Author's Notes: Greetings Reader. First, Mass Effect is a property of Bioware and EA and I take no ownership of the property. Secondly, this is an extended ending to Mass Effect 3. This is the first time I have ever been so compelled to write fan fiction mostly I play things out in my imagination and never write them out. However, the Mass Effect 3 ending was so flawed that I had to write it out as playing it out in my head was not enough. As for this fan fiction itself, I have not changed the ending, everything you saw at the end happens in some way or another. And I am doing it this way because I can not unsee that ending so all I can do is try to remedy it. As for the story, it is going to be a limited third-person narrative which I hope captures the spirit of the videogame. The Shepard character I am using is a Spacer, Sole Survivor, and Paragon. There will be two original characters introduced later in this work, one of which I have been using for nearly two decades so he has an extensive background and I hope I was able to integrate him into the Mass Effect universe well. Finally, as comments go, make sure any criticisms are constructive criticisms and I am aware that I have some issues with grammar and spelling so my apologizes. If I become aware of certain issues I'll try to edit them to the best of my abilities. I won't make everyone happy but if you enjoy something let me know. And if you have any questions and I don't think it fits in the narrative I'll address them in Author's notes later on. Other than that enjoy this fan fiction.
Chapter 1 - Garrus's Hard Choice and Tali's Grief
A blast from Harbinger knocked Garrus and Tali off their feet if Shepard had notice a conflict could of came over him that could have got them all killed but he was too focused. Garrus got to his feet and saw Tali struggling to stand up. He ran over to her. "Tali are you okay? Has you're suit been breached?" he yelled over all the noise.
"I'm fine, Garrus, just a little shaken." She said and started to head in Shepard's direction.
Garrus saw that Shepard had almost made it to the conduit so he stopped Tali. He remembered the conversation Shepard had with him before they got to Earth. "Garrus, it has been an honor servicing with you. I know the whole team would die for me but if things look like they are going sideways I want you to get the crew back to the Normandy and regroup. I don't think I could live with myself if I lost this team especially after what happened on Akuze. Garrus, I know that if anything happens I can trust you to think of a new plan of attack."
Garrus threw Tali over his shoulder as she started kicking and screaming. "No, Garrus! Let me go! We have to help him! We can't just leave him! Let me go!"
When they reach the top of the crater there was a giant explosion close to conduit. "NO!" Tali yelled.
Then Garrus heard a familiar voice behind him "Scars, Sparks, get in the damn ship!" It was James Vega from the door of the Kodiak.
Garrus got Tali in the Kodiak as other surviving marines followed. As the Kodiak started to take off Tali stood in the doorway looking at the last spot she saw the love of her life. She reached her hand out to the spot as if Shepard could grab it and be safe with her. Then Tali grabbed her shotgun and pointed it to Cortez's head. "We have to save him. Turn this thing around or I'll do it myself."
"Tali, what are you do? Shepard wouldn't want you to do this. The Shepard I know would want you to be safe and wouldn't stop until the Reapers are destroyed. So now he is probably on the Citadel getting things ready to set off the Crucible. If we had followed him the rest of the way we would have been vaporized." Tali gave a sad look at Garrus as he spoke. "So put the gun down and we're going to use the Normandy to get him off the Citadel."
She lowered her weapon and dropped her head in sadness cradling her self. When everyone arrived on the Normandy Tali went straight to Shepard's cabin burying her head into his pillow and sobbing uncontrollably.
Although he was worried about Tali's mental state Garrus believed that he could do something to save Shepard if he made it to the Citadel in time. His first decision was to update Admiral Hackett by QEC. "Admiral Hackett, this is Garrus Vakarlin. We believe Commander Shepard has boarded the Citadel but have been unable to get a hold of him. So were going to get the Normandy in position in case he needs immediate evacuation."
"That sounds like a smart plan. I was afraid Hammer team was decimated. We will also try reaching Anderson and Shepard to check on their status. Hackett out."
Joker got the Normandy in site of the Citadel as the wards were starting open for the Crucible to dock. Yet, no one had any contact with Shepard and scanning for lifeforms was not yielding any results.
