Cold… dark… hollow…

The three words forcefully echoed in Shepard's head – the pounding of each syllable made her ears ring, and her L3 biotic amp throb painfully at the base of her skull. The void she peered into didn't feel empty but inhabited by something foreign, terrifying, and beyond her mere comprehension. She could feel the presence of unknown eyes watching her like a physical weight against her pale skin. She was suspended in the air as if she'd been spaced. The darkness had made it so she was unable to see her own body. A voice so deep and sinister spoke to her, its malevolent tone beckoning her to join it. She could hear the voice speaking in her head, but also out loud in unison. She was beyond frightened, but she was floating in nothingness and knew she wouldn't be able to escape whatever fate was waiting for her. She felt like prey, and whatever was the source of this monstrous voice was toying with her.

You are an anomaly Shepard, but that will not aid you in defeating the Reapers. You will become enthralled in the Darkness, you will succumb to the fate awaiting you.

Shepard opened her mouth to answer, but to no avail. Her voice came out in a croaking, strangled sound that resonated deep in her throat. Communicating by thought also proved unsuccessful, the only words that would manifest were the same three words: Cold. Dark. Hollow.

The Reapers are more ancient than you can fathom – but they are not the greatest threat in the galaxy or even the universe. There are worse fates awaiting beyond the Milky Way, Shepard.

The strange voice sounded nearly in awe of what it was describing. Imagining a greater threat than the Reapers didn't seem possible to her. Her mind began reeling, images of things she couldn't comprehend flooded senses. It was like her experience with Prothean beacons, but this was more invasive and violent. She felt as if she was being stretched and torn, the pain from inside her body coming to a boiling point like she'd combust. Shepard tried to let out a wail of agony, her voice still silenced by an invisible force squeezing at her throat. Even in her panic the same three words were still repeating in her head: cold, dark, hollow. She felt as if her body was being broken down on a molecular level – the unbearable feeling worse than when she was spaced and died being pulled into Alchera's atmosphere. The torture seemed to drag on for too long, but time and space were nonexistent in this unknown place. Shepard for a moment thought she had died and gone to hell.

You will discover the truth-

The terrible voice abruptly cut off.

Shepard's eyelids flew open. She found herself in her Captain's Cabin, staring out the window on the ceiling that peered out into the stars. Familiarity began to flood back to her as she realized she was in a safe place that was her own. The darkness had subsided, the only void left was space outside the Normandy. Shepard's breathing was ragged as her heart pounded relentlessly in her chest. Her long black hair had come undone in her restless tossing and turning, tangled and stuck to the cold sweat that drenched her body. She sat up slowly, her head spinning from dizziness so intense she thought she would vomit. She clutched her forehead, squeezing her eyes shut as she helplessly wished for the sensation to end, her body trembling badly under her bedsheets. It felt as if her biotic amp had been torn out of her head. She audibly moaned in discomfort. Kaidan shifted in the covers beside her, stirring in his sleep but he didn't wake. He slept comfortably beside her, unaware of the terror she had just experienced.

It was just a bad dream... she told herself.

Shepard hoisted herself up and off the bed with great effort, being careful not to wake Kaidan in the process. She didn't want him to worry about her, and she couldn't explain her mystery ailment to him anyway. She dragged her feet to the bathroom, continuing to grasp her head in a meek effort to make herself feel stabilized. She made it to the bathroom sink, gripping its corners and leaning fully into it for support. She dared look at herself in the mirror, wondering if she looked as bad as she felt. Her reflection appeared pathetic, her naked body still shaking from the horrific nightmare she had.

When she woke up in that Cerberus facility nearly a year ago, her body felt foreign, her skin stretched, scarred and raw. She had looked terrible, granted she had just came back from the dead, literally. Now she had grown used to her new body and the changes Cerberus instilled without her consent, but the disorienting sensation was similar to being summoned to rise from the Lazarus Project. For a moment she wondering if her body was rejecting her cybernetic implants, although too much time had passed for that to logically happen now.

