The trip back to the citadel was a rather quiet one. During the last transmission the council had informed Sheppard that they needed to speak with her. They were possibly wanting to vent their anger about the destruction of the dig-site and the Geth that was on board the Normandy. Each of the crew was just doing their one thing on the ship. Kaiden, Ashley, Garrus, and Charn were in the mess-hall. Liara was in the medical-lab with doctor Chakawas. While both him and his father were down in the cargo hold. At the moment Spike was working on a few weapon mods; he got a report that both Kaidens' and Ashley's weapons kept overheating. Which meant the kinetic coils and heat absorbers were either faulty or were improperly modded to the guns. He growled a little as he got to work on the weapons.

A few short hours later he managed to fix both guns; he placed them back into the lockers of their owners. He stretched himself out yawning in the process; he began to walk back to the work bench. Behind it he had made himself a makeshift bed; that way if he ever felt tired on the ship he could get some sleep. He crawled onto the bed and the moment his head hit the pillow he was out. As he slept he began to feel cold. His body was growing colder and colder; he began to open his eyes. His visioned was blurred for a moment. But, after a few blinks he saw that he was in the middle of a large cave. He quickly stood up instinctively reaching for his guns; only to curse himself when he realized that he had left them on his work-bench.

He spoke, “Damn it! Where am I now?” He walked a little ways forward. The snow in the cave crunching underneath his feet as he walked. To him it meant he was back on Antibaar; but, how was he back there? Was he pranked again by his father and the crew. Oh, he was so unplugging the artificial gravity when he got back. He took a quick sniff of the air and quickly realized that he not only was he not on Antibaar. But, he was also not alone. He took a quick scan of the area as he continued to walk. Keeping both his eyes and ears open as he walked. The scent got stronger and stronger almost as if he was walking right up to it. He stopped right in front of a wall of ice; where he saw looking back right at him was his own reflection.

He spoke to himself again, “Hmm, not bad,” He started to do a few poses; his reflection mirroring them. He started to have a little fun with it. Jumping around and laughing like a fool; doing a few silly poses, and to top it off he did a quick spin. The sound of something breaking; followed by sounds of a struggle was heard. It was revealed that Spike had somehow attacked his own reflection and now had it pressed against the wall. An ice sickle was held in his hand like he would hold an omni-blade. His reflection looked at him in fear as he looked at it with a ready to kill look.

He asked it “Okay, who the hell are you and why do you look like me?” He pressed his weapon closer against the neck as he finished with a growl, “Answer, now!”

His reflection began to cry a little before it begged, “Please, don't hurt me.”

Spike commented, “Such a queer voice,” He then threw him to the ground hard; watching as the creature coughed and rubbed his neck. He finished, “You're not even worth killing.” He then threw his weapon off to the side.

The creature looked at him in fear; it didn't know what the dragon was going to do. Was it about to torture him? Was it about to eat him? Or worse kill him? The dragon walked closer to it and all it could do was put up the weakest defense; shielding itself with both arms.

Spike ordered, “Show me your true form.”

The creatures eyes went wide as it asked in shock, “What?”

Spike growled, “Show me your true form before I beat it out of you!”

In a flash of light the creature revealed itself; it looked almost like a cross between and insect and a horse. It lay there in the snow shivering out of possibly both fear and cold. It once again put up its pitiful defense. Before it begged.

“Please, don't hurt me.”

Spike rolled his eyes, “You're ugly and pitiful,” The creature looked up at him, “But, I've seen worse.” He then started to walk away.

The creature behind him stood up and flew up and in front of him. It looked at him curiously before it asked, “Wait, aren't you going to eat me?”

Spike commented, “Didn't think vore was a fetish on every planet.” He then pushed the thing out of the way and continued walking. Only to have it fly in front of him again.

It asked him, “What's vore?”

He answered in an annoyed tone, “If I find a threshermaw I'll show you.” He pushed the bug away again.

It flew in front of him again, “What's a threshermaw?”

Spike answered, “Something I wish was here right now.” He tried to walk away again and it flew in front of him.

“Why?”

He growled before he roared, “That way it can eat your ugly ass!” His voice echoed through the cave.

