Chapter 40: Home
He knows where he is without opening his eyes. The air tastes like dust and charcoal. He feels the texture of burned wood beneath his fingers. When he finally looks his hands are stained black with soot. He rubs his fingertips together, watching as flecks of black blow away in the howling wind.
"Shepard."
Next to him on the same charred piece of wood sits the turian, his face bare.
"Saren. I thought you were finally gone."
"So did I."
Looking out he sees… nothing. The landscape is devoid of any notable features aside from the natural roll of the land. An endless plain of rubble and burned wreckage, much of it still smoldering. The tendrils of smoke are ripped away by the wind almost as quickly as they can rise.
"I wonder if you're really ready. If you're forced to make this choice will you be able to do it?"
Saren's voice is an odd combination of genuine interest and vitriol.
"I already made the choice," he replies.
"No, you set a plan in motion. The choice is in that final moment when there is nothing left. When you have to accept the consequences. I know. I made that choice," the turian says bitterly.
Shepard pushes himself up, standing even as the wind buffets him and tries to push him back down. The sky above almost as gray as the ground below, thick with smoke, but what little light comes through is a harsh orange glow. He breathes in the thick, choking air and lets out a sigh, turning to Saren at last.
"This has been where I've been heading ever since I touched the beacon on Eden Prime. In the early days I thought this was a war we could win with soldiers, warships, and a unified galaxy. Maybe I was a fool to think that, but at least I fought against them."
The turian's tone changed to something less harsh and far more somber.
"My choice might not have been the right one."
"Maybe mine isn't either. But this isn't a war that will be won with courage and determination. No matter how good men and women give their lives we'll never stop the Reapers with mass drivers and bombs. Eventually I realized that. The only way to defeat an unstoppable force is to change the rules of the game."
Saren shakes his head.
"This will be your legacy, human."
"I'm willing to have no legacy at all if it means the end to all of this. What do you want to hear, Saren?"
"I don't know. I remember hatred. Contempt. But for some reason I don't get any satisfaction knowing that for all the deaths laid at my feet will be a ripple in the sea of blood you intend to bath in. I'll always be a traitor. But you? You'll be a monster the likes of which will echo for thousands of years."
He frowns at the long-dead turian's frank assessment. Crouching he runs his hand through the burned earth, letting the mix of ash and sand pass through his fingers. Every grain could have been a life. A history. A culture. Reduced to nothing.
"I know."
"Then why?"
"For her. For all of them," he says, standing and meeting Saren's gaze for the first time. "The way Garrus' mandibles drop when he looks at Kasumi and thinks no one is watching. EDI's questions on what it means to be alive. For the future that the geth want to build. For the hope that one day they'll look to the stars again and instead of dread… they'll feel wonder."
For the first time he can ever remember, be it their brief encounters or past recordings, Shepard saw the expression on Saren's face change into something other than a mocking smile or a scowl. Instead it was a simple look of… peace. Acceptance.
"Then maybe your choice will be the right one."
The turian's visage simply… disappeared, blowing away with the rest of the dust.
For the first time Shepard didn't awake in a sudden lurch as if he'd been falling. One moment he was asleep, the next his eyes were open and the dream gone. Carefully he sat up in bed, glancing over at Tali's form wrapped in a tangle of sheets next to him. A quick glance at his omni-tool told him it was early in the morning. The call would come soon.
Tali gave a droning little snore and shifted in her sleep and a small smirk crossed his lips. With a quick touch he scanned through his omni-tool and found what he was looking for. There was one more person he needed to speak to before he took that final step. The line beeped once before the connection established.
Hannah Shepard's face appeared on the screen. Her gray streaked hair was loose, but she was already wearing her uniform and her eyes were alert. It seemed his mother had either gotten little sleep or risen equally early.
"Good morning, Johnny."
"Hey, Mom," he said quietly.
"Still in bed?" she asked, voice filled with dry amusement. "Typical Shepard male."
"What can I say, I always enjoyed my beauty rest."
"I remember. Your father was the same way. I'm sorry I couldn't make it back to the station last night. I'd hoped to see you before the call came."
"I know, so did I. Mom, I… I just..."
He trailed off, unsure of what to say. A hundred times he had left on a mission that he knew could have been the death of him. But every time those missions had been undertaken in haste and secrecy.
"It's okay, Johnny," she said, giving him a warm smile. "It's all going to okay."
It took a few seconds and a few heavy swallows to force down the sudden lump in his throat. A few simple words were both a blessing and a curse.
"I don't know if that's true, Mom. We've lost so much. And no matter what happens today… we are going to lose so much more. So many more lives. Sometimes..."
"You'll be riding into Hell today, Johnny. But you'll be doing it at the head of the largest military force assembled in the history of the galaxy. No matter what happens… you did that. You brought them all here, together. My son," Hannah said, her own voice cracking as she quickly wiped away a tear. "You gave the galaxy hope. No one can ever ask for more of you than that. I love you so very much, Johnny… and I am so proud of everything you have done."
He forced a smile and swallowed again.
