A day after the overlord mission

"Your Okay princess" Ben asks with ship on his shoulders in the mess hall of Normandy easting A cheese sandwich. Seeing Miranda storming out of her office.

Miranda Turned to see Ben "No, Benjamin I am not. I just found out of a call with the illusive man. He told me he did not know about Project Overlord and Now Shepard off to help Jack."

"I bet he lied, also I know, Jack gave me back my hacking device."

"Of course, he lied but what worse he lied to my face." Miranda sits down across from Ben. "Are you are going on that mission?"

Ben shakes his head "no, they don't think they find trouble, and I'm still exhausted from using Manomet. Though Legion going"

"Really?"

Ben nodded "Yeah Shepard wanted to get a grasp on the power dynamics with the bot."

"I thought Legion was Helping with the nano tech idea Morden has."

"He is but Morden has a colleague on Sur 'kesh that works similar to nano tech and wanted to get some input before they get started."

"Have you found the designs to give to Morden yet?"

"Not yet though that might because My stuff was just dumped in the RV pilling up" Miranda shook her head.

"How do you feel about the illusive man now?"

"Why ask now?"

"Because if he lied to you about Overlord. Then what else has he lied to you about. Think about it, sanctuary, your farther. Your rescue of Orina. It doesn't make sense unless…." Ben halts a bit let the words sink into Miranda. He eyes widen.,

"He can hear us you know."

"Not really, I scrambled the cameras and recorders, a while back."

"He double crossing me why."

"Shepard, I believe."

"What?"

"I am guessing here but everyone recruit to this mission are people Cerberus is cutting loose. The illusive man knows that at some point you figure out your farther is involved with Cerberus. Jacob knows that to win this war is with Shepard, so he follows him to the end for the war or at least support it. Hell, practicality everyone here thinks that. So…"

"He is getting rid of people that he deems a threat to him or the very least not as loyal to him and is more loyal to Shepard. Of course, when Shepard died most flocked to Cerberus because we were doing something about the threats but now…." Miranda finishes. Hands in face.

"Ship!"

"Yeah, I know buddy" Ben looks to Miranda.

"Do you want."

"I need space." Then Miranda walks back to her office. Ben furrowed his brow in concern towards Miranda.

"Ship, Ship"

"Yeah buddy, I figured."

"Ben!" Ben turns to Kelly Chambers voice.

"You got a call coming from the meeting room."

"Illusive man?" He asked.

"I do not know. They just said they want to talk. Something about Geth?" Kelly eyebrow raised. Clearly fishing for information.

"Fine, let go ship."

"Ship!" waggled his tail and followed Ben.

Normandy SR2 Hangar Bay

"Shepard commander." Legion was walking out of the elevator.

"Legion. I hope you know I am putting a lot of trust in you" Legion blink and acknowledge. Then walk in the shuttle where Jack was waiting sitting on a seat.

"Finally, let goo already!" Shepard chuckled, and the shuttle went down to the planet Pragia.

Normandy SR2 Meeting room.

The holographic screen scanned Ben, then a figure appears. Ben raised an eyebrow.

"Well out of everyone to call me. I was expecting you to be on the bottom of list Shadow Broker." Liara T Soni appeared on the other side of the call. Turn and faced Ben.

"Shepard down on a mission to help subject Zero. This is a perfect time to talk."

"Ship?" Ben nodded at ship. Then looked back at Liara.

"So, why me." He asked.

"Because I need to know if it true?" Liara stated.

"What true?" Ben asks confused.

"You scanned your Geth companion." Ben was shocked. He turns to his watch and switch the dial seeing.

"Holy shit. Wait! How the Fuck did you know?" Ben anger spiked as quickly as he figured out, he had a Geth in his roster.

"A girl never reveals her secrets." Ship nodded like that a fact. Ben was wondering what Julie taught him.

"Fuck that. The Only way for you to find that out if you hacked into the Omnitrix and while I am not a genius, I know for a fact no technology in this universe is able to do that." Ben anger rising. Liara was not one to mince words now of days but here she deeply committed. She frowned.

