"I tried not to wake you."

The the sun peaks over the horizon and the early morning air is biting. She pulls my collar up around my neck."I wanted to say goodbye before you left."

I smile at the offer and take her hands to kiss her delicate blue fingers. "No need, love. Please go back inside."

She whispers, "How long will you be gone?"

I flinch. Surely she will be disappointed. "Two weeks."

"You will not attend the pilgrimage." She sighs and her shoulders slump beneath my arms. She tries to rally a smile, but it is weak. "We will miss you. Who shall I ask to accompany us?"

"Your family is wise and honorable. I trust them to take care of you while I am away." I hear the transport drawing near.

"Why must you go? This feels wrong." Her embrace tightens and her breathing increases. "I'm afraid."

I deeply inhale her scent – the very same that enraptured my heart and changed my life forever. "I am chosen for this job because killing is an art and I am a master." I lean closer and whisper, "It is all I know. It is who I am."

Anger flashes in her blue eyes. "How can you say that? Do you not know that you belong to me?" Her beautiful anger threatens to break me. "You committed yourself to me in front of our gods. That is your most sacred calling." I can only look away." She drops her eyes and adds, "I sometimes feel like you are a slave."

My body stiffens. "Don't insult me. I owe my existence to them. We owe our existence to them. And I am proud to repay the debt." A breeze stirs around us and a chill slips into my heart. I take a deep breath and try to sooth her. "My love, please let's not argue. We have discussed this many times. This is how I honor our gods, by providing for my family." I pull back and see she is still concerned. "Please do not worry. I will be safe and will return soon." Reluctantly she releases me and I feel like I am betraying her fragile heart. "Once this mission is over, I will have a great deal of time to spend with you. I will make this up to you...to both of you."

This time it is her turn to look away, "There is something I should tell you before you leave."

"Can it not wait? I must leave."

Again, a sad smile before she gently kisses my lips,"Yes. It can wait. Return safely to us."

Before sliding into the taxi, I take one last look at my wife, my love, my world. She offers a small wave before wiping away a tear and placing her slender hand on top of her lips.

A chime at the door.

"Enter."

"Thane, would you care to join me in a cleansing meditation before we enter battle?"

"Indeed I would, Samara." The drell followed the elegant asari into her room and sat in front of the expansive window that opened to the endless memories of the galaxy. The unlikely friendship with the Justicar had proven salutary for the morose soul of the assassin. During their stolen conversations, they discovered a shared and unfortunate wisdom that comes only from deep and personal loss. Yet, they could not have chosen more different paths to find atonement.

Thane's muscular frame lithely descended into the lotus position. He clasped his hands in his lap to begin the familiar deep breathing exercise to clear his mind. Yet try as he might, his heart was not so willing to allow him escape.

"Pregnant."

The word burns my eyes until they threaten to burst from my head. The police report indicates she was two months pregnant. She tried to tell me. How could I have been so blind? So careless? So selfish?

Fool!

Anguish hardens into rage. I will pursue those responsible until the gods or enemies take me.

"Father, take me with you." Kolyat, his gentle heart inherited from his mother.

I push him aside to walk out the door. "Where I go a child cannot follow." Again I leave one that I love, while tears fall from the exact, save younger, eyes of my beloved.

"Kolyat," Thane whispered his son's name and opened his eyes to see the black emptiness mirroring his heart. "Irikah, will I see you again? Can I earn the respect of our son or the forgiveness of his mother?"

"The answers to such questions are in the hands of the Goddess, my friend." Samara had finished her meditation and sat quietly in the crook of the L-shaped couch. Compassion compelled her to change the subject and hopefully create a reprieve from the waves of guilt engulfing the grief stricken widower. "You don't really seem like an assassin; but then again, I spent most of my time fighting thugs who thought custom painted armor made them professionals."

Thane stood and joined Samara on the couch, his posture never relaxing. "I am certainly not a common soldier or merc. The hanar trained my body for this profession since I was six years old. I am highly skilled and the best in the galaxy. I have always acted alone and without mercy. I brought death to those who deserved it - and occasionally to those who did not."

"Yes, a crime that I would be compelled to punish if not for my oath to Commander Shepard," Samara said with dead certainty. "It is interesting that a professional assassin and Justicar are on the same ship and both still remain alive. Only in the world of Commander Shepard could this be possible."

Thane slightly nodded, "Indeed. She has made a career out of performing the impossible."

"I am curious. How did you know she was looking for you?" Samara asked while crossing her legs.

Thane shrugged, "I didn't. Not until she marched in the front door of the Dantius Towers and started shooting." Both grinned at the image of the Commander's propensity to first use every bullet in the chamber and then ask questions. Levity evaporated and a shadow passed over his countenance. "That was to be my last job." He wore his agony like a mourning raiment.

"You planned on dying in there," Samara said matter-of-factly. Memories of Aria floated in and out of her mind. She knew that her unlikely friend also punished himself for her unpardonable sin: the inability to protect one's family.

