CHAPTER 11: EVEN A DEAD GOD CAN DREAM

"A god—a real god—is a verb. Not some old man with magic powers. It's a force. It warps reality just by being there."

- Cerberus scientist assigned to Derelict Reaper orbiting Mnemosyne


SSV Moscow

March 25, 2186


"As much as I'd like to have you reinstated so I can rein you in under Alliance jurisdiction, Commander, your SPECTRE status would override it anyway," Captain Orlova said. "Admiral Hackett agrees. But if the Council disapproves of what you're doing…well, you know all about how that works."

"Even if they did, they have bigger problems than rogue SPECTREs right now," Shepard replied.

"Indeed," Orlova said. "Regardless, SPECTRE status only applies to actual SPECTREs."

"What are you saying?" Shepard asked.

"While you may not have to answer to the Alliance, your Alliance crew members do." Orlova replied. "Major Alenko, Lieutenant Vega, Sergeant Naught, and the recently reinstated Lieutenant Taylor will remain with you for the time being, but they will answer directly to me and my superiors. I am also assigning a communications officer to the Normandy to act as a liaison between your crew and the rest of the Alliance. Specialist Traynor will also forward daily status and intelligence updates to us. We're keeping an eye on you, Shepard."

"It sounds like most of this is just a formality," Shepard said.

"It is," Orlova responded. "We're letting you continue your mission because the way things are going everyone is desperate enough to try just about anything. But we want to know what you're up to. No more keeping us in the dark while you run errands for the Illusive Man. And remember, if you step out of line we may not be able to court-martial you but we can arrest your crew."

"We're in this fight together, Captain," Shepard said. "We have to trust each other. There's no need for threats."

"The last time we listened to you, you led one of our fleets straight into a trap," Orlova told him. "That cluster-fuck cost human lives and valuable ships. And you haven't said a word about that supposed crucial data you put us all at risk for, if there even is anything useful to be gained from it. You want trust? Earn it."


Normandy Bridge

March 26, 2186


"Are you settling in all right, Traynor?" Commander Shepard asked.

"Yes, thank you," Specialist Traynor responded. "To be honest, I wasn't sure I'd feel very welcome here, being sent to spy on you and all…Commander."

"It's all right," Shepard said. "You're just doing your job. And we've got nothing to hide."

"Just so you know, Commander…I believe in you. I believe in what you do," Traynor said. "The Alliance can say what they want about you and Cerberus, but I was on Horizon. If you hadn't been there, the Collectors would have taken me. I trust you, Shepard. Whatever plan you're working on now, I support it. It's an honor to serve with you, Commander."

"Glad to hear it," Shepard said. "It's a pleasure to have you on board."

EDI's voice came in over the intercom: "Shepard, you have an incoming message from the Illusive Man in the comm room."

"I'm on it, EDI," Shepard said, starting towards the door. "We have a lot to talk about."

"Shepard, I'm under orders to report all of these communications to the Alliance," Traynor said.

"Of course," Shepard replied. "I'll brief everyone after this meeting. See if I can get some answers to all our questions." He entered the communications room and activated the QED. Once again he found himself looking at the Illusive Man's familiar office overlooking that glowing red star.

"Shepard," the Illusive Man said as he lit a cigarette. "The data you retrieved from the Monolith scan has been invaluable to our efforts. It took some time to fully analyze, but we believe it holds the key to reversing indoctrination and weaponizing it for ourselves."

"Took you long enough," Shepard said angrily. "The Alliance took heavy losses on Palaven and you abandoned us. If the mission was so important, where were your reinforcements? A few of those Nephilim ships could have made a huge difference. You just left us there to do your dirty work, like you always do."

"Those ships aren't meant for direct assaults, you know that," the Illusive Man replied. "They're valuable, the best conventional weapon we have against them right now. I won't risk losing them unnecessarily."

"But you're happy to risk Alliance ships for your high-risk missions," Shepard said.

