Chapter 1: Prelude 1

Default appearance John Shepard / Colonist/Sole survivor

Location: / Galactic Core / Collector Base

Shepard was carrying Miranda in his arms running through the dark corridors, both of their armors were covered in dark collector blood. Miranda had been hit in her lower back by a Collector with a death wish.

This was all Zaeed's fault Shepard thought, if he had just stayed in position to cover their retreat this wouldn't have happened.

"Joker!" Shepard yelled over the comm. whilst still running towards their designated rendezvous. "Is everyone at the Normandy?"

Shepard felt lost so he stopped and put Miranda down behind one of those pods they carried humans in. He took a look around.

The area they stopped at looked just like any other and it was hard to calculate the right path. After a few moments Shepard heard a familiar voice.

"Yes they are, Shepard where the hell are you? And where is xo?" Jokers voice came in.

"Miranda is here with me but she's been injured and we..." he began before he started to hear the enemy drawing near. "EDI give me the schematics!"

A synthesised voice replied. "Done."

"Although Shepard, I suggest holding place until help arrives." EDI added.

"Good idea." he said. During the retreat he had been forced to leave his M-98 Widow since it was too heavy for fast sprint. He could hear Garrus' voice in his head.

You should treat a rifle as if it was your child. I give this to you Shepard so you have to come back alive and return it to me... or my boot will find your ass in the afterlife.

He had only his sidearm The executioner which he called it. He had taken it during the last stand on Omega, from the dead corpse that belonged to the Blood pack leader Garm... after the second longest fight of the Krogan's life.

He kneeled down to look at Miranda, she hadn't spoken since the happening, he said. "Miranda take this gun, I'm goi-"

"Leave me... you should leave me I'm only-" she tried to reason with him, thinking it was the only way for him to survive.

"No, I'm having none of that." He cut off. He tried so hard to see through her helmet so he could read her expressions but it was without success. He added. "I'm not leaving anyone behind. Ever."

He looked at her through the visor seeing her unsettled eyes.

"John... I've never told you how I feel..."

"…"

"…"

"Tell me." he uttered. Gently touching the side of her helmet. "But not here, on the Normandy." he added

She finally gave in realising that he wouldn't. She took the gun he offered and asked. "where are you going?"

"I'll be right back, if backup arrives before I return," he voiced while walking towards one of the entrance ways "Then I didn't make it."

He started to run, passing a narrow hallway until he reached a large gate. According to the schematics this is where the bulk of the force would show up. If he could close the gate before that then it would surely delay them. Shepard turned to the console but just before he could raise his Omni-tool and close it the console got destroyed.

Now looking up he could see swarms of husk starting to come from the cracks of the ceiling and on top of that the collectors was starting to show up on the other side of the large gate.

A husk lunged itself onto his back causing him to fall over, now on the floor Shepard tried to get advantage by grabbing its left arm and bending it the wrong way. The husk didn't seem affected by it so he reached for the knife he had sheathed on his right chest and stabbed it in the side of its head making the knife go stuck.

The husk fell limp on top of him. Shepard got out from under the abomination and saw a few husks starting to drop down in front of him. One, two...no five husks. He was exhausted so his biotics wouldn't be very effective enough for all of them.

He ran three long steps and hurled himself towards the bunch of them, making them all fall down on top of each other with Shepard on top. His knee landed on one husk's face making it become one with the ground. Shepard stood up stomping the other aswell. He felt a hand on his ankle yanking him down making him fall on his back.

His breath took escape and now he was taking fire from the collectors coming from the gate and the husk's were coming more and more running towards him, and even some took a right moving towards the way he first came from, to Miranda.

This was certainly it. Was this how he was going to die? Not by the batarian slavers that killed everyone he once knew and loved? Not on Akuze where he was the only one left to tell the tale? Miranda had trusted him with her life and he was going to fail her.

Before he could accept his fate he suddenly heard a loud roar.

"Aaaaaaaargh!" A heavy-looking krogan landed on top of the remaining husks that were starting to give Shepard quite the beating.

"Battlemaster!" Grunt yelled. He extended his arm and hoisted Shepard on his feet.

"Grunt!" Battlemaster said. Looking relieved. "You are a sight for sore eyes."

The krogan didn't answer but gave a low grunt and motioned to the direction Miranda was located at. Shepard got the hint and followed behind his back, letting the one with the gun take the lead.