"I love you too, Mom. I'm just afraid that… when it's all over…" he said and shook his head in frustration, taking a deep breath.
"You don't know if what's left will be worth the fight?"
The softly lilting voice from his left send a small start through him when Tali's hand reached up to lightly caress his arm as she continued to speak.
"I know because I have the same fear. And when I feel that way I reach for you."
"Thank you," he said, then quickly realized that Tali was sitting up next to him. "Tali, your mask-"
"It's okay."
Tali shifted in the bed next to him until she was pressed against his left side, chin lightly touching his shoulder. A calm, gentle smile crossed her face.
"Hello, Admiral Shepard."
On the screen he watched his mother return the smile.
"I'm honored that you let me see you unmasked. And I'm happy to see that my son has done better than he should ever have expected. You really are beautiful, dear."
He could almost feel the heat that suffused the quarian's face where it hovered near his arm, but Tali maintained her composure.
"Thank you… everything. For raising John to be the man he is, for accepting me. I promise I'll keep him safe."
"I've never doubted that. Listen to her, Johnny. Don't give up hope. That's the most powerful weapon you have left."
Shepard reached up and placed his hand over Tali's, nodding to his mother's image on the screen. He felt the warmth of Tali's skin against him, her breath blowing across his skin, and let himself enjoy that moment for what it was. He had a family, odd as it is, that stood with him. That small comfort was enough to give him enough strength to move forward.
"I'll remember that. But I'm going to bring the rest of my weapons too," he said finally, giving her a grin.
It earned him a small laugh and the ghost of a smile. Quickly Hannah Shepard's expression turned more serious as she gave him a long look.
"That's my boy. Good luck and godspeed to you both."
The connection terminated, leaving them both bathed only in the glow of the fish tank. Tali leaned against him and let out a long sigh. She squeezed him tightly and he shifted back to pull her under one arm. They both knew they were out of time, but neither wanted to let go.
"Help me with my suit?" Tali asked after a few minutes of silence.
Wordlessly he pushed himself out of bed and gathered the pieces of the undersuit. Over the next few minutes he helped her into the suit, double checking each seal and catch until only her faceplate remained. When he reached for it she shook her head.
"Not yet… the rest of the armor and then yours. I want… I want as much time as we can have."
"Alright," he replied simply, brushing her cheek with the back of his hand.
The armor plates came next. Each plate turning her environmental suit into full combat armor, coated in that same lacquered black chitin courtesy of the rachni. As soon as her armor was attached Tali moved to the locker across from the bed and began to pull out his gear. Piece by piece she did the same for him, nimble fingers tightening and fastening as she went. Finally she held his helmet in her hand, reaching up with the other to touch his chin.
"My baelen'sor," she said.
Shepard leaned in and placed a final, slow kiss on her lips before taking the helm from her hands.
"Always."
Then her face was gone again, disappearing behind her armored visor. Together they stepped out of the cabin and into the elevator. Neither voiced the question in both their minds. They just held onto that same feeling: hope. Hope that it wouldn't be the last time they stepped out of that room together.
Shepard stood at the CIC, overlooking the map with his hands clasped behind him. They were ready. The plan was simple all things considered. The majority of the fleet would make the jump into the Sol system and drive immediately towards Earth at flank speed. Thousands of warships would push headlong into the teeth of the Reapers like an avalanche, the bulk of the remaining turian and human fleets leading the charge supported by the backbone of the geth's massive fleet.
Once engaged the Sword fleet would push directly for the Citadel, engaging the Reapers at point blank range and attempting to split their forces. Only then would the Spear fleets make the micro jump into Earth's orbit, coming from directly above and below the planet's poles. The asari's remaining warships made up the bulk of the first Spear fleet, while the batarian remnants, mercenary frigates, and few warships that remained among the hanar and elcor made up the second.
Dagger fleet would be the the last point of attack. They would jump in on the opposite side of the planet and proceed under stealth. Dagger fleet consisted only of Kirrahe's contingent of stealth dreadnoughts and the seven leviathans, all undetectable until they struck. Their task was simple: draw in close and remove any Reaper forces that remained to guard the Citadel.
In the end, though, it was the Shield fleet that guarded their last chance at victory. Once the Reapers had been split and a corridor to the Citadel opened the Shield fleet would make its jump. Eight rachni hive ships and the entire quarian migrant fleet would be at its side. The two converted liveships would bring up the rear, opening fire with their massive kilometer long mass drivers.
While all that raged it would be on his team and the landing force to secure the Citadel itself. Anderson's information showed that the Reapers had positioned the station over London and activated some kind of mass transport conduit to send staggering numbers of captives to the Citadel for what Shepard could only imagine was processing for the creation of the first new Reaper of the cycle. They would retake the Citadel and open the arms, allowing the Crucible to dock.
"We few, we happy few…" Shepard said to himself, looking down at the diagrams and maps.
Thousands would die in the first minutes of the engagement. Tens of thousands within the hour. No plan, no trick, would make them a match for the Reaper's technological advantage. They would fight with everything they had, selling themselves dearly, but he knew that for every Reaper they struck down they would lose ten of their own.
"We band of brothers."
