Normandy SR2, cockpit

"Shepard mopping again." Joker started with.

"Yep," Kasumi said.

"Hey, he was told by his now ex to let her grieve and move on. After all, he did die." Ben finished.

"Ship, ship" ship nodded in agreement with Ben. He has been hanging around Prometheus a lot more because Ben is busy...

"Yes ship. It seems, these primitives, have some form of attachment with these emotions of theirs" Prometheus said in a condescending tone, though it came across amusing.

"Prometheus, we really need to get you out more" Kasumi nodded to Ben Idea till Joker…

"Yeah, then you can explain to everyone why we have a collector, who by all accounts is abducting human colonies, is on board my ship. while getting gunned down at the same time. Hell, the crew barely stands him." Joker sarcastically stated.

Kasumi pouted "Your no fun."

"Ship" Ship giggles

"I am confused as to why we are having this conversation behind Shepard back" EDI Ask with curious intent.

"It is mainly because we care for him EDI and are worried, he might do something he might regret or…." Kasumi explained.

"Stupid"

"Thanks Joker"

"Your welcome prankster twin" Kasumi grins. Joker grins back in return.

"Tennyson" Everyone turned to the noise. It was Miranda and Jacob.

"Can I help you princess?"

"We found something, we don't recognise it on the codex entry on the species page" Ben raised an eyebrow at Jacob's explanation while thinking that Jacob can be quite boring sometimes.

"Okay but what does that have to do with me?" a confused Ben asked.

Jacob opens a holo vid. Showing….

"Is that a Varren fuck a Thresher maw attacking Cerberus troops. How?" Joker ask confused on what he is seeing.

A Varren mix with a… "Fuck. I got all the mad scientist villains, don't I." Ben exclaimed to himself.

"You seem to know who this creature is, Benjamin," EDI pointed out. Through Ben Outlook she was not far off.

"Well, you know at some point we will meet Dr psychobos." Everyone nodded. Knowing him with Eon at Omega "Well he was not the first scientist villain I faced. Another called Dr Animo and from your look princess it tells me, you already know what he is capable of." Everyone turns to Miranda Sower look.

"This was a Cerberus operation mixing the genetic code of animals bypassing their genetics and biology." Kasumi looked confused.

"Okay ewe but how can we tell if it this Dr Animal."

"Animo and it is him. I can Check the level of Genetic mutation science in this timeframe and year. It knows where on par with his science, and he is the only one I have known to combine animals that are not compatible with each other." Ben finishes.

Joker made a disgusted face "Well he sounds like a nut job."

Ben snorted louder than he meant "Yep." He popped out the P

Jacob in an all-serious face "What his weakness. How can we face him? I do not trust the illusive man but there no way he trust people who are crazy to do this mad science,"

"Look for a device. The man likes it, so he is in control of his creatures, oh and he likes the sound of his own voice. a lot. What is this about anyway?"

Jacob nodded but side eye Miranda "So external sources got it and to answer that question we don't know. We have reason to believe he is working on a Cerberus project but do not know what the project is."

Miranda then started going on about another mission "Anyway, Shepard is dealing with some problems right now. Garrus and Tali are with him right now. So, to occupy our time, Shepard has ordered me to do the illusive man favour. The mission is called overlord. We have been experimenting with the idea to control the Geth through the human Vi interface. Apparently, they found someone who quite a genius with this type of work."

Joker snorted towards the group "Bet, Tali would love that." Ben on the other hand.

"Can I take charge of this one? I need to get back in my groove and well, I have a gut feeling and hate those." Miranda smiled and thought that it was not a bad idea. Plus, she always wanted to see more of his skills in action, and she gets the chance to see his leadership skills.

"Sure. Plus, we can take Prometheus with us since it is located on an isolated planet." Miranda said. Ben wanted to get him out there.

"Oh, oh can I come." Kasumi was giddy with the idea, but Ben thought about it and had a gut feeling that something bad was about to happen on this mission.

"Yeah, you can come. EDI, Joker keep Ship here, would you?" Joker was about to argue but EDI started saying what she wanted to say before he had a chance.

"I do not mind plus; I would like to converse with Ship more." EDI responded.

"Princess can you and Jacob get Thane, Mordin, grunt and Zaeed. Then meet in the hangar bay." Ben asked.

Jacob raised an eyebrow "thinking we need all hands-on deck for this?" Ben just nods and heads down to hangar bay with Prometheus and Kasumi following behind.

Normandy SR2, Hangar Bay.

