Red Star Over the Citadel

by dersomewhat

Humanity is the purveyor of socialism to the stars, but their idealism comes at a cost. The bourgeois Council races plot against them, while in their own ranks hardliners split to form the Chariot organization. All the while, the threat of the Reapers looms against the galaxy. Commander Marat Shepard will rise to the task and do what he must, but it may cost him dear.

36. Chapter 34

Approach to the Collector Dreadnought, 2185

The Dzerzhinsky had been approaching the mysterious callzone for some time when Shepard finally got through to the Ghost Writer. He didn't like control having control taken away from him, and shared Joker's fears about EDI. The AI had set them on this course a few hours earlier, and attempts to establish comms to Chariot had failed. Joker had bitched and moaned the whole way, too boot, and this had an unpleasant effect on the Commander's mood. Stepping into the vid-comm room he stood up to his full height. He was wearing his Brotherhood uniform as a calculated move. He hadn't appreciated being revealed as some sort of Chariot secret weapon in the Writer's latest polemic and wanted him to be clear on where they stood. At last the balding figure of the Ghost Writer appeared, drinking coffee and looking meek as ever. Removing a pair of wire-rimmed glasses, the pudgy man said,

"Ah, Shepard. Sorry I'm late, Politburo meeting ran overtime what with that coup you stopped and all. Theory doesn't write itself."

"You wanna take my ship away from my pilot and I, and send it half-across the galaxy, you'd better have a damn good reason," spat Shepard. The Ghost Writer ignored his protest.

"Nice outfit, hope I didn't go too overboard in my last writings. I just want you to understand I appreciate what you're doing, and I know you're a sword that parries enemy assaults upon our species," seeing Shepards look of chagrin he waved his hand dismissively and went on, "We have a chance to strike at the heart of the enemy. For posterity I sent you as soon as I could."

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" demanded the Commander.

"Because I have a Party to run!" snapped the Writer, "and come on, Marat, it's not like you aren't used to doing black ops with little briefing or intel. So relax while I explain what's happening here." Pausing for another sip of coffee, he then continued.

"Right, so we found the location of a disabled Collector dreadnought on the outskirts of the Taetrus war. It appears either a salarian or turian EMP blast has disabled it and our engineering section estimates they will be ready to make the jump back across the Omega-4 Relay within eight hours. I want you to get in there and investigate what's going on – you can even save any xenos you feel deserving of help."

"But...?" asked Shepard."

"And," said the Writer smoothly, "if you want to find the exact location of the Collector homeworld and the means to get there, you will need to gain access and allow EDI to interface with a computer aboard the vessel."

"That's insane!" stormed Shepard, "Even if I trusted that damnable AI, how could we be confident it will even access Collector computers. We don't know shit about their tech, how's EDI going to pull it off? And that's forgetting the fact you want me to take an oversized section against, Lenin's balls, who even knows how many Collector drones, marines, heavy weapons, and guards. If we even find the foe it'll be suicide, so why do you want me to execute a mad task right now?"

"EDI is based on Reaper and Brotherhood code," said the Writer flatly, "And before you protest, we have fail-safes in place to ensure her loyalty. As you found out when we set a new course. The Collectors we know work for the machines, and she will be able to get the intel. As to why I'm asking this of you: think Shepard. You're the hero of the human race for a bloody reason. It's because you can get stuff like this done. Now are you in it for your race, or out because of your principles?"

The Commander ground his teeth, "You know I'll do it, Writer. But for the record, I don't like you, I suffer you because of the greater good. Look at the uniform I wear. I am a Brotherhood man. A Commission man. I know where my loyalties lie. Now let me brief me crew."

"Not so fast, Marat," said the Writer, this time with genuine worry in his voice, "Surely, love must count for something, and make for new allegiances? Miranda can't stop talking about you and she's opened up since you engaged in your little romance. I approve of her with you, but you need to treat her well as she is the daughter I never had. And part of that will mean accepting you have responsibilities to her, and by extension, Chariot."

