In an unknown planet, after the Normandy's impact…
Joker: -Cries of pain- EDI, status report… -There is no answer- EDI? -He turns and sees EDI's body completely immobile-. EDI! He stands up as he is able to so as to reach her- EDI, tell me something. -He shakes her vigorously- EDI! Nooo… Nooo!
Meanwhile, in the medical bay…
Liara: -Waking up on the floor, somewhat sore- Mmm… Doctor Chakwas? -Trying to stand up- I feel thrashed…
Doctor Chakwas: I think we've crashed. Are you okay?
Liara: -She manages to stand up- Yes, but my head is spinning… What happened?
Doctor Chakwas: I had to sedate you to relieve pain and heal your wounds. Luckily, we had enough medigel.
Liara: Where's Shepard?
Doctor Chakwas: -She sighs- Liara, when the Crucible was activated… we had to leave. We couldn't return to pick him up…
Liara: -Her heart misses a beat- No… We must return!
Doctor Chakwas: First let's see how the others are.
After having walked around throughout the Normandy and having checked that nobody got hurt by the hard landing, they both arrive at the cockpit, where they find Joker crying over EDI's body. They make him stand up carefully and take him to the med bay to check he hasn't broken anything. While the Doctor does her job, Liara tries to comfort him without collapsing her too. When they finish, they get the team together in the war chamber to talk about Shepard, and everyone is willing to get him back, but they have to wait until repairs are finished.
Two days later, in the communications room…
Traynor: -She finishes joining the last wires- I think that's it. Now we should be able to speak with Hackett. Accessing.
Hackett: -Astonished- Normandy, we believed we had lost you. You disappeared from our sensors.
Joker: We had a complicated landing, but we are all right.
Hackett: Glad to hear that. Good news. We've won. The reapers are history.
In their faces the joy of victory is appreciated.
Joker: Where is the fleet?
Hackett: We are orbiting Earth to finish evacuating Hammer's wounded. We're taking them to the rendezvous point, there they'll receive appropriate medical care. A part of the Alliance will remain here to help the population. -He makes a pause- But not all are good news… We sent a rescue team to the Citadel, and found Anderson's body… The team kept seeking Shepard, but we haven't found him. We know he was with the Admiral up there, but after firing the energy wave, the Citadel exploded, and he could have ended anywhere.
The joy banishes.
Hackett: We tried to continue the search, but the station is not secure. Remains of ships impact on it, and they are leading the structure to collapse… It's not stable. The team was forced to abandon the operation, and they almost didn't get out alive. We haven't been able to send more.
Liara: But he might still be alive! We have to keep trying!
Hackett: The Citadel is falling apart. Many areas have been depressurized… We scanned the station, but we didn't detect any sign of life. His armor's biometric data are also zero. And it has been two days…
Liara: We can't give up!
Hackett: Shepard was already severely wounded when he reached the Citadel… And we have no indication he's still alive. -He hates to say this- I'm afraid we can't do anything else.
Their hopes disappear…
Hackett: It won't take much longer to complete the evacuation. Once finished… we will set out to the rendezvous point.
Liara: -She feels a pain that pierces her heart- No…
Hackett: I'm sorry… -Frustrated- We've lost too many good men in this war… Hackett out.
They begin to leave, everyone needs time to accept it. The blow has been very hard. Liara goes to Shepard's cabin, she can't believe he's gone. Once there she can't contain her feelings anymore, and she falls on her knees, completely shattered… She couldn't prevent it. Shepard has dead… When she stands up, she comes near the bed where she spent her last intimate night with the Commander, she caresses it. She can't help remembering that moment… and that makes her miss him even more.
Hours later…
Garrus: -Knocking at the door- Liara, may I?
Liara: -Sitting on the bed, drying the tears- Come in. It's open.
Garrus: I've been looking for you for a while throughout all the ship… What are you doing here? -Tactfully- Were you thinking about Shepard?