"Shepard, Cerberus is not an army," the Illusive Man answered. "Our plan to stop the Reapers is by technology development, not military force. We don't have the manpower to engage in large scale battles with the Reapers like the Alliance and the Council do. Secrecy is our weapon. We can't let the Reapers know what we're capable of, what we're planning."

"So you'll just sit back and let everyone else fight the real battles for you," Shepard said. "Humanity needs a leader that's looking out for them, not their own interests. I can't keep running errands for you while good people die."

"Your actions speak louder than those words, Shepard," the Illusive Man replied. "I never made you do anything. All I've ever done is give you information and resources and let you decide what to do with them. I made it clear when we first met that you were free to go after investigating Freedom's Progress, but you didn't. You could have left, refused to work with me, at any time. But since you're talking with me right now, I assume you still have faith in the plan."

Shepard remained silent.

"Good," the Illusive Man continued. "Now, on to the mission at hand. The anti-indoctrination agent is almost ready, but there is one last item you must retrieve to make it-"

"I thought the Monolith data was the last item you needed," Shepard interrupted.

"The last piece of data, yes," the Illusive Man replied. "Based on it, we have determined how indoctrination works and how to counteract it. However, doing so will require a substance that can manipulate neural networks: block the brain from the effects of incoming Reaper signals and manipulate such signals on a large scale."

"Sounds like mind control," Shepard said. "The only thing capable of those kinds of abilities is a Reaper. And we can't exactly capture one, or disable it while keeping it intact to dissect-"

"Fortunately, that won't be necessary," the Illusive Man interrupted. "There is another entity besides the Reapers that has these properties. I believe you encountered it on Feros three years ago. Species 37."

"The Thorian is dead," Shepard replied. "And how do you know about it anyway?"

"You know that Cerberus has many legitimate fronts and shell corporations," the Illusive Man replied. "ExoGeni is one of them. That project was top secret and heavily guarded by corporate security protocols. How do you think we obtained samples and Thorian Creepers at those bases you destroyed? We didn't steal them. We own the Thorian, and all of the research on it."

"If you already have it, why do you need me?" Shepard asked.

"We can easily obtain small tissue samples, but this project will require much more than that," the Illusive Man said. "We need the entire corpse from Feros if we're to process enough of the necessary material for large-scale production. Feros is currently under Reaper attack, but the Reapers are unaware of the Thorian's importance, otherwise they would have moved on it already."

"That makes sense," Shepard added. "Saren was studying it partly to find a way to stop indoctrination from affecting him, a little insurance against the Reapers. He would have kept that part secret from Sovereign. The Monoliths, the Thorian…Damn…he was years ahead of us."

"This mission could be the key to turning the tide of this war," the Illusive Man said. "That's why I want you on it. You're the best there is, Shepard, and this mission requires nothing less. You are all a valuable asset, to all of humanity."

After what your people did to me, Shepard thought, I don't even know if I'm human anymore.


Normandy Communications Room

March 28, 2186


"The Thorian is still in its original location, here, buried underground and a good deal of rubble," Miranda said, pointing to it on a holographic map of Zhu's Hope projected over the conference table. "ExoGeni built a research facility right on top of it so it could be studied without being moved. They wanted to keep all of those deeply rooted neural branches intact, but that's no longer a priority."

"Even so," Kaiden said. "How do you we get it out of there? It's too big to move without heavy equipment and there are no exits big enough to take it out through."

"A Cerberus excavation team is on site," Miranda said. "This is a two-team job. Team-one will proceed to the facility to provide assistance and cover for the retrieval team while team-two will engage the Reapers and keep them distracted while the Thorian is recovered. Everyone else on the Normandy will help evacuate the remaining colonists."

"I want in, Commander" James said. "I've been sidelined since Tuchanka and just sitting here on the Normandy is driving me crazy. I need to be out there doing something."

