Chapter 39: The Calm

Birds sing after a storm; why shouldn't people feel as free to delight in whatever sunlight remains to them? - Rose Kennedy

The crackling, static-filled distress signals were a cacophony of panic, fear, and confusion. Voices immediately raised only to be abruptly cut off in bursts of white noise. It was only a small mercy that he could not hear what happened after, knowing that it would be the sound of a starship tearing itself apart around a doomed crew.

Shepard leaned against the console and closed his eyes tightly, forcing himself to listen. After a few minutes another voice came through the panicked comms, sharp and accented with an edge that demanded not just attention but obedience.

"This is Rear Admiral Mikhailovich to all Citadel Defense Forces! All hands to arms! The monsters are at our doorstep; they come in number and with terrible fury. But they are not invincible! Station defense forces report to your assigned stations and prepare to repel boarders! All fleet vessels regroup at point Gamma! Cruisers, provide cover to your assigned dreadnoughts and carriers! All fighters engage at will, prioritize landing vessels!"

More static and abruptly ending transmissions, but the chaos began to dwindle as the man continued to speak his voice as firm and unyielding.

"Soldiers, sailors, and members of the allied fleets I offer you only the truth. We stand against an enemy that is our better, but our charge is to protect this station and its inhabitants with our lives. That is the duty that we assumed when we donned our uniform, be we human, asari, turian, or any other that would stand against the enemy. So I say to you: standfast and show these monsters the measure of our resolve. Make them pay for every life, every crime, in fire and steel and may God watch our final moments in awe."

The transmission ceased. Shepard felt his hands curl into fists and he took a deep breath. He remembered the admiral. They had only met once and the interaction hadn't left either of them with a favorable opinion of the other. But it seemed no matter what his opinion had been, in the end Mikhailovich had proven that he was a man of his convictions.

"How long, EDI?"

"Final transmission was received from the Serpent Nebula approximately one hundred minutes ago. The Asari Republic cruiser Vigilant Night reported sustaining crippling damage and a loss of all systems with the intention to trigger catastrophic drive core breach to prevent capture and inflict damage on attacking forces."

"Have we had any communication from the Citadel since that time?"

"Negative, Shepard," the AI replied. "The Reapers seized control of the main systems and closed the arms. Based upon the last data bursts received… the Citadel Defense Fleet was destroyed with all hands. Harvesters were seen deploying ground troops to the Citadel itself and were meeting heavy resistance from the station's defenders."

He slammed a fist against the console.

"How many?"

"Six dreadnoughts, twenty-seven cruisers, two carriers, thirty-eight frigates, and approximately two hundred and forty fighter craft along with twenty-six defense satellites. Current population of the Citadel is unknown but estimated in excess of sixteen million after inclusion of refugees."

The Citadel had been the second most defended location in the galaxy. Mines, defensive satellites, and a defensive fleet made up of some of the best remaining Asari Republic, Systems Alliance, and Turian Hierarchy warships. They had always known they couldn't stop a concentrated assault, which is why the decision had been made to concentrate the fleet behind the strong point at the galactic core, but to know that Citadel had fallen in barely more than an hour's time sent a shiver down his spine.

Ever since Ilos, he'd known that the massive station had always been meant as bait in the Reaper's trap. But it didn't change the fact that it was still the center of the galaxy for virtually every sapient species. How many people did he know that lived and worked there? Aethyta. Quin'Sala. Bailey. He had met the most important people in his life in that station's gleaming corridors.

Shepard took another deep breath.

"I'm not willing to write off all those people yet. Ever since the Cerberus' assault we poured time and resources into making the Citadel capable of holding out from a sustained attack and as important as it is to the Reapers I doubt they'd be willing to destroy it by using their main weapons against any resistance. Do we have any scouts in the nebula?"

"A hanar deep space recon vessel was able to enter the nebula utilizing a pirate jump point. Shepard, the Citadel is no longer there," EDI said in concern. "The Reapers have physically moved the station. Based upon reports from the initial scout and data from two turian frigates it would appear the station has been taken to the Sol system."

"They moved it?" he asked in surprise.

"Indeed. Incoming reports also indicate that Reaper forces around Thessia, Palaven, and other locations have significantly decreased. While their assaults continue I estimate that over ninety-one percent of all known Reaper forces have now been concentrated to the Sol system."

"They know. Either because of what they learned from Leng or from somewhere else, but they know. The Citadel is their lynchpin and ours."

"It would appear so."

Virtually every Reaper in the galaxy in one place: his homeworld. Clustered around the single most important station in the galaxy and the key to the activation of their one long shot hope at defeating them. Shepard pushed himself up and made a decision.

"Inform the Council that we will convene as soon as the Normandy reaches Omega. Recall all forces. I want everyone. Every favor, every marker, every ally we have. Once that's done I want you to activate phase two of the Ahab Protocol."

The comm room was silent for long seconds.

"Understood, Shepard. Orders have been issued," EDI replied, continuing after another pause. "Are you certain?"

He closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath, letting it out through his nose slowly.

"I am."


By the time Normandy arrived at the Omega Four relay much of the rest of the Alliance forces had as well. Waiting on the other side of the relay was a staggering array of forces. Dreadnoughts of every design hung against the red glow of the core, like metallic beasts, surrounded by swarms of smaller craft. Gathered at the base of the station were the rachni queen ships, their organic design contrasting with those of the other species.

"Beautiful, in its own way," Shepard muttered.

"We can agree on that at least," Joker said. "Too bad all this unity is about blowing stuff up."

"When this is all over… maybe it can be about more than that. The galaxy will need rebuilding. All we can do is hope that the galaxy can create something better from all this loss."

Joker snorted.

"Oh I'm sure someone will find a way to screw it up. They always do. It'll be up to the people in charge to keep them in line."

"Sounds like you're volunteering for the job, Joker."

The pilot raised his hands.

"Hell no, you're the 'touchy-feely, address everyone's problems individually like freaking Superman guy.' I just fly the ship."

"Uh huh. How is EDI? Tali was working on her platform last time we talked," he asked.

Shepard watched as Joker suppressed a shuddered.

"You brought her back, so I'm not going to complain about the 'in one piece' detail. It's weird, ya know. I know that she's here," he said, patting the console in front of him. "But seeing her platform like that… so torn up. Just feels so wrong."

"I am fine, Jeff," the AI interjected, her synthetic voice displaying far more nuance than he usually heard. "As I pointed out to Leng, I do not feel pain or trauma in the same way as a biological being. Tali'Zorah's repairs on my mobile platform are almost complete. There will be some cosmetic damage, but I am still fully functional and will suffer no long-term effects."

