Hello to all, I admit I wasn't sure if I was going to finish this store a lot has happened to me over the course of months so I wasn't sure if I was up for it. However, I did get a lot of people putting this as their fav story so I must have been doing something right :D well I am going to finish this story and the story is only half way done. Thanks for reading and reviewing :D -lisa
Garrus grinned as he walked away to prepare himself for Ilos. He had seen so much of Shepard's soft side he had almost forgotten how dominating she could be when it came down to business. He had really admired all her qualities. This trip should be interesting…he thought. Although things seem to be going well for him, Shepard, this mission was critical, and he vowed to himself that he would personally see that Shepard made it out alive.
After asking around for Kaiden and doing some work to in, preparation of Ilos, Shepard knock on Kaiden's door, which used to be Ashley's and waited for an answer. Silence. She unlocked the door and let herself in. "Kaiden?" She walked in find the room reeking of alcohol and sweat. Just then, Kaiden walk in from the bathroom with just a towel around his waist.
"Shepard?" He said not expecting her to be standing there, especially since he only had a towel on. Shepard couldn't help but to stare at him a bit. It had been a long time since she saw a man without armor. She looked at him and crossed her arms.
"You weren't at the meeting…it was important…"
"Sorry…I didn't mean too….I wasn't feeling good. Shepard, can I get dre-"
"Were you drunk?"
"I…well I had a few drinks at Chora's Den…" he said not looking at her. He knew he was in enough trouble and lying to her would not have been better.
"Why Kaiden?"
"With all do respect ma'am, I am still …grieving." Shepard took a few steps towards him.
"I know, Kaiden, but I need you now…" she said a bit angry, "we need to stop Saren and the reapers and I need you to stay focus. I need you to deal…"
"I…this is difficult for me…"
"I know…but you have to deal. You dishonor her name by getting drunk and as one of my officers, the reflections of your actions make me look bad as well. We've finally caught up with Saren and I do not intend to let him live after this." Kaiden couldn't bring himself to look at her.
"It's not what you think…Shepard…"
"What do you mean?"
"Forget it…" Kaiden said as he grabbed some clothes from a drawer and walked back into the bathroom.
"What is it, Kaiden?" Shepard said not understanding anything that was going on with him.
"Drop it Shepard." He said from the bathroom. Shepard waited until he got out. He knew she would still be standing there waiting for an answer. "Shepard…it's complicated."
"Then tell me the whole story." She said crossing her arms. Kaiden walked out of the bathroom dressed. He stood there staring at her. She was incredibly beautiful.
"I…can't…" She sat on the bed waiting.
"I'm right here…there isn't anything you can't tell me, Kaiden." He took a deep breath.
"Shepard…I'm…I think I am still in love with you…"
"But..Ash-"
"I know Shepard…I…blame myself for it. I …I don't know…what I am feeling. I…I just need to know," Shepard stood up and placed a hand on his shoulder for comfort. "I need…you." He grabbed her face and pulled her in as if he was going to kiss her. "I need you Shepard."
"Kaiden,…" she said blushing a bit, "Kaiden…you know I can't…
"Please, Shepard…" he said placing his forehead against hers. Shepard moved swiftly and hugged him, dodging his attempt to kiss her. Kaiden knew what this was. He knew she was rejecting him again. Instead of feeling angry or hurt, he felt sad. He hugged her back.
"Kaiden…I know you loved her…"
"What?…no…I love you.." Shepard pulled back with her arms still on his shoulders.
"You did love her…and me…"
"How?"
"Kaiden you think I have gone all over this galaxy and not learned a few things along the way? Love…is complex but it exists in every species across the galaxy. Love is infinite. You can produce as much as you want and you will never run out. I believe you have love for me…and you had more for Ash…. It hurts so bad right now because she's gone…but the love never dies, Kaiden." watched her. She was right.
"Shepard…thanks…I guess you know so much because of Garrus…"
"Well…I guess it is obvious that …there's something there… Kaiden I care about him the same you do for Ash. I know how you feel because…I know that's how I would feel if something were to happen to him."
"Is that why he's always with you?" Shepard shrugged.
"I need him…that's all I can say about that." He nodded and took a deep breath.
"I understand."
"Kaiden, I need you to stay on board and help Joker man the turrets while we are on Ilos. We don't know what we will find on Ilos. Can you do that for me?"
"Yes…I can, Shepard." Shepard nodded and headed towards the door.
"Alright…I'm off. I trust you will be able to handle things here…"
"Shepard? Please be careful…" She grinned and walked out of his room. There was much to be done.
