[2 hrs after the Normandy's Escape]
"I'm not sure you understand the consequences of lying to us Miss Shepard."
"It's Lieutenant and I'm not lying to you officer, I've told you I don't know anything."
"We won't give you to your Alliance, you will be charged with Obstruction and we will imprison you ourselves," he threatened. Did he honestly think that I'm that easily intimidated or naïve that I'd crack under such threats?
"I've done nothing wrong, and you still haven't told me why I've been arrested."
"We found you in a restricted area, near a security breach which allowed the Normandy to escape."
"That's the first I'm hearing of the Normandy's escape," I replied calmly. It's true, that's the first time someone has told me the Normandy escaped.
"You don't sound very surprised by that?"
"How does me being surprised by that, help me in my situation?" I evaded. Making C-Sec angry was surprisingly entertaining. Remember Rylee, try and be evasive. You just need to buy time until either Nate returns or Blake comes for me.
"So, can you explain what you were doing in a restricted area. One which you have no clearance to enter."
"My friend wanted my help on a story she was doing on Citadel Traffic Control, she thinks they're being overworked and wants that to be exposed."
The interrogator sighed in frustration, rubbing the ridge of his nose and closing his eyes. "So, you expect me to believe that Agent Anderson, managed to regain control of the Normandy without his 2nd in commands knowledge."
"Navigator Pressly is the Executive Officer not me. I'm just another soldier on the ship."
"Yeah, that would explain why he'd leave the extra baggage behind," he spat, hoping to get a rise out of me.
"I want to talk to Chellick."
"You're a detainee, you don't get to make demands," he rebuffed.
"If Chellick knows what's good for him, then he had better show up in 5 minutes."
"Just who the-"
Before the aggressive Turian could respond the door opened revealing the more experienced detective. He looked tired and annoyed given his laboured stroll.
"What do you want Shepard?" he asked while rubbing the ridge of his nose.
"To talk, somewhere without cameras or listening ears," I sneered at the Turian interrogating me.
"Fine, come with me to my office."
I stood up and followed Chellick out of the room. C-Sec appeared busy today, Nate's breakout caused some chaos amongst the ranks. That lone elevator to the Alliance docking bay proved costly and allowed them to escape quickly before anyone could take action.
"What is it Shepard?"
"Release me and the rest of RED Security."
"And why would I do that? Just because we slept together before doesn't mean you have any pull with me," he dismissed.
"That's not what I was going to say," I smirked. "Jaxx, Jenna and Rita."
His mandibles tightened and he sighed audibly, his shoulders remained stiff and unmoved and his gaze hardened. "What about them?" she inquired sternly.
"No games Chellick. How do you think the public would react to finding out that C-Sec put an untrained 17-year-old girl in danger by having her spy on violent criminals? How would your superiors react to finding out I'm the one who really caught Jaxx… huh Captain Chellick?"
He must really be enjoying the perks of the promotion that case got him. He's lucky I intervened when I did. He caught Jaxx 6 months ago, just before I joined Nate's crew. If he hadn't 'arrested' Jaxx before we turned Chora's Den into a warzone, he probably would have bailed and Jenna might be dead.
"You've got some guts to think you can blackmail a C-Sec officer."
"Well-"
I was interrupted by a sudden explosion and the entire station shaking. The sudden jerking sent me to the ground, and the shaking didn't stop. In fact, it was becoming more violent. It was like an earthquake was shaking C-Sec to the core. The table skidded away from me and towards the two-way mirror. The lights on the ceiling were threatening to fall over our heads and the unmistakable sound of gun fire could be heard even from here. Could it be Saren?
"What the hell is going on!?"
An officer ran into the room. "Sir, the geth are attacking the Citadel."
"No, no, no this can't be happening. How did they get past the fleet?" I shouted.
"They didn't. Reports say that they are currently in battle with the fleet. They're pouring out of the Mass Relay monument on Presidium."
