Angels Lament

Thank you so much to all those who have Favorited, Followed, and Reviewed! And to answer the Question I received they are not going to be happy letting aliens live but like most Blood Angels (In the Books) they have a more neutral outlook on Xenos and are more willing to let them live or even fight alongside them. An example of this is the Cryptus Campaign, where the Blood Angels teamed up with the Necrons. As well as I just find the 'Death to all Xenos' angle as boring and done enough. So that is my answer and that's how it will be for the fic, they won't go full purge but they will stop things and beings they see as a threat to humanity.

Now onto Chapter 2...


Chapter Two: A Shepherd Gathers Her Flock

Jane Shepard awoke in her Captain's Quarters on the Normandy SR2. The Normandy was docked at the Citadel currently refueling after they picked up the Master Thief. It was Jane's third day back on the Normandy and she still wasn't even close to it feeling normal. Shepard threw her legs over the edge and sighed while sitting herself up. After rubbing her hands across her face, she stopped to feel the scarred skin under her fingertips on her left cheek. A byproduct of the Lazarus Project was scarred tissue on her face and body. Though she had slowly started to heal the scars still remained. She looked at the clock next to her bed and saw it was 10 o'clock universal standard time. Shepard stood up and walked to the wardrobe. She opened it and took out her normal clothes and put them on. It was a standard grey and white short sleeve shirt and a pair of black pants, both to her chagrin carrying Cerberus logos. Once she had done her hair and brushed her teeth she walked to her weapons locker. She grabbed out her trusty Carnifex heavy pistol and holstered it on her right side. She went to her desk and sat down. She still felt the 'Enhancements' and bionic parts she had. She still wasn't used to them, but at least the pain the implants had originally given her had begun to subside. Thinking away from her woes Shepard opened her terminal and looked to see if she had any new messages. There were three. One was from the Engineering bay requesting some new engine parts. The second was from Mess Sergeant Gardner asking about getting some better food for the kitchen and some new cleaning supplies, having run out of some he had. 'That man does take his job seriously, day two and he's already running out of some.' Then the second was from the Illusive Man. Though it still bothered her that she didn't know the real name of the man she was working for, he at least thus far had given her no reason to distrust him. The message was about how he had managed to track down some leads on her new 'Squad Mates."

Shepard still loathed not being able to work with all her old team. They had been her family and now they still thought she was dead and most had moved on. She couldn't blame them it had been two full years since she had died. Though the wound was made even sorer by Tali's reaction upon seeing Shepard alive, and working for Cerberus. The betrayal in Tali's voice was as clear as day. Shepard had given Veetor, the injured Quarian, to Tali on Freedom's Progress in the hopes that it would show Tali she was still her old self and that even though Shepard was working for Cerberus she wasn't like them. After this, she had finally been given her new ship, the SR2 Normandy. Through this Shepard had been able to reunite with two of her old crew, Joker, and doctor Chawkas. The three had been talking all night catching up and reminiscing about the days of hunting down Saren, the rogue Spectre. Shepard had finally gotten to bed around 4 o'clock, universal standard time. That meant she had only slept 6 hours, though despite that her body felt fine. But it wasn't her body that was tired it was her head. She was tired of being told everything she had fought and died for had been almost all for naught. The second she had died the Citadel had thrown everything she had done under the rug and called the Reapers to be not real. That the attack on the Citadel was simply a very large Geth attack and nothing more. They had even thrown her name under the bus for her belief and hunt of the Reapers. Calling her delusional and far too paranoid, and then piece by piece did the same thing to anyone who spoke out against them or believed in her.

Shepard was so very tired from all of this now, all she wanted to do was scream at the Councilors for their ignorance of the truth. But she wouldn't do that, that would get her nowhere. Now more to the task at hand. She had already recruited Grunt, Jack, and Kasumi, so Shepherd had to speak to Joker about the next place to go, the Terminus System, and more importantly the Omega station.

Shepard called Joker, he answered after about a minute of ringing and when he did his voice was groggy and very unhappy. "What, who is this? This had better not be EDI or I swear I'm gonna shut you off, you stupid computer! I honestly don't know why the Hell Shepard even lets you in my ship it's still a mystery to me."