A small amount of ice fell from the ceiling and landed in between them. They then slowly looked up; just as various cracks started to form on the ceiling. The two looked at each other before they started to run. Behind them icicles started to fall; the ice floor cracked on impact. Causing the floor to collapse into an icy gorge. The two ran as fast as they could; the exit getting closer and closer with every step. At the last second Spike grabbed the creature and flew to the exit. Barely making it out before the whole ceiling collapsed. The two are shown laying on the snow covered ground. Neither of them said anything for awhile; they only stared up at the cloud covered sky.

Spike broke the silence, “Are we still alive?

The creature groaned before it answered, “Yeah.”

Spike replied, “Good,” He got to his feet dusting the snow off his body in the process. He looked at the creature who was still lying in the snow, “Well, I'm done.” He started to walk away.

The creature called out to him, “Wait,” Spike turned around and looked back at the creature, “Wait, please.”

Spike sighed in irritation, “Don't you have anyone else you can bother?” The creature recoiled before it looked down at the snow. He saw a sad look come upon the creatures face it caused him to ask, “The hell is wrong with you now?”

The creature was silent for a moment before it answered, “I,” He was silent again before finishing, “I don't have anyone. I'm alone.”

Spike roared, “Then go be alone somewhere else!” He then turned and walked away from the creature.

He didn't know where he was going; he was walking in a blizzard with no sense of direction. The wind howled as nature unleashed it's cold wrath onto the land. Spike growled a little before he blew fire into his hands. His palms glowed lightly and he began to rub them over his body. The heat that radiated from his hands moved through his body; allowing him to keep himself warm. As he walked thoughts raced through his mind. Thoughts of that creature he just left behind. For, some odd reason he was feeling guilty. Almost as if he shouldn't have left that creature alone. He stopped and stood still for a moment.

He growled, “Curse me for a fool.” he turned and started to run back to where he left the creature.

Spike didn't know if he was running back or if he was running further and further away from the creature. What he did know was that he was running like a krogan on ryncol; trying to find a creature he didn't know and had almost killed. Why was he doing this? He didn't know all he knew was he had to find that creature. He eventually did find the creature; the only problem was that it was surrounded by five armored ponies with spears. He roared loudly shocking them before he grabbed one of them and threw it into another. He managed to grab one of their spears and used it to fight back the other three.

All of them looked at him with shocked looks; he glared at them as he looked down at the creature from before. The creature looked to be unconscious; he looked at the ponies and growled before he threw the spear at them. They each dodged the spear but, as they were focused on the weapon; they failed to notice the dragon picking up the changeling and running.

Thorax groaned a little as his eyes slowly opened. He could feel arms around his body; along with the cold feel of the wind. His vision was so blurry he couldn't see anything at first. After a few slow blinks his vision adjusted; allowing him to see the dragon from before. The dragon was carrying him. He was running while holding him; trying to save him from the guards. He had no strength left to speak. All he could do was allow a single tear to fall from his eyes.

Spike could hear the ponies behind; their hooves galloping closer and closer with each step. He knew all he could do was run; he couldn't fly in this weather. And, it was too dangerous to use his fire breath while carrying the creature. He also didn't feel like killing; which was odd even for a krogan like him. He glanced back and looked forward only to come to a complete stop. Before him was a large gorge it seemed deep; he couldn't tell and he had nothing to rappel both of them down safely. He tried to unfold his wings. But, the cold had taken its effect on him; he could feel extra weight on them. It meant he wouldn't be able to fly properly. A spear than landed to their right; it made him growl as he looked back at the approaching group of ponies. He looked back at the gorge and then at the creature he was holding.

Taking in a deep breath he spoke, “I'm beginning to think you're bad luck.” The moment he finished he jumped down into the gorge. He pulled the creature closer to his body as they fell. The group that was chasing them watched from above as the two fell into the cavern bellow. Disappearing into the darkness.

A muffled voice called out to him he felt himself lying on something. The voice called to him again and again. It grew clearer with every call out; until finally he heard his name, “Spike!”

He shot up and gasped loudly; Dr. Chakawas was by his side trying to calm him down. He looked around and saw he was back in the hanger. Not only was the doctor next to him; so was his father and the rest of the team. He soon noticed that Garrus, Sheppard, and Kaiden were aiming their weapons at him.

He asked, “What the hell is going on?!” He almost yelled.

