28.

I do not know how to distinguish between our waking life and a dream. Are we not always living the life that we imagine we are?

Author: Henry David Thoreau

I wake up suddenly I'm sweating, I notice I'm back in a room with blue walls, a stereo, lamp by my bed and a TV that's tuned to SYFY. "Where," I begin to ask, it hits me, "I'm home." I look around, everything's the same as I had left it. I move and hear a book fall to the floor it was my walk-through to ME1. "I must have fallen asleep reading it," I say to myself. I didn't feel happy though I actually felt depressed, "My friends are back there."

"Good you're up," my mom says, "hurry and get ready for school."

No damn it, I'm teleported out of the Mass Effect universe just to have the Summer end. I get dressed and grab my backpack and Giants jacket. I stand looking out the door for the bus. I glance at the clock, "Should be here about . . . now." I see the bus pull up, "Later everyone," I say heading through the door. I walk up to the bus the door opens and . . . Holy Crap is that a Krogan. A krogan was sitting in the bus driver's seat.

"You gettin on or what," The krogan asks.

"Uh . . . " I step onto the bus and take my seat. I look around it was a mishmash of Mass Effect Species, Turians, Quarians, Asari, Krogan, and all the rest.

"Hi," the salarian who is sitting where one of my friends usually sits says.

"Uh, hi," I say to her.

"So what'd you do over the Summer Will," She asks. My eyes widen her voice that's my friend.

This has to be a dream I say to myself, "Saved the galaxy you," I say just for the heck of it.

"Sounds like fun," the turian who was sitting in the seat behind me says. Holy crap that voice, it's similar to my other friend.

"Smitty, Guen," I ask.

"Yeah Will," they answer at the same time. OK now I know this is a dream. The bus fades away I'm left in an empty white space.

"What's going on," I shout to the world.

I see an asari, Liara, appear from thin air, "Will Doe, while I didn't get to know you I think your death would sadden the crew."

"Death, I'm sleeping right now," I shout. What's going on?

She fades away with a gust of wind and Ashley is standing there, "Come on get off your modified ass," She shouts at me.

"I would if I could," I shout back. I'm not laying down right now.

She too fades and Wrex appears in her wake, "You made a promise to me, to my people you're not allowed to die till you complete it," he growls.

"I don't go back on my word," I shout at him. How can he doubt what I promised him?

He disappears in the same way as the other two, Garrus appears this time, "Get up we've done too much for this to kill you."

"I'm not dying," I shout. Why is everyone saying I'm dying?

He vanishes, leaving behind Shepard, "Will as your commanding officer I'm ordering you not to die, I feel like you haven't told me everything about you."

"How can you order me not to die," I shout, "if I do it wont be by choice."

She vanishes now Tali and Liana appear, Tali speaks first, "Will, please don't die," was all she said I could hear the sadness in her voice.

"I'm not dying Damn it," I say quietly. Am I, I don't even know!

I'm alone now, as Tali vanishes, with Liana she has tears going down her face, "Will I'm leaving, I've left you a message that explains my reasons and enough money for you to live off of the rest of your life." "I'm sorry but I can't leave things as they are, I have to know."

"Where are you going," I shout at her as she disappears, "what do you have to know."

"What the hell is going on," I shout suddenly sitting up. I hear a rapid beeping noise I notice various wires and plugs and other things going from me to machines. Sterile white walls tile floors, "I'm in a hospital." A wave of pain hits me, I grunt and gently lay back down.

A doctor hurries in a turian doctor, "He's awake," the turian shouts. I hear a shuffling of feet, Tali and Garrus enter the room.

"Will," Tali shouts hugging me. It hurt but I'm not going to tell her that, consciously, I grunt.

"Miss please be careful," the turian doctor says.

"Keelah sorry Will," she says stepping back.

I grin, "Best medicine," I say laughing. "Garrus good to see you," I say smiling. I hold my arms out, "You want a hug."

"No thanks I'll pass," he says laughing.

"Where's everyone else," I ask, their happy mood fades instantly, "how long have I been out."

"5 months," The doctor says, "your mods saved your life, a normal human would've died from your injuries."

"Where's everyone else," I ask seriously.

"The Normandy's been destroyed," Garrus says, "Shepard, Pressly and a few other crew members died in the attack."

My heart sank, knowing it would happen and it actually happening are different things. I take a deep breath, "Wrex, Liara, Ashley, Liana," I ask.

"Liana disappeared a few days after you were admitted," Tali says, "she left a holo and a VI behind."

"The others are waiting for the Memorial service," Garrus says, "they're having it on Elysium." "We argued against you missing it," he continues, "we managed to delay it until the end of next week." "It's good you woke up when you did," He says, "we should be together when we say goodbye to the Commander."

"Yes we should," Tali says.

"You two have any plans after the service," I ask. If not I do.

"I was thinking of finishing my pilgrimage," Tali says, "I'll find a ship and try and get a sufficient gift."

