Normandy SR2 Conference room

"Shepard, how was the mission? Did you get what you came for?" The illusive man asked. Puffing, a smoke while staring at Shepard in his chair.

"You and I need a serious talk about boundaries," Shepard retorted angrily

"I see your mission was more successful than Shepard's ." The illusive man smiles back. Puffing another smoke.

"I do not like being Tricked, Illusive man" Shepards started on.

"It was a necessary risk, one that achieves a high quality of success. From what I can gather."

"Yes, and that, thanks EDI for getting that intel on the IFF. Also, the data," Shepard responded with his arms crossed.

"And it was certainly not the Aid of One Shapeshifter who you sent out on a solo Mission besides yours" The illusive man said sarcastically dripping from his voice.

Shepards Eyes Narrows "How? Or better yet Whom?"

The illusive man puffs a smoke and responds. "I have my intel, and you have yours Shepard Let keep it that way. Now about the collector you acquired."

"Prometheus is his Prothean name."

"Yes Him. He needs to go to a Cerberus facility to be examined and we need to determen......" He stops speaking when his room is filled with frigid air. His wall started to slowly vibrate. A phantom appeared out of his wall.

"Hello illusive man" A spirit said in a raspy cold voice.

"What the?"

"Ben Get the Conference room NOW!" Shepard all but screamed into the Omni-tool. Not recognizing the Alien creature before him.

Normandy SR2 Miranda Office

A few hours earlier

"So, Benjamin, you want to tell me about our now known mutual friend and how you managed to restore his DNA" Miranda said in a strained tone. Tired from all the mess that Tennyson caused.

Ben smirked "Watch Did it. It has restoration capabilities and can alter DNA, but I can only do it on a single person or a whole group. not a planet full of them"

Miranda nodded at that strained and surprised by the watch capabilities. "Anything else you want to mention about your watch?"

Ben thinking about it "No not really."

Miranda huffs. "You are a Pain you know that Benjamin" Ben grins in return...

Miranda looked like she was ready to punch Benjamin for that Grin. But she got control of her emotions "Now I know you have many secrets, so I won't pester you but a least give me an idea of why the watch was made to begin with because it getting tedious of us having to find out secrets of your watch"

Ben Nods "fair enough. Have you ever heard the phrase, "you walk in another man's shoes?" Miranda Nods. It is an old one but one that is used quite frequently for Ambassadors.

"Well, this watch was made for peace, not for war and to gain that peace this watch was made to better understand other civilisation and if possible, bring back a whole species if needed."

Miranda was shocked, but it made a certain kind of sense. In the simplest form turning into other Aliens will allow you to understand that species. How they act, walk and even their culture. In Miranda's eyes, it was ingenious. Though she can tell there is a caveat to that watch.

"Impressive, but I am assuming people saw the device as a weapon more than a peace keeping tool." Ben nods at that without further explaining so Miranda goes on.

"You said you cannot heal a whole species or alter them. Why It makes things so much easier" Ben nods again but smiles with a strained expression.

"I agree. I like it to be easy, but the problem is because I use a lot of energy for my transformation, and I know it rarely happens. but I need to keep that energy for said transformation. If I used all that access energy to restore an entire planet, I will not have enough juice to transform. It is a double edge sword at the moment because my watch is on a countdown. and believe me it was not like that before. I need to fully understand this watch (mutters quietly: and this Universe). I also honestly do not know what my watch is fighting because for it to use that much energy it must be fighting back against something."

Miranda winces at that "I see that could being a problem, I assuming singular and groups will not be a problem then."

Ben shakes his head "not in a way you think, singular yes, but groups depend on size. It will juice out a bit and not to the extent of whole species if that make sense."

Miranda nods, thinking that was the case, but she did hear him say in a mutter tone 'Universe.'

"Oh, by the way I found some Cerberus intel you might like." Ben said changing the subject.

"Please, Benjamin, I know most if not all of Cerberus intel."

"How about you have a look and find out for yourself" Ben opens his Ommi-tool to send a copy of the Fehl Prime intelligence Ben had collected.

Miranda opens her Ommi-tool and sends a download to her monitor.

A Few minutes later

"That, No, The Illusive man. This makes no sense. Cerberus...." Miranda said confusedly.

