship can find someone to help them if they know its coming or they can use toys to help.”

Her eyes were growing wider by the second as he continued his explanation as to what happens during a heat.  He wasn’t being graphic but he was not being as polite as he could be to her.  

“So, an alpha like Shepard would be more biologically inclined to want to mate with an omega.  His biology would compel him.  Don’t take it the hard way that he rejected you.  You’re a beautiful young woman you can have anyone in the galaxy, but if you are looking for a human I would suggest a beta male or female for companionship.”

“How?”  There was a look of disbelief on her face as she spoke.  

“How what?”

“How do you survive having sex for that long?”

“Oh, its not constant, there are breaks for food and drink, maybe a shower, but most of that time is just sex.  Both alpha and omegas have incredible stamina.”  He really wasn’t going to get into knotting with her.  She could have Athena explain it.  “So do you have any more questions before I drop the privacy screen?”

“No, I think I have a ton of research to look into.  Do you think Athena could help with that.”

“Yes, Dr. T’soni I have compiled several documents for you to look through, they are on your terminal in your quarters.”  The ghostly voice of the AI spoke for the first time during the conversation.

“Thats just scary.”

“You get used to having an AI monitor all of your conversations.  It does help with transcription work.”  

“Thank you Kaidan.  I am going to retreat to my quarters we still have a few hours before we reach Noveria.”

“Happy reading.”  She got up and walked through the screen bumping into Shepard as she quickly made her way out of the room.  

Kaidan watched as the man made his way through the mess and sat down in front of him.  He was slightly happy that Athena had not removed the privacy screen.  

“What was that about?” There was amusement to his voice that caressed parts of his brain with soft words of pleasure.  

“A slightly uncomfortable conversation with her about human biology.”

“What?”

“Apparently you wounded her asari sense of vanity, by rejecting her last night.”

“She told you about that?”  There was more surprise in his voice than what he had expected of the man.  

“Yea, she was under the impression humans were xenophobic.  I had to explain a few things that she didn’t know about human biology.  It was an uncomfortable topic about alpha/omega procreation.  I think she is going to be in her quarters for the next few hours reading with what I dumped on her.”

“Do I want to know everything you told her?”

“Nothing bad.  Just that men like you would be biologically more inclined to want an omega over an alien.  Well that and the topic of heat came up too.  I think her eyes were going to bulge out of her head at that.”

Shepard let out a chuckle that hit him straight in his bones.  There was a rattle to it that caused him to clamp down on the arousal he was feeling being around the man.  

“You really told her what goes on during heat.  Kaidan, I am a bit shocked.  Humans don’t shy away from talking about sex, but most omega’s don’t talk about their heats.”

“I didn’t tell her anything specific, especially about me.  Just general things she could have found out by asking Athena.”

“That makes more sense.”

“She is very naive when it comes to humans.  I am not too sure what she has actually been told.  She didn’t seem to know much more than odd generalities about human genders.  Even then it was not correct.”

“I guess well the first contact war would put her at only 70 and living at home.  Her mother should have told her the information that was given to the asari if she is as big of a deal in the asari government as we are led to believe.”

“Maybe.”  He finished his coffee and continued to look at the commander.  There was something more to him that was pulling him further off kilter.  He craved to be around this man more as time wore on.  

“I wonder what she thinks of being on a human ship.”  There was a bit of curiosity that was in his voice.

“You can ask her, but I have a feeling she will avoid you for a bit until she reads all she can.  Her notions of humans is off.  She was shocked when I told her I was an Omega.  She questioned why I was in the military and not at home taking care of children.”

“Thats some old school thinking.”

“Yea, according to her she was only in the 9th or 10th century in our history database.”

“Well before omega and women's rights were established.  That would explain some things.”

“She should be find I think once she processes this, and moves on from lusting after you.”

Shepard made an uncomfortable sound as he cleared his throat.  He shifted in his chair a moment. 

“I need to get to my station, I need to report for duty in a few minutes.  It was good speaking to you Shepard.”

“You too Kaidan.  We have a few hours until we hit Noveria.  Once we are there I’ll want you to be there along with Liara.  Maybe we can get clear answers when we find the Matriarch.”

“I’ll be ready.”  

Kaidan quickly moved dismissing the security screen as he passed through it.  He could feel the stares of the other crew on the ship wondering what he and Liara were talking about as well as his conversation with Shepard.

Chapter Text

SSV Normandy - Noveria - Port Hanshan - Shepard

The Normandy touched down with a gentle hiss, its thrusters kicking up swirling clouds of ice and snow as it settled onto the frozen landing platform. From the cockpit, Joker had made his opinion of the place abundantly clear.

"Hope you guys brought your parkas. Looks like a hell of a vacation spot."

John Shepard pulled his breath mask snugly around his face as the airlock cycled open. A gust of frigid air swept inside, cutting through the warmth of the Normandy like a knife. He stepped out onto the platform, boots crunching against the icy metal. The landscape beyond the docking bay was nothing but an endless expanse of white—barren, hostile, and utterly indifferent to their presence.

“Spirits,” Garrus muttered, his voice muffled behind his visor. “I thought Palaven had brutal winters, but this? This is something else.”

Liara shivered slightly beside him, adjusting the environmental seals on her bodysuit. “This planet wasn’t always like this,” she noted. “Noveria’s climate is largely artificial. The weather is controlled to support corporate security—harsh conditions make it difficult for uninvited guests to approach.”

Kaidan scoffed, rubbing his gloved hands together. “Seems a little extreme. A good lock on the doors wasn’t enough?”

Shepard smirked. “You know how corporations are. When paranoia meets a bottomless budget, you get a frozen death trap like this.”  The levity in his voice could be heard by everyone.

They stepped forward toward the airlock leading into Port Hanshan’s main docking area. The heavy doors slid open, releasing a rush of warmer, recycled air. Inside, the station’s interior was sleek and sterile, a sharp contrast to the merciless cold outside. The docking officers barely spared them a glance, their faces set in the kind of detached professionalism Shepard had come to expect from corporate environments.

A uniformed turian officer approached, flanked by two human guards. His mandibles twitched in an expression of irritation. “That’s far enough,” he barked. 

“Something wrong, officer?” Shepard asked, folding his arms.

“You’re not coming in,” the turian said bluntly. “Your weapons are not authorized in Port Hanshan.”

Kaidan sighed. “Here we go…”

Shepard exchanged a look with his team before shifting his stance slightly, his tone turning diplomatic but firm. “We have clearance from the Council. We’re here on official Spectre business.”

The officer scoffed. “Yes, and we have our own regulations. All weapons must be confiscated and stored for the duration of your visit.”

Garrus let out an exasperated huff. “You know, for a place trying to sell itself as a business haven, you sure make it difficult to get any business done.”

Shepard kept his gaze locked on the turian. “You really want to go through this?”

“Rules are rules,” the officer said, unwavering.

Shepard exhaled sharply, already regretting how much red tape they were going to have to cut through here. He had a bad feeling about this place, and something told him this was just the start of the headaches to come.

At least, he thought grimly, it was warmer inside.

Shepard sat across from Administrator Anoleis in the stark, sterile office that overlooked the Port Hanshan courtyard. The salarian executive leaned back in his chair, his long fingers steepled as he regarded the Commander with thinly veiled disdain.

“I have no information regarding Matriarch Benezia,” Anoleis said flatly. “She is an executive of Peak 15. I am not involved in their day-to-day affairs.”
Shepard kept his expression neutral, but inwardly, he was already exhausted with the runaround. Noveria’s corporate culture made the Citadel bureaucracy look like an honor system.

“You expect me to believe that?” Shepard asked. “A high-ranking asari walks into your facility with an armed escort, and you don’t ask any questions?”

Anoleis’ dark eyes flickered with irritation. “My concern is maintaining order, Commander. Not entertaining the curiosities of outsiders. If Matriarch Benezia is here, it is on legitimate business.

Noveria’s corporations operate independently. I do not pry into the affairs of my clients.”

Kaidan, standing just behind Shepard, folded his arms and let out a sigh. “Great. Another locked door we don’t have a key for.”

Garrus scoffed, his mandibles twitching in frustration. “I’m starting to think they enjoy making things difficult. We had less resistance breaking into a slaver compound.”

Shepard resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose. “We need access to Peak 15.”

“And I need a villa on Thessia,” Anoleis shot back. “Neither of us are getting what we want today.”

Shepard leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping just enough to add weight. “I’m a Spectre. I don’t need your permission.”

Anoleis let out a short, humorless laugh. “You may have Council authority, but this is my station, Commander. I represent the interests of the corporations that keep Noveria running. If I allowed every interloper with a title to do as they pleased, this port would descend into chaos.”

Shepard could already tell this was going nowhere. He pushed back from the chair, rising to his feet. “Alright. We’ll play it your way—for now. But don’t expect me to wait forever.”

Anoleis waved a dismissive hand. “If you wish to waste your time, be my guest.”

As Shepard turned toward the door, Garrus leaned in slightly. “You know, I’m starting to think a good old-fashioned breach charge would be a lot more effective.”

Kaidan chuckled. “And a lot more likely to get us shot.”

Shepard smirked despite himself. “Let’s try the subtle approach first.”

They stepped out into the main lobby, the hum of station activity around them. Liara was waiting for them near the entrance, arms folded as she watched their approach. “I take it that did not go well.”

Shepard sighed. “It went about as well as expected. Which is to say, not at all.”

Kaidan shook his head. “So, what’s the plan? Wait for a miracle?”

Garrus crossed his arms. “Or find someone who hates Anoleis more than we do.”

Shepard nodded. “That’s exactly what we’re going to do.”

Shepard gripped the Mako’s controls as the massive vehicle rumbled up the icy path leading toward Peak 15. The blizzard outside howled against the hull, snow and wind lashing against the windshield in thick waves. Visibility was next to nothing—just swirling white and the faint outlines of jagged rock formations on either side. The Mako’s tires struggled for traction, skidding slightly before the stabilizers adjusted.

“Alright, maybe this was a bad idea,” Kaidan muttered from the seat beside him, bracing against the dashboard.

“Oh, now you say that?” Garrus piped up from the back, his voice vibrating slightly from the Mako’s rough ride. “I thought humans were supposed to have superior planning skills.”

Shepard smirked, keeping his focus on the road—what little of it he could see. “You want to drive, Vakarian?”

“I would, but I’d rather get there in one piece.”

Liara, strapped into the seat behind Kaidan, clutched her restraints a little tighter as the Mako hit a patch of ice and tilted precariously before correcting itself. “Is it always this difficult to control?” she asked.

Shepard let out a short chuckle. “Nah, sometimes it’s worse.”

“I was afraid of that.”

Garrus leaned forward, peering at the dimly visible structures in the distance. “I get that Noveria’s corporations don’t want trespassers, but this weather control is overkill. You’d think they were trying to keep something in rather than keep people out.”

Kaidan exhaled, rubbing his gloved hands together for warmth. “I don’t care what their reason is. The minute we’re done here, I’m going to spend a week somewhere tropical. Maybe the Presidium. I hear the fake sun’s pretty nice.”

Shepard smirked. “You don’t strike me as a vacation type, Alenko.”

“I’m not, but after this, I might reconsider.”

The Mako lurched again as Shepard maneuvered around a particularly deep snowdrift. The vehicle tipped at an alarming angle before slamming back down onto all six wheels.

“Spirits, Shepard! Are you trying to kill us?” Garrus groaned, gripping his seat. “I have enough scars already.”

“Relax,” Shepard said, grinning. “I’ve got this under control.”

“That’s what worries me,” Kaidan muttered.

The comm crackled as Joker’s voice came through, laced with static from the storm. “Hey, Commander, just checking in. You still alive down there, or did you drive off a cliff?”

Shepard rolled his eyes. “Still here, Joker.”

“Damn. I had fifty credits on you flipping the Mako by now.”

Garrus smirked. “If you give me the controls, I’ll make sure he wins that bet.”

“Not happening,” Shepard shot back, guiding the Mako over another frozen ridge.

Through the thick snow, the lights of Peak 15 were finally visible—cold, sterile structures barely standing against the onslaught of the blizzard. Shepard’s grip on the controls tightened. The real trouble was about to begin.

“Hang on,” he said. “Almost there.”

Garrus sighed. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

The Mako roared up the icy incline, its massive tires struggling for traction against the wind-blasted road. Snow swirled in thick, blinding sheets, reducing visibility to almost nothing. The vehicle’s headlights barely cut through the storm, casting weak, flickering beams over jagged rocks and uneven terrain. The storm had only worsened as they climbed higher into the mountains, and with each passing minute, the cold crept deeper into the armored hull, making the cabin feel like a freezer despite the environmental seals.

Shepard kept a firm grip on the controls, jaw tight as he guided the Mako along the barely-visible path. The road to Peak 15 was more of a suggestion than an actual route, with sudden drops and hidden hazards lurking beneath the ever-growing snowdrifts. Icy ridges jutted out like the ribs of some long-dead beast, and deep crevasses yawned at the edges of the path, waiting to swallow the unwary.

The closer they got to their destination, the more unnatural the silence became. No movement beyond the wind. No signs of life. Just the mechanical hum of the Mako’s engine and the storm’s relentless howl.

Then, through the thick snowfall, Peak 15 loomed into view.

The facility was an imposing fortress of steel and reinforced concrete, perched precariously atop the mountain ridge like an outpost clinging to the edge of the world. Harsh floodlights cast stark, artificial glows against the snow-covered structures, their beams swallowed almost immediately by the storm. The architecture was pure corporate pragmatism—no wasted space, no decoration, just rigid functionality designed for efficiency over comfort. The main structure was a vast, blocky complex with smaller satellite buildings connected by thick cables and narrow walkways.

The approach road led to a high, reinforced gate that stood motionless, half-buried in the snowdrifts. A security checkpoint sat just beyond it, though no lights were on inside. No guards, no welcoming party—just a thick layer of frost covering the windows.

Shepard slowed the Mako as they neared the checkpoint, scanning the perimeter. No movement. No sign of life. Just the wind and the eerie quiet of a facility that should have been bustling with personnel.

“This place looks abandoned,” Kaidan muttered, peering through the frost-coated windshield.

Garrus adjusted his visor, scanning the area. “Either that, or something shut them up real fast.”

Shepard frowned, instinct telling him this was far worse than a simple communications failure. He tapped a few commands into the Mako’s onboard systems, trying to establish a link with the facility’s network. Nothing.

Liara shifted uneasily in her seat. “This doesn’t feel right.”

“No, it doesn’t,” Shepard agreed. He flexed his gloved fingers against the controls before exhaling. “Weapons ready. We’re going in.”

With a final hiss of hydraulics, the Mako came to a stop just outside the main gate, its engine idling as Shepard and his team prepared for whatever waited for them inside.

The Mako rolled to a stop outside the main gate of Peak 15, its engine still humming against the quiet, snow-drenched silence. Shepard shut it down and let out a breath, watching the way the swirling frost coated the windshield almost instantly. The blizzard outside had made the approach slow and treacherous, but the sight of the facility itself was somehow worse.

Peak 15 should have been bustling with security teams, researchers, and corporate staff. Instead, it was dead. The exterior floodlights barely cut through the thick snowfall, casting eerie shadows over the ice-covered steel structures. The main gate was partially buried in snowdrifts, but more concerning was the security checkpoint—lights dark, no guards in sight, and a thin layer of frost covering the inside of the windows.

"This is bad," Kaidan murmured, shifting beside Shepard in his seat.

Garrus, from the back, gave a humorless chuckle. "You mean aside from the lethal weather and the fact that the whole place looks like a ghost town?"

Liara stared at the lifeless buildings ahead. "Something happened here. Something violent."

Shepard nodded grimly. "Let’s find out what."

The airlock hissed open, releasing them into a darkened, ice-rimed corridor. The emergency lighting flickered weakly, casting long, twitching shadows across the walls. The temperature was just barely above freezing, the station’s environmental systems clearly failing.

Weapons drawn, the squad moved cautiously through the corridors. The silence was oppressive—no voices, no machinery hum, nothing but the sound of their own footsteps against the frozen floor.

Then, in the distance, a faint clicking sound.

"That’s not normal," Garrus muttered, tightening his grip on his rifle.

Shepard held up a fist, signaling them to stop. A shape scuttled across the dimly lit hallway ahead, its movement unnatural, its outline barely humanoid.

Then the first rachni screeched and charged.

The battle was short but brutal. The rachni came fast—multi-limbed, chitinous creatures with shrieking calls that made Shepard’s skin crawl. Their acidic spit sizzled against the metal walls as the squad fought them back. Liara’s biotics flung them into walls, Garrus’s sniper fire picked them off from a distance, and Kaidan’s pistol fire finished the rest.

When the last of the creatures lay twitching on the cold floor, Shepard exhaled sharply. "Well, that explains what happened to security."

Liara looked pale. "These… these are rachni. But that’s impossible. They’ve been extinct for centuries."

"Apparently not," Kaidan muttered, kicking over one of the insect-like corpses. "Looks like someone’s been breeding them."

"Not someone," Shepard corrected. "Benezia."

Moving deeper into the facility, they found the main control room offline. The station's VI, Mira, was barely functioning, her distorted voice crackling through the speakers.

"Systems damaged. Reboot required. Core shutdown in progress."

Shepard clenched his jaw. "Looks like we’ll need to get the main reactor running before we can get any answers."

The trek through the maintenance tunnels was worse. The facility had been overrun. Rachni lurked in the shadows, hissing and chittering as they attacked in waves. At one point, the lights completely

failed, leaving them fighting in near-total darkness with only the muzzle flashes and the glow of biotic energy illuminating the chaos.

Finally, they reached the reactor core. The system was frozen over—literally. Thick layers of ice coated the control panels and machinery, the cold seeping into their suits. Liara and Kaidan used their omnitools to bypass the fried circuits while Shepard and Garrus held off another wave of rachni.

With a final, desperate effort, the reactor roared back to life, bathing the room in harsh, artificial light. The temperature control systems flickered online, and the station groaned as life returned to its failing infrastructure.

Mira’s voice chimed in over the intercom. "Main systems restored. Environmental controls stabilizing. Security access granted."

"Finally," Shepard muttered, wiping frost from his visor.

The lift to the restricted wing of Peak 15 was operational again, and as it ascended, tension settled over the squad. They all knew what was waiting for them at the top.
The doors opened to reveal Matriarch Benezia standing at the far end of the chamber, flanked by asari commandos and several more rachni warriors. Her expression was calm, unreadable, but her eyes glowed with an unnatural intensity—Saren’s indoctrination had taken hold.

Shepard stepped forward, gun raised. "Benezia, this ends here."

She merely smiled. "No, Shepard. It is only beginning."

The chamber was eerily silent in the seconds before the battle began. Cold, sterile lighting reflected off the polished steel walls, casting stark shadows over the bodies of dead scientists and security personnel that lay frozen where they had fallen. At the far end of the room, Matriarch Benezia stood with an air of regal detachment, her piercing gaze locked onto Shepard and his squad. Flanking her were a dozen asari commandos, their expressions devoid of fear, only cold discipline.

Shepard gritted his teeth. They weren’t going to surrender.

"You don’t have to do this," he tried, his voice firm but calm. "Saren’s controlling you. You know that."

Benezia smiled faintly. "You do not understand, Shepard. I serve willingly."

Then she raised a hand, and chaos erupted.

A shockwave of biotic energy rippled through the air as Benezia’s commandos unleashed their power. Shepard barely managed to brace himself before he was thrown backward, slamming against a workstation. Sparks erupted from damaged consoles, and the heat of incoming fire forced him to roll away before a biotic warp detonated where he had just been.

Kaidan was already moving, ducking behind cover as gunfire erupted around them. Garrus snapped off precise shots with his sniper rifle, forcing the commandos to take cover. Liara countered with her own biotics, throwing one of the enemy asari across the room, her body smashing into a column with a sickening crunch.

Shepard vaulted over the console, closing the distance between himself and one of the commandos. Before she could react, he caught her wrist and twisted, forcing her pistol away as he drove his knee into her gut. She grunted but recovered fast, striking back with an elbow that clipped his jaw. Shepard shook it off, blocking another strike before countering with a brutal punch to her throat.

The asari staggered, gasping, but before Shepard could finish her, another came at him. He barely had time to react as she drew a long, wicked-looking combat knife and slashed at his chest. The reinforced plating of his armor deflected the blade, but the force still sent him stumbling back.

Shepard growled and drew his own knife.

The asari lunged, aiming for his ribs, but Shepard sidestepped, catching her wrist and twisting hard. The knife fell from her grip, and in the same motion, he slammed his head forward, cracking his forehead against her skull. Dazed, she barely registered the blade as Shepard drove it into the gap between her armor plates. She gasped, eyes widening in shock before he pulled the knife free and shoved her aside.

Nearby, Kaidan was locked in his own struggle. An asari had knocked his rifle away and was coming at him with her own dagger. Kaidan dodged the first wild swing and countered with a brutal hook to her ribs. She grunted but spun with the force, slashing at his side. The knife cut into his armor but didn’t penetrate deep.

Kaidan snarled and tackled her, driving her back against a terminal. The asari tried to bring the knife down again, but Kaidan caught her wrist and twisted viciously. The crack of bone was audible over the gunfire. With a sharp cry of pain, she dropped the weapon—just as Kaidan drove his own into her gut.

She went still, then slid to the floor. Kaidan exhaled sharply, yanking his knife free and turning back to the fight.

Shepard barely had time to register Kaidan’s victory before he felt a crushing force wrap around him. His feet lifted off the ground as Benezia’s biotics seized him, locking his limbs in place. He struggled against the invisible grip, but it was like fighting against solid steel.

"You are strong, Shepard," Benezia mused, stepping toward him, her expression unreadable. "But you do not understand the power you oppose."

Before she could tighten her grip, Liara screamed in defiance, unleashing a massive biotic shockwave. The energy rippled through the room, breaking Benezia’s hold. Shepard dropped to the ground and rolled to his feet just in time to see Liara standing in front of her mother, hands raised, glowing with power.

