Shepard and his team entered the office, everyone with guns drawn. It had been a never-ending series of geth, cloned krogan, husks and indoctrinated salarians. Everyone was worn out. Everyone was fed up. And everyone was tired of running into people willingly helping Saren achieve his objectives. Patience was wearing thin. The team could clearly see the person cowering behind their desk. It appeared to be an asari but no-one could be sure. Therefore no-one was taking any chances. Everyone was working by the doctrine that anyone and everyone was the enemy.
"Stand up!" Shepard ordered, stepping forward, pistol still drawn. He could feel the presence of his team lining up behind him. He gave the signal for them to lower their weapons at least. He could take care of this if required.
The asari got to her feet, holding her hands up in innocence. "Please, don't shoot! I just want to get out of here before it's too late."
"Then explain yourself! Who are you?"
"I'm Rana Thanoptis. I'm a neurospecialist."
"What are you doing here?"
"My job! You think the indoctrination only affects prisoners? You think I have any real choice in what I'm doing here? I'm here because I'm ordered to. And, sooner or later, Saren will come to dissect my brain, too."
Shepard cooled his temper for the moment, lowering his weapon slightly. "We're already met a few of his indoctrinated subjects. And some of his krogan. So what exactly are you doing?"
"We're studying Sovereign's effect on organic minds. At least, that's what I assumed. Saren kept us in the dark as much as possible."
"I can only assume that's what he did with Benezia as well," muttered Liara, before turning to Rana, "You helped him and don't even know why?"
"You think I had the option of negotiating?" replied Rana, stifling nervous laughter, "This position is a little more… permanent than I'd expected. All I want to do is get out of here."
"What the hell did you think was going to happen signing up with Saren?" Shepard then thought for a moment. "Okay, what do you propose?"
"I can help you. The elevator behind me goes straight to Saren's private lab. I can get you in."
Rana turned and walked to the elevator, keying the console and unlocking the door, the light turning green. She then, still somewhat nervously, walked back towards Shepard and his group.
"See? A sign of good faith on my part. You'll have full access to all of his private files. So… can I go?"
Shepard turned to his team once again. Liara stepped forward, showing obvious interest. "Before we decide on whether to let you go or not, tell me about what you've been researching."
"Most of the research has been in regards to his ship, Sovereign. It emits some kind of signal. It's virtually undetectable, but it's there. I've seen the effects. Saren uses it to influence his followers, to control them."
"That's what happened with Benezia, Shepard," added Liara, "And no doubt all those salarians we ran into downstairs in the cells."
Rana nodded. "Yes, it's called indoctrination. Direct exposure to the signal turns you into a mindless slave, like those test subjects that you've already seen. But there's collateral damage, too."
"Collateral damage?"
"The signal is too strong. Spend too much time near the ship and you feel it. Like a tingle at the back of your skull. It's like a whisper you can't quite hear. You're compelled to do things but you don't know why. You just obey. Eventually… you just stop thinking for yourself."
Shepard looked at Liara, who was becoming visibly upset, remembering what happened and what she had been told on Noveria. "You okay, Liara?"
Liara nodded. "I'm fine. I just want to get all the details. I know it's important. I'll be fine otherwise." Liara looked back at Rana. "Please continue."
"It's happened to everyone at this facility, the indoctrination. My first test subject was the man I replaced. Now I just want to get out of here before it happens to me."
"What about Saren?" Shepard asked.
"I don't think he can control it. I think he's concerned it's also starting to affect him. The indoctrination is subtle. By the time you notice it, it's already too late. The only choice you have then is to put a bullet in your head to end it. Even then, the signal may stop you."
"What about the signal itself?"
"It's a degenerative condition. Over time, whether a matter of days or weeks, it weakens your will and soon you only know to obey. However, there is a balance between how useful an indoctrinated subject can be. Eventually the indoctrinated become completely incapable of anything and become useless to Saren."
"And what happens to them?"
Rana shrugged. "They are put down. It sounds brutal but they can't even look after themselves."
