Dark, cloudy skies hung over Commander Shepard as he ran through dead trees and intangible shadows, ashes gently drifting downward. Fear and adrenaline pushed him forward, away from the familiar voices he heard.
Had to be me. Someone else might have gotten it wrong.
Shepard-Commander, does this unit have a soul?
You are a great protector, Shepard, but some things are beyond even you.
Just a few scratches and dents, hope it just gives me character.
The dead spoke in Shepard's head, the frenzied beat of his heart doing nothing to drown them out. The shadows glided around him, blocking the path to what he chased. A child, one he had seen killed on Earth, cowered in front of him. A red light hung over him, the roar of a Reaper bullhorn caused the boy to flee down the trail.
Shepard chased the boy through the shadows. His voice failed him as he called out, his lungs burning. The shadows whispered to him, though he couldn't hear the words. The boy came to a stop as a sea of shadows surrounded him. Shepard stretched his arm out and reached for the child, his friends still speaking in his head.
The child was swept away in a flash of movement in the shadows, as they dispersed Shepard swept his gaze around in every direction and found the child behind him, standing, watching him. The shadows reappeared behind the child, massing into one form, becoming a wall of darkness.
Shepard approached the boy hesitantly, his hand outstretched to snatch the child from the abyss behind him. To his horror, the boy turned and ran straight into the dark shroud, causing Shepard to chase after him. The moment the Commander touched the dark mass, visions of his life flashed by.
He saw his childhood on the ship his mother served on, entering the Alliance academy; his promotion into the N7 program; his tour on Elysium and the Skyllian Blitz. Then he saw the mission to Eden Prime, his hunt for Saren. He saw the people he met, and lost. He saw the moment Kaidan died on Virmire. He saw Saren shoot himself before bursting into flames. He heard Sovereign's warning before he felt the fire of the Normandy's destruction and the breathless feeling of empty space.
The next moment, a gasp escaped his throat as he remembered waking up confused, and finding himself alive. He thought of his reluctant acceptance of Cerberus' aid and their mutual goal to stop the Collectors. He saw the slaughter propagated by the Collector abductions, countless faces forever lost. He remembered boarding the inactive Reaper to steal away its' secrets, using it to find the core of the galaxy. He heard the roar of the abomination in the Collector base; a Human shaped Reaper, formed from liquefied victims. He remembered going against the Illusive Man and destroying the Collector ship, cutting his ties to Cerberus.
He thought of Aratoht and the lives lost because of carelessness. He remembered freeing Dr. Kenson and escaping, and her indoctrination from Object Rho. He heard Harbinger mock his efforts as the project base hurtled toward the Alpha Relay. He saw the flash of the Bahak system as the asteroid collided and the Relay consumed the system, wiping out the 300,000 lives in it. He heard Hackett debrief him and warn him of the political storm coming, before he heard the explosive roar of the Reapers' invasion.
Light filled his eyes as he came through the darkness, still finding himself in a barren waste. The shadows whispered the names of his friends, both dead and alive behind him, filling him with despair. The boy was several yards away, running down the path away from the Commander. Following closely, Shepard dashed after him, but stopped when he saw what the boy ran to. Just ahead of him he saw his squad, all of them, dead and alive; the people who stood beside him through this fight. The boy easily weaved through them, never looking back before fleeing down the path. His squad stood watching him as he came down into the clearing toward them. The moment Shepard got close enough, the shadows surrounded him and his squad.
Shepard still couldn't speak as he stood before his friends and comrades, afraid, while they all just stood staring at him. His emotions were plain to see on his face, but his crew remained stoic and uncaring; in the middle of them stood Tali, the woman he loved. Shepard pushed his way through them all to get to her until he stood face to face with her. Putting his arms around her, he held her tighter than he ever thought he could for what felt like a lifetime.
To his surprise he felt her pushing away from him. The feeling was like being torn in half as she forced herself out of his embrace. He looked into her visor and saw her eyes were wide, darting back and forth. Shepard stood dumbfounded as Tali turned and stormed away, dissolving into thin air. Shepard watched as his crew each backed away from him, fading into the gloomy grey sky.
Slumping to his knees, Shepard felt lost. He always had support, there was always a voice of encouragement to pick him up in these moments, and now they were all gone. His attention came back when he heard the boy crying around the bend. Shepard dragged himself to his feet before stumbling toward the sound. The boy was walking further ahead and crying, wiping his eyes with the sleeve of his shirt.