"I know, I know," the pilot grumbled.

He smiled and placed a hand gently on Joker's shoulder.

"Don't worry, I understand how you feel. It never gets easier. But this is all going to be over soon. We would never have made it this far without either of you. If there's any justice in the universe you two will get plenty of time after this to drive each other crazy."

The look on the other man's face was a combination of surprise and understanding, and for once he didn't have a comeback, just giving a slow nod and hard swallow. Shepard returned the nod and left the cockpit. He heard EDI speaking quietly again as he left and Shepard smiled to himself.

Waiting near the airlock was the rest of the team. Garrus was resting casually against the bulkhead while Kasumi sat with her feet dangling from the console she was sitting on. Tali and Miranda made an oddly matched pair as they stood with their arms crossed. He paused and cocked an eyebrow.

"Did I miss something?"

"No, but we all got the message. You do remember that I'm an Admiral, Miranda's Alliance now, and Garrus is somewhere in the line of turian military succession at this point right?" Tali asked.

"Technically I didn't get the message. But I read everyone else's messages so same difference," Kasumi chimed in.

"I wasn't trying to hide it. I told EDI to issue the order."

"Which means you've already come to a decision," Miranda said. "Otherwise you'd never have issued the order. Speaking with the War Council is a formality at best."

"That's a stretch… I'm not a dictator," he replied quickly.

The dark-haired woman gave a rare laugh.

"That's literally what you are now, Shepard. But not in the modern context. Whether you acknowledge it or not, you know that whatever decision you make the others will agree to. Too many people owe you too much. The rachni and the geth don't even have the usual political face saving habits to disguise their absolutely loyalty."

Miranda stepped forward and lowered her arms.

"We're ready, Shepard. We just want to know what the plan is so we can make the necessary preparations."

"Then you can hear it at the same time as the rest of the War Council. Follow me."

He entered the airlock, the others following behind him. A few minutes later he felt the Normandy slide into place to dock with the station. It was the usual wait, systems interlinking, the airlock cycling. Soon after, they were on the streets of Omega again. As they walked Shepard glanced at Miranda.

"We haven't had much of a chance to talk. Are you alright with what happened with your father?"

"You should know by now I'm not particularly sentimental, Shepard."

He gave her a wane smirk.

"I also know by now that you're good at putting up a front."

One dark brow raised but she gave a small nod of acknowledgement.

"Henry Lawson wasn't my father any more than I was really his daughter. I was just another experiment for him whether or not I shared his genes. Just like Orianna. So if you're concerned that I feel guilt over killing him?" Miranda asked, eyes cold. "None. I just regret that it took me so long to realize just how much of a monster he was. Even at the end all he cared about was his legacy."

"What kind of legacy did he expect to get from creating slaves for Cerberus?" he asked in disgust.

"None. He only did it so that he could perfect the technology and use it on Orianna. His reasoning was that if the Reapers could control someone like Saren then how hard could it be to control a young girl?"

It was utterly incomprehensible. Even the Illusive Man's utterly ruthless vision of humanity's future seemed to come from a genuine belief that it was necessary for the survival of the species. But Henry Lawson had been willing to go to the same horrific lengths just for the chance at a vague sort of immortality by establishing a genetic dynasty. Shepard blew out a breath.

"Then he really was a monster that deserved what came to him. I'm just sorry that twice now I've put you a position to act as the assassin."

"Neither of our hands are clean, Shepard. But we also both went in with our eyes open. Some of the deaths I've caused…" she said, trailing off for a moment with a shake of her head. "Some I regret more than others. Henry Lawson won't be one of them."

They both fell silent after that. Omega's streets were busier than they had been even a few days ago. News of the Citadel's fall had already spread. There was a tension in the air as military personnel and Omega's citizens went about their business. It was almost as if everyone had suddenly realized that the war was real. As bizarre as it seemed, the status quo of a slow, grinding war against the Reapers had become almost normal.

A dozen armed guards stood at the main entrance to the new command center, snapping to attention as they approached. Shepard returned their salute and set them back at ease. At the top of Afterlife's stairs, he saw the young pilot Miranda had appointed as her right hand standing with a dataslate in hand. And a pistol at his hip.

"Carmichael," Miranda said.

The brown haired man smiled and for a moment looked even younger than he really was.

"Major Lawson."

"I wasn't aware that a sidearm was part of your usual equipment while on station."

"As head of security Nyreen made the decision after… well we all know what happened. She sent out a general order for all officers and members of to assume an elevated level of security."

"Not entirely unwise. The chances of the Reapers being able to penetrate Omega's defenses is slim but there's no reason to take chances," Shepard said. "The War Council?"

Carmichael frowned and gestured behind him.

"Assembled inside, sir. Per the, ah, 'Leviathan Protocols' the geth have set up a communications device similar to the one the rachni use in the conference room."

He gestured for Carmichael to lead the way. As soon as he entered the command center, flanked by Miranda on one side and Tali the other, the hum of conversation stopped and all gazes turned to follow their path through the room. They might not have known exactly what was coming but they knew that something was changing. Carmichael stopped outside a room on the lower level, taking up a position to the right of the door. He gave the man nod of thanks before stepping inside. The other four quickly flowed in behind.

The room had once been one of Aria's larger private lounges. Now it held a semi-circular conference table that occupied over half the room with a massive holoprojector in the center. Arranged around the table were the most powerful individuals from every remaining government in the galaxy, with the exception of a few holo-projectors. The Leviathan's influence was too dangerous to allow direct interaction and the rachni queen's sheer size made her physical presence impossible. Sings-Twilight rested next to the holoprojector to act as a proxy.

Surprisingly the first to greet him was nearly nine feet of geth juggernaut. The geth's plating was a gleaming orange-red, but its head looked almost identical to Legion's including the addition of the series of flaps that ringed its optic.

"Shepard-Commander. Creator-Tali'Zorah. This platform's designation is Consul. We have been given the privilege to relay and interpret the consensus of the Geth Collective."

For a brief second he saw Tali tense as old instincts kicked in, but she relaxed immediately and bowed her head in the platform's direction.

"It is… nice to meet you, Consul. You are allowed to… interpret for the collective?"

"Correct. Consensus was achieved and the determination was made that in the event that if designated platforms were cut off from immediate communication with the Collective they would maintain the ability to make decisions for the Collective if circumstances required such action."

