Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Shepard walks out from the elevator, stifling a yawn as she makes her way to her terminal. With still tired eyes, she runs through her emails, marking the long ones to read back at her cabin while the shorter ones she takes care of now. Considering how early it is, most of the crew isn’t present, still sleeping away. Even Kelly hasn’t shown up yet. Shepard doesn’t know if she is happy or neutral about it, considering how baggy her eyes almost drag at the moment.

Two arms wrap around her waist, startling her at first- before she relaxes at the fluttering of mandibles against the side of her head. “Garrus, what are you doing up?”

“I should be asking you that.”

She rolls her eyes, a smile tugging on her lips, “I am the Commander, so I have to at least be one of the early ones.”

“Not what you said yesterday morning.” He hums.

“Do as I say, not as I do..”

He chuckles, causing her smile to fill out more. Mornings like these are ones she savors the most. Just a calm, genuine one. No hurry, no deadline, a chance to ignore the threat of the Reapers just for one second, a chance to feel somewhat normal. 

Well, as normal as they can get in between downtime on the search for stopping the Reapers. They’ve been acting more like freelancers as of lately, taking care of jobs the Alliance sends out such as rescue, escort, and more treacherous ones that need the Normandy SR2 crew to take on. All beginning after the Suicide Mission that turned so not as the name suggest, everyone coming out safe and accounted for, save for the short lingering injuries. 

Now Shepard is just hoping the next one is rather calmer than the last, given the fact she, Garrus, and Samara almost got blown up at a mining facility that pirates tried taking from the Alliance. Her muscles still ache slightly from all the running, nothing she isn’t used to of course, just gets annoying after a while. However, with the warm body pressed against her softly, it does distract her enough.

“Why haven’t you got coffee then? Don’t need you snapping at the crew like a wild varren.” Garrus suggests, nudging her head gently.

She simply shrugs, “You did say they looked cute.” 

He laughs lightly, “Alright, you MUST be exhausted out of your mind, because I never ever have even said anything like that before. You’re probably mistaking me for Jack. First time I’ve seen her genuinely happy about something that didn’t involve killing or hurting someone.”

“Someone said it, I honestly can’t remember who.” She blinks then rubs her eyes. “Fuck, that last mission screwed with me.”

Garrus goes silent, staring at the monitor. His face was devoid of emotion for a few moments. 

“Garrus?” Shepard asks. When she receives no response, she gets worried. “Garrus, honey.”

“Do you want me to take over emails for a moment?” His murmur is close to quiet. That prompts her to quickly look over.

“Oh c’mon…” She glares. A new email has popped up, labeled important from Admiral Hacket. Garrus leans back, resting his palms on her hips as she sighs and straightens up, ready for whatever new assignment. Well, maybe not completely ready. Her body feels a tired wince as she forces the sleep out at last. 

Opening it up, she reads it through carefully as she does with every other one. To sum it up, there is a mysterious signal that the Alliance’s posts haven’t seen before. They have gotten the location, bits of the message uncoded, and every other thing done, but something about it has specifically needed Shepard’s attention. She almost scoffed at his words, only to stop short when she opened the file he sent as well. 

“There’s no Shep0-1-0-1-0-1-0-” A few, unreadable inscriptions follow after it. 

Her mutter is soft, “What the….”

Garrus, who has been reading over her shoulder, squints at it. “Is that…your name? Or at least part of it?”

“I guess so..” She swiftly starts writing a response to the Admiral, letting him know that she’s on it. Her sleepiness leaves no trace as she calls out to EDI, “EDI, do me a favor and clear this message up?”

“Of course, Shepard. It might take a few moments.”

“No prob, bob. Garrus, can you see if Miranda is up? She might want to look at this.” 

“You got it.” He nods, but before he leaves, he presses his mouth plates against her head once more then goes. Switching from caring boyfriend to business. 

“It’s where?” Jacob asks, looking at the data map with raised brows as EDI narrows down the location. 

“Therum, a planet known in the Knossos System.”

“That place hasn’t been touched in years.” Thane comments. Zaeed glances over, “Didn't take you for a materials bug.”

“I’m not. Some of my assignments have been in similar places before.” He blinks, sitting straighter in his chair.

Zaeed shrugs.

“Hey- wait, isn’t that the place we found Liara in?” Garrus asks.

“Yep,” Shepard nods, smirking at the memory of her other best friend. She’s grown a lot from being a damsel in distress. “So much nostalgia, don’t you agree, Tali?”

Tali sighs, “Don’t remind me, I never thought I would get thrown by a krogan that fast or hard before.”

“How’s that message coming along, EDI?” Miranda asks. She has her arms crossed next to Shepard. Second in command as usual.

“One moment. The message is heavily encrypted, it’s coding suggests it was customly made from scratch.”

“Isn’t all messages like that though?” Grunt asks, confused.

“Yes. But this one has no initial address of where it’s actually from. What I have gathered shows no indication that it was made anywhere in the galaxy.”

“Wait.” Shepard pauses, raising a brow. “So what you’re saying is, the signal just randomly popped out of nowhere, with it’s only purpose being to send out a direct message. And where it was made is just..gone, out of existence?”

“Correct.”

“I..haven’t heard of that before. Even some of the most top-secret signals or messages have their own initial location or person. After some digging of course.” Miranda presses hand to her chin, furrowing her brow. What is this…thing?

“So we’re fucking dealing with someone or something that obviously knows how to cover it’s tracks. Great, just great.” The scoff from Jack has Shepard glancing over to her seat. 

EDI’s voice continues over the comms. “In addition, I have successfully made the message readable….” She trails off. Shepard and some others look up.

“EDI?” Tali asks tentatively, “Is something wrong?”

“Besides the goddamn mystery fuck we’re dealing with? What else?” Zaeed rolls his two toned eyes.

EDI finally responds, “Apologies. Shepard, We had suspicion the message was directed personally towards you. However, the message suggests more.”

“What? The hell do you mean?” 

“Sending message to visual.”

 The message pops up on the hologram, floating innocently above the table. As if it’s words don’t mean to cause both their Commander and sniping Turian to tense up in astonishment and confusion.

There’s No Shepard Without Vakarian

“What the fuck is this? Some little catchphrase for the two of ya?” The real freelancer sits up straighter, staring a whole into the visual like everyone else.

Not a sound comes from even Jack and Grunt as they attempt to figure out why it’s directed at the two specifically. The krogan only tilts his head while Jack squints at it.

“...No? I..I don’t think I’ve seen this before or heard it.” Garrus stands up, leaning against the table, like getting closer will clear up the obvious.``Shepard?” He glances at her, who in return shakes her head without looking at him.

Pinching her brow, Shepard calls back out to EDI, “EDI, tell Joker to plot a course to Therum. If this…whatever it is, is asking for us directly then we need to get to it quickly.” 

“Right away, Shepard.”

“Thank you.”

“Are you sure this is a wise idea, Commander?” Samara finally has her say, “Clearly you and Garrus are their intended target, will this not just be giving them what they want?” She keeps a level gaze with Shepard.

“I agree” Thane has his hands folded together as he sits on the other side of the two. “Are we sure this isn’t the Reapers? Or maybe even some fooling attempt from the Illusive Man?”

“Scans give no sign or Reapers or the Illusive Man.” It’s Legion that answers the questions now, the plates surrounding the light on his head flicking calmly. 

Jack leans back in her chair, nodding towards the geth, “Besides, the fuck does that bastard know about Shep’s and chicken legs’,” Garrus deadpans at her. “Relationship thing? At that point he’ll just be looking like some sad, butt-hurt puppy grasping at straws.”

“And I doubt the Reaper’s give a damn about it. The only thing they care about is death and destruction.” Jacob shakes his head.

“So!” Shepard claps her hands, grabbing everyone’s attention once more. ( Much to the relief of Garrus )She gives a sarcastic grin, “Are we all in agreement then?”

Zaeed shrugs, “Might as well. We didn’t survive that godforsaken collector mission just to run away from shit like these. It’s been boring with all the fucking escorts.” Jack’s chuckle is clear; she agrees as Grunt growls lowly, both ready for something more challenging than the so-called bullshit they’ve been doing. With how they agree on things, Shepard thinks they would be the best of friends. Sadly no.

The others do their response of a nod or acceptance.

Kasumi appears next to Shepard, omni-tool out and ready with an excited grin, “In the meantime- I’m going to crack the code on finding out this beauty’s making location..Seeya!” She blips out after scanning the message.

“Who are you going to have for the groundsteam, Shepard?” Miranda asks, turning to her. 

“Garrus is obviously going- if you’re cool with that?” She looks down at her boyfriend, he makes a turian noise equivalent to a snort, “Oh yeah, of course, always wanted to go check out a mysterious place that called me by name.”

Tali cuts in with what sounds like a smirk in her voice, “You do remember that you joined Shepard and I last time we went down there, right? So it isn’t that mysterious.”

Mordin’s omni-tool flashes as he brings up the planet, “Also same weather and atmosphere as records stated before. Old outposts, but still. Normal for planet standards.”

“See! Just as we left it!”

“Does that mean you wanna go down there too, Tali?” Garrus teases.

She looks down at her omni-tool, “Oh dear, I see an update I have to take care of for my suit- I don’t think I can help.”

“That’s what I thought.” He hums, leaning back with his arms now folded.

“Kasumi?”

The hooded woman appears next to Jacob. He jerks back slightly, before sighing. “I’m game!” She replies.

“Good. The rest of you, I’ll assign when we see our destination more clearly on the planet surface. In the meantime, dismissed.” She says with a nod.

Chapter Text

“Holy shit.”

“You can say that again.” Jack retorts. Staring down the planet's surface that was holding a massive, blown-out wave mark that surrounds one of the buildings. Everything else is blown apart or thrown several yards away, leaving a giant area of devastation. Thankfully, the people were pulled out years ago after they depleted most of the mining area, sent to another planet to continue work with Alliance Facilities.

“Mordin, I thought you said the planet was still normal? Like we never even touched it?” Shepard takes her eyes off the holo-screen that Joker put through and glances over at him. The salarian doctor looks through his readings, eyes flicking everywhere on the screen, “Yes yes. Did say so. Something…off.”

“Shepard-Commander.” He grabs Shepard’s attention. She looks back at him, “Yeah? Did you and EDI find anything?”

“Traces indicate the surface was altered 4 days ago.”

This confuses her. A lot of confusion with this now dubbed Mysterious Message Mission (as Jack and Tali wanted to call it). “But Hacket said they got the message 2 days ago. How are the readings that far off?”

“Unknown.”

Jack throws her arms up, almost hitting Thane in the face. He dodges it with a side-eye. “Great! This is just turning out fucking perfect! First a fucked up message, saying somthing fucking stupid and weird as hell, now this!”

Miranda glares, “Cool down, Jack. We’re all confused on this one.”

“Damn right we are, I’m actually enjoying this though.” She snarks back, a wild smirk on her lips.

“Alright” Clearly done with the confusion nonsense, Shepard decides,” Kasumi, Garrus, suit up and meet me in the hanger. We need to figure this out, quick.

The two nod, Kasumi blips out as Garrus makes his way to the armory. Shepard gives out some final commands, getting everyone to their assignment before heading up to her cabin to suit up.

“Normandy to shore party, how are we doing?” Joker’s voice cuts through to the comms.

“Good so far, no sign of activity yet.” Garrus responds, keeping his gun held up as routine. They landed a good distance from the site, and since they don’t have the Makko or any other ground’s transport besides aircraft, they decided in the end that on foot would be safer once they got a certain distance from it.

Joker snickers, “Don’t know if that’s good or bad then.”

“Can’t really be favorites on those.”

“Air team, what’s your status?” Shepard asks, coming behind a ruined building that looks to be barely holding together. The outer walls like most buildings around them, look almost chemically burned, lightning blue marks stretched across them all. In a miraculous event, the only building that doesn’t look to be affected at all is the one in the middle, connected to the planet’s underground with a tunnel.

“No activity here. It’s all silent.” Miranda checks in. She along with Thane, Zaeed, and Mordin are in an aircraft however, ready to be their needed transport and to get the hell out of dodge if necessary. 

“Fucking weird, boss lady.” Jack comments, “Geth boy said the systems here are all clocked out. Whatever hit here wasn’t playing around.”

“We are not a boy, we are Geth.” Legion corrects.

“Whatever, dude.” Shepard and her team round up on the building closest to the untouched one, leaning against a still standing wall. Not the best cover, but it’ll do for now.

“Makko team?” 

“Nothing.” Grunt..well, grunts. He is with Samara, Jack, and Legion as the backup team to follow behind them once they enter the building. In case things go south, they come in and help out.

“What about you Tali?”

“Nothing here either, Shepard.” Tali was to be on the ship to help EDI pick up anything that Legion or Mordin can’t get. 

“Alright then. Let me know if something comes up, we’re going in. Team, follow behind and stay quiet.”

Garrus raises a brow as Kasumi giggles, “Have you met us, Shep? That’s a pretty tall order.” Shepard shrugs in response, “Figured we could try at least.”

They continue their course, stepping over chunks of planet matter and parts of utterly destroyed buildings. Their weapons stay up; with the current circumstances, they don’t want any chances of being caught off guard. 

“So..what do you guys think it is?” 

Shepard glances at her, a narrow in her brow, “Kasumi.”

“What?” She-thief blinks back at her. As far as she’s guessing from the blank look she can see under the hood. “C’mon, you guys especially have to be curious. I mean, Normandy’s lovebirds being summoned on a place they’ve worked on before? Wait…” She sends a look and grin to Garrus, “Is this some turian-natured proposal, G?”

“W-what?!” Shepard shushes him quickly, glancing around the corner, into the now open door of the building.

He clears his throat and glares at Kasumi, who smiles innocently. “No. No, it isn’t. Besides, a turian proposal would be more private, or more…polite? I don’t know, it just wouldn’t be on a planet we found someone else on.” Shaking his head, “Not this confusing nonsense.”

“So No Shepard Without Vakarian wasn’t you then?” She’s teasing him now. 

“No. It wasn’t. Stop it.”

She giggles, “Only a tease, sniper boy.”

He rolls his eyes as Shepard leads them in. They turn the lights attached to their guns on as Kasumi flicks to invisible again. The room around them was dark and cold, much to the dismay of their turian teammate. Shepard herself doesn’t know what to make of it, something obviously happened here, but the place is empty, save for furniture. The only sign someone was here is the footprints on scans of multiple people which they can guess were the people from before.

“Shepard.” EDI.

“Talk to me EDI.” She looks over a thrown over table as Garrus watches behind them. Kasumi’s cloak shines past her, walking around to inspect the room further.

“Tali and I have found an airship 20 kilometers away, it’s batarian style.”

“Wait what. How did you guys find it just now?”

“Batarian? This day just keeps getting better.” Garrus mutters before he notices something. He checks Shepard, she's scanning her light over the blank ways, walking over to it.

“Something messed with the links all over this planet. It knocked out anything that could be detected.” Tali cuts in to explain. “It’s possible the wave that hit the outpost accidentally or not rendered all others to go offline.”

“So it made their ship practically invisible.” Scoffing at the idea, Shepard rubs her neck. “Alright, anything else we should know?”

Garrus speaks up, “Shepard, you might want to see this.” He holds up his light as she walks over to join him. With her at his side, she realizes what he meant. His light shines over them, many of them along with a half-burned glove on the ground. 

“Bullet holes.”

“Yep, and this.” He grabs the glove, lifting it and rubbing his thumb over it to move it around. 

Hold up, “Wait..can i-?” Once she sees it fully, she counts, “..Three, four..That’s four fingers. Three and a thumb. And I don’t think it’s from a drell, they’re all the same size.”

“Unless we’re dealing with someone who lost a finger, I don’t think we’re dealing with a species we’ve seen before.” 

“Shep! Oi, Shep-shep!” Kasumi whispers-shouts from a doorway, “Over here! I think I found something.”

The two glance at each other, then check their guns before following her. “Looks like we’re about to find out.” Garrus notes.

Chapter Text

Treading as carefully and as quietly as they can, they’re led through a long hallway, passing room after room. Each one still holds a similar amount of bullet holes then the last. In one room they come across, the door has small marks of blue burns, not the same as outside though. They don’t know if this is comforting or worse. That gets decided once they find blood along with multiple bodies of Batarians lying along the rooms and remaining hallway. Continuing along, it’s not too long until they hear faint echoes of voices.

The voices are too far away to make out, but from the tones..

“More Batarians. I guess they got here first.” Kasumi comments quietly, behind Shepard.

Garrus sends her a look, “Maybe they were nearby when this fiasco happened?”

“I don’t know. They clearly found whatever is here, time we do too.” Kasumi smiles at Shepard’s words. Excitement flooding in. Or is that fear? Who knows at this point, it already feels like a horror movie with this atmosphere.

One of the last rooms cuts through to a guard rail, below is some sort of materials lab. Only, while most of the equipment has been tampered with, they doubt it was from the Batarians. Especially since the remaining group of them seem to be focused on the control room with guns drawn at the door. The leader of their group is yelling at whoever or whatever is inside.

The trio duck down, watching as the leader bangs on the door. A red-bloodied, four fingered hand print is smacked dead set on it. Thinking back to the glove, it confirms their suspicions of their suspect.

“I’m not going to ask again! Get out here, freak!” The Leader bangs once more, growing more frustrated by the minute. No, second. Shepard can practically see the bulging veins on his head.

“Think that’s our person?” Kasumi whispers. Shepard nods, “Seems to me.”

“What’s the plan? Garrus watches as Shepard grabs out her avenger gun, checking the heat sink. “Kasumi, you’re up. Get down there, and on my signal, take out the outer guys.”

“Got it, Shep.”

“Garrus, you’re with me, let’s give our buddy some help.”

“Which one? Mystery or Invisibility?”

“We can do both.” She grins, one he returns.

“You know what, fuck this. Boys, light it-UGHP” He drops to the ground, blood seeping from the headshot. Startled, the group turns just as Kasumi shoots the head of another. They let it fire. Shepard and Garrus taking out as many as they can, headshot to a full load. 

It seems their new friend got their own message, as they hear the door swing open and bullets start flying from the office. They don’t move though, staying by the door and ducking behind the side when fire turns their way more than they like.

Shepard ducks as another shot runs past her, ”We’ll maybe this will be an escort afterall,”

“Oh, Jack is gonna-” Garrus grunts as a shot whizzes past him, ”damn, hate you for this then.”

“AND ZAEED!” Kasumi calls from below, ducking a soldier’s arm before slashing at his side, causing him to fall to the ground with a yell.

“And Grunt!” Shepard adds with a sigh, as if dreading that idea. Their buddy by the door pauses for a moment before reloading and continuing their part.

At one point, Shepard notices a batarian moving too close for comfort towards their new friend. Who, in un-luckiness, doesn’t seem to notice- too focused on trying to get another particular annoying one.

Before she can even react, he aims and fires, sending a shot to their shoulder. They let out a cry of pain, cursing in somewhat familiar words as they scoot back from the opening and holding their wounded shoulder.

“Garrus.”

“No problem.” She doesn’t even need to tell him. He covers her as she jumps over the railing, slashing at and killing another enemy with her omni-blade when she lands. With great haste, she rings out multiple shots towards the pest, while running towards the office. Kasumi jumps over her, blowing a head off one and stabbing another. 

She nearly bangs into the door, quickly taking out one more enemy as she does so. “You alright?”

She can only hear panting from the other person, their helmet hiding any identification or clarity for her. “Are you alright, answer me!” Her teeth grit while lowering her head.

They finally nod, grabbing their gun once more- must’ve been knocked from their hand. 

For a moment as she lets them catch their breath while still engaging the enemy, she studies them. Their armor is a weird mix of Turian and human styled covering. 

        They have a slight cowl, similar to Garrus’ but smaller and leading more downwards on their chest in a wide V-shape. However, their chest is more flat and wide-ish, like a human male’s, the only thing different is the small but noticeable edge in the middle of it. 

     Their waist, while being at an angle from their siting, is hard to pinpoint, but she notices how it seems smaller than a normal human male’s, it could be similar width of hers. Another thing she finds odd against the other traits, is the slight edge of their hips- actually their hips and legs, they look like a Turian, just bigger, like they have more meat on their bones.

….. This is one of the strangest missions they’ve worked on.

She shakes her head. With an outstretched hand, she greets herself; a totally normal thing to do when in a fire-fight. “I’m Commander -grh- Shepard. I’m here with my crew. You’re the one who sent out the signal, right?” 

They hesitantly nod, shaking her hand. Three fingers, Two, one thumb- she notes in her head. “What about you,” She dodges a shot, “ What’s your name? WHat should we- ARG- call you?”

Before they can answer- 

“DELILAH!!” Garrus’s cry of throws her off.

 She jumps up. Pulling up her gun as a Batarian soldier ruptly runs in, punching- soon grabbing Shepard in a tight hold. She grunts, her body tensing- with pain and anger coursing through.. The person jerks up, quickly yanking the guy off. Like karma, they hold him in a headlock, pulling him further away from a coughing Shepard and more towards the door opening. 

Just as though it was planned, the person leans him away from their body, just enough to keep him still clutched tight. And when Garrus aims..

CRACK-

The gifted sniper shot tolls through the air. Dropping the now dead Batarian to the ground, they pant heavily, making their way over to Shepard once more. When kneeled, they wave their ungloved hand in front of her, asking if she’s alright- she realizes after a still moment.

“Y-yeah-” she coughs,”I’m good.” A look at them, “You?”

They nod, clutching their injured shoulder.

“Good.”

They give her a thumbs up, surprising her for a tick before chuckling.

“Shepard!” Kasumi’s steps get louder as she passes the doorway, “Shep! Are you alright?”

“Yeah, no worries. Just a few bruises.” She gets up, smiles then pats their friend on their safe shoulder, “Buddy here had me covered.”

“Really? Well, add them to the tally of weird allies you got.”

“Don’t know about that yet,” Garrus joins them, snapping his sniper rifle back to his holder and grabbing out his Mattock. “We still don’t know who they are yet.”

They turn to their new “ally”, waiting for them to introduce themselves. The helmet is still on, so the face- like everything else- remains a mystery, and it seems like they may have to wait longer since….

A beeping sound cuts off any attempt the person made from talking, who looks down and starts fidgeting at their omni-tool. 

“What’s wrong-” Shepard get’s cut off.

“Normandy to shore party! Come in!”

She turns to the side,“We got you, Joker.” Shepard says.

“The Batarian ship that EDI and Tali caught is arriving, they’re getting too close for comfort on Team Makko.”

“We’re on our way.” She lets go, turning back to her team and their new member. “That Batarian ship is here, we’re gonna have to save introductions for later.”

“Yet, you introduced yourself.” Kasumi mutters.

Shepard ignores her, “Let’s move people.”

The person takes a moment to grab a bag from a locker, stuffing their guns and other various equipment inside. Once they're done, they follow the others out of the base. 

“Fuck-fuck- fuCK- FUCK!”

“Ms. Jack, we advise to keep your voice down as to-”

“SHUT THE FUCK UP, TIN CAN!”

“They’re already shooting at us, how is her being quiet going to stop them?” Grunt growls, his shotgun blowing a hole through a close enemy.

Samara, for once, is questioning why she specifically had to be put with the most chaotic bunch of the crew. Her biotics smashes a soldier to pieces while the other beside it, gets tossed a warp. Especially now that Jack is sprinting towards a few enemies to throw them far away from Legion with her biotics. At least she's an acting part of the team.

“JACK!” Shepard. Samara turns her attention at their Commander, who is darting from the destroyed outpost with the suspect and ground team in tow. 

“WHAT! YOU WANTED THE GETH-BOY TO BE SAFE, I'M DOING MY DAMN JOB!”

“We are not-”

“CAN IT!”

“No!” The others join them behind the series of rocks around them. She makes her way through to Jack, “I meant, I need you “ She growls curses at one,” shit - and Grunt to help lead the others to where the Air Team are, Joker is on his way.”

A wicked grin curls on Jack’s face, “Aww, You’re so considerate, Shep!” Sending another Batarian to a bloody fate, she calls out to Grunt, “YO! ASSHOLE, WE GOT A JOB TO DO, COME ON!” With his laugh, they start leading the group. Samara lends a hand, blasting away multiple Batarians at a time, and coming up on the rear of the group with Shepard.

Legion and Kasumi run along with the person, who has strapped their bag to their back, mowing down anyone too close with their sub-machine gun. Kasumi swears at one point that she can hear a small laugh from them when Jack gets particularly mad at Grunt for stealing one of her kills.

Finally, the Air Team makes their appearance, coming down with Thane and Jacob shooting from the sides. It lowers enough for them to start piling in, and Thane and Shepard begin holding off angry Batarians with Mordin. 

“Let’s go, people!” Their Commander yells, blocking a shot aimed at Zaeed with her shield before returning the fire.

“GET THE FREAK!”  One yells. The one beside it, shoots off some device, some sort of omni-chain.

It misses as their target dodges. 

They’re officially done.

Their growing anger at these bastards finally blows over as they grab the chain, pulling it enough to toss the holder into the open. With that, they clutch tight on the chain, aiming their assault rifle with one arm and firing- blowing his, three people around him, and his commander’s head off in five quick shots.. 

 They fling curses and Garrus helps them in as Shepard follows after. 

Jacob closes the hatch. Miranda gets the cue and flies them out of there- Mission complete.

Chapter Text

The adrenaline is wearing. The team waits as the aircraft flies it’s course to Joker’s meeting point. Mordin is checking on Jack and Kasumi, the two taking a few more hits than the others surprisingly (mostly on Kasumi’s behalf). Garrus is speaking with Shepard as she tinkers with her omni-tool. Thane and Samara stand by the doors, warping their biotics into a second shield for the ship, hoping to hold off any attempts the Batarian could try at. The others are either resting in the seats or reloading their guns as a way to be prepared. 

Soon when Mordin is done, reminding Jack to take it easy (He gets a half-hearted middle finger in response), he turns to their suspect.

The others have been more skeptical, for obvious reasons.Those who have been taking a breather have glanced over to the person who leans against the wall, on the ground with one hand holding their shoulder.  They have no idea who or what this person is. While Shepard did say they were good for now, they have every right to stay on alert until then. She doesn’t argue on the silent agreement.

Feeling eyes on him, they glance up, seeing Mordin walk over. Their body jerks back, standing up with their back tight against the wall. Some of the others stand up or straighten from their position, Zaeed only aims his gun towards them, a silent warning. Thane and Samara watch quietly. 

The tense air brakes, only a tot, as Shepard quickly moves in between them and her team, “Hey, it’s alright, Mordin just wants to check out that shoulder.”

“Correct. Also side.”

“What?” She turns to him. 

Mordin holds up his omni-tool. Wait, since when did he get a scan??

“Side shows two cuts, deep. Need to see for Chakwas to be ready.”

“Wait, so you just ran all the way with your side practically skewered? I didn’t even see you wince once, dude!” Jack stares.

“We had more important problems to deal with.” Full attention turns back to him. At least it sounds like a him. Garrus blinks. He can recognize turian sub-vocals from anywhere, so…turian?

“Oh, so you can talk!” Kasumi grins, leaning heavily on Grunt. The krogan is too busy to notice and do anything about it. That or he doesn’t care this time.

“What are you by the way?”

“Kasumi.” Thane warns.

“What? His body proportions are off!”

The guy ignores her, looking back at Shepard as his body relaxes. “How well are we doing on distance standards?” 

“ About 5 more minutes till we arrive.” Miranda answers from her position at the wheel. 

“Good.” He nods. With that, his knees buckle and he tumbles to the ground. His bag yanks forward, dropping beside him. 

…. The doctor, as if expecting this, cooly saunters over and kneels, scanning his shoulder then lower side of his ribcage. Everyone stares, Miranda glancing over her shoulder. 

“Shit, don’t tell me he fuckin’ died after all that! ”Zaeed shares his distaste while lowering his gun. Grunt shakes his head, “Pathetic.” 

“I don’t know,” Shepard smirks, “running into battle with a torn up side seems pret-ty badass.”

Grunt promptly ignores her. 

“Shepard.” Mordin looks over his shoulder at her, “Need to get to Joker quickly.” Shepard swiftly joins him while calling up her omni-tool, gathering his scans to send to Chakwas. “Shit. Alright.”

“Yes Commander?” Joker’s voice comes through as Shepard calls in. 

With a glance at their friend, “Joker, I need to arrive ASAP. Our buddy here is on thin ice, we’re gonna lose him soon if we don’t hurry.”

“Got it. Coming in.” 

Tali cuts in, sounding worried, “What’s wrong? Did you guys get the suspect?”

Garrus answers for her, as Shepard keeps her focus on the man and Mordin.. “Our pal here got more than one big hit. Might be worse than that, we’re not sure right now.” 

The air-ship thumps as Normandy takes them in.

Samara, believing they were out of the clear by now, kneels down beside them to lend a hand. She may not know medical us much as their Salarian, but she can assist. 

As much as Samara tried to at least. A metal thud echoes lightly out the medbay, following Shepard and Chakwas’ yells of  Zaeed’s name; The former louder while the latter sounds exasperated. 

“What? The son of a bitch is heavy.” He raises a brow, wiping his hands clean of blue blood. 

