Nota de las escritoras: este cuento es una colaboración entre Mine6chan y Silver06. ^-^ *wink*wink*

Mine6chan: I'm ba~ack! A vacation was just what I needed. ;) Now I'm feeling refreshed and full of ideas. I'm ready to get back to business, people! Sorry I didn't announce my little vacation to you guys. Hope this makes up for it.

Silver06: Vacation? I taught your computer broke. And what's with the Spanish?

Mine6chan: It did break. Honestly. But that made me leave the online world for a while and get back to things like family, friends... Kidding! But I did need a break from the computer and I finally got to catch up on my reading! Real books, I mean. The ones with words on paper made out of trees and not lit up on a computer screen. And the Spanish's a secret

Silver06: You sound like you've had a good time.

Mine6chan: SMILE! XD

Dual Reality

Chapter 8: Hero's in distress

John sat down on the couch as Samara searched the apartment for any clues as to Morinth's whereabouts. They'd taken a chance and John had managed to sneak into the VIP section of Afterlife. They hadn't encountered Morinth there, but there were rumours about an asari that fitted her description. The rumours had led them on a wild goose chase through Omega. They'd encountered people who did business with her, and learned she travelled to and from Omega on a regular basis. Of course these people had needed to be "persuaded" before they had been willing to share any information. Garrus had been more than happy to handle that part. It seemed being back on Omega brought out the meaner side of him.

Unfortunately, they hadn't found anyone who knew where she was right now at this very moment and they'd run into a dead end. They'd then decided to try their luck at her apartment in hope that it was her apartment and had struck gold. They'd secured the the place, making sure there was no one in the place and that no alarms were going to be triggered before unlocking the door. Samara had immediately starting looking through her daughter's things and Garrus had gone to work on the computer.

The place was just as he remembered it.

John leaned back on the couch and found himself a bit disappointed that there would be no seducing this time. Maybe she would have been able to take my heartache away. He thought and then frowned. No, what am I thinking? I'm John Shepard! I'm not this easily manipulated person who gives up! Tali died, yes; but she's alive here and now. I've got another chance with her as long as I don't screw it up.

Samara walked to the middle of the room and stood there. She had already searched all over the place and found nothing. Now their best shot was for Garrus to uncover something in her computer.

"How's it going, Garrus?" John asked impatiently.

Tali's shuttle was scheduled to arrive in half an hour and he wanted to be there.

"The only things I've found of interest are some heavily coded files. It'll take me a while longer."

Samara turned her gaze on to the turian. Without knowing whether Morinth was on Omega or not they were taking huge risk the longer they remained in her apartment. The Ardat-Yakshi could return to the apartment at any moment and decide to run the moment she noticed something wasn't right.

"Perhaps we should call the Commander? She could perhaps manage to decode those files faster than Vakarian." Samara said.

It hadn't been intended as an insult but Garrus took it like one nonetheless. Even though he also felt a sudden surge of pride over the asari's compliment of Alexis' skills.

John smiled as he noticed Garrus' reaction to Samara's indirect insult and was about to comment when Garrus finally unlocked the files.

"Everything's here. Shuttle plans, meetings, contacts." Samara approached him and leaned over him to read the screen. "She's not on Omega. She left, yesterday actually, for a planet in the system of the asari home world." Garrus informed them.

"What do you want to do now?" John asked Samara as Garrus copied the files.

Samara had already brought up her omni-tool and was typing quickly. "I'll send a message to my younger self. I have been talking to her for some time." She explained at John's surprised expression. "She will take care of Morinth now that we have her location. I will send her copies of the files we've found."

"You don't want to take care of it yourself?" John asked.

"I already had the chance to take responsibilities for my actions. If we had encountered her here I would have done so again, but I know how my younger self feels and now that the chance has presented itself it would be much better for my other self to take care of it." Samara told him.

"You've thought about this a lot."

Samara looked at him but said nothing. Her omni-tool beeped and Samara read the message. "My other self wishes for me to express her gratitude to you for your help, Shepard. She will notify me when she has taken cared of the problem."

