Chapter 10: Sacrifice

Shepard, Garrus and James were moving through underground ruins. The only lights were coming from their weapons. "Keep your eyes peeled for any movement, reapers are capable of everything." Shepard said, jumping down.

"I don't remember ever getting stuck in ruins Shepard." Garrus joked.

"Not funny." Shepard looked at Garrus before hearing James fall down.

"Didn't you see the edge pretty boy." Garrus laughed as Shepard pointed his light at James who was standing up, he bent over and picked his shotgun up. Glaring at Garrus who shook his head.

"Remind me to never come back here with Vega." Garrus walked pass Shepard, walking through corridors before walking up a set of stairs. As Shepard reached the top, he saw two rooms. He headed for the left one when Garrus stopped him. "Your sure going left will get us out of here?"

"Yeah, trust me Garrus." Shepard replied, leading them left. James looked behind him, holding his shotgun close.

"Shepard, ahead. What is that?" Garrus asked, holding his light towards a reaper corpse they hadn't seen before.

"I know, its definitely a reaper. Corpse, I mean." Shepard replied, approaching the corpse. He pointed his rifle before kneeling, bringing his omni tool up and scanning it. "Reaper confirmed, Rachni DNA though. Means they have Rachni involved in this war. I let the queen go on Noveria." Shepard looked at Garrus.

"Little concern now Shepard but we need to get out of here. I'm not rotting down here so legends say Shepard and squad died while in Krogan ruins." Garrus replied.

"Your right, come on." Shepard stood, stepping over the reaper before jogging upstairs. He saw light ahead from an exit, moving through when the ground shook. The exit collapsed.

"You jinxed us Loco." James said.

"I didn't, these ruins are old." Shepard replied, looking around. He turned his omni tool light on, seeing Krogan paintings.

"Krogans painted, you wouldn't think that existed." Garrus said.

"I know right." Shepard touched his ear.

"Eve, did Krogan's paint by any chance in the ancient days?" Shepard asked.

"Yes, long before the Salarians uplifted our race." Eve replied.

"Good to know, I'm looking at a painting." Shepard added.

"Krogans have a long proud history before we destroyed ourselves." Eve said.

"Hopefully the future holds it." Shepard replied, "Also, Wrex. Found a Rachni reaper. Very modified, most likely dangerous but nothing you couldn't handle."

"I know, ran into a few Shepard. Truck ran them over." Wrex said.

"Doesn't surprise me you ran them over Wrex." Shepard replied.

"Very squishy." Wrex laughed.

"Thanks for letting me know Wrex, will let you know when I get out." Shepard smiled, heading over to the collapsed exit.

"Shepard, it would take a month to dig through that without tools." Garrus pulled Shepard back.

"Ok, any ideas?" Shepard asked, looking at James who was sitting on a rock. Garrus moved over to James, sitting on another rock.

"Try the other door, you went left. Why don't we got back and take the other route." James suggested.

"Sounds like a plan, come on." Shepard lead the way, James and Garrus quickly stood and jogged to catch up to Shepard who was moving quickly. He jumped over the reaper corpse before jogging down the corridor leading to the other door. Garrus and James stopped behind him, he looked at them both. Nodding to them. "Keep close and watch for anything." Shepard walked through, holding his rifle up. Keeping his finger on the trigger.

James was relaxed, looking at the walls with Krogan paintings. Garrus tapped Vega on the shoulder, "what do you think they mean?"

"Don't know but they're pretty cool. Krogan's have some pretty special hidden talents." James replied, looking at Garrus.

"Amazing to see the other side of them, it's a nice change from the usual things you hear about Krogan's." Garrus looked at Shepard who was further ahead.

"Hey guys! Exit, come on." Shepard moved to the exit, seeing tropical overgrowth on the ruins.

"Never expected this." Garrus said, lowering his rifle when he saw it. James did the same, he passed Shepard. Looking at the incredible view.

"You ready?" James asked, looking at the bridge where Reaper troops had positioned themselves. Shepard smirked, looking at James.

