Chapter 5: The Message

From: PM Black

To: Mjr. Shepard

Priority: Urgent

Encryption Level: Crimson

We found husks in the wreckage of the ship you downed. Given the lack of Dragon's Teeth and geth, I see where all the evidence is pointing. When the only other possible explanation—an alliance between the Collectors and geth—seems unlikely, and the dismissal of a bioweapon as the main Collector motive, I am forced to conclude one thing.

The probability of you being right is far, far too high for us not to act as if you aren't. Still, I want to be absolutely sure about this before I fully commit. We're working on that end.

From: Op. Chief Ashley Williams

To: Mjr. Shepard

Priority: Low

Encryption Level: Yellow

Hey, Skipper. James—one of my troops, someone who used to serve under me, actually—showed me a vid of you all over the media on Earth.

Ouch—I'm pretty sure you'd rather be out here than in the spotlight like that. Seems like I got the easy job, eh?

Speaking of which, things have been…weird around here. I…I'm not sure how to word this. Basically, people treat me differently here. Or maybe it has nothing to do with the location? Dunno. Either way, people don't look at me and see me as General Williams' granddaughter. They see…me. Sorry, didn't mean to get all corny-sappy on you, but I'm pretty sure you were the one behind the public apology to my family. So…thanks. You've had my back against, well, everything, since Eden Prime. I couldn't ask for a better CO…and a better friend.

Being in command, after the hunt for Saren and everything…it's different. I've tried using your style, and it usually works (though my people skills are not nearly as good, I think I've come across as odd/weird a few times). But it also leaves me worried. I feel close to my team in a way unlike anything I've ever experienced (outside of the Normandy, of course), but what happens if I lose one of them? If I have to choose who dies? I felt like I could make the right decision before, but now? I just don't know. I don't know how you do it. Virmire keeps coming up…I know how hard you took Kaidan's death.

I gotta admit, taking on pirates and slavers is great work. Compared to geth, krogan, [[REDACTED]], and asari commandos, it's like a vacation.

I'm sure your media frenzy doesn't have the same feel to it. But all that time with Liara, though? You know, she's not much of a "kiss and tell" type, but…well, my lips are sealed.

From: Mjr. Shepard

To: Op. Chief Ashley Williams

Priority: Low

Encryption Level: Yellow

It's crazy out here—some good days and bad. And yes, I would much rather be in your place than mine. Thinking about it takes me back to my N4 days, taking out pirates and slavers like it was going out of style.

Considering what's on my plate right now, I guess it kind of was.

Some of the media people I talk to are quite friendly—not as many xenophobes as you might think, too. Selling the "alliance" with the quarians has been tough, but sticking to the talking points just makes me sound like a broken record. A convincing broken record, though. Thankfully, it might be almost over.

People are treating you like your own person? About damn time. You've more than earned it (well, really, no one should ever have to earn that, but you get what I mean).

I read your file after Eden Prime—you're a good CO with some truly unique experience under your belt. Yeah, compared to geth and krogan, slavers are small-time. Just remember that all it takes is one lucky guy in a spot you missed to kill you and your squad. Our biggest advantages have always been our teamwork, coordination, and training—the moment you get cocky, you're extremely vulnerable.

Getting close to your team is a double-edged blade. Sure, it hurts much more when you lose them. But ultimately, I think it's worth it. I doubt we'd have stopped Saren if we were anything less.

Word of advice, though: when you have to choose who dies, or something along those lines, it helps to force the relationships and identities out of your mind—just focus on the facts, the situation, and the numbers. Find the logical choice, and stick with it.

Liara? Yeah, remember when I said no asking about her sex life? Consider that a standing order.

"You took on a Colossus head on?" The young quarian—no more than 15, Tali guessed, looked upon her with wonder.

As did the seven other children. And seventeen adults, most of whom were Migrant Fleet Marines.

