Chapter 25

"I don't like this, kid." Wrex rumbled as they entered what seemed to be a mixture of a research lab and office. It was far too easy to break into the room than one would have expected. With only an office secretary between them and Saren's research it felt too easy. Shepard knew they had the whole facility up in arms, why was this left unguarded?

Shepard, Tali and Liara all looked around as well. The room itself was large, and almost void of anything aside from a few terminals and a stair well leading down. "I don't either. If this really is Saren's office it was too easy." Tali agreed. Shepard frowned as she looked down the stairway, spotting what almost felt like the grand prize. But why would Saren leave it here? Abandon it with no guard, and intact?

"It feels like a trap. But we have no choice but to take the bait." Shepard said as she gestured down to the prothean beacon below them. They needed that information on the beacon, she knew that. But was it really what it looked like? She looked to Liara who seemed just as surprised as Shepard, but the human could see the excitement in Liara's eyes as well.

Shepard began to lead the group down the stairs, Liara looking like she could barely contain herself. While Shepard would have normally found the image endearing, even amusing, she wasn't so sure this was what they had hoped it was. "I cannot believe he found another beacon!" Liara said, her surprise and excitement in her voice. Shepard gave a very slight smile but looked to Tali.

"See if you can run any scans... Figure out if it's booby-trapped or something weird." Shepard said as Tali nodded, calling up her omni-tool. Shepard then turned to Liara as she shipped her assault rifle onto the back of her armor. Liara looked back at her with a hint of confusion.

Shepard then looked to Wrex, motioning for him to go guard the door before returning her attention to the asari. "I know we need the information on this beacon to figure out what your visions are but... I don't think it's a good idea for you to interact with this thing." Shepard said both firmly, yet as kindly as she could. The irritated look she got from Liara was plain as day. Under any other circumstance Shepard may have cracked a joke but this was a little too serious for that.

Liara folded her arms over her chest, the agitated stance almost a delcaration. "We need this information, Nicole." the prothean expert said matter of factly. Shepard held up a hand as if to halt any further protests or words of annoyance. The human then softened her expression as best she could reaching out before resting both hands on Liara's shoulders, her touch almost too light to feel.

Shepard shook her head. "This isn't about my fears, Li. I can swallow my pride about that stuff, but the last time you touched a beacon it nearly killed you." Shepard said calmly. "There's a fine line between me being over protective and me knowingly letting you get yourself killed." Shepard insisted. Liara looked down as she contemplated what Shepard had said.

Of course Nicole was right. Chakwas had told Liara how bad it was shortly after the Eden Prime incident. Warned her not to go interacting with any other beacon that the next time it was highly likely it would kill her. Finally Liara looked backed to Shepard. "Then what would you suggest?" Liara questioned, letting her arms go back to her sides.

Shepard sighed as she released Liara's shoulders looking at Tali. The young quarian continued to run her scans on her omni-tool as Shepard tried to muster the courage to say exactly what she thought. "If you interact with the thing it'll likely kill you. Me, on the other hand...?" Shepard said as she looked back at Liara with a sheepish look. Liara frowned. "I don't know how it'll react with me, but if this works... You can do a meld, right? To figure out what the beacon puts into my head?" Shepard went on, sounding a little more nervous than she had meant to.

Liara fell silent as she thought on this. It was true she could initiate a meld with Shepard solely for the exchange of information. But she worried herself about what the implications would be for Nicole to touch the beacon. "Yes, we could do a meld to trade information about the beacon." Liara said, almost sounding defeated. Of course someone else would have to do this, and who would Shepard let do it? Liara knew the answer to that, Shepard did not like putting people at risk, so she would take the risk onto herself.

Shepard nodded and turned on her heel, approaching Tali. The quarian kept a healthy distance from the beacon. Not that the human blamed her. "Anything?" Shepard asked.

Tali shook her head and shrugged, deactivating her omni-tool. "I can't see anything suggesting a trap." Tali said. Shepard nodded as she looked to the beacon, feeling a little intimidated by the task before her. She would be lying if she said she wasn't having second thoughts.