"We've got this, come on. We found our way out here." Shepard jogged across the ruins, ducking behind cover as James and Garrus followed. He nodded to Shepard who took a deep breath, sprinting for the bridge as James fired his assault rifle. Garrus shot three husks approaching, Shepard smacked the last husk with biotics. Lifting it before crushing it and slamming it into a cannibal. James reloaded as Garrus fired another three shots off. Quickly reloading as James watched Shepard, he couldn't believe how easy Shepard was cutting through them with his biotics.

"Damn impressive." James said, looking at Garrus.

"Seen it before, Shepard is one tough son of a bitch." Garrus moved up, firing another two shots. James following, shooting a cannibal down when they saw a Brute approaching them.

"Brute, ugly things." James shot its armour, Garrus popping one through the head. It collapsed and fell over just metres from Shepard who turned, rifle pointing towards the ground. He nodded to Garrus before jogging over to a husk missing a leg. He kicked on to its back before standing on it's chest and shooting a round through the head.

Shepard saw a husk fall behind him, thinking he got them all but knew it was Garrus who fired that shot off. "Nice aiming Garrus." Shepard said, reloading his rifle as they approached.

"Thought you might need help, couldn't leave you everything." Garrus switched to his assault rifle when they heard gunfire.

"Must be close to Wrex." James said.

"Maybe, but come on. Lets go check it out, see what it is." Shepard replied, walking off. James sighed before following, he thought Shepard was a little too relaxed and Garrus was counting numbers a little too much.

"Don't worry vega, you get use to us eventually. Liara counts numbers when she's with me, still can't beat me. Ash has gotten the closest, one kill off after the battle of the citadel. She then shot a random keeper to make it even, cheater." Garrus explained.

"Ashley didn't shoot a keeper, Garrus is embarrassed because Ashley bet him. You can ask her." Shepard yelled out from ahead, turning and pointing at Garrus.

"Give me a break, I should have won. I shot more Geth and still, her number was higher." Garrus replied, Shepard saw movement above but remained quiet, wanting the reapers to think they had the advantage.

"Hey, she shot Saren twice. Once when he was floating around on their hovercraft thing and then when I told her to make sure he's dead." Shepard mumbled ahead as Garrus and James looked at him strangely.

"Does he always mumble about her?" James asked.

"Oh yeah, he's bad for it. You just switch off, it was worse when we were fighting collectors. He wanted her at his side but he knew the consequences of his actions so he let her be." Garrus explained.

"Huh, he cares about her a bit too much. More than a commanding officer." James said.

"No, they both lost Kaidan. Close friend to us all, Shepard had to choose between them. He rescued Ashley, she was angry with him. Thought Kaidan had more reasons to be rescued, looking back at it now. Glad he rescued Ashley, she was needed. More than he realized." Garrus replied when a bullet hit the rock next to them, they looked up and saw an army of reapers waiting, a brute jumped down, charging for them when Shepard came out of nowhere, shooting at the brute. He jumped on to the back of the brute, shooting it in the back of the head. It fell forward, Shepard quickly moving to join Garrus and James who were firing at other reaper troops.

"You two really need to pay attention to your surroundings instead of chatting, I noticed them above five minutes ago." Shepard yelled at them, reloading his pistol. James shot two husks approaching in the head, Garrus switched to his assault rifle. Firing several bullets, taking down three cannibals.

"Shepard, we were talking. Not our fault, having a good laugh about you." Garrus replied.

"Not good enough Garrus, you should know better." Shepard jumped over his cover, firing seven bullets. The first five taking down husks, the last two going straight through a cannibal. Killing it.

"Shepard! One of those Rachni things!" James yelled, shooting at the reaper as Shepard pulled Garrus behind cover. The ravager fired on their cover.

"James, flank it." Shepard ordered, nodding to James who moved off right. Shepard and Garrus laid some cover fire, keeping the ravager from noticing James who moved close from the right, changing to his shotgun for more damage. "Now!" Shepard as James stood, firing three rounds into the ravager, killing it.

"Clear!" James yelled, checking his surroundings. Shepard and Garrus jogged over.

"Nice job Vega." Shepard tapped Vega on the shoulder as jogging pass him.