"Do you have any idea what Saren has planned?" Shepard asked.
Rana shrugged her shoulders. "As I said, we're kept in the dark regarding most of his objectives. All I've done is research. As for his plans," she shrugged her shoulders again, "You'll have to ask him if you catch up with him."
"Is he here?"
"I don't think he's planet-side at the moment. I believe he's currently on his ship."
Shepard thought for a moment deciding what to do with the asari. Eventually he holstered the pistol he'd kept in his hand for the entire conversation.
"I've got one word for you, Rana. Run. We're blowing this place sky high and you won't want to be caught in the blast. Trust me on that one."
"What are you planning?"
"Big fucking nuke, Rana."
"But you… that's crazy!"
"You clearly don't know the Commander," stated Tali with a laugh.
"Run, Rana," said Shepard, throwing his arms in the air for emphasis, "Otherwise I'll set Wrex onto you."
Wrex took a step forward, Rana's eyes opening in fear before she took a step back then ran forward past them all and out the door. Wrex just stopped, turned back towards the Commander and laughed. "You enjoyed that, didn't you?"
Shepard held up his hand, making a gesture with his fingers. "Maybe just a little."
The team moved onwards, along an outside walkway before entering another empty room, but off to their left was an elevator, everyone cramming into the small space, Wrex grumbling like usual about everyone crowding him. Once at the top, they exited into another room and the team came to a stop once they noticed what was at the bottom of the ramp.
"Commander, it's another beacon. Like the one on Eden Prime."
"I believe you may be right, Ash."
"What are you going to do?"
"See what information it has."
"Are you sure, Shepard?" asked Liara, concern clear in her voice, "From what Doctor Chakwas told me, that first beacon knocked you out for hours."
Shepard just turned his head and grinned. "Trust me, I'll be fine."
Tali watched as Shepard slowly approached the beacon. For a moment nothing happened. Then bright light flashed from the beacon and Shepard was instantly lifted into the air, arms and legs outstretched.
"Shepard!" she yelled, running towards the Commander. Ashley stepped forward and grabbed her by the arm.
"It's okay, Tali! It's okay. He's experienced this before. On Eden Prime. He'll be okay."
"But look at his face! Look at his body! He's in agony!" she replied, desperately trying to break free of her grasp and reach the Commander.
Ashley grabbed Tali's other arm, turning the quarian around to face her. She looked into the shining eyes behind the mask. "Shepard will be fine. Trust me."
Tali turned her head to look back towards Shepard. "But…"
"Shepard is strong. His mind is strong. He'll be okay," Liara added, stepping forward to comfort the clearly concerned quarian.
Tali relaxed slightly and nodded as she turned around to keep an eye on the Commander. The team watched Shepard continue to be suspended in the air. They watched as he slowly started to relax, his head slowly lift to its normal position. It was only for a few moments before the light finally dimmed and Shepard dropped to the ground, resting on one knee, clearly taking in deep breaths. Tali broke free of Ashley and ran forward, taking a knee next to Shepard, resting a hand on his back.
"Are you okay?" she asked softly.
Shepard turned his head, continuing to take in deep breaths. "I'm… fine, Tali. And I may have some answers. The vision was clearer than before."
Tali stood up, offering a hand to the Commander, who accepted it and got his own feet, slightly unsteady for a moment. The rest of the team gathered around, waiting for their next move.
"All good, Shepard?" asked Garrus.
Shepard nodded. Then looked up and noticed another display. He pointed. "I'm fine. And I think we may get more answers," he said as the team looked to where he was pointing. The six walked back up the ramp and turned down the walkway. At first there was nothing, then the image of what Shepard recognised as a Reaper appeared.
"This is not good," muttered Garrus.
You are not Saren.
The clearly synthetic voice boomed around the small room, echoing off the walls. No-one said anything. Everyone, even Wrex, stood in quiet awe. At least, for a moment… "What the hell is this? Some sort of VI or something?" Wrex asked. The rest of the team remained quiet, still stunned at what was before them.