John smiled. "Let's get out of here." he said and got up off the couch. "You two are free to do what you want now. I'm heading for the docks."

Garrus followed him out of the door. "I think I'll head to Afterlife. Say hi to Tali from me."

"I will return to the ship. There is much I need to meditate about." Samara said and left.

0010110001

Garrus looked at the volus dealer Grunt was pushing around at the moment. He shook his head at the tank-grown krogan as he shook the dealer once more to get him to talk. He'd been a bit worried about going with Grunt but so far the krogan had not given him any trouble. Garrus wondered if that was because Grunt was wary of Alexis and him being Alexis' closest man.

The reason Grunt was manhandling this particular dealer was because after they'd gotten what they'd come for the volus had made some comments that had aroused Garrus' suspicion. Turned out he was also in affiliation with both Cerberus and the Shadow Broker. Just what they needed.

It appeared the Shadow Broker was after information about Cerberus' new ship that'd been seen in the Terminus System, and the volus just so happpened to be one of the contacts for the Shadow Broker's agent. However, the volus couldn't tell which Cerberus ship it was they meant and Garrus couldn't be sure that it was the SR-2. If they didn't mean the SR-2 then there was the possibility that Cerberus was in the Terminus Systems and that led Garrus to suspect they where being followed.

Whatever the case, it was bad. John had made it clear that he wanted nothing to do with Cerberus and EDI was on a constant look-out for any Cerberus vessel.

"AAAHHHHHH!" the volus yelled. "Fine! Fine! I'll tell you the rest!"

Grunt dropped him on the ground.

"Word is that Cerberus has put together the best team dubbed 'Echo Team' on a mission to find that ship of yours, the Normandy SR-2? Have to say that's an impressive piece of machinery."

Garrus growled. "Why?"

"Probably because of the two Shepards." he quickly answered as Grunt took a step forwards. "And like I said it's an impressive ship. Probably has a lot of new technology, right? Then there's that rumour. Not sure it has any merit, but the rumour is that this 'Captain John Shepard' is actually a clone or something, and both the Shadow Broker and Cerberus want him. And Commander Alexis Shepard? Well, she'd be one hell of a trophy."

Garrus picked the volus up this time and growled right in his face. "Are you sure about this?" he snarled.

"Yes! Yes!" the volus cried out wiggling in the turian's grasp.

Garrus nodded towards Grunt who grabbed what they'd bought. "Thanks for the guns." he said and walked away.

"Don't tell anybody!" the volus cried out after them.

Garrus shook his head and opened a comm link to John. "Shepard, we have a problem."

110100101

It had already been four hours since they'd docked at Omega and Alexis was still pacing around like a caged animal. Her behaviour had the remaining crew walking around on eggshells. Jeff

had told her to relax before and she'd nearly ripped his head off. At that moment Alexis had wished that her own Joker had stayed behind. As it was she was stuck with all the people from the twilight zone, and while she didn't have anything against them they were still John's people.

Alexis ran a hand through her hair. She needed to calm down. So far she'd covered the entire ship and had demanded that everything be in tip top shape. She was constantly alert and her muscles tense. She knew she would be suffering from muscle cramps tomorrow but she couldn't get her body to relax. Finally she headed to the labs. Alexis had found that while she didn't completely understand everything either of the Mordins talked about, she liked the way they viewed everything in an objective way. They would form opinions and thoughts, and eliminate their own personal feelings, so that the choices they made were for the best of the majority in the long run.

There was only one Mordin in the lab. The other one, Mordin the younger, had been dragged off to Afterlife. The Professor noticed immediately the tenseness in the Commander's shoulder and offered her a relaxing herbal drink in a glass container. Alexis wondered what else had been swimming around in her substitute cup.

He then proceeded to interrogate her about her high strung behaviour, and when he found out this was normal behaviour for her when she was in a potentially dangerous situation, he started on a psychological profile. Mordin asked her if her "feeling" was always followed by a dangerous confrontation.

