A/N: Please review so I know which stories people like and want me to focus on. I have more fanfics in the works and it would be nice to know what people think of this one. Faster reviews, fast updates.

Mass Effect 3

Chapter 1: Jacob's Last Wish

Year 37,000,000 BCE(Before Council Era)

An unknown space faring race fires a mass accelerator round at a Reaper near the planet Mnemosyne. The round penetrates the Reaper, disabling it, and continues moving through space, eventually striking the planet Klendagon and creating the geological feature there known as the Great Rift Valley...

"The council has declared its verdict, Commander Shepard." The words disturbed Shepard deeply. They were not unexpected, but he had hoped it would not have to come to this. His heart beat hasten in anticipation. He let out his breath and sighed. Closed his eyes and tensed his muscles. He knew everyone awaited his signal. There would be no going back afterwards, but the council had chosen this path. He remembered the last transmission from Earth he had heard. "Help us Shepard, or there will no Earth left to defend." Billions of voices cried for his help now and he could not ignore them. He opened his eyes.
"The council has sealed its fate." That was the signal. Him and his companions charged past the holograms. Voices repeated his name alarmed. Ahead of him was security rivaling armies but he led the charge past the hall of the council. The hallway was empty except for the capsules at the walls. Hundred yards or so ahead was a bolted shut portal where the elevator to the council chamber was. The council had finally understood and shouted in unison. "Arrest Commander Shepard!" steps of guards charged from below the stairs. A rumbling shot from the plasma cannon of a light space fighter, known as the Normandy, shook the walls of Council Chambers. Monstrosities of machinery, rushed out of the walls, their armor heavy plated and rectangular. Their height bigger than seven feet. Shepard rushed for cover and a rocket propelled missile blasted at the security robot near him. Parts and heat blasted near him. He shield himself and rolled out of the way as bullets followed him. More rockets found targets. He ducked and fired his assault rifle. He found the head of another behemoth security robot and it stopped dead on its tracks. Another bullet bounced off his shield and he dove out of the way as grenade exploded near him. "You are getting soft Shepard!" joked Garrus, the turian snipping robots from the back.

A Biotic force slammed like gigantic fist at another robot and drove its crushed body to a second robot. Both exploding in smoke. Jack, the bald-headed tough girl of the group, jumped past Shepard. A biotic punch crushed against robots again. "You can say that again Garrus." She laughed as she shoulder tackled a giant robot with her biotic shield. Shepards eye twitched and he launched himself recklessly aiming fast accurate shots to other robot heads. The robots were caught off guard and the surviving ones turned against Shepard. Grenades and rockets whistled to the distracted robots. Shepard ducked behind another wall as smoke and blast rushed past him. "Shepard you okay?" came Tali's concerned voice. She was a Quarian, but also Shepard's girlfriend officially. "Of course, It's Shepard you are talking about, babe." Shepard had a grin but the explosion had been too close for comfort.

The comms opened and Tali's sigh could be heard. "You brute! What are you doing charging like a maniac?" She demanded. Shepard was left speechless. Why was she so worried? Shepard did stunts like this all the time. "Can you two lovebirds wrap it up? Seems someone is fighting Thane up ahead." said the doctor, Mordin. Thane was the Drell assassin, he had such precision to kill. His enemies never knew they were being attacked till it was too late. Shepard rushed again firing. The rest of the group followed. Grunt, Samara and Jacob had been left behind to cover the rear, the blockade team. "Seems like C-sec(Citadel Security) humans, won't be coming. But we are fighting three Specters and heavy security, Shepard!" came Jacob's words through the comms link. "We are almost there. Hold!" responded Shepard. He thought about it for a second while he attacked one of the bodyguards fighting Thane. "Tali remain behind and hack those robots!" ordered Shepard.

"Um...Roger." She responded coldly. What's with her? thought Shepard. Gun fire swooshed past his shoulder. He kicked forward and met the bodyguard's hand, a turian by his body form. He broke his fingers with the sole. Another shot fired near his helmet. Thane pushed on Shepard and he toppled against the body guard. Thane cartwheeling out of the way. A shotgun blast erupted where shepard was. His biotic armor feeling the heat. Shepard rolled forward and shot the bodyguard up close in the face, his biotic shield spitting sparks. Thane shot three daggers at the bodyguard, a krogan and he blocked with his arms protecting his face. Shepard took this opportunity to blitz him and pin him down. A shot entered the skull of the krogan and his body went limp. Miranda had shot him. She was always annoying calculating and cold. "That could have hit me." said shepard getting up. He was not particularly upset by it, just annoyed. "I actually missed I meant to hit you." Miranda teased. He knew that was her way of retaliating. She was always so composed. Shepard rarely tried to get closer to her. His mind went back to the mission. Thane had beat down the two guards and was cleaning the blood off his knives. Two corridors lay ahead and the group split. Shepard took Miranda and Mordin. Garrus was going to provide back up and Thane would ambush. They climbed the elevator at the end of the hall. Another rumble shook the elevator. Joker, the Normandy pilot was stopping the air reinforcements, but he seemed to be having trouble now as his voice came throught the comms. "Shepard, if you are done with your tea party down there. We got trouble. A turian cruiser is after me!" said Joker.