Shepard forced the air through his throat but still no sound escaped. Shepard pushed himself into a run trying to catch up to the boy, making the dead leaves around the ground scatter as he ran. The boy turned and saw the Commander and ran faster as more shadows blocked the path behind him. As Shepard pushed through the shadows, he saw the boy running toward a soldier. The man turned and kneeled to hug the child as Shepard came closer.
He realized when the man picked his head up and saw him that he was looking at himself. Shepard gazed on as the boy turned to him and stared with his other self. The red light appeared over them both as they smiled at him. The eyes on the other Shepard changed sinking back more into his head and becoming blue like the Reaper husks. Fire erupted from the ground consuming them both as Shepard stood watching in horror. Then, the nightmare ended.
Shepard's eyes snapped open as he awoke with a slight gasp. He saw stars passing by the window over his bed before turning to see Tali beside him, sleeping quietly. Her face was peaceful, a slight smile on her lips. Her slight frame rose and fell as she took each breath. He held his gaze, taking in every moment he could.
He slowly rolled up on the side of the bed, trying not to make any noise, rubbing his forehead thinking about the nightmare that plagued him. He took a deep sigh before standing to get a drink. He quietly crossed over the room and up the steps before getting into the bathroom and turning on the sink. He took the glass from the side and filled it, drinking it quickly before gathering more in his hands, splashing it over his face.
These nightmares are getting worse. I don't know how much more of this I can take. He thought.
Turning his head he looked at the hair growing on his face, rubbing it with his hand. He looked closer at his eyes, noting the dark rings forming under them.
I look like crap. This war's been rougher than even I thought it would.
Pulling out a flat, long metal device, he slid the top over and revealed an edge that hummed with a dull, blue glow.
I really need a new razor, this one's getting old. He thought as he swept it over his jaw.
After finishing with the razor Shepard left the bathroom and found Tali in the middle of reassembling her suit. She looked over and saw him, her face breaking into a smile when she met his eyes.
"Hey." she said, sealing the torso piece.
He crossed over to where his own uniform lay.
"Hey." he replied. Shepard put the upper gear on before pulling the pants up and retrieving the boots.
"What's up?" Tali asked. She turned toward him and looked for an answer. Her concern was clear on her face.
Shepard stopped, and looked at her. He couldn't tell her about what he had seen in the nightmare. He knew it was just the stress.
"I've been thinking about the war, about the lives depending on us. I don't know if it'll be enough." He said as he dropped his gaze.
"What about you, are you all right?" he asked, finishing his boots.
"I'm alright, our bodies adapt quickly. No more negative reaction to you." She said, strapping the arm pieces on.
"Are you going to be okay?" she asked, turning back to him.
He sat next to her on the bed, returning her gaze.
"I don't know if I will, but I have to. Everything depends on what happens in the next few hours. This war will decide the future of the galaxy." He lamented.
Tali reached over and clasped one of his hands with her bare hands.
"Shepard, I know you have your doubts, but you've done more than anyone else could have. You united the galaxy." She beamed.
"My people are at peace with the geth Shepard. A year ago, I wouldn't have thought it was possible. You did that for us, you gave us back our home, and a tomorrow." She cooed.
"I know it's been hard on you. I don't know how you do it, but I'm always here for you Shepard, always." They locked eyes, reading each other with their gazes.
"I love you." she whispered, leaning in to kiss him.
"I love you too, Tali." Their lips met and Shepard felt his strength returning to him.
"You're right. This has to be done, and we're the ones who're going to do it." he said standing.
Tali finished her suit and kissed Shepard again before sealing the visor in place.
"Let's go finish this." he said with a nod. She nodded in return.
"I'm right behind you." she replied.
Shepard entered the comm. room to find Admiral Hackett's virtual form waiting for him.
"Commander Shepard, the Alliance fleet is positioned just outside the Anadius cluster. We need to take Cerberus out of this war. The Illusive Man has the VI we need and we're not stopping until we get it back." he relayed.
"I understand sir. We're prepared for this." Shepard replied.