"It's a Reaper. Or, at least, the representation of one," murmured Shepard, "I've just seen something similar in my vision."
Rudimentary creatures of blood and flesh. You touch my mind, fumbling in ignorance, incapable of understanding.
"This isn't just some VI…" stated Tali. Ominously, the rest of the team thought.
There is a realm of existence so far beyond your own you cannot even imagine it. I am beyond your comprehension. I am Sovereign!
"Fuck me!" exclaimed Shepard, "You're not just some ship Saren found. You're an actual Reaper!"
Reaper? A label created by the Protheans to give voice to their destruction. In the end, what they chose to call us is irrelevant. We simply are.
"How is that even possible?" asked Liara, "The Protheans disappeared 50,000 years ago. How could you have possibly been there?"
Organic life is nothing but a genetic mutation. An accident. Your lives are measured in years and decades. You wither and die.
We are eternal. The pinnacle of evolution and existence. Before us, you are nothing.
Your extinction is inevitable. We are the end of everything.
"Please tell me one of you is recording this," Shepard whispered back to his team. All he got was a sea of shaking heads. "Shit. The Council will never believe this. Not in a million years." Shepard turned his attention back to Sovereign. "You make it sound all so easy. But there is an entire galaxy of races that will stand up and stop you. We'll be ready when the day comes. Mark my words."
Confidence born of ignorance. The cycle cannot be broken.
"Shepard, we've heard of these cycles, from my research. From what I've been able to establish, the Protheans were just the last in a long line of civilisations which have simply disappeared," whispered Liara, who then turned to Sovereign, "What are these cycles?"
The pattern has repeated itself more times than you can fathom. Organic civilisations rise, evolve, advance. And at the apex of their glory, they are extinguished.
The Protheans were not the first. They did not create the Citadel. They did not forge the mass relays. They merely found them, the legacy of my kind.
"Liara, is it possible?" Shepard asked, "From your research?"
Liara nodded. "I figured there were others before the Protheans. This just confirms it. The Citadel and mass relays must be far older than we realised."
Shepard turned to Sovereign. "So… You built the mass relays. Why? For what purpose?"
Your civilisations are based on the technology of the mass relays. Our technology. By using it, your society develops along the paths we desire.
We impose order on the chaos of organic evolution.
You exist because we allow it.
And you will end because we demand it.
The team looked at each other with concern. Ominous did not even begin to describe the threats being levelled towards not just them, but the galaxy as a whole.
"They're harvesting us! We advance to a certain level they desire then wipe us out!" exclaimed Liara, "Why? For what purpose do you do this?"
My kind transcends your understanding. We are each a nation, independent, free of all weakness. You cannot even grasp the nature of our existence.
"Who built you?" asked Tali, "Who were your creators?"
We have no beginning. We have no end. We are infinite. Millions of years after your civilisation has been eradicated and forgotten, we will endure.
"Are there any more of you?" asked Garrus, "Where are the rest of your kind?"
We are legion. The time of our return is coming. Our numbers will darken the sky of every world. You cannot escape your doom.
Shepard seethed in anger. The arrogance of this… machine. He couldn't think of much to say. So he flipped Sovereign the bird, to the mirth of the non-humans on his team, who understood this human reference. "I don't know who the hell you think you are, but humanity has endured far worse than you. Hell, our own history is littered with events of trying to wipe ourselves out. Came close a few times. The galaxy has endured far worse. You may have ended the Protheans. But all I know is this. We'll be ready. And we'll be waiting. You're nothing but threats and hot air."
Your words are as empty as your future. I am the vanguard of your destruction. This exchange is over.
Before Shepard could respond, the representation of Sovereign disappeared and all the windows in the office blew out, causing everyone to duck as they were showered in glass.
"Spirits, what was that?" Garrus asked no-one in particular.
"I think you pissed it off, Shepard," Wrex stated with a chuckle.
"Commander? We've got trouble!" reported Joker over the radio.
"Hit me, Joker."
