Garrus grunted in pain as the round pierced his shields and then when another round hit his leg, and blood began to flow down it. He tried to apply medigel, but another round pierced his helmet's shields, and he fell to the ground, feeling his consciousness begin to fade. He blearily looked around himself, and saw the rest of the ground team lying on the ground in a similar state as him. Then, just as his vision completely faded away, he saw a single bright beam of white crash through the ceiling.
Then, when it connected with the ground a shockwave flew out from it, vaporizing the Collectors when it connected with them.
-=0=-
Sarah glanced around, and said, "Dammit, Garrus. Why didn't you just lock the door. Then you guys wouldn't be in such bad shape." before slamming a fist into the ground. A second shockwave spread out from the point of contact, and a moment later the fallen Normandy crew members stood back up.
Garrus said, "Shepard? How the hell did you get here?"
"Long story, Garrus. How'd you get my crew into this mess? You were careful to have everything ready, right?"
"I was." he replied, "Everything and everyone were prepared for the mission. We just needed a few more people."
"Then good thing we showed up." Sarah replied.
"We?" Tali asked.
Sarah glanced behind her back, shook her head, and muttered, "Where is that blasted idiot?"
"Who?" Ashley asked.
"You'll see if he ever fucking shows up." Sarah replied.
"Why so elusive, Shepard?"
"Because Bryce made me promise not to give any spoilers."
"Who the fuck is Bryce?" Jack asked.
"Language, Jackie, language." Sarah said with a mischievous grin.
"Don't fucking call me Jackie, Shepard."
"How about Jennie?"
"Jennie?" Kasumi asked.
"Our dear friend the Shadow Broker was able to learn that Jack's name before Cerberus kidnapped her was Jennifer... something. She never did find out the last name. Damn shame." Sarah said, glancing around. "He's really late. This is goddamn inconvenient."
"For whom are you waiting, Shepard-Commander?" Legion asked.
"Not permitted to say, Legion." Sarah replied, as a second beam of light crashed into the ground, smoke rising from the point of contact. "Oh, looks like he finally showed."
Kaidan walked out of the smoke, and said, "Sorry about the delay, Commander. The transfer was delayed by Bryce. He insisted that I bring this stupid fucking sword. I mean, who uses a sword these days?"
"Just accept that he gave you another tool to kill things with." Sarah said, drawing her own blade. "And, it is a more elegant weapon from a more civilised time."
"Fuck that shit." Jack said, "Let's kick some ass. Who's going with you to fight the reaper and blow this base to kingdom fucking come?"
"I'm going in solo. The odds are that if anyone accompanies me that they'll be in danger of getting in a situation like the one Miri is in."
"What are you talking about, Shepard?" Jacob asked.
"There is an individual who is like Kaidan and I, but working with the reapers. He would capture any one of you in order for a greater number of bargaining chips in order to achieve his victory."
"Speaking of Kaidan," Ashley said, "how the hell are you alive?"
"Same way Shepard's dad is." he replied, "Can't really tell you the details."
"Why didn't you tell anyone?"
"Our very existence is classified. Not even the Council knows." Sarah added. "Alenko, keep Halthas away from them."
"Will do, Shepard." He replied.
"We can handle ourselves, Shepard." Ashley growled.
"Not against Halthas." Sarah said, walking down the pathway. "EDI! Get me to the center of the station. I've got a baby reaper to kill."
"Understood, Commander." the AI replied.
Sarah looked at her crew and said, "Before I go, just know that I'm damn proud to have served with each and every one of you. Except you, Kaidan. Not very proud about that because you kept trying to get with me despite the five times I told you I'm a lesbian."
He blushed, and said, "Yeah, sorry about that. I thought you were joking."
"I came to a bar with another woman and spent the entire night making out with her. You still kept trying."
"Yeah, I probably should have realized by then that you weren't just playing hard to get."
"You weren't very bright in life, Kaidan." Sarah said.
"This is really fucking interesting, Shepard. But, don't we have work to do?" Jack asked.
"Thank you for getting me back on topic, Jack." Sarah replied, nodding at the convict. "As I was saying before I got distracted. I'm damn proud to have served with you. You've done the impossible. The very fact that we are standing on this station is a testament to the fact that if you try to attack this galaxy we will find a way to get to you, and kill you. I'm damn proud of you all, for standing up against the enemy even when it looked like you were all going to die. I'm sorry that I wasn't around to help with this mission earlier, but I had some stuff that I had to do."