"This is important Commander, without that VI we're dead in the water with the Crucible. It's your priority in this mission even the Illusive Man is secondary. We'll distract Cerberus and try to suppress escape efforts while you infiltrate the station." Hackett concluded.
"Understood sir, we won't fail now." Shepard affirmed.
"I'll let you get to it then Commander. Be careful; and good luck out there, Hackett out."
The projection of Hackett dissipated as Shepard turned out toward the war room and saw the Cronos station display appear over the center. Looking over it, the Commander counted two dreadnoughts and three cruisers positioned around the tall station with several frigates and a greater division of fighter squadrons filling in the gaps.
This won't be easy. The Illusive Man knows we're coming. Shepard thought leaning against the rim.
With so many Reaper upgrades their fighting force could stand against a sizeable fleet, and any unsuspecting travelers would be utterly destroyed in an instant. It felt like an impenetrable fortress summing the amount of defenses together. Then Shepard realized something.
He's scared. He knows he can't win anymore. The Reapers have abandoned him and now they're alone out here.
A slight grin came over his face as the door in front of him opened and EDI appeared.
"Shepard, I would like to request to accompany you to the Cerberus base." she stated stepping down to the center.
"Something I should know EDI?" Shepard asked walking around the side.
"I was designed using Reaper code and Cerberus algorithms. This gives me an advantage in bypassing Cerberus security protocols and would allow easier access to their networks."
Shepard crossed his arms and leaned against the rim of the center display.
"You sure about this? We could probably get around it ourselves. The Illusive Man would also likely have a contingency for if you returned too." he said plainly.
"I have considered these possibilities and have decided to assist you in this operation Shepard. If the Illusive Man has a kill switch, it may just deactivate this platform. In this case I will survive but will be unable to physically assist you further." she commented.
Shepard looked over the artificial face of the AI in front of him, almost analyzing it. He saw determination, something a machine shouldn't have. A human emotion was displayed over her face.
"All right then tell Joker to be on standby, then get ready and head down to the shuttle. We're waiting for Hackett's signal." he said straightening up.
"Yes, Shepard." she replied.
EDI turned and quickly moved back out toward the CIC with Shepard following behind. After passing through the security screen, Joker's voice appeared.
"Commander, we've got some incoming transmissions from several allied ships. You may want to hear this for yourself sir." the voice said.
The edge in his voice pushed Shepard through the CIC to the cockpit with EDI now right behind him. Several blinking panels were aligned over Joker's display, each one with a tag reading "urgent".
"Go ahead Joker." Shepard said as he reached the back of the pilot's chair.
The first panel quickly filled the display and the Rachni queen appeared with the Asari messenger who he had met on Illium. Her eyes were rolled back in her head to allow the queen to speak directly.
"Shepard, the Rachni have twice been kept from extinction. This is because of you and we will never forget you, we will forever sing your name as a champion of our people. But we heard a resonance of pain, the dull, grey music of your Cerberus echoed through space when they hurt our children after our freedom, silencing them like the machines did. We would aid your muting of their songs." the Asari proclaimed.
"I understand you want to help us, but how would you fight? I didn't think the Rachni had actual weapons and armor to fight with." Shepard replied.
"We sing our songs of war, the rumbling crimson waves of vengeance will rally our finest soldiers. Their armor is dense enough to withstand small weapons. Our brood warriors also fight with your biotics and have harmonized the blue and purple melody of focus from this host, giving our children barriers. We were formidable before and we are stronger now, let us sing of triumph together." the thrall now stood silent, waiting for an answer.
Shepard stood thinking, watching the Asari and the queen behind her.
"Okay then, contact Hackett and inform him of your forces and my support, then get ready for his signal. Once we start our attack, we'll likely be on our own, so be careful." he said calmly.
"Shepard, we would also allow you to communicate with us for ease of communication. It would only require a short experience." the Asari said before her eyes rolled back into place.
"Commander, I know you may be hesitant, but the queen means you no harm, she will simply put her song in your mind. You will experience a flash of sound and color and then you will hear the harmonious song of the Rachni people." she stated with a smile.
Shepard nodded his head as the Asari closed her eyes and the queen warbled softly.
"Close your eyes Commander and hear the music of life. Leave all other thoughts out of your mind and hear the music in the dark."
