Halo 4 SPOILERS follow. Infinity is drydocked. The ship has emptied out for Christmas. The decks are declassified and the Master Chief, with his security clearance revoked and still in pieces after the events on Requiem, has received an unusual request. A Christmassy story about friendship, loyalty, ageing, and death. Enjoy!

Someone is altering Commander Shepard's past. Kaidan Alenko, who perished two years ago on Virmire, is alive, with Ashley Williams, the love of Shepard's life, taking his place in history. He finds himself embroiled in an affair he doesn't remember starting, and having an upbringing completely different to what he remembers. Wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey head canon-fudging thriller.

'The Aperture opened. The Aperture closed. For a moment, the sky appeared to fold in on itself, before expelling a flash of livid red light.' Mass Effect 3 alternate ending. Assumes mostly paragon male Shepard w/ Kaidan romance.