"That thing is acting like a mass relay!?" Chellick exclaimed.
"And the security mechs have been hacked, their killing everything in sight. Our officers are mobilising in the wards."
How can that be possible? That thing is just a statue isn't it and why didn't anyone ever notice it's a relay. We already know most of the network and where everything leads so how did the geth figure it out.
Wait a second, Conduit… that means a channel, a link. "Shit that's what the Conduit is. Chellick you need to get everyone with a gun out there fighting. And warn people around the presidium. Saren Arterius is on the Citadel."
"How the hell do you know that?"
"The Conduit on Ilos is a back door to the Citadel, that's where Nate and his team went. If the Geth are here then so is Saren. He's probably after the Council."
"Where are you getting this information."
"This is what we were trying to warn the Council about but they didn't listen," I screamed. I stood and ran out of the room.
"Chellick, the SPECTRE requisition office is near here. I'm going to need access to the gear." I demanded
"You don't have the clearance."
"Do you really think that matters right now! I need weapons and armour if I'm going to fight the Geth and so will the rest of RED security. We have experience using the equipment and there is bound to be some asari armour I can use."
"Fine, get her to the requisition office, I'll release the some of the detainees, we're going to need all the help we can get."
~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
The blasts did some real damage to C-Sec academy even though it wasn't hit. It caused some of the monuments to fall to the ground as well as the lights. The ground was covered in broken glass and luminescent liquids, some of which had caused a fire that the sprinkler system struggled to cope with. But that's not my problem right now.
I took a set of armour that resembled the one I normally used when I'm on a mission and the HMWSR, HMWA and HMWP. During my preparation, I heard a small group of people enter the room with Chellick in tow.
"Is that it, what happened to the rest of them?" I sulked.
"They're spread throughout the Academy and Wards, these guys are the only ones I can get for you," Chellick defended.
He brought with him two humans, two of whom looked even younger than me and that's worrying. They must have been recently enlisted. Well it's either they fight the geth or get killed by the Reapers. Fuck you Saren.
"How old are you?"
"19," the girl replied.
"And you," I turned to the boy.
"We're twins. But you can clearly see where all the looks went," he smirked.
"Really Scott, now is not the time," his sister scalded. I'm willing to bet she's the older one.
"That's enough out to the both of you. Get suited up and meet me at the entrance."
"Yes, ma'am!" they saluted. So, they were in the Alliance briefly. But why go from there to a private security firm. It's not like there's a big pay rise or anything.
I walked out of the requisition storage area only to walk into a mountain. A literal mountain wearing high grade armour as well as the bones of those unfortunate enough to try and climb it.
"This where the weapons are!?" the Krogan asked.
"Yeah." I replied, sending him on his way. At least we're going to have some more experience on our side. I'd hate to have him as an enemy.
I could hear Chellick shouting at someone through his comms so I went to check it out. "You're kidding right. Of all the things that could have gone wrong, shit! We have other concerns at the minute, but the moment this is over, we'll send a BOLO out." Chellick growled.
"Problem."
"Yeah, one of our detainees was in the wrong cell, so when the RED Security people were released so was the convict."
"Then arrest them later, we have other problems."
"This convict is incredibly dangerous. We might not be able to arrest her again this time."
"Worry about that later, we need to get to the Council and get them to safety. Along with any civilians along the way."
"I need you to focus on the Council, me and my men will focus on saving civilians. Any innocent people you find, I want you to send me their coordinates and I'll have men pick them up and bring them back here."
The fucking Council. As useless as those stupid bastards can be, we need them. If the Reapers show up, we're going to need a clear chain of command. That and losing them would be a massive blow to the morale and organisation of the very galactic community they've endangered with their inaction.
"Alright, I'll take the Krogan and two humans with me. I work best with a small Commando unit," I agreed. Chellick took off out the station and judging by the number of footsteps I hear he's bringing a small army to take the streets.
