A/N – I covered Mass Effect and Mass Effect II in detail. My plan is for this to be 25 chapters in total. So there will be three chapters covering Mass Effect III, two for the base game, covering the big events, one for the Citadel DLC, before a last post-Mass Effect III chapter to wrap up the story. I endeavour to have it all written and completed within a couple of months so those reading this get an ending they've been waiting years for.
Karin gazed out over the Citadel from her small office and sighed. It had been perhaps the most tumultuous time in her life so far, and she'd lived through quite a few events that had changed the tide of humanity. Though enjoying her time in the hospital, it wasn't working on a ship. And it wasn't working with… him.
How she missed him.
After that first night together, where they had finally made love, and admitted their love for each other, she couldn't remember a better time in her life. Shepard was victorious, as expected. The Collector threat ended. Somehow, everyone survived. There were wounds. Many wounds that needed treatment. Tali clung on to life after a suit tear. Thane needed plenty of oxygen, wearing himself ragged. And Shepard needed treatment just because that was what he was like.
Ties with Cerberus were cut immediately. Everyone, even Miranda Lawson, stayed at his side. The Normandy was now his ship, and it was amusing that, for a few months, they effectively worked as mercenaries. He kept the Alliance informed, and while he never officially re-joined them, he certainly did jobs on behalf of Hackett and Anderson, helping clear and restore his name and reputation. Things were going swimmingly. They were making credits. They were keeping themselves busy. And every night, she would retire to his cabin, where they would eat, listen to music, dance, then make love.
She was realistic to know it was never going to last forever.
Blowing up a relay was always going to have consequences. She believed him when he said it had to be done, to stop the Reapers. She'd always believed him, and gazing into his eyes, she could see it already rested heavily on his conscience and soul. Both knew that sacrifices would have to be made when they arrived. Aratoht was merely the first.
That last night before handing himself in was not one of desperation. Instead, he held her as they laid on the bed, gazing up through the window, the billions of twinkling stars. He made one promise. That they would be together once again. And she believed him, as she had always believed in him.
Watching him led away after being arrested was soul crushing, but with Admiral Hackett and Anderson by his side, she knew he would be safe from the worst of it. Already they simply spoke of house arrest while an investigation was completed. And as the two men believed the threat, she knew they'd keep him safe from those that wanted him thrown in a deep, dark pit. Or the batarians who simply wanted his head and blood.
As for herself, she was interrogated and released without charge, and within a couple of weeks, was working for Admiral Hackett. She didn't hear from Shepard himself over the next few months, but Hackett and Anderson kept her in the loop, passing her a message once a week. Just hearing his voice helped her get through the separation. He ended each message reiterating his promise. That he loved her and they would be together again.
Then the Reapers advised, and everything changed. There was no news from Earth as communication was cut almost immediately. The Citadel was inundated with refugees within a matter of days as the Reapers launched their attacks across a broad front. Earth wasn't the only planet attacked as colony worlds were attacked everywhere. But it wasn't just Earth as reports quickly reached the Citadel that Palaven and other turian worlds were also under attack.
"Doctor, there is someone here who might interest you," an asari doctor said, glancing up from her paperwork, "A Lieutenant-Commander Williams…"
"Ashley? She's alive?"
"She's just been delivered from the Normandy, ma'am."
"Was…" She took a moment to compose herself, not getting too hopeful. Just because the Normandy had arrived didn't mean… "Was there any sign of Commander Shepard?"
"He's gone to see the Council, ma'am. Said he'd be back to check on Commander Williams when he was done."
She couldn't help sigh with relief, taking hold of the offered paperwork and making her way to see Ashley. She hadn't seen her in… years by now. What greeted her was not pretty. Significant bruising to her head and initial reports were of trauma to various parts of her body. She would survive but it would take time to recover. She was amused that the hair was now hanging loose, remembering it had always been worn in a bun. She wondered how any sort of reunion between herself and Shepard, remembering that Horizon hadn't ended on a good note.
Back in her office, standing at the window, gazing out over the Citadel and the Presidium far below, a cleared throat gained her attention, turning around to see who stood in the doorway. She didn't know whether to cry or laugh. Slowly stepping towards him, she met his eyes, and already she could see the toll on him. And this was just the start. But as his hand caressed her cheek, all was right in their small world again.
"You're coming with me," he said quietly after their lips brushed each other, "Already put through the paperwork."
"Good thing I always keep a bag pack, just in case."
A slight grin formed. "Always believed, didn't you?"
"Of course. I'm a little old to believe in fairy tales, but I knew you'd somehow find your back to me. And my place is on the Normandy by your side."
He gave her a few hours to complete the paperwork, handing anything else to Doctor Michelle, who had moved from her own little clinic down in the wards to the hospital. Taking one last look around her office, she wondered what would become of the Citadel during the war. She knew the chances of victory were slim. But with Shepard leading the charge, anything was possible.
