Disclaimer - Not mine, just a really cool sandbox. Thank you to Bioware, Microsoft and everyone in between for a great story with excellent dialogue.

Mass Effect:

Time Marches On

"We're on approach to Ilos, Captain," Joker's familiar voice announced over Kaidan's personal comm.

"On my way, Joker," Kaidan responded and headed to the front of the Normandy. He was still getting used to his new rank, his discomfort about the new responsibility of being in charge of an entire ship exacerbated by the fact that it served to emphasized the lack of Commander Shepard's presence.

Three months had passed since the end of what people were now calling "The Battle for the Citadel." Kaidan could only shake his head every time he heard someone mention the battle by that name. It made it sound as if the war was over and the galaxy was once again safe. He knew the truth. He was one of the few who did. That had merely been a staging battle for something much worse yet to come.

The entire crew of the Normandy had been sent on forced shore leave, as if the brass knew that they would be called upon again – and soon. The long anticipated shore leave was anything but what he had expected. Three months ago, he and his commander shared whispered plans of down time – time to explore their feelings which could not be acted on during active duty due to regulations about fraternizing.

Unfortunately, despite the fact that Commander Shepard needed the down time, possibly more than anyone, she had been quickly whisked away to speak with top officials in both the military and civil sectors of government. Apparently, she'd finally proven herself enough for the Council to take her at her word and even ask her to help advise them in coming up with a contingency plan for the imminent invasion by hundreds, if not thousands, more Reapers.

Besides, even before being called back by the Council, she hadn't really gone on shore leave. Though she had been locked out of her ship, she continued her own investigation, using her Spectre ties to track down leads and find out as much as she could about Saren's original mission – the one which set him on the path that ultimately killed him.

Kaidan knew she felt a little guilty about being unable to shut down. Their few dinners together usually ended in discussions about the battle and speculation about what was to come. More than once she had stopped mid-sentence and offered up a guilt-ridden smile and an apologetic comment about her inattention to him.

It had been disappointing, but he could hardly fault her. It was hard to push everything aside and shut out the impending danger. He felt selfish trying to do so, though helpless to know what to do about it. So after only a week together, if he could really call it "together," Brennan Shepard was called back to active duty, alone of the Normandy crew, and Kaidan immersed himself in the rebuilding efforts.

He had, in fact, contacted his cousin with the agricultural business. Several small human colonies had been hit by the skirmishes that led up to The Battle and, until the Keepers could get the station back on track, even the Citadel needed supplies of food and water brought in. His cousin owned one of the many small companies pitching in to help. That was one good thing that came out of this conflict. Humans were now a much more important part of the intergalactic community. Not only were they more highly regarded as a species but, in good form, the humans stepped up and showed themselves reliable, not only as a military force to be reckoned with, but also as… well, humanitarians, with colonies across the board showing solidarity and concern for their fellow colonists and, by extension, the aliens with which they interacted.

Despite being so wrapped up in the rebuilding, Kaidan was soon itching to get back into the thick of things. He chose to stay at the Citadel, not just because it needed the most help, but also because it kept him in the "know" as scuttlebutt was exchanged between soldiers from all races. It was also the last place Shepard had been known to be. He was somewhat grateful then when, two days ago, he had been approached by a Colonel, and his silent entourage, for a top secret mission. The details were sparse, but he had been told that it was directly related to the Battle for the Citadel and his past experience with both Saren and Sovereign. The mission was highly classified and Kaidan would not be able to contact anyone from the outside once the mission was underway. He was given a day to say goodbye to family and friends that he wished to contact and, after that, the only contact he would have with the outside world would be when he went "ashore."

To his credit, Kaidan considered the offer very carefully. He really didn't have many ties outside of family. As a biotic, most humans were either afraid of him or mistrusted him, and treated him like an alien. On the other hand, most aliens, who were familiar with biotics, thought the human race was still in its infancy regarding their abilities and often spoke down to him. In all fairness, biotics had only been around for a generation, so in a way, the aliens were correct in their assessment. He hadn't been lying when he told Brennan that she made him feel human.

That brought his thoughts back to Brennan Shepard. He hadn't heard anything about her since she left, though he thought of her often. More than a small part of him hoped that, by accepting this assignment, they would be reunited. How couldn't they be? She was in the thick of everything. On the other hand, she might be so in the thick of it that he wouldn't be able to get close to her anyway.

And then there was the big picture. This really wasn't about him or his hopes for a romance that didn't seem to be able to catch a break. It was about saving the galaxy – not just the billions of human lives that inhabited it, but the trillions of other beings that they now knew shared the galaxy with them. The Reaper invasion was coming, and they would be coming with a vengeance. Never before had the "cycle of extinction" been interrupted, and he couldn't help but think that the Reapers would not take kindly to this. Then again, not knowing what their motivation was for this cycle, no one could really be sure how they would react or even how this little hiccup would effect them in the long run.