"What was it?"
"I cannot go into details, but it was necessary in order to handle the enemy threat. Know that if any of you fall here, your sacrifice will not be in vain. It's been an honor to know you all. You are all like a second family to me. If any of you, even Kaidan, don't make it out, I'll feel it like a physical wound. So, go out and kick these Collectors back into the hell that spawned them. You're the best in the galaxy, show these mother fuckers why." Sarah finished, turning around and walking onto the platform behind her.
-=0=-
Oriana glanced at the file that she had just received from an operative. It was a recording of a security feed. It showed Miranda tied to a pillar, arguing with a tall man. Oriana contacted the Operative, and said, "Operative, do you know where the feed you just sent me came from?"
"No. Do you want me to track it back to the location of the camera, Shadow Broker?"
"Yes."
"May I ask why?"
"I have my reasons. You need to learn that my reasons are my own, and not question them."
"Understood, Shadow Broker. I will find the location of the camera."
"Good." Oriana said, silently thanking the paranoia of the previous Shadow Broker enabling her to take his position without any hiccups.
-=0=-
Sarah stepped into the center of the human reaper chamber, and saw Halthas sitting on the monstrosity's shoulder. He said, "I see you have finished your ascension and training. That is good. Synthesis will be even more potent with you being both fully alive and fully Lucis Entia."
"Do you really think I'll help you and your Leviathan friends? Especially now that I'm in on your secret? Now that I know what the Catalyst is? Now that I know what synthesis would do to everyone?"
"Ah yes, that. It will be glorious. An end to all the conflict. It is the way to peace, Shepard. It will be the end of all conflict. All life will live in perfect harmony."
"It won't be life, Halthas." Sarah replied, "Conflict is simply a fact of life. Part of being alive is having free will. And, with free will that means that someone's decision will contradict that of another. Which will lead to conflict. Part of being alive is dealing with that conflict."
"Your ideals are so naïve, Commander. Why can life not be something better?"
"Because, part of life is freedom, and your ideal of a better form of life does not have anything to do with it. So, it can go and fuck itself."
"I see that you are as foolish as your 'brothers and sisters'. It is a shame that I will have to use Lawson to force your hand towards synthesis."
"You really think I'll let you keep her?" Sarah asked. "I'm going to kill you, and I will then send your corpse flying into dark space, never to be found again."
"Not even the king could defeat me. And, you are not the first hybrid to try. They are all dead. And I am still here."
"I know." Sarah replied, "But you know what's different about me from the others? I am a survivor, and I am a killer. They weren't."
"Oh, you are so unwise. I offer you the future, and you challenge me to a battle. I will enjoy seeing where your loyalties lie when the woman you love's life is on the line." Halthas replied, before vanishing.
Sarah shook her head, and then she looked at the human reaper. She pulled out her Typhoon, and fired on all four of the tubes feeding into the creature.
-=0=-
Kaidan took cover beside Ashley, who said, "So, LT, what brings you back?"
"I was told by my new boss to come with Shepard. Help her with Plan B if Plan A doesn't work."
"What's Plan B?"
"Can't tell you." He replied, destroying a few Collectors with a wall of fire. "The boss wouldn't be happy. Might kill me again."
"Can you tell me what Plan A is?"
"Go rescue Miranda, kill the reapers." Kaidan replied, ducking beneath a Collector Captain's attack, and then countering by firing three rounds from his shotgun into the alien. It flew backwards, while Zaeed fired a couple of rockets into a Praetorian. The Collector Captain hit the Praetorian, and knocked it slightly to the side, which enabled Legion to jump from the ledge it was onto the creature. It fired a single round from its Widow into the monstrosity's vulnerable head.
The thing collapsed to the ground, and Legion hopped back onto the ledge it was taking cover on.
-=0=-
Sarah dodged the strike of the human Reaper, and fired a single round from her M920 Cain into its eye. The explosion sent the proto-Reaper falling backwards, but it managed to grab a platform, and pull itself back up. The N7 just chuckled, before sprinting at the machine, putting the Cain on her back as she ran towards it.