"I was going to apply for Spectre training," Garrus says, "I liked the way the Commander worked."

"Keep your schedules clear," I say to them. Several thoughts go through my head, the Geth data, Dr. Saleon, Wrex's ancestral armor.

"We'll call the rest of the crew," Garrus says, "tell them your OK."

"Did you guys talk to me while I was unconscious," I ask thinking of my dream.

"Some of us would talk to you when you were unconscious," Tali admits, "some more than others."

"I think I may have heard some of it," I say to them. They leave the room to go contact the various members of the Normandy's crew.

"Doctor," I ask the turian who walked by the one I recognized as my doctor from before.

"Yes Mr. Doe," he says.

"Where am I," I ask.

"You are in Shepard Memorial Hospital on Elysium," the turian answers, "well that's the new name."

"Yeah my Commander was the 'Lion of Elysium'," I say.

"We know you're Shepard's crew," The doctor answers, "your medical bills are on the house."

"Thanks for that," I say.

"It's the least we can do for a member of Shepard's crew if it wasn't for her who knows how many people would have died," the doctor says. Garrus and Tali walk back in, the doctor walks back out.

"They're on their way," Garrus says, "but we couldn't get into contact with Liara for some reason."

A faint thought, hearing about a comic book with Liara in it, "Whatever she's doing I'm sure it's important."

"So what did you dream about," Tali asks trying to make conversation.

"Home," I say, I smile, "with a twist."

"You said you thought you might have heard us," Garrus asks.

"All I heard was everyone telling me not to die for various reasons," I say, "I think Wrex actually threatened me." I laugh at the image of Wrex threatening my unconscious form.

"You're taking Shepard's death surprisingly well," Garrus says.

"She's a soldier," I lie, "I accepted she might die from the moment I met her," truth be told she's still sorta alive. "My greatest regret is I wasn't there with her in the end," I say not really forcing sadness.

They accept this and don't push it, a short while later there's a shuffle of footsteps as Wrex, Ashley, Chakwas, and Joker enter the room. "Will," Wrex says rushing over to me.

I reach out and lightly, I'm still hurt, hit him in the face. "Don't every doubt my word Wrex," I say with mock anger, "I know I'm not gonna die till I fulfill my promise."

"I won't doubt your word again," Wrex says with a faint smile.

"Good to see you're alive," Ashley says.

"Forgive me if I don't get off my modified ass," I say with a smile.

"Damn they really can hear you when they're unconscious," she says smiling back and laughing.

"Doctor, Joker," I say acknowledging them, "good to see you."

"If only Shepard could be here," Chakwas says killing the happy mood.

"Yeah," Joker says he's leaning on his crutches, he didn't look so good, all scruffy and he smelled of booze.

"It's not your fault," I say to him.

"I kno- wait how did you know," Joker asks.

"You look like a mess," I say thinking rapid fire, "with Shepard gone I thought you might have some guilt."

"I don't," he argues.

"Then shape up dumbass," I say to him, "Shepard would never accept that from you."

"Great awake for five minutes and he's lecturing me," he mumbles.

"With you awake we could move up the Memorial service to three days from now," Ashley says.

"Sounds good to me," I say. Good enough I'd like more time to prepare for my plan but I guess a few days'll have to do.

"Excuse me," an asari nurse says, "Mr. Doe needs his rest." After a round of goodbyes I'm left alone, with the holo, a 3 dimensional picture of Liana and me at the resturant, I have the look on my face after I had eaten the steak. I smile, I cycle to another photo, it's me sleeping by her bed when we were on the Normandy the first time. Another photo, at the Markets buying the omni tool she's standing behind me arguing with Tali.

"Where are you," I say to the air, I look through another group of photos, "and where is your camera during all of this." I pick up the personal VI, sort of like a PDA, a female voice talks through it.

"Will," it's Liana's voice, "I left this so you could have your questions answered."

"Where are you," I ask immediately.

The VI laughs "Somehow I knew you would ask that first," she says, "I'm not going to tell you."

"You said you'd answer my questions," I say in a harsh whisper.

"Please be specific in your questions," a voice says through it.

"What happened to the Owner," I ask.

"During the battle of the Citadel the Circumference attempted to aid the Citadel fleet," she answers, "it was destroyed all contact with the Owner was lost."

"What's going to happen to me," I ask.

"I left you with enough money to live your life in peace," she answers, "though I doubt that's what you'll use it for." I imagine her smile when she says this.

"Your right on that," I say to it.

"Please be specific in your questions," a voice says.

"What headache have you left me with," I ask the air.

"Please be specific in your questions," a voice says.

"Will I ever see you again," I ask.

"When I'm finished finding what, I'm looking for," she answers.

"What are you looking for," I ask.

"The Owner," she answers, "and before you ask, I can't leave things as they are I have to be certain he's dead."

"Why," I ask.

"Please be specific in your questions," a voice says.

"Damn it, why are you looking for him," I say a little too loudly.

