Moments before the crucible fires:
Who would've thought that walking a few steps would be so hard? I can barely breathe as each step I take results in a massive spike of pain. But I will see this finished. I spare a glance back to see if the kid is still there. Nope he's gone. I guess he isn't going to interfere in my choice.
I stumble just before I reach the station that he said would result in 'Control'. I can't help but sit there and stare at it as my sight starts to blur. Am I doing the right thing? No, I can't afford to doubt myself now. Screw you Illusive Man. I'll do this for everyone.
It takes what little strength that I have left but I pull myself up and grab hold of the bars. As soon as I do I can feel some sort of energy burning through me, burning me from the inside out. As I start to scream I hear a million voices call out to me.
"WHAT ARE YOUR COMMANDS" They state.
Maybe it's the massive internal damage I am receiving but it take a couple of moments for me to process that. He did say that I would take control of the reapers. So I tell them:
Protect all life.
Restore what was lost.
Keep the balance between organic and artificial life.
I hope that will make a difference for the future. That what I have done will mean something. As the darkness takes me for a second time in my life. My last thoughts just like before are of Liara. I really wish we could have had those blue babies…
A very long time later:
Oh my god my head hurts. Wait. How can my head hurt? I thought I was dying? That was the deal right? Save the galaxy and as a reward I get to die right at the end. I'm sure I did die. It wasn't as long as the first time but I am pretty sure it happened. So where the fuck am I now? If I see Miranda again when I open my eyes I am not sure whether I am going to hug her or punch her.
I try to move. Nope can't do that. I try to open my eyes. Nope. I even try speaking. Can't do anything. It also takes me a moment to realise that I seem to be floating in some sort of liquid. Guess I am going to have to wait for someone else to do something. If on cue someone starts speaking.
"Where the hell did you find a clone?" A male human voice asks.
Oh for fuck's sake please god do not tell me there have been more clones of me running around. One was enough thanks.
"Found in the ruins of Harbinger." A fast speaking Salarian voice replies.
Harbinger's dead? Finally some good news.
"Really? You sure that is Shepard? Looks a little on the young side to me." He sounds closer now. "Didn't think she would be this attractive either. They always get the hottest redhead they can find to play her in the movies you know? But damn look at that body. I think they should get a clone to play her in the future."
I'm naked arent I? Of course I am. Some random is enjoying himself at my expense.
"DNA matches. Not fully grown yet. Would estimate age to be around 18 in human years." The Salarian says.
"Eh. Could still bring us a lot of money to the right buyer. See if you can get her out of there. I will see how much I can get out of the prophets for her."
With that it sounds like the man walks away. What the hell is going on? 18? I am 32 years old. Who would want to buy me? Who the hell are the prophets? When I get out of this someone is going to be giving me answers or I swear they will be in for a world of pain.
So the next few hours I wait. As I hear the Salarian working on whatever I am stuck in. I keep trying to move, speak or do anything but to no avail. Then I hear it. A couple of clicks and a hiss. The liquid that I am suspended in starts to drain. Once it empties I fall to the floor and start retching. I get as much of the liquid out of my lungs as I can.
"Breathe. You are safe. I will not harm you." He keeps repeating the sentence. Like I can't understand him.
I do as he says though. It helps. When I can breathe normally I try opening my eyes. It takes a few blinks to get my eyes to focus. When they do I see a Salarian staring at me. He is a light brown colour. I stand up. I thought my legs would be wobbly but I get up easily. I stand up straight and look my new best friend in the eyes. He looks confused. Maybe I am meant to be unable to move or something?
So I decide to speak first in the best intimidating voice I can manage. "You are going to answer some questions for me. For your sake I had better like the answers I receive. First. Where the fuck are the reapers? Second where the fuck am I? Thirdly where is the Normandy? And lastly. Where can I find some clothes?"
He blinks those big eyes of his a few times. I can see the gears turning in his head. Deciding what to do. When he goes for his gun I almost sigh. I use my biotics to push him to the wall. But that doesn't happen. Instead of a blue aura red energy pours out of my body. The Salarian is slammed against the wall unconscious. What the hell? I grab my head as it suddenly feels like it is going to be split in two. Okay don't use my biotics for the moment.
Once the pain stops I get up and have a proper look at my surroundings. Looks like I am in some kind of warehouse that is being used as a lab. I turn around and look at the container I was in. I have never seen anything like it before. I shiver, it looks like reaper tech, a combination of technology and organic material. Oh that is not good. There is a cylinder in the middle, kind of like what Grunt was in. Leading into it are all sorts of wires and tubes that are connected to a console.
I know that I should investigate it but I want out. I want to know what is going on. So I look around for some clothing. I find some trousers and a hoodie in a random box under some shelves. Before I put them on I see my reflection in a mirror. It takes me a minute of staring for me to realise that I am looking at myself. He was right I do look young. There are no scars on my body. Looks like I have a clean slate again. My red hair is long like really long for me. It reaches down my back to just before my butt. God I need to get it cut. I still have my freckles and green eyes. I look closer. For the first time in a while I don't see the red glow in my irises. I look at the rest of my body. My arms and legs, basically my whole body has lost muscle definition. The last time I looked like this was before I enlisted.
Maybe I am fully organic again? I get dressed in the clothes I found. They fit just. I manage to get my hair down the back of my hoodie. How do people cope with long hair? I pull the hood over my head and head out the door. I also pick up the gun the Salarian had. I don't recognise the make.
