"Shepard... It's Nihlus," Kaidan starts, sounding grim.

Shepard shuffles over, and stares at the motionless body. One mandible was wide, as if he was speaking as he was shot. Shepard gently lifts his upper body, inspecting his backside.

"His back was turned..." Shepard mumbles, "Someone shot him when he turned around." Shepard reasons.

Ashley shakes her head, opening her mouth to say something but was cut off by the sound of shuffling.

"Damnit!" and unknown voice cries out.

Shepard's pistol flew up and aimed in the general direction of the voice. "Who's there?" Shepard asks.

More shuffling, and this time a muffled cry.

"Come out, now!" Shepard orders. His eyes blazing.

"S-sorry! I'm coming o-out! Don't shoot!"

"We won't," Shepard responds lowering his gun, nodding for the others to do the same. "It's safe." When the man appeared, he gestures to himself, "I'm Commander Shepard, this is my Lieutenant Kaidan Alenko, and Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams, Alliance military."

The man nodded. "I'm sorry it took so long.. I was stuck behind some boxes," the man says jutting his thumb behind him blindly. His eyes drifted downward to where Nihlus lay shot. Shepard notices that he gulps and his hand twitches just a little bit.

"So, that's what I heard.."

Shepard motions for Kaidan to take care of the body, obviously for the comfort of the mystery man.

"Yes, i'm sorry to say it..." Shepard shakes his head. "Did you see who did this-" he pauses.

"S-sorry. I'm Powell, and yeah, I did. Your Turian friend here came over here, there was some talking and then another Turian, much taller and a lot scarier looking. He," Powell points to where Nihlus was. "must've been friends or somthin' Because when his back was turned... POW! Shot in the back!" Powell's shapes his hand into a gun and pulled the imaginary trigger with his words.

"Some friends..." Williams murmurs. Shepard resists the urge to give her a disapproving look and continued his investigation.

"So, this other Turian, did he have a name? You said they must have been friends, how'd they greet each other?"

"Uh.. Yeah.. I remember a name... Sharen... Samm.. No... Damnit what was it!" Powell pounds his fist into his open palm.

"It's okay if you don't remember, Powell. I was just wondering." Shepard outstretched his hand. "What were you doing behind those boxes anyways?"

"I.. I was hiding. I mean a huge unknown ship enters the field a-and suddenly everything's gone to hell... I was hiding.." Powell answers.

'Sounds like he's trying to convince himself of that...' Shepard thinks.

"Why didn't the other dock workers hide behind the boxes with you?" Shepard asks instead. 'I'll untangle his lies..'

"I uh was already back here. Unloading boxes, ya know?"

"Certainly you must have had at least someone to help, it'd be bad if you went to pick up one box that was just a bit too heavy, maybe pull your back out." Shepard shrugs. Williams tenses next to him. He believe she's caught onto what he was playing.

"W-whattya tryin' to get at now, here Commander Shepard?" Powell cries out, a hint of hostility

"Strange coincidence that no one was with you today..."

"A-Alright! I'll tell you the truth! I-I... I sometimes need a... nap to get through the work day.. I sneak behind in these boxes and catch a few Z's. What's wrong with that!" Powell defends, his hand twitching more.

"Why didn't you try to help!" Ashley burst in from next to him. "People were dying and you were hiding like a coward!"

"With what weapons if I may ask Miss!" Powell yells back equally as angry! "I know i'm wrong but.. If I tried to help, I'd be just as dead as that guy!" he says, anger still lacing his words.

Ashley's hand flew up with her rifle. "You-"

"That's enough, Chief Williams," Shepard says soothingly, He quickly turned on his heel and faced the woman. He puts a gentle hand on her shoulder and another more forcefully on her gun. "He'll have enough guilt later, but now, we need answers." Shepard whispers to her. "Understand?"

"Yes, Sir..." Ashley answers back with haste, with maybe a bit more fluster in her motions than normal.