"You know I can…."

"Answer now, or it be a one-way ticket to a Black whole by the boot. Trust me recently threaten someone with that." Ben was also not one to mince words when angry.

"Ship!" Ship growled heavily at Liara.

"Fine but because I know you can achieve that... Threat. I placed a device on your watch that scanned for any updates and such. I did it while we were on the ride to the shadow broker base. I removed it once I got what I wanted." Ben staggered. He would of notice any outside devices on his watch.

"Now about your Geth transformation. I thought you can only change into aliens?" Liara, Arms crossed asking. Ben frowned.

"I guess Geth are a race then." Ben jokingly said but at the same time serious. Ship chirped excitably.

"Do not joke with me, They AI, Synthetics. No DNA, no nothing." Liara swipes her arm across anger rising that Ben joking with her.

"Alright. You want to know. Fine he your answer. The Geth are a race. A species and before you say otherwise my Omnitrix categorise the aliens into factions. Geth is not my only Synthetic alien on my roster which means they Bleed. They live and they have a soul." Liara was stunned.

"Wait but, But how?"

Ben lifted up his fingers up, one by one. "Upgrade, NanoMech, BuzzShock and Clockwork just to name a few. I thought you knew this considering you fought Geth back in your early days. Also Scanning from my watch so that was a big give away."

Liara was breathing heavily. "Oh, goddess I was Hoping I was wrong."

"Is this to do with the reapers?" Ben interjected but Liara not listening.

"No, just changes the way how are world going to see them. The whole political landscape was that they were just AI now, they more than that. You need to mention this to the council." Liara put out.

"Urm, sure I do it after this call. Shepard got A direct line towards them because of his and mine Spectre access but why." Ben shrugged.

"Because Benjamin. You may have started a Civil war if this gets out. Does Tali know. Oh, wait you only just find out yourself" The Ben eyes widen.

"Oh god the Trial. The Quarians are not going to believe that the Geth are an Alien Race or like it for that matter. Fuck, Fuck!" Ben

"Now and that Why I called because this type of revelation put a perspective on the Geth aiding Saren."

"Yeah, because they Heretics according to Legion. Apparently, they have a religion." Ben explained.

"What!" Liara shocked factor grew.

"OH boy." Ben can tell this is going to be a long day for Him and Ship.

"Ship, ship" Ship agreed. Ben pattered him on the Head. He got a purr in response.

Pragia

Shepard, jack, and Legion are on top of a Cerberus research facility. One that help create Jack to who she is today. They walked forward into the place with a steady guard. The first one the entered was lab, then next a staircase that led to an open arena.

"Shepard, I don't think I can do this" Jack said squirming under the weight of the research facility she is standing on.

"Then don't but Jack, you can't let this fester. It will haunt you" Shepard stated.

"How do you deal with it. The pressure because it is fucking a bitch of a feeling." Jacked ask for advice. Gripping her fist.

"You have to understand it then face it." Shepard explained considering he has to face his own demons at some point.

"Like the pressure you been facing to the point of the fucking reapers."

"Yeah, something like that." Legions halted.

"Shepard commander, Varren. Across the hall. 2 metres north."

"Thanks Legion" Shepard look into Jack eyes. "Ready to kill some Varren."

"Fuck yeah."

Normandy SR2 Meeting room.

After Ben meeting with Liara, Ben set up one with the council. Informing them of the Geth situation. Ship is staying quiet throughout this meeting.

"And I am telling you again councillor. My watch scans life forms. If the watch counted Legion. Then the Geth are considered life forms." Ben stated in an angry tone

Tevos the Asari councillor said in a calming tone "Tennyson. What you claim. It puts us in a predicament. I am sure councillor Sparatus did not mean anything by what he said."

