It was happening again. The dream was back. It came once a week now. Shepard had been away from battle for nearly six months due to his discharge from the Alliance and subsequent incarceration. He missed his ship, his crew, but most importantly, Shepard missed Tali. 6 months is a long time to be separated from the person you love. The mental stress of this separation was troubling. No wonder Shepard was having dreams about her. Shepard opened his eyes. He was in a field of sunflowers on Earth. The warm sunbeams bathed his face as he stood up in this illusionary world. There is a city off in the distance but the field itself appeared empty until Shepard heard a voice behind him. A familiar voice. A comforting voice.

"Shepard."

Shepard turned around and saw Tali there, waiting for him. Clouds moved in front of the sun and a small shadow fell upon the field. Shepard smiled, reached out and grasped her forearms and she did the same. As they stood together, the few clouds that were blocking the sunlight broke apart. The sunlight lit up the city's skyline behind Tali and blinded Shepard.

"It's OK Shepard. It's all going to be OK."

The blinding light made him blink several times and burned his retinas.

His eyes shot open. The ceiling of his quarters slowly came into focus. Shepard smiled as he stretched and got out of his bed. His dreams were the only interactions with Tali that he has had for months. They may be illusions, but he thoroughly enjoyed them. As Shepard began his morning ritual, his mind inevitably remembered how things were, back on the Normandy with the crew. He missed Garrus, Joker, Mordin, Liara, even the artificial intelligence EDI. Them and every other crew member. He had a good run with them. Destroying the Collector base took a lot of effort from everyone. The crew had grown close during the journey.

Regularly fighting side by side tends to do that to people, Shepard thought.

He often wondered what happened to them but the Alliance had cut him off from the outside world. The Reapers could be invading right now for all he knew. This isolation left Shepard alone to wallow in his memories.

Shepard shook his head to return to reality. The memories faded back into the recesses of his mind, where they would wait until he needed them again. Wallowing in nostalgia and fantasies was not Shepard's style. The problem was that Shepard had nothing else to do except remember and exercise. He felt so helpless. Nothing he could do in this room would help defend the galaxy against the Reapers. Shepard took up the datapad from his desk and walked over to the window overlooking the courtyard outside of the Alliance's HQ in North America. The datapad was slowly being filled by Shepard's memoirs. He figured that people needed to know how the galaxy struggled against the seemingly inevitable conclusion of all advanced life. Shepard was no historian but he could write his view of the events as well as any literate man. He is after all, one of the few people who understand the threat of the Reapers from first hand experience.

A flicker of movement in the courtyard caught his eye. Shepard looked over and saw a small child, no more than six or seven years old, playing in the courtyard. He leaned on the window and frowned. The longer he observed the child, the more troubling the thought grew. He couldn't remember that innocence. The pure innocence of a child. He knew that he had seen far too much war to achieve that. But that wasn't the issue. What was making him frown was that he didn't care. He… enjoyed his warrior lifestyle. There is no room for such childish naivette in a warrior. It's not that Shepard looked down upon this innocence, but he understood that not everyone could retain it. Some people must let go of this naivette to allow others to live their happy yet naïve lives. Some people need to make the sacrifices so that others wouldn't have to.

Besides, I enjoy my role Shepard thought.

Shepard's mind quickly moved from the resolved issue. Slowly, a smile spread across Shepard's face as he recalled one particular instance on the Collector base. He had grabbed a Harbinger controlled Collector, slammed its chitin head against the top of the low wall he was using for cover, grabbed the back of its neck, and repeatedly bashed its face into the wall until white liquid started pouring forth from its shattered head.

Good times.

A small hiss emanated from the entryway as the door to Shepard's room opened, interrupting his reverie. James Vega strode in and immediately saluted the disgraced officer. "Commander."

Shepard turned to him and returned the salute.

"You're not supposed to call me that anymore James. I'm a civvie now."

"Not supposed to salute you either Commander. We gotta go."

Shepard was confused about why James was sent to fetch him but James knew no more than he was told: Go get Shepard and bring him to the Defense Committee. Luckily, Captain Anderson met them in the hallway.

He should know what's going on.

"Admiral" James greeted and expertly saluted as protocol dictated. Admiral Anderson saluted James in return and then went straight for Shepard.

"You look good Shepard. Maybe a little soft around the edges. How are you holding up being relieved from duty?"

"It's not so bad once you get used to the hot food and soft beds." Shepard retorted. "But I've been bored as hell stuck in here."

"Don't worry" Anderson replied, "We'll get it sorted out."

Shepard expressed his disbelief.

