When my other ME fanfic basically fell apart, I moved on to this one. However, there were a number of scenes from the second and third game (specifically, towards the end of ME3) that I wanted to revisit and do my own take on them. This flashback is an intermission, and will be followed by a 2-part mini arc, which will lead directly into the Palaven/Vakarian family storyline. Again, sorry for another short update.


MASS EFFECT
HOME AND FAMILY

Intermission:
"Embers of a Dyeing Light"

Location: Horsehead Nebula, Anadius System – Cronos Station...

Mission: Secure Prothean VI... Concurrent to Alliance 5th Fleet Attack...

Shepard, accompanied by EDI and Garrus, had infiltrated the now compromised station- the 'heart' of all Cerberus Operations. Once Admiral Hackett had begun the attack, she and her team made good use of the resulting mayhem and panic- spreading like wildfire- and had fought their way toward the large central chamber. Shepard had seen this place multiple times, though this was limited to her discussions with the Illusive Man, via the QEC link between the SR-2 and the Station...

The massive circular "parlor" of the Illusive Man, with its wide 180 degree view, looked out across the system as its doomed Red Super-Giant. Until recently, this place had been the inner sanctum of the man who had first envisioned and led Cerberus. From his seat, he could observe the dying Anadius Star at his leisure, like some kind of god- lording over the faltering sun of a system devoid of life...

However, the three had been met by the empty chair at the center of the hall, engulfed in the glow of the wall of holographic displays before it. As soon as they began looking for Prothean VI, the Illusive Man had appeared, via hologram- for the third time, no less- and had wasted no time as he once more engaged Shepard in another round of banter. She had precious little time to spend indulging the man, and maintained her stance that he was misguided in his belief of ever controlling the Reapers...

EDI succeeded in activating the VI, which went on to reveal the truth of the Catalyst- that it was in fact the Citadel itself! However, it went to inform them that the Illusive Man had somehow made his way to the ancient construct, and alerted the Reapers to allies' plans. Jane couldn't fathom the man's reasoning for such an insane act- except as further proof that he was no longer in control of his thoughts.

Shepard knew from first-hand experience that invariably, everyone who'd integrated Reaper Tech into themselves had ended up enthralled by the machines. It was insidious in its efficiency, like a drug, only far more potent and deadly than any narcotic. From the moment you compromised yourself, you were damned. There was no turning back, and no way to stop the effects... aside from death. Indoctrination was the devil on your shoulder, the voice in your head leading you astray, the path to hell...

It was at that moment, however, that their attention was drawn away from the holographic panel, back to the doorway they'd entered through, as it slid open.

"You..." Shepard uttered darkly, her tone low and venomous as she eyed the new arrival...

"He warned you not to overstay your welcome." Kai Leng intoned as he calmly strode into the room, flanked by several Nemesis- the nimble assassins quickly fanning out along the parameter of the room- while a energy barrier appeared to cover the door. The whole time, the man's bravado radiated a hollow menace, leaving Shepard unfazed as he advanced toward her.

The red-haired woman unleashed a burst of gunfire from her assault rifle, and Leng calmly held up his hand, deflecting the barrage with Dark Energy radiating from his palm.

Shepard shouldered her M7 Avenger. "All right you bastard," she began, cracking her knuckles and flexing her neck and shoulders, prompting a smile from the cybernetic assassin. "I've had it with your bullshit- this ends here and now!" Shepard declared. "You've sprung your big 'trap', and frankly... I'm not impressed. The only one trapped in here is you!" She declared, taking a step forward.

She glared at the man. "As for that smoke and mirrors bullshit... It's fine with me, because I wouldn't waste a shot on you if you got down on your knees and begged me to shoot you... So, you think you're the one who has what it takes to kill me?!" Jane barked angrily. "Well, come on, here I am, now show what you've got- show me what a fucking bad-ass you really are!"

The Nemesis went after Garrus and EDI...

Kai Leng drew his ninjato with a flourish. "That's the spirit, Commander... The least the great Shepard can do is face her imminent death with dignity." He added confidently. He then launched himself into a running charge- under-handing his blade- and leapt through the air...

