Presidium Apartment Complex

"For the last time Tali, I don't know where Shepard is!" Garrus sighed again "What makes you think I keep track of his every move?"

"You said you were the last to talk to him!" Tali retorted angrily

"Look, that was more than three hours ago. I don't expect him to sit in the same corridor for more than three hours, do you?"

Tali paused for a moment, knowing that Garrus was right. It had already been a long time since Garrus talked to Shepard.

"It's a pity Rosa left. She had a knack for tracking down people. Maybe you could ask Kasumi, or Joker. Some of the other crew members who just came back may have seen Shepard on the way back."

"Fine. I'll go ask them." Tali walked off hurriedly toward the apartment lounge.

Local Bar, Shepard's POV

I resisted the strong urge to keep my eyes close as I blinked painfully a few times, letting my eyes adjust to the light. From what I can tell I'm in some sort of bar, even though I have no recollection of even coming here. The lack of cups in front of me proves I didn't knock myself drunk.

"Hi, can I get you something?" An Asari waitress walks over to me as I rub my eyes. I needed to find out where I am.

"Sorry, how long have I been sleeping here?"

I watch the Asari give me a very puzzled and confused look as if I was speaking in an alien language. She scratched her head once and looks at me dumbly again.

"Excuse me?" She finally answered "You just sat down here. You walked through those doors just half a minute ago."

That was strange. I could have sworn I was here. I was asleep on the bar for goodness sake! Maybe the stress is getting to me. Should I just order a drink and relax? Or find a better place to think about things.

"Sorry, I'm not feeling too well. I'll just have a soda." I ordered the drink which had the least alcohol content. In my current state I think being drunk would just make things worse.

This entire situation is getting weirder by the minute. Maybe I should put the thing together piece by piece. I remember leaving the apartment complex very soon after Garrus talked to me. Where did I go next? I certainly didn't come to this place immediately. Think! Think! Think! Where did I go? It certainly wasn't the market section. Ah yes! I went to the presidium garden to relax. But why did I leave that place?

In an instant, the grass which I was standing on reduced to nothing but ashes, and the branches that were entangling me caught up in flames. It was almost as if death itself took ownership of the place. The flowers withered and died within a second, right before my eyes. A woman nearby fell to her knees as her body changed from one that was young to that of an old person before hitting the ground as a skeleton. I couldn't take it anymore! This has to stop. I have to leave this place. Anywhere! Anywhere is better than here. I ran back toward where I can from, following the path, hoping it would take me back to the presidium. I saw a landmark ahead. It was almost like salvation, seeing the entrance statue. But as I approached it, I realized it was the memorial statue where I started.

Ah yes, the entire garden was haunted. To me at least. I should go see a doctor some time soon. This can't be allowed to go on any further. I'm sure Tali would be worried about me. Tali. No, I mustn't let her down. She can't know about my problem. The clock on the wall says it has been three hours since I left the presidium grounds. Tali must have tried to look for me. Knowing her she would have contacted many people to find out where I am. Too bad I didn't bring my omnitool out. A moment later the waitress came back with my drink. Hmm, wasn't the waitress an Asari? Now she's an Elcor! Within another few blinks she changed to become a Turian.

I gulped down most of my drink, trying to make an effort to leave this place and go back as soon as possible. Back on the Normandy or at the apartments I could get help immediately if I need it. Tali would be there for me. But she has always been there for me. And all I do is let her down. I clutched my glass so angrily that a visible crack appeared along the edge.

"Hey there, you look like you could do with a little relaxing." A voice of a teenage girl broke my train of thoughts. I turned to look at her slip up on to a chair next to me. "Want to dance?"

"No. Please, leave me alone."

Within an instant, the entire bar had vanished and I found myself in the heart of the Collector base, fending off Collectors as we tried to plant the charge on the core.

"You will do as I tell you!" The young girl had turned into a Harbinger-possessed collector and sent a singularity towards me, knocking me off my feet as I hit my head against the floor. After a brief moment of darkness I woke up to find myself on the cold floor of the bar with the young girl looking at me.

"Hey, dude. Are you okay? You just fell of the chair as if someone pushed you."

I rubbed my head painfully as I grabbed on to the girl's hand and she helped me up.

"So, err, what just happened back there? It kinda freaked me out a little."

My temples were pulsing and I naturally rubbed them, in hopes of rubbing my headache away. All the noise, it was making my headache worse. There were voices in my head. Unbearable pain inside of me. The voice, it kept telling me to be afraid. To be afraid. But who? Afraid of what? Why should I be? So many questions, too little answers. All these flashbacks, or hallucinations? What do they mean!

"Hello! Don't zone out on me again."

"I'm sorry I'm just, really not feeling well."

"Oh. Is there anything I can help you with? I can get you a glass of water. That is, if you want."

"No, it's fine. There's just a voice in my head saying that I should be afraid. It's killing me inside."

"Yes," The scene flipped back to the Collector base "You should be afraid!" The same Harbinger-possessed collector hissed. I looked around, trying to find anything I could use as a weapon. Suddenly Legion ran towards me, firing his pistol at the Collector's legs, releasing a high scream as it fell to the floor and Harbinger released its control. But Legion was quickly gunned down and he fell to the floor. Another collector came over to me and kicked me in the head, effectively knocking me out.

I was once again in the darkness. I was neither here nor there. I felt no pain. There wasn't any wounds on my head, or bullet marks on my arm. I was in my civvy, with only my pistol holstered by my side. Where was I?

"You should be afraid."

There was that voice again. Telling me to be afraid! Afraid of what? I ask myself again. I wasn't afraid of death, was I? What am I afraid of?

"Are you really not afraid of anything? Is there nothing that troubles you? What do you hold dearly? Are you not afraid of losing what you so love and cherish? Are you not afraid of failure?"