"Not always, but more often than not. And it's not always dangerous. Why?" she asked.

"Obvious pattern. You see things. Register them on an unconscious level. Take into account the purpose of your presence, risks, enemies. Many things. Calculate the likelihood of fight, confrontation, danger. Mathematics. Body reacts, prepares itself. Good survival instincts." At the last part he looked up from his microscope and nodded at her.

"I guess. Thanks Mordin. I'll head down to cargo and work off some steam."

Alexis put down the now empty container and headed for the door.

"Will be here if you need me, Shepard." Mordin called after her and if Alexis had turned around he would have noticed it'd put a smile on her face.

She made her way down to cargo and once there pushed some crates around. She took off her boots and shivered as her feet made contact with the cold surface of the metal floor. Alexis placed her boots and jacket neatly on top of a crate and moved to the centre of the space she had cleared. She would have asked Jack to spar with her but when the younger one had been given shore leave the older one had refused to be left on the ship. Especially as they were docked on Omega. Alexis hoped they were causing all kinds of hell on the station.

She concentrated and allowed her biotics to roll off of her in waves. The biotic power running over the naked skin on her arms, stomach and back helped her to relax further and she moved into the position of a boxer, her mind conjuring up an opponent. Someone she might have killed once, a fellow soldier, a superior, anybody. Alexis' mind flashed to memories of countless fights she'd been in. Most of them wins, a few looses.

EDI's blue orb appeared once to inform her Joker's scans of their surroundings had turned up empty but other than that the Commander was left alone. Alexis imagined the crew felt relieved not having her breathing down their necks if even for just an hour or so.

Gradually Alexis lost herself in her movements, her mind drifted away.

"Commander Shepard." a heavily accented female voice spoke.

Alexis froze at the unknown voice and turned towards the direction it had come from. A figure moved in the shadow and as the woman walked into the light Alexis inched towards the elevator.

"EDI-"

"Don't bother. We've locked down the ship. You, nor anyone else in your crew, will be able to get in contact with the outside world at the moment, and your AI has been shut down." Miranda smirked and placed her hand on her hip, right next to her gun.

Alexis licked her lips and moved another inch. "We?"

"My... associates and I, yes. Now, I suggest you surrender yourself peacefully. I can't assure you the safety of your crew unless you do, Commander." Miranda said as she removed her handgun from its holster.

Alexis was caught. "Who the fuck are you?"

The other woman smiled. "Miranda-"

"Lawson? The Cerberus Operative?" Alexis growled.

"You know about me, Commander? I'm flattered." Miranda said wary. She hadn't counted on being known by the other woman.

"Get the fuck off my ship!" Alexis yelled. She took a couple of steps towards the other woman but stopped abruptly as Miranda pointed her gun at her. "Bitch!"

"Calm down, Commander!"

Alexis started to glow with her biotics and her muscles tensed. An explosion went off suddenly and shook the entire ship. The lights flickered and Miranda cursed. She raised one hand to her earpiece and her gaze shifted up momentarily. "Don't damage the ship, damnit!"

Alexis shifted forwards but Miranda was quick to raise her gun higher as a warning. She had orders to capture the Commander but there had been no order that said Alexis Shepard had to be brought in unharmed. "Where's Captain Shepard?"

"John? What do you want with him?"

"Where is he, Commander?" Miranda had expected both of them to be on the ship but somehow she must have missed him leave. If she got his location she might just have enough time to go after him.

Alexis stayed quiet. All she needed was a distraction, anything, to lunge at the other woman. A second explosion, larger than the first, almost knocked both women off their feet and Miranda's hand shot up to her ear piece once again. "Stop it with the damned explosions! And Hark'liv get the damned ship up in the-ugh!"