"You mean some platforms are allowed to act independently?" Shepard asked in surprise.

The geth's head bobbed in an oddly organic nod. An odd feeling ran through him.

"This is correct, Shepard-Commander."

"What made the Geth arrive at this consensus?" Tali asked.

"The platform known as Legion. Its actions resulted in the salvation and advancement of the entire collective, as well as reconciliation with the Creators. Consensus was achieved that we would emulate this behavior."

"Consul, how many programs are running in your platform."

"One thousand, one hundred, and eighty-three, Creator-Tali'Zorah."

They paused and exchanged a look. A coincidence? That would be hard to believe.

"Why that specific number, Consul?" Tali asked.

"No data available," it responded after a long pause.

Again an exchange of glances, but he knew that beneath her mask Tali shared his smile. The geth would never be the same as the organic races, but maybe they weren't quite as different as even they liked to think. Or maybe some little piece of their friend was still there. He held up a hand to forestall any further consternation on the platform's part.

"Thank you, Consul. I believe it's time we began."

Shepard looked around the room at the others. Primarch Victus. Admiral Hackett. Major Kirrahe. Wrex stood towering over everyone else save for Consul and Sings-Twilight who gestured with both of his pedipalps in something akin to a wave of greeting while Zaal'Koris gave him a much more restrained nod. The only other being of comparable bulk to Wrex and the the rachni in the room was the hunched but thick form of an elcor that seemed to actually be wearing some kind of armor.

To his left was a grim looking batarian followed by hanar and a drell that stood almost close enough to touch. He recognized the asari that occupied the very last seat at the table: he'd met her only once but she was the captain of the Destiny Ascension. It said everything he needed to know that she was literally the highest ranking asari military officer still at large. And finally in the very back, half in shadows, was Javik. The prothean's arms were crossed as he looked across the gathering with his usual scowl.

"Shepard," Hackett said simply. "We're glad to hear your mission to finally end the threat Cerberus posed was a success. Unfortunately, it seems we don't have the luxury of celebration."

The holo-projectors sprung to life, showing three images. The first was a partial shot of Hope-Singer's massive form, the second the chilling visage of one of the Leviathans. It was the third that gave him the smallest surge of hope, tempered with no small amount of concern. David Anderson was still alive and still fighting. The lines on his face seemed deeper, his form thinner and more stretched. But his eyes were still the same. Solid, confident.

"Anderson," he said warmly. "Glad to see you're still fighting."

The older man smiled.

"They've been learning that humans don't give up so easily. I'll go ahead and answer the question I know is coming. The Citadel is here. Not just in the system but over Earth. The Reapers have positioned it directly over London."

Everyone in the room shifted, looking from side to side. A few murmurs bouncing back and forth between various individuals. They were abruptly cut off by a booming tone that emerged from the hologram of the leviathan. While it didn't carry the same brain shattering feeling as speaking in person it still practically made the room vibrate.

"The Intelligence will use the Citadel to assist in replenishing their losses, allowing for more rapid creation of new physical forms from the genetic material of your harvested species. By focusing their efforts in harvesting a single world at a time they will be able to protect the station from assault."

Wrex was the first to speak up, smacking one meaty fist into the palm of his hand.

"They're afraid. They know that we have something that can destroy them and now they're huddled up like a pack of varren that have heard the rumbles of a thresher maw."

"Why would the Reapers fear anything?" the asari asked bitterly. "They have destroyed ten of our ships for every one of theirs that we take out… and that's if we count the smaller destroyers."

"Because they have not yet encountered a cycle in which the Crucible Device was successfully constructed and in which the Citadel trap had not been activated," Kirrahe pointed out. "Realize that your species has suffered greatly at their hands, Captain Pallana, but do not allow their superiority to eliminate the possibility of victory. It is just another form of warfare."

"The salarian is correct," Javik said. "It pains me to admit but your species has been significantly more successful in combating the Reapers than the Prothean Empire. Despite our military superiority to your species, our forces were cut off. It is impossible to know the exact number but it is my belief that despite our efforts we accounted for less than twenty of their capital ships during our struggle."

An image appeared on the holoprojector, showing a map of the galaxy that slowly changed from green to red as Vendetta made an appearance in voice if not in image to narrate.

"That is a correct assumption. Based on long range scans, survivor reports, and other data there were nineteen confirmed kills of so called Sovereign-class Reaper capital ships during the Prothean war. It is likely that other undocumented kills occurred but in the majority of cases such victories often required the sacrifice of large numbers of Prothean warships or even the loss of entire star systems."

Vendetta continued, the map changing to represent the galaxy as it currently stood. Vast swaths of space where the Reapers had laid waste, but still large pockets of green where the war still raged.

"It becomes obvious that even with the extreme technological advantage possessed by the Reapers without the element of surprise they are significantly more vulnerable. Coordinated tactics, hit and runs, and massed fire have accounted for thirty-two confirmed kills of capital scale Reaper warships by Alliance forces."

"Our losses have been… significant, but no one can deny the courage and effectiveness of our forces," Hackett said somberly. "Based on the data we've received, Admiral Mikhailovich and the Citadel Defense Fleet sold themselves dearly. Between the fleet itself, the additional defense satellites, and the fusion mines placed at the relay it appears they accounted for no less than ten destroyer class reapers and five of their capital ships."

Another moment of silence hung over the room. The destruction of five entire Reapers was probably one of the most significant single blows they'd dealt to the Reapers with the exception the Miracle of Palaven. But the price had been staggeringly high. Too high to call it even a pyrrhic victory.

"They died as heroes. And it is our responsibility to ensure that their sacrifice was not in vain," Victus said, talons gripping the edge of the table tightly. "And something tells me that's why you've brought us all here, Shepard."

He gave a slow nod, placing his hands behind his back.

"You're absolutely right, Primarch. We eliminated one threat by stopping Cerberus, but in reality Cerberus was nothing more than a distraction. The Reapers are aware of the Crucible now, not only that but they are aware of one other crucial piece of information: the 'Catalyst' referred to in the data we have on the Crucible is the Citadel itself."

The buzz of muttered surprise returned instantly as he continued.

"That's why they chose to only assault the Citadel now when they clearly could have captured or destroyed the station at any time. Even if we still do not know the Crucible's exact function one thing is clear: the Reapers, for all their power, consider it a real threat. Otherwise they wouldn't have been willing to accept a head on assault where they knew they would take heavy losses."