So really, what choice did he have? How could he possibly turn down an assignment like this? His sense of honor and justice and the call of something bigger than himself made his decision inevitable. He accepted. He vid-mailed his father to speak brief, parting words and then reported to his ship.

He had been pleasantly surprised to find that it was the Normandy docked and in the process of being prepped to cast off, though it really only made sense. She was a small, fast vessel and the only Alliance ship with cloaking capabilities – something that would undoubtedly come in handy on a black-ops assignment. It also reinforced the notion that humans had taken great strides in bringing themselves to the forefront of the galactic community.

When he stepped on board, the place he had most recently thought of as home, he was further warmed by the sight of familiar faces. Apparently, he was not the only one from the original crew who had been extended the invitation to complete what they had started. Joker was sitting comfortably at the helm, and he saw several others from the flight crew that he knew.

There were, of course, new faces and several more aliens than the original crew contained. Kaidan wondered vaguely at what it had taken to get the Alliance to comply with not only placing one of its ships under Citadel command, which most likely meant a Spectre would be on board running the mission, but also allowing some of the crew to be replaced by alien races. Kaidan never had a problem with aliens, and he could certainly understand their desire to have their own people involved. After all, they had just as much at stake and any human.

Then there was the lack of familiar faces. He had taken a quick tour of the ship to see if he could find some of his comrades in their usual stations, but he found none of the original alien crew – Liara, Tali, Wrex, nor Garrus. Then, just before departure, as Kaidan made his way from engineering to the supply area, he heard a familiar voice near the Mako.

"So, I see they wrangled you back in – Captain, is it now?"

Kaidan turned, nodded, and smiled, "Garrus." He shook the Turian's hand. "Good to see you. But, if you don't mind my asking… What are you doing here?"

"You weren't the only one to get a promotion. I'm a Spectre now."

The two men started walking toward the elevator that would take them to navigation. Kaidan was sure that if Garrus had lips, he would be smiling. Kaidan chuckled, "Well, I'll be. Congratulations. Are you the one heading this little group?"

"No, I'm not. My understanding is that when we reach our port-of-call, we will be picking up the lead."

"Any idea who it is?"

"None. It's all very hush-hush, even for me."

"Huh. How did you become a Spectre, anyway? I thought once you were passed over for the job…"

"I wasn't passed over," Garrus said shortly. "I turned down the training opportunity." The Turian shifted his weight, a sign he was uncomfortable with the topic. "However, when one is personally recommended by a highly regarded Spectre, the Council tends to re-examine the possibility of appointment."

"Ah. Commander Shepard?" Kaidan asked, with a twinge of jealousy. Not that Garrus had been made a Spectre (that was responsibility and trouble he didn't want), but rather that she had actively thought about and been a force of change in Garrus' life.

Garrus nodded.

"Do you know… where she is?"

"No. I didn't even get a chance to thank her. In fact, I didn't even know she had put my name forward until the induction ceremony."

Kaidan let out a frustrated breath and glanced at the galaxy map as he and Garrus passed it. He could clearly see, in his minds eye, the Commander pouring over the map to determine their next location. "What about the others? Liara? Tali? Wrex?"

Garrus shook his head again. "Last I heard, Wrex was chasing some bounty or other and Tali returned to the Flotilla."

"Huh. Someone must be paying Wrex well to keep him from returning to the merc scene."

"It's all being kept quiet though." Garrus chuckled with his deep, rich voice. "I can tell you that even the Shadow broker is frustrated by the level of secrecy – or at least some of his usual information gatherers are. I'm not sure if he takes it as a personal front or a challenge, but the feelers are out in full looking for any information at all on Normandy crew members and our infamous Commander." The two stopped walking and took up positions behind Joker.

"Interesting," Kaidan said quietly, more to himself than to Garrus. He stood staring at the floor, contemplating all he had just heard and wondering what it meant. Looking back up at Garrus, he asked, "What about Liara?"

"She's back to doing field research, as far as I know."

"'Field research' my ass," Joker interjected. He could feel the twin gazes on the back of his head as he continued. "I mean, come on. You don't really think the top expert on all things Prothean isn't going to be part of the team trying to figure out everything we can about the Reapers before their next attack?"

"He's got a point," Garrus gestured toward Joker, while commenting to Kaidan.

"Yeah." Kaidan stood in silent contemplation for a minute.

Joker's voice shook Kaidan from his reverie. "Making our final decent, Comman-aah-I mean, Captain."

Kaidan nodded, despite the fact that Joker couldn't see him. "Proceed."

The Normandy landed at a small shipping dock that was unusually busy for the set-up. It was not equipped for heavy traffic and, in fact, two cargo vessels were resting on flat areas of land rather than actual landing pads. Kaidan took in the hustle and bustle as cargo was unloaded from the freighters and re-loaded onto an obviously newly constructed tram. While some of the containers carried standard fare for a new colony, others were labeled "top secret" – something that always made Kaidan laugh – while others were without markings, giving no hint of the content.

