Chapter 21: In The Darkness
My gaze met James' as I sat beside Ashley, she poured both herself and I a glass of water. We both kept looking at each other, who was going to make the first move. Who was going to crack first, I felt Ashley touch my arm.
"You going to eat anything or just stare at your plate?" She asked, she looked at me concerned but I just smiled.
"Sorry, distracted. Just thinking which one to take first." I lied, rather well. She just rolled her eyes at me as grabbing salad for herself as I loaded my plate up with various salads and chicken. I knew James kept looking up at me and I had to avoid looking at him, I didn't want to disturb dinner with my problems. "James, how was the game?" I looked at him, trying to make him relax in front of them.
"I don't know." He replied, ignoring me and Abby hit his shoulder.
"You know the answer, don't be rude." Abby grabbed his beer before he could pick it up, I knew what was about to happen. I put down my cutlery and felt Ashley's gaze on me, she was switching between James and me. Noticing how both of us looked at each other, it was enough to slice through the tension. "I don't see Shepard ignoring you."
"I don't know, he seems to do a fine job of being rude." James leaned back, crossing his arms. "I respect the chain of command but it's a two-way street."
I stood up, putting my jacket over the chair behind me. "It's not like you are perfect yourself." I took a sharp breath, calming myself as I tried to relax. "I need some fresh air." I walked away, putting my hands in my jeans pocket. I just didn't want to deal with James, with anything. I was so sick of it, the problems everyone was having, I needed to breath and I felt so constricted. I could hear Ashley calling for me but I just ignored them, blocking out any voices as I headed outside. I turned left and just started walking, trying to focus as I walked down some steps. I stopped when I saw the Krogan statue, I saw some maintenance workers cleaning it up. A convoy of Krogan diplomats was due to arrive for talks about the war and progression in helping evacuations. I knew Wrex would be there, he wouldn't let anything happen without him there, just to remind everyone he was a Krogan.
I leaned on the railing, just watching the workers. Content to listen to the silence surrounding me, it was peaceful and pleasant. It took away that a war existed out there, that you can find solitude, it made me feel better. I looked down at the lake, just looking at my reflection. It was not the usual grim appearance, I didn't have the bags under my eyes. I had a decent amount of sleep, something that had not happened in a long time. It made me feel better, I knew it would take time to adjust to the nightmares and it was the first time in a while I had slept without it.
"Guess you wanted to protect me, not that I need protecting." I heard to the right of me, I stood tall as looking to my right. Ashley stood there, my jacket on her.
"I just felt if I could save you, I could save everyone." I replied, meeting her gaze. She smiled as walking over to me, hugging me. I just smiled, returning the hug. I could smell her perfume, it was strawberry flavour. I remembered the first time I smelt it, it was intoxicating and I just couldn't get enough. But now, it was the smell that made me feel comforted, safe.
"You aren't alone." She smiled, looking at me. Her brown eyes soft as she kept eye contact. "And I don't need hero-man, I need commander Shepard. The soldier who tries his hardest and if he doesn't succeed. As long as he has given it his all, he can take pride in defeat."
"Defeat, I can't afford to lose. If I lose, billions of lives are lost and the Reapers win." My hands found their way to her cheek, caressing them. Her skin, soft and warm, "when we left earth, that boy. I watched him die, I knew in that moment. That there were millions more like him that could die, that what if I don't save them, how much suffering will they have to go through if I cannot succeed. I just want to save the boy that I can't." I rested my forehead against hers, closing my eyes as I inhaled deeply. Just listening to her breathing as I kept her close to me. I didn't want to let her go, "I don't want to let go."
"Then don't." She looked at me as I opened my eyes. I looked at her lips as I ran my thumb over them, full and soft. "I will always be here, beside you. In victory or defeat." She moved first, our lips crushing against each other. Both savouring each other's flavour as we both didn't want to let go.
"I'm sorry about before." I whispered as I took a couple of quick breaths, I felt her laugh against my cheek as she kissed it.
"I know why you did, but not again. And I know what Lynn asked of you, and I told her she doesn't need to worry." She wrapped her arms around my core, my jacket was too large for her but she didn't care. "And your jacket is so warm, I'm content with keeping it."