"Looks like you're all too busy. What's going on? Why's everyone in such a hurry?"

That's when Shepard heard that the Reapers were on their way. Shepard was understandably frustrated with the damn bureaucratic dithering of the politicians.

"You know we're not ready for them Anderson, not by a long shot."

Anderson agreed but knew that things are the way they are and they weren't going to change anytime soon.

"Tell that to the committee" Anderson replied.

"Unless we're planning to talk the Reapers to death the COMMITTEE is a waste of time. Along with all the other political red tape in our way."

This is definitely the work of a politician. If there's a problem, make a committee to discuss the problem but that can't actually do anything about it. If there's a problem with that committee, make another committee controlled by a different political party to investigate the problem. If any plan is brought forth, just make another committee to discuss the feasibility of that plan. The cycle of political bullshit is endless.

"Try to understand their position Shepard. They haven't seen what you've seen. You've seen the Reapers. You've faced down 2 Reapers and personally killed them both. Hell, you talked to one. You've seen how they harvest us, what they plan to do to us. You know more about this enemy than anyone."

"So they want me as a consultant? That why they grounded me? Took away my ship? My crew? My people?"

Anderson stopped, turned to Shepard and tried to explain as his mentor.

"You know that's not true. When you blew up the Batarian Relay hundreds of thousands of Batarians died when their planets were destroyed in the explosion, and you cut off all access to that system. Relations with the Batarians were already bad but now they are non-existent."

"It was either that or let the Reapers walk through our back door! I had to make a decision. I saved the trillions over the millions. What else was I supposed to do?"

Shepard started to get worked up. Living in a cage hadn't helped his emotional state.

"I know that Shepard, and so does the Committee, even if they act otherwise. If it wasn't for that you'd have been court-martialed and left to rot in the brig. Most likely they would have executed you as a rogue genocidal Commander" Anderson reasoned.

"That and your good word?" Shepard shot back.

"Yeah. I trust you Shepard. And so does the Committee."

"What do they expect from me? I'm a soldier Anderson. I fight. I'm no politician."

Anderson continued walking and Shepard fell back in step.

"They don't need you to be either. We just need you to do whatever the hell it takes to help us stop the Reapers."

As they both approached the security terminal in front of the meeting hall, Shepard noticed Ashley walking out of the meeting hall toward them. He could barely recognize her. She didn't have her hair in the usual bun and… Is she wearing makeup? Shepard hadn't seen her since they met on Horizon. That parting had been far from amicable so Shepard quickly collected his thoughts to prepare to speak to her. Luckily, James delayed their meeting by saying goodbye to the former commander. The stalling tactics were cut short however when Ashley called out his name.

"Shepard!"

Shepard turned around as if he hadn't seen her.

"Ashley?" Shepard asked, with fake surprise. Anderson interrupted the reunion to get straight to business.

"Lieutenant Commander. How'd it go in there?"

Wait, an LC?

"I can never tell with politicians. I'm just waiting for orders now." Ashley replied.

"Lieutenant Commander?" Shepard asked.

"Oh, you hadn't heard?" Anderson said.

"No. I'm a bit out of the loop these days." Shepard spoke stiffly both because his time incarcerated was something he longed to forget and because Ashley was there. His words had to be carefully chosen. Ashley might take anything he said the wrong way.

"Sorry sir" Ashley assured him just as stiffly. "Didn't mean to keep you out of the loop."

She still calls me 'sir.' I guess everyone just associates me with the military whenever they see me. I don't mind. It reminds me of my purpose; to fight.

"I'm sure you had your reasons." Like thinking I'm a Cerberus agent.

"Yeah I guess I did." Ashley responded. "Still, it's good to see you." Fair enough.

A secretary walked over and directed Admiral Anderson and Shepard into the meeting hall. Shepard put a tight mental lid on his words and focused himself for the meeting. The committee greeted them both as they entered.

"Admiral Anderson. Shepard."

Alright, down to business. "What's the situation?"

"We were hoping you would tell us."

The Admiral that had spoken motioned over an analyst. The analyst gave Shepard a datapad with reports starting with the colonies furthest from Sol and closest to the Batarian systems. The female member of the committee explained what he was looking at.

"The reports coming in are unlike anything we've seen. Whole colonies have gone dark. We've lost contact with everything beyond the Sol Relay."

The man in the center of the council continued but Shepard was only half listening. Politicians were never good at reading military reports so he was double checking the reports in his hands.

"Whatever this is, it's incomprehensively powerful."

