Chapter 29

From a great chasm on the surface of Ilos…

The Leviathan known as Tartarus rose from a cocoon of light. The great beast blared in rage, as it scoured the surface of the cavern with a great beam of energy. Fissures opened up on the ground behind Derrin and Dana Shepard, as Saren hovered before them, laughing.

Dana heard static on her intercom.

"The hell is that?" demanded Garrus.

"A Leviathan" answered Thane, "that blast blocked our path to you…you're on your own!"

Derrin and Dana cursed, as Saren gestured.

"Now…Tartarus shall lay waste to your fleets above, and then we can begin the process of conversion and renewal. Meanwhile, I'll enjoy killing you both with my bare hands!"

The Leviathan screamed out of the cavern, as it began to crash through the cavern walls, slowly ascending.

Dana cursed, as she tapped her omnitool, "I need someone to respond! You've got incoming, can anyone target my location?"

A ship glimmered on the horizon, a great warship of the Quarian Flotilla, "Admiral Zal Korris here, we see the target…"

The quarian capital ship Qwib Qwib moved into position, firing multiple salvos at the Leviathan. Several smaller frigates flanked the ship, adding their firepower as well. The Leviathan blared a horn in rage, and raked the skies with another blast of energy. The frigates immediately exploded in balls of fire, and a huge chuck of the Qwib Qwib broke apart.

"Damn it!" shouted Zal Koris, "what the hell was that? Make emergency landings!"

"Are you alright?" said another voice, Admiral Han Gerrel.

"Keep the rest of the fleets back!" replied Zal Koris, "we'll crash land on the surface."

"Keelah," cursed Han Gerrel, "we don't have anything powerful enough to take hits like that!"

The light of the battle lit the surface of the chasm. The burnt, rusted structures on Ilos reflected the flames of the crashing Qwib Qwib.

Saren sneered at the humans before him, "nothing can stop us now."

Then two ships screamed through the atmosphere at staggering speed. The Normandy and the Saxon circled around Tartarus, striking constantly with a constant barrage from Thanix canons.

"Get back everyone," shouted Joker, "I've brought the girls to play!"

"We may not have the shields to take a hit," said Cortez, "but it can't kill what it can't hit. And we've got firepower to spare!"

Dana whooped, punching her fist in the air, "I knew there was a reason I kept you around!"

Joker laughed, "yeah, now someone get us some backup to draw some of this fire!"

"No fast ships nearby," said Cortez, "but I could drop some hammerheads if you cover me for a run."

"I've got some Mako's," replied Joker, "but who's gonna pilot them?!"

"We can do that," said Garrus, "key in on my coordinates…"


Smoke fumed everywhere, leaving Derrin and Dana coughing. Soon, however, the wind carried it away. The two Shepards were ragged; armor dented and wounds bleeding, they still stood defiantly. They glared at Saren, who turned from the battle in the skies above. None of them could affect what happened above anymore…but that wasn't in anyone's mind. Grim and determined, the three stood ready to fight. Saren looked down at the humans, a glare emanating from his baleful eyes, as if measuring them.

"You should see the futility," Saren grimaced past his glowing red eyes, "at your peak, the two of you might have amused me. But neither of you could ever be my equal...mere humans."

"You don't understand," said Derrin, "what you've sacrificed is your own identity, your self-worth. You've become a slave to your own bigotry, your will is no longer your own."

"I WILL NOT BE JUDGED BY MY INFERIORS!" shouted Saren.

"You're barely more than a husk," replied Dana, "and it's time to put you out of your misery...and ours."

"I shall enjoy killing you," growled Saren.

Derrin and Dana readied themselves. They were beyond weary, beyond even pain. They had given everything, time and again, to keep the galaxy safe. One more battle remained, one more foe to defeat. Saren roared in anger as he gestured with his arms. A biotic wave screamed forth, threatening to swallow the two humans whole.