Shepard approached the exit, holding his rifle up. Looking down the scope as he walked through, seeing Wrex shooting husks.

"Shepard, about time you got here." Wrex yelled, shooting a husk down as Garrus blew the last husk's head off, "Garrus, nice shot!"

"Wrex, Eve ok?" Shepard asked as approaching.

"Yeah, in the truck. Know this is an exit from the ancients, thought you might be here." Wrex replied, getting in the truck.

"Good, bloody glad to be out of there. Seriously dark but you should go down there, some pretty good paintings." Shepard said, climbing into the truck behind James and Garrus who sat with Mordin.

"Suggest we get to the shroud, can't afford anymore delays." Mordin quickly spoke as Wrex nodded, putting the truck in gear before taking off. Shepard stumbled from the sudden jerk movement, grabbing a railing above him to stop himself from falling over completely.

"Watch your driving Wrex, or I'll drive." Shepard yelled to Wrex.

"You're a terrible driver, I would rather give it to the new kid. I know he wrecked his shuttle but he's better off than you." Wrex replied.

"James, he injured Liara." Shepard added.

"Liara needed to learn some dodging skills, she always used most of the Medi-gel. Still does I believe." Wrex laughed.

"She does, sadly." Garrus joined in with a chuckle.

"Let's focus on the mission." Shepard said in a commanding tone, to stop them from laughing. Vega was just looking at them weirdly, "you get use to it." He nodded to James.
"I know, Garrus said the same thing." James replied.

"We've lost our turian air support, they went too early. And most of our Krogan ground support is gone, what's the plan?" Shepard asked.

"Kalros." Eve replied.

"Kalros?"

"thresher maw, the mother of them all. We will call for her, there are hammer's at the shroud. The biggest on Tuchanka, she will lure the Reaper away." Eve explained.

"Sounds like a plan, guessing you three came up with this while I was trekking unexplored ancient territory." Shepard looked at them.

"yes, needed plan B." Mordin replied.

Wrex parked the truck, opening the door. Everyone hopped out, looking up at the reaper, it shadowed over the Shroud facility. Shepard gulped before looking at Garrus who joined him.

"I know we've beaten the odds but getting to that tower, I don't know Shepard." Garrus said.

"We'll get through this Garrus, just stay focused." Shepard replied.

"Commander, will be with Eve in the nearby labs." Mordin said.

"Ok, meet me at the shroud when your done." Shepard replied, nodding to Mordin before walking away.

Garrus heard noise behind them, seeing ravagers approaching, he went to grab his rifle when Wrex stopped him, smirking.

"I've got this covered." Wrex sprinted for them, hip and shouldering the first one.

Shepard, Garrus and James jumped over cover. Cannibals and husks were waiting, Shepard quickly slamming the husks with biotics as James and Garrus dealt with the cannibals.

"Shepard, I've dealt with them. The hammers aren't raised, I'm going to go around and raise them for you." Wrex said as Shepard ducked behind cover, listening to Wrex before touching his earpiece.

"Copy that, good luck Wrex." Shepard replied, standing out of cover to shoot a cannibal in the head. Garrus shot the last one through the chest, knocking it down before James got up close to finish it off. "Alright, we're going across that bridge and then we're using the buildings for cover against the reaper and any other resistance." Shepard explained, sprinting up a staircase leading to the bridge.

They sprinted along the bridge when the reaper fired at the supports, collapsing the entire bridge. Shepard smacked the ground hard, slowly lifting rubble of his body. he picked his pistol up. He saw Garrus with a slab of rubble on him. James was trying to lift it, he quickly moved over to help. Lifting it off Garrus who Shepard helped up. "You ok Garrus?"

"Yeah." Garrus replied as picking his sniper rifle up, James picked his shotgun up as Shepard switched to his assault rifle.

"Try to stay out of the reaper's firing line." Shepard nodded to them, sprinting up the stairs first before darting left around the courtyard. Using tall support beams as cover, James and Garrus followed.

The Reaper opened fire, taking out part of the courtyard as Shepard slid behind cover, protecting his head as a support beam fell over next to him. Garrus and James quickly sprinted around it, "Holy shit!" James yelled as Shepard continued, jumping over the beam as Garrus and James followed.