What do you mean, 'Whatever this is'? I've already told you what this is! Shepard finally had the hard evidence everyone had been begging for regarding his ridiculed 'Reaper Theory'. Now it might be too late.

"You brought me to confirm what you already know" Shepard announced. "The Reapers are here."

Everyone in the room knew about his Reaper theory because he had been yelling about it around the galaxy for nearly 3 years. The group of aides next to the committee grew more agitated and several loud gasps were heard. The female council member recovered quickly from her terror.

"Then… how do we stop them?"

"Stop them?" Shepard blurted out. "This isn't about strategy or tactics. This is about survival."

Shepard went on to regale the committee with all of the advantages the Reapers had in his attempt to make them fully understand the position humanity and the entire galaxy was now in.

"But," the female council member nearly whispered, "there must be some way."

Shepard inhaled sharply and paused as he contemplated what he was about to say. During the mission to stop Saren and then the Collectors, Shepard had sharpened his tongue with several pep talks. The words quickly came to him.

"Everyone must be united. Humanity, Quarians, turians, krogan, everyone! We must all be willing to do whatever is necessary to ensure the continuation of galactic civilization. Selfishness can no longer exist in this galaxy if any of us are to survive."

The center council member stared at Shepard for a moment then spoke up with some contention.

"That's it? That's your plan! How will that help us!"

"We need help. Galactic help" was Shepard's simple reply.

This announcement did not sit well with anyone else in the room. A comms technician interrupted from the side of the room and spoke to Admiral Anderson.

"Admiral, we've lost contact with Luna base."

Anderson bowed his head in disbelief.

"The moon? They couldn't be that close already."

Terrified looks spread like wildfire across the room.

"How did they get past our defenses?" the woman council member asked herself as fear and doubt creased her forehead.

The other two council members looked as worried as she did.

Keep it together you fluffy politicians! You're here to defend Earth. Don't you dare run and stick your head in the sand! Things are only going to get worse.

The comms technician cut in with an urgent status update for Anderson, again ignoring the politicians. Her speech came out as a as if detached and analytical. She's good.

"Sir, UK headquarters has a visual."

The video that played out on the screen caused the room to stop moving. A pin drop could've been heard. As the images flashed before Shepard's eyes, he was reminded of the video he saw of Eden Prime being attacked by Sovereign back before anyone knew about the Reapers or the coming extinction.

Looks like we're coming full circle. I hope we're as lucky.

The first thing anyone heard after the video froze on a Reaper was Anderson's voice.

"Why haven't we heard from Admiral Hackett?"

Shepard was just as confused. How could the Alliance's fleets not notice a giant Reaper invasion sweeping through our home system? He looked around at everyone in the room.

They could all die right now.

The thought that he spoke just a few moments ago finally hit him.

The. Reapers. Are. Here. This is the beginning of the end for everyone. The next extinction cycle. This galaxy, no, MY galaxy, is under attack by the greatest force in existence. All of us are going to- no! Stop thinking that way Shepard! I can't let this happen. Oh no… Tali. Where is she? I can't let anything happen to her. I have to find her!

A very faint red light shined out of the center of Shepard's left pupil and quickly died away as his mind chose his mission.

This isn't going to happen on my watch!

"What do we do?"

Shepard didn't know who said that but he turned toward the voice with renewed vigor.

"The only thing we can. We fight or we die."

Shepard stabbed his finger at the giant Reaper behind him for emphasis. Anderson nodded in agreement as the politicians finally began to grasp the situation.

"We should get to the Normandy."

Before Shepard and Anderson could leave, a mechanical moan could be heard outside of the building. No one else recognized it for what it was except Shepard. He had experienced that scream on too many occasions. Shepard's heart rate tripled in that moment. His breathing became deeper and faster. His eyes began flickering from spot to spot, attempting to see everything. His combat reflexes had taken control.

This is it!

The female council member saw what was happening first.

"Oh my God!"

No time for that now lady!

As the crowd turned toward the window behind the council members, a Reaper similar to Sovereign descended upon the city. A fiery beam began scouring the land, killing, and started moving toward the Council chamber. In a last ditch effort to protect the people around him Shepard shouted "Move!" as he began running. The laser completed its journey and reached the building. The heat of the laser caused the glass window to explode and the laser entered the room. The heat was unbearable. The council members were instantly killed and their giant podium was launched across the room from an explosion. Shepard quickly dove underneath it as he ran for the exit, away from the beam. The beam appeared to back away from the building for a moment. In that moment, Shepard turned back toward the Reaper in surprise at the pause in the assault but the beam quickly returned with greater force. The beam impacted the center of the Council chamber. The walls erupted in fire and charred bodies flew through the air or melted from existence. Something underneath the floor exploded and threw Shepard against the back wall. Shepard collapsed onto a bench and fell to the floor as consciousness evaded him. As blackness receded, returned, and receded again and again, Shepard had only one coherent thought.