"Work with the collectors and from what I can guess, it would not of work out in his favour."

"That Bastard, I know he sacrifice, but a whole colony just for technologies and Intel" Ben shrugs but his Omni-tool opens, and a voice slammed through.

"Ben Get the Conference room NOW!" Then it cuts.

Ben pulled back. He looked directly at Miranda "want to come and see what that is about?" Miranda nods following Ben to the conference room. Trying to get away from the latest information she has learned.

Normandy SR2 Conference room

Both Ben and Miranda Walk up toward the doors of the meeting/ Conference room. As they walk forward. Both Jacob and Mordin are standing beside each other. Miranda walk up to them.

"Hey Jacob, do you know why Shepard has asked for Benjamin here?" Miranda asked curiously while Shepard shouted over Ben, Ommi-tool.

Jacob shakes his head "No, me and Mordin came to check it out. We both heard Shepard shout from both the armoury and the Lab."

Mordin nods agreeing "Yes. Shepard's tone sounded scared and worried if something happened."

Ben felt a bit chili but just shrugged it off, "well whatever got him scared we take it down also aren't you meant to be in surgery?"

Mordin nods "it was done a few minutes ago, Prometheus is sleeping in the medical wing now" Everyone nods. Jacob also now has been debriefed on the matter.

Miranda Smirks, "please Benjamin he talking to the illusive man whatever got Shepard scared it properly got to do with your Aliens." Both Jacob and Morden nod at that agreeing.

"Well, let's go then," Jacob says open the conference room door. As they do the get closer to the communication between Shepard and Illusive man

"Yo shep while you did..." But Ben, head turns to the familiar chill then stops cold looking at an Old Ghost or better yet "Ghostfreak" Ben mutters. Also Blanching, sweating from seeing one of his old if not dark gruesome adversaries.

"Benjamin" Miranda asks out of concern. Everyone looked at Ben now, even Ghostfreak with his Upside Skull face and Tendril coming out of his Boney body. Translucent Boney Body.

"Hahah. Hello Young Benjamin, me, and a friend of yours have been missing you" Ghostfreak chuckled.

Jacob is a little put out "Okay is everyone not a little put out by the floating Ghost in. wait is he in the ship or"

"He in my space station Jacob" the illusive man puts in. He looks at Ben who is still looking pale as a Ghost. "You know this creature."

Ben nods but surprising everyone "HOW," everyone is shocked by how Loud Ben is. Anger laced in his force.

Ghostfreak was smirking Jacob was creeping out by it as it looked like it was upside down clown face.

Ben stares with deep hatred "HOW, ARE YOU HERE, I DESTROYED YOU, ABSORBED YOU, YOU SHOULD BE DEAD!"

Miranda grabs hold of Ben Shoulder "you need to calm down Benjamin."

"GET OFF ME!" Slamming Miranda down to the ground. Everyone, especially Miranda's eyes, winded. She had never seen Ben act like this before.

"YO Kid calm down who ever this guy is we can" Jacob grabbing hold of Ben.

"YOU DON'T GET IT, HE MINE! AND BEFORE...." Ben Eyes gets shut, by Shepard and a swift Jab to the back of his neck. He turned to Miranda who was being seen by Mordin.

"Miranda, take him to see Chalkwas" Miranda Nods gets up and goes to pick up Ben over her shoulder. Heading out the door

"Jesus I never seen this kid act that way before," Jacob points out, but a laugh fills the room.

"Oh, then you never truly meet Ben Tennyson have you, this is but a fraction of his anger when he notice his and my other friend hahahaha."

The illusive man silent through this exchange "This Friend of yours Does he happen to wear purple and looks like an older version of young Benjamin here."

Ghostfreak look at him smile and said "YES" The illusive man Nods.

Mordin finally chimes in, eyes shine with glean. "Ben in Anger said absorb, does that mean you are one of his Aliens? Curious to see how you wounded out of watch."

GhostFreak growled at that, nearly looking to Kill the doc.

"I think you hit somewhere Doc" Jacob says nearly grabbing his shotgun.

"He right is not he; you escaped his watch. Now you want to kill Ben." Shepard theorized.

GhostFreak still growling over the fact he has been caught, but "Your right I am, and I escaped for my freedom. You should also call me by my real name. Zs'Skayr."