"I should have looked for Kolyat. No, I should have never left him." Thane sighed deeply. "Killing, once my career, turned to murder. It became my fuel for existence. I thought my one skill could satisfy my vengeance. But once I eliminated my wife's killers, I had no goal, nothing left to do. Emptiness filled me and release evaded me. I assessed my life, and one fact kept surfacing: I had never helped anyone without personal gain. I accepted the Dantius commission because I didn't know what else to do. I had been blinded by grief and rage for so long. Looking back now, it was clear I'd resigned myself to death going into that mission. It wasn't a conscious plan. My body had accepted its death. My mind had been dead a long time. If Nassana's guards caught me, it would have been a good death." A hint of a smile pulled at the corner of his mouth, "But someone else was pushing to reach the target. Forcing me to move faster. Challenging me."

Samara laughed freely, "You are in my quarters because Shepard wounded your pride?"

Thane's eyes sparkled as he walked to face the window. "She was…a valuable distraction from my past. Sometimes I felt regret. Sometimes I felt remorse. But most of the time, I felt nothing. But something changed when I met Shepard. She told me about the attack on the human colonies. She was… is, so passionate, so protective. I knew at that moment Siha returned to me. I wanted to help her. Needed to help her." He looked away and whispered, "And in so doing, maybe I could help me." He clasped his hands behind his back and faced Samara. "I was familiar with the collectors by reputation. Low survival odds didn't concern me. Finding a way back to Irikah did." He tilted his head to the side and smiled, "But I confess I have come to care for Shepard."

Samara thought to herself, 'It seems we are both suffer the same affliction.'

"You and she are the only friends I have made in 12 years. I care that she succeeds both with the mission, and in reuniting her body and soul. Strange that I should reawaken now when there is so little time left. I've known I would die for many years. I'm ashamed to say that only now have I decided to leave the galaxy better then I found it. My wife was selfless. She always put others first, especially me. Nothing I have ever done has come close to that. Thankfully, the Commander helped right one wrong: I've spoken to my son. With this mission, maybe he can now be proud of his father instead of ashamed. Perhaps I have been given another chance to help Siha in this life, and I pray that I will have the opportunity to be with her in the next. With that hope, I should be at peace at the eve of battle." Thane placed a hand on the window as if he were examining the fear tugging at his mind. "But what if I fail? I've worked so hard. Meditated and prayed. But is it enough? Can I atone for all the evil I've done? I consider my body's death and a chill settles in my gut. I am afraid, and it shames me. What if I am unable to achieve my goal of redemption? This is my last chance, Samara, and what if I miss it?"

Samara moved to stand near her friend. "Even still Irikah watches over you. Pray for the wisdom and strength to act according to the will of Arashu in battle, but more importantly, to be found worthy to be in with Irikah once more."

Thane inhaled deeply and caught Samara's gaze in the reflection of the glass. "Thank you. Your words are comforting. It has been many years since I felt I could relax anywhere. You are right. I'm looking forward to the end of my mission."

The Justicar returned back to the couch, hinting a smile, "If we met…under different circumstances, I think you would have proven to be a challenge. If this mission is successful, I hope you escape me so I don't have to meet that challenge."

He turned to look at Samara, "If this mission is successful, you won't have to."

"Approaching Omega 4 relay. Everyone stand by," Joker announced.

Everyone, including EDI, seemed to be holding their breath. Shepard stood beside Joker as they fast approached the Omega 4 relay. Its red eye flashing a warning, or perhaps mocking any ship that dared approach: many enter; none leave. She replayed mission checklist over and over in her mind, trying to determine if any detail had been overlooked.

When the Normandy finally connected with the relay, the ship bucked and groaned, but held fast. Tali mumbled a prayer of thanks to Keelah and to the Asari engineers and then reported, "The reaper IFF activated and the drive core just lit up like a supernova. It is functioning, but at critical levels."

Moments later and light years away, EDI warned, "Brace for deceleration."

Once the Normandy came out of FTL, it was met with a barrage of debris. It looked like a graveyard for countless ships. "Shit! Evasive maneuvers!" Joker shouted. The Normandy pitched as he pulled the nose up to a 90 degree angle to try and remove them from the sea of wreckage. High above the deserted battlefield, they could see the width and depth of destruction that spanned millennia, and it was astonishing. "This must be all the ships that tried to make it through the Omega 4 relay. Some look ancient," Joker was in awe.

The console lit up indicating a proximity threat and EDI alerted the pilot, "I have detected an energy signature near the edge of the accretion disk." A few moments later, they could see one lone and intact super structure that stood out among the remains, and from this angle, all the debris encircled it as if to symbolize the trophies of victories of battles long past.

Adrenaline pulsed through the Commander's veins, she gripped the pilot's seat with a renewed blood thirst. "That has to be the collector's base. Take us in for a closer look, nice and easy."

Hidden within the ruins, small satellites sprang to life - the secondary defense system for the base. "Looks like they know we are here. Taking evasive maneuvers," Joker said as his hands flew over the console. Their laser attacks were coming from all sides, but the ship skipped past the deadly beams just in time to avoid the majority of the contact. The pilot took their aggression personally. "Now they are just pissing me off! You want some more of this? Come on, girl, let's give it to them!" The ship banked hard right to now face the pursuing attackers. One, then two, small explosions, and the defense mechanisms were minus two satellites. But they were organized, and as the Normandy fired on another target, one attacked from the side.