Shepard leaned in and caught his wrist, retaliating with a palm-strike to his midsection. Kai Leng was momentarily staggered by the blow, but quickly composed himself and jumped backward, re-assuming his offensive posture. He then shifted into a more upright pose, and advanced at a more deliberate pace, engaging Shepard in close-quarters combat.

"Yes... Just like that, Shepard." He began, taking two downward swipes at her- first southwesterly, and then southeasterly- which the woman only narrowly evaded. "The Hunt is always so much better when your prey struggles against its inevitable death." Kai Leng continued."When the moment comes- when the target draws its final breath and the eyes lull back and go white- oh yes, that futile hope of survival makes the victory all the sweeter." The killer proclaimed.

"I wouldn't know." Shepard replied. "Unlike you, I'm a soldier, so I don't have to resort to murder just to give myself a sense of purpose." She countered. "But then... Unlike some people, I've never needed a gun or sword to provide me with a sense of... potency?"

"Y-You fucking bitch!"

He glared, and tried to deliver a forward kick to her body. But she caught his heal. Kai Leng responded with a backward flip into a kick- only narrowly missing the woman before him. Her head was spinning as he moved in and delivered a series of body-blows to her midsection. However, Shepard interrupted him as she grabbed the back of his head and pulled him down- delivering a knee to the solar plexus.

The man was staggered, and she moved in, landing a right and left hook to his face, before he was able to recover and leap back. Kai Leng got in close, bringing the blade of his sword down and struggling to overpower Shepard as she held him at bay. "This is better than Thessia... more personal."

Shepard began kneeing him in the ribs, but was halted as he struck her with a burst of energy from his palm, before doing a turned in time to track him as he came to a halt at the head of the large room. He then punched through the floor in with his fist, exposing a power conduit beneath the metal panels- energy crackling and arcing along his sleek form.

"What's wrong?" The commander asked mockingly. "I could tell from the moment I we first fought that you're compensating for something." Shepard went on. "I've read you bio... A fuck-up, a textbook fuck-up, that's what you are." She continued. "Well, I'll tell you now that you'll have no more luck in penetrating me with that blade... Then you would with you're own impotent little weapon."

Feeding off the raw energy, he looked to Shepard. "You... Stupid bitch! All you've ever done is make humanity weaker..." Kai Leng raged. "You were supposed to be the face of the Alliance- of humanity- but all you've done is sold us out to the aliens."

"As opposed to you?" Shepard countered. "You're the one using Reaper tech to compensate for your own shortcomings- you're hardly the embodiment of the human spirit!"

"I'm stronger for it!" Kai Leng replied, standing up. "You either evolve or you die!" He declared, as he rushed toward her. Shepard craned back, narrowly avoiding his blade slicing into her. His second swing actually cut into the plating of her armor. "Hah! Getting tired?!"

She caught his arm and locked it with her elbow across her back, then wrenched her arm and brought her elbow down onto the underside of his. The sword dropped to the floor, just as she delivered a palm strike to his jaw. Kai Leng retaliated with a side kick to the right side of Shepard's midsection, causing her to release him- allowing him to withdraw from her reach.

He stepped back, but before he could do anything, Shepard charged him- tackling him dead-center, her shoulder planting sharply into his solar plexus. The two of them crashed noisily to the floor. Kai Leng started to rise, but the woman's hand landed on his forehead, slamming his head back down. Finally, the assassin drew both legs in and delivered a double-kick to the Commander, knocking her off of him.

He got to his feet, and grabbed his right forearm- below the elbow- and twisted it, forcing it back into the correct alignment with a grunt/gasp, then gave a few experimental flicks of his wrist. "Not bad... At least, I should say, that is, for someone who was brought back from the dead." Kai Leng taunted her with a smile. "You're a relic, Shepard, a burnt-out holdover from the from the old guard..." He went on in his mocking tone. "And as you've served your purpose... Well, I'm afraid it's time to die!"

