Here we go. The beginning of the end. REVIEW PLEASE.


You know, I never thought I'd live through it all. All things considered I had some seriously shitty luck but at the same time some absolutely amazing luck. Not that things went my way but because I was able to bear witness to some of the greatest moments in the history of our galaxy. All of it through sheer fucking luck, never in my wildest dreams did I think my life would go this way.

I met Aedon on the Citadel when he was just beginning, barely known as Torchbearer at the time. He helped me and mine get off the station for our Pilgrimage, taking a bullet in the process. I saw him on the Citadel again over two years later when I was visiting an old friend and the Geth attacked; I saw his speech.

I was there when he fought Dashi and won. I was there when he took on the Reapers on Rannoch and won and I was there on Earth. The thing is though for me out of all of those instances it was his speeches on the Citadel and Earth that stood out. It wasn't that they were truly speeches to remember or inspirational.

For the one on the Citadel it was that when he spoke his words resonated with all of us. A sort of desperate rage, a defiance against the hand the galaxy had given us, a total refusal to let this be the end. A rejection of the reality around him and we all went screaming into the fight with that.

The one on Earth though was different then that but the same simultaneously. On the surface it wasn't as passionate as the one on the Citadel but it radiated so much anger. So much hatred towards the Reapers that we could feel it, even over the radio. Then what he said too; short and to the point with a simple order. One we all knew we weren't allowed to fail.

-excerpt from The Chronicles of the Normandy Book 12, Guest Author Nif'Namma


POV: Aedon Wynne.

It's been a week since Cerberus outsmarted us, since we lost the Citadel, since we lost the Council. All of us blinded by our need for revenge on Lang that we never thought to see that they were pulling us into a trap. The baited us perfectly and we fell for it hook line and sinker; if I wasn't so angry at myself for it I would've been mildly impressed. As it stands though we knew where the Citadel was and had the beginnings of a plan.

Well, I wouldn't really call it a plan to be honest. We hadn't even begun discussing it as the leaders of every faction in the war currently stood in the War Room of the Normandy. Raan for the Quarians, Victus for the Turians, Caleto for the Asari, the Dalatrass for the Salarians, Wrex for the Krogan and Hackett for the Humans and Remembrance for the Geth. Remembrance had Legion breastplate adorned on his massive chest, being a Prime and all. Guy barely fit into the War room but he fit well enough and with their Navy equalling the Quarians they deserved to be represented here by themselves.

Looking around the room I was surprised we had been able to pull everyone here within a week. All of them were on battlefields across the galaxy and getting them was a miracle in and of itself. The fact Caleto even had time for this more so as she was the only Asari Council member still alive. She had to organize the entire Asari war effort essentially by herself and so far wasn't doing to bad. In and of itself was commendable.

As for the rest of the people in the room all of us had been getting our shit kicked in the last week. The Reapers were pissed and taking no prisoners and the indoctrinated were multiplying in the hundreds. Tela's Inquisition squad had been run ragged across the galaxy but they were still doing what they could. From the numbers sent in they've saved a good 100 million by killing indoctrinated in key areas. Still wasn't really enough though overall.

Across the galaxy the confirmed total dead had hit around 92% of the population we had started with. That was just the confirmed numbers however, from teh few people I had talked to the real percentage was around 95%. Which depending on what number was the right one there was either 19 or 12 billion people left in the galaxy. From 241 Billion down to this and it was only going to get smaller as the time ticked on. As it was now all the leaders were here and now it was just up to all of us to make a plan.

"So, does anyone have a plan besides charge the Reapers with everything we got and hope for the best?" Wrex asked the assembled group. I would've laughed if that didn't seem like our only viable option at the moment. The silence Wrex received was telling too as his eyes widened. "I was joking but shit. It's really like that huh?"

"Anderson is doing what he can to prepare an assault on the Citadel from Earth. Apparently the Reapers are using some sort of beam, don't ask I don't know, to transport human bodies into the Citadel. Anderson is setting up a plan for us to assault it but he'll need the help of all of us, the Reapers have locked the surrounding area down tight," I stated earning a nod from Hackett and Shepard.

"Why human bodies?" Caleto asked.