"You let all your subordinates talk like that?" Powell capitalizes on the moment.

"Well, to be honest no, but at least she wasn't caught sleeping on the job." Shepard emphasizes giving a careless shrug.

Ashley cracks a small smile behind her helmeted face.

"I-" Powell stammers trying to regain his footing in the mental battle between him and the N7 operative. Powell hangs his head, closing his eyes. "Those sounds won't ever leave me.."

Shepard steps closer. "You can redeem yourself, Powell. Just tell me the truth, i'll make sure, personally, you'll get the help you need." To be honest this guy doesn't deserve any help. Need was a good fill-in. Shepard thought to himself.

"I.. wasn't back here sleeping either, Commander.." Powell mumbles. "I was back here unpacking crates of grenades. Special grenades."

"Where'd you get them?"

"The.. Marines stationed here, I had an inside man- a friend- he helped supply 'em.. I shipped most off colony 'cept these few..." Powell bent out of sight, appearing in seconds. He carefully placed a crate on the ground at Shepard's feet.

"That is all that's left, I swear on it." Powell grumbles, his head hanging low.

Shepard gulps, he wasn't actually expecting his words to work on the dock worker. It was more of 'it'll eat you alive in the night' kinda thing.'

"You did the right thing in the end, Powell, and that's what counts." Shepard says seriously, looking into the man's eyes.

"I suppose so,"

"We need to move out," Shepard says, addressing the marines. Shepard's attention turns to Powell. "keep safe,"

"They're not letting up!" Ashley yelled over the roar of rapid gunfire. Wincing, Shepard braced against another barrage of bullets.

"Yeah, just keep it up, we're almost to the-" Shepard was cut off, when he saw a perfect opportunity to rise above his cover and let out some of his own fire.

A few more minutes of fire and the battle was over. Shepard unclenched his hands and took a deep steadying breath.

"What now Commander?" Alenko asks rolling his shoulders back.

Shepard made note Alenko was a very powerful biotic, a very impressive guy all around, but his shooting lacked. Shepard knew he wasn't going to be amazing, but expected something more from the LT.

"We push on. They couldn't have moved the beacon that far." Shepard answers.

Shepard gestures for the others to follow as he takes up a brisk walk with his gun raised and eyes open.

"What was your job here, Williams?" Alenko says after a few minutes of silence.

"I was a squad leader. Small, mostly weapons training and such." Williams answers, her voice getting softer and softer.

Shepard threw a worried glance over his shoulder at the woman. He almost wanted to hit Alenko, bringing up her squad when the wound of losing them was so fresh, was just stupid! He hated it when people tried to bring up his past, they were shot down pretty quickly.

"Sounds peaceful," Alenko muses.

"It was," Williams murmurs to herself.

Shepard slowed his pace when he noticed a glowing object still a good distance away from them.

"I think we're close," Shepard says to his companions. They were now walking down a sloped catwalk, and the closer they got the more of a chill that Shepard felt. Then, Shepard felt, something else, a bullet hit his shields, and took them down almost immediately. 'Ah, shit,' Shepard curses inwardly.

"Geth!" Ashley warns, if a bit late with the warning.

Shepard fired wildly as he rushed forward, eyeing a particular crate as cover.

"Alenko! I need some of you're biotics over here!" Shepard calls. He raises his head, spotting three Geth stupid enough to be grouped together. He unhooked one of the grenades from his belt, and activated it with a quick touch of his Omni-Tool. He tossed the grenade over his cover and it was almost perfectly in the center.

"Nice toss, Commander!" Alenko praises. Shepard smiles and presses the corresponding button on his Omni-Tool to make the grenades explode.

There were only a few Geth and only a couple of husks that were easily disposed of. The trio stood from their cover, and each checked over their supplies individually.

"Is everyone okay, no one hit?" Shepard asks

"All good," Ashley answers.

"Yeah, same here, Commander." Kaidan replies.