"Since when did you get promoted to N7?" I laughed in a low voice.
"This afternoon was the crash course I thought, or was that was a lie to get me into bed with you." She said in a flirty tone, I smiled.
"Maybe, might need more convincing. N7's have to be the best." I smiled as tightening my grip on her, I moved to kiss her again, biting her lower lip as my arms firmly wrapped around her.
"So demanding you N7's are." She laughed in between our kisses.
"Just shut up already." I smirked, stopping her from replying as I felt her bite my lower lip. We just stayed like this, content with not moving as we kissed. I had no plan to interrupt it, only happy that she wasn't mad at me. She just wanted to know why, which was surprising. I half expected her to punch me and call me a bastard, she felt me smirk as she stopped.
"We should head back, I told them I would go talk to you." She whispered, looking at me as I nodded. I went to break away when she pulled me back, "I didn't say you could move, not yet. Just want to remember this." She rested her head on my heart, feeling it pound against my skin. Her warmth meeting my own now, "I missed this." She smiled, pulling away.
"I... I missed this." I said, I didn't like admitting it. I was never one to admit my feelings, not unless it was an argument or I was trying to get someone to listen.
I felt her hand wrap around mine, holding it tightly. I moved to put my arm around hers, grabbing her other hand and playing with her palm as we walked back, we didn't talk but we didn't have to say anything. We were content with holding hands, I followed her inside to their front door. I heard laughter behind it, she opened it and led me inside. I took a deep breath, I just had to relax, I didn't have to be on duty here. It was getting harder to split the commander from the person lately, "Ashley, Shepard. Good to see you alive." Lynn smiled, looking up from her spot beside her mother. I couldn't see Abby, James or Sarah.
"Thanks for the trust Lynn." Ashley laughed as letting go, walking around to sit on the couch. I stood there, looking around before seeing James in the kitchen. I walked off, Ashley just watching me as Lynn went to say something.
"James." I said, crossing my arms as he stopped clearing the table.
"Shepard." He put down the plates, walking around to me as I relaxed.
"I'm sorry for how I treated you, it was out of line." I apologised, I did regret what I said. It was out of line and unlike me to say something like that.
"Thanks, and sorry. I shouldn't have pushed you that far, this war. Sends you a little nuts sometimes." James offered his hand, "how about we call it even and get back to killing some reapers." I took his hand and shook it.
"Sounds good, I'll be happy to get back to killing a few Reapers." I smiled, I went to pick up the plates when James stopped me.
"I got them, you probably want to eat your dinner. You were the only one who barely touched it." James pointed out my meal on the table, still sitting there.
I looked at it, they knew that Ashley would bring me back. They must know how stubborn she is, she never takes no for an answer. I looked up to see Ashley walking over to me, "They knew you would be coming back with me."
"Your stubborn side wouldn't have taken no for an answer." I smiled as she laughed, touching my arm.
"Probably right, but it's not like you aren't stubborn." She walked around me.
I retorted, "bullshit, I ain't stubborn."
"You are, very stubborn. And righteous, not poised. Hell, might as well be gallant." She smirked, putting her hands on her hips as she looked at me.
"Geez, thanks for the compliment. Where's the poison?" I chuckled as sitting to eat my dinner.
"You'll have to guess that one." She kissed my cheek as heading back to the couch. I just smirked, swear she enjoys teasing me.
"You are impossible woman." I chuckled, biting into my meal. I felt my omni tool buzz, moving to open the message from joker and Liara. Both arriving at the same time which was odd, he heard Ashley's omni tool buzz. She opened it, "you got the same I hope?"
"Joker and Liara, asari Councillor had requested us to go and deal with this mission that we know nothing about." Ashley replied, looking over the couch to me who took a deep breath.
"I'll finish my meal and then we'll leave." I sighed, James walked pass me.