Prometheus and Kasumi were standing next to the shuttle waiting for the rest of the team, while Ben was talking to Kennith about the rust bucket.

"Aye. She is good at traveling on planet level but still needs that mass effect core part for it to have space travel capabilities." Ben nodded.

Kenneth continued "Pretty sure my friend is delivering the parts we need now so I should be done soon. Roughly after your next mission and after I get the parts here. Hell, with Gabby's help it should be smooth sailing."

"Nice." Ben retorted. Then their elevator open up and everyone Ben ask for came out and started heading towards the shuttle.,

"See you Kenneth," Ben waved bye as now was heading towards the shuttle. Kennith waved back. Ben hopped in the shuttle with everyone else. The shuttle take off for planet Aite.

The shuttle

Everyone filed in the shuttle like a tight hug, as they are flying down, Ben starts to wonder his own self-worth of change. After talking more with Chalkwas he has been more alive than before but still feels this empty soul of his.

Zaeed made a coughing sound that attracted everyone attention "right so, I know what we are doing but why do we need this god dammed many people."

Miranda/Kasumi/Jacob and Ben answered, "Shepard life caught up to him."

Zaeed nodded understanding, giving him space "Ah, yes wondering when the trauma of being dead kicked in."

Ben snorted. "You're subtle, though what do you expect from a revenge hungry madman."

Zaeed smirked back. Then frowned. "What about you kid. You are feeling better?"

"No, every time I sleep, I remember my friends and my family. Haunting me of my failures to save them. FYI we are not friends. Your revenge plot could have gotten people killed unnecessarily." Ben said with laced anger in his tone.

"Kid," Zaeed can see the pain in the kid's eyes. The pain that got him here in the first place. A pain he recognises himself from experience.

"It is fine. Really, I am getting there, just" Ben started rubbing his eyes with a depressed monotone.

"I just need to get to Eon and Ghostfreak. Then I have my payback." Zaeed nodded in understanding. they may not be friends, but he understands the need to get back at someone. Miranda speaking to Morden and Jacob overheard the conversation and is saddened.

"ETA to Aite. 2 minutes." EDI said over the shuttle coms.

"Well, that was fast." Ben Muttered

2 minutes later.

Aite Hermes Station

"Sniff, sniff, I don't like it… haunted." Grunt said as he examined the outlook of the facility while getting off the shuttle. The facility looked destroyed and burnt like an inferno punch through it walls.

"Yes, I do feel a faint presence in the air." Thane agreed with grunt on the matter.

Miranda nodded and looked at Jacob and Ben. "We need to cover our Flanks."

Ben looked towards Kasumi and Thane "You two, and princess. Scout on ahead, check for survivors and any information on the project here."

Thane nods. Kasumi giggles. "Oh, that a stupid question Benjamin of course I can" Those three went ahead with Miranda in the lead.

Jacob raised an eyebrow "Expecting trouble."

"You in the Shepard crew. You are not expecting it?" Ben retorted in mild humour

"Point, taken."

"Alright, then you and Grunt cover the front. Mordin you with me and Prometheus scan anything that might help us. Zaeed covers the rear" Everyone nodded at the rolls given. Jacob opened with his newly formed barrier and Grunt slammed his fist together allowing fortification to power up. They walked forward into the facility passing damaged walls and corpses that spread across the floor.

"Ah you here" That made everyone jump. Looking around Grunt points to a monitor where a face appeared. A man with a high hairline and a deep voice that reminds Ben of Loghain from the Dragon Age game he played back home. Also, to Ben, it oddly reminds him of that Quarian Admiral.

"Sorry about the scare, my name is Doctor Gavin Archer. Head researcher of project Overlord. we are facing a catastrophic VI breakout. You need to get to the satellite dish controls, to stop the Vi. It is trying to leave and access the outer network. I tried to save as many as I could but with The VI in the network. Well, you understand. Good Luck" Gavin said with some hope filled in his voice. Then he cut the call.

Ben opens his omni-tool, while talking to Miranda "Princess, just found a survivor, do not know where he is but he is in this facility. Do you mind looking for him? He Dr Gavin Archer"

Over the coms Miranda said "Yes, me and my squad will search around for him. Be warned though, Geth are here and are vastly different."

"How different?" Ben asked.

"They are glowing green, and we hear screens from the Vi station here," Miranda explained.

"pl ] #, M #~ ..." A sudden scream echoed across the room deafening a few squad mates. A few numbers jump on screen. It looks to be simulating a face.

"Yeah, we just got a taste of it" Ben retorted.