"When my team and I were hunting the Collectors we discovered along the way that of all the Species' for this cycle Humans are the most compatible to be turned into Reaper slaves. Thus they had the makings of Human Reaper on the Collector base before we destroyed it. We think they're in the process of restarting that train of thought," Shepard stated. Everyone paled at the implication, none of liking it.

"What do you need from us then?" Victus asked Shepard and myself. Shepard took the lead.

"Everything you can give us. The Citadel is the Catalyst to the Crucible, the only way to activate it and destroy the Reapers for good. We fail here and its over; this is our last, best shot to win this war," if that wasn't a sobering thought for everyone in the room I don't know what was.

"It'll be a full frontal assault in space. Nothing fancy, just a good old fashioned slug fest," I stated getting everyone's attention. "It'll cover the shuttles as we get into Earth's atmosphere and assault the beam. Establishing a beachhead as close as we can before commencing the final assault."

"How will you trigger the Crucible once your inside the Citadel?" the Dalatrass asked. I straightened my back and answered in the most confident way I could.

"We don't know," the silence could have been broken by a pin dropping as everyone, sans Shepard and Hackett, stared at me incredulously.

"So… our 'plan' is to charge head first at an enemy that is superior in every way. With no plan B, improvising about 50% of the actual plan, and generally just throwing everything we have at them until something sticks," Wrex asked as he looked between Shepard and myself.

"Yes," we answered simultaneously.

"HAHAHAHA. Just like old times, I'm in," his booming laugh broke the rest of them out of their stupor eventually we devolved into a series of 'fuck it' from everyone else. They knew it was our best and really only shot. It was all we had to be honest. Still didn't really inspire confidence when the plan consisted of 'get'em' essentially.

After we got the agreement of all the leaders in that room we got down to actually planning what we were going to do. Which, as much as we tried over the next few hours, didn't really change the original plan. It boiled down to us bringing together every single fleet that we could and slamming it against the defenses of the Reapers. Defenses that, if the reports from Anderson were accurate, consisted of close to 800 Reapers and counting.

A force of that size of Reapers would be able to obliterate the defenses of any system with no problem. The only way we had a legitimate shot at actually beating them was because with all the available fleets we were looking at close to 10,000 ships and that didn't include fighters or shuttles that we would be using. All in all we'd be coming in with a little over a million ground soldiers for this fight.

Of all races and of all different backgrounds and mercenaries of course. Hell, the Mercs were already on the way to Earth. Using their smuggling methods to get in supplies and a couple hundred soldiers to hot zones. All of those soldiers being Spec Ops from the various species; including Grunt's group along with Jack's plus Vrul and a couple squads from my band. All of them were supplemented by the mercs along with them who knew they were below the official groups. The mercs being them were getting paid though and not relying on looting for their pay.

Beyond that after almost four hours we had our plan and every single available fleet was being sent orders to convene at their closest Relay. The only fleet who would not would be Hackett's who would protect the Crucible and bring it in once we had someone on the Citadel. Beyond that the plan was finalized and with everyone gone I went straight back to my room and went inside.

My armor and weapons were off nearly instantly after entering the room. With them off I went to the bed and was about to lift the covers to get in when Tali lifted them for me and I smiled before going in. Our foreheads against each other as we relaxed into each other's arms; the only place I could ever feel truly relaxed. I kissed her forehead as I rubbed a hand over her stomach with that same stupid smile still on my face.

I could just feel her smile though as I ran my hand over her stomach. Grabbing my hand with hers she lowered it gently to the bottom half of her stomach and almost instantly I could feel the baby kicking. I felt my smile get bigger and I heard the small giggling from her as she saw my face. I didn't care though, it just made me happy. Lifting my eyes to look at Tali again I saw the warmth and love in them as she looked at me. Both of us smiling back at each other.

"You are not allowed to die. You know that, no matter what you endure, you are not allowed to die, you understand," Tali stated as she stared deep into my eyes. I saw the fear and apprehension in her eyes. She knew what we were all walking into; nothing was guaranteed here for anybody but I'll be damned if I leave them behind. Iris still needs a father, Tali a husband and good man by her side, Juniper will need a father as well once she's born.

"Of course. I'm not leaving you, Juniper or Iris. None of you," I kissed her softly before she nestled her head underneath my chin and wrapped her arms around me intent on pulling us together. I didn't resist and mere moments later she was asleep; I was quick to follow.


