Chapter7
A Death in the Family
The Yorktown cruised into the Citadel, a large crowd gathered to see the beautiful new ship and to maybe get a glimpse of the Shepards. And a glimpse they got, along with Garrus Vakarian and a wounded Miranda Lawson. In the audience was Diana Allers, the Battlespace reporter who had been embedded on the Normandy ten years ago. Except that Diana Allers wasn't a Battlespace reporter any longer. She was the Battlespace host and a network executive. It didn't matter; she knew a story when she saw one. And Shepard back in the field was the biggest news to hit the Battlespace since the Reaper War. At first, she didn't think she'd be able to get in close enough. The Shepards and their crew were flanked by Alliance marines and people were kept at bay. But Shepard heard her call to him and waved her over.
"Allers, good to see you!" The commodore greeted her warmly, giving her a firm embrace and a friendly smile. Ashley Shepard hugged her tightly as well.
"Commodore Shepards," said Diana to them both. "So what's big enough to have both of you back in the field?"
"I'm not back in the field," said Ashley, "but we really can't discuss it. Not now, not here."
"Later and somewhere else?" Diana was hopeful.
"Let me get settled here, Allers, and I'll tell you what I can." Shepard spoke without hesitancy, without the usual guardedness of the military. She knew she could take him at his word. Of course, she had been a part of his crew during the most devastating war in galactic history. They weren't just reporter and source. They had gone through the hell of the Reaper War together and that made them comrades in arms.
"We're only here briefly," he explained. "We're putting out first thing in the morning, so catch me this evening. You know the place."
"Yes sir!" She leaned in and kissed his cheek. "And thank you!"
As the Citadel personnel rushed their wounded to Huerta Memorial, Shepard, Ashley and Jan, Garrus, Liara and Jacob separated from the rest.
"If you guys want to stay the night at our place, say the word," Shepard announced. Ashley nodded her approval.
"Thanks, Shepard, but Bryn is supposed to be meeting me here," said Jacob. "It's short notice, so we've got to find a hotel."
"Jacob, bring her along," said Ashley. "Did she bring Roger with her?"
"Nah," said Jacob with a smile. "He's home with his aunt. And thanks but no thanks on staying with you guys. I need time with her. Just she and I, out of arms reach of the Spectres."
"You're never out of reach of the Spectres." Garrus was just messing with him, but Jacob flinched a little. Shepard could understand why that would be disquieting.
"What about you, Garrus?" Shepard knew Garrus had a place, but he wanted to offer.
"Thank you Shepard, but I'm meeting up with Aeliana."
"Understood!" Good thing too, Shepard thought. If this goes south, there's no telling if they would see their loved ones again.
"What about you, Liara?" Ashley offered, but Liara shook her head."
"No, I need to address some things with the Asari consulate and I have an appointment with Councilor Tevos. Thank you for the offer, Ashley."
Ashley, John and Jan found themselves alone as they headed to Tiberius Towers and their hands found each other quickly as they walked. The three Shepards walking hand in hand was a sight that got attention on the Citadel. She thought about how ironic is was that they were walking cheerfully on the eve of one of the most dangerous missions they had ever embarked upon.
As they got off of the elevator and stepped into the hallway to their apartment, they were greeted by an unexpected guest: her sister, Sarah. Jan ran to hug her aunt and Ashley was right behind her.
"Sarah, what are you doing here?" Ashley was overjoyed, but perplexed.
"I heard that Shepard was reactivated," she replied. "I wasn't sure if you were, but if they're reactivating him, it must be big. Thought you might need some help on the home front."
"Thanks," said Ashley, "but why does everyone except me call him Shepard? He has a name, you know. And besides, I'm Shepard too." It didn't help that John, Sarah and Jan were all laughing.
"You should have heard Dr. Chakwas' reason for not using my first name," John said with a laugh. "It made no sense, but she's maintained calling me 'Commander Shepard' or 'Commodore Shepard' ever since." He embraced his sister in law. "How are you Sarah?"
"You tell me, Shepard." Sarah's demeanor went from laughing about surnames to worried and nervous. "You're back in action and my sister will want to follow you. I love Jan, and if anything happens to the two of you, I will take her in with joy. But I'd rather my niece not be orphaned or my sister widowed. I already went through that and don't wish it on another."
"I'm not going," Ashley retorted. "I can't believe you would think so little of my judgment, Sarah."
"Ash isn't coming, Sarah." Shepard left no room for discussion. "And I intend to put this right and live to tell about it."
John opened the door and let them in.
Once they had settled in and Jan was occupied with a game in her room, Sarah sat down with the Shepards.
"I'm sorry Ash," she said. "You know how you are. What was I supposed to think?"
"That you should wait until you have all of the facts before making accusations," volunteered Shepard. "It's alright," he continued, holding up a hand to silence Sarah and Ash as they both started to speak. "You care about Ashley, and that's what's important."
Sarah and Ashley both relaxed a little at this.
"Ashley, if you need me while Shepard's gone, I'm there. Or here. Or … oh, you know what I mean."
Ashley laughed. "Yeah sis, I do."
Miranda was awake in the hospital receiving infusions of medi-gel for her ribs. She had been diagnosed with a concussion from Shepard's head butt, but the rest of her injuries were just soreness and bruises. She looked under her hospital gown and saw nothing but black and purple on her sides. Shepard had been thorough, she thought. But now, she could sit up. Dr. Michel was putting the finishing touches on her.
"You are cleared for duty, Commander Lawson." The doctor's French accent was pleasant, but cold. She could tell from the look on Dr. Michel's face that there was nothing other than professional courtesy for Miranda.
"Thank you, Doctor." Miranda tried to sound as appreciative as she could. And she was appreciative. But Dr. Michel simply nodded curtly and turned to leave. Miranda caught her sleeve.
"Dr. Michel, how are they doing? How is my crew? Will Samantha and Gabby make it?"
"Sorry, Commander, but patient confidentiality prevents me from sharing their status with you." The doctor quickly left the room. Miranda lay back and let the tears come. She did not cry, not often. But now, she could not hold it back. She quietly wept for a few minutes when the door opened. Oriana and Dr. Chakwas came in.
"Ori!" Miranda sat up as quickly as she could manage and embraced her sister. Oriana returned the embrace.
"I thought you might want to see each other," said Karin. She started to leave, but Miranda reached over and grabbed her arm.
"Doctor, wait." She had to talk to her before putting out. Karin started to pull away, but Miranda looked at her pleadingly.
"Please Doctor. I need to talk to you."
"What is there to say?" Karin regarded her coldly. She still looked wounded and resentful.
"That I'm sorry," said Miranda. "I had no . . . control over what I was doing. I wasn't even aware of it. I should have been able to resist, to break free, but I . . . I couldn't. And I'm sorry. My crew is my life, my only family besides Ori. I don't want to lose you. Any of you."
Karin looked at her coolly. She didn't say anything, but she relaxed a little.
"Miranda," she said cautiously, "I have forgiven you. I would not have brought your sister to you otherwise. I just need time. I cannot join you on this mission, Miranda. I want to, but not with all that's happened. I'm seventy four years old, Miranda. It's time for me to retire. For what it's worth, I do forgive you and I hope that you come back so that we can be friends once again. Up until the last moments, I really did enjoy serving with you. You're a good commander, Miranda."
Miranda broke down sobbing and held Dr. Chakwas close. "Thank you. Thank you." She felt Karin's hands pat her back gently.
"It will be alright, Miranda." She gave Miranda a modest smile and left. Before she was gone, she turned back and said, "They'll make it, Miranda. You should know that at least." And then she was gone. Oriana put her hands on Miranda's shoulders.
