Mass Effect Shepard Rises:
Shepard and his team stood in cover. They could hear the roar of a gunship just overhead. Shepard quickly peaked out, noticing that beyond the cover was an open area with access panels and maintenance equipment.
However, a Geth drop ship was flying above, dropping Geth around the Citadel.
Four defence turrets were present, two on either side of the opening. At the far end of the area, the Geth had set up a defensive position.
He ducked back into cover and looked at Tali, "There are four defence Turrets between us and the Geth, do you think you can hack them?"
He watched for just a moment, as Tali peaked over cover and glanced at the turret closest to them.
"I can try, but they're ancient ... They might not even function anymore..."
Shepard nodded, "Okay. Wrex and Garrus, you're with me. We need to keep the Geth away from Tali."
He watched them nod in agreement, "Alright... Stay in cover. On my mark."
He looked over the cover once more, to make sure the Geth hadn't seen them.
With a nod, his body glowed purple and he suddenly jumped over the barrier between him and the Geth. He raised his rifle and fired the head off of a Geth soldier before it could even turn around. He raised a glowing hand and pushed it forward, knocking another Geth out of cover.
His rifle jutted against his shoulder, spitting death twice, before he quickly slid into cover. He watched as Tali jumped from cover, and ran towards the turret closest to them. As she got close, she opened her Omni-tool, before skidding and sliding into cover.
A roar echoed in the area. Shepard peaked over cover, watching in amazement as Wrex charged into a group of Geth.
With a large smile on his face, Shepard's body glowed purple as he simply tested the weight of his assault rifle in his hands. Once done, he jumped from cover and ran towards Wrex.
"Scratch one! Don't worry Shepard! I've got your back! Unlike Tali..." Wrex said, a wicked smirk on his lips.
Shepard began to chuckle as Tali hotly responded, "Hey, these systems are ancient! Don't start on me!"
As Shepard started to laugh harder, all that could be heard was an angry mumble of frustration by Tali, "Come on, you Bosh'tet!"
Shepard continued to chuckle at the banter, before he shook his head, and rolled forward, the Geth continuing to fire directly at him. From his crouched position, he raised his rifle and fired at a Geth soldier sneaking up on Wrex.
He pulled his knife out of his boot, before throwing it across the area. He couldn't help but smile as the knife slid into a Geth flash-light head. He watched as the Geth gun ship turned in the air, before making it's way towards him.
"Oh shit..." He cursed as he jumped to his feet, and ran for cover.
Wrex saw a flash of silver fly past his face, and, as he turned to look over his shoulder, he could see Shepard push himself to his feet. The pair ducked into cover. Wrex glanced upwards as the Geth drop ship roared above them.
Shepard watched as the turret that Tali was next to, moved with a loud creak. The barrel, at the end, glowed blue before it started to spit fire at the drop ship. He waved Tali over, and provided covering fire as she ran towards him. Once she slid into cover, he stopped firing and allowed his weapon to cool down.
"Good job Tals!" He beamed with joy, as her head tilted in a smile. That is, before she sneezed.
"Damn it! Ancestors be damned cold! Thanks for the cover Shepard..."
He nodded and pointed to the second closest turret, "We need that one hacked as well, are you ready to go?"
He watched as she pulled up her Omni-tool and nodded, "Good to go Shepard."
He placed his rifle against his shoulder, before jumping to his feet, firing at the Geth hiding behind cover.
Garrus watched through the scope of his rifle as Shepard provided covering fire for Tali. As she ran towards the second turret, he turned his rifle to the follow her, before noticing a Geth crouched by it. Lining up a headshot, he smiled as he pulled the trigger and the Geth's head shattered into pieces.
Tali raced to the Turret. Thanks to the combined covering fire of both Shepard and Garrus, she made it to the turret with very little fire taken. She pulled up her Omni-tool and started a hacking program.
Her fingers raced across the display above her wrist, her mind frantically at work as she matched up the text lines that would allow her access. The screen flashed red as the hacking program was detected by the turrets computer.
"Bosh'tet!" She said, as she tried the program again. The screen flashed green.
Shepard watched as the second turret started to fire on the Geth drop ship. He glanced around the area to see all his team behind cover. A bright light shone above him, before he heard a loud bang and, as his helmet adjusted the tint on his visor, he saw the Geth drop ship break up into hundreds of pieces and float away in all directions.
He rose from his cover before scanning the area. Where the Geth had been positioned, was an open hatch. Ignoring it for a moment, he continued to look around, before Garrus' voice distracted him.
"Shepard! Looks like we've reached the Council chambers."
Shepard nodded and walked to the hatch, "Let's end this."
They all jumped through the hatch one by one, leaving the destruction behind, in their wake.
Saren:
Saren stood in the council chamber.
He was standing at the end of the platform that all Spectres or Ambassadors stood, as the Council overlooked them.
A small garden was below him, with a small stream running through it.
Above him was a huge window that would normally offer a view of the Serpent Nebula, but today, today the view was blocked by a Citadel arm. If he looked carefully enough, he could just make out the buildings on the arm.
He could plainly see the fires that raged in the buildings.
He ignored all that today, as his blue eyes focused on the screen in front of him. A sharp pain spiked in his mind and he grunted under the strain.
"What is taking so long?"
The voice was full of hatred and malice, and sent shivers down his spine. Before he could answer, he felt his body starting to move on its own.
"No ... S-Stop this! ... Stop this now!"