"Oh, fuck you. You know very well he meant it and When are you not in a Predicament! It like every time something important happens, you stand there and think oh look, this person claims something happen with proof lets ignore and hope it goes away. How your human approval ratings by the way?" The councillors winced at that. Yes, the humans are not happy with the council for not helping surviving colonist but let us help an Asari widow grieve the loss of her child by funding a relief centre for Asari but not the humans who families lost loved ones during the battle of the citadel against Sovereign.

Anderson chims in "Yes, I did mention that the humans are getting sick and tired of being treated second class citizens even on the citadel. Thirty percent of humas have already left to live on earth or colonies."

Valern pointed out arms raised. "Yes but humans have become the majority for C-sec…."

"Which has resulted in more than a few shops and apartments to banning humans from the store/ housing, making harder for people to investigated illegal contraband on store fronts, while also making harder for them to live. Which also allowed blues sons to manage to get the equipment into the factory district by the way. So, while they are following citadel laws, they have top resort into using the same technique the criminals have.…." Silence filled the room is deafening as Anderson points out the treatment the humans are getting.

Tevos was shocked "I was not aware it was that bad…. My secretary gave me reports that everything is fine."

Ben snorted "Please I read reports after Saren attack. A lot of species saw humans bully the way in after you gave them the seat on the council. So, they took initiative themselves and ostracized them. These reports come from the Elcor and Volus. Respectfully." Anderson and Valern snorted if a volus is complaining about another species treatment, which means it becoming bad for business for them and they hated the humans when they arrived. Valern even himself wondered if Tevos Secretary blames the humans. Tevos winced.

Sparatus was silent throughout this discussion. Then he spoke up, shifting back to the Geth discussion "Back to the Geth claims. If what you say is true. Then we need to set boundaries"

"Hey if it makes you feel any better. The Geth that attack the citadel are considered Heretics by the Geth on Rannoch. So yeah factions." The council faces a had a look that shows, what the Fuck expression.

"Oh… I never explain that did I."

Tevos shook her head "No, you did not."

"Shit"

"Ship!"

Pragia

"I can't believe they made you fight other kids" Shepard exclaimed.

"It was fight for survival. I did what I had too" Jack answer with a bit of Vulnerability in her tone. Shepard shook his head.

Shepard, Legion and Jack Walks through the research facility finding nothing but Varren and videos recordings that link to Subject Zero aka Jack. Talking about their child subjects. How the react. Fighting against each other, especially against Jack.

"Man, we have not seen anyone. Must be our lucky day" Jack said jokingly.

"And you jinx it at some point…. Wait that, Varren." Shepard point to a Dead Varren.

"Kill estimated roughly 2 hours ago. We logically deduced that the Varren is a recant Kill" Legion Logic being used.

"No shit that was a recant Kill and it wasn't us that Killed it either" She look to Shepard.

"I don't like this Shepard. Let just plant that Bomb and go!" Shepard just nodded and lead on, taking point. Legion guarding the back. They make it to a room that resembles a cafeteria. Then…

"BANG!" Glass shattered and thermos started raining upon Shepard and his crew.

"Flashbang. Take cover behind the tables" Shepards shouts, taking cover behind a table unit. Jack followed suit and legion did as well.

"My scans Detect, Vorcha, Shepard commander" Legion stated factually.

"Vorcha, the fuck are they doing here" Jack ask screaming.

"I don't know but where there is Vorcha theirs Blood packs. Jack surprise them with a shock wave. Legion snipe them once they in the air. I give you guys cover fire" Shepard starts off by firing his M-8 Avenger to make way for Jack shockwave, which lead to them being lift up by force in the air. Allowing Legion to fire off snipe shots to the Vorcha Heads. Blowing them into pieces.

"I say again. The fuck are the Vorcha doing here?" Jack asks shouted in distress.

Mordin Lab Normandy SR2

Ben just came from his meeting with the council. They were not happy when I explained the heretics and how they came to play with Saran. Apparently, they do not like anything that resembles evidence that the reaper existence. He decided to look for those Nanotech blueprints for Mordin.