Liara: I haven't stopped thinking about him since I met him…
Garrus: -He sits with her- I'm so sorry. Shepard was a great man. This shouldn't have ended like this…
Liara: I should have gone with him. At least, he wouldn't have died alone…
Garrus: -In reproach- Liara, you know Shepard wouldn't have wanted that.
Liara: I abandoned him…
Garrus: No. You have never abandoned him. He didn't let you accompany him so that you could live.
Liara: I know… But that doesn't make me feel any better.
Garrus: Come on -he gives her a hug-. We have nearly finished Normandy's repairs. Come with me. The team is going to get together at the memorial to honor our fallen friends.
Minutes later, everyone is at the memorial wall. Joker is holding a plaque with EDI's name, Ashley one with Anderson's, and Liara other with Shepard's.
Garrus: It has been a long war. Since before it was, we were already in the fight. Many have gone through the Normandy, have been part of the team, but not all have returned alive: Kaidan, Pressly, Mordin, Thane… All of them meant a lot to us. They haven't been able to see the end of the fight, but they haven't died in vain. They are not simple names in a list, nor in a memorial, they are part of our history. Today sorrow grieves us, and we reunite to commemorate the sacrifice of three heroes more who haven't been able to see the day after, but surely they look at us from heaven and smile, because they know we did it. They won't fall into oblivion. We will always remember them.
Joker: -Taking a step forward- EDI, our relationship didn't get a good start, I recognize. An AI which didn't stop correcting me at every instant? There were moments when you riled me… But now the Normandy is very quiet… You watched over all of us, and I was supposed to protect you, but… I failed. I'm sorry. Forgive me… -After placing the plaque he returns with the others-.
Ashley: Anderson always was a soldier of honor. He cared for his men. He stayed on Earth so as to have a home to fight for. And he fought to the end. He believed Shepard from the beginning, and knew what to do in the most difficult times, like the risk he took when he helped us unlock the first Normandy from the Citadel. He was a great man… I hope you find your deserved rest, sir. -She places the plaque in the centre of the memorial and makes a military salute-.
Liara:-Trying not to collapse- Shepard, we knew you would get it. You always fulfill the mission. Trillions of beings will live, and it's thanks to you. You've marked the life of each of those who have been with you, marked in a special way for each of us. If I could ask you anything else, it would be that you were here, with us… -a lump is formed in her throat-. We made a good story. I lament that those little blue children won't be able to hear it. I lament we can't have them… But even then, I'm proud of you. We all are. I know you had to do it, but… I'll miss you. My heart will always belong to you… -she close her eyes and inspires deeply. She begins to advance, with the plaque on her hands. She caresses it slowly, thinking about the love of her life, but in the moment of placing it, she feels a hunch from the depths of her being. She was startled because that feeling was familiar to her. She felt the same when Cerberus brought him back. At that time she didn't know how to interpret it, only when she saw him on Illium she knew he was alive. And now she had just felt the same. She knows the Commander hasn't dead yet, that there's still hope, and she won't resign to him so easily. A smile emerges on her lips.
Liara: -She turns around and looks at the rest of the team, with an intense glow in her eyes that betrays her- I cannot place this here yet. Something inside me tells me that Shepard is alive…
Joker: Liara… you heard Hackett. He can't have survived…
Liara: He does… We are linked by a very strong bond. It isn't the first time I feel his life. When he returned, with Cerberus, I felt the same…
Garrus puts his hand on Liara's shoulder.
Liara: Are you going to give up and that's it? Aren't we even going to try to look for him?
Ashley: The rescue team couldn't get in the station again. We won't be able either…
Garrus: You may be right, but, isn't that what we've always done? With Shepard we achieved things no one else could… Liara had a good hunch with the Crucible. If she believes he's still alive, we should try to get in there and look for him.
Tali: Shepard has never abandoned us. And for all he has done for us, we owe him.
James: We won't leave a friend behind.
Javik: We can keep talking or we can get going.
Joker: That's the spirit!
Liara: Shepard has always known to surround with people you can trust. Thank you all. Honestly.