He screamed within his mind. The pain got worse, simply muting out his cry, and he continued to watch helplessly as his body moved on its own.
A loud crashing sound came from behind him, and he glanced over his shoulder, watching as four figures jumped from the roof to land on the floor.
He waved his hand and four Geth soldiers unfolded from the bottom of the stairs.
"Get them! Leave none alive!"
He watched them as they pulled their weapons off their backs, before running down the stairs to meet the intruders.
Shepard:
The first thing he heard was a warning alarm beeping every few seconds. Then, he could see from his crouched position four Geth troopers running towards him. He glowed purple, before sprinting into a run. From his position, meeting the Geth head on, his shields flared from the bullets impacting on them.
As he ran, he pulled his knife from the sheath on his leg, before holding it in a vice-like grip. Once he met the Geth soldiers, he ducked. A brutal attack by the first Geth soldier had aimed to smash him with its rifle.
Using his biotic's, he created a flare-like shield around his left hand, his fist impacting on the Geth soldier's head, simply sending it headless and flying back.
He spun on his heel and slid the metal blade between the second Geth's head, cutting the tubes there, spraying white fluid on his armour. Pain flared in his left shoulder and he looked down to see where a bullet had cut through his armour, and into his flesh.
He covered the small distance between him and the Geth that shot him, before he gripped the rifle in its arms. Using both his biotic's and his natural strength, he ripped the rifle away and kicked the Geth square in the chest.
Two shotgun blasts hit the last two Geth. He dropped to his knees and ripped his helmet off; blood dripped from his nose and the world spun. Reaching onto his belt he pulled off a silver pouch. He ripped into the pouch, and emptied the purple liquid into his mouth.
"Keelah! A-Are you okay?!"
He swallowed the liquid and looked up to see Tali, who had her hands at the side of Shepard's head, her eyes bristling with pain and worry.
"Yeah... I'm fine... Just not used to using my biotic's for this long is all."
"You're hurt."
He couldn't help but smile at the worry shown, and he placed his right hand on top of her left, "It's fine. Come on! Saren's ahead."
He watched her nod, before he looked ahead. They walked through the ruined gardens, before reaching the stairs leading up to the Council's podium.
As he walked up the stairs, he saw Saren jump through the orange display before falling out of view.
An object clattered to the floor.
In that split second, Shepard acted on pure instinct.
"Move!" Shepard roared, as he shoved Tali first, before diving himself to the left, just before the object exploded.
He pressed his back against the wall, and scooted closer to the stairs.
"You're finally here Shepard! I was afraid you wouldn't make it..."
He watched as Saren stood on a Geth hover-board, floating between the platform and the Council podium.
"Sorry to disappoint!" He shouted, as he kept behind cover, keeping low as he could.
"You have lost! You know that, don't you? In a few minutes, Sovereign will have full control of all the Citadel's systems! The relay will open, and the Reapers will return!"
"I've still got a few tricks up my sleeve!" Shepard shouted from his cover.
"You survived our encounter on Virmire, but I have changed since then. I have been improved. Sovereign has made me even stronger! I am a vision of the future Shepard! The evolution of all organic life! This, This is our destiny!"
Shepard watched as Saren neared the end of his speech. Saren spread his arms out wide. Taking a chance, Shepard rolled out of cover and stood to his feet, his rifle held in his hands loosely
"You can still end this if you got the guts!" He shouted, and looked down to see Saren's right hand holding a pistol. He watched as Saren followed his gaze.
"Maybe... Maybe you're right..." Saren murmured.
"Thank you... Thank you commander..."
Saren's eyes sparkled with what appeared to be hope, before the barrel of his pistol was wedged tightly underneath his chin.
"You have to stop them commander... You have to save us."
It was then, that Saren Arterius, the scourge of the Galaxy, simply became a blue smear upon the white walls of the Council's chamber.
His lifeless corpse tumbled onto the glass panes of the garden's below, shattering as he did so.
The squad could do nothing. They could say nothing.
Wordlessly, Shepard instructed Wrex to make sure Saren was actually dead.
It was then, all of a sudden, a voice filled the area.
The voice was broken and filled with static.
Another voice Shepard instantly recognized, sounded out over the speakers.
"Normandy to the Citadel, Normandy to the Citadel. Is that you commander?"
He smiled as he activated his armours comm unit and hooked it up to the Citadel's, "It's me Joker! Who were you expecting? Santa Claus?" He chuckled slightly at his own joke, but stopped when he saw Tali and Garrus hadn't understood the joke.
"You never know commander Smart Ass! Anyway, I'm sitting here with the Fifth fleet. Open the relays and we can help the Council on the Destiny Ascension!"
At this point, Tali stepped to the side of him, and placed her hand on his elbow.
"Are you sure Shepard? A lot of human lives will be lost..."
Garrus gave his own contribution as well, "I agree commander."
Shepard looked from Tali to Garrus. He went to speak, but Jokers voice sounded again.
"What do you want us to do commander?! Come in now, and save the Council, or hold off until the Citadel arms are open?! It's your call!"
Suddenly Shepard felt a heavy burden settle on his shoulders.
Save the council, or leave the council to their fate.
He suddenly felt tired, "God... Why do I have to decide this?" He whispered to himself. Once he had steeled himself, he went to speak.
big thank you to ConradVernerN7 for beta reading this chapter for me you are a legend, and if I haven't said it often enough read his story war in the Galaxy its a truly epic story. anyway please review and let me know what you think.