Aftermath

By: Spectre4hire

The Crew's Contribution

After leaving the Collector base, there was no big party; there was no champagne or loud music, the Normandy crew celebrated differently.

There were hugs; thanks were exchanged, with a little celebratory liquor being drunk but that was it. Most of the crew were exhausted after being at the mercy of the seeker swarms and Collectors, and now they were getting what they truly deserved… rest.

There would be time for parties, acknowledgments, toasts, but for now the entire crew were scheduled for one thing only, sleep.

EDI was gracious enough to continue to operate most of the ship's functions that she became responsible for when the crew had been taken. The only task she was not assigned was piloting the ship.

No matter how tired Joker was, he was more than able to pilot the ship for a few more hours before he got his much needed rest.

The remainder of Shepard's squad took their normal positions throughout the ship. They were left to reflect on the importance of their mission and their own part in accomplishing what was thought to be the impossible...

Grunt grinned, clearly proud of himself as he paced excitedly in his usual lair. Shepard is my Battle Master. He has no equal. The pure krogan had proudly declared this after passing the Rite of Passage with the Commander's help. Shepard was his obvious choice, his words still ringing true in the Krogan's mind. Grunt, who prized himself on fighting, didn't bother himself with the worries that now the Collectors were dealt with, he might not be facing any more enemies anytime soon. He knew his Battle Master would find him some. The Reapers would be coming soon enough and Grunt was sure that he could find away to fight them. He didn't care that they were sentient machines, all Shepard had to do was point and he would shoot. Grunt began cleaning his shotgun, while trying to count all the Collectors he had killed in their base. One, two, three, four, five…

Same old Shepard, Garrus thought to himself while he was busying himself with the Thanix Cannons. He couldn't help but be even more impressed with his Commander and friend after what they had just accomplished on the Collector base. This wasn't the only time Shepard had proven his critics wrong, Garrus could only chuckle to himself seeing the images of the Council as Shepard approached them with new evidence about the Reapers. Try to dismiss the claim now; he thought thinking about the stubborn Turian Councilor, he was sure Shepard would have an appropriate reply… his fist. Garrus couldn't consider himself more fortunate, he was serving with one of the best leaders that the galaxy had ever seen. He could only hope that he was able to take something away to apply to his own leadership, Garrus would never fail his squad again, not after Omega. But his time with Shepard wasn't over, they still had one hell of a battle left and Garrus was going to see it through till the end.

Samara meditated in the Observatory Deck, she had lived for centuries and yet she could easily admit to never have met someone quite like her current Commander. She had met most species known to the galaxy, she had been in the presence of matriarchs, generals, councilors, politicians, soldiers, scientists, monsters, mercenaries, and yet none of them could hold a candle to Shepard. He truly was the best. His skills as a soldier, his leadership, his determination, his character, his selflessness; any one of these would have made for a good leader, but Shepard had all of them. He truly was the most impressive person that the Justicar had been around; it had been an honor serving with him. She wondered what was next for his team, now that the Collectors had been dealt with, what she did know was that she was not going to leave until the Reaper threat had truly ended. She was confident that as long as Shepard was in charge, there would be a way to end it.

Tali checked the engines for the fourth time in ten minutes. The upgrades had survived the mission but they would need to dry dock if Shepard expected them to be at 100% capacity again. Shepard, she thought silently, the name itself caused her to smile, her hands to fidget in front of her. Ever since meeting him in the back alleys of the Citadel, her respect for him never wavered but the more she had been around him, the more she admired him, finding herself secretly having a crush on the first human Spectre. It is only a crush, she said to herself, trying her best not to think about her Commander any more. Though the Collectors had been defeated, she was torn whether to return back to the Flotilla to help her people or to stay with Shepard until the Reapers had been dealt with. She knew her people needed her, especially after the death of her father, she also knew that many of her people wanted to start a war with the geth to reclaim their home world. Tali sighed; the time ahead was clearly going to be difficult for her.