"I'm in too, Shepard," Tali added. "I'm tired of spending all my time in a hospital bed. I want to be of use to everyone. Besides, I've been to Feros with you before. I know the lay of the land there."

"You sure you're all right?" Shepard asked. "You're really ready for this?"

"Please don't patronize me, Shepard," Tali replied. "I'm not too delicate to fight in this war. I fought against Saren and Sovereign with you. I followed you into battle against the Collectors in what was by all accounts a suicide mission. I backed you up even when you were with Cerberus, an enemy to my people. I know you care about me so please, let me make this choice for myself."

"Fine by me," Commander Shepard said. "Miranda, take Tali and Garrus with you on team-one. You know the mission and as a Cerberus officer you can command the excavation team. You're in charge. James and Kaiden, you're with me on team-two. Do as much damage as you can. Keep those bastards focused on us."

"Murder and mayhem, eh?" Jack said. "Sounds like my area of expertise."

"You got it," Shepard replied. "You're with us."

"Commander, what about me?" Jacob asked.

"I need you to coordinate the Alliance's rescue efforts," Shepard responded. "Evacuate as many of the colonists as you can. Take them on the Normandy if you have to, we've got room. The Reapers have a personal grudge against us, and they hit hard anywhere we interfere with their plans. I want those people out of harm's way when they retaliate."


Feros

Exogeni Research Station

Species 37 Containment Area


"So, um, what were things like on the Normandy after I left?" Tali asked. "I missed being there with you all. It would have been nice to spend some downtime with everyone, in-between storming the Collector Base and going to war with the Reapers."

"You did the right thing, Tali," Garrus replied. "While the rest of us were just sitting on our asses waiting for something to happen, you actually did something. You rallied your people and you reunited them with the Geth."

"I also got the homeworld destroyed…" Tali said sadly.

"The Reapers did that, not you," Garrus said. "And do you really think they would have just left the Quarians in peace if you hadn't done anything? They exterminate all advanced life in the galaxy…and that's pretty much all we know about them. You had the strength to stand up to them, to take the fight to them, on your terms not theirs."

"And that's what Shepard's grand plan is? Take the fight to them using this new indoctrination tech?" Tali asked. "Even if the reasoning is sound, how do we know it will actually work? Developing something like this on small laboratory scale would be difficult enough; how does Cerberus expect to scale this thing up to affect entire Reaper fleets in this short amount of time?"

"I'm a soldier, not a scientist," Garrus started.

"-And I'm and engineer, a damned good one," Tali interrupted. "I'm telling you, something's not right about this project. It takes years to go from theory to practice. Shepard expects this to happen in a matter of days. And he's dabbling with Reaper tech. You know how risky it is-"

Miranda cut her off: "Enough! I know we all have doubts about the mission, but this discussion won't help anything now. The time to plan for the invasion and discuss tactics was before the Reapers got here."

"Sounds like you did a lot of that," Tali said sarcastically. "Joyriding around the galaxy without a clue while the Reapers caught everyone off-guard."

"You think we don't know that?" Garrus said. "The Reapers invaded on our watch. After Shepard played his part, no one else did. Hell, we wasted two of the years we had to prepare for this waiting for him to come back from the dead. We say we couldn't have done all this without him, but we should have. We all wish we had done more, Tali, like you did. But what's done is done. Hopefully our mistakes won't cost the lives of every sentient being in the galaxy."

"I'm sorry, Garrus," Tali said. "I didn't mean to- None of this is anyone's fault. The Reapers were going to come for us no matter what we did, and at least we're trying something. It's just hard to feel so helpless. Before, even when the odds were against us we had a clear goal in mind: shut down the Citadel Relay, destroy the Collector Base. Now it seems like the plan is just 'try not to die while someone else figures out what to do.'"

"We'll find a way, Tali," Garrus replied. "I promise."