"I'm not talking about this right now," said Shepard coldly, "Just tell me any last minute instructions before I go."

The Writer gave a smile of regret, "Alas, when this is done it will not be over. You won't poison Miri's mind against me, nor will you make her a fanatic follower. She will not be another Ashley Williams. I'm training Oriana as we speak, because you helped bring her back, but Major Lawson is the finest we have to offer. I need her on the line if anything goes sour; we can't afford to lose her on this mission. Aside from that, take all hands on deck."

Shepard walked from the room without a second glance back. Now he was angry. He would fight better angry, but like a good Chekist he would need a cool head for this assignment. Taking deep breaths he suited up in his armour and a half hour later his companions had done the same. EDI was now responding and told them they had another forty minutes to reach the Collector Dreadnought- not nearly enough time to do proper battle procedure but he'd have to wing it. His troops deserved to know, especially if he was asking them to engage in this high-risk venture. They'd also love hearing about how he was leaving his new girlfriend to sit on her bubbly butt while they busted their own, he thought cynically. Well, there was no point hiding. He gave it to his comrades in the briefing room straight, and told them how Miranda would have to stay back. The reaction surprised him.

"I'm happy to go 'ead-to-'ead with these bastards, meself" snarled Zaeed. His gung-ho attitude gained a roll of the eyes from his fellow White Guardist Kasumi, with whom he had formed a fast if antagonistic sort of friendship. She didn't disagree though, which meant enthusiastic approval in her dictionary.

"I agree, Marat, it's about time we fight them. EDI has... problems, but it's good we're finally fighting back," concurred Garrus. Shepard looked the new-made colonel in the eyes, and there was sincerity there. He gave an almost indistinguishable nod to the turian which conveyed his gratitude. Similar sentiments went up from the rest of the room, in particular Okeer and Mordin who couldn't hide their excitement at getting more Collector tech to get their hands on.

With this unexpected turn of events, Shepard felt more confident in the insane plan he wanted to outline.

"Kasumi," he said, "How adept are you with your cloaking device? Could you do extensive jerry-rigging in the twenty or so minutes until we get to the enemy?"

"Depend, Shep, how much you pay me?" she asked sarcastically.

"Right," said Shepard, reading between the lines of her statement. In Kasumese she had basically said 'of course you idiot, what do you need done?', and continued, "Samara is the most powerful biotic I've met in a while. Captain Taylor, if you and her can work together I think we might be able to overcharge Goto's cloaking device and biotically spread its effects to all of us."

"I kind of wanted to fight the enemy," said Jacob with his ever-present grin, "but I can see how not attracting the attention of three battalions of angry Collectors is a good idea. If the Justicar will consider a mind meld...?"

"Of course," said the airy voice of Samara, "I would be glad if it gives you the knowledge needed for this task. Commander, I can do it quickly so finish your orders before we go."

"Roger, Samara," said Shepard suppressing his taste at the asari's characteristic mysticism, "Thane, you're a key part of this plan. Soon as we enter you're going to be the one responsible for guarding Kasumi. You can keep up with her when she connects EDI to a Collector server node. Zaeed, Garrus you slow killer lunks are with me. We're guarding the biotic team while Okeer and Mordin collect tech. I don't think we'll get much spread on even an overcharged device but if we can get the spread of a fifty-meter patrol we'll do well."

"I accept this task," said the assassin, "and Miss Goto may consider herself under my protection."

"Great," said the thief, "now I leave crazy merc human for crazy drell."

"Cut the chatter!" snapped Shepard, "If nobody else has questions we'll move out. We have only fifteen minutes to figure out this device and get aboard. After that it's six hours until the dreadnought goes to FTL across the galaxy so time is of the essence!"

With that the team stood up and set about their assigned tasks in the armoury as they prepared for deployment. However Garrus and Miranda stayed back to speak with him before he left. The turian reached him forth, and gave the woman a dirty look before speaking.

"I don't like her sticking behind, Marat," he whispered, "I know you have something with her but this is too much. Ash was always with us in the front line."