"Mother, please," Liara pleaded. "Fight him!"

Benezia hesitated, her expression flickering—conflict warring in her eyes. But before she could answer, the door at the far end of the room slammed open, and the air filled with an eerie, chittering sound.

The rachni had arrived.

Shepard wiped blood from his mouth and tightened his grip on his knife. "No time for speeches. We end this now!"

The battle was over. The last of the asari commandos lay dead, their bodies crumpled across the cold steel floor of Peak 15’s secure chamber. The air still crackled with residual biotic energy, the scent of scorched metal and blood thick in Shepard’s lungs.

Benezia knelt on the floor, leaning against a fallen console, her once-majestic robes tattered, dark blue blood seeping from the wounds along her side. Her breathing was ragged, but her expression was no longer cold or unreadable—it was full of pain. Full of clarity. The steel resolve of Saren’s thrall had shattered, leaving only a mother on the verge of death.

Liara stood frozen a few steps away, hands trembling as she stared at the woman who had raised her, who had once been one of the most powerful Matriarchs of their people. Now, she was broken, a victim of her own choices… and Saren’s control.

"Liara," Benezia rasped, her voice stripped of its former authority. She reached out weakly. "My daughter..."

Liara hesitated, tears brimming in her eyes as she knelt beside her mother. "I’m here," she whispered, voice thick with emotion. "I’m here, Mother."

Benezia’s lips curled into a faint, sorrowful smile. "I… I tried to resist him… to fight his will. But he is strong. Too strong. I was not myself. I—" She coughed, a wet, ragged sound. "I have done… terrible things."

Liara shook her head. "It wasn't you. The indoctrination—"

"It was still my hands," Benezia interrupted gently. "My voice. My actions. I knew what he was. And I still followed him." Her gaze darkened with regret. "I thought I was strong enough. I was wrong."

Liara’s breath hitched. "You’re free now. It’s over. You don’t have to fight anymore."

Benezia exhaled a slow, shuddering breath. "No… but you must." She turned her gaze to Shepard, then Kaidan, the dim lights reflecting in her fading eyes. "Saren’s hold grows stronger. His reach is vast. You… you must stop him, before all is lost."

Shepard nodded, his voice steady despite the heaviness in the air. "We will."

Benezia’s focus drifted back to Liara. "You are… so much like your father," she murmured, her voice barely a whisper now. "Kind. Full of wonder. I was too harsh with you… I see that now. I only wanted you to be strong."

Liara clutched her mother’s cold hand, her own shaking. "You were my mother. That was enough."

A ghost of a smile passed across Benezia’s lips. Her grip on Liara’s hand weakened. "I am glad… I could see you… one last time… as myself…"

Her last breath left her in a quiet exhale. Then, she was still.

Silence filled the room, heavier than any battle, any fight.

Liara stared at her mother’s lifeless form, lips parted as if she wanted to speak but couldn’t find the words. Her shoulders trembled, and a single tear slipped down her cheek, tracing a path through the dust and grime.

Shepard stepped forward, placing a hand gently on Liara’s shoulder. "I’m sorry," he said quietly. "She fought until the end."

Kaidan, standing a step behind, spoke softly. "She was strong. And she broke free. That means something."

Liara swallowed hard, nodding slightly but never taking her eyes off her mother. She wiped her face quickly, composing herself. "We should go," she whispered.

Shepard gave her a moment longer before gently squeezing her shoulder. Then, with heavy steps, they turned away from Benezia’s body, leaving behind the past and stepping toward the uncertain future.

Chapter Text

Noveria - Traveling from Peak 15 to Port Hanson -  Mako - Shepard

The drive back from Peak 15 had been brutal. The cold winds howled through the valleys of Noveria’s frozen wastelands, snow whipping across the landscape in thick sheets that made visibility a constant battle. With the weather worsening, Liara and Garrus had opted to take one of the facility’s remaining shuttles, bringing along a handful of survivors from the station. That left Shepard and

Kaidan alone in the Mako, bouncing over ice-covered terrain as they made the long trek back to Port Hanshan.

For a while, they rode in comfortable silence, the hum of the engine and the occasional radio check-in from Garrus filling the space between them. Kaidan sat in the co-pilot seat, one hand resting lazily on his thigh while the other hovered over the Mako’s controls, occasionally adjusting the environmental stabilizers.

Shepard exhaled, keeping his grip firm on the wheel. “Could’ve been worse,” he muttered. “At least none of those rachni hitched a ride.”

Kaidan huffed a quiet laugh. “Yeah. I think I’ve had my fill of horrifying, thought-to-be-extinct alien bugs for one lifetime.” He shifted slightly, glancing out at the snow-covered horizon. “Still... hell of a mission.”

Shepard nodded. “Yeah.”

Silence stretched between them again, but it wasn’t awkward. It was the kind of quiet that came from two soldiers who didn’t need to fill every moment with conversation. But after a while, Kaidan broke it.

“You ever see anything like that before? Indoctrination?”

Shepard kept his eyes on the road. “Not like that. I’ve seen what bad leadership can do, how people can be manipulated into doing things they never would have on their own. But this? Saren’s influence? It’s different. More insidious.” He clenched his jaw. “It’s like watching someone drown, and there’s no way to pull them back.”

Kaidan was quiet for a moment. “Liara took it hard.”

“Yeah,” Shepard agreed, gripping the wheel tighter. “Can’t blame her. Losing a parent is never easy, even when you know they were in the wrong.”

Kaidan nodded, but before he could say anything else, a sudden gust of wind slammed into the Mako, hard enough that the vehicle lurched sideways. The controls bucked in Shepard’s hands as the snowdrifts thickened around them, visibility dropping to almost nothing.

“Shit—hold on!” Shepard growled, trying to correct their course.

The wind howled louder, and in the next moment, the Mako’s right side lifted off the ground as a powerful gust caught them at just the wrong angle. The vehicle tipped, then slid, the treads failing to gain traction. Snow engulfed them as the Mako skidded sideways into an embankment, the impact rattling them both in their harnesses.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

“Well,” Kaidan finally said, voice dry. “That went well.”

Shepard exhaled through his nose, his breath fogging the inside of his helmet. “You okay?”

“Yeah. You?”

“Fine. Except for the part where we’re stuck.” Shepard tried to engage the Mako’s thrusters, but the treads only spun uselessly against the packed snow. He cursed under his breath and shut down the engine.

Kaidan checked the environmental readings. “Good news is, we’re not in immediate danger of freezing to death. The bad news is, we’re not getting out of here without help.”

Shepard leaned back in his seat, running a hand down his face. “Great.”

Kaidan smirked. “You just had to drive, didn’t you?”

Shepard shot him a look. “Oh, like you would’ve done any better.”

Kaidan shrugged. “I’m just saying, maybe letting the guy with a perfect driving record do the precision driving wouldn’t have been the worst idea.”

Shepard snorted. “Yeah, yeah. Next time, you drive.”

Kaidan chuckled, then activated his radio. “Garrus, Liara, you there?”

Static filled the comms for a moment before Garrus’ voice crackled through. “Took you two long enough to check in. Let me guess—you’re stuck?”

Shepard sighed. “Yeah.”

Garrus made an exaggerated sigh. “You really are the worst driver I’ve ever met, Shepard.”

Kaidan grinned. “Told you.”

Shepard rolled his eyes. “Can you get to us?”

Liara’s voice came through next, concerned but steady. “We’re already turning back. We’ll be there in a few hours.”

Shepard shut off the comm and leaned back with a groan. “Guess we’re stuck here for a bit.”

Kaidan stretched his arms over his head, then shot Shepard a sidelong glance. “So. Got any great stories to pass the time?”

Shepard smirked. “That depends. You want childhood stories, war stories, or embarrassing stories?”

Kaidan hummed, pretending to think. “Embarrassing.”

Shepard chuckled. “Figures.” He leaned back, crossing his arms. “Alright. When I was eight, my sister and I decided to see who could climb the highest in the cargo bay while my parents were stationed on Mindoir. She got to the top. I didn’t. Broke my wrist when I fell.”

Kaidan grinned. “Classic sibling rivalry.”

“What about you?  What was the childhood of Kaidan Alenko like?” Shepard asked.

Kaidan’s smile softened. “I used to take my little brother and sister stargazing. We had great views from the families orchard, I’d tell them stories about what was out there for hours on end. My brother always thought I was making it all up.”

Shepard smiled. “Sounds like they looked up to you.”

Kaidan shrugged. “Maybe.” He hesitated, then glanced at Shepard. “What about relationships? You ever have time for that?”

Shepard exhaled. “Only one real one in the last decade. A beta woman. I kind of thought it was serious. She didn’t.” His voice tightened slightly. “She cheated.”

Kaidan winced. “That’s rough.”  Cheating was looked down upon by most humans especially Alpha’s and Omega’s.

Shepard nodded. “After that, I had a friends-with-benefits thing with an omega guy from basic. No strings.”

Kaidan was quiet for a moment, then murmured, “Yeah. I get that.”

Shepard turned to him. “You?”

Kaidan hesitated, then said, “One real relationship. A beta guy. Thought it would last longer than it did, but… it ended up fizzling out just as quick as it started.” He exhaled. “After that, just… nothing serious.”

For a long moment, they just looked at each other. The air inside the Mako felt warmer despite the cold outside. Shepard became acutely aware of how close they were, how the scent of chocolate and coffee clung to Kaidan’s skin—earthy, rich, comforting.

Then Kaidan leaned in, and Shepard didn’t stop him.

The kiss was slow at first, hesitant, but it deepened quickly, months of tension melting away. Kaidan’s hands found their way to Shepard’s waist, pulling him closer, and Shepard responded in kind, fingers trailing up the back of Kaidan’s neck, tilting his head to deepen the kiss.

By the time they pulled apart, both were breathing heavily, foreheads resting against each other.

“Well,” Kaidan murmured, lips still brushing Shepard’s. “That’s one way to pass the time.”

Shepard huffed a quiet laugh. “Yeah. Not complaining.”  He dove back to capture Kaidan’s mouth once again, pulling him closer.

The kiss was slow, deliberate, as if Shepard was savoring every inch of Kaidan’s body. His hands roamed, fingers tracing the contours of Kaidan’s thighs, his touch both gentle and commanding. The atmosphere in the vehicle was electric, charged with unspoken desire of their actions.  Shepard worked quickly to help Kadian remove his outer armor until they were both sitting in the back of the Mako in their matching under armor.  Kaidan’s fingers twitched, his body arching slightly as Shepard’s mouth reached the bulge in his pants. 

The zipper of Kaidan’s fatigues was already partially undone, a silent invitation that Shepard accepted without hesitation. With practiced ease, he pulled the zipper down further, the sound of metal teeth separating echoing faintly in the confined space. Kaidan’s hardened length was soon freed from its confines, the head glistening with pre-cum.  Shepard’s eyes flickered up to meet Kaidan’s, a silent question in his gaze. He nodded, his breath hitching as Shepard’s lips wrapped around the tip of his cock. The sensation was immediate and overwhelming, a jolt of pleasure that shot straight to Jake’s core. Ethan’s mouth was warm and wet, his tongue swirling around the sensitive head before he took more of Jake’s length into his mouth. His hands gripped Jake’s hips, anchoring him as he began to move, his head bobbing in a steady rhythm.

Kaidan groaned softly, his fingers tangling in Shepard’s hair, pulling him closer. The sensation was intoxicating, his mouth working its magic, his lips and tongue creating a friction that was both torturous and exhilarating. Kaidan’s head fell back against the wall, his body tensing as pleasure built within him. The hum of the engine still working seemed to fade into the background, the only sound now the wet, sucking noises Shepard made as he deepened his ministrations.  Kaidan's moaning filled the small confined space.  There was only a few moments for Shepard to savor the sounds before he heard Kaidan say his name and spilling into his mouth.  

They didn’t get much more time before Garrus’ voice crackled back over the comms, ruining the moment.

“Alright, you two, the most handsome Turian in the galaxy is here to save the humans. Try not to look too guilty when we pull you out.”

Kaidan groaned, and Shepard just laughed.  The two scrambled a bit to get their armor back on before anyone could tell what they were doing. 

SSV Normandy - Starboard Observation Lounge - Slipspace en-route to the Citadel - Kaidan

The calming streaking colors of slipspace blurred by the window of the observation room.  He loved the calmness of watching the blues and greens streaking passed the ship as it traveled at superluminal speeds.  There was something about the way space warped around the ship that caused his stress to melt away when he sat alone.  

His implant was playing soft classical music in his ear.  He really was trying to get his thoughts under control about John.  Their reactions to one another while they were waiting for pickup had been explosive.  The feeling of his body rubbing against him had felt heavenly.  

Both he and Shepard needed to shower the instant they got back to the ship.  Doing their best to not run into crew that could smell them on one another had been one of the hardest tasks he had.  

He had done his best to relax to try and figure out his feelings towards the man.  Their mutual attraction was obvious, but was it more.  Could he have feelings more than lust for Shepard?   A small part of him was saying yes.  There was just something about John that pulled at him on a primal level.  

Breathing exercises did a bit to help calm his nerves.  He had tried meditation when he was younger, but that had never really helped.  A sharp floral scent filled his senses informing him before the door opened.  Still breathing deeply he tried his best to center his thoughts and ignore the woman who approached the couch he was sitting on.  

A part of him had known she would show up at some point to ask more questions.  Would it be more along the lines of the last questions about human sexuality or something even more bizarre.  With her he could never tell.  The talk about polytheistic religion and its influence on art during the 7th century had been fun if a bit off the wall.  

The couch dipped beside him.  He wondered how long it would take her to ask her questions.  Moving his hand he paused the music playing causing the silence and the small hum of the ships drives to fill the space.

“Liara.”  His voice was soft as he spoke, doing his best to keep the calm atmosphere he had been in before she walked in.

“Sorry to disturb you Kaidan.  I was lonely and wanted a friend.”  Sadness rolled off her as she spoke.  It was more than her scent that told him that.  Her posture and meek voice told him more than anything that she was conflicted about her mothers death.

“After what happened on Noveria I would be surprised if you didn’t.  I could always use company.  Stay and enjoy the beauty of slip travel.”

Neither of them said anything for a few minutes before he broke the silence.  

“When was the last time you spoke to your mother?”  She took a few moments thinking before she answered.

“I think it was about 5 years ago.  She had been working on Thesia.  She contacted me about the dig I was on.  I want to say it was about a year before I moved to Therum.”

“Was it just a question about your studies, or did you guys talk about anything else?”

“We did talk about my work some.  I think most of the conversation was about me.  She asked questions about my health and what I had been doing.  She even asked if I was dating anyone.”

“Was it a long talk?”

“It was maybe an hour or so.  We talked about her work she was doing at the time, even discussed some old childhood memories I had.”

“So, she wanted to connect with you.  She was being a mother, wanting to know about how her daughter was doing.  The call wasn’t just about your latest paper or her work.  She wanted to know if you remembered things for your childhood.”

“I guess I can see that.”

“She loved you.  You could tell that at the end.”

“Calling me little wing.  It was what she called me as a child.”

“I am sorry that she is dead.”

“I am too.  I miss who she was before.”  

The silence that followed was not as oppressive as he had thought it should have been.  Kaidan quietly spoke up.

“Athena, can you play my classical play list over the speakers?”

“Yes sir.  Do you need anything else?”

“No, can you log us out after this.  I’ll stop the music before we leave.”

“Have a good night Lt. Alenko, Dr. T’soni.”

The deep sounds of string instruments started to play over the speakers.  It was a continuation of the previous work he had been listening to before Liara came to talk to him.

“Music has always been beautifully calming to me.  This is what I was listening to, before you came in here.  I figured that it might help you.”  

Liara only nodded an acknowledgment.  Kaidan continued to stare into the abyss that was slipspace.  The calming streaks of blue and green that passed quickly formed different shapes.  He had sat there for hours before just watching the eddies of space/time curl around the ship as it moved.  Doing this reminded him of his childhood where he and Erik would lay on the lawn of their house and cloud gaze.  Simpler times he guessed.  

The act of just watching the universe pass him by always made him feel oddly calm.  It reminded him of just how utterly in insignificant a human life really was compared to the universe.  One simple small person compared to the trillions of light years across the known galaxy was.  There was comfort in this knowledge.  

Then again one persons actions could have lasting consequences that had the ability to reshape the whole galaxy.  Thinking of the actions of Torvath and his changing of the human genome.  How would humanity have turned out if that one act would not have happened.  There were too many things that man had changed for ill or good.  

Liara’s quiet voice broke his thoughts.  

“Do you ever think about being a parent?”  It seemed unsure if she should or would ask the question.

“When I was younger I wanted to have a family.  Hell, most Omegas want to be a parent at some point in their lives.  I think when I was in my early 20’s I thought about being a dera more than I do now.”

“A dera?”

“It’s a human phrase.  It’s just a title given to a male omega barer.”  

“Oh, I didn’t know that.”

“Humans have odd words for everything.  Mera and dera are used to denote an omega barer, female and male respectively.  Most Alphas are referred to as a sire either male or female.  Funny enough mother or mom is used for either alpha or beta female barer. Like I said it can get confusing if you are not careful, but it just lets people know who to expect when meeting extended family.”  She gave him another look that told of her confusion.

“Do you have an example?”  Her question was simple, but complicated at the same time.  

“Well the best example would be to tell you that I have a mother and a father.  Meaning both my parents are betas, but if you asked Shepard he would probably say tell you he has a mera and sire.  That tells people he has a omega mother and an alpha father.”

“That sounds complicated.”

“It can be, but it was how we are raised.  We don’t know anything else.”

She just gave him a strange look before turning back to the streaks of blue out the window.

“So, you have thought about it?”

“I have.  I would like to have children one day.  Just not too sure it will happen any time soon.”

“I might have thought about it myself for a moment or two recently, but I still have another century and a half before I am able to conceive.”

“Why would you have thought about having a child recently?”  He had a feeling he knew the answer, but still had to ask.

“I had a fleeting thought about having a child with Shepard when I was making a pass at him.”

“Really?”

“Yes, as I said it was a fleeting thought before he brushed me off.  Could you have children now?”

“Technically I could have children now, but it isn’t a good time for me.  I have only been in my career for a decade and would like to continue serving in the alliance for a good few more years.”

She returned to that quiet space as she contemplated what he said.  Kaidan had thought about children more recently, but he would not tell Liara any of that.  She did not need to know about his continued infatuation with John.  Especially not if she still had feelings for the man.  

“I wonder if my mother felt conflicted about having a child before I was born.”

“I am sure she loved you Liara, maybe that is all you can take from all this.  One day when you do have a daughter you will understand her better.”

“Maybe.”

The music changed to something a bit more melodic and somber.  He almost wanted to laugh at the music changes to match their mood.  

“Have you talked to Shepard since we got back?”

“No, I have been avoiding him.”

“Why?”

“I am not sure.”

“Is it because he ended her suffering?”

“I don’t know.  Even I could see it in her eyes at the end.  She was full of so much pain, but there wasn’t anything I could do to save her.  She was already too gone.”

“If there was a way to save her you know we would have.”

“I know.  I held her hand at the end.  That has to count for something.”

“It most likely made her last moments better for her.”

“Thats a small comfort.”

“You know I am here for you Liara.”

“I appreciate it Kaidan.”

She moved her body to curl on the sofa and per her head in his lap.  Resting his hand on her shoulder he left her to just watch the universe pass them by.

Chapter Text

SSV Normandy - Slipspace en-route to the Citadel - Date: Classified
Personal log Staff Lt. Kaidan Alenko – Classified Ultra-Black and Encrypted 

I stayed in the observation lounge for several hours as Liara silently cried about her mother.  She curled up and took comfort in the fact that I was there for her as she broke down.  I guess the classical music helped her deal with her emotions.  

Her questions again were not intrusive, but they did make me think more than I should.  By the time I returned to my quarters I had this whole fantasy life with Shepard playing in my head often on repeat.  

He stopped by my quarters several hours ago, checking in with me and to discuss the Mission to Noveria.  We ended up talking for close to three hours.  The discussion ranged from childhood memories, to previous deployments.  It wasn’t until after we ate and had a few drinks that we discussed previous relationships.  

That was a weird conversation for the both of us, yet it made me feel better after he left.  

I had told him that I had only one previous relationship in the last decade, while he admitted to having only one real relationship with a beta woman until she cheated on him.   After that he had a friends with benefits relationship with a beta guy he knew from basic.  

I guess that heady aroma of arousal as well as our personal scents was too much for him because before he left my quarters, he pinned me to a wall and kissed me again.  Holy shit man, having his body pressed against me pinning me against the wall, covering my entire body with his, almost made me cream my pants.  

He admitted to being attracted to me and my intoxicating scent.  Which he called it a combination of chocolate, coffee and cherries, some of his favorite things in the world.  I admitted that he smelled of home, the salty sea air around Vancouver and thunderstorms I used to love in the BC interior of my parent’s orchard.   

He kissed me one last time before leaving my quarters with a promise to talk more about whatever it was between us.  I will not admit that I changed my pants after that kiss.

END LOG

SSV Normandy - Slipspace en-route to the Citadel - Date: Classified
Personal Log of Commander John Shepard - Classified Ultra-Black and Encrypted.

I stopped by Kaidan’s quarters after the mission a few hours ago.  It was nice to talk to him about other things besides work and the mission.  He has a sense of humor that I was not sure existed under that professional exterior he always exudes.

He cracked a joke at my expense and it took me by surprise.  It was dumb and made me laugh like no other person I had met before.  There is something about him.  Actually its everything about him, his mind, his actions, his heart, his scent have all been screaming at me for the last few weeks that this man is mine.

I wasn’t too sure about checking on him after Noveria, but what happened in the snow should stay there I guess.  I am not sure that I want it to.  I feel like a star orbiting a black hole.  Every moment I keep getting pulled closer and closer to the abyss.  

After talking for a good few hours I realized that we had not spoken once about the mission or the fact that the Matriarch is dead.  He did tell me that Liara broke down a bit on him earlier tonight about her mothers death.  She curled into a ball while crying in his lap, in the dark observation lounge.  