The Normandy had carried a load of unusual containers as well, and Kaidan was part of the armed guard assigned to deliver the cargo to its final stop at the research facility, leaving the new Navigator in charge of the ship while he was on land. Once they arrived, he helped unload the delivery. As he was moving a box from the tram to a pallet that would be carried by front-loader into the facility itself, he heard the one voice that could make his heart stop, or start racing or, impossibly, both at the same time.

"No! I've already told you," Brennan Shepard said forcefully. "That gets taken to the storehouse. We're not ready for it at this facility."

She was exactly as he remembered her. Her dark hair was up in a tight, stern-looking bun, a perfect match to the nearly perpetual frown that creased her brow. Though she wore that expression often, Kaidan had become familiar with nuances of the expression. When she was staring down her gun at some threat to the Alliance or galactic community, the frown meant business. There was no veiled threat of violence, but a promise if the enemy would not yield. At other times, the frown was one of compassion as she empathized with the plight of the downtrodden. She also wore the expression when she was concentrating or strategizing the next move of the mission. Kaidan had come to realize it was a mask of sorts. It was the face she put forward to the galaxy while she carried the weight of its fate on her shoulders.

It was her eyes that changed depending on her mood, that glowed with warmth or turned cold as ice. And it was her eyes that Kaidan tried to read as she turned away from the lance-corporal she had been addressing and scanned the latest tram delivery. Then, to Kaidan's heart-stopping, stomach-flipping delight, those eyes locked onto his and immediately lit up, nearly glowing green catching the light of the sun. The corners of her mouth turned up in the warmest and, in Kaidan's opinion, most beautiful smile she'd offered anyone in months – not that he knew that, though.

Brennan made her way toward him, her eyes still locked with his, and it wasn't until she was standing three feet in front of him that he realized he had frozen at the sight of her, box in hand.

She glanced at the box and smirked, "Alenko."

"Commander," Kaidan replied without thinking.

Brennan looked down at the ground and chuckled softly to herself. "Not any more," she said quietly, looking back up at Kaidan.

"Ma'am?"

She gazed into his eyes for a moment as if searching for something, her expression unreadable. When she finally spoke, all she said was, "So formal," though it seemed to Kaidan that she meant it as a question.

"No, I… we…" Kaidan stammered over his words. As much as he had hoped to see Shepard again, he was still stunned to find her standing just feet in front of him, her attention focused solely on him. "No uniform?" He berated himself mentally for the stupidity of the question. Of all the things he wanted to say to her at their reunion, asking her about her regulation attire, or lack thereof, was not one of them.

"As I said, I'm no longer a commander," she explained gently, her smile still in place.

Again, a thousand thoughts raced through Kaidan's head at this revelation, not the least of which being that their relationship would no longer be against regulation – unless she had been promoted; but his mind was working well enough to assume that, if she wasn't in uniform, then she had most likely not been promoted. Yet, the only intelligible thing his mouth managed was, "Why?"

Brennan chuckled again. She was obviously amused at the difficulty Kaidan seemed to be having at the moment. She relieved him of the box he was still holding onto and placed it in the arms of a marine who happened by at that moment. "Come. I'll be briefing everyone together."

She turned fluidly away from him and walked to the nearby facility, trusting him to follow. It took Kaidan a second to start moving, during which time his mind was once again yelling at him for acting like a foolish schoolboy with a crush. He had to jog the first few steps to catch up with her and, when he did, he asked, "Everyone?"

Brennan glanced behind her, a knowing smile on her face. "Mm-hmm."

The facility into which they entered, was as busy on the inside as the docking bay had been, only it was a much smaller, enclosed area. Every few feet, Kaidan had to dodge someone moving across his path. The amount of activity and close proximity was almost nauseating. But then, Kaidan had never been good in crowds.

The two made several turns down various corridors until Kaidan was sure he was lost and would be unable to find his way out again. The only thing he did know was that they were gradually going deeper underground. They had walked down several small ramps, but had never gone back up any. As they walked, the crowds thinned and the activity died down, or perhaps intensified, depending on how you looked at it. He saw several labs off to the sides of the corridors through which they traveled. There were but a few scientists in each lab, but they were all so deeply involved in the work they were doing that they did not even glance up at the passing couple.

Shepard made one final turn and entered yet another corridor. Kaidan noticed that there were thick blast doors at the entrance of this hallway. He also noticed panels on the walls – the kind that hid small turrets in case of invasion. There were motion detectors and probably cameras and scanners every ten feet or so. The place screamed "security" and "secrecy." Kaidan had, on only one other occasion, been privy to the kind of security clearance it normally took to enter a lab like this one and he couldn't help but be slightly awed, albeit, also more than a little nervous.