"Ash's body is being possessed by a ruthless killer," said Shepard, "And I didn't like it either. But it's the direct orders of the Writer and before you complain about how we don't report to him, we are forced to play by some if not most of his rules. She's staying because she can do the best job, and also because the Ghost straigh-up admitted we're all expendable in his eyes, and he wanted to have at least her alive if we all failed."

"Well there's a cheerful thought, Marat," remarked Garrus, "But I'll have your back so the Writer's predictions don't come true."

"And I yours, secret colonel Garrus," joked Shepard, "And thank you for putting up with the Major here, who stands so silent as you lambast her. I'm close to her for a reason. Please put up with it if nothing else for me."

"It wouldn't be the stupidest thing I've accepted by you, comrade Commander," said the turian before giving a polite nod to Miranda. She saluted stiffly- after all, he was now technically superior to her- but he didn't return it and walked out of the room.

"I'll come," she said, "Damn the Writer, my place is with my comrades. Don't think about-"

"Overruled, Major," ordered Shepard, "As your Commander that's my final word. And we're not doing this relationship bullshit again before a mission. I'll go, I'll execute, and I'll come back. End of story. You're here because you've been commanded to and we need you doing this more than another cloaked gun."

She stood there a second biting her lip nervously. Then she said, "Well, damn you Marat, I'd bloody miss you if you went. Just promise me you'll be careful."

"As much as I can be," he responded, "which means no guarantees."

She swung her arms around his neck and kissed him.

"Well, that's some of the reward you get when you'll come back. And," she said, her voice turning sultry, "We'll finally consummate this thing as well, I think. Enough running and hiding under the shadows of exes and Parties and secret missions. Just you and me and a night alone."

"Four minutes until deployment, comrade Commander," said the cool voice of EDI over the comms, "I only understand probabilities, but allow me to say 'good luck'. Your mission and your girlfriend will need it."

Shepard stood frozen for a second. Had he just heard that?

"That was a joke," said the AI's voice, "But you'd better move if you wish to make it."

Miranda slapped his rear as he dashed to the deployment deck. When he got there he had barely enough time to put on his helmet before the doors opened to the strange organic Collector ship. Despite the tense situation, Shepard heard multiple silenced snickers as Kasumi activated her mass cloaking device. From somewhere to his left, the voice of Garrus whispered,

"Comrade Commander, your chin is smeared with lipstick. Good thing we're invisible now because it was a little embarrassing."

Shepard would have laughed but he had orders to give. Stepping onto the Collector ship, he spoke to his massed troops.

"Comrades, activate EDI's targeting systems in your helmets. It will allow you to see your cloaked friends. However don't stray far- how far does this thing work Kasumi?"

"Forty meter," responded the thief, "And no do backflips or siliness, it cause battery drain."

A second later, all systems were ago. Shepard saw his comrades flicker into life around him, though EDI only represented them as blue silhouettes. On his left stood Garrus and to his right Was Zaeed. Behind them stood Samara and Jacob, who had clasped hands and held Kasumi's device, powering it with their biotics. Ahead stood Thane and Kasumi, followed by Mordin and the hulking Okeer. Shepard now spoke again.

"Alright comrades make sure your helmets are completely sealed. Silence is an absolute necessity and while our armour has built-in silencers to prevent the enemy hearing us, don't scream or yell. It could attract unwanted Collectors. Let's advance toward the centre of the ship and get this intel."

His companions one by one confirmed their presence on the comms and the group moved out in its order of march. Shepard hoped they wouldn't attract any attention, and furthermore knew that killing Collectors wasn't much of an option. They could take down the occasional two-man patrol but wouldn't last against concerted firepower, and it would be hard to hide any bodies.