Everything else was on the table for discussion though.  I learned more about the man.  

PAUSED RECORDING  

RECORDING RESUMED
 
I needed to get a drink for this.  Guess I should just come out and say it, but I am developing feelings for Kaidan.  More than anyone I have ever dated in the last decade.  I guess I understand some of what my dad felt when he met mera.  

Not sure how I am going to get through this without something more happening with Kaidan.  Fuck.  We could technically be together, but it is still frowned upon in the Alliance to sleep with a subordinate.  And fuck all if I don’t want him badly.  

This has been brewing since I first scented him leaving Alliance space before Eden Prime.  

I guess I need to do something more about this.  We made out for a good hour on his couch.  He was in my lap straddling my body and it felt wonderful.

END LOG

Chapter Text

SSV Normandy - Slipspace enroute to Virmire - Shepard 

The Normandy dropped out of FTL with a muted hum, her sleek black hull rippling with residual kinetic energy as the stars stabilized around her. Virmire loomed ahead—green, lush, ringed with shallow sapphire oceans and white cloud spirals that masked the violence below.

Commander John Shepard stood at the galaxy map, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the rotating holographic planet. It was beautiful. But so was a minefield from the right distance.

“Stealth systems holding,” Joker announced from the bridge. “No contact on long-range scans, but we’re picking up intermittent comm bursts from the surface. Encrypted, Salarian in origin. Might be survivors.”

Kaidan stepped up beside him, helmet in the crook of his arm. “STG?”

“Could be,” Shepard said. “Or bait. Either way, we’re going in. Joker—put us down at the coordinates nearest the signal cluster. Quiet as you can.”

“You got it, Commander. LZ in six.”

Shepard turned to his team. “Kaidan, Ash—you’re with me.”

Williams straightened, snapping her rifle into the magnetic lock on her back. “Locked and loaded.”

Kaidan hesitated for just a breath longer, brows tight. “This could be a trap. If they’re alive, they’ve been holding out against Geth and Krogan in hostile terrain for days. They might be compromised. Or worse.”

Shepard looked at him. “That’s why we go in first. Quiet. Assess and extract. We’ll know what we’re walking into soon enough.”

Kaidan nodded, but his jaw stayed tight.

The shuttle descended through thick, humid air and angled low over the surf. Towering ridgelines framed the coast, and the ocean boiled with unnatural movement—waves disrupted by some kind of offshore energy field that shimmered faintly against the sky. Shepard crouched near the ramp, helmet now sealed, weapon in hand.

The ramp dropped with a hiss. Heat and moisture rushed in.

Gunfire echoed through the trees.

“Contact,” Shepard said immediately, already moving. “Sound off. Defensive fire pattern—let’s move!”

They pushed forward into the underbrush, flanking along a ridge of moss-covered stone. The terrain was slick, uneven, and littered with signs of a skirmish—burned foliage, shattered Geth casings, and the acrid stench of melted metal. The sound of weapons fire was sharp, controlled—precision bursts. Not panicked.

Professional.

Shepard ducked under a gnarled branch and peered down the incline. A team of Salarian operatives were entrenched behind a half-sunken prefabricated barricade. Geth footsoldiers swarmed the path ahead of them, coming from a clearing near the base of a distant facility wall.

Shepard didn’t wait.

He surged forward, Kaidan and Williams at his side. The first Geth unit turned just as Shepard slammed into it, kinetic barrier flaring as he shoulder-checked it into a tree and shattered its carapace.

Kaidan dropped to a knee, rifle up, squeezing off bursts that cut through a second platform. Ash covered their rear, precise and mechanical in her shooting.

The last Geth fell with a burst of white sparks.

“Clear!” Kaidan shouted.

The Salarian officer stepped out from behind cover, weapon lowered but not holstered. His eyes—large, black, unreadable—locked onto Shepard’s.

“Commander Shepard,” he said in a clipped, efficient voice. “Captain Kirrahe. Special Tasks Group. You’ve arrived faster than expected.”

“We got your signal,” Shepard replied, removing his helmet. The ocean breeze hit his face like a wet slap, but he didn’t blink. “Looked like you could use backup.”

Kirrahe inclined his head. “That was not a request for aid. But your arrival is... fortuitous. We’re in dire need of a distraction.”

Shepard frowned. “How many do you have left?”

“Two full squads. Most of our forward team is gone. The enemy controls the facility beyond that ridge—Saren’s laboratories, we believe. The entire base is shielded by an energy barrier keyed to Geth signatures. We’ve been searching for a way to infiltrate and shut down the labs. We believe they’re cloning Krogan in large numbers.”

Ash stepped closer. “Cloning an army?”

Kirrahe nodded. “A disposable one. Accelerated growth. Engineered obedience.”

Kaidan’s jaw tightened. “Sounds like the makings of a war.”

Shepard looked between the ridgeline and the Salarian squads, already seeing the problem before anyone said it aloud.

"You can't take the lab with what you've got."

“No,” Kirrahe said. “Not without dying.”

There was no bitterness in his voice. Only acceptance.

“That’s where we come in,” Shepard said.

Kirrahe inclined his head again. “I assumed you’d volunteer. You look... capable.”

Shepard didn’t smile. He stepped closer, his voice lowering.

“Captain. How long until the Krogan reach full deployment?”

“We don’t know. Soon. Hours, perhaps. Maybe less. The genetic batches cycle fast. The base is automated. There’s no way to extract samples or data without breaching the core—and it’s heavily defended.”

Shepard looked back toward the Normandy, already planning his assault routes.

“Then we hit them now.”

Kirrahe nodded slowly. “We will begin infiltration preparations. I suggest you disrupt their communications grid and draw their defenses away from the lab sector. If you can survive the initial wave, we will move in from the east.”

Shepard turned to Kaidan and Williams. “Prep for deployment. Gear check in five. Joker’ll have evac standing by, but we’re going in deep.”

Kaidan stepped in close, his voice low. “You trust them?”

“No,” Shepard said honestly. “But they’re not wrong. If that base goes live, the Krogan War will look like a playground fight.”

Ash snorted. “Nothing about this smells right. Cloning labs, shielded bases, Geth patrols that back off when they should press? Someone’s playing chess.”

Shepard glanced up toward the distant shimmer of the facility’s upper wall. Rain was starting to fall—thin at first, then steady. It slicked his armor and turned the jungle into steam.

“We’ll find out soon enough,” he said. “Let’s give them a reason to regret building here.”

He turned back to Kirrahe. “Once we engage, don’t wait. Move the second your window opens.”

Kirrahe gave him a sharp salute.

“Then may fortune favor your boldness, Commander.”

Shepard didn’t reply. He just pulled his helmet back on and turned toward the jungle.

The Kodiak touched down hard on the white sand, kicking up salt and steam as it hissed open. Wind swept through the bay doors, thick with ocean brine and the distant sharp scent of weapon discharges. The smell of a coming storm.

Shepard led the way down the ramp, boots sinking an inch into wet sand before finding solid purchase. His eyes scanned the horizon—low dunes covered in alien foliage, dotted with flickering gunfire and the low throb of Alliance HUDs.

The beach was already a battlefield.

“Clear the landing zone,” Shepard barked, voice sharp in the comms. “Ash, take point. Kaidan, with me.”

Ashley Williams moved like fire across the sand, her rifle sweeping methodically, her frame crouched low behind a half-submerged spike of coral. Kaidan followed Shepard’s left flank, eyes narrowed beneath his helmet. He wasn’t a biotic like in most timelines, no glowing amp on his temple—just solid armor, a rifle, and calm, grounded precision honed from years of infantry training.

Kaidan was a quiet force. He didn’t shine the way some specialists did, but Shepard trusted him. Trusted the weight of him at his side. Always had.

Salarian scouts met them a hundred meters inland, crouched low in a break of silver grass. Captain Kirrahe, lean and unreadable, gestured them in.

“We’ve breached the perimeter of the base,” Kirrahe reported. “Initial resistance was lighter than expected. I suspect it’s a trap.”

Shepard’s jaw flexed. “They want us in. That doesn’t mean we won’t go.”

Kirrahe’s thin lips twitched in something almost like a smile. “Agreed. But we’ll need a distraction if the STG team is going to infiltrate the labs and reach Saren’s facilities without being vaporized.”

Ashley leaned forward, resting the barrel of her assault rifle over her knee. “You want us to cause a scene.”

“A bold one, yes.”

Before Shepard could reply, Kaidan cut in. “How many men do you have left, sir?”

Kirrahe hesitated. “Four squads. Two full strength. We lost one in the initial assault. The facility is defended by Geth, automated turrets, and... possibly Krogan bred for rapid deployment. There may also be unknown assets—we’ve heard unconfirmed reports of a cloning facility.”

Kaidan’s shoulders stiffened. “Your men ready for that kind of fight?”

The Salarian captain didn’t bristle. He only blinked once, slow and reptilian. “They were trained for suicide operations, Lieutenant.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

Shepard turned, not surprised to see Kaidan’s brow furrowed in quiet frustration. His worry wasn’t for the mission. It was for the soldiers. That was who Kaidan was—beneath the armor and regulation-correct voice, he still cared. Still gave a damn. Even about strangers.

Shepard rested a gloved hand on Kaidan’s shoulder and gave it the lightest squeeze. “We’ll back them. Make sure no one’s going in alone.”

Kaidan nodded once, a short, silent thanks, before falling back into formation.

They moved deeper into the brush as the wind picked up—blowing salt and static through the comms. Shepard felt it more than heard it: a tension in the air, like lightning hadn’t yet struck, but was moments from impact.

The Geth were waiting.

Their ambush came in the ruins of an old Salarian outpost—half-collapsed walls and scattered sea crates offering just enough cover for someone to believe they had a chance. The first shots came from the cliffs—blue plasma screaming past Shepard’s helmet, melting the leaves behind him into hissing smoke.

“MOVE!” Shepard shouted, grabbing Kaidan by the chest and hauling him bodily behind a crumbled wall.

Ashley laid down suppressive fire, her rifle barking rhythmically. “Four sniper platforms! Geth Prime down the hill, moving up!”

“Copy.” Shepard stood, fast and unflinching, and threw a grenade over the wall. It exploded midair with a satisfying crack, shredding one of the platforms in a burst of shrapnel and blue light.

The Geth Prime charged, heavy feet shaking the earth. Shepard met it head-on.

He moved like gravity didn’t apply, leaping over the wreckage with inhuman speed, his fists glowing faintly as he grabbed the synthetic by the neck and ripped it backwards, slamming it into the dirt hard enough to crater the ground. Sparks flew. The thing convulsed, then went still.

Kaidan was already moving to his flank, sidearm raised. “Clear right!”

“Cover left!” Shepard barked, wiping synthetic fluid off his visor.

Together, they dismantled the rest of the ambush with brutal efficiency—Ash laying down suppressive fire while Shepard and Kaidan worked as one: a brawler and a sharpshooter, iron and fire.

Two hours later, they reached the final staging point.

The Salarian teams were already assembling near the perimeter of the base, where Saren’s labs loomed—half-buried bunkers and smoking vents that hissed chemicals into the sky. The facility was surrounded by an energy barrier pulsing with a sickly green hue.

Kirrahe turned to Shepard. “This is where we part ways.”

Ashley stepped forward. “You’ll need backup, sir. Let me go with the Salarians. I can help anchor the line.”

Shepard looked between her and Kaidan. The plan had to hold. Two fronts—one to draw fire, one to breach.

He nodded. “Go. Keep them alive.”

Ash gave him a grim smile, slapped Kaidan on the shoulder, and turned to jog after Kirrahe’s men as they slipped into the jungle undergrowth.

Silence fell.

Kaidan turned to Shepard, eyes scanning the ridge ahead. “This whole thing feels off. No resistance at the choke points, half the Geth formations aren’t even anchored to key supply lanes. It’s like they’re not trying.”

“They’re not,” Shepard said, voice low. “They’re waiting.”

Kaidan gave him a sidelong glance. “For what?”

“I don’t know.” Shepard stepped forward. “But we’re going to find out.”

They made their way toward the main lab entrance, bypassing two Geth patrols and disabling a Krogan gestation pit by rerouting the coolant feed into the heating coils. It exploded behind them in a rain of glass and fire.

At the final approach, they found the control node—and a locked terminal behind reinforced glass. A message was looping on the screen. Audio only.
It was a voice. Deep. Smooth. Saren.

“Shepard. I see you’ve made it further than expected. That’s... impressive. But ultimately pointless.”

Kaidan stiffened beside him.

“I wonder, Commander... have you figured it out yet?” the recording continued. “Your evolution, your instincts, your obedience to the illusion of autonomy? You think you’re here because of choice, but your entire path has been... cultivated. By beings you cannot even comprehend.”

The message repeated.

Kaidan exhaled. “What is he thinking?”

Shepard didn’t answer right away. He watched the terminal, unmoving.

He’d always known—deep down—that there was more to his strength. To his instincts. The way his senses worked differently than most. The geneticist on Mars, awakened centuries ago, had told

Earth’s early leaders enough to steer their path... but never everything.

Maybe not even half.

“I don’t care what Saren thinks he knows,” Shepard said at last. “He’s wrong if he thinks that makes me one of his.”

Kaidan looked at him—really looked—and something flickered in his expression. “I don’t think he believes that either. I think he’s scared you’re not.”

The alarms still echoed overhead—sharp, pulsing bursts that vibrated faintly in Shepard’s teeth as he sprinted through the flickering hallway. Behind him, Kaidan kept pace, breathing heavy but measured, his rifle angled upward as they rounded a corner toward the core power junction.

“Door ahead—sealed,” Kaidan said, already sliding into cover beside the bulkhead panel.

Shepard didn’t stop. He slammed into the control interface, tore off the outer casing, and jammed his omni-blade into the circuitry. Sparks danced across his glove as the lock stuttered, then hissed open with a pained screech of metal.

Inside: the lab’s heart.

A towering cylinder of synthetic musculature and glowing biotubes loomed over them, humming with deep, almost organic resonance. Dozens of Krogan floated in partial development, their veins lit with chemical indicators, nerves twitching as their systems synced with the facility’s automated control center.

“It’s alive,” Kaidan muttered. “The system’s running a growth-cycle. They’ll be combat-ready in under a day.”

“No they won’t,” Shepard said.

He crossed to the main terminal, pausing only briefly to examine the interface. No Citadel standard coding. This was a hybrid system—part Salarian bioengineering, part Geth digital integration. And beneath it, he could see the fingerprints of something older.

Prothean logic trees. Buried deep.

Kaidan stood behind him, reading what he could from the flickering panels. “Shepard… it’s not just cloning. There’s a cognitive overlay being installed. It’s… like they’re trying to create collective loyalty. Hive behavior.”

Shepard didn’t respond. His eyes had locked onto a section of the code branching deeper into the system.

Beneath the neural mapping software was something hidden. Encrypted. Masked in a recursive algorithm too elegant for anything the Salarians or Saren could’ve built.

He followed the trail down.

“What is it?” Kaidan asked, noticing the change in Shepard’s posture.

“I don’t know,” Shepard said quietly. “But I think someone didn’t want this part of the system found.”

He triggered the last fail-safe, bypassed a checksum loop, and—

The terminal went dark.

Then glowed blue.

A low hum rose through the floor.

From the far end of the chamber, a wall of synthetic paneling slid open with a hiss of released pressure.

Beyond it, nestled in a chamber of obsidian and light, was a Prothean Beacon.

Kaidan stepped forward, his weapon half-raised, but not aimed. His voice came out low. “That’s impossible. There’s only supposed to be one operational beacon left. On Eden Prime.”

Shepard moved slowly, instinct humming beneath his skin. He could feel it before he got close—something in his nerves responding, some echo across the engineered threads of his genome. His heart beat faster, not with fear, but with resonance.

The Beacon pulsed once. Then again. A wave of heat and color passed through the chamber, and suddenly the blue light seemed less like a signal and more like a heartbeat.

“It’s been hidden,” Shepard said. “Not lost. Saren must have discovered it during his search for the Conduit. He couldn’t risk moving it… but he built this place around it.”

“To protect it?” Kaidan asked.

“To control it,” Shepard replied. “Or to use it for something worse.”

He stepped toward it.

“Shepard—” Kaidan reached out instinctively, grabbing his forearm. “Last time you touched a Beacon, it nearly killed you.”

Shepard glanced back at him, jaw tense. “And it gave us the only lead we had. We need to know what Saren’s doing—and what the hell the Protheans left behind.”

Kaidan didn’t let go immediately. “And if this one shows you more than your brain can handle?”

Shepard held his gaze for a beat longer than he needed to.

“I’ll handle it.”

Then he stepped forward.

The moment his fingers brushed the surface, the world exploded into light.

Not pain. Not disorientation. This time it was different.

There was no collapse—only immersion.

His vision was pulled inward, then outward, into a lattice of symbols and images burned across time itself. He saw not just the Reapers—but the galaxy as it had been, when the Protheans still walked it.

Cities in orbit around black holes. Bio-digital societies. Genetic temples grown from world-trees. Entire civilizations spliced together in what the Protheans believed was evolution by design.

And then came the fall.

But this time, there was more.

He saw a chamber beneath Mars. A single Prothean geneticist, standing in defiance of extinction, embedding code into primitive DNA strands. He saw Earth before it had reached the Iron Age—and

something planted there. Not just information. Not just instinct.

A design.

He saw the ABO genes bloom in early humans. He saw survival rates spike. He saw changes in empathy networks, in fight-or-flight thresholds. He saw the rise of Alphas not as leaders—but as protectors. Omegas as communicators, diplomats, and—eventually—neural templates for AI design.

And then the Beacon screamed.

Images flashed by too fast: Earth burning. Slipspace fracturing. A shadow with a thousand arms reaching down from dark space.

Shepard staggered back, gasping, collapsing to one knee.

Kaidan caught him before he hit the floor.

“Shepard!” he shouted. “Talk to me. What did you see?”

Shepard blinked hard, sweat pouring down his brow inside the helmet.

“They didn’t just alter us to survive…” he said, voice hoarse. “They built us to stop this.”

“Stop what?”

“The Cycle. The Reapers. All of it.”

He looked up, vision still swimming.

“They made us… to be the final variable. The one thing the Reapers couldn’t predict.”

Kaidan looked past him to the Beacon, which was now fading—its light dimming, its purpose spent.

“Are you saying we’re a weapon?”

“No,” Shepard said.

“We’re the answer.”

Then came the explosion.

A deep whump shook the floor.

Kaidan stumbled. “Ash?”

Shepard was already moving. “Get what data you can. I’m going.”

He reached the ridge overlooking the Salarian fallback point in under four minutes, sprinting through smoke and debris like a thunderclap made flesh. His lungs burned. His muscles did not.

Below, the STG line was collapsing. Krogan war beasts surged forward, roaring from fresh vats. And in the middle of it all, Ashley Williams, holding the line with a pulse rifle glowing red-hot in her hands.

Shepard launched himself down the ridge, bullets whipping past his armor. He tore into the Krogan flank like a blade of kinetic force, dragging them down with sheer momentum.
Ashley turned. “Shepard?!”

“Fall back to Kirrahe!” he shouted. “We’re done here!”

The line folded slowly. Not all of them made it.

Later, as the Normandy lifted off with the surviving teams, Kaidan met Shepard in the CIC. The lights were low. Rain slid down the exterior viewports, Virmire now distant and dark.

“They had no chance,” Kaidan said. “The Salarians. They were never supposed to win.”

“They held long enough,” Shepard answered.

Kaidan nodded, then hesitated. “Shepard… if we’re being shaped for something—if Saren’s right about how far back this goes—what if he’s not wrong about everything?”

Shepard looked at him then. Really looked. The man who had stood at his side through every world, who had aimed straight when others shook, who had never needed power to matter.

“Then we make our own ending,” Shepard said. “Not theirs.”

Kaidan’s gaze didn’t waver. “Then I’m with you. No matter what’s in our blood.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then the Normandy jumped to FTL, and the storm of Virmire was left behind.

SSV Normandy - Slipspace Enroute to the Citadel - Shepard.

The Normandy was quieter than usual.

Even with the low hum of the engines and the soft cadence of Joker’s voice over comms, there was a hush to the air—a reverent kind of stillness that only followed bloodshed.

Commander John Shepard stood in the medbay doorway, watching Chakwas tend to one of the surviving STG operatives. Kirrahe hadn’t made it. Neither had four of his men. Ash was resting in the crew quarters, nursing a fractured shoulder and a cracked rib. She hadn’t said much on the shuttle back. Just a stiff nod when Shepard sat beside her.

He’d spoken to Tali next. Then Garrus. Both had wanted details about the Beacon and the cloning facilities. Shepard gave them what he could—enough to keep the mission focused, not enough to spread panic. No one needed to know the full weight of what the Protheans had done yet. Not until he could breathe without the pressure behind his eyes.

Not until he figured out what came next.

Eventually, he found himself alone in the lift, watching the numbers tick down to deck two.

Kaidan's quarters were quiet, the door closed but not locked. Shepard raised his hand over the door sensor requesting entry.

“Come in,” came the voice from inside.

Shepard stepped through.

Kaidan sat on the small bench by the viewport, boots off, uniform undershirt clinging to damp skin. His hair was still wet from a recent shower, curls darker than usual, loose around his forehead. He looked up when Shepard entered—tired, but alert.

“Shepard,” he said quietly. “You doing your rounds?”

“Checking in,” Shepard confirmed, stepping inside. “Crew’s rattled. Everyone's holding it together. Barely.”

Kaidan nodded once. “It was a hell of a mission.”

“She was right to go with Kirrahe,” Shepard said. “Ashley. She kept them from breaking.”

“She always does.” Kaidan’s voice was soft, not quite wistful. “Even when she's the first to complain.”

Shepard smiled faintly, then exhaled and leaned against the wall beside the small desk. The room smelled like soap, clean fabric, and something warmer underneath—coffee and chocolate, maybe. A trace of something sharper.

Cherries, he realized.

He didn’t say it aloud. Not yet.