Feros

10 miles west of Zhu's Hope Colony Perimeter


"Feels like old times being back here, Commander" Kaiden said. "Can't believe it's been three years."

"A lot's happened since then," Shepard replied. "That was back when we thought Saren and his 'Geth army' were the biggest threats to humanity…"

"That bastard…" Kaiden started.

"He did what he thought he had to do," Shepard said resignedly. "Turns out he was ahead of his time."

"How can you say that, Shepard?" Kaiden asked. "He killed innocent people. Tried to unleash the Reapers on the galaxy. He's the reason Chief Williams is dead! And you're defending him now?"

"Not defending, just… understanding" Shepard answered. "He did terrible things, unforgivable things, but he had his reasons. He knew about the Reapers and the threat they posed to us years before anyone else did, and he was trying to find a way to save us from them. He was studying the Thorian three years ago for the same reason we are now, to fight indoctrination."

"It didn't seem to help him, or us, the last time I checked," Kaiden said. "That thing just gave him the means to find the Conduit before us and he very nearly succeeded in activating the Citadel Relay because of it."

"He was too far gone by that point," Shepard replied. "You saw him. By then Sovereign had completely taken control. He tried to fight it, but it was too late. And once he realized his mistake he at least had the guts to end it instead of fighting us."

"So if you're defending him, what did he do right?" Kaiden asked.

"Not a damn thing," Shepard said. "But he knew things, things we didn't, things we couldn't come to terms with at the time. He knew that even the last Protheans' strategy couldn't keep the Reapers out of the Milky Way forever, and he knew what would happen when they got here. If he had acted on that information differently, informed the Council right then, maybe we would have been more prepared for them. Saren's mistake was giving up. Instead of trying to find a way to stop the Reapers, he assumed it couldn't be done and focused all his efforts on convincing them to spare us."

"That plan would never have worked," Kaiden said. "The Reapers don't accept surrender. And even if they did, living as their slaves isn't worth the price. The Collectors showed you that."

"No, Saren's plan was stupid and he paid the price for it," Shepard told him. "I won't give up on everyone, everything we're fighting for. I'll do whatever I have to. It's not like I have a choice anyway. Do or die isn't much of choice, and since surrender's not an option that's where we're at."

"I know, Commander," Kaiden said. "You always do what you have to, and much more. That's why everyone respects you, looks up to you. I don't know how you do it. Some of the choices you've had to make…deciding who lives and who dies-"

"This is about Virmire, isn't it?" Shepard asked. "You mentioned Ash -Chief Williams- before. Is there something we need to talk about?"

"I'm sorry, Shepard," Kaiden said. "It's just…we've never talked it about it before. I know it was your call, but I still feel guilty about what happened. If I hadn't let myself get cornered you wouldn't have been in that position…and she might still be alive. I have to know, why did you save me instead of her that day?"

"Tactically it was the best choice," Shepard replied. "The mission was falling apart and we were about to be overrun. Making sure the bomb went off was all that mattered at that point; if it didn't, we all would have died and Saren would have had an army of Krogan at his side. I knew you could handle wiring the bomb to detonate without a manual trigger, but I had to be sure, buy you enough time to take care of it just in case."

"I had it re-wired before you got there, Commander," Kaiden told him. "That's why I asked you to leave me and help Williams instead. We're officers. It's our responsibility to make sure everyone else makes it out safe first."

"I know. And believe me I thought of that. I still do," Shepard said. "But you're valuable Kaiden. You're a tech expert, a biotic, and a high-ranking officer. To put it bluntly, your skills and experience are less replaceable than Ash's were. She was a good soldier…a good…friend and I cared about her, a lot. But as Commander, I couldn't sacrifice someone with your rank and skills for a foot-soldier."

"C'mon, Shepard," Kaiden said. "We all knew she was more than that to you."