Shepard nods, and turns around to look at the beacon. His eyes widen in awe. It glowed a green that was indescribable, it was so alien.

"Ground team to the Normandy," Kaidan "Requesting Evac-"

"It's amazing, it wasnt doing anything like this when they dug it up!" Ashley let out a wondrous whistle.

"It is magnificent, I've never seen anything like it," Shepard says. "Alright, I'll check up on Alenko, see how long until our evac."

Ashley gives a hum of her acknowledgement, and Shepard takes his leave towards Kaidan.

"Should be here in a few minutes, Commander," Kaidan informs him.

"Good, now we just sit here and wait," Shepard says. "All we have to do now, is hurry up and wait."

Kaidan chuckles, "Yea-"

Shepard turns to see a horrific sight. Williams struggling to dig her feet into the ground while being forcefully pushed in.

"Kaidan pull her outta there!" Shepard orders as he runs forward, not even waiting for a reply. Ashley's face was contorted in pain and concentration.

Shepard jumps, his feet landing just behind the Gunnery Chief's.

"C'mon, Chief!" Shepard groans out, as his hand wraps around her waist. In any other situation one might find this awkward, but Shepard knew he had to do something, and that getting too close to that beacon was a bad idea. He grunts with the effort, but actually gets her feet off the ground, and tosses her aside just in time. Shepard however, couldnt get out of the field himself, and was forcefully pulled in.

Screaming started taking over his hearing, and for a faint second it sounds as if someone is yelling his name, but it quickly gets over run by sudden loud whistle, and he felt his feet lift off the ground. He couldn't move, and his breath came in shallow gasps. The image of slaughter and loud screaming over run his mind. The image was being burned in his head, it moved at speeds he couldn't comprehend. It was awful.

Then for one second, it made sense. He made out one word, one syllable, one whisper in the whirlwind of noises. "HELP!" Then Benjamin Shepard's world went dark.

'Oh ouww. My head is pounding.' Shepard thinks, groaning quite loudly. He slowly sat up, letting the sheet that covered him fall.

"You're up!" he heard from beside him. He turns his head and blinks a few times, getting used to the light. What he saw was shocking, Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams was standing, arms crossed, at the door.

"Yeah, do you know how long I was out?" Shepard asks

Then the door opens and reveals the doctor of the Normandy, Chakwas.

"Oh good, you're awake," Chakwas says casually. "How are you feeling?"

"Minor throbbing, like the morning after shore leave," Shepard jokes. "How long was I out?" he reiterates.

"It was about fifteen hours, more or less. Something must have happened down planetside with the beacon," Chakwas starts.

"It was my fault Commander," Ashley starts, her voice strong. 'She must have rehearsed what she was going to say,' Shepard thinks, he almost cracks a smile at his thought, but was able to retain it from showing.

"Don't blame yourself, as if you had any idea what would've happened." Shepard gives a reassuring smile to Ashley, and she gives an uneasy smile back.

"Actually, we don't even know if that's what set it off." Chakwas says, "And unfortunately we'll never know."

Shepard gives a questioning look but it was Ashley who clarified.

"The beacon exploded, it's what knocked you out, system overload maybe. The Lieutenant and I carried you back to the ship."

"Thanks, I appreciate it," Shepard replies.

"Well, we couldn't just leave you there, could we?" Ashley jokes.

"Could have, would've meant so much paperwork." Shepard teases. Shepard was happy to tease with anyone at all. Williams was just making it easy.

Chakwas shakes her head with a motherly smile on her face.

"Anyways..." Chakwas says breaking Shepard from his thoughts. "What is most peculiar is the fact that physically you're fine. But, I detected unusual brain activity while you were unconscious." Chakwas informs. "I also saw an increase in your rapid eye movement. A sign typically associated with dreaming."

"It wasn't a dream," Shepard starts. "It... was more like a vision. There was destruction and death, but I can't make any sense of it. It was like..." Shepard shakes his head. "It's hard to pinpoint what it was, but it was not normal. Something seriously happened down there." Shepard finishes with a sigh of breath.

