Prologue
"HUMAN...YOU'VE CHANGED NOTHING..." he turns and fires two shots from his pistol at a pursuing horde of seeker swarms then turns again and trails behind the Turian and Quarian that sprint for their only hope of escape.
"YOUR SPECIES HAS THE POTENTIAL OF THOSE INFINITELY YOUR GREATER..." The insectoids give chase. A hail of lasers rang out all around them. Several hit at their feet causing them to only quicken their pace.
"THAT WHICH YOU KNOW AS REAPERS ARE YOUR SALVATION THROUGH DESTRUCTION..." The structure begins to crumble. Explosions quake their floor on which they stand. At the edge of the cliff, their savior rises from the abyss. Normandy. The airlock opens with their brittle boned pilot armed with an M-8 Assault rifle. He provides covering fire for his friends as they rush to safety. Several insectoids fall at their bodies are riddled with thermal shells. The Turian and Quarian make it inside the airlock and watch helplessly as a large pillar of debris smashes the path that lead them to their sanctuary. Their beloved Commander now has only one chance of survival. He quickens his pace and with all his might, makes a desperate leap of faith toward the airlock.
"No!"
He collides on the very edge and holds on for dear life. Just when he feels his grip slipping, his Quarian lover offers her hand like a guardian angel. She pulls him to safety and the airlock seals. Their pilot hastily makes his way to helm and punches the forward thrusters. The Normandy SR-2, the most advanced ship in the galaxy, emerges from the Collector base out into the great void.
"YOU HAVE FAILED! WE WILL FIND ANOTHER WAY!" An explosion sears the Collector general's back and causes him to slump forward against his command console. He gazes up into the holographic interface at the projection of a vessel with many limbs. "RELEASING CONTROL..."
The station is decimated in an almost awe inspiring blast. The Normandy soars through the debris of thousands of ships past as the gaining flames threaten their escape. The remains of the Collector cruiser as engulfed and explode just before the Normandy jumps in FTL. Mission Accomplished. Casualties...zero.
After cutting ties with the most fanatic of men he has ever had the pleasure of knowing, the Commander makes his way through the cargo bay of the Normandy. His Drell comrade waves to him as he passes by. He Approaches his surviving comrades who give their own nods and gestures of acknowledgment. His pilot hands him a datapad showing technical readouts and schematics of what they are to face in the near future. He nods him off and lowers the datapad to his side as he gazes out into the empty void and ponders what is yet to come. For now things are quiet, for now he and galaxy can rest easy. But the winds of chaos are picking up on the horizon...The calm before the storm...
Chapter 1: Living The Dream
It was quiet, quieter on the inside than any other ship in the galaxy. Not a single hum could
be heard from the silent, but powerful engines of the Normandy SR-2. The only thing even audible in Shepard's cabin was the shallow breathing of the young female Quarian engineer, Tali'Zorah vas Normandy.
She was ever so peaceful in her slumber after sharing a romantic night with the only man who could ever own her heart. Dreams of her valiant Commander Shepard soothed her very soul. A hint of a smile grew on her lips as she slept, dwelling only on the man who gave her so much; a new home, a family, and a love she could not even fathom.
The only light in the room came from the shining blue rays from Shepard's Fish tank. The clock sitting on the desk next to the bed began to beep; a sign that dawn had come. Tali awoke from her restful sleep. Her luminescent, silver eyes opened slowly to adapt to the ceiling lights that slowly grew brighter. Rolling onto her back, she gathered herself and let out a long, quiet yawn.
As she laid in Shepard's bed, her body, soothed by the warmth of the bed sheets, and her arms laid out across her chest, she continued to think about the time they spent last night with each other. It was their second night together since before flying off into the final battle and decimating the Collector's base of operations two weeks ago. The Normandy had undergone extensive repairs and nearly everything was back in working order.
Tali closed her eyes and grinned as she caressed the side of her face remembering how Shepard's kiss felt on her cheek. The very thought of the sensation drowned out all her worries and fears, leaving only a feeling of ecstasy.