Kaidan shifted, noticing the weight of the silence.

“You ever think this is what they expected of us?” he asked. “Back on Mars. When they found that Prothean geneticist. That we’d be fighting their war someday?”

Shepard stared out the viewport for a moment before answering. “I think they wanted to give us a chance. Not orders.”

“But they still chose us,” Kaidan said. “Engineered us. Spliced traits into us like we were a blueprint. That doesn’t sound like hope to me. That sounds like… design.”

Shepard met his gaze. “And yet here we are. Still making choices.”

Kaidan let out a slow breath, watching Shepard with that open intensity he rarely showed outside the field. “You didn’t have to come back for me today. You could’ve sent someone. Could’ve stayed with the Beacon.”

Shepard shook his head. “I wasn’t leaving you behind.”

There was a pause.

“You scared me,” Kaidan admitted, quietly. “When I saw the light hit you—when you collapsed—I thought I was going to lose you right there. Not to Geth, not to Saren. Just... gone.”

Shepard looked at him for a long moment. Then, without quite meaning to, said:

“You smell like my favorite things.”

Kaidan blinked. “What?”

Shepard gave a small, self-conscious chuckle. “Sorry. That came out weird.”

Kaidan smiled faintly. “No—what did you say?”

“I said…” Shepard cleared his throat. “You smell like coffee. Dark roast. And chocolate. The real kind, not the rations. And cherries. Not the artificial kind—fresh ones. Rainier, I think. My mom used to sneak them into my training packs when I was a kid.”

Kaidan didn’t answer right away. His expression softened, just slightly. “You’ve been paying attention.”

“Hard not to,” Shepard said. “It’s grounding. Comforting.”

Kaidan stood slowly, closing the small gap between them. “You know what you smell like to me?”

Shepard arched an eyebrow. “Should I be worried?”

Kaidan gave a quiet laugh. “You smell like thunderstorms. Like the air just before it rains—sharp, electric. And sea wind, too. Cold and clean. It reminds me of home.”

“Navy housing on Vancouver Island?”

“Yeah,” Kaidan said. “There’s this bluff where the wind just rolls in from the water, and you can feel the storm coming long before it hits. When you walk into a room, it’s like that. Like something big is about to happen.”

Shepard’s throat felt tight for reasons he didn’t entirely understand. “I didn’t know you were poetic.”

“I’m not,” Kaidan said, stepping just close enough to brush their shoulders. “You bring it out in me. I think that should worry me.”

Shepard looked down, then back up. His voice was low. “You’ve been on my mind since Elysium.”

“I know.”

“Back then, it felt like we were orbiting something. Not quite ready to fall in.”

“Maybe we were,” Kaidan said. “Maybe we still are.”

Another pause. Long and full.

“I don’t know what comes next,” Shepard said. “The war. The Beacon. Us. Everything’s moving fast, and it all feels too big to hold sometimes.”

Kaidan reached out and touched his hand—not a grab, not a demand. Just a connection.

“I don’t need it all figured out,” Kaidan said. “Just you. Here. With me.”

Shepard looked at their joined hands. At Kaidan’s steady face, still bruised from the fight, still open.

Then he nodded, fingers curling around Kaidan’s gently.

“I’m here,” he said. “And I’m not going anywhere.”

Kaidan’s voice was quiet. “Then let’s figure it out together.”

Outside the window, the stars moved past slowly—cold and vast.

But inside the quiet quarters, something warm had finally taken root.

Chapter Text

SSV Normandy - Slipspace en route to the Citadel - Shepard

The stars beyond the viewport streaked into blurred lines, the familiar distortion of FTL travel wrapping the galaxy in silence. From his seat near the edge of his bed, Commander John Shepard watched them pass like ghosts—thousands of them, all out of reach.

He sat forward slightly, elbows resting on his knees, fingers loosely clasped. His armor was off, left to hang on the rack across the room, but he still wore the underlayer—black, snug, and bearing the creases of someone who hadn’t changed since the fight. Since Virmire.

The Normandy was quiet. They were heading back to the Citadel. The mission had technically been a success.

Technically.

But it didn’t feel like one.

A soft chime indicated someone was at at the door.

Shepard lifted his head. “It’s open.”

The door slid open with a hydraulic sigh, and Kaidan stepped inside, already halfway through a sentence. “Hey, I—sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I just… wanted to check in.”

Shepard offered the smallest of nods and gestured to the nearby chair.

Kaidan hesitated a moment, then sat.

He looked tired—more than tired. There was something behind his eyes that Shepard recognized because he’d seen it in the mirror: the weight of knowing you’d made the only possible call, and hating it anyway.

For a few seconds, neither of them spoke. The hum of the ship’s systems filled the space between them, constant and low.

“It’s quiet,” Kaidan said finally.

“Yeah,” Shepard replied. “Still not used to how loud the silence can be after a mission.”

Kaidan nodded, fingers tracing a slow pattern across the side of his pant leg. “Kirrahe’s team… they held the line.”

“They did,” Shepard said. “They saved lives. Probably the whole damn relay cluster if that base had gone active.”

Kaidan’s gaze lowered. “But they died to buy us the time to shut it down.”

A beat passed.

“And I know,” he said, softer now. “I know that’s war. I know people make sacrifices. I know they chose it. But it doesn’t stop hurting. Especially now. Especially after seeing what Saren’s really doing.”

Shepard studied him for a moment. Kaidan’s face was calm, his voice steady—but the pain was there, just beneath the surface. That deep compassion Shepard had come to associate with him—the quiet, inborn urge to preserve life wherever he could.

“Your genes,” Shepard said softly, “do they… make you feel it more?”

Kaidan looked up, surprised by the question. Then slowly nodded.

“Yeah. They do,” he admitted. “Omega structure encourages neurochemical empathy response. The STG docs on Ontarom once described it as ‘hyper-social protection instinct.’ Most people see it as emotional intelligence or nurturing behavior, but it’s more than that. It’s visceral. Losing people like that… I feel it in my body. Like something in me is grieving whether I want to or not.”

Shepard absorbed that, looking down for a moment, then back at him.

“You never let it slow you down.”

Kaidan gave a faint smile. “Doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt.”

A long pause stretched between them.

Finally, Shepard sat back, head tilting toward the ceiling.

“I keep thinking,” he said slowly, “that the Council’s finally listening. We’re going back to the Citadel. They’ve recalled us. They’ve started taking Saren seriously. But…”

Kaidan waited. “But?”

“It feels wrong. Rushed. Like we’re being called back just a little too fast. A little too willingly.”

Kaidan exhaled. “You think it’s a setup.”

“I don’t know,” Shepard said, voice tight. “I don’t have anything concrete. But after what we saw in that lab… the Beacon, the genetic templates, the Reaper signals buried in the code... It feels like someone wants us on a leash. And the second we pull too hard, they’ll cut it.”

Kaidan was quiet for a moment, then leaned forward slightly.

“I trust your instincts,” he said. “More than anyone else’s.”

Shepard looked at him.

“There’s more to this,” Kaidan continued, “than politics and orders. You know it. I know it. That beacon didn’t show you what it did because it’s random. And Saren’s not just trying to win a war—he’s trying to rewrite what life means. Who gets to live. Who gets to exist.”

He rubbed the bridge of his nose, sighing. “And the worst part is, no matter how advanced we are, no matter how much we think we’ve moved beyond the Reapers’ old cycle, we’re still playing in the ruins of their last one.”

Shepard’s voice dropped. “You’re not wrong.”

A stillness settled again.

Then Kaidan’s voice broke through, quieter now, warmer.

“You holding up?”

Shepard blinked. “What?”

“I mean, you’ve been checking in on everyone else. It’s kind of your thing. But… who checks in on you?”

Shepard looked down, and for a moment, he didn’t have a good answer. Finally, he let out a small breath.

“I don’t know,” he said honestly. “Haven’t let anyone in deep enough to try.”

Kaidan’s eyes softened.

“You could,” he said. “If you wanted.”

Shepard’s gaze met his, something unspoken flickering between them. He thought again of the way Kaidan had looked on Virmire, standing among the ruins with his hands shaking from adrenaline and grief, but still holding the line. Still showing up.

Still here.

“I’m trying,” Shepard murmured. “It’s just hard sometimes.”

“I know,” Kaidan said. “But you don’t have to do it alone.”

There was no kiss. No dramatic touch.

Just Kaidan reaching across the space between them to rest his hand over Shepard’s—firm and warm and steady.

And for the first time since they’d left Virmire, Shepard felt like he could breathe again.

Citadel Docking Bay D-12 - Zakera Ward - Shepard

The air inside Docking Bay D-12 had the sterile, recirculated crispness of a place too clean for comfort.
The Normandy had barely finished clamping to the Citadel’s docking arm before the exterior lights on the landing bay snapped to full brightness, white and sterile. As the main ramp lowered with a hydraulic hiss, Commander Shepard stood at the front of the disembark line—his breath steady, his shoulders squared, but the instinct in his spine coiling tight.

Behind him, Kaidan, Ashley, Tali, and Garrus descended in close formation, each in full uniform or light armor. No one had said it aloud, but no one had come dressed for politics.

And maybe that was for the best.

As they stepped onto the platform, C-Sec officers were already waiting—dozens of them. Far more than usual. Some stationed near the bay doors, some lining the upper walkways, all heavily armed and too still. They didn’t raise weapons, didn’t move to surround, but the tension in the air was sharp as broken glass.

Garrus gave a low whistle. “Bit of an overreaction to one docked ship, don’t you think?”

“Something happen while we were away?” Ashley asked, her eyes narrowing as she subtly scanned the chamber.

“Not that we were told,” Kaidan muttered. “This isn’t security protocol. This is a show of force.”

“Council security’s been ramped up before,” Tali said, voice lower, tighter. “But never like this.”

Shepard didn’t slow his pace, but his jaw tightened. “Keep alert. Something’s off.”

A junior officer approached—C-Sec blues pressed, rank bar barely out of academy years.

“Commander Shepard,” the young man said with a practiced salute. “You and your team are expected in the Council Chamber immediately. Please follow me.”

Shepard nodded once. “Lead the way.”

They followed in silence through the Citadel's arterial walkways, the polished floors gleaming beneath the harsh lights. Shepard couldn’t shake the feeling in his gut. The way eyes followed them. The way the normal buzz of the wards felt muted. Even the Citadel’s ambient announcements seemed to have been dialed back.

The junior officer’s pace was just a little too fast, his hands just a little too tense.

When they reached the outer lift to the Council Tower, two more C-Sec guards were waiting there.

Kaidan leaned in just slightly. “You feel it too?”

“Yeah,” Shepard muttered. “This isn’t protocol. This is containment.”

The lift doors opened. They stepped inside.

The elevator rose in silence, the city stretching out below like a polished machine—elegant, sterile, vast. Shepard watched it for a moment, but his focus didn’t hold.

His omni-tool buzzed once—just once, soft and brief. A single pulse.

He glanced down.

A coded burst message. Old encryption—Anderson’s signature.

Too fast to decrypt, too short to explain.

Only a few words appeared in red-highlighted plaintext, blinking before disappearing as the security layer collapsed around the message:

“Eyes watching. Not what it seems. Don’t trust—”

The rest garbled out into static before his omni-tool locked it down.

Shepard’s heart kicked up a beat. He didn’t move, didn’t signal.

Didn’t speak.

The doors opened.

The Council Chamber awaited—bathed in light, ringed with silence.

At the far end stood the Turian, Asari, and Salarian Councilors, flanked by aides and shadowed by still more C-Sec officers positioned in key tactical locations. More than ceremonial. This was a strategic staging.

“Shepard,” the Asari Councilor said, voice cold and formal. “Thank you for responding so quickly.”

He took a step forward.

So did Kaidan and the others, though Shepard caught the brief flick of Garrus’s talon near his holster and the way Kaidan subtly adjusted his stance, a little closer to Shepard’s side than necessary.

Shepard kept his face neutral. Calm.

But inside, his instincts were screaming.

And whatever trap they were walking into… was already closing.

Citadel Council Chamber - Shepard

The Councilors stood in their elevated platform like carved marble figures—detached, pristine, immune. The glowing Citadel emblem behind them painted the room in hues of gold and authority.

Below, flanked by the silent presence of C-Sec guards and stone-faced aides, Commander Shepard and his crew stood waiting. The echo of their footsteps still lingered in the vast chamber when the

Turian Councilor began to speak.

“Commander Shepard,” he said crisply, “we have reviewed the report submitted from Virmire. The incident involving the Salarian STG unit, the unauthorized detonation of the cloning facility, and your encounter with the second Prothean Beacon.”

There was a deliberate pause. Not one of consideration—one of weight.

The Asari Councilor’s voice followed, smooth as silk, sharp as a knife.

“You took unilateral action. Destroyed a facility of strategic value. Bypassed proper chain-of-command protocols. You even endangered a Council-aligned special operations team.”

“Captain Kirrahe’s men volunteered to hold the line, they were also the ones that set up the nuke,” Shepard replied, calm but firm. “And they knew what was at stake.”  Shepard took the omni-tool and threw data at the council that showed it was Kirrahe who made those calls.

“That is not the issue,” the Salarian Councilor interjected. “The issue is that you continue to behave like a rogue variable. One Beacon on Eden Prime was concerning enough. But two? Hidden within an illegal Krogan breeding center? Do you have any proof that it wasn’t a hallucination? An AI trap? You claim visions, Commander. But visions do not make policy.”

Kaidan shifted beside him, eyes narrowing.

Shepard met the Salarian’s gaze directly. “It wasn’t a vision. It was information—Prothean, real, and intentional. Saren’s using Reaper technology to accelerate Krogan cloning. If we hadn’t destroyed that base—”

“You destroyed it,” the Turian cut in, voice rising just slightly. “Without Council sanction. Without oversight.”

The Asari’s tone darkened, almost gentle. “We are not unsympathetic, Commander. We understand the pressure you’re under. But you must understand—we cannot allow a single Spectre, even one as accomplished as yourself, to operate without accountability.”

Shepard’s jaw tensed. “You’re benching me.”

The Councilors exchanged glances, and it was the Salarian who delivered the blow.

“Effective immediately, your Spectre status is suspended pending review. You are relieved of command authority outside Alliance jurisdiction.”

A sharp intake of breath came from behind him. Ashley muttered something under hers. Tali went still. Garrus swore softly in Turian.

Kaidan stepped forward. “You’re taking him off the mission now? After what we just uncovered?”

“Precisely because of what you uncovered,” the Asari replied, her eyes flicking toward Kaidan briefly before landing again on Shepard. “There are forces in motion far older than your Alliance,

Lieutenant Alenko. Our duty is to preserve balance. Not chase ghosts.”

Shepard exhaled slowly. “Saren is building an army. With Reaper tech. With a second Beacon. And instead of stopping him, you're putting me in a cage.”

The Turian Councilor’s mandibles flared slightly in irritation. “You forget yourself, Commander.”

“No,” Shepard said, stepping forward, voice low and controlled. “You forget what's coming.”

The Council didn’t flinch.

The Salarian folded his hands. “You will remain on the Citadel while we review your conduct. Your ship will be locked under Alliance security protocols. Until then, this matter is closed.”

Before Shepard could reply, his omni-tool vibrated again—a second pulse. No message this time. Just a simple ping. A location marker. A name:

Anderson. Ward Level 26. Come alone.

Shepard looked up. Cold fury sat coiled in his chest now—not rage, not yet. But the kind of pressure that came when something deep inside warned him he was being strangled with a velvet rope.

“Understood,” he said, turning on his heel.

The Council didn’t dismiss him. He didn’t wait for permission.

His crew followed, silent and bristling.

As the doors sealed behind them and the long silence of the Council Tower wrapped around them again, Kaidan stepped into pace beside him.

“They’re trying to bury this.”

Shepard nodded once. “They’re not ready to admit the galaxy’s in danger. Or worse—they already know, and they’ve decided not to act.”

Tali’s voice buzzed with urgency. “What now?”

Shepard glanced down at his omni-tool again. “We find Anderson.”

Garrus cocked his head. “You think he knew they were going to pull this?”

“I think he saw the knife coming before it landed.”

Ashley cracked her knuckles. “Just say the word, Commander. Whatever they try, you’re not facing it alone.”

Shepard gave a grim smile.

“No. I’m not.”

He looked toward the elevator. Toward Ward Level 26, where something was waiting.

And this time, he wasn’t going to walk into it blind.

“Shepard a word.”  It was a voice he didn’t want to hear from right now.  A voice that grated on his nerves. Udina stood off to the side waiting for him to acknowledge what he had said.

Alliance Embassy, Citadel - Shepard

The polished floors of the Alliance Embassy gleamed like ice beneath Shepard’s boots. The overhead lights were too bright. The air too cool. It always felt like walking into a diplomatic fishbowl—designed to be seen from the outside, but impossible to breathe in.

The doors to Ambassador Udina’s private office slid open with the quiet hiss of smug formality.

“Shepard,” Udina greeted, rising from behind his sleek desk with a smile that was far too warm. “Glad you could make time for a private word.”

Shepard stepped inside and said nothing.

Udina motioned to the chair across from him. “Sit. Please.”

Shepard stayed standing.

Udina raised an eyebrow but didn’t press. “Suit yourself.”

He took his seat, temple resting lightly on one steepled hand, the image of composed irritation.

“I just came from the Council debrief,” Udina said. “Quite the show you put on. Very dramatic. But you might’ve overplayed your hand.”

Shepard’s jaw tightened. “You mean telling them the truth?”

Udina gave a soft chuckle, shaking his head like a disappointed teacher. “Truth is a matter of timing, Shepard. And tact. You’ve spent the last month bulldozing your way through Council protocol, ignoring diplomatic channels, and dragging the Alliance into one near-crisis after another.”

“Funny,” Shepard said. “I thought I was stopping Saren. Saving lives. Exposing the Reapers.”

“Ah, yes. The mythical Reapers.” Udina smiled again, that thin, performative curve of the lips. “You’ve made quite the name for yourself with that little conspiracy. Unfortunately, the Council doesn’t seem to share your enthusiasm. And neither do many within the Systems Alliance.”

Shepard folded his arms. “That supposed to scare me?” Udina knew the truth and still was acting like this.  The man knew everything that Torvath had given humanity.  He just shrugged at the implications. 

Udina leaned forward slightly, eyes glittering. “You were a useful tool, Shepard. A blunt instrument we could point in the right direction. But somewhere along the line, you started believing your own legend.”

Shepard didn’t flinch. “The legend didn’t destroy a cloning facility full of engineered Krogan. Saren did. With Reaper tech.”

“Reaper tech no one else has seen,” Udina countered smoothly. “Visions no one else can verify. And a second Prothean Beacon conveniently destroyed before proper authorities could examine it.”

“You’re not even trying to hide it anymore,” Shepard said, his voice cool. “You’re burying this. All of it.”

Udina’s smile sharpened. “I’m containing it. That’s what a diplomat does. I don’t have the luxury of chasing ancient myths across half the galaxy based on the gut instincts of a Spectre with a savior complex.”

Shepard’s fists clenched at his sides, but he held his ground.

Udina rose from his chair, straightening his suit coat. “You’ve made this about you, Commander. About your instincts. Your feelings. That’s not leadership. That’s recklessness. And now it’s my job to clean up the fallout before the Alliance loses what little credibility it has left.”

He walked around the desk, slowly, like circling a chessboard. “The Normandy will remain docked. Your access has been revoked. The crew is under review. You’ll be debriefed at an appropriate time, once this… fever has passed.”

Shepard looked him dead in the eye. “You can smear my name, lock down my ship, and stall all the reports you want. But the truth has a way of leaking out.”

Udina gave a soft exhale through his nose, equal parts mockery and boredom. “Idealism. How quaint.”

Shepard turned toward the door, then paused.

He looked over his shoulder, voice low. “When this all blows up in your face—and it will—I hope the brass plaque they give you is worth the lives you’re helping Saren destroy.”

Udina didn’t respond. Just stood there, hands folded neatly in front of him, basking in the moment.

Shepard didn’t give him the satisfaction of slamming the door.

The embassy lights faded behind him as Shepard stepped into the cooler, dimmer edge of the Wards, where official eyes didn’t always follow. His omni-tool pinged once again—Anderson’s location beacon still steady, waiting.

Shepard exhaled and rolled his shoulders, the weight of that office still clinging to him like smoke.

The Council didn’t believe him. Udina was gutting everything he’d built.

But he still had his mind. His instincts. His crew.

And a man waiting in the shadows who hadn’t given up yet.

He started walking.

Chapter Text

Sublevel 26, Upper Wards Utility Corridor – Citadel - Shepard

The corridor was unlit, the flickering edge panels casting the entire stretch in dim amber and gray. This part of the Citadel was meant for maintenance droids and power junction access—not people.

That made it the perfect place for secrets.

Commander Shepard stepped into the hallway alone, boots soft against the metal flooring. His omni-tool flashed once, pinging a proximity lock.

The panel ahead slid open.

Captain David Anderson stood inside a narrow utility room, arms crossed over his chest. There were more gray hairs at his temples since Eden Prime, deeper lines under his eyes. But the man’s presence was solid as ever—one of the few constants in a galaxy tipping sideways.

“Shepard,” he said, voice low. “You’re just in time.”

“They suspended my Spectre status,” Shepard replied. “Udina wants me leashed, the Council wants me quiet, and half of C-Sec’s got their eyes on my crew.”

Anderson’s expression didn’t change. “I know. I’ve been watching the storm build.”

He tapped a control pad mounted inside the wall. A narrow console flickered to life, displaying a clean interface with unfamiliar overlays.

“This is Athena’s relay node,” Anderson said. “She and Alex have been running bypasses through Alliance encryption systems since you docked. We don’t have full control of Citadel security, but we’ve got eyes in the right places.”

Shepard blinked. “You’re working with the two of them to get us out of this mess?”

Anderson allowed a small, wry smile. “They both know the score if we do not pull this off so they offered to help, even if this could be considered treason and their code could be deleted and they would be killed.”

