A/N

{Read in a carnival announcers voice...megaphone and all}

AAAAANNNNNnnnnddddd I'M BACK!...for better or worse eh?

Hahahahahaha! Here it is ladies and gents the moment we have all been waiting for! So welcome back, have a seat in your favorite chair or spot with a fine amount of good Thirty year Scotch while you feast your eyes upon our next entry into Ennnnttoooppyyyy!

Over the top? I think not!

Enjoy!

Chapter 1: Reality

Shepard's POV

"So how did it go?" asked Liara with a worried expression. John looked up from the sofa to look both Liara and Garrus in the eyes.

"I hate to say this…but Kyson might have to go" he said. John thought Kyson would be strong enough to handle the situation but after his outburst a few minutes ago, he was having doubts.

"Agreed, if he sees the admirals again it might be a catastrophe" said Garrus. John nodded as he stroked his chin.

"John, what he said was out of grief and anger. He has done the right things thus far" said Liara in Kyson's defense. John said nothing as he got up.

"I'll give him one chance. If he so much as twitches wrong or jeopardizes anything, he is gone" said John as he walked out of his cabin.

"It's almost as if he is regressing, Liara. He is getting wilder in his actions. He'll be on point one second, the next he's firing off in random directions screaming at hallucinations. He is a brother to me but he is dangerous" said Garrus as the group went into the elevator.

"This galaxy has been nothing but a cold place for him! He finally found someone only for her to be ripped away from him, you know what I went through to get John's body Garrus. Kyson has the same right to grieve" snapped Liara angrily. John looked at Liara. He saw the pain laid bare as she argued with Garrus. He hung his head a bit with her words. She was right.

"No one is going to bring Tali back Liara! Kyson is doing all he can yet he still is falling apart! Whatever he saw down there under Tuchanka has done serious damage. You think I want him to go? I fucking love my brother damn it and by saying that, if he needs to go to get better it's the best thing for him!"" shouted Garrus as he crossed his arms. Liara shook her head with a small snarl.

"Enough" said John tired of the argument. Both were right, but now wasn't the time. Right now, I need to find out how bad things are. My only bet right now is to talk with Shala or Korris. Thought John as he walked out of the elevator.

"Joker, have we arrived at the Far Rim?" he asked.

"Yes Commander. We just got confirmation that the Admirals will be here in five" said Joker over the comm. John squared his shoulders as he got scanned before entering the conference room. Once in the war room he made sure to settle on the opposite side of the entrance. He had stayed in a bad mood for the past day now it seemed.

"So how are you going to play this?" asked Garrus who stood on his left. John looked around the room half expecting to find Victus or Wrex.

"The hard way, you were there at Tali's trial. I have no choice but to play hard ball" said John with a scowl.

"John, be careful…" began Liara.

"I know!" snapped John. He glanced at Liara who looked very taken aback, and Hurt. John began to massage his temple for another headache was forming.

"I'm sorry…Liara" he said trying not to pass out. He felt a hand slide softly into his.

"It's okay. I'm angry at the Admirals too for what they have done" she said. John nodded slowly.

"Commander, the Admirals are on board" said EDI. This is it. John let go of Liara as he walked up to the holo projector in the center of the room.

"Thanks EDI" he said as he closed his eyes. He leaned forward using the projector for support. He was trying to collect his thoughts but his mind seemed to be skipping like a warped record. A slight hiss in front of him told him that the Admirals had entered. He kept his eyes closed as he grimaced. It was time for work.

"Commander Shepard, thank you for having us aboard" came the voice of Admiral Shala'Raan vas Tonbay. John slowly looked up still hunched over the projector. All four Admirals were standing in front of him. He spotted Xen and couldn't help but feel hatred for the wretched woman. With a strong and slow voice, he spoke.

"We have much to discuss" said John with eyes that glowed with fire.

Kyson's POV

He was in his room having changed clothes before finding something to make him busy or he would lose his shit outright. The past twenty or so minutes had been spent working on the seventh FISH. He was nearing his goal. But he couldn't sit still. He felt like a caged animal so he paced around his room round and round.

His delusions had stopped only because he had already lost his shit with a screaming fit to block out the voices. He stopped his pacing as he looked at his tool belt. He grabbed it as he went to the ceiling panel leading to some pipes that had bothered him a while back. As he had built his new room with Garrus he had made sure that each panel could be removed in case of an emergency. He opened the panel while standing on the work bench. The three twelve inch steel pipes looked looser than before. They were only backups for the standard thermal venting but if they were used, he would get cooked in his room.

"Awright motherfuckers. You get to be my victim" he grumbled.