Miranda's gaze flickered up and Alexis saw her chance. She threw a biotic charge and tackled the woman. Miranda's gun went off, grazing Alexis on the side of her head before it flew from her hands in under a crate. Miranda light up with her own biotics as Alexis straddled the other woman and raised her fists. She managed to get in a couple of punches before Miranda biotically threw Alexis into a wall. Shepard managed to land on her feet and pulled Miranda to her. She kneed the agent in the stomach and smashed her fist into the side of her face. Miranda was caught in her biotic field and defenceless against each heavy hit on her body and face. Blood ran from her lip and nose, staining her white suit.

A hand caught her right wrist as she pulled it back and Alexis turned swinging her left arm with the momentum. Her new assailant blocked her punch but had to let go of her wrist at the same time. He caught her left arm in a lock and stepped in close. Alexis tried to headbutt him but Thane swept her feet out under her. Alexis hit the floor hard, her head cracking against the unforgiving floor, and using her biotics managed to push him away to get enough time to get back on her feet. The drell moved almost to fast for Alexis to follow, her vision obstructed further by the blood in her eyes, and moved in behind her. Alexis felt the touch of cold skin against her neck and pushed out with her biotics. Thane's own biotics weren't strong enough and flickered under her pressure. Alexis turned and charged. She threw a left hook but he dodged and managed locked her arm in place. Thane threw a punch at her side and followed with his foot pushing down on the back of her kneecap forcing Alexis down on one knee. Thane moved behind her, her arm twisted up against her back, but froze as Alexis threw a field.

"Krios!" Miranda shouted and Alexis felt a crushing force fall on her body.

Alexis tried to push against it but a blow to the back of her head made her yell out and fall to the floor. Her sight going black momentarily. She shook her head to try and clear it but a second blow, harder this time, knocked her out cold.

Thane held the Commander against the floor. His knee digging into the small of her back as he tried to catch his breath. She hadn't managed to land a hit on him but the sheer force of her biotics had him breathing hard and sweating. His body ached from the brutal power used against him and if not for Miss Lawson's sudden interference who knew how long they would have been at it.

Miss Lawson, Thane suddenly remembered, who had been injured. He looked up into the face of the woman now standing over him and the Commander. Her usually beautiful face was contorted into an ugly snarl with blood staining her perfect skin.

"Tie her up and pump her up with sedatives" Miranda ordered in a nasal voice as she gently held her nose and threw him the bonds and sedatives.

"Are you alright, Miss Lawson?" Thane asked. He suspected Shepard might have managed to break her nose from the looks of things.

"Fine! Now do as I say. Get her up on the CIC deck so the crew can see her!" Miranda almost yelled. The shot from her gun had graced the side of Alexis' head but appeared only to be a flesh-wound, unlikely to permanently scar, but like all facial wounds it bleed heavily. And with their Commander lying on the floor unresponsive, bleeding and tied up the crew was most likely to fully cooperate. Especially if Miranda placed a gun to her head.

Thane finally relinquished his hold on the unconscious woman, having unconsciously been leaning over her the entire time. He tied her arms behind her back and noticed one of her palms had been rubbed raw and bloodied. He looked down at the floor and noticed it wasn't smooth all over. He then pulled out a syringe, filled it with a powerful sedative and pushed the needle into her neck. This wasn't how Thane usually worked but then again he normally didn't allow his targets to live.

"We've got the ship on her way to the Relay. The crew's been subdued although there's quite a mouth on a couple of them. Hunter's on his way down." Mar'ie Liv'onious spoke in their earpieces.

Miranda nodded. "Good. We're heading up. The crew might be more cooperative once they see the state we have their Commander in."

The elevator arrived and the doors opened to reveal Daryl Dy'en. He appeared to be covered in a bit of smoke but grinned when he caught sight of Miranda. "Shepard got you good. Didn't she, Barbie? Man, I woulda paid good money to watch the fight!"

Hunter walked over to the unconscious woman on the floor and turned her over, running his thumb over her lips. "A pretty little redhead, ain't she?"

"Pick her up." Miranda ordered, still in that nasal voice, and entered the elevator. "Dump her on the floor in front of her crew. Thane, come with me. We're heading to the med bay."

