Well, this is a sort of a sequel to my previous story, Shield. It's the same Shepard, and I'm going with the same premise. I want to look at otherwise familiar scenes from Mass Effect 2 this time, and give them a unique twist. So there may be a few chapters, or there may be a lot. I'm not quite sure yet.
Hint: Reviews are very motivating.
The Normandy shakes and shudders. Alarms blare, but the sound of fevered screams is still audible. The ship shakes again, and Jae Shepard swears loudly as she tries to seal her helmet. She slams her hand against a communication terminal.
"Everyone get the hell off this ship! Now!" Her voice echoes across the ship as it groans under the stress of the attack. Shepard hits another key, sending a mayday signal to the Alliance. Her helmet hisses as it seals. Hopefully a precaution that wouldn't be necessary.
"Shepard!" A man's voice yells behind her. Shepard turns around. It's Kaiden. Her Lieutenaunt, already suited up. "Can the Alliance get here in time to pick us up?"
"We'll just have to cross our fingers and find out." She snaps. "You make sure everyone gets to the escape pods and you get in with them."
"Shepard, I think I should stay here with you-" Kaiden's request is cut off as the ship lurches to the side.
"You are going to get on that damn escape pod with the rest of the crew, Kaiden!"
"I..." He pauses. "Aye aye, Commander. But Joker's still at the controls. He won't abandon ship."
Shepard sighs and ducks under hanging cables, slowly making her way towards the bridge. She glances over her shoulder to shout back at Kaiden. "I'll get his ass, you get yours out of here!"
"But Commander, are you sure you don't want me with you?" He asks.
"Get to the escape pods! That's an order, Lieutenant!" She almost feels sorry, yelling at him. But the last thing she wants to see is him getting killed for her. Shepard continues towards the bridge, and doesn't look back.
By the time Shepard reaches the cockpit, it's obvious the Normandy is lost. She hollers at Joker, but she can't even hear her own words as another blast rocks the ship. Ignoring his pleas, she grabs him by the arm and drags him towards the escape pod. Another blast, this one tearing a gaping hole where they had been standing moments ago. The atmosphere is sucked away, along with Shepard. Before Joker can reach for her, she hits a button to seal the pod and sends it away. The myterious attacker fires on the ship, and Shepard hurdles away from the cockpit.
Everything goes quiet as Shepard drifts away from the ship. She sees the aggressor in the distance, delivering the death blow to what was once the Normandy. A shower of debries surges toward Shepard and carries her away.
As the quiet resumes, Shepard hears a hissing noise. A second later, she realizes her breath is becoming labored. Her hands try to cover the broken seal in her armor, but another opens up.
Shepard realizes that the last thing she said to the man she loved was a barking command. That's an order, Lieutenant.
Fear overrides hope, then logic. Shepard can't breath anymore.
She screams.