"Which is why I couldn't pick her," Shepard replied. "The regs against that sort of thing are there for just these types of situations. What would that say me about me, my ability to command, if I had put my girlfriend ahead of the rest of the crew, ahead of the mission? It was the right call…so I had to do it."

James and Jack looked on in the distance. "Heh, think he'd do same thing if it was Miranda?" she quietly asked to James.

"That's cold," James answered. "I know you two don't exactly get along but-"

"It's not about that," Jack said. "He's been acting different ever since this war started-"

"Who wouldn't?" James interrupted.

"This is Commander Shepard we're talking about," Jack continued. "Nothing fazes him and he always keeps his cool, even when everything's gone to shit. He was tearing the Collectors a new asshole and giving the Reapers the fucking finger when no one else would even believe they existed. He was ready to take on these fuckers on his own if he had to, and he had everyone around him fired up for this…but now, I don't know…"

"What are you saying?" James asked.

"He's getting sloppy," Jack replied. "He's always been a fearless son-of-a-bitch, but he knew what he was doing. He checked his intel before a mission, made sure everyone was prepared for whatever might happen, and at the end of the day we knew he was the one in charge. He pulled us into some crazy shit, but he always had a reason. His own reason. Not just because the fucking Illusive Man said so. Now he just does whatever his 'boss' says, no questions asked. This isn't Shepard's plan we're working on. It's his. We have no idea what Cerberus is really doing with all this shit, if it will even work. All Shepard knows is the Illusive Man's usual vague bullshit answers. He's not the leader anyore. He's just the figurehead…and I think that's what the Illusive Man wanted all along…"


Normandy Bridge


"What's our status, EDI?" Jacob asked.

"I am detecting Reaper ground forces at the colony," EDI replied. "However, it appears that the colonists are successfully repelling their attack for the moment. Our approach is clear."

"Drop us in the Hammerhead," Jacob said. "There's an open landing stretch on the skyway. From there it's a straight shot to the colony. It should put us behind the Reaper forces so we can flank them. Meet us at the extraction point once the colonists are safe."

"Aye-aye, Taylor," Joker said. "Hopefully they won't all be zombies this time." The room went silent for a moment. "I meant because of the Thorian you guys…okay poor choice of words."

EDI interrupted them over the intercom: "Jacob, I am detecting additional ships on a direct course for the colony…their signatures indicate that they are Collector design."

"You sure they aren't just more of those high-tech Cerberus ships?" Jacob asked.

"Affirmative," EDI replied. "Those are 'Collector-like' and have their own unique detectable signature. The ships en route to Zhu's Hope are actual Collector vessels."

"Contact the ground teams and tell them what's happening," Jacob said. "If they're here for the Thorian too, then our plan just changed. Kasumi and I will head to the colony, try and get the people out before those things get there."

Thane's voice surprised him: "I will join you as well, Lieutenant Taylor. The evacuation will go faster with more people helping, providing covering fire."

"I don't have time to argue," Jacob said. "Let's go." They took the elevator down to the shuttle bay.

"Shotgun!" Kasumi said. Jacob and Thane looked at her, confused. "Well if I'm risking my life again, I should at least get to sit next to you, handsome." She added. Jacob just smiled and shook his head as they boarded the Hammerhead.


Feros

10 miles west of Zhu's Hope Colony Perimeter


"What do the Collectors want here?" James asked. "I thought you said they didn't know about the Thorian."

"Could just be a coincidence," Shepard said. "But that'd be too much to ask I bet."

"If they knew that thing posed a threat, and that it was here, why didn't they come for it before now?" Kaiden added. "Something's not right…"

"Sounds like we have a leak to me," Jack said. "And since you're keeping the Alliance and everyone else out of the loop, it would have to be from Cerberus. Your shithead Illusive Man's fucked us over before."

"If someone there did get indoctrinated it would hardly be a surprise," Kaiden said "They're working on Reaper tech. That's what it does. But we need it to-"

"Says who!?" Jack interrupted. "Don't you dumbasses get it? All of our intel, just about everything we've done since the Reapers got here, came from him. How do we know he's not indoctrinated already? He was exposed to a Husk-making machine 30 years ago."

