If the collectors didn't stop them the neutron purge would.

Shepard knew there were only three outcomes of radiation exposure; death, damage to reproductive organs and X-men.

She had fleeting seconds to get back on the Normandy then reach a safe distance, a gauntlet of genetic slaves in between.

The Illusive Mans logic seemed sound enough. With the reapers own technology they would have a much better shot against the machines. Cerberus didn't quite have a clear record, that made the decision that much more difficult…

What was she thinking ?

She ran towards the extraction point relying entirely on adrenaline feuled instinct. She couldn't remember what had happened before the chase began. She was pure soldier now. Her only thoughts, her goal, Efficiency in place of consciousness.

The Normandy was only yards away, she could see Garrus climbing onto the docking platform. How had she gotten so far behind?

Garrus turned back sniper drawn. Aiming out from the narrow passage he was bitterly reminded of the last time he had used this tactic. "maybe they'll match the other side of my face" he thought aligning the scope.

A sharp whip from the barrel and another Collector fell to join the hundreds before it and the unknow masses to fallow. Its brains spread over those behind it on Shepards tail. He popped the sink to make more Collector confetty. Shit none left? looking back through the scope he found Shepard still running. One collector had abandoned his weapon to give a full spead chase. Shepard whipped around with her shotgun stopping the alien tailgater. Five more were on the sides of the path ahead of Shepard, guns ready.

Garrus slammed his fist against the bulkhead to the ships interior. Shepard needed cover. The mission was nothing without Shepard.

Joker came through the door. Actually standing? Understands what's at stake doesn't he? In one arm an assault rifle, the other his precious hat, filled with thermal clips. ha. Sure does.

Joker dropped his hat on the floor of the platform. Garrus took a hand full and loaded in a fresh clip. Shepard ran right into the ambush Shields dropping instantly. She was slipping, too far into instinct to remember her first class military training. Luckily Garrus and Joker were at the top of their game. Shepard flopped onto the floor arms outstretched. Facing fire from the two on the ship the collectors were forced to turn from Shepard. With the opening Shepard threw and incendiary grenade between the group on the left. The flames ending their torment while adding to it at the same time. Drawing her Hand Cannon she silenced one of the two to her right with a bullet to its skull, punching a clean hole through. Before the last of the ambush could turn back she pushed the barrel to its spine. In a brief flash of consciousness she gave a silent prayer. "May you find peace in death".

Shepard had earned a clear path to the Normandy but without Joker in the cockpit to keep the ship stable they slowly drifted off from the floor. Shepard now only feet away would have to jump the gap.

She pushed everything she had into one more feat of agility. Suddenly nothing was between her and the inner walls of the base. Her hands caught the edge of the docking platform. Joker still dedicated to spilling as much genetically abused blood as possible left Garrus to pull Shepard on board. Finally they were all there.

Only three…

"ASSUMING DIRECT CONROL." Harbinger had again taken one of his puppets granting it deadly new abilities. A blast of energy flew from his victims glowing hand.

Shepard was slowly regaining sapience. At the sight of the energy blast she flopped to the ground. "Bail out!" her weird phrases were back, that's a good sign. The blast flew over the three survivors into the door.

The holographic interface flickered. Harbinger's attack had damaged the controls. Shepard pounded against the door. " Son of a bitch! This 'pip' fried our getaway. Garrus you hack through!"

Jane was back.

Shepard took the gun form Garrus' hands as they switched places. Garrus ripped a panel off the wall pulling wires like weeds. Jokers hat was nearly empty and Harbinger was still in "direct control" as "they" called it (apparently being plural as it addressed itself as we). Another wave shot out bigger than the last.

Joker gave up rational thought as it came in, too large to dodge. The door wasn't open yet (would it ever be?). He brushed Shepard aside stepping forward to absorb the ball of hell coming their way.

Skin vaporizing, he flew back. we're even now Shepard. He could finally wash away the guilt of causing her death. On top of that he had just given his life for the savior of the galaxy. He felt like a hero

But wouldn't if he could see Shepard's face.

Hidden behind the death mask she favored over a standard helmet was a face of pain. She finally snapped back to the present. Joker wasn't the first lost that day. To Shepard One lost life overshadowed any victory.

The door finally cracked. Slowly opening with a metallic whining noise. "Doors open! Everyone inside!".

Joker had been thrown back by the force of the blast and was only dissolved down to the muscle. He was alive but bleeding every drop out. Garrus ran to the cockpit yelling at EDI to "get the fuck out of here" while Shepard dragged him through the door.

A smart ass to his dying breath Joker couldn't resist the urge. "Shepard, I'm missing a third of my body. Can I have the day off?"

That hit Shepard worse than he had been hit. Another friend dead. She was their leader, it was her job to make sure they all made it back. She'd even grown to see many of the crew as friends.

"Jeff I-" he stopped her waving a blood drenched arm. "It's Joker commander" a pause writhing in pain "tombstone… j-joke". He never finish his final thought, instead going into a fit of coughing. did he want Joker written on his tombstone or put in place of his real name?

From one of the many fractures brought on the ship the AI core had been damaged.

EDI wouldn't be there to pilot for them. Garrus jumped into Jokers seat attempting to manually pilot the vessel.

The Normandy jumped escaping the base fallowed by a bright flash of light. Nothing caught in that blast could have survived.

Jane Shepard fell to her knees. "failed" were the last words she spoke before her body went limp and she slipped back into the unresponsive state she first found back on Mindoir.

"Shepard, we've got trouble with the mass drive core. Unless we get that back up we're not going anywhere" Garrus said turning back in the chair. Ahead he saw Joker in a pool of his own blood and Shepard a foot away, her knees on the floor and sitting on her heels. She was barely balancing, slumped over to one side.

"Shepard? Shepard! Dammit not again!"


A/N thanks for reading. I plan to have the next chapter up within the weekend. Constructive criticism is always welcome.