"Quick introductions, I'm Lieutenant Rylee Shepard,"
"Sara Ryder,"
"Scott Ryder,"
"I don't care what you call me, you're probably going to die here anyway so what's the point," he shrugged while fiddling with his shotgun. He reminds me so much of Wrex it's unreal. Wrex said the same thing to Tali when the mission started.
"I don't know about you, but I'm not dying today. Now tell me your name," I demanded. Krogan respect backbone and forcefulness, especially from humans.
"You're pretty bold even though your squishy, do you know you're mostly water?" he growled.
"Still strong enough to kick your old ass," I smirked.
He observed me briefly, taking in my size and stature and more importantly trying to see if I was full of shit. Luckily, he looked amused. He looked at Scott and Sara and started laughing.
"I like you human. The name's Nackmor Drack."
~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
[2.8 hrs after the Normandy's Escape]
For a make shift squad, we worked surprisingly well with one another. Drack was a one man wrecking crew, charging head on into crowds of geth and walking out the other side wearing a piece of them on his necklace. Scott and Sara's inexperience wasn't too much of a factor. In fact, they remind me of myself at their age. They've been trained, even before they enlisted, like me one of their parents was probably Alliance and gave them some training growing up.
My mom made sure I was trained to use weapons at a really young age, after Ethan went missing and Dad was killed, she became really paranoid that something would happen to me.
After leaving C-Sec, the first few battles went off relatively smoothly, I found a good position and resumed sniping like I usually do, but I mainly focused of backing up Sara and Scott and left Drack to his devices. The two of them were biotics with a good amount of power. For a direct comparison, I'd say Scott was similar to Nate and Sara was Liara. He was reckless and dived head first, whereas she stood back and picked her targets.
Chellick told me that the Council were trying to get to the Destiny Ascension and they were currently in the Zakera Wards. Looking for a shuttle to get off the ground.
"Be on the lookout for any shuttles we can use once we find the Council," I instructed.
"FLY BITCH," an aggressive female voice growled. In her tone was the unmistakable sound of pleasure as she a geth Armature flew over our heads.
We rounded the corner to find the area a complete mess. The artificial trees had either been uprooted or set alight, debris and wreckage from the battle was all over the street. Yet despite the carnage, the first thing I noticed was a small human woman standing on top of the burnt remains of a car with a Geth Pulse Rifle in her hands.
She was covered into tattoos from head to toe, wearing a black vest, with desert cargo pants, with burn marks and holes from the battle's she's been involved in. She bore her teeth for the galaxy to see with that carnal, sadistic grin, hopping off the car and landed ungracefully on the ground and her combat boots made a loud thud.
"Dammit Jack, give me some warning next time. That throw of yours almost had me caught up in it," her Turian companion complained.
"Relax Bonehead, if I wanted to send you flying with the bots then I would have thrown you too," she dismissed, she clearly doesn't care about teamwork or her companions.
"That's not the point. If you're going to pull that sort of shit again, I'd better be well and clear," she threatened, getting into Jack's face.
"See that's what I like about you, you don't take shit from anyone," Jack smirked, "And you're my only way off this garbage heap so I couldn't off you if I wanted to," she shrugged.
"Good to know I'm valued. But we're stuck here until C-Sec can fend off the geth fleet, so we may as well get comfortable."
Drack, Scott and Sara watched the whole exchange take place from a distance, but after a while Drack started walking towards the pair.
"Vetra, is that you?" Drack guffawed.
"Drack? What are you doing here, I thought you were on Tuchanka trying to get more Krogan."
"Kesh asked if I could pick up some supplies on the Citadel, but what about you, I thought you'd burst into flames if you left the Terminus," he guffawed.
"Actually, I'm here because I owe this one a favour," she sighed pointing at Jack. "I picked the wrong day to be a good friend."
"We're not friends Vetra," Jack spat.
"Then why are you helping her?" Sara asked.
