Mass Effect

Disclaimer: I don't claim to own Mass Effect or any of its sequels. Unfortunately, it's all Bioware's stuff. *sulks*

Reboot

By: Mage-Alia

Chapter 2

Summary: Shepard died, one day in the future, and somehow managed to wake up, right back at the beginning... A 'What if' where Commander Shepard remembered the last Play through...

(Now not so Implied) femshep/Kaiden relationship.

A/N: It wouldn't leave me alone... the plot bunny's been camped out in my head and I find myself adding to it...

After the chaos of the council chamber the Council itself had decided to suspend the issue for later as they convened to discuss the claims. Shepard wasn't all that concerned about the development. Instead, after neatly avoiding Nihlus' attempt at an intercept she left the tower fully intent on getting a few things done. Her first stop however was a clinic in the wards.

The door had been locked, but a quick override from her omnitool had her in before the two people on the other side of the room could react. Their reactions where immediate, for even though she was in a containment unit being assisted by a quarantine suited doctor, Tali rolled out of the Medi-bed and grabbed her pistol, bringing it to bare on the trio with startling speed.

"Who are you!"

Shepard put her hands in the air, gesturing just as quickly for the others to keep theirs off their guns while she took a step forward.

Okay... she hadn't expected this.

She'd half been expecting Garrus and the hostage situation of last time when she'd chosen to come here first instead of going through Harken. But she realised that out of all the events to take place, it had taken her at least three hours to come here after the meeting last time.

It had barely been thirty minutes.

Tali wasn't wearing all of her suit. She was clad in the skin tight compression skin that went under her envirosuit, with the drapes and shawls common amongst the Quarians wrapped around her torso for modesty's sake. A needle and thread hung from a partially repaired tear on it's side and the rest of the outfit was slung over a bench covered in tools specifically made to repair Quarian gear. Other medical supplies and sterile marked wrappings quickly reminded Shepard of why she'd even been here in the first place.

Suit breach.

The first time around she'd been here to get treated for a minor suit breach. She'd been shot at escaping Geth and Sarens men and while the wound itself had been easily treated and sealed, she'd had to seek a sterile medical facility in order to make the repairs.

"Woah." Shepard breathed out, keeping her voice level and calm. "Before you go shooting and breaking your containment, listen." carefully, the N7 put her arms down, turning on her omnitool and activating a program to display her details. "My name is Alliance Commander Aurora Shepard Vas Normandy." She used the Quarian term for crew more out of habit than any actual design, although it's use didn't go unnoticed. Tali almost jumped out of her skin in shock. "I am here, looking for you, because news spreads fast aboard the citadel. I am doing an investigation into the Spectre known as Saren, and there's been a rumour that you have access to damning evidence that could help us get him convicted of Treason against the Council and his Spectre status revoked."

Tali kept her gun trained on her, and Shepard took the chance to examine her face for the first time in either timeline. She had wide, blue eyes that glowed with an almost electronic shine, only just a little smaller than those of a Solarian except more birdlike in shape as opposed to amphibian. Her hair was ashen blonde, cut short and flattened in places against her narrow skull, the result of having a helmet on 24/7 and while her features looked somewhat humanoid, they were as sharp as they were delicate, her nose a throwback to their Avian ancestors. Eventually, she lowered her weapon below the level of the bench and Shepard, along with the doctor in the room with her breathed a sigh of relief.

In response, Shepard lowered her arms again, making sure to put them on the bench top beside the quarantine shield, in full view of the girl.

"So, will you offer me protection from Saren's men as well?" She asked, placing her gun within easy reach and going for her tools in order to continue her repairs.

"If that's what you want." Shepard said honestly.

"It's not what I want." The quarian answered reluctantly. "But even I know when I'm in over my head." the doctor moved back in and finished the patching on the skin suit before sealing it shut with an airtight glue. Turning to acknowledge Kaiden and Ashley for the first time Shepard waved them closer.

"Ash, you stay here and watch the entrance. Expect trouble. Lieutenant? Go remote hack the video feeds for the halls outside and keep an eye out for anyone armed, inform me if you see anyone suspicious."