"back to the Normandy then?" He asked, Ashley looked at him as she got up. Heading upstairs as he looked to me, I just nodded. I wanted to have a night at least where I could just sit there, do nothing, and just forget that there was a war for five minutes but I couldn't even be give that much. "Joker sent the message to the crew, guess I better pack my gear." James sighed, running his hand through his hair to mess it as he moved upstairs. I briefly gazed at her family, all of them looking upset about it.
I got up after finishing my meal, moving over to the sink when Abby took my plate. Emptying it in the bin for me, "Wish you all could get more than a few hours." She bitterly spoke, she didn't mean to sound cold. He knew it was just that she hadn't got much time to spend with James or Ashley and it was already gone.
Shepard looked at Liara and Ashley before jumping out of the shuttle to land at the monastery. It was unusually silent and Shepard was concerned about what had happened here to send several Asari Commando units, Ashley noticed a nearby shuttle and approached it. Placing her hand on the engine, "Its warm, someone else is here." She said, looking at Shepard who approached the front door. it opened but no elevator, just a series of stairs and emergency exits.
"Elevators must have been disabled." Shepard said, looking down the shaft. He couldn't see the bottom and knew it was a long fall, "Don't fall."
"That's easy for you to say." Ashley replied, jumping through first and landing on the platform across. she turned on her flashlight as looking around, listening to the noise her footsteps made against the metal flooring. "Hasn't been maintained in a while, be careful." She hit her boot against floor, making sure it was secure for them to pass through. That it would handle their weight, she looked at Shepard and Liara who jumped over.
"What was that?" Liara asked, hearing screams coming from below them. "Sounds bad."
"I don't like how close they are." Ashley replied, looking over the edge, pointing her flashlight down but seeing nothing moving.
Shepard slid down the nearby ladder, making his way down before Liara and Ashley followed him. Both wearying of the noises coming out of the monastery, Shepard made his way down to a closed-door. he approached the panel on the side, opening it with little force. he hit the emergency open switch, opening the door. It was pitch black and silent, the screaming ceased.
He stepped out and looked around, their flashlights providing the only light. He approached the table and picked up a data pad, it was broken. "Broken, what happened here is unusual. Maybe the monastery set off the distress signal and not the commandos." Shepard said, looking at Liara who walked over. Ashley checking the surroundings around them, she saw a reaper on the ground. shot several times in the chest.
"Shepard, Reapers were here. Explains the distress signal, the staff would have known about the war and would have been sent data about it, if we can get access to a working computer. It could explain what happened here." Ashley explained.
"They may have wiped the data, we don't know much and the Asari didnt fill us in much. We're stumbling around in the dark." Shepard replied, Liara jogged pass them to the open door. providing some light, she knelt by a dead Asari Commando. picking up a data pad, Shepard joining her as Ashley walked over to computer. trying to turn it on but no success.
"Asari Commandos placed bombs in the great hall." Liara said, continuing to read the data as Shepard knelt by the commando. Looking for any signs of identification. "They planned to blow up the monastery, wiping all the Ardat-Yakshi out."
"Exterminate, a bit harsh." Shepard replied, taking the data pad from Liara and looking at when they heard a loud bang behind. Shepard turning and pointing his assault rifle, he couldn't see Ashley as he walked out a few steps and looked around. "Ash?"
No reply as he heard another noise, "Sorry, that was me." He heard her voice, turning to look in the direction he heard it in. She was flat on her ass, Shepard smirked. "Bloody Reapers." She said, Shepard offering his hand and pulling her up.
"Nice work, break your leg while you're at it." Shepard chuckled, Ashley glaring at him as he walked back over to Liara who smirked.
"Don't you start." Ashley said, looking at Liara who briefly looked at her.
"I'm not the one falling over corpses." Liara replied, walking out the door and to another area.
Shepard following her out, "Bastards you are." Ashley said, both Shepard and Liara laughing between them at her.
"I think you might take James' spot as worse mistake, he got shot in the foot on their what... fourth attempt, and you fall over a corpse. I don't know whether I should worry about the live or dead ones." Shepard replied, smirking as he approached the next door.
"I hate you both." Ashley said, looking at them as he finished laughing. Shepard putting his focus back on the mission as he opened the next door. stepping through, he held his rifle up, making sure it was clear when he saw a reaper slammed into the glass panel in front of them.