"Alert, Hull breach on the engineering deck," EDI reported.

Joker could only think of one plan, "We're sitting ducks out here. I've got to try and loose them. EDI take us back into the debris field."

"BACK into the debris field?" Miranda yelled from the co-pilot's seat.

"Damn it. One has entered the cargo hold. Miranda, stay with Joker. I'll deal with this," Shepard barked one last order as she exited the cockpit, "Grunt, Jack, you're with me. Let's hit the hold."

The pilot was trying his best to avoid both the deadly impact with debris and the incoming fire from the satellites. Meanwhile, the threesome had to try and maintain their balance on a ship that was trembling and glancing off the impact of both, while at the same time attempting to eliminate the Oculus that had penetrated the ship's hull. Fortunately Grunt's large size kept most of the attention of the Oculus. For most species, fighting in such a perilously close range would have been a guaranteed death, but for a krogan, it was an invitation for glory. Grunt leaped from a platform onto the intruder screaming, "I. Am. Krogan!" He clasped his hands above his head and pummeled the machine until its red "eye" finally dimmed. With veins bulging, he drug the object back to the hole from where it entered, and spurred on my krogan rage, heaved it like a shot-put out into the open space.

"Now THAT is how you kick some ass! But that still only counts as one," Jack slapped her young partner on his back, only to receive a bellicose, guttural laugh in return.

Still not free from the remaining assailants, Joker directed the ship straight into the skeleton of a massive alien cruiser. EDI warned, "Our kinetic barriers are not designed to sustain damage from debris that size, Jeff. Barriers are down to 40%."

"Come on EDI make it work. Re-write all non-critical power." Joker took a deep breath, "This is gonna hurt."

In the engineering room, Tali barked orders to Mordin and Garrus as the damage reports began erupting on her terminal. "Capacitors maxed out," the salarian yelled over the resonating scream of the mass effect generator. The ship convulsed and rumbled.

Garrus had to catch his balance to avoid crashing his head into the bulkhead and then reported to Tali, "Defenses are holding, but Joker is really testing the asari warranty."

With Tali's engineering genius, EDI's handling of the ship's systems, and Joker's piloting skill, they were able to once again exit the debris field intact.

But the relief was short lived. "You better head back up here, Commander," Miranda sounded worried. Once Shepard rounded the galaxy map the XO pointed ahead, "There it is…the collector base and it looks like that are sending out a greeting party."

Slowly the phantom menace that sadistically devastated Shepard's world crept toward them. Shepard's scars on her face slowly lit up like a map of hell on the surface of her skin. "Guess who's coming to dinner, fuckers," she said with a maniacal smile.

"Time for paybacks, bastards." Joker's grin eerily mirrored that of his Commander standing behind him.

Shepard hit her comm link, "Garrus! You're up! Show them the meaning of turian retribution."

Garrus mandibles flared and he stood to his full height. "Aye-Aye, Commander. All systems on line for the thanix cannon and prepared to fire on your order."

"Copy that." Shepard's hands began to crackle as the dark energy twisted around her fingers with anticipation. "I hope you like it rough. FIRE THE MAIN GUN!" Joker controlled the ship masterfully, synchronously firing while avoiding their counterattack.

Direct hit. Joker's hands shot in the air as he yelled, "How do you like that you sons-of-bitches?" The cruiser was severely damaged and listing, but not destroyed completely.

Miranda leaned in and whispered into Joker's ear, "Get in close and finish them off." The smile of the XO was not unlike that of a great white shark that smelled blood in the water.

The Normandy performed a negative G roll and accelerated toward the cruiser. Joker slammed his hand on the console. "Send them straight to hell, girl!" Another direct hit; however this time it sliced right through the cruiser, igniting a fireball that lit up the entire stratosphere. The doppelganger image of scene in front of him mirrored the same image two years ago above a frozen planet; yet now, instead of insanity, satisfaction burned deep within him.

But the Normandy was too close to the concussive blast that moved faster than the speed of light and threw the Normandy's mass effect generators offline. As the ship careened and began to lose power, Shepard yelled over the comm, "Tali! Give me something!"

"Generators unresponsive!" she was frantic.

"All hands brace for impact," EDI warned. Shepard and Miranda scrambled to strap themselves in to the open seats in the cockpit. Jeff and EDI tried to maneuver the ship that was now without propulsion, but still flying at supersonic speeds and heading straight for the collectors' base. Without the ability to slow the landing, the impact jarred everyone and sent already loosened parts of the ship flying throughout. The main starboard wing caught on a stationary piece of the base, sending the entire ship careening and spinning. Eventually they came to a standstill with the ship hissing and sparking.

"Everyone report in," Shepard yelled into the comm as she unbuckled her restraint. Movement in her peripheral vision told her Miranda and Joker survived. After several minutes the entire crew had miraculously reported they were unharmed, save for a few bruises. "Tali, what is the status of the core?"