She ran the water as cold as it could go and splashed it in her face, hoping the mild shock would jolt her back into reality and out of her paranoid thoughts. She dared glanced back at her reflection, noting how she looked like she had come off a week-long bender. Her eyes, dark like coal, appeared red-rimmed with dark circles like a raccoon's. Her long hair, a feature she had always been proud of, cascaded down her back in a tangled, knotted, and sweaty mess. Her skin, already pale from being born a spacer kid and never living under sunshine her entire life, was now close to the shade of cow's milk. The freckles that riddled her face contrasted against her pale complexion more than usual. She looked was drained. Her stomach began to lose its muscular, taut appearance, now she just looked skinny from her lack of appetite these last few weeks. Shepard gimped weakly to the shower and turned it on cold, standing fully under it. She leaned against the shower wall, the cold tile pressing to her skin, causing goosebumps to break out across her body. Her breathing started to slow as did her heart rate, her mind calming under the water pressure. Her piercing headache began to reside, much to her tremendous relief. She was hoping the chilling dream would fade away, but the feeling still clung to her mind. She rubbed her eyes until she saw a burst of stars from behind her eyelids.

Cold. Dark. Hollow.

The presence of the bad dream remained despite her best efforts to establish normalcy, like she was being haunted by an apparition. Shepard began to wonder if it had been a nightmare at all, it felt more like a vision similar to the Prothean beacons on Eden Prime, Virmire, and Thessia, but more powerful. The images then were unclear but could gradually be pieced together what the message meant, but the one she had experienced in the void in her nightmare – it was impossible for her brain to even conjure up what she saw. It was like her brain couldn't process what it was being shown, it was too advanced for her to understand. The voice had taunted her like it knew that her mind was so primitive compared to the presence in the darkness. The scary voice had also sounded familiar to her, much to her dismay.

Shepard turned off the shower, the comfort of reality fleeting once again. Frightening possibilities began to dawn on her, the dizziness coming back much to her reluctance. Had the voice been Leviathan? Harbinger? Was this the beginning stages of Indoctrination?

"Shepard?" A drowsy, masculine voice said.

Shepard jumped, startled, whirling around and nearly slipping on the wet surface of the shower floor. Kaidan stood in the bathroom doorway, taken aback by her sudden fright, went hurriedly over to Shepard. He grasped her shoulders, steadying her frame. His brown eyes studied the commander, noting with concern how frazzled and meek she appeared before him.

"Shepard? What happened?" He asked, worried.

"What? Uh- nothing, I'm fine," Shepard replied quickly, unable to fully look him in the eyes, her head still spinning.

She felt guilty for waking him, but even worse for showing weakness. Even in front of Kaidan, a man she loved, a man she wasn't afraid to show her vulnerability. But now she felt exposed in a shameful way before him.

"No, there's something wrong. You look like you haven't slept in days, Shepard."

She tried to shake her head, her head rattling painfully with the movement. She lowered her head, thankful that her wet hair hung in front of her face covering her eyes from his knowing gaze. She couldn't bring herself to tell him about the nightmares. She was the leading command of the fight against the Reapers, the Crucible was nearly finished and the main attack would be commencing soon. She couldn't tell him how afraid she was of a dream she continuously was having, it felt stupid to fear something like that when the Reapers were purging the galaxy.

"Shepard, please," Kaidan pleaded, softly, his hands gently moving her wet, stringy hair away from her face. "You can talk to me, you know that."

"There's nothing wrong, Kaidan, let's just go back to bed," Shepard replied, exhausted already from the encounter.

She tried to push past him, but she was too weak at the moment. "I just need some sleep, and I'm just stressed, that's all." She attempted to assure him, but Kaidan didn't appear to be convinced.

"You sure?" He questioned again, letting go of her shoulders so they could return to bed. He grabbed a towel and draped it around her body.