"Here you go Mordin. The nanobots Blueprints." Ben said handing out the schematics of the nanites. Remember when he had to fight Elana. He does not even know if she made it off world in his old Universe. Mordin grabbed the Data packet.

"My Thanks. Will so what I can do, with them." Then started humming a song while examine the Schematics Ben gave him. Ben raised an eyebrow at Mordin surprised by the hum. Ship followed the hum along.

"Urm what song are you humming?" Ben asked curiously.

"Oh, Shepard already knows this, but I sang at an Opera. Very enjoyable. You want to hear. I have a passion for the arts." Mordin Chipley responded.

"Urm sure"

"Ship"

Mordin cough, mouth open.

"I am the very model of a scientist Salarian!
I've studied species, Turian, Asari, and Batarian.
I'm quite good at genetics (as a subset of biology),
because I am an expert (which I know is a tautology).

My Xeno science studies range from urban to agrarian -
I am the very model of a scientist Salarian!"

"Wow"

"Ship."

Pragia

"These look like cells" Shepard observe.

"Yeah, probably. Fuck I do not know. It complicated. Let go plant that bomb." Jack retorts. Then a growl was heard.

"Varren Shepard commander" Legion stated factually.

"Open fire" The thermos clips are unleashed, and the Varren are dead.

"Let move" The move towards to the door on the other side of the cell's corridor, reaching a walkway. Where a.

"This... it a two-way Mirror? My cell was on the other side – I could see all the other kids out here. I screamed at them for hours and they always Ignore me" Jack solemnly stated. The team walk through the door on the other side of the walkway. They walk into a lab that had terminals. Shepard played one of those terminals with Jack standing next to him.

A bald man in a holographic "Log Entry 1054, Teltin Facility. The latest iteration of PergNim went poorly. Subject 1, 4 and 6 Died. No Biotic change among the survivors. we lowered core temperatures of surviving subjects but no biotically beneficial reactions occurred. as a side effect all subject died. So, we will not try that on Subject Zero. I hope our supply of Biotic subjects Holds up. We are going through them fast."

"That Bullshit. They never experiment on other kids for my safety!" Jack sounded angry but also disoriented by what she had herd.

Shepard looked back at the terminal. "It makes sense. This Facility was basically to turn you into what you are now."

Jack turn to face Shepard "You don't get it. I survived this place because I was tougher than the rest. that who I am."

Shepard smiled "Then you become stronger and tougher than yourself."

"Shepard Commander, this terminal has some important data" Legion shouted from the other side of the room. Shepard came over and activated the terminal, with Jack by his side.

Same bald from before "It fallen to pieces. The subjects are rampaging and subject Zero is loose. We Are shutting down Teltin. What a disaster. We infiltrate and piggyback onto the alliance ascension program. Hopefully, that will…... Subject Zero Wait!" Then Jack appeared on screen murdering the Blad man.

"Shepard…!"

"I know Jack. EDI!"

EDI voice appeared "Yes commander Shepard."

"I'm sending you a vid from Terminal. I want you to send a piggyback message into alliance channels of Ex Cerberus agents in the ascension program. Fairly sure Joker has a way. Legion Upload the vid and send it to EDI."

"Affirmative Shepard commander/at once Commander." EDI and Legion acknowledged. Shepard look between legion and Jack.

"Let goo" Both nods. They move towards the next room where a Krogan in white and red armour was skulking about on his coms talking to someone called.

"Hey Aresh, It Kureck. Yes, the intruders are here. You want them dead; we have to talk creds. Your promised lots of salvage but this place is a waste" His hand went to his ear.

"Fine we put 'em down. Then I am coming in there, and we going to talk salvage." The Krogan grumbled out.

Shepard step forward "looks like we fighting. Jack shockwave the Vorcha. Legion send of your drone towards the enemy flanking them." As Shepard said this, he activated his sentinel armour.

