Spoilers: obviously content from the games including the Ending.
For the most part this will follow ME lore, just adding and adapting.
Who wants to live forever anyway?
Kaidan ran through the hallways, half driven by anger half by concern. He couldn't imagine what John was trying to accomplish by just running off with the Geth. Mostly he was worried though, if the situation on the Normandy was any indication of what might have happened...
He couldn't stand the thought of what might have happened to John in all of this.
Turning around the last corner he suddenly saw an unthinkable image before him. At least it would have been unthinkable a few years ago. John was being held up by two Geth, supporting him while they slowly walked through the hallway. While other machines where carrying equipment and John's armor.
"John! What the... Are you alright?" Kaidan's anger evaporated when he saw the tired and pale face of the man he loved.
A crooked smile darted over John's lips. "Yeah, just tired. We have them Kaidan, we finally have them."
Kaidan hurried forward pulling the man from the Geth's hold. "I'm here John. shit I was worried. Don't you ever do something like this again." Kaidan felt the weight of John's body when the man leaned on him.
"I had to Kaidan, now we can finally defeat Cerberus."
Kaidan quickly grabbed John in his arms carrying him. "We will talk later, for now... Well just let us get you to bed." Kaidan felt how John rested in his arms as he carried him towards the Apartment on the Silver sun strip.
"Miss T'Loak it's an honor to finally meet you in person." Admiral Hackett walked straight towards the Asari.
Aria raised her hand stopping Hackett in his track. "Admiral, I don't care what you consider to be an honor or not. I'm only here to make sure your Alliance goons are clean and understand the rules."
"Off course, we all got the security report before docking. But let me say you how thankful I am for your assistance in the Reaper war."
"Admiral just get the fuck in line for the screening before I..."
"What miss T'loak is trying to say is please stand in line until you are cleared to enter the station. We can't talk until we are sure there are no subversive elements present. We wouldn't want to risk a second Udina now." Bailey interrupted the two of them.
Hackett could see in the other mans eyes that it was probably bad idea to even try to talk with Aria at the moment. While waiting in line he could make out at least four different mercenary groups working beside a few dozen C-sec officers.
One group of mercenaries stood out however. All of them armed to the teeth, many of them carried better weapons and armor than most of the Alliance had. Whoever this new group was, even the C-sec officers seemed to report directly towards them.
"Weapons sir?"
Hackett didn't at first realize that the Batarian was talking to him.
"Please sir. hand over your weapons and step behind the screen."
"Oh sorry, I'm not armed." The Batarian nodded towards the screen.
Behind the screen two heavily armed Geth stood waiting for him. Before he could even wonder about those two a woman accompanied by a mercenary started scanning him. "Miss Lawson? Wait why are you here?"
"I'm the only expert we have at the moment on the problem we face. Now so far everyone was clean, but better safe then sorry. Zaeed here will accompany you to the meeting place."
"Wait weren't you part of the Normandy during the collector attacks?" Hackett sized up the mercenary."
The man nodded, "Most of my team are from back then. Now let's go to that meeting, the others are already waiting. Miranda you coming?"
"Not yet, I need to finish up here. I'll catch up with you all."
Zaeed pointed the way. "We should hurry, the councilors are already waiting for some time now and if my experience with Urdnot Wrex is worth something he isn't one to leave the place whole should he get bored."
"Might I ask what mercenary group you represent?" Hackett noticed how a few of his own men were escorted towards a large room in the opposite direction.
"Keep the questions for the meeting, everything will be explained."
After a while Hackett recognized the area they where moving through, the Silversun strip was cleaned up for the most part and crawling with armed mercenaries and C-sec staff. Someone had even taken great care to repair the score board of the armax arsenal arena. "The arena is still operational?"
"Yeah with a bunch of god damn mercs all in one place? We needed something to ease the tension." zaeed pushed the button of the elevator. "Last security check, God damn Geth are a bit paranoid if you ask me."
The large Geth stood before the door to Anderson's old apartment blocking the way. "Designation?"
"Shit man you know me and this here is Admiral Hackett... And before you ask yes Miranda cleared him, yes he is unarmed and got the security briefing."
"Acknowledged, Hackett Admiral Alliance. We must insist on leaving all electronic devices outside. We also hereby inform you that all unauthorized communications going out of the apartment will lead to immediate incarceration. You may enter the apartment." The Geth stepped to the side, holding out his hand towards Zaeed.
Zaeed handed over his rifle. "If I find a single scratch on my Jessie I'll rip you a new one."