Shepard chuckled and said her voice full of mirth. "No, it's just your Commander speaking, Joker."

Joker fell silent for a long moment before he spoke again his voice quick and a bit nervous. "Oh hey! Commander Shepard. How are you? I'm good, of course."

Shepard let a smile sprout across her face and she said. "I'm good Joker but it's time to get going, we've got a mission to do."

Joker responded. "I'll be ready and in the pilot's seat in no time, Shepherd."

With that Shepard cut the connection, and turned around in her seat and called to the other terminal on the wall behind her. "EDI." She then waited for the response.

A moment later the terminal came alight with the hologram of a light blue orb. The orb then spoke and its surface changed and rippled to resemble the articulation of words. Her tone was calm and artificial, but not entirely impersonal, in fact, the voice even sounded like she was smiling. "Yes Commander, what is it you require?"

"Make sure Joker gets up and please go through the red tape for me so we can leave Citadel."

"Of course. Logging you out, Commander Shephard." Responded the AI her voice still sounded happy.

Shepard ran her hands across her face again, then stood up. Shepard stretched to awaken her body, and walked to the door and the green hologram saying 'open' appeared. She pressed the button on her Omnitool and the door opened the door splitting in two down the middle and moving diagonally. Shepherd stepped out and took one last look at the picture of Kaiden Alenko by her desk. She missed him most of all but Shepard put that aside and walked out of her quarters. The door closing quickly after she stepped out. Shepard walked down the small corridor to the elevator and summoned it with her Omnitool. It arrived quickly enough and Shepard stepped into the box-like room. As the Elevator began to descend Shepard focused on here Omnitool. Looking at messages she had received and other such things. Then a new message popped up. Who it was from made Shepard do a double-take. It was from Councilor Anderson. She had completely forgotten that Anderson had become a Councilor to the Citadel. The message told her that he was grateful to hear she was alive. The message also said that the Council as a whole wished to see her and talk to her about her recent actions.

Just as Shepard finished reading the last line the elevator dinged and opened revealing the CIC. The wide and circular corridor was busy a dozen ensigns were at their stations monitoring the ship's systems, the surrounding area, and news feeds. Yeoman Kelly Chambers quickly walked up to Shepard, she had her Omnitool open and was typing a message. Shepard stepped out of the elevator and waited for the Yeomen to finish her message. It only took Kelly a few moments before she pressed send and closed the Omnitool saying in her usual upbeat way but with a hint of seriousness. "Commander, I was wondering if I could talk to you about Ms. Kasumi?"

"Sure, What about her worries you?" Asked Shepard.

"She has an extreme case kleptomania, in the last day since she arrived the crew members have reported well over 30 things of theirs missing, and this has only started since Ms. Kasumi arrived. I have attempted to confront her about this but she simply used her 'cloak' ability and walked off and hid. At least I presume she did because I have not seen her since."

"Okay, what do you want me to do about it?" Asked Shepard crossing her arms.

"If you would simply talk to her about this and tell her to please return what she has taken. I believe hearing it from you Commander could possibly have more of an effect, then when I tried."

"Okay, I'll see what I can do, Kelly. Anything else I should know about?"

"Nothing that I can think about, Commander." Replied Kelly. The Yeomen then walked to her station by the map and began typing away at her holographic keyboard. Shepard straightened and walked to the cockpit. There she found Joker, half-asleep in his chair. His head bobbing up and down every now and then as Shepard approached. When she was within a few meters she coughed to get the Pilots attention. Joker's head bounced back up and he looked back at Shepard. A nervous smile on his face. "Hey, Shepard. How long have you been there?" Asked the head pilot.

"Long enough to see you sleeping." Replied Shepard a smile on her lips.

"Oh, well where should the Normandy be heading?" Joker asked trying to change the subject.

Shepard shook her head and said. "Sadly you woke up for nothing, Joker. It appears I've been summoned by the Council, immediately."

Joker's response was quick and load. "Are you kidding me! Oh, come on I woke up just not to fly? Not to mention the stupid calculator kept hounding me anytime I would even sit down for a moment."

