On the Reaper
"So why are we on a reaper that gave off the same distress signal as the other one?" Garrus asked. Shepard looked back at him.
"Why don't you have a gun in your hands." Surprised Garrus look down at his hands to see that they were indeed empty.
"This is effecting me more than I thought." He mumbled as he grabbed the sniper off his back. Shepard patted his shoulder.
"Alright everyone gather around. This is where we split up. Kasumi you're with Jacob, garrus you're with legion. Tali you are with me, we get the left door. Thane you go with Kasumi take the right door, grunt you're with legion take the middle door. Any terminal you come across mine all the information you can, I don't care if you end up with a million copies of the same thing, just get all the information you can from each terminal. After that we go after the core." Everybody looked at the commander with an unasked question. "What?" he asked.
"The Commander does not have a third member on his team." Legion stated. Shepared looked around then shrugged.
"Note to self, think about myself a little more often."
"your ego is big enough." Garrus laughed as he headed off with his team.
"it's on garrus!" the Commander called after him. A deep chuckle was carried back to him. Turning to Tali he waved a hand to the left door as he opened it. After a few moments of silence Garrus came on over the COM.
"Ha! Right off the bat! Heads up everybody from what I can tell if you aren't attacked right away then you will be the moment you touch the terminal. By the way shepard I've got five." Shepard activated his Com.
"Kasumi, you get that?"
"Just found out actually." Gunfire could be heard in the back ground. "and Garrus I have eight, all pistol whipped." She added smugly. Garrus cursed. They all heard Tali let out a big sigh.
"What's the matter Quarian? Can't loosen up? I'm sure the turian can help you with your flexibility." Grunt got out in between charges. Shepard couldn't see her face but knew that Tali was blushing.
"Grunt how do you know about that?" Garrus asked. The Krogan just laughed. The Com went silent after that. Shepard turned to Tali.
"How do you know about it, Tali?" her head turned toward him.
"What?" the Commander laughed.
"I know you're blushing. How did you find out." He repeated. Tali sighed, there were something's the Commander knew no matter how hard you tried to hide it.
"Joker recorded the conversation and sent it out to the crew."
"You hear that Garrus?" Garrus opened the COM to the Normandy.
"This is Joker, something wrong?"
"Joker you are mine." Garrus growled, his statement punctuated by a sniper shot. Up on the Normandy Joker paled and closed the channel as fast as he could. The Commander started coughing hard. Tali put a comforting hand on his back.
"You alright Shepard?"
"Yes." He said as his coughs turned into full blown laughter. Tali slapped his back.
"That's not funny! You used me to get Joker in trouble."
"True, but it was for doing stuff he shouldn't in the first place." Tali thought about it for a minute. As usual the Commander was right. After a extended period of time in silence, only broke by the team giving their count, Tali turned to the Shepard.
"Have you ever tried to test a women flexibility?" Shepard stopped and looked at her before he started laughing.
"Nope, I've never had time even if I wanted to."
"You never wanted to?" the Commander shook his head then continued forward.
"Whenever I did look the women that were interested in me were in it for the fame." Tali nodded in understanding. After a few more moments of silence she asked the question that was on her heart.
"Shepard are you interested in me? Maybe even love me?" Shepard stumbled, almost dropping his gun. Tali stopped to wait for him to answer.
"Why do they always ask at the worst possible times?" she heard him mutter as he turned around to face her. Looking in his eyes she saw the hurt there. "If you don't know I love you by now what have I done wrong?" tears sprung to Tali's eyes. With the way things were going on this mission she was sure that the Commander was just interested in her because she was there. As soon as this whole mess was over he was going to leave her to find someone closer to home. Yet here was Shepard blaming himself for the problem. Tali went to him to hug him. She whispered her fears in to his ear.
"I'm afraid, Shepard. I'm afraid that after all this is over you are going to want someone closer to home." Pulling back she saw the Commanders eyes water up. She sighed at herself, she just hurt him more.
"Who was the first person to still believe in me when I came back?" when she didn't answer he continued. "You were. Other than Garrus who was one of the only two of my old friends who still believed I was still me? You. Who has been there for me from the beginning no matter how bad everything looked? You and Garrus. Garrus I can call my true friend, well, Joker and Chakwas too. But you, you were always more to me than just a friend. I'm not good with relationships but let me make it clear to you right now, Tali'Zorah vas Normany, I love you." With tears streaming down both their faces, Tali hugged him tightly.