The entrance to the only room in this corridor was eerily unguarded. Furthermore, there was no keypad or card reader to allow access to the room beyond.

Kaidan glanced at Brennan as she said in her clear, commanding voice, "Shepard, Brennan – Spectre. Alenko, Kaidan – Captain."

To his surprise, the door did not slide open to allow them access. Rather, it seemed to shimmer for a moment and then vanish. Brennan stepped through the doorway so, naturally, Kaidan followed suit. As he did, he realized his first assumption was not accurate. The door hadn't disappeared or, more accurately, ceased to exist. Rather, he felt himself step through some kind of force field. Cold sliced through him from front to back as he passed through. It was so fast, he couldn't really say it was painful, but he shivered involuntarily and couldn't help but glance back at the offending barrier, which surprised him by appearing to, once again, be a solid door.

He felt an arm reach past him and watch Shepard knock on the now-solid door. He turned to look her in the face and found she was standing within two inches of him, sending a shiver of a completely different kind through him.

"You get used to it," she said assuredly, her eyes emanating concern and, perhaps, a hint of amusement that she wouldn't otherwise express.

"Yes ma'am," he replied, instantly regretting the formality and then further regretting it when he heard Brennan let out a slight, frustrated breath. She turned to face the rest of the room.

It was at this time that Kaidan finally looked around as well. He immediately felt as if he was home as he looked at the faces of the comrades he had come to know and care about over the months of that final mission.

Garrus, who had somehow beaten him to this location, nodded a greeting. "I see you finally made it."

"Yeah, but I'm going to need a map to get back out again," he replied casually.

"I… think that would defeat the purpose of this facility, Captain," Liara replied hesitantly.

"He was joking," Shepard responded to Liara's voiced concern.

"Oh." Liara shook her head slightly. "I still have trouble with human humor."

"You're not the only one," Tali commented. "Good to see you, Kaidan."

Kaidan and Tali joined in a friendly embrace. Over their time spent on the Normandy, they had built a solid friendship. Both were usually treated by outsiders with mistrust, and both had a fondness for technology and tinkering.

"Good to see you too, though… I'm a bit surprised," Kaidan admitted.

Tali was about to respond when new voices were heard coming from the passage beyond the doorway.

"I kid you not, you're never driving me anywhere again. I am a pilot, damnit. I shouldn't be subjected to someone else's navigation skills – or lack there of," came Joker's cutting voice.

"It's not my fault you move slower than a Volusian slug in this chair. You were in my way. Figured I'd move you along," came Wrex's response.

"I'm quite capable of handling my own wheels. Thank you very much," Joker replied indignantly as the door shimmered to allow them entrance. This was followed quickly by, "Ahhh! What the hell was that?" Joker craned his neck to look behind him. Wrex, who was maneuvering Joker's temporary mode of transportation had been jolted by the sensors in the door and gave the wheelchair a violent shudder. Joker gripped the handles of the chair tightly as he said, "Watch it you big, dumbass!"

"Hey, kid! If you don't shut that mouth of yours, I'm going to shut it for you," Wrex's threatened. "I will fold you in half and wrap your legs around your head… And considering your condition, that won't even be a challenge!"

"Hey! No picking on the cripple," Joker retorted. "Besides, you're not going to do anything to me. You do and the ship goes nowhere, 'cause you certainly ain't gonna fly her. You can't even navigate a straight line down a hallway. Honestly. Not to mention you'd never fit in the chair with that big hump of yours?"

Wrex was about to parry when Shepard interrupted, "Enough!" Both men went silent at once. It was a testimony to the kind of person Shepard was that the Krogan respected her enough to maintain his silence. He had pulled a gun on her once and she had not only not backed down, but had then holstered her own weapon in a show of confidence that he would not hurt her. Of course, Wrex was also very much aware that, with her biotic abilities, she hardly needed a weapon anymore. Her abilities had grown tenfold, whether that was from testing in battle, practice, or those training sessions she, Kaidan, and Liara participated in, Wrex wasn't sure.

"I think we're all here," Shepard said, surveying the room. She allowed herself to smile at everyone present. It wasn't a teeth-flashing smile, but it was genuine and warm. She had never known her own family. Her parents had abandoned her back on Earth and left her to fend for herself. She tried to fill that void over the years, at one point going so far as to join a gang. Then she joined the Alliance and that became her family. She bonded quickly with her unit on Akuze, only to have them all wiped out – well, all but one, though, in a way, even he died on Akuze, it just took some time for his body to follow his soul. She hadn't thought she'd find family again, but here she was, and here they were. In an unusually quiet voice, Brennan said, "I'm… glad you have all come." She sat down on the chair opposite the door. Though the seats were in a circle, this was obviously the head of the table. Everyone else followed suit, arranging themselves much as they had on the Normandy. The only change was that Ash's seat was moved out of the way and her place was taken by Joker.