Shepard closed his eyes and voided the war from his thoughts, leaving the hum of the ship as his only tie to the world around him. Then he felt it, the deep orange of the Normandy flowed through his mind filling his vision, pulsating and rippling off of the crew inside it.
Then he heard the cold black and blue of space and the roar of its power outside. Through that, Shepard heard a faint sound reminding him of the choirs on Earth. This sound had a bright center, as small as a star in the distance, but it grew as he felt himself drifting toward it. A golden ball of light became the center and as Shepard grew closer, and the sounds of voices singing and the warm light enveloped him.
At the center of the light, the loudest voice leading the song took the vague shape of the queen. Her voice was unlike anything Shepard could describe, but he saw the shimmering white and gold that was emanating from her.
"This is our voice, our song to sing to the galaxy. It is the grand legacy of the Rachni, and it glows so brilliantly because of you. Our voices will unite as one with yours. You are as kin to us now. Let us sing our song together." she sang boldly.
Shepard felt his body hum with the golden energy as the queen trilled with her brood and with the Rachni of generations long since gone. Suddenly his eyes snapped open and he felt a chill run up his spine, the hum of the Rachni whispered in his mind as the queen and the Asari looked at him. The Asari smiled as she cut the transmission.
"Uh what was that? You okay there Commander? The last thing we need is for you turn into a bug right now." Joker quipped as he spun around with his chair.
"I'll be fine Joker, but I think I understand a little of what Javik said about knowledge through touch. I could see the Normandy and the Rachni as colors, and sounds I had never heard before. It was amazing… and almost overwhelming." Shepard said with a sigh.
"Well let's hope everybody else doesn't have a mentally jarring "experience" they want to "show" you, huh Commander?" Joker said turning back to his display.
"Right, now what's next?"
The second notice sprang out over the projection and opened to show a motionless Geth prime waiting.
"Commander Shepard, the Geth wish to assist you on your infiltration of the Cerberus vessel. We received data of a Cerberus operation that has since been abandoned classified as "Overlord". Our people were the basis of the experiment." The prime said flatly.
"I know; I was the one who shut it down." Shepard said grimly.
"Thousands of units in hundreds of mobile platforms were terminated in pursuit of the subjugation of synthetic life. We request your approval for cooperative assault. Our upgraded software could run jamming programs over networked channels to render them 87.46% nonfunctional and provide additional ground fire assistance." The prime summarized.
"I'll take whatever help I can get. Contact Admiral Hackett and tell him you're joining the assault party, you'll be coordinating with EDI. Prepare whatever you need for accessing their security since they have Reaper tech, and wait for the signal." Shepard relayed.
"Acknowledged." the Geth rumbled before closing the connection.
"Well that was painless, huh?" Joker said.
"Seems like it. The Geth are really proving to be reliable allies now that it's been decided they don't want to kill us." Shepard said with a slight grin.
"So, when were you going to tell me EDI was involved in this plan of yours?" Joker asked. Whipping around in his chair, Joker had fire in his eyes and a serious look on his face.
"I understand why you're upset but it was EDI's idea, and I agree with her." The Commander said.
"Shepard, I will explain it myself." EDI said, stepping around him to face Joker.
"Jeff, I requested to accompany Shepard into the station because of my knowledge of Cerberus operating patterns and security algorithms. With my assistance, we have a higher probability of success." EDI stated.
"So when was I going to be told about this, when you're on the shuttle? I just— what if they have some kind of kill switch or an EMP or something like that?" Joker asked.
"Jeff, I know there are risks, but I have to help in any way I can, in whatever capacity. It is my duty." She said.
Joker sighed and hung his head for a moment before meeting her eyes again.
"I am more than I ever thought I could be thanks of you. I have freedom to do as I see fit because of you, and I serve to protect us from the Reapers. I would risk non-functionality for you, Jeff." EDI said kneeling in front of Joker.
Joker dropped his head again a moment, taking a long sigh before reaching out and embracing EDI. The surprised AI returned his affection, but did not break his embrace.
"Just… just don't die on me in there, will ya? I don't want to go back to having to do all the piloting around here you know." he said, trying to stay upbeat.
"I will make the effort to keep my head down more frequently." She replied. "That—
Joker chuckled to himself a little.
"A joke, I know, thanks. Stay safe in there." he said as EDI helped him back up into his chair.