“Well don’t break him!” Shepard gapes at him, hands on her hips. Jacob, waving away Legion, who was trying to check on him, “Weren’t you the one to say he better not die when he passed out in the first place?”

Zaeed rolls his eyes, “If he can run through a firefight with with side bleedin’ out, his shoulder almost blown off, AND still be fightin’- then I freaking know he can survive a rough landing.”

“ SO you admit you did!” Kasumi chimes in.

“Oh fuck off.”

“Is he still pathetic in your book, big guy?” Shepard turns on her heel to Grunt with a plastered grin. The krogan growls at her causing her laugh. Tali brings her out of it with her question,”So, Shepard, what are we doing with… him?”

“Oh he’s definitely a guy. Or maybe a new type of alien with a deep voice?” Kasumi inquires.

“No, he’s turian” Tali, Kasumi, and Shepard turn to Garrus, who is looking at their guest’s armor with a lifted brow, “At least..I think so?”

“But his proportions are off!”

Tali steps back, “What is with you and proportions?” Her tone hints at accusations which Kasumi waves off with a snicker, “We find a new guy who we’ve haven’t even figured out his species yet! Thane even said a Drell could never look like that.”

“But we’ve only seen the armor.”

The thief grins, “Well- Sheeep, what do you say? Hm? Can we see what big guy looks like now?”

“Mordin?” Mordin perks up from his place beside the operation table. Their friend is getting scans done as a means to make sure it’s safe to even take off the helmet. As of now, they have the chest plate and parts of the undersuit off so Chakwas can work on his side carefully, who is currently finishing up by now. 

Besides the blue blood, died and fresh, it did look similar to a turian. Especially due to the ridged edges on the man’s chest that goes down the middle, getting lower more towards south, at best adds to the speculations. There it led to what looked like almost plates near the shoulder and backside (Reminds Shepard of the bits of shell on Grunt’s head that would soon form a full one when he’s more grown.) The ‘skin’ is mostly blue, light blue towards the middle, and gets darker towards the sides and barely exposed neck.  Along with the various shades of blue, there were visible specks of white scattered around the upper part, less downward. Shepard’s half-surprised they don’t shine from the overhead lighting as his chest rises and falls in diligent breaths. …. Ok maybe she’s seen too many old sci-fi movies.

Mordin checks around the helmet then sends a nod to Shepard’s indirect question. With the help of Jacob, they slowly-as to not disturb the wrapped shoulder- and carefully take off the helmet and neck guard. 

Garrus perks up when he sees just as much as Shepard and the others in the room. 

The face is mostly turian, it seems. With mostly of a round shape to the skull, it has more of the bits of plating around it’s forehead, leading towards it’s sides where ears would be. The skin stays the same shade, blue and light blue in the middle- only holding a purplish, faded hue around the eyes. Mandibles flick lightly, whose size is somewhat shorter than a usual turian’s. 

Frankly, what surprises them the most is in spite of the young man looking like a different breed of turian, smaller and less spiky, he has hair…..Ember black with curls. Stiff bangs from his helmet and dried sweat most likely-hang over his left eye, barely hiding it from view.

Jack raises a brow, short of a gape on her face as she asks pretty much what everyone is thinking, 

“The fuck is that! !

“JACK!”

“Oh you’re thinking it too, cheerleader!”

Chakwas, who’s thankfully done, pauses in her clean-up routine. “...I’ve..never seen this before.”

“Neither have I.” Samara tilts her head.

“Mordin, EDI. Whoever, does anyone have the scans complete yet?”

“Yes but Shepard-”

A cough alerts them, startling some into jumping back while others grab their hand guns or other side weapons. Chakwas gets pulled back by Miranda who switches to pointing her gun at the now rising guest. 

“Fucking zombie shit-” Jack gets ignored.

“ J-Jesus-! Fuck!” He coughs out, leaning on his arm, his three fingered hand in a tight fist. Noticing the guns, he yanks himself back-almost flying off the table. Mordin catches him, “Careful, your side still available to tear again. Too dangerous to move.”

“Yeah, well tell the rest n-not to point their guns and maybe i’ll do what you say, doc!” He retorts, sitting up in a better position with Mordin’s help. As he does, Mordin glances at the crew, “Weapons down. Suspect safe.”

Shepard, the only soldier who didn’t grab her gun surprisingly, steps forward, “Are you alright?”

“I’ll get back to you when my side doesn't feel like hell.” He avoids putting his arm near the wound, instead going ahead and taking off his gauntlets. 

Chakwas walks over, “I thought I gave you enough?”

“Really?” She nods, “Damn, might need to add a bit more.”

While Chakwas gets right to it, the guy notices. It’s quieter, little murmuring from the crew. He turns his head. Everyone is watching him- mostly, the old soldier and Geth bot are doing their own thing, but he occasionally sees the latter ‘glance’ up every once in a while.

“So….”

Shepard turns from her low conversation with Miranda back to their guest. Jack is staring, a skeptical look on her face that honestly just makes her look grumpier than usual; Tali jitters nervously when the guy’s electric blue eyes take a  glance at her before going back to her Commander. Everyone’s on edge, it’s obvious to him- everyone but Mordin and Grunt it seems. Even Thane keeps his eyes on him, waiting for the all clear from Shepard.

“...Commander Shepard.” He nods, his short mandibles twitch. 

“Person whom we don’t know the name of.” She nods back. 

He snickers, “Yeah, well- maybe when big guy over calms down, I’ll introduce myself.”

She doesn’t even need to look, “Garrus.” The clicking of his own mandibles goes along with his mocking huff before he does. With him now leaning back with crossed arms, she smiles.

“So, first-”

Kasumi groans from her seat, “Just say your name already!”

He glances over at her. A ridge of a brow raising.

“What? You’re like a fun puzzle. Still trying to solve it here!”

He chuckles, “I’m a puzzle, eh?”

“Yep” She grins.

“Shepard.” EDI has the best timing in the world, Shepard decides. She sighs, knocking her head back to stare up, “Yes EDI?”

“Scans show his DNA.” 

Jack, jumps up, “Fucking finally!” Miranda attempts to shush her, causing her to roll her eyes and ignore her. Jacob shakes his head, starting to feel exhausted from this rather than the actual mission. 

Shepard side eyes their friend who shrugs, go ahead “What do you got, EDI?” Tali jumps as Kasumi slides in with popcorn. What the-

“Scans show turian and human strands,-”

“Well that’s surprising..” Garrus says sarcastically. Their buddy laughs, but immediately turns into a coughing fit. The Salarian scientist gives his safe shoulder some pats.

“Say that to this-” Joker comments. His tone throws Shepard into a swirl of confusion; it’s like he’s been laughing, or shocked? He sounds out of breath suddenly.

EDI goes on“Specifically yours and Mr. Vakarian’s DNA.”

Oh that’s- WAIT, WHAT?!

……………… Absolute silence…

Shepard’s gaze falls on him. Their guest smiles. It’s no little than smug as he jumps off the table, holding back a wince. No time is wasted as he raises his hand in an awaiting handshake.

“The name’s Cyan Shepard-Vakarian, pleased to meet you.” His smile matches his tone, newly familiar blue eyes boring into her brown ones.

Chapter Text

Light yellow illuminates his face, only a shadow falling over as Cyan runs a hand through his hair. He glowers at the device on his arm, which runs through yet another unsuccessful scan. He groans, throwing his head back as it bumps into the wall behind him. “C’mon man.”

He waves his arm around in an exaggerated attempt to finally work! He stops when his sore side becomes known, erupting in protest to his actions. He grunts and rubs his other hand on his side. The doc did good, he just needs to stop being a dumbass.

“Is it working?”

He jolts, eyes bolting towards the Salarian at the desk, who’s been writing down notes in his omni-tool then transferring them to the other doctor’s terminal. Shit.. he forgot he was there.

Cyan’s arm falls to his lap, turning off his own device. “Nah. Acting stupid, really.”

“Hmm. Dimensional travel error. Maybe? No. Still same timeline it seems, only-” Mordin glances over his shoulder, “New model?”

Cyan shrugs, only to wince when a sharp pain hits his shoulder, “Sorta. An old-ish one I keep updating myself.” He grunts out.

Mordin nods, “Good mind exercise. Practice of expertise, no waste of resources.”

“Something you learn to do when hiding a lot.”

“Hiding? Criminal? No, Shepard and Garrus would be disappointed. Specter? Follow in mother's footsteps- maybe. Hm.." His hand lifts to his chin, " Too many possibilities, too many professions. Have to ask, work for-?”

Cyan interrupts, chuckling and shaking his head, “No. I ain’t a criminal, nor any special operation soldier. I wish." He rolls his eyes. Mordin lifts up his omni-tool.  Human like behaviors- Eyeroll- definitely Shepard offspring. "It’s just when you’re one of the only few turian-human hybrids in the universe, you gotta stay low as you get older.”

Mordin takes a moment to respond, his blue patient blinks. His hand rubs his shoulder, trying to erase even the little bit of pain he can away as he starts worrying that the salarian is now pissed at him for interrupting him. He did start writing again, snitching on him or something?

“Others?”Mordin’s eyes stray on him.

Shit.

“Word mess up, I meant only one. Sorry, dude.” He runs a hand through his hair, snickering, “Maybe the meds are playing with me.”

Mordin’s gaze flickers around in his direction, Cyan slowly backs further into the wall, Hopefully his damn omni-tool will finally work, at least so he can open those stupid locked doors. Dread starts creeping up his bare back, meeting with the cold metal on it.  His frame can’t help but freeze when the dark eyes of the Salarian narrow slightly.

Before they suddenly go wide as usual and he turns back around. Cyan watches then takes in a silent sigh of relief, though his body stays on alert. Never thought a scientist like him can be so…. fucking terrifying.

“How many are there?”

Fucking-

“One. Me.” Cyan grits. His eyes glare a hole into Mordin’s back, almost daring him to continue. The other part of him wanting this conversation to be over with before he screws up again. He still needs to figure his shit out.

“Really.”

“Yes.”

“Hm. Still don’t know how you’re even possible.”

Cyan’s mouth stretches into a smirk, lowering his head and voice, “Well, when momma and papa love each other very, very, very much-”

“Nevermind.” Mordin cuts, busying himself with more notes. He leaves the hybrid be, figuring all he’s going to get right now is deflective responses or unnecessary sarcasm. The small chuckle from behind him proves his theory.

He then hears movement. His patient laying down. When he looks back over his shoulder once more, Cyan is laying on his back, his uninjured arm wrapped around the clean pillow below his head and eyes closed. 

Mordin turns back to his work, staring at the blinking icon on the holographic screen. His fingers lift as he adds:

Not the only hybrid, other offspring.

The screen soon closes, locking for later use.

It’s quiet.  

Usually, under different circumstances, this wouldn’t bother Shepard in the slightest. Infact, it would’ve been easily the best moments she rarely got. Her and Garrus in her room, him either working on his tech or guns, while she would be checking through her monitor or putting together her new ship model she just required and saved for some freed up downtime. Both silent but enjoying it together, even if they were positioned at opposite areas. 

This time, however, wouldn’t be one of those sweet moments. Not by a long shot.

 Her eyes flick up to where Garrus sat at the end of her bed, head in his hands and occasionally rubbing his neck, fumbling his hands together- momentarily breaking his stillness. He has his armor off, only clad in sweatpants. She thumbs at her own tank top, pulling her legs closer in her spot on the couch which causes her shorts to crinkle.The atmosphere is tense. Uncertain. Full of worry and doubt.

The random squeaks of her hamster, Doughnut, beaks the air along with the echoing hum of her giant fish tank. It’s not enough to break the tension. Not enough to distract the two from their thoughts. From their discovery that has rendered them quiet.

They have a kid in the future.

 A biological one. One created from both of them like any other couple. This whole time, they both, like many others, believed a child could never be done from a turian and human pairing. The amino acids are way too different for it to happen.

To everyone’s shock, the proof of the possibility is laying in the medical wing of the chip, resting away as the after effects of the battle finally caught up to him. She remembers how the revelation hit her as soon as she got to her cabin. Garrus not long after, when he came in after a few minutes.

“..Cyan Shepard-Vakarian.” Garrus’ voice opens the air. She turns to him, raising a brow.

“I wonder who gave him that name.” His tone is teasing, a feeble attempt at ignoring the bombshell, but still one. She gives a smile, no matter how much her heart is racing at all the questions, possibilities.

“I bet it was me. I do enjoy the color at times.”

Garrus sits up straighter, “At least it wasn’t some great historical turian name, I think that would’ve shocked more people.”

“The fact that it would’ve been you picking it?”

“The fact that it could fit with Shepard-Vakarian, honestly. Imagine the pressure on the kid.”

She shrugs, “True. Thank god it’s a simple one.”

He chuckles, shaking his head lightly. The silence returns fairly. She hums thoughtfully, leaning more against the cushions. 

……

…

“....Do you think it’s actually possible?” He speaks up once more. She sighs, “Well, our future kid is passed out, two decks below us. I say what's more proof than that, right?”

“Yeah, yeah..right.” Garrus pauses, “Right.” She picks on his tone immediately.

Shepard is hesitant but goes on,”..Are you..are you alright, Garrus?”

“Yeah, no..I’m good. Just great. Good- Don’t worry, Shep.” He nods, hands inches away from clawing at each other. She frowns. Ok, he’s definitely not alright. With his hurried answer and body that seems seconds to tensing in on itself, it’s obvious to anyone who steps just even a foot in here, no matter the relation with the turian.

She huffs lightly, not hesitating at all to stand up and stride over to the bed. The sheets stretch and crinkle under her, the weight catching his attention. “Hey, I said-”

“Garrus.”

His mouth clamps shut. Scarred mandible flutters nervously with the other.

“..Talk to me, honey. I wanna know what you’re thinking.”

He looks down, teeth gnawing together. She sits patiently, her head resting on her legs which are folded at her chest. When she reaches a hand out at his sigh, he reciprocates, grabbing it and pressing it against his shoulder. As he pulls back after giving it a kiss, mandibles flicking lightly at it, he starts, “..This doesn’t change things…does it?”

Her head picks up, not even trying to hide her surprise, “What?” She asks.

Suddenly skittish eyes glance up at her, “ I mean, Shep,-”

“Delilah."

“Delilah, yeah..you do realize a turian and human can’t have a kid, right? I just, how is that possible? And…” He groans, rubbing his forehead.

“And what?” She gently presses, not wanting to let him close up again.

“And..we’ve only been in a relationship for a few months now. I don’t want you thinking this guy- this kid- should be a reason to stay with me, just for his existence to happen..” She raises a brow, “Ok- I don’t mean to sound selfish or like a dick about him, but..” He trails off with a sigh.

Shepard’s gaze lingers on him, moving her hand back to drag it down his back. He may not be able to feel it as much due to his plating, but it’s appreciated. Garrus’s tense shoulders seem to lower, slowly leaving it’s stiff posture. Not entirely however.

He’s still waiting for her response, of course.

Humming lightly, she ponders, drawing a circle on the middle of his back with light fingertips. She’s seen his back multiple times, when alone, when they're having their moments , in the shower. No matter how many times she sees it, it never stops fascinating her, the lines, the curves. She tried to tickle him once, partly out of curiosity, for the other part out of good fun. Clearly, it didn’t work. Garrus just looked at her funny and asked, “Is this another human thing or-?” 

She finally got him in the shower , and geez , she snorts- she’s never heard a turian screech that loudly in her 30 years of life. In battle and out of it.. As her hand makes its way closer to his side, where she found where to press for that exact sound, his quick motion of waving her hand away brings her back.

Shepard smiles, making his electric blue eyes switch up to her brown ones. “You do realize that kids aren’t going to scare me away any time soon? Right?”

He snorts, “ Even if it’s an impossible hybrid?”

“Even if it’s an impossible hybrid. Like it or not Garrus, you’re stuck with me.” She smirks,crossing her arms.

“Such a terrible fate, Delilah,” He tuts, “You hate me that much, huh?” 

She giggles and it trails into a sigh. His body is grounded again, instead -watching her with a tilt of his head and faint smile. Pushing herself up, she backs up towards the head frame. She motions to him to follow. Without fail, he doesn’t hesitate to follow her command. 

Soon, her red hair curls against her neck as her head lays on his upper chest, arms holding his torso. His left arm wraps around her waist, the other lifting up to gently twirl strands around talons. Chin pressing over her head, Garrus hears her continue with: “ I think it’s safe to say, you’ve ruined humans for me.”

“Just humans?”

“And Asari, and Drell, and other Turians, and Krogan-”

“Krogan was an option?”

“Hey, I’m just saying- remember the breeding request?”

“What the-” He jerks back, causing her to laugh. He grumbles, moving back to his spot with mutters of Wrex and weird Krogans, “Krogan..seriously? That’s what you go for?”

“It was that, or the Hanar.”

“Oh for spirit’s sake.”

She erupts into more laughter, with soon her sides beginning to ache more each second. He shakes his head, “No wonder Kaiden didn’t stand a chance.”

That kills her. Again. 

After a few moments, and Garrus beginning to wonder if the reason the kid has blue skin was from his mom’s side just by Shepard trying to breathe in between unrelenting giggles. Thankfully, she finally catches her air. Breathing deeply, snickers continue to escape now and then, she tries again, “B-but!-” Garrus chuckles, 

“A-as..As I was saying-” she clears her throat, “I wanted to say that you are it for me.”

His eyes turned down at her. She looks back at him, her smile softening. “You are.”

She goes on, “You’ve been with me since the beginning, you believed me even though you had multiple reasons not to, even with people practically yelling at you that all we had was fruitless.That it was all a mistake and you should stay at your post- You stood with me and kept at my side.” Turning her gaze down, just a tad, her fingers toy at the sides of the edge in the middle of his chest, “ Hell, I realize at the moment of me literally dying in space, that I wanted- well, hoped- you would forever be there. No matter the circumstance of our relationship…colleges, partners in crime, “

“Are you saying Archangel should’ve had a partner?” He adds smugly.

“Maybe.” She shrugs, head laying back down. “Friends,...Lovers? I just wanted you with me.”

Garrus won’t try to hold it any longer, he smiles. Full and genuine. Relief blooming throughout. His limbs relax, but still pull her closer, nuzzling into her neck, giving her giggles at his ticklish mandibles. The dancing feeling Garrus had in his chest since the beginning of this conversation had been a mess-Honestly!

Like- first it was a huge ball of anticipation. A tight knot at the possibility of her wanting to split, leave for good, which he would absolutely not stop her from doing. It was her life. Her choice. If she felt that the results of their relationship in the future brought in an hybrid child that she was unfortunately uncomfortable with having, then he wouldn’t protest. Hell, he alone was stunned by the news. By some miracle, they have- would have a human-turian hybrid child as a son. Probably one of the first ever in existence and he was the biological father of it. It was his boy, his… future self? had and raised. And judging by first impressions, he and Shepard seemed to have done good. 

The boy, in his young adult years, was already a natural shot, a wild but strikeable fighter- someone who even with his side torn up and  his shoulder taken a good hit, was still up and fighting like he just started. 

In spite of his relaxed nature when officially face to face, Garrus could tell it was a half-hearted facade. The kid was nervous- shoulders forced down, mandibles waning that was mistaken for boredom by Shepard and the rest, his eyes shot to any sudden movement from the crew, especially on Mordin and Thane. His eyes lingered on the two, with a tone Garrus couldn’t decipher, however. 

It was like an all knowing one. It disappeared, turned into a smug gleam when Shepard started talking. His faint frown switched to a smile.

Garrus had a brief conversation with him afterwards, actually, it was as soon as Shepard left the room, her face stone cold- back to commander mode. He asked the kid if he needed anything else, figuring he could help. His mind was quiet, void of processing the elephant in the room.

 Cyan only shrugged, said he felt alright and sat back down on the table. Mordin quickly stood beside him, hurrying- no, more like commanding him to lay back down and give his side a break. Apparently, he almost ripped open his stitches when he jumped off the table to ‘greet’ Shepard officially.

Garrus couldn’t stop himself, he let out a chuckle at the sight of the kid holding the most uncomfortable and tired face he’s ever seen as he tried to push the salarian away from him, saying quite loudly, “Jesus- fuck! Alright! I got it! I’ll lay down!” 

The former C-sec officer finally took his own leave.

Garrus sighs soundlessly, rubbing Shepard’s back, leaving her to let out a small murmur and pressing her body more up against him. His eyes look down at her, watching red strands move lightly as she adjusts her position. 

.. Could it be like this ? He sure as fuck hopes so. 

“Vice Versa for me.” He says at last. Hesitant but there.

She hums. 

“Don’t think there’s any other human, or turian, or asari,-” The confidence starts rolling in.

“Or Krogan?” She jests.

He rolls his eyes, playful and nudges her, “And krogan, sure. Or drell….You’re it for me too.”

She’s silent once more. However, her grip tightens around him. Only a little.

“Funny-!” He hears a shift in her voice. “That it took for us seeing our own kid to make that decision!” A laugh tries, but the crack in her voice diminishes it, making it pitched and short. “That- that we wanted to-”

“Well, you’re wrong there.” He chuckles.

She freezes, looking up at him in confusion. “What?”

Garrus’s head pulls back to look her straight in the eye, with his mouth quirking up, “ It took seeing you on that bridge of Omega for me to realize.”

Chapter Text

“Karin?” Shepard calls out, looking over the empty med bed. The blanket hangs over the edge, pillow resting on flat against the railing, sheets rustled as if they were pushed.

“Karin, where is Cyan?” She asks after a moment.

Chakwas, who had just returned to the room, sets down the container of food for Cyan. After figuring out what foods he can eat safely, she gathered a small few for the day and possibly night. Putting the Levo snack bars, the doctor looks up, raising a brow. “Mordin didn’t tell you?”

“I just came down for my coffee, I haven’t even seen him yet. What was he supposed to tell me?”

“Kasumi came in earlier and practically dragged the poor kid out, Mordin said she claimed him for ‘hacking time’?”

“What?!” Shepard gaped, throwing down the pillow she went to set back and started legging it out of the room, “Port Observation, right?”

“Yes, and Shepard-”

“Not now, I gotta-” A snack bar getting tossed in her direction stops her, cutting off her thought as she snatches it. Shepard glanced at it then up at Chakwas. “Give to the kid?”

“Yes please. He’s still on doctor’s orders to take it easy. It’s bad enough I let him out with his wounds still needing to be watched.”

“Why not put on some medi-gel? Wouldn’t that make it easier?”

“Not until he learns his lesson for jumping off a table with fresh stitches.” Chakwas tuts, turning back to her task as she waves off Shepard.

The red-head blinks, shakes her head and continues on yet another search for her son.

Turning the corner and arriving short at Kasumi’s ‘quarters’, her ears pick up the faint sound. 

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHH”

Thump 

Thump

Thump

“Hooked on a feeling!..”   Shepard stares at the door, “I’m high on believing..!”

The door opens at her command, causing her brows to furrow as the sight inside half surprises her, and half..doesn’t?  “That you're in love with meeeee-!”

Cyan laughing as Kasumi throws her arms up, exclaiming loudly in her exaggeration of how stupid the billionare she stopped with Shepard had sounded in his minirant. Right up until Shepard plucked up a mini-launcher, propped it onto her shoulder, aimed, and tore the gunship out of the sky like it was the Fourth of July.

“Then-” Kasumi lets out a noisy imitation of an explosion, “And soon, the beautiful sky was filled with bright red and orange. I tell you this, kid- if I could paint, I would most definitely be Vincent Van Gogh with how amazing I picture it.” 

“Vincent is the painter guy, right?”

“One of the many- oooo, I think I have an old hologram of one of his paintings.” A giddy smile rest as she hops up, phasing out of view. Cyan picks up his drink and takes a long sip, only to spit some out when he sees the ship’s Commander at the door, leaning on a propped leg and snack hanging from her loose hand. 

He jerks forward and sets his drink down, “Commander!” he stumbles up, hesitantly throwing his arms out, “I promise I was dragged here.”

“Dragged?” Her head tilts, eyeing the drink.

He pauses, glancing down at it, “It’s water……I think.”

“It’s water.” The thief cheerily confirms, pulling out different holo-cases from a shelf, humming to the lyrics from Cyan’s omni-tool. She pouts when he cuts it off, giving the Commander his full attention. He stands straighter, crossing his arms.

“How old are you anyway?” She can't help but ask. She eyes the glass container full of Kasumi's 'valuables'- her drinks. 

“Uhhhh….”

“Oh! Can I guess?” Kasumi’s excited cheer causes Cyan to nearly trip over himself in an attempt to scooch way for the woman. “Uh, sure-?”

Regret creeps over him as giggles, similar to a chagrin, start from the woman. His eyes flick over, meeting Shepard’s gaze. He tilts his head briefly, nodding towards Kasumi; she shakes her head, instead of helping him reconsider, she simply tosses over the snack and braces her arm on the doorway. 

Kasumi slowly rounds Cyan, prodding at his shoulder and doing a great imitation of how Mordin first inspected Grunt. Didn’t last long as the young Krogan threatened to graphically show the many ways he knows how to unalive someone. Cyan looks similarly uncomfortable, yet…Shepard tilts her head, not far enough to be noticeable… used to it. One assumes with his appearance, him and his family gets looks. 

The she-theif comes to a stop, jutting a hip out with folded arms. As her finger lifts to poke at his left arm, watching as he looks towards her, “...17?”

He chuckles, shoulders bouncing lightly, “Try again.”

“27?”

“Why the jump?”

“You’re definitely not younger than the first, or old as Shepard.”

Shepard shoots to Kasumi, “What.”

“Nothing!  Anyhow..”She hums, tapping at her chin, “24?”

“Close but no.”

“...uhhhh”

“21?”

All eyes, except for Shepard, jump to Garrus who has joined at the doorway, back in his armor, and sipping from a cup of black coffee. A snort comes from the woman next to him, focused on the cup. His mention of him needing something strong, apparently that means no dextro breakfast sweets as a wake up. “Black?”

“Headache.”

“Ahh.” She nods, before turning back to Cyan and Kasumi, the former glancing between the two. “So…..”

A smile forms on the kid’s face, “Ding ding, we got a winner.”

Garrus shrugs, taking another gulp, “Your..plating made it harder to pinpoint but your mandibles were clear.”

“How’s that?”

“They wouldn’t be moving so much if you were close to your 30’s.”

“How does that tell how old he is?” Kasumi, now back on the couch, fiddling with her holoscreen. She pouts at her loss. So close.

“If he was over 30’s, he would know how to keep up an appearance instead of letting them show his nerves. They’ve been flickering like crazy since he woke up last night.”

Cyan’s face contorts to a wince, sighing and running a hand through his hair, “You caught that.”

“Yep.” Another sip.

“No wonder pops just about burns a hole into me during events.” He mutters, and shakes his head. 

“Alliance or Hierarchy?” Garrus raises a plated brow at him. Shepard frowns. She hasn’t even thought about that part. Even a good look at his suit doesn’t help, the hunk of junk was too much of junk as of now to be impossible to pinpoint exactly. She goes back to Cyan.

“Both? When I was 11, they opened up a program that teaches and recruits multiple species as a means to start working together more. Was a struggle but I learned my way around with a couple of buddies.” 

“Ahh…”

Shepard glances at her omnitool before looking back up, making eye contact with Garrus. He catches it and nods, “Hey..uh, Cyan?”

“Yes, sir?”

“Can we talk to you privately? There are some things we need to…know?” Shepard gestures out, standing straight again. 

“Uhhh…”He blanches. Shit…well, if he’s gonna get….he needs their trust. Hopefully this doesn’t screw shit up. He looks back at Kasumi. “Talk later?”

“Aww…already?” She chuckles, waving her hand, “Yeah, no worries kid. See ya soon.”

He smirks, bumping his hand against her fist, “Maybe you can show me that painting when I ain’t being interrogated.”

“Of course. Oh and Shep? Don’t be too hard on the kid, I doubt he can handle it. Those mandibles may be a bit too loose that they'll just fly off quickly.”

“Hey!”

Her laughter bounces after them as he follows the couple out, waving at him which he returns. As he turns back around, the door closing behind him, his omni-tool cuts off the music that was lowered. 

“Ain’t no mountain high enough! Ain’t no-.....”

Chapter Text

POV- Cyan is an actual character in the game and a companion to get. Citadel DLC. Dialogue as squadmate.

(Scene of after Shepard fell through the fishtank.)---I know this part is usually for romances or Liara but I couldn’t help but  write this part out with Cyan’s sarcasm.

-Obviously not romance cause diGUSting-

Cyan: Commander Mom? You read me? Are you alright?

Shepard: Yes, loud and clear. Might need a hand or two though.

Cyan: *Laughs* Lucky for you, I’m your mini-me. I’ll be there in 5. Time me?”

—---

Cyan: Bad day, Mom?

Shepard: You can say that.

Cyan: Found the landing pad over there. But the doors are locked, got any ideas for it?

Shepard: Let’s look for a control panel.

Cyan: So…fish tank? Did that just happen now?

Shepard: We’ll talk about it later.

Cyan: Aw, well at least I can enjoy it when I get back to the misses.