"I want to wake up to this feeling every morning..." she whispered to herself.
Just then she heard what sounded like the humming of the elevator moving up to the cabin floor assuming her Commander was on his way up to bid her a good morning. Endorphins still rushing through her bloodstream, she decided she would take a chance and do something rather daring for him. She quickly hopped out of bed with the bed sheets still wrapped around her body, and rushed in front of the cabin door.
At first she had her doubts, "This isn't very becoming of me...maybe I shouldn't" she thought to herself. But she loved how much Shepard admired her beauty, even for a man that has never seen any other Quarian women outside of their suit, her being the exception.
She giggled and said to herself in a seductive tone, "Back for more Shepard?" She then heard the door seals begin to unlock and dropped the sheets to her feet revealing herself to be completely naked. As soon as the door began to open a Turian clad in blue armor walked in uttering, "Shepard I need you to-" his words stopped dead in their tracks as his jaw dropped and his mind went blank at the sight of the nude Quarian in front of him.
Tali quickly dropped to the floor to grab the bed sheets using them to cover her exposed form. She then screamed at the top of her lungs. "GET OUT! KEELA- GET OUT NOW!" she yelled. Garrus spun around as fast as he could with one hand over his eyes.
"I-I'm sorry! I swear I-I didn't see anything!" he stuttered.
"Garrus! You Bost'tet! I said get out of here!" Garrus ran to the door as fast as he could, keeping his gaze on his feet. Not realizing the door was shut, he ran straight into it sending him staggering backwards a few steps. The door's motion sensor then detected his movement and opened. He then moved outside the door of the cabin and stood still, completely frozen from the shock of what he had just seen with his right hand still covering his eyes.
Suddenly the elevator doors in front of him opened with Shepard stepping out holding a tray in one hand with a packet of nutrient paste sitting on it. Shepard was surprised to find Garrus standing in front of him completely motionless. Garrus slightly shacking in his armor tried to hide his shock.
"Sh-Shepard...uh...morning..." Garrus said.
"Morning Garrus" Shepard replied with a puzzled look on this face.
"So...how was breakfast?" Garrus said still trying his best to forget what just happened only seconds ago.
"Good, yours? Shepard replied not understanding why Garrus appeared so stiff.
"Good... it was...good..." Garrus replied back. They both stood still staring at each other for a few seconds before Shepard broke the silence.
"Are you feeling alright Garrus? You look a little pale, even for a Turian. Is something Wrong?" Shepard said tilting his head slightly to the left and raising his right brow.
"This whole situation is just wrong..." Garrus mumbled under his breath in a way that was almost not even audible.
"Say what?" Shepard said narrowing his eyes at Garrus.
"Nothing..." Garrus almost instantly replied.
They went back to their awkward silence for a few seconds before Garrus finally spoke up. "Well ok then...I'm gonna go get breakfast." He said quickly stepping into the elevator.
"I thought you just ate?" Shepard said turning around to see Garrus tap the elevator controls.
"I'm still hungry!" Garrus replied again immediately as the elevators doors shut in front of him and he made his way to the crew deck.
Garrus turned around to face the back of the elevator then stepped forward and bumped his head against the wall while still staring down at his feet. His thoughts began to drift back to the unbelievable sight he saw in Shepard's cabin. He quickly shook this off and mumbled to himself. "You better forget about what you saw in there or I swear Garrus I will castrate you with a rusty knife." He let out a long, loud sigh then finally said "remember to knock next time dumb-ass..."
Shepard stared at the elevator doors for a minute and listened to the sound of the platform descending as he stood there in his confusion. What's up with him today? He thought to himself. Shrugging off the feeling, he gazed at the tray in his hands remembering his intentions to bring Tali breakfast. He smiled at the thought then walked up to the door as the motion sensors acknowledged his movement and the seals disengaged. Before the hatch was completely open he heard Tali yell.