He turned his head in surprise to see Javik standing just behind him. The prothean was in his battle armor, but his expression was passive. The alien made a gesture with one hand, his four eyes flickering with something that might have been amusement.
"Not all of your primitive literature is without merit. When I searched I found evidence that your species understood the glory of battle and the value of a good death."
Shepard frowned.
"I don't believe in embracing death so easily."
"I did not say easily. But it is better to die in fire than to cower in the darkness and cold, waiting for the end."
A shudder passed through him at the prothean's words.
"Maybe so," he said quietly.
"We go to meet our fate, Shepard. I sought to speak with you before that final moment. The rachni named you Sings-of-Endings. For all my distrust of them… I believe they are correct," Javik said, stepping up next to him. "This ship. This crew. I had one much like it. Brothers and sisters forged in battle."
"What happened?"
"They fell. The Reapers turned them into their twisted abominations… and I was forced to kill them all. They deserved a better death."
Memories of his nightmares came howling back and he suppressed another shudder.
"I'm sorry."
"You have done what I could not, Shepard. You have brought me my vengeance. For that I would consider you my only equal in this cycle. I know your doubts. Do not mourn for the deaths that come. Celebrate their deeds. Remember their glory. Should they fall then at least they die as their own, their minds and essence free from the Reaper's corruption."
"And what about you, Javik? What will you do if we win?"
The prothean spared him a quick glance, arms behind his back mirroring Shepard's stance.
"Then I will find the moon where I buried my crew and I will join them. I sealed away the memory of their deaths to allow myself to continue to mission. I unlocked those memories in meditation last night. To grant myself the rage, the power in my blood to face down the creatures that destroyed my people."
"After all that, you would choose death?"
"Would you not?" Javik asked.
There was no accusation or mockery in the prothean's words. It was a simple question, a statement even. Shepard didn't answer but there was no need to, both already knew. Garrus, Tali, Kasumi, Joker… all of them gone? No matter how sweet the victory it would taste like ashes in his mouth knowing that they were gone.
"I am a ghost. I am the avatar of my people's vengeance. And I am the last. The Prothean Empire was not strong enough to survive. This is the way of the universe. When this is done I will have no purpose. All I have known in my life is war. I will welcome a final moment of peace."
"That at least we agree on, Javik," he replied.
The prothean gave a small sound of amusement and stepped down, heading for the elevator without another word. Shepard simply watched him go. He wouldn't pity him. Javik deserved far more than that. In his place Shepard didn't know if he could have held onto the same strength of will.
"Commander, they're ready," Joker's voice came over the intercom.
He turned back to the display and watched as Hackett's hologram appeared to his left. The grizzled admiral gave him a crisp salute that he returned.
"Praetor Shepard… are you ready to bring the might of the galaxy to bear on the Reapers?"
"I am."
"All fleets, check in," Hackett ordered in his gravelly voice.
"This is Primarch Victus, Sword Fleet is ready."
"Captain Pallana confirming Spear Fleet is ready."
"Kirrahe. Dagger Fleet is ready."
"This is Admiral Han'Gerrel. The Shield Fleet is ready."
"All fleets confirmed ready," Hackett said. "Make the jump."
Countless thousands of warships jumped to FTL, hurtling towards their final battle. Hackett's image gave him a nod of acknowledgement and made a gesture as if ceding the floor.
"I'm opening communications to the entire fleet. The comm is yours, Praetor."
Thousands of lights indicating activate comm signals glowed on across the display. Ship names, human, alien. Shepard took a deep breath and placed his hands behind his back once more, staring ahead as the scanners projected his image.
"Soldiers of the New Systems Alliance. Never before in history have so many come together from all corners of the galaxy, but never before have we ever faced such a threat as we do now. The Reapers are not an enemy at our gates seeking tribute or territory. The Reapers look upon themselves as dark gods and they make only a single demand: our extinction. They terrorize us. They destroy our homes, our families. They expect us to accept our fate… we will not!"
He abruptly slammed his fist into the railing in front of him, the sound echoing in the silence of the CIC.
"Here, on this day, we launch the largest military offensive in the history of the galaxy! We are united not by creed, religion, or even species but by the most universal desire: to survive! We are turian. We are human. We are synthetic and organic. We are bitter enemies and ancient allies. And we have declared in one voice that we will not go gently into the night!"
Shepard raised his clenched fist.
"We do not fight for glory or honor! We fight for the soldier that stands beside us! We fight for the families we leave behind and those lost! We fight for a future for our children and theirs! A future for generations that will never need cower under the shadow of would-be gods! This is our moment! A moment that will echo throughout history when an entire galaxy stood as one and said to our destroyers: no more!"
"Stand fast! Stand together!" Shepard bellowed. "Today we take back our galaxy!"
The CIC around him erupted into thumping and cheering. Across hundreds of warships the same sound echoed through the comms. The throaty bellow of krogan warriors and haunting songs of rachni warriors mixed with the battle cry of ten thousand turian voices and as many human soldiers.
"Well said, Shepard," Hackett said as he signed off. "Godspeed to us all."
