Tali is relieved that her father is still alive, although the experience has shaken him up. Fear of the Collectors has rooted within him. The possibility his daughter will be taken away has him paralyzed. Apparently, he's a better dad than I thought. Still going to give him crap about his negligence, but I'll lighten things up.

I'm waiting on a couch in my camper for Tali to come back. It's going to take us at least six hours until we arrive at the omega relay. The automatic defenses the Heretics have around the system are still active. It shouldn't be a problem as long as we leave FTL and go quiet. The collector ship likely did the same based on the trail EDI is following.

Tali knocks on the door before coming in. She takes her mask off and leaves on a small table. I can tell she lost her energy talking to her dad. Her dry red eyes look at me for comfort. An inviting open arm gesture pulls Tali. She exhales heavily.

"This can't be easy for you." I said.

"This isn't. I'm so worried for Ken and Gabby and Chakwas. Why didn't you warn us?" Tali asked.

"I cannot give you all the answers and do everything for you guys. I tried this before in other universes and it never worked. This does hurt me too. I don't want anything bad to happen to our friends, but I can't stop it" I explained.

"I know. It's just… Why do we have to go through these bad things. It doesn't seem fair" Tali scouts down and rests her head upon my flattened thigh. Her right hand tugs my right, tucking it under her ribs. My other hands gently brush Tali's soft hair. From her hairline to behind her ear. This makes her feel peaceful or as close to it given the circumstances.

"It must be so nice being you. While I know whatever happened to you wasn't easy, at least you know we continue existing afterwards and can see them again. The rest of us are stuck here." Tali said.

"I can't reach the Apogee or the realm of your ancestors as your dad would call it... I'm scared I'm going to lose you" I said.

"You're not going to lose me. Our fate isn't written and I'm not going to lose the best thing that has ever happened to me. I worked too hard for it to end here" Tali said.

"Right back at you" I wink.

A moment of silence.

"I can't believe we are going to the galactic core. I wonder what it is like" Tali said.

"I've been there. It's hot, chaotic, and blinding. Strangely, there is a certain kind of beauty to it" I said.

"How so?" Tali asked.

"The black hole at the center of the galaxy breaks down retired stars and shoots the material back into the ether of space, allowing it to becoming something again one day" I said.

"You can have a way with words" Tali cozies up. The faux fur blanket draped over the back of the couch mysteriously finds it's way over her warm body. She absolutely loves the feel against her face. One day she'll be free from her suit and will get to experience everything she deserves and all the love I can give.

I allow my body to fully relax. My breathing automatically slows and fewer but larger breathes are taken. I don't care how loud my exhales are. This is the moment. There isn't going to be another one for a while. I'll fully open myself. Allow my energy to flow unobstructed. For so long I've been constantly controlling it. Not allowing it to be free in fear of where it will go. Now, I'm confident there will be no issue. I feel so much love, it can't possibly hurt me. For the first time in my existence, my energy fill flow naturally.

UuuAHHHH oh my God. I feel so light. My body has let go of all tension everywhere. My muscles, my arteries, even my brain is completely relaxed. This feeling is indescribable but beyond that is this sense of... I don't know. I'm living in a place where I can have real friends who aren't frightened of me and can be myself. Under my palm is the beating heart of a woman I care for like no other. Even if something better came along, I wouldn't trade this for anything. This… this is peace. SNAP!

I roll over into my other side in order to get a look of *********. When he is relaxed like this, something about it makes me feel so warm inside. Actually I don't think I've ever seen him like this. His shoulders are lower than usual. The tone of his face is much softer and that small but genuine smile… I want to see that more often.

"Nooo… No No No" his head rockets upwards and his soft leg muscles harden before my head flops into the couch. I see a bright red filling my entire vision. ********* suddenly transformed into his energy body but it has never been this color before. He flies out the cabin, ignoring my pleas to return. Half a minute later the ship takes a hard turn, knocking the various items in the camper off. EDI alerts everyone we are entering FTL.

"JOKER!" I screamed.

"Ah what? Why are you in your energy body and why do you look like the color scheme of the Grand Canyon?" He asked.

I frantic dart the window and look for any abnormal lights. To the left, there's one getting bigger. I point to the incoming horror.

Pointing with my blazing limb "BECAUSE OF THAT!"

Joker doesn't see anything at first until he notices a small flicker becoming much larger. EDI zooms in and it's what I dread. A shifting assortment of colorful energies and matter with the form of serrated fins and a pointed head.

"What the hell is that?!" He asked.

"TURN AROUND TURN AROUND FTL FTL!"

"Are you crazy? The automatic defenses are still up" Joker said.

"THATS THE LEAST OF OUR PROBLEMS. GO HURRY BEFORE IT CATCHES ME!" Joker remain idle. To hell with it. I grab the controls and get us the away from it. Why now of all times? It has to show up exactly when I'm having the best moment of my entire existence!