Two days later we reconvened in the conference room of the Normandy. Everyone was in the War room again, however, everyone but myself and Shepard were appearing through hologram. Though this time around we had the addition of Admiral Anderson and surprisingly the Pope as well.

Everyone else was confused as to why the Pope was here along with myself but Anderson was quick to inform us as to why. Apparently the Pope had taken my advice as well and prepared for the war, releasing the entire treasury of the Church for disposal. From small vehicles all the way to bunkers and stockpiling food. Along with creating a whole division of robots to help fight. From what Anderson said too the robots had been mainstays of Earths defense.

Only negative was that the Robots had been targeted early on and there wasn't many left of them. However, they had held the line for almost the entirety of the first two months that the Reapers were on Earth. Of those few that were left they were attached to several divisions of soldiers, almost all on the front line.

Inventor of the robots was in the bunker with Anderson and the Pope but he was in a different area working on repairing some mechs. I'll have to meet the man when I get the chance but for now I focused on the meeting. Which, all things considered, was incredibly quick as we went over the plan one last time before everyone began to blink out. Satisfied that this might be the last time any of us see each other. I knew that would be the case for a good bit of them.

As just about all of them blinked out I made to leave I heard the Pope cough. Stopping and turning around I saw him turn to Anderson who in turn said a few words to Shepard before blinking out. After that Shepard left quickly and left me in the room with the Pope alone who gave me an appreciative smile.

"You have done everything and more that I asked of you… three years ago now. How time flies," he chuckled and I followed suit chuckling along with him. Which surprised me as it really had been three years since then. Little over five since waking up at the bottom of the lake on the Citadel; shit, I need to check the date. I might be 29 now.

"I only did what I felt that I needed to, sir. No more, no less. I guess it just worked out," I saw his smile just grow as he shook his head almost pleasantly.

"So much more than that but thank you for doing it regardless. I believe you have done the Lord proud son; you have done more than what could ever be asked of a single man," I nodded to him and smiled despite thinking of the people I've lost. I could've done better. "Don't let thoughts of doubt defeat you young man. Trust in the Lord and yourself and he will see you through."

Nodding to the Pope resolutely he smiled and gave me one last nod before he blinked out and I was left in the room all alone. Taking a deep breath I knew I still had a decent amount of time until we set off on this suicide mission. How many suicide missions have I had now? Three, four? I think four counting my rampage on Omega. Either way, I made my way back to my room and entered to Tali sitting on the bed staring at the door and now me.

I didn't say anything to her or did I change; I simply walked up to the bed and sat next to her on it. Both of us were silent and that's where we sat for the next couple hours. Waiting for the call for this to all begin silently promising each other that we would both live. Her head resting on my shoulder and our hands held tightly together.

Then the call came over the PA for all ground team members to head to the Shuttle bay. Standing up she didn't let go of my hand and together we walked to the Shuttle bay. Some of the newer crewmates moving out of the way for us. They did the same for Garrus and Shepard as well as they appeared in front and behind us.

Reaching the shuttle bay we four were the first to arrive and it was poetic in a sense. The ones that had through all of it together, from the earliest point to the ending. Shepard, myself, Garrus and Tali; we were the original four who had been through everything together and now we were about to see the end of it all. Shepard and Garrus were the first two on the shuttle giving Tali and myself a bit of privacy on the outside of the shuttle.

Tali didn't say anything but gently took off my helmet while doing the same to her mask. She stared deeply into my eyes silently before pulling me into a kiss and I deepened it, pulling her close. It lasted far too short in my mind but she pulled away before resting her head on my chest. She then tapped my chest right where my heart was and I got her silent message, no dying.

Kissing her one last time I went into the shuttle and stood off to the side, much too anxious to actually sit down. I didn't show it but my mind was running a mile a minute at the moment. Taking a few deep breaths to center myself I centered myself within my mind. My only thoughts being of my reasons to make it back and survive this.

As I calmed myself and somewhat meditated the rest of the team piled into the ship and all gave myself and Shepard a couple feet of space. Both of us in our own worlds and taking a quick look around the shuttle everyone was in the same boat. All of us at least a couple feet from the closest person as we sat and waited.