"I better add this to my report." Shepard stands from the bed and stretches, his shoulder pops and all his knuckles crack individually. Shepard then realizes, that Williams is still in the room. He opens his mouth to ask what she was doing here, not to be rude or anything like that, to be honest he could tell a lot from their first encounter. Shepard actually just thought about suggesting to Anderson to let her stay.

"Oh, and Commander, Captain Anderson wishes to speak to you in his cabin. He told me to relay that message when you were up and moving." Chakwas says, interrupting Shepard's thoughts.

"I should get going then. Chakwas, Williams."

"Sir," Ashley snaps into a salute and with a nod of acknowledgment, Shepard turns and leaves the Med-Bay, only to cross the Mess hall, which was adorned with chairs and one large table. No one was in the room at the time, which was actually odd. Shepard didnt actually know what time it was, maybe some of the crew were sleeping.

While Shepard ponders that idea, he reaches the Captain's Quarters. While Anderson had this room for himself to sleep and do reports, Shepard had a sleeper pod and the mess hall to do his own duties. Shepard didn't mind, this was one of his first major deployments since the Blitz. He could say he was a bit rusty in leading, so getting to know the crew and such, was a big point he wanted to make.

Shepard buzzes the door to the Captain's room, not wanting to just barge in. The door hisses unlocked and opens in just a few seconds.

"Good to see you're up and running Commander," Anderson's voice calls from somewhere in the room. Shepard steps inside and the door closes and locks.

"Up and running with some minor pain, but nothing I can't deal with," Shepard says, "Chakwas said you wanted to see me." Shepard says, changing the topic.

"That beacon hit you pretty hard, you sure you're okay?"

"I'll be fine, sir. But, I do have some questions." Shepard says.

"Ask away,"

"The Gunnery Chief, Ashley Williams. I was just wondering, is she here to stay?"

"Yes, it appears so. Alenko gave his highest regards of her. It's just a matter of getting her on the roster and signed on." Anderson answers. "Do you have an objection?"

"No, of course not. I've seen her fight, she can hold her own, a fine soldier. She'll make a great addition to the team," Shepard's quite a long moment. "About Jenkins..."

"Jenkins gave his life early on to this cause. He's going to get the highest honors at his burial."

"I don't like soldiers dying under my command, Captain." Shepard replies icily.

"I understand, Commander, but it does happen. You'll have to be ready for it," Anderson says trying to calm Shepard. Shepard took a breath in, it wasn't Anderson's fault, and Shepard knew that.

"Sorry sir,"

"I won't lie to you, Shepard," Anderson says, pacing slowly in the room, his hands behind his back. "This looks bad to the Council, Shepard, Nihlus is dead,"

At those words, Shepard cringes. He almost totally forgot about Nihlus.

"This will jeopardize you're Spectre candidacy. The beacon's destroyed and the Geth are attacking, they want answers."

"I didn't do anything wrong, Captain, I hope the Council will see that." Shepard says back.

"I'll stand by your side, Shepard, you're a hero in my book. It's the other Turian that'll give us problems, Saren. He's one of the best, a living legend. But if he's working with the Geth, that means he's gone rouge, the Council won't like hearing their golden child is the bad guy." Anderson sighs, turning to face Shepard after his share of pacing. "One big thing, Saren hates humans."

"Hates humans? Why?" Shepard questions.

"He thinks that we're growing too fast, trying to take over the Galaxy. You know a lot of aliens think that, he's just the only one that can actually do something about it." Anderson says, crossing his arms. "Saren has allied himself with the Geth, I dont know how but he did or why. This is bad, Shepard, but we can only assume it has something to do with that beacon." Anderson takes a steadying breath, walking over to his desk and leaning on it.

"You were there, Shepard, before the beacon exploded, did you see anything? Is there anything that might tell us what Saren was after?"

