What more?
Chapter 1
Jane Shepard came to with a jolt; a deep breath filling her lungs and escaping her damaged body. This once simple task of breathing in and out now became a challenge of its own; the pain she felt in her chest seemed to radiate throughout her. Everything around her was quiet, apart from a humming in her ears and head. She tried to think but her thoughts were too jumbled and disorientated for her to focus on. The noise in her head didn't help, so she just concentrated on her breathing. She could feel that most of her body was covered in something; turning her head slowly and trying to focus her eyes she saw rubble.
"An explosion." She thought. Any type of movement she made was thwarted by the rubble, she was trapped. Her thoughts went to her team, to Garrus, where was he, why wasn't he with her, had he been hurt? Jane wanted to shout for him but the Soldier in her told her she was in danger.
"Think Jane, think!" It came out no louder than a whisper, her throat and mouth were raw. She forced herself to think, EARTH…. REAPERS….. THE CRUCIBLE…. The images flooded her brain, flashes of memories. THE CITADEL….. THE CATALYST…. She had gotten on The Crucible, had seen the Illusive Man and Anderson and then spoken to the Catalyst. He had taken the form of the child who had been haunting her dreams, she couldn't understand it. Her choice had been to destroy the Reapers that was her mission, how could she trust that the Catalyst was telling the truth on Synthesis or controlling them. She was a soldier, it was the obvious choice and she had prepared herself and those around her for it. But now the memory seemed unreal, like another dream.
Looking around again she could see a bright stream of light to her left, the Conduit. How had she got back down to Earth? She couldn't remember. Her eyes focused more and she could see the outline of a familiar shape guarding it. Suddenly noise flooded back to her, bringing with it intense pain and fear. The noise she knew to tell well, the sound of a Reaper... Harbinger. "It wasn't real. The war's not over." This was all she could think, her only explanation, her eyes now stinging with tears. She forced her thoughts back to the present; she was in danger and trapped. Adrenaline flooded through her body ceasing her pain momentarily. Without a thought she used her Biotics to shift the rubble around her, causing her cybernetics to buzz inside of her. Miranda had warned her about over-using them but Jane always liked pushing the limits. Slowly she began to get up; her feet were unsteady and her legs shook under her. Jane quickly assessed the damage to them and the rest of her body. Her legs didn't seem to be too bad but she couldn't be sure, they were littered with lacerations, much like the rest of her body. Her armour was damaged in numerous places and small parts of debris were sticking out of her. Her skin felt burnt in places and her right arm was most definitely broken.
The use of her biotics had got the attention of the waiting Reaper, he sent out red laser beams towards her, knowing she must be stopped. Struggling forward, she continued towards the Conduit; dodging the beams that came towards her. She was unsteady on her feet but her pace quickened nonetheless; she had to complete the mission. There would be no Anderson, no Illusive Man to meet her, to help her on the Citadel. She was on her own; she couldn't fail. Nothing would stop her from going forward; she felt the heat of the laser beam as it came closer and closer towards her. Her skin blistering as the beam passed narrowly by her. Only a few more steps….
Shepard was in the Citadel within moments of entering the Conduit; the force in which she was thrown into the corridor was enough to make her wince.
"Shep…d … do you…..py….what…..status." Hackett's voice was discernible even over all the static. His voice was somewhat comforting, she wasn't alone.
"I'm on the Citadel." Suddenly a blast was heard outside the Citadel; Shepard was thrown to the other side of the room. This time she landed on a pile of corpses, it might have been softer but it didn't help with her frame of mind. She pulled herself up slowly.
"Shepa… Shepard?" Hackett's sounded alarmed.
"I'm here…" Before she could finish what she was saying another knock to the Citadel.
"What the Hell is going on out there Hackett." It was hard enough for her to stay on her feet without all these knocks.
"You….not got….much time…. Reapers attack… Citadel….alrea…. destroyed….beam."
"What?!" She stopped in her tracks, bringing her hand to her ear, to make sure she had heard right.
"It….seems its…. risk….to…them."
"Well keep them off me!" She barked as she pushed on.
"We'r….trying Shep….it…doesn….ook good."
"When does it. You do your job Hackett, and I 'll sure as Hell do mine."
"We…..owe…ou…Commander."
"Give the word to the Normandy, they know what to do…"