Garrus and Wrex were waiting by the mako. Garrus had arrived there about the same time Wrex did. They both had similar thoughts in mind. They knew that once Shepard gave the okay they would have to jump in quickly to take off. Garrus and Wrex never had much to say to each other, besides Garrus's occasional question about the Krogan culture. However, today they stayed silent tending to their weapons making sure everything was loaded. Garrus heard a door open and saw Shepard walking out of Kaiden's room. He knew she must have talked to him about his disappearance earlier. She walked out taking a deep breath when she noticed him. Garrus quickly looked away. What a time to feel shy. She walked up to the boys and crossed her arms.
"Everything all set?"
"Just about ready to go, Shepard…" Wrex replied. She nodded.
"Good. Just be ready I don't want to take any chances of losing him."
"Yes Ma'am." Garrus replied. He wanted to be alone with her, but it was never a good time. Plus he knew Shepard all too well by now. She wasn't about to show signs of vulnerability at the moment, not when they were so close to getting to Saren. He knew she'd take full control on this mission. There was nothing he could do or say to her. Bringing up the subject of their mutual feelings for one another was a bad idea. He didn't want to put more pressure on her. Shepard nodded at the both of them. Just then, Joker came on the intercom.
"Commander, there's a problem we need you up here now!"
"I'm coming," she said firmly. "You two stay here, sounds like we might have to jump in the Mako. Be ready I'll be right back." Garrus watched her steadily as she quickly ran to the control room. He almost lost himself when Wrex punched him lightly breaking him from his trance.
"Let's get in the Mako. I have a feeling it will be a bumpy ride."
"Right." Garrus said as he and Wrex jumped in with their weapons and armor ready.
Shepard arrived in the control room to find Navigator Pressly, Kaiden, and Liara arguing with each other. Joker was waiting for orders. "What's going on? What's the status?"
"Commander, Saren just landed." Joker said.
"Shepard, there is no landing zone; the nearest one is 20 meters away!" Pressly said agitated.
"Find another landing zone. Now." Kaiden said.
"There is no other landing zone; the other ones are too far away!"
"Enough." Shepard said.
"Shepard…the decision rests with you." Liara told her calmly. Shepard took a deep breath.
"Joker. Drop us right on their asses."
"Yes Ma'am."
"The rest of you. To your positions. Now!" Shepard flew by them, ready to go, and rushed down to the Mako. This was it. Saren wasn't hiding from her anymore.
Garrus and Wrex were already in the Mako when they heard Joker tell the crew to be ready. Garrus could see Shepard running towards them and he couldn't help himself. He lunged and reached for her. She threw her arm out and felt him pull her in. The Mako was soon dropped. As they landed on Ilos, they could see Saren and his geth entering the buildings. However just as they hit ground, the giant doors closed on them. Shepard leaped out of the Mako. "Damnit!"
"Saren opened it somehow; there must be a control panel somewhere…." Garrus said. Shepard took a deep breath.
"In that case we should split up and look for it," Wrex suggested.
"No. I need for us to stay together; we don't know anything about these ruins…." Shepard said. Last thing she wanted was to separate from the two of them. Just as they turned around and walked a little further passed the Mako, Geth attacked them.
The team took them all out and proceeded forward until they reached what appeared to be a control room. Shepard clicked pressed a button and a distorted message played. They listened for a moment. "Sounds like a message for help….but it's all cracked up I cant understand it all." Wrex and Garrus glanced at each other.
"Shepard,…that message is in an entirely different dialect…how are you able to understand it? Wrex asked. She looked at them.
"You can't hear it?"
"I guess when the beacon flooded your mind with the Prothean visions; you must've picked up their dialect as well. Impressive." Garrus replied. Shepard nodded as she finished the message.
"Let's look around some more." They continued on, opened the door so that the Mako could go through the giant door Saren had gone through. Back on the Mako, they followed down the path where Saren must have gone through. As they were driving a strange transmission interrupted. "Garrus stop the Mako." They pulled over and headed towards an open elevator.
"I wonder what all these pods are for…." Garrus said. As they got out of the elevator they cautiously approached the terminal where an A.I named Virgil spoke to them, telling them of the Reapers plan and what became of the long lost civilization of the Protheans.
"You must stop the Reapers…" Virgil said. Shepard turned away and towards the Mako.
"We need to stop Saren. He's their puppet and we can't let him open the gateway and let all those Reapers come through."
"We're with you, Shepard…" stated Wrex. They got into the Mako and started down the road. Just as they were going, towards the where the beacon was they saw an army of Geth.