"He spent billions of credits to bring me back from the dead and helped us take down the Collectors and destroy the Human-Reaper they were building," Shepard replied. "He may not be our friend, but he is an ally."

"Even if he is, we could still have a leak somewhere," James added. "Think about it, Shepard. The Reapers had Palaven locked down long before we got there. They could have secured the Monoliths at any time, but they only made their move after we got there. The same thing is happening here. They weren't even supposed to know this thing could be used against them, but as soon as we're here they make a beeline right for it. Maybe we should-"

He went silent as he saw a seeker swarm heading right for them.

"Jack, remember the Collector Base?" Shepard said.

"On it," Jack said. She put up a biotic field around them. The rest of the squad drew their weapons and took cover as Collectors started flying in around them. The eyes on one of them began to glow as it burst into yellow flames.

"I WILL DIRECT THIS PERSONALLY," Harbinger said.

James opened fire on it and hit it with a Carnage round after he had emptied his assault rifle's clip. "Shit, bullets just bounce off this guy," he said. He ducked back under cover as more Collectors started shooting.

"Just keep Harbinger suppressed while we take out the other drones," Shepard said as he returned fire with his M-12 Locust. "He'll just take over a new host as soon as you kill him anyway, better there's none nearby when he does."

"What the fu-" James started.

"Just do what he says, newbie!" Jack yelled. "Keep these things off us. If I'm hit and this barrier goes down for even a second we're all fucked. Those swarms will tear us apart."

"Here, all yours Vega," Kaiden said. He Lifted a group of Collectors towards him and James hit them with a Carnage round to finish them off. The force of the blast knocked two other nearby Collectors to the ground and they were easily taken out by gunfire.

Shepard saw Harbinger's barriers shatter as he took fire from the others. He aimed the crosshairs of his M-98 Widow right on the head and fired. Harbinger's latest host dissolved into ashes. Nearby another Collector started glowing.

"I thought you said to save that thing for last," James said.

"He's dangerous, and I had a good shot," Shepard said. "Plus he pisses me off."

"Seeker swarms are breaking off, Shepard," Kaiden said. "They're heading for the colony."

"Dammit, they saw right through our diversion" Shepard said. He activated his omni-tool communicator: "EDI, can you get a Shuttle to our location? The Collectors ran right past us and are coming straight for you. We need to re-group at the colony. Now."

EDI's voice replied back: "Negative, Shepard. All shuttles are currently in use for the evacuation and air support from the Normandy is the only thing currently keeping the Collectors from penetrating Zhu's Hope's defenses. I am sorry."

"We have to do something?" James said. "They're sitting ducks without support."

An M-35 Mako bounded over the nearby hills and drove right up to them, coming to a screeching halt at their position. A green Asari threw open the hatch. "Heard you guys needed a ride," Shiala said.


Feros

Exogeni Research Station

Species 37 Containment Area


"First the Thorian, now the Reapers," Tali said. "Keelah, these people have suffered enough."

"Jacob can handle it," Miranda said. "He'll get the colonists out safe."

"Shouldn't we be helping them?" Tali asked.

"The Thorian is still our priority," Miranda replied. "That's what the Reapers are here for, same as us. They'll slaughter every colonist on this planet to get to it, which is another reason we need to move it."

Tali shrugged: "Fair enough."

"What do we know about this thing anyway?" Garrus asked. "How is it supposed to help us?"

"The latest intel on indoctrination seems to indicate that it works by manipulating various neurotransmitters in one's brain," Miranda explained. "Normally these require a biochemical signal, a nerve impulse for instance. The Reapers are somehow able to manipulate them with an external signal, some sort of electromagnetic frequency. The telltale "tingle in the spine" witnesses describe, that's a biological response to this."