"I killed a group of Cerberus fuckers who attacked me and her sister was dumb enough to try and help me."
"Either way I owe you one, and I always pay my debts."
"Your 'debt' is clear as soon as you get me to Omega."
"That's nice and all, but how about you two tell me if you've seen the Council so I can be on my way," I snapped impatiently.
Jack's eyes turned to me and her glare conveyed her suspicion, as well as the murderous intent. "You Alliance bitch? Because last I checked there aren't any human SPECTRE's," she snarled, analysing my SPECTRE armour.
"The name's Shepard, and what's it to you!?" I snarled back. Something about this woman just rubs me the wrong way. Not sure whether it's how she's speaking to me, or the fact that she's clearly a killer with no remorse.
"I don't like Alliance types."
"You're the convict Chellick told me about, aren't you?" I guessed, judging from her taking up an offensive stance, I'm right. I can see why she's dangerous, anyone who can do this much damage and throw an Armature like that is worth fearing.
"Relax, you're so low on my list of priorities that you barely register," I dismissed.
"Good for you. Now I don't have to smear the walls with a pretend SPECTRE," Jack smirked.
"Talk like that is how you move up my list of priorities," I snapped, before squaring up to her.
"Don't fucking make me laugh. Talking shit like that is how I end up ripping you limb from limb."
Scott chose to step between us with a nervous smirk. "Now I like a good cat fight as much as the next guy. But we don't have time for that now," he asserted.
"Kid's right, we need to find the Council," Drack agreed.
"I saw some guards going that way not too long ago," Jack pointed in the direction of Zakera Wards. "Now fuck off."
"That is some impressive biotic power you have. We could use someone like you in a fight you know," Scott suggested. I noticed that she looked completely uninterested in what he said but visibly scowled at the word 'use'.
"I told you to fuck off," she rebuffed.
"Can you join us? I doubt C-Sec is going to know who you are," Sara stepped in, causing Vetra and Jack to chuckle. Looks like someone is famous, well, infamous more likely.
"Even if they do as Rylee said, you aren't going to be a high priority. I mean look around us, this station is falling apart and they are going to be overrun by Geth. They have bigger concerns than runaway Convicts," Sara explained.
"She's right Jack, and besides it's not like we have better things to do. And we can't keep fighting at this pace forever, being in a group is going to help," Vetra backed Sara up. She may be the only person here who can reason with the convict. I need to do some research on her as soon as this is over.
"If I get even the slightest feeling that you're going to sell me out, I will decorate the Krogan's neck with your bones," she threatened.
Yup, I really don't like this woman.
~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
[3.5 hrs after the Normandy's Escape]
Despite my dislike of Jack, I can't help but marvel at the amount of biotic power she possessed. I thought Nate was a powerful Vanguard but he has nothing on her, she's performing attacks that I've only ever seen powerful Matriarchs perform and she's no older than me.
The first batch of Geth we encountered she dealt with alone. In less than 30 seconds, a Prime, 2 hunters and 4 troopers were scrap metal. With a single primal roar, she charged into the middle of the mess on foot, unleased a singularity and 3 shockwaves and every hostile was down.
But as tough as she wants us to think she was, that flexing must have used a lot of energy. We met another group soon afterwards and this time I told her to stand back so she could rest up. But like a petulant child she pushed past me and headed straight for the group.
Drack knew what I was going to say and followed her, I found a perch and began sniping. Fighting with someone like Jack was an experience like none other. The fact that she was such like a hurricane tearing through the geth made things far messier. Her attacks kept forcing them to disperse, making it easier for guys like Scott and Drack, but for a sniper like me, it made me sort of redundant.
I had to take a more direct approach and rely on my HMWA and take the fight to the geth. She forced me to join the front lines and work on a facet of my combat skills I don't normally use. Hell, even Sara was starting to fight more like her.
