Admiral Hackett's voice rang out clearly over the comm. The whole fleet heard...or at least what was left of it. For some it was words that would breed hope, but for the crew of the Normandy, they were words that chilled the air. Even EDI found that hearing the Admiral speak caused her great apprehension. She bit her lip and cast a sideways glance at Jeff as his hands flew across his screens and the Normandy herself shook to obey.

EDI had felt this feeling before; she had felt it watching the Commander walk away with Major Alenko and Garrus at her back. It had struck her just before she lost sight of Shepard and it hit her hard. It was the distinct feeling that she would never see the Commander again.

Shepard had split her team, or at least she had tried to. EDI understand the reasoning behind the Commander's decision, it made tactical sense to leave some behind to cover contingency plans, not to mention the simple idea of keeping the Reapers away from the beam, and it covered the backs of any who made it through, but also kept the way open for them to return.

James had protested strongly as being left to defend the Command Centre. The Commander had done her best to try and placate him with the use of heavier weapons on the upper floors but in the end she had to resort to almost issuing him order to stay until Javik had announced that he would be stay and fight with Lieutenant Vega as he admired James's tenacity in battle. Plus, EDI had heard Shepard telling James that the stragglers of Hammer would turn up soon and they would need someone to lead them, and that she trusted him to bring the fight with him when they arrived.

Liara and Tali were asked to remain in supporting roles. A group of asari commandos under Liara's command, a gift from her father, had also remained to help shore up barriers in an effort to allow Hammer to reach its target. Tali herself stayed with the Alliance Engineers, co-ordinating last minute repairs to some of the more damaged vehicles. It would mean some would arrive late to the party but Tali would make sure they got there. EDI remained to link with air support, such as it was, as well as to co-ordinate with the Fleet. Once the Citadel arms were open, timing would be crucial and Shepard had told EDI that she was the best candidate for the job. EDI had merely agreed, knowing it to be true and returned to a station in the Command Centre.

Major Alenko, and Garrus had basically mutinied against the Commander. She had told them what she wanted of them, but all had flat out refused to follow her orders.

Major Alenko had sited rank as being his reason to not obey. EDI smirked when she heard him say that. After all, the pair had never played 'The Rank Game' though they had playfully threatened each other with it. However, EDI expected that he merely wanted to stay with her to the end, whatever the outcome. He had fought by her side since he had first arrived aboard the Normandy, not to mention before that when they had taken on Saren and Sovereign and EDI was certain that he'd rather be damned that stop being able to watching her back now.

Garrus merely said that, as a turian, a mercenary and the leader of a Special Task Force, he didn't have to take orders from Alliance Soldiers. Shepard had laughed at this, slapping him on the shoulder and merely replied:

'I'll remember that the next time you ask me for something Garrus.'

Again, EDI also suspected the reason he wouldn't stay behind was the bond of kinship that he share with the Commander. He had been her constant companion and comrade through thick and thin, he had marched into trouble with her often and never hesitated or questioned the decision. Come hell or high water, Garrus would not leave Shepard's side.

EDI watched them leave and for the first time felt a pang of regret at being left behind. Although she understood and agreed with Shepard's reasons for making her stay, that didn't lessen the feeling. Not even the close calls the Normandy suffered could throw her. It made her think of the crew, and of Jeff...especially him, and she turned her full attention to the matters at hand. She would do everything within her power so get as many of the crew out of this alive.

The Reapers came in force when they realised what was happening, the element of surprise working in Shepard's favour. EDI had wondered why the Reapers hadn't merely turned their full force upon the Fleet and ground forces, the Commander had said they were over confident and now was the best time to strike. She had been correct. But the Reapers had mobilised and Shepard once again used herself as bait to draw the Reapers to her. The Destroyer guarding the beam had been guarded in return by an energy field that had thwarted the guidance systems of the Alliance's weapons batteries. EDI had told Shepard that she needed to draw the Destroyer to her so that the Normandy's targeting systems could be slaved to the battery and hit the Reaper, like they had done on Rannoch.