Shepard: We’ll talk about it later.

Cyan: *snickers*

Shepard: Step back.

Cyan: Hold up, trigger finger. *Knocks on the glass* Ayo, buddy? Mind giving us a hand with the doors?...Million thanks, dude.

-If taken for Casino operation-

Cyan:...I feel…weird.

Shepard: Oh c’mon, son. You look fine. Not bad actually for short notice.

Cyan: *He chuckles as they start walking* Yeah, say that when your body anatomy doesn’t agree with the comfort level of your outfit.

Shepard: You don’t do this stuff often? Not in your timeline?

Cyan: Not really. Try to avoid any unless they involve mom or pops.

Brooks: Okay, everyone will be looking at…him, and not me. Good, nice.

Cyan: I’m not that ugly.

Brooks: Nono! I didn’t- I wasn’t trying to say-

Cyan: *Starts laughing*

Time for distracting-casino-guards time!---

Cyan: Oi! Dude, I got some punk trying to make way towards the ladies room. Being a fuckin’ creep.

Guard: I’ll get right on it, where is he at?

Cyan: No, I’m trying to see if I’m allowed to do anything about it myself.

Guard: Uh…Sir, while we appreciate your morals, we’d like to handle it ourselves.

Cyan: God damnit.

Cyan: *Unintelligible turian words*

Guard: Uh sir? Is something wrong?

Cyan: *More unintelligible turian words but louder.*

Guard: Sir, I have to ask you to turn your translator back on if you need help.

Cyan: (Still continues anyway)

Guard: *sigh* I don’t get paid enough for this.

Cyan: Shitshitshit- Oh hey! Uh, look I need help with something.

Guard: Yes sir, what seems to be the problem?

Cyan: Okay, I put my omni-tool panel down for a second to adjust something on my arm and when I turned around, it was gone. I-I dunno what to do, man! Fuck, my parents are gonna kill me!

Guard: Please remain calm, sir, I’m sure we can find it.

_When returning to apartment-

Cyan: So….can mark off having a spy mission with past mom on the list of things I thought i’d never do.

Brooks: I think you did well, all things considering.

Cyan: Weren’t too bad yourself, sweetheart. (Not flirting, just playful banter)

—----

-When seeing the clone for the first time-

(If the clone knew Cyan)

Clone: Like you, Cyan Vakarian. I don’t know if I should kill just your mom or both parents. Either way, you’ll just become nothing but a lingering thought.

Cyan: At least I ain’t some copy cat of the real thing.

(If clone doesnt know Cyan)

Clone: Like you, freakshow. Whatever you are, I say just go back to the test tube you came from. 

Cyan: *Snort* Ironic much?

-Battle banter-

CAT soldier: What-what the hell is that thing?!

Cyan: A hybrid of your worst, fucking nightmare!

James: *Laughing*

Cyan: What? It sounded cool to me!

Cyan: Oi! Vega dude! That was my kill!

James: Too bad- Too slow, chicken little!

Cyan:*Grumbles* I’ll show you a chicken little….

Cyan: Hey, Mr. Old alien guy-

Javik: I am a prothean, you pathetic primitive!

Cyan: Yeah, sure- same thing. You got any cool tricks?

Javik: I am not your entertainment.

Cyan: Oh come on! You gotta have something!

Liara: It would be interesting to see, as for the prothean fighting style area.

Javik: Why do you wish to know, hybrid?

Cyan: Wanna join tactics?

Javik:....Very well. 

Tali: Hey Cyan! Could you tell us where the clone shepard is?

Cyan: If I did, I would be leading the team there!.......Hey mom!-

Shepard: No.

Cyan: Aww…

Cyan: Yo! Pops! Uncle Wrex! Wanna start a bet?

Wrex: Hell yeah, kid!”

Garrus: Sure why not?

Shepard: Can you guys just shoot?

Cyan: Wanna join, mom?

Shepard:....Oh you guys are going down!

-Ladder Scene-

Shepard: Go! I’ll cover you!

(1)Cyan: Yo, I didn’t think accidental ladder was the other meaning for a glaze of glory!

(2)Cyan: *Laughing* Holy spirits, I love this family. And this gun! Mostly the gun.

-Trapped in pod scene-

Route 1-

Cyan: That went….to an unexpected turn.

Shepard: She said, I should go…Do I sound like that?

Cyan: I mean….does it help to mention you still do it when I’m from?

(1)Shepard: How come no one’s told me this before? I’m open to feedback here!

Cyan: Well, dad’s is ‘calirations’. Figured that was your thing, really.

(2)Shepard: I’m more confident than she is. More in control. With me, it’s more like “That’s all for now.”

Cyan: And it’s cool. Gives off like, Logan Howlette vibes or some shit. Just cold confidence!

Shepard: Maybe it’s:  I should GO. I SHOULD go. *I* should go.

Route 2-

Shepard: She said, I should go…Do I sound like that?

Cyan: Uh…Sorry to burst your bubble, mom. But- shouldn’t the vault be our main concern right now?

(1)Shepard: How come no one’s told me this before? I’m open to feedback here!

(2)Shepard: I’m more confident than she is. More in control. With me, it’s more like “That’s all for now.”

Cyan: I dunno about you guys, but I don’t think we got much air in here. I’d say an hour, at most.

Shepard: Maybe it’s:  I should GO. I SHOULD go. *I* should go.

Cyan: Mom, Commander- Hey! Why the heck aren’t you more worried about this?!

-Getting on Normandy and seeing Traynor.-

(If Cyan was working on the door, he would stab it open.)

(If standing by instead while other person takes care of it)

Cyan: Commander’s got a clone. Don’t ask, just want to take out.

-Getting the latch open-

Cyan: I’m not exactly an expert. A buddy of mine has said mass effect fields are his go to, but I don’t wanna blast us apart as well.

Shepard: Pretty sure we broke Traynor’s toothbrush getting the hatch open. Remind me to reimburse her for that.

(1)Cyan: Hey, pst. Mom! Get Tray-lady her-

Shepard: Later. Remind me later.

(2)Cyan: Like I said. Hate *grunts* small spaces.

Shepard: Quiet! Can’t risk them hearing us uptop.

Cyan: …Yes ma’am.

—Battle in Normandy shuttle bay—

Clone: Take her down!

Cyan: Try it and see what happens, asshole!

Cyan: Why don’t you go make yourself another copy! This ship is ours!

(On radio)

Cyan: Commander, you got me?

Shepard: I do! You got through the jamming?

Cyan: Took a lot of shooting, cursing and public property damage but pretty much, yeah!

Brooke: You ruined everything! My plan was perfect!

Cyan: Oh, Boo hoo, cry me a river, sweetheart!

(Cargo ramp opens)

Cyan: Shit! Hope no one is afraid of heights!

Cyan: Your name was Brooks! I should have freaking known- Mom mentioned a backstabbing, conniving bitch.

Brooks: You’re all blind! You worship Shepard while the galaxy dies around us.

Cyan: Yet you got a clone? *Snickering* The only thing real for you is your problems, honestly!

(After the clone takes some damage)

Cyan: *Laughing* Are you even trying at this point? 

Brooks: Damn you all to hell!

Cyan: Geez, I liked you better when I didn’t know you at all!

(Shepard on the side of the ramp)

Cyan: MOM!

Cyan: Don’t worry- we got you!

Shepard: *Out of breath and chuckling* Thanks..

Cyan: What about this, freakshow?

(If Shepard lets Brooks leave in handcuffs)

Cyan:...She better hope I don’t see her in my world.

(If Brooks tries to run but gets shot)

Cyan: *Lowering his gun* Yeah, never in 20 years, honey.

(Leaving the Normandy)

Cyan: Some shoreleave, eh?

Chapter Text

“Yep,” Cyan grunts out, shifting the bulking weight to his other shoulder. While the pain meds have been rangely effective, his still healing shoulder scolds him for more time. The pulsing soreness hissing at him in protest any time he objects physically reminds him. He sets the piece back down, backing up to round his arm. “The piece is useless. At least for now.”

Garrus folds his arms, leaning his head a tad as he braces against the shuttle, “Lower torso and shoulder brace, right?”

“Yep. Shit, if I can get screwed up like this after a fight like that- maybe I need an upgrade.” His eyes slide to the almost blown out shoulder pad, short wires and harshly dented metal accompanying the giant hole where his shoulder has residue taken place. His nose scrunches, with his eyes. “Or a few.” 

“Wait, “Shepard’s arms push her up enough to see past his shoulder. She’s not short, just sitting on a lonely crate tis all. “Was it custom made?” Should she get up? How about no. She just got comfortable enough for this afterall.

“Oh, you couldn’t tell?” Cyan snorts. He continues rummaging through the big tray, pushing more parts of his armor to the side, checking over his intact guns and blades. Garrus, who’s positioned closer to him than Shepard, takes a peek. His plated brow raises, eyes running over the various knives, short or average compact guns, and some fried hacking tools. Damn..He came prepared. Or was…A more than half blown out shotgun comes into view from Cyan pulling up one of his leg pieces. 

“Just how do you have so much stuff?” Shepard questions.

“Before you guys came and got me, those batarians were helping out with something. I realized almost too soon that they were trying to fuck me over with their outside connections so I went ahead and helped myself to their inventory.”

“And let me guess, turned their weapons into junk and kept some to yourself?” Garrus tries.

“Yep.”

Shepard’s legs lightly thump on the square under her, swinging back and forth. “So, what were they helping you with anyway?” 

Cyan, who’s been the main one to make jokes or quick quips as a way to stay humble, pauses. Garrus’s eyes flick to the hacking manual under his palm. It’s light flickers before Cyan lets go. 

“....Uh…”

Garrus shares a glance with Shepard. She shrugs. 

He turns back, “Better question. How did you get here?”

“Well, when a momma and papa love each other very much-”

“Kid.” Garrus sighs. Shepard lets go a chuckle; it’s contagious, allowing Cyan to bumble out a laugh. “What? I was just saying-”

“We're gonna go with the classic sci-fi idea of portal or…?” Shepard cuts in. 

“Uhhhhhhh…….” He trails.

“Interesting. So hhh happened before hhh.. Right?” 

“Ok- listen here-” He starts, causing her to laugh. He shakes her head, shoulders slumping as he swivels around and presses against the desk. He does take a moment. Shifting through his thoughts, memories of how exactly the fuck he appeared here, 20+ years into the past. As it goes, his shoulders remain their position. He’s slumped, how can he give them answers when all he remembers is yelling and flashing lights.

He’s….empty handed on answers for it all really. 

He tells them as such, “I can only remember so much.”

“Like what?” Garrus asks.

“Like…..I remember I was chasing a guy. He was from my timeline. He did something, took something from me that I wanted back. I…can’t remember what….He ran into this door with big lights and when I went in after him, he was gone.” Shepard blinks at his sudden tone. 

It’s nervous, almost clipping at the concept of scared but not quite grabbing it. He knows whatever the guy had he should be fearful of the guy having but he doesn’t remember why. 

“Alright.” Garrus nods. Her eyes watch as Cyan seems to calm back down. She peeks at Garrus from the corner of her eye, C-sec tactic maybe? As much as her lovely partner has shown and spoken of his distaste for C-Sec, he’ll proudly say it did teach him some useful things. Maybe how to talk to teenagers and younger kids without scaring or making them feel worse than they should when working with them. It works like a charm, as Cyan nods back, crossing his arms and leaning back into his playful but still anxious smile.

“So what happened after?”

“Well,” He exhales evenly, “The batarians found me and I decided to play nice guy but with a gun so they can think ‘hey, this turian-human guy thing is actually good! Let’s just help the good sport out?’”

“I don’t think it worked to be honest.” Shepard gives a lazy smirk.

“Nah, I don’t think so either. So unfortunate. Their leader, Bash-fuck-I hate-his-face, wasn’t afraid to show it, though, only to his buds. I didn’t know until it was said in messages between him and a slave group on one of his main bases. Shame I had to use this old girl on him, “ He throws a vague gester to the folded up device beside him. It’s large, sitting neatly in a basket, untouched since they put it there at his unexpected arrival. “I think it left a good burn on his chest when he and his gang busted into my room a few days after.”

“And that’s….?” Her face scrunches as she shuffles closer.

“You don’t recognize a hoverboard when you see one? What year is it, eh old woman?”

“Hey!” She cries. Her glare at him turns when she hears snickering, narrowing down at Garrus. He gives a small grin, hands tossed up in surrender, “ Hey, I can’t help. You’re older than me too.”

“By 2 or 3 freakin’ years!”

“Still older.”

“Isn’t that considered an age gap in human culture?” Cyan tilts his head. Hair tussling lightly. 

“It’s a small gap!”

“A gap nonetheless.” Garrus nods.

“Pretty sure it counts.” Cyan agrees. 

Her hands clap together as she grits out, “It’s only considered that if-w-why are we talking about this?! I thought we were talking about that!” She targets the hoverboard again.

Cyan allows a low whistle, “Point in case.”

Shepard groans loudly, then flops back on the case, “God fucking damn it-!” At the defeated display, the two men burst into laughter and lingering chuckles. She reaches up and wipes her hand slowly down her face, “Great, there’s two now.”

As Garrus chuckles, Cyan relents and grabs the board. Shaking and wiping off any dirt and/or the short speculation of dust-revealing a prettier white with grey and of course cyan-colored lines running along its sides and front, he unhatches it and flips it over, letting out a huff of victory when he finds the button to turn it back online is safe. 

Pressing a few buttons and checking through the system takes seconds. 

Then he tosses it.

Shepard blinks, Garrus steps back hurriedly. 

It flies over the floor like a rolled up paper before catching itself mid air. He walks over, giving it a gentle push downward, “There we go.” He smiles, familiarity rolling in.

“Look Shepard, it’s a-”

“Garrus Vakarian, I swear to god-”

“So!” They look back, the kid now situated on the floating board. It lifts up more, raising him higher and higher till he’s flying multiple feet above. “Anyone up for a game of gun range bazinga?”

—-----------------------------

Crack! 

“6! Your turn, Shepard.” Said human grumbles at Garrus’s smug tone. 

Pulling up her own sniper, she focuses on the target. Well as best she can, Cyan snickers beside her as she huffs loudly. “I thought you said it would be slow!”

“I said I would be, not it.” He shrugs, but his grin gives way of the blatant lie.

Shepard switches to waiting, lining up her shot where the can floats steadily by on the hoverboard, completing repeated cycles in the air. When it gets closer, she carefully places her finger on the trigger and….

BANG!

The music ringing on Garrus’s omnitool gets drowned out momentarily before returning. 

Shepard, posing with a well pleased smile, spins to them, jutting out a hip. The gun raises to her shoulder, posted upwards.

“6. Your turn, Cyan.”

Cyan’s face splits into a laugh, nodding his head, “Yes, Commander.”

Taking her spot, he goes again. His gun lifts and maybe he’s just being smug, but he turns his head to the side, narrowing his plated brow.

“What’s that?”

He hears Garrus let out an amused snort and Shepard…. he has the smallest idea of her rolling her eyes.

The gun goes off, followed hurridly by the can flying off the board, snapping onto the ground. Taking a look back, he sees a hole, dead center of the metal can. 

“Next question?” Cyan sets his gun to the side, putting on the safety as routine orders.

“How much of our history do you know? Like, how much did we tell ya?” 

Cyan tilts his head back, giving a little hum of thought. “A good amount.”

“I’d say you guys told me what you guys felt I should know, like people you fought with, events you went through, good or worse, people you lost, anything that seemed important for me to understand growing up.” He continues.

“And how is it working out now?” Garrus’s turn. As he does, Cyan whistles, tone nothing short of gladdened but swift. “Y’know, the usual of what it’s like to have both parents as two of the most important people in history.”

“Really now?” Sarcasm dripping from Shepard.

“Well…yeah. I mean, while trying to be vague, you guys are absolute heroes when I’m from.”

“Let me guess, targets aswell.” Garrus shrugs as if it’s not that important.

“O-yeah, can’t forget that.” The nod from Shepard, added with Garrus’s comment pulls a childish giggle from Cyan. He clears his throat. Shepard’s arm pressure increases as her back bends forward, rested on her knees while sitting utop of another large crate. 

She has no other chairs around, besides- it’s doing quite nicely for viewing purposes when Garrus readies his gun. Wait- is he going again?

“Hey! Big guy!” 

The turian immediately steps back, mandibles flaring. “Yes, Shepard?”

Her arms fly, “The hell?”

She piningly ignores Cyan’s bubbling chuckles from the sidelines- must be a fun show in his eyes, and shoos Garrus back as she jumps down.

Garrus smiles innocently- innocent my ass - and moves out of the way, “I thought you wanted to talk to the kid? “

She glares, bringing up her gun, “Same to you.”

“Come on, sweetie, don’t you want to get to know him?”

“Not when you’re trying to steal points.”

“Should I feel attacked?” Cyan lifts a hand, titling his head. 

“I dunno, is it always like this where-”

“When.”

“-when you’re from?” He finishes.

“Sorta.” They watch as Shepard takes her turn, formally turning her glaring at the mis-shot. Did he make it faster? No- just a smaller can this time. “Little different when you guys are more or less going back and forth about plants instead of guns half the time.”

“We plant?” Shepard asks.

“Mom’s hobby.”

“Makes sense.” The two agree.

Soon on one of Cyan’s next turn, the loving couple share a look, Shepard nods. 

Garrus strides up the mandated shield where Cyan is geared up at. He gives it a second, letting the shot go off before asking, “So, who was the batarian leader again?”

“The one after me?”

“Yes.”

“Uhhhh….” He trails off. Instead, he turns his eyes downward, a shuffle of his feet. “Bash…Bosh- Baesh- fuck.” 

“Can you remember it?” Garrus gingerly presses.

“Yeah! I just always mispronounced it for some reason.” Cyan nods multiple times. Feeling like he should focus more, he takes his gun and presses a button on the side. It instantly mounts itself together, ready for storage once more. “Bash…Bash-”

“Brask Por’goth.”

Fingers snap and point towards Garrus, “Yeah! Him.”

Garrus only gives him a confused look. He pauses, It wasn’t him? 

Shepard looks over shoulder, straightening up, “Jack?”

Her feet thud over the metal as she wanders over to their temporary gun range. 

Lazy wave to Cyan, “Hey kid.”

Cyan blinks, but returns it, albeit awkwardly. “You know the name?”

“Yeah, met him about a year or two before that Purgatory shithole got me. Was…weird. He was a weird guy with a superiority complex. Yet kept making stupid ass goo goo eyes at me.”

The trio share a glance around before looking back at her.

Shepard hops off the crate, “How much did you know about him?”

“Enough.” Crossing her arms, she tilts her head pointily at Cyan, “How important was he?”

“Well, since he himself is now dead, he’s gotta have some contacts out of the gang that cornered me, right?”

Jack shrugs, “Better than nothing, sure.”

Shepard awws, a cattish grin pulling up, “Are you actually helping us ,Jack?”

The girl glares, lifting her arm to graciously offer the bird and stomps away, and back to the lift, “Someone’s gotta send the kid home, one way or another.” The convict snides. 

Shepard blinks. Garrus clears his throat. Cyan, as if this is all normal, nods in agreement before pressing on his omni-tool. 

The board flips around, throwing the last empty can to the ground then flips back, turning up on speed and flying overhead to Cyan. It beeps squeakingly. Waiting like a sweet child for a treat.

“Off.” A simple order.

Another beep and it flies over to the bench, turning itself folded once more and plopping homely into the big open box, safe and sound. “Good girl- on my way, Ms. Jack!”

“.....I want something like that.” Shepard says.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Liara sits idly in her office. The tapping along the keyboard being a nice part of the ambience joined rightfully by Glyph’s floating around. While she does own the previous Shadow Broker’s lair, she decided to spend some time away as a means to keep up her personal appearance around staff on Illium. Until she figures out all the knick-knacks, systems and operations as Shadow Broker, it’s her safest bet yet. 

“Commander Shepard is here, Dr. T’soni.”

A pause. Not out of shock, nothing of the sort- that went away after the first time. She smiles, lifting away from her chair. “Let them in.”

The command goes and the doors open. There in her red and black suit glory, stands her friend. 

“Delilah, “ The woman returns her smile.

“Hey, Liara!” 

Liara doesn’t hesitate, pulling forward to embrace Shepard in a friendly hug, despite the armor. 

When it ends, she turns to greet Garrus next, “Hello, Garrus. I see you’ve been doing well too, yes?”

The turian shrugs, “Can’t say I haven’t.”

She then notices another human walk into the room, Subject Zero- Jack. She nods to her, smiling politely. Jack grunts, folding her arms, but nods back too in formal respect. Her time with Shepard seems to have made a change, not a lot of course, but enough to notice at least.

“So, you mentioned how you needed my help?” Liara starts, almost knowingly in her tone.

“We’ve got a bit of a problem that needs another eye to look at, yeah.” Shepard shrugs, jutting a hip out as she crosses her arms. 

“What is the problem-”

“So I’m a problem now?” 

She jumps, spinning back to the entrance. Glyph summons at her side and starts blinking red.

Another person has walked into the room, pressing on his omni-tool. His suit a great mis-match of turian and human armory parts. At his command, the blinds of the window close, breaking off any viewing contact of the world. 

Her hand shoots immediately to her side, pulling out her hand gun- but gets interrupted- By Shepard??

Before she can even form words to ask,- maybe even question if Shepard’s lost her mind- the guy is already pulling off his mask, shaking his hair out. 

Blue eyes meet hers, a smirk joining, “Hey.”

Liara blinks rapidly, turning to SHepard, “Who is-”

“Liara, breathe.”

“I am, I am just confused. I haven’t seen this type of species before. Did you bring a new type into our galaxy now? Please don’t tell me you have, there are many regulations before-”

“Liara.” Shepard gently warns, not a threat- just reminding.

She does. Taking a moment, a deep breath she calms. Questions pull at her, but she relents- ignoring them. 

The words carefully form. “Who have you brought here, Shepard?”

“My future son.”

…………

…….

….

“ By the goddess. ”

Chapter Text

Now if Cyan were to have an invisible audience, he would say- “You’re probably wondering- Hey Cyan! Why immediately go to Liara’s? Is the author just timeskipping at this point? “

He barks a laugh. It goes for a moment, edging on being waaaaay too long. 

He then sighs, “...No, 1- we didn’t immediately go to Liara’s place. She was actually just the last option as everything else was chalked up to memory loss and open ended/ not really connections.” His head rolls back in exhaustion, “Portal jumping. Ain’t it a bitch.”

“Anyway, like that classical ‘Pixel’ movie back in the real early 2000’s, we sat around the table of the meeting room and discussed how exactly we’re gonna find the asshole that blooped me into where- I’m sorry- when we are now. Liara ended up being the guy in the basement but way prettier, classier, and easier to talk to without stuttering like a middle aged man in love with an impossible version of an AI.”

Cyan lets out a whistle, ending in a clap and wry grin.

“Back to our regularly scheduled program, yeah?”

“Mr.Vakarian?” Kelly asks out loud.

Both Garrus and Cyan look up,

“Yes?” Garrus asks.

“Yes, Ma’am?” Cyan questions.

Kelly flushes, “Uh..The uh- C-cyan Vakarian?” She babbles, clearing her throat. 

“Oh hi!” He grins. 

“Hi, uh, coffee?”

He perks up, scooting his chair back as he gets handed the warm beverage, “Oh hey hey, awesome! Thanks, Ms. Chambers.”

“Of course!” The red head giggles nervously. Clearly, she’s still not used to the kid yet. Makes sense, most of his time has been handled either in the Crew Deck or in the Shuttle Bay. In feat of her awkwardness, he decides to ignore it in turn of a smile instead.

Miranda clears her throat pointily, giving the same tone of look towards Cyan. He sips his drink as his other hand offers a salute. She rolls her eyes.

Shepard hums, scanning over the hologram on display in the middle. “The guy loved to padlock things, didn't he?”

“Yep.” Jack nods, arms crossed next to her. “He acted paranoid, with good reason too. When I met him, he already had a rolling list of felonies-from bad to worst.”

“So- Brask had one of enemies, too I’m guessing?”

“Yep” She nods again, popping the ‘p’.

“Then why did he hire you? If he had people after him, wouldn’t he want to keep his circle closed off?” Jacob interjects, confusion crossed on his face.

Jack huffs and leans on the table, “Ya think I was buddy-buddy with him? Hell no. He just saw me as a weapon he needed at the time and that was it. I only knew so much cause of the fuckin’ gossip surrounding him.”

Shepard eyes her, “You listened to gossip?”

“I was bored.”

“Ok-” Miranda raises a hand. Attention comes back again, “We don’t need to get sidetracked. Does it say any ideas of where or who his connections can lead to?”

EDI’s little hologram pops up on the side of the running list. It flashes a few times before she begins speaking, “Legion and I have been running through every possible break in the codes. It has only led to more firewalls.”

“Jeez, it’s like a Rubix cube.” Shepard groans. Cyan snickers from his seat, ironic comparison. “He’s a galactic version of a modboss, Commander. What else do you expect?”

“Joker, has Tali gotten anything?”

Tali answers in place, “I’m getting worse than Legion and Edi combined. It keeps blocking my systems.”

Cyan leans forward in his seat, hand on his chin as his fingers rub his mandibles lightly. He gets an idea. “Question.”

They all look over at him. 

“How did you guys find out my codes?”

“The Alliance was able to crack the majority before releasing the remaining over to us.” EDI answers for him. He nods slowly, clicking his tongue.

Zaeed shuffles in his seat. The man has been quiet most of the meeting, staring at the picture of the deceased batarian. Yeah, he may have heard bits and pieces of the man in his previous years but he never got the unwanted opportunity to actually cross paths with him. Turns out, judging by what they can figure, Brask is just one of those types that can't be found unless he wants ya to. 

Makes ya wonder…His mis-matched eyes shoot to Cyan. The kid eyeballs the same picture, near glaring at it as he’s in his own world.

“Yeah, but I doubt those Alliance ranks won’t be able to find anythin’ just the same.”

“How come?” Cyan asks- kicking himself out of his thought bubble.

“Don’t you know that wanted criminals like these keep all information tucked under their arm at all times? They hide it under their coats when it comes to any officials. Those Alliance men ain’t gonna get anywhere even if they wanted to.”

“..Right.” Nevermind. No dice.

“Perhaps we can contact your former asari squadmate, Shepard?” Samara ideally suggests.

“Liara?” The plated brow raises from Garrus, who tilts his head slightly at the Justicar. She nods, careful eyes scanning over the impenetrable codes. Cyan’s form pulls attentively at the mention.

Aunt Liara? 

“Hmm…” Shepard bites her cheek. “We could. She might see something we can’t catch.”

“Should I inform Jeff to mark a path to Illium?” Miranda’s armband lights up at her command, ready to go.

“Do it. If we’re gonna get a break, we don’t need to waste time.”

“Oh boy, this is gonna be a doozy.” Cyan relents a sigh, laying back in his seat. She’s gonna have a scare of a lifetime…. Of multiple lifetimes.

—-------------------------------------------------

A man steps through the shifted doors, marching into the room with a satisfied smirk. The mercenaries, thugs, everyone in the room immediately turn, pulling out their guns. Despite the lasers on him, the barrels trained to any weak point of his body, he keeps up his face. If anything, it grows. 

“You lost, kid?”

Their captain cuts through the crowd, a glare fixated along with a sarcastic smile. His four-eyed gazes upon the fellow in hidden disgust. 

‘Bratty human, who the hell does he think he is, bringing muck here?’

Like he heard the captain’s thoughts, “Cey, pleased to meet you.” He’s relaxed, even putting his hands behind his back in a polite manner, chin raised as if to beam out his confident smirk.

The captain nod, smile forever present. “Call me Sosdenak. Can we help you?”

“You can actually,” The mysterious man looks around the room, Some salarians, few humans. A krogan here and there. His electric green eyes linger a tad on the more present turian mercenaries. Longer on the asari. One of which pulls a glare as she raises her gun up higher. 

Hmm, very untrusting bunch….It’ll do. 

He continues when he locks eyes with the Captain once more, “I have a package in need of protection.”

Sosdenak nods, bringing up his omni-tool. His men stay still, the two closets to him lower their guns to be ready for orders. As he marks down something, he starts, “How big is this package? I need to know how many of my men are needed.”

No answer. 

Instead, he hears fast shuffling. More people arrive into the room at a similar march. One..two…four..six. Six, six more people.

But, accompanying the last two is the sound of fumbling footsteps and little labored breathing. Seven.

A metallic scent hits his nose, which he looks up on meeting. 

He doesn’t even blink at the sight of a suited and masked turian- well what you would call suited and masked. The outfit is torn up from the assumed fighting he was previously in. Or the beating. 

Sosdenak’s eyes swamp over quickly, marking the large rips and blasted out holes in the suit. Blood stained the bandages around his leg, chest area, and neck. His helmet remains with only a few cracks in the glass, as well as a few wires poking out of the left side of it. Besides the dirt and dust dressing it, it’s better than the rest of him. 

“Where does it need to be sent to?” 

Cey has the gals to raise his hands, raising a brow, “Hold it. I need protection and assistance. This package is a big deal.”