He tapped another key. A side panel showed a schematic of the Normandy—a 3D render of her hull, engines, and security lockouts.

“Alex broke the dock seal override. Athena disabled the orbital failsafes. You’ve got one shot to get her off the Citadel before they reassert control.”

Shepard studied the layout. “You’re telling me to steal my own ship.”

“I’m telling you to save the galaxy before the Council sells it for peace of mind,” Anderson replied. “Ilos is where Saren’s going. The Beacon data makes that clear. You get to him before he activates the Conduit, or we lose everything.”

Shepard’s pulse kicked up. “What happens to you?”

“I’ll make sure the focus stays here. Maybe I punch Udina in the face on the way out, just to make it interesting.”

Shepard cracked a grin. “I’d pay to see that.”

Anderson’s hand clapped firmly on his shoulder. “You’ve done more than anyone could ask. Now do what only you can do. Get to Ilos. Stop him.”

Shepard nodded once, stepped back toward the corridor—and stopped.

“Tell Athena… thank you. And Alex.”

Anderson smiled again. “They already know.”

Docking Arm D-12 – Normandy SR-1 - Shepard

The corridor outside Docking Arm D-12 echoed with the sterile silence of something missing—the usual bustle of techs, the buzz of haptic panels, the white noise of Citadel port traffic. Gone.

It was too quiet.

Commander John Shepard moved fast, every stride a commitment. As he rounded the final corner into the hangar, he found them already waiting.

Garrus, tall and tense, ran a calibrator over his rifle one last time. Ashley stood near him, jaw clenched, helmet clipped to her hip. Tali’Zorah adjusted the seals on her suit, her omni-tool flickering with diagnostic updates. And Kaidan—Kaidan stood just a few paces away from the loading ramp, his eyes already on Shepard.

He looked ready. They all did.

And Shepard felt a surge of something like pride—sharp and clear through the chaos.

Garrus was the first to speak. “What’s the play, Commander?”

Shepard didn’t slow. “We’re stealing the Normandy.”

That stopped them—but only for a heartbeat.

Tali’s visor flared. “Wait—actually stealing?”

“Lockdown is still active,” Shepard confirmed, voice low but steady. “But Alex—our AI inside Alliance Command—and Athena have cracked most of the override systems. We’ve got a narrow window before control is restored. Maybe fifteen minutes. Tops.”

Ashley let out a sharp breath. “About damn time. I was getting tired of waiting for permission to do what needed doing.”

Tali stepped forward, her voice tight with awe and fear. “Ilos. That’s where the Conduit leads, isn’t it?”

“That’s where Saren’s heading,” Shepard said. “And if he gets there before we do, he’ll open a door that can’t be closed.”

Kaidan moved closer, his voice quieter. “And no one else believes it. Just us.”

Shepard looked at him—at the man who had stood beside him in fire and silence, in pain and resolve—and nodded. “Then we’ll prove it.”

“You’ll have us,” Kaidan said, brushing close enough that their shoulders touched. “Every step.”

Shepard let the contact linger a moment, then turned toward the ship.

The Normandy was dark at first—no welcome lights, no ramp deployed. Just the matte black hull gleaming like the back of a shark, waiting. Then—

A pulse of blue light ran along the docking arm. Athena’s signal.

The boarding ramp hissed down in a cascade of steam and compressed air. Lights flickered on one by one: bay, corridor, deck. The ship came to life beneath their feet like a beast shaking off a cage.

“Shepard,” came Joker’s voice over the comm, already at the helm. “Systems are hot. Engines spooled. I hope you’ve got the clearance codes because I sure as hell don’t.”

“We’ve got something better,” Shepard replied. “We’ve got AI.”

Joker snorted. “Why does that not make me feel better?”

The crew surged forward in a line behind him, boots clanging against the ramp. As Shepard stepped aboard, something settled in his chest—heavy, final.

This was it.

This was the line.

SSV Normandy - Bridge – Shepard

Shepard entered the cockpit, where Joker already had the flight systems lit up in red override status.

“Athena’s got the dock clear,” Joker muttered, fingers flying across the console. “But we’ve got three C-Sec patrol ships rerouting toward our position.”

“Alex?” Shepard asked aloud, activating the comm line.

His voice—calm, synthetic, young—replied through the intercom. “C-Sec orbital controls are delaying authorization packets. You have a 74-second gap before they regain hard lock.”

“Shepard,” Joker said, teeth grit, “if we’re doing this, I need you in the chair now. Citadel control will notice once we clear the arm.”

Shepard dropped into the command chair and flipped up the override cradle. The screen blinked green.

“Do it.”

With a lurch, the Normandy’s engines roared to full power, shooting them down the docking arm like a bullet. Behind them, sirens wailed. Interceptor warnings buzzed.

“Multiple heat signatures incoming!” Tali called from the ops station. “Two Skycar patrol wings and a gunship vectoring from Ward Three!”

The ship burst from the docking clamps, Citadel control shouting garbled warnings over the line.

“Too late,” Joker muttered, hands dancing.

Outside, the Citadel Nebula opened wide—a shimmering ocean of dust, light, and distortion surrounding the massive, ancient station.

“They’re trying to box us in,” Kaidan said, reading from the secondary console. “Predictive vector traps deploying from long-range beacons.”

Athena’s voice returned. “Flight path uploaded. Slipspace coordinates locked. You must reach minimum distance in twenty-two seconds.”

“Then punch it,” Shepard ordered. “Joker, get us clear.”

With a grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes, Joker yanked back the drive throttle.

The Normandy dove.

Nebula plasma danced across the shields, burning in bright gold arcs. Behind them, C-Sec fighters scrambled—late, desperate.

As the drive core flared to white-hot life, the stars blurred, twisted, and then—

They dropped into Slipspace.

The whole ship shuddered, and then everything smoothed out.

The stars stretched into quiet lines of brilliance.

The Citadel was gone.

Silence.

Shepard stood from the chair slowly, the adrenaline still humming in his blood.

Tali let out a soft exhale. Garrus swore under his breath. Kaidan just looked at him, brow furrowed—but proud.

Joker leaned back in his seat, stretching his arms with exaggerated relief. “Well… that makes twice I’ve technically stolen this ship.”

He glanced over his shoulder toward Shepard with a smirk. “So, does this make me a pirate again? Or do I get promoted to Admiral of Questionable Morals?”

Ashley snorted. “Pretty sure that just makes you a repeat offender.”

Joker grinned. “Perfect. I’ll add it to my résumé: Two-time war criminal, part-time space pirate, full-time flight god.”

Shepard rolled his eyes. “Just get us to Ilos, Blackbeard.”

A few chuckles followed—tense, exhausted.

Shepard turned, looking at the crew that had followed him through fire.

“Get ready,” he said, voice clear. “We’re going to Ilos. We stop Saren there, or the galaxy falls. No second chances.”

They nodded as one.

Tali. Garrus. Ashley. Kaidan.

His crew. His family.

He turned to the viewport, where Slipspace unfolded like a living stream of stars.

And whispered under his breath, “Hold on, Sovereign. We’re coming.”

SSV Normandy – In route to Ilos – Chasing Saren - Shepard

They had departed the Citadel quickly with a small crew after the council had decided to bury their heads in the sand.  In their infinite wisdom they tried to lock down the ship and keep it on station so they could not head to Ilos and find the Conduit.  Shepard knew that Saren was going to attack, he just did not know how or when.

He was in his quarters going over some last-minute things and composing all the letters and reports to his superiors to make sure they understood why they departed the Citadel like they did.  Ilos was a 15 hour jump from the Citadel.  Shepard was getting a bit sick of all the slipspace travel they were doing.  

Athena interrupted his thoughts announcing that Kaidan was at his door.  

“Come in, Kaidan.”  He called out quietly knowing that the door would open, admitting him.

“Shepard.”

“What can I do for you?”  He could tell that the man was nervous for some odd reason.  Shepard had never actually seen him like this before.  

“I just wanted to talk to you.”  A deep sigh left him as he made his way to the couch.

“Well, the easiest thing is that the Alliance sanctioned our mission so there is no problem there, but we will still have to deal with the charges that the Council might try and level against us.”

“Yea that was what I thought.  So, what do you think they will come up with?  Mutiny, theft of a prototype warship, hell technically they could probably add kidnapping charges.”

“You might be right Kaidan, they will probably try and throw the book at us if we are wrong.  I keep trying to remind myself that this is the right thing to do.  Sometimes I do even believe myself.”

“Well, if I did not believe in you, I wouldn’t be here Shepard.  If things do not go well on Ilos, I just wanted you to know that I have enjoyed serving under you, Commander.”  There was a bit of longing in his voice and his eyes that made Shepard think that everything that they have felt and done over the last few weeks was worth it.  

“Kaidan, you stopped being a subordinate a long time ago.  Don’t you think you should act like it?”

“Battlefield flirting is one thing.  There are regs against it from going further though.  I do suppose that breach of protocol would be far down on the list of charges.”  Shepard pulled the man closer to him feeling his tight body almost curling against his larger frame.  

“I have fought against this thing between us since we met Kaidan.  Your scent is intoxicating, and you are a beautiful person on the inside and out.  You can make me laugh, and smile.  I cannot lose you.”  

“You are right Shepard; I think about losing you and I cannot stand it.  The thought of everything in the galaxy will keep going.  Life will keep happening, but you and I will never happen again.  We are important right now.  Shepard you make me feel human.”

“Kaidan, you make me feel like I could take on the universe.”  There was that blinding smile and those whiskey eyes that he loved so much.  “Bunk here tonight please?”  There was a longing and pleading in his voice as he spoke.  Kaidan did not verbally reply but pulled Shepard’s face closer to his own and kissed him.  Pulling the man closer to him he moved his face to Kaidan’s neck.  Inhaling deeply, he caught the scents that he had come to know and love about the man.  The deep coffee and chocolate smell was even more heavenly.  

Tender kisses got heated and more potent as their bodies started to react to one another.  

The dimly lit chamber hummed with the faint glow of bioluminescent panels embedded in the walls, casting an ethereal blue light over the room. The space was a marvel of futuristic design, sleek and minimalist, with holographic displays flickering softly in the corners. 

Shepard, his broad shoulders filling the space as he pressed Kaidan, his Omega, against the cool metallic wall. The contrast between their bodies was striking—Shepard ’s muscular frame towering over Kaidan’s slender, graceful figure. But in this moment, their differences only heightened the intensity between them.

Shepard ’s lips crashed against Kaidan’s in a feverish kiss, their mouths moving in sync as if they’d been practicing this dance for years. Kaidan’s hands clutched at Shepard ’s shoulders, nails digging into the fabric of his form-fitting shirt, while Shepard ’s hands roamed possessively down Kaidan’s back, pulling him closer. The kiss was hungry, desperate, as if they’d both been starving for this moment. Shepard  growled low in his throat, the sound vibrating against Kaidan’s lips. “I’m marking you, Kaidan,” he murmured, his voice thick with desire. “Everyone needs to know you’re mine.”

Kaidan whimpered in response, his eyes fluttering closed as he tilted his head to the side, exposing the delicate curve of his neck. It was an invitation, a silent plea for Shepard  to claim him. Shepard ’s breath hitched at the sight, his instincts roaring to life. He pressed his lips to Kaidan’s throat, trailing kisses along the sensitive skin before sinking his sharp teeth into the flesh. Kaidan gasped, his body arching into the touch, the scent of their bond filling the air as Shepard ’s teeth sank deep. The mark was a declaration, a promise etched into Kaidan’s skin, and the Omega shuddered as the pheromones surged between them.

Breaking the kiss, Shepard  trailed his lips down Kaidan’s chest, his hands working to unfasten the Omega’s shirt. “You’re mine to knot, mine to keep,” he whispered, his breath hot against Kaidan’s skin. Kaidan moaned, his head falling back against the wall as he arched into Shepard ’s touch. “Claim me, Shepard ,” he panted. “I’m yours.”

The Alpha’s hands were everywhere, mapping Kaidan’s body with a hunger that bordered on reverence. He pushed Kaidan’s shirt off his shoulders, letting it fall to the floor, his lips tracing the lines of muscle and bone. Kaidan’s skin was pale and smooth, a stark contrast to Shepard ’s tanned, rugged frame, but they fit together perfectly, like pieces of a puzzle long separated. Shepard ’s hands slid down Kaidan’s waist, his fingers brushing the waistband of his pants, and Kaidan shivered, his breath coming in short, eager gasps.

“Shepard ,” Kaidan whispered, his voice trembling. “Please.”

Shepard  looked up, his eyes dark with desire, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. The room, the technology, the world beyond—none of it mattered. There was only this moment, this connection between them. Shepard ’s lips curved into a smirk as he unfastened Kaidan’s pants, sliding them down his legs with deliberate slowness. Kaidan stepped out of them, his body bared to Shepard ’s gaze, and the Alpha’s eyes raked over him with unhidden hunger.

“Beautiful,” Shepard  murmured, his voice a rough whisper. He pressed his lips to Kaidan’s abdomen, kissing his way down, his hands gripping Kaidan’s hips to hold him steady. Kaidan’s breath hitched as Shepard ’s mouth trailed lower, his tongue flicking teasingly against his skin. The Omega’s hands tangled in Shepard ’s hair, pulling him closer, urging him on.

Shepard ’s lips brushed the head of Kaidan’s cock, and Kaidan gasped, his body tensing with anticipation. But Shepard  took his time, kissing and nipping at the sensitive skin, his tongue swirling in a slow, torturous rhythm. Kaidan moaned, his hips bucking slightly, and Shepard  chuckled, the sound vibrating against Kaidan’s skin. “Impatient, aren’t we?” he teased, his voice low and teasing.

“You’re killing me,” Kaidan groaned, his voice thick with need.

Shepard  smirked, finally taking Kaidan’s length into his mouth, his lips sliding down in a slow, deliberate motion. Kaidan cried out, his hands tightening in Shepard ’s hair as pleasure surged through him. Shepard  hummed, the vibration sending shivers down Kaidan’s spine, and he moved his mouth expertly, his tongue tracing patterns that had Kaidan’s toes curling.

But Shepard  wasn’t done. He pulled back, his lips slick and glistening, and Kaidan whimpered in protest. “Not yet,” Shepard  murmured, his hands guiding Kaidan to the edge of the bed. “I want to feel you around me, Kaidan. I want to knot you so deep you’ll never forget who you belong to.”

Kaidan’s breath caught at the words, his body trembling with anticipation. He lay back on the bed, his eyes locked on Shepard  as the Alpha shed his own clothes, revealing a body honed by years of training and discipline. Shepard ’s muscles flexed as he moved, his cock thick and heavy, precome glistening at the tip. Kaidan licked his lips, his gaze hungry, and Shepard  smirked, climbing onto the bed to straddle Kaidan’s thighs.

“Ready for me?” Shepard asked, his voice a low growl.

Kaidan nodded, his hands reaching out to grip Shepard ’s hips. “Fuck me, Shepard, claim me.”

Shepard ’s eyes darkened, his instincts taking over. He lined himself up, his hands pressing against Kaidan’s hips to hold him steady, before thrusting forward, burying himself deep within Kaidan’s tight heat. Kaidan cried out, his body arching off the bed as Shepard filled him, the sensation overwhelming. Shepard  hissed, his head falling back as he savored the tightness enveloping him.

“So good,” Shepard  groaned, his voice rough. He pulled back slowly, then thrust forward again, setting a steady rhythm that had Kaidan moaning with each movement. The bed creaked beneath them, the holographic displays flickering in time with their movements, but neither of them noticed. The world had narrowed to this moment, this connection.

Shepard ’s hands gripped Kaidan’s hips tighter, his thrusts becoming more urgent as his knot began to swell. Kaidan’s legs wrapped around Shepard ’s waist, his heels digging into Shepard ’s back as he met each thrust with a desperate hunger. “Shepard ,” Kaidan panted, his voice hoarse. “I’m—I’m close.”

“Come for me,” Shepard  growled, his voice commanding. “Let me feel you fall apart around me.”

Kaidan’s eyes rolled back as he climaxed, his body trembling as pleasure washed over him. Shepard  followed moments later, his knot swelling fully, locking them together as he emptied himself into Kaidan. Their cries echoed in the room, the sound raw and primal, and for a moment, they were lost in the heat of their bodies, the unbreakable bond between them.

Breathless, Shepard  collapsed onto Kaidan, his weight careful not to crush him. He pressed a kiss to Kaidan’s sweaty forehead, his heart still pounding in his chest. “We’re bound now, Kaidan,” he murmured, his voice soft. “Forever.”

Kaidan smiled, his hand tangling in Shepard ’s hair. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”  The hours had blurred, lost in the heat of their passion, and as Shepard  reached for the silk ties on the bedside table, binding their wrists together, they were both acutely aware that this was only the beginning. The possibilities stretched before them, endless and uncharted, just like the stars beyond their world.

Kaidan’s mate mark needed some cleaning up, while he could feel blood flowing a bit down his front and back.  The med kit that he had in his room that seldom got used, was used.  A bit of medi-gel for both had the skin healing properly. 

Cleaning Kaidan up was a bit harder than he thought it would be.  Looking at the holo screens he noticed that they had been having sex for hours.  Holy shit he knew that Kaidan would be special, but he did not know how special he would be.  His omega filled his thoughts.  His intoxicating scent of chocolate, coffee and cherries surrounded him as he pulled his mate closer to his body.  

The soft snoring against his arm was the last thing he heard before falling into a deep restful sleep that he had not felt in a long time.

It was three hours later that Shepard was woken by Joker letting him know they were only a half hour out from Ilos.  Kaidan had woken up by the time Shepard was already dressed.  After a shot of some pain meds had him feeling perfectly fine for the mission.  They just needed some food to help give them energy.  

“I swear though if anything happens to you… take care of yourself Shepard.”  It was the last thing Kaidan said to him that was not mission related after they left his quarters.

That last half hour was brutal for their waiting game.  Neither Shepard nor Kaidan could sit still.  Shepard was still relaying orders to Joker and Athena.  He gave them coordinates to a Black Buoy and codes to access it.  They were to contact Anderson or Hackett and make sure part of the fleet was heading to the Citadel to protect it from the reaper.  

Chapter Text

SSV Normandy - Slipspace en-route to Ilos - Date : Classified
Personal log Staff Lt. Kaidan Alenko – Classified Ultra-Black and Encrypted 

I don’t know if I’ll ever have the right words for all of this… but I need to get some of it out. Just to clear the noise in my head.

It’s been… not even forty-eight hours since we arrived back at the Citadel. We docked thinking we’d be bringing the Council undeniable proof. That they’d finally see what we see—that Saren is a puppet, and something much worse is pulling the strings.

But instead of taking action, they turned on Shepard. Suspended him. Tried to box him in like some rebellious pawn that got too clever for the game board.

I should’ve expected it. I think deep down, maybe we all did. But it still stung. Watching someone who’s given everything get treated like a liability. And watching Udina—that smug bastard—smirk like he’d finally gotten control of something he’s never understood.

But Shepard didn’t stop.

He never does.

He pulled us together, laid it out, and said we were stealing the Normandy. Again. He didn’t beg. Didn’t order. Just told the truth—Ilos was our only shot, and he was going with or without us.

Of course I followed.

I always will.

We launched under Athena and Alex’s cover—tight, fast, hard. I can’t lie: my stomach was in knots. Not from fear… but from how right it felt. Doing the thing no one else had the courage to do. And doing it with him.

But that’s not what this log is really about.

After the jump, things calmed. Shepard called it a tactical cooldown. Said everyone needed rest before we hit Ilos. I think he knew I needed it more than anyone.

He asked me to come to his quarters.

We talked first. Really talked. About Virmire. The Council. The crew. And then… about us.

I’ve spent so long holding back. Telling myself I couldn’t want this, couldn’t need this. That if I gave in, I’d be compromised. That my genes—my instincts—would get in the way.

But when he looked at me, when he said I smelled like coffee, chocolate, and cherries—like I was his favorite thing—I couldn’t hold it back anymore.

I didn’t want to.

What happened between us… wasn’t just sex. It wasn’t release or escape. It was recognition. It was everything I’d been afraid of and everything I’d longed for all at once.

I let myself bond. Let myself be his.

And he let himself be mine.

I can still feel it—echoing under my skin, soft and constant. That tether. That rightness.

For the first time in years, maybe in my whole damn life, I feel… safe. Not because the galaxy’s any less dangerous. But because I’m not alone in it.

John Shepard—my commander, my Alpha, my mate—chose me.

And I chose him.

I don’t regret it. Not a second of it.

I don’t know what Ilos will bring. Or what’s waiting on the other side of that Conduit. But I know this—whatever comes, I’ll face it with him.

Every step.

Always.

End log.

SSV Normandy - Slipspace en-route to Ilos - Date Classified
Personal Log of Commander John Shepard - Classified Ultra-Black and Encrypted.

Not an official log. No mission details. Just… personal notes, I guess. Not something I’m used to doing, but right now, there’s too much in my head to sleep. And I need to get it out of the way before Ilos.

We stole the Normandy. Again.

Hell, maybe that’s not even the wildest thing about the last twenty-four hours. We’re fugitives now—officially. The Council’s labeled me a rogue Spectre, and Udina made it clear I’m on his blacklist.

The irony? I didn’t even blink. Not when they stripped the title. Not when they locked my ship. Because none of that means anything if Saren reaches the Conduit.

Titles don’t matter. Survival does.

The crew stood with me. Every damn one of them. And I’m proud of that. But… what matters most right now is who stood beside me when it counted—Kaidan.

He didn’t hesitate. Not once.

He’s always been steady. Calm. Smart as hell. Brave in ways that don’t always get seen. But under that, there’s more. There’s warmth. Loyalty. And something stronger than anything I expected—something that drew me in from the beginning.

I’ve wanted him since before Eden Prime. But I pushed it down. Told myself I couldn’t get close. Not while the mission was still going. Not while there was a war to fight.

But I was lying to myself.

And I think I knew it when I caught myself memorizing the way he smiles when he’s exhausted, or the way his voice changes when he’s explaining something complicated like I’m the only one worth teaching.