Now racing the husks that took off towards this direction Grunt said. "The female is with the assassin, but those little blue humans is going to be a problem." He said while simultaneously firing his shotgun against the collectors that were chasing them. He suddenly stopped. "Go ahead Shepard I'll hold them off."

Soon the collectors would be rounding the corner.

"We are in this fight together Grunt!" He tried.

"The Normandy is down that path." Grunt said.

He gave Shepard a long stare showing he wouldn't back down from this.

Shepard didn't have time to argue and he simply rested his hand on Grunt's shoulder as a gesture of thank you.

"I won't forget this." He said.

Shepard continued on his own until Grunt no longer could see him.

The krogan turned around and he could see the shadows starting to creep from the corners.

"My turn, hehe."

"Miranda!" Shepard shouted

Shepard could see the piles of collectors and husks that were lying all over the place.

"Back here!" she replied standing up from behind the cover putting her weight on the pod so she could stable herself.

Relief came washing over him as he saw her still in one piece.

They both heard footsteps coming from the other entrance way. Now both looking ready to engage, Miranda pointing her gun towards the entrance. Shepard took a knee ready do deal his last hits of biotics before he would likely pass out from all the exhaustion. Until anything real happened they saw Thane emerge.

"Shepard, Miranda this is the right way. You must hurry." Was all he said.

The Commander circumvented the pod to Miranda and put one arm under her knees and one gently behind her lower back lifting her up so he wouldn't hurt her.

"It hurts like hell." She exclaimed.

"Thane take the lead." Shepard ordered.

"Yes Commander." The drell replied.

Now finally reaching the correct location they could see the Normandy just outside the collector base with only a jump between. Shepard started to run faster and when he reached the edge he tossed Miranda towards the airlock that was opening, letting the zero gravity do its part. "Thane! You too."

When Miranda arrived the drell made a leap for it but it was not far enough, just barely missed it. Miranda saw this and reached her hand down and grabbed his.

"C'mon." She said while struggling to lift him up. When she did she saw Shepard looking back as if waiting for something or someone.

"What are you waiting for?" She Screamed.

"Grunt did come along, maybe he didn't make it." Thane told her. Waiting beside.

"Come on! Dont make me come down there and drag you myself!" Miranda yelled as loud as she was able, still lying on the floor, hoping to get his attention.

Shepard realized that they couldn't wait any longer but just as he was about to turn he saw a familiar sight. Grunt had returned and in full force, collectors and husks, even a Scion was chasing him. He was running all covered in mixed blood, his armor was battered almost in every place.

"Go before we become collector food!" The Krogan barked trying to dodge bullets.

Shepard on cue took a few steps backwards and made a go for it with Grunt following. He landed with a good margin, Grunt slowly after.

Jokers voice came in. "I'm closing the airlock, brace yourselves."

The Normandy pilot closed the airlock just when the Collector base started to explode in key locations. The ship turned ninety degrees and gained speed by entering FTL drive.

Location: Normandy / Deck 3 Crew's Quarters

All remaining crew members were gathered at the mess hall, one by one entering the Medbay to get examined by Chakwas. While most of them looking intact, Jacob had taken a Collector beam across his chest causing burn damage and probably permanent scarring. Then there was Grunt with a broken leg and several bullet entry holes. Earlier though he was running like it was nothing at all. Toughest I've ever seen Shepard thought.

And then there was Miranda... from what he was being told she was being handled by Mordin on the operating table.

Shepard was sitting on the kitchen countertop idly listening, still in armor.

"Anyone got something to eat?" Grunt asked.

"Man...you've been shot at and you have your armor glued to your right leg, and all you think about is food?" Jack replied with a mocking tone. "Fatso."

"What!?" Grunt said flabbergasted.

"Grunt you're up." Chakwas said while waving him over before things could escalate.

Grunt gave Jack a glare and slowly walked unevenly to the Medbay almost colliding with Jacob who was heading out and on his way towards the Commander. He rested himself slowly on one of the stools opposite Shepard letting out small groans and moans. He said. "Being hit by a beam hurts you know..."

With a concerned voice Shepard responded. "Why aren't you resting back in there?"

"Nah," he held a hand up. "gave my seat to Grunt... from the looks of it he needs it more."

"How's Miranda?" He asked while looking in the direction of the tinted windows. Worry showing on his expressions.