Soldier, Corsair, Hero, Cerberus Operative, Fugitive,those were just a few of the positions that Jacob had held. However he was no longer a Cerberus operative, like Miranda, he resigned after the Illusive man had demanded they stop Shepard from destroying the base. The Illusive man wanted to keep it, to study it, to take its power; he wanted the knowledge, so that he could be a true king of humanity. The thought alone made Jacob sick, it made him think about his father and the horrors that he had committed when he was a captain. Jacob shook his head, he didn't have to think about his father, not after Shepard had helped him with that conflict, and now he didn't have to think about the Illusive man's twisted agenda, now that Shepard had destroyed the Collector base, for good. It was a shame that the Illusive man couldn't have been on it, he thought with a smirk at the image. So now they would have Cerberus and the Reapers to worry about, not to mention a few other enemies waiting to show themselves. Jacob didn't care that the odds were stacked against them; he like the others took confidence in the fact that Shepard was still leading them. This reminded him that he and the Commander needed to get loud, and spill some drinks on the Citadel.

Fuck Cerberus, Jack snorted with laughter, the Collectors were dead and Cerberus didn't get to keep its precious base. Good for Shepard to finally show some balls against those bastards. She only wished that she could have seen the Illusive man's face when Shepard had said no, but now that Shepard was against Cerberus it meant that it was guaranteed that she would see some Cerberus agents in the future to try to bring them in. She smiled, rubbing her hands together sparking up her biotics power; Jack was hungry for more revenge on the people who cursed her life. I wonder if we still need the Cheerleader?She hoped not, but she was sure that the cheerleader wasn't going anywhere, since she did defy the Illusive man's orders, About time the Cerberus bimbo realized how monstrous they were. She wasn't worried about the fight ahead, Shepard was capable, as long as she got to flatten a few Cerberus agents in the process of stopping the Reapers, she was staying on board the Normandy. Now where should I place my collector tattoo?

Collectors killed, base destroyed, Shepard is very thorough,Mordin listed to himself while he paced through his labs. The salarian doctor wasn't surprised that Cerberus wanted to keep the base and use it for themselves, it was in their nature. Sure Shepard had given them credibility, a boost in the opinion of many, but Shepard was not able to hide their true intents, but thankfully he had been able to stop them. Mordin had joined Shepard as a penance for having played a hand in the genophage; his only objective was to help humanity not Cerberus. Ironically the doctor could now add the Collectors to the growing list of species that he has played a hand in hurting, right under Krogans. The energetic salarian was processing some of the new information that EDI had been able to download from the Collector's base, about the reapers. The Reapers however was one species that he held no qualms in trying to eliminate.

It was difficult for Thane to ponder his life now, since he was young he had always allowed himself to take the life of his targets with no regrets, there were no attachments, it was just another job. But now after defeating the Collectors and destroying their base, he did feel something, a sense of satisfaction, purpose, in a life in which he had forgotten to feel since the death of his wife, but now with his son back in his life, Thane's life had purpose again. Even though he was going to die soon, he wasn't going to allow his illness to dictate the terms of how he was going out. He would die in this fight with Shepard or with his son at his side, after the Reapers had been dealt with. It was an easy promise for Thane to make to himself, it would be a bit more difficult to keep but he was not worried, that would be unnatural for the drell assassin.

Shepard Commander has successfully destroyed the pawns of the old machines. Legion was in the AI core; the mission was over, when Legion realized just how strong his people were now with the addition of the heretics, their numbers swelled. They would fight with Shepard against the old machines, who had caused so many of his people to fall. We will make our own destiny thanks to Shepard's involvement. The geth no longer worshipped the Reapers, they no longer believed them to be their salvation and they no longer allowed themselves to be a tool in the use of the galaxy's destruction. The geth would not be manipulated by anyone, especially the Reapers or the creators. What if the creators wage a war on us?Legion's faceplates flared at the possibility, but it was easy for the geth to understand the consequences of such an action. The Reapers would flatten them just as Shepard had told him and creator Tali. Legion tried to look into his databanks to predict what would happen in their fight against the Reapers with Shepard leading them but no data was available…

"What do you think sounds better EDI, "Joker: the face behind the Normandy, or Joker: A cripple's tale: Breaking all the rules and all his bones?" Joker asked turning to face Edi's avatar.