Morden chimed in the discussion "VI reacts with emotion. Tone indicates human emotion. Simulated experience, possible AI involvement" Ben hummed.

"Well Anyway, we are going to head to the satellite Dish controls, apparently the VI trying to access the outer network, probably the Normandy from my guess." Ben finished. He can hear Miranda processing that information till…

"What!" Miranda screamed across the coms.

"Look, we need to get going, so once you find Gavin meet us at the Dish controls. Bye." Ben finally finished. Then he cut the call.

"Was it wise to cut the call?" Jacob asked Ben.

"Yes. She is going to give me a lecture on stopping this. I am not dealing with that. Now let's get going." Jacob snorted and followed with the rest of the group and walked forward inward towards the Satellite controls.

The group made it to the cafeteria of the facility which was overrun with Geth.

"Geth! Different, controlled maybe." Mordin stated. Intrigue by the Geth fresh look.

"Whatever it is, it's killing time," Grunt grunted.

"Agreed. Grunt, Jacob and Zaeed take the ground floor, hit them where it hurts" Ben stated out a plan. Ben followed up with "Prometheus covered them with air support. Mordin you and me are heading straight through the Geth and toward the satellite control room" Everyone nodded and went on with the plan with Grunt slamming down Geth, Zaeed firing behind cover in the kitchen and Jacob covering the stairs on the other side of the room. Prometheus flying high is shooting his targets with precision making sure his cover of his crew mates are secure. Ben slams his Omnitrix, and a green flash appears.

"BullFrag!" BullFrag shouts. BullFrag then pulls out his Prototool, nods to Morden and both head to the First floor of the cafeteria. Well, Bullfrag jumps towards the railings, while grabbing some Geth with his tongue, slamming them down to the ground afterwards and followed up by shooting the Geth on the First floor. Morden also took down some Geth with cryo then followed up with shooting with his SMG as his incineration does not work on Geth.

They both push forward when they make it to the Satellite dish control room.

"Doc, why don't you work your magic here and get this satellite to go offline." Bullfrag said with a Brooklyn tone accent.

Mordin nods "doing it now. Standby."

2 minutes later.

SLAMM.

"You are good, doc?" Bullfrag ask Mordin.

"No, the VI counter my commands, we need to manually destroy the struts support beams in order to stop the VI transfer. No over choice." Mordin explained.

Then the facility speaker came online with a dull female voice. "Upload to satellite uplink. Target SSV Normandy SR2!"

"pl ] #, M #~ s#" "

" Scrap, that VI really creepy. Doc contacts The Bot and Joker. Let them know of the upload." Bullfrag swore.

"Agreed. What about you?" Morden said as he opened his omni-tool to call Joker and EDI.

Ben hits his Omnitrix again. A quick green flash appears.

"Astrodactyl Squawk!" Astrodactyl the rocketed off smashing the glass in front of him. Wasting no time to go and destroy the support beams. Then Mordin Omni-tool beeps.

"Mordin, I can't get a call from Ben and Jacob said he was with you, what happened?" Miranda ask from the omni-tool.

"He is busy manually shutting down the uplink. No choice, the Vi blocks remote access from satellite control." Mordin answered.

"Understand we are heading your way. We found Gavin Archer."

"Understood." The call was cut.

With Ben flying to the Satellite Dish

"Squawk, Time to bring down the house!" Ben deep dives in. rocketing himself towards the first support beam." He opens his mouth and fires a green energy beam destroying it. Geth from below fires upon him. Astrodactyl opens his wrist and grabs a Geth Pyro with an energy whip and slamming that Geth to the second support beam destroying it in the process. With one final push Astrodactyl fires off another beam towards the Geth prime which pushes it back to the third and final support pillar destroying the satellite. Said satellite collapses on itself causing structural damages to the facility.

"Now, let's see what Dr Gavin has to explain about this shit show Squawk."

5 minutes later

"Geth is gone and the Facility secured" Jacob said with an authoritative voice, talking to Miranda.

"Good, how are Mordin and Thane dealing with the bodies?" Miranda asked.

"Gave them the standard Cerberus practice, when it came to burying the dead and informing families. They follow through with it now and I join them in a minute. Grunt, Prometheus and Zaeed are doing a final sweep of the base." Miranda nodded. Happy this mission was successful until...

With Ben and Gavin Archer.

"Please explain to me what project overlord is?" Ben asks hoping answers will calm his gut. Him and Gavin are inside the facility in an office space that controls lab security.