Last night… I stopped pretending.

He came to my quarters. We talked. Really talked. About everything—Virmire, the Citadel, how close we came to losing the Normandy altogether. He was tense. Torn. Like he wanted to say something but didn’t know how.

So I said it for him.

I told him he smells like coffee and chocolate and cherries—like every damn thing I’ve ever liked wrapped up in one breath. He laughed, like he couldn’t believe I meant it.

But I did.

And when he told me I smelled like thunderstorms and sea air, I swear, I couldn’t breathe for a second. Because it wasn’t just about scent. It was memory. Safety. Home.

The bond happened quietly. No dramatic swell of music, no out-of-control instincts. Just… touch. Trust. Heat. And a stillness afterward I haven’t felt in years.

Kaidan Alenko is mine. Not in the way that possession implies—but in the way gravity belongs to planets. Natural. Inevitable.

He chose me. And I chose him.

No part of me regrets it. Not one damn second. I may be facing down the end of the galaxy tomorrow, but right now, here in this moment, I’m content. And that’s a dangerous thing—for the people

trying to take this away from me.

Because now I have something to protect that’s not just duty.

It’s him.

So… here we are. No backup. No safety net. Just us.

Heading for Ilos.

Time to finish what we started.

End log.

Chapter Text

SSV Normandy - Slipspace en-route to Ilos - Shepard

The forward viewport flared as Slipspace ejected them back into normal space, stars snapping into sharp clarity. Ahead, the sun of the Ilos system burned a dull amber, casting gold light across the curvature of a greenish-brown world draped in clouded mist.

But that wasn’t what drew everyone’s attention.

Three Geth ships—sleek, wedge-shaped, and bristling with mass accelerators—hung like vultures in orbit.

“Damn,” Garrus muttered from the weapons console. “They beat us here.”

“They haven’t spotted us yet,” Tali said, running a scan from the opposite terminal. “Their patrol vectors are tight. Focused on Ilos. No net coverage. Either they’re waiting on Saren to surface, or…”

“They’re guarding something,” Shepard finished. “Maybe the Conduit.”

Joker’s voice crackled in. “I can keep us masked, but not forever. They’ll sniff us out if we get too close without making a move.”

Ashley folded her arms. “We could take them. Normandy’s fast and sharp. Hit them hard, fast, and wipe them out before they can blink.”

“She’s right,” Garrus said. “If we knock out their comms and vent their cores, we can take them with minimal risk. But it’ll take coordination.”

Shepard looked out the viewport again, eyes locking on the planet below.

“No,” he said finally. “Not yet.”

The crew turned toward him.

“I need to be on Ilos. We don’t know what Saren’s found down there. If I wait, we could lose him. We drop a firestorm up here and risk drawing every Geth ship in the region. That gives him time to disappear—or activate something we can’t stop.”

Tali’s brow furrowed under her helmet. “So… we let them stay?”

“Until I’m on the ground,” Shepard confirmed. “Once I’m surface-side, hit them. Break them apart. Disable whatever link they’ve got to Saren. But not until then.”

He turned toward his squad. “Garrus. Ashley. Suit up. You’re with me.”

Ashley nodded instantly. Garrus gave a soft growl of approval.

Kaidan stepped forward. “And me?”

Shepard hesitated for a breath. “I need you here.”

Kaidan blinked. “What?”

“You and Tali have the best coordination when it comes to defensive maneuvers. I trust you to handle the strike up here once I’m down there. You know my rhythms. Joker will follow your lead.”

Kaidan’s eyes locked onto his, expression a mix of frustration and understanding. “You’re keeping me on the ship.”

“I’m keeping you alive,” Shepard said softly. “I’m trusting you with our ship.”

Kaidan didn’t answer at first.

Then he took a step closer, lowering his voice. “You better come back. You still owe me breakfast.”

Shepard chuckled under his breath. “I’ll bring you something from the ruins.”

They stood still a moment, tension hanging in the air like charged static. Around them, the crew moved, unaware—or too polite to look.

Then Shepard reached out—just a brief touch at Kaidan’s wrist. Not much. But it was enough. A silent promise. A thread of warmth.

“I’ll be back,” Shepard said, voice low and certain.

Kaidan gave a slow nod. “I’ll hold the sky until you are.”

The Mako sat locked into the launch cradle, humming with restrained power. Outside the blast doors, the turbulent upper atmosphere of Ilos boiled like a sandstorm wrapped in lightning. Golden clouds rolled across the viewport, lit from within by periodic flashes of planetary discharge.

“Status?” Shepard asked, adjusting the clamp seals on his helmet.

“Drop corridor’s narrow,” came Joker’s voice, filtered through the comm. “Ilos isn’t welcoming guests today. Between the storms and surface interference, I’ve got about fifteen seconds of visual once you break the clouds. Then you’re flying blind.”

Ashley double-checked her rifle. “Just the way we like it.”

Garrus tilted his head. “Let’s hope Saren doesn’t have a welcoming committee waiting with air mines.”

Shepard took his seat at the Mako’s helm. “If he does, we return the favor.”

The launch countdown began—fifteen, fourteen, thirteen.

Shepard’s gaze flicked briefly to the upper bulkhead. He could almost feel Kaidan’s presence still lingering just beyond it. His scent. His voice.

Then: ignition.

The Mako roared out of the Normandy’s belly like a bullet from a railgun.

They plunged into Ilos’ atmosphere, metal rattling under pressure, the entire vehicle shuddering as it cut through dense clouds. Lightning crawled across the hull, and winds slammed against the armor plating like ocean breakers.

The view flickered—blue sky, then brown haze, then a sudden break in the storm—

“Visual lock in 3… 2…”

Shepard tightened his grip on the controls.

Ilos spread below them: broken stone cities overrun by creeping jungle, ancient roads half-buried in dust. No signs of life. But energy readings spiked across the board.

“Punching thrusters—now!”

The Mako slammed into the landing zone, treads tearing into old pavement. The drop cradle detached with a sharp hiss of pressure release, and they were in.

SSV Normandy SR-1 - Ilos – Bridge - Kaidan

Kaidan braced himself against the console as Joker pulled the Normandy into a tight roll beneath the belly of a Geth frigate.

“We’ve got an opening!” Tali called out from engineering. “One of their shield grids overloaded during the descent—if we fire now, we can disable propulsion!”

“Target lock acquired,” Joker said. “Kaidan, call it.”

Kaidan felt the tension coil in his chest like a held breath. He glanced toward the tactical feed, confirming the rear-vented core on the Geth ship was vulnerable.

“Fire. Now.”

Normandy’s twin plasma cannons roared to life, slamming into the Geth vessel with precision. The ship twisted under the impact, core flaring orange before venting a line of superheated coolant into the black.

“Propulsion disabled!” Tali shouted. “They’re dead in the water.”

“One down,” Kaidan said. “Two to go.”

Surface of Ilos – The Forgotten City

The Mako rumbled across cracked stone roads, weaving between fallen spires and half-collapsed arches. Prothean architecture jutted from the ground like broken teeth—alien, weathered, and ancient beyond comprehension.

Shepard slowed the Mako at the edge of a canyon choked with twisted metal and root-covered walls.

“Saren was here,” Ashley said, voice grim. “Look—tracks. Fresh.”

“Let’s move,” Shepard said, grabbing his rifle. “We’re not far behind.”

They advanced on foot now, weaving through narrow corridors once built for taller beings. Strange glyphs glowed faintly underfoot, responding to their presence like some deep instinct of the ruin itself still remembered its makers.

“We don’t stop until we find that Conduit,” Shepard growled.

SSV Normandy - Orbit Ilos - Kaidan

The Geth weren’t passive anymore.

Two enemy ships had reconfigured and opened fire. Beams of green energy sliced toward the Normandy, scorching the hull but missing vital systems thanks to Joker’s evasive maneuvers.

“They’re trying to flank us!” Tali shouted.

Kaidan was already moving. “Shift auxiliary power to ventral shielding! Joker—take us up and over, give them an angle they can’t match!”

“Roger that,” Joker said. “Hold onto your suits.”

The ship banked hard, rolling upward into the blind spot between the two Geth vessels.

Kaidan activated ship-wide comms. “Now! All batteries—focus fire on their sensor array. Blind them!”

The Normandy’s turrets lit up, striking in perfect rhythm. Explosions lit the dark—brilliant, burning blue—and one of the Geth ships began to spiral, its systems failing.

“That’s two!” Tali whooped.

“One more to go,” Kaidan said. “Let’s finish this.”

Ilos – The Forgotten City - Shepard

The Mako rumbled across cracked stone roads, weaving between fallen spires and half-collapsed arches. Prothean architecture jutted from the ground like broken teeth—alien, weathered, and ancient beyond comprehension.

Shepard slowed the Mako at the edge of a canyon choked with twisted metal and root-covered walls.

“Saren was here,” Ashley said, voice grim. “Look—tracks. Fresh.”

“Let’s move,” Shepard said, grabbing his rifle. “We’re not far behind.”

They advanced on foot now, weaving through narrow corridors once built for taller beings. Strange glyphs glowed faintly underfoot, responding to their presence like some deep instinct of the ruin itself still remembered its makers.

“We don’t stop until we find that Conduit,” Shepard growled.

The door sealed behind them with a hiss, locking out the dying winds of Ilos.

Ahead, the room lit slowly—one panel at a time—casting long shadows across the metallic walls. Vines grew between floor plates, but nothing could disguise the weight of age pressing down on everything.

In the center, a circular dais thrummed with pale blue light. Then—a shimmer, like a ghost forming out of static.

It coalesced into a figure: tall, narrow, with elongated features and eyes that glowed dimly beneath a ceremonial crest. The voice came not from its mouth but from everywhere—smooth, synthetic, and immeasurably old.

"We are Vigil. Custodian of the Ilos Archives. You are not Prothean."

“No,” Shepard said, stepping forward, flanked by Ashley and Garrus. “Commander John Shepard, Systems Alliance. Human.”

Vigil’s head tilted, as though measuring him.

"You have accessed this chamber through Prothean interfaces. That is not possible for unmodified species."

Shepard exhaled. “We were modified. Not by accident.”

The VI’s glow flickered, intrigued.

“Explain.”

Shepard took a step closer to the console. “A Prothean scientist—Torvath Dr’ath. He survived the fall, long enough to go into cryo. My people found him on Mars over a thousand years ago. He altered our genome—merged us with elements of other species. Made us more adaptable. More instinct-driven. Changed how we sense truth, how we bond with others. Made us stronger.”

“…Torvath.”

Vigil’s tone changed—no longer neutral, but shaded with something like memory.

"Yes. He was one of the geneticists stationed at the Eos Genesis Chamber. Brilliant. Unorthodox. Often at odds with the Directorate. He claimed the Reapers would leave a gap—one evolutionary leap behind. He wanted to give the next cycle an edge."

Shepard nodded slowly. “He did. We’ve had over a thousand years of space travel. We don’t use mass relays for everything. We don’t rely on eezo-based tech the same way the rest of the galaxy does. He warned us about Sovereign. He told us to prepare.”

“Then he was right. And I was… wrong.”

The flicker in Vigil’s form dimmed, his figure drooping slightly.

"When the Reapers came, we resisted as long as we could. I was left behind to safeguard this place. The Council ordered full shutdown. Our power cells were diverted to sustain cryo pods for scientists. I chose to keep this archive running. In doing so… I condemned others to die."

There was a pause. Something heavy and full of regret hung in the air.

"Some of them—Torvath among them—believed that knowledge was not enough. That we needed… people. Minds who could act. I recall his voice during the final hours: ‘Vigil should have let his pod fail, and kept a geneticist alive instead.’"

Garrus shifted behind Shepard but said nothing.

Shepard’s voice was quiet now. “He didn’t make it here. But what he started… it worked. Humanity’s stronger because of him. We’re more than they expected.”

Vigil nodded, slow and solemn.

"Then perhaps… the cost was not in vain."

"Torvath's theories were controversial. He believed species should be guided—not just protected. Others called it interference. He called it seeding resilience."

Shepard folded his arms. “He gave us the ability to sense truth from lies. To connect instinctively with others. Alpha, Beta, Omega—biological roles evolved from older DNA. It changed everything. We never fell to religious theocracies. Dictators didn’t last. Empires collapsed under their own deceit.”

Vigil’s glow brightened slightly.

"He wanted to breed resistance to indoctrination. Emotional atunement as a defense. I thought it foolish. But now… I see."

There was silence again, but this time it was reverent.

"You came to stop Saren. To stop Sovereign."

“Yes.”

"Then you must take what remains of our knowledge. There is a conduit—built to bypass the relay system. A backdoor into the Citadel itself. It is your only chance."

Shepard took a step toward the console. “Download everything you’ve got. And Vigil?”

“Yes, Shepard?”

“You did the right thing. They might’ve hated you for it. But we wouldn’t be here otherwise.”

"Then I am… satisfied."

The VI’s form stood straighter, no longer burdened.

"The cycle must end. And this time… you have a chance to break it."

The archive chamber pulsed with blue light as the download began.

And for the first time in fifty thousand years… Vigil was no longer waiting in vain.

Ilos – Approach to the Conduit Gate - Shepard

The sky burned red.

Smoke and ash rolled through the ruins as Geth platforms deployed from sleek black dropships, slamming into the broken roads like spears. The thump-thump-thump of heavy mechs echoed through the ruins like drums of war.

Shepard didn’t slow.

He hit the first Geth trooper like a kinetic strike, shouldering it into a wall hard enough to shatter steel. Its frame buckled with a sharp whine as he spun, seized another platform by the neck, and hurled it over the ledge.

“Clear the path!” he shouted to Garrus and Ashley as he surged forward, moving faster than the Geth could track.

A heavy mech—six-legged, plasma-fed—unleashed a volley of suppressing fire. Shepard lunged sideways, caught the edge of a broken column, and used it as a springboard. His boots slammed into the mech’s chassis as he ripped open its housing with both hands and ripped out its core with a roar.

Behind him, Garrus’s rifle barked, taking down targets flanking the Commander. Ashley threw a grenade and ducked behind ancient stone.

“Shepard, you’re a damn war god right now!” Ashley barked over comms.

“Not stopping ‘til we reach that gate!”

Another wave dropped ahead. Two Geth primes and a small pack of hunter drones.

Shepard tore a piece of broken masonry from the ground, muscles flexing, and hurled it like a cannonball into their ranks. The blast knocked the drones off course. One slammed into the side of a tower with a shriek.

Then the sky lit up. The Conduit, massive and shimmering with ancient energy, cracked open the clouds.

“We’re close!” Garrus shouted. “I can see the field charging!”

“Move!” Shepard ordered. “We’re not letting Saren beat us there!”

Normandy SR-1, Combat Deck - Kaidan 

The Normandy trembled as its drives adjusted position, slipping back into high orbit to prepare for final descent.

Kaidan stood at the main comm console, eyes locked on the pulsing uplink symbol now coming directly from the planet’s surface.

“Signal lock!” Tali called out, breathless. “It’s from the Ilos Archive. Shepard must’ve triggered it!”

The hologram flared to life: schematics, glyphs, code. Not just text—genetic data, history files, tactical blueprints.

Athena’s voice filtered in over the bridge:

“Decoding now. This information was buried by the Protheans for this moment. They wanted someone to find it.”

Kaidan stepped forward, palm hovering above the interface. He could feel it—something about the signal thrummed inside him. A deep, ancestral hum. A resonance in his bones. Maybe it was the work of Torvath’s code… or maybe it was just Shepard.

He closed his eyes for a moment, hearing only the quiet pulse of his bond, like a beacon.

Alive. Focused. Unyielding.

“Shepard’s in the fight,” he whispered, mostly to himself.

Joker turned in his chair. “Then we better be ready when he reaches that gate.”

Kaidan opened his eyes. “Prep slipspace alignment. When Shepard calls it, we punch through the Conduit right behind him.”

Tali nodded. “Just like old times.”

Kaidan almost smiled. Almost.

“Not quite. This time… we end it.”

Chapter Text

SSV Normandy - The Conduit, Approaching the Citadel - Kaidan

The stars didn’t just blur—they spiraled, like the universe itself was being poured through a funnel and set on fire.

Joker had flown into hurricanes, mined asteroid belts, skimmed the corona of a Class-O star for laughs.

But this?

This was art wrapped in madness, dipped in quantum roulette and served up with a side of don’t screw this up.

“Goddess,” Tali murmured from behind him, gripping her console. “The Slipspace manifold’s distorting around the corridor structure.”

“Yeah, I noticed,” Joker snapped, voice tight as he yanked the yoke a degree to port. “I don’t suppose anyone brought me a drink? Or a second spinal column?”

On the command deck above, Kaidan was locked in, watching the telemetry come in with brutal clarity.

“We’re threading a needle in a thunderstorm!” he shouted down.

“I’m a damn artist, Lieutenant!” Joker barked back, sweat beading on his forehead. “You ever try painting the Mona Lisa while it’s on fire and someone’s throwing knives at your face?!”

The Normandy’s Slipspace Drive roared under the deck—an eerie, otherworldly howl of collapsing quantum foam and predictive geometry. It was like flying a ghost through a lightning storm made of time.

The Conduit’s spatial tear—normally a portal into Ilos—was now being inverted, re-mapped through Vigil’s uplink and the AI Athena’s assistance. Joker was watching a real-time mesh of data feeds that shouldn’t even exist, overlaying Prothean mathematics on human subspace mechanics.

“Course realignment in three seconds,” Athena’s voice rang out, calm as an oracle. “You are approaching divergence delta.”

“Tell me something I don’t know, sweetheart,” Joker growled, hands twitching against the stick. “Hold on—recalibrating nav-vector using slipstream echo! We only get one shot at this!”

The Conduit surged ahead—a massive blue vortex, larger than life and buzzing with energy. Lightning arced from its edges like a collapsing star. The Geth fleet, bristling with sentries and automated turrets, had deployed a full perimeter net around the Citadel.

But Joker didn’t need an open door.

He had a knife and a map, and a ship that ignored the rules.

“Give me a burn,” Joker muttered, “Slipspace Drive at 18%—prime override… now.”

The drive screamed. Colors Joker had no name for exploded across the forward viewport.

Then the Normandy hit the eye of the Conduit—and punched through.

The transition was like being squeezed through the eye of a needle made of thunder and screaming stars.

The Normandy exploded into realspace over the Citadel’s superstructure with an earth-shaking crack, a sonic boom rattling C-Sec’s orbital sensors and disrupting every local comm band for ten seconds straight.

The hull shimmered from reentry friction and arcing energy, Slipspace residue curling like blue fire along its spine before vanishing.

“We’re in!” Joker shouted triumphantly. “We just teleported through a goddamn blockade!”

“Confirmed,” Kaidan called. “Signal clean. No pursuit. You brought us in right above the Presidium ring.”

Tali laughed, relieved and winded. “That’s impossible.”

“Damn right it is,” Joker muttered, hands trembling slightly. “And I made it look good.”

On the screen, Sovereign loomed—connected to the Citadel, its tendrils laced through support towers, feeding itself into the very core systems of the station. Below, the petals of the Citadel were still half-open, twisted into an ancient configuration that none of the Council races had ever seen.

Kaidan looked up at the digital map.

“Joker… get me as close as you can to the main spire. Shepard’s already down there. It’s time we gave him the goddamn cavalry.”

Serpentine Nebula - Citadel - Inner Ring - Shepard

Commander Shepard hit the ground running.

The Conduit flared open behind him, releasing a flash of blue-white energy that left the air crackling with ozone and static discharge. The moment his boots slammed into the Citadel floor—just past the emergency barricades near the Presidium Commons—he was moving, weapon drawn, eyes locked forward.

The Citadel was burning.

Plumes of smoke and fire curled up from shattered infrastructure. The elegant curves of Presidium architecture—once pristine alabaster and chrome—were now scorched, broken, riddled with bullet holes and crumpled support beams. Holograms sputtered in and out of existence, one frozen on a diplomatic welcome message as Geth plasma fire tore through it, burning a hole in the wall behind.

Screams echoed. Geth troopers and indoctrinated soldiers—eyes glazed, skin pale and slick with sweat—were herding civilians like cattle. Those who resisted were cut down without hesitation. Blood pooled on the tiles beneath a shattered skybridge. Overhead, the massive glass ceiling had fractured, revealing glimpses of Sovereign’s monstrous hull as it clung to the station’s outer ring like a parasite.

Shepard didn’t pause.

He moved like an elemental force, momentum surging through every enhanced step—shoulders low, breath steady, the fury of the entire galaxy burning behind his eyes.

The first Geth platform never stood a chance.

Shepard met it mid-turn, grabbed the rifle in its arms, and with a sharp crack, snapped the weapon in two like dry wood. In the same motion, he slammed its head against the wall, pulverizing its photoreceptor in a cascade of sparks and hydraulic fluid.

Behind him, Ashley and Garrus fanned out into a wedge. Pulse fire stitched the air in bright white lances. Ashley’s heavy rifle barked short, punishing bursts as she dropped an indoctrinated Salarian with surgical precision.

“There’s no order here,” she shouted over the comms. “This is slaughter!”

“Then we make some,” Shepard snapped.

Another Geth leapt from the shadows—its claws outstretched. Shepard caught it mid-air, turned, and hurled it through a broken security checkpoint window. The impact shattered reinforced glass like paper, and the platform tumbled into fire.

Garrus ducked beside him, calibrating his scope mid-stride. “The Geth are reinforcing. They're digging in near the Council Spire elevators!”

“Then we push harder.”

As they moved deeper into the spine of the station, Shepard took in the devastation. Collapsed balconies spilled chunks of ferrocrete into the walkways. Civilian corpses lay draped across benches and garden paths, their bodies a grim contrast against shattered flowerbeds. Every ten meters, another squad of Geth or indoctrinated mercs emerged from the smoke—well-armed, unfeeling.

Shepard didn't falter.

A damaged maintenance mech rose to intercept them, its legs limping and torso twisted. Shepard lunged forward, ripped its arm free with a guttural roar, and turned it into a makeshift club. He waded through three more enemies, crushing heads, denting armor, and scattering limbs like debris in a storm.