"Hey Adams, I'm working on some loose pipes down here. Do not use the auxiliary venting right now" he said over the comm.

"You got it. How bad off are they?" asked Adams. Kyson smacked the pipes with his war hammer. The bolts holding the flanges together rattled.

"Bad, must have been shaken lose after Joker's shitty driving skills" he said as he knelt down on his bench to see if he had any spare gaskets.

"Ha, more like your lousy install work!" snapped Joker. Kyson lucked out with some rubber mats for custom gasket cuts.

"Maybe" he replied as he got his ratchet out.

"Hey, you know the Quarian Admirals are on board right?" asked Joker.

"Yeah I do. I'm keeping my distance" said Kyson as he began to take loose the top pipe. It was three feet long and half an inch thick. So before he took out the last bolts on either side he strapped it to some beams above. He was strong, but a six hundred pound pipe above him was out of the question to handle without support. As he worked he let his mind get wrapped up in the labor. He had the pipe loose and suspended in front of him. But as he worked, he kept looking up as if he could see the Admirals in the war room. He pushed back his goggles as he lit a cigg.

"In time, everything falls to nothing" he said calmly as he turned back to his work.

Shepard's POV

Shala looked at John with a critical gaze. John could only see her eyes, but saw they were narrowed as if trying to decipher something.

"Yes…we do" she said cautiously. John looked to his right to see Han'Gerral coming up to him. The Quarian held out a hand.

"Good to see you again Shepard, good to see the Normandy still flying" he said. John stood up slowly and shook the Admirals hand.

"Agreed, but let's get down to business. Why the hell are you at war with the Geth?" asked John as he let go Han's three fingered hand. Han shook his head.

"He got us into this war! He had the whole fleet fly in only to get us stranded with Geth forces ready to tear us apart!" said the other male Admiral. Zaal'Korris crossed his arms with self-righteous indignation.

"I had to do it Zaal, we need Rannoch with the Reapers here" said Han who seemed to struggle with staying calm.

"Admiral Gerral, was there no other way?" asked John. Han shook his head.

"No" he said with finality.

"I don't see why anybody is complaining. I have enough of my jammers to effectively immobilize the Geth fleet until we can reclaim them" said Daro'Xen. John snapped his attention on the small Quarian Admiral. He could see that Xen looked bored with the whole conversation that had undoubtedly been played out a dozen times. She walked up to John.

"Good to see you Commander. I hope you see my point of view this time…" Daro was cut off with John slamming his fist on the center holo.

"No! We are going to find peace with the Geth if there is any way possible, understand me?" he asked staring the small woman down. Xen had held her composure.

"If you insist, but know it is in vain" she said as she walked away from him, John felt his anger rising. After all Kyson had said about what Xen had pulled on the engineer, he was second guessing not having Kyson here. Xen was more annoying than he remembered.

"We can worry about that later, right now we have a bigger problem Shepard" said Han as he pulled up an image on the war holo. It was a Geth Dreadnaught. He had an idea where this was going.

"This is the Geth flagship. It is tearing the heavy fleet apart as we try and cover for the other fleets. Nothing we do can touch it" said Han with rage in his voice.

"That's what you get for a foolish full frontal attack!" shouted Zaal'Korris.

"Shut it you suit wetter!" snapped Han. John looked at Garrus who just put a hand over his face. Liara just shook her head in disappointment.

"Enough! If you want us to help with the dreadnaught we will, but first I need some answers myself" said John.

"And what would that be Commander?" asked Shala who always seemed to jump in to make sure things stayed on a decided course of action. John scowled as he looked at Xen. The small woman cocked her head to the side trying to understand him.

"What happened to Kyson Sorley?" he asked. He was met by silence. No one moved as he took his time slowly looking at each and every Quarian. John had wanted to ask about Tali first, but this way he could at least get their side of the story first. Kyson said Xen had covered it up.

"I have bad news Commander…Kyson, he was spaced we believe" said Shala sadly. John kept his gaze on Xen who seemed to shrink in stature. She knew he was on to her.

"How?" he asked as he stared at the floor trying to act crushed.

"He was on his hoverboard between ships when the fleet jumped to a new system. We believe he got left behind in the Valhalla System…we checked for an emergency transponder but…" Shala stopped there. John nodded slowly as he looked up at Shala.

"Thank you Admiral. We will head directly to the dreadnaught now" said John. He noticed Xen had already turned to leave.

"Shepard, Kyson was a good man, we could use him if he was still out there somewhere" said Han. John had to bite his lip. He wanted to call Kyson up again, but had to get the Quarian fleet safe first. Kyson's sudden appearance would startle Xen into doing something stupid. Or Kyson would just go on a war path.