Shepard walked past him, her steps slow and cautious like she'd topple over. Kaidan started to grow more concerned as he watched her. She had been acting peculiar and distant lately and continued to write it off as stress from the Crucible project. He had believed her at first, knowing anyone would be full of anxiety with the fate of trillions of lives riding on their shoulders, but Shepard had always carried herself with a sense of confidence and accomplishment. Shepard dried off and dropped the towel to the floor, her naked body crawling back under the covers of the bed. She told him again that she just needed sleep, her voice sounding a bit sterner, but not by much. Kaidan was still unconvinced but decided he'd ask her again in the morning. He sighed and crawled back into bed with her. He gently placed a hand on her back, but she didn't roll over to face him. Her coldness stung him, but he didn't want to push her further to the point where she would close off completely. She laid with her back toward him, thinking guiltily how she was excluding him from the obstacle she was facing. But was it even an obstacle? She'd never had a nightmare affect her this deeply.

Get it together! You need to sleep so you can stay focused. Tomorrow you have meetings and progress reports to write. The Normandy needs maintenance, so you'll need to double-check on that request for a furlough from Admiral Hackett, Shepard thought, listing her responsibilities the early morning would bring.

Her stomach growled emptily, begging for nourishment. Her biotics burned off calories too quickly for her reduced appetite to keep up with. She pulled her covers tightly over her, hoping Kaidan wouldn't her stomach indicating hear how hungry she was. She had never kept secrets like this from him, but he could easily read her even when her guard was up. He was already aware that something was wrong.

After some time passed, Kaidan barely slept the rest of the night shift. He listened to Shepard peacefully snooze beside him, relieved that she was able to rest at least. As the hours went on, Kaidan got out of bed earlier than he usually did. He dressed himself with his clothes that had been discarded on the floor the night before, and exited Shepard's cabin. Kaidan took the elevator down to the third level and headed straight to the med bay, knowing Dr. Chakwas morning shift would have just started. He entered, taking the doctor by surprise.

"Major Alenko, it's awfully early," Dr. Chakwas greeted from her desk, her coffee mug in her hand.

"Yes, I know, I'm sorry, doctor."

Dr. Chakwas took a sip of her coffee, expectantly waiting on Kaidan to continue.

"I'm worried about Commander Shepard," he began, his voice trailing off slightly.

Dr. Chakwas, like many of the old-breed Alliance personnel, disapproved of his and Shepard's fraternizing from the beginning. Their relationship had treaded on thin ice since the start on the SR-1, although the risk of being court-martialed currently was slim to none. But back then he had been kept away from even speaking to Shepard when she returned to Earth after defeating the Collectors and cutting all ties with Cerberus. She had turned herself in as she had promised to Admiral Hackett after she destroyed the Bahak System. Kaidan had desperately wanted to see her, but Anderson and the rest of the Alliance higher-ups forbid it. Things had changed drastically since then, but still Kaidan could see the twinge slight opposition in Dr. Chakwas' eyes.

"Worried about the Commander how?"

"She seems to be under extreme stress, and isn't acting herself. She doesn't even look like herself lately, and she's so distant."

Dr. Chakwas placed her mug down on the desk and picked up her datapad, scanning it briefly but efficiently with her aged eyes.

"The Commander did have a psych-eval scheduled for today. It was originally suggested by Admiral Anderson and Admiral Hackett," Chakwas read. "Under the circumstances, anyone would be stressed."

Chakwas returned the datapad to her desk. Kaidan acknowledged she wasn't allowed to disclose any further medical information regarding one of her patients, even with the status of his relationship to Shepard. He knew that Anderson was also worried about Shepard, he had sent Kaidan an email asking about her. Anderson mentioned that Shepard hadn't been responding to any of his emails or video calls, something very unusual for Shepard to ignore. Kaidan felt for the man fighting the losing battle on Earth.

"You aren't the only one who asked about Commander Shepard," Chakwas spoke, her voice breaking the pregnant silence. "Ever since you and Javik brought her into the med bay after that mission you had on 2181 Desponia, she seems almost disturbed."

Kaidan watched the doctor, her eyes looking down into her coffee mug as she was pondering the details. The doctor had scanned Shepard after that mission, who was suffering from a nose bleed, chills, and a pounding headache after her deep dive and encounter with the previously unknown creatures Leviathan. Her complaints of symptoms hadn't went past that as the doctor probed her with questions, Shepard had grown tight-lipped. Even the mission report Shepard had typed and turned into the Alliance had been vague on details.