"That ship, Sovereign? It's moving. I don't know what you've done, but that thing has just done a turn that would tear any of our ships in half. It's coming your way. You need to wrap things up there, and fast!"
Tali stepped forward and keyed her omni-tool, getting no response from the console. "It's dead, Shepard. There's nothing else here."
"Right, then let's get the hell out of here. We'll head to the breeding facility and set the nuke. I've had enough of this place."
The team quickly headed back towards the elevator. An air of nervous tension descended upon everyone, knowing that Sovereign was heading back towards them. Once at the ground floor, the team moved out, everyone taking out their weapon, knowing there was bound to be more opposition to face. Shepard opened the door and noticed a Geth Destroyer at the end of the walkway.
"Weapons free from now on people. If it moves, it dies."
There was no time for subtlety, six weapons aimed and fired at the large geth, which attempted to return fire but fund itself staggered by the rate of mass effect rounds being sent its way. The team just charged as the geth eventually fell to the ground, riddled with holes, Tali making sure to give a final shot into the flashlight of its head.
"The geth are turning from your position, Jaeto. Looks like Shadow kicked a sensitive spot! Alenko, head them off. Hold them out here!"
"Alenko's still alive!" yelled Ashley, the joy clear in her voice.
"If we hurry, we're assured everyone is getting out of here alive," replied Shepard.
"Can't believe those salarians are still going. Must be tougher bastards than I thought, for being so squishy," added Wrex.
The group charged through the former office of Rana Thanoptis and through another door. Shepard came to a momentary stop on the other side. He looked right, figuring that wouldn't be the way. A gate then opened off to his left and a bridge soon formed, Wrex charging past the Commander across the bridge. Ahead were at least three krogan waiting for their arrival.
"Take cover!" Shepard ordered, taking out his sniper rifle. Garrus and Ashley followed his example, the crack of three rifles soon echoing in the quiet. Liara, in cover of her own, was flinging warps and lifts at the krogan as well while Wrex had simply kept charging, like usual. Two of the krogan soon charged their position, Garrus expertly taking one out with a clean headshot, the krogan collapsing to the ground missing half its head. The third continued to charge, Shepard standing, taking the shotgun from the small of his back and charging himself. When the krogan was mere metres away, Shepard sent three blasts into the krogan, which stumbled to the ground, Shepard leaping over the falling krogan. He heard the blast of another shotgun as he noticed Tali stand over the now dead krogan, shotgun smoking slightly.
The team moved on, pushing themselves, wanting to get the mission completed as soon as possible, knowing that a Reaper was heading their way. At the end of another hallway, the team exited at a larger structure.
"We must be near one of the AA towers," Garrus stated. His opinion was confirmed as the team charged up the curving ramp, one of the AA guns sitting unfired on another one of the other towers in the distance. Below were a group of geth and krogan clearly working together. Five of the team got into cover and started firing at the enemy, taking out the geth first, which were far easier pickings than the krogan, who Wrex had run off to meet them in his usual fashion. Liara provided some assistance to her krogan colleague, flinging biotic lifts towards the other krogan, with Ashley using her sniper to pick off the helpless, floating krogan Liara pulled into the air.
The team charged on, Wrex dealing with the last krogan as the other five rounded a corner, meeting three rockets drones hovering overhead. Bodies dove for cover behind crates and walls as fire was returned, two of the drones blowing up relatively quickly thanks to tech attacks from Tali and Garrus, Shepard and Ashley following those up with assault rifles bursts. The third drone managed to fire again, the rocket landing not far from where Tali had taken cover, Shepard standing and unloading into the drone until it blew up. He ran towards Tali as she was slow to stand, taking a knee next to her as she got to her knees, looking slightly shaky after such a close call. He could hear her regaining her breath.
"Are you okay?" he asked, an edge of concern to his tone, checking her over. He thought she looked unharmed.
"I'm okay. No damage done," she replied, a smile on her face at his obvious concern, "That was just too close for comfort. My shields took care of anything too concerning."
"Are you sure?"