Shepard nodded as she looked over her shoulder at Liara, who seemed just as nervous about this as Shepard was. Shepard sighed as she looked back at the beacon. "If this goes sideways call for a med-evac." Shepard said, sounding less than enthused. But she was not about to risk Liara's life, or anyone else's for that matter.

Shepard slowly stepped toward the beacon as it glowed that eerie green color, almost sensing her approach. Shepard then felt a firm tug, as if the ancient device had a will of its own, pulling her closer yet. Finally it took proper hold of Shepard as she gritted her teeth, feeling herself being lifted off the floor, the world around her dimming before she squeezed her eyes shut.

The first thing Shepard noticed was something invading her mind. Her natural defenses kicked in as she tried to throw up any mental barrier she was able, but ultimately she was failing. The second thing she noticed was a growing pressure in her head. As if the more she tried to resist, the more anxious she felt, the more it pressed against her mind. Then she was overwhelmed by a searing pain, starting from her head and shooting down through the rest of her body. If she could describe it, it almost felt like she was being set on fire as her nerve endings lit up.

Her eyes were tightly squeezed shut, her teeth gritting, but she succumbed as she felt her mouth open, but couldn't hear herself scream in pain as her mind's eye was suddenly flooded by foreign images. She could hear loud sounds of metal scraping against metal, the distant screams of agony and fear bombarded her ears. She couldn't make sense of the quickly flashing images that filled her mind, her fists clenching tightly as she knew she still had to be yelling out in pain, her nervous system overwhelmed.

It felt like it took hours, but really it only took mere seconds and suddenly her body felt relief as the beacon released it's hold on her. She fell hard onto her feet, knees buckling as she fell forward, barely catching herself on hands and knees. Her breathing came in heavy pants, her mind still flashing echos of what had just happened, her limbs shaking from the pain she had just felt.

She could barely hear her team mates shouting her name as she tried to recollect herself, her fingers digging into the cold metal floor below her. "Goddess, Nicole, can you hear me?" Liara's voice seemed so distant yet so close as she could feel hands on her shoulders, tugging her back onto her knees.

She could hear Tali say something about her vitals, barely noticing the glow of the omni-tool in front of her. Suddenly Nicole's stomach felt queasy as she bit back the sudden urge to vomit. Finally she shook her head slowly, a residual headache throbbed inside her skull. "I'm fine... I think." Shepard said as she fell back onto her rear, cupping her head in her hands, trying to fight to stay awake and not simply pass out right then and there.

She could almost sense Liara circling in front of her, hands on her cheeks, lifting her head up. Liara then held up two fingers, urging Shepard to follow her movements. Shepard responded, if only sluggishly. "You are pale, are you feeling alright?" Liara questioned as she checked Shepard's pupils. Shepard hummed quietly as Tali was on the comms, informing the Normandy what had just happened.

Shepard tried to give Liara a lopsided smirk. "I feel fine with you in sight." Shepard tried to joke. While Liara's cheeks flushed, her lips formed a frown. She did not find this the time for Shepard's attempts at humor or flirtation to cover what was happening. Shepard couldn't help but snort. "I'm fine, really... We gotta move.." Shepard said as she pushed herself to her feet with Liara's help.

"Shepard." Wrex called out as the three woman below looked up, seeing a holographic image sitting in front of a console on the platform. Shepard sighed as she wondered what this could possibly mean. She was just so tired now, all she wanted to do was curl up in bed and sleep the rest of the day away. But she had to push forward, keep her squad moving, finish the mission.

Shepard climbed the stairs, still feeling unsure of herself, her limbs feeling like jelly as she gripped the railing, moving slower than she had wished for. Liara and Tali both kept a close eye on the mercenary as they made their way to the top and to the platform, Wrex joining them.

The image was not lost on Shepard either. "It's the ship from Eden Prime!" Liara almost gasped as they all approached the holographic image, stopping just before it. Shepard nodded, feeling dizzy and still a bit queasy from what she had just experienced. She put a hand on her stomach, as if willing whatever contents were within to settle down with the gesture alone.

Liara could see just how pale and shaky the mercenary looked. But the young asari decided it best to not question Shepard. Not when they were in the middle of an uncertain situation. "You are not Saren." The holographic image spoke, it's voice deep, yet sounding very much like a machine. If Shepard were to be honest the way the thing sounded sent chills down her spine.