The enemy Krogan smirk and like any Krogan, they love a challenge "Now we are having fun." Jack shot out a shockwave launching Vorcha in the air. Shepard firing shots at said Vorcha to immobilise them permanently. Legion drone was flanking the enemy Krogan, firing pot shots to weaken they barriers and shields. The Multiple Krogan charges towards Shepard crew like a horde. Shepard fires of a Cyro blast on floor making some of the Krogan slip, which allowed jack to fire of a few pulls on said fallen Krogan. Legion and the Geth drone fired of shots at the floating Krogans reducing they armour. The leader Krogan continued charging forward, firing off his Krogan DMZ. He hits Shepard slamming him against the wall. Shepard Drops his M-8 Avenger and pulls out his M-6 Carnifex shooting the Krogan in lower regions of the Krogan Body. The Krogan back off then he got hit with a Shotgun blast from behind. Body drops with Jack appearing above.

"You getting rusty old man" Jack Joked.

"Ha, Ha"

"Come on, only room left is mine and found out who this Aresh is? I was going to plant my Bomb they anyway might as well do it on his corpse" Jack continued moving forward to her room. Shepard and Legion followed.

Normandy SR2 Crew Lounge.

"Today was not a calming day." Ben said in stress. His Omni-tool light up suddenly. Ben blinked. He opened it.

"Hello?" an auto voice echo though the Omi-tool.

"Spectre Tennyson. Councillor Anderson would like a word."

"Urm sure." Then Anderson Appeared on screen.

"Tennyson."

"Andy, how's things. What can I help you with?" Ben asked quickly.

"I get straight to the point. I have a plan that can get the rest of the Councillors on board about the reaper threat that looming over us!" Ben raised an eyebrow, interested peaked.

"Well, you have my attention, mind you there not a lot of it."

Pragia

Shepard squad walked into a child room, calling out "Come out we know you're here" A man step out from the shadows, A man with un-check hair and beard, wearing nothing but workers clothes.

Jack snarled "Who are you?"

Aresh smirked "My name is Aresh, and you are intruding in my home. I know you subject Zero. So many years has passed. I thought I was the only survivor" Jack right arm pull out a Gun on instinct, wobbling over the details Aresh conjured.

"My name is Jack. So How the Hell do you know me!" Jack had her gun out point at Aresh.

His smirk kept on going "We all know your face, Jack. They Inflicted horrors on us so their experiment would not Kill you. You are the question, and I am looking for answers."

Legion over to the side was Silent then spoke "Aresh Natier. Records indicated he was brought he at the Human age of nine, from an earth orphanage called Pilgram house."

Aresh smirked faulted a bit "urm."

"Interesting, then you were brought back here because of the attraction of this facility. That would torture kids" Shepard sarcastically snarked.

"You do not get it. I tried to forget this place, I really did but if follows you. I hire these mercs and came back a full solar year. I will restart the teltan Facility. I will unlock what my predecessors could not. Accessing the full potential of biotics children. It will be Glorious!" Aresh exclaimed that last part.

Jack snarled "I am trying to stop the fucking nightmares while you trying to fucking restart it, justified by what fucking happen here.

Aresh snarled back aggressively "Everything we went through Must be worth for something" Jack moved forward gun in hand, slammed it at Aresh face making him kneel over and jack pointed the gun on the back of Aresh head.

Shepard Look at Jack with such serous intent that make that the reapers look like comedians. "Jack we can blow this place up, but he stuck in his past. You are trying to move on from yours. Do not let Aresh here define your actions, you have change, with some still psychotic behaviours left in there but change non the less."

Jack gripping her gun with such contempt while looking at Shepard "He trying to restart this place."

"He won't be able to, not without funding and support" Shepard retorted.

Jack lowers her gun and snarls at Aresh "GO!" Aresh gets up slowly and runs off with a new determination.

"Come on I want to look around before I blow this place Sky high!" Jack looked around the room and hall remembering the times of her childhood or lack of one. She turn to Shepard nodding. Shepard nodded back.