He walked past the rest of the crew on CICs, acknowledging the salutes of each crewmember that he passed until he stood next to Joker on the bridge. EDI's platform sat in the co-pilots chair. Joker glanced up at his approach and smiled.
"Can't back out after that speech, huh?"
"No, I'd say we're committed," he replied.
"We always were, weren't we?"
"To the end. Not many could say they were here from the beginning. Thanks, Joker."
The pilot gave him an uncharacteristically serious look.
"No, thank you, Shepard. You gave me the chance. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."
"And I wouldn't want any other pilot. What's our ETA?" he asked.
"We hit the relay in ninety seconds. All fleets in formation. Point of no return."
He stood there in the cockpit as the seconds ticked by, feeling energy beginning to build in the pit of his stomach. Excitement. Fear. Anger. Billions dead, worlds in ruin. Months of running, hiding, and watching as losses climbed. Strike and then run away, never able to make a stand.
Space around the relay erupted into a storm of azure flashes as hundreds of warships came crashing out of FTL at flank speed and not even slowing as they hurtled towards Earth. Flanking the Normandy, carriers opened their launch bays and released thousands of fighters into the fleet's vanguard. Watching those smaller vessels surge ahead sent another spike of adrenaline through his blood.
No more running. For once it would be the Reapers who would turn their vision to the stars and look upon the fury that was about to rain down upon them.
"This is Shepard to all vessels. Lock your targets and prepare to fire on my mark."
Earth grew steadily larger in the viewscreen, the Citadel hovering in low orbit barely outside the atmosphere. He could already see the cephalopod-like forms of the Reapers beginning to come about to face the incoming threat. A heartbeat later he saw the target indicator on the Normandy's screen pulse once and then burn bright green.
"Fire!"
If the fleet was the storm that was blowing towards Earth, then their first volley of fire was the tidal wave the preceded it. A thousand or more hyper accelerated rounds streaked forward, followed only a half second later by wave of azure lances that streaked out towards the enemy. The space around the Reapers erupted into fire as rounds impacted, expending their fury against the kinetic barriers that protected the massive ships. He watched in savage joy as some of the smaller Destroyer-class Reapers at the forefront simply crumpled under the massed volley, curling in upon themselves in their death throes like dying spiders.
"They're yours, Victus," he said, switching to the command line.
The turian's only response was a hiss of excitement and an immediate barking of orders.
"Second volley! Fighters, break and attack! Concentrate fire on the enemy warships closest to the Citadel!"
As fire erupted from the fleet once more the Reapers began to retaliate, countering the azure bolts of the thanix cannons with baleful red lances of fire from their main guns that cut into the fleet like scalpels. With each shot one of their ships was erased from existence. But for once they had an advantage. At such high speed they would be in knife fight range in seconds and their weight of fire was a threat even to the Reapers.
"Hammer Squadron," Shepard ordered. "Follow us in!"
Once more the carriers opened their bays and disgorged hundreds of gunships and shuttles just as the two lines met, the Alliance fighters tearing into the massed enemy drones. Tiny bright lights erupted across his field of view like struck matches, quickly burning and then going out.
"Get us down there, Joker."
"Aye aye, sir. Hope you don't mind if I get some back on the way."
He grinned once more.
"Not at all."
The Normandy darted between two of the massive capital ships and zeroed in on one of the Destroyer-class vessels in her path. Joker's fingers caressed the controls and the thanix cannons spat fire once again, raking across the Reaper's core and followed up a second later by a pair of Javelin missiles that tore through the ship's weakened barriers and punched deep holes in its armored shell. It listed to one side, trying to right itself to return fire only to suddenly catch another volley of four missiles from a turian frigate the pulled alongside them.
"Yeah!" Joker crowed.
More missiles streaked past them, peppering the intervening Reapers with explosions as the Normandy sliced through the cloud of wreckage that had once been the destroyer. Shepard resisted the urge to slap the pilot on the shoulder and settled for a heavy thump on his chair.
"Good hunting. You two are my eye in the sky from here on out."
"I… wish you luck as well, Shepard," EDI replied.
"Thank you, EDI. Now if you don't mind I'm going to go kick in the teeth of the bastards that have turned my planet into a warzone."
Leaving Joker to what he did best, Shepard quickly made his way to the elevator and down to the cargo bay. He moved to the arms locker, popping it open and grabbing his rifle. First the massive M-98 sniper rifle, then his ever reliable Vindicator. Finally he pulled the solid mass of his heavy pistol from the bottom of the locker, running his thumb across the notches before shoving it into the holster at his hip.
Assembled in the cargo hold was the best team that had ever graced any starship. Spectres. Krogan Warriors. Soldiers and civilians. Over a dozen of the most skilled operatives in the entire galaxy. All armed to the teeth and with a single mission on their mind. No sight had ever filled him with such pride.
At the center stood the original five. The ones that had seen this all begin. Wrex as always dwarfed the others, a massive rocket launcher held in his grip and a feral grin on his scarred features. Ashley's armor had been upgraded sometime on Omega as well, bone white with a shock of blue down one arm. With her rifle resting against her shoulder, another rifle across her back, and her helm under one arm she looked like a modern image of a greek war goddess. Liara stood next to her in contrast with only the blue of her skin contrasting the jet black armor she wore and only a single pistol at her hip.