Mordin adds in "Then try to control him, defeat him hmm. You are not very subtle are you."

The illusive man nods and adds his theory to the mix. While puffing out a smoke. "They are also the fact. For the first time Benjamin looked like he was ready to destroy worlds to defeat you. So, I might ask What did you do to well, anger him as such"?

GhostFeak or Zs'Skayr could not help but smirked at that "I may have possessed his cousin on top of a roof near an edge. nearly making her fall and go squash, or about the fact I tried to control him for the watch. There are many more to count but those are the earlier adventures we had together when he was Ten. HEheheh"

Jacob blanches at that. Mordin nods but not smiling, the illusive man in all his impassive tone, looks at Ghostfreak with some resemblance of disgust. Shepard was now just as angry as Ben "You're a Monster,"

Zs'Skayr Chuckles and shrugged "I try" but then in a monotone tone "I just thought you wanted some information on young Benjamin, you must know he is not from your world right or better yet from your universe?" Ghostfreak smirks, seeing the reaction from everyone except the doctor.

Mordin Nods "Parallel universe, hmm yes. Makes sense. I guess he did not create the watch, hmm?"

Shepard looks at Mordin "What do you mean? Parallel?"

The Illusive man chimes in "He means Shepard, that Ben Tennyson is not from our earth but from a different earth. An Earth that I am assuming due to Ben Medical records, is from the 21st century, Zs'Skayr?" Zs'Skayr chuckled.

"Of course."

Mordin nods. Jacob and Shepard are God smacked. Mordin spoke up. "That means...... Why are you still here Zs'Skayr?"

Zs'Skayr was now looking at Morden in a new form of hatred "you Spoiled the fun."

Mordin smirks "I try."

Zs'Skayr clenches his claws in spiteful anger. Mordin then looks at Shepard "Let me know when Ben is ready to talk, I might have a way to help him with this Universe problem." Shepard nods. Then Mordin leaves.

Zs'Skayr Growls "well then I bid you a goodbye then and let Ben know, I will get what I want whether he likes it or no.t" Then He disappears through the illusive man walls.

Shepard looked at Illusive man in a neutral tone "I need the intel for the shadow broker quickly; I have a plan to help Ben. So, I need that intel fast."

The Illusive man nods, understanding what Shepard is planning. "You have it and believe me Shepard, after that fiasco I want Zs'Skayr Gone as much as you do." Shepard nods and cuts the communication with his distrustful benefactor.

"Well, I hear I thought my problems are going to be a pain" Jacob inputs in.

Shepard's eyebrow raised "are they a problem?"

"Not right now but maybe later after you deal with Ben in medical."

Shepard nods and heads to medical Bay. "Miranda I am on my way and call the rest of the crew who we need to have a meeting."

"Right away commander and Shepard, Benjamin, here. I am worried I may not know the kid for long but, I have never seen him have that reaction before." Shepard grimaces. He did notice though, Back on Horizon

Normandy SR2 Medical Bay

"That surgery was quick, Doctor. You have my thanks," Prometheus said bowing.

"Was not hard, I just needed to alter and take out some reaper technology. Mordin skill help a tone" Chalkwas says in a cheerful tone.

"How are you feeling?" Samara ask in a kind hush tone.

"Well thank you thank you for asking. Prometheus turns his head to the new face. "You must be Thane krios."

Thane nods "I am. I am glad everything worked out for you ...." Then the medical doors burst open.

"Chalkwas!" Miranda crashes in the medical bay with Ben on her shoulder. Thane goes to help lay Ben on the Med Table.

"What happened?" Chalkwas Demanded now scanning Ben

"Shepard knocked him out; He had a bad reaction to someone. Or something?" Miranda grabs her shoulder in pain.

"Are you okay?" Samara asks in concern.

Miranda nods. "nothing pain meds will not fix; Ben did a number on my shoulder."

Prometheus chimes in, "Ben did that, hhmm,"

Thane looks solemnly "He's angry and scared." He can tell from the way Ben slumped down.

Miranda looks at Ben "I can see why whatever was that creature nearly scared us all even the illusive man and that in itself is not an easy feat."

Everyone in the room, their eyes bugged out at info except for Prometheus.