Shepard cleared her throat. "As you know, you have each received a personal invitation to be a part of this project."

Kaidan shifted in his seat slightly. The term "project" instead of "mission" emphasized Brennan's lack of uniform and rank.

"What you do not know is the role you each play," Shepard continued. "I… will not be sharing details with you for security reasons, but I will brief you on the over-all plan." She paused to gather her thoughts, wondering where to begin. "As you know, the defeat of Sovereign was not just a single battle, nor was it the end of a war. Rather, it… is a promise of things to come."

"Only with much more death and destruction," Joker interjected.

"Yes," Shepard confirmed, taking the interruption in stride. "There is so much to do – so much to prepare for," she said, staring at the floor, briefly lost in thought and overwhelmed by all of the obstacles they had yet to overcome, many of which she was sure they weren't yet aware. Raising her eyes back to the group she trusted with her life, she continued. "Tali will be returning to the Flotilla. She will act as an emissary between the Quarians and the BOC."

"Uh… The BOC?" Kaidan interrupted this time.

"Bio-Organics Coalition."

"Oh."

Shepard smirked. "Between you and me," she said conspiratorially, "It's also a reference to a twentieth century music group – The Blue Oyster Cult. They performed a song titled 'Don't Fear the Reaper.'"

"And this is why people get paid to come up with committee names," Joker snarked.

"Indeed," Shepard nodded in agreement. "We are gathering the top minds from all the races into a think-tank…"

"Much like the Protheans did on this very planet 50,000 years ago," Liara's gentle voice cut in. She sounded in awe of the idea.

"Yes. And Liara will be heading the team." Liara ducked her head and blushed, turning her cheeks midnight blue. "She… You are our resident expert on the Protheans. Your expertise will come in handy. You will also be heading this facility – at least the scientific side of it – and will therefore be free of unwelcome explosions."

Liara blushed again as she realized Shepard had been listening to her conversation with Tali about her usual studies consisting of more research and fewer explosions.

"But this brings me back to Tali. Tali will be heading up the technical side. Due to your mission experience, you are also probably most familiar with the technology that we have thus far encountered. As many parts of Sovereign as could possibly be recovered have been brought to a sister facility on this planet. Your primary goal is to find a way through the technology – both by force and by programming."

"You mean like a virus," Tali clarified.

"They are still AIs. But this also includes finding a way to stop or block the indoctrination signal. You will each have a team of experts at your disposal." Shifting her attention, Shepard said, with a nod, "Wrex."

"Shepard," the Krogan responded.

"You will be my eyes and ears with the… less than reputable element. You have seen the things we encountered and have a good idea of what to look for. I also have a… special assignment for you." Shepard waited until she had Wrex's complete attention. "I… pissed off the Shadow broker when I refused to share the Cerberus research."

"And you need me to make contact for you."

"Yes."

"What are you looking for?"

Shepard glanced for the briefest second at Kaidan. "I need to gain an ally in the Terminus Systems?"

"What?!" The outcry came from every seat in the room, except Wrex.

"Commander…" Kaidan started to protest.

"We don't know how far this thing spreads," Shepard interrupted. She was not yelling, but her tone left no room for argument or interruption. "I seriously doubt that the Reapers will confine themselves to the Council's territory. We don't even know if they are confined to the Milky Way. Hell, you want to really boggle the mind, we don't even know if they're confined to this dimension or universe. We simply don't know enough about them or dark space. And I figure the more allies we have the better. The Terminus Systems is in at least as much danger as we are and I will not turn a blind eye to that."

The room had fallen silent. It was true – what they actually knew about the Reapers was roughly equivalent to taking an eyedropper full of ocean water and squeezing it onto an open palm. What remained in hand were the facts they could count on.

In a much quieter voice, one that spoke of weariness and desperation, Shepard said, "We don't even know if the Citadel is the only portal."

After a brief pause, Kaidan, his own voice full of apprehension, said, "That's a suicide mission, Commander."

Shepard once again locked eyes with him, the intensity of her gaze pressing on him with near physical force. To his surprise, she smirked, "So is dropping a Mako into a twenty yard LZ at too deep a decent angle and speeds that should have torn the hull apart. But we managed to walk away from that, and all I had to show for it were a few broken ribs and some bruised organs."

"Uh, with all due respect, Commander," Joker broke in again, sounding offended. "That was not due to the drop, but rather to your deciding it would be a good idea to look out the window while chunks of debris from an alien AI fell from the sky at your window… piercing through several floors of the Citadel Tower, I might add."

Finally lifting her gaze from Kaidan, she smiled at Joker. "Point taken, Joker. Though I'm pretty sure I lost consciousness for a few seconds."

"That's what the helmet's for, Commander," Joker quipped.