"It's okay, sis. I'm here for you."
"Thanks, Ori." Miranda pulled herself together and began getting dressed. She had to finish this. Time to join Shepard on the Yorktown. Time to go get her ship.
Diana Allers arrived at Tiberius towers at about eight in the evening. It was a very posh place and she felt just a touch underdressed. But she was never one for going over the top with fancy clothes. She was a war correspondent at heart, not a talking head. It really grated on her that she was stuck in an executive role. Of course, if Commodore Shepard were actually shipping out for a mission of galactic import, she might be able to get out of the studio and back into the field herself for one last mission.
She rang the doorbell, which she knew didn't ring anything resembling a bell.
"Allers, that you?" Shepard's deep voice came through the speaker.
"Yes," she said. "We had an appointment for an interview this evening."
"Come on in," replied Shepard's voice as the door opened.
The apartment was huge, with a fireplace and a grand piano in the living room. She saw the inscription, "Steinway" on the piano. Expensive stuff, she thought. The view of the Citadel was panoramic and breathtaking. She never figured Shepard for being the fancy pad type of guy, but she had no criticism. He'd earned a thousand times over.
"Nice place!"
"Thanks," Shepard said. "I inherited it from Admiral Anderson. I try to entertain as much as I can. The place is so large. It would be a waste not to share with others."
He escorted her to the leather sectional and directed her to sit across from Ashley. He went to the kitchen and returned with wine and three glasses, serving each of them, and then himself, before sitting down next to his wife. They were both attentive to her, seeming to be genuinely interested in answering her questions. She always smiled when she saw them holding hands or doing any of the displays of affection that they were known for in public. It was a marked difference from most of the subjects that she had been assigned to interview over the years. Today was no exception.
"Most people need to be badgered to give me an interview," Diana observed. "You two invite me in and serve me a fine vintage wine. I could get used to this!"
They looked at each other, but Diana laughed. "Just kidding." She fired up her camera and got to business.
"Okay, Commodore Shepard, you've been activated and pulled from Council duty by the Alliance Navy. And Retired Commodore Ashley Shepard, rumors are circulating that you were recently active in the field with your husband and other Spectres. Everyone I've talked to has denied that there is anything out of the ordinary happening, but it's plain to see that this is anything but true, especially judging by the wounded coming off of that brand new, never before seen ship. Can either of you comment?"
Surprisingly, Ashley took the lead.
"Thanks for taking the time to come to us directly instead of reporting hear-say." Ashley came across well on the camera. Diana was impressed immediately.
"Firstly, I was on board the ship as a passenger and did not go into the field. As you know, we cannot disclose mission details, but even with the Reapers defeated, the Spectres are always active. Spectres were active long before the Reaper war and their unique skills will be needed to maintain galactic peace long after."
Nice feint, thought Diana.
"So your Spectre status has been reactivated?" Diana figured that that was a question she could get an answer to, though her answer was a bit of a let down.
"My Spectre status is still inactive. I retired after the Reaper War to be a mom, an artist and a writer. But like a marine, once a Spectre, always a Spectre," she said.
Rumors had been flying to the contrary, but looking at Ashley, Diana had to ask herself how they even got started. Diana had spent her entire journalistic career around soldiers and she had learned to discern who the hard edged and ready to roll veterans were from those who were either new, hadn't seen any real action, or had been out of the game for a while just by looking at them. Shepard still had it, and in fact, she found his presence a bit unsettling. He was back in his service uniform and his forearms were visible. They were scarred from years of intense duty and corded with muscle. Even his hands looked like he'd conditioned them for pummeling an enemy. She wondered briefly what it was like to have to negotiate with him in the political arena. Ashley wore a nice sun dress that showed off her shoulders and arms. She looked like a kindergarten teacher, a mom, or anything but a soldier now. Diana remembered when Ashley looked like feminine piece of spring steel wrapped in an Alliance uniform. But more than the physical, it was the look in their eyes that was so different. Shepard had the gaze of a tiger or an eagle. He was a predator. She'd seen him on the vids during his time as the human councilor and never once did he ever lose that. Ashley's eyes were soft, delicate, and nurturing. There was a defiant spirit in her eyes, but not a killer.
Diana spent about an hour with the Shepards, who were joined by their daughter briefly. Most of it was reflections on the past ten years and on the Reaper war. It was a good interview, and they were very generous with what they could share. She wrapped up the interview with the line, "And there you have it, Humanity's first Spectres. Only in the Battlespace. This is Diana Allers. Good night and stay strong!"
She turned off the camera and shut off her omni tool. No recording devices. No note taking.
"I want you both to know that anything that pulls you off of the council, reactivates your Spectre status, and involves two more Spectres scares me to death. I know that Arcturus was attacked. Shepard, I'm scared. Please tell me what's happening. Off the record, I swear."
He and Ashley exchanged glances.
"Diana, I'm only going to tell you this because you were on my crew during the war." Shepard locked eyes with her, his gaze holding her the way a cobra's gaze holds that of its prey. "Do not leak this."
Diana nodded rapidly. And she meant it. She had seen enough of Shepard first hand to know that crossing him was a very bad idea.
"Do you remember Leviathan?"
Diana could not forget. The thought sent a shudder through her.
"Please don't tell me that that thing is looking to sweep in now that the Reapers are gone."
"Those things," corrected Shepard. "And yes, that is a distinct possibility. Spheres have been showing up in unlikely places. One was even brought to Arcturus Station. Needless to say, problems have followed in each and every instance."
This was bad. Very bad. But at the same time, part of her was excited. She had to move fast.
"Shepard, I want in on this," she said. "I've been reduced to a pretty face on a talking head. Let me in on this, please."
Shepard regarded her for a few seconds. He didn't look at Ashley. Whatever decision he would make, he would make it unilaterally.
"I ship out at 06:00. One foot locker, don't be late."
"Thank you. I won't be late," Diana confirmed. "And thank you both for the interview."
"No problem," said Ashley.
"You're welcome." Shepard shook her hand. "Good night, Allers. See you on the Yorktown."
Ashley went to the bedroom with a touch of sadness. She had kissed a near sleeping Jan good night and John had already turned in, though she was not sure he was actually sleeping yet. She slipped into her nighty and slid into bed, trying her best not to disturb her husband. Suddenly, she was overcome with a feeling of dread. She did not understand it, but she suddenly knew that this was the last time that she would see Shepard. She had to admit, her feelings on it did not make much sense; Shepard had survived much worse and had stayed sharp, trained regularly, and had proven that he was more fit for duty now that the finest N7 graduates, so it was not like he was going into the field cold. And he would have Garrus, Miranda, Grunt, and Riley at his back, plus a crew that was headed up by Edi Moreau and Jacob Taylor and a host of N7 marines. But still, she was overcome and began to sob. Shepard pulled her down into bed with him and then pulled her in close under the covers. Suddenly, her dread fell away. It was hard to feel dread when he was holding her. Enjoy him, she thought. If it really was the last she was to see of him, then she wanted to enjoy every joyful second.
"What's wrong, Ash?"
"I just had this feeling, like … like after tomorrow, I'm never going to see you again."
"Ash …"
"It's alright, John." She snuggled in closer to him. "When I'm in your arms, I feel safe again. I just have to trust that God will bring you back to me."
She turned around and kissed him. He pulled her close and kissed her passionately.
"Just like that night before we hit the Illusive Man's base," laughed Ashley.
"No," he said. "Better."
