With the setting sun as her witness, she jogged on, a renewed determination setting her jaw. She was ready to fight, to lead, to win. She was Commander Shepard, and this was her promise - to her crew, to the galaxy, and to herself.

Shepard finally arrived at the final waypoint, a secluded beach with a campfire already lit. Her team was there, all waiting for her.

"Hello!" she shouted down to them as she approached the camp.

"Shepard?" answered the rumbling voice of a krogan, who, after turning to see that it was indeed her running towards them, rose and ran to meet her, bellowing back as loud as thunder, "SHEPARD!"

"Wrex?!"

Then a second bellowing krogan voice joined, almost as deep as the first: "SHEPAAARRRD!"

"Grunt?!" Shepard exclaimed in surprise, her eyes widening as she saw not only Wrex but Grunt racing towards her, their expressions a mix of joy and excitement. It was a rare sight to see krogan display such unguarded emotion, and it warmed her heart.

As they reached her, Wrex clapped her on the back with a force that would've sent a lesser being flying. "Thought you might have gotten lost, Shepard! Or decided to quit the galaxy-saving business for a life of tropical leisure!"

Grunt, with a grin that showed off his sharp teeth, added, "You're tougher than that, though. Knew you'd make it."

The rest of the crew gathered around, their faces alight with smiles and relief. Tali's voice came through her suit's filter, "We were starting to get worried, Shepard. You were gone longer than expected."

Garrus, stepping forward with his trademark turian smirk, said, "I was about to start a betting pool on whether you'd show up before or after sunset. Looks like I would have lost."

Liara approached, her blue eyes shining with genuine concern and affection. "It's good to see you back, Shepard. This place is beautiful, but it wasn't the same without you. It seems you've had quite the adventure," she said, her tone gentle.

Vega nodded, noticing the state she was in after a day of running under the sun. "Yeah, and here we were thinking you were just going for a jog."

Joker, sitting on a log near the fire, chimed in with his usual sarcasm, "Yeah, the party doesn't start until Shepard arrives. So, what did you find out there? Any new scars or just a suntan? You missed the part where I almost got eaten by a plant! It's okay, though, EDI saved me. Again."

From a little distance away, EDI's synthetic voice chimed in, "It was merely a defensive response from the local flora. Jeff tends to exaggerate."

As the laughter and chatter continued, Arius stepped forward, his expression one of quiet satisfaction. Unlike her, his skin had quickly darkened a number of shades in the day's harsh sun, probably due to his abilities. The look suited him very well.

"Welcome back, Shepard. I trust your run was… enlightening?"

Still catching her breath from the journey and warm welcome, Shepard nodded. "It was more than I could have asked for, Arius. Thank you, really."

Arius simply nodded with a pleased smile, his eyes reflecting a depth of understanding that needed no words.

"Five stars… though it would have been better with your actual company instead of just your voice in my ear."

Arius' gaze lingered on hers for a moment, then flashed in their unique way, visible even in the light. "I would have preferred that too, Eden. But some paths we must discover alone. Besides," he added with a lighter tone, "the rest of the crew needed guidance on their own adventure, and I had to coordinate this surprise gathering for you."

Shepard smiled, taking in the sight of her crew - in many ways her family - around the secluded beach. The sky was turning an orange shade, the sun beginning to sink. The sounds of the evening tide, the laughter of her friends, and the gentle crackling of the fire brought a sense of tranquillity.

"It's all perfect, but what about you?" She asked, turning back to him. "You deserve a rest, too. After all, you can't help anyone if you're weak… or dead," she parroted back to him with a smirk.

"I should be more careful with my words around you," he grumbled light-heartedly before breaking into a grin. "That being said, the day is not over just yet," Arius continued, his eyes twinkling mischievously, "and it may hold surprises. For now, though, go join your crew. You've earned some rest and good company. Cold drinks await you, and hot food will be ready soon."

She nodded appreciatively, and Arius returned to where Steve Cortez, their shuttle pilot, was grilling an array of foods over the open flame. While she wondered what to do next, a heavily tattooed woman wearing remarkably little clothing ran towards her over the sand.

"Hey hey hey, the queen of the Girl Scouts finally showed up! Took you long enough. Thought I'd have to come find you myself."

The familiar sight of Jack brought a surge of warmth to her heart. Jack's presence was always a welcome jolt of energy, her brash demeanour masking a deep loyalty and strength.

Shepard chuckled, brushing off the dust and sweat from her run. "Wouldn't want to make it too easy for you, Jack."

Traynor arrived behind Jack a moment later, also holding a surfboard in hand and soaking wet.

"Commander! Welcome back." The Specialist eyed Shepard's weary state and nodded towards the ocean. "Fancy a swim with us before it gets dark? Looks like you could use a dip to wash off the day."