"Multiple core systems overloaded during the crash. Restoring operation will take time," the quarian sounded haggard.

EDI was the last to report in, "Primary life support functional and I am attempting to get systems back online."

Shepard looked out the windows of the cockpit, "How long until the collectors find this landing zone?"

"I do not detect an internal security network. It is possible the collectors did not expect anyone to reach the base," EDI said, offering the only snippet of good news.

Miranda ran her hands through her raven locks, "Then why the security system?"

Shepard nodded, "I agree, Lawson. We need to act as if their discovery is imminent."

"If we're lucky," Joker winced as he tried to reposition himself in his seat, "their external sensors were hit like we were. They might not know we're alive."

Shepard hit her comm link and started walking down the galleyway, "Tali, get up here and formulate a plan with EDI and Joker about what needs to happen to get the ship back online. Everyone else, meet in the comm room."

Joker looked up from the scanners to address Shepard, "The ship's a mess, Shepard. I'm a good pilot, not a miracle worker."

Shepard glanced back over her shoulder, her eyes flickering red in the emergency lighting, "You have your orders, Lieutenant."

Halfway to the comm room Miranda whispered, "I saw the damage report. There isn't much hope of us leaving this place."

"No. There isn't. There never was," Shepard said, never breaking stride. "All of us knew this was a one way trip."

Commander Shepard stood quietly at the head of the table, pulling at her lip deep in thought, "Our primary objective is to destroy the station and stop the collectors. At any cost. Our secondary objective is to locate any survivors and get to the ship with us and then back through the relay. We need a plan to take out this station. EDI bring up your scans."

Instantly an outline of the collector's ship appeared before them and EDI explained, "You should be able to overload their critical systems if you get to the main control systems here," a blue icon appeared indicating the location.

"That means going through the heart of the station," the former C-Sec officer noted, "right past this massive energy signature."

Commander Shepard continued pulling at her bottom lip, "That's the central chamber. If our crew or any of the colonists are still alive, the collectors are probably holding them in there."

Miranda had been pacing back and forth, studying the image. She stopped and brought up her omnitool. After few keystrokes she pointed to a second icon. "Looks like there are two main routes. It might be a good idea to split up to keep the collectors off balance, then regroup in the central chamber." Sheppard nodded. "But both routes are blocked. See these doors? The only way past is to get someone to open them from the other side."

"Let's just blow them up," Grunt bellowed. "Cowards hide. Kick in the front door and announce our arrival."

Mordin sliced his hand through the air horizontal to the rail. "Plan unacceptable. Insufficient ordinance onboard to create explosion capable of damaging interior walls."

Shepard placed her hands on the railing and leaned in toward the image, "As much as I like Grunt's plan, it appears stealth is in order." She tapped her omnitool, "Someone could sneak in to this ventilation shaft here," she pointed to the green line that zigzagged down to the main chamber.

"I think it could work," Miranda nodded, "but we will need to send a tech expert to quickly shut down the security systems."

Shepard looked to her left, "Legion, you can hack through anything. I'm sending you into the shaft to unblock the passageways. Now is the time for the geth to honor their word."

The geth nodded, "Acknowledged."

Shepard's stood to her full height, "The rest of us will break into two teams and fight down each passage. That should draw the collectors attention away from Legion. Garrus, you will lead the distraction team. Take all of the stealth experts: Thane, Kasumi, Mordin, and Miranda, and bring them back alive. I want them to be confused and pissed off while my team takes Grunt's advice and 'knocks on the front door', krogan-style." By now her eyes were solid red. "I don't know what we're going to find in there, but I won't lie to you. Once we're in, they're going to throw everything they have at us. We don't know how many the collectors have stolen. Thousands. Hundreds of thousands. It doesn't matter. What does matter is this: NOT ONE MORE!" The room echoed from the sound of her fist hitting the railing. "If we're weak, if we're slow, if we hesitate, we'll die. The collectors attacked my ship, twice. They took our crew, our friends. They think we're helpless. They're wrong. They started a war, but we're not here to finish it. We're here to make them regret, to show them, and everyone else, what happens when you go too far. No more running, and no more waiting. This ends today. Here. They want to know what we're made of? I say we show them, on our terms. Let's hit them where they live and bring our people home. You have your orders. Let's move."

"All teams report in." Shepard held her team at the unprotected entrance of the base.

Legion answered first. "We are in position. Exterior temperature slightly elevated. No obstructions or enemy detected."

Shepard nodded, "Second team, are you in position?"

"In position," Garrus actually sounded excited, "I'm thinking about lighting this place up like it is a New Year's Eve."

A wry smile crossed the Commander's lips. "Roger that, buddy. You must have been reading my mind. Make me proud." She nodded at Grunt, "Ok, you're up, Tiny. Time to show the collectors why you earned a place in the Urdnot clan."

The krogan sprinted down the middle of the entrance, making a noise that sounded pretty close to laughter. Within seconds thundering explosions and weapons' fire echoed back down the tunnel.