"She's sedated, might be stuck in bed a day or two but it could have been worse..." Jacob trailed while looking in Zaeed's direction. "All for what? Stupidity?" he added coldly.

"How worse?" Shepard asked while looking daggers at Zaeed. Which he responded.

"Wheelchair worse..."

"That son of a bitch." Shepard stated and stood up, moving towards the other table were most of the crew where gathered. "Everyone up." He ordered in his tone of authority.

Everyone knew what this was about and they've learned by his tone that he was serious. The ground squad quickly cleared the table and went their respective ways. Although Garrus went and accompanied Jacob at the kitchen.

"Zaeed stay." Shepard quickly said before he could go anywhere.

Zaeed re-seated down on the metal chair saying. "I know what this is about Shepard, and I regret nothing."

"You put everyone at risk," Shepard took the seat opposite. "You disobeyed my order..." he added.

"I saw my opening and I took it... you would've done the same."

"Not if it puts my squadmates at risk."

"I know you...you would have taken the opportunity if it was anyone besides that Cerberus bitch and if you deny it then you are a-"

Shepard slammed the table and stood up. With a deadly tone he replied. "I wouldn't call her that. It's happened before and it doesn't end well."

Zaeed also stood up and he wasn't about to back down. He added. "I didn't realize you were the bitch of the bitch."

Shepard swung a left hook at his face causing him to stumble and fall over his chair. Zaeed quickly got back up again spitting some blood back on Shepard's breastplate.

Zaeed pointed at Shepard and with a warning tone responded. "You sure you want to start something!?"

"No he does not!" A gravely voiced turian said. Garrus walked with haste to his friend and stepped in between. "What are you doing?"

Zaeed answered instead. "He is just a bloody hypocrite, and you're lucky your friend got you out of a mess you wouldn't be walking away from."

Shepard looked him dead in the eye. He said. "On our first stop for repairs...you...get the hell off my ship."

"With pleasure...and I just about had it with you Cerberus people anyway." And with that he turned around and walked away.

Shepard let out a long sigh. Now walking back to the kitchen where Jacob was sitting, observing.

The human and the turian took a seat next to each other.

"I gotta go rest." Jacob began. ''None of us would even be here if it weren't for you Commander, I know we lost most of the crew...but when we signed on... let's just say none of us were expected to come back."

"I appreciate it Jacob, but I wasn't alone in this. I had the best crew a Commander could ask for." he responded with a weak smile.

Jacob rose up and saluted. He then walked towards the elevator.

Shepard and Garrus were the only ones left at the mess hall. Lack of words settled for a few moments before Garrus broke the silence.

"So...where is my rifle?"

That got them both laughing.

Miranda was lying on her stomach in one of the beds in the Medbay. She was covered in a soft blanket. Weird she thought, this wasn't standard issue. She could barely feel her own body, She was supposed to be sedated but she's been trained to resist a certain amount. Her eyes was closed and she couldn't really move besides twitching her toes.

She heard some voices. She wasn't alone. Shepard and Mordin were exchanging words.

"Shepard you must hold still, one sudden move and I have to restart stitching." The salarian said with an annoyed tone. "why no anesthetic?"

"I don't like the feeling afterwards, makes me feel weak."

She heard the sounds of the medical supplies being moved around.

"Your body is bruised. There were some cuts that I just fixed as you know. Recommend taking it easy," Mordin rambled. "but your body is covered in almost twenty percent scar tissue..."

"The upper body mostly." he added.

"I know I can see that Mordin..." Shepard tried to re-direct the conversation. "She's okay right?"

"Because of her genetic tailoring she will fully heal in the next few days." The salarian said with a reassuring voice.

As time went on the voices couldn't be heard any longer. Miranda felt herself getting tired and slowly starting to fall asleep, letting the sedatives finally do it's job. She felt more secure now knowing she had someone close that cared for her.

**Author's Notes**

First fanfic chapter. Yay! So I just wanted to set you guys up with my writing style. Next chapter will go into the main plot of the story also was this fast paced? Tell me if I am doing something right or wrong.

* Part quote from The Wolf Among Us

2014/10/11 * Fixed the straight quotes and some grammar.

2015/09/11 * To clarify the M rating this story will have, i will say it contains: graphic violence, blood, gore etc, strong Language (most definitely) and Sexual content (only when needed, additional warning will be there on that specific chapter.)