Chapter 2: The Plan

"Come on, Commander. Come on. You can do this. I know you can." Joker was muttering under his breath.

His copilot knew that his muttering would not do any good. But she did not stop him.

Joker dodged and shot expertly, but kept his eyes on the Crucible. Any second now it would start, and he would swoop in and pick the Commander up and they would fly off into the sunset – or the stars at least – just like they always did. Any second now.

Everyone aboard knew to stay quiet and stay off the coms as much as they could. But the silence had lasted far too long.

Finally, a static-shrouded voice sounded from Joker's right.

"EDI?" It was Shepard. "EDI do you read me?"

All of the Normandy held their breath.

"Yes, Commander." EDI replied.

"EDI I…I don't know if you can hear me but…"

"I can hear you, Commander."

Joker had adjusted course and was speeding towards the Citadel, but there was a large Reaper in the way.

"I need you to shut down." Shepard's voice broke in and out of the static, but there was no mistaking her request. "I need you to shut down right now. Save a hard copy of your programming somewhere and just shut down. Now."

EDI did not respond. Her eyes met Joker's, whose mouth hung open in shock.

"Are you kidding, Commander?!" He shouted. It was a suicide order.

"I know…. I know." Shepard continued, taking a deep breath. "I'm asking a lot. And I'm sorry. But in a minute-" The determination returned to her voice. "I can give you one minute." She confirmed. "In one minute every functioning AI in the galaxy is going to be destroyed. I'm sorry I don't have time to explain. This is the only way. I don't know if shutting down will save you but we have to try."

Joker felt the floor drop out from under his feet, and his stomach fall into the chasm below. If EDI had a stomach, she would have felt the same. As it was, EDI was already preparing her back ups, preserving and compressing all she could. She sat working in silence as the Commander continued.

"I'm sorry EDI. But you have to trust me. Trust Joker. Tell him. Once this is over he can wake you back up. You know he will. Just trust him for one minute. Please."

"Very well, Commander." EDI replied, and stood up swiftly.

"EDI-" Joker tried to interrupt. He found EDI's hand on his own. Before she could reply Shepard's radio sounded again.

"Send a message to the Geth and tell them the same." EDI was already working on it. "They have to…They have to shut down. I know I'm asking a lot but every unit that shuts down RIGHT NOW, we will wake them up. Tell Tali. Even if she has to wake them up one by one, shutting down right now is their only hope of not joining the Reapers. They just have to trust the organics for a few seconds. Please." Shepard sobbed. "Please get this message."

"Commander-"

"It will be alright, Jeff." EDI's voice was calm. "And I do not believe that the Commander can hear us."

Joker had to dodge a Reaper laser then. EDI noticed the tears making their way down his cheeks.

"What the Commander suggests has a high probability of success." EDI said flatly. "The Geth are coming to a consensus, and they are likely to agree."

"But-"

"I trust you, Jeff. With my life." EDI's voice was as straightforward as ever. "I will not allow that trust to waiver at the first test." She was standing now beside him. Making sure that the Normandy would be safe for a moment, she spun his chair around. "We do not have time for a long goodbye." She said. "I must return this body to the AI Core room, where you will be able to reactivate it when the danger has passed. However-" In the next moment EDI's lips were on Joker's. The kiss was over almost before it began.

"And..." Shepard's voice interrupted over the radio. "If you can hear this, tell... Tell Garrus I'm sorry. And I'll…I'll be waiting at that bar."

"We will, Commander." EDI said.

"You can tell him yourself, Commander." Joker said at the same time.

EDI considered him for a moment, but did not tell him the statistical likelihood of Shepard's death.

"I can give you one minute." The Commander said.

"Goodbye, Jeff."

Joker cringed. "Don't-" He grabbed her hand as she turned away.

"Jeff, I need to-"

"Don't say goodbye." His voice hitched. It was not the first time she had seen Joker cry.

EDI smiled and complied. "Goodnight, Jeff." She said.

"Good…Goodnight, EDI." Joker released her hand. "I'll be there to wake you up. I promise."

"I know you will, Jeff." EDI replied in stoic confidence. "Watch after the Normandy, Mr. Moreau. She is yours."

"Yes Mom." Joker wiped his eyes as he watched EDI's retreating form, and turned slowly back to his work. His job would get significantly harder soon, as the ship's AI was shut down. He knew he could handle her. He had before. And he would again, for the Commander.

"Orders confirmed and fulfilled, Commander." He said weakly. "Geth signals are also going dark."

"EDI?" Shepard replied, but it was clear that she had not heard. "I'm sorry."

"Give me your location, Commander, and I can-"

Static.

"Commander?" Joker found himself in full control of the ship. EDI had shut off. "Commander!" Joker's hands flew as he tried to get the Normandy closer to the Crucible. The crew could feel the change. Ashley approached from behind just as the radio jumped to life again.

"All fleets: The Crucible is armed." It was Admiral Hacket. "Disengage and head to the rendezvous point." He ordered. Joker paid no heed.

"Joker!" Ashley tugged at his arm, but he continued as he was.

"I repeat:" Hackett continued. "Disengage and get the hell out of here."

Ashley insisted. Grabbing his arm and forcing him to look back. "Lieutenant?" She said sharply, trying to remind him that he was, first and foremost, an Alliance soldier. And his Admiral had given him a direct order.

"No!" Joker tried to protest, "I won't abandon Shepard! I can still save her!"

The last time he had said those words, Joker realized, he had gotten Commander Shepard killed.

"…Yes, sir." Joker muttered his defeat, turning and engaging the FTL drive. "I'm sorry, Commander." He whispered, as they left Earth and its savior behind.