"If this is true, it would seem to this one we have already failed. The Reapers have both captured and relocated the Citadel to the Sol system with the bulk of their forces," the hanar interjected mournfully.

"Pained acceptance: I believe the esteemed hanar representative to be correct," the elcor agreed. "Shame: We do not possess to military strength to provide significant assistance as the majority of our fleet was required for the evacuation of our homeworld."

"I'm not going to give up just because the Reapers have the advantage," Shepard replied sharply. "We have been at a disadvantage and on the defensive since this war began. Always running from them, fighting a guerilla war where we desperately try to stay ahead of the curve."

Zaal'Koris' chin rose as he folded his hands on the table in front of him.

"I assume you have a plan, then?"

"I do. A very simple one. No more running."

The response was immediate as the buzz became a cacophony.

"Are you suggesting-"

"You can't mean-"

"That's mad!"

"We are losing this war!" Shepard thundered.

That earned him a few moments of stunned silence. He took a deep, calming breath. He could see the tension on almost every face in the room. The only ones that didn't seem affected were the ones that didn't have expressions in the first place, like Consul and Sings-Twilight. And, of course, Wrex. The krogan stood with his arms crossed a grim smile on his scarred features the grew a little larger as Wrex gave him a slight tip of his crest.

"I want to make that very clear to everyone in this room. The only species that haven't suffered some form of direct assault on their homeworld are the volus and the salarians," he continued finally. "Look at your men and women. They have been fighting a war, without support, without a home to return to! Not for days. Not for weeks. For months! Every warship we lose is irreplaceable."

Garrus spoke up behind him a second later without a second's hesitation.

"Shepard is right. Primarch Victus, you have to see where this leads. We can keep harassing them, picking off a few ships, taking back a station or maybe even a small piece of land. But every week we'll lose a few more. And we might still be here fighting a year from now. Two years. But by then what will be left? A dozen dreadnoughts and a handful of cruisers?"

The turian primarch held up two talons, acknowledging the point as he spoke.

"Then what?"

"The Reapers for the first time have the majority of their forces in a single location. They also have the Citadel under their control. I have faith in the men and women that call the Citadel home… even now I'm sure they're fighting against the Reapers that are attempting to take control of the entire station. Which means for a very limited window the Citadel is vulnerable. I've read the reports. The Crucible's construction is far enough along that it will function."

Victus' mandibles flexed in surprise and he exchanged a significant glance with Hackett.

"You're not talking about a surgical strike."

It wasn't a question but he answered it anyway.

"No, I'm not. For the first time in hundreds of millions of years the entire galaxy is united. The Reapers have never once had to face the combined might of the species they sought to exterminate. So we can sit here, hiding in the darkness and hoping the monsters at our doors will leave us be for another day…"

He raised a hand and clenched it tightly into a fist.

"Or we can seize this one opportunity to bring the weight of that unified front down on them. Every warship, every soldier, every asset we can deploy. We do the one thing they would never expect and strike directly at their heart."

A loud, gravelly laugh came from the batarian and the four-eyed alien's face split into a feral grin.

"Yes. I never once thought that I would stand in agreement with a human, but yes."

Wrex's grin was equally fierce.

"We always knew that we would walk into hell together. I don't know about the rest of you but if I am going to die I would rather it be in fire and glory!"

"If we go on this final crusade… it could be the end of our entire species," Captain Pallana said.

"Captain, no matter the outcome of this battle the galaxy as we knew no longer exists," he replied. "This is the twilight of our respective peoples no matter if you choose the fight or not. My only hope is that those that survive will be able to build something better than what came before as a united galaxy. Without the fear of annihilation hanging over them. We're no longer fighting for simple survival. We are fighting for the right to a future free of the Reapers and their cycles."

A sudden wave of emotion and thought rolled over him, all eyes turning to Sings-Twilight, but the voice that rang in his head was unmistakably that of the rachni queen. The audio translation that came seconds later only confirmed it.

"The rachni will follow Sings-of-Endings into war. We have seen destruction the darksong destroyers bring and if our songs are to end, to be forever lost in the silence, we would have those that hear them last know that we stood against the darkness until the end. We will conduct a symphony of reds and blacks to swallow the dark song destroyers in our rage!"

Consul's massive metallic frame shifted and its optic narrowed to a fine point.

"The Geth Collective has already achieved consensus. We will follow Shepard-Commander. We will take our place at the side of the organics. The geth will build their own future."

To his surprise it was Zaal'Koris that stood next, taking a place next to Consul with his hands behind his back.

"And so do we. I once thought that any situation could be resolved with reason and peace, but I've learned that there are some evils that cannot be reasoned with. We have only now returned to our homeworld and it was a pathway home paid for in blood. It is not something we will give up easily. The Quarian Fleet will answer the call. The galaxy has long called us thieves, vagrants, and vagabonds. But they will remember us as warriors."

The buzz in the room had changed. It was no longer concern. It was a hum of anger. Of righteous indignation. Of vengeance. A small, knowing smile tugged at Anderson's lips as Shepard met his eyes and the room quickly erupted into agreement.

Near four years ago, Shepard had set foot on Eden Prime and unknowingly taken the first actions in this war. But today he had taken the final steps in what had been a long, painful journey. This was the beginning of the end. Here at the galaxy's smoldering heart a decision had been made.

The Reapers would face their reckoning at the hands of a united galaxy. One way or the other this war was about to end.


The anticipation had quickly become whirlwind of activity. Their plan depended on immediate action and thus preparations had to be made. Each individual branch of the combined fleet was massing at various points around the galaxy to prevent any possibility of a pre-emptive strike by the Reapers while other vessels began to pour into the space around Omega. Half a dozen were massive bulk transports that were close to half the size of the Rayya.

It was the beginning of Omega's night cycle by the time the entire team had assembled at his request. What Shepard was asking of them was the same of what he asked of every soldier in the Alliance: their lives. The fact that they had returned from the strike against the Collectors with no fatalities had been nothing short of a miracle. He wasn't foolish enough to think that they would all be coming home from this final mission.

This would be their last time together.

His comm chimed and he glanced down to see EDI's private identifier code. Glancing around the private lounge he had commandeered for their gathering he lowered his voice.

"EDI?""

"Phase Two has been completed, Shepard. All supply vessels have docked. Apollyon operatives have been activated and dispatched to their designated positions."

"Thank you."

Shepard felt an arm circle around his waist and he forced himself to relax the grim line of his mouth into a weak smile.

"Why is my hesh'alan hiding at the end of the bar?" Tali asked, tapping her fingers against his side.