EDI's blue orb popped out of her terminal next to Joker and she said. "Mr. Moreau was attempting to fall back asleep, so I simply used auditory stimuli to keep Mr. Moreau awake.'

"She used a foghorn on me!" Yelled Joker.

Shepard laughed and said. "Well, I did tell EDI to keep you awake. But like I said Joker the Council has summoned me. So that means they won't let us leave yet. Maybe while I'm gone you can catch a bit more rest."

"You put it up to that?" Asked Joker.

"I simply asked EDI to make sure you got up Joker. I had no idea she would take that as an invitation to use a foghorn. EDI why did you do that?"

"I wished to see how Mr. Moreau would respond under extreme auditory stress." Said the AI her voice as always containing what could only be equated to a smile in her voice.

"You mean you were studying how he would react?"

"That is correct, Commander." Answered the AI simply.

"You were studying me like some lab rat?!" Yelled Joker.

"Is that allowed in your programming EDI?"

"There are no parameters set against me doing so. I am allowed to test crew members on how they react to a certain situation, though usually through asking questions. But I am allowed to perform 'studies,' as you put it, on the crew." Responded the AI.

"Commander are you really gonna let this slide, she's studying us like we aren't even people!" Yelled Joker

Jane shook her head. "No, I'm not. EDI I'm adding a parameter for you to follow."

"I am listening Commander Shepard." Replied EDI.

"You are no longer allowed to perform studies like these on the crew members. Is that understood EDI?" Asked Commander Shepard her voice coated with seriousness. She was very protective of any of her remaining crew and would not let this continue.

"Understood, Commander. I shall no longer perform such observations on the crew." Answered the AI neutrally.

"Well I think that does it, don't you Joker?"

"Yeah I guess that's good enough." Said Joker grabbing his crutches and readying himself to stand. EDI's orb disappeared as he did so. Shepard moved to help him but he held up a hand saying. "I can do it, Commander." He then moved to get up, but slipped. He began falling but was caught just before he hit the ground. Jane quickly and gently pulled Joker back up.

Once he was up she helped him grab his crutches. And Shepard asked, worried for the pilot. "You okay, Joker?"

"Yeah I'll be fine Commander. I'll just probably need to see Doctor Chakwas. Again."

"You mean this isn't the first time you've fallen?" Asked Jane urgently.

"Yeah, well I mean, I've fallen a few times already aboard the new Normandy. Nothing serious though, mainly I've just accidentally fallen out of my bed a few times. And Chawkwas has had to check me a few times. And I've fallen in the elevator twice." Said Joker with a bit of shame in his voice.

"What's wrong? As far as I remember you never used to fall in the old Normandy." Said Shepard.

"I don't know, Commander. I guess you could just call them pre-mission jitters." Said Joker lowering his head.

"No, Joker, I know there is something you're not telling me. What's wrong?" Asked Shepard seriously.

EDI's orb reappeared and she said. "Mr. Moreau was suffering from a brief anxiety attack."

"How do you know that EDI?" Asked Shepard quickly.

"No shut up you stupid computer!" Hissed Joker.

"What I mean is, Commander, Joker's heart rate and blood pressure spiked for a moment resulting in his loss of balance. These events usually coincide with anxiety attacks which Mr. Moreau is known to suffer from." Said EDI in her usual tone.

"Wait what? I don't remember Joker ever suffering from any anxiety disorders." Replied Shepard.

"You wouldn't, Commander. He was only diagnosed approximately 1 year and 5 months ago, at least according to his medical records."

"Is that true Joker?" Asked Shepard facing the Lead Pilot.

His head was hung low in shame and humiliation. And when he answered his voice has serious and sad. "It's true, Shepard."

"What happened?"

"You died, Commander." Joker raised his head his eyes red and full of sadness. "When you died I blamed myself. If I hadn't been so stubborn in trying to save the Normandy you could have made it out. It ate me up inside. I couldn't sleep because of it. I would suffer from these horrible nightmares. I wouldn't eat for long periods of time and I'd randomly be struck with horrible panic attacks that would cause me to fall down and hurt myself even more. It went on like that for weeks months even, until finally some of the Normandy's old crew made me see a psychiatrist. She diagnosed me with PTSD, and she gave me pills for it. They were meant to help me from having panic attacks, but they haven't been working lately."