"Shut up! Leave me alone whoever you are!"

But it didn't end there. I was not so lucky.

"Are you not afraid of letting your people down? What would others think of humanity? I know who you are Shepard. You have fears, you have worries."

It was true. This thing, whatever monstrosity it is, was toying with me, playing mind games, fucking with my sanity. But what are its intentions? Why is it doing so? I must be a threat to it if he would want to take me out so badly. Why? Who? What?

"Are you not afraid of losing her. The one you love. Physical pain can only go so far, but emotional pain. Alas, not everyone can take that. Are you one of those? Or will you fall at the sight of losing the ones you love?"

"Who are you? What do you want from me?"

"Shepard! Don't you see! It's not about what I want." The voice stopped for a moment. "It's about what you want. I just want to make you happy." The voice suddenly changed to one all so familiar. Tali. "Remember Shepard, not everything is about fun and games." Garrus. "Shepard! Don't leave me to die out here!" Joker.

"You're just playing with me. I'm not taking part in your stupid games!" I retorted angrily.

"But you already have."

Tali, Garrus, Joker and many others materialized in front of me, all in a line.

"Don't let us die like this!" Garrus shouted at me. I tried to move, but I couldn't. I had no control over my own body. No matter how I tried I couldn't help them. A sniper shot rang out and Joker's body spun before hitting the floor with a thud, a pool of blood forming around his chest. I gasped in horror at what just happened. Another shot rang out and Garrus staggered backward before falling flat on his back. Another shot, Thane clutched his chest and looked at me, pleading for me to help as he fell to his knees and eventually flat onto the floor, lying on his front.

"No! Stop this. Stop this now!"

"You know what I am capable of. I can destroy everything you know, everything to hold, everything you have. You are not perfect like what they think you are. You are nothing more, nothing less, than just a human."

I woke up to find two collectors dragging me off the battlefield towards the processing chambers. There were other humans here too, but none that I could recognize. Was I destined to be like this? But didn't I just blow up this place? Does that mean that the collectors are back? Do they have a second base? I leaned my head back onto the back of the pod. I suppose there is nothing I can do anymore. I should just sleep. Get some rest before I die. But what would the point be? I just suddenly feel so sleepy. I suppose I shouldn't resist it.

Presidium apartment lounge

The lounge was surprising crowded considering the fact that it was still in the early afternoon. The two main engineers were seated next to each other at the bar, chatting away as they enjoyed each other's company. Thane was sitting at a table, alone, thinking about the past day's events. Tali slowly walked through the lounge, wondering who would be the best person to ask regarding this matter. Kasumi was still out, Rosa had left, and Grunt was busy fighting in a local arena.

Tali was walking toward the exit as she passed by Samara who was coming into the lounge. A thought sparked in her mind.

"Samara, can you track someone using your biotics?"

"Of course. That is what I have been using to try and track down you and Shepard two months ago."

"Could you help me track down Shepard? He seems to have gone missing after Garrus talked to him. Work stress he presumes."

"That is not a problem young one. May we proceed to your room? It is easier to concentrate in a quiet place."

"Okay. And what's with 'young one'?"

"Considering I am hundreds of years old you count as very young to me."

"Alright… let's try to focus on the matter at hand."

"Very well."

Once they were in the room, Samara sat herself down at the window cross legged as a blue glow started to engulf her.

"I sense Shepard through the darkness. But I am unable to pin point his location. There is another one. Another, being, purposely making its presence known to Shepard."

"What it is?"

"I do not know. But I can sense its intentions, it seeks to harm. It is of a great evil yet not taking a physical being. It is merely a phantom."

"Samara, why does all this sound so scary?"

"In truth it is not. It is just a being taking a role that is not of our dimension, just pure energy." Samara released the blue glow and opened her eyes.

"But the creature is powerful, and will ill intent in its heart. I am sure he knows that I sensed it."

And all of a sudden Samara was thrown back by an unseen force, slamming against the wall before dropping down on her knees and hands.

"You are wise old one. But are you wise enough."

"It knows what I'm trying to do. I suggest you get to Shepard quickly."

"What just happened! You just got flung across the room yet you still calmly say I should get to Shepard!"

"You do not understand. This being, its power is unimaginable to you."

"And why! Why would I not understand?" Tali was cut off my Samara putting her hands on her shoulders.

"Because, you do not have my experience in biotics. It can feel me, feel you. It knows very well what we are trying to do. I can sense it toying with Shepard but you cannot. You just have to trust me."

"You said it knows we are here, how? Is it another person?"

"I cannot tell its location. It is something we have never faced before. As for Shepard, it is concealing his location. The only way to find him is physically as it is, jamming my powers so as to speak."

"Alright, maybe we should head to the Normandy. A scan should be able to find him."

Without haste the two left the apartment and headed toward the docks.

"Your efforts are worthless. You will not be able to find him! Hahaha!"

Tali stopped in her tracks just by the Normandy's docking bay.

"Samara did you hear that?"

"No."

"There was like this voice in my head, telling me that our efforts are worthless."

"It must be the being then. When we were in the apartment that was how it spoke to me. Since it is not a thing of this world the only way it can talk to us is through our minds. But do not lose heart, it is only trying to delude you."

"I'll just go with what you said. Come on, we have to find him."

Once inside, Tali immediately went to the cockpit, requesting Joker and EDI to authorize a scan of the local area. After passing security protocol the scan started and Tali waited nervously by the results console. The scan picked up many life signatures but none matched Shepard. Furious, Tali ran the scan again, but increasing the scan range.

Tali was once again waiting while Joker tapped her on the arm. Tali simply nodded for him to carry on while she stared at the results slowly come in.

"Tali I think you should see this."