"Oh and Commander, our newest Admiral has come here as well. She has offered her mechanical expertise" said Shala who seemed to have gotten a message on her Omni-tool.

"I almost forgot you had a fifth spot for an Admiral" said Garrus.

"Our newest Admiral has been instrumental in keeping the fleet in one piece" said Shala with a hint of pride.

"Kal'Reegar?" asked Garrus with a bit of a smile. As soon as the Turian had spoken up the door to the war room opened up. John saw a female Quarian but a flash of Tali appeared as she walked into the room. Now, he knew his mind was playing tricks on him. She looked exactly like Tali, the only problem was the flash of her image wasn't going away. The Tali 'copy' walked down the steps. She nodded to him.

"Shepard" she said with Tali's voice. John felt his gut clench as his mind began to try and understand how this could be possible. John looked to Garrus and Liara who both had their jaws hanging open.

"Tali'Zorah has offered to help. Seeing as she is very familiar with the Normandy I doubt this is any problem?" asked Shala. John went pale as things fell into place. He nearly ran from around the holo to stand in front of Tali.

"Is…there something wrong?" Tali asked nervously. John just stared at her making sure he wasn't going insane like Kyson. Without a word John grabbed Tali by the wrist leading her to the conference room.

"Commander?" asked Shala nervously as he led Tali who struggled to keep up with him. The door to the war room shut as John locked it. He let go of Tali as he spun on his heel to look her dead in the eyes. She had changed. She didn't seem to stand as tall. Her eyes which always seemed to be wide open with youth and excitement now were partially closed with jaded scrutiny.

"Shepard, what is going on? You look like hell" said Tali bluntly. John placed a hand on her shoulder giving it a firm squeeze. Her suit had changed as well. It was still purple, but the pattern was different along with her overall size. She had matured a bit more with the addition of an extra inch in height along with a more curvy body.

"I…are…Tali…" he stammered. Tali brushed his arm off as she turned away from him. She walked over to the window by the conference table.

"Shepard…I'm so sorry" she began. John knew what was coming.

"I never thought…Keelah, Kyson. I…I miss him Shepard. I tried to get messages out to everyone. But I got nothing back. You have to believe me" said Tali as she hung her head. John didn't hear any sobs as he expected, just a raw hurt.

"Tali, I know" he said lamely as he joined her by the window.

"I tried, no, we tried to get the Admirals to see reason. To achieve peace. But after…he got spaced, it all fell apart. Han started this after a Geth patrol ship got too close for his comfort. Shepard you have to take out the Geth. It's our only hope" said Tali who had a very harsh edge to her voice. John didn't know what to make of this. He had never heard Tali sound so final in her words.

"I have already figured a way onto the dreadnought. If we slip in with the stealth systems we can get on the ship. From there we can blow the drive core to hell and be done with it. Then we can systematically take out the Geth" said Tali who had squared her shoulders. John just stared at her wide eyed.

"Tali, what happened? Really?" he asked. Tali looked away with an angry glare.

"We don't have time. If you are wondering how badly I'm fucked up over Kyson. Pretty fucked actually" snapped Tali as she walked away.

"I'll be down in engineering to get my mind off things. Let me know when you are hitting the dreadnought" said Tali as she walked out of the conference room to the CIC. John just stood there in shock. Did…I have never heard her talk like…

"Oh shit!" he yelled as he ran to the war room. He should run after Tali and tell her. By all accounts it was only right. But if he told her she would freak out on him. The situation was about to go seven directions of fucked. John opened the door and looked inside. Apparently everyone had been waiting in silence.

"We are fucked!" said John as he walked up to Daro'Xen.

Tali's POV

Keelah, Shepard looked so lost. And Garrus, he looked like he was about to pass out…

Tali walked out to the CIC to the Galaxy map. She ran her fingers along the desk where Kelly Chambers used to work as the memories flooded back. The amount of fear mixed with pride that had been experienced on this ship was staggering. But here she was, The Normandy. The alliance had changed everything about her yet kept much of it the same but, it was a mixed blessing. She looked at the map one last time before hitting the crew deck.

Once again everything had changed. She was happy to see alliance colors again for she had never been able to completely block out the Cerberus colors no matter how much she had tried. All that was new on the crew deck was an upgrade on the kitchen. Other than that it looked the same.