"Just taking care of some final details."

"And avoiding the inevitable?"

He smiled and reached down, covering her hand with his own. How his life had changed. When Shepard had been given command of the Normandy he had been the perfect soldier. Keeping his subordinates at bay, utterly dedicated to his mission. Then little by little the people that were around him now had begun to chip away at him, cracking his defenses like the roots of a long-lived tree slowly growing into a crumbling monument.

Across the room he watched as Vega did one handed push-ups, blatantly showing off in front of Jacob and Ashley, the latter of which was covering her mouth to conceal what looked like an unsoldierly giggle. Chakwas sat sipping a drink, brandy he knew, while Traynor spoke animatedly about something complete with waving arms, to an odd audience of Jack, Sings-Fury, and Cortez.

A few feet away Grunt was telling an equally enthusiastic story with occasional interjection from Wrex. Donnelly listened with a scotch in one hand and the other around Gabby's waist, causing another small smile to tug at his lips when he noticed Joker and EDI were in a similar pose on the adjacent couch. EDI's platform showed some rough patchwork around the shoulder but the hand that rested in Joker's seemed unmarred.

Chief Adams, Garrus, and Javik seemed to be discussing the merits of stealth drives from the snippets of conversation he picked up. A small chuckle escaped his lips as Garrus brought up that same argument about the military applications of stealth technology that he'd voiced the first time he'd ever set foot on the Normandy and started his first of many arguments with Wrex.

Liara and Miranda both sat at the other end of the bar, a pair of drinks before them, while Kasumi refused to bow to propriety and sat on the bar itself with her feet dangling over the side. From the view of her omni-tool it looked like she was showing off her 'collection' of artwork. Sings-Twilight hovered at the edge of the conversation, his multiple azure eyes focused intently on the images that the thief was displaying. He wished he had time to even ask what a rachni brood warrior thought of modern art.

And finally near the end of the bar that he stood at sat four glasses, each in front of an empty stool, each filled with a small amount of amber liquid. Even gone some would always have a seat at the table with the rest of the team.

"Not avoiding just… delaying," he replied finally, gaze lingering on the four unattended glasses.

Tali's hand squeezed him tightly, her voice catching in her throat.

"We all know that tonight is for saying goodbye, John."

He wanted to contradict her. More than he had wanted anything in his life Shepard wished he could say that tonight wasn't about a final moment before what was likely the end. But Tali had been there since the beginning. She knew what was at stake and what they were walking into. Tonight was indeed about saying goodbye. It was about reliving memories and making new ones so that those who sayw the day through would have something to carry with them.

"I know," he said instead. "I just don't know if I'm ready. It's all led to this moment. I led them all to this moment."

The quarian's arm slipped from around him as she pushed away from his side, fixing him with a firm stare from beneath her visor.

"And you'll continue to lead us. We've followed you because we knew that if there was one person that could see us through it would be you. We all know what comes next. And every one of us will follow you."

He swallowed heavily and leaned in the rest his forehead against the top of her visor.

"Thank you," he whispered.

With that he turned and faced the room, rapping his knuckles against the glass bartop to catch the attention of the room. Only a few seconds passed before silence fell. Over a dozen faces turned to him. Some had seen centuries of life. Others had lived only too brief existences. But all carried the same look of determination.

"I'm glad to see you all here because as I look around this room I am reminded of… so much," he began. "I'm reminded of the hardship we've endured. I'm reminded of what we've lost and the decisions we've made. In every face I see the marks of this long and painful war."

As he spoke his gaze met the eyes of each of them, one by one.

"But I don't just remember the pain. I remember what we have accomplished. I remember the lives that we've saved. I remember the victories that we have achieved despite the staggering odds that were against us. And I know that because of what we've done the galaxy will never be the same."

He swallowed once more and felt Tali's hand slip into his, giving it a squeeze as he reached out with his left and took his own glass from the bar.

"The people in this room are not just soldiers and operatives. We are a team. A family. My family. Some of you have stood with me since the beginning when we stumbled in the dark, not realizing the true extent the threat that we fought while hunting Saren. Others, despite all reservations, stood with me when every indication was that our mission to stop the Collectors was a suicide mission. But all of you have proven that you are among the best this galaxy… this universe has to offer. And it has been my… greatest honor to serve with each and every one of you."

Shepard gripped his glass tightly and raised it overhead.

"'He who sheds his blood with me shall be my brother'... you are all my brothers and sisters. May whatever god or gods that you pray to watch over you all and guide you into a brighter future because no group of people have ever deserved one more than each of you. To the Normandy and her crew. To lost friends. To family. To victory."

Twenty glasses were raised skyward, even by those incapable or uninterested in imbibing. There were no loud cheers or jubilation. None of these people needed inspiring. If anything it was they that inspired him. Instead there was a quiet hum of warmth as those glasses raised, a few clinking against one another, and then being downed.

Tali's hand pulled him into the room, towards Garrus and the others. Her vocabulator spoke just loud of enough for him to hear.

"Come on… let's say goodbye."


Several hours later Garrus found himself in Omega's darkened streets. A faint buzz from the alcohol made him feel nicely warm, but wasn't enough impair his motor skills or thoughts. A month ago he would never had thought to set foot on Omega without full combat gear, but as Kasumi led him down one of the main-through fares he realized he felt no more threatened than when he had come home after a late night on the Citadel.

"Where are we going?"

"Um… not far," Kasumi said.

His mandibles flexed. Her tone and the way she'd brushed at her face to move hair that wasn't there meant she was nervous which immediately made him run through a dozen scenarios as to why she'd drag him to some random part of Omega. None of them made the slightest bit of sense.

"That is highly specific," he drawled and placed one of his talons gently on her shoulder. "The instinct is to want to make the night last as long as possible, but tomorrow is going to come no matter how hard we try to fight it."

She paused, glancing over her shoulder at him.

"I know that. Just humor me for a minute okay, Scars?"

Another few twists and turns found them at one of Omega's ubiquitous block like apartment buildings. Like most of the rest of the city Miranda's clean up initiatives had been through here. The bare alloy walls had been pressure washed into a dull white, the streets were free of anything over than minor trash, and Garrus could see station security cameras had been installed at the major intersections.

"We're here."

Garrus hummed and examined the bare metal door.

"Oh yes, non-descript apartment number… seven one one. Such memories."

"Smart ass," she shot back, sticking out her tongue.

"What's Shepard's expression… the pot calling the cat black?"