Captain Sosdenak’s mockery of kindness disappears, his omni-tool joining. “Listen boy, I don’t have time to deal with whatever smuggling deal you have. If you need to transfer it somewhere, then go look for your needed assistance on Omega. You and your men will make do.” This guy comes onto his ship, acting like he don't have a mind to care nor any whims to watch. Something's off and Sosdenak don't like it. Not a single bit.

Cey lets out a tut, shaking his head in disappointment. He spins on his heel and moves towards the masked figure. The turian’s head tilts up before he straightens himself, letting out a hiss- painful or not- towards Cey. He can’t move much, with his bloody injuries and locked from behind hands, he’s stuck in place as Cey ignores his silent but attempting protest and yanks off the helmet.

Several turians, even a few salarians, suddenly pay more attention. Some go as far as lowering their gun in surprise. One near their Captain steps a pace or teho back, his grey mandibles fluttering in astonishment.

Captain Sosdenak growls, this ain’t a show. He starts walking forward, grabbing out his gun and pointing it at Cey. “I’m not saying this again, kid. Take your little pet and….” 

His words die. Eyes go wider than they’ve ever been. Jaw turns slack. 

Cey kicks out the turian’s leg, forcing him to kneel- knees hitting the metal ground harshly. The turian visibly holds back any noise of pain, his head bowing as he shakes in coddling himself. Cey's tongue clicks. Without a thought, the human reaches out a grabs the back of his neck and yanks the turian's head back up.

Maybe not even a turian. For once, Captain Sosdenak has no idea what this… this thing- this freak is!

Sure, the captured man’s face is similar to an actual turian, upside down V-shaped mouth, angular edges- but it's slightly rounder than what’s considered normal. The nose acts the same, less sharp and more round while still maintaining the concept of a normal turian’s. His plating however…

It’s less rough, almost a soft look. No cracks, like one you would see for a human’s soft-shell turtle creatures. Only dry instead of slimy.  It’s color is a pale pinkish-orange. Full brown lines the top of his nose and sides of his cheeks. It even trails a little under his nose.   He catches hints of blue staining on the surface of his cheeks but something clawing at Captain Sosdenak tells him that it’s coloring from something else. 

With all of this- he has no mandibles. All of the turians he’s come across and he’s never once seen any without mandibles. It makes him a living simile of a human skull. Smooth 'plating' and odd coloring being it's contrast.

His eyes are ironically the more eye-catching of his odd look. They’re a shrunken pupil, brown iris with white sclera. They leer ragingly at the men before him, angry and forceful huffs leaving his panting form. 

“What…is this? What did you bring here?”

Cey chuckles darkly, “Are you interested now?”

The Captain shares a look with his first- the turian gives a forward nod- then looks back at the grinning human. “What do you need?”

“I need a place to stay, then we can talk.” 

Chapter Text

Tap

Tap

Tap

“Can ya stop?”

……

Tap 

Tap

Tap

Sigh..

Cyan’s hand runs up his hair, exhaling. This bot is gonna be the death of him. The orb continuously bumps into his shoulder, flickering red every time it does. 53..54..55- Wait why the hell is he counting?!

Fed up and with a rather loud growl, he swats his hand at it and it floats back, ‘blinking’ at him. He turns, a glare ready. Not for the people at the desk, but the bot despite his direction. 

“Why does light bulb here keep tapping me?” He asks, irritated.

The bot slides closer but his hand stops it. “Seriously.”

“He has a program to scan anything new, specimens, objects, material, people. He catalogs them information wise.” Liara answers calmly. It took her a hot second, but she was able to calm down from the shocking news of his presence. Faster than the Normandy crew at least. 

The second fastest was Joker who at first wanted to know about his own future. But, after Cyan asked near menacingly- “Do you really wanna?” he instantly opted out. 

Too bad. His reaction would have surely been hilarious if Cyan told him who his wife is later on. Probably shock the ship too.

“Then why is he- stop it! - why is he bumping into me??” He swats again.

“The scanner is un-operational.” The bot beeps out.

“Still making upgrades, Liara?” Shepard taps in.

Liara shakes her head, a confused frown appearing. “No, not at the moment at least. Glyph? Why is it un-operational?” She’d check herself but her hands are busy. Busy running through any records of Brask Por’goth before his definitely tragic death. Jack sits on the chair next to her, seeming more serious than Shepard’s ever seen her before. She’s seemed this way ever since they’ve left security, a more deepened frown forged in place from her usual neutral. They don’t know why. Perhaps it has something to do with the guy.

The bot flashes a few times before the holograms around it spin, “Subject is undetectable.”

“Oh yeah…..” Cyan winces. 

No wonder Liara didn’t realize there were 4 people instead of 3. His program is still on. 

“What do we got so far?” Garrus changes the subject. Cyan is seen in the background resuming in swatting the bot away. Jack jerks up; Liara ending up jumping at the sudden movement.

“So far, everything is just about the same as when we were on the Normandy.”

“But?”

Liara presses a button and the holo-screen changes. Now the couple is able to see what they’re seeing on their side. 

“But we have found a clue, a glitch in the coding if you will.”

You’re probably wondering? Why is Cyan just sitting on the side? Why isn’t he doing anything? Why is he seconds from grabbing out his gun and shooting Glyph’s temporary bow off?

Cyan tried helping but since all his answers came up as random suggestions, intangible memories, and having no actual experience in pro-hackery- he’s, in short, useless.

So far- his only area he’s useful in is fighting, his odd and apparently not-made-by-him programs, and while they are in an office, no enemies around, no one able to listen into the new Shadow Broker’s formal assignment with hidden friends- his movements have seized. 

He does however, keep an eye on the door and the pulled up cameras outside it, and around the area. 

“What do we have?” Garrus steps closer, bracing his hands on the table’s edge. Shepard crosses her arms and peers down at the screen. 

Jack messes with something on her omni-tool before the screen changes again.

Shepard blinks, “Is that the Citadel?”

“Yep. Someone there is linked to the codes. They either made them or was apart of making it.”

“Their signature?” Cyan tries. 

Bap 

Bap Bap-

“Stop-”

“Bingo.” Jack grins.

“And this here says they recently put in codes to….get a discount on human form of popcorn?” Liara’s head tilts more and more as she finishes her sentence.

“Alright. So we got a pro-hacker who hides in public and makes impossible padlocks. Normal gooney” Shepard nods along with her words. Garrus, at her side, sighs gravilly, “But could we find the right person? They could end up putting up a front like Cyan is doing- making themselves unnoticable by everyone and anything. C-Sec scanners are good but not good enough to find someone in plain sight when a cover is on. They’ll just look like any other person.” He shakes his head. 

He’s good at weapons- not spying or hacking shit. Not even when he was on Omega.

“Oh!” Cyan pulls himself up and out of the chair. His omni-tool appears and he types up a scanner. Liara gets it, making an ‘oh’ face and immediately pulls up the codes, pushing it towards him. 

“While I may not be a hacker- I got a program that can help. We’ll be able to trace the person’s tracks when we get there.” He grins in his explanation, holding up his arm and swiping it across the screen carefully. They pop up and save. Got the tech- just need the real plan.

“You had that this entire time?” Jack blanches, before glaring at him. 

“What?” He blinks, “Oh! It only works if I have someone’s prints. It’s still in beta but I’ve used it enough to know what I’m doing.”

As they talk, Shepard steps back from the table. She shares a smile with Liara as she walks around to embrace her friend. “Thanks, Liara. You’ve definitely outdone yourself.”

“Please, Delilah, I’m only doing my job.” The asari lets out a giggle, embracing her just as tight. 

“Still, you’ve saved us alot of time.” Garrus counters with a nod. 

Bap

Bap Bap

“Oh my spirits- will you stop - fucking annoying ass-!!”

The girls pull away and with Garrus- look over when they hear Jack break out into noisy cackles. Cyan swings his arm, fumbling backwards as Glyph floats closer and closer. It’s like a cat and a once in a blue moon, ready-to-fight mouse. Skirting away with flailing limbs, hissing and cursing with a dangerous glare.

Jack’s shoulders shake as she stands nearby, observing the whole thing in sheer amusement. She remains the same even when Cyan has to stop himself from running into a plant in his escape.

“Jack! The hell!”

“What?!”

“Help me!”

She mocks an airy shrug, “Not my fault the damn bot fucking likes ya.”

“I-STOP!!”

Her laughter resumes. Garrus coughs, hiding his running chuckle. Shepard blinks, unsure. Liara’s brows furrow as she rests her hands on Shepard’s upper arms. “Wait.”

Garrus and Shepard turn to her.

“Illium’s security is usually airtight. Even with Cyan’s cover, they would be here right now and trying to bring him in as he would pose a security threat.”

“Yeah?” Shepard follows along. 

“My question is, how did you get past the front without raising any attention.”

Everyone pauses, all attention suddenly on the kid. It’s his turn to freeze,

“....Uh…..”

—-------------

“Grunt!-GRUNT! NO-DON’T!!!” Cyan screams as the Krogan hefts him onto his shoulder. Grunt forces him to shift around before bracing his arm. In throwing position

Thane watches from the side. “Cyan, I suggest you quiet down. Security will be here soon if you refuse.” He blinks, unconcerned. His arms rest behind his back. 

“TELL THE KROGAN TO STOP MAN-HANDLING ME!!” The hybrid growls loudly back. The temepary helmet he has muffles his voice to an extent. Still loud as ever however , Thane muses.

Grunt rivals him with his own agitated snarl, “Do you want to be over the fence or not, pijack? ” His chest piece barely grazes the electric fence. It’s pause in shocking him was thoughtfully done by the one and only Legion. 

His plates surrounding the light on his ‘head’ flares. “Cyan, we suggests-”

“Legion! I love ya man, I do- but NOT RIGHT NOW-” Cyan wiggles more, even pounding on the krogan’s back. “Grunt!! I said I take it back! I’ll deal with security!”

“.....Why must everyone ignore us?” 

Thane sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Grunt, just release him…..” A pause, “I mean-”

“Too late!” Grunt shines a gleaming smirk as he moves back and levels down slightly-

“Fuck-Grunt! No- seriously dude-” Cyan’s arms flail-

“Grunt-” Thane tries-

“Urdnot-Grunt, we believe-” Legion interjects but fails-

“Hehehe” Grunt tosses him up high- Cyan letting out what Thane can guess is his translator glitching to turian screeching swears- and the hybrid flies over the fence. 

The drell holds a wince- Legion’s light flickers- and Grunt keeps chuckling when they see the kid, quite pathetically flop onto the ground of the otherside. His limbs smack onto the ground only mili-seconds behind his face plant. 

A muffled voice picks up Thane’s ears. “Yes, Cyan?”

“... Flunk -ou ….”

“No problem” Grunt snides. He beams smugly by the confused/un-processing Legion and completely done with everything Thane.

Chapter Text

“CYAN VAKARIAN!!”

“Actually it’s Shepard-Vakaria-”

“Don’t correct your father” Jack playfully spits. 

“So you thought it was a good idea to HOP THE GATE?!” Garrus flacks an arm at him, jaw  gobsmacked. Shepard is just casually hopping through channels next to him. HoverBoard-IQ shines at the top, a nice list of all categories. Huh, they even have categories for just about each known alien race.

Considering the average weight of a Krogan is 800 pounds, ok yeah, that makes sense. Her nose crinkles, trying to image Wrex or Grunt on their own personalized hoverboard. Scary or cool?

“Well,” The hybrid’s jaw lags in his draw, “Here's the thing- I shouldn’t yucking exist right now- so! Remind me to give Grunt a good smack when we get back, eh?”

Scool. It’s scool.

“I’ll only tell him that if you want a beat down, kid.” 

Glyph appears beside the youngest one here. Literally like- he just plopped in. “Spirit-Jesus!-” Cyan forces down his yelp, spinning around towards the creep while simultaneously making haste for the space next to Garrus. He’s tall. He’s gonna keep the little fucker away, right?

Glyph beeps, “The next alleyway is clear, please take a left then another right. Soon you will reach your destination.”

“Any guards, Glyph?” Shepard checks, face down at her omni-tool.

“Ms. T’Soni has caused a distraction with their scanners.”

Shepard, seeming satisfied with that, shuts her omni-tool and takes the lead. Shopping is gonna have to wait. “Alright, let’s go kids.”

“Since when am I a kid?” Garrus feels in his right to question. 

“You’re squawking with one.”

“Oh, and Jack’s not.”

“Sorry- let me reiterate, with ‘two’” Shepard’s head peaks on both sides of the ally, double checking. Never can be too safe, amiright? 

They’re halfway down this one when Jack gets an inquiry. She kindly gets reminded to shush when her voice is a tad too loud. Her eyes roll and nose huffs,  “So, why exactly are we hiding from guards again? Couldn’t we just flash your Spectre shit and be done with it? I mean, people don’t do anything about Legion, not even fucking Katsumi when she looks like the most suspicious person in the galaxy.” 

“Cause people are too curious for their own good, and we still need to find out how exactly Cyan got here and how to send him back.” Their Commander variously waves. Garrus leans near at the wall, only to pull back when some smashed glass gets even more crushed under his boot. His mandibles wind in a grimace.

“Timeline-shit. Ain’t it a bitch?” Cyan opens his arms wide. His face, regardless of the half tint over it, really shows his enthusiasm. 

It matches how excited Jack is to see actual flipping guards around the corner. She scowls, “Great.”

They see the team before anything else can happen and quickly hustle towards them. Shepard groans, popping her neck before straightening her back.

“Commander Shepard,” The head guard steps up to plate. To his credit, the man keeps his gun lowered, as do the rest of his 4 unit squad. 

Shepard gives a nod back, her gun remains strapped to her back. “Sir whom I don’t know.”

“I apologize but your friend here shows violations as a security risk. We’d like to take him down to the station, just to check.”

Cyan scoots slightly. He’s lightly grateful for his helmet. Halfway it is, it hides his mandibles from flaring out too much. Garrus seemed to notice his possible struggle because as subtle as he can, the older turian knowingly fits himself nearly infront of Cyan. Much to his great relief. 

Jack crosses her arms, chin high as if waiting. Cyan doesn’t miss how she’s moved at least an inch or two to him.

“May I ask what the security risk is specifically?” Shepard tilts her head leanly. 

“No identification, Ma’am. As protocol goes, all visitors of Illium must check through security before entry.”

“Does that go for criminals, too?”

Cyan chokes on his coming squeak. More like incoming screech.

He darts to Garrus, suddenly frantic. What the hell- What is she doing?? 

Garrus waves him off. He must admit, he didn’t expect this either but- he remembers his breathing, all things involving Shepard are unexpected. Jack purely snorts. Her chin never wavers, holding onto its tilted up position, blatantly shoving off Cyan’s then glare at her. Oh, so she finds this funny?

Oh yeah, unmarked man. Top that with a criminal claim and suddenly he’s free to go, right? Nice. Nice to know his mom’s head is kept on straight.

The guard, not expecting this somehow, slows his head from Cyan to Shepard. “Uh…Excuse me, Ma’am?”

“This here,” Shepard’s body shifts, throwing an arm back at Cyan. The kid gets grabbed by Garrus, shoving him forward a bit. Cyan barely manages his legs not to stumble, regaining balance in mili-seconds. “Is Christer Sulligan- Overkill if you want to be one of his victims.”

The guard lets out a cough, “Is that a threat?” His hands briefly shuffle his gun, tensing.

“Wait!” The turian guard shirks and steps back, “You mean THE Overkill?”

Garrus clenches his mouth plates together- Jack raises a brow, Shepard’s eyes flash, blinking in surprise. Step one- step two- Cyan’s gradually counting centimeters in the opposite direction.

“Uh-” Shepard’s throat echos as she clears it, “Yep. The one and only.”

“Sir-” The lonely female officer taps at his shoulder, “I think we should go.”

“What?” He turns, mask holding his glare, “why?”

“Sir! Overkill is one of the most notoriously detrimental murderers in the galaxy!” The turian waves a hand up, “He’s got have the most utmost 1st degree charges since like 2171.”

“But- Hey wait, “ The leader’s without a doubt confused beyond belief. He sputters out his disbelief, “This man looks like he’s 20! That would have him killing since he was about 12.”

Shepard offers an unhopeful shrug, “I don’t know. We found him trying to change his face near the Trebia system.”

“Yeah, real ugly scene too-” Cyan stares in utter astonishment as Jack joins in the story telling. Putting on a good show of it too. No question that these uniformed men and woman are absolutely hooked. Though not able to see their faces, they’ve stopped moving entirely, gawking silently at her. 

She’s giving off a quick, yet gruesome summary of what they ‘saw’. Waving her arms out haphazardly-she almost hit him then did it again to actually hit him (He can see the last of the 4 unit squad clinging fast onto the turian’s arm at this out of the corner of his black/white sclera). 

Garrus tags in a gag at one point, glaring at Cyan, “Despicable, I’ve never seen anything more gruesome in my life and I’ve been on Commander Shepard’s team for nearly 100 ground-missions.”

Cyan, getting a cue- curls up a grin, sinful and full of as malice as he can, “I’d do it again too, if it weren't for your meddling AI and your pet.”

“Why isn’t he cuffed then?” The leader pokes. It causes a miff. Oh Saren- they forgot about that- UH.

Cyan rolls his shoulders, pulling a shrug, “You see-” His words bites off, tongue slamming shut with a clenched jaw. A punch to the gut sends him reeling to the ground. He’s huffing, coughing as he tries to stutter out something, anything. 

Shepard’s facing her team so in great relief, the guards don’t see her giving Jack- What the actual hell - look and mouthing the words with much annoyance. 

“We ran out.” Jack replies. 

“....It's spectre business.” Shepard finally says.

Dr. Chankwas’s tongue audibly clicks, shaking her head disapprovingly at the new bruise on Cyan’s side. Thankfully, it’s not big. It’s like one you would get from hitting your side on the corner of a table, stings like a bee, looks like a minor insult. 

“You’ll live.” She pats at his shoulder, giving the go to pull his shirt back down.

“Thanks, doc.”

“Oh hush, I didn’t hit ya that bad.” Jack chews on a ration bar, narrowing her annoyed gaze at the kid, “You're such a baby.”

“Wah wah!” Cyan sticks his tongue out, “Should I remind ya that I just got the stitches pulled out?”

“And?” She mocks back.

Jacob rubs a hand over his face, “Remind me why we’re on babysitting duty?” He asks Miranda who’s typing on her omnitool, head rolled to her. 

Without physically acknowledging him, “Because Shepard said to watch out for Grunt trying to come back for a second try which I still have no idea what she means.”

Cyan obviously does, he shrinks in his seat and plants his legs firmly onto the flooring. Hell to the no.

“Garrus.”

“Shepard- no.”

“C’mon!”

“I don’t think it’s gonna fit him.”

“But it’ll look so cute! C’mon.”

“You find varren cute and that’s saying something.”

She clicks her tongue, crossing her arms, “Cause they are.”

Garrus shakes his head, mandibles flickering. “Why do you even want to buy this now?”

“Cause I can.”

“Shep.”

It’s like talking to a brick wall. Shepard just grins, “You gotta admit- Doughnut needs a new shirt.”

“He’s a pet, hun.”

“No- I’m getting it. You won’t let me get Grunt anything so like it or not, I’m getting at least one of my kids something.”

Garrus’s head tilts back, groaning, “I think I have an idea now on how shopping for the future me is.”

“Buying cute things for our kids?”

“Grunt isn’t my kid.”

“He is now, neglectful brat.”

She ignores his shotted unimpressed look at her, swiping through the various ‘armors’ for her hamster.

They’re really just shirts with patterns similar to Hierarchy and Alliance uniforms. She spots other types of uniforms too, like ones from the Asari council, even a bit of Salarian and Krogan military gets added to the mix. 

“Picture this, babe-”

“Aren’t we-”

“Garrus Vakarian, Commander Shepard- and mini Wrex.” A little red Krogan patterned beams brightly at Garrus. 

He stares hard down at it before side-eyeing her, “Aren’t we supposed to be buying new parts for Cyan’s suit. It still counts as buying for the kids.” He uses exaggerated quotation marks at the last 4 words.

“Not cute things.” Shepard shrugs off.

“...You already bought the stuff, didn’t you?”

“Oh would you look at that,” The kiosk gets turned back to him, her mouth suddenly agape, “A blue turian armor that totally looks just like a certain asshole I know.”

“Blue and black, Shepard.”

“Oh right, crap.”

Chapter Text

“What do you mean, that movie came out a month ago! How can it not be for sale?” The salarian in front of her seems seconds from hissing, a fixed glare and clearly decidedly done with this conversation smeared across his face.

“Because of some copyright infringements. The developer had to pull back to avoid a blowup of their business.” He replies as cooly as he can, folding his arms.

The asari customer groans, rubbing her forehead, “Great. Ruined one of the best films I’ve seen in a long while by throwing it to the dogs.”

“You gonna buy something or not? I got a line behind ya!” 

She waves him off, giving a dismissive shake of the head as she strides out of the shop. She ignores odd looks from the impatient, pulling out her omni-tool with a light huff inturn. “Plans changed, Miri. Seems like your sweet romcom is dead to the galaxy now. The developer-”

“-Pulled the wrong strings and got him or herself in a hole that’ll be a struggle to pull from.” Another asari comes from around the corner of a kiosk stand. She smiles while her friend rolls her eyes. “I heard, dear.”

“You need to stop with that hacking stuff, or better yet-” Pelessaria’s lips show off her whites, “Teach me how to-”

“I gave you the tools. The rest is up to you, I told you, Pee Bee.” Miret calmly replies.

“You’re seriously not gonna tell me?”

“Some things you gotta figure out on your own, honey.”

Pelessaria’s hues give a roll, “Fine. Did you get the snacks at least?”

“You act like everything is turning dead suddenly. I thought you said you hated that movie, or..?” Her head leans, finger delicately playing over her omni-tool. Her friend turns to a sudden pale shade, thrusting up her hand with a viciously wagging finger. 

“Delete! Delete that footage!”

“You buy me something at the Marrove Bakery and I will.”

“Buy me the chocolate swirls there and I’ll buy one of those two in one deals..”

“Deal.” Miret’s eyes flash along her smile.

His mind his hazy.

Eyes droopy. Near burning feeling lingers on the surface.

His skin heated like a sauna in many places across his peach and brown body, mostly circling his legs and neck.

Chest heavy. From exhaustion? The painful bruises scattered about? He doesn’t know. In fact, part of him doesn’t care anymore. Doesn’t want to care anymore.

“..-”

The boy blinks, the small piece stuck against the side of his head, vibrates in a certain direction. The same way his head turns to.

Up ahead he sees his mom, her bright red hair clipped into a bun, her gray tank top and sweatpants she adores to wear as her usual weekend outfit. What he would give to see her like that again. 

So relaxed in her expression despite the scar across her lip and cheek. Old soldier eyes that he used to not understand as a boy, but now…he definitely does. Sad thought really, given how he’s only 21 years old.

Though, he supposes he only knows so much from his own experiences, nothing like what she had to go through. Nothing like what he's heard in museums, history forums, his Aunts and Uncles’ stories, and from that reluctantly annoying voice of the preacher who visits the Citadel’s gardens on late Saturday evenings. 

“..-!”

The device buzzes again before an arm wraps around his neck. It’s small, blue hued with spots that fade into white all over the elbow area and back of their palm.. His head turns again, catching mischief filled eyes. 

The boy next to him starts talking, but he can’t hear. His brow furrows, did he forget to-

The turian’s eyes get shot open when his side gets kicked, seemingly again. It causes him to fall off the uncomfortably cotted bed.

His device keeps buzzing, shaking on his side before he finally messes it with a shaky hand. 

“--oss wants you in his room. Make sure you’re suited up, freak.”

Finally eh?

He huffs through his nose, forcing himself to his knees. After checking over his wrappings, and with reluctancy, the man snapped on his suit. Stray wires poke him here and there but he only marks down an inspection in his mind to do when he returns. If he returns, it is still unclear what this group’s intentions are. 

It’s not to kill him, they would’ve done that long ago so that was marked off the list about 10 minutes after he was shoved into an unmarked cruiser. They want to use him. Judging by how they are only hitting him in places that are non-lethal upon surface level, they just want to intimidate him, make him believe they are stronger, that they won’t hesitate. 

Use him? He doesn’t know what for yet. It’s not money, possibly. He would’ve been tied up or caged during it all. 

Things are undecided, too many possibilities at play. So for now, he’ll be a good soldier like he was taught to be, swallow his pride and do what they say until he gets his chance.

What does Mr. Javik say? Lose the battle to win the war.

His helmet clicks, the visor lighting up despite its flecked system still disarrayed. He’ll play their game.

Then he’ll find his brother and give him a good punch in the face for the hell he’s being put through.

“Thane? What’s your status?” Shepard leans on the side of a closed kiosk, sliding through her omni-tool. Thane lets a small grunt, finally in position, high as an advantage point. “I’m here.”

Shepard nods and moves along, “Tali?”

“Here!” Her voice is quieter coming through, a bit more hushed. Given her spot is more near the crowd, lingering on the sidelines of a turian shelter for cover, it’s probably for the best.

“Cyan?”

“Here, Commander.” The boy waves in her direction, shifting on his feet. “You sure this will work?” A stray cat rubs it’s side on his armored leg, causing him to lift it up briefly. As he mutters for it to go away, Shepard gets back to him.

“Yeah yeah,” Her hand gets fluttered dismissively, “It will, kid. Don’t worry.”

“Considering the circumstances, I feel otherwise.” He passively mutters.

Good ol’ Tali hops into the conversation, hoping to quickly quell the boy's doubts, “Relax, Cyan. Shepard knows what she’s doing. We’ve been through many missions greatly similar to this before.”

“Stake outs in the daytime?” 

At least the beaming light from the Citadel is not as hellish as Earth’s summers. Was down there for a vacation with his parents and the older folks and was surprised he still had to go inside periodically to cool off. Damn his human genes.

Then again, he did have to wear an enviro-suit when he visited Palaven on a trip with Dad so..eh.

“Even stake outs in the daytime.”

“Did you ever have them in your timeline, Cyan?” Thane chimes in. Cyan raises a brow at what he feels best to assume is..amusement in his tone. 

“Yes sir, I did. Few times with my colleagues in training actually.”

“Thane, wasn’t the mission with Kolyat a stake out mission?” 

“I believe it was, Shepard.”

“See Cyan! We’ve done it recently!”

Cyan’s flattened nose twitches with a puff, “Ok. Ok. I get it. I’ll trust the professionals.”

“Did you not before?” Tali giggles. She moves further out of the way when a turian couple walks past, chatting idly to themselves.

“ I’ll get back to you when I figure out who exactly is a professional on the ship.”

EDI’s silent alert flashes across all screens, double time on Shepard’s. They’re near.

“Okay Losers, stakeout just got more interesting.” Shepard’s finger taps on her head piece, “Keep an eye out, we can’t lose this lead.”

“Aye Aye, Commander.” Cyan nods, checking through and adjusting his scanner settings as he sees fit.

Thane pulls out his sniper rifle. No shooting, they need the suspect alive after all. An extra eye if you will. “Will do, Shepard.” Said the Drell, giving a final needed check before assuming position.

Tali all but makes a confirmed humming noise, again- can’t be too loud where she’s at.

All the anticipation, all the nerves in Cyan feel like they’ve all jumped at attention. His eyes behind the helmet flick to any sign, any odd movements from the people around him- only to falter in slight disappointment when it ends up as nothing on the scanner. His hands go back and forth between twiddling with his helmet’s side, tapping on it as if he’s testing it’s surface- like his gloved hands will change anything- and tapping through his omni-tool. 

Thane hasn’t said a word of his fidgeting, probably because can’t see him well from his position. 

No wonder he never seemed cut for these types of jobs. He remembers how his mom laughed at the unsuccessful events on his first stake-out mission in training all because he was too fidgety, too urgent to get the show going already. It was enough for her to drag in a comment of how he was just like his father. 

Cyan smirks but it’s fond, not his usual bravado/cocky for his own good ones. 

The ‘squawk’ as his mother called it- that his father let out before his immediate protests, claiming he wasn’t that bad. It was quickly shot down when she reminded him of how they met in the first place and the position he was dealing with at the time. Of course, she did it in a way of telling Cyan and letting his dad hear it loud and clear. Oh how his Dad turned swiftly silent afterwards. (He did start laughing about it a minute or two later however; never realizing how Mom was smiling so warmly in his direction mid-laugh.)

Damn. 

The anxiety is coming back now. He just wants to be home. Be back with his folks, seeing the home he grew up with, all his aunts and uncles that seemed to be spread all over the galaxy yet still so close.  Never thought he’d be this homesick before til now. 

Now I know the first thing on my to-do list when I get back.

…….

… .If I get back.

“Cyan, do you hear me?”

Cyan raises a finger to his head-side, “Loud and clear, Sir.”

“The target is closing towards 9th street.” Good thing they brought one of the deadliest Drells in the galaxy with them. People-finding is no issue to him.

A check to his scanner and….it’s popping up. About 2 blocks near his location. “Got it. I’m on my way.”

“Cyan, when you find them, wait for one of us to get there before engaging.” Shepard tries to advise. To his credit, the boy knows it’s possibly the safest option. 