"We don't understand a new what?"
"God damn machines."
"Major all our guests have arrived, Miranda and Bailey are coordinating the sweeps of all docked ships, we can start." EDI walked up towards the bar where Kaidan had sat reading over the last updates again.
"Any word from John?"
"Negative and Charles reported in, they are on their way back."
"Well then no time like the present." Kaidan piled up his reports and carried over the stack towards the large table in the back of the kitchen. "Admiral, councilors, friends could everyone gather around the holographic table?"
The room fell silent as a lot of people gathered around the table. Somehow it seemed like a big construction flaw that someone put the table in such a small space.
"While we are awaiting the latest updates lets start. By now everyone present knows that Cerberus or Styx as they call themselves now is responsible for a number of incidents since the reaper war." Kaidan was struggling to find the right words, he really didn't like to be the one in command. At least John would be here soon to relieve him of this.
"We have uncovered that high-ranking Alliance officers are working for Cerberus and they use control ships on a large-scale to use our own people against us. The reason we are here is simple, we need to stop them once and for all."
"Major just one question before you continue. Why the hell did we have to meet here and why hand the security to a bunch of mercenaries?" Admiral Hackett interrupted.
"Because we know nobody on the citadel was implanted and we have a diverse crowd of different races who have one thing in common... They all hate Cerberus. Besides we know the Alliance is infiltrated by their agents. Rio was not the only place they used to recruit promising soldiers."
"So how do we stop them?"
"We destroy every base, every hideout, destroy their systems and take everyone in to custody until the chips are removed."
"kaidan you make it sound so easy, we have no idea where their bases are located." Hannah's voice had the same sarcastic tone he had heard in John's so often.
Kaidan smiled. "Actually thanks to some insane plan from John we have the locations of every base, every satellite and every transmitting tower they are using. With some luck they won't even know just how much inside information we have at the moment." Kaidan brought up a holographic map of the sol System.
"Who is this John you speak off?" All eyes looked towards Admiral Hackett as he spoke.
The front door slid open. "The worst kept secret in the universe."
"Shepard?" Hackett's mouth fell open.
John walked slowly towards the group of familiar and not so familiar people. "I do love surprise parties but Kaidan... Normally it's not the guests who should be surprised."
"So the rumors where true, you really survived." Hackett murmured.
"Yes and no, I died but Cerberus was stupid enough to bring me back. I'm just running around with a control chip that isn't working the way they imagined it." John walked over to EDI dropping a small data drive in front of her. "EDI analyze the new data. I want to make sure we catch them all at once."
"So Commander I imagine there is a plan involved in all of this. Or why all the deception?"
"Yes, as Kaidan probably already tried to explain we are going to take all their outposts at once. That is also the reason why we need every available non-human military unit out there. See Admiral they want a war off attrition, we couldn't beat them in the long run. But if we take them out at once... Well the last remnants will be easy to pick up." John nodded towards Charles who was going through the data files with EDI.
"We know they need to keep the Control signal active otherwise they lose the bulk of their forces. Our targets thus should be all the satellites and every outpost they are using preferably we strike everywhere at the same time." The Geth pointed out several blinking dots on the System map.
"Councilors, Admiral the Normandy will lead the attack against the Styx and Kerberos outposts. While we sent the Krogan, Turians, Salarians and Asari forces against the compromised alliance bases. Meanwhile the Geth and Quarians will start preëmptive airstrikes against the satellites and ships within the system. If we time this right we can keep civilian casualties to a minimum." John brought up a holographic image of earth. "As you can see several facilities on earth are compromised we can't risk sending in Alliance forces under any circumstance."
"What about Alliance command if they are truly infiltrated then what will stop the officers from interrupting your plans?" Hackett crossed his arms across his chest, doubting that this could truly work.
"That's where Aria comes in. The mercenary troops under her leadership will start smaller rebellions, forcing Alliance command to concentrate on them."
Zaeed stepped forward pulling up his own data. "We will start taking over resource deposits and old production facilities. Everyone will think we want to take over the resources in the system. Since many salvage yards are controlled by the Quarians and Salarians. No one will suspect they where just handed over to us."
"So a distraction and a supposed invasion is your plan?"
"Yeah plus something else, the Council will be taken hostage by a vicious new mercenary troop. Commander Bailey will report that C-sec has lost control and ask for assistance."
They talked over the plans for hours until everyone agreed on their course of action. Late in the evening everyone had left the apartment.