We sat there for a good bit in the silent company of each other before Joker came over the radio. Telling us to prepare for everything to get rough as we were about to hit the Relay. He wasn't joking either, the moment we hit the Relay and came out the other side the whole ship started shaking. I couldn't tell if it was from the entry with so many other ships or the fact the Reapers had to be shelling us with everything they had.

Either way, only a couple moments after we entered the space were jostling around like a crazed animal. Heading, at full speed, towards Earth and it was only a couple minutes away because of the entry point we all decided on being a lot closer than we had any real right to make it. Either way, there was nothing for us to do besides wait it out in the shuttle and pray that Joker was every bit the pilot that we all knew that he was.

The tumbling that we all experienced as Joker rode through the storm all around us was incredible until we finally got through it all. Well, we weren't completely out of it but it was much, much less pronounced then it had been as we broke through. A moment or two later the Bay doors opened and we took off through the opening in the shuttle. I peeked my head through the group to look through the cockpit's windows and saw that there were thousands upon thousands of shuttles hrutling downwards with us. That did bring a smile to my face.

As we hurtled downwards towards Earth though that was the only part of the journey that was somewhat calm. The moment we broke the atmosphere we were hailed by a lot of Harvengers, I couldn't exactly count and the Flak rounds around us didn't make it any easier. The closer we got to the surface of the Earth the less flak we went through but the more Harvengers there were.

Either way we kept pushing onwards as it was our only real option here. We couldn't stop to land as we had to get to the landing zone or we might forfeit the entire mission. So we kept pushing even as the shuttles around us began dropping from the flak and Harvengers. There was no other choice for us.

"Shields are down! It's going to get bum-" that's all I heard from the pilot of our shuttle before the side of the shuttle I was right next to blown open.

I didn't have any time to react as I was sucked out of the opening, no one else behind me as I had been the only one still standing and without a belt on. Flying through the air with absolutely no control was a rather new experience for me as the world spun all around making me dizzy. Spinning through the air like a top until I was able to right myself in the air and activated my Essence. It was a little late though and I was just barely able to prevent myself from landing late on the ground.

The lateness of my activation prevented me from dying straight out but the landing wasn't soft at all. I remember slamming through something else after I landed but couldn't tell what it was as my vision went dark. What felt like a second after it went dark I was pushing myself up in what must've been a barn. The Cow nudging me awake made it obvious.

Groaning I began to get up only to realize that my helmet wasn't on my head. Frantically looking around for it I saw an old man, a man about a decade older than me and a kid who couldn't have been older than 16 standing in front of me. The oldest of them holding a doublebarreled shotgun but he had it pointed away from me.

"We know who you are," the teen said as he reached out with my helmet in his hands. Pushing myself up I grabbed my helmet and put it on. "Your people landed a good ten miles out, in the city."

"Any injuries you found on me?" I asked them as I walked towards the hole I had made and looked outwards towards the city. I could see flashed of red that burned across the sky but nothing else at this distance.

"A few scraps and bruises but nothing else son," the old man stated as he stood next to me looking outwards. "You want a ride son?"

"It would be appreciated sir but I don't want to bring you three into the city, you must have people you need to look after," the old man nodded and gave me a smile at that.

"That we do, couple dozen people hiding from this war. That doesn't mean we can't help," the old man said before there was a tap on my shoulder. Turning around the other man was holding a dirt bike by the handles.

"Blackhawk Steed Series. Older than modern creations but it runs on good old fashion gasoline instead of Eezo and the most reliable bike you'll find on the market. Top speed of 80mph; it'll get you there quicker than anything else out here."

Nodding to the man I went over to the bike and got on it. Starting it up I knew this was going to be a bit tricky; I've never driven a bike before but I used to ride bicycles all the time. Hopefully it wasn't drastically different in how you rode them. Regardless, it wasn't like I had much of a choice in the matter afterall.

"I'll pay y'all back."

"Just fuckin' win son," I couldn't help but laugh at the old man before taking off through the now opened doors of the barn thanks to the teen.

Screaming through the country side on the bike as I headed towards the city was… freeing in a sense. I knew I was heading towards a fight but everything around me was free and peaceful despite the fact that the battle for the galaxy wasn't that far away. I couldn't stop myself from chuckling at the situation.