"And you think the Thorian will help us what, block it?" Garrus asked.

"Precisely," Miranda replied. "Our bodies naturally need to be able to turn all these signals both on and off as necessary. Everything the Reapers are activating in their victims can be de-activated with the right stimulus. The inhibitors we need should be right here." She motioned to the dead Thorian.

"I always thought indoctrination was just automatic, something the Reapers did without trying," Tali said. "But knowing more about how it works…keelah."

"What are you saying?" Garrus asked.

"They treat us like we're machines," Tali said. "They don't just brainwash people, they break us down into our basic components, re-program what the cells in our bodies are doing! They tweak your brain chemistry until it's ideal for them….They…they calibrate us!"

"Don't worry, Tali," Garrus said. "We're going to do the same thing to them. And when we do, my guns will be calibrated and ready for them."

"I hope you kill them all," Tali said coldly.


Feros

Zhu's Hope Colony


Jacob emptied his assault rifle clip into the nearest Collector and took cover as more of them returned fire. He Lifted the next group of Collectors and Thane hit them with a biotic Warp to finish them.

EDI contacted them: "Jacob, it appears that Collector forces are breaking off from the main attack to pursue the escaping refugee shuttles. I cannot provide cover for all them at once."

"Do what you can, EDI," Jacob said. "We're almost done here."

"If they're here for the Thorian, why go after the refugees?" Kasumi asked. "All those people running away just leave the Thorian less defended."

"Doesn't matter what their motives are," Jacob replied. "We have to save these people."

In the distance a Praetorian closed in on one of the escaping Shuttles. It charged up its particle beam but before it could fire it was blasted out of the sky by a shot from a Mako's main canon.

"Cavalry's here," James said over the communicator.

Shepard and Kaiden disembarked from the Mako. "We'll go in and get the rest of the survivors out," Shepard said. "Cover us with the Mako, but be careful where you aim the main gun."

"Yes, sir," James replied.

Shepard Incincerated an approaching Collector's armor and Kaiden killed it with a Reave, but more were flying in.

Shepard spoke into his communicator: "Miranda, we've got more Collectors incoming. How are you holding up on your end?"

"Nearly finished," Miranda replied. "Our perimeter is still holding and we should be able to hold off the rest on our own. Help Jacob with the evacuation, I've got things covered here."

"Sir, more of them," James said. "Up front." Another platoon of Collectors landed and opened fire.

"This doesn't make sense," Jacob said as he returned fire on the Collectors. "If they know what we're here for, why are they focusing their attack here?"

A group of colonists ran out of a nearby building. "This way," Shepard yelled. "To the shuttles. Jack, get that barrier around them before those seeker swarms can-" The Collectors fired on the colonists, killing them.


Feros

Exogeni Research Station

Species 37 Containment Area


Shepard's voice came in through Miranda's omni-tool communicator: "Team one, get out of there as soon as you can. Something's wrong. The Collectors aren't taking live prisoners anymore; they're massacring the colonists."

"The Reapers have plenty of Husks for slaughtering people" Garrus asked. "I thought they only sent Collectors for retrievals-"

"Dammit!" Miranda interrupted. "I know what they're doing. They know we have the Thorian secure, so they're targeting the colonists instead. They'll probably study them to-"

"What do you mean study them?" Tali asked.

"They're still connected to the Thorian somehow," Miranda replied. "Remember what that Asari told Shepard on Ilium? The strange symptoms, the medical tests? The Reapers are going to do the same thing, try and use them to figure out the Thorian."

"But why would they kill the colonists then?" Garrus asked. "If they're dead how can the Reapers get anything from their-" He stopped and looked at the Thorian corpse. "Oh crap."

"But we're harvesting the actual compounds that cause the mind control, unique to the Thorian," Tali said. "The colonists don't have them; the only way to learn anything would be to study their minds, brain chemistry. If they kill them there's nothing left to study, the mind is gone."