Despite the advantages of having her around, it was obvious she wasn't a team player. She doesn't follow commands, refuses to acknowledge her comrades and she launches destructive attacks that could potentially kill some of us. Hell, it almost killed the Councillors.
Jack used the car they used to hide from the geth as a projectile to destroy a Prime that was causing us some real problems.
"Councillors, are you alright," I asked
"Lieutenant Shepard!?" Valern yelled in disbelief.
"No time for explanations, for now we need to get you three on to the Ascension as soon as possible."
"But how, there isn't a shuttle that could possibly survive the journey up there," Sparatus argued.
"Then radio the Ascension to descend to a safe enough distance that you can get aboard. Your only other option is staying down here with geth and hostile mechs. You decide," I clarified their options.
"You make a fair point."
"What is happening, how did the Geth manage to pull this off?" Tevos inquired.
"I don't have the exact details considering I didn't go to Ilos," I glared at the three of them. "But I'm guessing the Conduit is actually a link between Ilos and the Citadel, I don't know how but it likely is."
"You expect us to believe that?" Sparatus interjected.
"Look where not believing us got you Council. The Citadel is under attack, Geth are out there killing innocent people and your fleet is getting decimated," I seethed.
Valern returned to us with the news. The Ascension was to begin its descent immediately.
"Scott, Sara, take the Council up to the Ascension,"
"Yes ma'am," the twins saluted, running into the shuttle the Council had been trying to reach.
"What are you going to do Lieutenant," Sparatus wondered.
"I'm going to find Saren."
"Saren is on board the Citadel!" Tevos exclaimed.
"No time for chit chat Councillors, we've got to go," Sara bellowed.
Each member hopped into the shuttle with clear reservation, but I didn't care about that right now. I'd received word that Saren was spotted heading towards the Tower. This place isn't too far from the Presidium, but we'll still need a car to get there.
"Jack can you keep a barrier around a car for a few minutes."
"Yeah, why?"
"We won't survive very long flying to the Tower without geth tearing us apart,"
"Hey, we've already rescued the Council, our deal is thr-" she began but something else had caught her attention. She looked beyond me at the tower in awe. Sovereign was headed straight for the tower.
Something we failed to notice in all the commotion was the fact that the Citadel arms had started closing. And they closed just after the Ascension was outside its reach. I didn't see anything coming from the ship, so Scott and Sara are probably aboard with the Council.
"Fuck our deal. If we don't stop that thing, we're all dead."
"What the fuck is going on here Shepard!?" Vetra and Jack asked simultaneously.
"The end of life as we all know it?" I snarled. "Unless you want to die, you're going to shield us from geth fire until we reach the Tower, and you're going to help us stop Sovereign and Saren."
"This is the last time I ever listen to you Bonehead," she cursed at Vetra.
"I think this is the last time I'll ever set foot on the Citadel," Vetra agreed.
~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
[Nate]
[3.6 hrs after the Normandy's Escape]
This is some real nightmare shit. The entire Citadel is on fire and I can literally see Sovereign hugging the tower like a parasitic leach.
Learning everything that Vigil had to know was like a cold bucket of water to the face. The bracing realisation that everything you know is a lie that someone is allowing you to believe. The uncomfortable reality that we stand on the bones of millions of years of massacre. To be honest would have thought I was going crazy if it wasn't for the fact that Garrus, Liara, Wrex, Tali and Ashley were all there with me listening.
But I can worry about that later. The most important thing is that we need to get to the Tower and regain control of the Citadel before the Reapers arrive. As soon as we'd finished speaking to Joker I'd told him to warn Hackett and the 5th Fleet that the Citadel was under attack by geth. I even told him to head straight for the Citadel since the Conduit was going to take us there anyway.
Then not long after we crashed on the Presidium, Joker tells me that the mass relays were locked up. Meaning that Saren was in the middle of opening the relay and he didn't want any cavalry showing up to stop him. When I told him that, Sovereign had cut communications.