Garrus and Tali stood side by side as well, his ever reliable pair. Each was armored from head to toe in their rachni enhanced armor like glittering black knights. The marksman and the engineer. Without all of them he would have never have made it this far. Now they were all about to charge into the gates of hell at his side, not just willing but eager to face that darkness.
"I have no speeches left to give," he said into the expectant silence, moving to stand next to the shuttle and looking out at them all. "All I have is my thanks. My thanks for the choices you've made, for the things you've sacrificed, and for the faith you have freely given. Our actions here today will never be forgotten."
He swallowed heavily and smiled behind his helm. Beneath his feet he felt the Normandy shudder as it burned into the atmosphere. It was time. The warning sirens in the cargo hold began to blare and the bay door shuddered. He raised his rifle skyward and let his next words ring out over the sirens.
"Let's go remind the Reapers what happened the last time they faced us in battle at the Citadel!"
The Normandy lurched to a stop and the the cargo doors swung down, stinging wind and ash howling outside under the backwash of the engines. The sound of gunfire roared around them. As one they surged out of the Normandy, guns already firing before their feet even touched the ground. Shepard felt himself hit, dropping into a crouch and drawing his pistol as he stood. A shot rang out at a husk crumpled to dusty ground.
John Shepard had returned to Earth. And he had brought the galaxy with him.
"Vega, six o'clock high!" Shepard barked.
Extending a hand he sent out a surge of biotic power to seize the leaping husk, stopping it in mid-air to give Vega time to turn and snap off a round from his shotgun. He released the field and the creature fell to the ground with a massive hole in its chest.
"Thanks, Loco."
A few more bursts of automatic fire echoed between buildings, and then silence.
"We seem to have cleared the area more quickly than I would have anticipated," Liara said.
"That would be because we did the heavy lifting already, Ms. T'soni."
Shepard turned and felt a smile cross his face. A dozen meters away in the shadow of a ruined store stood David Anderson, half a dozen weary but determined looking soldiers behind him. Crossing the distance the two clasped hands tightly.
"Anderson!" he said.
"Welcome back to Earth. We've got teams connecting with the landing parties. Follow us and we'll take you back to the firebase."
The team quickly formed up and followed Anderson. The men and women around them showed all the signs of a long war. Alliance issued armor was worn and dented, numerous non-standard modifications showed on everything from extra armoring strapped to forearms or aftermarket weapon accessories slapped onto otherwise standard issue rifles. Some wore obvious bandages covering wounds that medigel and field medicine couldn't heal. Most of these men and women likely hadn't seen anything approaching modern medical care since the war began. It made the fact that they were still fighting all the more admirable.
Their path took them through ruined buildings that quickly blurred into a similar mass of gray concrete and twisted rebar. Everything was covered in a film of fine gray ash. When his fingers brushed against a wall, blowing up a cloud of it to expose the charred advertisement for a sports drink beneath he felt a faint shiver roll up his fine. It was the first time he'd returned to Earth in months, but it felt all too familiar.
A few minutes later they found themselves in a ruin that was more stable than the rest. It had likely been a municipal building from what Shepard could tell, a large open lobby with a network of smaller rooms shooting off from various hallways. He spotted half a dozen APCs that had been parked in half the lobby, using the ruined wall like a garage door.
"Welcome to our most recent home. The Reapers aren't particularly dedicated in their searching, mostly they just blanket an area with husks, but they always find us eventually," Anderson explained.
"Yea, well, once we kick these culos off the planet there won't be anymore running away," Vega said.
Anderson gave a tired laugh and slapped the big man on the back.
"Should have known you'd be right behind Shepard when he came back, Vega. Glad to see I made the right call."
"You said you needed someone to guard Commander Shepard. Just following orders, sir."
"Rather literally, I see," he replied before nodding towards one of the hallways. "We can go over the situation in my 'office'. The rest of you, we don't have much but you're welcome to whatever hospitality we can provide."
Shepard smiled at Anderson's dryly humorous reference to his office. David Anderson should have been a few years from retirement on an admiral's substantial pension with a long career of honors to look back on. Instead he was leading a months long guerilla war against the Reapers yet he still had his sense of humor. A pair of guards stood at the entrance of the hallway but quickly stood down at a gesture from Anderson.
He glanced over his shoulder to see Tali and Garrus already following as the others spread out among the resistance fighters. Kasumi paused a step behind and touched Garrus' elbow, causing the turian to pause.
"I'll catch up."
"I don't think Anderson is going to complain about operational security because of your presence," Garrus said, his tone dry.
Kasumi shook her head.
"I'll be fine. It just seems more… appropriate that it's just the three of you. Besides I've got an extra medi-gel dispenser that I, ah, borrowed from the ship. Looks like plenty of these guys could use it."