On the Citadel, Shepard had just come face to face with an AI which called itself "The Catalyst". "The Catalyst" gave Shepard three choices to end the Reaper threat and all had dire consequences. Shepard was starting to have problems thinking straight but came to the decision that destroying the Reapers was his only option. He knew that he was letting down the Geth and EDI by sacrificing them but the other options he felt more skeptical about as synthesis would kill diversity in the galaxy as well as take away free will. Then there was the control option while tempting with the only real sacrifice being himself but could he really control the Reapers or would they control him.
Shepard aimed his pistol at the pipe and before he fired he said very quietly "For Tali."
As he fired memories of his friends flashed through his mind then the explosion came. "Keelah…" he started to say as the flames consumed his body.
The last memory that he had before he died was of Tali saying "I wish we had more time"
As the Normandy made another pass of the Citadel an energy wave was emitted from it. The energy wave passed through the Normandy which caused a momentary loss of power and sent EDI offline. Joker noticed that EDI was offline but he couldn't lose focus otherwise everyone aboard was going to die. The Normandy crash landed in what was left of the Amazon rainforest with the only causality being EDI.
After the landing, Garrus was going to check on Tali to make sure she was okay after the crash when Specialist Samantha Traynor intercepted him. "Garrus, Admiral Hackett is on QEC to get a status report."
"I need to check up on Tali before I can do that."
"Don't worry sir, I can check up on Admiral Zorah for you."
Garrus had to contemplate the thought of Traynor checking on Tali but he realized that Hackett may have information on what just happened so he had to agree. "Okay, Traynor. But tell her that I need to speak to the whole crew so I can inform them all on the situation."
"Aye, aye."
Traynor arrived at the door to Shepard's cabin but it was locked. She knocked but there was no answer. Traynor then used the comm in hope of getting through to Tali. "Admiral Zorah, this is Specialist Traynor. I've come to check to make sure you are well. We were struck by some unknown energy which made EDI go offline so we had to make an emergency landing on Earth." She waited for a reply but all she got was silence. "The crew is worried about you. They all care about you and we all fear what may have happened to Commander Shepard. But we can't lose hope. So Tali if you are in there, you have friends out here that wants to help you and comfort you through this trying time."
Traynor waited again for a respond and finally got one. "I'm fine. But could you go away I want to be alone right now." Tali said in between sobbing.
"Thank you for letting me know. I will let Garrus know that you are unharmed from the landing."
When Traynor arrived back on the bridge Garrus was calling all personnel to join them for a status update. When he noticed Traynor, he decided to ask what was on his mind. "Is she okay?"
"She is sir. She is still in mourning and she said she would not being leave Shepard's cabin anytime soon."
Garrus stood there silently as all crew arrived excluding Tali and Joker who were both mourning their loses so Garrus understood their absences. "Normandy, I just got off the QEC with Admiral Hackett. He informed me the energy wave that was emitted from the Crucible destroyed all Reapers around the Galaxy."
The crew cheered for this but a grim looked came over Garrus's face. "However, it seems that the energy destroyed all AIs including the Geth and EDI." The crew fell silent as Garrus continued. "Furthermore, the energy used the Mass Relays to spread through out the Galaxy which has disabling them. Admiral Hackett is going to send the leading researchers to see if they can get the Mass Relays up and running again if it doesn't happen on its own. Also he will be sending an EVAC team to rescue us but he wasn't able to give me a time table on that."
Liara caught Garrus' eyes when she asked. "What about, Shepard?"
"It seems that the energy lead to the destruction of both the Crucible and the Citadel."
A gasp came over the whole crew with some member hanging their heads in sorrow and others openly were sobbing. The one crew made without a reaction to this news was Javik until he spoke. "He was a good human. You should appreciate his sacrifice for it has given you all a new lease on life. Now, that my vengeance is complete I shall join my former comrades." He exited the Normandy without another word never to be seen again.
Several hours later, three Kodiaks landed to pick up the crew. However, both Joker and Tali refused to leave the Normandy. Joker was the easiest to convince to leave the Normandy as the EVAC team notified him that researchers would want to study EDI to determine what happened and if there was a way to bring her back. He still wouldn't leave her side. It took a lot of caring words to finally convince Tali to leave the Normandy. She finally opened Shepard's cabin when Garrus and Liara promised her they were going to find her a room exactly like Shepard's cabin and transfer all his things to that room.