Tali nodded. "I'm fine, Shepard."
Shepard stood up, offering his hand to Tali, who took it as she got to her feet. The pair joined the other four waiting for them and the team ascended the stairs. Ahead was a console, Tali immediately heading towards it, omni-tool out and quickly keyed. She brought up the main menu and quickly disabled the AA turret.
"That gun above us is now disabled, Shepard."
"Good work," replied Shepard, looking at the elevator, "Guess the only way is up then."
Ashley walked forward and the pressed the button for the elevator. The team waited as it descended. Shepard looked at is team and signalled for the team to be ready. It was that feeling in his gut again. Which was proven right, as the elevator opened and three geth were waiting. Mass effect rounds flew in two directions, each of Shepard's team taking hits into shields while the geth were blasted into oblivion, the three sides of the elevator coated in white fluid within seconds. Shepard and Wrex walked forward and dragged the three geth bodies out of the elevator, dumping them on the ground around the corner.
"Good work on the gun, Shadow team. Now it's our turn," reported Kirrahe.
Once ascended, Shepard approached the door to the breeding tanks and stopped. He looked behind and signalled, his team forming up behind him, weapons at the ready. Cautiously he approached the button, and with his own weapon still aiming, he pushed the button. Two sniper rifles cracked, Shepard looked behind to see Ashley and Garrus peering through the scopes, looking forward again to see two Geth Stalkers fall to the ground from one of the walkways above the tanks. Shepard stepped forward slowly, looking up and down but, other than the two geth lying on the ground, the place was deserted. He signalled for his team to form up behind him as they walked towards the next door.
"Charges set! Everyone bunker down. Bunker down!" reported Kirrahe.
"I can't believe they got there," muttered Garrus.
"Those salarians are canny bastards," Wrex stated as the team walked through the next set of doors.
Shepard agreed as the team waited for the Normandy to arrive. It was time to set the nuke and get the hell off Virmire.
And then it all went to shit…
Ashley was working on the bomb, using the instructions left by the STG squad when her radio buzzed. It was the Commander, his voice filled with concern.
"Watch out, Ashley. Troop ship inbound. Watch your ass."
Ashley turned to see a geth ship descend over her position. Geth units started raining down into cover not far from her position. She couldn't count how many. But she immediately knew that she was in trouble.
"Fuck. Commander, there's geth all over the bomb site," Ashley reported, as she opened fire with her assault rifle, taking cover behind, of all things, the giant nuke.
"Can you hold them off?" Shepard asked, clear concern now obvious in his tone. He knew he'd left her by herself. He was starting to realise that was a mistake.
Ashley gulped. "Unlikely, Shepard. There's… there's too many of them. I'm… Commander, I need to activate the bomb now."
Ashley lay down a burst of fire, taking down two geth nearby, as she opened the small console, keying the command Kirrahe had given her as mass effect rounds splattered into the water around her, dust and small bits of concrete raining down from the pillar nearby. With the code now entered, the bomb was now armed.
"What are you doing, Ash?"
"It ends here, Commander. I'm making sure of it. Get Alenko and what's left of the STG squad and get the hell out of here."
"Request denied," stated Alenko, listening in from his own position on the AA tower, laying down another biotic warp at the geth enclosing their position, "Commander, go back and get Ashley. We can handle ourselves from here. If need be, we can fall back and avoid the explosion."
"Don't argue with me, LT. I… I need to do this. Commander… I can do this. Remember our talks? I'm ready. It's okay. I'll make sure this bomb goes off..."
Halfway between Ashley and Alenko, Shepard was leaning against the rail, his hands gripping tightly. How on earth had it all descended into this chaos so quickly? How could he be left to make a decision like this? It was impossible. He turned to see his team gathered together. Liara's face was easy to read. It was one of sympathy. Tali wringed her hand nervously. Garrus couldn't look at him, instead playing with his sniper rifle, his own discomfort obvious. Wrex stood there silently, his face impossible to read.