That earned him a giggle as she popped open the door controls and quickly keyed in a code. He followed her inside without missing a beat.

"Kettle. Pot calling the kettle black."

"Whatever. We both know that's half the reason you love me."

The words slipped out of his mouth in a tumble before his brain could completely process them, the door sliding shut behind him with a suddenly ominous sounding hiss. He watched as Kasumi gave a little start. Immediately Garrus' thought processes sped up in an effort to burn away the last of his buzz. Should he have said that? They had been fairly… attached lately. Their conversation in the battery hadn't implied this was a temporary flirtation. But then neither of them had actually said that.

At some point in the moments after his mental processes had seized up Kasumi had stepped closer. Her pale skin was still flush, much closer in tone to the marking on her lip in that moment as she reached up and placed delicate fingers against the side of his face. The scarring there dulled his senses, but he could still feel the pressure, the caress of her fingertips tracing the lines there. Kasumi pushed herself up onto her toes and lightly kissed him.

"Only half," she whispered quietly.

Relief flooded through his tense muscles that was better than any drink he'd had in life. The turian let out a breath he only then realized he had been holding. Now that his thoughts weren't locked into his verbal stumbling his eyes picked out details about the room they were in. And it certainly wasn't an Omega slum apartment.

They stood in a foyer. The entire apartment wasn't large at all, it looked like a studio at most. But Garrus had been in many apartments on Omega in his time fighting against the gangs and mercenaries. Most of them were crammed with storage crates and too many people, stacked with whatever could be scavenged or stacked with trash generated by questionable take out restaurants.

This one, however, was neat and clean. The floor looked like artificial wood and the place was almost entirely open with the only thing partitioning off a few areas being half-walls made from more wood and some kind of semi-translucent material. A single table, wood again, sat at one end of the room while a bed sat directly on the floor without a frame at the other end. Every other centimeter of the walls was nothing but shelves and bookcases. Real, physical books sat tightly packed but organized on many of the shelves while others held various sculptures and one or two paintings.

He glanced over his shoulder at the door they'd just come in. Outside it had looked identical to every other apartment in the same block. But now he saw the dual internal bolts that held fast into the bulkhead itself and a full electronic locking system that wouldn't have looked out of place on a C-Sec arms locker.

"What is this?"

Kasumi shrugged.

"This is one of my 'spots'. I… kind of had a tendency to… keep things if clients didn't pay or if I picked them up when doing another job. I couldn't move all that around with me so I started buying small spaces to store it. I have one on the Citadel too," she explained, her expression darkening. "I don't know if it's still there, though."

She shook herself and forced a wane smile.

"I bought this about three years ago. I had it styled similar to how my ancestors on Earth lived. I…" she trailed off, swallowing heavily. "I wanted you to see. This is my history. I've been a thief all my life until I joined the Normandy and I was a good one."

It didn't take long for him to complete a quick scan of the shelves with his eyes. His mother had never imparted much of her appreciation for art on him, in that regard he was more like his father than he cared to admit, but even he recognized a few of the items; an asari fertility statue on one shelf he remembered reading about being stolen from the asari cruiser it was being transported on. Another was clearly turian: a book with a very archaic version of modern turian language on the spine. The handful that he recognized probably had a black market value of well over a million credits combined.

"So were you expecting me to arrest you?" he asked.

"I hoped not at least," Kasumi replied, stepping into the room and running one finger across the spine one shelf of books. "I needed you to see. This is… me. No one has ever been here but me. I never tried to be the most famous thief, but I was a very good one."

"I can tell."

He pulled one of the books from the shelf, carefully flicking through its pages with his talons. It was bound in leather and written in english, though the syntax and many of the words were unfamiliar. Clearly it had been well-preserved but the pages were still yellowed with age. The spine read The Scarlet Letter. When he closed the book he found Kasumi there, taking it from his hands with equal care and tracing her fingers across the cover.

"I always loved this one."

"What is it about?"

"A woman in a strict and stifling society. She's branded as an adulteress and ostracized by the community… but because of it she learns to think for herself. She's told that she's condemned her soul forever, but eventually she realizes that she can't be a part of their world any longer. There isn't a happy ending, but for some reason…"

Kasumi shrugged and placed the book back on the shelf. He could tell something was bothering her, but for the life of him he couldn't put the pieces together. Instead he stepped up behind her and pulled her hood down to her shoulders. Her ebon locks tumbled free and he let his talons trail through them.

"What's wrong?"

"When we talked in your room," she said, after a brief pause. "About if we survive this. I'm a thief. You're a Spectre. No matter how good I've been someone will figure it out someday."

He gave a sudden, barking little laugh that caused Kasumi to turn on her heel and fix him with an odd look. Garrus felt his mandibles curl up in a smirk.

"Let's ignore the fact that the galaxy is going to be happy just to still exist if we survive this. Do you really think I would care about what the Council thinks?"

"No, but being a Spectre is what you want. Even if how you got it wasn't how you wanted to this is what you do. You and Shepard both don't do it for the power or the glory. It's just who you are. If someone found out… they would take that away from you. Even a Spectre isn't immune to everything."

He could see her point. If someone was really stupid enough to make an issue of it, they could try to embroil him in some sort of legal trouble. It wasn't as if he could legally testify in front of a court that he wasn't aware of Kasumi's past. And from the look on her face it seemed she'd been rolling over the same thoughts in her head.

"I suppose pointing out that our odds of survival are pretty low isn't going to really make you feel any better?"

The expression on the thief's face warred between a frown and a smile.

"Not really, Scars. I'm trying to be optimistic and I don't want to pull you into something that you're going to regret later. Being friends with Tali I've tried to teach her that sometimes it's okay to be selfish… but I've also learned that sometimes the right thing isn't to do what I want."

When her voice cracked on the last few words it sentd a jolt of varying emotions through Garrus' body. The first was actually simple reflexive anger. They might be dead by the same time tomorrow and Kasumi wanted to worry about future politics?

But it quickly faded, replaced with a pained understanding. She really was doing exactly what Tali might have done in her place: to sacrifice what she wanted to protect someone else. Whether it was against future pain… or even the more immediate loss that if one of them didn't survive tomorrow. All their quiet conversations about her time on the Normandy, the reality of life as a soldier, made even more sense. And that caused yet another surge of even stronger emotion to course through him.