"John are you sure this will work?" Kaidan was staring outside the large windows.
"No, but from what I remember and heard from others... This isn't the first such mission we had. Maybe it's our last, I don't know. But there is one thing I'm sure off."
"And that would be?" Kaidan turned around facing John who stood in the darkness behind him only illuminated by the faint artificial lights that shone through the windows.
"There isn't anyone else I would rather spent my last night before a battle with." John brought his arm around Kaidan's back pulling him closer towards him. "Now Major I want to see you in that whirlpool upstairs."
"That an order Commander?"
"No, but I could make it one if you prefer."
John had slept a dreamless sleep. Awakening from the smells of Coffee and Bacon coming from somewhere downstairs. John just had to follow his nose to find Kaidan in the middle of the Kitchen.
"Coffee?" Kaidan stood behind the counter holding a can of coffee for John .
John walked over towards the counter grabbing a cup. "Yes please." Behind Kaidan the screen was showing news reports from all over earth. "Turn that up will you?"
Kaidan turned up the volume on the screen and continued preparing to plates with their breakfast.
"This is Khalisahal-Jilani for Westerlung news. After the vicious attack of a Bataraian mercenary on your's truly. We continue our coverage of the crazy Biotics who are running amok in the streets of New York. It seems that reports are confirming riots across the planet.
But we should all ask where is the council, where is the Alliance? Shouldn't the political forces in this system be here to protect us? Why isn't the Alliance doing anything to protect us against the outside forces? We, the people demand answers why can't our government stop this?"
"Okay I heard enough." John muted the screen. "So how's it going?"
"So far so good, overall there are strange riots across the globe. Even heard a rumor that someone stole an ambassadors car and parked it on the the Vatican's roof. The Alliance has called in every available high-ranking officer for an emergency meeting. We can expect their reaction within the next few hours." Kaidan sat next to John hunching over the food.
"Good, we should prepare and go back towards the Normandy then."
"John... I just want you to know whatever happens today... I love you."
"Damn this sounds almost like a goodbye. Kaidan I will always love you. So please promise me to stay safe whatever happens."
After eating John went to strap on his arms and armor. Going for a last check on the weapon mods he had laid out the evening before. With a deep breath he started fixating his armor. Suddenly he felt Kaidans hands assisting him.
Kaidan grabbed the dog tags from the counter, running his thumb over the small letters spelling out John's name and rank. "You know ever since Kasumi stole that ring I always saw you staring at the names written on the inside. Let's not add anymore to them." Kaidan kissed the stone embedded in the small circlet. A tingling sensation ran through his body, raising the small hairs in the back of his neck. Looking in front of him he saw a reflection in the mirror.
A Second reflection of John stood behind him smiling back at him, when Kaidan blinked the image was gone.
Kadan shrugged it off, he probably was just mistaken.
Slowly Kaidan slipped the necklace around Johns neck, slipping the dog tags and ring underneath John's shirt. "Swear you'll return to me."
"I will do everything in my power to come back, hell I died twice and I'm still here ain't I?" John smiled staring into Kaidans eyes.
Kaidan nodded following John as they both walked towards the Normandy.
John stood on the CIC watching over the strategic maps displayed. They had waited above the North pole of Neptune for quite some time, with their Stealth systems it was near impossible to discover them. Except when someone would look out of a window, then again no pilot would normally come this close to a planets pole.
"John we have confirmation that the Alliance troops have engaged Aria's troops. We are clear to start our attack as we see fit." EDI's voice hallowed through the Normandy.
"Joker bring us in. Ground troops report to cargo bay in 5 minutes." John stepped down moving towards the elevator. "Liara, you have the ship."
Liara smiled towards him. "Good luck John."
"A bit of luck is what we all need right now." The elevator doors closed before him, the ride felt like it would never end. Normally it was just a few short moments to reach the shuttle bay but this ride seem to go on for ages.
"Shuttles are ready Sir." Steve handed over an obligatory status report, which John had never actually bothered to read.
"Someone told me I had a habit of making motivational speeches before we went on a suicide mission."
"Yeah most of them involved cheesy remarks off how we would kick someones ass." Garrus jokingly interrupted.
"Funny Vakarian, well then I'll make it short this time. Look towards the one standing to your left.
Now look over to the one standing towards your right.
We here aboard this ship are proof that the Illusive man got it wrong. None of us could have come this far without the help off the others. It wasn't the Turians who defeated Saren, It weren't the Asari who defeated the Collectors and it sure as hell wasn't humanity who destroyed the reapers."