Instead he marvelled at the vast ship as he and his companions moved forward. It wasn't built of any material he could have seen before; while most modern Brotherhood ships were made of titanium and synthetic polymers this seemed to be an anomaly of engineering. All around the floor looked of a fleshy substance while bio-electric currents ran along the ship via protruding wiring in the walls that looked more like veins. There also seemed to be no end to the vastness of the ship, and while Shepard and squad moved forward they also took into consideration other odd facets of the ship. It looked... grown and organic, but with the strange addition of synthetics in all parts of it including metal doors. The doors seemed to be disconnected from any central mainframe as Kasumi had little difficulty getting the team through them via her omnitool which could now upload EDI's code. Tali had once tried to explain cross-computing to Shepard but it had gone over his head, however he was grateful that he now had an expert at his side even if she was untrusworthy.

The vastness of the ship wasn't lost on Shepard, but the other thing that frightened him was how... empty the entire space felt. It seemed to him they had been moving for hours though it had only been less than one, however the team had traversed a lot of ground... several kilometre's by Garrus' pacing. And in that whole time they hadn't encountered a single other life form, not a Collector, not one of their mutant servants, not an abducted organic. The Commander felts said that whoever they had been kidnapping were not getting free, but he wasn't surprised. It only furthered his faith to end them... but where was the enemy? They had been disabled by EMP and were dead in space, which should have equalled a ship at full stand-to at their battle-stations. Instead nobody seemed to be managing any weapons system and there was not a single enemy drone in sight, nor any signs of the kidnapped Dissenter colonists. What was going on? Even the enthusiastic Mordin and Okeer had failed to find anything impressive; they seemed just as puzzled as the other crewmembers at the organic makeup of the ship and dared not stray out of range of the cloaking device. On the other hand Samara and Jacob looked physically drained; Shepard encouraged them to keep strong. Soon, he'd know where the team must go and they'd be able to get what they came for and leave. Kasumi and Thane kept prancing at the front of their cloak, but they also seemed baffled by the surroundings. Shepard himself simply shared the scowls on the faces of his comrades Garrus and Zaeed. Well, he thought, this never was going to be simple so time to enlist some outside aid...

He called upon EDI, who had been busy scanning the ship via the door systems. She responded a second later into the headpieces of the entire boarding team.

"Comrades," said her voice, "I have found the schematics of this ship through their security systems. While it is not uploaded to their central navigation frameway, it has lead me to learn several key pieces of information on the ship. I do not know anything about its biological engineering but I do know that I can now remotely get through most of their systems silently so as not to arouse their attention. As for their central computer, it is a further six hundred meters from your current position. A word of warning though: you will be advancing through their main area."

"Clarify," said Shepard.

"Comrade Commander," continued EDI, "that section of the ship is filled with the hibernation pods of both the Collector crew and probably kidnapped colonists. If they detect a threat, hundreds of them will drop backed up by even more husks. Tread carefully as we need the information on that computer."

"If you're in their systems why can't you stop them?"

"It's a biological program I am not designed to work around, however I can confirm it is built around Reaper tech. I have further findings you will find interesting as you advance to find that data."

"I'm weirded out enough already EDI," said Shepard, "What can you add to that?"

"The ship is in a form of autopilot as it repairs. When it's ready it will go, the same way it can manage its own affairs and fire weapons systems, for example, when it is kidnapping colonists. However, I believe that this is a unique ship."

"Why's that?" said the tired voice of Jacob.

"Captain Taylor, it is because this ship is an exact match for the one which attacked the original Dzerzhinsky two years ago. I am accessing more data."

Silence hung over the radio for what seemed like ages before EDI began speaking again. Shepard could see the great hallway ahead of himself before she continued. He hoped he had the guts for this bullshit...

"In addition I can now state with certainty that this ship was also present at Horizon. If I could hypothesize, I would state that this is in fact the only Collector vessel out there and that it houses much of their population. It appears they are electrically powered and so must recharge after that EMP attack, hence why you have encountered no resistance. If you could find an intact body sample it would make for greater understanding of their technology and engineering than the actual hardware itself."