To her amusement, once she had been around the ship, introducing herself to her new colleagues, and re-establishing contact with old friend, particularly a certain asari by the name of Liara T'Soni, she was taken by the hand by Shepard, her left hand in his right, her bag in his left. Arriving upstairs at his cabin, he placed the bag on his bed and embraced her again. "We're on our way to Palaven," he told her.
"Okay. I'll make sure we're prepared for casualties."
"And you're staying here with me." She leaned back and met his eyes. ""I'm a Spectre again. Fraternisation be damned this time around. And… you know…"
"Whenever you need me, Shepard."
She wouldn't call the next couple of weeks or months of their lives fun but they were sure exciting, travelling across space as they fought both the Reapers and their old enemy, Cerberus. Palaven verged on being a disaster when the Primarch they expected to collect turned out to be dead. But the new Primarch was someone both she and Shepard immediately liked. No BS. What you saw was what you got.
When Garrus walked into her med-bay, she couldn't help embrace him, the turian awkward as ever though pleased to see her. Taking a seat opposite her, she noticed his face light up when taking the bottle of turian brandy from the bottom drawer of her desk. "I just knew you'd end up back with us, Garrus," she stated, pouring him a couple of fingers worth.
"Just like you, doc. Figured he would have gone to see you first."
"Ah, Liara was actually the first back on the ship. He picked her up on Mars as he made his escape from Earth."
"He told me things are already bad there. Worse than Palaven."
"I was on the Citadel when they attacked Earth, but I can see in his eyes already, the sense of loss."
"You'll get him through this, doc."
"Everyone will. Weight of the galaxy on his shoulders. He's going to need his friends."
He sipped at his drink. "So… where are you laying your head these days, doc?"
"Behave, Garrus."
"Just teasing, doc. Just took you both long enough."
"We've been in love for a long time, Garrus. The only thing that matters is that we both know how we feel about the other."
"So where are you laying your head these days?"
She smiled and took a sip of her own drink. "Upstairs," she replied.
The planned conference to bring the major species of the galaxy together to take the fight to the Reapers went as well as Shepard had expected. It wasn't the first time she saw him frustrated and wouldn't be the last. But he hadn't got to where he was in life without having contingencies, and friends who could assist him along the way.
Mordin returning to the ship was another cause for celebration. She'd always liked the company of the salarian. Mad as a box of frogs, brain working at a million miles an hour, but he had a good heart, and Shepard had taken a real shine to him during their time together. She knew he also carried guilt upon his shoulders regarding his work on the genophage. His return, according to Shepard, would herald a change that would cause shockwaves across the galaxy. A cure for the genophage.
The ship rested in orbit above Tuchanka, and life was not easy for Shepard and his crew for a couple of weeks, as in addition to trying to sort out Tuchankan politics, Cerberus was proving to be a thorn in the side of Shepard once again. Sacrifices were once again made, a young turian commander proving himself a hero at the last, and his sacrifice left the path open to a genophage cure to be delivered.
Urdnot Wrex has visited the ship numerous times between the summit and their arrival in Tuchanka. Nothing got past the wise old eyes of the krogan leader, and as he was being tested on in regards to a genophage cure, she couldn't help chuckle at his complaining. But sitting down, the krogan enjoying a bottle of ryncol, herself sipping at brandy, he couldn't help visit a topic she knew would be mentioned.
"Little birdie tells me that you and Shepard finally confessed feelings."
"Who told you that?"
He nodded his head towards the mess and a particular asari. She knew Shepard wasn't one for gossip, so it would have been Liara or Garrus who spilled. "Happy for you, doc, though his affection for you was obvious when I was on the ship while we chased Saren across half the galaxy."
"We got there in the end. And it was worth the wait in the end." She noticed the smirk form, leaning across the gently slap his arm. "Behave. I just mean…"
"I know exactly what you mean, doc. How's he doing?"
"I think he's finding it best just to take it day by day. We all know what's going on out there. While I'm sure he'd like this all done as quickly as possible, we know that just isn't realistic." She paused a moment. "He doesn't sleep much, and when he does, it isn't what I'd call blissful. Think the Reapers return and his history with the beacons is having its impact on his state of mind."
"That's where you come in."
"Not just me, Wrex. As I told Garrus when he joined, he's going to need his friends along the way."
Shepard was on the ground nearly every day with his team as they solved numerous problems on Tuchankan soil. But when it came to taking down a Reaper itself, that's when they needed help from the turians. Thankfully the Primarch was level-headed, as he'd been the one to suggest bringing in the krogan, and though his own people were being battered, he assured help would be on the way.