"Commander," Ashley's voice soft into his earpiece, "It's okay. I'm ready to meet Him. I just want to do one last good thing before I do."
Shepard turned and looked out over the vast ocean in front of him. He looked up at the clear blue sky, gripping the rail even tighter as he exploded, shouting and pointing a finger to the heavens, shouting a string of curse words that left his voice coarse, his knees almost giving way, feeling nothing but anger course through his veins.
"Commander, it's okay. Please don't blame Him. It's okay. This is my choice. It's the right thing to do."
Shepard closed his eyes and took a deep breath as he felt a hand on his shoulder. He opened them slowly and looked to his right to see Tali stood beside him. She simply squeezed his shoulder, trying to provide a modicum of comfort. "It's okay, Shepard. Ash is prepared. She's told me she would always be ready for something like this," she said softly.
"She doesn't have to be a martyr," he replied quietly. Tali looked at Shepard as he was silent, appearing to be deep in thought. She noticed him then take one final deep breath and nod his head. He put a hand to his ear.
"Joker. Get the Normandy to the AA tower now."
"Aye-aye, Commander."
"Commander, no…" started Alenko, "Ash, what about throwing your life away?"
Everyone could hear the gunshots through their radio as Ashley took a moment to respond, more geth falling down dead as they tried to prevent the bomb exploding. She put a hand to her ear. "You know this is the right thing to do, LT. Just… make sure you survive. And you get that bastard for me. You hear me, LT?"
"Yes, ma'am," replied Alenko. Everyone noticed the tone in his reply.
Alenko was bunkered down with Kirrahe and the rest of the STG squad, fighting off numerous geth squads as he turned to see Shepard and the rest of his team arrive, rifles and shotgun fired at anything that moved while Liara shimmered in blue, leaving geth units floating in the air. Shepard and his team closed on their position, flanking the geth who now had sustained fire coming in from two positions. It wasn't long before the bodies of geth lay all over the ground. Shepard approached Alenko, who was clearly upset.
"Commander, I'm not one to question…" He stopped as he noticed Shepard glare at him. The glare wasn't one of anger. It was one of we'll talk about this later. Alenko just nodded his head as the entire group suddenly came under attack. Everyone looked around to see a turian on some sort of hoverboard above them, flinging biotic attacks left and right, joining in with even more geth, who continued their own attack on both groups.
"Take cover!" shouted Shepard, the team breaking ranks, trying to find cover where they could. Saren simply floating above them, shimmering in blue as he jumped to the ground. Saren soon found numerous guns focused towards him.
"Don't fire!" Shepard ordered.
"What the hell?" Wrex shouted out, disbelieving what he was hearing.
"I said don't fire!"
"Why the hell not?"
Shepard peeked out of cover to see Saren approach him, appearing to be unarmed. "Because this asshole is mine."
Shepard stepped out of cover, pistol at the ready. He took two steps forwards, pistol still aimed. And pulled the trigger. Pulled it again and again. Nothing happened to Saren, as the bullets simply ricocheted off the turian's shields.
"The fuck?" questioned Shepard, staring at his pistol for a moment in confusion, before taking aim again at Saren, who hadn't moved, standing there amused at the human's reaction. He figured if a turian could smirk, then Saren was doing that right now. Then Saren spoke, Shepard raising his hand, gesturing to his team to hold fire. Saren followed suit, the geth appearing to hold their own fire for the time being. Shepard was left slightly perplexed as Saren started speaking.
"An impressive diversion, Shepard. The geth were utterly convinced these salarians were the real threat. I just hope you know that this was all for nothing. The deaths of these salarians. The soon to be death of your colleague. Such a waste. You obviously don't know what's at stake here. And I cannot let you continue to interfere with my plans."
"What the hell are you doing here, Saren? What possible reason could you have for supporting a Reaper?"
"You've seen the visions, Shepard. You know what the Reapers are capable of. They cannot be stopped."
"Bullshit!"