Shepard then looked at her bodyguard, "I understand you two have a competition?" Jack nodded and smiled. "Well, he looks pretty pumped and he is at least 100 yards ahead of you…"

Before Shepard could finish her thought, the young woman sprang from cover, "Wait for me you ugly fuck!"

"Knock knock," Shepard whispered to herself.

Samara replaced Jack and in the formation and said, "It seems you are enjoying yourself, Commander," Shepard's eyes twinkled in response. "Shall we join the two adolescents?"

"Shepard, we have found another doorway. It's open, but it doesn't feel right," Jack whispered into the comm. Silently the rest of the team crept up to the Jack's position to survey the scene. Grunt and Jack crouched at the mouth of a massive cavernous room that could easily hold an alliance frigate. It was dark. Not just due to absence of light, but dark with the oppressive knowledge that countless enemies were waiting to exhale their fury.

"Trap likely," Mordin whispered over the comm.

"Thank you captain obvious." Even in hushed tones, Jack could convey a sharp sarcastic bite.

Shepard squatted behind Grunt, grateful for the internal comm-link in her ear. "Garrus, ETA on that distraction? We are waiting to enter into the mouth of hell and would like to send some dance partners your way."

"Understood, Commander. I am waiting for a signal from Thane. He is placing the explosives now."

Legion's voice came as a surprise. He had been so silent up to this point that Shepard had forgotten about him. "Temporary setback. There is an obstruction in the tunnel. No ability to access passage."

Samara's cool voice moving across Shepard's neck told her the asari had taken position behind her. "I can see a terminal on the left side of the chamber. Perhaps it can override the obstruction."

Shepard addressed her young friend, "Tali, can you put eyes on the terminal?" Tali nodded. "Ok, on my signal, you Samara and Grunt head straight for it. Jack, Mordin, we'll cover their right flank. Wait for my mark."

Decades of stealth training taught the drell to remain motionless, barely breathing, invisible to any creature's naked eye, until it was time. Time to strike. Time to kill. Thane stood in the deep shadows of the batarian's home. Jalek Chernobog was a ruthless batarian mercenary, not unlike the hundreds of mercenaries Thane had killed, except for two distinct differences: Jalek was immensely wealthy, and terribly paranoid. Guards, scanners, droids, floor sensors were just the beginning. The closer one got to the crime lord, the more stringent the safety precautions became. And there was good reason to be paranoid. Even among the batarian people, he was believed to be the most ruthless of all killers, not even sparing his own children from his rage and punishments. Rarely did he leave his fortress, and if he did, he was always flanked by his most trusted sentinels, fully trained in biotics and war. It was rumored that many biotics had burned out their nodes keeping him under constant shielding. The only person who would openly do business with Jalek was the Shadow Broker, and only because Jalek had yet to find him.

Thane's training master taught him to meditate on something or someone whom he trusted beyond himself, and in the right moment his focal point would let him know when it was time to act. Irikah never joined him on missions, not physically anyway; but in his memory, she was with him the each time he was gone from her. And in the right moment, in the split second needed to act, he would once again smell her scent and see her smile at him at the altar of the gods all those years ago. Then the tool of his employers would engage, and instantly the job would be done. But this time, Irikah remained hidden from his mind. At first it was not worrisome. He had developed endless patience. But this day, this job, was different. His thoughts began to trail. What had Irikah wanted to tell him? Why was she so grieved at the thought of this job?

He knew. He had known almost the moment she did.

Alone. Jalek was alone. "Irikah, come and give me the sign from the gods to act." Thane's silent prayers did nothing to quicken the consent. He searched his feelings: worry. He must act. He must get home.

One shot, clean and true, as he had hoped and planned. Only when he was light years away from his target did he finally relax and convince himself that he had simply missed Irikah's signal. Simply distracted? In three days he would be back in her arms and all would be well again.

How could he have known it was Jalek's brother, Molech, who paid the Shadow Broker handsomely to kill his brother and inherit his vast kingdom? Or that Molech had already dispatched retribution to wait for Thane on his home planet? Only an unscheduled maintenance landing by his transport saved him from the same fate of his wife.

As he left his beloved laying on a cold steel slab in the bowels of the morgue, Irikah disappeared from his heart, replaced by infinite hatred of Jalek and his brother. From that point forward, the image of Jalek's head bursting in front of him would be his cue to kill, and to continue to kill until his vengeance was sated. But deep down he knew he would never allow it be sated.

Thane lay frozen on his stomach, his weight evenly distributed down his body and his chin resting against the customized stock of his rifle. Only he could have seen the small cavity that held piping and cables as the perfect stronghold for a messenger of death. It was inconspicuous and far above the main walkway leading into the south side of the main chamber, directly opposite the entrance of Shepard and her team. He had set the last of the four charges before climbing into his perch and waiting to signal Garrus. "All clear," Thane whispered.

"Shepard, we are all in position," Garrus reported.

"Good. Fire at will, Shepard out." The Commander signaled her team to quietly enter and move into position. Try as he might, however, the bulky krogran was not built for stealth and soon a shitstorm of firepower concentrated on his position.