“We’re not letting Saren lock this damn station down!” he roared, voice raw and echoing through the burning halls. “Move!”

Their path took them into the eastern arm of the Presidium ring, where once-harmonious design now resembled a warzone. Emergency shutters failed, leaving open drops into shattered lounges and smoke-choked galleries. Geth troopers used turreted emplacements, pinning down straggling Citadel Security teams trying to hold the line.

Ashley dove into cover, laying suppressive fire. “C-Sec’s getting torn apart!”

“Buy them time!” Shepard bellowed, vaulting over a broken rail and barreling into the enemy position. He drove his shoulder into a Geth Hunter, slamming it into a power node with such force that the entire circuit shorted out in a cascade of sparks, disabling two nearby drones.

Garrus laid down overwatch fire as Shepard moved again—nonstop, ruthless, relentless.

A Geth Prime stepped into the corridor ahead, flanked by two indoctrinated Krogan.

It aimed a full plasma cannon—

Shepard didn’t flinch.

He grabbed an exposed support beam, tore it loose with both hands, and threw it like a spear. It pierced the Prime through the chest plate and embedded it into the wall, sparking like a short-circuited monolith. The Krogan hesitated—just long enough for Ashley and Garrus to take them down.

They reached the final stretch of the corridor leading into the Council Spire. The floor was slick with coolant and blood. Explosions rocked the walls as Sovereign’s integration tendrils began extending into the inner chambers, piercing doors and control panels like invasive roots.

Shepard turned to his team.

“Once that lift opens, we’re all in. No retreat. We finish this.”

Ashley nodded. “For Earth. For the Citadel.”

Garrus locked a new thermal clip into his rifle. “And for everyone Saren and that thing thought they could sacrifice.”

The elevator doors screeched open.

Shepard stepped in first, still holding the torn-off mech limb like a hammer.

“Let’s end this.”

Citadel - SSV Normandy - Kaidan

Space burned.

The blackness over the Citadel boiled with plasma discharges, kinetic slug trails, and arc flashes from dying ships.

Sovereign loomed at the center of it all, its hull a jagged silhouette against the Citadel’s half-open wards. Its blood-red eyes burned, casting sickly light over the shattered remains of both Geth cruisers and Citadel defense platforms. The Reaper’s tendrils had plunged deep into the Citadel’s central spire, locking it in place like some ancient god hammering a spike into its prey.

Across every open frequency, the Destiny Ascension’s distress call bled out—a garbled scream from the most powerful ship in Citadel space now crippled and bleeding air.

“This is the Destiny Ascension! Hull breach in multiple sectors! We’re pinned down! Mayday! Mayday!”

On the Normandy’s tactical deck, Kaidan stood beside Tali, sweat soaking the collar of his uniform, his hands flying across the console as he worked in sync with her.

The CIC vibrated from every blast that rattled their shields.

“All ships!” Admiral Hackett’s voice cut through the chaos, heavy and commanding. “Open fire on the Reaper! Target priority Sovereign! Bring it down!”

A rolling wave of affirmative commands spread across the fleet.

The Alliance Armada—cruisers, frigates, even battered old dreadnoughts—surged forward like a wall of firepower. Every ship that could still fly vectored in.

Kaidan’s throat tightened as he scanned the tactical feed. Ships winked out like dying stars across the holo. The Geth fleet was in tatters—but Sovereign remained, untouched at its core.

“Target the junction nodes!” Kaidan yelled, pointing at the render flickering on the screen. “Sovereign’s feeding power into the Citadel’s spine! If we break those conduits, we might slow it down!”

Tali’s fingers blurred, recalibrating torpedo trajectories. “Redirecting fire patterns… charging capacitors… warning, we’re venting coolant faster than we can cycle!”

“Override,” Kaidan snapped. “Feed all auxiliary power to weapons and the Slipspace relay. Burn through them—now!”

Behind them, Joker’s voice rang out from the helm.

“Bracing for hard burn! You want aggressive? I’ll show you aggressive!”

The Normandy twisted sharply, cutting a brutal corkscrew through the debris field surrounding the Citadel ring. Mangled C-Sec gunships drifted like corpses around them, and chunks of destroyed

Geth frigates peppered the void. Joker carved a path through it all with surgical insanity, bringing the ship within spitting distance of Sovereign’s lower flanks.

Point-defense cannons lit up, and Tali unleashed a full broadside volley, her voice high and fierce.

“Firing main battery! Multiple hits! We’re penetrating outer armor!”

The Reaper answered back, sweeping one of its massive energy lances across the battlefield.

Two Alliance frigates—the Callisto and the Sheffield—were caught mid-maneuver. In a single incandescent burst, both ships disintegrated, their reactor cores rupturing like overripe fruit.

“They’re not giving us time to regroup!” Kaidan cursed, feeling the ship buck under the next near-miss.

Hackett’s voice broke through again, fury behind every syllable.

“All remaining ships, form a wall between the Citadel and that damn Reaper! If we go down, we go down buying time!”

Across the tactical feed, ships began reorienting—forming a spearhead assault, ramming through what was left of the Geth formation to get clearer firing angles on Sovereign.

Missile streaks and kinetic impacts rained against the Reaper’s shields.

Slipspace-capable destroyers like the Bastogne and Vigilant Resolve charged their exotic drives, pushing their capacitor arrays to rupture limits, dumping gravitational stress energy into their torpedo payloads for maximum effect.

“Fire and forget!” Tali called. “Multiple warheads away!”

The Normandy surged closer—barely skimming Sovereign’s flanks, flying through lightning discharges and hull shrapnel as Joker danced the ship into impossible trajectories.

Kaidan steadied himself on the console, adrenaline surging like fire in his veins.

“Keep pushing! It’s cracking—we just need more pressure!”

On the holo-display, Sovereign’s outer plating began to ripple and distort. Secondary explosions vented from deep within its structure. Some of the conduit feeds tying it into the Citadel’s core began to snap, spewing molten metal and venting impossible radiation signatures.

And still—the Reaper kept fighting.

Main cannons roared. Citadel station defenses—reactivated after weeks offline—joined the attack, pounding Sovereign from point-blank range with mass accelerator rounds that registered as city-leveling blasts.

Across the tactical net, Kaidan heard Alliance captains shouting final orders—bracing for suicide runs, ships burning reactors red just to get close enough to land a shot.

And through it all… Shepard’s transponder blinked still active… still fighting inside.

Kaidan pressed his palm flat against the console, ignoring the tremor in his hands.

“Hold the line,” he whispered. “You’re almost there… John… just hold the line.”

Citadel - Council Chambers - Shepard

Shepard’s boots pounded across the final bridge, echoes chasing him through the hollow, burning remains of the Citadel’s control spire.

The air smelled of ozone, scorched metal, and death. The once-gleaming walls—symbols of the Council’s civilization—were now cracked and bleeding sparks, conduits exposed like ruptured veins.

Overhead, alarms screamed, but the noise was distant and meaningless compared to the roar of blood in Shepard’s ears.

The chamber itself was bathed in blood-red light, Sovereign’s tendrils pumping corrupted code straight into the Citadel’s neural interface, twisting the ancient station’s command systems into something cold and monstrous.

And at the center—in front of the primary interface core, his shadow long and twisted—stood Saren Arterius.

What was left of him.

His body was a grotesque fusion of flesh and synthetic, his skin stretched thin over visible plates of Reaper alloy, joints articulated with alien servos. His eyes glowed faintly, a sickly, mechanical blue that pulsed in rhythm with Sovereign’s commands.

“You’re too late,” Saren hissed, voice laced with static and something deeper… something hollow. “This place belongs to them now.”

Shepard didn’t waste breath on words.

He moved, faster than thought, crossing the last stretch of broken walkway in a blur of muscle and fury. The first punch landed with the force of a freight train, shattering Saren’s jaw and sending him hurtling backward into a support pillar.

The metal dented inward, cracking like cheap glass beneath the impact.

But Saren wasn’t done.

With an inhuman snarl, he pushed free—launching a biotic slam that tore the floor apart in a wave of gravitational distortion. Chunks of ferrocrete and twisted steel lifted into the air, then crashedback down like a localized meteor storm.

Shepard dove through it, ignoring the debris that tore at his armor.

Saren’s synthetic tendrils lashed out next, razor-sharp coils designed to slice through armor like paper. Shepard ripped a half-torn security gate from the wall, using it as a makeshift shield. The tendrils carved deep gouges across it—sparks and burning metal showering around him—before Shepard charged forward, swinging the gate down like a guillotine blade onto Saren’s shoulder.

The impact drove Saren to his knees, cracking his exoskeletal plating. Synthetic fluid leaked from the wound, thick and dark like burned oil.

“This is my station,” Shepard growled through gritted teeth, hoisting the gate high for another blow.

Saren recovered fast—too fast. A pulse of biotic energy exploded outward, throwing Shepard clear across the chamber. He slammed into the far wall hard enough to leave a crater, ribs straining under the impact.

Ashley and Garrus appeared on the upper gantry, rifles hot and barking.

“Commander! Take him down!” Ashley yelled, laying down suppressive fire.

“We’ve got you covered!” Garrus added, lining up precision shots.

Their bullets tore through Saren’s exposed flank, staggering him just enough for Shepard to recover. Ignoring the screaming protests from his bruised body, Shepard surged forward again.

Saren triggered a local override, causing floor panels to rise, platforms to shift, and bulkheads to slam shut, turning the chamber into a moving deathtrap. Fire rained from the ceiling as support beams buckled under the stress of Sovereign’s ongoing assault on the station.

When one bulkhead sealed shut in front of him, Shepard didn’t stop.

With a roar, he punched clean through the emergency blast door, shoving aside twisted metal like cardboard, blood from opened knuckles smearing across the steel.

He caught up with Saren at the upper tier—just as the Turian launched himself in a desperate, final charge, moving faster than anything that broken body should have allowed.

Shepard met him mid-air.

Their collision shook the floor.

The two slammed into the ground in a tangle of limbs, metal and flesh grinding against each other in a brutal, close-quarters grapple. Saren clawed at him with talons sharpened into scalpels.

Shepard countered with raw strength—driving elbow after elbow into the corrupted turian’s face, breaking apart what little was left of his organic structure.

Finally—panting, blood smeared down his temple—Shepard’s hand found what he was looking for.

The control node—a grotesque, pulsing mass of Reaper biotech—fused into the upper vertebrae of Saren’s spine.

Without hesitation, Shepard tore it free, wrenching the whole module from Saren’s back with a wet, metallic snap.

Saren convulsed violently.

The Reaper’s connection flickered.

“You… can’t stop them…” Saren gasped, fluids bubbling from his mouth. “It’s already begun…”

Shepard met his gaze—steady, cold.

“Watch me.”

With deliberate force, Shepard crushed the control node in his palm, sparks and fluids exploding between his fingers like crushed circuitry.

Saren’s eyes dimmed.

His body sagged.

And finally, after all the horror, he stopped moving.

As Shepard stood, Sovereign’s shriek echoed through the Citadel’s walls—a sound like the death cry of a dying star, reverberating deep in Shepard’s bones.

Above, outside the spire, Alliance ships continued their assault, pounding Sovereign with concentrated kinetic barrages, torpedoes, and exotic payloads that burned bright enough to scar the void itself.

The Reaper was weakening.

Shepard looked down at Saren’s ruined body, then turned toward the nearest console.

There was still work to do.

The fight wasn’t over—not until Sovereign fell.

Serpentine Nebula - Citadel - SSV Normandy - Kaidan 

Sovereign reeled.

It spasmed against the Citadel’s spine like a wounded predator, its crimson lights flickering, tendrils spasming, the sheer mass of its hull trembling under the combined fury of the human fleet.

With Saren dead, the connection—the control link anchoring Sovereign’s consciousness into the Citadel—snapped like a severed nerve.

Below, Kaidan watched from the Normandy’s CIC as status readouts exploded with alerts and new telemetry.

The Citadel’s lockdown protocols lifted. The massive arms—once frozen mid-seal—stopped moving, the station’s auto-correct algorithms stuttering as the alien override code died in its cradle.

“We’ve broken their grip!” Tali shouted, pulling her hands from the console, voice high with relief. “The Citadel’s waking up—defense grids rebooting, control towers clearing the override!”

“Sovereign’s shields are down to 12% and falling fast!” Lieutenant Pressly added from his monitoring station.

Kaidan stared at the tactical display—every Alliance ship on every vector converging at once. The Geth fleet had been wiped out, leaving Sovereign naked, surrounded, and outgunned for the first time in its existence.

Admiral Hackett’s voice cracked across open channels like a war horn.

“All ships—concentrate fire! Bring. It. Down!”

The Alliance armada responded with grim efficiency.

The Fifth Fleet’s heavy cruisers, including the SSV Tokyo, Hannibal, and Reykjavik, unleashed wave after wave of kinetic impact torpedoes, each one enhanced with Slipspace capacitor surges—a technology uniquely human, designed to punch through shields and armor like a crowbar through sheet metal.

Destroyers and frigates—lighter, faster, more maneuverable—swooped in close, strafing Sovereign’s exposed joints and sensor clusters. The SSV Bastogne, running on emergency overburn, delivered a final salvo directly into Sovereign’s lower engine array, tearing whole sections of the Reaper’s hull free, sending glowing debris tumbling down toward the Citadel’s exterior shields.

“It’s weakening! Now!” Kaidan shouted, knuckles white on the console.

Tali sent targeting data across the fleet net.

“Feeding targeting solutions to the entire strike group—Synchronize firing pattern. Focus on the central core and ventral weak points!”

On the Normandy’s bridge, Joker’s hands flew across the controls, sweat dripping down his temple.

“Lining up our final shot! Main battery is charged and pissed off!”

Kaidan’s voice dropped low, steady with command. “Joker… do it.”

Joker smiled, teeth bared. “Say goodbye to this Reaper bastard.”

The Normandy’s primary mass accelerator cannon fired, the entire deck reverberating with a deep, hungry roar as the slug tore across space faster than a blink, trailing exotic particle wake behind it.

The shot struck Sovereign dead center, drilling through its already fractured armor, punching through the main control cluster beneath its dorsal plates.

A cascade of explosions rippled outward like a chain reaction, a blossoming flower of destruction blooming in the black of space.

Sovereign shuddered, its mighty frame coming apart in sections and splinters, power cores detonating in luminous bursts of blue and white. The Reaper’s final death scream wasn’t audible, but the sudden drop in subspace resonance left every comms array on every ship hissing with static, like the dying gasp of a dying god.

Even as Sovereign disintegrated, Alliance command protocols kicked in.

Hackett’s next order came without hesitation.

“All ships, per standing human fleet doctrine—no Reaper tech left behind. I want every remaining piece of that thing reduced to dust or secured for controlled disintegration.”

The Alliance moved like a machine.  The SSV New Delhi and SSV Blackthorn moved to intercept larger drifting chunks, pulverizing them with synchronized MAC fire.  Frigates like the SSV Warsaw and SSV Louisiana engaged point-defense arrays, picking off escape fragments and smaller debris that might drift toward civilian traffic lanes. Specialized slipspace-tipped torpedoes detonated near critical remains, collapsing small gravitational bubbles around them and atomizing any surviving Reaper alloy on a molecular level.

Kaidan watched it unfold, heart pounding in his throat.

There would be no salvage teams, no recovery of Sovereign’s hull, no research samples.

Humanity had made its choice long ago: Reaper technology would never be allowed to infect their civilization. Not in this cycle. Not ever.

Even as fire and dust clouded the starscape, the Normandy’s CIC remained focused.

On Kaidan’s console, the last traces of Sovereign’s signature winked out. Gone.

Tali slumped back in her chair, hands trembling slightly. “It’s done… it’s really done.”

Kaidan let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “Yeah… but we still have to find Shepard.”

A pause.

Then Joker’s voice came over the comm.

“Don’t worry, Alenko. I’ve got his signal. Let’s go bring our Commander home.”

Chapter Text

Citadel – Council Chambers / Inner Presidium - Shepard

The Citadel reeled, groaning like a wounded titan suspended in the dark.

Everywhere Shepard looked, smoke and fire danced across the fractured levels of the Council spire. Emergency lighting cast the shattered control chamber in alternating flashes of pale blue and blood-red. Sections of the ceiling hung loose, exposing jagged beams, live cables, and a glimpse of the stars beyond—a night sky ruptured by battle.

Below his boots, cracked ferrocrete and scorched metal plates stretched across the floor like a battlefield graveyard. Shell casings, broken rifles, and pieces of synthetic Geth wreckage littered the ground like discarded bones.

Overhead, the Citadel’s automated fire suppression systems sputtered weakly, doing little to stop the small fires burning in pockets along the bulkheads. Water and fire-retardant foam mixed with spilled coolant, forming slick, toxic puddles that steamed underfoot.

Rescue crews moved between the levels like ants in a burning hive. C-Sec officers, many bloodied and short-staffed, worked alongside Alliance medics and shipboard corpsmen, dragging the wounded out of the rubble. Some civilians lay covered by emergency tarps—too late for help.

Shepard stood amid it all, his breath heavy, throat raw from smoke and exhaustion. His armor was torn and blackened, impact dents warping its once-pristine surface. His knuckles were split and bleeding, grime coating every inch of him. But he was standing.

They were alive.

Some of them.

To his left, Garrus knelt beside a crushed bulkhead, helping a barely-conscious C-Sec officer free from the rubble. Ashley moved with practiced speed, lifting debris off a pair of trapped refugees, her face streaked with dirt and sweat but her movements steady.

Shepard keyed his comm.

“Status?” His voice came out rough, hoarse.

There was a burst of static, then Kaidan’s voice crackled over the line.

“Reaper’s gone,” Kaidan said, breathless but steady. “Debris field’s a mess. But we’re working through it. Alliance ships are already moving to intercept and destroy the bigger pieces. No chances. No salvage left behind.”

Shepard closed his eyes for a second and let the weight of that sink in.

The next voice was Tali, coming from the Normandy’s CIC.

“Some small fragments are being secured for controlled analysis,” she added, her voice tired but alert. “Alliance black labs only. Full isolation protocols. The rest… well… we’re vaporizing it.”

She sounded both proud and exhausted.

“No piece of that thing’s getting loose,” Kaidan added, his tone dark. “We’re making sure of it.”

On the ship channel, Joker chimed in, half-hearted sarcasm softening the tension.

“And the Citadel? Still standing. Sort of. Gonna need… let’s say… a few million credits, half a decade of repairs, and a couple hundred new coats of paint.” A pause. Then, with quieter honesty: “But it’s still here.”

Shepard looked up.

Through the gaping hole in the ceiling, the stars stretched wide—framed by the glittering remains of the Reaper’s carcass drifting slowly, still burning in places as Alliance destroyers and orbital defense platforms continued firing on anything bigger than a shuttle.

Beyond, he could see fragments the size of small cities already breaking apart, thanks to sustained bombardment. MAC rounds, slipspace-piercing torpedoes, and focused plasma beams continued to chew through what was left.

A piece of Sovereign’s hull—nearly a kilometer wide—caught fire from multiple torpedo impacts and detonated spectacularly, leaving only dust.

Alliance salvage teams were already sweeping through the debris field, scanning for Reaper residue or unregistered energy signatures. Anything they found, they destroyed on the spot.

Humanity had learned the lesson fast and hard: No Reaper tech survives. Ever.

Down below, closer to the base of the tower, shuttle after shuttle began landing—emergency med-evacs, engineering crews, and Council security forces moving in. Shepard could hear the distant whir of omni-tools, the sharp barks of triage medics, and the occasional thunderous collapse of weakened support struts finally giving way.

This place was supposed to be invincible, Shepard thought grimly. Now it looked like a corpse that hadn’t realized it was dead yet.

Ashley joined him, brushing dust off her shoulder. Garrus moved up beside them, voice low.

“Hell of a fight,” Garrus said, looking at the devastation with a sniper’s trained eye. “You think the Council’s even still alive after this?”

Shepard didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he pulled off his cracked helmet, letting the cooler air hit his sweat-drenched face. The burning sting of smoke and ozone filled his lungs, but he forced a slow, deep breath.

His gaze drifted up again.

The stars waited, distant and cold beyond the broken ceiling.

They had won.

But Shepard knew this wasn’t the end. Not even close.

This was only the beginning.

He thumbed his comm again.

“Kaidan… get the Normandy ready. I’ll meet you at the docks when I’m done here.”

“Copy that, Commander,” came Kaidan’s soft reply, something warm and steady behind the exhaustion.

Shepard spared one last look at the destruction… then turned toward the lift, ready to face the next storm.

Serpentine Nebula - Citadel - Council Chambers - Shepard

The chamber was quieter than it had been in decades.

The damage Sovereign had caused was still visible. Cracks spidered through the vaulted ceilings. Holo-panels flickered with static. The Council’s dais—once a pristine symbol of unity—had scorch marks along its base.

But the Asari Councilor stood tall as she addressed the gathered representatives.

“The Geth abomination is dead. Sovereign has been destroyed. And the Citadel… survives.”

A murmur of uneasy agreement filtered through the room.

Beside her, the Turian and Salarian Councilors both wore guarded expressions—not of anger, but uncertainty.

At the base of the dais, Commander Shepard stood flanked by Admiral Hackett and Captain Anderson. Behind them, members of the Alliance delegation stood silent, watching the galaxy shift.

“And yet,” said the Salarian Councilor, “when the battle was over… your fleets destroyed every remnant of the the geth. Salvage teams dispatched by other species were blocked. Scientific access to what could have been the most important technological discovery in galactic history was denied.”

Shepard didn’t speak. He kept his eyes forward.

It was Hackett who stepped forward, calm and unapologetic.

“Because we decided, a long time ago, that if the Reapers were real… we would never let their technology infect the galaxy again.”

The Asari Councilor raised an eyebrow. “You claim that authority?”

Hackett didn’t blink. “We claim the responsibility.”

Gasps echoed from some corners of the gallery.