Shepard considered these words as the team advanced down the long corridor of the great hall. Looking up, he saw the massive canopy of the dreadnought and the countless pods it housed. He couldn't make out which ones housed humans and which Collectors but it didn't stop him moving with mouth agape.

"By the Goddess..." trailed Samara's voice over the radio, and her sentiment was echoed by almost every member of the team. The only one who seemed most focused was Okeer, who snapped them out of their reverence.

"Pay attention, you youngling pyjaks!" grunted the krogan over the radio, "We move quickly so as not to attract their attention. The computer said our objective is passed all these sights, so let's move to it and deal with these later. Mordin and I will be content to find her requested flesh sample on the way out."

Shepard grabbed a hold of himself and lead the crew across the bridge. At last they reached the other side, and he caught site of the objective. Impressive it was, like something out of a Lovecraftian horror novel. A giant green screen, written upon in incomprehensible alien runes glowed at the centre of a sunken chamber around which lay the coffin-like pods of several grotesque, huge Collector beasts. He gulped and again fought against the feeling of dread as he ordered Thane and Kasumi forward to upload EDI into the... the monstrosity in the centre of the room. The pair had barely stepped forward when Shepard heard an excited call from Mordin over the radio.

"Comrade Commander, over here!" chattered the salarian, "Interesting specimen located. Could be of use for study of Collectors."

As Shepard stepped over he understood what had caused excitement in the little salarian. Okeer's silhouette stood next to Mordin's arms crossed and looking down at the object of his friend's interest. What the Commander saw was an oversized hibernation pod. Within it lay a giant, malformed Collector. It was still clearly of the same stock as its fellows, but much larger. Though not much taller it was much heavier in weight and possessed extra pairs of eyes, as well as large fierce claws in addition to the three-pronged hands possessed by its fellows.

"What is it?" asked Shepard.

"Looks like a breed of Collector," stated Okeer, "and it's isolated from those around the control panel. We might be able to get it out and transfer it back to the Dzerzhinsky if you want. Of course, it's so large I'd have to carry it, a task I am not looking forward to."

"Doctors," enquired Shepard, "what's the value of this specimen?"

"Incalculable," they answered at the same time. Just as they said this, Shepard heard another cry over his comms, this time of triumph. Kasumi's upload of EDI to the ship must have worked as she then asked him to join her in the centre of the room.

"Commander, we in the ship system! Soon all intel uploaded, we can get out of this awful rock any second now."

However, EDI's voice cut off the thief's excited statements.

"Comrade Commander," said EDI, "My actions are successful but have not gone unnoticed. I can keep the Dzerzhinsky powered up and cloaked, but the Collectors are now aware of your presence and will retaliate. I recommend sticking together and running out as fast as possible."

The AI had no sooner finished speaking than every single pod in the room began glowing, and the room itself was filled with greenish light from outside as more Collectors prepared to exit their protective hibernation. A second later the first drones stumbled out of their pods, firing wildly, and Shepard felt a pang of relief that his team was still invisible to the aliens.

"Kill 'em," said Zaeed's voice over the comms, and he and Garrus began pumping the Collectors at the computer station full of rounds. Meanwhile, chaos rained as the giant mutant which Mordin had been examining rose from its pod and grappled with Okeer, who despite his age was beginning to destroy the thing.

"Focus on the armed ones," shouted Shepard over the radio, "Then formup in our order of march on my position. We're gonna run it out. Okeer, you figure out that big bugger?"

He turned to gun down the monstrosity assaulting the krogan but when he moved found the doctor had already smashed its head into a pulp.

"I can still extract it," said Okeer's voice, "We'll need it."

Shepard hesitated a split second. He needed the cloaking device to cover them all, but also needed that damn specimen to learn about the enemy. Cursing himself for a fool he then said,

"Right comrades, order of march in hex formation around the warlord. We need that big fucking alien bug, so let's fight our way out with it!"

At that his troops began moving. They had already defeated the monsters from the centre of the room and now fanned into their proper formation. Fuck, thought Shepard, he hoped Miranda wasn't worried. Pushing thoughts of her from his mind he again took on the yoke of command.