5 minutes later the crew are in the Shuttle being whisked away from the upcoming explosion.

"CRACKABOOM!" A huge puff of cloud storms into the air. Leaving everything in its dust.

3 minutes later The Normandy SR2 Miranda office.

"Hey cheerleading bitch I have a… what the fucked am I looking at." Jack storms in biotics in hand seeing a very drunk Miranda.

"I am a loose end is what you are looking at, your psychotic bitch" Miranda was slurring her words with fire and dam near hatred.

"The fuck?" Jack emotions stopped working after seeing what in front of her.

"Ben told me the most interesting theory one that points to being true. One where we all leftovers from the illusive man." Miranda slurred out.

"The fuck are you talking about?" So, Miranda explain Ben theory.

5 minutes later in Shepard quarters on The Normandy SR2

"Shep" Shepard turn to a very distrust Jack.

"Jack what are…?" Shepard tried to question Jack but was cut off before he had as chance to…

"No time I think the Normandy has a bomb in it!" Shepard eyes widen and straighten himself.

"I check with the engineers see what they fined. Jack if you right, then we have to deal with more than just the collectors." Jack nodded back but followed Shepard to make sure herself.

The Normandy SR2 engine room.

"Are you sure?" Tali wanted to confirm because having a Bomb in an open spaceship is a bad idea.

"Yes, jack seems to think so and..."

"Aye they is a Bomb" Kenneth interrupted him.

"What!?" Tali, Shepard, Gabby, and Jack shouted.

"Yeah, found it in the side of core drive when I was installing the new coplinks you got me. Bit of a hassle if you ask me." Kenneth sated. Gabby went for the ears.

"We need that Bomb removed." Tali exclaimed then turn to Jack. "How do you find out about the bomb?"

"It was the cheerleader, when I went to confront her, she was all drunk and miserable because she found out the illusive man was going to tie up loose ends after her suicide mission. I put two and two together and though the best way is to blow up the ship sky high" Shepard nodded aggreging with the assessment. He opens is omni-tool. Then Gabby put her two cents into it after punishing Kenneth.

"Yeah, an open planned engine room with ventilation that leads to every part of the ship is a great place for a bomb."

"Garrus get down to engineering." Shepard said with urgency

"Sure Shepard"

6 minutes later in The Normandy SR2 conference room

"So, verdict?" Shepard ask Garrus while pacing around the room. With Jack, tail, Kennith and Gabby or standing to one side.

Garrus was holding the bomb in hand explain the bomb details. "Well, I can most certainly say, it is human made and while I was disarming it. I notice some Thanex Tech in here." Kennith nodded.

"Oh defo, some from what I can tell are parts of an old High explosion bombs that the alliance cook up round back in your heyday Shepard." Shepard nodded.

Tali shocked her Head "So the illusive man was making sure to cut loose ends why? We no threat to him at the moment."

"But that moment will end when we hit the collectors." Jack answered and shrugged. "I see the play before." Shepard nodded then the conference door open up. It was Miranda and Ben.

"Head you found a bomb?" Miranda asks.

"We did. Well Jack figure it out after your urm." Tali said with some hesitation.

"Accurately it was Ben who did, I just did not want to believe it" Miranda responded. Shepard raised an eyebrow. Ben shrugged in response.

"I mean think about it, all these people came to help you stop the collectors, not Cerberus, you and from what I have been explained by a lot of people on this ship is that they only joined Cerberus because you were Dead."

"And the alliance was not doing anything." Shepard put it together. Yeah, Shepard got the memo a while ago.

"Garrus, coordinate with Joker, Tali, Kennith, and Gabby. Find more bombs on the ship I doubt the illusive man made just one. Miranda get into your contacts see who rat out on Cerberus. Everyone dismissed" Everyone nodded and went about they days but...

"Urm Shepard." Ben called out.

"Yes Ben?"

"Tell your Girlfriend to not hack into my watch again please and thank you." Shepard stared with a deadpanned expression on his face.

"Ship." Nodded.