"What is the context Mr. Moreau?"

"My book, I am sure to have at least a dozen offers, once we defeat the Reapers," answered Joker confidently.

"Oh, I don't think either are very good."

Joker rolled his eyes, "what do you know? My audience isn't for AI's anyways."

"Will I be mentioned in this book?" asked EDI, her usual automated tone carried a hint of curiosity.

"In passing," answered Joker vaguely.

"Then this book would not be very accurate." EDI dismissed, returning back to her auto toned voice.

Joker threw up his hands, clearly regretting that he had brought the subject up at all with Edi, he began typing in his terminal accessing Microsoft Word 2186's edition. The First human Spectre was trapped in a Collector's ship and only one person could save him wrote a smiling Joker. "Oh this is going to be good."

"But not accurate."

"EDI enough!"

Ever since she could remember Miranda Lawson had a purpose, a position, whether it was as a kid, when she was destined to be the beginning of her father's lasting dynasty. After leaving her father to join Cerberus, her priority had always been the advancement and preservation of humanity in a galaxy when many species wanted to eliminate humanity's expanding role. When she became XO of this ship at the beginning of the mission, her purpose was to make sure Shepard didn't fail. It became abundantly clear that she and Cerberus had different opinions on what failing this mission was.

"Stop Shepard from destroying the base Miranda that is an order!"

"Then consider this my resignation."

Miranda couldn't help but smile, pleased and proud with herself at her last exchange with her boss. The man she had long admired, but now she finally was able to see the truth of his objectives, they were centered on him, not ideals had changed; as did the man she now admired above all others: Shepard. She could feel her lips develop into a full smile, a sudden warmth radiated through her body. He had done so much for her, and yet he never complained, because he was always focused on helping others first, that was what made him a great Commander, and friend but could she be more with him? The thought was tempting for her, especially after their visit in the Engine room.Focus Miranda, she snapped herself out of romantic delusions between herself and Shepard. The Collectors may have been finished, but there were still pressing matters that required all of her focus and attention for the fight ahead against the Reapers.

Shepard groaned collapsing on his bed, with his hands outstretched, he had just exchanged a few words with the Illusive man, severing his ties with Cerberus permanently, something he had wanted to do for a while. However a thought continued to creep in his mind, one that he could not avoid, should I have destroyed the base? Was the Illusive man right was it the only way to stop the Reapers? He pushed those thoughts out of his mind; he was too tired to debate himself. He had put all of his effort, all of his strength, his focus, his emotions in this mission and now it was over, he was completely drained and what made it worst, he shouldn't be. Because as Shepard knew it, the worst of it wasn't even here, he needed to rally the galaxy to stop the Reapers, but all Commander Shepard wanted to do was to close his eyes, and try to remember a time when his life hadn't been chaotic when his life had been simple.

Mindoir, he thought at once, back when his toughest challenge was passing his classes while making sure the farm was running smoothly. That had been little more than a decade ago but to him it felt like an eternity. He couldn't even recognize his former self without a gun and a squad behind him. He was now defined by the battles that he fought in. Whether he liked it or not that was who he had become.

Dozens of problems began floating into his mind about the task at hand, the Council, the geth- quarian relations, the Alliance, the Reapers. He groaned but he knew what had to be done, pushing him to sit up.

"EDI?"

EDI's avatar appeared, "yes, Commander?"

"Send the reports to the Council, and to Admiral Hackett on the Arcturus. As well as a message to both, that I will need to speak with them, at their earlier convenience," ordered Shepard.

"Reports are sent, anything else Shepard?"

Shepard thought for a moment. "Notify me their replies."

"Mr. Moreau wanted me to ask you, if you had a specific location you wanted to go? Or did you just want him to float through the Terminus System?" EDI asked.

Shepard smirked, "I appreciate Joker's concerns, the citadel."

"I will inform him at once."

"That is all EDI"

"Logging you out Shepard," EDI's avatar disappeared.