"And I love you" Shepard started laughing. Tali pulled back. "What is it?"
"It's just funny to me that this is happening on a Reaper." Tali started giggling. Shepard pulled her close and looked deep into her eyes.
"Shepard, haven't heard anything from you. I'm already on twenty-three." Garrus interrupted. They both jumped.
"Ha! I'm already on thirty, turian." Grunt countered.
"Grunt, I don't know if we should even count you in this."
"Weak, turian." The Krogan laughed.
"Fine! You're on." Garrus said. "Hey Grunt can I try your shotgun?"
"You would have as much luck as a human."
"What's that suppose to mean?"
"A shattered arm on your first shot. This gun can only be handled by Krogan."
"This platform is currently one ahead of the Krogan." Legion reported.
"Sorry to ruin your masculinity boys, but I'm at thirty-eight." Kasumi said with a laugh.
"I got you all beat, I'm at fifty-seven." Shepard called out. There was a moment of silence before Garrus spoke.
"I'm calling BS on that one, Shep."
"you got me, I haven't gotten a single one yet." The Commander sobered up instantly. Not so much as a blue glow was seen by Tali or Shepard. He activated his omni-tool to pull up the map of the place. "I haven't seen any sign of movement or terminals. Looks like Tali and I are almost where the corridors meet. Let make that a rally point."
"This team is already here and waiting." Legion chirped.
"We are ten minutes out." Thane reported.
"We'll see you then. We are three minutes out." Shepard finished. Fifteen minutes later the whole team was gathered looking around the huge room. Looking at the far end legion announced,
"The core is on the far side of the room." Shepard shrugged.
"Let's get this done and get out of here. I want eyes everywhere, move out!" not half way to the core the team was swarmed by husks. Shepard noted that none of the bigger husks showed. Considering how close they were to killing the Reaper you would think it would throw everything as them. The reaper hadn't even threatened them directly. Just as he was about to finish off the husk in front of him his pistol jammed. The husk was blown away from him with the sound of a two snipers and a shotgun. Tali made her way to his side.
"Shepard you hurt?" the Commander shook his head.
"My gun jammed, think you guys can cover me while I check my gun?" He called over the COM.
"You have that collector weapon, a shotgun, a sniper, an assault rifle and you want to
stop to check your pistol?" Jacob asked.
"Just so you know I have had this pistol since I joined the Alliance. It means a lot to me." Tali nodded.
"I'll cover you." Shepard pulled out his shotgun after he knelt to set it on the floor in easy reach. It took a few minutes for him to go over his pistol. Standing back up he put his pistol and shotgun away to pull out his assault rifle to find that there was nothing left to shoot. Everybody was staring at him.
"What's wrong with it?" Garrus asked.
"I don't know the only thing I do know is that it can still fire concessive rounds. Jacob can you look at it when we get back please?" Jacob saluted him.
"Sure thing Commander."
"I'm sure that all of you want to get off this thing as much as I do. Move out." As they neared the core Tali voiced Shepard's concern.
"Getting here has been too easy, something's not right. It's almost like the Reaper is inviting us in."
"The Creator is right. Based on past experience this Reaper is not even fighting." Legion added.
"Be ready for anything." After a moment's pause Shepard turned to Tali. "I want you behind me." Garrus snickered as she moved into position. She prodded his back with her gun.
"I have my shotgun." She threatened. Garrus just snickered harder.
"Alert! Threat detected on the core shield!" Legion announced. All guns went to the core shield.
"I can't make it out. You sure it is still there?" Thane asked after a few minutes.
"It is watching us." The Geth replyed.
"Anybody want to blow something up?" Shepard asked. Grunt shrugged.
"I want to try."
"Do you even have to ask?" Garrus posed. Shepard tossed them both a grenade. While Garrus added his own mods to it Grunt looked at his.
"I just throw it?"
"Then detonate it with your omni-tool." Jacob added. Shrugging Grunt threw the grenade at the core shield where he thought the thing that was watching them was. He threw it so hard it detonated on impact. They heard the screech of metal on metal as something fell away from the core shield. When it landed the ground shook. This thing was twice the size of Grunt and by the looks of it twice as powerful. A blue and red glow moved around it. it looked like a collector but in husk form.
