Heading into the Collector Base was like a trip through the underworld. There was nothing human, only abominations. The base’s architecture was reminiscent of the ship that she had been in; sharp edges and metal that made her catch her reflection when she went by. This was the mission that she had been working towards since she had sprang out of the underworld the first time, reconstructed by a man who liked to play God. Cerberus was not the benefactor she had expected, but perhaps it was the one she deserved.

The Council had turned away from the truth in the two years she had been dead and the Alliance was held back on a tight leash made by chains of bureaucracy and hesitation. It was disappointing, especially after all she had done for them. For the galaxy. Alexandra knew what was going on with the disappearance but all they could give her was her title; Spectre, and that was only due to Anderson’s trust in her. But titles didn’t wars. Cerberus offered her a blank check. At the cost of her principles, so she recalled from Kaidan’s shouting. He didn’t understand that she was giving humanity the best odds it could against the Reapers. The two of them had somehow fatally misunderstood each other. He had loved the legend, not the woman behind it. And she had loved a man who had made a mistake; a man that he never wanted to be again. In her eyes, saving Rahna wasn’t something he should have been ashamed by. It didn’t matter now. 

Cerberus embraced the woman she really was. She was deadly smiles and careful calculations, the one who made the difficult calls that others wouldn’t. The woman known as ‘the Butcher of Torfan’, who had assured victory and struck back so hard that the batarians had retreated from Citadel space altogether. Alexandra didn’t just fight; she conquered. But for as much as Cerberus accepted her, she wasn’t naive of their motives. The Illusive Man played chess on an intergalactic scale, pushing forth assassins like pawns. But why would she be bitter against an ambitious and powerful man when she had pushed herself to the top, becoming humanity’s first Spectre? But she did demand respect; she wouldn’t be regarded as just a pawn. She was the savior of the galaxy.

Alexandra traversed down the first corridor, gripping her gun tightly. She had delegated Tali to go through the vent and for Miranda to lead the other team that would serve as a diversion. By her side was Jacob and Zaeed; unyielding in battle. The comm line is quiet, but that didn’t necessarily mean it was empty. There was one man who would be listening intently, if he could. She patched herself into the Illusive Man’s line, muting the conversation to other ears. A small smirk spread on her lips, “Can you hear me from down here in hell?” She was testing to see if any communication would work in here, but also she wanted to coax him out of the shadows if he was just hiding.