"Aye' M'am." They both saluted and Kaiden disappeared while Ashley made herself comfortable. Shepard went back to watching Tali.

"So if it's not to much to ask, What is your name?" She knew already, but Tali didn't know that. The girl stared at her before answering, this time, with very little hostility.

"It's Tali, Tali'zora Na Rayya."

"It's Nice to meet you Tali."

They kept up the small talk while Tali and the Doctor worked. Shepard taking to opportunity to find out as much as she could about the situation that she'd missed the last time round before they finally finished the repairs and Tali was encased back in her suit, the Shawls all back in place over the filtering equipment.

Michel was just disabling the quarantine shield and shedding her own suit when Kaiden came running back into the room.

"Incoming!" He called, pulling up a video image on his omnitool to show a group of armed men that the Commander was not all surprised to recognise. "This is an image from the hall over, with the rate they're moving they'll be here in a minute or so." Shepard just nodded like she'd been expecting it and eyed Tali's weapon.

"I take it you're good with that thing?" The quarian gave a short bark of laughter and brought her weapon to bear on the door without a word. Gesturing the only non-combatant in the room to one side behind a desk Kaiden and Ash flanked the door, while Tali took cover elsewhere. Leaving Shepard out in the open as the men barrelled through the door, only to pull up short at her gun and baulk when they turned to find the other two marines pointing theirs.

"Going somewhere gentlemen?"

It didn't take them long to give in.

It was during the process of handing over Fist's thugs to C-Sec that Shepard found more familiar faces.

Garrus Vakarian had been on his way to investigate the rumours of the Quarian that Shepard had never heard personally when he came across the situation in the clinic. Walking in the open door he wasn't expecting to be waylaid by a handful of edgy warriors. including the Quarian he'd been looking for.

He swore in his own language before the woman that appeared to be their leader ordered the others to stand down.

"Funny, I was just about to call in C-Sec. I guess this saves me the trouble." Garrus blinked and glared briefly before he caught sight of the human's amour. The N7 specialisation had been registered as the equivalent of the Turian Special Forces when the humans had first joined the galactic community after the contact wars and if one was here it could only mean one thing.

Alliance Investigation.

He cursed again for good measure.

It figured that the ones laying charges on Saren alongside the Spectre Nihlus would be investigating just like he was. He'd seen Nihlus in C-Sec on his way through, one arm bound tightly and in a sling even though he wore armour. Rumours had been going around that he'd been shot by another spectre. Others said that it was the humans that did it and blamed it on Saren but having been chosen as the chump to attempt to investigate the claims, Garrus knew better.

"You work quickly." He admitted grudgingly a moment later after he'd called in backup to deal with the cuffed thugs. The N7 Smirked at him, her expression daring him to do something about it. They followed him all the way back to the Academy where it wasn't until a Krogan entered the main hall being 'escorted' by a number of armed officers that Shepard's knowing gaze turned from Garrus.

The officers were having stern words with the Krogan, but the Krogan wasn't even listening. He'd been fixated on Shepard the entire time.

It appeared that where ever Shepard went, she had an almost magical aptitude for bringing the most obscure pieces of the puzzle into line. Five hours after she'd left the tower she'd returned in short order with Tali in tow to present her evidence to further her case against the Reapers.

She barely mentioned Saren.

The council, heavily swayed by her charm, ended up granting her Spectre status right out of the blue. The only one not Surprised, was Nihlus. They gave her the task of tracking Saren and bringing him in alongside her new primary mission of finding evidence on the reapers. Anderson and Udina, in a mostly anticipated move, assigned her the Normandy as her ship.

Shepard, immediately made a number of unprecedented crew requests before she even left the council tower.

An Asari waited outside the doors of the tower elevator, dressed in the shimmering pink uniform of the consort's attendants as they exited.

"Commander Shepard." She nodded regally and gestured her along toward a waiting vehicle. "I've been bid to bring you before my Lady, she has been looking forward to meeting you for days now." It was the timing that made Shepard sit up and take notice, more so than the alien experience of being summoned. This had most certainly not happened last time. Still, without a word to the Asari, or her companions, she climbed into the hover car, gesturing them in after her.