The pair locked eyes for a moment before Garrus' mandibles twitched once and then he nodded. A second later the thief was gone. He gave the turian a questioning look but his friend simply gave a shrug and gesture for them to continue. A minute later they found themselves crowded into Anderson's 'office'.
Office apparently also meant bunk, storage, and general living space. There was indeed an L shaped desk that had been meticulously dusted off, but there was also a footlocker at one end and a folding cot behind the desk. A stack of heavy plastic cargo containers occupied another corner. Anderson sat on the corner of the desk, showing a little of the fatigue that must been a constant companion as Tali shut the door.
"I'm not going to say you're late, but you certainly showed up just in time," the older man said. "Looks like you brought the entire galaxy with you."
"I wish it could have been sooner."
"It took as long as it had to," Anderson replied. "I'm just glad it finally did. Half these people aren't even Alliance. Just survivors that decided they'd rather fight sit around and wait to be harvested. They're good people. Tough. But we all have limits."
"You turned untrained civilians into an effective fighting force. Our entire population undergoes military service and hasn't done any better at fighting off the Reapers. That says a great deal, Admiral," Garrus interjected.
Anderson gave a tired laugh.
"It says that the Reapers underestimated us, they always have. But it's finally time to put an end to this."
"What are your people on the ground telling you?" Shepard asked.
The older man reached behind the table and pulled out an actual laminated map, slipping from his seated position to unroll it onto the desk. It was a street view of the London metropolitan area. Various circles dotted the landscape, most of them now filled with red Xs. Previous safe-houses most likely. Anderson reached out and tapped an area on the map south-west of the city center.
"Here. The Reapers had already set up a kind of base of operations south of here, but since the arrival of the Citadel they've stepped up their offensives. This park here south of the Thames is the lynchpin. They seem to have created some kind of… transport beam directly linked to the Citadel here. They're literally funneling thousands of husks and other troops up to the Citadel from this point. We can't tell exactly where it goes but it must be somewhere near the heart of the Citadel based on its trajectory."
"Keelah. What about the Citadel? Have you gotten any communications from them?" Tali asked.
"No. The arms are sealed up tight and there are constantly Reapers surrounding it. Nothing has gotten in or out that didn't use that transport beam. But they're still sending troops up there," Anderson said. "That means they haven't taken control of the entire Citadel."
He and Garrus exchanged a look.
"So you thinking the same thing?" the turian asked.
"That it's a suicide mission? There's no way the Reapers would leave something like that unguarded. But then I also don't think they were expecting us to show up with so many friends."
As soon as the words left his mouth someone banged on the door and then pulled it open without waiting for a response. A very nervous looking one of Anderson's resistance fighters was standing next to two meters of krogan. A krogan in dark red armor with an eager smile plastered across his scarred features.
"Anderson."
The admiral shook his head and chuckled.
"Wrex."
"Sorry, sir. He just kept walking and… there are a whole lot more of them. Gamma team found them a few miles south."
At that Anderson's eyebrows raised and he glanced between Shepard and Wrex.
"How many krogan did you bring?"
"All of them," Wrex replied, smile growing even wider. "Anyone that wasn't already fighting Reapers on Tuchanka or Palaven with the damn turians just landed on Earth. Not as many of us as there used to be… but I'd say your little resistance just got about fifty thousand bigger."
"Holy shit," the wide-eyed resistance fighter blurted.
"You're dismissed, Corporal. Get the krogan soldiers situated as best you can and tell everyone to rest up while they can," Anderson ordered.
"Yes, sir."
Wrex waited until the young man was gone before hunching down and squeezing his way into the room. He looked down at the map and grunted.
"You got a plan?"
"He wants to charge straight into the single largest concentration of Reapers on the planet, then take a Reaper mass transport beam directly onto the Citadel," Tali said, her tone as dry as the dust that coated the floor. "So basically we're… re-invading the Citadel?"
The room was silent for a moment. When she put it like that Shepard did see the absurdity of just what they were planning. And then Wrex barked out a rumbling laugh and slapped Shepard hard enough on the back that he had to grab the table for support.
"If you weren't already an honorary krogan, Shepard, that plan would have sealed it. When do we go?" Wrex asked.
He resisted the urge to glance upwards. In the space above warships were maneuvering, dodging, and unleashing more firepower than the galaxy had ever seen. Good men and women were dying every second that passed. But their sacrifice would be in vain if they failed to retake the Citadel and open the arms.
"The rest of the ground elements should already be on their way here. We roll out in forty minutes."
The resistance encampment buzzed with greater and energy with every passing moment. A full company of M-44 Hammerhead tanks had coasted into the firebase only minutes before to the cheers of the soldiers, quickly followed by nearly as many Makos. It had likely been months since Anderson's men had had functional armored elements other than Grizzly transports they were using to move the base from location to location.
Shepard moved through the mass of troops slowly, trading salutes with many of the soldiers both old and new. The sky overhead had completely darkened now beneath a mass of clouds, lit only by the piercing blue glow of the transport beam that shot skyward in the distance. He spotted Vega near a stack of crates, quickly stripping an M-8 Avenger rifle and reassembling it before handing it off to a waiting soldier.