"Tali we need help with robots!" Jacob Taylor's voice came desperately on the comms. Then static followed.

Shepard wanted to reassure Joker. "Copy, give us five minutes then bolt out of there. We should be done by then." Five minutes seemed to be cutting it close, but their mission had always relied on the element of surprise. The elevator stopped at the peak floor of the council tower. They stepped out to a fancy hall filled in expensive decor and three well dressed aliens, the council. Guarding them defiantly were three elite specters, the top assassins and spies of the council. "Shepard this is madness." replied the asari councilwoman. "How is killing the council going to help you retaliate the attack of the Reapers?" asked the salarian councilman. His voice agitated. "I would have expected no less from the pathetic human race." finished the turian councilman. He was about to order specters to attack, but was stopped by the asari robed councilwoman.

Shepard thought for a second about his answer while he evaluated the possible battle about to erupt. He decided and acted as words emitted from his lips. "Your deaths won't be in vain." His rifle unleashed on an unexpecting dark armored-specter on the left and knocked him back. His shield was down and more bullets rained on him. The two specters dove out the way as well. Shepard ducked and rolled a metal coffee table. Thane came down from the air ducts and landed on one of the specters, crushing him with his weight. A loud yelp awoke the other and he fired towards Thane's last position. A grenade landed next to the last specter and he jumped out of the way but met lasers and a sniper hit above him where Garrus was, then the grenade went off. Blood splattered down on the bodyguard's face and Shepard kicked his weapon out of the way. He was injured and inches within death. Shepard thought best to finish him, but Miranda's voice stopped him. The turian specter would live another day thanks to her.

Like most politicians, the council had hit the floor as soon as Shepard had fired his weapon. They spoke big but by themselves they could not back their words. "Rise!" Shepard commanded. "I want to look at the faces of my victims before I kill them." "Shepard!" Miranda intervened.
"Quiet, Miranda." Shepard silenced her. Showing their true self for the first time. They trembled like cowards. "Please Shepard have mercy." Pleaded the salarian. The once brave and quick to insult the human race, turian, was quiet for once. "Who should I kill first?" wondered Shepard out loud. "We can still help your planet" said the asari. "Hmm, nice try, but I think your helping days are over." Shepard pointed his gun to the turian and fired at his left leg. The other two council aliens whimpered with fear. "How do you like my diplomacy now, turian?" "Here is what we are going to do. You are going to halt all retaliation or attempts to free you. Gather your armies to Sol solar system. We are retailating against the Reapers head on. No more cowardice from this council. You are now my prisioners."

The salarian got near the hologram projector, switched some buttons to broadcast to the whole Citadel and nearby spaceships.

"There will be a cease fire as of now. Prepare all ships for deployment. The Citadel will Lightspeed Mass Jump. Get ready for battle all stations." He let go of the broadcast button and the asari pressed hers."All away cruisers are ordered to mass light jump to Sol solar system and await orders." She finished glaring at Shepard. Once the systems were turned off. Shepard pointed to the turian holding his leg. "Please patch him up doctor." Shepard sheathed his gun and walked away and asked for reports from everyone.

fifteen minutes earlier...

Joker commenced the attack firing photon torpedoes to the sides of the Citadel Council Tower. This diversion would cause panic and allow Shepard to mount an assault. They did not have much longer to capture the Council. Soon they would be overrun with C-sec officers and Cruiser Ships. Joker had been against the whole idea, but he was used to being ignored by Shepard on the big decisions. Through the comms system he could hear the grunts and shooting of battle. EDI, the Normandy's AI, was silent as Joker heard his friends battle desperately. He knew they were the best in the whole galaxy, but he was always worried he would not see them return. It had happened before with Lutennit Alenko, one of Earth's finest biotics, he had been killed in Virmyer.