Shepard screamed, "We've been spotted! Return fire!"

Garrus winced when he heard Shepard's voice and gunfire explode over the comm. "Ok, let's light it up," he said on the channel reserved for his squad..

Several minutes passed and there was still no explosion or explanation from the drell. Garrus pressed his piece further into his ear as if it would force him to respond, "Thane, report."

Silence.

Tali's voice crackled over the comm-line, "Shepard, ...(static)... pinned down … (static) … host of enemies … (static) … cut down soon after!"

"Shepard, the temperature in the tunnel is rising. I will be unable to keep our system online much longer. I cannot move forward without your assistance." Even Legion sounded alarmed.

At this rate they would never make the rendezvous point. "Grunt move your fat ass and get Tali to that terminal!" Shepard screamed in between bursts from her assault rifle. The krogan bolted from behind a column, and with the help of a powerful asari matriarch's biotic attack, he split the platoon of collectors like a giant battleaxe. Tali took cover behind him and began the interface.

"Shepard, life support critical." Somehow Shepard heard the geth's voice despite the explosions echoing around her. Now on her belly, Shepard dragged herself around what little remaining cover she had, and through her night vision, could see a column of collector drones fast approaching Tali's position. Shepard jumped to her feet sprinted to provide additional support. "Everyone, suppressive fire. We've got to give Tali more time. Legion has to get through or we're all dead." On cue, Mordin, Samara, and Jack began to fire from cover into the oncoming onslaught.

Through the rifle's scope, he watched a small garrison of enemy foot soldiers appear from around a corner about 240 yards from his location. He turned off his comm-link for fear of being compromised. In a matter of moments they would be in range of the explosion. He flagged the trigger and continued to observe through his sight. He held his breath when the last drone in the column seemed to look directly at the him.

Shepard covered the rear of their defensive circle while bullets rippled against the defensive barriers of Jack and Samara. The attack seemed to be coming from all directions.

"Ok, Garrus, you giant turkey leg, anytime on that diversion," Jack barked into her comm.

Finally Tali found a way to drop the barrior hindering Legion's position and the geth sprinted ahead toward the central chamber, undetected by the enemy.

The last emotion Thane expected to feel at this moment was... peace? Thane furrowed his brow and blinked. He refocused his attention on the suspecting collector and saw that his attention had been diverted behind him. He inhaled a familiar scent of spring flowers, and briefly saw a blue mist pass through the garrison.

"Irikah..."

A deep, bellowing growl reverberated throughout the chamber, followed by a multicolored fireball erupting from the south end. "Happy new year, bastards," Shepard snorted. "Let's move. Grunt you got point."

"Commander, the collector's ship has suffered a critical system's failure. Electronic defenses are down, but the mass effect core is still online and is located past the main rendezvous point. There remains an impressive host of enemies and they seem to now be shifting their movement toward Garrus' position," EDI announced.

It was welcomed but unnecessary news. As Shepard's small band of warriors moved forward, they watched as two-thirds of the enemy turned completly around to answer the ship's warning alarms. "I love when a plan comes together. Garrus, you and your team move your ass. You've stirred the nest and they're really pissed."

From Shepard's perspective, killing the remaining drones was not necessary, but getting to the main chamber was. Fortunately, following behind an enraged krogan, and in between two powerful biotics, the team made quick progress to reach the entrance of the main chamber. Not surprising it was sealed shut.

"Concentrate on Shepard," a familiar and foreboding voice echoed above all else.

"Harbinger," Shepard hissed. "Legion, we need this doors open now!"

"Who's Harbinger?" Jack asked while quickly glancing to her left. Eyes blazing as red as an inferno through the visor of Shepard's helmet were the only answer she got. "Oh shit," Jack exhaled.

They were now cut off, trapped, and starring down the Angel of Light.

Garrus was the first to enter the chamber and found Legion hastily working to bypass the seal on the door to allow Shepard's team entrance. "The door has malfunctioned. Path is blocked," Legion hurriedly explained.

Even through the solid metal doors, they could hear the pinging ricochet of bullets on the other side. Garrus dropped to one knee. "Everyone, weapons ready. Lay down covering fire as soon as you see those doors crack open."

After what seemed like an eternity, the doors swished open and immediately the distraction team fired. First two, then ten, then 25, then all of the collector force was dropped, save one who seemed to be glowing from an inextinguishable hell-fire. The doors slammed shut just before Harbinger released one last biotic attack, echoing endlessly inside the cavernous room.

Shepard nodded at Legion, "Nice work. I knew I could count on you." The extension of his face plates acknowledged his response.

Everyone in Shepard's team showed evidence of the battle. None more proudly than the krogan, who was now missing some teeth and a chunk of his left bicep. Jack had several deep gashes on her face. Samara had taken two bullets in her back and Mordin's right eye was swollen almost completely shut after being introduced to the butt of a collectors rifle. Tali's suit had been punctured more than once, but she sealed off the areas and was swimming in antibiotics. The Commander's dragon armor was riddled with dents and was sure she had dislocated her left shoulder and sprang her right ankle.