Gavin sitting at his desk explained "this is Project Overlord, an attempt to gain influence over the Geth by interfacing a human mind with a VI…." He takes a breather "He is like a virus now, infecting the networks and seizing control of our technology."

Ben crossed armed "What the worst-case scenario because I for one don't want to get an earful from the council."

Gavin rubs his forehead looking tired "A Technology apocalypse. Every machine, weapon, every computer could be turned against us. Dav… The Vi has fortified himself at the main laboratory in Atlas station. It is in lockdown now. To enter you need to manually override security from area facilities in Prometheus and Vulcan stations." Gavin said with a strain in his tone.

Ben looked at the lockdown console then back to Gavin. "I assume I have to pull that tube out to override the lockdown on both stations allowing us the team to access the main Laboratory?"

"Yes, it works its magic once you hit the two stations, after that happens this will allow you access to the main lab" Ben nods to Gavin then turns to go out to meet his team but stops and thinks to certain words Gavin played out 'Dav…...'.

With Ben and the gang.

Ben walked outside and spoke to Miranda first. Explaining the situation.

"Alright so we got two stations and one main laboratory. Quite sure we got the exact numbers to head to each place, but we only have one shuttle." Miranda said calculating the odds. Ben's thoughts came to him with an idea. So, he shouted.

"Dr Archer!" Dr Gavin Archer came out of the lab to answer his call. "Yes, what is it?"

"Do you have any spare vehicles?"

"oh" he looked around to see how many there were. "I see, yes, I do. If you give me a moment." Gavin opens up his omni-tool then presses some buttons. Next the garage doors open to see one Mako and Hammerhead tanks.

"Whistles! Thanks." Ben said to Gavin who nodded in return and headed back inside.

Ben turns to the group "Right, so. Zaeed, you, Grunt and Prometheus head to Vulcan station in the Mako." Zaeed groan but nodded.

"I hate you so many kids." Ben grinned in return. Miranda nodded at the group with the mako. It makes sense to her as that station is lava territory as she researched and the mako can survive under the highest of heats.

"Thane, you, Kasumi and Jacob head to Prometheus station, with the Hammerhead" Thane nodded. Jacob groans also. His lack of trust towards the assassin is well documented.

Miranda again nodded with this group but also added "be warned you have to deal with a heavy cannon that was built to protect the station. It is also a Geth ship to boot, so take extra ammo just in case." Thane hummed in acknowledgement.

Both teams head to their respective vehicles and head off. Ben finished off by saying to Mordin and Miranda.

"We head off in the shuttle when they override the lockdown. Then have them meet us at Atlas station with, Zaeed team picking up Dr Gavin along the way." Both nod at the plan

Back on the Normandy Sr2 Shepard quarters

"Shepard" Tali softly spoke.

"I know Tali. It just is not easy" Tears welling up while looking at a picture of him a Liara on their first date on the citadel.

Garrus spoke but with a tough tone "look we knew you were going to have a challenging time adjusting. Especially when every single one of us had moved on or ruled a planet for Wrex's sake. We all grieved for you and some of us still do. When we first saw you, it felt like a gut punch. Like how you deal with your friend who has been dead for 2 years. We changed Shepard and honestly, it's hard to be friends with you now. Please give us time. We can still talk; we can still spend time together but we both must earn both our friendship back because it has been two years where I lost my best friend Shepard." Shepard felt like he been punched in the gut but nodded in understatement. Garrus left after that not wanting to be brought back.

"Garrus," Tali quietly said.

"Do you feel that way to, Tali?" Shepard asked

"Yeah. I am still coming to terms with you being alive and I… think you are as well. We got so used to you well dying and grieving that… well you know." Shepard was just silent.

"Well, I just go" Tali left after that. Shepard crawled up into a ball.

"Shit" Shepard muttered to himself. He opened his omni-tool and watched some old vids of his old crew.

"I never really did come to terms with being alive after death. I just went back to it. Like any N7 operative would do" he said to himself realising that the scars that affected him also affect his frie… companions.

Aite Vulcan station.

"Wow, that's a lot of lava," Zaeed muttered. Seeing all the lava that surrounded the facility.

Grunt growled "either way Mush" Zaeed gave grunt a deadpanned expression that says, 'are you serious but drove the mako forward anyway. Driving on rocky terrain and lava puddles. Once they close enough.

Prometheus stated "How are we going to get on top of the cliff side" Zaeed smirked.

"Bug boy, let me tell you, the Mako knows how to climb."

A few moments later. After a very bump Mako driving.

Grunts got out of the Mako with hands touching the floor. "Who taught you how to drive, old man?" he said in an angry tone.