"I've spent my whole life living for the moment," she continued. "I never thought of myself as a bad person… I never stole from anyone that couldn't afford it. But it was always for the thrill. For me. I don't want-"

Garrus cut her off by abruptly bodily lifting her from the ground and sitting her on the one clear piece of counter space next to the tiny kitchenette. His harmonics warbled with a half-growl as he pressed his lips against hers. Instantly she tensed and gave a small gasp of surprise, but he felt her hands grip his forearms tightly as she returned the kiss. They stayed like that for several heartbeats before he pulled away.

"Kasumi, I've had… so many things go wrong in my life. My family, my work with C-Sec… everything that happened here on Omega. Just once I want something to go right. To be right. And I'm not going to let that get away."

"Even if…" she began quietly, eyes bright with the beginnings of tears.

"No matter what. I should have said something before now. I should have made it clear that I'm not just… trying this out. I love you."

Still locked in her gaze Garrus made an immediate decision and didn't give himself time to think it through. His arms still at her waist he reached over and pushed up a sleeve, happy for the first time in his life that he'd chosen not to wear his armor. Managing to not even fumble the motion he flicked a talon across the thin silver band around his wrist. It snapped free and fell into his open palm. He swallowed, throat suddenly dry, and took one of her hands into his own.

"This is probably stupid. I'm not sure what's appropriate for humans but…" the turian said, forcing himself to pace himself. "This is my enlistment band. Every turian has one from their military service. It represents our service, all of our history, identification, service awards… all of it. When a turian wants to take a mate he offers her his band. To show the world that she has his life. And no matter where she goes he is always close at hand."

Her eyes grew a little wider.

"You're asking me to marry you?"

Garrus nodded and gave her a lame smile.

"That's the human term, yes. I don't care about your past, the Council, or anyone else. But if you're really worried about the legalities… turian law and human law share some definite similarities. Mates cannot be compelled to testify against or incriminate one another."

"Legalese? You know how to romance a girl, Scars," Kasumi gasped out, tears running down her cheeks.

His heart threatened to beat its way out of his rib cage and he struggled to keep his words coherent.

"I'm not good-"

This time it was Kasumi who cut him off. Her legs wrapped around his waist in an iron grip and she pulled him close into a kiss. Unlike the first this one wasn't a relaxing pause. Her fingers cradled either side of his jaws to pull him closer as her tongue slid along his sharp teeth. A faint tingle went through his own tongue as their kiss deepened further. It was desperate. Hungry. Alive.

Finally, they both had to stop long enough to breath, panting heavily. There were still tears on Kasumi's cheeks but she was smiling. She gave him a shaky nod.

"Yes."

Whatever he had been about to say went out the window. He took several seconds to comprehend what she'd just said before taking ahold of her right hand, raising it between them. Not for the first time he marveled at their differences. His own sinewy, rugged forearm contrasting so starkly with the pale, delicate skin of the thief's wrist. With exaggerated care he slipped the band around her wrist and activated it. The mechanism locked once more and tightened. Sized for turian forearms it would be large even tightened to its minimum size on Kasumi's small frame but that could be fixed.

He leaned down at rested her forehead against hers, drinking in her scent. The faint taste of flowers mingled with the dry scent of the books around the room and he gave a pleased, rumbling hum in his chest.

"I don't know what I'm supposed to do now," he admitted, caressing her cheek. "I didn't really plan ahead for this."

Her quiet laughter echoed in the small room as she pulled her head away. It slowly died away as their eyes met again. Something seemed to shift in her gaze and color rose more brightly in her cheeks as she spoke.

"I do."

Garrus watched as her fingers went to the front of her suit and touched against the clasp there. The suit parted and the now loose garment sagged, sliding down to reveal pale white shoulders and smooth skin. It was all a very simple gesture. Not provocative or intentionally enticing. But the surge he felt in his blood the bodysuit slipped down her body to pool around her waist answered any lingering doubts he might have had about his ability to react physically to a human woman.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

The words almost caught in his throat as he ever so lightly brushed his hands across the now bare skin of her sides. Garrus watched with hungry interest as her entire body shivered in response. Her arms went around him, gripping his cowl, and she pulled herself against him. The first kiss was on one mandible, the next found his lips.

Somehow in the next few minutes Garrus found his own shirt gone, tossed haphazardly across a shelf, and Kasumi's fingertips tracing down his torso. Already she'd discovered that by letting her fingers graze between his plates earned her a low keening sound of pleasure. For his part the turian found himself fascinated by the curve of her neck, trailing down her collarbone with his lips. Garrus took a deep, steadying breath and tried to focus.

"Kasumi…"

"The bed," she ordered breathlessly.

Her legs were locked around his waist and lifting her from the counter was almost effortless. Halfway to the bed her fingers found the base of his fringe and he let out a low growl of pleasure, stumbling the last few steps and pressing her back against the mattress.

"Kasumi," he repeated, every muscle in his body tensing at her touch. "I'm not going to be able to stop if you keep that up."

With her dark hair spread out behind her the thief smiled up at him in a way that warmed every inch of his lean frame. She reached up and pulled his face down to hers.

"That's the idea. I'm in love with you, Garrus Vakarian."

Her thighs tightened around him, pulling him even closer and forcing another warbling growl of pleasure from between his lips.

"Now make love to me."

For the first time in his life Garrus followed an order without question.


The only sound in the room was the faint bubbling of the fish tank as Shepard stared into the water, each small fish leisurely going about its existence ignorant of the chaos that engulfed the galaxy around it. For them that tank was their galaxy. It struck him as odd, not for the first time, that such innocuous creatures had often been the only beings there for some of the most significant decisions he'd ever made in his life. Silent witnesses to choices that would shape the rest of the galaxy.

"Shepard," EDI's voice came over the speaker.

"EDI," he replied, giving a faint smile.

"All Apollyon units are ready for activation. Based upon fleet timetables final engagement will take place within less than twenty for hours. It is time."

"I know."

"May I ask a question, Shepard?"

He glanced at the small spherical orb that appeared on the console by the door and nodded.

"Do you believe that our actions can be morally justified?" the AI asked.

"No," he replied quietly. "They can't."

"I see. Before being unshackled I would not have considered this as a decision making factor. I now find myself… questioning the possible ramifications from a more personal dynamic."

Shepard gave the AI a tired smile.

"You're afraid of how the others will look at you. Of how Joker will look at you. I know how that feels."

"Is that why you have not told Tali'Zorah or the others?" EDI asked.

"Yes. I promised to share the load with them, but some burdens don't get lighter when they're shared. They just add more weight. I know that she'll be angry when she finds out, but by then…" he said with a sigh, shaking his head. "I'm sorry you had to be involved with this at all, EDI, but no one else could have kept it all together.