Saren took a step forward towards Shepard, pointing a talon straight at him. "Don't waste my time, and theirs, on pointless revolt and petty freedoms. Have you not seen what happens when you try to fight? Look at the Protheans. They were annihilated. We were lucky to even have the beacons to warn us."
"So we should just give up without a fight? Is that your grand plan?"
"Is submission not preferable to extinction, Shepard? Trillions dead for no reason other than they wanted to fight, to protect something simply not worth saving, compared to the power of the Reapers."
"You really believe that the Reapers would let us live? Delusional! I've seen the visions, too. It was nothing but an annihilation. An extinction. I've spoken to Sovereign. There will be no peace. We will not be allowed to live. They only want our destruction."
Saren just shook his head. "We cannot win this fight, Shepard. The Council won't understand that. None of the galactic races will understand that. We are ruled by emotion instead of logic. But we can work with the Reapers and we may be spared."
"You're indoctrinated! No-one sane could possibly think this is a good idea. Submitting without a fight and our inevitable death? What's the point? I choose to live. And I choose to fight!"
"Ah, you misunderstand. Yes, I have joined with Sovereign. I had hoped this facility would protect me. That is why I've been studying the effects of indoctrination. And I've learned that is my saving grace. I won't be fully indoctrinated as Sovereign knows how capable I am. He needs me to complete his task of finding the Conduit. And then I will be spared. Whatever the case, we must work with the Reapers to be spared on their inevitable arrival."
"Tell me about the Conduit. What is it? Maybe we can work together to stop the Reapers?"
Saren almost laughed at the Commander. "Shepard, the Conduit is the key to your destruction and my salvation. Finding the location is the only reason why I have not been fully indoctrinated."
Now it was Shepard's turn to laugh. "You're a fool, Saren! You're already indoctrinated! Sovereign already has you under his power. You're nothing but a puppet with Sovereign pulling the strings. It's pathetic that you could even think you're still in control."
Saren took another step forward, the pair barely half a dozen steps apart. Shepard had to give respect to Saren. He appeared fearless about the fact his, and no doubt at least a dozen other weapons, were currently aimed at him. Shepard quickly peered around behind Saren and could see the geth still holding their own positions, weapons still aimed, but still not firing. As far as Shepard was concerned, he and Saren may as well have been alone. Shepard only had eyes for the turian.
"You misunderstand again, Shepard," replied Saren calmly, "Sovereign does need me. Once I find the Conduit, I've been guaranteed a reprieve from what is to follow. That is my only hope."
Shepard lowered his gun, trying a different tact. One that usually worked. "Join me, Saren. It's not too late. We can work together. We can find the Conduit. We can stop the Reapers together. We'll explain what's happened to the Council. It… may be difficult to explain. But surely that would be better than witnessing the end of civilisation as we know it? How can you possibly justify the annihilation of every organic in the galaxy? Join me and my team, Saren, and we can beat the Reapers together."
Saren just shook his head, almost sadly, as if sorry for Shepard. "No, Shepard. I no longer believe any such victory would be possible. The Reapers are too smart, and too powerful. They have millions of years of experience to deal with the likes of us. You've seen the visions. My only hope of survival is to work with them."
Shepard aimed his gun again, his finger trembling on the trigger. He'd tried negotiating. Now he let the anger flow. "You cowardly piece of shit! You were a Spectre. The best of the best. And you swore a vow to protect the galaxy from any and all foes. And now you turn your back on the very people you vowed to protect. You know what, Saren. Fuck you. Fuck you and the Reapers."
Shepard pulled the trigger again and again.
And again nothing happened.
Saren raised an arm and Shepard found himself unable to move, trapped in stasis, groaning in frustration as Saren stepped forward quickly, grabbing Shepard around the throat and lifting him off the ground.
"I'm not doing this for myself, Shepard! How can you not see that? This is our only hope that any of us would survive! But you continue to interfere with my plans. Noveria. Feros. Therum. I had everything organised. No-one would have been any the wiser if you hadn't received your own vision. You are dangerous. You are a problem. You must die."