John had risen at four in the morning. He had pulled the covers up around Ashley and kissed her as she slept. A smile had come to her beautiful face. Even though they both knew that her days in the field were in the past, it bothered her that she could no longer be at his side. He also had to admit that he'd miss her on this, he thought. But he knew that it was for the best. Ashley's relationship to the military and to soldiering was complex and in spite of her being a different person now, that was still a part of her. He knew she still beamed at the medals and awards she had in the glass case. Those tin trinkets meant the world to her, but at the same time, her life as a mother, an artist, and a writer meant more. His thoughts were interrupted. He heard the sound of someone coming to the kitchen. It was Sarah.
"Good morning."
"Good morning, Sarah. How did you sleep?"
Sarah laughed.
"You're asking me? I'm not the one embarking on a suicidal mission."
"Suicidal?" Shepard shook his head and drank some coffee and poured a cup for Sarah who accepted it gratefully. "The mission to the Collector Base? Now that was a suicide mission. So was Ilos, and pretty much every mission we ran during the Reaper war, and Ash was right there with me through all of that."
"I suppose you're right," she acknowledged. "I . . . just wish that Tom . . ." She started to cry thinking of her late husband who had died very early on in the Reaper war. Shepard walked behind her and reached around and hugged her.
"I know." Sarah regained her composure and Shepard sat down and took another sip. "So many people were lost," he said. "I think about Kaiden, Mordin, Legion, and Thane. And all those boys who didn't make it through the various conflicts and wars that I've fought in. Seems that no matter how many people die, it's that small number of people that we knew personally, that we loved, who hit us the hardest."
"I will stay and help Ashley and Jan for you, Shepard," she announced. "Besides, I already had assumed that she was probably going. I just didn't realize that the two of you had already dealt with it."
"Thanks. That means a lot." He finished the coffee and poured himself another cup. Sarah held out her cup and he topped her off. He then heard footsteps on the stairs.
"Good morning, Jan."
"Awwww! How come I can never sneak up on you? And how'd you know I wasn't mom?" Jan entered the kitchen and sidled up to Shepard, wrapping her arms around his waist. He picked her up and kissed her forehead.
"Because you aren't quiet enough and because your footsteps are lighter and sound different than your mom's." He put her down gently. "And because I'm Shepard."
"But I'm Shepard too," Jan protested.
"To the rest of the galaxy," said Sarah between sips, "he's Shepard. I hear people even call you 'The Shepard' now."
"Don't remind me."
Shepard made breakfast for the three of them, but made enough for a fourth plate should Ashley come down. He had gotten up very early, but now, the time for departure was nearing. If Ashley didn't make it out of bed soon, he have to wake her up. He was not going to leave without seeing her. But thankfully, sleeping through his departure was not on Ashley's agenda, as he soon heard her footsteps on the stairs. He prepared a plate for her and by the time she rounded the corner, it was ready along with a piping hot cup of coffee.
"John, I should be the one preparing food for you. I . . . I wish to God I could be at your side through this. I'm sorry."
"Don't be, Ash. This is a tough time for all of us Ash, you included. It's alright. You've been through it all. And you'll be here guarding the most important thing in our lives," and they both looked at their daughter, "Jan." He then gave her a hug and a kiss.
"Ugh!" Sarah rolled her eyes. "Can the two of you not be so sappy? Especially you, Ashley!"
"But it's cute," protested Jan.
"John, I feel like I'm a terrible mom." Ashley's confession seemed to come out of nowhere. "I have the most wonderful daughter, but I still have this desire in my heart to go with you. I've proven my family's honor, I've proven my worth to the military and to myself. Why do I still want to go strapping on armor and bounding into the field again? What's wrong with me?"
"Ash," Shepard said with a smile and touching her cheek, "don't you remember that conversation we had back on the Normandy SR-1? You said something about baggage and I said that the trick was finding a matched set."
"Oh my God!" Ashley blushed a deep red. "You had the worst pick-up lines."
"They worked on you, Ash." Shepard smiled and she just blushed more.
"Wait a minute," Sarah interrupted. "Did he really say that?"
"That and a whole lot of other equally sappy things," said Ashley with a smile. "I told him he should have his own line of greeting cards."
"And if that whole saving the galaxy and getting rich off the vids thing hadn't panned out, I just might have." Shepard hoisted his coffee cup as if to toast his own cleverness and downed the last of it. "Now, I have a galaxy to save. Again. Ashley, you're the best thing that ever happened to me. I still couldn't do this without you." Shepard held her close and kissed her. He then just held her. A long silence followed while he held his wife. He then gently released her and then picked up his daughter and held her close for what seemed like an eternity. He finally kissed her and put her down. "I love you, Jan."
He then stood up, his demeanor changing. Sarah watched him transform from a loving husband and father into man that everyone knew from the vids. Into the most feared man alive.
"I need to get the Yorktown warmed up and stop by the hospital to check on our wounded warriors."
Shepard leaned down and kissed Jan and hugged her tightly again, and then kissed and held Ashley. He also hugged Sarah, thanking her for helping Ashley with Jan while he was gone. He then kissed his wife one last time and opened the door to leave. Something wasn't right. The air shimmered slightly and he could smell a hint of some cosmetic product.
"Get Jan out!" He shouted the command as he rolled backward and came up on his feet with his pistol drawn. Ashley pushed Jan behind her.
"Sarah, get her out of here!" Sarah obliged.
The flash of a knife appeared where his heart had been a moment ago, and Kasumi Goto materialized. Shepard squeezed the trigger instinctively, but Kasumi was fast and was already rolling to his left when his gun fired. Her name meant 'mist' in Japanese, and she lived up to it.
"Ashley run!"
Kasumi came up with her own pistol pointed at Shepard, but he was already in motion. Before she could fire, he was deflecting her weapon arm towards the fireplace and away from himself and his family. But when he tried to strike her, she was already gone, spinning low and out of his way, coming up behind him to stab him. Shepard was fast himself and turned, parrying her blow, and striking with lightning speed with his left fist, catching her in the jaw. Kasumi spun around, but she disappeared before she hit the floor. Shepard followed the disturbance in the air and fired. Blood sprayed from Shepard's shot, but Kasumi came up right in front of Ashley, a side wound bleeding badly from Shepard's bullet. Sarah had already grabbed Jan, but Ashley was slower, as she was covering their retreat. She parried the pistol that Kasumi was firing at her, the shot shattering a kitchen tile. A pained look crossed her face.
"Shepard . . ."
Kasumi withdrew her left hand and the now bloodied knife that it held. Ashley collapsed. Shepard fired ten shots in rapid succession. Sarah saw her sister fall and then saw Kasumi's right shoulder explode in a spray of blood and bone, her arm and most of her right shoulder neatly severed from her torso. He fired another shot and Kasumi's left knee was taken out. One final shot shattered her right ankle. Kasumi was neutralized and would likely bleed to death.
"Ash!" Shepard knelt down next to his stricken wife. "Ash, talk to me!"
Ashley had been stabbed right between her ribs, the knife penetrating her heart. She died almost instantly.
"This is Shepard! I need C-Sec at my location on the double!" he shouted into his com. "Ash is down! We need a corpsman!"
Dr. Chakwas awoke to the sound of an incoming call. She shook the sleep from her eyes and saw that the call was marked urgent.
"Karin Chakwas," she said groggily.
"Doctor," came the voice of Executor Bailey, "Shepard needs you. Ashley's been stabbed, and it may be fatal."
"What?" She sat bolt upright, jarred fully awake by Bailey's words.
"Cloaked assassin," Bailey explained. "Looks like she took out some of the Tiberius Tower building security too. We've got a skycar and paramedics on the way, but I figured he'd want you, seeing as how you two are friends and all."
"I'm on my way," replied Karin. Not Ashley, she thought. Not Ashley. Karin dressed quickly and caught a cab to Tiberius Towers. The executor had already arrived motioned to her to come with him.