Miranda and Thane got off on the crew deck while Hunter headed up. They entered the med bay and Miranda immediately grabbed a pack of medi-gel. She then took a seat at one of the beds and Thane walked over to her. He placed his hand on her face and without warning put her nose back in place. Fresh blood started to flow and he handed her a towel.

Thane looked off to the side and noticed the locked door. "The quarian unlocked all the doors the moment we'd managed to subdue the crew."

Miranda turned her head in the direction Thane was looking at. She then got up and walked towards the door. She pulled up her omni-tool put got no readings. "It's probably just a storage. The explosions may have damaged some of the ships electronics and that's why they're still locked. We'll run a full scan once we get the ship back to Cerberus. In the mean time go check the rest of the ship."

Miranda and Thane left the med bay but behind the locked door Legion stood with his sniper rifle at the ready.

EDI's blue orb appeared. "I cannot gain back access to the ship. It appears the explosions took out the main part of the Normandy's internal communication's centre and any reroute I may attempt is most likely to be discovered. Legion, I suggest the next time we dock that you find a way off the ship and contact Captain Shepard. I will create a distraction."

"Affirmative."

1011000101

John waited until he saw Tali's familiar purple environmental suit and smiled. He saw her go from nervous to steady and at the ready the second she spotted him.

"Captain." she saluted as she'd seen Alliance soldiers do but he waved it off.

"Don't have to do that, Tali." he said. "Just call me John."

"Yes, Cap- I mean John." she said and fell into step besides him. "Where's Alexis?" she asked as she looked around for her.

"On the Normandy, waiting." he said with a smirk.

"Her? Waiting?" the disbelief in her voice couldn't have been clearer.

John chuckled. "Bad idea?"

"Not the best, no." Tali giggled.

The walked for a while longer before John spoke again. "I have a surprise for you."

Tali turned to look at him and John could feel his ears turn red.

"I gave the crew members the night off for shore leave, so I bought you a new suit and veil. Had it imported from Illium. The last time I saw you I noticed that this one had one too many patches in it." he said and poked her arm over one such patch. "I want you to be taken cared of. You are my Chief Engineer. Can't have you getting hurt."

Tali was speechless. Not even Alexis had done this for her. She'd taught her how to fight hand to hand and had helped her with her target practise. She'd also taught her different kinds of strategies to use on the field and how to think like a soldier. It had been fun learning, but Alexis had never bought her new armour or a new suit.

"Once you're dressed Jacob will fit you with new custom-made armour. He's tweaked it a bit to improve the shielding and now there's a stealth generator for you as well."

"So I'll still be going on missions with you?" she asked.

"Yes." John quickly replied.

He would have said more but was interrupted by a call on his omni-tool. He smiled at Tali in apology and opened his comm link. "Yes?"

"Captain, we have a problem." came the voice of the younger turian. "We're being tracked by both Cerberus and the Shadow Broker."

"When are we not?" he sighed, disappointed and annoyed to have his time with Tali cut short.

"They might be here on Omega." Garrus insisted.

At those words John took a step closer to Tali and inspected their surroundings. "Contact Alexis. Tell her to put the Normandy on full alert. We're leaving."

John closed the link and opened up a new one. "Joker."

"Yeah?" came the younger pilot's voice.

"Where are you?"

"Oh, havin' fun at Afterlife. Old man Garrus just joined us a couple of minutes ago. You on the way?" he said and from the growl in the background John guessed his best friend had heard the part about being old.

"No. Shore leave has been cancelled. Have everyone return to the ship and tell Garrus to stay alert. We might have a problem." he ordered as he directed Tali towards the docks with a hand against the small of her back.

"Yes, sir!" Joker mocked clearly drunk but John didn't doubt he would follow orders.

His omni-tool beeped again and John opened the link.

"Shepard..." came Samara's voice. "The Normandy's gone."

Silver06: Oh no! Our hero's in danger! *pretends to feel faint*

Mine6chan: *pretends to look horrified* Only feedback can save her now! Is there no reviewer strong and brave enough to save her?