Tali… Oh fuck this hurts. I need… to find her. Get off the floor Shepard!

"Shepard!"

Tali? Is that you?

"Shepard!"

I'm up Tali!

Shepard sat up on the floor. The image before him does not resolve into Tali, rather into Anderson running toward him.

During their escape to the Normandy, Shepard and Anderson had to deal with a malfunctioning door. Shepard let Anderson pass through first and was about to follow when he heard a small sound from a nearby air vent. Fearing another husk assault, Shepard whispered

"Hold on a sec Anderson. I think I heard something."

"I didn't hear…" Anderson began but stopped when he saw Shepard ignore him and walk toward the vent.

With his pistol pointed toward the unexplored hallway, Anderson turned his back on the door and watched the hallway he had entered for movement. Shepard crouched next to the air vent, readied his pistol, and quickly turned to see into the vent with his pistol pointing forward. A small gasp came out of the small child that inhabited the vent. Surprised, Shepard quickly holstered his weapon when he saw there was no threat. It was, in fact, the child Shepard had seen playing in the courtyard of the building housing the Council meeting. Before the child could flee, Shepard tried to calm him.

"Hey. It's okay."

The child raised his head and looked directly into Shepard's eyes. His eyes pierced Shepard's. He saw past this lie.

"Everyone's dying" came out of the teary eyed child.

Before Shepard could respond, the building groaned in protest and soft Reaper groans could be heard in the background. Shepard turned his head toward the source. A Reaper's 'leg' had slammed into the ground nearby.

"I can get you away from these monsters. Come here. I can get you someplace safe. I promise. Take my hand."

Shepard reached his hand tenderly out toward the child. The child shook his head in resignation.

"You can't help me" the child said with a knowing voice.

A Reaper moan emanated into the room shortly after this conclusive statement.

"Shepard!"

Shepard quickly looked away from the child toward Anderson.

"In here" Anderson continued. "I think I've found a way out."

Shepard turned back toward the kid before he joined Anderson. To his surprise, the child had managed to crawl away without a sound.

Shepard walked deeper into the Normandy's cargo hold as it began leaving Earth. He understood why Anderson decided to stay and agreed with him, but Shepard was still frustrated that his mentor had to remain in harm's way. Disappointed, Shepard watched Anderson's lonely silhouette run back into the rubble, towards the fight.

I hate tactical retreats. I'll leave to fight another day Anderson. I promise I won't fail Earth, and I sure as fuck won't fail the galaxy. At least now that the Reapers are a tangible threat, the other species will be more willing to help… I hope.

A sick sarcastic smile crawled across his mouth at the thought of the Council continuing their disbelief in the existence of the Reapers.

That would be so fucking hilarious.

Shepard watched the Earth skyline burn from the safety of his ship. His eye caught sight of a couple of transports trying to evacuate civilians after dropping off a group of reinforcements. Shepard did a double take when he saw a small figure walk toward a transport.

It's that kid from the vent! He's going to make it after all.

But the now common and dreaded moan soon came from around a nearby skyscraper. A land based Reaper came around its corner and walked toward the now full transports. The child slowly climbed into the transport and somehow looked up directly at Shepard. The fear in the child's eyes was evident. The door to the transport closed and the child was lost to Shepard's concerned eyes.

Come on! Take off! Get away!

The overburdened transports seemed to take off in slow motion. The Reaper was already charging its main laser as the transports finally began flying away. The beam shot out of the Reaper. It swept the ground the transport had just vacated but veered toward the two fleeing ships. The outcome of that race was never in doubt.

…Shit.

The beam grazed the rear of the child's transport. The small ship couldn't survive. The entire back of the ship exploded and the rest crashed into the ground. For good measure, the Reaper destroyed the other ship attempting to escape and then returned to the Alliance forces on the ground.

It just doesn't care.

Shepard turned his head from the scene of senseless slaughter as the Normandy accelerated away.

Don't be a coward! This is happening whether you look or not. See what the Reapers are doing. See why they need to be stopped.

Shepard opened his eyes and defiantly stared at the Reaper. The accompanying devastation and loss was burned into his mind.

That child will be avenged. How many more will die? Human children, Turian children… Quarian children.

That last one made him think of Tali and that only strengthened his resolve. Shepard turned his back on his home and left it behind to save it.