She reached behind her back, pressing a small button on her new armor's back, and a hidden blade was sent flying out. She grabbed it by the hilt, and jumped onto the Reaper's head. She stabbed the blade into the creature's head, and pressed a button on the hilt.
The weapon began to glow bright red, while Sarah jumped off the head, while turning around to fire on three Collector Captains with a pistol and an smg. The rounds pierced the alien's barriers, and detonated inside of their skulls, destroying their heads.
Sarah landed on the platform, as three lines of bright red spread across the blade, and when they met at the tip, the weapon exploded, vaporizing the Reaper. She chuckled, and said, "Crew this is Shepard. The target has been eliminated and the station will detonate in fifteen minutes. Get back to the ship, we've got work to do."
-=0=-
Garrus rolled away from a charging abomination, he pointed his Vindicator rifle at the creature without looking, and pulled the trigger. The three rounds hit it in the head, and it exploded behind Garrus, as Shepard's voice came in through his comms. He hit his own comm unit, and said, "Got it, Shepard. We'll be back at the Normandy in ten." while motioning for the others to fall back.
"Good." she replied. "I'll meet you there."
"Will do, Commander." He said, firing on a pair of Collector Troopers.
-=0=-
Udina sat down in his office, opened up his terminal, and was about to check on the status of Miranda when someone knocked on the door, and said, "Donnel Udina, this is Captain Bailey with C-Sec. We're here to take you in. Step out of your office with your hands in the air."
"You have to be joking." Udina replied.
"We aren't, Udina. Get out here right now. Orders of the Citadel Council."
Udina shook his head, and muttered, "Dammit." before hitting a button underneath his desk. A moment later it slid away from him, and revealed a secret passage. He ducked into it, hitting the button under his desk again to hide the passage. As he ran along the path, he thought, 'Why are they coming after me? I haven't done anything illegal that could be traced back to me.'
When he stepped out the other end of the tunnel, he was greeted by Anderson and three C-Sec agents. Anderson said, "We were aware of your escape route, Udina."
"You have no reason to arrest me, Anderson." the politician replied, "Why are you doing this? I have done nothing illegal?"
"Since when is arranging a kidnapping not illegal?" Anderson asked.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Udina said, as he began to sweat.
"We know that you're the one who arranged the abduction of one of Shepard's crew. A Miranda Lawson."
"I have never even heard of this Lawson, why would I have her abducted? And how, Anderson?"
"That's what you're going to tell us. Put him in cuffs and take him to his cell."
"You can't do this! I have rights."
"They've been revoked on account of high treason. If you're smart you'll talk before Shepard shows up to interrogate you."
"What! You can't do that! If she even thinks that I'm behind the abduction of one of her crew she'll torture me."
"Which is why it would be smart for you to talk before she gets here."
-=0=-
Sarah dove away from the attack of a Praetorian, and sent a chunk of the ceiling falling on it. Sarah chuckled as it weakly tried to strike her, before dying. She continued to run, Thane and Tali then ran up, and said, "Shepard!"
"What is it?" she asked as she fired a few rounds at some Collectors.
"There's a pair of Collectors armed with anti-ship missiles. They're in some kind of protective barrier, so we couldn't slow them down. They'll be at the Normandy in seventy-five seconds." Tali said, panting for breath.
Sarah nodded, and said, "Get to the ship. I'll take care of them when they arrive, if we're not gone by then."
"Got it." Tali said, "It's good to have you back, Shepard."
"It's good to be back." Sarah replied, while they continued running towards the Normandy.
-=0=-
Udina said, "I had nothing to do with the abduction of Lawson! I don't know why you think I did."
"Cut the shit." John said as he stepped into the room. "We know that you were 'hired' by the Catalyst to arrange the abduction of Ms. Lawson in exchange for control of Citadel space."
"You're dead." Udina said, glaring at John.
"Not exactly." John said, slamming Udina's head into the table in front of him.
Udina rubbed his face, and said, "What makes you so sure that I was involved?"
"We saw your conversation with the Catalyst." John said, "You agreed to arrange Miranda's abduction."
"Why do you even care, John? She's Cerberus."
"Because, your taking her messed with my daughter, Udina." John growled. "And, if you mess with my family, I will make you pay."
"What do you want? If you're so omniscient, surely you know where she is."