Derrin raised his arms, bolstering them against the attack with a biotic shield. Dana waited for the wave to pass, then ran forward as Derrin lowered the barrier. She grappled with Saren, both of their eyes blazing as they surged back and forth. Derrin reared back, summoning his own biotics. He unleashed the Shockwave, the light blinding Saren momentarily. Dana leapt aside as the attack engulfed Saren, then leapt back, thrusting her fiery omniblade into Saren's stomach. She followed the Inferno with a Cryo Blast, feeling Saren's armor crack. Then she unleashed a concussive punch, and felt the satisfying crunch of breaking ribs. Saren frothed in rage, and swatted her away with a vicious backhand. Dana saw stars as the attack collided, and spat out blood. She shook her head, and moved with Saren's followup attack, using her retreat to bring her rifle to bear, blasting away until the thermal clip overheated. Derrin leapt into the air, bringing his fist down in a Nova blast.

Saren punched at Derrin, and the clashing biotics flung them both back several yards. Dana followed, burying his omniblade deep into Saren's side. Bracing, she reared her arm back, tearing a huge rent in the turian's side. Saren howled, more in rage than anything, and grasped Dana by the throat. Her legs kicked as the turian raised her, then flung her with the full force of his biotic prowess. Derrin shouted as he leapt to cushion her fall, and both Shepards crashed with a jarring thud against a nearby wall.

Derrin groaned as he rose to his feet. Dana leaned against him, catching her breath. Saren breathed heavily, though if in pain, exhaustion, or anger, none could tell. His left torso had been sheared away, revealing more glowing Leviathan tech beneath, the sinew held together by pulsating black ichor from his Reaper implants.

"Damn," shuddered Dana, "what can we do to you, that you haven't already done to yourself?"

"Carrion!" Saren hissed, punching the ground, "learn your place and die!"

Fissures broke open the cracked earth, as Shockwaves of biotic energy surged towards them, flinging Dana and Derrin aside. Saren wasted no time, leaping forward in a Biotic Rush before they could regroup. Tired and operating on pure instinct, Derrin rushed at Saren. The turian grunted, grabbing at Derrin's throat. Derrin ducked, expecting the attack, and spun under it, summoning his largest biotic Push. Saren crossed his arms, absorbing the attack, but Dana fired an Overload, as electric pulses staggered the retreating turian. He fell to his knees, breathing heavily now.

Derrin ran forward, drawing a combat knife, and assaulted with flurry of punches and slashes, cutting a bloody path that would not be denied. Saren roared as he swiped with the claws that remained of his arms. Derrin cried out in pain, as Saren tore chunks from his armor, rending him nearly to the bone. He backed away, trying to seal the wounds shut with medigel. As Saren rushed forwards, Dana leapt into the breach, striking at Saren's chest with her armored fist. Her metal endoskeleton shuddered from the attack, and Saren staggered back, gasping for breath as his organs were pulverised. Dana splayed her hands open, shooting a blast of flame into Saren's face. Then she jumped upward, leaping with a roundhouse kik. Saren growled through the flames, catching Dana's foot, and flung her into Derrin.

But Derrin had used the time to seal his wounds (barely) and braced himself, steadying Dana and pushing her forward with biotic momentum. She lashed out with a Neural Shock, which ground Saren's movements to a halt. Then Derrin rushed forward with a Nova blast. Saren growled, bracing himself, but the thunderous attack still drove him to his knees. Then Derrin leapt out of the way as Dana screamed from above. Aiming her gun, she fired a Carnage blast from her rifle. The recoil slowed her descent long enough for her to switch on both her omnitools. As she landed, Dana released a massive Cryo blast from either hand, as the frost engulfed Saren. She leapt aside as Derrin cried out once more, and his biotic Shockwave swallowed Saren's shattering body in bright blue flame...


Above the great chasm on Ilos…

A small army of Kodiac shuttles, Makos, and Hammerheads darted across the landscape, firing upon the Leviathan floating in the skies. Snub fighters and small frigates stayed high in the atmosphere, reigning fire down upon the mammoth beast. Though they were too far for precision strikes, so too were they beyond the reach of the worst of Taratus' counterattacks. The Leviathan raged, blasting the skies and the ground with the fury of its lasers, but the smaller, more maneuverable ships darted away. Every once in a while, a frigate would get hit, either from Tartarus, or from enemy ships above the atmosphere. Outside the planet's atmosphere, the quarian and batarian fleets had formed a line around Ilos, trying to stave off Saren's fleets from interfering in the fight. It was only a matter of time until the precarious stalemate tipped in the Leviathan's favor.