Shepard smiled and shook her head while looking at the floor. "By the way, let me make it official. I have resigned my position as a commander in the Alliance Fleet." There was another outbreak of questions to this announcement. "I will still be at the disposal of the Alliance, as per an agreement with Cap-… er… Councilman Anderson. However, I have decided it was not… prudent, or efficient, of me to split my loyalties between the Council, as a Spectre, and the Alliance, as a commander, regardless of the fact that humans now have a seat on the council. And this is where you come in." Here, she nodded at Kaidan and Joker. "I have basically used my rank as Spectre to commandeer the Normandy and her crew. I'm going to be doing a lot of my own tracking…"

Joker spoke up again. "And then there's the vacation into the Terminus Systems you're so keen on taking. A stealth drive will come in handy there. Mom always said to wear sunscreen when going to the beach."

"Does your mouth come with a stealth drive, kid?" Wrex cut in.

Kaidan interrupted before another argument could begin. "You said you wanted to spend time doing your own tracking?"

Shepard shifted her attention back to Kaidan. "Yes," she nodded. "I want to retrace Saren's steps. See if I come up with anything."

"How are you going to do that? His files are all classified," Garrus questioned.

"The Council has made Saren an open case. I've been granted access to all his personal files. The official files are… edited, but hopefully still useful. Garrus, you are going to be my liaison with the Citadel."

Garrus interrupted at this point. "Commander, I am not much suited to the role of politician…"

Shepard held up her hand, halting his protests. "You will maintain your role as Spectre. And I will have immediate need of you. I want you to help me go through the files and interpret them. I need to know exactly when Saren first became aware of Sovereign and the Reapers. What was he doing? Who or what had he encountered? How did he know about the Conduit and beacon in the first place? However, I will not be returning to the Citadel often, and I will need eyes and ears there. You already have contacts established. We're going to need them." Shepard paused, waiting for Garrus to nod his understanding. Despite any hesitancy he felt about his role, he complied.

Once again addressing Wrex, she said, "Wrex," and waited for the customary response.

"Shepard."

"I need to know that you are very clear about the classified nature of everything that has been said here." Wrex grunted, which Shepard assumed meant "yes." "I will need to clear any information you share with the Shadow broker."

"Wait. You're sharing information with the Shadow Broker? Doesn't that go against the 'classified' status of the mission?" Kaidan asked.

"The Shadow broker works on a barter system. A certain amount of 'give' is needed to receive. We will be in control of all information leaked to him," Shepard answered, this time watching Wrex for his reaction.

"And you're trusting a merc to not sell you out?" Kaidan questioned.

"Hey!" Wrex retorted. "I'm loyal to my clients."

"But what if you get a better offer?" It was Garrus that spoke up this time.

"He won't," Shepard answered confidently, if somewhat challengingly, effectively putting an end to further discussion on the matter. She had already spoken to Wrex about his payment and was sure of his loyalty. Not only could she pay him substantially with credits, but she had promised a team of scientist solely dedicated to examining anything that remained from Virmire and, barring no results from that, they would continue to search for a cure for the Krogan sterility.

For his part, Wrex didn't have much faith that the scientists would be able to help, but he knew that Shepard had stuck her neck out to get the Council to agree to such a thing. He still wasn't sure exactly how she'd managed it. But that was good enough to ensure his loyalty – for now, anyway.

"Commander – er, Shepard?" Liara's gentle voice interrupted the lull in the conversation.

"Yes, Liara?"

"What about Ilos? I mean, if the Reapers do come, won't Ilos be one of the first places they attack?"

Shepard's frown was back in place and her eyes darkened slightly. "We are going to follow in the footsteps of our forerunners. Ilos will be a dark planet." Brennan heard mutterings at the implications of this statement. This meant the people that were here currently, on the surface of the planet, would most likely not be leaving until they had successfully found a way to defeat the coming fleet. And it was a very real possibility that this would never occur. It also meant that the Normandy and her crew might very well be isolated from everyone as well. Sure, they would be able to land at various spaceports. But until the mission was complete, there would be no, or extremely limited – and censored – contact with people from their past. "Once every few months, we will make berth here, but there will be no contact or communications with anyone outside of the Normandy and her crew. Generators have been brought in and scientists are working on getting Vigil up and running as we speak. The soldiers who have made deliveries here are now stationed here. Civilian colonists have been brought in to make the colony self-sufficient and aid in terraforming Ilos. And of course, the scientists are here to stay. Any new information or artifacts that are found will be brought here.

"The only exception to the effort is the group working on the Citadel. They are looking for a way to ensure that the portal is permanently closed. They are also working with Chorban and Jahleed to learn about the Keepers. All of their files and research will be shipped here to aid in the efforts. As well, a new push has been made to understand the mass relays and figure out exactly how they work.

"Get comfy, people. This is your new home. Any questions?"

Most of the occupants in the room were too stunned to think of questions.