Once outside I look around. Looks like I am in a warehouse district. Then I look up. Holy shit I am in the citadel! I must be in one of the lower wards then. I don't recognise it though. After walking around for a while I find the Skycar terminal. I am not sure what to do next so I head to the Presidium Commons.
Once the skycar reaches the Commons I get out and have a look around. I see Asari, Turians, Salarians, Krogan and after doing a double take I think I see some Quarians without suits walking around. How can that be? The layout of the area looks the same but the shops have all changed. Okay starting to get a bit freaked out now.
Not sure what else to do I start walking. What is going on? None of these people look all that concerned. Isn't the war still going on? If not how much have I missed? After nearly walking into a white robed human I look at an advert that is being displayed on the wall.
"What the..." I say to myself quietly.
I am staring at an image of myself. At least I think it's me. The armour is the same colour as what I wear. A darker grey colour with a red and white stripe going down the left arm. It even has the picture of my blue demon (the nickname I got after the Skyllian Blitz, basically a blue female demon with wings) on it (situated on my stomach). But she looks perfect. A glint in her eyes, smooth skin, perfect smile, no bags under her eyes, symmetrical freckles. She also seems to be doing some sort of pose with a gun in one hand and my katana in the other. I only ever used both weapons once you know. I am never going to live this down.
Beside her is an image of the Normandy. Over it is text stating: Commander Shepard Season 3: The Reaper War. Now Showing. Okay getting more freaked out now.
As I stare at the poster an Asari Drell couple walk by.
"I can't wait to see how they end it! You know after she enters the beam? I'm hoping for the last stand ending." She says excitedly.
"I think the post finale interviews should be quite interesting. Did you hear? Apparently the actress that plays Liara is having an affair with the actress that plays Miranda. I want them to bring it up. They looked so embarrassed in those paparazzi photos."
Okay really really need to find some answers before my head explodes. I wanted to try and contact Liara or one of the others, but I think my best approach maybe to go to the council chambers or the human embassy. Only if they believe who I am. Otherwise I think I am royally fucked.
So I head to the Presidium. On the ride over I see them. Gleaming gold statues. I can't help but to be drawn to them. As I get closer I realise what they are of. A Drell statue of Thane, a Salarian statue of Mordin, an Asari statue of Liara and so on. Basically one for each of us. The crew members of the Normandy.
They are all standing in a circle surrounding the final statue that is slightly taller than the rest of them. The one of me. Morbid curiosity makes me walk up to it. I seem to have a bright smile as I point forwards. I do not smile like that.
At the base of each of the statues there are plaques detailing what each individual did. In front of my one there are flowers, candles and what looks like graffiti scribbled at the base of the statue. There are thanks there. What confuses me is there is more than one message that states something like 'She will return and burn the unfaithful.' Do they mean me?
Okay not sure what to do with all of this. I need somewhere to think. I don't think coming here right away was a good idea after all. I need to do some research. Find out what has happened and how long I have been gone this time. As I turn around to leave I see more white robed people standing in front of Liara's statue.
"How can they allow a statue of this slut with the other members of the Normandy?" The leader. A Human male asks.
"The council are in her pocket. Only when Asaki takes her rightful place and we finally rid the galaxy of the reaper scum will the truth be accepted by everyone."
Looks like a religious gathering of some sort. Judging by the other white robed individuals (who seem to be of different races) who by the clapping agree with him. Insulting my bondmate that I cannot let stand. So I push through the crowd grab the man and shove him against the statue.
I snarl in his face "What did you do during the war! Nothing most likely. How dare you say something like that against someone who was with me through it all! Who accepted me with all of my many flaws! Well say something!"
With that I let him go and falls to the floor. He looks shell-shocked. Good that will teach him.
He almost whispers "It's you. As she foretold the messiah, the Shepard has returned."
Uh oh. I didn't like any part of that sentence one bit. Before I have chance to process that and react, someone behind me pulls down my hood. I mistakenly turn around to see who did it. When they recognise me they all fall to their knees with hushed whispers of "It's her" or "the Shepard". But that isn't what catches my attention. Outside the ring of statues are a couple of C-Sec officers, one of who is urgently talking into his omni-tool.
My first thought is to run. Get out of here. But if I want any answers, if I want to find out what happened to my friends. To Liara. I would rather go off with the authorities' then religious people. So I approach them. The Turian not communicating through his onmi-tool reaches for his gun.
I try not to roll my eyes at him. "I am unarmed and not resisting. You don't need that." I put my arms up as well to try and get him calm.
"They are sending someone to come and pick up the clone." The second Turian informs the first.
I can't help but say "You know guys this is the real deal here. Ignoring the fact that I have long hair, look young, have no scars and woke up naked in a tube filled with some kind of liquid."
They just stare at me. This is going well.
This is when the leader man in the robe decides to speak up. "No we can't let them have her. They will lie. Stop them!"
I can see how this will end. The officers will try to dissuade them. They won't listen and someone will end up dead. Not on my watch.
So in my best commander voice I shout. "ENOUGH! I will be going with them. You will not interfere." They stop and stare at me. "Now go."
They obediently leave. Well that was easier than it normally is. A couple of minutes later a C-Sec vehicle appears. The door opens and I get in. I am not sure what awaits me at the end of this journey but I know one thing. They will give me answers.