"Come on," he said as he hurried her inside. "No time to waste!"
Karin saw a slain doorman and two dead security guards in the hallway. Their throats had been slit. She saw Shepard's front door ahead, a squad of C-Sec officers keeping watch. Bailey walked her in, but when she saw Ashley on the floor, she knew it was too late. Jan held her mother's dead hand as Shepard cradled his wife's head, stroking her hair with one hand as he held a crimson towel to her chest to stop the bleeding. Ashley's sister, Sarah, looked catatonic. Karin wasted no time.
"I came as soon as I could, Shepard."
"Whatever it takes, save her."
Karin knew that voice. Shepard wasn't making a request. Unfortunately, she couldn't follow his order, though she very badly wanted to. She knelt down and touched Ashley. Her skin was cold. Her color was gone and there was no breathing and no pulse. Karin lifted the towel and saw the knife wound. Ashley had likely been dead since before Bailey had called her. She began to sob. As a doctor, she had never lost it like this. But Ashley was not just another casualty. She was a friend. And Shepard was indeed one of her best and truest friends.
"I'm sorry, Shepard," she said between sobs. "She's . . . gone."
Jan began to cry. Shepard pulled her close. Karin closed Ashley's eyes. That was when Karin noticed spatters of blood on the floor, too much for it to have been Ashley's.
"Is that her killer's?" Karin hoped that it was and not another of Shepard's family.
"Yes," he said flatly. "Kasumi Goto. I had to put her down. Hard. They said she might live, but they doubt they'll be able to save her right arm."
"No!" This made no sense. "Kasumi is a friend!"
"Yeah, and so is Miranda," observed Shepard. "I'm betting that this is related, but until Kasumi is conscious, and assuming she survives, we won't know for certain."
Karin broke down completely. She couldn't take it any longer. Shepard and Ashley deserved a happy ending. A 'lived happily ever after' ending. And poor Jan. Her mother killed right in front of her. Then there was Sarah. She had had to bury her husband ten years ago. Now her sister would be buried as well.
The coroner pronounced Ashley Shepard dead at the scene. Her body was placed into a bag to be taken away for the medical examiner. Urdnott Bakara had arrived to check in on the family. Shepard sat on the sofa by the fire holding his daughter and doing what he could to comfort his sister in law.
"John," said Bakara in greeting. "I am so very sorry." She reached out one of her huge hands and gently caressed Jan. There were no words, but Jan wrapped her arm around Bakara's hand and hugged it tightly.
"Thank you for coming," said Shepard softly. She could see that he was holding it together for his family, but his eyes were nothing but pain and grief. He and Ashley had had a magical marriage.
"It was my pleasure," she said. "Wrex is on the way. He's going to stay here with me while you take down whatever it is that did this."
Sarah looked up nervously.
"Please Shepard," she pled, "Don't die."
"I wish it had been me instead of Ash," he replied.
"I know you do," said Sarah softly, "but she'd have wanted it to be her instead of you. Please come back for Jan."
Jan hugged her father tightly.
"I will, Sarah," replied Shepard. "I promise."
And with that, Shepard stood. He kissed Jan again and then scooped her up and held her tightly for a very long moment. He finally put her back down with Sarah. Bakara embraced him, and Sarah stood and did likewise.
"May the spirits of the Ancients protect you, my friend," pronounced Bakara.
"Thanks. I'll take all the help I can get." He then turned to Jan and knelt down to look her in the eye.
"I love you. And I will come back to you." He gave her another hug and kiss and then stood and departed. His departure had already been delayed, and he still had another stop to make.
Shepard made it to Huerta Memorial and checked in with Dr. Michel. Miranda had been cleared for duty and was already on board the Yorktown. Vega and Ken were still sleeping, but were out of the woods. Traynor was stabilized, but not out of the woods and Gabriella's life hung by a thread. Cortez would regain the use of his hand, but Joker would probably be wheelchair bound for the rest of his life. It was too early to tell, of course, but the prognosis was not good. Shepard looked in on each of them, but when he got to Samantha's room, he found Kelly. She'd stayed with Samantha all through the night. Kelly stood and wiped her eyes.
"Shepard!" She was always joyful when she was around him.
"Ash is dead," he said matter of factly.
"Shepard, no!" Kelly hugged him tightly. "No, no, no! That isn't right! It can't be!"
"It is," he said flatly. "Kasumi Goto was cloaked. She got into the apartment. Killed the doorman and two guards on the way. We fought and took out Ash. It was almost a fluke. I had to neutralize her before she got to Jan. It wasn't pretty. She'll probably live, but she'll be crippled. We think it was the same thing that happened to Miranda. C-Sec is scouring for the sphere."
Kelly remembered working with Kasumi. She liked her. What a horrible thing, she thought, that friends were subverted and used to kill and injure other friends. Kelly just held him silently for a few moments. Shepard wasn't one to cry, but she knew him very well. Well enough to know that he needed all the support she and the others could give him. She also knew that when Shepard was grieving, he tended to take his grief out on his enemies . . . and his perceived enemies. Kelly had to keep Shepard 'Shepard.'
"I'm so, so sorry sir," she said. "You've been there for me. Let me be there for you, Shepard. Let me join you on this mission. Let me be at your side again."
"Thanks, Kelly. Get your things together, Kelly. We'll stop them."
"Aye, sir!" She saluted him. He returned the salute and then reached out and pulled her close. Kelly returned his embrace.
"Thank you, Shepard." They held each other for a few moments. Then she leaned down and kissed Samantha on the forehead. Then she grabbed her duffle and followed him to the Yorktown.
"So what's the plan?"
"We cruise in, secure the Normandy, and then deal with those things planet-side. Then we go directly to the source."
"You mean . . ."
"That's exactly what I mean."
"If you were anyone else, I'd question your sanity. But I trust you implicitly."
"I won't let you down, Kelly." He paused a moment, and then smiled and continued. "Or we'll all die and the galaxy will be ruled by Reaper-fish."
Kelly laughed.
"You could just put them in your fish tank."
"Yeah," laughed Shepard. "If only it were that simple."
"Well, regardless, I'm in it to the end," said Kelly. "For Samantha and for you. And for Ashley." She fell in with him for a moment and put her arm around his waist. He hugged her briefly as they walked and then she resumed walking normally.
Miranda arrived at 05:30 to board the Yorktown. She walked stiffly, but she knew that by the time they reached their destination that she would be alright. Well mostly at least. Her right shoulder still hurt from Shepard's sharp dislocation of it and her sides still throbbed from the very sound thrashing she'd received at his hand. Everything had been put back together; her injuries were very minor compared to the ones she had inflicted on her crew. She still shuddered at the thought. She went to her assigned cabin and put her duffle at the foot. A bunk; I will have a roommate, she thought. There was a terminal in the room, so Miranda logged on and checked her mail. She was surprised to see a message from Cortez.
Commander,
They won't let us anywhere near you, but Shepard and Edi told me what happened. I remember the ordeal we went through when Shepard confronted that thing ten years ago. I saw what it did to people and so did James. Scary stuff just thinking about it. I'm up and awake and they'll have my hand back good as new. I even typed out this message myself. Gabby's still touch and go, but they've got Samantha stabilized. Vega's awake now, and I've talked with Ken and Joker. We're with you to the end, Commander. Go with Shepard and finish this. And when you get the Normandy back, we're ready to get back to serving with you.
Good luck and Godspeed.
Steve
Miranda cried again, but this time, it was tears of joy. She wasn't normally spiritual, but she thanked God for bringing peace to her and her remaining crew. Her thoughts were interrupted as Lee Riley entered the room.
