The little shuttle had shut down when the Catalyst had fired. They had crashed behind 103rd lines. Ash tugged open the door of the shuttle manually and jumped down to see Javik staring with unblinking eyes at the sight of a Reaper frozen in action, its carapace flickering with red electrical fire.
"You did it. This cycle…did it," he intoned softly.
Ash was silent for a long moment, before she rested her hand briefly on Javik's shoulder.
"I'm sorry yours could not," she said finally.
"Yes. As the last of my race, I find this moment a curious mix of sadness and delight."
Ash huffs a soft laugh, "I know what you mean."
The cheers around them brought tears to her eyes. She activated her com.
"I need an evac to this position. I have the Normandy's mission pilot in need of medical assistance."
"Incoming, Lieutenant Commander," the disembodied voice intoned.
Ash turned back to the shuttle and reached down to check Cortez. She frowned.
"Cortez?" she flicked up his eyelids, "Cortez?! Steve!" She shook his shoulder, "Come on, man, you can't die. Vega would never forgive you."
His hand slid off his chest and thudded onto the floor.
"Oh…" she gasped, resting her head on the cold metal of the downed shuttle. Tears gathered, but did not spill.
Ash sprawled on the ground, her back against the wall of what was once an elegant office building. Small squads were going out, mopping up the last of the Reaper forces, but without constant reinforcement from the Reapers themselves, they were clearing them out.
She was tired. So very tired. Her rifle was slung across her knees, and tear tracks had cut through the dirt on her cheeks. Dawn had come. The first after the Reapers. A golden light fell across the ruined city.
She felt rather than saw a shadow fall across her face.
"Hey there, beautiful,"
Her eyes snapped open, and she was hesitant, "Hey…"
James Vega held a hand down, and she took it. He tugged her effortlessly to her feet, and she regarded him silently for a moment.
"I thought you were on the Normandy," all business. Safer.
"I was. We got Lola out, landed here and got her to the best hospital this place has got. Then I came out here lookin' for you lot," he shrugged his massive shoulders, a grin curving his lips.
"Shepard is alive?" Ash grasped his arm, the armour and muscle an unyielding mass.
"Yup. Our girl is tough to kill. She was plenty banged up. And some shit happened up there that messed her around. But she's been looked after and Garrus is there."
"Oh…James," Ash tried to swallow down the lump in her throat, "I…I'm sorry."
He took her hand, "Hey now. It's all good."
"It's not," Ash shakes her head, "It's Steve. He…didn't make it. I tried. I really tried…"
Vega lapsed into silence. Then, "Talk to me, girl. Let's sit here, and you talk to me." He turned his back to the wall next to her and slid down, tugging her down beside him.
And she did talk. All of it. And tears flowed. When she was finished, her head was bowed and he was silent. Her hand was still in his own, dwarfed by its size. She tried to pull away.
"It was war, amado," he held her hand firmly, and she gave up trying, "Many die in war. And sometimes they are our friends. Cortez was one of the best, and I will mourn his friendship. But…" he raised her hand to his lips. Her grimy, bloodstained hand, "we are here now. We are alive and you, Ashley Williams, anoche soñé contigo y esta manana no me quiero despertar."
"That had better not be something that will make me want to punch you," William's gaze a small smile.
Vega smiled back, though there was sadness in his eyes, "Mi amore, I am going to have to teach you how to speak in my tongue." He leaned forward and kissed her gently on the lips, "Now come. You cannot sit here, you have many friends that need to see your face."
He pulled her to her feet again, his strength bolstering her own.
"We did it, amado, we won," his voice was soft.
"Let's go find the others,"
He reached down and handed her the rifle.
"Gonna be a beautiful morning," he smiled down at her.
"Yeah. I guess it will."