But she held her head up almost defiantly. "No shit, Sherlock. What the hell are you?" She questioned, her tone both sarcastic and yet threatening. Whatever this thing was, Shepard felt that it was more than it appeared to be. She did not like the feeling that settled in the pit of her stomach just looking at it.

The image did not skip a beat, "You are incapable of understanding." The hologram spoke. Shepard's eyes narrowed as she watched it, trying to remember the wild images that had been burned into her brain mere moments ago. It only served to make the situation feel more uncomfortable. She looked back at Liara, and if her expression was anything to go by, Shepard knew the asari felt along similar lines.

Liara looked back at Shepard, as if in that brief moment of silence they exchanged some sort of dark secret that only they knew. "I do not think this is a VI." Liara finally said as Shepard nodded, looking back to the image before them.

The image seemed unmoved by Liara's statement. "I am beyond your comprehension. I am Sovereign." The image seemed to reply. Shepard felt that odd feeling in the pit of her stomach flop. She knew exactly what this was the moment it spoke it's name.

Shepard felt a sense of disgust rise in her. "It's a Reaper." She said almost unbelieving by her own statement. Tali, Wrex and Liara exchanged looks. Shepard gritted her teeth. Somewhere in the back of her head Shepard had hoped this whole thing with Reapers wasn't real. Or that the Reapers had long since died out. Or would never return if they ever existed at all. But staring at this image before them, the way it called itself Sovereign... No Shepard knew in that moment the threat was very much real, rearing it's ugly head, targets locked on their little corner of the universe.

The image before them flickered slightly. "Reaper. A name created by the protheans to give voice to their destruction." It stated. The tone in Sovereign's voice was monotone yet cold at the same time. Once more chills ran down Shepard's spine.

Wrex almost scoffed behind Shepard, almost as though he was not concerned about the situation at all. Oddly it brought a small sense of comfort to Shepard. Knowing Wrex literally could scoff in the face of something that had already taken down at least one space fairing civilization before them. Scoff in the face of extinction itself. "It does not matter what they called us, they were not the first." it continued.

Liara felt unsettled hearing this. She had theorized there were other civilizations before the protheans. But it felt disturbing knowing she had been right, that the galaxy had been built by a cycle of extinction. It felt even more unsettling now knowing that this thing before them was apart of that cycle. Worse yet they were next on the long list. "How did you do it? How did you destroy a galaxy full of sentient life?" Shepard almost demanded.

Still Sovereign was not done speaking. "The Protheans did not create the Citadel or mass relays. They merely found them." it said. It was a cryptic response, and almost chilling within itself. Everyone exchanged looks at this revelation. The entire galaxy had always assumed the Protheans were the ones that created the Citadel, and the relay network. This just shook the foundation of what everyone felt was fact.

"Who created them then?" Liara questioned. She could not help her curiosity on the matter. Though it wasn't the usual excitable curiosity she would have held for such a thing. It was almost cautious.

"Your civilization is based on the technology of the mass relays. Our technology. By using it, your civilization develops along the paths we desire, much like the protheans and other organic life before them. You exist because we allow it. And you will end because we demand it." Sovereign explained. Shepard's lips almost curled into a snarl. She was not about to allow this to happen.

She knew it would likely be a losing battle. God knows how long these Reapers have existed. How many lives they'd destroyed. How many more they will destroy yet. But she would fight it. She didn't care if she was just a merc, she would do her part. Though she knew the odds they faced she stood tall, confident and defiant. "I will stop you. I will send you back to the hole you crawled out of." She said simply, but her tone was angry and carried her defiance into the open. How many more people had to die senselessly before the cycle of violence ended? How many more families like her own ripped apart?

The reaper seemed unmoved. "Your words are as empty as your future. We are legion. We will darken the sky of every world. I am the vanguard of your destruction. This exchange is over." It said before flickering and vanishing. Shepard's hands curled into fists. She just fully realized what she had just gotten herself involved in. This wasn't about protecting Liara, or her friends. Nor was this about stopping some crazed ex Spectre hell bent on betraying the council and galaxy. This was about preventing the extinction of all life as they knew it.