Joker is pissed I took the wheel and endangered the ship, but he doesn't know. I asked EDI if it was following us. It is but it's matching our speed. As long as we are in FTL it shouldn't be able to catch us but we can't keep this up forever. I fly into Shepard's room and interrupt whatever he is doing.

"********* is that you? Why do you look like that and why is the ship in FTL?" Shepard asked.

"IT'S HERE IT'S HERE AND IT'S AFTER ME. THIS THINGS ARE UNBELIEVABLE RARE. I DON'T KNOW HOW IT FOUND ME BUTS IT'S COMING FOR ME" I said.

"Even without a face I can tell this thing terrorizes you. What is it?" He asked.

"Get everyone into the conference room" I fly out the room and wait. All my energy is being transmuted through the power generator. The lowest but strongest. It's making my survival instincts scream out to do something but what? I can't fight this predator.

Everyone quickly rushes in ready for a battle. Unsure what the creature following us is. Shepard asks me to explain but I can't control myself. I'm trembling. Tali comes to me and grabs hold of my energy hands. She please for me to calm down and return to normal. Her calming presence enables me to get a hold of myself and return to my human form. I take many deep breaths.

"What's wrong? We never seen you this jumpy" Miranda asked.

EDI pulls up a holographic display of the immaterial creature the length of four school buses trailing the Normandy. Patches of energy briefly transform into its physical form, for a brief moment, I can see into those wide black hungry eyes.

Zaheed asks "Is that a bleeding shark?"

"There's sharks in space?" Jack asked.

"********* what the fuck is that?" Shepard asked.

"Anything made of matter in theory could transform into an energy form. Sometimes animals can do it. Normally one of us intentionally does it for experiments but in incredibly rare cases, it happens sporadicly" I explained.

Jacob asked "Are you really telling us a great white shark ascended and wants to eat you?"

EDI sphere pops out and says "based on the size, I can conclude this is not an earth shark. It's much larger than a megalodon, the largest known shark to ever exist and extinct long before humans evolved."

"Ok you got a shark phobia watching jaws one to many times. Just blast it away or something" Jacob suggested.

"It won't work. This thing wants to eat me, and we can't let that happen" I said.

Shepard asks "why? What would happen to you?"

"Based on stories I heard, I will be trapped in that thing for who knows how long. My energy constantly being sucked away from me until it poops me out" I said.

"Won't you live? If you do get swallowed and stuck in until you pop out, just time travel back to here and we can be on our way" Garrus said.

"It won't work. The future me will be targeted next. This thing will never ever leave me alone. I won't have any choice but to leave this universe and I don't want to go" tears stream down my face as I said that.

"Have you forgotten you can return after the creature left" Mordin said.

"Guys. I have not lived in this universe long enough for my soul to become accustomed to it's unique vibration. At first I had to constantly maintain my energy to stay here. If I leave, I won't be able to come back to this exact universe. I could find one really close but it won't be you guys. It wouldn't have all of you. It wouldn't have my Tali. I don't want to go" I breakdown in tears.

"We can't let that happen. We need you. Is there anything we can do?" Shepard asked.

"I don't know. My people always avoided these things if we ever found one" I said.

"Can they help? Send an SOS" Garrus said.

"They haven't even gotten back to me about those salarians we found on Virmire. We're on our own" I said.

Shepard asks "How do we fight it?"

"I don't know. Bullets will go through it. The cannon will only feed it. I don't know." I said.

"Sharks are apex predators. If they deem a meal is too expensive to hunt in terms of calories, it will leave for different prey" Mordin said.

"What are we supposed to do? Annoying it away?" I sarcastically and angrily suggest.

"We may have something" Samara said.

"You do?" I asked.

"I, Legion, and Professor Solus have developed a device based on the tidbits of information bestowed which, in theory, will allow us to counteract you if the need arises" she explained.

"You built a weapon to work against him!" Tali shouts. I don't blame them. My abilities have been acting up lately and if it makes them feel better…

"Wait what does it do?" I ask.

"We modified a mass effect field generator to alter the intermolecular forces of plasma. Either it pulls you apart or forces you into a denser state" Legion said.

Oh god.

"We can talk about this after we deal with that. Does it work?" I ask.

"Based on the size of the creature, the device will form a radius of 100 meters in all directions. The amount of power required will only allow its use for a minute before a recharge is in order" EDI said.

"How long will that take?" Kasumi asked.

"Approximately five minutes" EDI said.

"Shepard Commander, the device wasn't designed to work at a range that far. The large amounts of energy will heat the device rapidly. We'll have a limited number of uses" Legion said.

"How many?" Shepard asked.

"It could be 10 or break the moment it's turned on. We have no idea" Mordin said.

