Shepard sat as the party in the apartment Anderson had given him, he smiled as he saw Tali dance half drunk. He heard the phone ring, picking it up he couldn't hear the other person talk so he turned off the music. "Phone call, I'll make it quick" He said. Everyone had enough of dancing and sat down on the couches telling stories.
"What?! How is that possible?" They could hear him yell from the next room.
"Wonder what that's about?" Ash asked Kaiden who shrugged.
"Whatever it is, it doesn't sound great" Joker shrugged having known Shepard the longest as they grew up on Tiptree together in mid teens.
"We saw them die. They were bloody damn executed!" Shepard yelled frustrated from the kitchen. "What do you mean, you were never sure? I attended their funeral after Skyfall. They died because of me! And now your telling me they're fine!?" He nearly screamed.
Joker started paying attention he paled immediately. "Oh god no...They can't have...I thought it was over" He closed his eyes.
"What's going on?" Liara asked.
"They...Oh god Mason!...I didn't think that..." Joker was lost for words.
"Joker start making sense right now!" Ash frustratingly growled, he kept shaking his head. "I thought it was over. Project Skyfall" He said with pain in his voice and eyes.
"We volunteered for a mission, Shepard, me and an agent called Mason. Grab intel and take out a nutcase known as Ghetta Yarghiari, a slave trader. Mason got left behind. We attended the funeral and Shepard's never been the same since. Mason was declared KIA, we were good friends, Shepard and Mason were...close. They were with each other everywhere," He laughed remembering.
"I'd say you couldn't find one without the other. When we were ready to leave after completing the mission there was a problem at take off. Agent Mason stayed behind to give us time to take off. A week later there was a video on the extranet about Mason being totured and...they killed Mason like nothing was easier." Joker answered rubbing his head.
"You blame yourself?" Javik questioned.
"If I hadn't of fucked up they wouldn't have died!" Joker snapped back. "They were my best friend and now their dead!"
Shepard calmed down. He came back into the lounge room after doing a circuit of the first floor. "I understand the need for secrecy. But, how bad is the injury?" He looked at them with a look that only meant pain and sadness. "But their alive?"
Joker automatically perked up.
"Well call me when you have news" He demanded hanging up.
"Is this to do with Mason?" Joker asked.
"Seriously who is this guy?" Jacob asked.
"She is Clara Oswin Mason is alive and in hospital aboard the Citadel" Shepard relayed the information. "And she apparently is under arrest for treason against humanity"