Commander John Shepard

Kaidan gave a meek smile after hearing my greeting, and I suppose, the voice to help confirm. But I could see it. This was about to be uncomfortable. Like it did with Garrus and Tali. Two years of mourning just can't go away like that.

"I thought you were dead, Commander. We all did." Ah, using my title, not Shepard. Might just be caution. Still, he reached out a hand. I accepted, clasping his arm and pulling him into a hug. I patted his back and released.

"You thought right. I ran into Tali soon after waking up, and uh, I may or may not have gotten slapped," I admitted awkwardly, and Garrus chuckled. "Garrus was already in a mess, and by the time we got him out of it, he was… used to it, and wanted some drinks. Point is, I know how hard it was on everyone."

"Wait, wait, wait, what? How does… what?"

"I'm not exactly sure on all the details myself, but I spent the last two years either having my body be searched for, or on an operating table. I also know that I've gotten quite a few cybernetics."

"Then why didn't you try to contact me after? Let me know you were alive?!" he exclaimed.

"I asked about you, all of you, right away. If I'm going after the Collectors I need people I can trust. All I knew about you was that you got promoted and were… somewhere. No means of contacting you. I was going to look for you, but I had some recruitments in Terminus that were time sensitive. Like Grunt here, Garrus, Mordin, the Salarian over there, and Jack, the bald woman. If the Collectors hadn't made a play, I'd be going to help Tali with a mission and pick her up, and, finally, go back to Citadel space. Hell, I only just let my own mother know. This mission's probably going to kill me again, Kaidan. I don't want to double that pain if I can help it." Kaidan sighed, and ran a hand over his face. He paused a moment.

"Who did it? Who… rebuilt you?"

"Yeah… there's the part I fucking hate. Chalk up another reason I need those I can trust around. Keep me fucking sane," I grumbled. "Fucking Cerberus." Kaidan threw a glance of suspicion.

"That's lining up with some rumors the Alliance has been hearing. Other intel we had said Cerberus might be behind the missing colonies. They got a tip this colony might be the next one to get hit."

"Well, you see who the-wait, did you say they got a tip?"

"Yeah. What about it?"

"And were you sent here before or after the tip?"

"After. What's that got to do with anything?"

"Oh, that fucking son of a bitch," I growled. "A fucking week ago, The Illusive Man, the fucking prick, Cerberus' head fucking honcho, said he saw a Collector ship heading here. We've been waiting in this cluster for five days, and only when we heard a colony went dark did I learn you were here. That fucking son of a bitch set this up! He knows the Collectors have a hard-on for me, and my crew, so he used you as bait!"

"Why am I not even surprised anymore?" Garrus remarked.

"I'm not sure what to be more pissed about. Being bait, the losses to the colony, or that you're working for the head of Cerberus," Kaidan scoffed. Now it was my turn to sigh.

"Not for. Never, for. I've been nothing but a pain in their ass since I learned who woke me up. I was on the cusp of hightailing it back to the Alliance before they proved that whole colonies were disappearing. And, that the damn Reapers are behind it. Even then, I was still about to bail, but the Alliance is stretched thin. They offered a ship, a crew, credits, intel, and dossiers for a team to build. They already know I won't follow their orders, so they left that off the table," I explained.

"But you're still with them! Even after everything we saw!"

"Kaidan, they killed my entire fucking platoon save for one. And they tortured him, and another of the dead. No one in this fucking galaxy hates those motherfuckers more, save for Toombs, probably. And Jack comes close, if not a tie. But you just saw what Humanity is threatened by. And if the Reapers really are behind it all? Then the entire Galaxy is under threat. Right now, I have to be the bigger man, just for a little while."

"Even after using me as bait?"

"Oh, believe me, I am going to fucking chew TIM out for this. And I'm already working on converting the crew away, most of them know jack shit about what Cerberus has done. Garrus and I already told them everything we saw, some just need more than our words. Jacob there? Turned. Miranda, there is a helluva lot more loyal, but I'm getting to the root of her dedication. I might just be able to turn her too."

"Would Shepard ever do anything remotely like this unless it was for the right reasons?" Garrus asked. Kaidan sighed again and looked down.

"No, no he wouldn't. But maybe Cerberus is using the threat of the Reapers to manipulate you."

"They're trying. I have zero doubts about that. I'm certain that the crew was handpicked to paint a pretty picture of these scumbags for me. Everything TIM does or says I scrutinize and pick apart."

"And what if they're working with the Collectors?"

"That I wouldn't buy," Garrus spoke up. "If I look at this from the angle of a sociopath, it was a smart tactic to test and prove that the Collectors have it out for Shepard. And by extension, anyone associated with him. Don't get me wrong, the lives of those the Collectors took are all on Cerberus, and that's a very large price. But it just doesn't fit together if they were working with them. Besides, why would they have a target on us specifically if not for the Reapers?" This was getting to him. That much was clear.