Sheppard walked forward keeping her pistol aimed at him. She then calmly spoke, “Spike,” She began, “Look to your left.”

He did as he was told and moved his head left; there laying next to him was the very creature he just saved.

His voice echoed through the ship as he roared, “WHAT THE LIVING HELL!

An hour later after a whole lot of shouting and tackling the creature the group managed to trap it in a biotic force field. It gasped in horror as it was suspended in the air; it couldn't move at all. It was like it was frozen in magic. But, this was no magic it had ever encountered before. Shepard walked in front of the creature and glared at it. It caused him to shake a little in fear.

Sheppard spoke, “Who are you?”

Thorax continued to shake in fear as he stared forward at the creature. He shook a little more as it pulled something from its side and aimed it at him. It asked him again, “Who are you?” a clicking sound was heard shortly after the question was asked.

He gulped and in a nervous voice he answered, “Th....Thorax.”

Sheppard asked, “What are you?”

He answered, “I'm a Changeling.”

Sheppard responded with a third question, “How did you get on my ship?”

He was about to answer only to immediately start looking around. He couldn't move his head so he moved his eyes. He asked, “The dragon? Where's the dragon?”

The group looked at each other and then to Spike. He looked to his father and with a nod from him; he walked forward and stood in front of Thorax. He saw him smile before hearing him say, “It was him. He saved me.”

Sheppard looked at Spike asking, “You saved this thing”

Spike released a sigh as he nodded and spoke, “I did,” He paused as he thought about the next words he was about to say, “Don't ask me how I saved him while I was asleep.” That comment earned him more than a few strange looks from the others.

Sheppard lead Spike over to a corner and began to talk to him. She got more questions than answers; how did Spike save the changeling in his sleep? How did he go to another planet in his sleep? And, how in the hell did he bring something back from the planet? The tension in the air was thick and it was very unsettling. She eventually sighed in frustration and soon ordered both Spike and the changeling to the med-bay. They had to see if Spike brought back anything else with him. And, they had to find out just exactly what in the world Thorax was.

Thorax grew more nervous as he layed on his back staring up at the strange blue light. He felt an odd warming sensation moving across his body as the doctor moved the light over him. Chakawas noticed his nervous expression.

She spoke to him calmly, “I'm only disinfecting you,” she began to move the sterilizer back up his form, “I promise I have no intention on hurting you.” It didn't taker her long to finish.

Thorax watched as she turned back towards some kind of machine. He saw his image on it along with a few other strange images and words. Shepard stood next to Spike who had been give a clean bill of health by the doctor. She heard the doctor say, “You can sit up now.” she watched as the changeling sat up on the examining table.

She asked, “Okay, Doc, what do we know?”

Doctor Chakawas reached for her holopad and walked over to the two. She looked up and answered, “I know only as much as you know, Sheppard.” she then handed her the pad and continued, “From, what I can tell about him. He's a creature that has a unique DNA sequence. It appears to be half horse and half bug,” She then swiped the pad left, “This bit of information was what I found interesting. Apparently this creature is both male and female.”

Sheppard raised an eyebrow in and asked, “It's a hermaphrodite?”

Chakawas could only nod, “From what this scan is showing me, yes.” She then enlarged an image on the pad, “There is also this strange organ inside of it. I'm not sure what it is.”

Spike caught a glimpse of the image and he thought for a moment; he then remembered and spoke, “It's a shape-shifter.”

The two looked at him and Sheppard asked, “What?”

Spike then walked towards Thorax; he then pointed at Sheppard and spoke, “Show them what I mean.”

Thorax nodded quickly and looked at the one he was pointing at. He closed his eyes and concentrated his magic. In seconds a magical fire engulfed him and soon his form had changed. Sheppard swore she had saw everything now. Because at this very moment she was staring at herself. The thing opened its eyes and looked itself over; it even got her eye color right.

Thorax then spoke, “Hello, I'm commander Sheppard.” The voice was a perfect match.

Chakawas had already activated the med-bay's cameras and was making sure to record every single second. This was history happening right now on the Normandy. Shepard walked closer to herself and looked it over. It felt like she was staring right at a perfect clone or a holomirror. She then looked around and then asked, “Do you remember the ones you saw in the hanger?” She watched herself nod and she ordered, “Transform into the one Spike calls his father.”