“You had no mandate—”

“We had proof,” Hackett interrupted. “You saw what Sovereign did. You heard it speak. You watched as indoctrinated agents turned your own security systems against you. You think salvaging that is wise? We know what happens when you play with fire. We’ve seen it on too many human colonies already.”

Anderson stepped forward beside him.

“We made that decision over several centuries ago. Any technology bearing Reaper origin is to be destroyed. No exceptions.”

The Turian Councilor’s voice was tight. “That’s not how the Council operates.”

Anderson gave a half-shrug. “Then maybe it’s time it did.”

Silence followed.

The Councilors conferred in whispers—data flitting between their private terminals. Then the Asari turned her eyes back to Shepard.

“You’ve proven your people are capable of more than we anticipated, Commander Shepard. For decades we have guided this galaxy… and yet it was humanity that sounded the alarm. Humanity that acted when we stood still.”

She looked to the others. The Turian nodded, grimly. The Salarian did not look pleased—but he remained silent.

“We are prepared to offer humanity a permanent seat on this Council.”

Murmurs surged through the chamber again.

Shepard turned slightly. Hackett looked to Anderson—and Anderson, for just a moment, looked stunned.

Then Shepard nodded. “Captain Anderson is the only one I’d trust to represent us.”

The Councilor’s gaze landed on Anderson. “Do you accept?”

Anderson straightened his spine. “I do.”

Private Council Antechamber – Minutes Later

The chamber cleared. The noise, the spectacle—it all faded.

Only Anderson, Hackett, Shepard, and the Council remained.

The Asari Councilor was the first to speak. “We’d like to understand the extent of humanity’s knowledge of the Reapers.”  She said it in a tone that spoke of the fact that she did not believe in the telling of it. 

Hackett spoke again, measured. “We’ve known about them since almost he beginning of our space travel. Data echoes from the Mars archives. After Torvath’s awakening, we made a decision. Humanity would chart its own path. If the Reapers ever returned, we would not become their tools. That’s why our technology evolved away from theirs. Why our AI and Slipspace drives don’t rely on Mass Effect physics.”

The Salarian Councilor was skeptical. “That’s a dangerous precedent. You refused to share your advantage.”

Shepard’s voice was calm but firm. “Because we couldn’t trust anyone not to try using it. Not after what we saw with Cerberus. Not after Saren.”

Anderson leaned forward. “We’re not trying to hoard power. We’re trying to prevent extinction.”

There was a pause.

The Turian Councilor finally spoke. “What will you do with the rest of Sovereign’s remains?”

Hackett didn’t hesitate.

“Everything has been vaporized or collected for disintegration. Nothing remains. Not a screw. Not a microprocessor. It’s gone.”

The Councilors exchanged glances again.

The Asari gave a slow nod. “Then it appears humanity has done what no cycle before you could manage.”

Alliance HQ - Citadel - Shepard

Anderson stood overlooking the Presidium’s reflecting pool, now calm again. Citizens walked slowly beneath rebuilt lights. The Citadel was alive.

Shepard approached quietly, arms folded.

Anderson didn’t turn, just said, “I didn’t think this day would come.”

“I did,” Shepard replied. “You earned it.”

Anderson gave a low chuckle. “I’m not sure this job’s a reward. Might be a punishment.”

“Council politics usually are.”

They stood in companionable silence.

Anderson glanced over. “You sure you’re not the one who should’ve taken the seat?”

Shepard shook his head. “I’d rather be out there. Kaidan, Tali, Garrus—there’s more work to do. We stopped Sovereign, but you know this isn’t over.”

Anderson nodded. “Yeah. I know. But at least now… we’ve got a voice. And a chance.”

Shepard looked out over the Citadel, the rebuilt skyline shining like a promise.

“For now,” he said quietly. “That’s enough.”

SSV Normandy SR-1, Captain’s Quarters - Shepard

The hum of the Normandy's systems was a comforting rhythm beneath Shepard’s boots as he stepped back into the ship he’d nearly lost. The Council had given their half-hearted thanks. Anderson was now a Councilor. The wreckage of Sovereign was drifting into the gravity well of a star.

It should have felt like a victory.

But all Shepard could feel was exhaustion. Not the kind you slept off—something deeper. A fatigue etched into bone, stitched into memory. He peeled his armor off one piece at a time, wincing as he passed over bruises and deep muscle aches.

Then the door chimed.

He turned.

And there he was.

Kaidan.

Dressed down to his duty blacks, dark hair damp at the edges like he’d just come from the showers. Eyes soft, cautious. He didn’t speak at first, just looked—like he needed to make sure Shepard was real.

Shepard’s throat tightened. “You came.”

“I said I’d be here,” Kaidan replied, voice quiet.

There was a pause. The ship hummed around them.

“You nearly died down there,” Kaidan said.

“Yeah,” Shepard breathed, “but I didn’t.”

Kaidan stepped inside slowly, letting the door hiss shut behind him. “I watched you charge through Sovereign’s interior on the tactical feed. You were a force of nature, Shepard. I—I felt it through the bond. All that pain. The anger.”

Shepard exhaled. “I didn’t know if I was going to make it. Not until I heard your voice on the comm. That’s what pulled me through.”

Kaidan’s jaw clenched, emotion flickering in his expression. He closed the distance between them in a few steps, slow and deliberate.

Then his hands were on Shepard’s face. Steady. Grounding.

“You’re here,” he said, voice low. “You really made it back.”

“I told you I would.”

Kaidan didn’t kiss him—not yet. He just stood there, pressing his forehead against Shepard’s, letting them breathe in sync. Letting the silence speak.

“You smell like ash,” Kaidan murmured, “and ion burn.”

“Sorry. I’ll get that cleaned up.”

“No. I mean it’s… comforting. You smell like war and survival and the first storm that breaks the heat. Like sea air. Like... home.”

Shepard swallowed hard. “You smell like coffee. Chocolate. Cherries.  You make me want to cover you in chocolate sauce and eat it off of you.”

Kaidan smiled, and that alone was enough to ease the ache in Shepard’s chest.

“Is this real?” Kaidan asked.

“Yes,” Shepard said without hesitation. “This isn’t adrenaline. It’s not just instinct. It’s you. It’s always been you.”

Kaidan’s hands slid down to Shepard’s chest, fingers resting over his heartbeat.

“Then I’m not letting go,” he whispered.

Shepard finally closed the gap. The kiss was soft, tender—no hunger, just truth. They didn’t need to prove anything anymore. They’d already survived the impossible.

After a long moment, Shepard pulled Kaidan into his arms and held him tight, face buried in the crook of his neck, breathing him in.

No alarms. No gunfire. No missions.

Just Kaidan.

Just the quiet between wars.

Chapter Text

Alliance HQ Vancouver, BC - Earth - Shepard

Shepard waited a few moments after Anderson had left the office.  The man had come by with the paperwork for his and Kaidan’s mating.  Anderson showed slight appointment during their talk about the paperwork.  He already had a feeling his meeting with his parents would not go too well.

His mera would be delighted to meet and welcome Kaidan to the family but his father on the other hand would not be be happy about the fact that Kaidan was technically a subordinate.  Jane would love Kaidan as much as he did, but would probably gang up with his mate against him.  

They were working on telling both of their parents over the next few weeks, but at this time the two of them were on two weeks of leave together.  They had planned to head out to the orchard to meet his parents.  He still had his final papers to submit before he was on leave.

A door chime pulled him from his thoughts.  

“Commander Shepard, Lieutenant Alenko is requesting entry.”

“Let him in Nix, and then log out.  I will be leaving the office in about 10 minutes.  ”

“Yes sir.  Enjoy your leave.”

He looked up from the virtual desktop towards the door and saw his mate enter the room.  It was still a novelty to think that this gorgeous man was his.  There was still the thrill of knowing that he and Kaidan were bonded together.  

The attraction had been there since they first met, but over the last few months the attraction changed to deep love. Those few nights they shared together had been some of his most cherished memories.  Not just the sex being amazingly hot, but the nights where they just held one another and talked for a few hours until they fell asleep.  Those were the nights he loved the most.  

Some would call that un-alpha like behavior, but he had learned from his own father that being an alpha was not just about protecting your loved ones.  It was about protecting them and cherishing them with all that you have.  He had seen that as a child when his parents interacted with one another.  They were deeply in love and had been for over 35 years.  

The last time he saw them they were still very much in love with one another and still radiated that love when they were together.  

Kaidan’s smile was bright as he entered the room.  

“Are you about ready to go?”

“Yea, just finishing my last report.  Are your parents already at the orchard?”

“They got there last night and their plans are only to stay for the the weekend.  But I have a feeling they will want to stay a few extra days after I tell them about our mating.”

“You haven’t told them?”

“I told them I was seeing someone and wanted everyone to meet.  Mom said they are holding a family gathering Saturday night.”

“Oh, and how many people are going to be at the gathering?”

“Probably about 20 I’d imagine.”

“Sounds like my family gatherings.  Mom’s side of the family.  Even with my aunt and uncle its still about 25 people only.  Dads side of the family is much larger.  He’s in the middle of 9 kids.  Hell I even have an uncle who is less than 10 years older than me.”

“My mom was an only child, while dad has his three brothers.  They and their families will be the ones in attendance since they work at the orchard.”

“Are they all going to be fine with us being together?”

“They will love you because I love you.”

“Thanks Kaidan.  I love you too.”

Shepard pulled him closer before kissing him one last time.  They still had to make it out of the building and into a shuttle.  The two planned to spend two weeks at the orchard, as a small honeymoon.  He still needed to contact his parents and tell them he needed to talk to them in person.  That wasn’t going to be a pleasant conversation at all.  

Kaidan pulled away before grabbing their duffel bags and heading out of the room.  Shepard shook his head before disconnecting his omni-tool from the system and closing everything down.  It was time to start his vacation.

Alenko Orchard - British Columbia Interior - Shepard 

It was the smell of fruit and crisp clean air that his his lungs first.  The sight of the two story house nestled between large trees looked a bit like something out of an old children’s story book.  There were vines that trailed up one side of the house to give it a look as if this house had been here for centuries.  

Kaidan had told him the orchard had been in his family for generations, but the house was built 80 years ago by his grandparents.  The old house wasn’t big enough for his dad’s family and so they tore the old one down and built a bigger one.  

The scene was very idyllic and just how he figured Kaidan would grow up.  Even if he only came here during summers and weekends as a child.   His parents had a condo in Vancouver that over looked English bay.  Kaidan was eager to show him everything from his childhood.  

A loud scream pulled him from his thoughts when a woman in her early 60’s came streaking out of the house and headed straight for his mate.  

“Mom, calm down.  I am perfectly fine.”

“I am so glad you are here.”  She pulled him closer.

“I still need to breath sometime.”  Her laughter rang out across the small clearing as she pulled away.  Scanning her eyes over him to make sure he wasn’t hurt reminded him of his mera doing the same thing.

“Well, who is this?  You said you were bringing someone with you.”

“Mom, I would like to introduce you to Commander John Shepard.”

“Oh, your Kaidan’s commanding officer on the Normandy.  It is wonderful to meet you.  I am Margaret Alenko.  I think Chase is around here somewhere.  Come in, come in.”  The two of them walked away towards the house leaving him to grab their bags.  This was going to be an interesting two weeks.

His meeting with Chase Alenko had gone about how he had expected of the retired alliance officer.  He was nice and polite but still weary of why Shepard was on vacation with his son.  They had opted to put their things in separate rooms and not unpack until they had a chance to speak with the two of them over dinner.  

The smell of cooked steaks permeated though the house while Shepard had relaxed in what Kaidan had dubbed the library.  In reality it was just a lounge with a ton of book cases, but he could see how a younger man would call it that.  A message had been sent earlier to both of his parents letting them know he would like to see them while he is on leave in Vancouver.  

His mera had written him back stating that they could meet him for a weekend before his leave ended.  Kaidan was fine  with that, they would end up staying in a hotel in Vancouver for the weekend to meet up with the Shepard’s.  He had yet to hear back from his father but he did not expect to after his mera’s message.  

The sun was setting about the time that Kaidan came to grab him for dinner.  He was not sure if they were going to tell them about their relationship now or wait till later, but would leave that up to Kaidan to tell them.  He would handle his parents.  Even if they would be able to tell the instant the two of them were together in the same room.  

Their scents had started to mingle more together since Virmire, and some of the crew started to suspect that something was going on with them.  They still hid their bonding marks.   Even if no one said a word to either of them.  

Kaidan’s dad was walking out to the back deck with some beer in his hand as he made his way downstairs.  

“We are eating out on the back deck.  I grabbed a beer for you.”

“Thank you sir.  Do you or Margaret need anything?”

“Nope, grab a beer and then take a seat.”  He motioned to the table.  Kaidan had walked passed him and sat down on one side of the table leaving the other side open.  There was a look of determination that he had seen before on his mates face.  He was going to tell them about their mating.

He looked at the beer and wondered if they might need something stronger for this.  It was not every day this type of thing happened, so he just hoped that they would be fine with it.  

There was light conversation as the food was passed around.  Margaret had made some enticing looking side dishes and everything smelled delicious.  Chase had asked about a few questions about his previous deployments.  He told the stories that he could while sanitizing a few others.   

They were halfway though dinner when Kaidan spoke up.

“Mom, dad, theres something I need to tell you.”  Their attention turned towards their oldest child.  He took a deep breath before he started to speak again.  Shepard did his best to look calm and hope that his mate picked up on it.  

“Something happened during my last mission.”

“Did you get hurt.  You haven’t acted like you have been hurt.”

“No mom I wasn't hurt more than a few bruises and a small cut.”

“What happened son.”  

Kaidan’s eyes met his before he looked back at both his parents.

“There isn’t an easy way to say this, but during my last mission, Shepard and I mated.”

Both of his parents looked at the two of them, heads turning back and forth.  He wasn’t too sure what they were trying to see, but it was slightly amusing to watch them.  

“How did that happen?”  Margaret asked.  Even he could see the confusion on their faces.  Being betas they would not really understand the intensity and the desire that he and Kaidan felt for one another.  They both understood love, and the desire to have children, but would never really understand it on the biological level that he and his mate did.  

“It was a long time coming actually.  When I was first assigned to the Normandy I was caught up by a scent.  I think I wrote to you about it when I first was on the ship.  That first letter I wrote talked about coming across a smell that reminded me of home, the rains of the orchard and the sea air of Vancouver, it turned out to be John.  

“We did our best to maintain a strict professional relationship, but I know of my part it started to get more personal as we got to know one another over the last few months.  Before our last mission the dam we had put between us finally broke and we ended up mated.” 

It was the truth with just enough detail they could come up with the answers they were looking for all the while without going into graphic detail that wasn’t needed at the time.  Shepard was impressed with Kaidan’s explanation.  There wasn’t anything he really needed to add on his side of the story.   Both watched as neither parent said anything for a few minutes.  

“What about regulations?”  Chase asked quietly.  He decided that he should answer that one.

“Even with Kaidan and I in the same structure and I being his superior officer right now, it has been smoothed over by the admiralty board.  N7’s are given a bit more latitude than others in the operations.  The paperwork has already been submitted, and according to the alliance we are mated, but no one really knows that outside of the N7 command structure.”

Chase seemed to think for a few moments before nodding his head.  It probably wasn’t ideal that they had been sleeping together when he was Kaidan’s boss, but it had worked out that way in the end.  

“Are you happy son.”  Kaidan’s mothers voice was filled with concern as she looked at him with love and adoration.

“Yes mom.  Very much.”  Shepard could hear the truth and love in his mates voice.  It brought a small smile to his face, before a gruff voice filled the silence.  

“You, you treat my son right or else they will not be able to find your body.”  He turned his head to see Chase Alenko giving him a stare that he had not seen since basic training.  A stare that promised a world of hurt if he did not comply with the demand.

“Yes sir.”  It was the truth.  He would do everything in his power to make sure that Kaidan was happy, healthy and content until his dying breath.   

“You will have to tell your siblings Kai.”

“I had planned on telling them this weekend during the party.”  There was a resined tone to his voice as he spoke.  Shepard had often heard about the Alenko siblings.  Kaidan had said many great things about them.

There was a small tense atmosphere after that during the dinner but his parents started to ask Shepard more personal questions.  Margaret had asked about meeting his parents.  He agreed that it might be possible since his parents will be on leave the following weekend.  

John stood out on the back porch looking at the stars through the groves of trees.  It was a beautiful night, calm with only a few noises of nature that filled the silence.  He was not looking forward to the meeting with his parents.    His sire would be incensed about the whole ordeal and he knew it.  The man always did things by the book, and when he came to John he liked to throw the book at him.

While his father was in charge of a training base on Sparta at the moment and outside of the N7 Command structure, he knew enough of the inner workings to know that what he and Kaidan had done only broke the fraternization rules.  That was the only thing wrong with the whole thing. 

While yes both he and Kaidan were given some freedoms because of their N7 status, to his father it was going to be a cluster fuck when they told him because it still broke that one regulation.  The sound of the back door opening pulled him from his thoughts.  Kaidan’s comforting scent hit him moments later before he felt the man’s arms wrap around his body.  

“Hey, what has you thinking so hard?”

“Nothing really to worry about.  I am just not looking forward to telling my sire about how we mated.”

“You always did say he was a stickler for the rules.”

“Yea, he will have a problem with the fact that we mated while you were a subordinate of mine.”

“That is a problem for another day.  My parents just went to bed, and we have the night to ourselves.”

“Oh, and what pray tell do we want to do with that time?”

“Well, I was thinking we can go to bed.”

“Bed, really?  Neither of us are tired.”

“Well, I am sure I can tire you out.”

“What about your parents hearing us?”

“My room is soundproof.  My parents remodeled both their house and this one when I was a curious small child and asked them to not wrestle too loudly at night.”  Both of them started to laugh at the joke.

“The wonders of having a child with really good hearing.  Well then lets test out that sound proofing shall we?”

Shepard pulled Kaidan towards his body.  He took a moment to look into those eyes he loved so much.  Trying his best to get lost in their unique whiskey color.  Gently he placed a kiss on his mates lips.  This was heaven and he knew it.  They had their whole lives to figure everything out.  For now sex would have to fill the time.

The orchard was quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos of the galaxy they had both left behind, if only for a night. The soft hum of the Normandy’s distant engines was barely perceptible, replaced instead by the gentle rustling of leaves in the Alenko family orchard. Starlight filtered through the canopy, casting silvery beams across the grassy expanse where John Shepard stood, hands deep in his pockets, waiting.

Kaidan emerged from the shadows of the trees, his usual confident stride softened in the intimacy of the moment. His dark eyes, always so intense, held a different emotion tonight—anticipation, vulnerability, and something Shepard dared to hope was joy.

"You look like you're in deep thought," Kaidan said, stopping a few feet away. His voice was low, a little teasing, but there was a thread of seriousness beneath it.

Shepard smiled faintly, the sharp lines of his face softened in the moonlight. "Thinking about us. About how… impossible this all feels. In the best way."

Kaidan stepped closer, his boots crunching softly against the grass. “It doesn’t have to feel impossible. Not here. Not tonight.” His voice was barely above a whisper now, the intimacy of the moment wrapping around them like a shield.

Shepard let out a quiet breath, his eyes never leaving Kaidan’s. “You’re right. No missions, no geth, no reapers, no politics. Just us.”

They stood there for a moment, the silence filled with the gentle sounds of the wind through the orchard. Then, without a word, Kaidan reached out and took Shepard’s hand, his grip warm and steady. He pulled him toward the center of the clearing where a small circle of stones had been laid out—a makeshift altar, their personal sanctuary for the night.  His father had told him it was a old fire pit once upon a time.

Kaidan turned to face him fully, his other hand coming up to rest lightly on Shepard’s chest. “I know we don’t have much of a tradition for this,” he began, his voice steady despite the obvious emotion behind it. “But I wanted to do something. Something to make this real, for both of us.”

Shepard nodded, his heart thundering in his chest. “I don’t need a tradition,” he said softly. “Just you.”

Kaidan smiled, and for a moment, the weight of the galaxy seemed to lift from his shoulders. “I want to say something. Something I’ve wanted to tell you since… well, since I realized what this is. What we are.”

He took a deep breath, and Shepard could see the way his hands tightened slightly, as though grounding himself. “John, you… you’re… everything to me. Not just my commanding officer or my partner. You’re the one person I trust above all others, the one who makes me feel like I’m more than the sum of my parts. I swear, no matter what comes from here to eternity, I’ll stand by you. I’ll fight for you. I’ll love you.”

Shepard’s throat tightened, and for a moment, he couldn’t speak. But then he reached up, covering Kaidan’s hand with his own. “Kaidan… I’ve faced things out there that should have broken me. And maybe they would have, if I didn’t have you. You remind me of what we’re fighting for. You keep me grounded. I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know this: wherever we go, whatever we face, I want you by my side. Always.”

They stood there, the weight of their words settling between them, before Kaidan stepped closer and rested his forehead against Shepard’s. Their breaths mingled, warm in the cool night air.

“Together,” Kaidan murmured.

“Forever,” Shepard replied.

In unison, they lifted their hands, intertwining their fingers in a symbolic gesture of unity. The vows were unspoken but understood—an unbreakable bond forged in the quiet of the orchard, under the watchful gaze of the stars.

The vast expanse above is an inky black, deep and infinite, pierced by the radiant glow of countless stars seemed to watch them back. The Milky Way stretches across the sky like a luminous river of light, its silvery threads weaving through the constellations. The stars shimmer like diamonds scattered carelessly across velvet, their light undisturbed and pure.

Occasionally, a meteor streaks across the sky, leaving a fleeting trail that draws gasps of wonder.  The moon, visible, bathes the landscape in a soft, ethereal glow, casting faint shadows on the ground. The nearby mountains and towering pines stand in silhouette, their jagged edges framing the celestial theater above.

The air is crisp and clean, carrying the faint scent of pine and earth. With each breath, it feels as though the universe is offering its serenity to anyone lucky enough to witness it.  For a long time, they simply held each other, the universe fading away until there was nothing left but them.