The quiet moment was broken by the sound of an alert on the display, which made Joker instantly turn back toward the front of the ship.
"Got a transmission from Admiral Hackett on the line Commander; patching it in now." Joker said as his fingers flew over the panel. The display lit up with the face of Admiral Hackett.
"Commander, I'm getting transmissions from allied ships from all over the armada. They all want to help put a stop to Cerberus' plans. The incident on the Citadel gave them a glimpse of how depraved Cerberus has become, but the slaughterhouse on Sanctuary pushed the hatred of Cerberus over the top." Hackett explained.
"As it stands now, with the numbers we have we could hold them off, but with all of this support, we could cut Cerberus down faster than we thought possible. Every possible FTL escape route is being monitored and our fleet is positioned around the cluster." Hackett concluded.
"This was meant to be our mistake to correct, but with so many affected by Cerberus I can't ignore them. I want to keep them all fresh for when we hit Earth though." Hackett stated.
"I understand sir, but with respect, this isn't just our problem anymore. Cerberus allied themselves with the Reapers. That made them an enemy to every civilized species in the galaxy. They're a threat, and just because the Reapers abandoned them doesn't make them any less of a threat." said Shepard sternly.
"I agree with you Commander, this will be the first step in ending this war, but can we really risk so much of our force for stopping Cerberus?" Hackett asked.
"I know it'll work sir, I've already received messages from the Rachni and the Geth giving their support. We can do this we just need your approval sir." Shepard assured.
Hackett stood silent, thinking to himself for a moment before locking eyes with Shepard.
"Alright then Commander, this is an interspecies operation as of now. I'll start coordinating new formations and teams; then we start our assault on the station. I'll be in touch, Hackett out." the Admiral concluded as his transmission ended.
Shepard breathed out, knowing that Cerberus was waiting for their arrival. He turned to leave the cockpit with EDI close behind before Joker called him back.
"Commander, you still have one of these transmissions waiting for you. Should I just put 'em on hold or you know, something." the pilot called from behind his chair.
"Damn, I forgot all about it. Go ahead Joker put it through." Shepard said turning back.
The notice quickly covered the display and an almost unrecognizable face of a man appeared. He had a short beard and moustache with dark brown hair. A burn scar was visible on the left side of his face covering from his eye down to the jaw and back to the ear. The eye itself was clouded. The other brow had a scar that ran down over the eye to the cheek.
"Shepard, do still remember me? My name is Toombs. You helped me once with a Cerberus doctor named Wayne. You talked me down from shooting the bastard and assured me they would all pay for their crimes, but you lied, they haven't; I blame you for that." Toombs said grimly.
"Toombs, you know I only—
"I also blame you for turning your back on me and every other victim of their evil. You disappeared after your ship was destroyed, but you weren't among those rescued; everyone thought you were dead. But you were alive you joined Cerberus after faking your own death. I told you I would hunt down every team of Cerberus bastards I could find, and here's the hive. So what happens now, Shepard?" the corporal asked.
"Toombs, there was more to it than that. I did die that day on the Normandy. Cerberus recovered me and rebuilt me over those two years I was gone! I know what happened with me and Cerberus was unexpected, even for me, but you have to understand I only worked with them because they were the only ones investigating the colony disappearances. I never agreed with their policies before and I still don't, and I intend to bury them here." Shepard stated, crossing his arms.
"You still betrayed us, but we have to work together, but if it weren't for the war and the Reapers I'd come for you too, Shepard. I would rather see every trace of life wiped from the galaxy before ever letting them live, you included. You have my team's cooperation, but you don't have our trust; Toombs out." Malice dripped from his words as he cut the link.
"So… that was a happy little reunion, eh Commander?" Joker said, spinning around in his chair.
"I didn't think Toombs would become this obsessed with Cerberus. I guess he won't be satisfied until this base plummets into the sun, which isn't a bad idea really." Shepard said concerned.
"I would agree with the corporal there too, Shepard." said Tali as she entered the cockpit.
"Cerberus has done horrendous things to so many people, your own included. How could we not hate what they've become?" she continued.
"You do realize they were responsible for putting me back together, right?" Shepard said in an almost teasing tone.
"And it was the only thing they ever got right. They brought you back from the dead, and as much as I appreciate what they did then, it doesn't make up for their actions, past or present." She said with conviction.