Shepard was left speechless, and she blamed herself for this. "It's not your fault Joker." Jane spoke seriously and honestly. "You were just doing what you thought was best-"

"I killed you!" Screamed Joker.

After a moment Shepard spoke softly and kindly to Joker. "No you didn't, Joker. That ship would have destroyed the Normandy if you hadn't been piloting her, then we both would have died. You did what you could Joker."

Joker simply looked Jane in the face seeing if she would blame him. When he saw only that she meant it he hung his head again. After another moment he raised it and said his eyes welling up with tears and his voice quiet and sad. "I'm so sorry Shepard." Joker finally let the tears roll down his cheeks.

"There is nothing for me to forgive Joker." Jane then wrapped her arms around Joker, being mindful not to squeeze too hard. "It's okay, Joker, it's okay." She said while holding him as he cried. After a very long time and when all of Jokers' tears had been spent they separated somewhat. Joker's face was normal now but he still had tear marks along his face. Shepard held Joker's shoulders for a moment and said with all the honesty she could muster. "Whatever you think you did that killed me, Joker, I forgive it. You are one of my closest friends, Joker, you didn't cause my death."

One last tear ran down Joker's face after she had said that. After another moment he said in a quiet and tired voice. "Thank you, Shepard."

Joker made to leave and Shepard walked with him out of the cockpit. Neither saying a word but both happy at understanding the other for even a small-time, making both feel all the better for it.

Shepard had spoken with the Councilors now, and it had been as eventful as she thought it would be. Luckily seeing them and being civil about it had allowed her to be 'reinstated' as a Spectre, though without any of the perks besides the title of course. That had annoyed Shepard for a little bit but she had finally reconciled with it since then. Afterword she had been forced to speak to Udina. He had gone white the second he walked in and saw Shepard, and he had been quite clear he was not supportive of her reinstatement. But Anderson had put the weasel in his place, reminding him who was truly in charge. The cockroach had then left promptly, his tail firmly tucked between his legs. Shepard left soon after giving Anderson a hug and thanking him for his support. He warned her in passing not to trust Cerberus and to get whatever they wanted her to do over and done with, then leave them in the dust. Shepherd nodded and said she'd keep one eye open for anything that they did that was suspect. With that, she left heading straight for her ship.

The Normandy was now in the Terminus System, where she was told to go and stay by the Councilors. They just passed through the Omega System's primary relay and were on their way to the Omega Station. They had come here to recruit a Salarian scientist, A Human bounty hunter, and a vigilante codenamed Archangel. The recruits were all around Omega so that made the task difficult. But not impossible. What made it extra precarious though was the simple fact that Omega was a scrapheap. It was often said to be the Citadels opposite, and it had earned that reputation for good reason. Whereas the Citadel was clean and free, Omega was filthy and oppressive. Omega was known for its crime syndicates, slave traders, and other types of criminals. The only order that kept on Omega was by the Mercenary groups and even then they could only do so much or paid so much.

So it was with careful steps and preparation that Shepard left the Kodiak and strode down the hangar. She was dressed in her custom N-7 armor, it was painted a dark purple with red accents. The walls were dirty, covered in grime and graffiti. Garbage lined the walls most items being unusable scrap, that even the poorest of Quarians wouldn't use. The hangar was large yet felt compact and showing extreme signs of disrepair, the bulkheads every now and again giving eerie creaks. That made Shepard even more nervous about being on Omega, it looked like it was one good torpedo away from falling apart and killing all of its 7.3 million inhabitants. Though Shepard knew that that was truly unlikely and the station in truth had hundreds of fail-safes to make sure something like that could never happen. Not to mention there was a standing defensive fleet of mercs and other such defenses to make sure no one could blow up the station.