"I wonder who else has come back?" she asked aloud. She almost wanted to go see if Miranda had come back but held off; she knew where to go. Engineering. Once she walked out of the elevator once again, she saw more changes. The windows overlooking the bay show a much better use of space along with two Kodiaks being worked on. People she had never seen before were busy working while one seemed to be lifting weights. Tali looked down. Her old room with Kyson used to be visible from the overhang. It was gone now. Tali's gut clenched again. She would not be getting any closure there. She had seen Liara as well. I wonder if she got the crate of Kyson's old stuff? She thought sadly as she made her way to the drive core. All she had left was Kyson's old terminal.

As she passed the stairs to the sub deck, loud music began to start. It rumbled through the floor causing her feet to tingle. (Throat Full of Glass: By Combichrist)

"Jack is back" she surmised as she pressed on. As the song bled through the floor with a slow driving beat the Lyrics of the song could be clearly heard.

[Beyond cruel will
receive the comfort in a broken heart
Now pattern shapes
An image of true life
(True life) ]

"Damn it Jack. How'd you know?" asked Tali with gritted teeth. The song was making her lose her nerve as she walked up to her old terminal. She couldn't touch Kyson's yet. She just couldn't. She brought up her terminal only to be confused. It had barely been touched.

[Alone
Surrounded by a million faces
One by one
I see the judgment in their eyes
(I see the judgment in their eyes) ]

Tali growled a bit as the song kept sidetracking her thoughts. She wanted this time alone to figure things out! Not be reminded on how much she had lost! That Bosh'tet was about to get a visit.

[Like a disease
I'm always in the wrong
And now the numbness wearing off
Can't stand the pain
I get in line
(I always do)
I always do
Need to be patient
While perfecting death's design ]

She slammed a fist on the desk. Who was she kidding? The song was fucking perfect for how she felt.

[I cannot help it, can't decline
It's always better down the line
I'm in the wrong and I've done it all before

And I wish I'd never been
And I know it's just a dream
Now I'm blind I can open my eyes ]

Tali turned from her terminal to head to the stairs to the sub deck. She had to talk to someone she knew about what had happened before she exploded. No one on the fleet could possibly begin to understand what it was truly like to have been in love with a Human…and to lose him.

[Can't stay awake
Burning alive
I cannot breathe this poison air filled with lies
I cannot see
What's gone to me
Live in fear
The sun is falling from the sky
Can't stay awake]

As she got close the song pulsed louder with its dark words. The man's voice was full of pain yet anger. And did she have anger. She was angry, furious with what life had dealt her!

[Nothing left to break
My life is in a thousand pieces, million reasons
Why should I keep myself away?
(Hard to define)
Hard to define
(It always is)
It always is
It's hard to scream with the throat full of glass
(Throat full of glass) ]

When she reached the bottom, she found something truly new. Jacks room was completely sealed off. She walked up to the door with apprehension. People would only listen to such a song like this unless they were in a world of hurt. Should she intrude?

[I cannot help it, can't decline
It's always better down the line
I'm in the wrong and I've done it all before]

Yet, something in the back of her mind, a force almost willed her forward. She pounded on the locked door. Nothing happened.

[And I wish I'd never been
And I know it's just a dream
Now I'm blind I can open my eyes

Can't stay awake
Burning alive
I cannot breathe this poison air filled with lies
I cannot see
What's gone to me
Live in fear
The sun is falling from the sky
Can't stay awake

(Can't stay awake)

]

Tali swore as the music kept playing. She knew she was panicking, but didn't know why. She began to hack the door.

[Can't stay awake
Burning alive
I cannot breathe this poison air filled with lies
I cannot see
What's gone to me
Live in fear
The sun is falling from the sky
Can't stay awake]

Tali opened the door as the song stopped. What she found inside made her weak in the knees. She instantly saw Kyson's hammock from his old room on the far right side. Tools and clothes were strewn about and the work bench she had fixed for Jack long ago had a man standing on it. A loud clang came from where the man was half way through the ceiling.

"God damnit! Motherfucking sonofabitch! That fucking hurt you bastard!" shouted them man. Tali slowly walked up to the bench to see a wild looking armor set with N7 on it. It must be a fellow member of the special ops force riding along. But why did he have Kyson's hammock?

"Shut up Kevin! It's not fucking funny anymore you bastard!" shouted the man. Tali started to hear a familiarity in his voice. But she was grasping for anything to remind her of her Lifemate. The man was wearing a black shirt with white letters saying 'Fear no evil, fear me' on it. Whoever this guy was, he loved violence. It reminded her of Zaeed. The man crouched down on the work bench looking for something.

"Damn it I know the wrench fell down here…" the man paused. He slowly looked at Tali. He had long black hair running just past his shoulders with a bushy black beard hiding most of his features. He had a long scar running over his left eye that reminded her of Zaeed once again. This man had seen war.

