Fire all around, Shepard; where is she? As I rounded the corner there she was, standing at the terminal in the mess.

"Distress beacon ready for launch." She says, the commander persona in full effect.

"Will the Alliance get here in time?" panic creeping its way into my voice.

With a profound confidence Shepard answers,"The Alliance won't abandon us, they'll be here."

She throws me a fire extinguisher and I attempt to clear the way.

"Joker is still up in the cockpit, he won't leave and neither will I."

She pauses and then pushes past me, "I need you to get everyone to the evac shuttles, I'll get Joker."

"Commander!" I yell out as she stubbles back when the Normandy shutters from another blast.

"Kaidan, GO… NOW!" she commands with a voice of finality.

"Aye, Aye"

I wake up in a cold sweat. It was just a dream, Lexi is still alive, Lexi is still alive,I keep telling myself over and over again.

After our encounter on Horizon, I have been reliving that terrible day every night in my dreams .I had received a message from Lexi a few days ago saying that she would be heading through the Omega 4 Relay. She wrote that she loves me and always would and that she was sorry for everything that happened if she didn't return.

My stomach felt empty after reading it. In my mind there is still one question left, Will she come back? As I look over at my clock it read, 4 am.

"URGH" might as well get up.

My Omni tool suddenly goes off and it's a message from Anderson.

Kaidan,

You need to get to docking bay 421, fast. It's Shepard.

D. Anderson

I feel a cold chill run up my whatever clothing I could find and stumbling out the door i thank god the Wards were empty this time of the night.

I made it to the docking bay in record time. Anderson was already there waiting, but he was not alone.

Next to him were 2 medical staff with a gurney, and duffle bags full of medical supplies.

"What is it Anderson? Is she here yet?" I manage to huff out as I come running onto the platform.

"No not yet , but she will be any minute." He replied quietly. This is when I finally get a good look at him. He was pale, pace and wringing his hands. These were not typical actions of Councillor Anderson.

"Anderson, what is wrong?" urgency seeping into my voice.

He stopped pacing, turning to me and sighed.

"Joker sent word that they made it through the Omega relay, but they were in pretty bad shape. He told me that the Normandy would barely make the jump. Next thing I knew there was screaming unlike anything I have ever heard." he hung his head and began pacing again while rubbing his forehead.

"Anderson what exactly are you saying," unable to keep the panic from my voice.

He activated his Omnitool and played the recording. At first I heard Joker giving Anderson the rundown of the mission and then he was saying the ground team was back, as the door opened all I could hear was this bone chilling screaming. A women with an Australian accent was yelling orders. The one line I heard clearly was "Shepard is down. Get me Chakwas, NOW!"

It was like my body had been put into a stasis field. No Shepard. Not again. I need you. I just shut my eyes and clench my fists.

" How bad Anderson?" My question scarcely above a whisper

Silence was my answer.

"HOW BAD?" My voice deafening int he silence.

All I got in return was a quietly murmured, "Bad".

And so the waiting game began.