Joker Moreau slammed his fist against the cockpit controls, weaving the Normandy in a tight turn that narrowly avoided another blast.

"We're making some dents," said Joker, "but nothing we do is hurting it!"

"Any suggestions?" asked Liara, as she flew her shuttle like a demon, bracing herself against the shuddering as Thane fired from his turret.

On the surface, Tali crested another hill in her Mako, as Ashley fired her cannon at the Leviathan from below.

"We can't keep this up," said Tali, "sooner or later, it'll get us!"

"I have an…idea," said EDI, "but I'll need a powerful biotic to get the job done."

Joker looked to his side, shaking his head, "I don't like that look in your eye."

"Don't you trust me?" asked EDI coquettishly.

"For sure as hell not now!" retorted Joker, "when you get that tone, it always ends in a crazy idea."

From behind him, Wrex thudded to a halt, "my favorite kind. What do you need EDI?"

She explained the plan to them both…and was met with silence as the others processed her suggestion.

Joker shook his head in exasperation, "that's insane!"

Wrex laughed, "I like her…she's got the battle spirit of a KROGAN!"

Joker gave Wrex a withering glare that summarized what he thought of the dubious honor, "I'm not sending my baby out there on a damn suicide run!"

EDI caressed Joker's arm, nodding to him, "I'll be fine Jeff."

"If we don't do something," added Wrex, "we'll be dead anyway. I'd rather go out trying something, rather than puking my guts out at your poor excuse for piloting."

Joker glared defiantly at Wrex, who chuckled before nodding.

"I'll take care of her as best I can Joker," he said, "most I can offer."

"Let me do this," urged EDI, "don't force me to watch you die…"

Joker sighed, "you play dirty…alright then…but you promise me the same!"

EDI kissed Joker on the cheek, "for luck, we can celebrate properly after I get back…"

"Be sure to leave some bones intact," chuckled Wrex, "that was a joke…"


Tali hadn't heard the plan, but she knew that they had to provide covering fire. Her Mako darted across the Ilos landscape, jumping over small hills and crevices alike, the mass effect generators whining to keep up with the movements. Ashley hooted and hollered as she fired at the Leviathan above, enjoying every moment.

Tali shook her head, as the Mako shuddered with each blast, "you boshtets are all insane!"

"You think I'm crazy," laughed Ashley as she pointed, "what the hell is Wrex doing?"


Far above Tartarus, the Normandy hovered, its back hatch open. Wrex walked towards the edge, able to see both the explosions of the battle raging in space, as well as the burning landscape of Ilos below. If he didn't know the lives this vision cost, he might consider it beautiful. Wrex grunted and strapped on his armor, making sure the thruster jets and oxygen mask were secure.

"You ready EDI?" asked Wrex.

The synthetic had on her full battle regalia, black armor shimmering under blue accents. She studied her omnitool, and nodded, as she hopped onto Wrex's back.

The krogan shook his head, "what do you call this again?"

"High altitude, low opening jump," replied EDI, "HALO for short."

"And what is this thing?" he asked, grasping a large and heavy orb.

"A tumbler bomb," answered EDI, "Liara and Miranda designed it."

As Wrex drew closer to the edge, he shook his head, "I'm really beginning to hate heights…you sure this will work?"

"Don't doubt my baby," chided Joker over the intercom, "what's the matter Wrex? Are your quads giving out on you? Wanna borrow one of mine?"

"Silence, you little pyjack," chuckled Wrex, "or I'll feed you to one of my kids."

"Good luck," laughed Joker, "be safe."

Wrex gave the thumbs up to EDI, who lightly tapped him on the shoulder…she was ready. Wrex loped forward in a run, and leapt from the Normandy's hanger. He felt a slight lurch as they transitioned past the haptic barriers around the ship. There was a momentary sensation of weightlessness.

"KROGAN AIR DROP!"