"So he has brought ya back huh? Come to torment me once again? You are not real. Not my reality anymore. Leave me, haunt me no more. Please Tali…rest" said the man. Tali put her hands up over where her mouth would be if the helmet wasn't blocking it. Her heart stopped. He sounded exactly like Kyson. The echo from earlier was gone. The man just kept staring at her through Kyson's goggles. Tali began to hyperventilate. It couldn't be! Yet after all she had seen…but…there was no way…Tali reached out with a hand. The man flinched as one of her fingers grazed his cheek. He was real.

The man slowly got down from his workbench to fumble for something. It was a flask, also Kyson's. He downed the whole thing before he slammed it on the bench.

"You are not real…I…I can't do this anymore!" shouted the man as he hung his head in defeat. Tali couldn't feel her legs move but she was standing in front of him. He would not look up. He just slumped there twitching. She crouched down on knee. She had to know! Tali reached out as she looked into the goggles. The man was trembling with fear as she gently pushed up on them. She almost recoiled in shock. She was met with two wide hazel eyes she had seen in every dream. She gasped.

"Keelah…it…it can't be!" she could feel several tears form as Kyson began to shake even more.

"Please…I can't keep thinking you are alive Tali…I miss you more than anything" said Kyson.

"What? I'm right here! How are you alive Kyson? You…you got spaced!" she shouted not understanding what he was saying. Tali saw the pain on his face. There was no brightness in his eyes like there once was. Just a dull everlasting hurt. Tali began to cry. This was not the Kyson she had loved. Yet here he was. Tali ripped off her visor and grabbed one of his hands. She placed her cheek in his rough calloused hand.

"I'm real! I'm right here Kyson!" she said. Kyson froze. He looked confused and lost. He began to run his fingers along her cheek bone, then under her chin. He brought her close to his face. She could smell him, feel and see him. It was truly him.

"Tali…" he paused as a single tear rolled down his left cheek. Her body and mind couldn't take it anymore! It was Kyson! She thrust herself into his lips. She cried as she kissed him. He pushed her back to look her in the eyes. He had no words, he just stared at her as another tear rolled down his left cheek again. Tali wrapped her arms around him. She didn't know how, but he was alive! By the Ancestors he was alive! She kissed him again before she buried her face in the crook of his neck sobbing. She had been so alone for so long. She had been in nothing, but misery with him gone.

"H...How?" he asked. Tali let go for a moment.

"I don't care how! You are alive! Keelah Kyson, I have been nothing! Nothing since you…died. But you aren't!" Tali was scooped by Kyson like many times before. She could feel his muscles lift her with ease as he set her down in the hammock. He knelt by her side. She watched as he seemed to choke on his words. She reached out with a hand to grasp one of his. He gripped it strongly.

"I was…lied to Tali" he said quietly. Tali tried to clear her sinuses and stop crying.

"By who?" she asked trying to understand. Kyson suddenly looked like he was about to burst with rage. It frightened her. She had never seen such a look on him before. Kyson looked away as he closed his eyes.

"I will not say his name right now. Just know that I thought you were dead" he said. Tali had no idea why he would think that.

"Why couldn't you contact me? It's been almost eight months!" she said with anger rising, but all it did was make her cry more. Kyson got in the hammock with her to hold her close. After he took her helmet off and several minutes for her to calm down, he spoke again.

"I was blocked…I will explain all of it later" he said softly in her ear. Tali nodded slowly as she tried her best to curl up closer to him. Nothing she did worked.

"Don't…don't you ever leave me again. I can't make it without you…I…I wanted to die Kyson. I almost did it…" she trailed off. She felt Kyson shudder as his grip around her waist tightened. His hands began to crush hers as he looked her in the eyes.

"I'm here now…" he said as one last tear rolled down his cheek.

Kyson's POV

As he looked into Tali's eyes he felt her fear travel to him. The bond was working fast trying to synch them back together as the close proximity hastened things along. Her words slapped him hard, but he understood. There had been a moment where he nearly did as well. He brought her in close for another kiss. A mix of her tears found their way to his lips but he just stayed there. He would not separate. He could not let her go. He was scared to.

"I love you" he said softly against her lips.

"I love you" she said as tears still rolled down her cheeks. Kyson opened his eyes to see Tali looking at him. She looked harder. She was still the very same woman he had fallen in love with, but something seemed different. She looked tired, haggard almost. Kyson ran a hand through her strands of hair. It was one of the small things he had missed since losing her. Tali sighed into his lips as he caressed her. She had missed it too. She cradled his head in one of her hands as she stroked behind his ear.

"Why didn't Shepard say anything?" she asked after a few more minutes. Kyson frowned slightly.