"No," Tali clarified. She didn't want them to think she was a miracle-worker, or anything. "We made a dash for a flanking route, behind some large equipment. The geth had to follow us though some choke points, and we managed to take them out in more manageable numbers before ganging up on the Colossus. But still," she added, her own voice matching the girl's in tone, "Shepard ran right at the thing, hands empty."

Her crowd was obviously hanging on every word—stories, especially from pilgrimages, were frequently shared as a matter of tradition and socializing. "He got so close that its kinetic barriers couldn't stop him as he blasted the thing's innards with a shotgun." The marines didn't even hide their awe. "He's fearless—and crazy, in the best kind of way. Half of his strategies seem stupid or insane, but they work so well, you're still left wondering how you're still alive, let alone repeatedly victorious."

"Crazy bastard," one of the marines muttered.

"You think that's crazy?" Tali teased. "I ought to tell you about the time he killed a thresher maw, even after our vehicle was flipped a hundred feet in the air by the monster…"

They had analyzed the situation with concern.

But, like all significant decisions, this one required consensus.

The conditional alliance between humanity and the quarians was very worrysome. Together, they had the strength to cripple the geth, and they were both motivated to do so.

Shepard's media appearances had all been viewed and analyzed meticulously an hour earlier. Insight into the human's personality, perspective, and thoughts were gained.

He was a highly tolerant and curious individual. Given his notable teamwork and friendship with turian, quarian, asari, and krogan volunteers, he did not prejudge even where most peers would.

Consensus achieved: Establishment of dialogue with Shepard-Major now classified as primary task.

Time elapsed: .42 seconds.

"Targets in sight." The monotone voice played through the internal speakers in his helmet. In battle, she was always like this—detached, logical, and methodical. Emotion, she said, had no place in the battlefield.

Perhaps Shepard had rubbed off on him in that regard. Humans, he had said, had a tendency for them in any situation. Even the Major himself had them. But as the Spectre had said, harnessing those emotions and controlling them had its own benefits.

In the days of the "Saren Hunt", as the crew had dubbed it, Shepard was a prime example. When playful, he was extremely creative and unpredictable. When sad or tired, he was extremely patient. But when he was angry, he made mistakes—he was sloppy. There was one emotional state, however, that ensured the utter destruction of the enemy.

Tranquil fury—an anger so intense that adversity and odds lost their meaning. The Major became a cold, calculating, fiercely determined, patient, and utterly thorough.

The Battle of the Citadel had been the ultimate showcase of that—an army of geth and krogan mercilessly and efficiently gunned down and a biotic Spectre riddled with bullets before the turian even knew what hit him.

"About time," Garrus teased.

"Impatience will get you killed."

"I've had them in my sights for five minutes now. I think I've earned a little bragging rights."

"You're insufferable."

A hint of emotion, eh? he noticed. "I aim to please."

A snort was her response.

Their targets were notorious criminals—one, a highly successful arms dealer to the worst sorts of people, and the others were those sorts of people.

"I've got the dealer. I'll target those who run to the eastern exit."

"I've got the leader, and the bastards running for the other exit."

"Fire in three, two…"

Their timing was impeccable. Both main targets were down in an instant, and the runners were gunned down as planned. Quick, efficient, but not exactly clean.

Aria, the self-appointed ruler of Omega, had provided the information on the meeting—she didn't like these people either, since they weren't as submissive as she wanted.

And the rest was history.

Talos Harek, the other turian Spectre, met up with him a minute later. He did his best to avoid eying her up—they had a history together, and not all of it strictly professional. But that meant she knew him decently, as well. "You seem unsatisfied," she noted.

Garrus shrugged. "It just seems…too easy."

"Too easy?" The confusion on her face was palpable.

It took him a moment to realize what was truly on his mind. "I guess I'm just used to taking on suicidal odds all the time—big time stuff, like saving the Citadel, or fighting rachni—"

"You fought rachni?" She asked, incredulous. "They're extinct. What the hell are you talking about?"