"We did until a few days ago. Then, the ship you had her on disappeared. Where did it go?"
"First tell me how you know about the Catalyst!"
"The group I am associated with have known about the Catalsyt since the inception of the Reapers." John said, "Now tell me where the ship is."
"It went through the Mu Relay. Not to Ilos."
"Keltharan." John said.
"Keltharan?" Anderson asked.
"It is a world only accessible through the Mu Relay. It has not been colonized by any species since the time before the Leviathans created the Catalyst and began the cycles of destruction."
"Why?"
"It is an important place to my kind." John said, "We have done what we can to make colonization too difficult to be profitable. And, if all else fails, we kill those who attempt it. We make it appear as if the world itself has a consciousness, to reduce suspicion."
"Then why suddenly showing yourselves?"
"Because one of us who turned against our beliefs has played his hand by taking Lawson. We have to be more directly involved to prevent his victory." John said, slamming Udina against the wall. "I need to go and speak with Sarah. Inform her that we have found Miranda's new location."
"Why can't you detect Miranda on a sacred world for your kind?"
"There is a single location on it that is hidden from our Far Sight. A place that the traitor has secured for his own use. It is not surprising that he would have moved Miranda to a place where observation is impossible. To make rescuing her more difficult. To enter his base will take days of preparation. How long until your Crucible device is ready?"
"About a weak and a half." Anderson said, "Why?"
"I know what the enemy's plan is. Show me the design schematics for the Crucible device. We have to be one step ahead of him if we are going to win this war."
"This way." Anderson said.
-=0=-
Sarah made the ground beneath the pair of Collector troopers turn to lava, while she jumped into the Normandy. As the outer airlock door closed behind her, she said, "Set course for the Citadel, Joker. I need to have a little 'chat' with Udina."
"What about?" Tali asked.
"Sonofabitch is working with the Reapers. He's the one who set up Miri's kidnapping."
"Why would Udina do that? I mean, the guy's always been an asshole, but that seems a bit extreme. I mean, working for the Reapers? I mean, his Cerberus thing was majorly uncool, but it isn't like he's actively working with the group which is just trying to kill us."
"The Catalyst must have contacted him and made him an offer he wouldn't resist." Sarah said, "But, that's beside the point. We need to get there so we can rescue Miri."
"Got it." he said, "ETA twenty-hours."
"Too long, Joker. Make it quicker." Sarah replied.
"That's with me pushing the Normandy as hard as is possible. I don't want to destroy her."
"Got it." Sarah replied, "Make so that we're there ASAP." before walking down towards the CIC. Kelly was standing at her station, and said, "It's good to see you again, Shepard. Thanks to your warning, the Collectors didn't take any of us."
"Good." The Commander replied. "How are my fish holding up?"
"They're fine, Shepard."
"Good. Thanks for taking care of them, Kelly."
"It's not a problem, Commander. How are you holding up. I know you and Miranda are very close."
"Don't worry about me," Sarah replied, "the people who took her from me are the ones who are going to need help. Though it won't matter when all that's left of them are a few red stains."
"You know, your eyes don't light up red anymore when you get that angry, Shepard." Kelly said, "Have you learned how to control the implants so that it doesn't happen?"
"You could say that." she replied. "Where's LT Alenko?"
"He has taken up residence on deck five, Commander."
"Good." Sarah replied. "EDI! Inform Kaidan that he should get some sleep while he can. We're going to be moving out in twenty hours."
"Done." The AI replied a moment later.
"Good job. Now I'm going to go get some sleep. Wake me when we arrive on the Citadel, if I haven't already."
"Understood, Shepard." the AI replied.
-=0=-
John examined the design, then for a few moments began altering it. "There. Now there is a system to make so that when Halthas relocates Miranda to the finished Crucible attached to the Citadel that these turrets are set up. Sarah will be able to use them to manipulate the space-time distortion to give us a third try at winning this fight."
Anderson nodded, and said, "I'll forward the modified schematics to the engineers."
"Good. We need to be ready to beat Halthas's endgame. He cannot win." John said, "Now I must go speak to Sarah. Explain the situation to her."
"Got it. Also, John, you should probably go talk to Hannah."
John laughed, and said, "I will, when the time is right. This is not that time."
"You don't want to wait too long. That woman still has a fiery temper."