“I’ll try.” And away he goes. He cuts through some of the built up crowds, shuffled by people with small ‘Excuse me’s and ‘Sorry’s; his eyes staying almost completely glued to his omni, he can’t let this person go.

It takes him a hot second but finally he reaches the corner that will turn onto the street the person remains around. EDI has done her part and went ahead to cut down the location to just one person rather than just a crowd sighting on the scanner. So now Cyan just has to find the person in real life and he’s got a punch in the case.

A few more meters and he’s standing by a small bakery, swiveling his head left and right in his search. 

The scanner is burning at this point, screaming “THEY ARE RIGHT HERE” with their constant vibrating on his arm.

It isn’t until he tries to walk a bit further, that the location suddenly goes silent. Oh please don’t-

“What the?” He mutters, his other arm raising up to smack his omni, “Oh c’mon, I thought I fixed this fucking thing.” Great. Just Great. His tool just decided to bounce out cause we obviously need the kid to suffer more, right? 

With Cyan’s omni acting up, not wanting to play nice anymore, he never realizes the two people walking up towards him. 

Something smacks right dab into his upper back, causing the armored man to stumble a little. A small yelp of surprise escapes him but when he spins around to find out what it was- he has to bite his tongue from letting out a bigger one.

“Shit-Miret! Are you alright?” An young asari in a purple jacket and black leggings half-crouches next to another Asari, though a bit taller and in an orange favored day dress who seems to have fumbled to the ground. She winces, picking up the medium sized box with what used to be perfectly made chocolates treaties inside. Except half of the box fell out and got some smeared onto her front. 

“Yeah, don’t fluster too much, Peebee.” She sighs in defeat. So close to enjoying her sweet goodies.

Presumed Peebee flushes, “Hey hey, I wasn’t flustering! I was making sure you’re okay.”

“My sweets aren’t.”

“Seriously?”

“They are a great loss.” So much sullenness in her voice. Cyan gulps, freezing in place.

“..Uh..You okay there, Soldier?” Peebee raises an exaggerated brow at him, her friend looking up with a ‘hm?’”

“Oh!” It didn’t seem to click that someone was there. “Oh, my apologies, dear! I didn’t see you there.”

Cyan finally wakes up, “O-oh, Yeah!” His head shakes, “No wait, sorry. Let me start back: Are you okay?” His hand reaches out, a tad nervously if they noticed. They didn’t but Peebee narrows her eyes at him a little.

Miret offers a calming smile, taking the given help and pulling herself up. Peebee grabs some napkins from the outside table closest to them and starts trying to help clean off the mess on her friend’s outfit. As she huffs over it, muttering to herself, Miret has the box floating beside her. 

“Are you okay? I didn’t bump into you too harshly, yes?” She feels deeply compled to ask the unknown soldier before them as she wipes off her top.

He shakes his head again, politely waving off her concerns, “Oh that, nah. I’m good. Startled but fine. I was more worried about you, and…” He gestures to the mess, “that?..Sorry.”

Miret laughs, “ It’s just a small mishap.”

“But your ‘great loss’?” His hands do the quotation marks, which she giggles at, face turning a bit rosy around the cheeks.

“I enjoy sweets a great deal, but it was just an exaggeration. I still have more anyways.”

“Right right.” He nods, fumbling in place a bit.

Almost there, Shepard skids into the shopping district, her head going left and right. “You see anything, Thane?” She asks.

Theres a short silence on his end, the drell making it over different ledges, “No…Wait- Now I do.”

The human hears a quick hiss from his side, then he lets a small prayer as he states after, “Beside Cyan.”

It takes a second, but she sees exactly what he means. Lining her omni-tool scanner with the area Cyan is in-

The woman beside him, the one wiping stuff off her clothes, glows bright red with EDI showing off her profile tag on the side.

Miret Ieshi

Species: Asari

Age: 2- Error- Unknown corruption.

Origin: Only gathered information shows blood link to Salarian bloodline known commonly as: The Vozus. Mother is- Error- Unknown Corruption

Last Known Sighting: Funeral Home- The Final Slumber- 4 years prior

Occupation: Professional Systems Engineer- Freelancer

The rest all comes up saying Unknown Corruption or coming up from years ago, nothing new.

All except for the last line on the dossier.

Added File:

Favorite Thing/ Payment: White Chocolate. : D

A dangerous enemy indeed.

Chapter Text

“Cyan-” ZZZT! ZZZT-”an!”

Cyan ducks his head to the side, pressing on his ‘ear’ piece, “Yes, Captain.”

Miret brushes off the cut in their conversation, finally getting the last of the sweety goodness off her dress. PeeBee duly rolls her eyes, patting down once more then flicking the napkins in the trash.

“--he!- Zrrt! - front- you!”

“Hm?”

“Well, I’m guessing your supperors wouldn’t like you distracted from your righteous duties, huh?” PeeBee’s arms fold, slightly cocking her hip out. Her friend is soft with her giggle, “Please, Peebee. Don’t act so harshly, Citadel soldiers do a well enough job for their due credit.”

“Eh, your friend’s got her opinions. You don’t even want to know mine.” Cyan sidely says. Miret smiles while PeeBee’s glare can’t get any harsher.

“What’s your name, if I may ask?” Miret keeps the conversation up.

Shepard rubs her head, as much as she can anyway, helmet in the way and all. She tries to come through again. “ Cyan Shepard-Vakarian- oh god that feels so weird to say - Answer right now, young man!” 

Tali sounds almost teasing, “Now you’re starting to sound old, Shepard.”

“I’m only 29, give me a break.”

“Are we still counting your 2 years away?”

“Ya mean dead? No need to sugarcoat, Tali. And since I didn’t get my giant overtime payment from the Alliance, no.” Shepard, the all around personification of dark humor. Ladies, Gentlemen, and Persons , this is your glorious savior of the Galaxy.

Thane isn’t amused, “Shepard, we need to get to Cyan.”

“I can’t exactly walk up there outta nowhere, Thane. It could blow Cyan’s cover. I need this kid sent back alive, not dead.”

“Can this person even do that much damage? She looks like more of an office person.” Tali says, but her tone is never underestimating, just unsure.

“It says on her Dossier that she’s a Professional Systems Engineer, but after mine and Garrus’s hybrid child’s appearance became a thing, anything is possible now. Literally.”

“I still want to know how that even scientifically happened.”

“Ask Mordin, he’s got some theories at play- now, time to get back to work.”

“I’ve been working, Shepard.” Thane interjects. If Shepard didn’t know any better, she might take his words as offended.

“Aye aye.”

Time for Ms. Super awesome, badass leader moment. Ok. Fair crowd, possible chance of this turning into a hostage situation with the amount of people passing by, unknown weapons/physical threat besides biotics, future son and possibly unknowing companion right next to the target. 

This is a bit tricky, but Shepard’s sure she can think of something. After all she’s dealt with much worse before.

“Hey Thane, Tali. I need you to pose as a married couple, checking on your soldier son and-”

“Absolutely not.” The drell throws that idea and Shepard’s smile goes down quick.

“Orion Valerian?” Miret’s brow rose. Cyan has his arms crossed, nodding along. 

“Is that turian for something?” Peebee’s suddenly interested, albeit not much, but compared to earlier she is. Her hand flaps nonchalantly in her question.

“Aye, ma’am.” Cyan’s head dips again. 

“Don’t call me ma’am, please and thank you.”

“It’s a rather handsome name, who picked it?” Miret tilts her head, smile as sweet as strawberries his mom always loves. Cyan’s almost inclined to give her the more accurate answer.

“My mother. She was in the military, felt it would be a good name for a son, y’know?” Miret’s eyes flash, her grin twitches.

“Your mother? What type of military category was she in?”

“Hard to say, she got switched out for a while.”

“Multiple positions then?”

“Sure.”

A small light and a beep comes from Peebee’s omni, pausing the conversion. Keeping it short, Peebee checks and soon, grooaaan. “Shoot biscuits.”

“Something wrong?”

“I need to go. ‘Linda asked me to pick up something real quick. You and soldier boy here…”Her lips purse, eyeing the man up and down, “Don’t trust him all the way, ‘aight?”

“I’ll be just fine,” Miret laughs off her concern. Peebee still gives the guy another side-eye, gives her friend a small seeya , and is off into the crowd, on her omni as quick as a daisy.

With her gone. Cyan notices the immediate change.

“So…Orion, huh?” The beautiful asari in front of him turns back from watching her friend, a smirk curling into her lips.

Cyan feels a smirk coming on his own mandibles.

“Fish farm.”

“Fishes? And you already tried to say Palavan as our living place.” Garrus can’t stop his loud, loud scoff.

“The woman has a fish tank embedded into her wall, you really think she wouldn’t??” Joker baffles at him. After another odd look thrown his way, Joker veers towards the screen in front of him. 

“I don’t know, but Delilah’s more likely to have a hamster farm than a fish farm.” Comments Garrus.

“Why’s you think that?”

“I think that because of the 12th fish I had to pull out from there not even 3 hours ago.” The back of his armor is cushioned as he leans more that way, “Besides, at the rate she’s going with ‘kids shopping’, I’d say Cyan’s going to have a lot of ‘siblings’ named after his aunts and uncles.”

“Did she seriously buy that Krogan hamster costume?”

“It’s for Earth’s Christmas apparently, and it's the Wrex version by her standards by the way.” Garrus goes nodding. 

Joker barks a laugh, “Oh man! Remind me to tell her what design my hat is. I can’t wait to see you guys during the holidays for that specific thing. And only that, nothing else.”

“Got it. No Uncle Joker for the hybrid kid. Just the hamster one.”

Snickering like a chester cat, Joker prods some buttons, checking through cameras as routine goes. Albeit, He doesn’t have to do it so much, considering the amount of trained assassins (one), super humans (does Cyan count in the already present 2 ½?), and outright would-rather-bite-your-hand-than-shake-it people/aliens on board (Grunt, Jack, and Zaeed.). Oh, and a woman who will psych your mind out of it’s skull just by talking about your feelings to such uncomfortably fathomable degrees. Cough cough- Kelly- Cough.

Maybe it’s just something Joker’s used to when on the first Normandy? Maybe it has to do with events before the suicide mission? Who really knows.

No- Stop it, Edi. Joker swipes away Edi’s unneeded messages popping on the side, filtered heavily in red. The little ball of her on the side flickers.

He ignores the idea of a stare from an AI with no eyes.

“So…have you thought about it?” His voice makes nonchalant seem easy.

Garrus takes a second longer, “You know, I never get humans and their tendency to say a line like that and expect anyone in the room to immediately understand what they are talking about.”

“Right, and turians don’t say that either? Like, ever?”

“Only when the little sister gets too nosy is when I can at least comprehend it.”

“I’ll take that yes.” Joker doesn’t hear him, but he sees the naw of his jaw, muttering something too low. Low enough the translator doesn’t even try and pick it up. “You know how..well obviously you know how Cyan’s existence alone is surprising.”

“Trust me, I’ve been thinking it and the kid’s been here for nearly two weeks now.”

A thought pauses in Joker’s idea, “How does Shepard feel about it? She’s hard to tell outside of being a heroic idiot. At least to us non-romanced guys and gals.” 

A puff of chuckles leaves Garrus, quickly before a unruffled sigh, “ I think…accepting is a good word. Maybe? She acts excited about it but I think this Reaper problem is her first concern. If it was out of the way, no doubt she’d probably show more about it. I mean, how are we supposed to fully enjoy the idea of kids when we might not live long enough to get bonded..”

At Joker’s confused frown, Garrus perks only slightly, “Uh- I mean, like married. That’s just our word for it.”

“Oh, right right.” He nods, then continues on, “ Going on that…you do realize that if Cyan is possible, then that means..”

“Our ‘peaceful future’ is possible?”

“One that we win the war on.”

A swallow in the pilot's throat, “Look, I’ve never doubted Shepard. Since the moment we met, I already knew and trusted she was someone that got the job done. I mean, she didn’t have that reputation of ruthless for a while for nothing, am I right? I think it was a little before the first Normandy when she eased up more.”

“Yeah..I remember that. Let me tell you, when she greeted me with a smile on Omega more than her usual nod she did, it was the only time I had a small doubt it was her.”

Joker agrees, “And though she’s more open now, I’m glad some of her old habits stayed. Shows Cerberus wasn’t kidding at all about bringing her back. Bad shopping habits and all.”

But he wasn’t done about before, “But yeah, I never really doubted her, never thought for a moment that she was less than what she said. And while I still think that, I’m..I guess I’m a little, y’know..”

“Worried?” Provides Garrus.

“Well yeah . We are up against something that wiped out the Protheons, a race that literally made the way we travel around the galaxy at breakneck speed. Maybe we will take them down? Maybe we’ll all end up dead doing it? Who really knows?”

“..Maybe Cyan.”

“Dude-” Joker’s head snaps up. Garrus blinks, matching the wild eyed look. “What?”

“Have you ever watched any sci-fi flick? At all? Even once?”

“...No?” The hesitancy is there and honestly, with the look Joker sears into him, a flash of shame closely washes him. 

“You never ask the future teller the future!”

“What?” His jaw snaps. Not of anger. 

“Never! It’ll be the damned butterfly effect!”

“ What in spirit's name is that?” Garrus’s cry turns incredulous. Humans and their weird words, spirits!

Until now, EDI has been minding more of the Normandy's controls than the conversation itself. However, that quickly flips.

She bleeps up, flocking their attention. “It’s a theory made back in the 1960s of early human history. According to general resources, it states, “ -that when a butterfly moves its wings, it can cause a cyclone in another part of the world. It has become, in modern times, a metaphor for the existence of seemingly insignificant moments that alter history and the shape of destiny.”

To simplify it, EDI says, “If you were to ask Cyan what happens in the future, your knowledge of said future can alter the fabric of events in time.”

“In short- we could die without a doubt.” Joker adds.

“And as theory goes,” Edi’s little hologram appears on the console between them, “If Jeff payed more attention, perhaps he could’ve noticed Cyan’s figure getting attacked on the monitors.” She provides a useful example.

“Yeah-” Both freeze; Said guy’s head spinning around like a top. “Hold on, what?! The kid was attacked?”

Garrus is out of his seat before a word has slipped. He rounds closer, joining in on the monitor viewing.

A blue dot gets maximized, bringing in a more colored figurative of Cyan getting thrown close to half a block. All away from a purple dot flickering from red and back.

The radio window filters in at Joker’s command, desperate for Shepard’s comms.

“C’mon, c’mon..” His teeth drag. 

Garrus braces his arm on the chair, “Shepard? Shepard are you there?”

“Normandy to Shore Party, what’s going on?”

The thing finally breaks open. 

Her voice is coming in sharp, breathing quick as a whip, cueing that she was running.

“-There’s two!”

“What?” Garrus can’t believe it. 

There’s nothing else on the monitors besides Thane’s green dot, Shepard’s light scarlet, Tali’s pink, and of course- Cyan’s blue and the target’s.

“There’s two people! Cyan just got thrown by a turian!”

Chapter Text

Eyes dazed, distorted or faded noises take to white noise, thundering and fleeting footsteps are going all around him. Maybe they go in a specific direction, maybe they don’t. 

Hard to say when it sounds like screaming chickens are passing by miles per mere seconds.

This isn’t good. 

Glass crushed into armored elbow, left to flail off right as he lifts up. His mandibles flair, little wags in anxious air. Hot air that beats into the already adrenaline fuming atmosphere. 

Cyan strains his ears, reaching up-

His helmet- Wait- Spinning his head left and in seconds, right, the helmet is spotted. Meters away, a large crack smitted along the lenses. Glass poured onto the concrete below.

No more helmets for Cyan, then. His mind hisses, an aggravated headache beating on his now exposed head. Why the helmets though?? Poor helmets.

His head is practically servicing a spinning top with how many times it spins, pinning onto movement a good ways ahead of him. Oh right.

That.

The person.

Can a beast be considered a person? Cyan has never, and he means never, seen a turian of that stature before.

Tall and strangely substantial in size. Meaty looking, as if the armor was merely added on for clothes instead of armor armor. Additionally, his proportions just look..wrong. 

Turians, excluding himself, have always been tall, yes, but skinny. If they weren’t scrawny skinny, then they were just muscular to a certain amount. Nothing like humans.

Sure he’s seen an odd few, but can this massive new hybrid before him be considered one of those?

Besides..the only other turian he’s seen even a quarter close to that is-

He intentionally pops his thought bubble; the concept of dodging the coming cart flying at him turning better appealing. His legs scramble, bending into a roll that has him feeling the grazing wind on his shoulder. 

Then he’s able to right himself fully, unclipping his gun. 

“The sky’s gettin’ real low-”

The turian- nah, we gonna call him the beast. Not the whimsical romance one. The bloody- gonna take all yer lives away-deadly one. 

The Beast thunders towards him, a creature loyally on the mission of havoc. Cyan braces his legs, and once in range, probably a nice step from closing the distance, he swivels on it and snatches The Beast’s arm. Using the bull like momentum, thanks Newton, he pilots his path into an open-ended kiosk. 

Cyan’s face twists, wincing at the crash. 

Was that a crack in the desk? Damn.

Now..With half his attention on the momentarily stunned assaulter, azure blood drips down his forehead as he takes back to Miret.

The woman clings to the table, having been thrown to the side when that thing showed up and landed a good one on Cyan. Her face is stale pale, purple blooming behind the shrunken pupil as she witnesses the fight in shock. Feasibly horror.

So she doesn’t know this guy. A resigned conclusion. 

Then her eyes flicker to him. 

She can’t turn her eyes any wider like she wanted.

They spread around his face, picking at every detail. Growing from his hair to his fluttering mandibles.

The face doesn’t surprise him in an experience sense but…

Isn’t she the one they’ve been after? Shouldn’t she already know what he looks like?

Or at least know his hybrid origins?

“LOOK OUT-!”

A tickle in the air. He forces himself out of the way. 

The guy is back up, and can’t look any angrier.

The guy learned his lesson and stops his himself, veering back towards Cyan with a kick into the ground. 

Ah shit.

Shepard vaults over the fallen advertisement stand, features of a new Krogan outfit at some famous store glitching in and out before abruptly cutting off, and legs it to the scene.

“ A turian ? ” Joker’s gape is evident in his voice.

Shepard eh’s as she dogged a tarnished table, “More like a Krogan-turian hybrid but sure.”

“ Is everything becoming half-turian all of a sudden?? ” Garrus squawks through the monitor.

“Given our situation, I hope not. No offense, babe.”

“ None taken. At all. ” 

She comes more into the scene, her Avenger high and clutched tight.

Up ahead, the fight is tense. Miret, the ‘suspect’ they’ve been after, is still frozen at the sight of the young turian brawling-more like scrambling away from- with the larger one, holding her arm as if it was hit in the run in.

Shepard ends up a bit aways as she keeps her gun on the new target, “What the hell is that?!” Protocol and common sense says to wait for an opening, to avoid hitting her teammate, but she’s starting to believe one won’t come soon. They’re too close to each other. Anytime Cyan gets somewhat away, he’s getting pulled back or run at faster than anyone can blink. 

Miret sends a frantic look over, “I-I, I don’t know!”

“You don’t know that guy??”

“No! He just ran up and flung him” She motions towards Cyan, a tinge of peculiar worry in her eyes.

A tsk slips before Shepard decides, fuck it, and closes in on Cyan’s location. While keeping a distance, “Kid, you need a hand??” She shouts.

“I got it!” Cyan calls back. He holds up a large metal plating like a shield, bouncing the Beast away from him. The Beast comes back, harder and with a growl that can shake bones. 

A grt and Cyan relents, “I don’t got it!”

The surroundings are full of wreckage and riddles of the fight. Shepard doesn’t play games like frisbee or football often, last time she tried out was probably back in the academy; a lifetime ago when she was less communicative yet people still picked her out for her good aim. So plucking up a grand but flingable slate, she doesn’t hesitate to ricochet it into the thing holding her son down, clawing for his exposed throat.

His stunned state allows Cyan to shove him off, flinging himself backwards while trying for his gun again.

The Beast is a great name. If you asked anyone else. 

He turns, and before she knows it, it’s coming after Shepard.

Shepard swaps through her gun rack, aims and fires 3 shots of M-5 Phalanx directly in his face . Or helmet for that matter. 

The explosion it gives sets off in an instant, lighting up the helmet like a bonfire. A howl like sound rips from his throat as his hands fly to his head, scratching at the helm’s lock. He stumbles around, making guttural noise after another. Out of pain, and no doubt, seething anger. 

In the meantime, Shepard skirts past the Beast, getting nearly clipped on the shoulder as if he heard her through the fire, and runs to Cyan’s aid. Cyan groans at her arm yanking but he lets himself get pulled up.

Shepard has no hesitation in moving them away. She surveys the area and the enemy they’re dealing with. A side of her inclined to call for backup, unsure of this guy’s capabilities; another side is challenging that motion with strategies and opportunities laying around them. 

“We can’t keep playing tennis with this guy, we need something other than smacking him around with metal slaps.”

Cyan clicks through his pistol, “And I doubt that armor can take simple bullets.” His hands shoved out the overheated thermo clips, and hurries for a replacement at his side, “Besides, we need Thane and Tali to go after Miret.”

She’s crossed at first, then she gets it once she sees the lonely table by the Cafe. No asari suspect in sight.

“Damn it.” She curses. 

The comms turn on, “ Tali, Thane. Miret Ieshi is on the run. We need her intel. ”

“ On it, Commander .” Thane crackles through the radio.

“ Shepard, what about you? Do you need backup sent? ”

“ About that… ” 

As if a demonstration is needed, the Beast at last gets the ability to pull the helmet off, a sharp growl lingering in the air.

“ Take a raincheck on that. Just focus on the Asari. ”

While Tali ends with an affirmative, the guy makes his turn to the hybrid and human meters behind him. His face stops both of them in their tracks.

“What-”

“The fuck?” Cyan’s mandibles start fluttering more. 

The face is like a horror movie. They were right about the turian bit; his face looked like any common turian man. The difference being the lack of mandibles, and uh….jaw. 

He has no jaw. 

I repeat.

No Jaw.

Where his jaw would be is wires, dark and shoved under the metal and upper half of the turian’s head. All trail under the armor, likely connecting to somewhere equally horrific. The rear of his neck has little compartments like spikes sticking out, hollow blue lights blinking out of the holes. His face looks just as screwed up, rough and almost..dead looking. There's metal stuck to his forehead and around the eyes, giving off a doll theme with the ‘stitching’ works. Moreover, metal is drilled into his fringe, a rather uncomfortable spot for many, many turians. 

Cyan may not have a fringe like his dad or his side of the family, but he knows just as much as Shepard how painful it can be if not handled right.  So he’s rightfully wincing alongside her as we speak.

The last thing worth mentioning is the eyes; bright yet so hollow. Truly a corpse seemingly reanimated just for someone’s sick entertainment. 

That’s what anyone would have thought if they didn’t know the Reapers.

“Does that-”

“Look like Reaper technology?” Shepard regrets her nod already. “Yep.”

Conrad Verner has been having just the most joyous day today. First his tremendous work undercover has finally paid off, giving him close insight on an incoming Cerberus plan to come in the later months. Those torturous traitors, the only reason he finds them any amount of useful is the fact they brought Commander Shepard back, but without that, he’s just as against them as the rest of the majority held in the Galaxy. 

Second, Citadel News reports of Shepard sightings nearby.

 It’s still a renowned spectacle. Commander Shepard is back from the dead, still fighting as ferocious as ever. And if rumors are true, she’s dealt a huge blow on the mysterious group kidnapping innocents from human colonies. 

He’s heard bits and pieces; contacts from people connected to the handful of the group she’s been running around with lately.  She’s still going, so hopefully whatever information he’s gathered can help in her rancid fight.

Putting one proud boot after the other out the door, he waves bye to the turian barista and makes his way into the Citadel streets. 

This place is always hectic, either by C-Sec means or citizen lives in general. People going up and down the streets day and night, cars flying up-above like it’s no one’s business. 

Sounds of shouting don't prick at his ears too much. Every now and then, there will be a group of teens or the flaky kid passing by, enjoying the innocence of youth even if they don’t realize it periodically. 

His head flies up at the sound of un-ending swearing and yelps of surprise. The various groups up ahead flank to the sides, people scrambling to get out of the way. An eclectic blue glow emits from a flying table, the object in it’s hold going up, hovering, then shooting behind it like a bullet.

Seconds pace and out runs an asari woman, occasionally taking risky glances behind her.

Verner can’t spot her follower at all. Too many people in the way.  

The woman beelines his path, yanking or shoving people out of her way, clinging for escape.

This is his chance! Maybe this lady is trying to hide from people! Those crooked types that infiltrate the calm lives of those around him. 

He steps up, bracing his arms in suspended air, “Ma’am! What’s the matter?  Is everything-” 

The woman brutally slams into him. It knocks both senses off course and into the frayer. 

With a ditzy head, her fingers snag into his shirt. 

Verner shakes off his fuzziness and holds onto her shoulders, “Ma’am? Ma’am! Are you ok?”

The asari looks up at him, eyes wide in something he can’t decide over. It’s fear, some anger, and lingering shock it seems. Her mouth unlocks from it’s frozen state and-

“VERNER!” 

The owner of said name shoots his head up.

Purple flashes in the crowd, mixed with a garden-like green and black. His eyes squint, why does the purple look familiar though…? Is it just him or does it really?

A grunt of something frustrated huffs at his ears, then the hands on his chest start gripping tighter. One flies to his side and in a moment too soon for it to click in Verner’s head, he’s off flying off to the side. 

This wouldn’t be so bad usually. He’d simply fall to the side, get a bruise or two, the real worse being a concussion honestly. 

..If he wasn’t planted right next to the side of one part of the Citadel, where transit cars and whatnot are passing by miles per minute, rendering the sight to blurred colors. Oh, and the open air, where the only closest platform is floors down.

So he goes flying, the woman goes running, and people around him go yelling from the sight entirely. 

He can’t even scream, his mind goes blank, eyes sticking open as best they will it. He’s stuck yet continuous in motion. 

The world hurls around him, spinning and swirling. He can see his life reflecting in the closest cars, and he’s unable to think past it. Is..is that a good thing or bad thing?

He’s spent so much time trying to live up to Shepard’s image. Up to humanity’s image. What is he doin-

Fingers lace his wrist and he’s being pulled back. 

Hands paw at his shoulders as he sinks back onto the Citadel street, arms shaking, eyes watching but not seeing.

“Verner? Verner!” His head picks up and meets his reflection. His mind reels but soon enough slows. Tali’Zorah? 

The shorter in stature seems suddenly taller as she’s knelt to his form. 

“Are you alright?”

Before he can respond, a beat of silence between the two as his mouth fails at forming words, a voice, gruff and hurriedly calls her name. In the same direction the asari ran off to. 

Tali looks around in a fumble, stretching back up, hand lingering on his shoulder. She points out to a citizen, “Can you please make sure he’s well? I gotta go.”

At the other man’s stunned nod, she pats his shoulder, “Stay out of trouble, Verner!” and breaks away to follow after. 

Verner gets hauled to his feet by a few people.

In the midst of all of this, one thing pops up big and bright in his mind. He needs to tell Shepard.

Thane vaults over the taken down table, feet snapping back to the ground before he’s off again. He keeps his breathing steady as could be. He doesn’t have too much trouble with it, but admittedly has a tougher time than years before. It can never deter him however, his fight with the asari he welcomes if need be.

He hears Tali call back out something, the woman catching up to them, then her drone shoots past him. Electricity grazing the sleeve of his jacket as it fires up.

This asari is fast is notably fast, a witty thinker, and a heedful strategist. So when she purposely ducks through a gathered crowd on the left, he’s surprised to some degree. It’s a long crowd, and though people left and right of her are falling or stumbling back in shock, it’s too much for the two to get through without the chance of losing her being so great.

Tali slips out a hiss, calling Chatika back in an instant. The electricity cuts off but it obeys immediately. 

“I can’t get her with Chatika in this crowd.”

“Then we’ll have to pick her out.” Thane slides across a plant area, knocking some dirt onto the prime streets while Tali shoots around it, desperate to keep up.

“How?” Her legs burn. It’s taking all her strength to keep up with Thane alone, furthermore with the swift asari.

Tali rears to a stop, chest heaving graciously as her mask fogs up. She lifts a hand whilst looking around, pressing a button that helps clear up the inconvenience. 

Citadel has many different types of streets. A number with tall skyscraper buildings, few with open areas for parks or event purposes, others decorated shopping plazas like the one they left Shepard and Cyan at to fight off whatever it was. 

The crowd here is huge; people going left and right, up and down the streets, busy and bustling around like everyone does on a crazy Monday.

She gets off looks but she ignores them. Its a response grown over the last previous years honestly. From being a quarian, to being THE quarian on Shepard’s team of misfits. 

If she had to be completely honest with herself, it always bothered her. She never said a thing about it, never mentioned a peep besides slide remarks shared with the others. She’s sure they have similar attitudes of the concept, but-

Oh vot , she’s getting off track. She takes a deep breath in, the airducks of her suit giving a soft, subtle whirring noise, 

Sizing up the situation around her, she’s pulling at all her options.