"Very good, almost didn't hear you." Samara said, looking up at Shepard who approached the edge. looking down at her as he smiled, it was nice to see her after so long.
"Samara, good to see you. Guessing the warm shuttle belongs to you?" Shepard asked.
"Yes, I had only gotten this far when the Reapers attempted to ambush me." Samara replied.
"Guessing your here for your daughters?" Liara asked.
"Yes, I have not seen them in nearly a century. but my duty can't be forgotten even in war." Samara replied.
"We can go together, I'm heading for the great hall." Shepard said.
"just follow the destruction and you will find the great hall. The staff would have placed the students in there for safety until they could be evacuated." Samara replied.
"Samara, we'll move quicker together." Shepard said when he heard the screams below him.
Samara turning to face the door below him, "I'll distract them, we'll meet again Shepard." Samara walked through the door, disappearing.
"Let's move." Shepard said, jogging around to the next door. He opened it to reveal a large terrace, he approached the railing. looking down to see a large bulk door, he knew that was the door they were after.
"Asari owe us big time for this, cleaning up their mess." Ashley said, jogging down the stairs ahead of Shepard and Liara.
"Asari wouldn't have sent us unless is was something important." Liara replied.
"Because wiping out Asari are important." Ashley said, looking at Liara.
"Us Asari consider them a great shame." Liara replied.
"I just can't understand, how can you condemn someone who was born that way?" Ashley asked, looking at Liara.
"Because when they get the urge to kill, there is little we can do to stop them except stop them. It is why they sent so many commando units." Liara replied.
Shepard saw one of the doors open and a new reaper appeared, one they hadn't seen before which concerned him. What species were they made of, who was the Reapers harvesting now. "new Reaper." He said, jogging to cover as both Ashley and Liara split for cover. Ashley taking the first shot at the Reaper, she shot several bullets through the chest bit this one had some sort of shield.
"This one has a shield." Ashley said, looking to Liara who slammed it with some biotics.
"not a shield, just a barrier. Must have been a biotic before it was harvested." Liara replied, she didn't know who the species was yet. they managed to removed the barrier protecting the Reaper, Shepard had to move back a cover. It kept jumping closer and it annoyed the crap out of him, "Why did they have to invent one that jumps." He grunted as switching to his shotgun and firing it, blowing off the Reaper's arm when suddenly its head was blown off.
"Next time use the shotgun first!" Ashley yelled from her spot, she moved unnoticed upstairs, holding her sniper rifle Before reloading it. "What species now?"
"You blew its head off, how do you suppose we find out now?" Shepard yelled back, pointing at her.
"Hey, it worked. I don't see you coming up with better ideas!" Ashley smirked, seeing Husks exit the main bulk doors. She quickly looked through her scope and fired a shot, removing its head.
Shepard saw the kill shot, he reloaded his shotgun as jogging up to the approaching enemy soldiers when they saw an Asari ran out, she flung one of the reapers into the ground before approaching it and slamming its head into the ground with her bare hands.
"Piss off you bastards!" She yelled, Shepard and Liara lowering their weapons. Ashley shot bullets from her position, protecting the Asari from further danger. She realised two people were standing in front of her, she took a moment to calm down before standing up.
"Alliance navy." Shepard said, looking at the Asari. He could tell she was confused, but she was wearing armour.
"Asari Commando, it's good to see a friendly face. We were overwhelmed from the moment we got here, the Reapers entrenched their position and wiped out everything that moved. If anyone else has survived. Be a miracle." She said, Liara noticed her eyes turned between black and normal.
"Were you injured in the fighting?" Liara asked, clutching her pistol. She had never seen an Asari switch between them like that, as if she is constantly blacking out.
"Yes, one of those new Reapers. I do not know who they are, only that they targeted us specially, maybe they like Asari. Who knows, but I'm blacking out and hearing voices." She replied, Shepard nodded to Liara as he stepped back.
"Ashley, she's been indoctrinated. Be prepared." Shepard whispered, he looked up at Ashley who repositioned herself, adjusting her scope for the distance. She wasn't doing quick fire, she had time to prepare for this shot.
