Saga of the Bridgers-Year 6

Prologue: Rejoining Family

The small freighter gently offered by the Empress flew Jane, Tali and Garrus toward Crete, landing in the pretty big courtyard of a house a km away from the nearest village. This house was modest in size, but it had every comfort a simple man could ask for.

And as they landed in the pretty large courtyard, the three were met by Scott and Sara Shepard. The mother hugged her children, who shared with her the hair color and the blue eyes of their father, Major Wilhelm Klausewitz, who right now was probably in Germany to spend the festivity with his own family and friends.

"I'm not starting to hallucinate, am I?" an old but unmistakable voice spoke up not long after.

Jane raised her gaze and saw him. Wearing a civilian outfit that left his arms bare. Despite the light gray hairs reminding everyone that he was just past his 60s, the man was still quite toned.

"Dad!" she exclaimed, walking with her hands extended.

John laughed as his daughter reached him and held her tightly for a whole ten seconds. He then made a step back, keeping his hands on her shoulders to admire her.

"Just look at my little Spectre." he commented proudly with a teeth-showing smile.

She chuckled, then turned her head around. "I brought you some old friends, by the way."

"Yeah, we're here." Garrus commented ironically. "Nice of you to notice us."

Shepard cackled and went to greet the two aliens as well. "How is my Team Dextro?"

"It's good to see you're still full of energies, Captain." Tali said happily.

"Save that for after the party." Scott intervened, pumping them up a bit for the festivity that was to be held in a few hours.

"I bet five credits he won't reach midnight." Sara joked as well.

"Beware, you younglings," John replied in tone. "I can still throw you through Omega 4, if I want."

"Why don't we get up there?" Garrus suggested. "I think Liara and Javik are already on the Citadel."

Following the suggestion, everyone mounted on the small ship and headed into the orbit, going straight for the Citadel. It took an hour and a half at full speed for the vessel to reach the station and then receive permission to enter the traffic. They could then reach the Silversun Strip, where the apartment of the Shepard family was. After leaving the transport to a dedicated docking bay, they took some automated taxis to reach the apartment. Moving as quickly as they could in order to avoid to be halted by curious, since they heard a couple bystanders murmur incredulous when they saw the two Shepard, the group finally entered the basement.

And after that, started to come over old friends and comrades. The former crew of John, at least those who were still alive: first Liara and Javik, who were the heads of a scientific team tasked with finding more artifacts of the latter's extinct people. Then James Vega and Cortez had been granted shore leave from their duties in the Imperial Guard to join the party. Everyone from Samantha Traynor, now a civilian, to Ashley and Kaidan, they too retired to more quiet lives and enjoying their old age.

Just a big family reunion, where Jane and the kids had the chance to say goodbye before embarking on their journey, and before alcohol started to flow.

But before Jane did that as well, she was approached by three of the guests: Javik, Liara and none other than EDI in her mech body.

"Hey, Jane," Liara started. "We were wondering if you were looking for additional support on this new mission."

The woman was surprised a bit. "You guys want in? We're talking about going into another galaxy."

"Fighting a war in another galaxy." Javik pointed out. "And against strong enemies. I am quite curious to test myself against them."