"I think whatever she experienced down in that ocean, communicating with Leviathan or something else... I think it changed her. Something spooked her and she's not saying what..."

Chakwas nodded solemnly and sighed deeply, her concern for Shepard was clearly etched on her face.

"I will do what I can medically for her, but anxiety isn't something I can just magically whisk away. I will try my best, Major, you know that. In the meantime, do what you can to help her. Talk to her, even if she seems unwilling to talk, attempt to make her comfortable," Chakwas advised.

Kaidan nodded, knowing that was the extent of his suggestions. He would have to try and reach out to her again, but in the meantime Shepard needed sleep more than anything.

"Thank you, doctor."

Shepard awoke again with a start, disoriented. She was surprised that she was able to even fall asleep after her awful nightmare. She realized Kaidan wasn't next to her, and threw off her covers, agitated that she had slept in. She quickly dressed herself in her Alliance fatigues, remembering to feed her fish and hamster before she left her cabin. She noticed her terminal light was blinking and decided to read her emails before she went down to the CIC. Specialist Traynor would tell her to check her messages, anyway.

There were two emails from Anderson, which she had guiltily been avoiding, and still left them unopened. One from Hackett was an approval request for the Normandy to receive maintenance, and for the crew to take a short shore leave while they wait. He also informed her that the Crucible would be done in about a week if not sooner. Another was from Miranda regarding the tracer she placed on Kai Leng, urging Shepard to track him to the Cerberus headquarters as soon as possible. The unexpected Leviathan mission had really made her fall behind, she thought to herself meekly. Learning about the Reapers creation was important, but she was left with more questions than answers. And the mark that apex species left on her...

Another email caught her eye. She saw that the sender was her mother, Hannah Shepard. Curious, Shepard clicked on the message, wondering if her mother was just giving updates from the Kilimanjaro from her work on the Crucible. She felt bad for keeping little contact with her mother, and now she wondered if she'd even be able to visit her with the circumstances surrounding the survival of the Milky Way.

From: Mom

Adrienne, I don't have much time to explain, as I know we're both busy and rushing to stop the destruction of the human race. God, what terrible times we are in. But I am writing to you in grave urgency. You know the SSV Munich and how it went missing years ago...

Well, a frigate has found evidence of where it disappeared to. After all these years, a distress signal was found. There is an audio recording of your father, Adi... I know how this sounds, but I can still recognize Yuudai's voice, even after all these years. He states his name in the recording, I attached it to this message, you can listen for yourself if you need more proof.

I know this is a lot to process, and I can't imagine the amount of stress you're already under, but can you please do a favor for me? Christ, more for you, Adrienne. Can you go investigate the source of this distress signal? There's a chance someone could be toying with the Alliance, even trying to get to you, and that's a horrible thing. Please... we both should know the truth, we need the closure. If you are unable to I understand, and I'm sorry for springing this on you, but I don't know anyone else who is willing or able to see what is going on. I attached the coordinates to this message as well.

Let me know - and stay strong and safe, sweetie.

Love, Captain Hannah

Shepard's throat went completely dry, her previous fear of her nightmare forgotten. She sat at her desk for what felt like a few minutes before even moving, staring at the email, trying to process what she had just read. A trembling hand covered her mouth. She hovered over the attachment of the recorded distress call, scared to even listen to it. She hadn't heard her father's voice since she was twelve years old. She had mourned and accepted that the missing Alliance vessel he was one was most likely lost to pirating, raided and then blown up. There were a lot of ways for ships to go missing in space, but now she had possible evidence that the ship was found and her father was alive. She swallowed and brought up the audio.

"This is Major Yuudai Kobayashi of the Alliance SSV Munich! Something went w- [unintelligible static] Systems suddenly beca- [unintelligible static] We are in the Zelene System, I repeat in the Z- [unintelligible static] in the Cresc- [unintelligible static] If anyone can hear this, please contact Alliance officials immediately! We need he- [unintelligible static]

The recording cut off with a loud hiss of static. Shepard kept her hands over her lips, now trembling more than she did before. She knew that it really was her father. She stood up and rushed out of her cabin, tying her hair back in a loose, messy ponytail. There was not time to get ready, she had to hurry and alert the crew and Admiral Hackett with what was going on. She banged on the elevator button to take her to CIC, pacing anxiously as it steadily moved down.

