Happy holidays everyone! I am going to be away until January 2nd, regular updates to resume then!
Rain Song - Led Zeppelin
She inhaled deeply and felt the salty air enter her lungs. The wind rustled through her hair like a tender touch, and beneath her feet she felt hard, slightly damp rock. She slowly opened her eyes, a gentle smile lighting up her face at the realization that she was at the ocean.
Before her were endlessly stretched miles upon miles of sweet blue-grey water. It was dawn; the sky was a stunning painting with layers of orange, red, and yellow. She was standing on a pier, far away from land, and when she looked down she saw that she was wearing a white dress; it lapped around her bare feet, akin to the water lapping at the rocks.
She stood watching the painting before her for what felt like hours, and although the light burned her eyes she couldn't look away from it. She had spent so many years on ships with artificial lighting that she had forgotten how sublime a real sunrise was.
Her curiosity finally took the better of her and she turned around, expecting to see an expanse of trees and sand. To her great surprise, her whole ground crew from the SR-1, even Kaiden, stood before her. So this wasn't real; but that didn't mean she wasn't going to enjoy every second of it.
Each of her teammates shouted her name in excitement, tears filling the eyes of those who could cry.
"We're so proud of you," Ashley said tenderly, breaking the silence.
"Best damn Commander I've ever had," Wrex grumbled, his voice alive with a surprising amount of emotion. "You've done good work, I'm proud to have served under you."
"Shepard," Kaiden mumbled. "I-"
"I'm so sorry, Kaiden!" She burst out. "I'm sorry for what happened. I wanted to-"
"No, Commander. You did the right thing. I had the privilege of dying under a great Commander serving for the Alliance. Nothing would make me happier."
Words of encouragement and thanks came from each of them, and Shepard gazed at them tenderly like a mother watching over her children, pride swelling inside of her.
Tali walked up to her to embrace her, whispering in her ear, her grip tight around her Commander's waist. "You have made my people so proud of me, Shepard, and I can't thank you enough for that. You've changed my life for the better. You've accomplished amazing feats for the quarian people, and for the whole galaxy."
As Tali stepped aside, Liara smiled at Shepard gently. "I'm going to go on to do great things because of you, Shepard. You not only stopped Saren, but you stopped the Reapers." Liara threw her arms around Shepard's shoulders, her body shaking with emotion. The human and the asari held each other until Wrex tapped Liara's shoulder, indicating that it was his turn.
"Shepard," he grumbled in a low voice.
"Wrex," she grumbled back, laughing lightly.
"I'm not one for hugging, or saying thanks, but in this case, I can make an exception. You saved the krogan people from a fate worse than genocide. You're always an honorary krogan in my books." He enveloped her in a crushing hug. Shepard realized that as each of the crew members said their thanks, they faded away, waving gently with smiles on their faces; but it felt as if they weren't saying goodbye, but rather I'll see you soon.
Kaiden was next, tears in his eyes. "I may have died, Shepard, but I know it was for the best. I died so many could live. I died with honour, and valour." He gave her a brief hug before pulling away, kissing her forehead gently. "I am with God now, and my ancestors. Thank you."
Kaiden backed away slowly, a warm smile on his face, before he faded away as well.
"Skipper," Ashley said softly, her eyes gleaming. "I have to let you in on a little secret."
"What's that, Ash?"
"I have a couple of secrets, actually. One, you saved a lot of lives when your ship went down there, mine included, and I'm forever in your debt for that. Two..." Shepard watched as Ashley stared off into the ocean, and Shepard turned to watch it again herself. She observed the frothy tips of the waves, and she laughed gently as she watched dolphins frolic in the water without a care in the world. Seagulls had begun to wake up and herald the day, their loud cries filling the air. The shared moment felt timeless.
"Two," Ashley continued, "is that the galaxy is still going to need you, Shepard. This here, this is bliss. But the galaxy is going to drag you back, back into its pain and suffering. Humanity needs you, even if it's just to take away a little bit of their pain and suffering. But I know you, Skipper, and I know that you'll make everything right. There are good things waiting for you on the other side, so embrace it." Ashley uncharacteristically gave Shepard swift kisses on both her cheeks. "I'll see you soon."
Ashley gave one last fleeting look at the ocean before turning around and fading. Only Garrus remained, and he had the most peculiar look on his face, as if he had no idea what to say.
"Zoey," he said gently. She felt something stir deep inside of her; it had been many years since anyone other than her family had called her by her first name. "The galaxy needs you. I need you." He stepped forward swiftly but gracefully. He tentatively reached his hand up and brushed his thumb in circles on the side of her face, their eyes locked. In his eyes she saw pain and suffering, but deep down there was hope. Garrus closed his eyes and touched his forehead to hers in the most affectionate gesture she had ever felt. She closed her eyes, their breathing becoming synchronized. They both relaxed, emptying their minds of any emotion, the only feeling at that moment an intense need for each other.
Shepard didn't have the faintest idea how long the two of them had been standing there, every second stretching to eternity and yet feeling too short. If she had a choice, she never would have left that moment.
When she opened her eyes, she had three shocking realizations: one was that it was dusk; the second was that Garrus was fading away; and the third was that a woman's harsh voice was screaming in her ear to wake up.