Still

by NuqueerWarhead

From the Shadow Broker archives: Shepard, Jane: Omni-tool keystroke log. After the Destroy ending, paragon Shepard writes an apology to Legion. Partial Line Erase. Shepard writes an apology to the friend whose sacrifice she betrayed. Makes a little more sense if you read Tali's dossier in Lair of the Shadow Broker, but it's clear enough if you didn't.

Dear Legion,

[line erase]

Legion,

I am deeply sorry that I betrayed

[line erase]

I have committed a terrible injustice toward your people. I consider it an unforgivable betrayal of your trust, and of myself and my own ideals. I believe that my decision was right, that I would do it again, but I also understand that I could never excuse

[partial line erase]

that I would do it again, and so any apology I offer would be false and insulting. But I also understand that there is no excuse for what I have done to you.

[partial line erase]

that there can be no excuse for the part I played in the destruction of the geth.

[partial line erase]

for the role I played in the genocide of your people. I offer you an explanation

[partial line erase]

I owe you an explanation of what I have done, if only so that, if you were still alive, the tragedy would feel less senseless.

[line erase]

I know I owe you an explanation

[line erase]

I know that an explanation could never ease the pain of this tragedy

[line erase]

I know that an explanation will never be enough. But I hope that, if you were alive, it might at least bring a measure

[partial line erase]

bring you some small amount of closure.

[document saved, 23:58 local time]

[exit]

[document opened, 04:10 local time]

[line edit]

But I hope that, if you were still alive, it might at least bring you some small amount of closure.

[document saved, 04:10 local time]

[exit]

[document opened, 09:37 local time]

[new line]

In the moments before the Crucible fired

[partial line erase]

before I activated the Crucible, I was given three options. The first was to

[exit without save, 09:48 local time]

[document deleted, 09:48 local time]

---

Author's Note: In case you missed it, the title, Still, comes from the change in the phrase, "if you were alive," to "if you were still alive," that she makes at 4 a.m.