Still, zooming past everything towards the city it was only a couple minutes before I reached the suburbs. Destroyed cars, vehicles and shuttles everywhere along with bodies of both civilians and military, most months old at this point. With all the debris though I had to swerve in and out of the paths that they were blocking. It slowed me down but not by much and then I got to the freeway with the City in sight.

There were hundred of cars in my way but enough space inbetween them for my bike to slide on through. So that's what I did and pushed all the way through, the gunfire, screams and fog horn of Reapers getting louder and louder with each step. Harvesters flying overhead with just a token few armed shuttles and fighters against them.

Passing another bridge I took the exit which took me towards the mainstreet. The spot where we were originally supposed to land was located. As I went up the bridge my radio sparked to life and all there was over the radio was pure static. Someone or something was jamming the radio signals across all channels. I even hacked my way into some of the spec ops groups as I drove and it was the same. Everyone's radio was being jammed.

Stopping the bike I turned my full attention on my omni-tool and began hacking the signal of the radio. I wouldn't be able to take out the jamming this way, it was impossible. However, this I would be able to input a virus that would make it hiccup. Much like Ceelo had me do on the Citadel when the Geth attacked so that I could at the least zero in on the location of the jammer.

It took me a couple of tries to get it down to about a block but that would be enough. Once I got in that block I could do it again and pinpoint it almost to the foot. Either way I needed to get their first so I took off continuing down the road and only a couple hundred more feet before peeling down an alley. I turned out of the alleyway and instantly ran into a squad of Alliance and Krogan soldiers all behind the cover of a partially fallen building. With the block only a couple away from us.

If I had more experience riding bikes I might've been able to stop myself but with next to no experience I wasn't. Instead of stopping and getting off the bike I fell with the bike and slid the 30 or so feet to the cover the soldiers were using, impacting it with the wheels first. The moment I hit the cover the Krogan and two humans I had slid next to instantly turned on me with their weapons pointed downwards.

Upon recognizing me though the two humans looked shocked while the Krogan just grinned before offering me a hand. I took it and he hoisted me up to my feet. I pulled me gun from my back the moment I was standing and popped out of cover to get a read on what we were facing. Three Brutes, a Banshee, five Marauders and about two dozen husks and Cannibals all around the area in front of us.

"Who's in charge?" I asked to the three that were around me. Both the humans had worn off the apparent shock of seeing me but the Krogan was still the first to respond.

"Our Battlemaster is one building over," nodding to the Krogan I made my way through the downed building and to the other side where, sure enough, there was a massive Krogan handing out orders to what look liked runners. Them taking off the moment the Krogan was done speaking but the one that was going my way stopped immediately and turned around and spoke to the Krogan. Whose eyes immediately snapped to where I was walking to him.

"Good to know your still kicking Red Eyes," sounds like they thought I was dead. I'll get back to that later.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him.

"Jammer for the entire area is located in the building across the street. Your Quarian friend was able to pinpoint it for us and we were the closest ones to it when their runner came along," I nodded my head along. Guess Ceelo did better than me in locating it which wasn't surprising; he was still better at tech and hacking then me.

"Good, I'm here for the same reason. Any word on the Reaper forces in the building or if there's any more around here?"

"Plenty around here and they're getting constantly reinforced. I don't know how many are in the building and we can't just level with artillery it since our runners would have to go through miles of enemy controlled areas to get to our artillery, if they're even still there," he huffed out the last part before shaking his head.

"Do you know where the jammer is in the building?"

"All we know is that it isn't in the basement as the building has none. Besides, we have enough explosives to level the building twice over but we haven't been able to get close enough to plant them," he ground out as he popped his head out of cover and took a few shots. I joined him and downed a Cannibal plus a Marauder before dropping back down. What he had said earlier was true too, what I had gleamed form my short time on the other side had already been doubled or tripled. The Banshee was dead at least though.

"I want your men ready in 10 minutes. I'll make a whole and you better not miss it," I spoke in a commanding tone and the Krogan nodded instantly out of respect or instinct. A moment later though he was giving me a bloodthirtsty smile before he called over a couple more soldiers to act as runners.