Miranda Ommi-tool opens up, "Miranda, I am on my way and call the rest of the crew who we need to have a meeting."

Miranda Nods right away commander and Shepard, Benjamin, here. I am worried I may not know the kid for long but, I have never seen him have that reaction before." The coms cuts. Then she just had a thought of something "ship?"

Miranda looks towards Thane "Thane, can you?"

Thane nods "I head there now and pick up Ship. I will be back in a few." Thane leaves the medical wing and heads down to hangar bay. Thane only saw Ship once but that was enough to know who to look for.

Samara made a suggested "let's wait outside in the crew hall so that way we are not intruding in Chalkwas job."

Miranda nods and leads out to the Mess Hall Prometheus just following behind.

Normandy SR2 Crew Hall

A few moments later, the crew hall is now only filled with Shepard companions. Everyone else left to let the squadmates deal with whatever they were dealing.

"Yo Cheerleader hope this is worth it. Why call everyone" Jack called out as she walked in.

"Yeah, I was just finishing off some calibrations...." Garrus said but was ignored by everyone.

"You're right Jack" Miranda said, shocking everyone in the hall, especially Jack.

"What did Cheerleader just...."

"Not the time Jack. I see Ship with us good that makes things easier" everyone turned to see Shepard now in casual but looking sweaty. Ship was on the mess hall table looking around wondering what was going on.

"What I am about to tell you stays in this room, no one and I mean no one tells anyone about without my say so," Shepard commanded like a leader and everyone in the room nodded.

"Benjamin Tennyson is not from this Universe, and I mean it. We just had a visitor pay The Illusive man a house call. Also look at Ship for conformation" Everyone does, and Ship bows his head looking like this is true.

"Wait, are you saying that the Kid is not only not from our Galaxy but from another one. Shit. I am getting a god damn headache. Oh great, now I am copying Zaeed." Jack said loudly. Zaeed smirks at her.

"That explains a lot more than the Andromeda theory that has been circulating, does Mordin believe it to be true" Miranda asks hoping for answers. Shepard nods at her and everyone is dumbfounded.

"That explains the watch. The energy readings from it do not match any non-signals from any of our known technologies and even if the watch energy does match stuff from Andromeda which I doubt it by the way. It does not explain how a human would end up there." This was Tali talking thinking about what she saw from the watch and Ben all together.

"But why is this important from what I can tell The Kid Here now and if he wanted to go home to his well god dam Universe. why wait, why not ask for help to go home, hell even if he asks for it. It does not look like he wants to" This was Zaeed speaking. Pointing out a fact that everyone does not notice.

Samara nods at that and adds her own thoughts "its clear Ben has struggles, whatever happened to his Home clearly made him a sad version of himself. He jokes but you can tell that he does it to push people away."

Thane continues Samara thought process "He also sees what Humanity is like in this universe, and he does not like it. It reminds him of people he fought in his world."

"How can you tell?" Miranda asks but Garrus answers "it the way he fights. I have been in enough battles to know that Ben has similar encounters to whoever he thought in his world. same tactics, same strategy, and same fighting style that why it was easy for him." Miranda nods at that, thinking it makes sense.

Kasumi the ever charming "You know what funny" Everyone looks at her Shepard raises an eyebrow "I had my contacts, try and find this Benjamin Tennyson and guess what?"

Miranda puts in "I check every net and sights, and nothing popped up."

"Ah but you did not check the darker of dark places have you, Ben may not exist in this world, but one person does know and that person is Hackett."

"The admiral but how. if Ben from..." Shepard started to say.

"You did not let me finish Shepard. You see Hackett has been slowly adding Ben to the alliance database with information that we are talking about right now. Like his watch, how old is he, his Aliens and this is the best part. According to my contact, someone in the Alliance military is planning to send out a hit on Tennyson. Someone with ginger hair. By the way, who is Zs'Skayr" Kasumi finishes enjoying the looks from Shepard, Garrus, and Tali. They know who Kasumi is referring to.

Shepard Blanches at that news "How. Did you?" Jacob asks Kasumi. They have not told Miranda yet.

"I was not cloaked, if that is what you are asking, believe it or not. One of my contacts went dark. The last thing they said was Zs'Skayr. I just took a guess.

