Leena's POV

The location of Leviathan was found on the planet Desponia. Saren decided to join us alongside Noire.

"How does it feel to be a married man?" I asked my old friend.

Saren chuckled before answering.

"Absolutely wonderful"

"I'm happy for you Saren, after all of the hell you've been through you deserve this"

"Which wouldn't have happened if you hadn't saved me from Sovereign" Saren added. "And for that, I am forever grateful Leena"

I shot the older turian a smirk just as Shepard asked about the probe that was launched earlier.

"Tracking it now Commander" Cortez replied. "I've confirmed that Leviathan's signal originated from this planet, also just got new readings from the probe it's narrowed down Leviathan's location but you're not going to like it"

That got me to exchange nervous looks with Saren and Garrus.

"Let's hear it anyway"

"There's nothing but ocean, I show a concentration of structures floating on the surface but the probe's giving us a signal below that, way below"

"Underwater?"

"Looks that way the shuttle should still be able to reach it"

However, our ride suddenly shook and the shuttle was ringing its emergency noises. Something had hit us and the next thing we knew the transport landed hard on the structure Cortez mentioned.

Once the shuttle stopped moving Garrus opened the hatch and outside it was raining and the ocean was swaying with the fury of the storm. We all had our weapons out after Shepard asked if we were okay. Cortez went to work with the shuttle to see if it could be repaired.

From the looks of the structure, many ships and whatnot crashed here due to the pulse that hit the Kodiak. While looking around the area we found several of the Leviathan artifacts. Thankfully no one fell under their control for the time being. At one point during the scouting, we found an Atlas Mech that didn't have Cerberus colors.

"This place emits death" Cy growled. He then looked up to the sky. "We have a Reaper coming!"

Sure enough, a huge Reaper was above us. Saren had Noire transform into her larger state and she flew off to protect Cortez and the Kodiak. Immediately various Reaper beings landed on the structure and we let loose with our weapons and Cypher did the same with his dragon fire.

As usual, dealing with the Reaper bastards wasn't a problem since we had the Silver Lily toxin bullets and Cy's dragon fire. Cortez managed to get the Kodiak airborne and Noire followed it. Another pulse like before then hit both the Kodiak and Noire. The Kodiak spun around and Noire simply shook off the pulse attack on her body before flying after the shuttle. We continued dealing with many Reaper beings and ahead we could see Noire spitting flames at whatever came close to the Kodiak. Eventually, the coast was clear and we made our way to Norie and Cortez. After taking cover in case more enemies came back Cortez explained the Kodiak was down for the time being and we wouldn't be going anywhere. Cypher suggested the Normandy could extract us but that was dismissed by Cortez.

The same pulse that hit the Kodiak would do the same with the Normandy. It seemed the pulse was a defense mechanism and Cortez suggested a diving mech. Behind a pane of glass was the Atlas Mech we saw prior.

"Hold on a second" Garrus began after killing off another Reaper being. "Are we actually considering?"

I shot my husband a look and my beloved sighed in defeat. To get the glass pane to open it needed to be powered up so Shepard supplied that power by placing two power cells into two power sockets.

The glass pane eventually opened and the Commander rushed over to the diving mech and soon he was inside it. Shepard used the mech's artillery to kill any Reapers bastards we were trying to kill off. When the coast was clear Shepard brought the mech over to Cortez who then did a systems check with the mech.

Cortez then gave the all clear and we all wished the Commander luck.

Shepard's POV

Once I had a firm commlink connection with Cortez I guided the mech into the water. Now I was completely underwater and the deeper I went it got more difficult to communicate with Cortez until I couldn't hear him anymore.

I eventually landed on the ocean floor and it was pitch black except for some bioluminescent sea life lighting the area up. As I looked around I found the probe that the Normandy launched and after I passed it did the ocean floor shake. I came upon what appeared to be the edge of an underwater cliff and then something was rising from the depths.

I held my breath as Leviathan finally made itself known and sure enough it looked like a Reaper.

"You've come too far," the creature said before I felt it briefly enter my mind.

"I had to find you"

"This is not your domain, you have breached the darkness"

"You killed a Reaper, I need to know why"

I didn't come this far to go back empty-handed.

"They are the enemy, one that seeks our extermination" the Leviathan went on.

Again the Leviathan entered my mind for a second.

"But I thought you were a Reaper"

"They are only echoes, we existed long before"

"Then what are you?"

"Something more"

I then found myself on the ground within my mind trying to catch my breath.

"Your mind belongs to me" Leviathan droned on. "Breathe"

I looked up to see Ann Bryson but Leviathan was only using a mental image of her.

"Your memories give voice to our words, your nature will be revealed to us, accept this"

I shook my head and stood up.

"The galaxy's at war with the Reapers, you defeated one why aren't you fighting back?"

"There is no war, there is only the harvest"

"Then help us stop it"

Leviathan then changed its mental image into Derek Hadley.

