Mistake

disclaimer: I do not own mass effect, it belongs to the amazing people at Bioware. Shepard is the default male, I also apologize for all the mistakes, I had to edit this myself and I didn't get all the mistakes. Please let me know what you think and enjoy! Also title my change, I'm not to in love with this one.

London, 2186, the Battle For Earth

"See ya later ugly." I spoke to myself as I took took down another canable, but my victory was short lived as I set my sight on a marauder and took it down as well. I held a good snipers perch on the 10th floor of some destroyed building, I think it use to be the shard. The Reaper ground troops have yet to pin point my position, which I am extremely grateful for. It also helped that Shepard and his ground team had them distracted as they made their way to the beam that would take them to the citadel. My job was to make sure they got there without much insentient, and so far it's working. Humming along to the hard techno blaring from the ear piece of my visor I took out a few husks that got to close the the trio.

After the last shot rang out there seem to be a lull in the battle. Commander John Shepard's voice called out through then main Alliance channel we were all connect to. I turned off my music and only half listened as Foxtrot, Yankee and Tango squads all reported in, along with Anderson and his team. Admiral Hacket and Shepard when onto a discussion on how to make the final push to the beam while I was busy scoping out the battle field waiting for my next target to show it's ugly face. An annoying high pitched beep sounded informing me of a private com-link invite. Without removing my eyes from my task I opened the link.

"MacArthur."

A deep rumbling flanging voice answered me. "How are you doing up there?" I shivered slightly like I did every time I heard his voice. It still surprises me sometimes that after all this years I've know him, his voice still held the same power over me.

"I'm good Garr, they still don't know I'm up here. It seems that they are as dumb as they look." I chuckled at my own joke.

Garrus didn't find it funny, at the moment he was all business letting the war harden Turrian rebel that he was shine through. "How many more clips do you have with you?"

I sat back on my ass and rested my back against the wall and quickly counted the clips I had staked in a neat pile...shit I'm down to four...I can't let him know that or he'd try to play hero and rescue my sorry ass or worse he'd be to distracted and worried about me that he would get killed during the final push.

"I have enough left to get me through this. Found a shit ton of extra clips on my way up here."

Lair.

"Good...Once we make for the beam I want you to head back to base camp, safe with the others."

"Sir, yes sir" I saluted even though the Turrian couldn't see me, but I knew he could hear the sarcasm in my voice.

" I'm serious Kris." His voice held no amusement, but there was an edge of frustration and tiredness to it.

I sighed softly, "I know G, I promise to do my best to get back."

"I don't want you to try your best!" Garrus raised his voice, causing the flanning to become moreprominent. "You don't get a choice in this matter you have to make it back! Or i'll ….I'll,"

"Alright Sir I Will make it back to base camp. Not any of those damn Reapers are going to stop me from getting back there." I spoke is a soothing voice trying to clam down the ruffled alien from getting to worked up. I lifted my rifle back over the blown out windowsill and used the scope to watch Garrus as I spoke to him. "I will not let anything get in my way, I will come back to you." I visibly saw his tall lanky body relax in my cross hairs. I hated lying to him, I know there was noway I'd make it back. Already I could hear the monstrous cries of the Reaper's foot soldiers growing closer to the building that I was in. It was just a matter of time till they rushed in. "You have to promise me the same thing G."

"Yes, Ma'am," I could see him salute, like I did before. This made me smile and release a small laugh. I took my scope off him and began to reload my sniper rifle and then my side arm. They where getting closer.

I could hear other voices over the com-link that sounded like Commander Shepard and James Vega, but I couldn't make out what they were saying. I could clearly hear Garrus sigh and rely 'alright' to them.

" We're going to start the final push." He said to me.

"Good, the faster you three move the sooner we can get these assholes out of our Universe." That statement didn't get the reaction from him that I wanted, it didn't get any at all. Garrus was silent for a few moments. I started to get worried thinking that he had closed off the com-link and they had already gone. Shit I didn't want those to be the last words I've ever said to him. Pulling up my omni-tool I started to try to reopen the link but before I could get my fingers to the holographic key board, Garrus' voice filled my ears again.

" I love you, Kris."

Those simple words that held so much power in them melt my heart, "I love you too, G. Be safe."

"...you too," was the last thing I could hear him udder before he closed the link. A few moments later the sound of the Makos pushing forward mixed with the cries of the deformed, mutated aliens that surrounded my position. They were now even closer then before. Taking a deep breath I pushed myself up off my ass and got to work preparing for their arrival. I pushed an old desk in front of the door to slow down the husks that would reach me first. Then I set up a few proximity mines a few feet from the desk in a semi-circle. They were far enough away from my sniper perch that I wouldn't get any of the blast. The last thing I did as a settled my self down in front of the window and turned on the recording device on my omni-tool.

"My name is Kristin Laine MacArthur, I'm a Gunnery Sergeant for the Systems Alliance and crew member of the SSV Normandy SR-2. If you find this, no big shock I'm dead." I spoke as I garbed my rifle and began taking out enemies one by one. "I always wanted to die on Earth, looks like I'm getting my wish." I let out a dark chuckle, "To who ever finds this, I hope we won and if we didn't...looks like you'll be joining me soon...If by a miracle Shepard pulled the impossible off and kills the Reapers I want you to share this recording with those who survived. I want.." I took out a Banshee with a well placed head shot as I tired to pick the right words to say, "..I want to tell you the really story of the Normandy, her crew and Commander Shepard, before our lives get blown out of proportion. We aren't super heroes, we were just doing our jobs and happened to have a shit storm fall on our shoulders. We are... we're just normal, like the rest of you...I want to start my tale from the beginning, back before I joined up with Shepard and his crew. I want you to get to know a little about yours truly before I tell you my side of things. I promise it will not take long..."