John paused looking in the eyes of his friends. "No, none of us could have accomplished any of that alone. It was a simple truth that saved the Galaxy over and over again. Take the best from every Race and let them work together side by side. Each of us has their strengths and their weaknesses but when we work together nothing can stop us. The Illusive man believes he can rule the galaxy, he believes that Humans are superior, well I say he's full of shit."
John grinned towards Garrus. "So let's show him and his lackeys what the combined forces of the galaxy can do to his superior Human ass and let's kick him off his rock."
After a round of cheering and some small talk the teams split up moving towards their respective shuttles. Kaidan walked over towards John halting a few feet before him. "John if we survive this..."
"Kaidan I don't want to hear any ifs or buts. You go out their take that base and we will see each other back here on the Normandy before dinner. And just to make it clear that is an order." John stared straight in Kaidan's eyes. "Now major there is something I need to do before we go."
Kaidan looked down, staring towards the floor. "John I..."
John grabbed kaidan by the back of his head, closing in and holding him in a tight embrace. Holding close before their lips touched. "I need to know what I'm doing this for." When their lips touched the world around them seemed to stop, there was only the both of them. Only the sounds of their hearts beating, only the smell of each other and nothing could take that away from them.
"John? We got confirmation from Zaeed." Liara sounded over the comm.
"Liara John and Kaidan ar ehm... busy at the moment, what's our status." Garrus shrugged his shoulders towards James.
"Zaeed reported in, the Alliance forces are mounting an attack on the Citadel to rescue the Council. The Turian fleet awaits our signal to attack the Alliance facilities."
Garrus put his hands on Kaidan's and John's shoulder slightly pulling them apart. "We need to go and I don't want to be the one who has to explain that we lost against Cerberus because two spectres would rather make out."
Kaidan blushed as he realized that everyone was staring at them. "John stay safe, I'll be waiting here for you."
"Not if I return before you." John let his hand slip across Kaidan's cheek before straightening himself, falling in to the role of Commander once again.
"Liara give our friends the signal and tell Joker to keep the ship in one piece." John threw a last look towards Kaidan before turning around to board his shuttle. "Oh and Liara I want updates on the status of our forces."
"Krogan forces are storming Tokyo sir, Alliance reports indicate that they can't last long against the invasion."
John looked at the small display in the shuttle, Liara had provided them a direct uplink to the Shadow brokers network. From there she and Traynor could coördinate all the attacks. "What's our ETA?"
"2 Minutes, Kaidan just reported they where spotted."
"Okay Steve hurry up. I want you back in the thick off combat keep Styx busy." Johns head throbbed as they got closer to the base on Kerberos. It felt as if someone had hit him on the back off the head with a baseball bat. But now was not the time to worry about such inconveniences, now was the time to act.
When the shuttle hovered low by the ground John jumped out first, Garrus and Charles followed him close. Quickly Charles hacked his way in the security systems opening the hangar doors so they could enter.
"False security breaches are being reported across the base. If we are lucky the hostile forces should be scattered across the compound."
"What about Kaidan and the others?" John was feeling uneasy as he entered the base, something felt horribly wrong.
"They successfully entered the base on Styx, Tali had the Quarian-Geth fleet diverted the fighters towards their main fleet."
Relieved John took a deep breath. "Okay remember try not to kill the controlled people here. Broken limps can be healed, head-shots can't." John started moving forward, trying to remember the map Liara had dug up for them. While the map had been older it still gave him a good idea of how the complex was set up. They would need to move towards the center before going down. The main command center should be on the lower levels where it would be more protected.
Kaidan's hearth was racing in his chest. They had barely made the landing zone, thankfully the Quarian ships distracted the enemy fighters long enough so they could make a run for it. Kaidan just wished Shepard where here, right now he could use someone to tell him what to do. But John wasn't here, John was on a different moon. No it was up to Kaidan to lead his team through the old mining shafts.
"EDI where are defenders? Ever since we landed no one tried to stop us. I don't like this at all."
"I'm not sure, the Geth reported that at least 45 humanoids inhabit this facility. Maybe they set up their defenses further down?"
"Or they are hiding until we get deeper inside, then spring a trap on us. Damn if I were Styx what would I do if Shepard declared war on me?" Kaidan ran his hand through his hair.
"That wasn't really a question, was it Kaidan?"