"I know how to handle Hannah." John said, vanishing.
-=0=-
The Catalyst said, "The security against them cannot be repaired. They have used a device which eradicated them so far in the past that degradation over time has made the damage even worse. The parts required to fix it simply do not exist any more."
The Leviathan looked at the Catalyst, and said, "That is... unfortunate. The Crucible device will be ready soon, correct?"
"Yes, but with Shepard's focus, she will not delay the Arrival." The Catalyst said, "It may be advisable to have them slow down for a few days so that their arrival will be at a time that they are affected by synthesis without terminating an unnecessary number of the natives. After all, tribute does not flow from the dead."
"Indeed." A Leviathan said, "You may slow them, Catalyst."
"Thank you, Master." it replied. "They will arrive in the Bahak system an hour after the Crucible is finished and attached to the Citadel. This way there will be minimal casualties before the synthesis occurs."
"Good. What of Udina?"
"Shepard's father led to his arrest. He has revealed Lawson's location to them."
"That is most problematic. Have him slain." The Leviathan said, as it disappeared.
"Very well... Master." the Catalyst replied, practically spitting out the last word.
-=0=-
Sarah lied down on her bed, when John stepped in, and said, "We know where Miranda is. But, it is in a location that to make acces possible will take until the Crucible is ready."
"Great." Sarah growled. "Any good news?"
"Plan B is ready. If you cannot rescue Ms. Lawson before she is taken to the Crucible, then we will counter Halthas's plan."
"Good. We can't let that fucker get away with what he's done. But, what will happen to Kaidan if that does happen?"
"The Lucis Entia that he is now will still remain. But, his powers will go dormant. It is a... complication with returning to normal life after becoming fully Lucis Entia."
"What about what happened with Ash when she was one?"
"That was because she had no real presence in this realm. The existence of two versions of her essence destroyed the Lucis Entia version."
"I guess that makes sense. Do you know how Miri's doing?"
"She will be fine. She is strong."
"Can't you give more details than that, dad?"
"I have no more details." he replied.
"Halthas has some kind of block that keeps you out?"
"Indeed."
"That's fantastic. And, you need time to penetrate this block? That's why I have to wait to rescue her?"
"Correct. I am sorry, Sarah. I wish it did not have to be like this."
"I know Dad. It's just I miss having her around. Being able to hold her. Being able to talk to her. It may have been less than two weeks since she was taken, but it feels like a lifetime."
John simply nodded, and said, "You will have her back soon enough, Sarah. Halthas will not win."
"Good. I want to make that fucker pay."
"And you will. If you face him on Keltharan, then it is there he will pay for his actions. If it is later, then it will be later."
"Who is Halthas, Dad? Who was he before he became what he is now?"
John looked up, and said, "I do not know. Only three entities alive know that."
"Who?"
"The King, Bryce, and Halthas himself."
"Great. So, know thy enemy isn't really an option here, is it?"
"You can ask Bryce, the next time you meet. But, he will probably not tell you."
"I tend to be very persuasive." Sarah replied.
"As do I. But, he has not answered my inquiries into Halthas."
"Well that's great." Sarah muttered, "What are the odds of him spitting out the answers?"
"You have a three percent chance of him telling you." John said, "But, this is too business. I'm your father, not your superior officer. How have you been, Sarah?"
The Commander laughed, and said, "Don't act like you don't know, Dad."
"I'm just making small talk. You could try to respond normally."
"I don't think I can do normal. I've never really been good at it."
"It just takes some practice. Consider this a good chance for after you retire with Miranda. And you don't have saving the galaxy to focus on."
"Alright. I've been busy. Saved the galaxy from Saran, died, fell in love with the woman who resurrected me. Saw her fall to her death because I was just too slow, and then had to deal with an entire reaper invasion. Then, went back in time and am now going through it again."
John nodded, and said, "That's a very good synopsis of what you've been doing. If I ever need someone to write a short description of a story, I'll be sure to call you."