Lee Riley was taller than Miranda, likely as tall as Ashley Shepard, but looked like Ashley had back when Miranda had met Ashley on Horizon; spring steel wrapped in an Alliance uniform. Riley's mocha skin tone and robust facial features revealed her African ancestry, though she was also known to have Irish ancestry as well. Her surname and her piercing green eyes attested to this. Her hair was corn rowed into braids that were pulled back into a ponytail. Miranda couldn't help but find her incredibly beautiful. My bunkmate, she thought.
"Lawson," was Riley's greeting. It wasn't a friendly greeting.
"Good morning, Captain." Miranda decided to ignore the icy tone.
"You can cut the pleasantries, Lawson," replied Riley tersely. "We have to share a cabin, so I can be professional, but I know what you did."
"It wasn't me," sputtered Miranda. She was still flustered. Still disbelieving. "I don't even remember any of it. Shepard said . . ."
"Of course you don't," barked Riley, cutting her off. "And that's the problem. You're an indoctrinated time bomb. And at any time and for any reason, you could go off. You're way too dangerous to be allowed to live. Shepard should have killed you immediately. I don't know why he let you live."
"Because Shepard's not one to take the easy way," retorted Miranda.
"Yeah, well I am," Riley threatened. "Step out of line and I'll finish the job."
Great, thought Miranda. My bunk mate is an N7 Alliance marine and a Spectre who wants to kill me. Hope she doesn't shoot me in the back during the mission. Or in my sleep.
Miranda logged off of the terminal and shut it down. No need to stay in the room with Riley. She exited and went out to the mess area, but when she sat down, others who were seated got up and left. This was not going to be easy. What was worse, she had no idea what to do. This was so far beyond the scope of her training or of what her fancy genetics could address that she felt like she was literally adrift, being pulled into the gravity of a brown dwarf, soon to be crushed. Tears came to her. She hated that the most. It was weakness to the crew, and certainly was weakness to Riley. It seemed that she had few allies on board the Yorktown. Soon, she'd have to face Edi. After shooting Jeff, she hoped that Edi wouldn't decide that Riley was right and kill her in the best interests of the crew. Jacob and Shepard were likely to be her only allies. Shepard. If only.
Her thoughts were interrupted when her omni tool communications chime sounded.
"Commander Lawson." It was Jacob's voice.
"Good morning Jacob," she replied as cheerily as she could. "What's going on?"
"Commodore Shepard is on deck."
"On my way," she said. Finally, she thought, this mission can actually begin. She made her way up the stairs. The ship had a lift, but it was mainly for maintenance and any cargo that might be taken on. People used the stairs. Apparently, it had been determined that in the event of power failure, a lift as the only access to other decks was a major liability. As she came to the top of the stairs, she saw Jacob with Shepard and Kelly Chambers. Kelly winced momentarily when she saw Miranda, but she recovered quickly and greeted her with, "Commander."
"Good morning, Lieutenant," said Miranda in response.
"Good to see you up and about." Shepard's voice was warm and welcoming. He reached over and gently squeezed her right shoulder. Something was wrong. She could see it in his eyes. A deep and powerful pain. Grief. She wondered if one of the Normandy crew had died. She hoped not. Not only were they her family, but it would be another crime that Riley would hang on her. Miranda gave him a quick embrace.
"It's good to be seen," she said.
"You and I are here," said Shepard, "That's two Spectres."
"Make that four, Shepard." Garrus strode onto the CIC, the crew parting for him. Behind him was Lee Riley. Whatever her opinion of Miranda, Riley gave away no indication of it. On deck, she was as professional as they came.
All three active human Spectres, Garrus Vakarian, Grunt, and Liara T'Soni, the Shadow Broker, and all of them the most celebrated heroes of the Reaper War; this really is one for the history books, she thought.
"Alright people," he said. She noted that he had said that a lot when she had served as his XO on the Normandy SR-2. "We have a mission to undertake. We're going to Gei Hinnom to recover the Normandy and then to deal with the artifact or artifacts in the mining facility. You've all been briefed on this. You've all been hand-picked by either myself or Commander Taylor. Everyone get your gear stowed, take a few minutes to get settled in and then get to your stations. We leave in 30. Spectres, in the conference room in ten. Commander Taylor, you have the con."
"Aye, sir."
The prep for take-off was brief; Edi had made sure that everything was ready well before the crew began boarding. Once the ship was moving, it was a comparatively short time to get to the Hades Nexus where Sheol, the system the Normandy was in was located. From there, however, they had to travel by FTL, as the relay was not in the same system. It would be several hours until they arrived at the Normandy. Shepard had obtained schematics on the mine and had a pretty good idea of where at least one artifact was based on Miranda's report. If Edi could get the Normandy up and running, once the mission planet side was complete he had to decide whether or not to send it back under Miranda's command and essentially lose her as a squad member or to send it back under Jacob's command. Given that it was Miranda's ship, he decided that it was appropriate to send Miranda. He also knew that Miranda's presence on the ship was somewhat awkward due to the circumstances of sphere causing her with Vega and Grunt to attack the remainder of the Normandy crew. Might be good to get some distance between her and the Yorktown crew, he thought. Hopefully, the Normandy would be salvageable as he had predicted.
The Spectres all gathered in the conference room ten minutes after Shepard's initial briefing as Shepard had ordered. Miranda expected a more thorough briefing. She also expected that Riley might press her case. Miranda was rarely wrong and this was to be no exception.
Garrus and Riley filed into the room, Riley saluting Shepard and taking her place. Garrus gently touched Miranda's shoulder.
"Feeling better?"
"Much, Garrus, thank you."
"Speaking of that," said Riley, "I have a major concern about this mission, Commodore. Permission to speak freely?"
Here it comes, thought Miranda. Shepard groaned and shook his head, but let her speak.
"I've got a lot to go over, so make it fast."
"Miranda Lawson should not be on this mission." There was no animosity; it was all professional, but Riley was emphatic. "She's a liability, and a possible risk to her squad mates. She's indoctrinated and . . ."
Shepard held his hand up and cut her off before she could continue.
"Riley," he said flatly, "the control is contingent upon a mental connection between the subject and the sphere."
"Yes, and the sphere has not been destroyed," interjected Riley.
"No, it has not," confirmed Shepard. "But control has. I saw how shielding cut the connection when Dr. Bryson worked with me on Leviathan ten years ago. We've taken precautions against the reestablishment of control and to deal with the situation should those precautions fall short."
Riley opened her mouth to continue, but Shepard cut her off.
"The shielding we're using was designed specifically to prevent the spheres from exerting control. I cleared her for duty on this," Shepard declared. "The subject is not up for debate."
"Then I request to be on the Normandy with her," countered Riley. "That way, when she goes rogue, I can neutralize her."
"I'm in the room, you know," protested Miranda sharply.
"No," replied Shepard to Riley. "Edi will be there and should Miranda come under the influence of those spheres again, Edi is prepared to neutralize the threat without harming Miranda."
"But . . ."
"Captain Riley." Garrus' low, gravelly and duo tone voice grabbed Riley's attention, immediately stopping her short. "Don't second guess Shepard. Every time I have, I've been proven wrong. I advised him to kill the Rachni Queen. He didn't and the Rachni provided valuable help to us during the war. I advised him to sacrifice the Council during Sovereign's attack. But now, we have a council that lived through . . . no . . . bled through the war with us. And their respective species were grateful to Shepard and Humanity gained a measure of good will in the galactic community that would have been impossible otherwise. I trust his judgment. You probably should too."
"Now that we have that out of the way," said Shepard, "let me begin."