Then, the duo plummeted towards the surface…and towards the giant Leviathan below. EDI brought up her omnitool, as she interfaced with the thrusters of the rocket on Wrex's back. For his part, Wrex did his best to hold onto the tumbler bomb, and not wretch as the klicks ticked on by.

"Ugh…EDI…any time now," grunted Wrex.

"Stay on target…"

"Okay….if you're trying to teach me a lesson…it isn't funny…"

"Stay on target…"

The wind rushed by, and Wrex could feel the friction heating up his armor as they fell through the atmosphere. It wasn't uncomfortable, yet…but the lurching feeling as they drew close to the Leviathan would not go away. Then he blinked, as Tartarus grew ever larger. It was his first glimpse up close…and the vehicles in the distant looked like ants around it…

"Damn…that is one big mother-"

"NOW!" ordered EDI.

As they drew close to the Leviathan, EDI highlighted a hole in Tartarus' hull, one that had been targeted and blown open by the concerted attacks of all the ships in atmosphere. Wrex growled his battlecry, and popped open the parachute, slowing their downward descent. Then, with another yell, he screamed forward with a Biotic Rush, charging towards the Leviathan.

Ashley shook her head, as she looked on through her sensors, "what the hell, is he going to knock out its teeth or something?"

"No!" yelled Wrex, "massive indigestion!"

With a final growl, Wrex landed on the surface of the Leviathan, hurling the tumbler bomb into the fissure that had been torn into its side. He then leapt away, as Taratus blared its horn. EDI fired the last of the booster jets, taking them as far as possible. The descent was painfully slow…

"COVER FIRE!" shouted Ashley, as the ships began to bombard the Leviathan.

Wrex had to shield his eyes from the light of all the cannons, "a pickup would be nice!"

A shuttle grazed nearby, weaving under the laser blasts of Tartarus. The side hatch opened, and the shuttle dipped slightly as it angled to catch Wrex and EDI, who crashed against the side of the Kodiac shuttle.

Kaidan laughed as he hammered the accelerator, "someone call for a delivery? Apparently krogans are in season!"

Miranda drew back from the turret, and checked their new passengers, then laughed over the intercom, "for a rock, he flew pretty well."

"Though nowhere nearly as good as my Jeff," quipped EDI, "that was a joke."

"Like I said EDI," replied Joker, "I'm a leaf on the wind!"

Wrex shook his head, slowly rising to his feet, "what the hell does that even mean?!"

"Oh crap, enough jawing," warned Joker, "thar she blows!"

The ships all kept up the steady barrage, as a great blast echoed from within the Leviathan. Blue gouts of flame spat forth from Tartarus' torso, and it lurched as the fires engulfed it. The blare became a harsh screech.

On the surface, Thane brought his Hammerhead to a halt. Liara opened the hatch, and wiped the sweat from her brow.

"Is it over?" she asked.

"I sincerely hope so," replied Thane, "let's pick up Shepard…"


In the great chasm…the giant Conduit was still alight, as three figured stood motionless before it…

Derrin raised his head, looking past Dana's shoulder as Saren emerged from the flames. He shook his head in disbelief, "what does it take to kill you?!"

Dana glared at Saren past the red haze in her eyes. She tasted the coppery blood streaming from her mouth, and felt the blood dripping from her ears. She didn't even want to think about all her internal wounds, "damn…"

Saren was somehow still alive. The turian shook his head, then lurched to a stop. Then they all saw the explosion that consumed Tartarus. Saren's eyes widened in recognition, and he began to choke and gag. Derrin and Dana leaned against each other, too tired to even move, as Saren began to shudder before them. He howled in pain as his body stopped healing, cut off from the will of the Leviathan that had kept him alive. The wounds from the battle began to open, like frayed stitching. Saren screamed, torn apart piece by piece.

Derrin closed his eyes, bracing himself against Dana as he prepared a final biotic attack. She clasped his shoulder, and nodded. Derrin turned, and gestured with his hand, biotics lighting his arm one more time.

"For all our dead comrades…for my unborn child…"

"For us all," said Dana.

