"The war is over… The Reapers have been defeated. Against all odds, and in the face of the greatest threat this galaxy has ever known, we survived. We suffered many losses. The relays are severely damaged, but we won.
This victory belongs to each of us. every man, woman, and child. Every civilization... on every world.
Now, as we take our first steps toward restoring what we have lost, we must remember what it took to win. This wasn't a victory by a single fleet, a single army, or even a single species.
If this war has taught us anything, it is that we are at our strongest when we work together. And if we can put down our grievances long enough to stop something as powerful as the Reapers, imagine what we can achieve now that they are defeated.
It will take time, but we can rebuild everything that was destroyed. Our homes, our worlds, our fleets and defenses. All this and more. Together, we can build a future greater than any one of us could imagine. A future paid for by the sacrifices of those who fought and died alongside us.
A future that many will never see…
And while we still have many challenges ahead of us… We can face them together.
And we will honor those who died to give us that future.
And we will remember Shepard."
-Eulogy of Human Councilor Steven Hackett, at Shepard Memorial Park in the Presidium.
…
"Welcome to the last safe city on Earth. The only place the Traveler can still protect… Well, it was, anyway."
As far as the eye could see, piles of rubble and debris littered across the streets. Crumbled buildings, demolished houses, vehicles burnt beyond repair. The people in the streets, all working hard to clean up what was once part of their city, now reduced to chunks of concrete and scrap. There was a young child by the remains of what looked like a store. They were helping their parents pick up large rocks from the store's entrance and dump them into a wheelbarrow. The parents urging their young one not to lift more than they could handle, but they insisted, as they did not want the parents to overwork either.
This whole place looked like a war zone.
Walking down the damaged road, Jane couldn't help but feel a sense of fear and insecurity. If this was the safest place on Earth, then how could it have been knocked down as easily as a house of cards?
"I know that it looks a little… messy, but it just gives the place more character, if you ask me. Besides, it's not like it's the end of the world if a few shop get demol- Wait. *gasp* No! NO!"
Speaking of cards…
Cayde immediately gave in to the panic surging through his mechanical body and dashed ahead at maximum speed, leaving a trail of dust clouds behind him.
"Cayde?" Jane called out to him.
The Hunter was stopped in front of a crumbled stand of some sort. There was a small neon sign sticking out of a pile of debris. It was in the shape of a bowl of noodles. If Exos could shed tears, Cayde would be bawling right now.
"I can't believe this! They destroyed my favorite ramen stand!" He whined. "Well, second favorite, actually. There was one in the old Tower. I'm sorry. I'm getting sidetracked."
After moving on from the "terrible" loss of Cayde's, the two continued through the ruined streets of the city.
Eventually, they had stopped at a makeshift coffee stand. Cayde had ordered two cups to go for himself and his new companion. After the hot beverage cooled down somewhat, Jane took a sip. The warm liquid heated up her body as she swallowed, though her expression was debatable.
"Kinda tastes more like someone described the taste of coffee." Jane admitted.
Cayde nodded in agreement with an amused smile. "Yeah, not exactly the best, but with all the cafés torn down, it'll have to do."
"Do Exos even drink coffee? Or eat food in general?" Asked Jane curiously.
"Not really." Answered Cayde, shrugging his shoulders. "We mostly eat and drink because it keeps us sane. Exos aren't all robot. Heck, we can still get hangovers. Don't ask me how."
Continuing, Jane and Cayde had wandered into an upturned park area. They had managed to find a bench that was still in one piece and decided to take a rest. Most of the park's landscape was riddled with craters from ordnance drops. It made the park look almost like the moon.
Jane looked over at the Exo beside her, as if studying him. She had only met Cayde a few hours ago, after she had been resurrected by Edith, and was not quite sure what to make of him just yet. So far, Cayde seemed like a good person. He was nice to her, and helped explain the process of resurrection as best he could. He also was rather childish and a bit eccentric. Definitely an egotist, as Cayde had bragged about himself numerous times.
However, despite these very obvious flaws, Jane could sense that he had a very strong sense of justice. A trait she truly respected. That much she knew about herself. Not only that, but there was something else she saw in Cayde. Something familiar.
"What's up? Do I have something on my face?"
Cayde's question snapped Jane out of her trance and brought her back to reality. She started blushing out of embarrassment and looked away from the Exo.
"Shit, sorry. I didn't mean to stare."
She received a reassuring look from her mechanical guide, as well as a cocky smirk.
"No trouble at all. It's not your fault that I'm ruggedly handsome."
Cayde ran his hand down the top of his hood as though he had hair and shot a wink at Jane. She immediately started laughing as a result. The Exo responded with an overdramatic offended expression.
Their latter was however cut short by the ear shattering sound of something crashing. Jane and Cayde turned to their left. A lamp post had collapsed and nearly flattened a passing couple. One woman clinging tightly to the other woman's side in fright.
"What happened to this place?" Asked Jane.
Cayde's expression softened. He knew she'd ask him that question eventually. He really didn't want to answer, but Jane needed to know.
"A few months ago, The Last City was attacked." He spoke in a steady monotone.