"You read my mind," Shepard replied, already stripping her clothing and moving towards the water, her bare feet sinking slightly into the soft, warm sand. In the shallows, Tali was wading in the knee-high water, bending down to pluck uniquely shaped shells. The sight gave Shepard's chest a weak pang.

"You know, I was thinking about Mordin today. He would have loved this place, running tests on the seashells, analyzing the local wildlife."

Jack snorted softly, a hint of fondness in her voice. "He would have scared away all the animals with his singing. But, yeah, it's too bad. Guy had a weird sense of humour, but he grew on you."

"Yeah, the professor was one of a kind," Tali affirmed wistfully.

They reached the water's edge, and Shepard didn't hesitate to dive into the inviting waves. The cool water enveloped her, washing away the grime and fatigue from the run. Jack waded in after her, splashing around with a rare display of carefree abandon.

As they swam, the weight of the day lifted from Shepard's shoulders, replaced by a sense of real relaxation. She floated on her back near the beach where the water was warm, looking up at the sky, now a canvas of deep blues and purples, stars beginning to twinkle into existence.

"So," Tali inquired, her tone laced with a hint of mischief as Shepard bobbed in the water next to her, "you and Arius, huh?"

"Yeah..." Shepard replied, her voice trailing off with a slight smile, her gaze drifting to where Arius was chatting with Garrus and Liara, the setting sun casting a warm glow on his face.

Jack, not understanding at first, squinted with narrow eyes at Shepard and her expression, then traced her gaze. Subject Zero's eyes widened.

"Oh, come on," Jack blurted out, a grin spreading across her face. "I knew it! There was always something going on between you two."

Shepard couldn't help but laugh, the sound mixing with the waves and the distant chatter of her friends. "Is it that obvious?"

Tali's laughter filtered through her suit's speakers. "Only to everyone, Shepard. But it's good. You both deserve happiness, especially now."

Shepard glanced back at Arius, who was focused on the roasting food, but she caught him stealing a quick glance in her direction. She felt a flutter of warmth in her chest.

"Yeah, it's... been something," she admitted, with a touch of shyness that was uncommon for her. "When I first realized there was something more between us, I was afraid it would be difficult, complicated. The last thing I needed was more complexity in my life."

She paused, watching the flicker of the large campfire reflected in Tali's visor. "But it's actually been... surprisingly easy. There's an understanding between each other in a way that doesn't need words. There's a simplicity in how we connect, a sort of peace. Plus, you know, he's kind of incredible."

Tali responded with a warm, understanding nod, happy to see her friend find some semblance of peace in a time filled with so much turmoil.

"Damn, Shepard," Jack responded, shaking her head. "I didn't know you were into older men."

Shepard rolled her eyes, and Tali couldn't help but laugh.

"I'm just messing with you... mostly. But seriously, I've gotta know - how's the sex? It's gotta be out of this world, right? I mean, the guy's been around long enough to pick up a few tricks…"

Shepard laughed heartedly. "Jack, come on…"

Jack chuckled, splashing water towards Shepard. "Well, as long as he keeps bringing us to places like this and giving you that dopey look, I'm all for it."

.

Arius sat alone on a makeshift stool by the kālua, his gaze sweeping across the beach where his crewmates frolicked in the sun's dying light. They had done well today gathering food and resources for their meal; the yield was good. The island had recovered well from its nearly total decimation years ago: the flora was plenty, and the fauna had multiplied and grown well. His gaze travelled to the crew members talking and playing on the beach; each was held in esteem within the larger community, affording additional privileges as respect provided. The fresh air and water were a tonic to their health, and the outing had the intended effect of loosening some of the tension of the war. All was well, and he was happy.

Yet, in the middle of his mind burrowed an aphorism that seemed impossible to dispel, broader and heavier than he could seem to lift: 'This, too, shall pass'. He had hung onto that adage through the darkest moments of his life, repeating it in his mind like a mantra, an unbreakable lifeline of hope that he clutched at, waiting for a better day. But the thin, sharp line cut just as profoundly as it preserved, for as the day's contentment settled within his heart, that narrow lifeline coiled around it, squeezing it with the understanding that, like his sorrows, this would soon pass. It spattered his joy with astringency, giving it a bittersweet aftertaste with the knowledge that it would not last despite his efforts.

He looked up at the arriving stars, and an ancient druid's dream, once recounted, returned to him all of what lay behind and beyond. He then thought of that internal code of Shepard's, of the price she knew she would pay for her joys, real or imagined, and realized that he saw his own code within it, for he, too, traded with himself for how could they not? And with those thoughts, his soul yearned for the past, for the seasons when his youth soared, and he had not known that the threat of the Reapers hung over his head like that of Damocles - when the faces of his companions did not revolve like a zoetrope and, like felled trees, fell back to their wheels. Where was that simple place that he had lost? Could he ever return to it? But like the ruins upon this island, he could only peer back at the footsteps made along his path and wonder, for the simple fact, ironic in its supposition, was that while life was lived forwards, it could only be understood backwards.