He brought up a holo of the mining facility and identified the available entrances, went over the expected resistance, and discussed his strategy for getting in, proposing two teams, with one covering the exits and the other getting in through a ventilation shaft which, according to the schematics, should accommodate even a man of Shepard's size. Shepard didn't ask for much input, and his normal tendency to reach out to his team in formulating the plan seemed to be absent. All three of them made observations and suggestions, to which he was open, and even altered his initial plan to account for, but he wasn't actively seeking their counsel. It was very unlike the Shepard she remembered. Initially, she thought that it might be due to his being away from command for so long, but she put that thought from her mind. He was different, even than he had been couple of days ago. The briefing ended and he dismissed them. Riley saluted him and left, but Garrus and Miranda stayed behind.
"Shepard," Miranda said softly, walking over and touching his shoulder. "What's wrong?"
"You mean you don't know?" Garrus comment caught her off guard.
"Oh," she said frowning. "I suppose I am out of the loop due to the failure of my last mission."
"No, you're not, Miranda," corrected Shepard. "I haven't discussed it with anyone and I've had it kept out of the news. Garrus only knows because he caught it before I had it blacked out."
Miranda felt better personally but this raised more alarms.
"Shepard, what happened?" She squeezed his arm as she asked. He needed friends, she thought.
"Ash is dead."
Miranda's eyes widened and her hands went to her mouth. Not Ashley!
"Shepard, I am so sorry," she said, putting her arms around him. "It . . . it should be me to have died. Not Ashley."
Shepard returned her embrace momentarily.
"No," he said, "It shouldn't be either of you. The kicker is that part of her really wanted to go on the mission, but with her length of time away from service, she was glad not to be reactivated. Instead, Kasumi Goto, likely possessed by one of those things, got in and killed her right in front of Jan."
Miranda just stood, shaking at the implications.
"She was trying to kill me, but couldn't. Ash was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"And Kasumi . . ." Miranda knew that Shepard had handled her pretty hard. She couldn't imagine that he had let Kasumi live.
"Intensive care," replied Shepard. "I perforated her shoulder, detaching her right arm. Thankfully, emergency services and C-Sec responded very quickly."
"If there's anything, anything at all, that I can do," said Miranda, "call me and I'll drop whatever I'm doing for you."
"Thanks, Miranda. That means a lot."
"I take it that we should keep this from the rest of the crew?" Garrus question was also on Miranda's mind.
"No," said Shepard. "She was one of them. They're her family too. I just didn't want it all over the news. Jan has enough to deal with. Thankfully, Sarah is there and Wrex and Bakara finally took me up on my offer of hospitality. They're as safe as they could possibly be under the circumstances."
"I'm sure she's keeping an eye out for us," said Garrus.
"That I'd guarantee," replied Shepard. "And putting in a good word for us too."
"Amen to that," said Miranda.
With the Spectres briefed on the mission and the ship well on its way to their final destination, Shepard spent the rest of his morning attending to his duties as skipper. When it got be ten, he broke for coffee and headed to the mess. The other crewmen were surprised to see him joining them.
"Drinking with us grunts?" One of them asked it with a friendly tone, but clearly, they were not accustomed to the skipper eating with the enlisted men.
"The original Normandy didn't have an officers' lounge," offered Shepard. "Besides, I don't believe in separating the officers from the crew as though they were somehow above them. We're in this together. We may have different parts to play, but we're all just soldiers."
"Nice to see some things don't change," said Miranda as she sat down. Some of the crew started to get up, but Shepard looked at them disapprovingly and they sat back down.
"Look," he said to them, "I don't know what sort of scuttlebutt has been going around, but it ends here and now. Miranda is an old and very close friend of mine. While some of you were having your noses wiped by your nannies at daycare, she was with me, fighting through the Collector base and helping me save human colonies. Fighting through the Reaper war and helping me take down Cerberus. You all owe her your respect. She's earned it a thousand times over."
Shepard sat and sipped his coffee. Miranda sat next to him doing the same, though she didn't know what to say. She really hadn't expected him to come to her defense like that, but she was glad that he had. After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, one of the crewmen spoke up.
"I'm sorry sir," said one of the female crewmen who had started to get up. "We were wrong. Won't happen again."
"Don't apologize to me," he said, still sipping his coffee and going over reports.
She turned to Miranda. She couldn't have been more than twenty two years old. Shepard thought that she barely looked like she was out of high school. The girl's face went pale. Confronting Miranda directly is something that they had been avoiding. Cowards, thought Shepard. But the young lady put some steel in her spine.
"Commander Lawson," she said, "my conduct was unbecoming and I apologize."
"Thank you," said Miranda with a smile. "It means a lot."
With the tension broken, small talk began again and Miranda was even included in some of it. Shepard finally looked up from his reports at Miranda and smiled. She couldn't help but blush a little, but she smiled back.
"Time to get back to work," said Shepard. And with that, the coffee break was over. As the lounge crowd dispersed, the young lady who had apologized to Miranda approached her.
"Commander," she said, "I am really sorry."
"What's your name, ensign?"
"Ensign Kim Ross, ma'am," came a nervous reply.
"Well, Ensign Ross," replied Miranda, "it really does mean a lot. I appreciate it."
Miranda left the mess and got back to her own duties. What was shaping up to be a miserable trip had just become bearable. Maybe Riley will decide that she doesn't want to kill me after all, thought Miranda.
Shepard turned the ship over to Jacob and retired to his cabin for the night. His first night without Ashley. I should be home with Jan, he thought. He played the scene over in his mind again, analyzing the fight. There was no fault, no single action of either his own or Ashley's, no fatal mistake that caused Ashley's death. He was a soldier, and he knew that sometimes, there simply was nothing that could be done differently. He was convinced that he had not dropped the ball or betrayed Ashley in some way. It was a circumstance that was completely unexpected. Of course it did not matter. Ash was gone. She always spoke of Heaven, of God, of Jesus, and of how her late father was there in Heaven with them. He smiled at the thought of him greeting her, congratulating her in person on her hard work and on her promotions. She had done her family proud. He thought of how happy that would make her. Perhaps Kaidan, Thane, and Mordin were greeting her as well, welcoming her to paradise. Perhaps.
His thought were interrupted when his door chimed.
"Come in," he called.
Diana Allers entered. She looked somber, a change from her usual perky demeanor.
"I am so sorry, Shepard," she said. "I … I just interviewed the two of you the other night. She was so beautiful, so happy. The two of you were so happy."
"I know," he said. "I was just thinking about her. You're not here for an interview, are you?"
"No," she replied. "I've been talking to the crew and treating this story as though it were about the Alliance's new SR-3. My viewers think that you're on the ship as part of a PR campaign for the Alliance Navy. I'm here strictly as a friend tonight."
"Yeah," he laughed, "Well I'm always stumping for the Navy. Marines especially."
"But don't worry," she said. "I'm putting together the real story too. When you give the word, I'll pull the trigger and the galaxy will know that Shepard is back in business."
The chime sounded again.
"Come in," Shepard called, unlocking the door. The door opened and Miranda, Garrus, and Liara walked in.
"Shepard," Liara said in greeting.
"Thought you could use some company tonight," said Garrus.
"Nobody should be alone when they're grieving," said Miranda. "You visiting me during my recovery really meant a lot. The time you took to visit with me during the war, it kept me going."
"Thanks," he said quietly. The Yorktown did not have the plush cabin that the Normandy did, and no aquarium, thank heaven, but it also did not have a lot of space for guests. He did have a small breakfast bar, so he arranged the chairs as best he could.
"I'd be a terrible host if I didn't offer you all something to drink. What'll you have?"