She can probably send out Chatika, but Miret might bolt at the sight of it. Yelling is also an option, but again, Miret will hear and find a way to hide. 

She could hack into the cameras- No, wait. Too long with the short time she has.

Hm..

Her mask swishes around, her teeth gnawing her lip. Think Tali Zorah! You’ve hacked through, taken apart, and hijacked geth. You’ve been put through a fiery tube to help your friends path their way into the Collector base, all with fire licking at your boots. You’ve help decode a time-bented message to meet your future nephew. 

You can think of a way!

…Most likely…

Maybe…?

Thane cuts through their private comm, “Tali. Do you see the target?”

She hesitates, a pinch in her gut, then her hand trails up, “Uh…I…”

Tali erupts in a mixed squeal/screech in the tumbled out words, “There’s two more Fleet and Flotilla movies?!!” 

Cyan eventually answers, right after his hearing comes back to him. Rubbing the area where his ‘ear’ is, “I’m starting to regret saying anything.”

“No!” Scrambling up from her spot on the other side of the couch, Tali scoots over in seconds, “No! Don’t! I asked after all!” The news, the most gracious news she could have ver heard reverts back, “They make 2 more movies??”

Cyan nods and tips his head back, swallowing down the rest of his drink. It clanks against hers on the table before them, scattered bowls and snacks lining the rest. 

Usually, she’d do a Joker and not ask a word about her future. I mean- it’s the future, full of scares like no other. And not only that, but plus her being a main crewmate on Shepard’s team? Whoo, nerves bite her like the bugs all the humans complain about in the damp parts of grounds.

 But honestly? When an opportunity presents itself, she can’t help but give into the possibilities, the ideas. Who wouldn’t be a little curious?

“I think the 2nd came out when I was like 8-no 9. And the 3rd came out when I turned 14.” His neck bends to the side, towards her but facing the TV screen a good grouping meters away. “My parents didn’t let me watch it either until I was 15 at least.”

Uh..well, Fleet and Flotilla isn’t exactly rated R but she can see the concern. Good on them, she supposes. Her curiosity is yet to be sated nevertheless. 

Her fingers prick at each other, head wanting to tilt, “So..Uh, how good..how good were they?”

Cyan scratches at his head, brushing away a hanging lock. “I'm not the romantic type, but I think they were interesting at least.”

She perks up. Her eyes would be flashing if they could be seen. She gets to look forward to not one, but two Fleet and Flotilla movies! Oh, to be disappointed would be an understatement for her if they ended up poor. 

“They did have to replace the male actor though, poor guy lost…” Cyan clips his metaphorical tongue. Looking at Tali, a much younger version of his Aunt, he clears his throat, “Nevermind.”

Tali wants to pry really, but..probably for the best she doesn’t. 

Neverminding it, she sighs and silently agrees, tugging herself back in her seat. 

“Was there a favorite part you had at least?”

“Should I do boring or interesting?” Should I lie or tell the truth?

Tali merely shrugs, waving her palm. Interesting please!

She watches, carefully, as the kid contemplates and knaws over a satisfiable answer. He hrms..and hms..Afterall, this is the future they are talking about, and if he gives a too crucial-

His eyes fly to his corners. Then he grins. 

When it clicks, she swats his arm, “Ax-kah!”

He releases a clicking noise, laughing and avoiding her arm by pushing right back, “Fine! Ok! I got my answer, woman!”

“C’mon!”

“Where did that casual attitude go? Huh?”

“It went to the same place your life force will end up if you continue teasing me, esan!”

“Being threatened by my own Aunt.” His tongue clicks on the roof of his mouth as he shakes his head. Tali deadpans plainly at him. “So cruel.” He fully sighs, dramatic.

She swats again. He gets hit again.

“Abuse!” He calls.

“Hardly!” She undermines.

“I’m starting to get the first Gen Z” His nose twitches in his sniffle at the same time her eyes roll behind the mask, “Maybe they weren’t completely crazy.”

“Favorite scene, Cyan! Favorite scene!”

“Oh yeah!” Cyan’s eyes light up. The flat moment perks back up with his sit up, “‘Aight, so!”

Tali joins his mood, perking up and cradling her palms neatly in her lap. She wiggles around, excitement filling her being far too much to keep her still. Cyan doesn’t seem to mind, if anything, relieved at her uncontained ways.

Everyone else daringly gutsy to ask had been either hiding behind jokes or not afraid to show their fear. Not really giving him the happy genie vibes everyone usually likes.

Grunt being a different breed particularly. All he asked was if there were more enemies coming along. Cyan was forced to ignore the familiar oddness he startlingly had in favor of his reluctant nod. Grunt then did a weird laugh that has haunted him for years.

“There was this one scene, right?” 

“I certainly hope so.” 

“Funny. Anyway, it was one of the main guys who was after some criminal.”

As much as it tears Tali to hear a bit of vagueness in the re-telling, a part of her knows she’ll be far grateful in the regards to movie enjoyment.

“They were led into this huge crowd and the guy lost him. He was running out of time, “ Cyan’s voice dips simultaneously to the raising of hands. She snatches up the pillow at her right, cradling it to her chest. Leaning enough that wouldn’t be uncomfortable but helps enrapture the story more, Cyan wiggles his 7 fingers in the dramatic air, “Stranded in the hectic nowhere of the city, the guy took up to something that could go 50/50.”

Her finger pauses across the button. Thane is waiting on the other side, presumably solely managing his calm because of that demanding, second nature job of his. Or drell genetics.

In the next second she finds her voice, “One second.”

The comm cuts and she switches again to her Omni. It takes her less than moment to find the needed key to her plan. She doesn’t celebrate, she merely transfers it over to a portable editor, hums a tune, and clamps the right effect down like a complex puzzle piece only she can de-fuzzle.

Setting to the right audio currents, she lights up her comms once more, “Thane, on my signal, watch the crowd.”

“Affirmative.”

She presses one switch and out and loud, booms a unmistakable, commanding Turian voice,

“C-SEC, GET ON THE GROUND!”

A vast portion of the ground responds almost immediately; people exclaim their surprise but do as the voice commands.

Crouching low, civilians searching for the danger.

It can’t reach to the far back, most there simply spinning or spanning their attention in surprise.

All but Miret. 

The asari locks gazes with Tali’s mask.

A mask that can hold so much smugness in one head tilt. Found you.

Then she books it. 

“To the right, Tali!”

“Boring right?”

“....I will smack you.”

Chapter Text

Into an alley they go, Miret’s hard panting can be heard easily regardless of the distance between Tali and her.

Despite the grueling burn in her muscles, screaming for her to stop, Miret doesn’t. Not yet. She darts past the corner and flies into a concrete clearing. It’s isolated from the usual citizens, boxes and abandoned carry-ons being the placeholder. 

Miret’s heel kicks away a dextro can of a random soda junkie as she slows down. Her back bends over and she's clutching her knees, swallowing lump after lump of air. 

Something else gets kicked behind her and she spins, albeit stumbling in her wake. 

At the sight, she fumbles for her gun clipped to her hidden belt. 

“Miret Ieshi, I wouldn’t do that.” Tali aims her gun before her. 

“What do you want from me??” Miret squeaks. 

Thane comes down from the building. Sliding down and jumping down from the last platform, his gun slides out. 

Now Miret has two guns trained on her. Her own barrel stays on Tali, shaky fingers proving that Thane keeps a careful eye on.

“We’re not here to hurt you.”

“You just chased me down several blocks!” Miret grinds her teeth as she spits. “What do you mean you aren’t?”

“Listen, Miret-” Thane tries.

“What am I supposed to do?!” Her questions flies out while her head switches between them, “Shepard and her team find me and now want me all of a sudden. Who wouldn’t fucking run?”

Adrenaline is a hussle in this circumstance, Thane’s dealt with a few. The individual is stressed, not thinking rationally in the slightest. It’s especially worse with guns.

Thane shares a look with Tali, and with her watching, slowly starts lowering his gun.

Tali repeats after him, “We need answers for something you are involved in.”

Miret doesn’t lower her gun, but her arms do seem to un-tense. The pressure levitates off in low rolls.

“Answers for what?” She nearly snaps. “What could Shepard want from me?”

“You are a Systems engineer, yes?”

She locks eyes with Thane. Though she briefly hesitates, her slow nod eventually comes. Eyes flicking nervously now. 

“Please trust us when we say we need your help on one of your clients.”

The woman swallows, brows furrowing lightly, “My clients?” Her voice comes out a step from disbelief, “What about them?”

Treading as lightly as possible, Thane recounts the name. And as the name unveils itself from his mouth, Miret’s eyes shoot wide. Tali and Thane both pause at the sight. She drops down her gun all the way and a palm comes cupping her mouth, “I-I..”

“Miret.”

She begins shaking her head, “Look, I didn’t- wait,” Her head shot up, “Does this have to do with the blue guy? The one who got man-handled into the ground?”

Thane and Tali share another look. “Yessss?” Tali wanted it to come out better, but some things are just out of our control. The drell beside her doesn’t comment.

Miret breaths in and out, yet her gun remains out. The only reason Thane and Tali do the same. 

“Look, I can’t tell you everything.”

Tali slowly turns confused at this; her voice is noticeably calmer now, a little shaky but it appears with her new understanding of the situation- and lack of adrenaline rush- she’s figuring out her footing.

“You won’t or you can’t?” Further questions Thane.

“I can’t.” Miret sighs, and with the hand that is free, massages her forehead, “All I can say is your friend, the blue one. Him, Mr. Vakarian, and Commander Shepard, someone is after all of them.”

“Not in the good way?”

“Nope.” 

Erratic beeps flare from the right side of her wrist, red flashing on and off. 

Miret doesn’t give it a glance. Her face falls, and as if the world is glaring at her, she weakly reaches into her dress pocket. She digs for a second, and soon a heat sink, unused, comes out. 

The two throw their guns back up. Tali feels crossed at this, “Miret-”

“My apologies. To you and your Commander’s family.”

With that finally out, she quickly thrusts it into her gun and rears it back into the air. Back at them. 

Tali may hesitate at this, that face pausing something deep in her, but Thane immediately fires. 

Her shot goes straying off as Thane’s bullet lodges straight in her shoulder, Blood splatters to the ground as Miret cries out. Closing in quickly, Thane’s arm hooks her wrist as she falls. 

It takes the sight alone to unfreeze Tali. Instincts kick for control and she goes to cover her partner. While Thane works on cuffing the suspect, Tali decides to take the initiative to call in. Her helmet darts around the area, on watch, “Shore-party to Normandy, we have the suspect. We’ll need transport on 26th-”

“TALI-” A body rams into her, planting her to the ground.

 She can’t speak, can’t get even a peep out before bullets after bullets launch around them.

They are too open.

Too vulnerable for whatever or whoever is coming at them.

 While returning the cover to Thane, his head ducked while his arms lock around her, she spots a ground enough cover just meters away. 

Miret flies from her mind, she needs to protect Thane and herself first. Besides, Miret is on the other side of the walls of bullets. Going to her, for whatever reasons, is dubbed a death trap. 

With that, she hauls them both up and breaks for the side. Thane not too far behind her. “Go! Go GO!” 

The asari has herself in a ball, curled up and hiding from the bullets.

Behind the wall, both pant hard. Thane coughs, “Are you alright?”

He doesn't get an answer, the quarian’s too caught up in getting some look at the assaulter. “Normandy, shots fired! I repeat,” Now they see it, a…car? Like a normal car? “Shots fired!”

The sniper on Thane’s back gets unhooked and he begins returning fire. Up joins Tali, whipping out her pistol.

The car touches down, shields forever resilient to the fire upon it. The doors slide open easy and a figure steps out. Thane cycles through another heat sink, focuses in, and begins firing. 

He tries for advantage points that would incapacitate, the shoulder, the leg, the arm. Areas that hold less chance of lethal and greater in capture instead. It’s all for not. 

He must carry around a mighty difficult shield. The bullets bounce off like nothing. No dent. Not even a scratch.

The drell assassin has seen many, many foes as odd as this one. Some that posed a challenge from one look alone. Others that dropped like flies from looks from him alone. This one..

There is something unfamiliar yet all the same, familiar.

The new person, tall and lean. Donned in dark red decorated armor, with tight looking and heavy plating. Would be considered regular armor as a whole if not for the odd mismatch here and there. There's a relatively more protective layer around the neck, not a cowl, but something you wouldn’t find on drell or human armor. Black stripes go down the sides, random lines on the arms, and one blocky wraps in a loose circle on the helmet. 

Thane’s eyes grow tense and darker.

New person promptly glances at them, the bullets keeping a wall from their advances to them, back to Thane and tilts his head. Ever so slightly.

A curse slips from Thane. Shit.

It takes less than a minute for the red one to march over to a curled up Miret and snatch her right up. 

She yelps at the sudden grab. When she matches the man’s gaze, her features flip to plain shock. Not a horrible, Who is this now?? No, a ,“Why the hell are you here??”

He doesn’t answer her silent questions, just shoves her into the car.

Soon, after a clean close off that leaves a pissed off drell and an equally pissed off but rather extra confused quarian, they’re gone.

“What…” Tali comes out as the all clear becomes clear.

“I can’t tell either.” Thane falls reluctant with his sigh. Now they’re back to square one.

Tali’s fingers rub into her hood, a nervous scratch? Irritated scratch? She doesn’t know and frankly, can’t care any less. “Shepard is gonna be pissed.”

“Everyone is,” Anger or frustration at the situation isn’t going to help. His internal episode motivates him to call in. 

In the meantime of that happening, Tali, whether consciously or not, leans for surveying the area.

The bullets in the ground make her anxious. They hit hard in the place she was positioned, all before Thane had grabbed her. Smokey trails float off them, polluting the air with a nasty burned smell.

She adjusts her settings and the smell is less prominent. 

There’s no trail to follow from the car. No oil, no trace on the ground really. Whoever came in wanted in and out in a snap. 

Her chest crutches inside. They were so close. So close to finding out what they needed, what could help them send Cyan home. And…Oh..

Cyan, he’s going to be so upset. If he knows or not, it’s obvious he’s missing home. He stares at Shepard and Garrus with such a longing look when they don’t notice. 

And it's not just them either. Sometimes at Grunt between his winces, or at Jack when he’s somewhat glaring, towards Miranda in the mix of his wonder at her. 

The kid can’t hide much, that’s for certain.

As Thane’s voice carries the call for transport from behind, Tali stops short in her way back to him. 

On the ground, a shiny glimpse waves at her. Right where Miret was. Right where she was taken.

Tali picks it up and hope flickers-no flashes in her chest.

A drive.

The door seals shut and Miret tips backward into the closest seat. Her hands coddle to her shoulder, trying to control her breathing.

“You nearly killed them.”

“No, I didn’t.” The two toned voice follows the man as he settles in the drivers seat. A med pack thrusts into the left of her seat. “Patch up that shoulder. There’s some cleaning packs in there.”

“You activated that machine gun at them!” Her teeth grit, “This wasn’t part of the plan!”

“And they weren’t killed. I scared them at most.”

“When I signed up for this job, I thought we were simply going to give them a hint. That’s what you said we had to do.”

The guy keeps his mouth shut. Then he un-hackles his helmet. Brown and tanish meet her eyes and he glances over his shoulder at her. “How was the blue one?”

“Oh,” Her voice drips sarcasm, “You mean your brother. If I’m not assuming too irr-rationally I suppose.”

He watches her. 

Her chin holds high. A challenge in her eyes. 

She’s sweaty and tired and sore, and she isn’t going to give into that faux ‘intimidating’ glare he’s been giving her since introduced.

“..He said your name.”

His nose huffs, “So he’s alive?”

She almost doesn’t nod for a moment. But when she does, he turns back around, a trill vibrating. “Good.”

The car guides past the air, drifting into lanes and avoiding traffic at best it can.

As buildings and other vehicles drone by, Miret sticks to the window as her distraction. The sting in her shoulder slowly dissipates, leaving dry blood to ruin the fabric. There should be a chance to change soon , as she drags on a clean gray jacket.

“If your so well versed with the plan,” His words cut off the world she barely sucks into. “Then what’s the next part?”

Like a school teacher. She gives an eye roll, “You drop me off and we never speak again.”

He nods. 

She looks away again.

….

….

“That thing…that big turian? That wasn’t from you guys, right?”

“.........”

With no response, the air conditioner and vrrr of the car filtering in, she lets it go, sighing without real words.

Arriving at the destination is a surprisingly easy task. 

A transport station, one that will take Miret out of the Citadel effortlessly.

She drags up her wrist and drones in a code, quicker than a snicker.

Her companion for the last few minutes does the same. No dot shows and he nods.

Before she can slink off to the transport, hustling her case out of the shiny, back trunk, 

“I’ll protect my idiot brother.” Brown meets her dark hued lour. He greets it with his knowing frown, “I have and I always will.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You didn’t have to.” Orion snaps the helmet back on, “Stay safe.”

The car door rows closed and a crossed asari is left. Tight fingers around the suitcase. Head fuzzy with the blue one in mind. A pinching in her gut at the tanned one’s gaze.

Hopefully her gift will help them.

Legion clicks and rumbles behind the computer, their head ducked low, nearly out of view from Katsumi. 

The girl doesn’t mind, not in the slightest. Her painted lips purely wrapped on her straw as she sips. Colorful flashes go across her screen, knocking down every firewall like ducks in the fashionably old duck-hunt game she found about a year ago. She blinks boredly at it.

“You finding anything Legion?”

“Not yet, Ms. Goto.”

“You can call me Katsumi or Kat if you want, y’know?” The Geth lifts his head, just a little. She smirks at the bright light. “We are trauma buddies, afterall.”

“Trauma buddies…” The tiny circles around the light twists and turns. “A phrase known for two or more individuals who carry a bond through the shared event that has resulted in equally shared trauma.”

“Yep!” She giggly chirps.

“Geth do not have trauma.”

“Sure you don’t.” Her eyes can’t stop in rolling. Not in mocking way-well…Sort of? She doesn’t believe him is what she’s saying. “What about the war between you and the Quarians? Your people? You did become sentient, right?”

“Geth became aware. We do not possess a soul.”

“It-well…I-” Her legs uncross and fall to a hang one on the side of her seat, “...You know what, just know you have permission to call me a different name, yeah?”

Legion stares. Then ‘blinks’. “Affirmative.”

“Oh, hey- That’s a good idea actually. Maybe you can start calling people different names too!”

“Why?”

“Because it’s fun. It shows friendship!” She swipes away a hacked wall, moving onto the next. Had to expect this, honestly. Hacking into a system’s engineer files? Makes fair sense.

“Friendship. A bond between two or more individuals who state mutual trust and support to one another.” 

“Exactly!”

He leans his head down, then back up again. “This unit understands ‘friendship’.”

“With who?” Legion has always been a curiosity to her, to hear this- it’s like a new batch of curious treasures to look at. 

He takes a tick or two to form his response. Literally. After a moment of him glancing at the screen, his light flashes twice and he begins reading off.

“Shepard-Commander. Garrus Vakarian. Tali’Zorah Vas Normandy. Jack. Urdnot Grunt..”

He continues on like that. It takes until he mentions Kelly Chambers that she feels it click in her head. Oh…Oh this sweet bot.

Kasumi barely keeps the laugh out of her voice, “Legion- ” He stops in the middle of saying Gardner’s full name. 

“That's everyone on board.”

“Affirmative.”

“Some you haven’t even talked to much.”

“Affirmative.”

They stare at each other. Or rather, she stares at the space a little above his light. Her eyes would sting if she stared an inch down too much.

Then she shrugs, “All right.”

“Also, we have sent the results of the drive.”

“Huh?” The screen lights up green.

 -Access Granted-

Her grin matches the brightness, “Oh goodie!”

Doors swish open and close as Mordin comes bubbling in, eyes glued to his screen. At a familiar whine, a metallic one, he glances up. “Ah, Thane. Tali. When did you return?”

“About an hour and a half ago.” Tali remarks as she screws in the last piece of her audio jack on the side. Her little drone floats beside her, the other arm turning it around like a globe stand. Checking it under and over.

“Arm up.” Chakwas orders lightly. Thane does as he’s told without so much as a wince. The trend continues as she pokes and prods his side, specifically the area his lungs reside. 

“Anything hurt?”

“Nothing of concern.” Plainly voices Thane.

“Well, I’m sure I don’t need to tell either of you how to take care of your scrapes.” Playful in her tone, she pats his shoulder after he relaxes. “You might just be my favorite patient, Krios.”

A quirk is gone as fast as it appears on his lips. 

“Have you heard anything from Shepard or the kid?” Tali’s drone dissipates away. Holographic almost yes, but if it looked to have any real error, than it’s her omni-tool that needs to be checked over. Besides, who doesn’t love Chiktika’s presence?

“Joker said they should return soon.”

“Good.” Thane tosses on a shirt, “Kasumi and Legion had just sent in the results of the drive to Miranda.” He’s hopping down from the table, patting down his palms. His uniform should return to him soon. Right after the 1 hour cycle.

“That’s what I came in here for.” Mordin hops onto his monitor, rapidly typing, “We..have some news.” 

“Don’t tell me theres another child.” Tali groans. Thane is always silent. Besides the occasional-yet forever eye-brow raising remarks, he’s as quiet as those tiny, tiny creatures her people would find in the rafters, creases, and corners of home ships. Chakwas is somewhat quiet. She goes into- I need to get this shit done with- mode when dealing with mightier injuries. Or if you said something and she’s not so happy about it, then she’ll be a tinsy tiny bit rougher for about a few seconds. Always got the message through to Ashley and other loud mouths on the SR-1.

Mordin is……not quiet at all. 

So when he goes dead silent. Not humming, ignoring her remark. Not rambling right away of what they found. Not making it clear of any looks he sends over his shoulder. 

Tali plucks her head and the atmosphere up. Thane and Chakwas stare at Mordin. Mordin stares at her.

Tali stares at all three. 

Chiktika appears spinning in the air. An error.

“Oh vot .”

Garrus comes storming into the sudden door opening, “Joker said Shepard and Cyan just got on board.” He notices the air and his eyes shift from one person to the next. “...Did-did something happen?”

Tali coughs, placing her hand where her mouth would be. “Garrus, uh..”

“Shepard and Cyan haven’t made it here yet.” Thane cuts in, giving Tali a mere glance. She ducks her head. “Considering their enemy, I would give them a minute or two.”

“I’ll get a table ready, then.” Chakwas visibly takes the opportunity. She begins collecting the necessary tools for a trauma heavy patient, laying them out on one bed for the other beside it’s use.

“I heard what happened to the suspect.” Garrus says. Thane lifts a shoulder. He’s a bit obvious in his tiredness. “ We got a drive, however. I consider the job completed in a sort of way.” 

“Wow, take you out of the tight night suit and we got less of a gentleman talk.” His head tilts and it plus his remark pulls an eye-squint from Thane. “Let us just say I almost became your metaphorical twin today.”

“Missile Launcher?”

“Worse, machine gun.”

Garrus whistles, another of the many human habits he’s picked up, “Yeah, that would not be pretty.”

“Of course not,” Tali muffles her grunt as she snags the wrong wire. Chiktika increases in her spinning around the world trick. REEEEE-

“Chiktika!”

The spins continue.

As if more hysterics need to be added to the situation..

More storming emerges absorbed by the situation.

Miranda stomps her way into the room, the doors closing add to the dramatics somehow. “Where is Cyan?” Sheer ice in her eyes and tone. There's barely a wonder why she’s comically named the ice queen by some of the crew.

“He just got onto the ship apparently.” 

“Is something wrong, Miranda?” Garrus peers down at her. She makes a noise between frustrated and more frustrated, leveling at the turian with a glare. Part of him tells him it isn’t directed to him really.

“Your ‘son’ is a lair. And unfortunately a good one at that.” 

Garrus is in short- confuzzled beyond belief. What? How? His mandibles keen in skepticism. “Hold on, what do you mean?”

“We finally got into that drive. The one from the asari Thane and Tali chased.” Her glare can’t fill with more anger, “And your son failed to tell us that he-”

“-IS IN THE HOUSE, BABY!” Cyan’s mandibles flare with his beated laughter. Shepard hangs on his arm; blue, red, and a weird black mix of substances cover both suits. Chakwas can’t help but scurry over at the sight, even as Shepard laughs along carefree, and takes to her other side. 

Garrus stares wide eyed. He’s not the only one honestly.

“Shepard?”

"Hey, darling!" She flashes her not so pearly whites at him. The red, lots of it, has him marching over.

Chakwas believed Garrus was going to simply holster Shepard up like Cyan is. No, she steps back immediately when he doesn’t stop there. His arm goes under her knees and lifts the Commander up, bridle style. 

As Shepard gets situated on the table, she lets Mordin know where his new experiment, the beast, is located. Mordin’s eyes light and he's gone in seconds. 

Shepard wants to call this a win. Yes they lost the suspect, but they probably gained more from the drive than a plain, classic interrogation. And top of it, the great delicious cherry, a new link to the reapers. And it’s safe and not so tidy behind a missile-proof glass casing in Mordin’s lab. A step in both investigations. 

But as she looks past Garrus’s worried, furrowed gaze, she sees Miranda’s not so subtle glare to Cyan. The kid is too busy taking his chest plate off to realize. 

“Miranda-”

“Cyan.” Her voice clips deep. Cyan’s head lifts and his mandibles flutter. He doesn’t like the tone. And he surely doesn’t like the face. His throat bobs, “Yes, ma’am?”

She doesn’t let up neither, “When were you going to tell us?”

“....Ma’am, with all due respect, I have no idea what you’re talkin’ about.”

Everyone feels a pause in their doings. Thane sits up to attention. Shepard, despite Garrus’s hisses for the opposite, pulls herself up. Tali’s fingers freeze at her tool, Chiktika remains in her spinning motion. Chakwas is the lone one who keeps going. That nasty cut along her side isn’t going to gel up itself. Curiously guided eyes survey the scene.

If looks could kill, Cyan would be a skeleton by now, “You said that you were an only child. That Shepard and Garrus only had you.”

“Now hold on-” 

“So how come the name Orion Shepard-Vakarian showed up in the drive’s gathered results?”

“I never really said-”

“Mordin said you told him there was only you.” Her head tilts, grating on mocking, “Or are you calling him a lair?”

“No, of course not! I just..” His mandibles are going rapid, tight flutters as he backs away. Shepard’s eyes fall to a narrow, “Miranda.”

The noirette matches eyes with her. Shepard ignores Garrus’s palm on her shoulder, trying to keep her down. Her feet plant to the ground and she marches over them. “Rapid fire questions aren’t going to help. You or him.” 

Never one to truly stand up to the Commander, Miranda takes a breath and steps back. “Yes, Commander.”

The red-head switches on Cyan, “Kid. What is she talking about?”

He’s outstaring the ground, blue spects reflecting back at him. His black hair tangles in front of his face making it hard to pinpoint his thoughts. Fingers, blue and bloody grip his detached armor tight, nearly white at the knuckles. 

When he hears his name again, he breaths shakingly, “I….I’m..sorry.”

“Cyan?”

His blues met her browns, “I didn’t know he was here.”

Chapter Text

One second he was in the medic bay, waiting for the Commander to get fixed up before they went on to review their findings, the next he was being yanked into the meeting room, glued to a chair for investigation.

At least with the icy look in Miranda’s eyes does it feel like an investigation. Perhaps years of Miranda being his sometimes babysitter growing up still couldn’t amount for him able to read her clear as day. It feels as if the few weeks around her younger self had turned into nothing, thrusted back into being a suspicious stranger rather than a slow burn crewmate relationship between the two. Yeah, Miranda just took that and jabbed it in the airlock as soon as her suspicions pierced their way in. 

Moral of this summary: She’s graciously terrifying. He’s graciously terrified . 

“Cyan.”

The kid turns and locks eyes with Jacob, the man posed on the left with picture perfect good cop body language. “We’re not here to scare you, alright man?”

“Miranda certainly looks otherwise.”

“She’s always like that.”

“True.”

“Jacob.” Warns Miranda. Jacob sends his own look right back but steps away, just a little. 

The water on the table, spread out for all three, looks suddenly enticing enough for Cyan to grab up his own cup.

So totally not an interrogation scene but totally is at the same time. Makes sense.

Miranda is trying to make sense of things in her own tone as she finally starts the questioning. 

“Who is Orion?”

Cyan swallows and his cup clicks softly on the table. “He’s my brother.”

“And why didn’t you think to tell us?”

Cyan stares at his cup..then shrugs. 

He can feel the stares on him. The possible-no definite anger on him. Jacob may plant himself in the neutral side, neither mad or confused, but Miranda is surely angry. And going by the out of place look he was getting from Shepard and Thane, she isn’t alone, is she?

He hears the tell-tale signs that Miranda isn’t done. She’s readying up another question, one he doesn’t have to guess. Are you stupid? No wait- Miranda style-

Are you that incompetent?

Are you serious? 

Were you hiding him on purpose?

Do you know what’s actually going on then?

The doors that are presumably locked behind him slide open and footsteps tumble in. 