"Please relax, we will be arriving shortly." The Asari assured them before a screen went up between them and the driver, leaving the two marines and an N7 operative sitting in silence.

"Okay, I'll bite. Why the hell would you have the consort sending cars for you?" Ashley broke the tense silence and Shepard sighed.

"I don't know." She slumped slightly in her seat, avoiding the mildly disapproving look that Kaiden was giving her before he winced slightly, holding his head when he thought they weren't looking, but Shepard knew... she always knew...

The ride was over quickly, and they stepped out into a private receiving bay where a blue skinned woman awaited them, clad in the same uniform pink dress as the attendant but with a shimmering robe over the top, the consort was just another Asari. They'd run errands for some of her attendants as part of Shepard's frantic run around earlier in the day, but usually it took months just to even get an appointment to MAKE an appointment.

As Shepard pulled herself out of the hover car and settled into a parade rest the Asari easily crossed the room and without any prompt or ceremony, hugged her. Kaiden and Ash could only stare dumbfound as the Consort moved back to arms length, holding onto Shepard's gloved hands as she examined her closely.

"You barely change. Even after all those years... it's difficult to imagine you with scars anymore." The commander's scared lip twitched into a smile in response.

"What? These old things? I guess I'll be getting rid of them sooner or later..." The Asari's eyes turned sad.

"Must that really have to happen? Your scars are quite... handsome?" Blue fingers traced one on her cheek and Shepard shrugged.

"I don't know." Was all she said.

Amongst the attendants, the two marines weren't the only one's confused. The conversation before them was... almost surreal. Their commanding officer was speaking to one of the most influential beings of the citadel like she'd known her since forever, and it didn't come across as strange? Still they followed a few steps behind when the commander linked arms with the consort and began to stroll out of the receiving bay and into a small garden set aside for the Consort's use.

"There has been much upheaval as of late." The Consort spoke as she guided Shepard to a bench. "I have heard new whispers in these past few days and I had wondered if you had something to do with it." The soldier's mouth twisted back into a satisfied smirk.

"So much as already changed." Shiera nodded wisely.

"A troubled past, but a certain future, only a catalyst of change stands any hope of bring about a different path. Are you ready for such responsibility?" Shepard's face fell, her expression becoming grim.

"I was ready a long time ago."

The garden fell silent as the pair looked away from each other and into the distance, though eventually Shiera spoke once more as she stood from the bench, eyes seeking out the present Marines before crinkling in a smile.

"It is such a pity that you never stay." Her voice was lit with amusement. Shepard looked back at her, eyes showing a startled surprise. Following her gaze back to her men she suddenly scowled.

"You know that's none of your business." The Consort laughed, dispelling the tense air almost completely.

"Just remember your words and mine." She spoke a clear reminder, but of what, no one but Shepard knew. The N7 operative scowled at her openly. "And if you ever require my assistance, know that I will help." she focused on Kaiden. "He will need it before long." Shepard's face went blank and unreadable.

And then finally she spoke.

"I'll see you in a few months."

Shiera turned back to the bench, lifting Shepard's hands and making the woman rise. "Of course you will." She said, light heartedly, before kissing her on both cheeks and letting go. Then without another word she turned and left the garden.

Shepard watched her go before she and the marines were ushered back to the hover car and escorted back to the Embassies.

Ash and Kaiden looked at each other, then at Shepard's back and shrugged.

The Commander was the Commander, and she did whatever the fuck she wanted.

It hadn't really been an issue at first.

New crewmembers had been expected, and welcomed with open arms as the squad all settled into their places aboard the Normandy.

What she hadn't expected was for it to feel so crowded.