Zaeed snorted "Not my fault the Mako could be jumpy." Prometheus even the emotionless one after getting out the mako, vomit.

"I did not know you could do that bug boy?" Zaeed asks humorously.

"Neither did I" Prometheus later muttered something about primitives and technology.

Grunt got up and started to stretch "well, we are here. Let go" They enter Vulcan station. With guns high. Walking in the facility they see a vent with pump values and a bridge.

Prometheus said, "let's go across the bridge, we should be able to gain access to the main terminal that way" Grunt and Zaeed nodded. So, they walked towards the bridge only for it to collapse but falling debris.

"Shit" Zaeed shouted. Grunt growled but Prometheus looked towards the valves and fires with his collector rifle.

"Boom!"

"WHAT THE HELL BUG BOY" Zaeed shouted toward the bug.

"I created a pathway. I can see that the pipes lead directly towards the upper levels. We take them so now we have a clear path" Grunt grunted but walked towards the new pathway. Followed by Zaeed and Prometheus. Once they reach the top floor….

"Mechs," Zaeed shouted. Seeing mechs activating with a green glow.

"And Drones." Grunt followed up on.

Prometheus finished "I fly around and hit the drones. Give you some breathing space." He does so use his collector rifle he fires upon them with great speed.

Zaeed pulls out his Maddock assault rifle and fires on the mechs using disruptor ammo. Grunts charges at the mechs with his mighty Krogan DMZ shotgun. Slamming them down to the ground.

A few minutes later.

Zaeed muttered up a storm and his lips twitch a smile "That was fun and therapeutic."

"Heh, Heh, Heh" Grunt agreed.

Prometheus flew down "Drowns destroyed. We must proceed forward" Both nodded in agreement and moved toward the corridor on the far end of the building, where there was a big square room full of.

"More mechs, Kill them." Zaeed shouted. Using the same method as before. Slamming shooting a drone destruction. Then a heavy mech came out of the side door.

"S~" £ pleas] #, M #~ s#" " Zaeed mentally screamed at how annoying Vi is.

"Ha, Heavy mech. This is going to be fun" Grunt stated exactly and started to charge at the giant mech while shouting "I am KROGAN!"

"Dammit" Zaeed cursed. "Bug boys cover him by shooting the arms" Prometheus nodded and shot the left arm. Grunt charge at the heavy mech made it stumble a bit till it got back on its feet. Then Prometheus fired off a warp at the left arm and Zaeed fired a concussive round at the right arm. Grunt then pushes the heavy mech near the edge of the room, then in repeated fashion punching the mech head before it was blown off by Grunt shotgun blast. A clicking sound started appearing in everyone's ears.

"Oh, shit it is going to nuke. Get COVER!" Zaeed screamed and everyone went into cover behind some pillars.

"CrackleBooom!"

The free got out from cover and silently agreed to just walk to the Side room. As they walk in, they see a mech hitting, stomping the override command with their metal feat. The mech turned around and saw Zaeed, grunt and Prometheus standing their guns up. The green glow mech pulled their gun only to be shot by all three of the crew destroying the arms. Now the green glow vanishes but once that happens the mech. Ran.

Zaeed moved forward "Alright, pulling the Override. Be on your guard." He pulled up the cylinder to start the Vulcan station override. Then a green numbered face appeared.

"S~" £ pleas] #, M #~ sto " Zaeed ignored the Vi and called Tennyson through the omni-tool.

"Kid. The override at Vulcan station is done moving to secondary adjective." He then turned to look at the armless mech. shot it and moved on.

Hermes Station with Ben, Miranda, and Morden. In Dr Archer lab

"Thanks, old man" Ben cut the call with Zaeed and turned to Dr Archer. "Just to confirm. Has Vulcan station been overridden."

The Dr nodded "Yes, now all that left is Prometheus station" Ben nods then turns back to his team.

"Okay lets…"

"Ben!" Miranda shouted. Pointed ahead of him. She pulled out her gun.

"What!" Ben turns and eyes widen when he sees.

"Why is there a Geth with a hole in its chest Here? and does not have the green glow surrounding its eye?" Ben asks himself.

The said Geth spoke in a monotone voice "We are looking for Shepard commander. Will you help us? "

Mordin, Miranda, Ben and Dr Archer were gobsmacked. Jaws wide as the eye can see. "Did the Geth just speak in English? Can they do that?" Ben asked.

"Fascinating" Mordin exclaimed.

"Not the time Morden!" Miranda exclaimed loudly, not dropping her gun at the Geth.