"I know you keep a bottle . . . or two of Turian brandy," said Garrus cheerily. Shepard produced it and poured him a glass and then looked at Liara.
"You wouldn't have any Serrice ice brandy in your liquor cabinet would you?"
"As luck would have it . . .," he replied, taking out a bottle and pouring her a glass. He looked at Miranda and Diana.
"Wine please," said Miranda, Diana nodding in agreement. Shepard held up a bottle of Thessia red, to which both nodded their approval. He poured the two ladies each a glass and then a glass of Kaidan's Peruvian whiskey for himself.
Miranda raised her glass and said, "To Ashley, the strongest lady to ever wear an Alliance uniform!"
"To Ash," chimed in Garrus, Liara and Diana, raising their glasses.
"To Ashley," said Shepard quietly, but with a slight smile.
"How is Jan doing?" Garrus asked. "This has got to be rough on her."
Shepard shook his head.
"That's the worst part of this," he said. "I delayed departure as long as I could, but I barely had time to comfort her before I had to ship out. I feel like I've just pushed her aside when she needed me most." He finished his whiskey and poured some more.
"Shepard, if this really is Leviathan," said Garrus, "you know how bad it can get. If they aren't stopped, it won't matter how much affection you shower her with."
"And you've showered her with so much," said Liara.
"Indeed," said Miranda, "I wish my father had been more like you. If I ever had children, I'd want their father to be the kind of dad you've been." She reached across and touched his shoulder.
The five of them spent the rest of the evening reminiscing about Ashley and about past adventures. By the time they left, Shepard felt a bit better. He reflected on how blessed he was to have such good friends.
The Yorktown dropped out of light speed in orbit around Gei Hinnom, stealth systems on and the Normandy in plain view of the bridge. Shepard and Miranda looked at the crippled ship through the window, each making their own assessments. Shepard was pretty sure that the ship could be brought back online, and Edi shared his optimism in this.
"Edi, pull us alongside the Normandy. We'll need to spacewalk over. Miranda, prep the starboard airlock and ready the skeleton crew."
"Aye, sir." And with that, Miranda left to make the preparations Shepard had requested. Edi synchronized the Yorktown's orbit with the Normandy's and soon, Miranda's voice called to the bridge.
"Airlock is ready sir. I'll get the Normandy skeleton crew ready for spacewalk."
"Do it," replied Shepard. He silently wished that Engineer Adams or Tali were on hand for this, but the engineer that Jacob had picked out was highly recommended. Shepard decided he'd better meet with her before the mission. "Send Danvers and Lawson to the conference room, Kelly."
Shepard met quickly with Miranda and Octavia Danvers. Shepard recognized her the moment he saw her.
"You were on Grissom Academy when Cerberus hit, weren't you?"
"Aye, sir," she said. "I'm surprised you remember me. It's been over a decade."
"Adams and Tali are not available for this mission," said Shepard.
Shepard was professional, but his usual banter with an old acquaintance was completely missing. Normally, he would have said more in acknowledgment to Danvers' comment. Instead, he simply continued on as if she hadn't said anything. He wasn't cold, but his usual empathy was lacking, his focus turned inward. The mission. It took his mind off of things more personal.
"Meaning no disrespect, they'd have been my first choice due to their familiarity with the Normandy. I need the Normandy in operable condition. She needs to be able to make FTL speeds and make a jump through the relay to Arcturus. Taylor tells me that you're up to the task."
"I've studied the Normandy extensively," replied Danvers. "I did my thesis on her. I also have been working in a simulator of the SR-2 engineering. I was top of my class and have served with distinction as chief engineer on the SSV Hawking."
"Good. You pull this off and you may end up serving as chief engineer of the Yorktown." Shepard then activated his omni tool and Adam's face came up on the screen.
"Adams, you there?"
"At your service, Commodore," came Adam's voice.
"Adams!" Miranda brightened seeing Adams awake and healthy.
"Commander, I hear you've recovered from a nasty headache."
"I'm just sorry that you were on the receiving end," Miranda said. "I cannot apologize enough for . . ." but Adams cut her off.
"Ma'am, Shepard briefed us. We know what happened. I can't wait to be back aboard the Normandy. I was going stir crazy here until Shepard came up with the idea of patching me in."
"Alright," said Shepard, bringing the banter to a close. "Adams will be linked into our communications, Danvers. If you run into anything unusual, the two of you may be able to put your heads together to deal with it. Adams has had the most recent first-hand experience with the Normandy." Shepard looked at the time. "Alright people, the time is now. Move out."
Miranda, Danvers, and a team of Alliance marines entered the Normandy via spacewalk. Miranda hadn't spacewalked in years and it was a first for Danvers. But the walk went smoothly and no lasers were fired at them. Once they were aboard, Shepard moved the Yorktown below the Normandy to shield it.
"We're in," she said to Shepard.
"Good," he replied. "Status report."
"The physical damage isn't as bad as I had thought. The explosion we saw was the outboard port side engine being blown apart. The hull is largely intact; aside from the one large hole, the ship seems largely intact. Once Danvers has sounded the deck, we're heading for engineering."
Danvers inspected the CIC deck and they moved to the crew deck. As expected, the hole had partially cut into the lift, so they had to use the maintenance ducts. The crew deck was much the same as the CIC; intact but with a large hole blasted through the portion closest to the lift.
"Shepard, the blast seems to have missed the captain's perch, so once the power is up, barriers should go up to seal in the atmosphere."
"Sounds good."
Danvers looked at Miranda cockeyed.
"Commodore, you let her address you by your last name?"
"Miranda's a close friend. She's earned the right. Don't get any ideas of your own."
Danvers didn't press the issue. Miranda felt a moment of smugness when Shepard put Danvers in her place, but she let it pass. Onto engineering, she thought. They made it down and found that Adam's station was completely gone.
"Shepard, the drive core is intact but the main engineering station is gone."
"I can rout to the assistant engineer's stations," announced Danvers.
"Do what you can, Specialist. Miranda, report back in an hour unless you have something urgent. Shepard out."
It did not take long for them to get the power on the Normandy restored. As Danvers had predicted, the barriers went up in the areas around the hole. One of the engines was dead, but Danvers affirmed that they could still make FTL.
"Shepard, we're up and running." Miranda's report was brief and it was the first truly happy moment since this all began.
"Understood. I'm taking the shuttle groundside. Keep them working on getting the Normandy spaceworthy. I'll meet you on the Normandy in our shuttle."
"Shepard, I could meet you groundside in one of our shuttles. They appear to be intact."
"And unshielded. Mine is prepped specifically for this. I'll see you in ten. Shepard out."
Shepard docked with the Normandy and picked up Miranda without incident. Miranda joined Shepard with the biotic team that Jacob had picked out, along with Urdnot Grunt, Urdnot Dagg, Garrus, Liara, and Captain Riley. She silently wondered how Vega was doing. As soon as she hit the seat, the shuttle was in motion, and within moments, they were rocketing towards the planet.
"Alright people," Shepard said to them all, "We already know what to expect when we land. There may be more surprises once we get inside, so be prepared. Remember, these people are not in control of themselves, so do your best not to kill them. If your life is on the line, though, do what you need to. My first priority is destroying the artifacts and keeping my crew intact. Do not, not remove your helmet under any circumstances! Are we clear?"
A resounding "Yes sir!" was the response. Miranda couldn't help but notice that virtually everyone except Shepard and Garrus looked very nervous.
"Shepard, I don't like saying so, but I think you should know that I'm terrified of this place." Miranda could not believe that she had just stated that out loud. Rodriguez chimed in in agreement.
"Me too sir," she said softly. It looked like others were about to join in, but Shepard held his hand up.