"Very well," Shepard let out a small sigh as she stood. She knew she had just dropped a bomb and couldn't help but feel guilty. Even Joker hadn't been able to come up with a smartass comment. "Dismissed. Liara, please show everyone to their quarters."

"Of course," Liara complied easily.

Shepard turned her back to the room and, ducking her head slightly and closing her eyes, she pinched the bridge of her nose. The Cipher was still working a number on her head, even after all this time. Most of the time, it was a manageable ache, but every once in a while, the pain spiked. This was usually followed by a flash of information as her subconscious continued to try to decipher and organize the images she'd received from the beacon. Some part of her said this was important. A nagging thought about a connection between the signals stored in a beacon being translated into thought and images and the signal used by Sovereign to indoctrinate its slaves. But the thought was too vague and disconnected to make sense – like everything else she'd gotten from the beacons. She sighed again in frustration before sensing she wasn't alone.

As if the thought of the presence brought it physical substance, she felt a hand on her shoulder and the tickle of breath on the back of her exposed neck. Knowing without looking who was standing behind her, she dropped her hand and leaned back, fully confident that Kaidan would be there to support her where she stood.

And he was. Kaidan had watched her carefully through the meeting. She was still shouldering the weight of the world – or worlds – and it was starting to take its toll. Thanks to his bungling brain, he had not greeted her as he intended, so when the meeting was over, he decided to take the opportunity to correct his mistake.

She seemed initially unaware of his presence. He knew well the signs of a headache, having suffered for much of his life with migraines, and he did not want to make noise to get her attention. Instead, he reached out and put a hand on her shoulder. He had been temporarily surprised when she leaned into him, but relieved also. The simple, silent action confirmed that her feelings for him were the same as they had been those long months ago on the Normandy. And now, there were no longer any regulations on fraternization standing between them. So when she leaned back, he smiled, and let his hand slide down her arm and around her waist; his other hand joining the first and completing a circle of support and comfort.

"Mmm," she groaned softly, and Kaidan could tell she was smiling. "I've missed you," she whispered.

Kaidan let out a small laugh, "I've missed you, too. We didn't exactly get that shore leave we were both looking forward to." He felt her tense in his arms and she straightened up, making it necessary for him to let her go. He had not intended to upset her, and the thought flitted through his head that Joker wasn't the only one who needed a better filter on his mouth. But instead of walking away, Brennan turned to face him, wrapping her own arms around his waist, and waiting to speak until he did the same.

"I am sorry about that. I… just…"

Kaidan leaned his forehead down to touch hers. She was looking at some spot on his chest, avoiding eye contact, which he found somewhat amusing. The strong, confident commander was actually insecure about something, and he loved that about her. Interrupting her train of thought, he replied, "I didn't say that to make you feel bad. I simply meant I'm glad to be here now."

Brennan finally looked him in the eyes, her uncertainty melting into a smile.

"How are you holding up?" Kaidan asked.

"Isn't that supposed to be my line?" Brennan lightly quipped back.

Kaidan shrugged. "I think it's time someone asked you that for a change."

She let out a chuckle that turned into a sigh. She did step away from him this time. It was too hard to keep the dam holding while wrapped in the safety of the arms of the man she loved. "Fine," she answered. "Busy, but fine."

It was Kaidan's turn to stare her down, the intensity of his own gaze boring into her, trying to read her soul and the truth of her words. "No you're not. You can't be. You've been carrying the fate of the galaxy for the better part of a year now. It's bound to wear on anyone."

Brennan stood defiant and tall, sheer force of will keeping her from breaking. Taking a deep breath, she replied, "It's easier not to think of it in those terms."

Kaidan nodded, but pressed on, gently. "How's your head?"

Brennan broke eye contact and allowed herself another smile. She could count on one hand the number of people who had taken the time to learn to read her so thoroughly. Deciding for honesty, and a little weakness, she answered, "Good most days. Other days it feels like I've been run over by a tram."

"And right now?"

"Right now… I can see the tram coming."

"I'd lead you back to your quarters," Kaidan chuckled, "but I have no idea where they are."

"Well, we can't have that," Brennan said with a coy smile. She linked her arm with his and the two began walking. She wondered if Kaidan realized how much simply walking with him as a companion rather than a superior officer meant to her. It was also uncomfortable, as it meant she was exposing part of herself for the world to see, but she was trying to take Councilman Anderson's advice. He had warned her she would not be able to handle this on her own and would need support. Apparently, hers and Kaidan's tryst had not been kept as secret as she had hoped, but she had been surprised when the Captain was both supportive and amused. She had begun to think of him as a father figure of sorts and, therefore, took his advice to heart.

Kaidan was also pleasantly surprised by the outward, and very public, display of affection on Shepard's part, and he wasn't going to complain. They chatted easily on the way to the crews' quarters and he watched, out of the corner of his eye, the reactions of the people they came across. It seemed everyone was interested in this glimpse into Shepard's personal life. Even small communities needed something to gossip about.