"Everything was all dandy one moment, then, when we least expected it, hell broke loose. An alien race, known as the Cabal, launched a full-scale invasion against us. We barely had any warning, aside from some minor sabotage of our surveillance and comm systems. At first we thought it was just interference from the weather."
Cayde stood up. He made a gun hand and held it up to his waist like that of a cowboy from the old west and metal mouth curled into a cocky grin.
"Things got heated fast. Every Guardian, new and old, was called into action; myself included. Cabal kept coming, so I kept shooting. Not gonna lie… I was magnificent."
Jane grinned and raised her eyebrow in amusement. "Uh huh." She muttered.
The Hunter then somberly took a deep breath in before continuing.
"But then the tides started to turn. They took advantage of our biggest strength… and we paid the price. We lost everything…"
"Biggest strength?"
Cayde pointed his finger up at the sky. Jane tilted her head upward and was left utterly speechless. It was right there. Right then. She laid her eyes on a sight one couldn't even dream of.
"We call it the Traveler."
…
Her head rang like an alarm bell. Jane was unable to resist the pained groan she let out as she sat back up off the ground, holding the side of her head with her hand. The pain was intense, but not debilitating. Even so, It was as though she had headbutted an Ogre.
Jane scanned her surroundings. She found herself in some sort of forest. It was dark, so dark it was almost creepy. The trees around her looked dead. Not a single leaf hung from them. And the wind was cold enough to send a chill down her spine.
Jane had no idea as to how she had gotten here. Just a moment ago, she was fighting for her life on the Citadel with her fireteam. Was she blown clear into a park? She shook her head. That didn't matter right now. The Titan's top priority was the safety of her team.
"Jane Doe to Fireteam November. Status report."
No response on the comm system. Merely static.
"Jane Doe to November! Respond! Whiskey! Crow! Shinazu!"
Once again, no one responded. Was the comm damaged? A hammer? Or out of range?
"Edith, communications are down. Try to contact Turnbull and Yamato."
…
"Edith?"
She looked around. Edith was gone too.
"Edith! Say something-"
Looking down at herself, Jane noticed something different about herself. Her armor was… different than it usually was. It was less bulky and more like that of Hunter armor. Her Titan's Mark was gone as well, as was her Khvostov; replaced by the M-8 Avenger that Alenko used against her. Jane could even feel that her nose ring was gone. Just what in the world was going on here?
"Hello?! Is anyone out there?!"
Despite how loud Jane shouted, it seemed no one could hear her. She was alone. Or so she thought.
Suddenly. A blinding red light shone down on her for the heavens above. Jane shielded her eyes from how bright it was. That was when a voice spoke to her.
"HELLO SHEPARD."
The voice sounded nonhuman. So deep that it was practically like that of a demon's. It echoed all around her at the same time. Jane couldn't even see where it was from the crimson light.
"Who are you?!"
"YOU KNOW WHO WE ARE, SHEPARD."
"Well then, I'm afraid you'll have to refresh my memory! Because I ain't got a clue!"
The voice paused, as though it was thinking.
"HMM. STRANGE THAT YOU DO NOT REMEMBER US. AFTER ALL, YOU MURDERED US."
Jane's eyes widened under the shade of her arms. "What?! What are you talking about?!"
"YOUR MIND MAY NOT RECOGNIZE OUR PRESENCE, BUT YOUR BODY ARGUES WITH THAT FACTOR, SHEPARD."
"I don't know what you're talking about! And my name is Jane Doe!"
Pain suddenly shot through her ears. An ear shattering sound rocked the entire forest. It was so strong that it rattled her very bones.
"DENY IT AS MUCH AS YOU WANT. YOU CANNOT ESCAPE US. YOU CAN NEVER ESCAPE US. WE ARE ORDER. WE ARE HARBI-"
"…ane! Jane!"
Through the mechanical roar, a familiar voice called out to her. Jane recognized it on the spot.
"Edith..?"
"WHAT IS THIS?"
"Hold on, Jane! I'll heal you!"
Through the red illumination came a second light, as white as snow, and gentle as the sun. It engulfed the Titan completely as it cast out whatever evil was infecting her.
"WHY DO YOU HELP HER, MACHINE?"
"Who are you calling a machine, pal?! I'm a Ghost! Now get out of my partner's brain!"
As the light grew brighter, the forest around her was beginning to fade away into white. The thunderous noise finally ceased, and Jane found herself being lifted into the air by an unknown force.
"NO. STOP!" The voice howled.
The light became too much for her eyes. She shut them as tight as she could.
"SHEPARD!"
…
…
…
"Shepard! SHEPARD!"
Doe's eyes shot open. She sat up with a breathless gasp, her eyes darting all over the place. Her shoulders felt something long draping over them. Turning to her right, Jane was greeted by the face of a familiar Exo, Whiskey, who was looking at her with worry stricken optics.
"Boss, you alright?"
She examined her surroundings. The whole area was obscured by a thick dust cloud, but Jane could tell that she was back on the Citadel. Standing by her on the side opposite of Whiskey was Shinazu, who appeared to be panting in exhaustion and crackling with electric sparks. He must have unleashed his overcharged Stormtrance. Otherwise, where would all this dust have come from?
"Yeah… Yeah, I think so." She finally spoke, holding her head with her hand.