"Wait, are the Admirals still on board?" he asked. If they were, Tali just scared the hell out of John.

"Yes…why?" she asked.

"It's time for you to get your answers" said Kyson as he got up. Tali gently rolled off of the hammock with him. Kyson helped her up with a hand.

"Why would they have any answers?" she asked. Kyson handed her helmet and visor back.

"You will see" he said with a slight growl. Tali paused. Kyson put on his hat along with his utility belt this time. It had his two shotguns and his war hammer. He felt his blood begin to boil as he got ready. Tali had suited up once again.

"Have you had this place ready with a decontamination sweep all this time?" she asked. Kyson nodded as he made his way out of the room. Tali ran after him.

"How long have you thought I was dead?" She asked with worry still in her voice.

Garrus's POV

"I still am uncomfortable with invading Kyson and Tali's privacy despite the circumstances" said EDI as John had her stop spying on the reunited couple. Garrus felt many things at that moment. John had pulled both himself as well as Liara into the conference room. EDI had grudgingly listened in on Tali as she made her way through the ship. Garrus looked at Liara who looked like himself, flat out depressed. But the Turian couldn't help, but feel joy. He had one of his closest friends back from the dead once again it seemed. But what more, Kyson was no longer alone.

After the tear jerking conversation Garrus couldn't help but feel sick when he heard Kyson denying her. The pain in his voice, the pain in Tali's as she tried to understand. But things were looking bad. Kyson was now on a war path. It didn't take a genius to understand it was Kyson's time for revenge. He would want it. Hell he had gotten revenge many times now, each time felt better than the last.

"We have forty five seconds to figure this out" said Garrus bringing John and Liara from their musings.

"We can let this play out…" said John with a weak smile.

"You know, go put our armor on and watch from the outside of the hull" continued John.

"That has some merit" said Liara. Garrus sighed.

"Thirty seconds…Kyson has earned this one. Tali being alive and here changes everything. Do we let him tear Xen apart? Cause I have this bad feeling that the other Admirals are in the dark about what really happened" said Garrus. John nodded.

"Well after what I just heard and what we know, I'm half tempted to let him go through with it" said John.

"But this might ruin any plans for Quarian support" said Liara. The three friends went quiet again as they wondered how one Human and a Quarian could cause such a massive upheaval. Garrus twitched as the door from the CIC opened up. Garrus saw Kyson with a dark expression. It matched the face he had after he had pinned Samantha against the wall back on Illium.

"Kyson! I don't know what is going through your head, but please tell me! Why are you shutting me out?" asked a very scared and frantic Tali. John moved quickly trying to intercept.

"Think this through Kyson" said John who was only partially blocking the engineer's path. Kyson lit up a cigg. He had his hat on blocking his eyes from view, but as he looked up Garrus could see not a fire, but the incinerator of hell itself burning in them. Garrus had to stop this before it jeopardized everything. Kyson was clearly not himself in any way. Garrus just hoped that whatever delusion was most likely egging him on could be distracted.

"Don't do it Kyson, I know you want revenge, but it might screw any chance we have for peace between the Geth and the Quarians" said Garrus as he walked up to his friend.

"I won't kill her. Just make her hurt" said Kyson calmly, too calmly for Garrus's comfort.

"I can't let you do that" said John. Kyson smirked as he took another drag on the cigg. The wild engineer brushed past the group. Garrus felt like he should stop him, but he hesitated. This cost them. The four stood in shock not knowing what to do as Kyson opened the door to the war room. Garrus had already run up behind him just in case he lost his shit.

"Well! What do we have here?" boomed Kyson as he took a step in with his head lowered slightly.

"Who are you?" asked Zaal'Korris from within. Kyson laughed hysterically as he raised his head to look at Zaal.

"Oh, ya'll remember me" said Kyson as he slowly walked down the steps. Garrus saw Tali run past him. She put a hand on his shoulder.

"Stop it whatever it is you are doing! Listen to me!" begged Tali. Garrus could hear the panic.

"It…no it can't be!" said Shala, Tali's aunt. Kyson just laughed as he brought out his war hammer.

"Garrus, be ready" whispered John. Garrus began to slowly follow Kyson.

"Kyson Sorley?" asked Shala who took a step back as Kyson began to twirl his hammer in his hands.

"The one and only" he replied. The engineer laughed again as everyone fell silent.

"Xen!" Shouted Kyson. Everyone slowly looked at Daro'Xen.

"I…wha…what a surprise this is! It is good to see you Mr…" stammered Xen.

"Shut your mouth" said Kyson making Xen freeze in place. Kyson slowly made his way around the war terminal.

