A/N: *WARNING* Spoilers for Mass Effect 3 ahead, don't read if you haven't played!

Thanks for reviewing the last chapter, this one's somewhat longer! I added a flashback that you'll note is the block of text in italics; I plan to do this in the future also, so as to explain what happened to our Normandy crew while Shepard was pre-occupied with the catalyst.

Disclaimer: Mass Effect and its characters do not belong to me etc.

Joker

I felt sick; the forest scene that previously seemed so lovely was now replaced by our dead crew members piled a short distance from the ship. I wasn't able to help, sitting back with the girls feeling just a little out of touch. None of them had the stomach to provide assistance, I was in the same boat but at least I had another excuse, my body was made for less manual tasks. EDI worked alongside James and Garrus, developing a production line of bodies that had once been my friends, placing them down gently on the fern covered ground like they were easily breakable dolls. I remember speaking to them on a daily basis, sleeping in the same quarters, eating meals next to them and working alongside them- my comrades, such a waste to see them all now. I was devastated before, when the casualties were speculated, but now seeing them all together just made me feel hollow. I'm sure it stirred something in EDI, I doubt she felt particularly happy at this moment, maybe even sad, I couldn't say how far her emotional range had developed but I briefly wished I could be a robot, with a heart made of metal, it might have helped take this awful feeling away.

James wiped at his brow and slowly walked over to the rest of us sitting by the hanger door, he leaned back against the Normandy's metal frame, a sheen of sweat across his forehead marking how hard he'd worked. I guessed we'd 'landed' on the planet about mid-morning, it felt like we were heading into the early hours of the afternoon now, the sun above was too bright to see its exact position in the sky, but the heat that radiated around us was taking its toll.

I watched Garrus curiously as he stared out into the bush around us. "If we leave these bodies around too long it could create a problem, there could be creatures out in these woodlands, carnivorous creatures. I'm sure they'd be more interested in live prey- us- then them. " He nodded his head vaguely down at the ground by his feet.

Bethany opposed Garrus's words. "They're not just bodies; these were our friends, our comrades. Sarah's dead, I spent every day working beside her, we talked all the time and now she's-" Karin Chakwas rested a hand on her shoulder; Bethany closed her mouth, teeth clenched. I wasn't sure she was holding back sobs or stopping herself from reaching out to throttle the turian, either way I had a feeling she was going to be the first to crack.

My eyes strayed to EDI, she was hard to read, face of stone or metal, whatever. "Elevated stress levels will not help to solve the situation, I recommend we stay calm and discuss an adequate way to dispose of the corp- our comrades," She quickly amended, reading the sour look on Bethany's face. "I suggest we remove them a distance from the ship- to minimise the risk of hazardous flora and or fauna locating us at this time. I am currently calculating the best method of discarding. Cremation would be faster but the variables are too great to judge, I'm detecting a ninety nine percent increased risk of being noticed by other life in the area. That's not to count the ninety two percent chance that on transit to an appropriate location, we are discovered by dangerous beings."

While the situation was not appropriate to voice my opinion, I just loved how she could calculate these risks with no one telling her to do so. The fact that she had her autonomy, was able to talk without being ordered (albeit in her own special way) made me feel at least a little better for voicing my undying love to her and her hot alloy body.

My thoughts were interrupted by the conversation continuing around me, I attempted to listen to James, knowing this was kind of important for me too. "What's to say we would encounter dangerous beings on this planet?"

"I'm detecting this planet's atmosphere is mostly made up of nitrogen, oxygen and argon, with trace gases mimicking those on earth-"

"If there still is an earth," I cut in dryly, regretting it instantly. My mouth had a habit of getting me into trouble; I was getting some 'friendly' looks. I could even feel Tali's eyes narrowed in my direction, she wore a thick purple mask for Christ sake!

EDI didn't judge me, she looked same as always. "I'm still calculating those possibilities Jeff; my answer will have to wait."

"This isn't the best time for jokes sweety,"

"I wasn't joking Jeff." Her tone deadpan.