"Kaidan, please. You don't have to decide on this now, but it would mean the world to have you back fighting by my side. I'm sure Joker and Chakwas would be happy to have you on board too."

"Them too, huh?" Kaidan sighed again, looked down in thought. "I need to report back to the Citadel. They can decide if they believe you or not."

"I'll be there by the end of the week." Kaidan nodded in reply.

"Goodbye, Shepard. Just… be careful." Good, he used my name.

"It was good to see you, Alenko," Garrus stated.

"You too, Vakarian." He slowly, and awkwardly, turned, towards the way he came. I took a deep breath and got on the comms.

"Joker, send the shuttle. Everyone else, finish what you're doing. We're heading out."

Commander John Shepard

I was impatiently tapping my foot as I waited for the table in the comm room to lower, then impatiently tapping it as I waited for the connection to establish. The bastard was, again, smoking. Hope it fucking kills him. Actually, scratch that. Nothing's taking my fucking kill.

"Good work, Shepard. Hopefully, the Collectors will think twice before attacking another colony."

"Don't suppose you'll think twice before using my friend as bait and sacrificing the lives of everyone they took?" He took another drag, clearly annoyed.

"I told you I wouldn't sit and wait while the Reapers and Collectors sit and gather strength. They would have hit another colony eventually. Even with my net, it would be difficult to predict which one. They would have abducted everyone. The way I see it, lives were saved, not sacrificed." Damn it. It's hard to argue, but I'm still adamant he's wrong.

"Don't you dare do it again."

"I have no reason to. Stopping one abduction, partially or entirely, won't matter in the end if it's not stopped at its source. I'm devoting all my resources to finding a way through the Omega-4. We have to hit them where they live. Moving on, I've finished the last few dossiers. An Asari Justicar. One of the strongest Biotics in the Galaxy. And an Assassin, Thane Krios. A marksman, and an expert in martial arts. As well as a biotic. Both of them are currently on Illium. And you still need to find Kasumi Goto."

"Fine. Anything else you have for me?"

"Just want to ensure that your team will be fully committed to this mission. Any distractions jeopardize your odds of survival."

"You brought me back because I'm a leader. I know how to handle that."

"Very well. Be careful, the Collectors will be watching you." The video feed faded, and the room lit back up to how it normally was. I made my way to the cockpit, Joker lounging for the moment.

"How long will it take us to reach these coordinates from here?" I asked, showing him.

"One sec," he answered, and typed away at his terminal, leading forward. "Wait, Geth space?" he asked, confused. "Uh, two days."

"Then we'll arrive more or less right on time. Get us there, double time it."

"Wait, why are we even going to Geth space?"

"It's for an old friend."

Commander John Shepard

Our ETA at Haestrom is scheduled for another hour. Everyone needs to be suited up fifteen minutes beforehand. Being a bit anxious myself, I was already ready. In addition, I owed some explanations to Grunt and Jack. Given Grunt's always in his armor anyway, and Jack doesn't take long to get ready. So, I gathered them up in the conference room.

"What's this all about, Shepard?" Jack asked, the same gruff manner as always.

"I said I'd explain the Reapers to you both on Horizon, didn't I?" Jack actually seemed a little surprised. "So, we do have an op soon so I'll make this fast. What do you two know about the Geth attack on the Citadel two years back?"

"Robots went and fucked a lot of people up," Jack shrugged.

"Okeer ensured I knew much of the battles in history. The Geth were led by a Turian, a Spectre, right?" Grunt added.

"That's the official story, yes. But it's a half-truth. The Geth had a dreadnaught with them, absolutely massive. Two kilometers, and took the entirety of the Fifth Fleet to put down. Even then, a lot of ships and a lot of lives were lost. That dreadnaught wasn't of Geth make. That was a Reaper. The true leader. Of both Saren and the Geth.

"How does a ship lead anything?" Jack questioned.

"How does our ship talk, Jack? The Reapers are ancient AI, and, by the sound of what Sovereign told me, a very large number of AI make up just one Reaper ship. As for how many Reaper ships there are, Sovereign told me that their numbers will darken the skies of every world. I'm inclined to believe that's not a massive exaggeration."

"And where the fuck are all of them?"

"Hey, let him finish. I wanna know more so I can rip them in half," Grunt grinned. A bit psychotically.

