Chapter 2

Okay, now back to the task at hand. What am I supposed to do? A better question is: why the hell isn't Shepard defending herself? She doesn't need weapons, that's for sure, she's a powerful biotic and could essentially throw EDI across the room. As I thought this in my mind, it was as if Tali heard me say it out loud.

"Keelah, Shepard! Just blast her! I know you have the strength!" She yelled across the room. Shepard just laughed as she spat out little bits of blood from her mouth.

"Why are you not defending yourself, Shepard?" EDI asked.

"I would never attack my own crew, no matter the circumstances. I knew what chance I was taking meeting you here, where you hold the most strength, but I deserve it I guess. My question to you is EDI, for such a technologically superior being, why can we not talk?"

EDI looked as if she shorted out for a second. She could not respond with a sufficient answer. She did not know why she couldn't civilly talk to her commander.

"What do you mean meet you here?" Joker said to EDI, "you planned this? You planned on hurting Lilly?" At that moment, Shepard looked at him as his face became red, not just with anger, but with embarrassment for saying the name he only called her. He was the only one.

She could feel herself slipping again, she figured while they were on a first name basis, mind as well join in.

"Jeff… Jeff, get out of here, please!" She pleaded. She could feel herself slipping. "I don't think I can stay awake much longer… so…tired. Want … to sleep… Miss you, My helmsman…"

He looked at her in shock. He didn't think she would become so emotional at a time like this. Normally this is when she throws emotions to the wind, where she forgets about everything but the mission handed to her. Yet, all she could do was speak his name.

I remember one night… After we came back from Thessia, she started having nightmares, terrible ones. She couldn't sleep and was pretty close to drunk around 2:30, so she decided to come see me. I can't say I was disappointed. I wish I could, but I couldn't help but be excited to see her in her oversized t-shirt that had a picture of a puppy varren on it, it was so cute.

We were smooth sailing. There really wasn't any reason for something to go wrong. It was night cycle, everyone was asleep, and EDI went to the AI core to "rest". I was checking the systems when I heard a shuffle behind me. I would love to have rear-veiw mirrors up here.

It was Lilly.

She looked a mess. She looked amazing. Her hair disheveled from tossing and turning, her eyes red from what I assume was crying. She plopped down next to me and whimpered. What could I do?

"What's up commander, you look like hell." I was lying.

"I can't sleep, and thanks for the compliment, Lieutenant." She peeped. She sincerely looked scared.

"Want to talk?" I really hope she doesn't, but maybe it'll get her out of my sight, and my thoughts much sooner.

"Do you mind?"

Do I mind? No. Do I really want to? Yes. I mean No! I can't become close, I can't. Get a hold of yourself Joker!

She comes near me. No, no Shepard… don't come near me! She slides into the same chair. Okay, maybe it won't be too bad. The warmth of her is so inviting, that I find myself putting my arms around her. I have never seen her like this. She looks so fragile, so scared. It makes every part of me want to protect her, which is silly since she protects everyone, including me. I guess that can take a toll.

"I had a terrible nightmare, Jeff."

She called me Jeff. Well, how about that.

"What happened, tell me." I find myself whispering to her, I was inches from her face and I would be lying if I didn't think how easy it would be to kiss her right now.

"I saw everything crumble around me. Mordin, Thane, Kaidan, everyone disappeared, like they fell into a chasm. Garrus, Tali, Liara… Even you…" She began to cry.

"What do I do Jeff? What if I can't save everyone? What if I fail? I'll lose everyone, lose you too!" She buried her face into my chest. This was such an intimate moment, and I would so hate to ruin it.

"Lilly, look at me." her eyes, which were now glassy from her tears looked up at me. I never noticed them before. Brown, light, almost like honey. I felt myself drowning in them, in her.

"I will never leave your side, do you hear me? Not after all this time. I will stay with you until the end, even when you order me not to, I will be here for you, Lilly, because that's what I do, Just as you did for me." I held her chin so that she couldn't turn away from me. She looked as if she was searching for something. Then she spoke.

"What did you do after I died?"

I was afraid of this ever coming up. I should've known it would one day.

"I guess you deserve to know… The galaxy might end tomorrow, am I right? So it can't hurt telling you…."

I began to continue. "I was a mess. The Alliance grounded me, took away one of the only things that ever mattered to me, one of the few things I had left. I drank, the days began to blur. The only thing that held me together was Chakwas and her reminding me that you wouldn't want this for me. So, I took that, and ran with it. I healed… over time, and became functional again." I finished. I looked at her, and well… I couldn't describe the look, but all I knew next was that her lips were against mine. Remember that whole idea of staying away? Yeah I don't remember that. Not one bit. This was wrong though, I was with EDI. I made my decision. Didn't I? I could never have this with EDI though. The warmth of her lips the softness of her skin. Woah! Okay going too far…

As much as I hated the thought, I broke from her enticing lips, and the look on her face only made me want to ravage her more. Her lips were swollen, from my kisses of course, and her face was blushed. She was the most beautiful creature in the galaxy. She kept her head down, said goodnight, and left me alone. My only thoughts would most certainly be of her tonight. I sighed and tried with little success to sleep. Right, sleep…

-.-.-.-.-.-Shepard-.-.-.-.-.-

"I understand your frustration… EDI… Can we just talk? If not, I will eventually have to hurt you." I said to her panting.

"Too late for that Commander, You have hurt me in the worst way." EDI's eyes began to glow red.

I knew what this meant; she was planning to kill me. Over this. All of this. I guess I could understand, but he had made his choice. His choice was me.

"EDI, don't do this!" Joker said to her. He tried to move forward, to calm her down.

"I care for you EDI, I do… But Shepard… Please, you have to understand! If anyone is to blame, it's me!" he pleaded with her, and she was at my neck again.

Definitely going to black out. I can feel my eyes drooping, and I hear arguing, I think very faint. All I see though is Jeff. I look into his eyes, his beautiful green eyes. If I ever get out of this, I will make certain to tell him how beautiful they are.

"Goodbye, Shepard." Her eyes glow red. I knew this was the end.

What a pathetic was for me to die, by one of my crew. Not by the Reapers, not even close, but from a jealous, bitter Self-Aware AI. Damn my life.

All of a sudden, her grip loosens. My eyes open, and I see her collapse to the floor. What happened? Her eyes turn dark. Did she overload? Did she lose power? Is that even possible? The I saw a small hole, threw her head, right into her processor. Well, I guess that would stop her from choking me.

I look at Garrus to thank him, but realize the surprise on his face. All their faces. If it wasn't him, then who? Then I see him. Jeff. I look at him, the gun still pointed in position, and him looking forward. He then looks at me, a see an expression, and movement, then blackness.