He sent them off not a moment later and they did so running to the other groups in the area. I don't know how many people we had at our disposal but it was going to have to be enough. It should be regardless, we had myself and Essence on our side.

"Why were some of the people surprised to see me?" I asked as soon as his runners were gone.

"People knew you were thrown out of Shepards shuttle and no ones seen you in hours. Even without radio contact your lack of presence was noticed; people thought you might've died," I simply huffed at that.

"I'm harder to kill than that," though the fact I had been out for a couple hours was concerning. Either way I left the Krogan to it.

While I waited I centered myself to hopefully reduce the amount of strain that Essence would put on my body and exactly ten minutes after I had told him to be ready the Krogan tapped my shoulder. Snapping my eyes open I saw the flames and sparks all around my body out of my peripherals. The Krogan in question hadn't even touched me, he had gotten a fallen bit of rebar and tapped me with it; evident as it was still in his hands. Chuckling I stood up with the fire and sparks growing as wings sprouted from my back.

Giving the Krogan a simple nod I shot up into the air with my ax in hand in full Halberd form. Lighting sparking off of myself as the fire turned into an inferno as I reached the apex of my jump, almost 100 feet in the air. At the apex I looked down and picked the spot where there was the greatest concentration of Reaper forces before shooting downwards at them.

Slamming into the ground a shockwave rippled out from me sending the ground and shrapnel in every direction. The ones that had been close to me eviserated to atoms at the biotic flare of power the experienced. Of those just beyond that they were tossed away from me like ragdolls slamming into any surface that was available.

Standing up from the crater I had made I examined the area around me with my halberd in my hands. The Reaper forces all either already looking at me or turning to face me and all I could do was smile. Taking off in a blur the closest Brute never had a chance as it was bisected from its head downwards. Neither was the next one or the Banshee that showed up a moment later; the Banshee got drained though.

After that I began blurring around the entire area. Not paying attention to anything but the Reaper forces that I was fighting; nothing else needed my attention at the moment. I became a blur of lighting, fire and death and nothing could stop me. What must have been dozens if not more Reaper forces fell to me in a span of minutes before finally there was no more of them for me to attack. I was just surrounded by the dead that I had created and I let Essence receed; the kickback from it forcing me to a knee.

Breathing hard I pushed myself up and made my way back to the cover I had exited. A Krogan and human helping me the last couple of feet and over the cover that had been there. There was a medic waiting there already for me but I waved him off and just rested my back on the wall of the building.

As I rested there the Krogan in charge shouted for everyone to get down and I followed the order immediately. Lying flat on the ground a couple seconds later there was an explosion followed quickly by a shockwave and shrapnel slamming everywhere around and above us. A couple pieces of debris knicking my armor but otherwise leaving me alone.

Pushing myself up I clicked my radio to see if it was working and got a signal. Smiling to myself I made to turn it off but decided against it. If they've gone this long without the radio than they can go a minute more. Besides, if my lack of presence had been this widely felt they needed something.

"Listen to my words," I spoke calmly over the radio with as much authority as I could muster into my voice. "You all know what's at stake here and so do the Reapers. No marcy, no quarter, make them work for every inch they gain. They take one, we take a thousand. Kill. Them. All. That is my only order," I cut the connection then and the Krogan in charge walked up to me with a bloodthirsty smile on his face.

"Do you want an escort sir?" I chuckled but shook my head.

"I know where I'm going. Take care of your men."

"Of course sir. Stay frosty," I smiled and then walked off and went back to where the bike had been.

When I found the bike it was being dusted off by a pair of Krogan who stood straight when they noticed me walking up to them. Nodding my thanks to them I took the bike off their hands, both saluting as I did so. I laughed behind my helmet as I pulled the bike away and over the cover. The humans there also saluting me as I walked by them. Giving the group one last wave before taking off in the bike towards where the rendezvous was supposed to be.

Weaving through the streets it wasn't exactly a smooth ride. I made it about three blocks before I ran into another group of Reaper forces. Less dangerous and only about 20 husks but I couldn't just swerve around them. So I had to kill all of them before I was able to move on. It took me a singular mag and a grenade. Though I did get some help.