Though despite Shepards careful steps to ensure she was free to do as she needed, It didn't take long for Shepard to find trouble. Trouble came in the form of a bulky Batarian standing in the middle of the hallway entrance. The second Shepard got within his sights he stared her down as she approached. Shepard, not wanting to start a fight tried to give the Batarian a wide berth, but to no avail, he simply kept staring. Finally, when Shepard was within a few meters of him he crossed his arms in a disdainful way and began to speak. His voice was gruff and unpleasant and it made Shepard subconsciously reach for the Carnifex with her right hand. "What business do you have here, Spectre Shephard?" He said 'Spectre' like he was spitting out dirt and he was completely unfazed by Shepard reaching for her gun.

That made Shepard worried, but she responded with a firm voice. "Errands. Who wants to know?"

The Batarian snorted and said. "Aria T'Loak is who, Human. She wants to see you before you do these 'errands.' And I'd suggest you don't keep her waiting." And with that the brute left, not waiting to hear Shepard's reply. He walked into the hangar and disappeared into a docked cruiser.

Shepard shook her head, annoyance written all across her face. 'Great yet another pit stop.' Shepard entered the hall finally and walked along. After several minutes of walking down the corridors, Shepard turned a corner and found a human beating the snot out of a Batarian. The alien was in the fetal position crying out for help. Shepard walked up, hand on her pistol and ready to ripe the gun from its holster if she had to. Before she could say anything though the human suddenly stopped and spoke to Shepard's shock that it was directed at her. His voice was rough and had a slight British accent. "I'm gonna assume you're Commander Shepard."

Shepard was caught off guard for a moment but she caught herself quickly and asked tentatively. "What makes you say that?"

"No one else here would dare to stop me." He responded with a laugh and he turned around to face Shepard. His face had several scars on it and his right eye was bionic, a light grey color while the other was a dark green.

Shepard shook her head. "So who are you?"

"He's crazy, please help m-, umf." the Batarian on the floor had tried to get up and plead, but in an instant, he took a boot to the face from the Human. The Batarian was launched back about a meter his face bloodied.

"Oh would you keep quiet, you degenerate." Hissed the man looking at the wounded Batarian. He looked at Shepard and stood a bit straighter. He then said. "The names Zaeed Massani, I'm your Bounty Hunter. Well technically I'm a Private Contractor, but they just mean the same thing really." Zaeed then stretched his right arm across his chest and cracked his neck. "Well, Shepard, I've gotta go turn in this invalid and then I'll see you on the ship."

Zaeed was about to turn back to the Batarian, but before he could Shepard asked. "What did he," she pointed to the Batarian," Do?"

Zaeed yawned. "Don't know, don't care. All I care about is that someone back at his home is paying me handsomely for his return. they even paid the extra charge for him to be delivered alive, so he must have done something really really bad.."

Just as he finished Shepard saw a blur run by her and she quickly turned. It was the Batarian, he was making a run for it down the hall. Shepard turned back to Zaeed. She was about to quip about how the man was running away, but before she could say anything she saw Zaeed holding his gun at his hip. He fired and Shepard heard the Batarian cry out in pain and then a thud. Shepard faced the Batarian expecting to see him dead. But she saw him on the floor gripping his leg still very much alive.

Then Zaeed said. "He's a little worse for wear but other than that he's still good and alive. Good thing my buyer didn't specify his health as a concern." With that Zaeed walked off towards his catch, grabbed him, hauled the Batarian onto his shoulder and walked off down the hall, towards the Hangar. Over his shoulder, he shouted, "See you Aboard Commander."

Shepard simply shook her head as she walked away.

Later that same day Shepard was wishing she had just stayed aboard the Normandy. She had had a meeting with Aria T'Loak, which the entire conversation had been at the business end of several rifles. Luckily Shepard had been able to keep her cool and listen to the Asari Warlord. From Aria, she had learned that Archangel was in deep trouble. Archangel had been cornered into his hideout and was making a last stand there. Shepard had simply asked where she needed to go, to which Aria told her to ask the Blue Sun Recruiter. Which had led Shepard to where she was now. Hold up with her old Turian friend Garrus Vakarian who it turned out was the Archangel. Shepherd was with Miranda and Grunt, so far they had killed off the leaders of the Eclipse, Jaroth and Blood Pack, Garm. All that remained now was the Blue Suns who had the most firepower of the three.