Thorax nodded and closed his eyes and concentrated his magic. In second he had changed his form again. Spike couldn't believe what he was seeing. There before him was his father; the creature had perfectly transformed into him. It then spoke, “Is this him?” The voice was dead on.

Spike had to ask, “Hey, when you were me why did it sound like your real voice?”

Thorax turned back into his true form and answered, “Oh, you just scared me that's all.”

Spike shook his head and face-palmed himself; he should've known that was the answer. The four sat in silence for a moment. It was shepard who broke the silence which a simple question.

“Can you fight?”

Thorax looked at her for a moment and shook his head, “No, I...I don't like fighting.”

Sheppard thought for a moment then asked, “Have you been trained in infiltration?” Thorax looked at her with a confused look. She asked it in another way, “Are you trained to be a spy?”

Thorax nodded and answered, “Yes.”

She then spoke, “Me and my crew are going up against a very dangerous enemy. We need every advantage we can get. Although, we'd be breaking first contact protocol by doing this. We could use your help; can you help us?”

Thorax thought for a moment; truth be told he hated being trained as a spy just as much as he hated combat. His natural instinct told him to say no. but, something else was telling him to say yes. As a little thought he sighed and nodded before he answered, “I'll help you.”

Sheppard nodded and asked, “Okay, welcome aboard Thorax” She then heard a growling sound; she saw as Thorax grinned nervously. She rolled her eyes, “What do you eat?” She wanted and at the same time didn't want to know what the creature ate. For all she knew it may have had an appetite for flesh and blood.

Thorax answered the question, “Love.”

Sheppard looked at him as if he was joking. She then asked, “Funny, now be serious what do you eat?”

Thorax tilted his head in slight confusion and answered again, “I just told you, love.”

Sheppard asked, “Do I look like I was born yesterday?” Her voice was laced with irritation.

Thorax shook his head, “No.” He started to grow scared.

She spoke, “Then tell me what do you.”

Thorax interrupted her with the same answer, “Love.”

That caused her to snap and she spoke, “Are you telling me you feed off an emotion?” she watched as he nodded, “So if I do this,” She then walked up to him grabbed him and kissed him. It shocked all three of them who were witness to it. She then broke the kiss and looked at him with a serious look, “How did it taste?” She asked in a voice that was filled with sarcasm.

Thorax was silent for a moment before he answered in a nervous voice, “A little spicy.” His answer was met with an eruption of laughter from Spike. While shepard looked at him completely dumfounded.

It was then Dr. Chakawas spoke, “Sheppard, you may want to come see this.”

Shepard walked over to her and she saw an image of Thorax on the monitor the moment she kissed him. She watched as a strange glow slid down his throat and into his stomach. In seconds she put two and two together and she couldn't believe it. Thorax had just eaten love.

She looked at the doctor and said, “We are never talking about this again.” The doctor nodded as she turned at the still laughing Spike. She rolled her head and sighed, “Knock it off, Spike. It's not the craziest thing I've done.”

Spike nodded and quieted his laughter; she thanked him before looking at Thorax. She then asked, “Are you full?” He was about to answer but a loud burp came out instead. It embarrassed him beyond belief, “I'll take that as a yes.” She then walked towards the exit of the med-bay; before she walked out entirely she turned and looked at Thorax, “I'll see what I can do for you. But, for now whatever happened in here stays in here.”

He nodded as she walked out; he looked at the dragon that had saved him not too long ago. He smiled and spoke, “Thanks for saving me.”

Spike replied, “No problem.”

He then started for the exit only to be sopped by the doctor, “Hold on Spike.” He turned and looked at her, “What is it doctor?”

She looked at Thorax, “Thorax you can leave,” He nodded and jumped off the examination table and exited the bay. Spike looked at her with a questioning look, “I discovered something in his DNA that I believe you may want to hear.”

He asked, “What?”

She answered, “Although there are a number of differences; both of you share one thing in common.”

He asked her, “And, what would that be?”

She zoomed in on a single sequence and enlarged it, “I call this a base gene; something that used during the construction of all life. From what I can tell you and him share the same base gene.” She looked at him and she saw she was only making more confused, “It means both of you come from the same planet.”

Spike's eye's went wide in shock as he spoke, “Are you telling me. I went home?!”

Author's Note

chapter 8 I know about time. sorry life happens.