"Tali, am I also included in Cerberus' list of wrongful choices?" EDI asked innocently.
"Oh! I'm sorry EDI. You aren't a mistake, in fact you are the only synthetic I would trust to watch my back, besides Legion." Tali said with a hint of sadness.
The cockpit was quiet for a moment before EDI spoke.
"I am sorry for making the situation unpleasant, Tali. Legion was a reliable… friend and ally." EDI stated.
"No no, it's alright EDI. Legion sacrificed it… himself to give the Geth true sentience, and even though there are old wounds that will take time to heal, I've come to accept that they are an inseparable part of our culture, even an extension of us. Even now, they are helping us rebuild Rannoch, despite what we tried to do to them for centuries." Tali said with some melancholy.
"They already moved on from the past. I just wish it was as easy for us to move on." she concluded.
Again the cockpit sat in silence for a moment before Shepard spoke.
"We all regret what happened to Legion, but there was no way to give the Geth their freedom without the code he had. Even he said there was no other way. It doesn't matter now though, the Geth gained sentience, the Quarians have Rannoch to live on again, and both are at peace." he said proudly.
"Now, we deal with Cerberus, and after we wipe them out and get the secret to the Catalyst, we'll do the same to the Reapers, won't we?" he asked.
"You got that right Commander." Joker affirmed. EDI nodded in reply.
"I'm right behind you Shepard, always." Tali replied.
Shepard nodded with a slight grin on his face. Even in the jaws of utter annihilation his friends still stood beside him. The odds of surviving this war, let alone winning it, were practically zero. Yet they stayed to fight with him against all odds. He felt reassured in his actions when an alert tone came over the pilot display. Joker instantly spun back around, his fingers flying over the projection.
"Commander, it came from Hackett's ship. It's the signal we've been waiting on. There's a transmission waiting too, I'll patch it in." Joker stated calmly. Hackett's face appeared over the monitor.
"Commander, the fleet is ready, we have the new battle formations arranged and we're ready to take the fight to Cerberus. You'll be leading the infiltration group; once on board, you need to rendezvous with the Geth squad and push toward the center of the base. We believe the Illusive Man is there with the VI. The Rachni will provide additional ground support after sweeping the area of heavy resistance. Are you ready to go?" Hackett asked.
"We're ready Admiral, give the word." Shepard replied confidently.
The Admiral nodded before speaking again.
"This is Admiral Hackett to all allied ships: All hands on deck and prepare for battle. Everyone to your stations! You all have your orders; we do this quick and by the numbers, let's make Cerberus pay for what they've done to us all." Hackett shouted through the comm.
"Good luck in there, Commander." Hackett concluded as the image disappeared. Shepard turned to EDI and Tali and nodded before speaking.
"This is it, you heard the man let's move!" he said.
Tali and EDI both hurried out and Shepard strode out behind them, his pace at just more than a fast walk. As EDI and Tali approached the elevator, Shepard nodded to Samantha Traynor who replied in kind. The ride down to the cargo bay was silent, leaving the humming sound of the elevator descending on the track.
As the door opened, Steve Cortez was already finishing his prep work on the enhanced Kodiak shuttle. He noticed Shepard and the team as they stepped out toward the armory and quickly ran over.
"Shepard, the shuttle's ready to go when you are, sir." the pilot said quickly with a salute.
"At ease Steve, it's going to be fine. With all the support against Cerberus, we'll be back in no time." Shepard said with a grin.
The pilot quickly nodded and ran back to the shuttle while Shepard slid the torso piece of his armor over his head. As he finished locking pieces of armor in place, Tali approached him while securing a Geth shotgun to her back.
"Do you think it will be as easy as we hope?" she asked with some concern.
"With the Reaper upgrades, I don't know, but we're going to give them one hell of a fight for that VI." he replied honestly.
Shepard reached into the armory and retrieved his weapons, strapping them onto his back before turning back to Tali.
"It's time to stop this pointless infighting and deal with the Reapers head on. The Illusive Man's going to regret siding against his own cause, and I don't even think he realizes it yet." he said as they stepped on the shuttle.
The door closed behind them and the shuttle shook as it came to life. Cortez's hands quickly danced over the display as Hackett's voice came through the shuttle's panel.
"Commander, you are clear for launch, I repeat: your mission starts now."