"I AM SOVEREIGNTY! YOU WILL PAY THE PRICE FOR SOVEREIGNS DEATH!" The giant collector, Sovereignty, said. Grunt laughed.
"This is worth it." Sovereignty's eyes glowed brighter.
"YOU WILL FEEL…" An explosion cut the Reaper off mid-sentence throwing its head back.
"Thanks for the grenade Shepard." Garrus said. "They talk too much, have you noticed that, or is that just me?"
"Cut the chatter! Find cover and give him hell!" fire open from all angles as the Reaper's head came back forward to focus on the rats scurrying in front of him. Lifting his arm he slammed his hand into the ground. Garrus watched the ripple head toward Thane's cover.
"Thane, it's after you!" was all Garrus got out before the ripple hit Thane's cover. The cover was jostled a little bit but Thane was thrown into the air exposing him to the Reaper's attack. Surprised that his was thrown in the air, Thane was still ready when he was exposed. Looking through the scope Thane sighted in on one of the Reaper's eyes. Before the Reaper could attack two sniper shots rang out. One from Garrus and one from Thane. Both shots hit its shields before they could connect with the eye. It was enough to cause the Reaper to flinch, giving Thane the time he needed to fall back down into cover. After witnessing the Reaper's attack legion switch to his anti-material rifle.
"Shepard-Commander, if you focus the collector's particle beam on its eye this platform can take out one of its eyes." Legion called over the COM.
"You heard him! Grunt,Garrus, use concussive rounds. Jacob use that rocket launcher to keep it off balance. Legion you ready?" The Geth stuttered out a yes. "Garrus you start." After he heard the sound of the concussive shot going off the Commander stood up from cover. Aiming carefully he hit the Reaper in the area around its top right eye. After a few seconds the sound of Legions rifle was heard. The eye sparked then dimmed. Sovereignty howled in pain and annoyance. Jumping in the air Sovereignty slammed back into the ground sending out a shock wave that disoriented everybody.
"I KNOW YOU FEEL THIS!" Shepard looked up to see the Reaper standing over him. Suddenly Sovereignty stumbled to the left with Grunt charging repeatedly into the right leg. Shepard activated his omni-blade and drove it into the left foot. Pulling it out the Reaper didn't react; its focus was on Grunt. Someone pulled Shepard back into cover. He looked up to see Tali's worried eyes. She ran her hands over his chest, back, and head checking for any wounds. Looking back at the Reaper the Commander saw Grunt on the ground not moving while Thane and Legion kept its attention divided between them. Jacob was slumped against the far wall with a sizable dent above him.
"Kasumi, do you have any grenades left?" Shepard asked over the COM.
"What do you need?" She answered.
"I'm going off a hunch, when I move out of cover I need you to plant a grenade on Sovereignty."
"Got it." A pair of arms wrapped around the Commander's waist.
"If you die I won't ever forgive you." Turning around he looked into his qurian's eyes.
"That's the last thing you have to worry about." He said running his hand along the side of her mask. Reaching behind him he pulled the particle beam off his back. "When the grenade goes off I want you to focus this beam on that spot." Tali took the weapon and nodded. Stepping out of cover Shepard moved toward the Reaper. His foot hit something almost tripping him. Looking to see what it was he saw Kasumi laying there.
"Tali come grab Kasumi. Make sure she is still alive." Pulling out the rest of his grenades the Commander primed them. You want to make any Commander mad, go after his crew. This Reaper was crossing the line without a second thought. Just as Shepard got close enough to throw the grenades Sovereignty impaled Thane on one of its claws. The Commanders vision slowly turned red. He dropped his grenades to pull out his assault rifle.
"YOU WILL NEVER DEFEAT US!"
"I know you want me! Here I am on a silver platter!" Shepard slowly backed up step after step unloading everything that assault rifle had. He loaded a fresh heat sink as he watched where the Reaper was stepping carefully. Just as he hoped Sovereignty stepped on his grenades. Flipping his omni-tool on, he detonated the grenades. The resulting explosion made the Reaper stumble forward but it looked like it would regain its balance. Just as Sovereignty steady himself an explosion hit him in the middle of the back followed by another throwing him to the ground face first. Jacob, still slumped against the wall, held the smoking rocket launcher. It fell out of his numb fingers and he went limp. Shepard walked up to the Reaper. Placing his boot on its head to hold it down as much as he could he unloaded a full heat sink into its head. Sovereignty jerked his head sending Shepard flying. Locking its eyes on the Commander the Reaper slowly got up. Shepard tried to move but his movements were sluggish and slow. Sovereignty knelt down by Shepard, its hand reaching for him before a sharp burning pain ripped into his back. Walking toward the Reapers back with their weapon firing was Tali.