"Shepard," the man greeted him. "Just doing some final checks."
"What, no loco?" he asked.
"Off my game," Vega replied with a shrug, picking up another rifle and checking it with practiced hands. "I didn't know what I'd feel… coming back. But seeing it like this?"
The spectre could understand the feeling, even if it was muted for him. How many times had his dreams shown him this same scene on Earth and a thousand other worlds. Blasted wastelands, skeletons of civilizations that lingered only to be slowly eroded away into nothing by the sands of time. But for Vega and others seeing it for the first time it had to be a shock.
"The Reapers prey on fear and despair," Shepard said. "Don't let them. I look around and I see what they've done to our world. Our friends, our family. And I get angry. And I use it."
Vega looked up, his mouth tightening into a grim line as he listened. Shepard took a single step forward and placed a hand on the larger man's shoulder.
"You're a damn fine soldier, Vega. One of the best I've ever served with… and we're going to win this thing. No more running. It's time they ran from us for once."
At that the man's lips turned up and he nodded, snapping his free hand up in a salute.
"It's been an honor serving with you, Loco."
"And you, James," he replied, mirroring the gesture.
He left the man still breaking down the rifles before handing them off. None of their soldiers would go into battle with a gun that would misfire or jam the first time they pulled the trigger. Everyone would have the chance to fight back.
It was a few minutes later that his feet carried him into another section of the ruined building. Anderson's people had turned what had been an auditorium into a makeshift hospital. Wounded soldiers lay on cots with various scavenged medical equipment monitoring them as generators hummed in the background.
As he watched another man was carried in on a stretcher, an Alliance soldier in fairly clean fatigues carrying one end while Ashley Williams held the other. Liara directed them over to an open cot, kneeling next to the man to do a quick scan with her omni-tool. They spoke briefly and he saw her give the man a quick injection that made his eyes flutter closed.
"How many more?" he asked quietly.
"He's the last one," Ashley said. "Part of the engineering corps that dropped too far outside the zone, team was ambushed by husks on the way to the rendezvous. Tackled a husk that would have taken his CO's head off but got torn up for his trouble."
Liara nodded, glancing at her omni-tool again.
"I gave him a sedative and a dose of medi-gel, it's the best that can be done for now. He'll live if…"
"If we win this thing," Shepard finished the thought.
"We've come this far, haven't we?" Ashley said.
A small smile crossed Liara's features.
"That we have. Two soldiers and an archaeologist. Now two Spectres and the Shadow Broker…"
"It feels like a thousand years ago," Ashley said with a smile of her own.
"It does, but for all the pain I wouldn't change any of it. And I'm glad here at the end you're both here with me. I just wish Kaiden could be here as well to see this," Shepard said.
"He is, Skipper," Ashley replied, her smile becoming tight. "He always has been."
"Maybe so."
The three were silent for a long moment, memories of the fallen fresh in their minds. Memories that would likely grow all the more heavy in the hours to come. Shepard shook his head, pushing the thoughts aside. Instead he met their eyes in turn and gave them the best smile he could muster as he turned to leave.
"Shepard, wait… there is a… tradition, among the asari. A brief melding, the exchanging memories. In ancient times it was used as a farewell among those that were close. To leave something behind even if they never again met."
Liara extended her hands, palm up.
"It is something I would share with both of you… if you are willing."
"I'd be honored," Shepard said, then looked to the other woman. "Ash, I know…"
But the dark-haired woman simply shook her head and took Liara's hand in her own.
"I put that behind me, Shepard. If you taught me anything it's that species doesn't matter… the person does. I would also be honored, Liara."
The asari squeezed her hands tightly and her eyes opened wide, becoming completely opaque. It felt like a rush of electricity shooting up his arm and he barely heard Liara's whispered benediction as the world spun
"Embrace eternity…"
There were no words exchanged. Only thoughts. Memories. Emotions. He saw Benezia through the eyes of a young Liara being lifted up, laughter filling the air. He saw Ashley's family around a dinner table, felt the warm of her sisters' hands tightly squeezing as they lowered their heads in prayer for a rare meal with the entire family. He saw his own memories. The celebration on the Citadel after Sovereign had been defeated, the rush of victory still in their blood as they raised their glasses in a toast. And then it was over.
"Wow," Ashley whispered.
Liara's eyes were glimmering with unshed tears.
"Thank you both."
"I never knew it was like that," Ashley said. "Just like it was my own memory."
"They are now."
He had felt the connection between the three of them. Liara had specifically thought of one of her own most pleasant memories and thus had brought up some of their own. It wasn't the first time Liara and he had melded, though. He had seen other flashes of memory, shared ones that were between only them. Their time on the first Normandy. The flood of emotions. Loneliness. Fear. Friendship. Warmth. Love. Acceptance.
Shepard met her eyes and Liara simply nodded once. Nothing more needed to be said. A goodbye in more ways than one. An acceptance of what had passed between them and an expression of joy for the experience. He smiled.
"I hope to see you both on the other side."
"May the Goddess watch over you."
"Godspeed, Shepard."