"No, but speculate for a bit EDI. You know more than any of us about how Cerberus operates. So after all this time, what would they do if we openly declared war on them and suddenly stood at their doorstep?"
"Depends, do they want us dead or alive? Is there some greater goal they want to achieve? Could we be in some way be playing a part in achieving that goal. There are too many unknowns."
"Damn so whatever this is we won't find out until we get deeper inside. Okay lets move on, keep your eyes open for any sign of trouble."
Their progress was slow but steady, while they encountered a few smaller groups of resistance it wasn't much of a hassle. Most of the time Charles and Garrus took out the hostiles before John could even react.
"Keep up John so far you are at least 8 behind us, not that anyone is counting." Garrus said with a smug grin, reloading his sniper rifle.
"Unfair you guys got the long range weapons. Besides someone has to carry the responsibility."
"Now now, John if I didn't know better I would say your just getting too old for this."
"No it's not that, I just.. I don't know... Maybe I'm just tired." John signaled towards a door to their left. Immediately Garrus took position at the side. John opened the door, quickly throwing in a singularity just to be sure. Before Garrus and Charles took out the dangling targets.
"Anyone wonder why it's so easy to move through this facility? Every other Cerberus encounter before today involved hordes off them throwing their lives away." Garrus Scanned the 2 people who lay unconscious on the floor.
"We don't want to hurt you, join us. Join us and we will end all the pain and suffering. Only we can help you understand."
John shook his head, the whispers had been growing stronger, becoming harder to ignore.
"Garrus tie them up we need to keep moving."
"You will return to us Deimos, you'll see before the end of the day you will understand everything."
Kaidan didn't like the silence, they had moved deeper in the facility. Between the tunnels and old equipment there was barely anything to be found. As if someone had cleared everything out. "EDI what are the chances that the Geth where wrong about this place? So far we haven't seen anyone."
"Chances are low, the data they extracted was valid. Since someone tried to stop us from landing here we can only assume they set up defenses near the central command stations."
"Damn no use, okay last corridor before the mainframe, James if this goes wrong keep those explosives ready. If necessary we detonate the whole rock. EDI any word from the others?"
"The Normandy is engaged in combat with several Styx ships, Charles reported that they encountered only light resistance. Their progress has been slow but successful so far."
Kaidan nodded, moving across the hallway checking the empty rooms they encountered. Every fiber of his being cried trap when they reached the large doors to a storage area. Across the room and up a set of stairs he could see the large construct from which the control signal was broadcasting. They only needed to destroy it one way or the other. Signaling James to cover him Kaidan slowly moved between the crates in the room. The place was too silent to his liking, a sudden explosion and blinding light surprised him. Kaidan had only time to realize he had stepped directly near a proximity mine before he got thrown back crashing in to James.
Kaidan scrambled to his feet, trying to orientated but his eyes had forsaken him. It took merely moments before he could see normally again. But it was moments too long, all he could see now where the hostile forces pouring in the room.
"James EDI stay close, we have to reach that control tower" His Biotics crackling the air around him, he started taking out the targets closest to them. Somehow they had to make it through.
John sank to his knees the voices where growing too strong, the closer he got to the control signal the worse it got.
Charles knelled beside him, turning up the volume on John's ear-piece. Kicking in the music he had heard so often recently. It helped him concentrate but the voices where stronger than ever before, they were directed solely at him.
"John message from Kaidan, they are under heavy fire" Charles pulled John back to his feet.
"Join us Deimos, with us you won't ever have to fear for anything."
"Charles patch Kaidan through somehow, I don't care how you do it just do it." John struggled to keep his balance.
"John? I'm sorry. I don't think We will make it back." Kaidan's words were filled with regret.
"Shut up Kaidan, we will both make it out of this somehow."
"John as much as I wished we could have just retired to some old cabin in the woods, we both know that would never have worked out."
John fought the whispers if he could just reach the control center everything could end right here and now. Charles Supported him, almost dragging him along. It wasn't far now, just a few steps until they reached the door. But the whispers kept growing stronger weakening his resolve.
"We can make you happy, we can ensure happiness and safety for all. You only need to come back to us Deimos and we will become immortal, legends."
Maybe the voice was right maybe he could stop all off this and make everything better if he just listened to them.
The doors opened Garrus immediately shot a mech trying to grad John. John let go of Charles walking in slowly. The room was large and full of screens. Some of those screens where showing the battles that where still going on earth. Other showed people John didn't recognize. Amidst the screens on a platform someone sat on a large chair with its back facing John.