"They can get it back," Miranda said coldly. "It worked for Shepard, didn't it?"

"Not if there's nothing left for them to take," Garrus said.

"What are you saying?" Tali asked.

"We bombard this place from orbit, destroy the bodies," Garrus replied. "It's the only way to be sure."

"People are still alive out there!" Tali said.

"We've evacuated most of them but we can't save them all," Miranda said. "We're cutting it close as it is. The Reapers will overrun this place. Soon."

"Shepard would never-" Tali started. "How do we even know what the Reapers' plan is? What if you're wrong?"

"I'm not," Miranda replied. "It's the most logical course of action given the current situation and the Reapers are smart enough to know that. They don't make mistakes so neither can we. I don't like this any more than you do, but we don't have a choice."

"If we don't kill them, the Reapers will anyway," Garrus said. "If they're still alive, who knows what they'll do to them? What kinds of experiments they'll put them through? It's all we can do at this point. I'm sorry." He placed his hand on her shoulder.

A Cerberus agent's voice came through Miranda's omni-tool communicator: "We have everything we need, Ma'am. We're done here. Recommend you pull out immediately, more Reaper forces are incoming."


Normandy Bridge

High Orbit Above Feros

30 minutes later


"It's your call, Commander," Jacob said. "Considering what we've seen the Reapers do to live victims…maybe it's the right thing to do."

"Or maybe it just fits with your Cerberus plan," Jack said.

"Which is our only hope at this point," Miranda replied. "Must we keep having this discussion?"

"Fuck yeah we should!" Jack replied. "You led the Alliance into a trap and now you want to nuke a colony with survivors still there. Cerberus doesn't care what happens, how many people die, as long as they get what they want. Well I do!"

"EDI, if we bomb the colony could we take any Reapers out with it?" Shepard asked.

"Negative, Shepard," EDI replied. "At this distance they would detect an incoming strike and have time to take evasive measures."

"So we'd just be bombing the colony," Jack said. "Great…"

"That's enough!" Shepard said. "It's our only choice and you know it. You were at the Collector Base; you saw firsthand what they do to prisoners. I know how you feel about Cerberus and I respect your opinion, hell, most of the time I agree with you. But this is not the time."

"You don't see anything wrong with just killing innocent people?" Jack asked.

"I said it was our only choice," Shepard replied. "I didn't say it was right or a good one. Being in command means having to make these decisions…so don't you dare give me shit about it. I've read your file. I know how many people you've killed just for fun, you used to brag about it to me, so cut the self-righteous bullshit. You're a soldier now. Act like it and follow your orders."

"But you're not my commanding officer," Jack said. "You're not even part of the Alliance. Officially, you're still dead. I don't have to do shit for you-"

"Then why are you here?" Shepard replied. "I know I'm not an Alliance soldier anymore, and I haven't been for a while now. None of you are obligated to be here. You're here because you're dedicated to stopping the Reapers, doing whatever it takes. Like you said, I don't have any official power here but you put me in charge anyway, because you all you all seem to think I'm your best hope. You're with me because you chose to be, so stop second-guessing my decisions."

"Look, Shepard, I didn't mean to-" Jack started.

"It's all right," Shepard said. "We're all on edge and I know we've made a lot of sacrifices, but this is the last step. EDI, contact our other allies, it's time to take the fight to the Reapers."

"And the colony, Shepard?" EDI asked.

"Raze it," Shepard replied. "This weapon is our only chance. We can't risk having the Reapers find a way to counter it."

"Understood, Commander," EDI said. "Firing now."

"I'm sorry…" Shepard said.

"I understand, Shepard," Jack said. "I guess you did what you had to do, fucked up as it was. But after everything you've risked for Cerberus, this plan of yours had better work."

"It will," Shepard said.

"How can you be sure?" Jack asked.

"Because it has to," Shepard replied.