Only three got close to me towards the end and one of them I kicked down before blowing their head off with a shot. The next one was drained and the final one got taken out by a sniper shot. Looking around after the shot took down the husk I saw a couple places the sniper could have been but I saw nothing. Regardless I gave a thumbs up as thanks for the support during the fight before getting back on the bike and taking off again.

The rest of the drive there was reasonably quiet for about 90% of the way there until I heard heavy fighting from only a street over. Taking the turn to go and help whoever it was I found myself a small distance away from a missile system. One that had Shepard and co defending it from an onslaught of enemies. Enemies that didn't see me though as I was behind them.

Activating Essence I shot up into the air, no doubt getting the attention of all the Reapers in the area, before plummeting back down into the ground. When I hit the ground I eviscerated dozens of husks and Cannibals, a good dozen Marauders and Brutes and at least five or six Banshee's. When the smoke cleared from my dive bomb I was standing in the crater with Shepard and the others looking at me. A smile spreading across the faces of the few I could see, Liara and Javik.

"Do what you need. I'll do what I can to keep them off you," I shouted to them and they all nodded. With my message sent to them I took off into the air again.

The moment I got into the air I was harshly greeted by several beams from the Reapers around us. I caught the three beams in my wall and sent them all back towards the farthest one away. The beams cleaving straight through the center of the Reaper, must to fast for the Reaper to dodge.

That's all I got to do though as several Harvesters all dive bombed at me. The first one exploding itself as it reached me sending me tumbling through the air as another Harvester followed it up immediately through the smoke the first one had made and slammed into me sending me taking me towards the ground. As we went down I repulsed them before shooting at them and slamming my ax into a wing before burning them. They let out a screech for a moment before the fire took over.

When it did I jumped off and flew straight for the third one. Slamming into its stomach and folding it in half before it had an opportunity to do anything. As I folded it in half I reached up and grabbed the side of its face with my left arm and drained it. Disgusting as always but an effective way to get more energy and kill.

Tossing the corpse of the Harvester around my body I hovered in the air a good 100 or so feet in the air. I head a whoosh going through the air behind me and spun around and came face to face with a Reaper using the top of themselves as a club. It slammed me and sent me flying through the air, through several buildings and finally into an APC on the ground a few streets over.

My impact crumpled the right side of the APC and crippled its mobility but otherwise it was still operational. The soldiers around the APC all stared at me as I pushed myself out of the dent I had created and shook myself before taking off back into the air. The Reaper that hit me looking directly at me and instead of firing its laser learned and sounded its fog horn sending Harvesters and its fighters at me; too many to count.

Seeing them all coming at me I took off my helmet and inhaled before screaming outwards. The shockwave of the scream only killed the closest ones to me but created a clear path to the Reaper as the rest were blown backwards and to the side. Seeing the opportunity I shot forward, the world around me disappearing and only the Reaper was there.

The next thing the Reaper knew it was missing three legs and was falling downwards towards its face. Knowing that it this was my best opportunity to finish the fight early I slammed into its back. Forcing it to fall the rest of the way and straight onto its face. From there it had no defense as I drained it and it went still on the ground.

Spinning around and looking to where the final Reaper should've been I saw a pair of rockets slam into its closing face plate. The resulting explosion was magnificent and blew out the back of the Reaper. Smoke and fire billowing from it as it fell forward on its face and quickly following its destruction there went a cheer all around me. Taking a moment to look around I realized why, that was the last Reaper in the immediate area. The rest were all above us.

Flying towards Shepard I landed softly near their group before walking up to them. They all saw me as I walked up but the moment I went out of Essence the kickback slammed into me. I blacked out and felt myself faceplant into the ground before someone was helping me up. Looking up I saw Garrus there along with Javik and I gave them both grateful nods before putting my feet under me.

I was a bit wobbly and the world was spinning around me but I could stand so I was good enough to fight. Shepard gave me a look of concern but I shook it off and gave him a thumbs up. Didn't stop my heart beating erratically, the taste of blood in my mouth and the pounding headache. Fight wasn't over though, they still needed me.

"Let's get to the rendezvous. From there we move on the beam," Shepard spoke and we all followed the man. The rendezvous was only a block away in what could only be an old stadium, it was the only thing big enough in that direction.


Next chapter may take two weeks. I'm not sure yet, just gotta see how it feels while I'm writing it. Either way, y'all will find out if I don't post next week.