Slowly the chair turned and a familiar voice spoke both out loud and directly in John's mind.
"You could have become immortal, we would have given you anything."
Something pulled him back, something threw him against the wall making him unable to move. When john looked towards his side he saw both Charles and Garrus glued to the wall just like him.
"This is your last chance join me or see what your futile little rebellion caused. They are all suffering Deimos, Suffering because of you."
John struggled against the invisible force that held him back.
"We can make the Galaxy a peaceful place. A place where no one will ever have to fear anything ever again. A Galaxy that under our guidance will know only peace."
John's eyes wandered towards the large screen showing Kaidan and the others cornered. They where under heavy fire, for the moment they would hold out but how long? John felt fear build up inside of him, he couldn't lose Kaidan, not now. But it became clear that Kaidan was cornered he wouldn't make it out alive if John didn't do something.
John relaxed, he had come to a decision. With a deep breath he gave in to the Whispers, letting them take over. Before he lost control completely he felt the pressure that held him back dissipate. His last thoughts where with Kaidan. "I'm sorry Kaidan."
"Good now Deimos disarm and lock these traitors away."
He nodded taking away all the guns and grenades from both Garrus and Charles before they were released from the electromagnetic field that had held them in place.
"John, Shepard, Whatever think about what you're doing. Think about Kaidan!" Garrus pleaded with him.
"Get moving!" He snarled shoving Garrus toward the door.
On a monitor in the corner of his eye he saw how three of the traitors where sinking towards the floor after a gas grenade had exploded near them.
Opening up a door to a cell he shoved the two traitors in. The giant machine turned around slightly cocking its head to the side as if it was more than a machine.
"John, don't listen to them God damn it that asshole betrayed you more than once before. Shit and why aren't you doing anything Charles?" Garrus was furious.
The geth only stood there as the doors closed locking them inside.
He walked over towards the large control pult in the middle of the room. The warm buzz in the back of his head felt comfortable the whispers where joining in a chorus.
Everything will be fine now.
"I want you to coördinate the retaliation against these traitors. Oh and Deimos change into something more appropriate will you."
His hand wandered unconsciously towards his neck. pulling out the chain holding his dog tags and the ring.
"We are here for you, together we will save this galaxy." The whispers reassured him.
When his fingers touched the ring another voice broke through asking him a question. One he had heard before.
"What is this thing that builds our dreams yet slips away from us?"
He didn't remember what he should do, someone was counting on him to do something important.
His hand clenched around the ring. He dropped to his knees. Images overwhelmed his senses.
John had felt annoyed, his first big tour as second in command and that directly aboard the new Alliance flag-ship. But if that hadn't been enough there was also a Turian Spectre onboard.
It hadn't really helped either that he immediately felt attracted towards this one Lieutenant onboard. Another Biotic as it just so happened to be. Whenever John was near him he had a hard time acting normal. It wasn't something he liked to admit. Not after what had happened on Elysium.
And off course he had to take the LT and Jenkins to the surface. The worst had come to pass Jenkins and the Turian Spectre had both died. and for what? An obelisk shaped Protean thing?
Kaidan walked up towards the obelisk, something felt wrong. John ran as fast as he could pushing Kaidan away from the obelisk.
His head hurt as he awoke, a mayor headache plagued him.
You had us worried for a moment Shepard."
"Kaidan is he?"
"The Lieutenant is alright he is waiting outside." It was the first moment John had known he would have a hard time concealing his feelings for the Lieutenant Alenko.
He shook his head, who had been this Kaidan? He knew he should remember him from somewhere. But the memories slipped away before he could grab a hold of them.
He continued walking towards the armory. Pulling the chain from his neck he starred at the tags.
Commander John Shepard, He wondered why he had worn those. He was Deimos the right hand of Phobos, maybe some undercover mission? Then why couldn't he remember.
The whispers grew more demanding more urgent than before, a headache plagued him from all the noise. He could barely think clear, he just wanted to be done with it for today. Find a quiet corner and sleep it off.
He halted in his tracks, the noise was confusing him. He turned around walking back towards Phobos.
Now we must deal with these traitors once and for all. Only then can we restore the galaxy.
Phobos looked annoyed. "Damn Deimos I told you to get rid of that armor. Now your wasting time! Take care of these attacks we have work to do."
The whispers where more like screams now directed solely at him.
"The traitors are slaughtering innocent humans, they betrayed us. Stop them! They will listen to you Deimos they will see that they are defeated."