Shepard sighed, her head falling back against the wall as she sat huddled deep inside the inner workings of the Normandy's server module. After years of working alongside Legion and EDI repairing and tinkering with computer systems, the innards of the second Normandy had become somewhat of a sanctuary when she'd needed a place out of the way of the rest of the crew. They couldn't disturb her here like they could if she was in her quarters or on the CIC deck. Nihlus had commandeered the coms room as an office and was constantly in communication with other contacts that 'held up the line'. He'd been assigned to the Normandy by the council as her backup after they'd made her a Spectre for the dual purpose of assisting her investigation into Saren and supervising her probationary period.

Unlike in the past where she'd blundered her way into the position after much political menuvering on Udina's part, this time she'd strongarmed her own way into the Spectres, making them slightly wary as to her agenda. Thus Nihlus' presence on board where he hadn't been an issue before.

Aside from a few new faces, there was also the issue of space.

Last time, the Normandy had enough room to accommodate the extra squad members, if only just. She'd been spoiled by the space on the SR-2 and quite forgotten what it had been like before the... Accident, but she'd been called on two out of five times to sort out room issues with the crew. The current Wrex, having been hired independently after a dubious conversation about theoretical clan politics and Krogan recognised Battlemaster markings, was having trouble coexisting with a hot headed Garrus who'd been ordered onto the squad via Executor Palin who in turn was conspiring with Tali about how to smuggle Turian and Quarian friendly foods on board that didn't taste like absolute crap. Not to mention that Ash and some of the other human crew hadn't taken well with the Alien invasion...

All the activity made her yearn for the days when problems could be solved by individual conversations with her crew and they'd already formed the vital bonds of battle comrades that made their unit one of the best.

Shaking off her daydreams of better times Shepard pulled herself upright against the wall and pulled the skeletal keyboard jacked into the SR-1's computer back into her lap as she went about programming in software upgrades. While she wasn't a great wiz with computers overall, if it had something to do with the Normandy, then there was nothing that could make her forget it. Especially after EDI had taken the time to imprint virtually everything there was to know about both models of ship into her brain. Thus, having been focused intently on her memories, she hadn't realised that she had company till a hand came out of no where and typed in a few commands on her keyboard, causing the coding she'd been puzzling over to finally fit into place.

"You had the X and Y indices reversed."

She stared at the screen, and to all outward appearance, she was absorbed in the program, but the way her heart was beating in her chest told another story as the person beside her brought up another topic she'd been tentively avoiding.

"I didn't think anyone else knew about this place." She finally admitted, not quite daring enough to look directly at Kaiden who had plugged his omnitool into another monitor and started to run diagnostics. The space was small and cramped and one had to crawl through a good twenty feet of service ducts to reach it. The Normandy's Technical Officer gave her a crooked sort of smile.

"The auxiliary interfaces are down here." He looked pointedly at the terminal she was plugged into. "Besides, it's a quiet place to think. Good for when I start to get a Migraine." Aurora looked at his face after that comment and sure enough she recognised the signs written all over his face after years of knowing him and couldn't help the hand that reached out for his cheek.

"It's the dump from the Beacon, isn't it."

Kaiden looked mildly uncomfortable as he wavered, torn, between accepting the comfort and turning away, aware that she was now his commanding officer.

"I haven't been getting much sleep." He finally admitted in defeat. "Every time I close my eyes I see it replaying behind my eyelids but I can't- I can't make any sense of it." He moved his head out of her range and cradled it in his own hands, wincing.

A few taps of her keyboard later, Shepard's work was saved and the screen that had been the only light in the small space, shut itself down. Then, in the dark where no one could see, she shifted closer to Kaiden and pulled him in. He didn't resist as she directed his head to her shoulder and made herself comfortable.

"Get some rest Marine." She instructed him quietly. "You'll be no good to anyone if you don't."

In another time, the presence of another person had always managed to calm her nightmares.

It was another favour she'd gladly return.

A/N: Meh, some of the same events... just happening in different ways, although this one was a bit more vague, as most of it was from other characters views... I guess. Anyway, this chapter's about six pages shorter than the first one but considering I wasn't intending to continue this in the first place it's not exactly a bad thing... I'm just writing it in dribs and drabs anyway. Once again, there's no real editing (and/or beta'ing).

Don't forget to review.

Cya