We fought our way to the tower, through an army of geth, and this was after one of the most intense battles I've ever had on Ilos. They just never seemed to end. Destroy one then three take its place.
"Hostiles, 2 o'clock," Ashley declared, taking out her assault rifle labouredly. The battles were starting to take their toll on us. I would have collapsed by now if it wasn't for my N7 training. I never thought I'd be so grateful to my damn instructors.
Before we could even engage, a skycar crashed through the glass and crushed the geth we were prepared to engage.
I saw the faint blue energy shield surrounding the car, so there had to have been a biotic on-board bracing for impact. The first thing to come out of the car was a Krogan who kicked one of the doors out. He was soon followed by a turian, who had an injured woman on her shoulders and someone wearing SPECTRE gear.
"Nate you're alive!"
"Are you really that surprised."
"You always were too stubborn to give up against a couple thousand geth,"
"Same could be said for you Shepard," Garrus praised.
"Urdnot Wrex," the Krogan acknowledged.
"Drack… can't believe your crippled, dusty ass is still breathing. Actually, I'm more surprised you haven't broken a hip yet," Wrex guffawed.
Drack replied with a laugh in kind, as well as a stern Krogan handshake, "Urdnot never were too bright, you're only a couple of centuries away from being my age Wrex, don't forget that."
"Someone's popular," Tali teased.
"Aw, is Tali jealous that I have more friends than her," Wrex replied.
"Give it a few minutes Wrex, you'll have a senior moment and forget you even met Drack," she quipped.
"Now isn't the time guys, I'm headed for the Petitioners stage to stop Saren," I declared, using my biotics to jump over the wreckage.
I was soon followed by Wrex, Rylee, Garrus, Liara, Ashley and Drack. I'm guessing the Turian is watching over the human.
I saw Saren tapping away at the interface from a distance and prepared to biotically charge at him, but as soon as I was ready to close the gap, he was gone from sight. We all ran to the platform and it became clear that the renegade turian had vanished.
Then we heard a low rumble. Saren appeared once more, riding the geth flying platform we had seen on Virmire. In that momentary glimpse, I could see he had changed. His eyes had a brilliant blue glow, as if they had been replaced by machinery. The same glow shone from inside his mouth, inside the crevices of his armour. Strange devices clung to the back of his neck, his chest and upper arms. He had become one with the Reaper's technology.
Saren hurled a high-explosive grenade to land unerringly in our midst. Reflexes took over and we dove for cover. I emitted a small scream as the force of the blast tumbled me in mid-dive. Once I stopped rolling, I realized I wasn't seriously hurt.
"I was afraid you wouldn't make it in time, Anderson."
"In time for what?"
"The final confrontation. Ever since Virmire, I think we both expected it would end like this." Saren's voice sounded thick with satisfaction. "You've lost, do you know that? In a few minutes, Sovereign will have full control of all the Citadel's systems. The relay will open. The Reapers will return."
"You're going to die Saren, you won't be around to see them return."
"I will admit, I underestimated you. You've pursued me with cunning and tenacity. You survived our encounter on Virmire. You're a credit to the Spectres after all, but you are still not my match. I've changed. Improved. Sovereign has upgraded me."
"You let Sovereign implant you? Are you insane?" Rylee cried.
"I suppose I should thank you, Shepard. After Virmire I couldn't stop thinking about what you said. About Sovereign manipulating me. About indoctrination. The doubts began to eat away at me. Sovereign sensed my hesitation. I was implanted to strengthen my resolve. Now my doubts are gone. I believe in Sovereign completely. I understand that the Reapers need organics. Join us, and Sovereign will find a place for you too."
"Sovereign is controlling you through your implants. You would never believe anything like that if you were in your right mind. Can't you see that?"
"The relationship is symbiotic. Organic and machine intertwined, a union of flesh and steel. The strengths of both, the weaknesses of neither." Saren stood proudly, his arms spread wide. "I am a vision of the future, Shepard. I represent the ultimate destiny of all organic life. It can be your destiny too. Join Sovereign and experience a true rebirth!"