"Watch the feet." Shepard yelled as they began to get closer when they saw the reaper come under gunfire. They looked behind them, seeing Turian air support.

"We'll try to take some of the heat off you Shepard." A turian pilot spoke.

"Good luck." Shepard replied, sprinting around a reaper leg to the first hammer. Wrex had raised both, leaving Shepard to drop it. The switch was broken, he saw the chain connected. He shot at the chain until it broke, sending the hammer hard into the ground. They felt the ground shake, "Think it's working?" Garrus asked.

"No idea, but I trust Wrex and Eve." Shepard replied, sprinting towards the stairs when two brutes landed. They charged at Shepard who rolled underneath them, firing at their back before lifting a brute while Garrus and James killed the other brute. He crushed it with his biotics before slamming it into the ground, killing it. Shepard took a deep breath as looking at the brute before seeing Garrus and James approach.

"Come on." Garrus led them across the courtyard, dodging the Reaper's legs.

They reached the second Hammer, the switch wasn't broken. Shepard pulled it down, feeling the hammer hit the ground. The ground didn't stop shaking this time.

"Run!" Shepard yelled, leading Garrus and James away from the reaper.

Garrus and James jumped across the gap before the reaper collapsed Shepard's side. Sending him sliding towards the ground, he slid several metres down before hitting the ground and rolling into a nearby wall.

"Ah." Shepard grunted, moving on to all four. He looked around, seeing his pistol about three feet from him. He stood, slowly approaching his pistol and picking it up. He checked his surroundings before looking up, the thresher maw and reaper were fighting above him. He saw the reaper leg coming towards him, quickly sprinting and jumping out the way before it slammed just metres next to him.

"Little close for comfort." Shepard thought as he saw the shroud facility ahead, quickly standing and sprinting for it as the reaper slammed the thresher maw into the side of the tower. "Shit."

The thresher maw went underground, Shepard could feel the ground shaking as he sprinted across. Seeing Garrus and James below with Wrex and Eve. Safe from the Reaper.

"Come on." Shepard got into a hard sprint before launching across a small gap, landing on the other slide. He continued inside.

Shepard saw Mordin working on a computer. "Mordin! It's too dangerous to go up there, it's collapsing." Shepard said, stopping Mordin.

"Must set it right." Mordin replied.

"I have to tell you something first, the Salarian's sabotaged the shroud years ago. You need to fix it." Shepard explained.

"Easy fixed, can get around any problems. Salarian or Krogan." Mordin replied, "will have to go the top of the tower for dispersal."

"Your going up there!" Shepard yelled, pointing to the top.

"Yes, only way." Mordin finished up on the computer, heading to the elevator. "Eve survived, promising future for Krogan."

"I know, saw them on the way over here. You sure you want to do this?"

"Yes. Unfortunate I won't be able to run test on seashells." Mordin said.

"Mordin." Shepard replied.

"Had to be me... Someone else might have gotten it wrong." Mordin clicked to close the elevator, Shepard stepped back. Nodding to Mordin as it went up. He watched it before sprinting outside, the reaper was no where in sight which meant the thresher maw took it down. He jumped across the small gap and made his way down to the group when he heard a loud boom. Seeing the rest of the shroud collapse but it had dispersed before hand. Curing the Genophage.

"He did it." Shepard looked up, seeing the last of the shroud hit the ground. Knowing Mordin gave his life, he walked backwards before turning and continuing. Knowing he had succeeded... Mordin had succeeded.

Everybody was celebrating, Liara and Wrex were talking about old times. They hadn't departed from Tunkacha yet, wanting to stay for a bit longer, give the crew a chance to enjoy themselves. Shepard was sitting on the opposite observation deck, looking at the planet from a distance.

"You ok? Your not drinking Wrex under the table, surprised." Garrus walked in, holding his dextro beer and a normal beer for Shepard. Passing it to him, he opened it and placed it aside after a small sip.

"Just not much to celebrate about, I didn't tell Wrex about the Dalatrass offer. She offered me to stop the cure, and she would give me the full support of their fleets. Scientists for the crucible, just wondering if I made the right decision." Shepard replied, looking at Garrus.