"Spirits… You scared us back there." Said Garrus over the comms.
"JANE!"
Out of nowhere, Edith flew up to Jane and buried herself into her Guardian's shoulder, sobbing hard.
"I was so worried about you! Don't scare me like that!" Cried the little robot.
Jane couldn't help but let her lips curl into a warm smile as she held Edith close with her hand. "I'm fine, Edith. Clueless as to what just happened, but I'm fine."
"You don't remember?"
A shrug of her shoulders was her reply. That was when Whiskey decided to show her the cause of their worry. A piece of purple shrapnel. The end of it was dyed crimson. Jane looked down at herself. There was a tear in her leg armor. The edges of the opening had traces of blood around it. Did a fragment of the rockets fired at them fly into her leg?
"When you dropped the barrier, this thing hit ya in yer thigh, then you dropped like a fly 'n started convulsin' like you were havin' a seizure." The Exo explained as he stuffed the shrapnel into his pouch.
"I jumped onto the comms when I heard you slurring. I needed to know you were safe." Garrus added.
Seizing? From a piece of metal puncturing her leg? That didn't make sense. Not only that, but the dream she had, and that voice. Something like this had never happened before. Not according to her anyway.
"Don't worry though. Whatever was attacking your brain, I purged it. You should be fine now." Edith said assuringly as she withdrew from her partner.
Truly? Jane didn't exactly feel fine at that moment. She felt more confused and somewhat frightened. Just what was that voice? Why did it say she "murdered" it? None of this made any sense.
No. Now wasn't the time to think about it. Jane needed to focus, because if her plan worked, then this could be their chance.
"Thanks Edith." Jane said to her Ghost, receiving an approving chirp in return.
Whiskey helped the Titan onto her feet. Shebtben walked over to Shinazu, still producing a good amount of static.
"Hey, you good?" She asked.
"I am alright… Just… drained." Shinazu replied breathlessly.
The dust was finally clearing, making the outside world visible once again.
All around them, as far as the eye could see, were the unconscious forms of the CDF soldiers that had tried to kill them not ten seconds ago. From the ground floor to the upper levels, they laid on the floor or hung limp over the guard railings. Weapons sprawled across the ground and combat vehicles without power littered the area. Every now and again, electricity would spark from the ground before dissipating. This was all a result of Shinazu's Stormtrance.
"Damn. If Ikora were here, I have no idea if she'd be proud or furious with you." Jane commented with a chuckle.
"Not gonna lie. It was the most incredible thing I'd ever seen. Not a single fatality either. Don't know how." Garrus said, mind blown by the spectacle.
"Because we are Guardians, Garrus Vakarian." Shinazu stated boldly. "We do not kill innocent people who are merely following orders."
"No. Just turian baristas with exploding knives."
"Ya know what, ya oversized cassowary? I said I was sorry!"
"Can you boys hold of on killin' each other until AFTER we get on outta here?! I'm bringing the ship in."
The thundering hum of a ship's thrusters drowned out their bickering. The jumpship slowly made its way over to the fireteam, hovering just overhead of them. Amanda adjusted her controls slightly and the ship made a slow turn to the left with the rear facing the Guardians. As the ship made its decent, the cargo bay ramp opened upon landing.
"Welcome aboard Air Holiday. Our next and last stop is The Last City. Please proceed to your assigned seating and enjoy the rest of your flight."
Jane laughed. "Sure hope I won't have to pay fifty glimmer for a sandwich."
"Wait. Whiskey killed someone? Is that why he was locked up?!" Shinazu exclaimed.
It was safe to say that not everyone knew about the reasons behind 21's confinement.
Boarding the ship first were the Hunter and the Warlock. Jane for some reason was staring back at the space behind her for some reason. It was odd, but she had developed a strange feeling of familiarity ever since she stepped foot into this station, like she had been here before, despite having no sufficient knowledge of this place in the slightest. She felt as though she was a stranger in somebody else's home. It disturbed her.
This was just supposed to be a simple rescue. Find Whiskey and then head on home and drink their Ghosts revived them after they died of liver failure. But it had become more than that now. Because she had somehow finally found the person she had been searching for over the past five years of her second life. And to find him here of all places?
Could that mean… No. No, that couldn't be possible. She was Jane Doe, leader of Fireteam November. The most notorious group of misfits in the Vanguard. She was a Titan, infamously known for her 'headbutt first and ask not BOTHER to ask questions later' way of handling things. She was the Enigmatic Shield. The Red Sentinel. The woman who can eat forty seven bowls of spicy ramen in one sitting and still look like a supermodel afterwards.
She was the Guardian who felled the Kell of Darkness, the Witch Queen, and the First Deciple.
But then why? Why would Garrus be on this station? Why was there no record of her in the city's residential database? What was that glowing device on her right arm that the Cryptarchs could not identify? What was she even saying to Garrus in that corrupted audio file?
So many questions, and no one could answer them. Had it not been for her iron resolve, Jane would have gone mad years ago. Her resolve… and him.
…
"Cayde, we really need to hunker down with this report. I'd rather not have Zavala burst my eardrums again because you keep fooling around!"
"Jane, has it ever occurred to you that procrastination could just be your brain's way of stopping you from making a horrible mistake?"