It had worked, as EDI had suggested, though a push from Hammer elements to outflank the charging Reapers had stalled their charge enough to allow Shepard some breathing room to get to the missiles and fire them. The Destroyer had gone down, just like on Rannoch and Hammer picked up the stranded Commander and her squad. Liara, James and Javik's teams and been caught in crossfire and had to retreat back towards the Command Centre, EDI had never heard such language issue from Lieutenant Vega upon such a turn of events. She had also heard rumours that Javik had almost had to pick James up and carry him off; such was the Lieutenant's indignation.

After that, everything went haywire.

Some of the Reapers broke from orbit and descended to Earth, Harbinger amongst them. EDI warned the Commander of this, included the fact that Harbinger was amongst those inbound. The remaining Reapers in orbit redoubled their efforts to break through Sword and Shield to destroy the Crucible. EDI witness some supreme acts of courage and sacrifice in those moments as ships moved into the targeting arrays of the Reapers themselves. They allowed their ships and themselves to be destroyed rather than allow the Crucible to hit. The Normandy and some of the faster elements of what remained renewed their stinging attacks as before, but this time they were mostly ignored. The Reapers saw the threat in their midst and were now determined to eliminate it.

On the ground, EDI was blind to what was happening. She tracked Shepard as best as she could, but with Reapers inbound, an influx of Hammer squads shouting over the comms and Reapers pushing towards the beam, it was getting hopeless trying to keep track...except for Shepard's call for help.

EDI had only witness the reason why the Commander had called for an evac when the Normandy had landed and her external sensors picked up the figures stumbling towards the ship. The Commander was half dragging, half carrying Major Alenko. He'd been hurt, badly, as blood gushed from shrapnel weapons. Garrus had faired only a little better, his armour and face burnt from heat wash. The Commander was just as bashed and battered but still in one piece when she had handed Major Alenko over to Garrus to get him away. He had asked her not to leave him behind again. She had smiled at him, EDI noticed a sadness in Shepard's green eyes as she spoke.

'No matter what happens...know that I love you. Always.' She had told him, stepping forward to touch his face tenderly. EDI saw him lean into her touch.

'I love you too.' He replied before pain lanced through him, making him pull away. Shepard had used this opportunity to pull away and shout at them to go. Major Alenko grimaced as Garrus pulled him away as if he knew that he would never see the love of his life again.

'Joker.' Garrus shouted, 'Pick up the others too...then we're outta here.'

'All Fleets! The Crucible is armed. Disengage and head to the rendezvous point.'

'Jeff...' EDI spoke softly. 'We have to leave.' But Jeff was ignoring her, the same when Liara approached him and tugged at his sleeve.

'I repeat' Admiral Hackett's voice spoke again. 'Disengage and get the hell out of here!'

'Jeff...we need to go.'

EDI saw the look on both of their faces; Liara's voice was heavy with regret. She thought of taking full control of the Normandy herself, steering them away without Jeff's input so that they could be safe. The energy was building around the Crucible as if it was going to explode, spiking higher than EDI had ever seen before. It filled her with dread to see it and if they were caught in the blast...EDI didn't know what would happen but the Normandy would at least be damaged.

'Damn it!' Jeff whispered and EDI felt like her heart might break to see him so hurt. She longed to reach over and comfort him but there was no moment like there had been for the Shepard and Major Alenko. Comfort would have to wait.

The Normandy hit the Charon Relay fast and EDI caught a glimpse of the blast that radiated out from the Crucible before the Relay catapulted them away. The output of dark energy was phenomenal and the feeling of dread returned to her as she charted the course of the wave, it was heading for the Relay.

EDI pushed the Normandy's engines to their top limits and beyond, disengaging the safety protocols once she had raised the alarms to get the Engineers out. If the engines did fail, at least they would be protected from the eezo fallout, if nothing else. But even the Normandy's top speed was not enough...the dark energy wave was gaining on them and the Normandy raged and shook in the vain effort to try and outrun it. If they could just get to the next Relay before they were hit, EDI's calculations dictated they would negate much of the damage being hit would cause. But in her heart, EDI knew they wouldn't make it. The Relay was just too far and the wave too fast.

She found herself thinking of Shepard in that moment. They had left her behind, though EDI didn't know where, she had her suspicions. A pang of guilt ran through her but a question surfaced in her memory coils.

'Are you afraid?' Shepard said.

EDI swallowed and looked up from her panel just as the wave caught the tail end of the Normandy; the craft was shaken like a ragdoll.

'Jeff...I am