"You did, trust me, everything will work out. It always does, Shepard and Garrus. Saving the galaxy together." Garrus smiled.

"You shouldn't smile, your butt ugly already." Shepard grabbed his beer. "But, I'm glad your here. Couldn't do this without you, you won't leave me dry. You will be there for me, through all of this." Shepard said.

"You wouldn't last very long without me, admit it." Garrus sipped his drink.

"Na, I would be fine but I would miss my wingman. Can't imagine winning this war without you." Shepard smiled, finishing his beer off.

"It wouldn't be done with such style." Garrus stood, walking to the door, "you joining us?"

"Na, going down to the armory. Clear my head." Shepard passed him, walking into the elevator and clicking shuttle bay. "Enjoy yourselves, tell Joker when Wrex has left the ship. To set a course for the citadel, Salarians councillor wants to talk to me. Said it was urgent."

"Will do." Garrus replied, watching the elevator close before heading into the lounge area where the crew were hanging.

"Garrus? Did you convince Shepard to join us?" Joker yelled from the bar.

"No, he went to the armory, to clear his head. Joker, he said once Wrex leaves. To head for the citadel." Garrus replied, approaching Joker.

"He's not much for celebrations lately, party pooper." Joker said.

"He is, we should kidnap him and make sure he can't leave." Garrus suggested.

"He would beat the crap out of us both. I have brittle bone, EDI has the best chance but she would be confused about kidnapping Shepard." Joker replied, smirking as he looked at EDI. Garrus noticed something in Joker's eyes, he enjoyed looking at EDI.

"Do you have something for the ship Joker?" Garrus whispered so EDI couldn't hear them.

"No, she's a good crew member. Good for morale, plus. The bridge wouldn't be the same without her, beats the old bridge on the Normandy SR-1 hands down." Joker replied, looking frustrated.

"They were the good old days, simple back then. We chased Saren across the galaxy, risking life and death. Kaidan was entertaining, good poker games after missions and shore leave. Hated how Ashley and him always won everything, you know... You won too much for my liking." Garrus said, looking at the crew.

"Seemed easy, compared to now. But we're doing ok, entertainment. Reapers haven't thrown much at us, the best is yet to come." Joker said.

"Best to come, I wouldn't say that to boost morale. More like the worse." Garrus crossed his arms, shaking his head at Joker's last statement.

"It's true, reapers haven't thrown much at us." Joker added.

"I know, just worried about Shepard. It's going to take toll on him eventually." Garrus looked at Wrex who won another hand at poker, James threw his cards into the middle. Liara shuffled and went to deal another round. "T'soni, deal me in. Could win something."

"Hurry up then." Wrex yelled as he picked his cards up, looking at his hand. Joker sat down next to EDI, peeking at her cards.

"Hurry up and make your move Liara, I'm getting old. We don't have a thousands year to make one move." Wrex yelled, trying to distract them from making good moves.

Shepard smacked some hard jabs into the punching bags, he was blowing off some steam.

"Hey commander." Cortez said as joining him, leaning against the bench, Shepard stopped. Placing his hand against the punching bag to stop it from swinging.

"Cortez, what are you doing down here?" Shepard asked.

"Was about to ask you the same thing, guess you're not in the mood to party. I just came down from there, Wrex is yelling at everyone while they play poker. It's why he's winning." Cortez replied.

"Ashley and Kaidan always bet him, Wrex couldn't figure home they did well. I called it luck, he called it cheating. But they weren't, just luck." Shepard said.

"Luck, not everything is about a game of luck commander." Cortez pointed out.

"You wish for luck when driving the Kodiak, that you'll land in one piece. That you'll get me there in one piece." Shepard said.

"I do, but it's a different kind of luck. Survival, not poker." Cortez replied.

"If you say so, but I think it's the same kind of luck for both." Shepard went back to the punching bag, Cortez walked off. Heading over to the Kodiak to work on it.

"Shepard, heading home. Wish me luck. I need to head butt a few Krogans!" Wrex yelled as approaching Shepard.

