Chapter 2

Shepard stood over Kai Lang's broken body, her pistol at the ready. He was positively seething with hatred in his eyes at his defeat, though he could do nothing about it. He'd probably been shot at least a dozen times during the fight. That and Liara had slammed him around the room several times, and Edi had overloaded his shields so many times he had massive electrical burns. He coughed up blood between gritted teeth.

"Still think you're fighting on the right side, Lang?" Shepard asked.

"Fuck you, Shepard!" he snarled.

"Look at yourself!" Shepard spat. "What are you fighting for? Do you even know? You can't control Reapers! That's a one way street and you're going the wrong damn way!"

She saw him activating his Omni-tool blade. He was trying to hide it, but he was failing miserably. She popped the thermal-clip out of her pistol. "Don't do it."

"We both know there's only one way this can end, Shepard. I'll never stop."

"Damn it, I'm giving you a chance to live!"

"Kill me!" he shouted. Then he slumped back down, making him look strangely piteous. "Just kill me, damnit."

Shepard wasn't sure why she felt pity for the man. Possibly because the whole situation was reminding her too much of Saren. She lowered her gun.

"No. I'm through doing what the Reapers want. I'm done with you." She turned from him and to the computer terminal. She had seen it so often, the Illusive Man sitting arrogantly in front of it, preaching his bullshit. She began a download of the data on the terminal when a familiar, nightmarish voice filled the air.

"Assuming control."

Kai Lang let out a horrible, gut-wrenching scream. His eyes and mouth began glowing an unnatural yellow, and he threw his head back in agony. Shepard, Edi, and Liara all reflexively raised their guns.

"Harbinger," Shepard spat the creature's name. "I was wondering when you'd show up again."

The creature turned its horrible eyes on her, disregarding everyone else in the room. When it spoke, the very floor beneath their feet shook. "Nicole Shepard. Commander/Specter status. Thirty-two revolutions of the planet designated Earth. Pitiful."

"Yeah fuck you too," she replied and tightened her grip on her gun.

"I have existed for more eons than your diminutive brain can comprehend. I have witnessed the birth and death of countless lifeforms. Civilizations a thousand times greater than your own have risen and fallen before me. You are nothing."

"Yeah? Then why bother talking to me? Why were you so interested in stopping me from destroying the Collector base? If I am so pitiful, then surely I couldn't stop the Great and Powerful Harbinger. Let's talk, you and me. Face to face. None of this 'assuming control' bullshit. Let's duke it out like civilized creatures."

"You are nothing. You know nothing. We are Harbinger. You cannot stop us. We will continue the cycle. This is how it has always been and it is how it will always be. We bring order to a chaotic universe."

"Bullshit!" Shepard shouted. Her patience was hanging by a thread. A very thin thread.

"Your Earth will be the first to fall," Harbinger continued. "My creations will ensure order in the galaxy."

"Your creations? You created the Reapers?"

"We are the Reapers."

"So you're going to Earth?" Shepard asked.

"We will oversee the final invasion fleet personally."

"Very forthcoming with answers," Liara observed.

"Aren't all super-villains?" Shepard said sardonically. "So the final battle for the galaxy is to take place on Earth?" she continued. "Okay. See you there."

Without another word she put a well-earned bullet in between Lang's dead eyes. He had obviously already died of fatigue from the possession, but it was just such a satisfying way to sever the link.

"So this is it," Shepard said, holstering her gun. "Harbinger is headed to Earth. I say we meet him there and end this once and for all. You two in?"

"Of course, Commander Shepard," Edi replied.

"Until death," Liara said and strode to Shepard's side. She linked arms with Shepard and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Joker, we're ready for pickup," she said into the comm. "Let's get the hell off this station. I've had enough of Cerberus to last about ten thousand lifetimes."

"Aye, aye Commander," Joker's replied.

"Wrex, we're headed to Earth. Want to come with me to kick some serious Harbinger ass?" Shepard said with a small grin. She was looking at his hologram in the comm room and he was looking his usual badass self. A tad worn out, perhaps, from all the enthusiastic krogan females, but all in all, he looked to be in good health.

"Not sure how the human expression goes . . ." he replied. He placed a giant finger to his chin in contemplation. Then, "Fuck yes?"

Shepard grinned. "Yeah that's the one."

"Oh good. Then FUCK YES!"