"You perverted Bosh'tet! I said get out Ga-" with her jaw still wide open, Tali's eyes widened at the sight of Shepard. "Oh...Shepard...I-I thought you were..." she paused for a moment standing over at the foot of Shepard's bed only half dressed into her enviro-suit before continuing. "Keelah, never mind." Shepard wanted to ask her what had her so upset but was slightly dumbstruck at the sight of Tali who was still nude above the waist.
"Don't get dressed to quickly Ms. Vas Normandy." Shepard said with a smirk on his lips. Tali gasped, jumping slightly as she remembered Garrus' unexpected intrusion which did well to bring her out of her lustful haze. She quickly pulled up the bottom of her suit and sealed it with the top half.
"Shepard! Um, I didn't hear you—I mean, good morning!" she said stammering. Shepard chuckled; his eyes full of desire for his beautiful Quarian lover as he watched her fasten her suit straps and place the helmet over her head. Shepard loved how her eyes shone through the purple tint of her visor. Even though they were concealed behind the mask, when he looked into those eyes of hers, he could easily picture the face he had come to love so much. Tali returned the loving gaze.
He is the only one that could possibly see past this dreadful contraption... she thought as they continued to admire the passion in each other's eyes.
Shepard motioned for Tali to sit and then joined her at the edge of the bed. "Thought I'd bring you a little breakfast in bed" he said as he handed her the tray. Tali stared down at the packet of paste with a flicker of disappointment in her eyes. She wished she could eat normal food like everyone else.
"I got some of the good stuff the last time we visited the Citadel, should be much better than what you're used to." Tali dismissed the thought upon hearing Shepard's reassurance and connected the packet to her face mask. "Good stuff" was an understatement; Tali was absolutely delighted when she took her first mouthful of the delicious paste. She swallowed and savored the tingling sensation as the paste slid down her throat.
"Thank you Shepard, I'm not accustomed to waking up to this, but I think I can definitely get used to it" Shepard leaned in close with one arm around her neck as he pulled her in close and rubbed his nose against her visor.
"Only the best for you Tali" he said once again staring into her eyes. Shepard began to think back to the night before. He was concerned that she might become ill again as she did on their first night together before the supposed "Suicide mission."
"How are you feeling this morning? Better than last time?" he said as he gently put his hand on the side of her helmet.
"Better actually, a mild fever but no unpleasant symptoms so far." Tali began to rub her hands together like she always does when she is overcome with anxiety. "...I'm sorry if I'm making you feel guilty...but
I-I promise that the side-effects of...you know, will eventually no longer affect me."
"Well then, I guess when your fever clears up maybe we should continue to work on that?" Shepard said with a chuckle.
Tali moved in close and laid her head on his shoulder. "I'd like that commander."
Shepard replied by kissing her visor then smiled and said. "Please...Shepard to you Ms. Zorah."
...
"HE HAS KILLED OUR KIN...COERCED OUR PAWNS...DEFEATED OUR SLAVES! NEVER HAVE WE FACED SUCH RESISTENCE..."
"HE IS NOT THE FIRST...AND WILL NOT BE THE LAST...MANY MILLENNIA HAVE PASSED AND THE CYCLE ALWAYS PROCEEDS AS PLANNED..."
"WE CAN NOT ALLOW THEM ANY MORE LEVERAGE! IT IS TIME THEY FEEL THE FULL FORCE OF OUR MIGHT..."
"PATIENTS...THEY WILL KNOW TRUE POWER...OUR EMMISSARY'S FAILURE WAS...UNEXPECTED...WE CAN NO LONGER RELY ON THE CITADEL...WE MUST EXECUTE AN ALTERNATIVE ACTION..."
Millions of lights illuminate the once pitch black region of space as the entire race of ancient sentient machines begin their long journey to the boundaries of the Milky way galaxy; malevolent intent to harvest all life to extinction their only motive.
"ARISE MY KIN...THE DAWN OF THE OUR NEXT HARVEST IS AT HAND..."