"What's wrong?" The commando asked.
"indoctrination is something the Reapers do to us, Saren and the collectors were effected. I do not know of a cure, I do not what you will turn into. I only know that us humans turn into husks, you've seen what they are. Mindless creatures." Shepard explained, looking at her as she took a deep breath.
"Thank you, for telling me the truth. I know what your sniper is doing, but she isn't taking the shot. I will end this on my own terms." She replied.
"You may not, when you're indoctrinated. They control you." Shepard said, Liara approached the commando. Offering her an ammo clip, the commando nodded to Liara as she reloaded her pistol. Liara knew what the commando intended, Shepard just didn't want her to see her do it.
"Get to the great hall, set off the bomb. The trigger should be there." The Commando said, Shepard watched the commando shoot herself in the head, her body falling to the ground as Liara walked around to the door. Breaking the lock to open it as Ashley joined her from upstairs, Shepard walked over. Switching to his assault rifle as he stepped through the door, he ducked to the left to dodge a cannibal being slammed into the wall beside him, he looked forward. Another one of those reapers went to approach an unarmed Asari, she hit it with a few biotic slams when Samara jumped down, powering up and killing the Reaper.
"Samara." Shepard said.
"Shepard, this is Falere. She is one of my two daughters here, both are Ardat-Yakshi." Samara explained, Shepard nodded.
"What was that you ran into? hard to kill." Shepard asked.
"They were once my friends." Falere replied, approaching the one Samara had just killed. "Then the Reapers came and turned us into that."
"They're Asari, a new Reaper type." Shepard said, kneeling to push it over. Getting a good look at its face. "They're working out how to change all of us."
"I'll put this out to all my contacts, they need to know how to kill them." Liara added.
"Agreed to that, they are tough sons of bitches." Ashley said, crossing her arms. Looking at it, "Wait, where is your sister. You said there was two? Has she been turned?"
"No, Rila is in the great hall." Falere replied, "I was trying to get there when I ran into that."
"The great hall has a bomb in it, the commandos placed it there. The trigger should be in there." Shepard said, getting up and looking at them.
"Did you come here just to set off a bomb?" Falere asked, "Are you even here to help us?"
"I was in the dark about this, all I know that the Commandos placed a bomb. They must have planned to purge the monastery." Shepard replied.
"You plan to purge us? You don't want to help us!" Falere yelled, samara placed a hand in her daughter.
"Falere." Samara sternly spoke to her daughter, trying to calm her.
"I'll go save her myself." Falere said, jumping over the edge and using her biotics to brace her landing.
"I'll meet you in the great hall, I have to help her." Samara spoke swiftly before following her daughter, jumping over the edge.
Shepard headed for the door on the right opening it with no trouble. They followed the destruction, it got worse as they got closer. The fighting was intense, the commandos must have put up a good fight.
"The commandos were slaughtered." Ashley said.
"The commandos just don't lose like that, they are our best soldiers." Liara replied, she just couldn't believe that her best soldiers would fall that easily to the Reapers. She thought they would put a better fight.
"Liara, the Reapers are not easy enemy. They use as their armies, they use us against each other. It is a war of attrition." Ashley said, following Liara and Shepard into the elevator. "And your asari would have put up a fight and made sure the next unit that came would have had a better chance."
"I just cant believe they were defeated like this." Liara replied, she looked at Ashley who placed a hand on her shoulder, comforting her.
"Take comfort in that they never gave up." Ashley nodded to her, patting her on the shoulder.
the elevator opened to reveal the great hall, Shepard quickly spotted Falere with Samara and another Asari who he assumed was Rila. He quickly jogged down and over to them, Ashley checking their surroundings to make sure it was clear as Liara followed Shepard.
"Rila, Rila! Why isn't she responding mother?" Falere asked, looking at Rila who was resting against the bomb. Shepard stopped beside Samara who was looking at her daughters, "Rila, it's me. Please Rila."