"If that's true, then I should have held off on this for a while and maybe Ana would be helping me instead…"
…
Her hands reached for her helmet. The locks released and Jane gently pulled it off of her, revealing her face to the outside world. Jane was not sure as to why she was thinking about that night now. It was so long ago.
"This place…" She muttered. "Cayde… I could really use you right about now…"
Jane sighed. She had to go. But perhaps she would come back here some day and learn more. Maybe not in her armor next time. The Titan turned to the ship, but her movement was brought to a halt as a bullet flew past her head by a mere inch. It bounced off the side of the jumpship, causing Whiskey and Shinazu to draw their weapons once more.
"Stop!"
That voice. Liara. Looks like not all the soldiers had been knocked out by that blast. The asari quickly advanced on Jane with her Acolyte pistol in hand.
"You're not going anywhere! Not after all you've done!"
Jane groaned exhaustedly. When would this night end?
"Real stubborn, aren't you? You know me and my team haven't killed a single person the whole time we were here, right? We just came to rescue our friend." She explained impatiently.
"That doesn't excuse the trail of destruction you've left in your wake! And your friend is a killer. Can you blame us for not wanting him to escape?" Argued T'Soni. "Turn around! Show your face, you coward!"
The Titan rolled her eyes. This was pointless. But she may as well humor the asari for a minute. Jane slowly turned her body to Liara's direction. The two of them were now face to face with one another. That was when Liara let out a gasp of pure, unfiltered shock upon finally seeing who was behind the mask.
"Just so you know, I don't take too kindly to being called that. So I'm going to give you one last chance to back off, otherwise I'm gonna throw you into orbit-"
"Shepard..?"
Her eyebrow rose in intrigue and her threats halted. 'Shepard'. That's what Garrus calls her. Does this woman know her too?
"Shepard… Is… Is that really you..?"
"You… know who I am?"
Jane loosened her fists. She witnessed Liara's expression shift from murderous anger to a look of disbelief and astonishment. Her hands were shaking violently and her legs quivered.
Back in the ship, Garrus was watching the standoff from the cockpit. He cringed silently. Damnit. This is what he was trying to avoid. If Shepard's true identity were to be revealed, then the Normandy Crew would be arrested on suspicion of cooperation, having served with her for so long.
"Crap." Garrus cursed under his breath.
Liara could feel the tears begin to form in her eyes. Her heart was beating ten times faster than before. Every breath felt like she inhaled poisonous gas. Her jaw was practically on the floor. There in front of her was Jane Shepard. Her commander. Her best friend. Her dead best friend.
Her dead friend who was hurting people.
"What is this..?" She said quietly. "How are you here..? What happened to you? Wh-why are you doing this?!"
Jane was taken by surprise from Liara's reaction. It was the same as Garrus' when he saw her face. The Titan wondered if he knew more.
"Garrus, am I missing something here? Your friend seems to know me." Jane asked into her comms.
The turian took a short pause before he would give his response. But before he could get out a single word, Crow dashed past him and headed down to the ramp and called out to her.
"Jane, come on! I picked up something big heading our way! We have to go!"
Her head turned towards the ship, then back at Liara. There was conflict in her eyes. Liara knew of who she was in the past, which meant she had found another clue. But at the same time, Garrus and her team could be in danger if whatever Crow described was a threat. Two roads, each one with consequences of their own. Edith appeared and flew in front of her gaze.
"We can always come back here. But right now, we need to leave."
Jane wanted to argue, but she knew her Ghost was right. Besides, she can ask Garrus about it once they were safe. Jane turned to Liara.
"Sorry, some other time." The Guardian said as she turned around towards her ride home.
That was when a bullet flew right past Jane's face, slicing the skin of her cheek. It was a you d fired off by Liara's pistol most likely. Jane quickly turned back around, drawing her Dead Weight shotgun and pointing it at her opponent. Liara's eyes now wet with tears, her legs trembling, and arms unable to remain steady.
"Shepard!" Liara cried, her voice racked with emotional pain. "You're not going anywhere!"
"Put the gun down, now! This fight is over!" Doe warned her.
Liara shook her head in refusal.
"No. I won't!" She argued. "I'm not letting you go! Not like this! Not after EVERYTHING we've been through together! Not after EVERYTHING that we've sacrificed!"
"I don't know what I've been through with you, lady! I don't know you!"
Liara gasped. Those words were like daggers in her heart. Jane just stared at her with those cold, unfamiliar eyes. Not the eyes of the Shepard she used to know, but now was whoever this woman was now before her, pointing a gun in her face without a shred of guilt.
Tears now streaming down her face like two waterfalls. Liara couldn't believe what was happening in that moment. To see Shepard alive again, but with no recollection of either herself or her friends. Was this some kind of nightmare?
"You… You can't mean that…" She whimpered.
The look Jane gave Liara was dead serious. She was telling the truth.
"Shepard… What happened to you..? Who are these people you're with? What did they do to you?!"
"Watch it! Those people are my comrades! My friends!"
"WE'RE your friends!"
Liara was on the verge of a breakdown. Her legs quaked as though she were a fearful child. She could barely hold her grip on her gun.