"Get away from him!" she shouted. Shepard staggered to his feet.
"Tali keep your distance!" The quarian kept moving forward, unable to hear him. Activating his COM he yelled, "Tali stay back! You have to keep your distance."
"Not if it's going to kill you." The Reaper's hand was in motion. When it connected with Tali the crack could be heard clearly in spite of the chaos. Time slowed down for Shepard. He saw Grunt charging the Reaper firing round after round into its left leg. He saw Thane on the ground with Garrus doing his best to give him aid. He saw Legion scanning Jacob. He saw Kasumi struggling to get up. The last thing he saw was Tali's body hit the ground. The Commander fell to his knees. Tali? He had promised himself that he would never lose a member of his team at the start of this mission to stop the Collectors. He was sick of losing his comrades. Now he broke his own promise. He broke his own promise with Tali. He broke his own promise to the only thing he was fighting for and now her body is lying on the ground sixty meters away. Grunt landed next to Shepard but he didn't notice. Shepard's eyes flicked to and fro. He just lost his life line in this war. He just lost his reason to live.
"TALI!"
Upon seeing the Commander's reaction to the quarian Sovereignty moved to crush the creature. Round after round hit his left leg. Going to have to take care of this pest first. Facing Grunt he swung at the Krogan knocking the annoyance over by the shattered human. Sovereignty moved carefully over to the Quarian. His leg was weakened but it didn't hinder his might. He froze with the body of the Qurian at his feet. Something was wrong. What is this feeling? Forcing his limbs to move he turned around.
Don't touch her! Don't you dare touch her! Shepard started to move toward Sovereignty.
"Grunt give me your shotgun." The Krogan moved carefully to hand his battle master his gun. As a pure Krogan he had never felt fear. Even facing this Reaper is fun, but his Commander was on a whole different level. Right then and there Grunt knew that the Reapers were going to lose this war.
With a pistol in one and the claymore in the other Shepard watched Sovereignty slowly turn around. His blue eyes contrasted by the seemingly red glow of rage. The moment the Commander could see its chest he fired his pistol. The concussive round hit its target making the Reaper stumble.
"Let me tell you a couple of things about humans." Shepard's deceptively calm voice rang out in the silence.
"Don't ever play with their emotions." The statement was followed by another concussive round to Sovereignty's left leg. The Reaper fell to his knees. These creatures were unbelievable. The thought that this is why Sovereign failed crossed his mind before several concussive rounds hit his face, forcing him on to his back. Shepard walked slowly over to the things head firing a concussive round whenever it moved. Kneeling by Sovereignty's head he whispered into his ear.
"Don't. Ever. Hurt the ones we love." Pulling back he looked directly into the things eyes. Looking back into the human's eyes one word came to the Reapers mind. Demon. Shoving the shotgun under the Reaper's chin, his eyes burned bright.
"I'll see you in hell." Sovereignty believed him. The silence that followed the shot was deafening. The shotgun fell from Shepard's shattered hand. Unable to feel the physical paint over the emotional he stumbled over to Tali's body.
"Tali?"
Falling down beside her, he pulled her body onto his lap.
"Tali?"
He stroked the side of her mask.
"Tali, don't you dare leave me! There's still so much we have to do!"
Holding her close tears fell on her mask almost as if she was crying too.
"Did you know that I figured out a way that we can have kids? That is if you will agree to marry me. I'm not going to tell you how if you don't say anything."
Looking down at her mask he felt his sanity slipping away.
"Tali! Don't leave me! I need you here! You hear me? I need you here!"
Looking up he screamed at the ceiling.
"You can't have her! Look I'm right here! My soul should be more than enough! Give her
back and take me!"
Running his hand along the edge of her mask he whispered.
"I will give anything. Just give her back."
He pulled her in tighter.
"I love you."