"Who is Zs'Skayr and Eon? Are they Strong?" Grunt ask with a Hmph.

Shepard is the one that answers "Zs'Skayr is strong that much is unfortunately true in fact He is the reason Ben is Medical. Ben got so mad and afraid he shoved Miranda back. He even looked like he was about to charge at Ghostfreak even though he was in the illusive man office while on call to me. but this Eon, that is a new name."

Everyone eyes widen even further, and it look like Prometheus who is silence through this says, "I see" Everyone looks at him "That explains what I felt when I felt his memories of his life as you say."

Samara asks, "you can mind Meld."

Prometheus shakes his head "No it more an essence bond I can feel more of a person's emotion than his true memories. I will however not share what I felt, it is his business for him to tell you when he is ready" Samara nods at that intrigue by the prospects.

Everyone nods at that though some are disgruntled, but they understand privacy when called for. Everyone was dismissed but had a lot to process about everything.

"Well Shit. By the way, your welcome Cheerleader now if you excuse me, I need to well adjust and shit" jack spoke up everyone's nods.

"Truer words have never been spoken, everyone dismissed" Shepard ordered. Everyone does except for Garrus, Miranda, and Tali.

"Is there something you want to say to Garrus" Shepard asks quizzically.

"Shepard, if what you say is true. Well, what does Zs'Skayr look like?" Shepard raises an Eyebrow. Miranda opens up her Ommi-tool to show an image of Zs'Skayr.

"Crap Baskets"

"Oh, you say that too?" Talis turns to Garrus.

"Have you seen him?" Miranda asked.

Garrus nods "He is on Omega. He works with a Human, a man who wears purple armour. Zs'Skayr has Been making Deals with the mercs there to help overthrow Aria. I never knew he was the one helping them till now."

"He is building an army?" Tali Ask trying to figure out this figure motive.

Garrus shrugs "I am not sure honestly; it looks like a deal done bad till they had some information that got them to do a 180 on the whole deal."

"Alright thanks Garrus" Shepard responded.

"No problem, Shepard. And let me know when the kid wakes, He needs friends right now."

Tali nods "That my reason for staying, just let me know and I help anyway I can."

Both Miranda and Shepard nod "thanks guys"

Then everyone else started going back to their usual location. Miranda picks up ship. Who has been silent the entire conversation.

"You're staying with me till Ben calmer and gets the help he needs."

"Ship, Ship" Ship, agrees with this.

Normandy SR2 Galaxy map.

"New emails are waiting for you commander."

"Thanks Kelly" Kelly nods

Shepard read the emails, one was from a few colleagues, the other was from the illusive man 'going to read that in private' Shepard thought. He keeps scrolling till he sees one from Eon 'What.' Shepard opened it up.

From: [email protected]

To:[email protected]

Hello Shepard if you have a guess I am Eon. I am writing to let you know. That if you interfere with my plans to rid the multiple universes of Ben Tennyson then you got another thing coming.

Yours Truly your better.

Eon

Shepard growls 'It seems Ben enemies were arrogant to the point they think they are gods. Wait, his speech pattern is similar to Bens'... 'what did the Illusive man say. "This Friend of yours Does he happen to wear purple and looks like an older version of young Benjamin here."

"Shit" Shepard Muttered

Normandy SR2 Miranda Office

"It will be okay ship; Ben will be fine" Ship nods.

"Miranda" Miranda looks up from ship "Shepard what going on?" Shepard walked in looking worried.

"This Eon that Zs'Skayris is working with. He is an older version of Ben."

Miranda squints at that news "How do you figure that?" but before Shepard could answer, Ship chimed in.

"Ship" Ship then hits Miranda monitor and shows who Eon is. Miranda gets to work looking at the information, Ship has provided.

"Shit, your right Shepard he is an older version of Ben.... no that cannot be true" Miranda stutters.

"What?"

"We need to ask Ben when he wakes up, I am not saying it till then because I do not know if it to be true."

Shepard nods not happily but understands. Ben needs to be the one to tell us this. They only scratch the surface level of what Ben can do.

"I go to my quarters, I got an email form the illusive man and I need to talk to the crew, inform me when Ben wakes up."

Miranda nods

Shepard put a hand on Miranda's shoulder. "He will get better Miranda. He just needs help."