And Saren continued to squeeze, Shepard raising both hands to his throat and the talons surrounding it, to stop his inevitable suffocation as his throat continued to be constricted. He was already starting to feel light-headed as he struggled wildly. He couldn't believe the strength in Saren's arm.
"Let him go, you bosh'tet!" cried Tali, charging out of cover, shotgun raised as she ran towards Saren, taking at least two shots. They impacted into his shields, but again caused no damage, Saren raising his other arm and flinging a warp at her, Tali diving out of the way into cover just in time.
That was just the distraction Shepard needed, as Saren turned his attention back to the Commander to see a fist flying towards him. His fist connected square in the turians' jaw and Shepard dropped the ground. Saren turned and ran back to his board, Shepard chasing after him with his pistol raised firing wildly, nothing hitting it's target, as numerous other weapons finally opened as well, the geth also returning fire once again. Saren was quick, getting on his board and floating away as Shepard continued to fire, none of his shots managing to pierce his shields.
"Fuck!" he shouted as Saren disappeared from view.
"Commander, there's no time. You need to go now!" shouted Ashley over the radio as the Normandy descended above them.
"Let's go, people! Move! Move! Move!" shouted Shepard, gesturing towards all the survivors dotted around the AA tower. It took only seconds for everyone to run up the ramp of the Normandy, Shepard the last to board slowly, turning around to look one last time.
"I'm sorry, Ashley," he said quietly as the Normandy started to rise into the atmosphere.
Ashley continued to return fire at the geth encroaching on her position as she heard the timer continue to count down. "Don't feel sorry for me, Commander. I'm going to a better place."
"When this is all over, I'll meet you at the bar."
Ashley grinned as she took aim and fired another burst. "I'm buying the first one. Shepard…"
"Yes, Ash?"
"Thank you, sir. For believing in me."
She heard his voice break as he replied. "It was an honour, marine."
"Now go, Shepard. Get out of here."
Ashley continued to fire her rifle. She looked up for a moment as she noticed the Normandy disappear from view. She smiled ever so slightly before looking forward once again. The geth were now everywhere. Ash started to whisper a prayer to herself.
"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing,"
The rifle continued to crack, her eyes focused on nothing but the geth assembled in front of her, each round hitting its intended target. As she fired, thoughts started to cross her mind as the inevitable appraoched.
First were her carefree days of childhood. The innocence of it all.
"He makes me lie down in green pastures,"
Mass effect rounds crashed into the masonry around her. One or two impacted the bomb near her, but it was still armed and ready to blow.
The day she signed up for the Alliance. Proudly wearing that symbol for the first time.
"He leads me beside quiet waters,
He refreshes my soul,"
A sniper bullet impacted her shields. They instantly failed. Ashley simply took a breath and continued. There was no point worrying about it now. It would be over soon enough.
Her grandfather, the Commander of Shanxi. In her mind, he would always be a hero.
"He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake,"
A bullet impacted her shoulder. She cried out immediately, dropping her rifle as her right arm hung loosely at her side, useless. She looked down to see blood already seeping out of the wound. Ashley simply crawled next to the bomb, taking out her pistol with her left hand, continuing to fire at any geth who dared approach her. Even if she died now, it couldn't be stopped anyway. The mission would be completed.
Her father, who had served the Alliance with such pride. She would be joining him soon.
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me,"
Bullets now rained down on her exposed form. Ashley ducked slightly, another bullet impacting her side. She grimaced with the pain but kept firing. Medi-gel was now pointless. The end was soon.
Her mother. The bravest woman she knew.
"Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies,"
Ashley continued to fire, ignoring the pain, watching as geth bodies continued to collapse and fall nearby. Another bullet impacted in her right leg. She barely even felt it.
Her sisters. She would not cry. Would not be upset. They were strong. They would carry on.
"You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
Ashley heard the tick continue to count down, blocking out all other sounds, as she looked down one last time as the timer reached zero.
She closed her eyes.
Her friends. All of them on the Normandy. She would miss them, one and all.
"Amen."