Garrus was taken aback. "You mean you weren't told?" The idea that even Spectres were kept in the dark from such important secrets unsettled him.

"Told what?"

He didn't hesitate to explain. "Noveria. Some corporation found a derelict rachni ship with a queen egg in cryo stasis. They started breeding rachni for testing or something. We were there to hunt Benezia, and stumbled upon the rachni queen unexpectedly." His gaze drifted idly, recalling recent history. "Took out a whole asari commando unit, not to mention the matriarch herself. And a bunch of geth. Now that was a fight."

Ignoring his nostalgic boasting, she pressed him again. "The rachni queen?"

"Shepard spoke to her…it's complicated. He later told me that the past rachni queens had probably been indoctrinated, causing them to wage total war against the Citadel alliance. In the end, he let the queen go."

"He let the queen go?" Talos shouted. "Is he insane?"

Garrus turned to his companion angrily. No one insulted Shepard, especially not someone who never knew him. "No! He's a damn sight smarter than the Council, at least in all the ways that matter." He stuck his pointed talon in her face to hammer the point home. "And unless you truly know him, don't disrespect him in my presence."

Talos noticeably calmed, but was undoubtedly surprised by his outburst. "The human really had an effect on you, didn't he?"

With pride, he answered immediately. "You're damn right he did."

"Do humans really eat that?" The perplexed asari pointed at a nearby eatery, indicating typical noodles-with-tomato sauce pasta. "It looks like…nafaxles...covered in their own blood."

"Yes, and it's good!" John defended. "Don't knock it 'till you've tried it, Liara."

"I know," she said, "but still, that stretches the bounds of what I can accept with an open mind."

They continued down the skyplex—a large platform held aloft by four towering buildings. Initially finding the setting thrilling, John was somewhat subdued by the sheer number of them.

Liara had been in awe of the human homeworld—not for its beauty, but for the obvious signs of rapid technological progression. Whereas other homeworlds had a relatively consistent level of technology throughout, Earth held as much diversity as the species that originated from it.

John was fascinated for different reasons—as a spacer, seeing the way a vast majority of his species lived gave him new perspective. For the humans of Earth, aliens, colonies, and the Citadel were all distant concepts, rarely seen and even less understood.

A beeping noise interrupted their dinnertime stroll—they both recognized it as John's cell tone. She watched as he read it, his face contorted in confusion and incredulity both. "What is it?"

He remained silent for several moments before even acknowledging her presence. It was as if he had forgotten where he was. "Uh…yeah. Just…just read it, okay?"

She took the cell from him, scanning it with the fast precision she had spent decades honing.

To: Shepard-Major

From: Geth

We understand that you are a key figure in galactic politics and have extensive experience fighting Heretics. Communications between organics indicates that none understand the true nature of the Geth, and we wish to rectify that. We have deemed you to be the most likely candidate to reliably come to an understanding without violence.

We will await you at the coordinates and time attached to this message. We will be unarmed and easily detectable.

Liara stared at the message long after she finished reading it. "What."

"Exactly what I was thinking," John agreed.

"You think it's a trap?" she asked.

He scoffed at her. "Because I've never been in one of those before, honest. Seriously though, there's only one way to find out."

A/N: Not as large as you were expecting? Yeah, well, that's because the review rate for this story is rather pitiful-at one point I had more people favoriting the story than reviews...which is wrong on so many levels-so I'm experimenting. Basically, I'm going to be writing shorter chapters more frequently, and see how that works out. It will probably be easier for me to maintain that schedule/motivation.

So, onto commentary. Garrus and Tali are obvious fanboys/fangirls about Shepard, canonically. I'm pretty sure that, without Tali being all depressed about Shepard's death, she'd be telling stories aplenty. Especially considering how social quarians are. Also, I know there still hasn't been much action yet, at least not in the real sense. That will change, so stay tuned. Also, Talos is the memetic recon scout that Garrus...erm, "sparred" with. In case you were wondering.

Reviewing will get you faster and longer updates. That is a FACT.