"Get it together everyone," he barked. "This is only the opening salvo. Miranda, I need you focused. As soon as you see one of those spheres, blow it apart. No questions, no hesitation. Understood?"
He received another resounding "Yes Sir."
"We're not blind this time. And we're well prepared. Don't let fear compromise your sense of the mission! Am I clear?"
"Yes sir," Miranda said.
"Good, because we're about to touch down." At that, he brought his Lancer rifle to bear. The ship touched down and the door opened, revealing the mining facility off in the distance where it had all began. "Move out!" And Shepard hit the ground. No hesitation, no fear. Garrus was right behind him and Lee and Miranda followed quickly. Grunt and Dagg practically knocked over anyone who was in their way, including each other, in order to get going.
Shepard had had the shuttle pilot set them down a few clicks south of the facility. Edi had furnished him with a floor plan and he led them via a circuitous route through the hills to a ventilation shaft that led down into the facilities ventilation system. Two of the biotic tech specialists that Jacob had found, Declan McCray and Mary Whitaker, went into the shaft to disable any obstacles along the way and to signal the all clear. Declan and Mary signaled the all clear after a few minutes and they entered the shaft. Shepard sent Garrus, the two Krogan, and six beefy N-7 marines around to a hidden alcove off the side of the front door to wait for Shepard's group to open it. He sent five of the biotics around to the other side to lay in wait behind an outcropping so that they could flank any resistance that Garrus' group might encounter.
They had to enter the shaft one at a time, but they exited in the ventilation control room with Declan and Mary. Three maintenance workers lay unconscious on the ground, the two specialists tying them up. So far, so good, thought Miranda. Shepard silently pulled up the schematic on his omni-tool and signaled Prangley and Rodriguez to flank the door. He signaled the rest of them off to one side and sent Lee to get the door. Shepard brought his Widow rifle to bear, looking through the scope. Miranda recognized the scope he used; a thermal imaging device that would reveal people on the other side of the wall. That gun can shoot through the wall and take out resistance before they'd even know we're here, thought Miranda. Thankfully, no resistance was encountered and the door opened. Shepard signaled Miranda forward. Stealthier than Shepard, Miranda took point and scouted ahead. Shepard sent the floor plan to her omni-tool, which she displayed in her helmet's hud. The path to the front door was lit up. As she made her way around the last corner, she saw the mining workers massing around the sphere. She signaled to the group to halt. As Shepard moved up to see, she stealthily rolled across the doorway to the other side to hide. Shepard signaled to Rodriguez who put a nice barrier around herself and Riley. The two ladies moved up until Riley had a clear shot at the artifact. She aimed her Mantis sniper rifle at the sphere and fired an armor piercing round. She cocked and was ready to fire again before the brainwashed mining staff could react, but a second shot was not needed. The sphere exploded, knocking the staff to the floor. Miranda had never worked with Riley, but she had to admit that Riley was competent.
The mining staff was stirring and rubbing their heads. Some were groaning and uttering, 'what happened?' or 'where am I?' They were thankful but puzzled by the presence of Alliance marines. Shepard made his way into the foyer and opened the front door, letting Garrus' group and the biotic group in. He stationed two of the marines outside of the door and two inside. Miranda couldn't help but notice how smooth it went by comparison to her own debacle in coming here the first time. True, Shepard had a lot more intel, but even so, Miranda already knew that they were in hostile territory when she'd crashed here the first time. And yet, her operation was barely more elaborate than walking in through the front door. Shepard took no chances. She remembered how he had conducted missions when they'd worked together against the Collectors. On missions where Shepard had made the plans, everyone survived and the mission went smoothly. When others planned the missions, usually against Shepard's advice, the missions were always a disaster. She remembered when he had helped her rescue Oriana and had advised her to handle it differently. Instead, she insisted on doing it her way, trusted a man who turned out to be working for her father, and almost lost Ori in the process. She realized that she was much stronger as an operative than she was as a tactician.
It didn't take long for Shepard to ferret out the remaining spheres and destroy them. Shepard ordered them to collect all of the facilities data, though he didn't expect to find much; these people were being controlled through the spheres by someone who was elsewhere. They also managed to subdue rather than kill the remaining facility staff. No casualties whatsoever. Before they knew it, Shepard had them back on the Yorktown, the Alliance already contacted and sending in specialists to help the facility staff and to do clean up. As they stepped onto the CIC, Kelly greeted them with news that the Normandy was ready to go and awaiting her skipper.
"Well Shepard, I guess this is where we part ways for the time being." Miranda looked at her former commander admiringly. She felt a small twinge of jealousy for the years that Ashley Williams had had with him. "It's been an honor to work with you again." She looked down momentarily. "I only wish it were under better circumstances."
"Yeah," he replied, "we don't get to choose those. But we can choose how we conduct ourselves. You've been with me all the way on this. With Ash gone … , I don't think I'd be able to do this without you, without Garrus and Liara. Anyway, it's not over yet. I want you and Grunt to rendezvous with me at the Citidel so that we can coordinate the mission to the mining facility on Dobrovolsky. Then we'll know more before the final push on Despoina. I've got your travel arrangements all set. Get the Normandy back to Arcturus and get back to the Citadel. That's when the real mission begins."
"Of course, Commodore," she said as she saluted him. He saluted her back, but before he dropped his salute, she hugged him. "Thank you for believing in me."
Miranda was soon on a shuttle and boarding the Normandy. After a few checks had been done, Miranda ordered the Normandy back to Arcturus. One down, one to go, thought Shepard as he prepared for the mission to the other mining facility on Dobrovolsky. He had to admit that it was nice to work with Miranda again. He was very glad to have her on this mission. If she had still been nervous during the mission, it didn't show. And any issues that Riley had she had kept to herself. Her conduct on the mission was one hundred percent professional. And no casualties. Four Spectres on one mission, all heroes of the war, he thought. It had worked out better than he'd thought it would.
Shepard saw the message from Allers in his inbox. She wanted to touch base and ask him questions about the mission. He decided that now was as good a time as any. He paged Kelly Chambers.
"Kelly," he said, "Send Allers up. She wanted to see me."
"Yes sir," replied Kelly.
Diana Allers arrived promptly with her camera, eager to get the scoop on the mission.
"Commodore Shepard," she began, "you've been tracking these relics from the Leviathan race, relics that have actually altered the behavior of the Normandy crew and caused the death of most of them. What measures have you been taking to insure that this doesn't happen to you and your crew?"
Shepard explained the new shielding in both the ship and the armor and gave her the highlights of the mission. Once they were done and she turned off the camera, the tone of the conversation changed.
"How are you holding up, Commander?" she asked. "I can't imagine going on a mission like that right after the loss of a spouse."
"Hanging in there, Allers," he replied. "Thanks for asking. Honestly, the mission was a nice distraction. Takes my mind off of the pain. I suppose that losing people on missions and having to complete them has prepared me for this, but … I'd rather not have ever had this come to fruition. Ash dead, Miranda undone, Vega, Grunt, and Miranda turned against the crew, and nearly all of the Normandy's crew killed in orbit? This is the worst since the war."
"I know what you mean," she replied. "After Bekenstein was lost … I could barely do my job. I don't know how you handled it during the war or how you handle it now."
"No choice," he replied with a smile. "I do what I have to so that things like this won't happen again. I think of all of the people depending on me. Jan, my friends, and just … people."
As Diana left, she began to cry. She did not know why, but talking to Shepard just brought back all of the painful memories of friends and family on Bekenstein being slaughtered by the Reapers. At least it was over for her. To think of Shepard and his close friends and family having to relive that kind of nightmare was monstrous. She silently prayed that this mission would be the end of it.