James shooks his head, obviously displeased by the exchange. "Well when you've managed to calculate those odds, don't let the rest of us know. As you were saying…" I could see his eye beginning to twitch.

EDI picked up as if she'd never stopped talking. "This strongly leads me to the conclusion that the planet supports other life forms. Assuming this is the case, a vast food chain would have developed, including carnivores, herbivores and omnivores."

"Omni-whatta's?" Vega looked confused and I had to feel for the guy, not everyone could keep up with the smart robot.

"Life forms that can eat meat, vegetation or from both food groups respectively, this process leads to the food chain, supporting an existing, varied ecosystem."

I looked over to Tali and Liara who had developed their own conversation, they paused briefly, both glancing to EDI. Obviously they were both aware of what an omnivore was and were thinking further ahead. "What's our other option for our friends?" Tali asked, face unreadable beyond her cover.

"I have looked into two other possibilities. The first, bury our comrades, hopefully masking their smell and presence- the Normandy will still need to be cleaned if we wish to use it as a base for operations no matter the choice. This would increase the need for manpower, whether we buried them all together or individually. The third possibility, leave them in the open- in bushes or trees, to draw life away from the ship and to varied locations amongst the forest. This would increase our chances of staying undiscovered and perhaps present the opportunity to study any curious beings that stray into an area where our comrades lay. If we were to use this method, may I recommend laying traps for food, increasing your survival rate at least nine percent."

Liara recoiled. "I don't really like the idea of dumping everyone out in trees, seems a little barbaric considering the circumstances."

"Because burning them is any better," Bethany retorted.

Garrus's mandibles shifted, I figured he was frowning but it was hard to tell. "Burying them would take us too long; we have neither the equipment nor the strength to manage anything that big. There's at least twenty men and women here, not a casual undertaking. We need to preserve strength."

"I have just calculated a fourth option." EDI rubbed the back of her neck, almost looking uncomfortable. "I believe this one will be less appreciated then the other three." Everyone looked a little weary now, even I wasn't sure I wanted to hear it. "While the risks associated with my suggestion will be numerous, survival for some will benefit from eating the remains, turians and quarians excluded."

"I think I'm going to be sick," Bethany about faced, pulling herself into the Normandy, Karin followed after her quickly. Samantha's face went stark white but she managed to maintain her position.

EDI appeared displeased. "I'm sorry; I'm still working on necessary 'discretion'."

I grimaced, not sure if I wanted to laugh hysterically or follow after Bethany. "I don't think we're ready to resort to cannibalism just yet. Despite the choices you've presented we still need a means to move the bodies further away from us." I think everyone was thankful for the subject change.

Liara spoke now; I wondered what she thought about EDI's suggestions, on the outside she seemed unfazed. "I won't be able to move all the bodies but I imagine I could use my biotics to transfer a handful a short distance away."

"How short?" I could see the clogs turning inside Garrus's head; I imagined he was calculating a means to transfer everyone into the uncharted landscape.

"Two kilometres, at most… I'm still young Garrus, I don't have the skills of a matron and certainly not those of a matriarch." I didn't know enough about asari to assume anything but I felt it prudent that I didn't start asking questions of her about what she actually meant. I think Garrus understood and even accepted her answer, nodding calmly.

"I think that would be far enough away, as long as we clean the ship as well as we can on our return. Chemicals should destroy the scent around here somewhat. That still leaves us James; we can't just swing a couple people on our shoulders."

"Speak for yourself," James flexed his muscles to prove a point.

I had a feeling Samantha felt she could be useful now, if not to help remove the mental imagine of James pumping his guns. "There are some large tarps stored in cargo, in case the cruisers were in rough conditions. It might take what's left but you'll need at least four people assisting, these tarps aren't small."

The debate had gone on long enough and it was time for action, it wasn't an exciting or pleasurable duty but it was sensible and lifesaving if we wanted to make it through the night. Garrus, James, Tali and EDI would take some men on the large square tarp, Liara planned to assist with biotics. I was commanded to stay back and do clean up duties with Karin, Samantha and Bethany, I really disliked this option. A broken vertebrae was on the cards and I hated being apart from EDI but I knew as soon as they set out I'd end up on the canvas laying amongst the dead. The hard part at this stage would be finding the cleaning supplies.