"None have possessed the strength in past cycles, your own species could be destroyed with a single thought, but you are different"

Again another mental image change happened and the poor bastard we thought was Garneau from the mining facility was now looking through a conjured-up microscope. Then Leviathan made its current projection turn to me.

"I have witnessed your actions in this cycle, the destruction of Sovereign, the fall of the Collector's, the Reapers perceive you as a threat, and I must understand why"

Ann's projection then returned and Leviathan again looked into the microscope. Suddenly Leviathan left my mind and I found myself back in the mech with the sea beast looking back at me for a moment and then we were back in my mind.

I was sitting down next to the Radley doppelganger.

"Before the cycles, our kind was the apex of life in the galaxy, the lesser species were in our thrall, serving our needs"

Ahead was the cave mural I saw back when we saved Ann.

"We grew more powerful, and they were cared for, but we could not protect them from themselves, over time the species built machines that then destroyed them, tribute does not flow from a dead race"

Leviathan and I then stood up and it transformed into Ann Bryson again.

"To solve this problem we created an intelligence with the mandate to preserve life at any cost"

I followed Leviathan as it made Ann walk but it kept telling its background.

"As the intelligence evolved, it studied the development of civilizations, its understanding grew until it found a solution, in that instant it betrayed us"

Again Leviathan shifted into the man from the mining facility.

"It chose our mind as the first harvest, from our essence, the first Reaper was created, you call it Harbinger"

I asked Leviathan some questions that I was genuinely interested in. I learned some interesting information before getting to the point of why I was here.

"Will you help stop the cycle?"

"I have searched your mind, you are an anomaly, yet that is not enough"

With Ann's image, Leviathan turned away for a moment.

"Wait!"

"The cycle will continue"

"No you've been watching, you know this cycle is different"

"We will survive, you will remain here as a servant for our needs, the Reapers will harvest the rest"

"If you release me no one has to be harvested, the Reapers know where you are, you can't just watch anymore, you have to fight! Even if you survive the battle today, the Reapers won't stop ever, release me and we have a chance to end this once and for all"

Ann's image disappeared and I found myself back in the mech. I shook my head as I saw two more Leviathans join their companion. I was then back in my mind.

"Your confidence is singular"

"I've earned it out there fighting where you should be"

"It is clear why the Reapers perceive you as a threat, your victories are more than a product of chance, we will fight but not for you or any lesser face, we were the first apex race, we will survive and the Reapers who trespass on this world will understand our power, they will become our slaves, today they pay in blood"

And with that being said I was back in the mech for good this time. I had the mech leave the ocean floor and I made my ascent back to the surface.

Leena's POV

I hoped Shepard got back soon because I was having enough of these f**king Reaper bastards.

"Leena look out!" Garrus shouted and I turned just as a Brute hit me with one of its arms. The blow was so hard my guns went flying out of my hands and the next thing I knew I was underwater.

Cypher's POV

Garrus screamed Leena's name and I hurriedly took flight and transformed into my larger form. I then nosedived into the raging sea and hurriedly swam downwards. Using my claws I was able to get Leena and then I swam back up to the surface.

I flew out of the water and landed on the structure before letting Leena go.

Leena's POV

I coughed up some seawater while Cy spat out dragon fire at the approaching Brutes. Garrus immediately was at my side and soon I was over his shoulder. I then lost consciousness again.

Garrus's POV

During the chaos, Shepard returned and despite a headache, he aided Saren in shooting down the Reaper beings determined to kill us. The Kodiak was now working again and immediately I went inside it when the doors opened. Noire grabbed Leena's guns in her smaller form and flew into the shuttle. Cy reverted back to his smaller form and hauled ass into the Kodiak as well. Saren and Shepard were the last to enter before Cortez drove the Kodiak away.

"Leena my love wake up, damn it she's freezing"

Seeing her getting thrown into the water really scared me.

Leena's POV

I regained consciousness again and coughed some more.

"Thank the spirits," my husband said before kissing my forehead. My Archangel was holding me in his arms. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine babe just have a headache" I reassured my spouse.

Shepard, Saren, Cortez, and Noire all breathed a sigh of relief as Garrus placed his forehead on mine.

Back on the Normandy

Still Leena's POV

Once back on the Normandy I was carried back to my quarters via Garrus. Once there my husband made me take my armor and clothes off before placing me on the bed. As I shivered I watched as my Archangel go into the bathroom and he came back with some towels. He used them to dry me off before he took off his own armor and the upper portion of his underclothes. He kept his pants on before pulling back the covers and was soon beside me.

He drew me into his arms and at contact with his flesh I felt my body beginning to warm up.

"Never scare me like that again," my beloved said.

"I'll try not to babe"

My husband sighed before he kissed my forehead.

"That's what loves does, it turns a guy like me into a nervous wreck with something to lose and the aim to make sure he doesn't, nobody hurts my wife is all I'm saying"

As he said this I picked up his left hand and kissed it.

"With you around to protect me no one will hurt me"

I then closed my eyes and relaxed in Garrus's warmth.