"Good. Need a pickup?"

"Your A.I. got me transport. Meet you on Earth in two days."

"Can't wait," Shepard said.

He rewarded her with a chuckle only a krogan could provide.

"Oh, and Wrex. Bring Grunt. I'm still his Battlemaster, and I want to see his adorable ass in battle next to me. And make sure you tell him I called him adorable."

Wrex chucked again. "Will do, Shepard."

His hologram vanished from the screen. She took a deep breath and centered herself, then called up her next contact.

A minute or so later, Jack's hologram appeared. "You sure do talk a lot, Shepard. Haven't I told you I hated our fucking chats in engineering?"

"I got another suicide mission lined up. You in?" She decided to cut to the chase, given Jack's history with small-talk.

Jack surprised her by laughing. "You're such a crazy Fuck. Count me in. When and where?"

"Earth. Two days. The coordinates have already been sent to your Omni-tool. Remember that asshole Harbinger from the Collector base? Yeah we're going to kill him."

"Oh yeah, I remember that sonofabitch. Can't wait to meet him. And smear his annoying voice all over the galaxy."

"Same old Jack," Shepard said with a smirk.

"Fuck you too," Jack said, but she couldn't hide her smile as her hologram vanished.

Shepard leaned forward on the comm. She hated making these calls. She hated knowing she was asking people to come with her to their most certain death. But what choice did she have? She needed the best on her team. The best in the whole fucking universe. She shook her head. One step at a time. Next call. The next face appeared in the hologram.

"Shepard. It is good to see you," Samara said. Then a ripple of concern passed through her eyes. "You do not look well."

"Samara. It's good to see you too. You said I could call you if I ever needed anything. Well right now I need the best fighters in the galaxy. You available?"

"My word is my bond, Shepard. What do you need?"

"I'm going to take down Harbinger. Earth. Two days. Can you meet us there, or do you need a pickup?"

"I believe I can make it. It would be my honor to fight next to you once again, Commander."

"Thanks, Samara."

Samara gave her a respectful nod, then her hologram disappeared. Shepard struggled inwardly over whether or not to call Miranda and Jacob. Jacob had a kid on the way and Miranda had a sister. They had a shot at a life after all this hell was over. Assuming they survived at all. Shepard popped her neck. The galaxy needed guys like Jacob to survive this war. He was where he needed to be. But she knew she needed Miranda on this, that was undeniable. She made the call.

"Shepard," Miranda's hologram greeted her a few minutes later.

"Miranda. How's your sister? Doing okay after all that nasty business with your father?"

"She's fine. She's smart and tough like me. I think she hates that I underestimate her. I'm trying to get better about that."

"So . . . no loose ends laying around anywhere?" Shepard teased.

"Very funny."

"Sorry."

"I assume if you're asking about loose ends, this must mean we have another suicide mission lined up?"

Shepard heaved a sigh. "Yeah."

Miranda laughed, though it was laced with bitterness. "I'm flattered you called. When and where?"

"You sure?"

"I owe you more than I can ever repay. So hell yes."

"Earth. Two days."

"Can't wait. And Shepard?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks. For everything."

Miranda's hologram disappeared. It left Shepard with a strange sense of foreboding. Was she doing the right thing? Was it right for her to call in favors by asking people to walk off a damn cliff with her? Was it wrong demanding this kind of loyalty from people? Was it wrong using them like this?

"There's that look again." Shepard recognized Liara's unmistakable voice without looking up.

Shepard closed her eyes and hung her head. "What look?"

"That look riddled with guilt. Questioning your right to ask people for help."

"I don't ask, that's just it. I demand. Every one of them knows they can't say no. I've bound them to me by gaining their unwavering loyalty. They'd follow me into the gates of hell without hesitation. Why?"

She felt Liara's hand softly touch her back.

"Because you're the one who is going to win this war. Everyone here believes in you. No one more than I," Liara said.

Shepard raised her head to look into her lover's beautiful sapphire eyes. "I'd ask 'why me' if that expression didn't piss me off so much. If not me, then who? I just hope this all pays out. I'm not asking for a million-credit cash-prize at the end. I'd settle for little blue babies. At least two. I want twins."

Liara rewarded Shepard with an adorable giggle.

"I'm serious," Shepard insisted.

Liara averted her eyes and a soft blush filled her cheeks. "I know."