"Jeff! C-sec heli-ships and stealth bombers are approaching the tower fast." Alerted EDI, the Normandy's AI. "Evasive maneuvers! Controls to Manual!" The ship dove starboard evading fire. Torpedoes and lasers hit past knocking pieces of the tower. The ship rolled gaining altitude. Flares spread out and took care of the heat missiles. The speed increased nearing the buildings on the top side of the zero gravity city above. Missiles rained down on the biotic barrier protecting the city. The Normandy was not hit but the heat made the ship rumble. Heat alerts popped on Joker's monitors. "Jeff it would be better to let me take control." Said the AI calmly. "Dream on it EDI! woohoo!" He shouted feeling the momentum pull on his dive forward. The ship rolled and bounced off the laser blasts. This was the fun Shepard had promised. Targeted by the AI, laser cannons blowing up the pursuing stealth bombers. They followed the Normandy all the way around the Citadel ship. "Seems like C-sec(Citadel Security)humans, won't be coming. But we are fighting three Specters and heavy security, Shepard!" came Jacob's words through the comms link. "We are almost there. Hold!" responded Shepard. "Tali remain behind and hack those robots!" ordered Shepard."

"Um...Roger." said Tali coldly. A cruiser blast flew past the Normandy. Joker turned to port and flipped on its side. Speeding towards the cruiser. "Jeff we do not have enough power to destroy a cruiser."

"I know EDI."

"2000 meters and closing. 190-"

"Shut it EDI!"

"Shepard, if you are done with your tea party down there. We got trouble. A turian cruiser is after me!" said Joker. He avoided another blast. "Copy, give us five minutes then bolt out of there. We should be done by then."

"Tali we need help with robots!" Jacob Taylor's voice came desperately on the comms. Then static followed.

Another blast shook the ship. An alarm flashed. "70% biotic shield power..."

The Normandy swooped above the Turian cruiser and following fire rained down on the cruiser. Some of it damaging the biotic shields of the Normandy. As they circled the cruiser another appeared shooting lasers near the Normandy. He circled around the cruiser for a few minutes avoiding the barrage of lasers and missiles. Smoke came from the damaged cruiser.

"Jeff we must surrender or the Normandy will be destr-"

"EDI you are a fine lady, but you don't know when to shut it."

Two lasers collided against the Normandy shaking it like an earthquake. Even Joker had to admit they were in trouble as sweat ran down his forehead. He had hoped Shepard would be done by the time the Battle Cruisers had arrived. The team had no reinforcements if this is how he would meet his end he was ready to die for all this friends. The Normandy was partially empty, for a few Shepard die-hard loyalist. He knew they were ready to die as well. "Prepare for collision!" He meant to crash into the heavy cruiser command center and takes as many bastards with him. "Jeff please!" exclaimed EDI alarmed for the first time. "This is for Shepard!"

"40% shields! 30%-"

"There will be a cease fire as of now. Prepare all ships for deployment. The Citadel will Lightspeed Mass Jump. Get ready for battle all stations." came the voice of a salarian council alien. The Cruisers halted their attack and turned starboard towards the Citadel ports. Joker sighed noticing for the first time the loudness of all the annoying signals going on in his monitors. "Rerouting biotic shields to power damaged systems. Jeff I suggest we make repairs to the Normandy."

"Switch to auto controls EDI" he said exhausted. He raised his arms and shouted "Woohoo! They did it!"

Twenty minutes earlier with the blockade team, Jacob, Grunt, and Samara...

As soon as Shepard gave the signal the trio shot their rifles. Samara formed biotic shields and bullets ricochet off. The alarm was raised and armored security droids came out of the walls below the stairs. They had three sets of stairs to climb. Grunt was at the bottom shooting like crazy. Jacob covered the middle using a portion of his biotic powers to slam against the droids and the other portion as a shield. His rifle met the heads of droids as soon as their shield was down. Samara on the other hand took the fast approach. The justicar, slammed droids against each other. She was incredibly powerful. Even Jacob was intimidated by her power. Grunt on the other hand was uncontrollable and Jacob wondered why he had been left with him. "This is an important job. I trust you are the only who can do it." Shepard had told him. Not believing him completely he had accepted. He shot his rifle again. Heating up, he sheathed it and took up two guns. Perhaps Shepard was right we are holding the reinforcements back, he thought. He was glad to be battling with Samara of all people. More robots charged to the stairs and he decided to play it safe.

"Tali we need help with robots!" Jacob Taylor's voice came desperately on the comms. Then static followed.