"I'm your friend…"
…
*Normandy Crew Deck, Liara's Office: 2186*
…
"NO! LET ME GO! HELP ME, SOMEBODY! GODDESS-"
The sounds of a sharp object tearing through flesh and the last grunt of a dying woman filled her ears from the speakers of her computer. On the display, video of asari being dragged off by Reaper forces to be impaled on Dragon's Teeth. Their lifeless bodies skewered high in the air, blood seeping down the spike's length.
When a person, dead or alive, is captured by the Reapers, they are placed on these devices and are impaled. Nicknamed "Dragon's Teeth" by Alliance officials. Over time, all the body's internal organs, skin, and water content are replaced. Converted into cybernetic materials; blood is changed to a sickly green emulsion, and the body starts to generate an electrical charge.
Once converted, they retain no trace of who they once were, basically making them more like zombies than cyborgs. These creatures are known as Husks. Need they be human, asari, turian, krogan, batarian, prothean, or even rachni or harvester. No organic was without exception.
This insidious phenomena was how the Reapers create their ground forces. Abduct their victims, murder them, and then weaponize their corpses…
And this was occurring on Thessia right now.
The Normandy Crew had failed to acquire the prothean VI that would lead them to the Catalyst, the last component they needed to activate the Crucible. Cerberus was lying in wait for Shepard to unearth this intelligence, and swiped it out from under her. And if that wasn't enough, the Reapers had completely decimated Thessia, the asari homeworld, and now control all of the Athena Nebula.
Thessia, the crown jewel of the galaxy… Now reduced to nothing, but bodies and rubble…
"Liara?"
Walking into the office was Shepard, dressed in her officer's uniform, and had a tired look in her eyes. Upon entry, she caught the sight of Liara sitting on her bed with knees up against her chest. Her eyes were just as tired as Shepard's, but also red from crying.
"How did this happen, Shepard?" Liara asked in a hopeless and exhausted voice.
Thessia falling was already enough to shatter her resolve like fragile glass, but to learn that your people's entire legacy was forged by taking advantage of a dead civilization's resources, and refusing to share this knowledge with the other races to secure their superiority over them.
It was enough to make her sick. She felt both shame and grief towards her own people. Liara didn't think she could feel any worse. Having to kill her own mother on Noveria. Ashley's death. Losing Feron to the Shadow Broker. The sacrifices of Mordin, Thane, and Legion.
And now… this. Her spirit was utterly broken.
"My entire civilization. the asari's history... the protheans made it a lie all along…" Liara's voice trembled. "And I abandoned my people to hunt for the Catalyst!"
The asari could hold back her tears any long as they streamed down her cerulean cheeks. Shepard hated seeing her friend like this. Liara was one of the strongest people she knew. Young, but was truly gifted. A scientist, but a skilled fighter. She was always there for Shepard when she needed her, even when Liara wasn't on the Normandy. It was no exaggeration to say she was her best friend.
"You'd never do that." Shepard affirmed.
"They're dying by the millions!" Liara angrily protested. "I told those people on Thessia that we'd save them! How many asari died because I demanded their help?"
Shepard walked over to the bed and leaned over to look Liara straight in the eye. "None."
"Shepard, that isn't true."
"You've been warning your people for years, Liara. There's not a damn thing you should feel guilty about."
Taking her hand off the mattress, Shepard marched over to Liara's info-net console. The multiple monitors all shifted their perspectives to give their viewer full coverage of all screens. Jane started inputting commands into the keyboard.
"If we move fast enough, they have a chance to survive this, to start again. We lost Thessia, but we haven't lost the asari yet."
Liara was in awe. Shepard was in just as much distress as she herself was, and even so, she kept moving forward. Their defeat only strengthened her resolve. She was determined to keep going until the Reapers were no more. Until she made Cerberus pay for their treason. Until Kai Leng answers for murdering Thane.
She was an immovable object, which meant that Liara couldn't just give up. It would be an insult to her friend. To her home. The asari got up off her bed and walked over to her console.
"Helping the refugees.. that's something I can do. It's something I owe them."
Shepard stepped aside so that Liara could take control. "I knew you'd think of something." She commended.
"I still need some time, Shepard." Liara took a deep breath.
"But thank you."
…
The day Thessia fell to the Reapers. Liara was about ready to give up. To watch your home be demolished before your eyes… Had it not been for Shepard's words, Liara didn't think she would be able to keep going after that. Jane gave her hope again, when all seemed lost. There were no words to describe how grateful she was.
But now… Now… Liara was unsure what to think now.
Not only was Shepard alive, once again. But she claimed to have no memory of her or anyone else, and she had attacked C-Sec with three others, and was now pointing a gun at her. Though it explained why Garrus decided to go renegade, she couldn't wrap her head around this entire concept one bit. It was killing the asari on the inside.
"Please Shepard… Don't do this…" T'Soni begged her former commander.
Yet despite her tearful request, it wasn't enough to sway the iron-willed Titan. Liara could already tell this, but her heart would not accept it as reality.
Jane lowered her weapon. She kept her gaze locked on the woman before her, focused like a laser beam.
"Whoever I was to you, I'm not that person. Not anymore."