He appeared before her in a blur, knocked her to the ground, and retrieved his sword. Shepard got to her feet as he moved in to attack. He took several swings, but failed to connect. "He's not swinging that thing like before... There's damage, and he's overcompensating." She thought silently, as the two exchanged a series of cursory blows. "He'll make a mistake soon, it's just a matter of time, and then..."

"You're finished, Shepard- you've lost!" Kai Leng exclaimed. "You and the rest of the collaborators in the Alliance are finished!" He continued.

"Look around you." Shepard countered. "This station, the heart of Cerberus, is in ruins... Tell me, then, what have you gained, as you continue fighting amidst the wreckage of a burning house?"

The next attack came, and Shepard evaded Kai Leng's blade- then appeared behind him and stabbed him in the back with something. He thrust his leg out- kicking her to the floor. The assassin shrugged off whatever she'd done and turned to face her as the Commander got to her feet. Seeing his opening, Kai Leng extended his left hand, dark energy forming in his palm...

…then pulsed violently and exploded!

Electricity began arcing across his body, disrupting his cybernetics. Kai Leng cried out and convulsed as his implants went crazy amidst the sparks. His ninjato clattered against the floor, and he lurched over in pain, cursing angrily. Confused, Kai Leng failed to react as Shepard rushed forward and delivered a hard left hook to his face. She then grabbed the back of his head, her fingers digging into his dark hair, as her right fist delivered another punch to his face- followed by a second and third, before she finally let go of him- sending him crashing to the floor.

"Get up, Kai Leng." Shepard began coolly as he uprighted himself. "What's the matter? You ran away at the Citadel, you ran away at Thessia... Legs getting tired?"

"Shut up!" He spat, getting to his feet. "Whatever you've done to me, you're too late! Even if you do win, you're too late to stop what's coming!" He exclaimed angrily, picking up his weapon and rushing toward Shepard. "It's over, you've already lost!" He yelled, taking multiple swipes at Shepard.

"Whatever happens, you won't live to see it." She replied resolutely, reversing his attack and sending him crashing into the chair as she sent him flying.

"You're a looser, Kai Leng, you're not even worth my time..." Shepard offered mockingly with a sly smile. "You're a disgrace, not just to the Alliance, but humanity. And all the implants in the galaxy can't change the fact that you'll always be nothing more than a career failure and a dropout, just a loser who could never measure up and hack it on his own."

Enraged, the hitman got up and leapt at her. "Goddamn you Shepar-"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Kai Leng toppled to the floor. Shepard held up a small, cylindrical device. "Compliments of Alliance R&D... Only good at close rang, it super-charges electronics and kills machines." She explained coolly as she placed her Phalanx pistol back at her hip. "And you are about as close to a machine as a person can get- you're dead, puppet, I've cut you're strings." She finished, turning her back to him.

The black-clad man gasped, followed by a cough and trickles of blood staining his jaw, as he doubled over and fell forward, his cheek pressed into the metal beneath him.

Shepard paused at the sound of gurgling behind her, followed by silence. "Finally..." The Commander murmured to herself as she upright the overturned chair. With that done, she moved to occupy the seat as she began typing into the holographic keyboard interface...

Now seated, the redhead began typing noiselessly at the panel, when she picked up on a grating sound directly behind her, like metal scraping against metal. Here eyes, partially obscured under the light blue transparent visor of the Sentry Interface she wore, briefly flitted sidelong. The movement of her hands only stopped for a fraction of secant, before she resumed what she was doing...

...Then, in a single motion, she rose from the chair and spun around- her omni-tool powering up around her right forearm and forming the curved light-energy blade. And in an instant, Shepard thrust her hand forward- shattering the blade of Kai Leng's ninjato and stabbing him through the chest!

The cybernetic man gasped, the omni-blade buried in his chest, frozen in that moment as Commander Shepard met covered gaze with her own. "That." She began as the blade flickered out. "Was for Thane, you son-of-a-bitch!" The woman spat, withdrawing her hand from his sternum, leaving the assassin to topple forward, blood pooling underneath his lifeless form.

Looking down at his body, she exhaled. "Some people just never learn."

(- End of Scene -)