“Shepard- get back in bed!” The dual tones of Garrus have him looking back as quickly as Jacob and Miranda do. Everyone’s eyes are on Shepard as she fumbles her way on the table’s right, finding a chair quickly and joining. 

Her hand props up her chin, a grin flashing at the confused trio. They all blink, wide eyed.  “How’s it going in here?”

Eyes fastly turn narrow, “Shepard-” Miranda starts.

“You need to go back to bed!” Garrus forces an end. Shepard isn’t having it. She spins as much as she can in the chair to her boyfriend, “I need to be here to make sure Miranda isn’t scaring the kid!”

“Told you.” Jacob passes at Cyan. Said kid keeps wide eyes locked on the scene.

“Shepard.” Garrus tips forward to grasp her hand, “Honey, you just got bull-rammed by a 8 foot tall turian that only Wrex could be proud of, you need to rest.”

“And you need to look at who you’re talking to and realize I’m not only your girlfriend, but your Commander.” And in all Commander fashion, sticks her tongue out at him, “I do what I want on my ship.”

As Garrus flips through his 1,000+ questioning on why he agreed to be with this dumb creature called a human, she slides her gaze onto Cyan in favor. The kid is stuck between a rock and a hard place. One, he hasn’t a clue on why she feels the need here, and two, he doesn’t get why she would be here. Shouldn’t she be mad? Shouldn’t she do like when he first announced himself as their son and march out with the Commander mask in place. Letting Miranda deal with this mess instead and rest?

That isn’t his mom. She makes it known as she wiggles her seat closer to Cyan’s and straightens her back. She lets it loosen an intsy bit as she disagrees with the tight pin up her back. Medi-gel helps the wounds, not the after-sores. 

“Now lets get to this questioning, shall we?”

“Gross.” Her tongue sticks out as the slim slides down Mordin’s tool. There's a mere glance at it by the doctor before he promptly grabs a tube and dribs it in.

“Is that really a turian?” Jack’s voice comes dulled down and echo-like. The protective barrier between them and the doctor blinks a shinier blue up to down. 

“Before, it was.” Mordin’s mask does that classic noise everyone knows from Voluses. Shepard made sure before her departure from the lab that Mordin would be in safe hands during his own investigation of the Reaper Creature, or The Beast as Cyan put it. Their actual knowledge of the reapers is poor, but enough to know that they can’t fuck around and find out. 

Hence his hazmat-barrier suit and mask, and why Jack and Grunt, the crew’s decidedly physically toughest picks, are standing guard behind the glass. Both hold stand-by release buttons if need be. 

“So far, protheans, humans, and now turians? What next, Krogans? Asari?” 

Grunt shakes his head at her questions, “I don’t care, just means more ass to kick.”

“I would applaud ya on that, but I’d rather not deal with that whole mess.”

“There’s already going to be a war, might as well get a few heads knocked in already.” Grunt has a feral grin barred out, “Or smashed in.”

“Yeah, but that means at least half the galaxy dies, don’t want that to happen.”

“Cause it’s as Shepard says, ‘The right thing to do?’” The tease does nothing to Jack’s expression. She clicks her tongue, arms folded, “Nah, I’m just one of the idiots who live in it.”

“Please quiet, need to concentrate.” Mordin interrupts, his voice remaining as odd and nonchalant as it can be, “Otherwise we all are at risk.”

“Sorry, Doc, but it’s impossible when I’m bored.” 

Mordin has a way of giving some dead-eye stare when he’s unamused. Jack’s seen it, Grunt’s felt it, everyone knows it. 

“Children.” He mutters.

“What was that?”

“Nothing.” Tongs with cotton ball drenched in a disgustingly, black substance even for Grunt gets held up briefly. Then gets delicately tossed into a container, sealed shut for safety.

Jack grts, flopping onto a crate by her feet, hands dangling as her thighs meet elbows. 

A few minutes pass by with blurry sounds of cutting or pulling coming out of Mordin’s side. 

Soon enough, after some slow minutes, Jack’s not the one to prove herself right.

“Jack.”

“What.”

“Did you hear?”

“If you don’t start talking like the War-crazy Krogan you claim to be instead of some sissy school girl, I’ll leave the psychotic scientist to you.”

Mordin feels his coin needs to be heard, “Psychotic means-”

“If it means some sort of crazy, then yes, it means you.” She sniffles and directs to Grunt again. “The fuck were you sayin’?”

He does that laugh-yeah that one. The one only Shepard is fond of. 

“Apparently theres some other kid flying around the galaxy.” At Jack’s scrunched face, he blankly says, “Shepard and her turian’s got other fledgling.”

“Another kid?” Damn. “Shepard was really going at it, huh? Or will be.”

Grunts face turns, popping up a scaly brow. Jack waves him off, “I’ll explain when yer older. I don’t need Shepard on my ass.”

Huh. That is fucking weird though. It’s one thing that a turian and human hybrid is born, but more? Geez. That’s a spiral of thoughts Jack would rather not get into. Especially since she’s gotta look at Shepard and Chicken legs in the eye later on when this science experiment wraps up.

“Ah yes. Orion. Just heard that. No other information yet. Kasumi and Miranda know.”

Guess it’s fake it till ya make it time. “How the fuck is that possible though?? Two kids?”

“Two kids so far.” 

“So far?” Jack whips her head to the barrier.

 Thats…thats an image. Mordin holds up the head, a medical saw clutched with black and blue staining his gloves. Staring blankly towards them has Jack for once feeling a nervous tick in her neck. She scratches it.

“Turians breed too much.” Grunt growls. Mordin weirdly nods at his statement.

“Turians more incline to fertility compared to humans. Have to. Tend to have more at once.” Mordin drags over a shorter, square table, carefully aligning the head next to the main table. Jack keeps her eyes on him. “Infants small and flexible, no sharpness until 5-7 months postpartum”

“Have we forgotten that Shepard’s a human though. Weird shit with Cerberus aside. Plus just because Garrus has those chances, doesn’t mean Shepard does.”

“Yes. Correct. Humans have grown to have the same chances on their side too.” Soon, Mordin’s sliding off his gloves, dropping the others into a contained bin. He continues on the conversation even when he begins typing vigorously fast on the holo-keyboard. “Point made- Twins. Triplets. Quadruplets. All possible as bodies are tiny and unharmful to human biology physically. Amino acids aside."

Jack tsks. “Still sounds like a hassle. Good luck to Shep then.”

“Are we done here?” The Krogan can’t and doesn't want to stop his question as they notice the conservative ways Mordin starts on. Many containers align his desk, some big, others small. Holding tech or organs of dual kinds. 

As the scientist nods, to their great relief, his hand shoos at them, “Will drop by meeting room soon. Must go through disinfection chamber first.”

Can’t say it was the worst 2 hours of her life wasted, she’s had harder. She bounds up, off the crate and slides open the door. Grunt right behind her after a haughty glance at the mess.

“Don’t get weird with the organs, Doc.” She throws over her shoulder before they close.

Mordin tsks, “Not that type of Psychotic.”

The camera sizzles, glitching with white and black lines before settling back in. 

The one dubbed Cyan Shepard-Vakarian sits in the middle seat. Miranda Lawson and Jacob Taylor flank the right side of the long table, as Commander Shepard and Garrus Vakarian saddle the left. 

“Is the camera necessary?” His already dual tone vibrates harder through the screen.

“Just protocol.”

Cyan keeps his V-shaped mouth and mandibles shut and accepts it with a nod. Can’t really be arguing in the position he’s in. No matter how much his shoulder burns from said position. 

“Okay. Considering the fact that two squadmates were nearly killed in action-” Shepard figures it’s time to get this show on the row. 

“Three.” Miranda figures clarification is needed as not only Shepard but Garrus and Cyan pull faces. “You, Commander Shepard.”

Cyan blanches. Garrus keeps a ready-to-go-renegade-Shepard locked to the table and directs everything back to Cyan. C-Sec has enabled him to do plenty of interrogations, questionings, all the likes. Drumming it down to the only reason he’s allowed in the room besides keeping Shepard in line.

I mean, last he heard, Shepard was close enough to punching the lights outta some crime boss when lending a hand to Thane on his circumstances. Not saying his Commander has a somewhat lack of interrogation skills…..but she definitely has a lack of interrogation skills.

Since Miranda is insistent on bad-cop mode…

Garrus comes across as patient as he can with Cyan. 

“We need to treat this as a suspect in custody case.”

Only he can hear the nerves drool from the kid, his mandibles flick, “And that means the one in custody is me.”

Garrus nods. 

“At least until we get the full picture, kiddo.” Shep pipes from Cyan's right, elbows bending on the table. 

“All right,” Cyan sighs, shoulders dropping as he leans back in his seat. But he keeps to a tense appearance, “Ask what you need.”

“Let’s start again with Orion,” Miranda’s fingers do a silent slide on the image in front of her and the data garnered from the drive appear.

“What can you tell us about this guy?” Jacob prompts as the hologram gets put infront of Cyan. He stares at it. At the description.

Peached pigmentation with half-skull look/turian appearance. 

Eyes- Brown. 

Markings- Common Blue. Faded.

His throat is tight so he clears it. 

“Alot, almost like I grew up with him, y’know.” His joke is dry in the air. He doesn’t expect any laughter and none comes. 

“I got a better picture than some words can give, I know he’s ugly, but this doesn’t do him much justice.” 

“Show us.”

Shepard sends her a look.

“Please.” Miranda relents. 

Cyan does as he’s told, his expression keeping the same even as the picture pops up before them all. 

Garrus and Shepard stare at the new image; the Commander’s face on but her eyes a bit wide. Garrus’s mandibles simply flutter. 

Theres Cyan, then another man in the photo. And a Krogan. 

 They seem really happy in the photo, or as happy siblings can act in a photo. Cyan’s arm hangs around the taller one’s neck, his grin wide and almost mischievous at the camera. He holds it as Orion looks dead straight at him with a scornful look only brothers can offer and his three-fingered palm pressed tight to Cyan’s cheek, pushing him away. The Krogan has their neck snapped back in mid-laugh, just beaming with the same mischief Cyan shows.

Shepard hasn’t seen much female Krogan so when she notices the lack of size, sharpness, and few other features almost all male Krogans have, it doesn’t take much for her to figure it out.

“That’s Mori. Where she is I know for a fact isn’t in this part of the timeline. Orion on the other hand,” His tongue clicks as he sends the photo to Miranda and sits back further again, “Unfortunately is.”

Miranda lets herself take in the new subject. “Age?”

“21. He’s my un-identical twin.” 

“And back to my previous question, why didn’t you tell us about him?”

Cyan can’t shrug this off like the last time. Too many eyes in the room watching him. 

“The same reason I’ve kept my mouth shut about anything big that happened before or after I was born. Timeline stuff.”

“ In short, you believe The butterfly effect will happen..” Jacob is such a life saver here. Why does he ever see less of him besides his other Uncles and Aunts? 

It takes the short will of Garrus to keep his mandibles from giving away his reaction to the world. Humans just being humans. Repeats in his mind.

Finding that..reasonable enough, Shepard takes it with a grain of salt. He has a point. She, nor anyone they know, at least personally, has never been in direct contact with timeline-based shenanigans before now. Perhaps, and a big perhaps, just knowing Cyan has changed some things already.

Instead of delving into that raunchy rabbit hole again, Shepard flips another question out loud, “Do you think he came in the same way you did? Before we found you, that is.”

Cyan can’t help but shrug, “My memory is still shot. If he did, I can't remember how. It’s still blurry.” 

“Well, however he came, now he’s reportedly with a human by the name of Cey.” The name gets highlighted in a colorful yellow, blinking at them all. 

Cey….

“Cey? Got a last name?” Asks Garrus. 

“No. Not seeing anything other information than locations and the people seen along with him. Mostly batarians, some salarians, few humans, and a few more.”

“With a range like that, must be that connection Jack was warning us about with Brask.” 

Huh….That name. Familiarity rings with it in his ears. Cyan watches the paragraphs go up like everyone else.

Miret really worked her ass off again, huh. Add another to her already 127 for Miret. Atta girl.

Garrus also gets another point for his observation skills, the furrow in Cyan’s brow has him asking if he knows the guy. 

Cyan is unsure, he replies, “ Sounds like I’ve heard it before to be honest.”

“Maybe he’s the reason you and your brother are here?” Shepard so kindly offers. His gut says yes so he goes with maybe.

“Orion must know.” He decides, “My brother doesn’t let himself get taken easily if that’s the case. Between the two of us, he’s the strategist.”

“He’s planning something.” As hands trail from the table into clasping at each other, Garrus continues, “What are we talking about with strategies? Was he part of Hierarchy or Alliance?”

“Neither. He couldn’t get in.”

That has Shepard’s mask breaking a bit. That doesn’t sound right. He's a strategist but..is in neither branch of armed forces?

A look goes between her and Garrus.

“Couldn’t get in? What, was he bad at it or something?” To be honest, it’s not that she would be truly upset on that rope. With all adventures, big moments, etc. pushed away, the life they live is hard at times. Life they would return to harder. 

Garrus’s dad might be huffy about it, but hey, what can you do?

“No, he was good. Good enough to be in if it weren’t for his deafness.” 

Oof.

Cyan pulls up another picture, one of Orion with a small device in his claws. He’s glaring at the camera as if the user is bothering him. Sure enough they were if Cyan took the picture. He’s posed mid-procedure, putting it on. 

“Orion was in-short, born with no ears.”

“Anotia.” Blurts from Miranda. Shepard will pretend she knows what it is. 

“Sorta, the docs say it was from the hybrid thing, his DNA messing up good enough to not form things properly. His surgeries ended with a hearing aid that helps him get around.”

“I see.” Her voice trails as Miranda zooms close into the device. Call her weird, but this woman studies body technologies for a living. Even simple information of how a device is made can tell her what she needs on a person. To some degree. 

“Not to step on your brother’s disability, but why would this Cey guy want him?” Before anyone can again mention the obvious, Jacob raises a palm “Besides him being Shepard’s and Garrus’s child of course.”

Cey is familiar, yes, but Cyan doesn’t know how or why? Anytime he tries to think further on it, his brain starts sparking in the wrong way, hurting and bringing on a killer headache. The only thing he could think of if Cey knows them is…

He breathes and his voice comes out edging, 

“...Because Orion is an assassin?”

Eyes fly to him. Shepard blinks. Garrus wants to slam his head down.

Of fucking course..

At the toned silence, Cyan winces, mandibles fly, “I did say he was the better strategist.”

He’s not going to be huffy. Garrus’s dad gonna be in short- pissed.

The rest of the interrogation turned meeting went as expected, talking over information, people, locations, ect. 

As soon as it was all clear, Shepard gave Miranda the go ahead to overlook the locations found. She will do the same in her cabin , as Garrus strongly pushed for. 

She batted away his insistent hands for her waist, trying to help her, and marched/hobbled to the elevator. 

Cyan left the room, rather quiet afterwards. Give him some time, She assured herself, promising to come check on him later on. He was too himself, no one-liners or jokes. Just headed straight to the elevator as soon as he was allowed dismissal.

It was clear the news of his brother struck him, more than the couple themselves. 

Speaking of….

“An assassin?!” Garrus squeaks. Because that’s the only thing he can do as he follows Shepard to the elevator. “An assassin…” Because he’s so glad Thane took a second longer to come out of his room as the two lock gazes. The drell goes to wave, but Garrus flings his head forward. 

Thane frowns, perplexed, but follows to Samara’s room as usually planned. 

Because he wants Shepard to listen to him, but she’s too busy on her omni-tool to even look at him. 

His head lags in a sigh, grabbing her shoulders and pushing her into the short hall right before the Cabin’s quarters. 

“Shepard.”

“Hm? What, babe?”

“We have another son.”

“Yeah I heard that. And a Korgan daughter.” She shrugs like all of that news is absolutely nothing. “I was in the same room as you, y’know. Go figure.”

“And he’s an assassin.”

“We kept Thane. What’s the difference?”

“The difference is” And he sounds stressed as he yanks out the next words, like pulling a boulder out of a tight well, “one is at least past his 30’s, while the other-”

“I think Thane’s like 39, actually.” Her fingers tap on her pursed lip, eyes squinting up at the light above the couple. Probably shouldn’t do that. Oh well, she gives it no other thought and shuffles into her nice and cozy room. 

Ignoring the lack of fish, she slips onto her computer, checking if…yep. A click and swipe show her that the files have been sent over, now she just needs her comfy, ‘lets get this shit done’ outfit. 

Garrus lets out a huffy mutter, something about ‘ridiculous’ and ‘small’, before trailing behind her further into the cabin. 

The wince she poorly hides doesn’t go past him as stairs ruin her path.

“Are you sure you don’t-”

“I’m starting to get why Jack calls you chicken legs, y’know.” She waves off his hands again. Don’t get her wrong, while she adores being in his grasp more than anything, right now she has bigger matters to worry about.

She manages the stairs. But of course, just another problem has to come up. Her back pinches, making her grunt as she stubbornly untangles her shirt off. 

“Still an odd nickname in my opinion.” 

“It’s starting to become true in mine.”

She can hear him scoff as he slides open the closet. With her bra gone, he tosses over the tank top she’s always preferred. 

But as she pulls it over, “Wait.”

His clothes get set down in favor of joining her at the bed’s end. 

One look at his face has her sighing, “Garrus, I’m fine-”

“I know.” He still pulls her to him, hands gentle on her hips, posed between his wide knees as he sits. All while keeping her back to him.

Fingers trail up her back. She holds in a giggle, “You don’t sound like you do.”

“What do I sound like?” His tone etches from playful to a slight hush. 

“Unconvinced. Unsure. Nervous.”

“Glad that you're basically recounting our first night together.”

Her heel, yet to be unstrapped from her boot, nudges his shin. “Quiet you.”

“Yes, ma’am.” 

The medi-gel usually does it’s job, all when slathered over. Scars line her back, some burns, others cuts big and small, all pink and barely faded upon her skin. Now all that’s left from the battle with the Reaper-Creature is the massive-ish bruise beginning to set in.

“I see some color.”

“I do like being colorful.” Her back flexes as she shrugs.

His head shakes, “Not in the way I enjoy.”

He can’t see it, obviously, but her eyes roll while her hands yank her shirt back down. Well tries to anyway. His hand catches the rim, “Hold on..”

“Garrus.” That whole- he’s lucky he’s adorable is starting to run out it’s time. 

But her thoughts slow to a pause when she feels him suddenly closer. And closer.

Heat on her back, palms gracing her hip and upper back, gently holding up the fabric.

 Then theres…fluttering on her back. 

Her brow deeps down, lip pouts in confusion. What is he..

Oh.

Oh. 

Her face burns and then gets buried in her still-raised top. Red hair falling as a veil around her cheeks.

His short, easy kisses trail off as he meets her shoulders, right under the shirt- not that it stretches his neck much- before he tugs. “Now you can.”

Needless to say, the tank gets shoved down hurriedly. 

The first thing she sees is his unconcealed grin when she turns around. 

“Dork.” Her finger finds the tip of his nose. “Does Doctor Vakarian give me the all clear?”

“Unfortunately,” He sighs. If he were human, he’d have quirk to his lips. Thankfully, the years allow her to detect the underline playfulness immediately. “Wish I could keep you longer. Most fun-filled patient I’ve ever had.”

She hums, arms sliding up his chest and around the neck, “Sorry, my boyfriend needs me home by 6.”

“Lucky guy.” 

Both begin giggling, tittering about like love-sick teens. 

Her forehead falls, meeting his shoulder. His plating is cool against her skin. 

Arms wrap loosely around her waist, fingers dangling near her upper thigh as they do. 

When the giggles end, the silence comes. 

Not a bad one. Not a bad one at all.

Soft breathing can be heard from her, Garrus has always been more silent. But she feels it. His back shrinks and expands slowly, carefully underneath her palms. Rough plating, littered with scars like ancient rocks filled with stories. 

She doesn’t know if she’s glad or not to know most of his, especially the big one on his right. 

After the few beatless minutes pass, both absorbed, Garrus’s head lifts. His mandibles plant themselves softly along with his chin. “So……twins…and a daughter.”

“Mhm.” She remains where shes at. If anything, snuggles in further.

“One is an….odd soldier.”

“A good odd soldier. Had my back there in the fray.”

“Mhm.” His hands barely poke the bruise. “Definitely.”

“Quiet, sir. That’s our kid you’re talking about.” She wacks his shoulder. He scarcely feels any of it. “I have more concerns about the assassin kid, funny enough.” He says, that peculiar tone back, only just faintly.

Shepard hums and he goes on. 

“I mean, I understand the military thing, but why not go for something else like mercenary work, or security, or even-”

“C-Sec.”

“Hell no.” Bubbles of laughter start as she leans back. His horrid gaze locking tight with hers. “Like I’m going to tell my kid to work at that place.”

“Why not? He’d be doing some good at least?”

“It would drive him crazy at least. ” His scoff is loud and proud, “I’d be doing him more of a favor by pushing him away from C-Sec.” He still feels a shudder crawling up his back at the paperwork.

“Well, Cyan got into military.” Shepard knaws on her lip. Glancing down, at their close legs. Oh, huh. He kept his boots on too. Nice. Hehe. 

“Guess they both wanted to be like their old folks.”

“I hope not. To some degree at least.” At her critical eye poring into him, he pulls back to his linking his fingers behind the lower spot of her back. “Not that we’re..y’know..bad. Or have all that bad of a job. But I just hope retirement is in order when this is all..done.”

He keeps on, “Blame it on all the future talk, but I’d like a less gun-filled life and maybe a garden with a nice sun view instead. Family gatherings, the sweet memories under our own roof, all that…”

She smiles at him. So warm and sweet. 

And now his throat is clogged and he clears it, pulling his eyes down. “Sorry, too soon. Got it.”

“What? No-” Her hand flies, going from his neck to his chin. “Honey, no. I…I like that too.”

For a face that doesn’t hold any softness, his face has to be the softest she’s ever seen. His eyes looking up, giving her the highest feeling ever. 

“Really?”

“Of course. Retirement sounds good after saving the galaxy actually.”

“Well..” His jaw hangs then a grin snaps on, “In that case….”

His arms shirk to her sides. Before she knows it, she’s flipped and pulled to the bed. Laughter fills her lungs as that reality sinks in, as much as Garrus nuzzling like a purring kitten into her neck. Those mandibles-

They tickle her to no end, no matter what. 

“We could go to..” While he’s talking, the mandibles only move more. She tries to escape, but his tightness is as tight as he can go without hurting her. “..Feros, eh. No that place is post-war zone. We agreed on no more fighting at that point, right?”

Her giggles turn high-pitched, “Gar-RUS!”

“Nooooo. You’re right, somewhere calm and cool.”

“NO-NOVERIA!”

“Okay, now you’re just turning crazy…and red.”

An hour later, it’s late now, they’re curled up in the bed. He’s really living up to the cat comparison as he splays in her lap, his tones vibrating noisily from her trailing hand. The other was occupied with her computer. Her lip lifts a bit, watching as his free mandible taps at her fingers before waning down. Careful without a thought, she runs over the bumps and leather-like skin around it, her thumb periodically rubbing the mandible itself. He makes a noise and falls into nuzzling her thigh more, legs curling further into his front as comfortably possible.

“How do you feel about all this?” He murmurs. Seemingly the lone thing keeping away his dreams. Her hum has him repeating the question, “You haven’t said directly how you felt..I’m curious.”

“I did say it was shocking at least once or twice to many people. Now that we got two, glad I said it at least twice already.” 

“Mhm..”

“What about you?”

“...We still good?”

Something in his opening eyes, something she doesn’t like to see, flashes behind them as he stares up.

“Never gonna change Garrus.” Her smirk spells that she won the lottery, “ Still stuck with me.”

“Good.” His hum carries before he leans in for a kiss.

“We will have to ask Thane for tips tho.”

“Hm?”

“ The whole Assassin thing.”

“Oh, right. That. Definitely.”

Flicks go his mandibles, “We’re gonna get that kid back, yeah? Cyan looked out of it by the time we were done.”

“Again, definitely. I’m going through the data right now,” Her computer wanes, tipping towards his direction for show. “I’ll talk to him in the morning, figured he needs some time to process everything.”

Her words, simple; her voice has him glancing up. 

Yes, she has opened up more compared to times on the SR-1, yes she’s shown him sides of herself that he doubts others had any glimpse of. And yes, that means he can tell the Commander face she’s put on is faltering. A crack clear to him. 

He pulls himself over, arm sliding around her bare shoulders. “Hey..you ok?”

She tries to speak, coming up with some excuse, grin plain on her face. Both fail as soon as she glances up, as she sees the blue eyes. 

His brow quirks up. 

A sigh releases her mask. “Alright. I may be…a little worried.”

“There’s no shame in that, you know that, right?” His fingers trail lightly over her shoulder. 

“I know it’s just…” 

There's the picture of Cyan, Orion, and Mori. Two boys and a girl. Her two boys and a girl. Some unfamiliar feeling, close to deja vu but not exactly, stores in her very self. 

“Sometime, somewhere in the future… a mother is worried sick for her kids. Probably hasn’t heard from them, hasn’t seen them anywhere.”

Rubbing circles on her skin, she brings a hand to tangle with it. “Their dad too. He’s..they’re probably the only thing keeping each other together.” She gulps down to breathe better, shaking her head at the thoughts, “I knew this when we found Cyan, it’s just…it makes it feel 10x worse now that we got 2 kids on the line here.”

Garrus takes in the photo. Then grabs Shepard’s hand a bit tighter, “We’ll get them back. Their parents will see them again.”

“Yeah.” Her hair tickles as it brushes on his upper chest, “I hope so.”

—-----------------------------------------------------

His shoulder pinches so he adjusts. 

Comfortable. 

Nevermind. The pinching comes back around and he’s having to shuffle again. The blanket slides, trying to fall flat to the ground but he hooks it beforehand. His mumbles send shock waves to the blanket gods as he yanks it back in place. 

Finally, his back sets back to the cot, his shoulder calming down from it’s tiny tirade at him. He gets it. Shouldn’t have let the big dude plow him through a bus station wall. He’ll see if the next one is kind enough to send him through a fleece one instead. 

“Might be hard tho. Most got thick skulls.”

He tries again. Again. And again. No matter how he positions, fetal, stomach, back to back, arm above head, he’s always feeling that pinching. 

Soon, after a last fatal attempt, he yanks himself up and swings his legs over. 

His feet dangle, small talons scraping the ground before pressing flat on the metal surface. His hair drapes down until black curls cloud his eyesight. 

It’s building too much inside of him so he runs a hand through the soft thickness as his sigh echos into the vast space that is the hanger.

His face lights up from the omni-tool. Fingers hesitant. What if he gets this? What then? 

Can he even respond?

Blue-Jay: Orion?

Blue-Jay: ….

Blue-Jay: I just found out you were here in this whole fuck-tasterfy with me. 

Blue-Jay: Weird, right?

Blue-Jay: Can you get this?

Error: Message Not Sent

Cyan keeps his head low, eyes trained on the can ahead. “C’mon.” He mutters. 

His drone flies past with the speed of a go-cart. His sniper lines up- BAM

Blue-Jay: Met Mordin and Thane. Y’know, from Mom’s stories? THE Thane and Mordin

Blue-Jay: Both seem…odd. No, weird? Idk, just not really what I expected.

Error: Message Not Sent

“Okay..” His goggles bungle up with his hair. The helmet shines bright enough in his lamp. “Lets try this baby out….” The goggles clamber to the side like a forgotten artifact overused.

With that, he twists it around, pops it over his skull. 

Visor comes in normal, crackling to life with spits and spurs loudly reeling. Cyan has a moment of feeling like Iron Man making his first helmet, the beaming pride he fixed the hunk of junk like any old toy. 

“HA!” He wildly claps his hands, whistling loud and proud into the cold corner. “Take that Beast!”

That is until he feels a hot burn behind the core of his neck. “Ow!” A wince takes place, before his hands auto-matically go flying around the helm. 

It’s thud echoes out as the helm meets metal ground, a crack matching. 

“FUCK!” 

Blue-Jay: My helms keep breakin’. You believe that shit?

Blue-Jay: I know I’m clumsy, but damn.

Error: Message Not Sent.

Blue-Jay: I know that, dumbass.

Error: Message Not Sent.

He swipes through photos.

Theres one with his dad, his first shooting range trip. 

Another with his mom, a sweet show of their baking momentos.

Some of his sister, mostly her throwing him in the air and making fun of his 'squawks' with their brother. His smile lifts faintly with one that captures his parents in the background. Pops ignoring them and Mom doubled over in uncontrollable laughter.

Quite a few with his brother, and he means quite as in big. Multiple birthdays. 

Year 12 has them at a zoo, Orion clearly fearing the big red bird that perched itself beside him as Cyan giggles from the other side. 

Year 16 features party hats and new BB guns, all while both grin at their unexpecting father. 

At year 19 Cyan’s draped in his graduation blues as Orion salutes him. Then they proceed to the next frame where Orion is pulling his hat down as his fruitful way to release him from the hold position. 

The Cyan now, back against his cot, gun and helm splayed out differently around him. His finger slips to the side again. 

Blue-Jay:..Yer here cause of me, ain’t ya?