"Have fun, try not to break anything too important. Need you for the last battle." Shepard replied.

"And I'll be there, hoisting my flag on the first reaper I take down." Wrex laughed.

"Make sure I can see it." Shepard said.

"I'll make sure every Reaper can see it, let them know that I'm coming for them." Wrex replied as opening his shuttle.

"See you soon Wrex." Shepard shook his hand.

"Make sure you leave some Reapers for me to kill." Wrex walked into his shuttle, nodding to Shepard before closing it.

"Good luck out there Wrex." Shepard barely whispered as Wrex's shuttle took off.

"Commander, I've set a course for the Citadel." Joker beamed in over the Normandy comm.

"Copy that Joker, let me know when we've arrived. I have some urgent business with the Salarian councilor." Shepard replied as walking to the elevator. Going to his cabin, "EDI, can you tell Traynor that she's in charge until we get to the citadel, I'm going to try to get some sleep."

"Sent, anything else commander?" EDI asked as Shepard laid on his bed, fully dressed in uniform.

"Not for now, just let me know when we're there." Shepard replied, trying to get some sleep.

He looked around, it was dark and the trees were burnt.

"Hello!" Shepard yelled, looking around. He was in his armor, which he couldn't figure out.

"Shepard, you failed the alliance. You are a disgrace." He heard from several voices.

"How, by saving the galaxy twice!" Shepard replied, walking towards a bench, he saw Ashley sitting there. Her skin burnt.

"You left her to die!"

"No, I saved her. From Vimire, I left Kaidan to die. But I saved her on horizon and again on mars, I got her to the citadel." Shepard yelled, moving towards her when she turned to ash.

"You left Anderson behind on earth! How could you betray your friend, mentor. Commanding officer." Several admirals appeared, along with Anderson who was burnt compared to the rest.

"I didn't betray anyone, I did my duty." Shepard said as Anderson moved through him, his chest hurt as he knelt. Holding it, the rest all walked through him, hurting him more.

Shepard sat up in bed, chest pounding. He saw his cabin and relaxed, lying back down. "Nightmare. One hell of a weird one." He shook his head, turning to place his feet on the ground before standing and heading to the bathroom. He washed his face.

"Shepard, you ok?" Liara asked, leaning against the wall.

"Yeah... Just didn't get much sleep, you?" He asked.

"Got enough, thought about how we did some great things yesterday." She replied as he opened the door, walking down to the sofa.

"Yeah, but I was thinking of our next move. Salarian councilor wants to see me, so I'll head in. Only be a bit, might check in with Ashley, see if she's fit for duty and then head back with her if she is." Shepard explained.

"Joker said we were about an hour out just before I came up here, EDI said you woke up."

"EDI keeps an eye on me, I trust her." He smiled.

"We all do, Joker especially." Liara returned the smile.

"I'm going to go check in with some of the crew before we get to the citadel." Shepard stood, leading Liara to the elevator. He clicked second floor before she hit third, the door closed and it started moving.

"So, have you thought about what you're going to say? You haven't talked to her yet since our last conversation have you?" Liara asked.

"Not really, Ashley means a lot to me. Just need to figure out what to say, I'm not very good at much, other than speeches." He replied.

"I know, you have terrible conversation topics." She smirked as he walked into the CIC.

"That's not fair, I try." Shepard looked at her as she crossed her arms

"Tell that to the rest of the crew." Liara replied as the elevator doors closed, he saw Traynor standing at her station.

"Sleep well Commander?" She asked.

"Well enough, how far away are we?" He asked, approaching the galaxy map.

"Just under an hour, we're making good time." Traynor replied, looking up at Shepard who was half facing her, he left hand leaning on the railing.

"Thanks Traynor, go get some rest. I'm sure I won't need you, EDI can cover you." Shepard ordered, watching Traynor close her station and nod to Shepard as walking off. He turned back to look at the galaxy map.

"Joker, can you message the Salarian councilor. Let him know when we're arriving and can you tell Ashley to meet me at Apollo's cafe." Shepard ordered over the comm.

"Aye aye commander, anything else?" He asked.

"Nothing for the moment." Shepard replied.