"My father is an expert at components. He should be able to make it last" Tali said.

"While he does that Jacob can make some bombs. Those spots of flesh we can attack while the device is recharging. ********* you'll distract it while we take it on. EDI find a planet we can land within the next hour" Shepard said.

"I got a harpoon gun you can borrow" Zaheed said.

"You do?" Jacob asks.

"Yeah, it was me grandmother's. Never move without it. It's under my bed" Zaheed said.

"I killed a thresher maw. This should be easy" Grunt confidently said.

"I don't know what to say" I said.

"Thank us afterwards. EDI did you find a place we can fight it?" Shepard asked.

"Yes. A world approximately 90 minutes away. The creature is slowly approaching the Normandy. Assuming the rate of speed is constantly, it will not catch us" EDI said.

"Here that people, we got 90 minutes until we go fishing. Let's not waste time and get moving" Shepard loudly orders.

Legion, Mordin, Jacob and Zaheed are the first to exit. Samara calls Miri and Jack to discuss a plan to use biotics against the soul shark. Thane takes a moment to talk with me and explains how he'll direct me where to go to avoid the creature's grasp and he'll pray for my success. I place my hand on his shoulder to thank him.

Shepard talks with Grunt, Garrus and Kasumi on what they can do which. Tali tells me she loves me and will go to her father to help with the device then she'll meet me back right here.

Shepard walks over, reassuring me that we got this and nothing bad will happen to me. I'm not so sure. Randomly he laughs.

I ask "What's so funny?"

"I just never saw you this spooked. Did you forget what it's like to feel horrified or in danger?" He said.

"I've known terror but it was always because of what I feared I wouldn't be able to do. Now I'm scared that I'm going to have to leave. I love it here and I love Tali. Shepard I can't leave. Please tell me we can scare it away" I beg.

He replies "we will. I'm not letting it take you from us" Shepard is lightening up with confidence. I feel like he can do it. Is this how everyone else sees him. I get a sense everything is going to be ok. I trust Shepard.

A short while later, Tali returns and jumps on me. Her arms and legs trapping my torso like I'm the cutest stuffed animal in a claw machine.

"Tali I don't know what's going to happen but just in case, you are the greatest thing that has ever happened in my life. I have never felt such love and care from another soul and I trust you completely. I want you to have the best life and in case I have to go, know I will always lo-"

"No. You tell me you love me after we drive that thing away. I'm not losing you. We are going to kill that thing then we are going to defeat the collectors and then we will win the war against the reapers, then we will live the rest of our lives together. We'll go to sleep every night holding each other. I'll see that wonderful smile every time before I drift off and wake up seeing that same exact smile that you wore all night long in the morning. Nothing is going to separate me from my cherished." Tali said.

"I want that Tali and I'm going to give everything I have in order to stay with you."

The ship drops out of FTL. The soul shark momentum forces the beast to fly right past us. This brief moment allows us to land and get every set up. The planet is cool and drizzlingly. The beast rams through a dark cloud, heading straight for me. I gulp at the sight. My flesh is transformed into an enticing sight which immediately attracts its attention. I listen to Thane's instructions but am only narrowly able to evade.

The biotics girls' distance themselves, forming a trinity and will try to create a bubble to slow down its movements. Kasumi will sneak under the belly and harpoon the neck when it becomes matter. The element zero laced blade might prevent it from becoming energy. Thane is using all of his poisons to disorient it.

"*********! Get down to the ground now!" Shepard yells. I hover ten feet in the air when I feel a rich condensed energy building up in the ship. An electric blue sphere explodes from the ship, the pulse penetrates through my energy and feels like I've been ripped apart by a million shotgun pellets. The beast and myself are forced into matter. I lose control of my flight and fell into the hard ground. My head hit a stone gifting me dulled vision paired with high pitched ringing.

"*********!" Tali yells. I see Grunt attacking the gills. Ripping off tarps of red flesh. The creature has six eyes, no five now that a sniper shot from Garrus explodes one. I pull myself off the ground. The air is changing and I'm regaining control of my abilities. So is the soul shark. It becomes immaterial once more and resumes chasing me. It's faster this time.

I try my best to roll, evade, blind, and tricked the creature and barely miss its large rows of teeth. If it grabs me, I don't think I'll be able to fight it. The biotics bubble makes interferes with my thinking and makes it hard to think. My mind feels foggy and my mind feels foggy. Think. What am I thinking. That blast from the ship messed something up.

Explosions on the creature's side makes pry's it's jaw wide as if it's screaming, but no sounds emit from its cave like mouth. The ship is powering up again. I fly towards Shepard and materialize before it tears through me again. If I'm physical, I'm not harmed, but the soul shark is. The creature is down, and everyone is attacking its flesh spots.

"OH NO!" Tali said.

"What?" Shepard asked.

"My father messaged me. The device broke!" She said.