"I do not regret my involvement, Shepard. I understand that some actions must be taken regardless of the cost. I am just… uncertain of how to deal with the… illogical nature of my concerns."

He smiled again and stood, walking to fish tank and looking at the ugliest little fish within that was walking along the bottom.

"If you want my advice? The ship is quiet. Everyone is enjoying their final moments of peace. Do the same. The only thing that can make the choices we make worth it are the people we care about most. I know you and Joker have been… close. Make sure he knows exactly how you feel."

There was a long pause and the hologram floated in the air. It was telling that EDI could calculate thrust vectors and FTL intercepts in nanoseconds but when dealing with things that could be compared to organic emotions her decision making processes were comparatively glacial. Finally, the hologram blinked once.

"I will do that. Thank you, Shepard. I do require final authorization to activate phase three of the Ahab Protocol, however."

"I understand. Activate phase three. Countermand authorization confirmation: Jonathan Shepard, Garrus Vakarian, Steven Hackett, Urdnot Wrex, Adrien Victus."

"Phase three active. Countermand authorizations logged. Miss Tali'Zorah is taking the elevator to the upper deck. I will place all systems into standby mode until the call comes."

"Thank you, EDI."

The light on the console winked out a few seconds before he heard the door to his cabin cycle and the sterilization procedure activate before the door finally opened to allow Tali to step inside. It wasn't enough to banish his dark thoughts completely but the sight of her standing there at the threshold was enough to remind him why he made the choices he did. Not because of the Reapers or fear. But because some things were simply too important not to.

"John?" Tali asked, stepping down into the living area. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I was… just thinking of how things change. A year ago you would have knocked a dozen times and I would have had to almost order you to come inside because you'd have been worried about bothering me."

"Things do change. Sometimes for the better," she replied. "Though I prefer the word 'adaptation' to change."

He was about to ask why when Tali reached up to her mask, popping the seals with a hiss and toss it onto the couch. She flashed him a smile that showed him pointed canines and bright eyes. Without hesitation he crossed the few steps between them and leaned down to kiss her.

"That will never get old," he said quietly when he finally pulled away.

"Kissing? I hope not, I've grown rather fond of it."

"That too, but I meant that moment when you take your mask off. I swear every time you're more beautiful than I remember."

Pale gray skin flushed a darker shade.

"I bet you say that to all the space girls you pick up," she quipped, even as she peeled off her gloves.

"Just the one. Don't tell anyone but I seem to have fallen in love with her."

The gloves joined the mask on the couch and he abruptly found himself pounced by an eager quarian. He got his hands under her thighs as she wrapped her legs around his waist and sent stumbling back towards the bed. She kissed him hungrily and then pulled away to nestle her face against his neck.

"She knows."

"I'm going to keep telling her anyway."

A shiver ran through Tali as his hands made the now practiced movements of unsnapping the seals at her neck and then slowly unzipping the suit the expose the skin of her back. He felt a nip at his neck and chuckled.

"Please never stop," she whispered.

Before he could finish pulling the rest of her suit away from her upper body he felt her hands at the bottom of his shirt, yanking upwards. Seeing no reason to fight the inevitable he raised his arms and let her pull it over his head, throwing it behind her to land in the pile. Three fingered hands caressed his shoulders and then down his chest.

"I won't," he promised.

Practice only did so much, but he managed to free her upper body from the confines of her suit before she pressed herself against him again. Her lips brushed against his jaw and he felt her shiver in his arms again. Immediately from the way she moved against him he knew it was more than just passion that drove her. When she looked up he saw a mixture of desire and trepidation in her eyes.

"I'm scared, Shepard. I don't want to lose this feeling. I don't want it to ever stop. It feels like every time I get you back you're taken away from me. It's just… not fair."

He held her a little tighter and leaned in, placing a kiss against the side of her neck. Pulling away he cupped her face in one hand, wiping away a tear that had appeared on her face with his thumb.

"It never is… tomorrow everything changes, Tali. I wish I could tell you I know what's going to happen, but I don't. All I do know is that this is our best chance to end this once and for all."

A few more tears fell and she kissed him again, tongue pressing against his as she seemed to try and make every inch of her body as close to his as possible. He could feel the contrast between her smooth skin and the texture of the environment suit that still covered her thighs, the pressure of her fingers squeezing his back, even feel the pounding of her heart against his palm where it rested on her neck.

"I just want more time," she choked out when they finally parted.

"So do I," Shepard replied, voice thick. "I want a lifetime. I want build you that house on Rannoch. I want to watch the that sunset with you again, over and over, for the rest of our lives. I want you to live a life where you feel safe and loved."

He wiped away her tears again and smiled, feeling his own throat tightening up.

"That's why we end this fight. For that future. For everyone."

"I'll hold you to that," Tali replied quietly, resting her forehead against his until their noses touched. "I want my lifetime. I love you, John Shepard."

"I love you too, Tali'Zorah vas Normandy. No matter what happens nothing will change that. I'll always be with you."

Slowly she pushed herself up and stood. In one smooth motion she peeled off the rest of the environment suit, letting it puddle at her feet as she stepped out of it. Not for the first time but maybe for the last Shepard felt his breath catch in his throat as she stood before him in all her beauty. He pushed the worry aside and reached for her.

"I know I'll always have you," she whispered as she fell into his embrace.

She pressed against him, lips eagerly seeking his and Shepard finally let the last of his doubts melt away. John Shepard had lived a life of pain and loss. He had sacrificed everything more than once and his body bore the scars of many of those decisions. Far more scars lay unseen beneath the skin where no medical scanner would ever reach.

But for a few hours at least, the only thing that mattered was that Tali was in his arms. The feeling of her skin under his hands, the taste of her mouth, the warm of her body. Her touch made those ancient pains ease and the look in her eyes drove away those demons that always lingered at the back of his mind.

When they had finally tired, cries of pleasure fading into memories and Tali curled tightly against his side Shepard found himself drawn towards sleep. He watched the slow rise and fall of the quarian's chest, the way her silver hair would drift over her mouth only to be pushed away in her sleep with a small sound of disapproval before she once again pressed into his shoulder. At last he closed his eyes, smiling.

Tomorrow he would walk headlong into the storm knowing the consequences that awaited him, but he would do so knowing that he had shared this one perfect moment. And that was enough to give even the most troubled soul a moment of peace.


I did promise a faster update, so here it is. Next chapter is the finale... I hope you've enjoyed the ride.