As the elevator opened, she ran out, startling Traynor and some of the crew members idling by. Shepard dashed toward the cockpit, weaving around confused crew members, making one of them spill their coffee on the Normandy flor.

"Commander? Commander!" Traynor called, bewildered by her erratic behavior.

"Joker!" Shepard cried as she ran up behind the pilot in the cockpit, making both him and EDI swivel around in their seats, surprised.

"Commander, the hell? You look like shit. What's going on?" Joker questioned, his brows furrowed as he stared at Shepard.

"Did something happen, Shepard?" EDI added.

"Set course for the Crescent Nebula, it's urgent," Shepard replied hastily, "I'll explain in a bit."

"Whoa, wha- wait a minute. We're already scheduled and on the way to the Citadel, per yours and Hackett's instructions. The Normandy is due for maintenance, remember? Mandatory maintenance needed before we go after Cerberus," Joker countered.

"This takes priority, we need to go the Crescent first, like I said it's urgent!"

"Shepard, wait-"

Shepard turned on her heel and was rushing in the opposite direction now as Joker called after her.

"I need to inform Hackett!" She yelled over her shoulder at Joker.

"The hell is going on here? EDI, do you have any idea?" Joker turned toward the AI.

"No, but I can go see," EDI suggested.

"Yeah, listen in on whatever she says to Hackett, I gotta know where to steer the ship after all. Damn, this ruins all my plans..." Joker grumbled, turning his focus back on flight controls. He slowed the Normandy's speed down nearly to a complete halt.

"Very well, Jeff," EDI chimed, tuning into the War Room.

Immediately when Shepard reached the War Room, she paged Admiral Hackett on the vidcom, jittery and anxious for him to answer. His holographic image manifested, raising his eyebrows slightly at Shepard's unkempt appearance.

"Commander Shepard, what is going on?" Hackett questioned

"Sir, I just received a message from my mother, Captain Hannah Shepard. She received evidence that the missing cruiser the SSV Munich has been found. The distress signal came from the Crescent Nebula in the Zelene System, sir. There's also an audio recording, it's my father Major Yuudai Kobayashi..." Shepard rambled breathlessly.

Hackett appeared stunned by her news. His hand rubbed his chin in thought as he processed what Shepard had just told him.

"You're certain? That cruiser has been missing for about twenty years. And the probability of the crew, including your father, being alive and undetected after all this time seems very low. This sounds very suspicious, it could be a trap."

Shepard shook her head in frustration at the Admiral's response. She brought up her omni-tool and prepared the audio for him.

"No, I know my father's voice, it would be too elaborate and difficult to get a faked recording from an Alliance soldier who has been suspected dead twenty years ago, here, listen," Shepard played Hackett the recording.

"Is there any indication how old that distress signal is?" Hackett asked.

"No..." Shepard answered mildly, "but that doesn't matter. Sir, I already set a course for the Crescent Nebula. I need to know, and if I don't go now there's a chance I might never be able to find out what happened to my father, or if he's still alive."

Hackett didn't respond.

"Please, sir, my mother and I... we need closure," Shepard pleaded.

"Okay, Commander. I will reschedule the maintenance for the Normandy. Be sure to let your crew knows shore leave will be postponed, how they react is on you, Commander. I understand the importance of this to you, but don't let it take away from the main objective, Commander. We can't afford any further delays," Hackett replied, briskly.

Back in the cockpit, EDI sat silently as Joker waited for her to report in on what was going on with Shepard.

"So, what's going on? Did she speak with Hackett? I need to know what I'm supposed to be doing," Joker exclaimed, a bit annoyed as he signaled toward the controls of the ship.

"It's about Shepard's father," EDI replied slowly, calculated, "we are going to see if he's still alive."