Blue-Jay: You must be pissed.

Blue-Jay: I wouldn’t want to talk to me either.

Error: Message Not Sent.

Blue-Jay: I’m trying to get you home. Us home. Back to Mori and everyone else.

Error: Message Not Sent.

Blue-Jay: I didn’t want this. 

Blue-Jay: I’m sorry, Ori.

Error: Message Not Sent.

Cyan’s eyes reflect the red message.

Then takes off his omni-tool and it makes a shrill clank in the nearest cabinet.

Chapter Text

When Cyan awakes the next morning or day cycle, the figure beside his bed wakes him in seconds. He darts up, sliding the combat knife from below his pillow at rapid speed. “HEY!”

They whip back, cloak..glitching. 

His mind catches up and he sees red from the overhead. He squeezes his eyes once, twice, “Kat...Kasumi?”

She appears fully. Smiles and all. Her hands splay beside her head, “Guilty, kiddo!” chirps her. 

He sighs and his muscles loosen, fight mode and adrenaline falling away, “What are…Whatcha doin’ here, Kasumi?” His claws scrape gingerly as he pinches his nose bridge.

“Miranda told me to take a look through your omni-tool.” His head flies up, forcing her to give another surrender hand wave, “For a moment! She wants to ensure you weren’t contacting that Cey guy or someone outside.”

Right. Yeah. His head feels clouded, body aching from the previous day, but he continues to ring out his omni-tool from the drawer for her. Once she has it, he plops back down on his bed, running fingers through his tangled locks. 

Thinking she would walk off with it, she surprises him further by planting herself right beside him. Legs cross as she makes herself home on the end of his cot. 

He’s too tired to ask. 

She goes through it calmly, hming or humming here and there. He’s complacent about it all, giving her every password when she pauses. All to the point where she just has to say where she’s at in the programs and he says them all without so much as a huff. 

“It’s safe to assume these received error messages were from your brother, yes?” 

“His contacts.”

She ahs, “Right. And I see..no word. What-so-ever.”

“Yep. So technically, didn’t contact him as he didn’t respond.”

“Couldn’t it seems,” Her lips purse, the dark gloss shining in the yellowish-orange glow. “Maybe that Cey guy got him on some pretty close tabs.”

“Do you know this Cey guy?” His head had ducked, prompting her question.

Following in a shrug, he flicks up his bangs and pries himself up. “Sounds familiar, all I can say.”

“Familiar?” 

“Like I heard it from somewhere.” As much as it grains on him, his hand finds the helmet from the drawer, smacking it on the desk to grab his tools next. 

“Maybe you knew him from when you’re from?” With the space free to all, Kasumi quite gladly spreads her legs out, shuffling comfortably. “Miranda is working on background checks on all people found in the data, so if we don’t find a thing there, then at least we can cross something out.

“But we don’t know him,” His huff is loud and clear, “We don’t know what this guy is like! How he works, how he plans. Nothing that could help us protect Orion.”

Her eyes stray from the tool to his crouched form. Tool after tool clangs onto the table, and one almost smacks into the helmet lens. She uses the tip of her foot to push it back an inch. Then nicely ignores how the last tool nearly swats into her boot as she shuffles back once again.

“Hm…” 

Cyan finds the last needed thing and reunites with his desk. Figuring they may be here a while, and honestly just bored, he decides to torture himself on a new helm screen that will surely shatter on the next mission. No shame in trying, right?

As she watches Cyan, fingers still moving across the screen, her lips curl, “I have an idea.”

“..What.” His goggles light as the torch lays into the metallic piece.

“We’re going to get your memory back.”

He stops still. Slowly, carefully, like the moment he moves too fast and the predator will move on him, he turns around to her—the rotation for his chair squealing. 

“..The hell ya talkin’ about?”

Her legs swing off the bed, patting the floor, “Let’s see, we have about..say, an hour and a half till Shepard calls a meeting? Plenty of time.”

“Again. The hell ya talkin’ about?”

“You have gotta be kiddin’ me.”

Her voice akins to the weird green alien he’s seen crawling around in a robe and laser sword, “Will help yes, meditation.” She drawls. 

“Don’t go all weird primeval movies on me.” His hand makes contact with his face. They say hi and then he looks back at Kasumi. She’s all full of shadowy grins. Spooky. “How do you know this will help?”

“Well, drell are known as the all-remembering species of the universe, and Samara has been around long enough to give us something, yep?”

“Besides,” Her data pops up. He’s surprised enough to know her actual research methods to allow her to keep speaking, “it says here that just meditating for 20 minutes helps in memory and mental cognition.”

“And this will be our solution because-”

“It has a chance of pulling your mind’s state out from the fog and into the light.” Says someone of wisdom from behind them. The voice has Kasumi smiling and Cyan jumping. 

Thane crosses his wrists over the other, back straight but expression calm. “While drell do not need such meditations, at times of great illness it helps not only our soul but mental and physical capabilities as well.”

“Mr.Krios.” Cyan gulps. The drell hides his smirk and passes between them, requesting the Starboard observation deck’s entrance. The green strikes up as his palm swipes across.

“Now, Cyan, I have told you already to call me Thane.” His head tilts in a way that should bring comfort, “While I understand and appreciate the politeness behind titles, it is unneeded, I assure you.”

When his back turns again, Cyan leans sideways close to Kasumi, “Even when he sounds as professional as some business dude, he still comes off terrifying, right?”

“Nah, not really” She chirps happily.

Her turn flips the second Samara comes into view, back facing them as she’s settled before the giant window. 

“Her on the other hand, possibly.” 

Samara. An Asari of seemingly ultimate power in duo wisdom and strength. Many can only imagine the power she possesses

. He can count on his four-fingered hand how many times he has seen her in places other than historical videos. According to his parents, he’s seen her more times than that as a baby.

With as much confidence he had as he turned into his first night at base training, sleep awaiting his bruising and sore soul, he followed the three as his claws scratched his arm.

The moment his car touched down, a thump and hum reverberated the docking station, he felt eyes on him. 

Orion takes a breath and slides the door up. 

“Hey, bud!” A carefree smile treats him. The hybrid nods, stepping down. Right away someone comes up and takes to his car. With the key code given over, it’s taken away in mere minutes. Off to a parking station as per the restaurant’s procedures. 

A whistle meets his ears, “Damn, don’t you dress nice?”

Orion glances down, then up, then shrugs. He isn’t one for voluntarily dressing up. Count 1 was for rare ceremonies of his parents and Count 2 come the day of his brother’s graduation. Other than that….meh. Don’t feel right on his skin.

Lead up the stairs, he takes in the Ryuusei Sushi joint. The line out the door makes the popularity clear as day. Sparkling lights joined with styled windows and glass planes click together the neon hues and jazzy music perfectly. Not to mention the tank flooring is strong enough to hold a whole crowd. 

The normal thing to do is to step into line, but a wave from the reception has him pausing in place. Cey flashes him a toothy grin, leading the way as his head bobs sideways. Follow. 

The taller man follows with little hesitation. Eyes are still upon them. Stepping behind Cey, his eyes survey the crowded line in his peferals. 

“Nice place, yeah?” Cey’s arm braces on the side of the counter, “Heard alot of good reviews on this place. Best place for dates, meet ups..” His lip curls, a way solely for Orion to notice, “reuions..”

Orion raises an idle brow. 

It has the human laughing, taking up the waiter’s instructions to the table. “Don’t worry, you’ll see them soon. We just need to finish our project first, y’know?” 

His nose huffs, a grumble stopping in his throat. Stay calm. Stay chill. 

It takes no time at all for Cey to settle in. He eases into his chair with a whistle, already thumbing through the menu, the holographic screen blinking innocently up at his toned face. Orion has a dissimilar entrance. Ignoring the hasty and unrecoverable glances, he sits with a look short from a glare. 

Cey looks up and notices. 

Fanning the screen lightly, “Oh don’t be pouty, bub. Let’s just have a nice evening, yeah?”

Orion flicks his fingers around.

“I know. But your brother’s tough. I’m sure they were able to take that…thing.”

His finger turns, making a symbol, then a few after.

“Us? No, no no..” His laugh is a little too carefree. Orion looks indifferent. “Well, sorta.”

He sighs after Orion’s flattened eyes, “Look, if I give away the answer, then it won’t be so fun.”

His hand lifts and trails over to Orion’s clenched hand. Before their skin can even meet, Orion pulls away, leaning back in his chair. His arms cross as his growl makes the few various turians around them send curious eyes over. Cey’s eyes flick around, looking at the various faces, and leans back himself. His form plays defeat. “Let’s just…not ruin the fun, yeah?”

“We did part one.” Gods, he needs a drink, his voice drains heavy and tired, “What’s the next step?”

“Actually,” Cey pulls up a finger, striking the second beside it, “We really just did step two. Now we’re onto step 3.”

“Which is….”

“Waiting!” His hands snatch the menu, forcing it over to his companion. “Why else do ya think we came here?”

“For you to explain your crazy evil villain plot.”

“Ah” His eyes are glimmering…Not in the way Orion likes. “But how is it a real ‘crazy evil villian plot’ when we are writing wrongs?”

“And these..wrongs, include destroying my family ?” The last part hisses at Cey, his fangs poking out in the last moments. The anger he’s felt in the last weeks flickers out, lashing at the man in front of him. Yet…

The tiny part of him that still clings on falters at the crossed expression blooming on Cey’s face, only to shrink against the mass rest. “What..” His head ducks, eyes trained on the table, “What happened to you, Cey….”

Cey stops, watching the turian. His eyebrows knit, teeth sucking in. “You know what-”

“Hello gentlemen!” Both find a sudden woman at their tableside, notepad and pen ready, “Apologies for the wait, but I’m Katy, I’ll be your waiter tonight!” She grins, bright and full. 

Cey flips like a coin. Meeting her gaze, he smiles warmly, “Hello, Katy! I think we’ll order now…” His eyes falt to Orion, whom of which darts back to the table, “Right, bub?”

He nods. 

Katy gives a sweet-mannered look to Orion but at Cey’s words, flies to start their order. He leaves on with most of the chatting anyhow, asking Orion simple questions. Orion settles for something he can stomach at this very least.

“Date night, hm?” Tries Katy.

Cey pauses as he hands over the menu. He manages just barely after Orion refuses to meet his eyes. “Just colleagues, actually.” He huffs. 

“With all due respect, ma’am…” Cyan’s huff is loud, breaking the silence that honestly surprisingly lasted long in the face of Kasumi being there. “But I don’t think this is working…”

Thane peers a dark eye open as Samara’s glowiness dims to nothing, eyes sliding open. Kasumi peaks over her omni-tool, lips pursed around her straw. Her eyes dart between Cyan and Samara. 

Ever graceful, Samara tilts her head calmly, “You believed it to work right away?”

“No, of course not, I just…I’m just feeling more tired.” His fingers grip his nose bridge, “The more I close my eyes, the more I just wanna sleep.”

“Geez, how much sleep did you get, kiddo?” Asks the thief, lazed upon one of the wall couches. 

His shrug answers in his stead.

“Perhaps meditation itself isn’t the answer…” Thane ponders outloud. Catching what he’s putting down, Samara welcomes it, “What might you be asking, Thane?”

“Shepard once mentioned how her visions of the Reapers were ‘awakened’ when asari melding came into the picture.” 

He goes on, a polite wave at Cyan to Samara, “If it’s not too inappropriate, it could be that your powers should help piece together Cyan’s memory faster.”

“We do seem in a bit of a time crunch…” Winces Kasumi. Hands flutter around, “Reapers, mysterious dude, missing brother. Subtotal equals alot of lives on the line.” 

Samara is well known for her patience. Yet Cyan still could not help but wince as her hum of contemplation came. Her eyes stare ahead, running the scenarios, turning over possibilities and outcomes. 

“It will not be easy.” 

“Well yeah,” Kasumi perks, “The practice always seems straining, for one person or both.”

“It will not be a strain for me. I’ve used such a feat on those who were unwilling to offer information of my daughter during my search. When my code allowed it. However,” Her gaze locks on to the boy in question. “One with a young mind might encounter more troubles than a veteran or the Commander herself.”

“So you might fry my brain?”

“Possibly.”

Thane’s reaction is a slit of eyes, while Kasumi swallows. 

His brother is with a man, a group of mercenaries of no good, and stuck in the middle with only him and the group he’s traveling with as the safety net. A safety net that could come in at the wrong time if they aren’t careful. Cyan is beside himself, thoughts flipping over the pros and cons. A massive headache versus nothing and chancing his brother’s already simmered odds.

“I think my brother would be perfectly fine on his own-” Yeah, Orion would be whooping his ass.

What really falls from his mouth is, “If it helps my brother, I’ll do it.”

Samara’s eyes fall unconviced, her hum questioning.

“Seriously.” He shuffles, turning towards her more directly. “I got no clue what’s my brother’s dealin’ with. If it ups the chances of going home with him, back to our lives, our parents, I’ll do it.”

She is silent for a moment, then breathes in. A sharp breath that has her eyes glowing. Kasumi and Thane dart between them, the thief stirring her drink leisurely as anticipation grows. 

Once Samara opens her eyes, the glow receding to a low hum again, she declares calmly, “The code has allowed this for a time. With the threat of the future at stake, even one change can alter everything.” 

“However,” She stops any words he was ready to offer, “This will challenge your mind in more ways you can ever imagine. Mindmeld is not to be played with, are we clear?”

He nods, ‘lips’ pressed tight.

She copies, then leans to Kasumi, “Kasumi, may I ask for you to bring appropriate snacks and a beverage for our young soldier here? He will need them.”

“Wait now?” Cyan bawks. 

Orion feels his neck tingle and suddenly has the urge to curse out Cyan more than usual. His lips tighten behind the helm, what is he doing?

As much as he wants to go over the idea of twinship, he needs to focus right now. He comes back to the scene before him, to the guards beside him, both Korgans that only need one arm and a leg angle and he’s down for the count. 

For Orion, he’d need a better angle for starters. Like the ramp above him or a high jump from the side. Anything that leaves the neck open and vulnerable even for a split to the millisecond.

He can’t do that. His eyes flick to the top of the elevator. 5. 6. 7.. 

Sosdenak responds to a message, quickly and not leaving his guard down for too long. For a batarian, a fist jab to the back of the throat can get him the advantage. Their species are almost just as squishy and less physically protected like Turians or Krogans. Treat them like a human, plays in his mind. Basically with more eyes. 

Ugh..Cyan would so say the 4 eyes joke. Then get squashed by the Krogans at a snap of their Captain’s fingers.

The elevator rolls to a stop, a sweet, “Bing!” alerting it’s residents to the doors readying.

Knowing the left Krogan’s intentions, he steps away right in time to miss the harsh nudge the brute hoped for. He ignores the growl, following the Captain with tight fists.

The room they come into has four people plus Cey. Who in response to hearing the doors open, sparks Orion's way with bright eyes. 

“Hello dear!” He grins, the asari adjacent side-eyes him, “Did you enjoy your trip?”

“We uncovered the agent.” Sosdenak jabs his thumb back towards Orion, who looks on the scene with covered boredom, “Your toy here was able to get her coordinates.”

Cey can certainly hide it, but Orion knows that look right away. The way his eyes lock on Sosdenak, a flint and steel motive. However, he knows impulse control, and writes off his comment with a scoff. 

Orion could feel relief, if not for how Cey passes a glance over him. He shakes his head. Don’t. 

He’s not in the mood. Cey shrugs.

“Now what’s next in the plan?” Sosdenak’s top soldier, a turian that’s been watching the exchange with quiet flutters of his mandibles, asks as the Captain steps up to the holographic popping up. 

“If everything is as the kid says, Shepard should get word of the Alliance Agent soon and head out. That’s where we need to set up our next move.” His four-eyed gaze flicks to Cey’s crickled one. “What happened next?”

“Well,” His tongue echos a click, pulling up the Bahak system, “Shepard hears about the missing agent from her big boss man, finds said agent at the batarian base, and goes to this system.”

“That has more than 300,000 people.” The asari stares at the system, at the numbers below it. 

“Exactly.” Orion doesn’t like the look in his eye. The human’s fists clench, a terrible knot burning into the hologram, “She murders each and every one of them.” He laughs and it’s hollow, “All for the ‘good of the galaxy’.”

Cey turns to Sosdenak, the batarian having a look that you can say is contemplative, “Alliance heroes like her use it all the time, y’know.”

“You think I don’t, kid?” Sosdenak mumbles something, straightening his back. “So I’m guessing we surprise her with what we know?”

“She and her crew will be like cornered mice.” 

Orion doesn’t like the look Cey has. That manic, clever, and calculating look.

Where did this come from? He knows but…why. He keeps his expression cool. People have always said he’s hard to tell how he’s feeling. The only person that seems to ever have the right idea was his family. And even then it was more his mother that had that advantage. 

He ducks his head, lightly, like he’s just cracking his neck, but swallows down his nerves. He wants to go home. 

He doesn’t want to see what they plan to do with his mother. And by extension, his whole damned family. 

Cyan fucking hurry. If he’s understanding his fuzzy neck feeling clearly, Cyan’s getting closer and closer to what will get them both back to the way things were before. Back to their nice, retired family. 

Back to mom and her weird hoodie collecting, some of which seem to be a great mix of hers and their father’s.

Back to dad and his slow songs, the first things that greet his earbuds every time he comes home.

Back to Mori and her playful classes of fellow Krogan kin, where he’s constantly used as a target for the younger as she laughs loud and proud of her teachings.

Before Cey took him to use as a puppet against his own kin.

Spirits, he wants home again…

Shepard stares, then blinks, then stares again.

“The-what found what?”

“Your former acquaintance, Conrad Verner, found news about Cerberus’s plans.” Miranda restates. Her lips press hard, hidden disbelief buried beneath her own doing. She crosses her arms, hip pointed out. 

“Ok….” Shepard’s hands brace on the Briefing Room table edge, staring at the message from Conrad fucking Verner himself. She’s never really doubted the man’s abilities to get things done as she’s seen the impossible every day. Tali going from a shy, shaken beginning explorer to becoming a key component in Saren’s demise as a Spector. A beginning stage of the Cure of the Genophage appearing after years and years of death and destruction amongst the Krogan history. Her actual death to being basically resurrected and squaring up a team for one of the most deadly missions ever to cross their paths, even getting everyone out of there alive afterward.

Yet. Last time she saw Verner, he was almost falling into an accomplice position over a deed. So, yeah…Shepard’s for once doubting Miranda’s words.

“What’s Tali that got to do with this then?”

“I ran into Verner during our chase after Miret. He was almost…thrown off the side of the Presidium.” Her three fingered hands lay over each other, tangling up as she edges the last words. 

“Right. Yeah,” Shepard brings her fingers up to her nose bridge. “I remember that in your report. Right.”

“Are you alright, Shepard?” Tali tentatively asks. She would laugh at the caution but that would make the headache grow more.

“I haven’t had my coffee yet. No.” With a sigh, she stands up to attention again, glancing over the faces of her unofficial official XO, Tali and somewhat EDI. “So what did Verner drag in?” And how bad is she going to have to drag him afterwards. She bites the question off.

The AI’s ‘face’ hovers, blinking as she says, “According to Conrad Verner’s information, which he had sent to Tali, Cerberus plans to make it to Eden Prime and dig up a Prothean Artifact that has recently been discovered.”

“Prothean Artifact?” Her lips purse,” Why does Cerberus want that?”

“Science most likely.” Miranda counters in, arms swaying to behind her back and locking together, “Cerberus is a science before battle type of operation. While their mission is to protect humanity, science and discovery has always been a core part of their operation above anything else.”

“It must be connected to the Reapers as well. Afterall, we did just fight their remade versions of the Protheans.” Tali lifts her finger up. “Perhaps the Illusive Man thinks he can get a head start if he were to gather some of these artifacts before they come.”

Miranda can’t stop her nod at Tali’s words, the idea not too far lost to being true. 

“Did Verner find out what this artifact is?” She presses further. It prompts EDI’s shifting. After a moment, she comes back with, “No. Unfortunately.”

“Well, if we have to, maybe we can drag Liara along on this one. She’ll know exactly what we’re looking for.” Shepard nods to herself more than the others. A question ponders in her head however, one she can’t keep down even if she so wished.

“How did Verner get this intel anyway? I’m sure Cereberus knows how to keep things wrapped up right, especially with us floating around the galaxy.”

“And killing off their connections too.” Supplies Tali in a mutter.

“You’ll…be surprised about how many loud mouths there are in Cereberus’s forces..”

“Don’t tell me he just happened to overhear during a night out or something!” 

“No.” Miranda shakes her head.

“Good.”

“He claimed he was the Illusive man’s son” Tali’s finger switches from vaguely in the air to pointing at the exact information in the text. The one that has Shepard’s eye twitching, lips pressing together. 

And her calling for Zaeed to come talk to her about some protection plan for Verner ASAP.

“I swear to spirits above if Verner dies from another idiotic plan again, so help me I’ll make him my student simply to keep his ass from turning into ash BEFORE the Reapers arrive.”

“You said spirits-”

“Tali, if you don’t wipe that face I know you have-”

Miranda’s glossed lips curl, “You’re saying alot of If’s for a woman who hasn’t had her coffee yet.”

“They aren’t possibilities, they are promises.”

The meeting obviously wraps up pretty quick, Miranda tasked to look into Cerberus’s intel and check if Verner’s lines up, disappearing back into her office rather immediately. 

Tali’s told to draw more information out of Verner while also urging him to a safe house Zaeed will somehow get up for him. Before she could even ask what safehouse, Zaeed was already there and pushing her towards his quarters to, “Save the idiotic son of a bitch.”

And Shepard knows her emails and line to Liara about said intel awaits, yet another matter presses before she herself can press onto the elevator. And up to the Captain’s quarters where Garrus surely is still in, curled in the blankets he’ll be grumpily about sleeping in with.

“Hey, Gardner. What’s up for brunch today?” Waving to Dr. Chakwas who’s settling through reports behind the Medic bay glass, Shepard strolls to a stop at the dining room. It’s more quiet since tension’s been low. It won’t last long, she’s sure, largely by what’s been discussed this morning, but she’s going to enjoy the quiet before the storm.

The chef and janitor of the Normandy grumps at her, teasing and familar. “A black coffee for lunch? You’re killing me, Commander.”

“Had a busy morning already, might as well keep with my usual food schedule if nothing else is following right.”

“Don’t let Chakwas catch you then,” His head nods to the glass across the room. The doctor who looks nice but will make it unintentionally hurt in a blink of an eye studies over something hard, checking about her notes before focusing to the screen again. Unaware of Gardner making threats for her. “She’d make your ‘schedule’ into an actual one if she even catches a whiff you ain’t doing the food groups so proudly.”

“And Miranda would sign off on it.” Shepard's nod is impossible to avoid, much like her XO and impersonal doctor’s combined orders when it comes to Shepard’s health and wellbeing. Miranda may not be doing it for the sake of keeping the mission going anymore, but her sharp eye on all the crew’s safety and wellbeing is hard to shake off. It’s not as easy as it was when it came to the Illusive Man.

Maybe it’s why Grunt had asked if Miranda was turning into the crew’s unintentional mother with how much tabs she keeps on everyone. Or at least most. It’s her own way of contributing as an ally rather than just a second in command alone.

Speaking of unintentionally mothering…

“Have you seen Cyan anywhere? I need to talk to him.”

“Cyan? Oh right, that future boy.” At the Commander’s raised eyebrow, he chuckles and gingerly scratches his stubble. “Sorry, Commander. I don’t see him alot here, and most of the crew seems more or less shaken by him, so information is finicky at best. He’s mostly held up in the bottom level, yeah?”

“Yeah, well, he went to bed looking out of if last night and i just wanna see how the kid’s doing. Y’know?”

“Oh yeah…about his brother.” He pauses, stepping back and slipping the cabinet open under him. Shepard can’t even peak her head over before he’s snatching something out and offering it above the counter. 

She stares at the military wrapping, the Alliance symbol streamed on it’s end tails. Blue striking against the grey foil. 

Her brow rises. 

“Was gonna save this for a bad day, but I think the kid needs it more right now. Last I saw him, he was with Ms.Goto, heading to where Ms.Samara stays.” His other hand waves, making a half-assed point towards the Starboard Observation Deck.

“Aww,” She checks and is happy to note it’s Levo status. “You getting soft, Gardner?”

He tsks, loud. Arms folding in and setting back on his leg, “Not a chance, Shepard. The kid needs people lookin’ after him until his parents can, that’s all.” Then briefly, his hand makes another wave. Eyes clouded just a slight, a look Shepard’s seen on many men, old and young. A sign of hope, flickering in the small moments. The rare ones.

“And if we want this war to go right, his parents need him home.”

Cake in hand, she bows her head lightly as her feet pull her back, ready to the direction promised. “We’ll get him and his brother home safe, Gardner, promise.”

“Just don’t tell him where you got that, I’ll have grubby hands all over my clean kitchen if word gets out, y’know?”

His eyes open, and he thinks he never really opened them. On the outside, where Kasumi and Thane remain on standby, he didn’t.

It’s a weird feeling, an odd one. Surrounded with complete darkness, without being in actual dark. When he looks down at his body, he can see it all clearly. Normal tee, N7 leggings, boots a tad bigger than needed, but comfortable enough for someone of his form. It feels almost uncanny, especially with the endless void below him that doesn’t let him fall however. 

He’s almost mindmelded with an Asari before. A girl of his dreams and heart but now it’s complicated. So it’s untouched between them at the moment.

He rattles his head side to side, curls waving with it. Not the time. 

“Cyan?”

Samara appears infront of him. No cloud of mystery, no fazing in. Just there. 

“Ma’am!” His body flies back, stumbling and fumbling with tense arms, and she tilts her head. Somewhat amused by his reaction. He avoids her gaze, mandibles fluttering. “Sorry, you startled me there.”

“I can see that.” That note ends and her gaze rolls to the side. He follows and feels his eyes stretch, eyes flying. 

“Holy….”

Cursing feels indecent. That’s how startling and how beautiful the sight is, the one right before their every eyes and figures. Now the surroundings effect their bodies. 

Light cascades over them, washing them in a light hue, mixing in colors of red, brown, blue, and a myriad of endless others. 

“What’s…those?”

“Your memories.” She says it as if it’s the most simple thing in the world. Like he should know it.

He’s seen images like these in art pieces, some from asari, some from humans, little from turians or Krogans. Familiar white little balls of light floating about, almost like a little galaxy in his head. The sight remains a wonder no less.

Samara begins walking and Cyan, in an absolute daze of looking and staring, follows without so much as a peep. 

Some are big, others are small. Each shine and flicker on the edges as they slowly rotate in random paths amongst the air. One, small and a faint red lining it’s edges, crawls in a slow pace around Cyan’s head before flying back up to it’s friends.

“But..I thought it would be like flashes of memories..not,”

“Shiny little orbs?” Samara’s piercing gaze strikes him in his glance as one ball passes by them. 

“Well..yeah.” A talon inches his chin. “Mom said that’s how she saw visions or memories from the Protheans. Fast and..”

A trickle of laughter, echoy and boyish in a quiet tone, plays by his ear. It causes a stop/freeze reaction, cupping his ear and whirling around as if another person has manifested in his mind. At Samara’s monotone look when he meets it, he knows it’s safe. “Kinda overwhelming.”

Her corner lip quirks, huffing up slightly while her gaze surveys the ‘room’. “Yes. We could’ve done that, but I decided to go with a different approach.”

She continues, a hand gentle and cradling a memory out of her path, easy and swift. “You are young, too young to mind meld properly for any purpose deemed necessary. And your mind has already been drowned in plenty of trauma. So this is a gentler way to introduce the memories. And faster.”

It’s this moment, the flash of a different scene. The quick-glance soft look she gives the memories, with kind hands and a benign heart, he remembers she’s also a mother. Kids who are possibly considered his ‘age’ in this timeline. One of which had been lost not too long ago. 

He remembers the stories, she told him herself. How her girls bloomed and grew into amazing young women, even if some of their paths turned for the worse. Of course she’d still adore them like any true mother would. 

“So…we look at the memories and-”

“There is no we in this journey.” Samara smoothly intercepts, her voice detecting no hints of offense. “This is one you will have to encounter alone, I am merely the boat that shows you to shore.”

“I see, ma’am.” He doesn’t know whats more daunting, looking into his memories, or ‘those’ memories. 

His gaze floats around. The memories shift and swerve as they circulate color. “How do I know which ones are the ones I’m looking for?” His boots pad silently on the weighted air, hovering him above nothing. He doesn’t dare look down. His eyes stay on the memories around them. 

When his hand moves one memory out of his wandering path, he realizes the asari hasn’t answered him.

Turning around, another realization dawns him. She’s gone. 

“Samara?” 

….

“Samara!” 

Nothing else had changed. Orbs bob like nothing’s anew. His curls bop into his brow as he makes another swerve, muttering to himself. 

He’s on his own. It’s his job to find his brother.

He has no watch but he knows he’s cut short, thus making his resolve much easier than most. With a huff, a swift prayer to whoever the hell’s listening, he lifts his hand to the closest orb and grabs.

…………..

…….

….

“DAD!”