Hello all! Thanks for choosing to read my Mass Effect FanFiction. First of all, I just need to clear something up. In no way do I own Mass Effect or the characters within,(Damn!) all rights are held within BioWare and EA.

That's about it really, all I can say now is that I hope you enjoy and don't forget to leave a nice, juicy review if you liked it.

Mass Effect: Duty Calls

Prologue: Survival

The first thing John remembered when he took his first breath was the unbearable pain that swiftly swept through his body. The fact that he was still able to draw breath was beyond the definition of a miracle, the resulting explosion from Shepard unloading his pistol upon the crucibles energy tube, had rendered him unconscious and seemingly somehow survived upon the heavily damaged Citadel. But now, here he lay, barely alive and critically wounded, each breath he took felt like a thousand knives stabbing all over his body. However, his first thought wasn't about the agonising pain that struck him, rather if the Crucible had done its job, had the Reapers been destroyed, like he had hoped?

He hoped with every fibre in his body that it had worked, but a small part thought to the Catalysts words before he made his decision, not only would the Reapers he destroyed but every synthetic in the galaxy. If it had indeed worked as the catalyst said, then not only had the galaxy been freed of the reapers hold, but Shepard was also single handedly responsible for the death of all living Geth, as well as the Normandy's loyal AI, EDI. Yes, John considered them deaths, not in the eyes of the narrow minded which would just say 'they went offline', the Geth had evolved in such a way that they were alive as much as any organic ever was, and EDI, she had come a long way from being a rogue VI on Luna base. Not only was she one of the greatest assets Cerberus added to the Normandy SR2, but she had also saved not only Shepards life, but his crews on many occasions, he even liked the idea that both her and Joker were beginning to enter into a relationship, even if it was through the Synthetic platform she inhabited.

Taking a chance, Shepard slowly opened his eyes to see exactly where he had fallen, it was very difficult to tell for a start, but if he had to guess by using his surroundings, he was in the Presidum tower, more specifically, the council chambers. He couldn't help as his thoughts slipped back to his first time here, this was the scene of many of Shepards personal and careers victories. Here, where he was made the first official human spectre, here, where he convinced the rogue spectre Saren, with whom he had been hunting across the galaxy, that his quest had been a mistake and he watched as the rebuilt turian attempted to redeem himself by putting a bullet in his head with his pistol. But to add an insult to Saren's attempt and redemption, Sovereign took control of the dead spectre's body thanks to the reaper tech infused within and came at Shepard and his crew with all it had. Once again, Sovereign underestimated the Soldier and was bested by him for the final time, the Alliance fleet that had arrived during the fight now moved in after successfully saving the Council, moved on the disabled Reaper and destroyed the sentient machine.

Even though it caused a lot of pain, Shepard couldn't help but chuckle slightly, to think all this had happened almost three years ago, it almost felt like yesterday that he stood with the rescued council and named Anderson as the Human Councillor. It was one of the proudest days in the Alliance, to see one of their own given a most honourable role in shaping the galaxy. But the next months that followed would once again shape Shepard into the man he is, and there was one enemy that would do just that, the collectors. While upon a routine patrol, the Normandy SR1 came under attack from the collectors, many had perished in the ships destruction, including the Commander himself. He was as dead as dead could be, but that was still good enough for Cerberus to rebuild him and bring him back from the dead. While grateful to the Illusive Man for bringing him back, he still refused to acknowledge the pro-human group, but still worked with them towards the same goal, stopping the reapers. Along the way, he meet new friends and some of his old crew even rejoined the new Normandy, but there was one he was sad to see turn their back on him, Ashley Williams.

Shepard felt a massive weight in his chest, after the run to the citadel beam and firing of the crucible, was she safe? Was she still alive? It pained the love stricken commander to see the woman he loved with a fierce passion and respected greatly as a soldier, heavily wounded. He was greatly relieved when she safely got away on the Normandy, but where was the ship now? Was it still safe? He had to know, using every fibre of his being, he ignored the stinging pain and tried reaching across to his left arm to activate his omni-tool, upon making contact it sparked wildly as it tried to activate, it flickered into life, but it was heavily damaged, he had to make this communication count.

"C... Calling on..." Shepard said weakly " Calling on all Alliance Channels, can anyone... Hear me?"

From the static that followed, it seemed his communication had fallen on deaf ears. Was it possible, had the crucible misfired and killed everyone as well as the reapers? He couldn't bare the thought that he was the only one left alive , however that thought quickly diminished as a new transmission opened up on his damaged omni-tool.

"This is Captain Charles of the Alliance Fifth Fleet, identify yourself."

Shepard couldn't help but grin. "Commander John Shepard." He announced proudly, even through each word cut through him with agonising pain.

"I read you, Commander." The transmission came in with some static but Shepard could still make it out "Admiral Hackett would like to speak..."

"I need a medical extraction." Shepard said, shifting uncomfortably as the rubble that hurried his legs were cutting into him. "I'm badly wounded and am trapped in the Presidum Tower."

"Copy that Commander. I'll have a team sent right away, in the meantime Admiral Hacket would like to..." But Captain Charles never got to finish his transmission as the static took over once more, soon after Shepards omni-tool lost power and shut off.

Hearing the voice of the Alliance Captian was a monumental relief, he wasn't the only left like he was afraid of. But he still worried about the Normandy and her crew, were they safe as well? Why hadn't they answered when Shepard opened up communications, surely Specialist Traynor would have picked up on his voice. If only his omni-tool had lasted another minute, he could have found out of the Normandy's fate.

He sighed and laid his head back, feeling his eyes beginning to droop, he shut them and felt a wave of fatigue begin to settle in. He wasn't sure how long it would be for the medical evac to arrive, but it couldn't hurt to catch forty winks until they got here, besides, Anderson had been right, it really had felt like a long time since he sat down.