Miranda appeared beside her and then shoved her left arm back in its socket. Shepard winced and gave her a quizzical look. "I know your body better than anyone, Commander." She nodded her head toward the far end of the room. "You need to see this. Follow me."

As soon as they rounded the corner, Shepard's eyes went wide, shocked at the scene before her: countless pods stacked and attached to the ship. Too numerous too count but unmistakable in their intent.

"This looks like one of the missing colonists from Freedom's Progress," Jack yelled from across the room.

Shepard walked to a pod nearest her and was ecstatic to see the face of her beloved doctor. "Chakwas!"

Another shout erupted. "Kal!" Tali squealed. "And he looks to still be alive. Keelah be praised."

Sensing the loss of its valuable cargo, the ship began releasing poison liquid into the tanks, the first was the colonist in front of Jack. The woman's eyes opened abruptly and she began screaming as her flesh melted off her body. "What the hell... What's happening? Shit, Shepard, we have to get them out!" Jack yelled. Legion, Tali and Mordin activated their omnitools to disengage the locks, while the rest of the team used panic and brute force to break out any remaining survivors. As the locks disengaged, the room sounded like they had uncovered a nest of deadly vipers.

Commander Shepard caught Chakwas' limp body as it fell from the pod. Slowly she opened her crystal blue eyes and offered a weak grin, "Commander? You came for us? I should have known. You are the most stubborn person I have ever met. And for the first time in my life, I am grateful for it. Thank you."

"No one gets left behind," Shepard said as she helped her up, "especially the only doctor that can put up with my pilot's annoying and brittle ass." Chakwas returned her smile and they heartily embraced.

Everyone formed a circle in the center of the room to assess all the injuries. Kelly Chambers was sitting beside Miranda and looked up when Shepard approached, "Thank God you got here when you did. A few more seconds and... I don't even want to think about it."

Chakwas added, "The colonists were...processed. How many times did I watch as their bodies were melted into gray liquid and pumped through these tubes."

Kal stood near the center of the circle as his grateful young lover fussed over his suite. "When I was captured, I was told that I was to be kept alive to convey to the fleet the message they wanted to be sent. After a few days I realized it was not a written message, but the one I saw and heard over and over and over: visions and screams of death." Kal trailed silent and Tali placed her small hand on his chest.

Shepard was pleased to see so many of her crew had survived, but was deeply grieved that many more had not. She took off her helmet and through it across the room. She was more determined than ever to complete the mission. "We still have a job to do. I will lead a team to the ship's core, set the nuke and blow this base straight to hell." Shepard tapped her earpiece, "EDI do you have a fix on our position and the location of the core?"

"Yes Commander. All those tubes lead into the main control room right above you, and it is exuding a great amount of energy. I can only hypothesize it is the location of a massive mass effect core. The route is blocked by the debris from the explosion set by the distraction team."

"Which means the course you forged into this room is the safest way to extract the survivors," Shepard concluded. "Garrus, I want you to lead the extraction team and get the survivors back to the ship. Miranda, Mordin, you will accompany him in order to attend to their wounds on the Normandy." Before Miranda could object, Shepard continued, "Miranda, you will also be responsible to make sure the Normandy is prepared to to jump back through the relay should my team fail to finish the mission." Miranda acquiesced with a simple nod.

"Is there another way to the core?" Shepard asked.

"Yes, but I can not recommend that," EDI answered. "Thermal emissions suggest that the path is overrun with seeker swarms. Mordin's countermeasure can not protect you against so many at once."

Miranda crossed her arms and asked, "What about biotics? Could a biotic field keep them from attacking?"

"Yes. I think it may be possible," Samara answered. "I wouldn't be able to protect everyone, but I might be able to get a small team through if they stayed close."

"Just in case, Jack and Thane you're with us. Everyone else, back to the ship." No one dared question Shepard's orders.

EDI's supposition was correct, but still it was staggering to see the vast amount of seeker swarms descending upon them. The immense power of the Justicar held the biotic field the entire length of the tunnel and through the chamber, while also dispatching husks with a simple flick of her wrist, allowing Thane, Jack and Shepard to slice through the resistance almost by sheer will alone. Only when the door to the mass effect chamber came into view, did Shepard notice Samara stumble from exhaustion.

"Jack, take over," Sheprard said while motioning to Samara.

"No!" Samara's eyes flashed, "I will hold on as long as I can."

"I can see the entrance, Justicar," Thane shouted. "We will be there soon."

Steady streams of sweat poured from the asari's body. Thirty feet from the entrance Jack yelled, "We've got company." Hundreds of yellow eyes emerged from the shadows. As the shadow from the swarm darkened, Samara's movement only continued to slow. The remaining three did there best to keep the collectors beyond the field. Thane reached the doorway first and quickly bypassed the lock. Only after they all crossed the threshold did Samara drop the shielding. When she turned around, her eyes, face and entire body disappeared into a solid white apparition, pulling dark energy from the rest of them. Suddenly with a ear shattering war cry, the Jusicar unleashed her furor, and the biotic shock wave pushed every form of enemy hundreds of feet from their position. It was the most powerful weapon Shepard had ever witnessed from one person's hand. The door swished shut and Samara leisurely walked past the rest of the team as if she had simply been walking in the tranquil fields of Thessia. Both Jack and Shepard stood in amazement. Thane simply smiled and shook his head.