"Back to the ship," he called, and none of his comrades needed to be reminded twice.

"Comrade Commander, holding this up under combat conditions is fucking hell!" called the voice of Jacob, "Even Samara's almost spent. We need out now, and can't afford to get bumped."

But Shepard had no time to react to this. He just had to hope the cloaking device would hold – the reason why was now in front of him. As he lead the section, coming up second behind Kasumi and Thane, he saw what awaited them in the great hall below. At each side of the rail stood hundreds, if not thousands of husks, which were being formed up in neat squares by Collector drones. They almost looked like Napoleonic soldiers marching and fighting in line to Shepard's eye, and the only thing stopping them was that their fellows blocked their march to the centre. However husks and aliens had begun climbing other sides while other Collectors circled over head, strafing the ground at random in hopes of hitting something. Damn, that cloak had better hold!

Dashing forward, Shepard looked behind him to regard his squad. Garrus, his old friend, had taken on the role of second in command at the rear and with Zaeed was ushering the rest of the troops forward while covering Jacob and Samara from overhead fire. Even through silhouette, Shepard could tell the biotics were suffering more than anyone else. Ahead of them came Mordin and Okeer, the little salarian shooting down threats to the krogan while the former warlord hauled the massive mutant Collector across his back. It was truly an incredible sight, but Shepard had no time for it. Turning his attention forward he could see Kasumi and Thane were at the edge of the cloak and he told them via radio to slow down as their comrades advanced. Doing so, the section caught up to their comrades across the bridge just as husks and Collectors climbed up to their level behind them. Now Garru and Zaeed formed a fire-team with Mordin, shooting the pursuing aliens with their front to the rear of their retreating friends and gunning down aliens as they advanced. The Collector 'officers' for their part fired blindly in the direction of the Companions, but few of their arrows missed their mark.

Looking around, Shepard felt relief. Here the ship's ceiling was too low to accommodate the large Collectors or their organic warbeasts armed with heavy weapons and biotics. However, they were not free yet and tiring fast. Even the tireless Samara enticed him over comms to cut the pace of his run, and in order to maintain their concealment the Commander was forced to consent. Regrouping, the companions gasped for breath as aliens flew overhead and husks from behind struggled to close the gap.

"Talk to me, EDI," said Shepard as they rested.

"Comrade Commander, you will need to run out a different route than you came in. I will not be able to park the Dzerzhinsky there and you must take an unarmed shuttle to get back aboard. You also have little time; awakening the enemy seems to have activated an emergency power supply and the dreadnought will jump to FTL in only a matter of fifteen minutes. Hurry, Shepard."

Turning to his comrades, he did an obscene gesture even they would understand via tech-silhouette and began running, trailing them as he sprinted.

"Well at least tell me Joker's piloting the damn thing!" he shouted as he ran.

"Negative, comrade Commander," responded EDI, "Lieutenant Chambers will be flying it. I need Jeff aboard to punch us into our own FTL as soon as you come aboard, lest we be burnt up by the jump of the Collector vessel."

Great, thought Shepard, not only were they likely to die but the rescue craft upon which their lives depended was being flown by a damn shrink. Well, he didn't have much choice now and kept running. At last he ran into vestiges of resistance but shot it down, and behind him Kasumi and Thane gunned down enemies that approached the group on the flanks while Garrus' team kept off the foe at the rear. Just a little damn longer was all Jake and Sam had to hold, thought Shepard, just a few more minutes. Glancing at his HUD he realized the timing would be tight, but they now had five minutes to cover three hundred meters. Calling upon the last of his reserves of energy he sprinted forward, gunning down two Collectors who had sidled up from a different direction and taken wild shots. He hurdled forward and seventy meters from the shuttle zone he was stopped... by a door.

"Gobshite!" he screamed into his headset, "Get this shit open, EDI!"