The only down side of their walk was that he was so interested in their chat and the reactions of those around them, that he hadn't paid attention to where they were going and would never find his way back to the conference room. He made a mental note to make sure he explored the place on his own, when he could concentrate.

When they reached the living quarters wing of the facility, Shepard unhooked her arm from Kaidan's. It wasn't out of a desire to hide their relationship, but rather, it freed her to check on the new arrivals and make sure everyone was getting settled in okay. They would be staying at the facility for a week, ensuring that all questions were answered and a more detailed briefing could be had with each individual before setting out on the next leg of their journey.

She reached a closed door and placed her palm on the reader to gain access to the room. "This," she said turning to Kaidan, "is your quarters."

"Mm-hmm," he nodded and scanned the room quickly without stepping inside. "And where are yours?" he grinned mischievously.

Brennan smiled back and Kaidan was sure she actually blushed. She pushed off of the door frame on which she had been leaning and led him to another closed door, which she palmed open.

As he stepped inside, Kaidan was initially surprised as there was no indication whatsoever that these quarters belonged to a superior. It looked identical to all of the other quarters he'd glimpsed, just more lived in which was only evidenced by the stack of discs on the desk and a sidearm that was placed with near reverence on a stand on an end table. Kaidan recognized it at once as Ash's.

Kaidan fingered the pistol lightly, recalling that Ash had opted for her assault rifle and sniper rifle for the battle that day. "You know, we're all still behind you." He glanced over his shoulder at Brennan who was staring sadly at the pistol.

"Yeah – to the death," Brennan said, uncharacteristically morose.

Kaidan turned to face Brennan fully. He took her by the arms, maneuvering her so she was facing him as well. "To the death," he confirmed. "Though I'm hoping for a lot more of the living," he said with a gentle smile. "You're giving us a real fighting chance." Brennan's expression didn't change, and Kaidan wondered if she had yet allowed herself opportunity to grieve the loss of her friend. He sighed, "She knew what she signed up for. You're the one who told me marines die. It's part of the job."

Brennan's eyes narrowed and flashed with anger, "Yeah well, I'm supposed to tell you that. You didn't choose to let her go. Alone."

"She knew what she was getting into. She even volunteered for it. With all the lives you saved since then, isn't that enough?"

"You know the scales don't work that way. You can't balance a life for a life."

"No. You're right. But I'm sure Ash is looking down on you, standing right next to her father, and smiling."

Brennan knew Kaidan had chosen his words carefully. The three had talked theology on more than one occasion and he knew as well as she did of Ash's belief in God and heaven. The fondness of the memory brought a small smile to her face, but it was impossible to separate the friendship from the pain and a silent tear slipped down her cheek as well.

Kaidan stepped forward and took her face in his hands, surreptitiously wiping the tear from her face with his thumb. "You know I'm right."

Brennan nodded. She stepped closer to Kaidan, resting her head on his shoulder and allowing him to wrap his arms around her. "Yeah."

They stood that way for a moment before one of them shifted. Brennan lifter her head and turned so their faces were mere millimeters apart. The gap started to close, seemingly in slow motion, when a knock at the door caused them to jump and break apart.

Brennan cleared her throat, "Enter."

Joker opened the door and had the decency to look slightly uncomfortable. "I'm sorry, Commander, but one of the Salarian scientists is searching for you and is nearly hyperventilating."

Brennan shook her head, "It's not 'Commander' anymore, Joker."

"Yeah well, my real name's not Joker, but that's what everyone calls me. I'm sorry, but you'll always be 'Commander' to me."

Brennan chuckled. Looking back at Kaidan, she said, "Duty calls."

Kaidan and Joker watched her leave. Without looking at Joker, Kaidan said, "Your timing sucks, Joker."

"I'm just helping build the anticipation."

"I have been waiting for three months. Too much more anticipation and I might explode," Kaidan said with more that a hint of frustration.

Joker laughed and nearly toppled as he leaned on his crutches. "Just doing my part for the war effort."

"You're a sick, sick man, Joker."

"Yes. Yes, I am. But hey, at least you don't have to wait for another mutiny to get into the Commander's pants."

"I think I might just pay Wrex to follow through on that threat to turn you into a pretzel."

The two men walked from Shepard's room, sniping amicably at each other. The joking continued, despite the gravity of their situation. The fighting continued, despite the loss of a close comrade. The mission continued, despite the destruction of Sovereign and the winning of one battle. Time continued on, despite the desire to stay in a moment, and no one knew where the journey would end for them.

- - - - -

A/N - This is intended to be a oneshot - for now. Unfortunately, I have a war to write in another 'verse, but perhaps when that one is finished, I will revisit this one (part of that will depend on response). On the other hand, it's all speculation until the next gamecomes out and I could be way off the mark on how they're going to handle what comes next. Thanks to all who read and review.