Shepard was now in Garrus's base fighting off the remaining mercenaries. Shepard shot up the stairs, as she ran she could hear the sound of The Gatling cannon upstairs and Garrus had gone silent a little after they started. Shepard burst through to door not caring to find cover, simple scanning the room for her beloved friend. She found him tucked behind a crate hand pressed hard on his gut. Blue blood seeped out of the large gash on his left side and Garrus was clearly hurt elsewhere. Shepard bolted toward her friend. She made it halfway across the room before the gunship showed up again. Over the ship's loudspeaker, she heard the leader of the Blue Suns, Tarak. "I'm going to kill you all, you worthless fools!"

Grunt arrived on the scene and began shooting the vessel with his Geth Plasma Shotgun. The ship soaked the first few rounds and then made to retaliate. Shepard had to duck behind a wall just a few meters away from Garrus. Shepard yelled over the commlink. "Grunt draw it's fire I'll get Garrus!"

A simple "Hmph" was Grunt's only reply. The massive Krogan pounded back through the doorway, letting loose a blood-curdling roar as he ran into the room, and shooting into the open air. That did the trick as the gunship turned to face the Krogan Berserker. Grunt fired off a charged plasma shot, the damage it caused was immediately apparent. The shuttle's shield's burst at the superheated plasma blast and the ship quickly broke off from the building, trying to reform its kinetic barrier. Grunt let loose another 3 volleys before he had to reload the thermal clip and let the gun vent excess heat. Shepard took her distraction and bolted from cover and ran to be by her friend. Garrus was barely conscious now, he had several open wounds and was losing a lot of blood. His eyes were full of either fear or anger, Shepard couldn't tell which.

Shepard quickly deployed her contingent of Medigel on the primary gash. The gel solidified on the gushing wound, stopping the bleeding and helping to quicken his body's recovery. Shepard was anxious and on the inside very afraid at the possibility that she might lose Garrus. Shepherd yelled over her shoulder. "Miranda!" Shepherd was applying pressure to two of Garrus's wounds.

Miranda appeared almost the instant her name was called and was by Shepards' side. Saying in her Australian accented voice in her usual calm and collected manner. "I'm here, Commander." Miranda then took out her Omnitool and began to deploy her own Medigel. She closed the last of Garrus's wounds with it.

Shepard quickly called the ship saying. "Send a Kodiak to my position stat! I repeat we need emergency evac of Archangel!"

The pilot came over the line in an instant. "I'll be there in 5 min, Commander."

Shepard then closed the commlink and looked back out the window. What she saw made her heart skip a beat. It was The Gunship, it was back and with a vengeance. It fired a missile at the lower floor and shepherd heard and felt the explosion a moment later. The Building heaved as the explosion rocked it. Shepard could feel the ground beneath her give a loud crack. She jumped into action yelling out orders to the squad. "Grunt grab Garrus, be careful with him he's in critical condition. Miranda, you and I will keep using our Biotic Barriers as mobile cover while we get out of here."

The gunship was now just outside the window hovering there menacingly staring at them. Then the voice came over the loudspeaker. "And now you pay for all the grief you've given me, Archangel!" Just as Shepard began to hear the whir of the Gatling Cannon she pulled up a Biotic Barrier. The blue light exploded from her palm and formed into a shield in front of her. Shepard ran over to Grunt, Miranda following after her. Then the cannon fired Shepard felt the cryo-rounds ping off her shield. She felt her strength slowly being sapped by the continued barrage, and so she quickened her pace. They made it to the doorway and the squad ran down the hallway Shepard and Miranda stopping their focus on the barriers, the Biotic energy dispersing as in an array of shades of blue.

They made it most of the way down the hall before the Building shook again this time all the more violently. The floor itself began to buckle and crack beneath them. But by then they had made it to the stairs and were on their way to the front door. Shepard just hoped they would make it out before the building collapsed. Another groundbreaking boom and the floor heaved again. The ceiling began to crumble under the pressure of the explosion. Small chunks began to fall almost hitting them but most missed them. On the other hand, they were almost to the door now. Shepard could see the green interface glowing assuring her and her companion's freedom out of the broken building was close.