"Just before I blacked out, I had some sort of vision. It was really jumbled, like, a vid on fast forward maybe a hundred times. There were words that were spoken, but they were jumbled as well. It didn't make any sense, at all. It... seemed like a warning. A warning that something was coming and that something would decimate everything. Butchering people..." Shepard stares at his hands, he had a lot of blood on them, but not as much as that vision had.

"We need to report this to the Council, Shepard." Anderson says.

"And say what? That I had a vision? A bad dream? You said it yourself, Saren is their golden child."

"We don't know what was on that beacon. Lost Prothean technology? Blueprints for some ancient war-time weapon of mass destruction? Whatever it was, Saren has it too." Anderson takes a step toward Shepard, shaking his fist. "Saren hates humans, he sees us as a blight on the Galaxy. That attack was an act of war!"

Shepard is silent, taking in the information before raising a hand to the bridge of his nose.

"What can we do?" Shepard asks, raising his shoulders in a shrug.

"We just have to talk to the Council, they have to understand. Humanity will not stand for this! We will want answers! And we will get them!"

"I'll find a way to take him down, Captain," Shepard assures.

"It's not that easy, Saren's a Spectre. He can go anywhere, do almost anything, he writes his own rules. That's why we need the Council on our side. If not," Anderson pauses. "This will be almost impossible."

"If we prove that Saren's gone rouge, the Council will revoke his Spectre status."

"I'll contact the ambassador and see if he can get us an appointment with the Council. He'll want to see us immediatly when we reach the Citadel." Anderson says. "You should get up to the bridge and tell Joker of our plans. You're dismissed Commander," Anderson finishes.

"Sir," Shepard replies, with a salute.

Shepard reaches the door, and as it opens, takes a breath. He had a feeling deep in his gut that this was going to be easier said than done. He spots a certain soldier he felt the need to talk to at this moment.

"Sir," Ashley says, when she notices his figure sitting across from her.

"I hear the news, Williams. Welcome to the crew." Shepard replies, giving a small smile.

"You heard. Yeah, it's a great honor to be on the Normandy now," Ashley says though not nearly as enthused as Shepard would've thought she'd be.

"What's the matter Williams? You have a great opportunity here."

"Yeah it's great, honest. It's just I get the feeling I don't belong." she says. Shepard nods, giving a look of understanding.

"I get what you mean, but, if there's anyone that deserves a position on the Normandy, Williams, it's you. You're a damn good soldier."

"Thanks," Ashley's says, finally giving a small smile that crept up to her face. "It's just a shame that someone had to... well you know... for me to get this position."

Shepard sighs, resting his palms on the table.

"I know it may feel like you're taking Jenkins' spot, but you're not, Williams. Even if Jenkins was right here sitting where I am, I would still request you be put on this ship." Shepard leans back in his chair and gives another reassuring smile. His smile falls as he realizes he should probably ask another question instead.

"How are you holding up, Williams?" Shepard asks.

"As okay as I can at the moment," she says staring at her hands. "I mean I've seen friends die, it just comes with being a marine. But seeing dead civilians like that... I don't think I'll ever get used to it." Ashley sighs. "It could've been a lot worse, though, if you never showed up."

"You helped too, down there. We couldn't have done it without you, Williams."

"Thanks, Commander, it helps when someone makes you feel welcome, especially in a new place. To be honest, I was a bit worried about being reassigned."

"No need to worry here, you'll fit in just fine." Shepard assures with a quick gesture to her. "I should get to the bridge and tell Joker to bring us into the Citadel." Shepard says, standing from his chair.

"Commander, you can just call me Ash, or Ashley. Williams makes me sound old," Ashley says with shrug

"Back at you, just Shepard or Ben," Shepard replies. "Good to have you on board, Ashley."

Shepard walks up the stairs, and makes it to the CIC pretty quickly. It was different how the ship was set up. The galaxy map set up in the midst of all the action. A terminal to the left, and multiple stations surrounding the map for various reasons. There was Pressly, the Navigator, Kendrick was part of the multiple weapon that were crucial in space battles. Some of the non essential crew were stationed on the outer wall, facing away from everyone, these were the comm buoys that allowed, when in range, all vid mail, and e-mails to be sent.