"I'd rather die than live as a slave to the reapers," I shouted.
"Then you will die, and your companions. Everyone you know and love, everyone you've ever met. Don't you understand, you will all die."
"As long as we're still breathing we haven't lost. Sovereign hasn't won yet. I can still stop it from taking control of the station. Step aside and the invasion will never happen!" Rylee reasoned.
"We can't stop it! Not forever. You saw the visions. You saw what happened to the Protheans. The Reapers are too powerful." Saren's voice rose to a horrible rasping shout. "Nothing and no one can stand against them!"
I turned, half leaning out of cover to stare at Saren directly. "Sovereign is going to get rid of you the second you aren't useful anymore. I bet Sovereign wants me alive doesn't he."
I took his silence and stern expression as a yes. "That's because it sees me as more useful than you. Sovereign wants me indoctrinated because it thinks I'll do a better job than you Saren. Can't you see? They use people and discard them the moment they're no longer useful," I argued.
Saren hesitated. "I had no choice you saw the visions," he pleaded.
"You gave up like a coward," Garrus interjected venomously.
"Surrender or death, there are no other choices."
Rylee crouched next to me, absolutely disgusted by Saren's rhetoric. I knew exactly what she was going to say and nodded in approval.
"Live on your knees or die on your feet!"
He broke off, crouching, his hands at the sides of his head, grunting as if in horrible pain.
"Aah!" Saren twisted, almost falling to his knees. "The implants! Sovereign is too strong. I'm sorry. Even if you're right… it's too late for me."
This time it was Garrus who chimed in. But he opted for a more direct approach. He got out of cover and stood in front of him with all bravado and anger.
"You call yourself Turian. Don't insult me or my people by saying we're the same. You have lived like a husk, a drone, a hollow vessel that the Spirits don't even acknowledge. You are a failure," he hissed.
I instructed Rylee to line a shot up just in case Saren tries anything funny, before joining Garrus' side.
"There's a way to stop this, but only if you have the guts," I added.
"This is the only you can at least die a Turian," Garrus acknowledged.
Saren stood still, like a dreadful sculpture of himself, for several long seconds. Then he spoke again, his voice suddenly calm and at peace. "Spirits forgive me. Goodbye, Shepard, Anderson, Vakarian. Thank you."
The turian's right hand swept up, holding his sidearm . . . but not to point at Garrus or myself. He did the galaxy a favour and in his last act, he showed he still had some honour. The pistol found its mark under Saren's own chin. It discharged. A gout of blood and brain tissue flew to the side, as the bullet blew out a great patch of Saren's skull. The dome over the Council's garden shattered under his weight.
"At least he died a Turian," Garrus spat, but his words were hollow. He's not even sure if he believes his own words.
I ran to the control panel Saren had been using, opening his omni-tool along the way. The rest of my crew followed. A few moments to upload Vigil's file to the Citadel, and I had taken control of the Citadel.
"The file worked. I've got control of all the station's systems, at least for now."
"Quick, open the ward arms," Liara suggested. "Maybe the Citadel fleet can take Sovereign down before it regains control."
"Can you open a communications channel?" asked Ashley.
I tapped away at the terminal for a moment. Then we heard an asari voice over the channel, chopped up by interference. "...the Destiny Ascension, main drives offline. Kinetic barriers are down forty percent and falling rapidly. The Council is on board. I repeat, the Council is on board."
"Normandy to the Citadel," Joker enquired, good to hear another familiar voice. "Please tell me that's you, Commander."
I smirked, "Were you expecting anyone else"
"We caught that distress call, Commander. Normandy is here in the Andura sector with the entire Arcturus fleet, but we can't activate the last relay to reach the Citadel. If you can unlock the relays from there, we can save the Destiny Ascension."