That reply was what finally shattered her. Liara collapsed to her knees. Her arms went limp and her pistol slipped from her grip. She couldn't find any words to say as every breath felt like it would kill her. Seeing Liara just break down in front of her, despite not recognizing her, made her feel uneasy for some reason. The Titan's expression softened into a look of pity.
"Shepard!"
The sound of Garrus' voice caught her attention. She turned to the ship, the turian was standing next to Crow on the cargo ramp of the ship.
"Garrus..?" Liara muttered.
He looked over at Liara in the distance. Even with the gap between them, Garrus could see the pain and betrayal in her eyes. A look he prayed that he would not see in his friend. He could only hope that now Liara would understand why he chose to betray them.
Turning her gaze back to the asari, Jane was about to speak, but a shot to her chest cut her off. Where did that come from?
"HOSTILES DETECTED. ENGAGING."
Jane saw something in the distance behind Liara. Something moving in on her at an alarming speed. They looked humanoid, but their bodies were metallic, covered head to toe in smooth and flexible chrome plating. Their feet seemed to hover above the floor with the aid of small jets attached to their soles and were moving as if they were skating. In their hands, M-77 Paladin pistols.
"Liara!" The sound of Kaiden's voice filled Liara's ears. "Hold on! Reinforcements are inbound!"
The robots raised their weapons and started firing. Shots darted through the air, coming into contact with Jane one after the other. Her shields were taking a beating. It wouldn't be long before they would give out.
Garrus' mandibles flared. "Shepard!" He exclaimed.
"Garrus, what are those things?" Crow questioned, readying his hand cannon.
"VALKRI Mechs. They're new, and fast."
His hand quickly reached for the tacky sniper rifle on his back. Garrus took aim and started firing at the approaching mechs. Even though the robots were swishing from side to side with their movements, Vakarian's spot-on aim allowed him to blow their heads off completely. The problem was that their numbers were vast.
Luckily for Garrus, he wasn't alone. Crow, Whiskey, and Shinazu readied their weapons. Crow with his Hawkmoon, Shinazu drew his Last Wish, while Whiskey selected a new weapon called "Long Arm"; a wood-plated, bolt-action rifle. They opened fire in sequence. Mechs fell to the ground one after another. They could mow them down easily if they had the time, but time was unfortunately not on their side.
"Boss!" Shouted Whiskey.
Jane summoned a large barrier in front of her to guard against the incoming fire. Her shields had been disabled from one too many hits.
"Get moving, Holiday!" She screamed into her comms.
"You ain't on board!" Amanda argued.
"I'll catch up! Just keep those things off the ship!"
Amanda did not like the idea of taking off without everyone, but she complied. The ship's engines hummed to life and the vessel began to take flight.
"What are you doing?!" Question Garrus.
"Don't worry. Ain't no one gettin' left behind." And responded. "But we need some distance from these things."
The jumpship started flying away from Jane and towards the edge of the hangar, though the mech were still hot on their tail. They zoomed past Jane in their pursuit. Their guns firing off rounds at the fireteam and their vessel.
"There is no end to these atrocities!" Shouted Shinazu as he fired an arrow.
"Why weren't these things fried in the Stormtrance?!" Questioned Whisky.
"They must have just gotten deployed. Only thing that makes sense." Garrus answered.
Back on the ground, Jane was taking apart a mech with her bare hands. One was speeding towards her from behind, deploying an Omni-Blade in its right arm as it prepared to impale her. Luckily, Jane heard it coming. She aimed her rifle backwards over her shoulder and fired. The bullet tore through the mech's facial plates and was disabled on the spot.
Two more closed in from her sides. They were circling around her, trying to catch the human off guard. Not good enough. Jane took aim. Her gun fired a bullet and it struck both of them at the same time the very second they had lined up with one another in their circling.
That was it for the mechs targeting her. Now for the ship. Jane turned towards it. It was heading for open air space. She would need to hurry if she were to catch her ride. If she runs, she just might make it.
"Time to get moving."
Jane's legs tensed and with one powerful thrust of her lead foot, she started sprinting. Despite her bulk, Jane was moving as fast as a charging bull. Each step felt as though she was shaking the entirety of the ward. Jane plowed through mech after mech that blocked her path. She was truly an unstoppable force.
"MAKE WAY! UNCLE URDNOT IS COMING IN HOT!"
The shouting of a new voice echoed through the hangar. Jane looked up. She saw a massive red krogan falling from the upper levels. He was engulfed in a biotic field, probably so he could absorb the impact of the fall upon landing. On the right side of his face, claw scars.
Wrex.
The krogan crashed onto the metal floor of the hangar. A shockwave of biotic energy erupting from him upon landing. Wrex planted his feet firmly against the ground, bending his legs slightly and tensing up his posture as he braced himself for an imminent tackle.
"Okay, ya damned tank with tits! Come to Papa!"
Jane rolled her eyes. Fine. If this guy wants it, then he's gonna get it. She put away her rifle and increased her speed. That was when Wrex was finally able to get a better look at her face. The krogan's eyes widened in shock.
"Shepard?!"
"Outta my way, Ugly!"
Jane crashed into Wrex; the krogan getting the wind knocked out of him from the sheer force of the tackle. Her arms wrapped around his body and she tossed him backwards over her. Wrex yelled at the top of his lungs as he flew through the air, eventually crashing into a ship and causing the entire vessel to tip over and fall off its platform. Wrex was instantly knocked unconscious after the crash. His form laying in the wreckage, mumbling nonsense.