Saren's screams tore through the sky, as his body fell apart and vaporized at the pure energy thrown at him. Then all was quiet, and the threat was no more. Derrin fell to his knees, and Dana followed. They huddled against each other, shuddering slightly.

"Sh-shock's keeping me from feeling the pain," said Derrin, "you?"

Dana nodded, "I'm a mess."

"They'll fix you," answered Derrin, "they can fix anything."

He stopped, as he heard static in his commlink begin to turn into a voice. Derrin turned to Dana, and she nodded, raising her omnitool to enhance the signal.

"This is Citadel SPECTRE Kryik, does anyone copy?"

Derrin shook his head, "Nihlus, is that you?"

"Shepard…you're alive?"

Derrin laughed, "that's up for debate, where the hell are you?"

"On the other side of this portal. We've been fighting Reaper holdouts for nearly a year. Seems like this rogue Leviathan, Tartarus, was controlling them all. Where have you been? We thought you were dead!"

"Tartarus came through on this side," replied Derrin, "I've…been out of it. Is it really you Nihlus?"

"Yeah, been hunting this monster since you died. Nobody's willing to risk the jump since Tartarus passed through it."

"We took care of it."

"Damn…you don't kid around Shepard."

"No, we don't," smirked Dana.

"Who's that?"

"Long story," replied Derrin.

"Well, you'd better get back quick if you plan to tell it. We're getting some weird readings from this Conduit," said Nihlus, "this portal's unstable."

"That's right," said another voice, "the eggheads are calling it a pocket dimension. If it stays open much longer, the dark energy is likely to consume the planet, maybe more...make Haestrom look like a picnic!"

"Is that Tela Vasir?" asked Dana.

Derrin nodded, then turned back towards the open portal, "I can't seem to shut it down from my side, can you do anything about it over there?"

"We can blow this place to hell," answered Vasir, "but then you're stuck there, wherever you are."

"No chance of reopening it later?" asked Nihlus.

"We don't even know how it was opened in the first place," replied Vasir.

"Saren fed thousands to a Leviathan, maybe millions," said Shepard, "tried to bring it through on this side before we took them both down."

"Then that bastard's dead," said Vasir, "thank the Goddess."

"Still doesn't change the problem," said Nihlus, "if you're coming through, do it now."

Derrin looked at Dana for a long moment, then looked at his omnitool. He tried to signal the others, but the portal was interfering with the feed. This would be his decision alone.

Dana laid an arm on Derrin's shoulder, "you have a home here…if you want it, but no one would blame you for going back."

Derrin sighed, thinking for a silent eternity. He considered the events that had brought him to this moment, the things that he'd left unfinished, both in this reality and the other. Still…

"There's nothing left for me there anymore," said Derrin, "I'll stay on this side…shut the portal down."

"What happened over there Shepard?" asked Vasir.

Derrin turned to Dana, who seemed to understand, tapping on her omnitool.

"Message incoming," said Dana, as she transmitted the data they'd accumulated on Saren's plans.

"What…is this?" demanded Nihlus, "who are…Shepard? You have N7 codes, but…this isn't Derrin."

"No time to explain," replied Derrin, "and if I'm right, we can't risk opening this portal again."

"Not until we understand the tech better," agreed Vasir, "that's assuming we can even do so within our lifetime…or ever. You'll be stuck there Derrin, will you be alright?"

Derrin looked at Dana, then back at the portal, "you and Nihlus take care of things for me."

"It was an honor Shepard," said Nihlus, "thanks for saving us…one last time."

Then the line became static once more. Derrin and Dana slowly got to their feet, as the portal began to fluctuate. They leaned against each other, as they took shelter behind a partially collapsed wall. Neither had the energy to walk any further. Even if they had, the fissure that separated them from the other side was too large to jump.

Derrin glanced back at the portal, and sighed, "have enough energy for another shield? I think I'm tapped out."

Dana squeezed his hand, "you didn't have to stay."

"Yes I did," he said, "besides…family sticks together…"

Dana smiled, and drew him close as she braced herself against the wall. Derrin huddled beside her, behind the cover of the omni-shield. The Conduit exploded, and the blue energy cocooned outwards, engulfing them in light…