"Loco...I don't know about you...but there is NO WAY I am going to allow some Reaper to rummage around in my head." This was followed by a chorus of confirmation and agreement to the statement that was made by James.
"Reapers are not to be trusted Commander." Javik said, his eyes focused on Shepard. "This could all be a-"
"Trap. I know Javik." Shepard said, holding his head as everyone finally quieted down after talking and yelling non-stop for 10 minutes. "What other choice do we have? We have no way knowing what the Crucible does, and it was apparently design by this particular reaper. So either way, we're dead. We can not fire the weapon, but everyone will have to fight to the last man standing. But if we fire it and it turned out to be a trap, we will die anyways. What does it hope to gain from indoctrinating us now?" No one had the answer to this. To sow confusion among the ranks? There was already confusion so that was not need. Every Reaper in the Galaxy was making a bee line to Sol, the final battle was already gearing up.
"I don't get it though." Jack spoke up. "Why is this thing going to talk to us through dreams? Why not just use the comms?"
"Admiral Hackett said that it will be able to give more information through this way rather than comms"
"What gots me confused is this share dream thing it is going to put us under." Kaiden said, crossing his arms. "How is that possible? I understand that it can indoctrinate several beings at the same time, but have them able to link minds?"
"I think...I think only this Reaper can do that." Shepard said quietly. "When Harbinger was attempting to indoctrinate me, it looked surprised and confused to see Salvation in my mind. Like it never happen to it before...meaning this reaper is very different from the others."
"Commander Shepard?" An asari medic called as she walked into the packed room. "Would you and your crew follow me please." Shepard nodded his head and they left, taking a service elevator to a large room near the top floor. Inside, several comfortable cots sat inside, waiting for their occupants. Along with Edi and a large amount of geth troops. "Sir? Would you and your crew pick a bed please."
"Whats going to happen?" Shepard asked as he picked the closes one, with Tali on his right and Garrus on his left.
"These canister are filled with knock out gas, strong enough to take down a krogan." The medic said, she then turn to Tali. "Admiral, you are going to have to turn off the filters for this to effect you."
Tali nodded her head. "Got it. The geth program is making the changes now."
"Sir, this canister can keep you asleep for several hours. But in case of an emergency, these geth will inject you and the crew with stimulate to wake you up. They will also protect you from any intruders that try to break in."
"Anything else?"
"No sir." The medic answered, "Is there anything else I can get for you?"
"No...thank you. Dismissed." Shepard said quietly. He turn to the others and nodded his head. "Come on...at least we will get some shut eye out of the deal." Everyone gave a small chuckle before laying down. "EDI. Knock us out."
"Acknowledge." She stated, before she and the three other geths activated the canisters. Smoke slowly filled the room. One by one, the occupants slowly fell asleep. Shepard was the last one still awake, his eyes slowly closing before surrendering to the darkness.
-Dream realm-
Shepard slowly open his eyes and found himself surrounded by familiar trees. He slowly walked around, expecting to see the little boy, but there was nothing there. No inky shadows, no giant buzzing reaper sounds, just him and the trees.
"Okay...now what?"
"WHERE THE FUCK AM I!" A voice echoed out, startling Shepard.
"Jack?" Shepard called out.
"Shepard! Where the fuck are you? All I see are some creepy trees!" she yelled.
"Um...I guess we are using my dream as a meeting point?"
"This is your happy dream place? Fuck...I am glad I can't see into your head." She said as she made her way to him. Shepard raised an eyebrow when he saw Jack. While he was wearing his armor, Jack was wearing what appeared to be a white dress that fell to her knees and had a full head of hair.
"Jack...have you seen yourself?" Shepard asked. Jack stared before looking down at her attire. Her face flushed and she rounded on Shepard.
"The fuck did you put me in?" Shepard cross his arms and stared at her. Jack's face flushed before looking away. "Okay...so I have girly persona in my dreams."
"Shepard?"
"Commander!"
"BATTLEMASTER!"
"Shep!"
One by one, his crew appeared before him, making their way through the dream trees. Some remain the same way they look as they always did. Namely Javik, Grunt, Zaeed (He was missing the discolor eyes though), and Garrus. Others looked completely different. Liara was wearing a beautiful asari design blue dress. Kasumi looked like a ninja who wore a 'kill me' orange color. (She defended that if it work for the character, then it will work for her in her dreams) Jacob had a simple clothes on, with an afro for some reason. Miranda had a stylish business suit on. Wrex looked like he was wearing his family's old armor, although it looked polished and updated. Vega wore what looked like an ancient pilot suit. Samara had what appear to be ancient Asari armor on. Kaiden wore his Alliance uniform, (However, he had two pedants on his chest. One with a young blond girl he didn't know, another with Ashley's face on it.) Tali stun everyone when she appeared, wearing ancient Quarian clothes and showing everyone her face for the first time...well...everyone but Wrex, Samara, and Shepard.
"Well...wait the hell are we waiting for?" Zaeed said, lighting up a cigar he pulled from his pocket. "Where is this giant Reaper bastard we are waiting for?" A light feminine laughter echoed out after he said this. Everyone turn to the females, but they shook their heads.
"It wasn't us." Kasumi said.
"No...it was me." the voice echoed out. Everyone turn their heads when a wispy black shadow form in front of them. Slowly it gathered in to a form that stood slightly taller than Shepard. The black shadow lighten until it form a creature none of them has ever saw before.
Cat like features graced its face, eyes that lacked pupils, with a feline like nose and lips. All of this was offset with a third eye that formed in it forehead Its hair was was long, hanging all the way towards it feet. Fur covered its body, forest green in color. Its hands held 6 digits, with natural claws forming from it. It was...exotic as well as strange. It wore clothes, light and breathable from the looks of it, looking more like a toga of ancient human age.
"Hello warriors." The creature said, its voice strangely musical, "You stand before the First."
"The First?" Shepard asked "What does that mean?" The Alien smiled at Shepard, it was one filled with sadness.
"The first beings to come to life...The first ones to wander our galaxy...The first to fall."
No one understood at first before Tali fell to her knees, her face filled with understanding.
"Keelah..." She whispered.
"Tali?" Shepard went to her side.
"Shepard..." Tali said quietly. "The being that stands before us...She is the first of her kind..."
"I don't understand." Garrus said quietly. Tali looked at everyone, surprised that know one got the small, simple riddle.
"She represent the first living beings in our Galaxy...when it was just born and young." Tali said, looking at the Alien in the eyes. The Alien smiled and nodded her head.
"You are correct, Tali'Zorah Vas Normandy. I represent the Akelos, the name for my people. We traveled the stars when the galaxy was young and full of potential. Sadly... I also represent the fall of the galaxy as well. I was the last to fall against those you call the 'Reapers'...My name is Kedana...and this is my story...the story of our galaxy's fall to the Reapers."