"EVERYONE FINISH THIS NOW!" Shepard said. We fired everything we could at it, not even caring if it damaged flesh or not. This only angers the beast. I fly and zip and dash and do everything but it's no use.

"Tali I'm so so sorry. I love you" I aim for the heavens.

"******* NO!" are the last words I will hear from her. This isn't fair! I was so close to finally being happy, to have some resemblance of the life I always wanted and it's being taken away from me again. The blue atmosphere like my tears burns into black as I fly away.

I look down once more. These people gave me the greatest moments of my life. I'll never forget everything that has happened. I sit crossed leg and begin the process. I don't care where I go, my only choice is to leave. Maybe one day I'll be able to return. Please god reunite me with her.

"**-********. Can you hear us? It's attacking the ship" Shepard's voice comes from my omnitool.

"What? Isn't it flying after me?" I ask.

"No, it's attacking Normandy. It seems to be after something" he said.

It's not after me? IT'S NOT AFTER ME! I fly down and see it for myself. The creature is biting down in the hull. The shielding is preventing the hull from being torn apart like wet paper towel. EDI flies the ship around the air. Her slow speed in tight turns makes it impossible to evade its attacks. Oddly in only attacks one area. The top middle portion but why? I fly down and regroup with the others.

"It's attacking the ship. What could it possibly want?" Miri asked.

"My father and Jeff are aboard" Tali said.

"If it's not after you, then what is it after?" Garrus asked.

"I don't know. These things love to eat energy. Could it be going after the mass effect core?" I ask.

"Improbable. No other ship in the area has encountered anything like this and based on its eagerness we would have heard something before its arrival to us, not to mention the belly of the ship would have easier access. Damn my lab is going to be a mess. It keeps biting the roof above my workspace" he said.

"The elemental species! It has to be after those" I shout with joy.

"Why would it be after that?' Shepard asked.

"Interactions with elements zero have fascinating properties. Perhaps it has some unknown beneficial effect on energy beings" Mordin said.

"Well based off how a small amount of element zero makes me feel euphoric, I wager eating all that would send it to heaven" I said.

"Issue is I haven't completed my research and certain priorities could have value for Reaper war in the future" Mordin said.

"I don't care. We need that thing gone. ********* get in there and throw everything out the airlock." Shepard said. I hesitate. I fear getting close and I fear not being with Tali more. Quickly I fly into the ship, collect all the samples into one large sack. The cloth bag is getting very warm and flashes of different colors pierce through. Better get rid of this quick. I phase through the ship and throw everything into the air. Like a dog fetching a ball, the creature lunges at it and enjoys its treat before slowly flying into the ocean of stars. It's done.

I float down and my knees collapse. The unforgiving ground refused to cushion my fall. Tali tackles me, plopping me backwards and I hit my head again. She presses her voice synthesizer against my lips, my cheeks my forehead, everywhere.

"Don't you ever scare me like that again" Tali's whole-body trembles with every word. Slowly I sit up and look around at everyone. I have people who care about me, who I can rely on, who I can trust.

"Thank you. Thank you all" I cry.

"You're welcome. I'm glad that thing is gone for good" Shepard said.

"Ah don't make this a moment. It hurts turians to cry" Garrus said.

I look around once more at all these people in my life. My expression generator is firing up like crazy. My soul demands I say more.

"Thank you Shepard" I said.

"It was no problem" he said.

"Thank you Shepard. Thank you all" I said.

"What are you thanking us for this time?" He asked

"Because I have a family again." I hug Tali dearly. I don't want to ever break this hold. I'll stay here for infinity.

"Hehehe" That laugh sends chills down my spine. The demon is back. He is standing behind Shepard. I think to myself, what does it want now?

"I want to congratulate you. You impressed us every step you take. You shouldn't have made it as far as you did but you surpassed everything that was randomly thrown at you. Amazing what one is truly capable of" it said. I give the black cloud a confused look.

"Sorry you ended up in the wrong place, it happens. Looks like our little nudges did help you after all. We're happy you finally get what you deserve. Enjoy a good life with your girlfriend, you more than earned it. We'll be waiting for you if you choose to join. Until then..." The creature of color of coal has never shown me one ounce of kindness. Wait.. what's happening? My jaw drops, the hellishly dense monstrosity changes into a bright holy luminous white. I've never seen anything or felt anything close to this, it feels powerful and high. I've never witnessed anything have this much energy and be able to vibrate this intensely, yet I feel a sense of being home with a family member. Fatherly but not and more. My soul instinctively feels a connection to this being in front of my eyes. The presence it gives off is intimating and peaceful at the same time. I could train for a trillion years and still only be a speck next to its magnificence. I can feel it, it's connected to everything and everything is connected to it, radiating a divine love for all. Its glorious light slowly disappears. Gone for good.