But just as Grunt made it to the door and opened it suppressive fire filled the doorway, Grunt barely able to dodge in time. Then Shepard ducked into cover followed by Miranda. The Blue Suns fire stopped for a few seconds. Shepard took her chance and grabbed her grenade launcher from its spot on her back. Loaded a high explosive round into the chamber and jumped from her cover and shot the grenade. It bounced out the door and landed somewhere outside and then it exploded. She could hear the dying screams from several people outside.

Shepard took her chance and bolted for the door and indicated for the squad to follow. She was in the doorway when the building shook one last time. The ceiling began completely coming down on top of them. Shepard made it out the door followed close by Miranda and lastly Grunt barely making it out in time. They ran along the bridge, none of them looking back at collapsing warehouse. They made it to the other side of the bridge before the gunship appeared again. Shepard let out a curse when they saw it. The pilot simply shrieked one word. "DIE!" And the Gatling cannon began firing. Shepard barely had time to put up her shield before the bullets hit her. Miranda doing the same before Shepard could even realize. Grunt ran behind Shepard just in the nick of time as the bullets began to ping off the shield. They stood like this in a stalemate for what felt like ages, but Shepard knew she'd run out of energy before that ship ran out of bullets.

Just as Shepard was about to be overwhelmed and killed help finally arrived. The Kodiak flew into view, finally making it on the scene, dropping off Zaeed and Jack. The latter throwing the biggest Shockwave Shepard had ever seen before. The shockwave smashed into the side of the gunship. The shuttle careened out of control. It began falling its thrusters failing to stop the descent. Though at the last possible second the ship stabilized and began coming back for round three. But before it could fire Zaeed shot a rocket launcher at the gunship. It attempted to dodge but Jack made sure that the rocket hit dead on. The shuttle that had given them so much trouble and nearly killed Garrus was suddenly engulfed in flames. Pieces of flaming wreckage fell from the sky cementing the death of the Craft and its pilot. Finally, the fight to break out was over.

Doctor Chawkas had performed yet another miracle and saved Garrus's life and he would make a full recovery, for the most part. It was some hours later, Jane was sitting in a chair on the Observation Deck, staring off into space and thinking about the day's events. In the distance, she could see Omega. They had since flown away from the station after recruiting Mordin Solus the Salarian Scientist and former STG operative. He had gladly agreed after Jane had helped distribute the cure for the plague that had been wreaking havoc in the slums of Omega. The plague itself had only effected every race but Humanity and the Vorcha. This had led to the station's inhabitants believing it to be made by Humans. Shepard in the process of distributing the cure had found where the plague had originally come from, the Collectors. They had given the plague and instruction on how to dispense it to the Vorcha with the promise if they did so the station would be theirs. The Collectors meant to use this as a way to quickly collect a lot of humans.

Shepard had been happy to save so many lives but she was concerned for how quickly the Vorcha had been willing to work with the collectors. They had been willing to slaughter all the other inhabitants of Omega just so they could own it. 'What else would the Vorcha be willing to do in the future? Could they be trusted if the Reapers arrive?' These were the questions bumping around Shepherd's head as she watched the stars. Her mind was racing through thoughts and possibilities. Jane just felt so overwhelmed she let out a silent prayer. "If anybody's listening, I could really do with some help fighting all of these threats." Shepard then sighed and thought before she stood up. 'Pssh, yeah right like the Universe or God or whatever would ever help me."


Edit 11/25/19: I made the timeline make a tiny bit more sense, and I also added the Joker's PTSD side plot/event. Ever since I watched the games, mainly so I could write these fics, I kind of wanted more from Joker's character, something more than "I am a wise-cracking ace pilot". So I decided to add a bit of survivors guilt and PTSD to his character. The main reason aside from 'I thought it was interesting' is that I can relate to such feelings, not of survivors' guilt but to PTSD, as I suffer from it. And no I'm not making or even setting up a romance between Joker and Shepard, it is a mutually beneficial friendship and a platonic one at that.