"We….need to get through them…really fast." Garrus stated.
"Don't stop for these bastards just get us through!"
"Yes ma'am," he replied. Garrus pressed hard on the accelerator. The geth shot at them but Garrus, who was driving, was determined to get them across before the beacon closed. As they got closer to the beacon Garrus sped up faster and then suddenly, everything got bright and then they were back in the citadel. They Mako crashed and the three quickly got out of the vehicle. "You okay?" Garrus quickly asked Shepard. She coughed a bit and nodded. He glanced at Wrex who gave him a quick glance. Suddenly they found themselves being attacked by a platoon of geth. Shepard was busy taking out some geth when she saw Wrex get shot in the abdomen. "Garrus! Cover me!" Garrus took care of the geth that Shepard had been shooting. Shepard shot the geth at close range and ran over Wrex who was leaning on a bench. He was taking deep breaths.
"Shepard…I'll be fine…"
"Wrex…how you feeling?" she said giving him a medi-gel
.
"Eh it's not so bad now…" he groaned. Just then, Garrus joined.
"I took them out, Commander…" Garrus said helping Wrex to his feet. Shepard nodded at him in approval and took a good look at Wrex. He took a deep breath and nodded at Shepard.
"You sure, Wrex?"
"Shepard, I wouldn't miss this for anything else. Saren has to pay for the false hope he gave the Krogan." She nodded.
"Lets take that bastard down…." She said with heart. Garrus and Wrex followed closely behind her until they got to the top of the presidium where Saren had been. They covered as Saren talked to Shepard about how the only way he would be saved from unavoidable annihilation would be to embrace the Reapers. "It's over Saren! You're not getting away with this!"
"Perhaps it is you who won't get away!" Saren began firing upon Shepard and with the help of her two trusted comrades, they took him down. Fairly easy….Shepard thought to herself. She radioed Joker where Joker had informed her of Sovereign getting dangerously close to the Citadel. In addition, they had received a distress signal coming from the Ascension where the Council was in.
"What do you want us to do captain? I have Admiral Hackett standing by…" Shepard took a deep breath.
"Shepard….what has the Council done for except not believe anything you've said all this time…" Wrex replied. Shepard stared at Garrus for a moment locking eyes with him. Garrus truly had no idea what she was thinking.
"Joker…save the Ascension…then take out that damn Reaper…"
"Roger that."
"I sure hope it was worth the lives of all those humans…" Wrex said. Garrus walked towards and was about to touch her shoulder when she spoke.
"Get down there,…and make sure he's dead." She said staring at his corpse beneath them." Wrex and Garrus jumped down and Garrus shot another round into his head then nodded at Shepard. Wrex and Garrus started to walk away when the Saren's corpse changed into some sort or controlled being. Saren was gone but the reaper effects turned his corpse into a powerful husk like being. The corpse was about to shoot a powerful beam at Garrus when Shepard jumped down, tackling Garrus then rolling the two of them to cover. Garrus stared at her. She saved him for once. It took some time, but the trio managed to shoot the corpse dead. Meanwhile, the attack on Sovereign was a success however, it crashed into the Citadel where they where at. They started to run away. The rubble was falling fast on them. "JUMP!" Shepard screamed at her comrades. They did so and Shepard found herself watching Garrus as the rubble fell on her. After a few moments, Captain Anderson and a few of his men ran in to find Wrex and Garrus on the floor. Garrus weakly got up and quickly looked behind him. Shepard was nowhere to be seen. He lunged himself at the rubble and started to go through it.
"Shepard! …..Shepard where….where are you?" He rummaged through the debris while Anderson and Wrex looked on; already hanging their heads low, believing it was impossible for someone to have survived that. Garrus panicked when she didn't answer.
"SHEPARD!….SHEPARD!….SHE….pard…." his voice was cracking. Had he truly lost her before he could ever tell her how he truly felt for her? Wrex grabbed his arm to stopped him. And in that few seconds Garrus looked away from the debris they all heard rocks being moved around. Garrus knelt on the floor watching, as a hand reached up from the rubble. Anderson sent his men to pull Shepard out. As she was being helped up Garrus quickly walked towards her. Her body ached so badly. She took one step towards Garrus but he placed his weak arms around her low back and pulled her in tightly. He almost lost her. She didn't say anything. She was just as surprised she was standing there as he was. Nevertheless, she needed to hold onto that moment for just a little while longer. Garrus stared into her eyes and said, "…well done, Commander…"