"Kyson, I'm sorry for what happened, but think about what you are doing!" said Han'Gerral as he tried to cut off Kyson. The young N7 whipped out his left shotgun faster than anybody could register. It was pointed right at Han's visor while Kyson kept his focus on Xen.

"Hold your tongue old man or I will drop you dead where you stand" said Kyson with a growl that made Garrus's blood grow cold. Garrus was about to grab the shotgun when Kyson lowered it.

"Now, in light of recent events…fuck it!" spat Kyson as he charged Xen. Garrus was there as he grabbed him from behind. It was like trying to stop a Mako. Kyson turned on him swinging his hammer. Garrus could only watch in horror as the hammer whistled towards him. But it stopped an inch from his face. Kyson was breathing heavily with rage.

"Kyson…my brother, please stop and think" said Garrus slowly. Kyson slowly lowered his hammer.

"Fine" he growled. Garrus let go of him as Kyson put his weapons away. Garrus sighed with relief.

"Tali, it was no accident that I got spaced" said Kyson. Garrus could see him shaking and twitching as he started to speak without emotion.

"What?" asked Tali quietly. Garrus had taken to watching Xen who seemed to be trying to slowly make her way to the exit. But she stopped as she saw John cut her off.

"Xen. She spaced me after the fight on the Neema" said Kyson calmly. The silence that ensued made it so you could hear a pin drop. A loud thunk was heard above them causing everyone, but Kyson to flinch. Then a sound of something sliding along the hull could be heard, but it stopped as fast as it had started.

"Shepard. I have detected an anomaly…never mind, it has disappeared" said EDI. Garrus had this bad feeling he knew who it was.

"What was that?" asked Liara looking at the celling.

"You tried to kill him!" shrieked Tali at the top of her lungs. Tali began to stalk towards Xen.

"I had no choice!" shouted Xen in defense. Garrus almost jumped out of his skin as Kyson had started to get close to Xen as well. The situation was about to go FUBAR. Xen was cornered by Kyson and Tali with no way out.

"Please…I did what I thought was…" Xen never got to finish her sentence. Kyson threw a punch right into her stomach causing her to double over while Tali kicked her to the ground. Garrus got his hands on Kyson dragging him away, but Tali had begun to shriek and growl in a manner that had Garrus wanting to find a hole to crawl into. She began to stomp Xen into the deck before a combination of John, Han and Zaal were able to haul her off.

"You will fucking die!" screamed Tali as she flailed wildly trying to get loose.

"Kyson, snap out of it! By the spirits I will knock you out if I have too!" said Garrus as Kyson strained against him.

"It's Xen's fault! She caused our pain!" yelled Kyson. The engineer stomped down on the Turians foot causing him to let go and howl in pain.

"Kyson almost made it to the crumpled Xen but Garrus had recovered.

"Stop!" he shouted so loud and so full of furry that the room stopped all motion. Kyson had his hammer out but was looking at him. Garrus snorted.

"Get your shit together! Both of you!" he shouted to the angry couple.

"John, take Tali and Kyson to one side, Admirals with Liara on the other. We are going to sort this out. Do you understand!?" he screamed at the end. No one moved.

"Now!" shouted Garrus making people jump slightly. Kyson kicked Xen in the ribs before going by the door with Tali and John. Garrus walked into the middle with a sigh.

"Right" said Garrus as he leaned against the war terminal brooding. He had to piece things together in a way so that everyone would listen without triggering the volatile emotional states of the couple across the room.

"Xen…what have you done?" asked a horrified Shala. Xen groaned as she slowly got up. None of the Admirals moved to help her.

"Quiet" snapped Garrus as he pondered some more. He glanced at John who nodded. Garrus stewed for another thirty seconds before deciding on a course of action.

"Kyson, tell us how it went down please" said Garrus who was staring at the floor. Kyson grunted.

"After the fight between Tali and her aunt, which Xen instigated, we tried to talk to Han about peace with the Geth" said Kyson.

"Must have been like asking mercy from a Krogan" chipped in Zaal. Han snorted.

"Not now" growled Garrus making everyone quite. The Turian motioned to Kyson to continue.

"He said if we could come up with a plan, he would consider it. Not more than a day later, I got a message from Xen saying she needed me to get a part she had fixed for the Neema. She also sort of apologized for her actions. Once I got there she gave me a piece of junk. I knew something was up but couldn't figure it out at the time" said Kyson as he glared a Xen.

"Fine, I spaced you because you were in the way of my plans. Is that what you want to hear? Screw you Human. You would make it so…I don't have to explain myself to you. Turian, don't you have a burning planet to worry about?" sneered Xen. Garrus slowly turned to look at her. Xen saw the deep scars on his face along with his glare. She stopped moving again. Garrus kept one of his sharp avian eyes on her.