Garrus

There was a stench in the air, not coming from the bodies we were hauling across the forest floor; something about this place had me on edge. Something wasn't right. The only sound I could hear was heavy breathing and the constant scrape of plastic across the mossy ground. My eyes strayed to Tali across from me, I had a feeling she looked determined as I did, possibly also contemplating that this place wasn't what it seemed to be. "How you holding up?" My first real thought that appeared concerned.

"I patched up the small scrapes in the armour, took what little I could find in the cargo bay for antibiotics but it's still a risk, I can't promise I'll make it all the way through this without ending up dead myself."

My mouth thinned, we were all a positive bunch without the commander present. "Don't think like that, I'm sure you'll be fine, once we get this out the way Dr Chakwas can give you something, I'm sure you'll manage to fight off any bugs that come your way. You didn't fight by my side countless times to be ruined by a little infection." I tried to sound positive, at least sincere; I wasn't very good at pep talks, but had a feeling I'd be making a few more of them before we found a way off this planet and back to civilization.

I closed my eyes, images from the past flashing in my mind.

"Shepard? Dammit Shepard speak to me!"

"Joker? I can hear you, it's Garrus, Shepard's gone through the beam, dammit I hope she's at the citadel." I heard a pained cry, realising it was me, as I fought to pull a piece of jagged metal out from deep within my leg.

"…Urgent message… patched through… need to get on the Normandy fast… they need air support… reapers… mass relay!"

"Joker, you're cutting out. Joker? Dammit!" I pulled myself to my feet, leaning forward over rubble. "Can anyone hear me on this frequency, Tali, James?"

James responded first "We heard the call Garrus, Tali's with me. I'm going as fast as I can to your position but we're still getting heavy ground fire. These fucking husks!" I heard some sort of explosion through my comm and the line went dead.

Tali spoke and it was like I'd never gone back. "Thanks Garrus, I hope so…" We walked in silence after that, my eyes shifting through the scenery, trying to catch sight of animals, movement, anything at all I suppose. Something that would shed some light on where we'd landed and what called this place home.

The sun shone in through pockets in the trees, leaving splashes of colour on the leafy undergrowth, from a distance it appeared green, as most plant life had the tendency to be, but when the light hit it just right a blue shone out like crystal. "We should examine the plants more closely on our return," I recommended, everyone seemed a little uneasy at the suggestion.

"What do you suppose it is making them glow like that?" James seemed to be assuming the worst, looking up into the trees in hopes of answering his own question.

"We don't have time to stop now, we just keep walking through the forest, you see anything unusual get out your guns- don't fire unless prudent. We don't need to kill a family of monkey; it could disrupt the balance on this planet." I shifted the weight of the tarp to my other shoulder. "Anything happens we call Joker on the comm, tell him our position and await response."

EDI chimed in with her inbuilt compass. "We've walked a total of one point two kilometres from the Normandy, in a south easterly direction- I seem to be picking up on a signal, several in fact."

"A signal of what?" I asked impatiently, doubting there was much that could relay a signal out here. Knowing our luck Cerberus had made a base here and was experimenting on banshees or something.

"A signal of distress-" EDI's voice changed, sounding like a young man. "…We're going down fast, I repeat, we are going down. Spirits, there's no time we-" she blinked. "That's all I can unscramble, the signal is unfortunately corrupt.

"Can you pick up the location?" I wasn't looking ahead, eyes on EDI but turned to look when Liara let out a small gasp. We'd arrived in a huge clearing, tall grass swaying in the light breeze but not tall enough that it was able to disguise the three enormous ships that were now just incinerated scrap metal burning in front of us.

"They look like dreadnoughts…" I pressed my fingers to the comm on my visor. "Come in Joker?"

"Reading you loud and clear."

"We're going to be back a little later than planned."

A/N: I promise next chapter will be more action packed. Thanks for reading and reviewing!