"Dark space. Outside the Galaxy. They are the ones who built the Relays and the Citadel. They are the reason the Protheans vanished. I've seen the messages in their beacons. It's all warnings. The Reapers have been doing this for millennia, and they call it the cycle. Wiping out all advanced organic life every fifty-thousand years. Give or take. The general plan of action is that Sovereign, the reaper they leave behind to keep an eye on things, sends a signal to the Citadel, and it opens as a massive Mass Relay, and the Reapers all pour through. Wipe out our leadership and the bulk of our fleets from the get-go. Take control of the relay network, and wipe us out as time goes on. At the end of the last cycle, a few Protheans sabotaged that plan and Sovereign had to directly take control. He got the Geth and indoctrinated Saren. The rest is history. Don't know why they do what they do, but, well, they do." I explained.

"...Well shit," Jack murmured. Grunt was just grinning more.

"When do I get to fight them?"

"I don't know, Grunt. I don't know. But they're making a play with the Collectors. I'm not sure what that play is, but, let's not allow them to succeed."

"Wait, what was that indoctrination you talked about?"

"Mind control, to keep it simple. You know I didn't actually kill Saren? He put a bullet in his own head. The most he could do to resist the indoctrination at the end of it all."

"Well… if I want to keep my odds of survival up," Jack began.

"You gotta help us stop them."

"Agh… fuck," Jack murmured. "I'm going to think for a bit. Don't get your panties in a twist, I'll be ready."

"Grunt?" I started as Jack left.

"Yes, Shepard?"

"I appreciate the enthusiasm, but, take them seriously. Just one took an entire fleet to put down, after all. Those Husks we saw were one thing. When they invade, whenever that is, it'll be something else entirely. Who knows what other monstrosities they'll make out of people." Grunt nodded. I let him go and anxiously waited.

I wanted to call her, but well, we're in FTL, that has no chance of working. And, of course, that could well give us away to the Geth. So, I just kept pacing down in the shuttle bay. Double, triple, and even quadruple checking my gear. Finally, the crew began to join me. Garrus, Miranda, Jacob, and Zaeed making up the first group. The elevator can only hold so much after all. Now it would be Grunt and Jack's turn. Mordin I allowed to sit out, as he still had plenty of samples from Horizon to study.

"Commander, I must ask. What are we doing out in Geth space?" Miranda began. At least she, as well as the others, were all suited up and armed. But Garrus was chuckling.

"I was wondering where you were. Of course, you'd already be ready and waiting long before us for this particular mission."

"I've got an idea. But I'll sit back and let it be confirmed. Or denied," Jacob shrugged.

"Geth space, eh? Never got to fight the fuckers two years back. Interested to see how those flashlight fucks fight," Zaeed remarked.

"You could say we're here for another recruitment, Miranda. An old friend of mine just so happens to be on Haestrom right now. We arranged to meet. I help with the mission, and they come aboard," I explained.

"Tali'Zorah, I assume? Very well, so long as they're reliable we have no reason to turn down help." The elevator opened again, Grunt and Jack exiting.

"Jack, Grunt, we're fighting Geth today. Also, expect friendlies on the field. Quarians."

"I'll try not to cough on one," Jack remarked, disinterested.

"These are Marines, Jack. Trained soldiers. And we're here to pick up an old friend of mine. Unlike the mercs and pirates you're used to, they know how to fight," I chastised. "Now, the Geth's strength has always been in their shields and weapons. Their armor isn't anything to scoff at, but they prioritize those shields. Biotics aren't ineffective, but today, techs are going to reign supreme.

Jack, I want you to actually hang back as support. Pick off the stragglers, slow down, do what you can to the bigger targets. Grunt, today is your exercise in patience. And Zaeed, listen up, this is your job too. You'll be near the front, but you're to wait and pick your targets from those who's shields we techs drop. The rest of us will be scattered as needed. We'll prioritize overload and sabotage programs. Pick your targets, but it's not critical that no one gets the same. If that happens, odds are you'll just fry the Geth's systems and we'll just have another dead bot. Other than that, just aim for the head. Their torsos are better protected and have less crucial systems. And a Geth can still function without its limbs. Take out the head, take out the processor. Just like blowing out a merc's brains." EDI then chimed in.

"We have exited FTL just outside of Haestrom's orbit. Initial scans are showing many orbiting Geth installations. It is difficult to tell if they have military capabilities, but it appears unlikely. In addition, scans of the planet and the system's star, Dholen. The planet's magnetosphere has been overwhelmed. Exposure to direct sunlight will also result in exposure to dangerous levels of radiation. You may experience technical problems, but your hard suits should protect you for short periods of time. I recommend remaining in the shade whenever possible."

"Understood." I then spoke louder carrying the order. "You heard EDI. Don't go in the sunlight unless you have to. No exceptions. Got it?"

"So long as there's no hiding," Grunt grumbled.

"I wouldn't count on it."