"Ugh… No Mordin… Scalpels aren't supposed to cut there…"
At the ship, Garrus and Fireteam November continued to shoot down the VALKRI Mechs pursuing them. It was as though there were no end to them. Shinazu drew back his bowstring and an arrow was launched at high speed, piercing through the mech's metal chastise like thin tinfoil. One after the other, they fell to the ground like dominoes. Their combined fire was sufficient enough to keep them at bay for the time being. Too bad that it was only a matter of time before they would be overwhelmed.
"Did you seriously bring a bow and arrow to a gunfight?" Garrus questioned Shinazu for his choice of weapon.
Dragonsbane knocked back another arrow before releasing. The oversized arrow punched through not one, but two mechs at the same time, as well as ripping off the leg of the one behind the second target. The third collapsed to the ground, causing the mechs behind it to trip over and start a pileup. The Warlock smiled smugly at the turian.
"Lucky shot." Said Garrus with a pout.
Mech heads exploded in quick succession. Crow was no slouch when it came to sharpshooting. He held his pistol with one arm, knocking off mechs as though he were doing target practice. The Hunter reloaded and resumed shooting. After seven perfect shots to their heads, the Hawkmoon's feather engravings began to shimmer with some kind of energy. Crow halted his fire, as if he was waiting for something.
"Crow, why did you stop?!" Garrus asked.
"Come on… Line up for me…"
His eyes were transfixed on the movements of the mechs. Their timings. Their swerves. There was a pattern to them. No one else could see it, but he could. It was brief, but there was one moment, one instant where all the mechs would line up all at once.
That was what Crow was waiting for.
"Adios."
Crow fired the final bullet. The bang of the gun sounded more like the cry of a bird of prey. The bullet had been illuminated by an ethereal energy. The energy took shape; a hawk, swearing through the air on wings of pure light. The hawk shrieked as it ripped through each and every one of the mech as though they were nothing. The hawk finally vanished once the bullet hit the wall at the far end of the hangar. The impact was so strong that it left a crater in the wall in the shape of a bird's wings spread wide.
Garrus was in absolute awe at the sight. He never would have imagined that such a little gun could possess such destructive power. Crow smirked confidently at the turian.
"How's that for sharp sharpshooting?"
Jane kept up her speed as she dashed towards the speeding ship. She was actually keeping up with it, even catching up. Jane had to have been running at a hundred miles per hour. Garrus was sure that wasn't how fast humans could run, but he was sure that it wasn't as fast as a sky car, last he checked. The ship had flown over the edge of the hangar. The only way that Jane could make it now was if she jumped.
"Legs, don't fail me now!"
She leapt high into the air. The world seemed to slow around her at that moment. Jane smiled. She felt invincible. There was no stopping her. Unfortunately, one of the mechs behind her on the ground was still functioning. The robot took aim and fired a round from its weapon.
It pierced where her heart was.
Jane coughed blood. Her body arched backwards. Eyes rolled up into the back of her head. Garrus could only look in horror as he saw his commander take a fatal shot. He could feel his blood go ice cold and his gut drop. Her body went limp in the air as gravity took hold of her, pulling her down to the streets below.
It was happening so slowly to him. Garrus could see the light vanish from her eyes before they closed completely. He watched her body fall forward like a ragdoll. The Khvostov in her hands slipped free from her grip.
He watched the woman he loved be taken from him once more. Just. Like. That.
"Jane!" Cried Edith as she appeared.
Adrenaline swept through his body. His jaw opened wide, unleashing an ear piercing scream.
"NOOOOOOOOOO!"
Garrus' body sprung into action. He dashed full speed towards his dying lover. Tears beginning to form in his icy blue eyes.
"Garrus, wait!" Urged Crow.
But he didn't listen. Garrus reached out for Jane with one arm, believing against all odds that he would catch her. But it was too late. Jane's body plummeted. When he reached the end of the ramp, Garrus got down on his knees and leaned over the edge. His arm still outstretched, trying to reach something beyond him. It was useless. He was useless.
He couldn't save her.
"SHEPARD!"
That was when he felt something. Something within him, now clawing to the surface. His tearful blue eyes changing into a bright green. The feeling rushing into a single point. His open hand.
Suddenly, Garrus' hand started glowing green and numerous spectral threads shot out from his pal, racing towards the falling Jane Doe at high speed. The threads made contact with Jane's chest armor. It stuck to her like glue and brought her descent to a complete stop. Jane was now hanging mid air by the green threads coming from the turian's hand.
Garrus couldn't believe what he was seeing. Somehow he had just saved Jane. Vakarian recognized this energy he was producing. It was the same kind from earlier, back when he was hitting that punching bag in his apartment. It was now manifested.
Crow was left in amazement by Garrus' display of his strange powers. He had never seen anything like it before.
"Garrus… How did..?"
Garrus was in both shock and awe. He had no idea what he had just done. But for some reason. For some odd, unexplained reason, he knew exactly what to do next. Garrus pulled back his arm, the threads retracted back up towards him with Jane in tow. They were working like some sort of… Grapple.