Suddenly there was a flash bang near him and he dove back closing his eyes and shooting. The flash caught Samara and Grunt by surprise. Three Spectres dressed in dark cloaks rappelled down with harnesses. "Seems like C-sec(Citadel Security)humans, won't be coming. But we are fighting three Specters and heavy security, Shepard!" Jacob alerted. A bullet hit the salarian specter and he fell back ten feet. An asari launched a biotic punch on Samara and she was knocked against the wall. Her cry of pain agitated Grunt and he charged half blind. He caught the turian in the stomach. The turian shot Grunt on the shoulder before he was slammed against the wall. Jacob charged the asari with a biotic slam and she parried it with a shield. Jacob knew not to take it easy on asari, all asari were alien girls. He shot his guns aiming at her legs. She wheelcarted out of the way and aimed her rifle. The laser bullets met Jacob's shield as he charged forward. She tried to biotic slam him again but he was too close to her now. She reached for her shotgun. His rifle hit her on the side of her like a club and she was thrown back. Red blood coming out of her nose. "Even though we are from different planets we both bleed red!" roared Jacob attacking her stomach with a fist. She retailated with her biotic will in an explosion of air. With all his biotic might Jacob took the blow. A gash opened on his armor and blood flew out. A fist of biotic rage formed on his arm and brought it down on the her. A howl of pain erupted. She spat blood as her ribs broke. The wall was crushed in her body form and her arm was bent at an odd angle. Her right arm opened her trench coat and she pulled on a long string. Pins from grenades flew. Wide-eyed Jacob understood and ran back shouting to his friends to take cover. He managed to take cover but the blast was too big and he was thrown back. He did his best as he could to bioticly shield his body. He felt his body hit an obstacle and flame and smoke rushed past him. Full of adrenaline and his head spinning he tried to raise himself. He was caught by one of the android armored guards. Jacob was lifted by his neck and grabbing the mechanical arm hard to release him. His breath was fleeing him fast. He felt he would lose consciousness any second. "I'm sorry Shepard." He thought.

A barrage of bullets and a biotic slam hit the android holding him. He was released and caught his breath. His neck feeling numb and bruised. He grabbed his side as a stabbing pain ached his ribs. He had broken a rib with the blast. "I can't do it am going to die!"

More robot guards were coming out this time followed by C-sec guards, mostly aliens. He reached for his grenades and threw them their way."Grenades!" he bellowed. He ran for cover and another explosion followed. Jacob spat some blood, feeling a tugging numbness and feeling deliriously weak. Samara was engaged fighting the turian who too, had biotic abilities. Her form was precise and cold. She had a few cuts and bruises, but she seemed fine. Grunt on the other hand had purple blood flowing from his wounds. The salarina was quicker than grunt, but Grunt felt no pain when he was shot. He had forgotten all about his weapons and was charging the salarian in a berserk state. "He is going to lose if I don't help him." Jacob thought. He reached for his rifle shouting in pain. A scope popped, he took aim and unloaded on the salarian. His shield weakened fast and he turned to Jacob for a second, which was all the Krogan, Grunt, needed. He picked the salarian and hammered his fists on him. A blow exposed the salarian's neck and Grunt's teeth dug into it. Blood gushed out as the salarian spectre panicked trying to get the Krogan off. His last scream was numbed as Grunt pulled a chunk of flesh off his neck. His roar battle-cry filled the hall. Jacob was tired and panting, but he wanted to assist his friends to the end. Wind rushed near him and he saw the turian next to him. Unlike the other specters he was using hand-to-hand weapons. He carried a long blade attached to the arm of his armor. Surprised at the sudden apparition Jacob took his guns. A blade dug into his chest. He immediately felt the cold chill and agonizing pain. His eyes widened as he saw the turian's eyes glare back. Jacob felt he could do no more. I have failed all. What will they think of me when I die? The turian smirked. Watching his smirk Jacob was reminded of all the people who had told him he was weak because he had no father. I proved all wrong. I'm helping humanity survive. Besides Shepard what other human can say that? I battled with Shepard the greatest in humanity! His will changed to anger and with gun in hand he raised it and fired at the turian. At point blank the bullets penetrated the turians armor and sliced through the internal organs of the turians.

Jacob could not breathe and he had to cough. More blood poured out his mouth. His whole chest paralyzed by the blade. He felt coldness in his legs and wondered where he was. Maybe he had landed on a freezer. His arm felt numb and cold too. Voices and shouts were numbed down to his ears and he could only hear noises but could not make them out. A beautiful blue skin woman came near and removed the blade and the dead turian from him. It was Samara, but it was hard to tell with his blurred vision. In all the months he had served in the Normandy with her, she had never seen her show emotion, yet she was gently crying next to him. The sadness penetrated his heart. Now he knew why no one had ever seen her cry. Her sorrow was too deep and harsh. Tears fell off his eyes. She held him close to her chest. He reached for her face and wished to remove her tears. To make her stop and resume her calm expression. The expression he had always adore. He coughed more blood. He was shaking from the coldness. "My idol should not be crying..." He managed to say.

He wanted to say more words but they were quiet down as his whole body dropped cold. The blurriness of his eyes increased and turned white. A white blanket surrounded him and he did not feel cold anymore. He just wished he had told the alien holding him how much he admired her and if he would give her a chance to make her happy and finally see her smile.