"I think I broke a rib," Joker groaned. "...all of them."
"But we're here, because you're the best goddamn pilot I've ever known," Shepard praised, reaching out to clasp Joker's shoulder. He looked grateful even if the gesture made him give a rather undignified squeak of pain.
The trip through the relay had gone, Shepard thought, actually quite better than expected. Although the Normandy was now resting on the Collector base itself after a rather hard landing, everyone had made it – despite every attempt by the Collectors to keep them from getting that far. The shielding held. The new cannons proved themselves useful.
Now, of course, came the hard part.
She reached over to tap at the haptic display, turning the comm on. "We're safe here for the moment. Everyone, meet me in the conference room. We've got a base we need to destroy."
Much to her surprise, Vader actually showed up, even if it was a little late. He even slipped in as if trying to politely not disrupt the meeting. Truthfully, Shepard felt slightly guilty at seeing him. When running through everyone who had survived, she had forgotten that he was on the ship. Nonetheless, she was glad that he was there, and even chanced flashing him a brief smile.
"...Yes. Tali, you're up as tech expert. Jacob will lead the fire team around this way, I'll lead another team to keep them from noticing what you're up to. Samara, Garrus, you two are with me. Rest of you with Jacob. It's a longer route but you have the firepower to really raise some hell. Rendezvous here, at these doors. Then we'll press on into this central chamber."
Miranda frowned, apparently not having noticed Vader's entrance. "And Vader will be going with the fire team?"
"Uh..." Shepard glanced up at Vader for a moment. "No. He'll be taking his own route, as I understand it, doing Vader-like things."
"And what exactly does that mean?" Miranda said, rather snide in tone.
"Hitting the Collectors like the lovechild of an industrial mincer and a glowstick, leaving nothing but itty bitty pieces in his wake. At least, that's what I'm guessing."
"More or less correct," Vader said, having positioned himself behind Miranda so that when he finally spoke she gave a comical all-over flinch immediately followed by an aggravated sigh.
"Great. So everyone's got their assignments." Shepard paused a long moment before gulping and then speaking, voice softer than before. "I'm not sure what else I can say. All of you know why we're here and what we're doing. Nobody's expecting this to be easy. But we're all damn good at what we do, and I know this team can do this." She momentarily locked eyes with Vader. "Every single one of us. We'll make sure that this stops – here and now, the Collectors won't take any more. And we'll make sure we bring our people home.
"Go give 'em hell and make me proud."
Jacob was already organizing his group as Samara and Garrus walked alongside Shepard. She took in a deep breath and let it out through pursed lips. Pre-battle jitters were expected, but still annoying. Just aim, shoot, move, don't let what's on the line get to you...
The thrum of a lightsaber made her look back. Vader was striding beside them, weapon already out. "Going to join us?"
"No. ...Shadowing you. Different route, same beginning and end. With a nearby distraction, there will be less interference for the smaller group."
"Thanks, Vader. That'll make it easier on us."
"It's sound strategy, Shepard, not a personal favor to you." However, there was a warmth in his voice that seemed to indicate her approval wasn't entirely dismissed.
Ahead, there came the sound of buzzing – Collectors flying in. Immediately Shepard dove for cover, as did Samara and Garrus, guns up, already planning how to lean out and shoot before ducking back to safety. Vader, however, continued striding on, seemingly completely unconcerned.
"Dammit! Vader! What are you doing?" Shepard half-yelled. "These aren't like husks, they're not going to come running to melee range! They're going to shoot, and if you don't have cover -"
The gunfire came hard and thick, the Collectors aiming at the solitary figure in the open. With simple nonchalance, Vader reached up with his free hand, holding it palm outward. There was no purple-blue flash of biotics. Despite that, the bullets rained down at his feet, bouncing harmlessly off something unseen he was holding in front of him.
"I have plenty of cover, Shepard," he answered calmly, though with a sly tone that made her think he was smiling under the mask.
She gaped a moment. "...You know, I should have expected that. You pulling out something goddamn crazy, I mean."
Vader didn't stop to listen, instead continuing on. With him drawing fire, the group was easy enough to pick off, especially as he started to run, gaining speed as he charged. Lightsaber out, he launched himself at the group, slicing the rifle of one Collector in half before jamming his saber into its forehead. It gave an awful twitch as it fell, sliding off of the lightsaber's beam. One of the buglike Collectors began to rise up, exoskeleton cracking with golden glow as Harbinger's voice echoed; before Harbinger could finish taking control, the Collector's body was in at least four pieces, lightsaber easily slicing through. It fell to the ground in a messy pile.
Shepard pulled out of cover, grinning. Tali's voice crackled on the comm. "Shepard! The vent is blocked – there's a valve, I think you'll have to open it – and it's getting hot in here – please hurry!"
"On my way, Tali," she answered quickly. As they sprinted to the green console by the vent, she heard the thrumming buzz of Vader's lightsaber fade, splitting from their path, heading deeper into the Collector base.