As he continued to think, he felt himself spiralling ever downward again; his thoughts squeezed in tighter and tighter circles between the exhaustion of all that had passed and the paralyzing uncertainty of what was yet to happen, for this was it. This was the culmination of his life - three cycles of trial and error, thousands of years of struggle, all for this one final sliver of time at the finish line. His burning to destroy the Reapers had flipped; The pressure, the desire to protect them all, that of which he had sought and found, stoked a feeling of such profound anxiety that he froze himself in immobility, not wanting to blink or breathe, to hold them and keep them still, perhaps to keep them here in this paradise away from the hells above them forever, for he could not bear the thought of them leaving and failing.

"What are you thinking of?" a soft voice beside him suddenly asked, startling him greatly. He jumped slightly, not having heard or seen Liara approach him quietly over the sands while he had mired himself.

"What?" Arius asked, though he had clearly heard her question.

"Your face just now - it looked pained." The asari sat down on the sand next to him. "What were you thinking of?"

"You are… very observant."

"I know," Liara answered him, her big blue eyes pastel in the diminishing daylight, "It's my job to be."

Arius turned his eyes back towards the shore. Grunt had run enthusiastically into the water, likely wanting to join in on the fun Shepard and the others were having. "I was thinking of the terrifying prospect that, if I blink, you'll all be gone."

The asari's gaze followed his, watching the crew's laughter and splashes in the water. Jack was using her biotics to manipulate the water and soak the others in a deluge. "It's a fear many of us share, Arius. But we're still here, and for now, that's what matters."

"I know that," he said as he pressed his hands against his face and sighed, "but it doesn't make it any easier."

Liara momentarily looked down at her feet as her toes dug under the shifting sand, then as she raised them, watched the grains flow off. "I know. Even if we all survive the war…" she told him, "I will likely outlive them all."

Arius, realizing that he had never considered that fact, turned to her. "I'm sorry, Liara. I didn't think of that." He rubbed his forehead. "I forget sometimes that I own no monopoly on longevity."

She shook her head. "It's alright. I've had a while to come to terms with it. But I'm not the only one. Garrus, Tali, Wrex, Jack, Grunt, and even Shepard - we all have to face that reality. We all have to live with the knowledge that we will outlive our friends and loved ones. It's a heavy burden to bear, but it's one we all carry."

It weighed heavily on his heart, knowing that not only did he gaze longingly at his receding footsteps behind him, but so did all others who walked alongside. Arius nodded, his gaze returning to the water. "I suppose it is."

Just then, Shepard's laughter rang out above the rest, clear and unburdened. It scampered through the air, a signal of a light heart and a whisper of happiness. Arius' gaze was drawn to her in the water, head thrown back in mirth. Her eyes met his, a soft smile gracing her lips. A warmth blossomed in his chest, and the sight lightened the weight on his shoulders.

"Look at them," Liara said softly, following his gaze. "This moment, this peace, it's what we're fighting for. And we've managed to find a piece of it here, thanks to you."

Arius watched Shepard for a moment longer, then looked back at Liara. "We've all played our part in making this happen, Liara. This peace, it's as much your doing as mine."

Liara nodded softly, and they sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, watching the crew. The sun dipped lower, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple.

Sniffing the air slightly, Arius looked down at the kālua beside him. "Hmm. Food's just about ready. Do you mind letting the group in the water know? I'll serve shortly."

Liara nodded, then stood up and walked towards the water. "Hey, everyone! Food's ready!"

The crew, previously engaged in a playful fight, started to head back towards the beach, rejoining the rest of the group. Shepard, having been floating on her back to ease her fatigued muscles, swam towards the shore. Emerging from the water, her hair was soaked, droplets cascading down as she walked towards Arius, her eyes sparkling with a playful glint.

"Hey, you," she said, her voice warm.

"Hey, yourself," Arius replied, his eyes lingering on her. "You look like you've had a good time."

Shepard nodded, her smile widening. "I did. It was exactly what I needed. Thank you."

Arius nodded, his gaze softening. "I'm glad."

Shepard's eyes drifted to the kālua, and her stomach rumbled. "That smells amazing. What is it?"

"They were once local delicacies. I think you'll like them."

"... them?" she asked, only noticing the single open cooking pit and the rack of skewers Cortez had earlier been attending beside him.

Arius grinned as he bent down and began removing the numerous coverings from ground pits around them, revealing not just the meat roasting in the kālua, but all manner of meats, vegetables and fungi, hot and ready to eat. Some had roasted on wood planks, sizzled on flat stones or steamed in large leaves.

Shepard's eyes widened. "You prepared all of this?"

"Heavens above, no," Arius laughed, "I was just watching a few things. Part of the crew's adventure today was a scavenger hunt for these foodstuffs; They all worked for their dinner."

"I see. Well, I'm looking forward to it. Here, let me help you serve…"