But before she could think, or even do anything further, the windows in the room exploded inwards. Her squad ducked and cringed, yet she merely looked over her shoulder, watching the shattered glass fall to the floor, a strong gust of wind filling the room. Shepard's blood boiled, and she found herself both shaken and yet unshaken. It was a strange feeling. "Lets move." She said before she turned towards the exit, unshipping her assault rifle, not even checking to see if her squad was following.

Even with the new knowledge they acquired from Sovereign, even knowing this was so much bigger than herself, Shepard found a new purpose in that moment. It should have terrified her, but instead it only fueled a dormant fire that had laid within her. She would stop this cycle from repeating itself, or die trying.


Kaidan stood up from the crate he had been sitting on in the cargo bay as the Normandy came in for a landing. Shepard had called them mere minutes ago about reaching the bomb site. He would be lying if he said he didn't feel nervous about handling a bomb and Shepard still needed to rendezvous with Kirrahe and the others.

He could feel the ship shudder slightly as it came to a stop, the cargo bay door slowly opening as some of the Alliance soldiers gathered around the bomb, ready to carry it out of the ship. Once the door was open all the way Kaidan led the way as he and the soldiers piled out of the ship, bomb in tow. "Shepard, I was beginning to worry about you guys." Kaidan said as he found Liara fussing with Shepard, trying to apply medi-gel to her cheek.

Shepard had felt foul tempered since their little talk with Sovereign if she were to be honest. She was feeling defiant, ready to end the Reapers, but she also felt like she just bit off more than she could chew. She also couldn't help but wonder why this whole thing had to fall in her small crew's lap. They weren't equipped to deal with something so... So world changing. "Goddess, Shepard hold still." Liara said sounding frustrated as Shepard cringed and hissed as the medi-gel stung at the small gash in her cheek.

Shepard looked to Kaidan, looking absolutely exhausted. "We've had a lot resistance along the way." Shepard finally replied before letting out a sharp ow as Liara gripped Shepard's chin to hold her face still, trying to carefully apply the medi-gel still. Liara looked just as agitated as Shepard felt, though for different reasons as she was still trying to fix Shepard's injury.

Kaidan looked between the two for a brief moment before he looked to the group of soldiers, slowly making their way towards them. "Put it over there." Kaidan said, pointing towards the center of the area.

Liara let out a sound of annoyance before she was finally finished fretting over Shepard's injury. "It will have to do for now." Liara said, her frustration sounding fairly clear. Shepard sighed as she gave the asari an apologetic look.

Shepard reached out, gently gripping the asari's chin before planting a quick kiss on her cheek. "Sorry, I've never been a very good patient." Shepard muttered quietly before trying to give the asari a small smile. Liara just shook her head but accepted the apology regardless.

Shepard then turned to her gathered crew, trying to think. She then reached up for her ear comm, "Ash, Garrus, we're at the bomb site what's your location?" Shepard questioned as she began to pace. She hadn't heard from the other team all day, as per radio silence protocols. She was rather worried when she didn't get a swift response.

Finally her comm crackled to life. "Shepard, we're pinned down at the AA tower, we need reinforcements." Ashley's labored voice came through. Everyone heard the response in their respective comm units and gave each other a quick glance. Shepard went back to pacing.

"Are there any casualties?" Shepard questioned. She motioned for her squad to get ready to go, despite how exhausted everyone felt. Shepard herself still felt like she was in rough shape after the beacon.

"We have injured, and we lost a couple of the salarians, but we're holding. It's not going to last much longer if we don't get help soon." Ashley said.

Shepard looked to Kaidan as they both made their way towards the bomb the alliance soldiers had dropped off. "I'll need a bit to arm the nuke. Go get the others." Kaidan said before he knelt in front of the bomb already working to arm it. Shepard nodded as she gripped her rifle close waving for the others to follow her.

"Hold on, Ash we're coming." Shepard said before the comms cut off. Shepard stood in front of a large door, working the control panel to open it. "I know we're all tired, but we're almost done. Keep alert." Shepard said as the door began to slide open. The others nodded their understanding following Shepard through the new opening.