Turning around, he realized he was beginning to see black. The run, even assisted by powered armour, was leaving him sick and he wanted to throw up. Shoving his weakness aside he moved to the rear of the group and asssisted the fire-team there at shooting at the advancing Collector hoard. A moment later, the door opened and he moved behind it, but more bad news awaited him.

"It's open but I cannot close it, comrade Commander," said EDI, "I recommend getting on the shuttle ASAFP. Shoot at the enemy to discourage them."

What the hell did she think they were doing? Soon after, the first to board the shuttle was Okeer, who despite his heavy burden had kept up with little difficulty. Plopping his grisly prize onto the floor of the krogan let out a great cry of triumph heard even through the sounds of battle. A moment later he was joined by Thane and Kasumi, and the assassin gave the Commander a sitrep to being on the shuttle.

"Hurry up, comrades," came the voice of Kelly Chambers, unnaturally calm, "Biotics next, the cloaking will drop. Make life hell for them if you want to get out!"

Her prediction came to pass as Samara and Jacob fell into the shuttle, Jacob passed out on the floor alongside the gruesome dead Collector and Samara semi-conscious in a chair. Swearing loudly, Shepard kept up the rate of fire and shouted at Mordin to get to the shuttle, which the little salarian complied with. A second later Zaeed joined him and hopped up into the craft, leaving Garrus and Shepard behind.

"If the Writer was smart," joked the turian, "he'd leave us to die right now!"

"Move your asses, comrades!" screeched the voice of Lieutenant Chambers, "You got a minute forty seconds to get aboard and this bird to the Dzerzhinsky. Do it!"

Nodding to Garrus, the turian and the human, comrades tried in battle, unhooked their bandoliers of grenades. Pulling the pins as one, they flung them at the oncoming hoard before turning around and sprinting again as fast as they could. The explosion behind rocked their backs and dropped their kinetic barriers, but they were already jumping in the air to the hovering shuttle. Their feet impacted into the titanium floor as one and Shepard clasped the turian for balance. They then both sat down, and Shepard finally threw up before blacking out.

When he awoke, he was in the med-bay of the Dzerzhinsky. Looking around, he saw a few beds to the right of himself the corpse of the oversized Collector, disgusting as ever. In another bed to his left lay the prone figure of Captain Jacob Taylor. Gazing up, the Commander felt thirsty and tired and awful, far worse than he ever had at Commission or N7 school. He was vaguely familiar of a faint memory, as the woman standing above him had done so before. But Miranda had been cold and ends-oriented when he was being brought back; now she seemed concerned and it was rubbing off on the other person looming over him. He smiled up at the worried face of Garrus Vakarian before Dr. Ekaterina Chakwas swatted the turian across the back of the head with her clipboard.

"Out," she cried, "Both of you get out while the Commander heals. I doubt he'd miss your ugly mug, either, Garrus."

But Shepard himself cut the doctor's protests short

"It's alright, Katya," he said, "I'm alive. That was hell in a handbasket, but I'm fine."

"You're fine when I bloody-well say you are," scolded Chakwas, "and for now that means you're staying put."

"But there's so much to do," protested Shepard, "What we saw was disturbing and the implications must be addressed. I need to do a full debrief of the crew, a report to the Ghost Writer, and discuss with EDI what happened."

"Just lay back," said the doctor, not unkindly, "You've earned a rest, I'll wager, and I think Major Lawson'd have my head if you got up and hurt yourself right now."

"I wouldn't be far behind her in taking it," added Garrus brightly.

Lying back, Shepard spoke again, "Where's everyone else?"

"Chambers is taking them through your desired debrief, after Chakwas kicked their gawking arses out of here not five minutes ago" said Miranda, "but dammit Marat, I thought you'd be careful! What the hell were you thinking?"

"I was doing my duty..." he said, but his voice slipped and slurred, and eyes grew heavy. Katya must have given him a sedative... damn tough broad he thought.

His last thoughts were that the mission was accomplished, and he'd have another one to complete soon with his band of troops. Or perhaps, now, they were friends. The thought brought him peace as he fell into the bliss of sleep.