"She has indoctrinated by the Reapers, she has began to turn into one of them." Samara replied. Ashley walking up to look at the console, getting an idea of the system and material the bomb used. It was all set up to go, the trigger to the bomb was no where in sight. She approached the window, checking to see if it was near or had gone through any broken glass but there was nothing, the courtyard was below the window but still a drop, easily A five story drop. She walked back to the computer, checking to see if it could be detonated by computer timer, but no luck, she knew Shepard would try to do the same.
"Need the trigger to detonate the bomb." Ashley said, looking at Shepard who rubbed his jaw. He walked around to her, hitting the button to see if a timer could be set up on the computer but nothing, the Asari made sure no one could detonate it without the trigger.
"Damn good at least, bloody lose the trigger." Shepard offered a small smile as he read the terminal When they heard a scuffle beside them, Rila attempting to choke Falere when she shoved her to the floor. Her eyes changing from black back to normal Liara noticed as Rila touched her head.
"How did you get here Falere?" Rila asked, slowly standing when Falere helped her.
"I came to get you, we have to get out of here." Falere replied, Shepard saw the look Rila gave her mother who approached the girls.
"You have to leave without me, I can hear voices. They call for me, all I can hear in the silence is them." Rila said, placing her hands in her head. "I just want it to end." Rila screamed, Shepard was alerted by more screams behind them. He turned and raised his rifle to see two banshees and several husks. Samara quickly placed a bubble over Rila and Falere who tried to comfort Rila as Ashley and Liara prepared.
"Why did two have to appear, we had enough trouble with one." Ashley chuckled, placing an attachment to her rifle. "Guess I'll have to blow their heads off again, seemed to work last time."
"That's the first thing you think of, blowing off their heads. Remind me never to get in a fight with you when your holding a gun, you'll probably blow my head off." Shepard smirked, he shot down the husks with ease. Clearing them to focus on the banshees that were slowly approaching them, Liara reloaded her pistol.
Ashley fired her grenade launcher at the banshees, hitting them directly. It took down a bulk of the barrier, she quickly reloaded. Quickly firing another shot to finish off the barriers as Shepard and Liara combined for a biotic attack to take down the other banshee. Samara lowered the bubble protecting her daughters, she sprinted over to Ashley. Lifting the banshee that had its barriers knocked down, lifting it and slamming it into the ground with all the force she had to finish it off. Ashley reloaded her rifle, just being prepared for another attack as Samara went back to help her daughters.
Rila was standing beside Falere, "Take your chance now, leave. I can take care of all the Reapers." Rila revealed she had the trigger, Shepard looking at her as he approached beside Liara and Ashley.
"Let's go, they'll send more next time." Shepard said, looking to Samara as they began to move but Falere didn't.
"I'm staying with you Rila, I will not leave you." Falere replied, Shepard moved to grab Falere. Pulling her away. "Let go of me." She yelled as trying to break his hold on her. Ashley covering them as she held her rifle close, the grenade launcher ready to fire at a banshee.
Liara opened the elevator, getting in with samara. they heard the screams getting closer, they knew they had to get in the elevator and get moving before they arrived. Falere broke free and started sprinting for her sister, Ashley quickly took off Falere her as the elevator closed. Liara had already clicked for the main exit, "Ashley!" Shepard yelled, slamming the elevator doors. He tried to open them but couldn't, "Williams, you there!" Shepard yelled, trying to get a reply. He saw the video feed cut as Ashley sprinted for Falere, Ashley saw banshees behind her as she sprinted across to Falere who was standing with Rila, she shot out the window with her grenade launcher, stumbling both Rila and Falere.
"Rila, I've got her!" Ashley yelled, grabbing Falere and jumping out the window. Rila leant over to watch them hit the ground, both unconscious as neither moved as she stared at them but knew they were okay somehow. She didn't even know the alliance soldier was but knew she was crazy.
"Crazy alliance soldier." Rila whispered, "I wouldn't jump out a window for my sister." She chuckled when she saw the banshee approaching, she stepped away from the window and towards the console. Holding the trigger firmly as the banshee impaled her, she pulled Rila's head back before she smirked. "I don't belong to you." She held up the trigger, clicking on it.