Ashley continued to spray down geth once the comm link went dead. "Reinforcements are coming!" She hollered as loudly as she was able, trying to let the others know what was going on. It was hard for everyone to hear over the sounds of all the guns going off and random grenade explosions.

She, like everyone else, had put up a long fight, and they were all getting exhausted. Garrus glanced at her from next to her as she looked back. They both nodded to each other before they began to mow down the next wave of geth that came pouring out of seemingly nowhere.

It didn't take long before everyone noticed the geth ship flying overhead. For the briefest of moments Ashley froze. God if a geth ship was here to drop off more tin heads they were as good as dead. She was about to reach for her comm unit to alert Shepard of the approaching danger when she realized the ship flew right over, passing by and heading for... Oh god, it was heading for the bomb site.

"Shepard! You got trouble heading for the nuke!" Ashley called over the comm link. She could hear Shepard cussing as she tapped Garrus on the shoulder, signalling for him and her to find new cover as the geth quickly advanced on their position. The turian nodded his agreement as they quickly ran for cover further away from the encroaching danger.

"It's already here." Kaidan could be heard saying, the sounds of his gun going off over the channel. More cussing came from Shepard. Ashley quickly dove behind the new cover, grouping up with two salarians from her team as she looked around for Garrus. She quickly spotted him elsewhere, with the salarian captain as he quickly returned more fire on the geth.

There was a pause before Shepard spoke up, "Kaidan, I'm coming back." Shepard said. All Ashley could do was listen, too focused on trying not to die as a grenade flew over her head from behind, exploding when it connected to the chest plate of one geth.

"Negative, get Ash and the salarians, I've activated the nuke!" Kaidan hollered back.

"Damnit Kaidan, what the hell do you think you're doing?!" Shepard barked. Ashley ducked behind her cover, rifle over heating. The two salarians with her tried to cover their position best they could, but one of them yelled out in pain before falling over onto his back, gripping his shoulder. The situation was going from shit show to death trap quickly.

After a brief pause, Kaidan spoke once again, "Making sure this thing goes off. Get Ashley and Garrus." He insisted.

"Kaidan, you'll die." Shepard said, her voice sounding uncertain.

"You have to save as many as you can." Kaidan said, his voice now sounding strained with pain. He must have been shot, Ashley determined. She bowed her head, thinking a silent prayer over the deteriorating situation unfolding on the comms.

"Kaidan..." Shepard sounded so pained saying the man's name. Admittedly Ashley barely knew the man, he was always so aloof, preferring to be by himself or around his small merc band. Kind of introverted, in a way. "I'll come back for you after I get the others." Shepard then said, sounding more determined.

Another brief pause. "I think we both know that's not going to happen. It's ok, Shepard. This isn't your fault." He said before he suddenly cut off the line, possibly to prevent any further argument from Shepard. A move likely to also push her forward before they all died on this damn planet.

Either way, Ashley's heart went out to Shepard and her small group.


"Kaidan... Kaidan! Son of a bitch!" Shepard shouted in anger and frustration. She paced in a tight circle as her mind raced.

"We've got to go, kid." Wrex said as he began to walk away, heading towards the elevator that would lead them to the AA tower. Shepard let out a shout of anger, looking up at the sky. Liara's heart ached for Shepard, knowing well enough Shepard was not dealing with this situation very well.

Liara approached Shepard, putting a hand on her shoulder, noting Tali's body language, noting the quarian's own hesitation before she quickly turned to follow Wrex. "Nicole, we have to save the others." Liara tried to convince Shepard. Shepard looked to Liara, her expression lost and yet anxious. "Kaidan would not want us to doddle, we must save as many as we can." Liara insisted.

Shepard looked away from Liara, her frustration returning. "I know." the human replied tightly before she made up her mind, moving away from Liara and moving in a trot to quickly catch up with the other two. Liara took the moment to give her own silent prayer to her goddess as she also moved at a trot to catch up with everyone else. She very much doubted any goddess heard her. But she knew how much this would hurt Shepard before the day was over.


Hey all, I return. My updates may be sporadic still. Long story short, I am between jobs once again. This has not been my year lol. I do apologize again for such a long pause between chapters. As I said before, I have not forgotten this story and I have very much looked forward to returning to it. I hope this chapter was worth the wait.

Until next time.