"Tali, would you have guessed Xen would do such a thing?" he asked while still watching Xen.

"No, she won't ever again!" shouted Tali as she tried to break free of John's grasp, but the Commander held firm. Garrus went quiet again.

"Kyson has gone into great detail with me about how he got spaced. Yes, Xen we had Kyson staying down below so this wouldn't happen. But we were all under the impression Tali was dead" said Garrus coldly.

"Why would you think that?" asked Tali who sounded angrier than before if that was possible.

"I'm going to sum it up" said Garrus as he stood at full height. He had pieced it together.

"Kyson and Tali had a plan for peace. It got in the way of Xen's well-known plan to take control of the Geth. So she gets them back by causing Tali's aunt to freak out over a Human bonding to her niece. It worked, almost…" said Garrus. He began to pace the room as he tried to finish the puzzle.

"So everyone leaves bitter. Xen figures to get rid of Kyson by staging an accident" he mused.

"Right as the fleet was jumping to another system" added Kyson bitterly.

"That's a whole new level of fucked up" said John glaring at Xen. The Admiral just rolled her eyes.

"Agreed, so Kyson was spaced. I don't know how he was rescued but he was. Now this is where it gets nasty. Kyson tries to get in contact with the fleet, but is blocked. We even tried contacting the Shadow broker, but even he couldn't get access to the fleet. It was as if he was being blocked? But how? That 'how' is a Quarian named…" Garrus was about to drop what he figured was the cause when Xen freaked out.

"Don't you do it! I will have you flayed alive, Turian!" she shouted. Garrus laughed.

"Yeah, I had the Primarch look up some things about your friend. This all now hinges on Kerris" said Garrus.

"Why does that name sound familiar?" asked Zaal. It was Tali who truly reacted though despite Xen putting a hand to her visor.

"What did you say?" asked Tali now in shock. Kyson looked to his bond mate.

"Kerris'Vateevah vas Nedas nar Tasi…he was the one who put me in the airlock for Xen" said Kyson with a scowl.

"T...That's not possible! Kerris…he…he has to be dead after all of these years…" said Tali who began to shake.

"It is possible, because he has been spying on the Normandy since Noveria, Tali. And recently, he has been harassing Kyson by telling him you were dead. Kerris is an evil bastard that Kyson has been trying to kill for the past few months" said Garrus.

"Lies! This can't be true! Any of it! I…I can't do this" said Tali as she ripped her arm from John's grip. She walked out of the war room. Kyson followed her. Garrus sighed.

"Well?" asked Shepard angrily from the doorway.

"Well what?" spat Xen. A loud crack was heard. Shala had punched Xen in the side of her helmet causing the smaller female to go down.

"How dare you do this to my Tali!" shouted the Admiral. Garrus smiled as he watched the scene unfolding.

"You know why I had to do it! Kyson was meddling into our affairs!" shouted Xen. Shala was now being held back by Han.

"He came in peace you Bosh'tet! He came out of his love for my niece and for Shepard! You idiot! You don't deserve to be exiled! You deserve to be executed for you recklessness!" shouted Shala.

"Shala, after the war. Xen can answer for her actions then" said Han calmly. Shala turned on Han.

"You heard Mr. Vakarian! Kerris'Vateevah! She has been working with our curse!" shrieked Shala in fury.

"I take it Kerris has been a problem for you?" asked John who had taken front stage again. Garrus decided it was best for him to leave. He walked over to Liara while John did his thing.

"What's your take on all of this?" he asked Liara.

"That there is going to be more pain before it is all said and done. Xen is in for it no matter what though" she said with a scowl.

"You aren't the vengeful type Liara" said Garrus. Liara looked at him with anger.

"When it comes to my friends, my…family, I am" she said as she walked off to join John. Garrus looked back at the bickering Admirals. He knew that this was going to be ten times worse than Tuchanka.

A/N

And so! How did you enjoy the opening act? I found it quite dramatic if I do say so my self!

Thank you once again to my co-author SpyketheWolf for his amazing help and ideas! He will be dropping in to say hello again here in a few weeks. He does enjoy baiting people lol.

Also, Charlie...you E-mail didn't post due to FF not allowing links but I would like to hear your ideas so create an account man! This goes for everyone at large too! I love hearing ideas. I give NO promises but I am easily influenced on random things so who knows?

Thank you very much once again and REVIEW AS ALWAYS!

I may have caught on that I always use that...

P.S. I did all of these notes still thinking I'm using a megaphone...cause I'm sick in the head!