Mass Effect: Geth Consensus
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Sideways Part 3
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Chapter 19:
Another Lifetime
(End of Part 3)
Fandom: Mass Effect Trilogy, post-war
Pairing: Femshep/Kaidan Alenko
Rating: Mature
Available: AO3 (beginning, new chapter)
Summary:
Shepard is starting to feel obsolete with her quiet life when she wakes up in another timeline. War-torn, brutal, and speeding toward destruction, it’s a timeline formed by her renegade decisions. Despised and friendless, even the man she loves calls her enemy.
To get home, she’ll need to steal part of a dormant mass relay. Powerful enemies and dangerous secrets stand in her way, but the alternative is a fate worse than death.
“So, you won’t sign it?” Shepard said.
“I won’t sign it now,” Cicero clarified. “I recommend other species do the same. The Council acts on its own – unfettered – but the rest of us have other leaders to include and a populace to represent. Races as wide-spread and powerful as the asari, turians, and salarians need more time to consider than one day allows.”
“You just heard them say they consulted their people. You’re the only one who hasn’t.”
“I’m the only one not dazzled by your flare with a presentation or bowed down under your intimidation tactics. Once they have fresh air and some distance, they’ll see it too. I’m not saying it isn’t an impressive first draft. The time was well spent. But you can’t pressure me nor any of us here to go against our better moral judgement. Mine recommends caution.”
“The Alliance is the only one at this table actually at war with the krogan. You have the most to gain. Sign the proposal. Stop stalling and monologuing.”
Cicero interlocked his hands on the table. “No.”
“No?” Shepard echoed with heat. “You’re the only one making this treaty – the one we’ve labored over for a week to create – fail.”
“I realize I risk a slapping, but let me speak plainly, the Alliance will not sign that peace treaty.”
Shepard met Councilor Wilson’s eyes on the other end of the table. His face was puckered and red, sweat beading between his eyes, knuckles blanched from fisting the chair’s armrests.
“That’s your final answer?” Shepard looked back at Cicero.
“I don’t believe I’ve been unclear on that point.”
Sideways Part 4
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Chapter 23:
Deliberations
Fandom: Mass Effect Trilogy, post-war
Pairing: FemShep/Kaidan Alenko
Rating: Mature
Available: AO3 (beginning, new chapter)
Summary:
Shepard, a paragon for galactic peace and devoted family woman, wakes up in another timeline. War-torn, brutal, and hurting toward destruction, it’s a timeline formed by renegade decisions.
To see her family again, she’ll need to do the impossible before time runs out. Powerful enemies and dangerous secrets stand in her way, but the alternative is worse than death.
Kaidan stared at the screen of ‘Tool. “Maybe things between the Federacy and the Alliance can be fixed. The governors hold more individual power than the Federacy’s collective central power. If they’re trying to contact me behind Rice’s back …”
Shepard checked the time on the wall. “Call them. Now.”
He followed her eyes to the clock. “Break’s almost over. Cicero will beat down that door. And, I still feel … I don’t know. I could say the wrong thing, make it worse.”
“They’re at war. It can’t get worse. Let me take care of Cicero.”
“Shepard.” Kaidan touched her arm lightly to get her attention. “If they tie me to the Federacy leaders, it will be conspiring with the enemy. Treason. A true traitor.”
“They’re already seeking capital punishment, Kaidan. Can they do worse?”
“Sedition, misuse of authority, endangerment. But conspiring with the enemy? I don’t want traitor with a capital T on my epitaph.”
Shepard considered it. “I don’t want that either.” She snatched the Omni-Tool back from him. “Let’s go out there and finish this.”
Kaidan didn’t move. His eyes rested on Shepard’s fist curled around the Omni-Tool.
“Come on, Kaidan. We better–”
“Wait.” He seized her hand and took his Omni-Tool back. “There’s a war. A lot of people are going to die. The Alliance could end up at the bottom. That should matter more than my epitaph. I’ll try it.”
“You’re sure?”
Kaidan nodded. “Keep Cicero away.”
Sideways Part 4
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Chapter 25:
The Verdict
Fandom: Mass Effect Trilogy, post-war
Pairing: FemShep/Kaidan Alenko
Rating: Mature
Available: AO3 (beginning, new chapter)
Summary:
Shepard, a paragon for galactic peace and devoted family woman, wakes up in another timeline. War-torn, brutal, and hurting toward destruction, it’s a timeline formed by renegade decisions.
To see her family again, she’ll need to do the impossible before time runs out. Powerful enemies and dangerous secrets stand in her way, but the alternative is worse than death.
“Need … real doctor.” Kaidan’s head lolled to the side. His eyes closed.
“Little late to go over my CV now.” Quigley watched the time on the wall and dropped Kaidan’s wrist.
“Can you do anything for him?” Hackett studied Kaidan’s face with a pained frown.
“We have the whole Parliament waiting on this,” Cicero said idly. “Again, the timing is impeccable.”
“Timing?” Quigley pulled off the stethoscope around his neck. “Was it really so impeccable? Keep blowing into a balloon, it pops. It only surprises those who aren’t watching.”
“Meaning, the stress of the trial was inevitable in dropping him?” Cicero chuckled. “Perhaps. Alenko was never resilient, even before the red sand.”
Quigley listened on his stethoscope a moment then frowned. He curled it back around his neck and met Shepard’s eyes. “They should go.” Quigley turned his back to Cicero and Hackett, referring to them with a backward wave of his hand. “They’re causing stress.”
Cicero snorted. “Look at him. He’s taking a nap.”
“I didn’t say for him.” Quigley pulled a syringe out of a drawer.