"Thanks, Dad." Sarah said, a small smile forming on her lips. "But yeah. Life's been rough. First lost you, Jessica, and Cynthia, then there was that whole Akuze disaster. Those hurt a hell of a lot. Then I had to sacrifice Ashley, one of my closest friends, on Virmire. I swear I cried myself to sleep every night for a week after that. Then, there was my death. Funny thing is, if you asked me now, I would say that dying is the best thing that ever happened to me, because it's what introduced me to Miranda. I honestly can't think of a life where I'd never met her. When she died the first time, all the color seemed to just drain from the world. I just couldn't feel happy. It was like what happened when I lost you, only a hundred thousand times worse. Every single day I just wanted to kill myself to be with her. For a while I tried to move on, but I couldn't."
"When you find your soul mate, and they die, you never really recover." John said, wrapping an arm around his daughter. "But don't worry, Sarah. You won't lose her again. We'll save her. I promise."
"Thanks, Dad." Sarah said, smiling at her father as she returned the hug. "Does it make me a horrible person that I'm slightly grateful to her father for what he did? Because if he hadn't I wouldn't have Miri?"
John laughed, and said, "No. Because you aren't grateful to him for what he did to Miranda. You're grateful to him for bringing Miranda into this galaxy."
Sarah nodded, and said, "I know that's a strange thing to be hung up on. I kill people on a daily basis, and a small technicality like that is what bugs me."
"In your defense, you only kill bad people." John said, "It isn't like you walk into a crowded building and just start unloading your guns."
"Yeah. That would definitely be bad. So, what is with Bryce, anyways? I mean, I know he's one of the best Lucis Entia, but beyond that, I know nothing about him."
"Bryce is a man of secrets." John said, "Even I know almost nothing of him. I do know that he and his family originate from a galaxy such an enormous distance from ours that the rules are different. And, that he has a son and daughter still alive there. The daughter is much like you from what Bryce has said."
"Madly in love with someone most people would call a bitch?"
John nodded and said, "And fighting against a threat to the entirety of humanity."
"How are humans in a far away galaxy?"
"No one knows for sure. Though there are many theories."
"Such as?"
"That evolutionary conditions were similar to those on earth or more popular, that the data for all life preceded the Big Bang, and was spread to the farthest galaxies by it."
"Great." Sarah muttered. "Nothing can be simple, can it?"
"Where's the fun in simplicity?"
"There are some really simple games that are fun." Sarah said.
"Where's the fun in a simple life?"
"It isn't so confusing as to give people headaches."
John nodded, and said, "True. It doesn't typically do that."
-=0=-
Miranda sighed, and said, "Why am I always being guarded if I can't even move? Can't you just put me in a cell like this and leave me alone?"
"Have to make sure you're still in good condition for when the negotiations begin. At least that's what the boss told us." her guard, a short, fat woman said.
"Figures." Miranda sighed, "And how long is it until that happens?"
"Dunno. I'm not told the details. I'm just told to guard those who are brought here."
"You aren't very bright, are you?"
"I'm smart enough!" the woman replied, "I'm just not paid to know the details. I'm paid to be a guard! You don't want to get beaten up again do you, Lawson?"
"That would definitely prevent my being in good condition in time for the negotiations." Miranda replied.
"Dammit, you're right." the guard muttered, "How about I cut you a deal? You keep your mouth closed, and I'll try to get you transferred to a cell. Maybe even make it one that just uses a biotic restraining aura so you can stretch your limbs a bit."
"Sounds good." Miranda replied, leaning back against the pillar.
"Great. I'll talk to the guy who's in charge of this ship once my shift's over." the fat woman said, stuffing some goo that Miranda barely registered as food into her mouth.
The Operative sighed, and thought, 'I hope you're going to show up soon, Sarah. I don't know how much longer I can deal with these people. And God do I need a massage to get rid of all these knots from being stuck like this for so bloody long.' she sighed again as the thought, 'I miss being able to just sit with you and talk. Why did they have to take me from you?'
-=0=-
A/N: Thanks for reading the latest chapter. Hope you enjoyed it. And, if you did, drop a review to let me know. Also favorite/follow if you haven't already. Oh, and next chapter will be pretty big. Just teasing it now. It's gonna have some cool shit happen in it. Cooler than Shepard blowing up a reaper while shooting a few collectors and jumping off of said reaper's head.
Also, if no one reviews this chapter, I will get discouraged(as I'm already having some difficulty writing this thing due to this section not being a very enjoyable one for me to write. I want Miri and Shep to be back together already.) and probably put this back on hiatus. So, Review. Or. Else.