John walked over to the holographic interface, switching on the transmission. He saw on the screens before him, dozens of places. On one screen he could see the three traitors from earlier. Neatly tied up in a corner, the one human was familiar. No not just familiar he was part of the memory. There was something he had to do, something he had to say to that human.
"He betrayed you, he wanted to kill you. He must suffer for what he did."
He felt anger arise, he couldn't stop the words from crossing his lips. "I demand you lay down your weapons and stop the assault."
Brown eyes, yes that was who the man was. The brown eyes from the Citadel, the destiny ascension and from the funeral. They looked so sad. He clenched the ring he was still holding in his hand. He hadn't even remembered he still had it. He wondered why it was still there, rubbing over the stone with his thumb.
"Kill the traitors as an example! They must be stopped!"
A chorus of voices screamed inside his head. But there was something else another voice, the one he had heard before.
"Touch my world with your fingertips"
Kaidan hadn't trusted him anymore, John felt regret. How could he mend anything if he wouldn't listen to his explanations. Now had not been the time anyway, they had a mission to carry out. Get the data and then find help for earth.
The place was a tragic site, now the grave of dozens as someone had sabotaged the air locks and killed those inside. Getting only worse when they had discovered those poor souls that had been the subject to of some Cerberus experiment. Husks or something like that, the Illusive man must have lost it completely.
When they had reached the archives some android ran off with the data. John had run after her but even James crashing into her shuttle hadn't stopped her from beating Kaidan up.
Now John stood over Kaidans broken body in the medbay. He couldn't think anymore, he was going insane with grief. Loosing earth, loosing Kaidan over and over again. He didn't know what to do anymore.
He looked back towards the screen. He remembered brown eyes, brown eyes was Kaidan. He was still alive! He had to save them somehow.
"Kill them now as an example, our names will forever be known to everyone. The whispers shouted angry.
"Forever is our today"
John understood now he had to put an end to it all. As if awakening from a dream he spun on his heel punching his fist through the control panel.
An electric current was sent through his whole body. "You can't stop us! We will punish you!" John's legs gave away, cringing from the stinging pain that ran through his body, he fought against it. Barely reaching the last control panel he pushed the release button for the cells.
His own battle however raged on inside him, the constant torture was keeping him from thinking straight,
Clenching his hand around the ring he tried to remember Kaidan as his memories kept slipping away again. But the images where back, drawing him once again towards another memory.
"John, stop worrying now this is just a vacation after all. Not some high risk operation. Now how about we go out and visit some of the local bars?"
"You're right Dean, sorry I just get so caught up sometimes."
"Damn John, caught up? If I didn't know better you only live for work. Sometimes I wonder why I even bother with you." Dean faked looking sad.
John laughed, "stop it you know I can't stand to see you like this. So how about we skip the bars and we stay in bed for tonight..." John leaned over tickling Dean.
Dean tried to push John away. "No we are on shore leave remember? I want to go outside, afterwards we can still test this bed."
"Okay, if that's really what you want to do. But you're missing out on some awesome pillow fights." John grinned sheepishly.
"Later." Dean replied getting dressed for their evening out.
But there had never been a later, that night Dean had died in front of John's eyes. He couldn't stand the memory. Not this one, anything but not this. John never wanted to go through anything like this again.
He opened his eyes seeing the Illusive man in front of him, holding a gun pointed towards him. On the screen John saw how Kaidan lay helpless on the floor.
"You had to destroy our plans again, you just can't seem to understand."
John started laughing. "Shouldn't have brought me back... Again."
"You don't understand Shepard, you are mine. I revived you, I improved you. I could have given you eternity instead you betray me."
The song was reaching its end once again. Before it would start over again he threw a last longing look over towards the screen where Kaidan was.
"Who want's to live forever?"
As he spoke those words John pulled together his last strength. Activating his Biotics and throwing the illusive man against the wall.
The sudden eruptive force off his own Biotics surprised even John. The anger flowing through him, his whole body burned with a passion, a passion to rip the man before him in to pieces.
The sudden turn in John demeanor had surprised his victim obviously, gasping for air from the sudden impact against the wall.
"You have to see the bigger picture here! What we are doing is only to ensure Human dominance!"
John would have laughed at the pathetic remarks if he hadn't been furious. "You said the same thing after the collector base. Remember how that went?" John jumped over the console between them using his Biotic energy to soften his own landing.
"We need to ensure Humanities place in the universe!"