@romanticallyterrible (300Polygons on Twitter, LeaRiley on AO3) surprised me with this gorgeous cover she made for my fShenko fic “Sideways”!
I can’t articulate how much it means to me to see the Shepards captured with this much care and thought. It’s crafted with so much detail and emotion!
Paragon Shep has her eyes wide opening, gazing upwards, at peace. Meanwhile, Renegade Shep is tormented, her eyes squeezed closed, and face turned down. I love the subtle freckles. The contrast between their hairstyles and expressions are perfect.
This artwork is breath taking, and I love it so much! I’m so honored that romanticallyterrible dedicated her talents to creating this amazing piece for my story. Thank you!
We’re good together.
Sideways Part 4
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Chapter 9:
Tete-a-tete
Fandom: Mass Effect Trilogy, post-war
Pairing: FemShep/Kaidan Alenko
Rating: Mature
Available: AO3 (beginning, new chapter)
Summary:
Shepard, a paragon for galactic peace and devoted family woman, wakes up in another timeline. War-torn, brutal, and hurting toward destruction, it’s a timeline formed by renegade decisions.
To see her family again, she’ll need to do the impossible before time runs out. Powerful enemies and dangerous secrets stand in her way, but the alternative is worse than death.
Voices murmured in the open doorway ahead of her.
“It’s nothing to worry about.” It was Alenko’s voice.
Shepard’s footsteps slowed. The man at the desk behind her didn’t seem to notice or care that she was lingering in the office doorway.
“I don’t believe that.” A woman spoke. “We’ve gone through this before with her.”
“Do you trust me?”
“Of course, but, Kaidan–”
“Then trust me. I say we can trust her.”
“Then there’s no harm in making sure. Why don’t we assign an–” York’s eyes shot to Shepard standing in the doorway, and her voice cut off sharply. She dropped her hand from where it rested on Alenko’s elbow.
Alenko followed York’s eyes with a frown and looked over his shoulder to find Shepard.
Heat flared in Shepard’s chest, unable to tear her eyes off the hand York had dropped from Alenko’s arm.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Shepard said crisply.
“Speak of the devil,” York muttered under her breath, but not low enough she would prevent Shepard from hearing it.
“Spectre Shepard.” Alenko turned to face her. “What’s going on?”
“She just strolls right in.” York leaned into his ear. “She’s not Alliance. She needs her clearances moderated.”
Alenko raised a hushing hand and gave York a pointed frown. He looked back at Shepard. “What’s going on, Shepard?”
“I wanted to see you for a moment.” Shepard came deeper into the room.
“York …” Alenko said.
York dragged her eyes away from Shepard. With a begrudging nod of acknowledgement to Alenko, she strode briskly to the door. “Good evening, Admiral.”
She brushed past Shepard roughly with a cool look. The door shut behind her and cut off her echoing footsteps.
“What did you need to see me about?”
Mass Effect: Leaving Earth
Welcome aboard, Shepard.
Sideways Part 4
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Chapter 12*:
Tryst
Fandom: Mass Effect Trilogy, post-war
Pairing: FemShep/Kaidan Alenko
Rating: Mature
Available: AO3 (beginning, new chapter)
Summary:
Shepard, a paragon for galactic peace and devoted family woman, wakes up in another timeline. War-torn, brutal, and hurting toward destruction, it’s a timeline formed by renegade decisions.
To see her family again, she’ll need to do the impossible before time runs out. Powerful enemies and dangerous secrets stand in her way, but the alternative is worse than death.
“Fine,” Shepard said. “Then, what are our options? Can we kill him and the bodyguards? Make it look like an accident? Skycar accident or something?”
Liara’s eyes snapped to Shepard’s face. “You’d kill those four men? Aren’t they Alliance soldiers?”
Shepard shifted in her chair under Liara’s sharp eyes. “I’m just saying, if collateral damage is unavoidable …”
“It’s avoidable by not asking me to do it.” Liara faced her with a frown. “I’m surprised at you, Shepard.
“Fine.” Shepard got to her feet. “What about a fire alarm at HQ? All the chaos of people filing outside, maybe …”
“A giant salarian in the crowd won’t go unnoticed? Cicero would still have his bodyguards with him, even going outside for an alarm.”
“A sniper then, while he’s outside.”
“He’s wearing a kinetic shield.” Liara paused the video of Cicero on her Omni-Tool screen and zoomed in for Shepard to see. Her fingernail traced the slight distortion of air around him.
“Poisoning,” Shepard said suddenly. “I doubt he has a food taster.”
“You’re grasping. He may have a scanner on his Omni-Tool to test for such things.”
Shepard kicked the shred bin next to her desk and paced. Liara’s eyes followed her, curiously.
“Is it so bad to give him what he asks, whatever it is?” Liara asked. “Afterward, an opportunity will present itself. For now, he’s being careful, but he can’t be careful forever.”
“He’ll ruin me politically if I give in.”
Sideways Part 3
Fandom: Mass Effect Trilogy, post-war
Pairing: FemShep/Kaidan Alenko
Rating: Mature
Summary:
One chance. Two treacherous battlefields. And no turning back. Shepard and Kaidan face their largest trial yet. In the boardroom they face malice, manipulation, and murder. On the streets of Illium, they face something far worse. Worse than even death.
In the other timeline, Renegade Shepard’s fantasy has become all too real. She faces scandal, exposure, and heartache. She will do anything to hold onto Kaidan and Avyn. Her desperation could be their destruction.
Available: May 22 on AO3
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What to expect in Part 3 (mild spoilers):