Another convoy rolled into, soldiers hanging on the sides of the Makos. More men and supplies. He moved through the street and began to make the climb up one of the few taller buildings that still seemed stable. Above him he could hear Wrex's booming voice as he spoke to the krogan below.
"When the rachni laid waste to the galaxy two thousand years ago… when all was lost and the end seemed near one word changed the course of history! One word beat the monsters back to the abyss! One word brought death to an enemy that none dared fight! That word was KROGAN!"
The assembled warriors gave a roar of approval.
"Today the krogan rise again! We forge a new path, not as servants but as allies! We stand with a united galaxy! The monsters that we once fought now fight at our side even as this new enemy claws its way from the darkness! Shepard has given us back our people, but today we win our future!"
This time the roar was deafening, a chorus of beastial voices raised in such defiance that it shook dust from the crumbling ruins around them. It sent a thrill up his spine. There was something primal in the sheer ferocity of the krogan desire for war.
"Shepard. Just reminding the troops of why we're here," Wrex said as he approached.
The two clasped wrists tightly.
"I heard. Good speech."
"I'm good at politics… as long as they involve killing people," the krogan said with a deep laugh. "Bakara says hello, by the way. She had to stay back on Tuchanka. Already pregnant. Being clan leader has some perks."
Shepard smiled broadly.
"Congratulations, Wrex. You'll make one hell of a father."
The krogan gave a snort.
"We'll see, you have no idea what krogan children are like. And Bakara is still insisting on naming one of the first ones 'Mordin'."
"A krogan named after a salarian… first for everything."
"Lots of firsts," Wrex said, nodding. "You ready to go kick the crap out of these monsters?"
"It's been a long time coming. I'm as ready as I'll ever be," he replied.
"I know you're going to win, Shepard. Because you brought the krogan. Not mercenaries, slaves, or servants. You brought the krogan as allies. As blood brothers. And nothing will stop us."
"Nothing."
The two clasped wrists again as Wrex moved down to rejoin his troops, further stoking their battlelust with tales of glory. As Shepard watched him go he realized that despite knowing the krogan for years he still didn't know just how old Wrex was. Clearly he'd been alive since the end of the Krogan Rebellion which meant he had already been alive for centuries. There was something encouraging when he considered that the warlord at his side had likely been fighting and surviving since the days of the Roman Empire.
He heard the crunch of debris behind him but didn't turn around when he heard the flanged hum that came a second later. Garrus moved to stand next to him. When he finally spoke it was in a quiet, thoughtful tone.
"Shepard. I guess this is…"
"Just like old times?" he supplied as Garrus trailed off.
"Huh. Might be the last chance we get to say that."
"Think we're going to lose?"
That got a little chuff from the turian and his voice turned wry.
"No, I think we're going to kick the Reapers back into whatever black hole they crawled out of and then retire somewhere warm and tropical. Live of the royalties from the vids."
Shepard closed his eyes and smiled at the mental image.
"Might be the best plan you've ever had, Vakarian, you'll have to hold me a seat. I think after this… my galaxy saving days are over. We just have to beat the Reapers to make it there."
The turian gave another hum of acknowledgement and they lapsed back into silence. A pair of cynics that knew the odds they faced. If anyone survived the next few hours it would be a miracle, for the people right in the middle of it like them? It would be something far beyond even that.
"You remember that thing you asked me to do?" Garrus finally asked.
Shepard nodded.
"Think you can return the favor?"
"Just like you would. I'm glad you found her. One way or the other she'll be safe."
Garrus' mandibles quirked slightly in a smile.
"So am I. Just another on the long list of things I never expected when I agreed to go on your crazy mission."
"Kind of makes it all worth it, though, doesn't it?" he asked.
This time it was the turian that nodded.
"Even if we're lucky it will probably be one of us."
"Probably so," Shepard agreed.
"You know, Vega told me about saying you have here on Earth. 'May you been in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead'... I don't know if turian heaven is the same, but if this all goes sideways? Meet me at the bar. I'm buying."
For the first time he shifted to look at the other man and Garrus met his gaze.
"Might be a longshot, but I'm not giving up yet. We're a team, there is no Shepard without Vakarian. So you better learn to keep your head down."
"Turians aren't good at ducking, but I'll improvise."
They shared a sad smile that showed the months and years that weighed on both of them. Garrus extended his hand and Shepard grasped it tightly as the turian continued to speak.
"We're more than just a team, Shepard. You said it yourself. We're brothers. And your brother has an order for you… you go out there and you give them hell. The kind of hell they've never seen until these monsters' soulless bodies tremble in fear of it. You were born to do this."
Shepard swallowed heavily, his throat feeling tight and his eyes stinging as he squeezed the turian's wrist a little tighter.
"Good luck, Garrus. And if when this is all over I'm in that bar and you're not? I'll be looking down. I'll always have your back."
The turian's raspy reply came a few long seconds later.
"I know."
Well, I thought this would be the final chapter but it looks like you'll be getting another as this simply grew too long to post as a single chapter so more likely we'll be seeing the final chapter shortly and the epilogue to close it out.
Thanks as always for the reads, reviews, and patience!
