(A/N: I'm giving you guys two updates in one go. Some feedback will make it all worth it and another update will be done tomorrow or later today.)

What happened on Horizon

Shepard blinked several times, cradling his left arm, blood flowing from his shoulder, before being able to respond. "You... actually shot me?" He frowned at James.

James shook his head. "You could have at least had your damned shields up, Loco." He sighed and slung his rifle to his back before approaching and applying medi-gel to Shepard's shoulder.

Kaidan turned back around. "Let the record show that Lieutenant Vega took the shot. Commander Shepard is dead."

Shepard raised a brow. "Except I'm not."

Kaidan rolled his eyes and lifted a hand, caressing Shepard's cheek. "Yeah, you are. Or at least Hackett will think you are." He couldn't smile. He couldn't feel anything.

Shepard covered Kaidan's hand with his own. "Kaidan, believe me, I didn't mean for this to happen."

Kaidan stayed quiet for a moment, just staring at Shepard. When he finally spoke, his voice almost broke. "Just tell me why you did this?"

Shepard closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them to look at Kaidan. "I had no choice. When I was connected to Harbinger, there was so much information dumped in my head that I couldn't make sense of it all. I'm still sorting through it."

James crossed his arms and frowned. "Well, try to explain. I didn't take care of Kaidan for three months for nothing, you know. I was there when you weren't."

Shepard turned his gaze to James. "I know, and thank you for that." He looked back to Kaidan. "When I fell, I was knocked unconscious. I know there were moments where I was in and out. A banshee was carrying me. I remember trying to get free, but she was too strong and I was badly hurt. I just hoped I'd die before they could do anything to me."

Both Kaidan and James flinched at the mention of the banshee. Kaidan removed his hand from Shepard's cheek, though kept hold of his hand.

"The first clear memory I have after all of this was of Vanguard." Shepard jerks his thumb over his shoulder. "The big one out there. He was... singing. I know, it's weird."

James couldn't help it. He actually laughed, breaking the tension. "A singing Reaper?"

Shepard shrugged with a small smile. "Like I said, it's weird. He's not that bad either. He helped me sort through a lot of the information I had gotten from Harbinger. Turns out that not all Reapers are harvesting maniacs. There are some like Vanguard that want to learn about us. Organic life."

Kaidan shook his head. "I don't get it."

Shepard sighed and squeezed Kaidan's hand. "I'm getting to that part. Two hundred million years ago, Vanguard and about a hundred others split off from the main group. They were outcasts. They didn't want any part of the harvest anymore."

"If that's true, then why are they out here hiding?" Kaidan interrupted again.

"Because not all of Harbinger's group was killed when I was unleashed and would you trust a Reaper?" Shepard glared at Kaidan. "Now shut up and let me talk." He waits for Kaidan to nod before continuing. "The Crucible was a lie. The Catalyst being the Citadel was a lie. Harbinger was responsible for the plans for the Crucible getting started. He was also responsible for the rumor about the Catalyst being the Citadel. He rather enjoyed watching organics scurry around trying to finish what they thought was their only hope."

James started to say something, but stopped when Shepard looked at him. He shrugged apologetically, then leaned up against a crate, motioning for Shepard to keep talking.

"Vanguard's group was waiting for the Catalyst. The Reapers knew that eventually genetics would produce someone immune to them. Someone that had enough power to subvert theirs and allow them to be killed a hell of a lot easier than it should have been. When Sovereign was destroyed, Harbinger, well, fucking freaked out. He had learned of me through Sovereign and became fascinated with me."

Kaidan shook his head. "Who wouldn't?"

Shepard smirked at Kaidan, then continued. "Vanguard and his followers found out what Harbinger was up to and sent their own troops in. They managed to subvert and control quite a few ground troops to help. They were always there, believe it or not. They kept an eye on me the entire time, making sure I survived. During the final push for the beam, Harbinger captured me. Some kind of connection forged between us that allowed me to see everything he knew. He became fucking terrified of me during that, and that's putting it lightly. I didn't know why at first, but then I saw it. I knew what I was."

"The catalyst," came James' soft whisper. "You're the fucking catalyst."

Shepard nodded at James. "Yeah. I wanted Harbinger and the Reapers dead. I didn't know how to do it though, but once I thought about it, it just happened." He shrugged helplessly. "I'm still not sure how it happened."

Kaidan frowned. "So why aren't these ones dead?"

Shepard shrugged. "I think it's because they weren't connected to Harbinger. Some of Harbinger's reapers disappeared from what I could hear while connected to him, so those ones, I'm assuming are the ones that survived. They're out here. It's why the Terminus systems aren't safe."

James looked off toward the Reaper. "So, how, exactly, does Hackett play into all of this?"

Shepard shrugged again. "I wish I knew. I already told him about all of this. All I can guess is that either he's indoctrinated, or someone with some influence over him is. I'd hope it's the latter. In fact, I'm pretty sure it is. I don't think he'd sit on this for two months before taking action if he got his marching orders from the bad guys."

James looked back at Shepard. "So, what do we do about it?"

Shepard was silent, looking off toward the Reaper. He finally looked back to James, green eyes cold. "We find out. Call Hackett. Get him out here. I don't care how. Just do it."

James nodded and headed for the shuttle.