It was supposed to be a simple mission to Horizon. Find out what happened to the colony, the same as they'd been doing for weeks since Shepard's revival at the hands of Cerberus. Having fought through Collectors and Geth, Shepard and his team consisting of the thief Kasumi Goto and long-time friend Garrus Vakarian trudged through the damp grass looking for anyone in the colony.
"SHepard, this isn't water making the grass wet," Kasumi said, kneeling down and running her fingers in the grass. "It's blood."
"Then it means something real bad happened here," Shepard said, looking around and keeping his assault rifle drawn and ready to fire. The sound of footsteps running made him spin around, Garrus and Kasumi training their sniper rifle and pistol at the newcomer.
"Freeze, asshole," a female voice said, clad in armor like Shepard's. "What the hell are you doing on Horizon? Answer me!"
"Trying to find out what happened to the colonists," Garrus said, his gun aimed the new woman's head. "We're not responsible for what happened, but we're trying to find them."
"Wait-Garrus?" the new woman asked, slowly lowering her rifle. "Garrus, is that you?" She holstered her gun, Shepard motioning for everyone else to do the same as she took off her helmet, revealing Ashley Williams.
"Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams," Garrus said with a smile. "Well, I'll be damned." He put his hand on Ashley's shoulder and smiled. "It's good to see you, Chief. Two years."
"Two years too long," Ashley said, smiling. "Heard you were busy on Omega."
"I had my moments," Garrus said. "Though if it wasn't for an old friend, I might be dead." He looked over at Shepard and nodded. "Commander?"
Shepard sighed, taking his helmet off and clipping it to the butt of his rifle over his shoulder, looking at Ashley. "Ash.."
"Shepard," Ashley said, her smile falling as her hands clenched. "You son of a bitch!" She lunged and punched Shepard in the mouth, knocking the Commander of the Normandy to his back. She kicked him twice in the side and pointed her pistol at his head. "What the hell?! I watched you die! HOW?!"
"Cerberus," Shepard said, not daring to move since he had a gun pointed to his head and a pissed off girlfriend staring down at him with hatred in her eyes. "THey spent two years putting me back together, Ash." He sighed softly, looking up at his girlfriend. "I'm sorry, Ash...about that day the SR-1 got attacked, letting you and everyone else think I was dead. I..."
Ashley stepped back, putting her gun away again. Shepard stood up and went to reach for her, but she pulled away and stepped backwards. "Two years I thought you were dead, Shepard," she said. "I buried your empty casket on Earth at Anderson's request. Everyone was at your funeral. Liara was crying as much as I was. Tali was there, praying for your spirit in Quarian, Joker even got up and spoke. Christ, even fucking WREX showed up for your funeral, and he didn't say a damned thing that pissed anyone off that day." She clenched her hands and shook her head. "I buried you, and I tried to move on. Two years of sleeping with whoever I wanted when I'd come back from a job, having a drink in the bar on the Citadel and getting a quicky in the bathrooms to try and get you out of my head. It never worked because every time I'd start, he'd turn into you. Do you know what you fucking did to me when you died? You ripped my goddamned heart out."
"Ash, I'm sorry," Shepard whispered. "I-"
"I don't want to hear it," Ashley said, glaring at Shepard. "Finish your job for Cerberus and get the hell off of Horizon. I don't want to see you again." She looked at Garrus and Kasumi, smiling a bit. "It was good to see you again, Garrus."
"You too, Chief," Garrus said.
Ashley gave one last look to Shepard, turning and walking away, leaving the Commander standing silent on the blood-soaked grass. Shepard pulled his helmet back on, darkening the visor.
"We've got a job to do," he said, drawing his assault rifle once more and starting to follow the path towards the tower in the distance.