"That's bullshit, Commander," said Ashley. "You can't bring in the Alliance until the ward arms are open and we can concentrate on Sovereign. Why throw away what might be our only shot at this, just to save the Council? It's their own damn fault we're in this mess."
"That's true," I heard Wrex agree.
"We're going to save them,"
"What!" Ashley looked at me in disbelief.
"Opening the relays, Joker. Tell Admiral Hackett to come through now. We need to save the Destiny Ascension, no matter what the cost," I said monotonously.
"The Council is the only galactic government we have. Even if we beat Sovereign, the Reapers may find some other way to return. We can't be divided when they arrive?" I reasoned. I'm all for revolution as long as the time is right.
Ashley seemed to accept my reasons, she wasn't happy with the decision, but she could understand why it was made.
"I hope the Council appreciates the sacrifice," Ashley asserted.
"The only way to find out is to make sure we're all around at the end," said Rylee.
We couldn't see the battle; we only heard a few scraps of the comm traffic from outside the Citadel. all we could do was wait and hope that they can stop Sovereign. We've done our part, now it's up to them.
"Destiny Ascension, you are all clear," said Joker.
Admiral Hackett broke in, his voice sharp with command. "The Citadel is opening. All ships, concentrate fire on Sovereign."
Above us, out the great window behind where the Council would stand, we could see the immpressive power of the Citadel Fleet and the Alliance. The stars acted as a fitting backdrop for such a grand battle. Their vanguard turned in space, and then they pounced on Sovereign from all sides, like a swarm of stinging insects attacking some enormous thick-hided beast. This one is going to cost a lot of lives, but this is only the beginning. The reapers are coming, and we must all be willing to die to stop them.
~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
[Rylee]
Log [May 11, 2183]
The battle with Sovereign proved incredibly arduous. Sovereign had taken control of Saren's implants and his speed was frightening. The only way we could hit him was by trapping him in some sort of biotic field and firing everything we had at him.
Sovereign had even managed to pin Liara to a corner, with every intention of killing her. But before he could do it, a huge shard of glass fell on its body, destroying the skeleton.
Soon after the skeleton was destroyed, the real Sovereign followed suit. However, we were also hit by its debris. As if it were from a hero flick, Nate emerged from the rubble with Liara hand in hand, when everyone had thought they were lost. The whole thing was caught on camera too, and the flames from Sovereigns body made the lighting perfect.
The Councillors for the 1st time actually seemed sincere in their thanks. They thanked Nate and me personally and vowed to honour the lives of the Alliance soldiers who died.
Surprisingly enough, humanity was even offered a place on the Citadel Council. Nate even endorsed Udina to be the first human Councillor much to the Ambassadors surprise.
It was a crazy few days that's for sure. In just two days, my boyfriend died, my friends mother died, the Citadel was invaded and we managed to save the galaxy.
But now we must focus on the future. We must stop the reapers no matter what. And I truly do believe that the Council and the Alliance will come together and with their help, Nate and I can stop the Reapers. There's nothing that can stop us and no one capable of taking us down.
I know it's been a while since I wrote to you… but I really do miss you and I wish you were here now…
You'll be hearing a lot more from me Ethan, I promise.
So that's it for Mass Effect: Past, Pressure, Future.
I'm more relieved than anything to finally have this finished. Thank you to anyone who's reviewed, favourited or followed this story, I really do appreciate it. It made me want to continue writing this story and they also provided me with helpful hints on how to improve my writing.
I hope you liked the MEA and ME2 cameos in the final chapter, I liked writing Jack and Rylee's interactions. Just so you know, Jack is going to be a prominent character in my ME2 story.
I'm planning on an ME2 sequel, but before that I'll do a short series on what happens after ME1 ends, mostly centred around Rylee. If you have any questions or suggestions you can PM me.
And just a quick insight into Rylee's state of mind in the near future.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Log [July 21st 2183]
Fuck the Council and Fuck the Alliance and everything they stand for!