History Repeats

Artemis' heart was pounding, her body screaming for reprieve as her feet slammed on the metal grating. The gunfire was closer now. She could feel the use of biotics. The gentle hum that always soothed her, that belonged to Kaidan. But there was no familiar bursts of rifle fire. Ashley's timed, precision squeezes of the trigger.

Because she's at the bomb site. Where you abandoned her. You abandoned your best friend. Again. And Why? For a man you have a childish crush on.

Artemis shook the voice from her head, trying to ignore I, no matter how much it was right. Ash knew the risks, Alenko was higher ranking, more important, more experienced. Ashley knew that, that's why she'd told Artemis to get Kaidan. "I don't regret anything." Ash's words echoing back to her.

Artemis burst though the door, shotgun already in action, Geth falling as the rounds burst though their chests. She took cover next to her lieutenant. Kaidan didn't say anything, he could sense the tears forming at the corner of her eyes and his own. Soon the roar of Normandy's engine broke though. There was a thud as the cargo door was lowered then the yells of her team mates as they covered their retreat onto the Normandy. The cargo door began to close and the engines began to warm up. She leaned against some crates, choking back sobs.

Why? Why did she have to chose? Why did she have to sacrifice her best friend?

Artemis looked to Ashley's bench. Memories flashing before her eyes. Ash's skilled hands skimming over weapons as she cleaned them, installed mods. The times when she and Arty would have competitions, Ash always winning. The pranks they played on Kaidan and Joker. The girl talk, the nudges and head jerks at a certain lieutenant to make her blush. The promise of having a girl's night out at flux. A promise that would never be kept. Just like the promise of a safe home and family from thirteen years ago. The promise of never letting anything happen to her…

Smoke wafted up her nose bringing back the painful memories. Ashes, burning bodies, burning eezo. It was happening again and there was nothing she could do about it…

NO. There was something. She could try to stop this. She would try.

Pushing herself away from the crates, she bolted towards the rapidly closing cargo bay days. She ran up the steeping incline, oblivious to her name being screamed. Barely fitting though the gap, she leapt, flying though the air. The edge of the tower racing to greet her. So close, yet so far. Her fingers barely caught the ledge and the landing knocked the breath out of her lungs. Using new found strength she hauled herself up and sprinted to the lift, fist slamming the down button. Noise was in her ear, voices arguing, panicked. Finally the lift opened and she pelted across the walkways, grabbing a pile of cable and tying it around her waist and a nearby pillar. Leaping over the guard rail she abseiled into the trenches.

Now she could hear gunfire, Ashley's calm bursts now panicked. Cutting herself loose, Arty took cover, pistol aimed at nearby Geth. Artemis barely heard Ashley's shocked exclamations. At first she thought it her presence. But No. It was Saren. The Turian bastard had dropped in behind her and had not noticed Shepard. Saren advanced on Ashley, the blue cybernetic eyes blazing with fury. Every sound became vivid. Every gunshot slamming against Saren's shields. The crunch of the gravel underneath Saren's feet. The overheating warning on Ashley's rifle. She threw it away and drew her pistol, only for it to be kicked away by the rogue spectre. The strangled scream as Ash was hoisted into the air by the throat. Saren's mouth moved, forming poisonous words.

"Your pretty sacrifice won't help Shepard. You will die for nothing human." His grip tightened, slowly choking her friend… no, her sister to death. Angry burst though every fibre of her being. Nobody threatened her family. NOBODY.

The Turian gave a startled cry as he was tackled to the ground. They rolled in the gravel. Artemis scoring a hit by bringing her knee up sharply to what she guessed was Saren's crotch, swiftly followed by a punch to the face. The punch knocked Saren off her and she scrambled to her feet. Her entire body was cloaked in a blue crackling field. With a mere flick of her hand, Saren was slammed into the wall. She needed to protect her family. She was not going to leave her little sister behind.

The Normandy came into her eyesight, coming in to land, cargo bay door already open. Hauling Ashley to her feet, they began to run for the Normandy. The bomb's timer appearing at the top of their HUDs. One minute and 30 seconds. Their boots thudded onto the ramp, arms outstretched to take Ashley to safety. Then Tali's startled voice yelled over the radio.

"Rocket Geth!" The rocket hit the floor right next to Artemis sending her flying and embedding shrapnel into her. Everything was now distorted. Vaguely she heard voices and words. ' Joker… Hell…. Here… Chakwas… medbay…'

Kaidan. That was his voice. His face came into view, dirt covering his face where the helm offered no protection. He was yelling her name, telling… no, ordering her to focus on his voice, on him. Darkness was now clawing at her vision, as Kaidan scooped her up and hurried her to the med bay. On instinct, she raised a hand to his cheek and stammered out one word: "Sorry."

Based on cut dialogue from the Virmire mission in Mass Effect. Apparently you could originally save both Ashley and Kaidan, though it was never said how. Just check this you tube vid, not sure if it's genuine but... well wishful thinking.

/watch?v=zMSJDxM8YT4&playnext=1&list=PLE80C6E29B5FF107B&feature=results_video

I'm not 100% sure whether I should have this as canon for Artemis' storyline and hence continue this. Reviews are welcome.