"It's the only way I can be happy," She answers, "if he's not dead I'll kill him then we'll never have to worry about him again."

"Damn it I'd be happy if you were here with me," I say to it.

"Please be specific in your questions," a voice says.

"Off," I say to it.

"Goodbye Will," Liana says through it. I feel a tear go down the side of my face.

"Goodbye Liana," I say and I rest my head on my pillow and fall asleep.

I wake up, "Strange," I say to the air, "I normally have dreams." I spot a nurse enter the room, "Hello nurse," I say with a smile.

"Good morning Mr. Doe," she answers.

A thought enters my head, if I've been in the hospital for 5 months who... you know some questions I might not want answered.

"So what's on the schedule for today," I ask.

"For you lots of bed rest," she says smiling.

"Thanks," I say smiling. I pick up my credit chit which was besides my bed, I check my balance. '100,000,000' credits, I hear the beeps representing my heart rate begin speeding up fast. My eyes widen and I laugh, "Now I win the lottery." I pick up my omni tool, I access the extranet, "What's the Extranet equivalent of Google," I ask the air. I decide to enter in random words, a search page pops up. Ok, space ship dealers...

After careful planning, well rushed careful planning I finish my preparations for my plan. It's one I mused on earlier when I was thinking of Shepard's death. I, with great difficulty, changed into the dress clothes the crew had left me. "Will," I hear Tali say she's standing in the door with everyone else, "we're on our way to the memorial service." I see an orderly walk in with what I can only describe as a hovercraft version of a wheel chair.

"This my ride," I ask.

"Yes sir, you still shouldn't exert yourself any more than necessary, do you need . . . " the orderly is cut off as I move myself from the bed to the chair.

"Let's go," I say to Tali, she gets behind me and pushes the chair which effortlessly floats forward. We march forward a strange procession if ever I saw one, a krogan, a turian, a quarian and four humans. Chakwas and Ashley are in their dress uniforms, Joker had cleaned up and lost his smell of alcohol, he too was in his dress uniform. Garrus was in a spotless armor that was colored black, Wrex too. Tali's suit looked cleaned up all the metal and glass shined and there wasn't a spot anywhere on it. We arrive in the midst of an area of the city that was left with the damage from the blitz, a memorial to those who died. In the center of the destruction a large bronze statue of Shepard with her full combat gear on aiming her assault rifle in the direction of most of the damage, the direction the raiders charged from. There were inscriptions on the base of the Statue I notice as we get closer, "Jane Shepard, 'The Lion of Elysium . . . " her various accomplishments are listed with the last being, "Hero of the Citadel." Her birth and 'death' dates are beneath it with a quote she once said, "True heroes never die . . . " I stare at the last line of what I'm thinking is prophetic. We find an area with seats for hundreds, we sit in the front row. I sit over the edge away from a central aisle, Tali sat beside me. I see a woman crying silently, she must be Shepard's mom, she looks just like her. Same brown hair, though the woman's had gray streaks going through it. People arrive until seats are all filled a camera drone flew over the area. A podium was set up in front of the statue of Shepard, who was facing us with her rifle.

A military man who had been sitting next to Shepard's mom stands and marches towards the podium, he must be Shepard's dad. "My daughter..." he says, "gave her life in the line of duty," he continues on how proud he was of her in all her accomplishments and how sad he was to have her so untimely taken away. He was stony faced throughout it, but I was close enough to see a tear make it's way down his face. "Thank you," he said marching back to his seat. He comforts Shepard's mother. "Captain Anderson," he says.

I see Captain Anderson stand up and wearily walk towards the podium. "I had the honor of knowing a true hero..." he began, people began sobbing as he details how he had met Shepard how proud he was when she became a Spectre, saying she was, "like a daughter to me." I lose it I know she's alive but this all was so sad. I hear Tali sniffling. "I'd like the crew of the Normandy to say a few words." "Chief Williams."

She walks up to the podium, "Commander Shepard saved my life..." I see tears free flowing from her eyes. She apologizes and says she can't continue. "Will," she says calling my name.

I'm stunned I'm supposed to talk at Shepard's funeral, my stage fright comes back, I fight it down, some things need to be said. "I met the Commander around the same time as the Chief," I say I'm conscious of the fact I'm trembling, "when I met her I immediately realized she was someone special." "Someone people would unconditionally love," I continue, "we talked quite a bit when we were trying to stop Saren." I continue with various details from our adventures I finally reach the Citadel. "When we fought the reaper, Sovereign, Shepard said, she'd do everything she could to stop them," I continue, "to stop the reapers." I see several diplomatic people stiffen. "I'm going to continue on what she started," I say calmly, "and to all the political bastards who try to sweep this under the rug, go to hell." "Shepard never died," I finish a tear working it's way down my face, "like she said 'True heroes never die,' I'll make sure what she fought for doesn't, thank you for your time." Tali guides me down from the podium. Sweat and tears are pouring down my face. "I'll fight Shepard," I say to the statue, "until you get off your ass and get back in the game."