The cockpit was of course at the front of the airship. Were this an Alliance ship and not a Turian Hierarchy and Alliance co-operation, this was were the map would be. The Turians believe that a commanding officer should oversee and watch over the crew and their tasks. The Alliance was basic, put the commander by the pilot to easily relay messages and important details to the pilot. Instead the whole ship was equipped with a very extensive, and elaborate intercom system.

"Hey Joker," Shepard calls when he's in earshot. "Captain Anderson said to take us into the Citadel. What's our ETA?"

"Jumping through the relay now, Commander."

"Good," Shepard replies.

Shepard and Joker make some small talk, discuss his illness, Vrolik's Syndrome, an illness that makes every single one of his bones as fragile as glass. One that probably would have led to his death were he born a few centuries early.

That's when he heard the others approaching.

"Ready to see that taxpayer money at work, Commander?" Joker jests.

"Ready when you are, Joker." Shepard deadpans, with a roll of his eyes. But Shepard couldn't help but walk over to the small window and peer at the station before him.

It was massive, and that was putting it lightly. Five enormous arms branch out to begin the bulk of the Citadel Though Shepard knew that the most important part was right in the middle. It was tucked away, the arms acting as makeshift protectors, but the center of the Citadel was where all the diplomats worked and lived. The stars of the system paled in comparison at the glittering lights of the station itself. Shepard, to say the least, was in awe. It was almost too big for it's own good. Shepard heard a lot about the Citadel, how classy it was, but to see it actually working, was mesmerizing. This was before they even came close to docking!

As more people file into the cockpit, Shepard slowly migrates back to his original position behind Joker. Though that quickly changes.

"Look at the size of that ship!" Ashley exclaims, squinting her eyes to read the lettering. Shepard is soon right beside her, staring in awe at the biggest ship he's ever seen!

"That's the Destiny Ascension, Flagship of the entire Citadel fleet," Alenko informs casually, only glancing out the window once.

"Size isn't everything, you know." Joker huffs.

"Why so touchy, Joker?" Ash teases, at the same time that Shepard thinks that exact statement it had already been said. Shepard cracks a smile at the joke. It was true, in a bit. But everyone knew, the Ascension was a big deal.

"You need firepower too!" Joker defends, albeit helplessly.

Ashley scoffs, "Just look at that monster! It's guns can probably rip through all the barriers any ship in the Alliance fleet!"

"Good thing it's on our side," Shepard says, breaking the small competition of words between Ash and Joker. Joker huffs and shakes his head.

"We'll keep this argument up later, Williams."

"Plan on it," Ash says back absently, still staring out the window.

Shepard was able to tear his eyes and mind off of the station and focus on Joker's job at the moment.

"Citadel Control, this is the S.S.V Normandy requesting permission to land." Joker says with a cool tone, if only a slight hint of boredom.

"Stand by for clearance, Normandy." a voice says through the speakers. Joker after a moment's hesitation starts tapping his fingers in an irregular beat.

'I can't tell if he is just really impatient or really that bored...' Shepard thinks, 'Maybe a mixture of both.' With his thoughts, Shepard missed what the Control operator said, but it wasn't that difficult to see that they were given authorization to land.

"Roger, control. Normandy out." Joker gives a smirk and a wave of his hand. Shepard glances one more time out the window

And with a hiss, they dock successfully with one of the largest space stations there is. They finally dock at the Citadel.

A/N So until I get started and get going, I'll probably take a lot from the game in use it in dialogue. But No worries, this will not be a word for word rundown of the game! I'll add and or take away from the story and at least try and make it my own. I also want to get onto the schedule of uploading every Sunday or Monday night. I know that won't always be possible so, I hope you all stick with me, even when I mess up! Until next time!