Johns mouth formed a slightly crooked grin. "I told you to fall in line or get the fuck out of my way. You tried to stop me from defeating the reapers, I destroyed your operations. You tried to control me and have my friends killed, now you will pay."
Behind him he heard the mechanic movement of a large machine, without turning around spoke towards what only could be Charles and Garrus.
"Charles, I know you're storing the audio visual input you're gathering. Broadcast over all channels."
Johns fist lighted up blue while he pulled it back.
"Deimos you belong to us, you must understand! We did it for humanity!" The illusive mans voice trembled.
"I understand everything now, but you never did. It's not about humanity, not about your petty organization. You never understood the true reason why we defeated the reapers. We survived because we worked together, because we fought side by side. Yes it took time to overcome our differences, but when the Quarians and Geth can help each other after 300 years of war and a single Salarian can safe the Krogan. Hell when all of us can come together to defeat the greatest threat to our life then there is no place for a such thing as human dominance in this Galaxy. We are ONE, one galaxy united against all who stand against those who oppose us."
"Don't you see, they'll just fall in our backs the second they are home. We must take this opportunity to gain the upper hand!" The Illusive man yelled as loud as he could. "If humanity is to survive, sacrifices must be made for the greater good!"
John shook his head. "Your wrong. Jack Harper, the Illusive man or whatever you like to call yourself these days, I Commander Shepard First Human spectre sentence you to death. May you stand as an example of what happens to those who oppose peace among the races." John's hand raced towards the man in front of him, in a blue flash of light the Biotic energy discharged leaving a bloody stain on the wall as the illusive mans body dropped to the floor.
Garrus came up behind John laying a hand on John's shoulder. "Everything alright?"
"Sort off, I just feel tired. Garrus please see to it that this asshole gets burned, spread the ashes somewhere in space just to be safe. And Charles upload the new commands to the control chips. When you're done destroy the transmitter."
John slowly walked towards the exit, barely noticing Charles giving him status reports on the other troops. The only thing he heard was that Kaidan was on his way back to the Normandy, Kaidan the one who never had given up on him.
When the shuttle had safely taken him back aboard the Normandy John still felt tired, no not tired he corrected him self exhausted. More on auto pilot than anything else he dropped his equipment while walking towards his room. Once there he automatically went in to the bathroom, taking a shower as he had so often done after a mission. Only this time the water didn't wash away the days hardships. Slowly he turned off the water flow and moved over towards the mirror, looking at the tired man who stared back at him.
"Years of fighting and combat damn you look old all of a sudden." He said to his reflection. Noticing the chain and ring he had unknowingly thrown in the sink, he reached out to look at it once more. "Now what is your secret?"
The names engraved on the ring burned inside his mind.
"Now? go back and get the lieutenant and get the hell out of here, you know it's the right choice LT."
"Does this unit have a soul?"
"Someone else might have gotten it wrong"
"Just don't make the same mistake I did, there's always another mission. None of them are an excuse to make yourself an island"
Looking back up John saw his reflection smile for a moment, before his own tired face stared back at him again. But something was different, better. He laid down the ring on the side, wrapping a towel around his hips before leaving the bathroom.
Kaidan stood with his back towards him, looking through some reports that where waiting on the desk. John smiled, when he saw the other man in his room. Suddenly he didn't feel all that tired anymore.
"John, I was just reading through the reports. Is everything alright? Charles said there where some unexpected problems."
John's towel slipped from his hips, John stepped closer. The surprised big brown eyes of Kaidan made John smile. Pressing kaidan down against the desk, leaning in John whispered in Kaidans ear. "I told you, you couldn't imagine the things I want to do to you. I think it's time I make good on my words. Oh and it's Shepard not just John."
A small spark of recognition in Kaidan's eyes was enough encouragement for Shepard to tear the Majors shirt off. Hands hastily tried to loosen pants. It wasn't a slow loving embrace, but a harsh need that drove them both. Their need to finally be together, free from all complications of the past.
It took them several hours before both of them dropped exhausted in bed. Through the roof window they watched the far off stars. Never before had those stars seem so far away and yet so bright.
"What do you mean by the internal communications are broken? You're using them right now."
"I know Liara, the wiring must have sustained damage during the fight."
"Okay then I'll have to go and get them myself." Liara pushed the elevators button.
"The elevator appears to be non-functional. Probably due to a direct hit we sustained."
"EDI! I just used that elevator myself. The Council is waiting for John to report in, any suggestions what I should tell them?"
"That we could use maintenance?"