Shepard turned on her flashlight at the end of he rifle. "This is it, all tubes lead to this room. EDI, what can you tell us? What are they doing?"

EDI answered, "I've had some time to dissect the information and readings. The tubes are feeding into some kind of super structure. It is emitting both organic and non-organic energy signatures. Given these readings, it must be massive."

"What the hell is that?" Jack asked as the team entered into what they thought was the mass effect core chamber.

Only EDI could answer, "If my calculations are correct, the super-structure is...a reaper."

"Not just any reaper, but a human reaper," Shepard added. "It is too big for our guns, so we'll plant the nuke here to make sure this thing never sees the outside of this ship."

"You are far enough inside the ship that the the location of the bomb should destroy the reapor and the core," EDI paused, "however it is advised that someone remain to prevent the collectors from disarming the device."

Thane's baritone broke the inevitable silence, "I'll stay."

Shepard's marine instinct to leave no one behind immediately resisted, but her Commander's wisdom prevailed. She placed her hand on his shoulder, "Thane, I will make sure Kolyat knows the bravery of his father. We will leave any extra weapons cartiridges with you. I'lll also set up booby traps in the tunnel to buy some time. If communication fails, give us 20 minutes from the time we exit this room."

Samara was the last person to leave the assassin and offered him the closet thing to forgiveness that a Justicar can bestow. "Thane, it is an honor to know you. May the Goddess and Arashu grant you redemption. And may you walk with Irikah for the rest of eternity." With only final smile, Samara turned on her heels to leave with Shepard and Jack.

Running back through the tunnel, Shepard contacted the Normandy, "Miranda, status report."

The XO instantly responded, "All survivors and team members are safely on board. The engines and core are prepped and we are prepared for a quick exit. Sending coordinates to the LZ now."

Jack, Samara, and Shepard each activated their biotic field any only fired when absolutely necessary, concentrating on the exit and not gunfights. The nuke would take care of the remaining collectors. "Thane, 5 minutes to pick up. Gods be with you."

Thane heard the Commander, but was unable to respond because he was trying to hold back the last defensive onslaught from the collectors. He found a hidden alcove in which he placed the weapons, the ammunition, the bomb and himself. He tossed his pistol aside after it overheated. Three mortal wounds bled from his chest, and what remaining energy he had went into his defensive barrier. He looked at the timer on the bomb and it said 3 minutes. He needed to add time for Shepard's pick up and escape. He turned off the timer, determined to stay alive long enough to trigger it manually.

The three woman could feel and hear the enemy closing in behind them. The screams from the Normandy's engines was a small reprieve, but not as much as the red and gold uniform of the quarian marine hanging from the port side door, steadily dropping at the pursurers behind them.

Kal laughed into his mask, "You should have killed me while you had the chance, bastards!"

Thane's pulse rate was steadily dropping and his barrier was flickering. He knew he the last moment of his life was fast approaching. He moved his hand to the detonator.

"Not yet, my love." Thane gasped and looked up. Irikah walked toward him. "Your friends have yet to escape." She passed through his barrier and placed her hand on his chest. "I will be your strength these last few moments." The barrier flared, tossing five collectors to their deaths. His energy renewed, Thane picked up a a rifle and started firing.

Shepard was relieved to watch Samara disappear through the doorway. But 20 yards in front of her, a drone possessed with Harbinger appeared directly in front of Jack. "Hold your fire!" Shepard screamed. Any stray bullets could easily kill Jack if one should miss.

Jack was clutching her ears, begging for the pain and images to stop. Her tormented screams were blood curdling. There was no time for tactical planning because Harbinger extended his hand, preparing for one last death blow. Forgetting that her ankle was twice the size it was supposed to be, Shepard rushed by the reaper and tackled Jack out of the way to allow her crew to handle Harbinger. Two sets of legs and arms tangled and turned, and the pair rolled backwards off the platform. She was unable to stop Jack's thrashing punches and they fell at least five stories before Shepard could concentrate long enough brace their impact with her biotics. Their fall ended with the distinct sound of breaking ribs. When she finally opened her eyes, she was looking into the convict's smiling brown eyes, replete with a matching mischievous grin. "I knew it. I totally had you pegged as a bottom."

Shepard's laugh caught in her diaphragm. Most certainly it was her ribs that were broken.

Blood and sweat pooled around the assassin. "Thane if you are still alive. We are all clear," the Normandy's second in command proclaimed.

A spring breeze whispered across his heart. "Thane, my love. It is time to come home." Relief washed over him, replacing hate and vengeance with hope and love.

As tears flowed down his cheeks, the redeemed husband and father reached one hand for his beloved, and with the other hand he triggered the device that saved the crew of the Normandy, and countless other lives that would never know his name.