Knowing what was possible, for the first time she could remember, they travelled down to the hangar bay together. Her arrival with him didn't go unnoticed, but all she did was hug him, kiss his cheek, and wish him good luck and a speedy return. When his eyes met hers a final time, they were those that she'd seen in private. But then he blinked, and she only saw the soldier as he turned and boarded the shuttle.
The ship was always kept up to date as communication flowed between Shepard, EDI and the crew. She listened in as the mission went awry rather quickly, though she figured Shepard had planned for that. Too often, it sounded like the mission was on the verge of collapsing into failure, but somehow, Shepard and his team pushed on through. The losses sounded horrific at times, hundreds of krogan soldiers slaughtered to help Shepard make the breakthrough.
And if Kalros didn't kill him, she was going to do that when he got back. "He's an absolute lunatic," she murmured, EDI glanced back at her from her position next to Joker, "But that's why I love him."
The battle raged below until there was silence. No word of Shepard. She didn't need to hope or pray. She would know if all was lost. But she couldn't help the grin at hearing his voice once again. The conversation with Mordin was as he expected. Another sacrifice. She could hear Shepard as they said their goodbyes. He had managed to return from the Omega Four with a full team. She knew, this time, the Reapers would ensure there would be losses, and they would be hard on them all.
She was in the med-bay when the team returned. No sign of Shepard, but the others were exhausted. Liara out on her feet, while Vega and Garrus needed medical attention. She didn't even need to ask about him. "He's gone to his cabin, doc," Garrus stated, "He's fine. Physically, at least."
"Heard it all, doc?" Vega asked.
"I did."
"Guess they were close, huh?"
"Very. The team that went through the Omega Four were brothers and sisters by the end. We didn't know if we would return or not. But Shepard was the glue that held us all together. The one who helped them all during their time on the ship. Their commander, their friend and confidante. They would have died for him, like he would for them."
"He won't be the first sacrifice," Garrus muttered, "Nor the last."
Once everyone was patched up and her presence was no longer required, she headed upstairs to the cabin to check on Shepard. Hearing the shower running, she opened the door to find him with hands pressed against either wall, just letting the hot water run down him. He hadn't sensed her presence, so she was able to undress before stepping into the small room, shutting the door behind her. Resting a hand on his shoulder, he turned around and immediately embraced her.
"Worst day so far," he murmured.
"We'll get through this," she whispered back, "But if you need to talk… whether it's up here or a more official setting…"
"I said we'll hold a little memorial service tomorrow. After breakfast. After that... we just keep on fighting." He leaned back and stroked her cheek. "Don't need to talk. At least, not right now."
"Just don't bottle it all up. I'm here when you need me."
He barely slept that night, and though she needed her own, she stayed on the couch with him, snuggling into his side as he read over the almost innumerable datapads that landed in his lap each day. She drifted off from time to time, eventually waking up to find her head on his lap, covered in a blanket. He looked exhausted himself, but muttered he simply couldn't drift off himself. She knew he'd live off a diet of coffee and other stimulants to get him through. He'd sleep once the war was over. That would be his reward. One of them, anyway.
The mood was sombre, as one would expected. Shepard spoke movingly of Mordin, of his life, his exploits, his achievements, but mostly in regards to his time on the ship and the relationships that had been forged in fire. There were few dry eyes in the mess. Shepard did not weep. She knew he would not crack, at least not yet. He carried a tremendous weight on his shoulders. He'd lived through similar events before and had not been broken by them. But she knew his heart grieved for his friend. And she knew he was going to take many more knocks along the way.
To her own heartache, her thoughts were proven correct when Cerberus attacked the Citadel. She had always justified her decision to join alongside Shepard as being for the benefit of all humanity, but she knew it was a stain on not only her conscience but her very soul. And with each atrocity they discovered, even she felt regret, anger and most certainly guilt for the fact they had once co-operated with the organisation.
It was the first time she'd ever really seen Shepard angry. Properly angry. The sort of anger that she knew could blow up into something that he might not be able to control. But she couldn't blame him either. If anyone carried the weight of their alliance with Cerberus, it was him.
She was relieved that, during the standoff, Shepard used negotiation to talk down Ashley. She didn't blame her for not entirely trusting Shepard. After everything that happened, the fact they ended up pointing weapons at each other was almost entirely predictable. But he talked her down, convincing her that he wasn't the enemy. Thankfully, she listened to him and, together, they took down the traitor.
But in the chaos, a friend had been injured. A friend closer to Shepard than perhaps anyone except herself realised. He needed her presence at the hospital that day, when he had to say goodbye to his friend. It was here she saw the first cracks in the façade, the first signs that the weight was starting to strain his body, mind and soul. She was present alongside him when Thane bid him farewell before taking his final breath and passing onto the next life.
In the hallway outside, she took in his arms.
And he wept.