In seconds, Jane's body was pulled back up to the ramp, where Garrus took hold of her in his arms. Once she was fully in his embrace, Garrus stood back up and rushed back into the ship.
"I've got her! Holiday, close the door!"
The cargo ramp slowly began to rise until it was sealed shut. Garrus carried Jane further into the ship, stopping once he was in a big enough space. Jumpships were not meant for multiple people, so it was small. Cargo hold was the only place that could hold passengers.
Garrus laid Jane down onto the floor. Blood was still seeping from the hole in her chest. The turian was frantically looking over her form, searching for latches in the suit. He needed to get this thing open so he could try and treat her injuries. The other Guardians had gathered around Garrus. They all stood back, watching their guest have a mental breakdown.
"Nononononono! Shepard! Shepard, stay-stay with me, okay? You're gonna be alright!" Garrus spoke, his words fast and panicked. "Crow, help me get her armor off!"
"Garrus, you need to calm down." Said the Hunter in a more controlled tone.
Garrus looked up with disgust. "Calm down?! She's dying! We have to do something! Why aren't any of you doing anything! She's your comrade!" He returned his gaze to the fallen Titan. "Shepard! Jane! How do you get this off?!"
No matter how hard he looked, Vakarian couldn't seem to find any openings in Jane's armor. It was like it was poured over her or something. He couldn't even stop the bleeding with that chest plate in the way. There was nothing he could do.
"Jane! Sweetheart, please! Don't do this to me! Not again! Please!"
Tears were now streaming down the turian's face. Garrus scooped Jane up into his arms. Her head hung backwards. No breath was drawn. No pulse.
"EDITH! WHERE ARE YOU?! HELP!"
Edith finally appeared. She floated towards the grieving Garrus and her Guardian quickly.
"Edith, you've got to do something! She's dying! Heal her!"
"Garrus."
"Come on! You can grow an arm! You can fix this! Please!"
"Garrus, she's dead."
Hearing those words lit a rageful fire within him. Garrus reached for the Ace of Spades on his hip, pointing it straight at Edith in a moment of pure anger.
"YOU TAKE THAT BACK RIGHT NOW!"
The Ghost screamed fearfully. Whiskey and Shinazu readied their weapons. They demanded Garrus drop the gun or be put down. He eventually caved and relinquished the pistol. Garrus then scurried into the corner, cradling Jane's body in his arms. He held her face close to his as he sobbed into her cheek.
"Jane… Sweetie… Don't go…"
This wasn't fair. He had just gotten Shepard back, and yet the cruel hands of fate had snatched her from his arms once again. First the Collectors, then the Crucible, and now this. Shot down by the ungrateful bastards who she gave up EVERYTHING to save from the Reapers. And now he had lost her all over again. Garrus felt as though he would die.
"Temerarus… Phaeston… Spirits above, please… Please, I'm begging you… Anything but this..!"
In all honesty, he wished he were dead. That way, they would be together again. Anything would be better than living alone in this horrible galaxy. Edith flew closer to Garrus, ignoring the fact that he had threatened to shoot her not five seconds ago.
"Garrus, let her go. I can still help her." She spoke calmly.
"How?! You said she was already… Already…" Garrus sniffled, unable to finish what he was saying.
Edith gave him a reassuring wink. "It's like she said earlier. Guardians have damn good medical coverage!"
It took some convincing, but Edith had managed to get Garrus to let Jane go. He had laid her down on the floor and was told to step back. And to brace himself.
"First, I gotta repair the damage to her heart…"
Edith quickly got to work. She fired off a ray of light from her eye into the bullet hole in Jane's chest. Within seconds, the organ's tissue started regenerating until it was fully restored.
"Now to close up the wounds."
She adjusted her aim. The ray spread to Jane's entire body. The holes in her chest and back rapidly shrunk to the point that they had completely closed shut. Now came the finale.
"Try not to scream in terror." Edith urged Garrus.
Edith floated directly over Jane. The Ghost started generating an energy field around itself. The field slowly condensed until Edith released it. The field exploded, engulfing Jane in its essence.
Then, a miracle happened. Jane's eyes shot open and she gasped for air. Garrus frightfully jumped up in the air and, despite Edith's request, screamed bloody murder. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Jane, who was dead for not even five minutes, had just magically come back to life right before his eyes. Was this some kind of trick?
Jane wasted no time sitting up, though she was still gasping and coughing due to just being revived by her Ghost companion. Her hand clutched the part of her chest where the bullet exited from.
"Fuck me!" She cursed.
"You okay?" Asked Crow.
Jane nodded. "Yeah… Getting hit in the heart is the worst. Rather get shot in the head."
"What the hell..?"
Doe turned to head towards Vakarian. He was staring right at her, eyes as wide as dinner plates and his jaw hanging open. Jane realized what had happened fast.
"Did he see me..?"
Her team nodded. Jane sighed. She knew explaining this kind of phenomenon was not going to be easy.
"Garrus, listen to me. I know you're freaking out right now, but I can explain-"
He moved in faster than she could react. Garrus moved in and pulled Jane close to him. One arm wrapped around her back, another behind her head.
And he pulled her into a kiss.
Garrus' mouth plates pressed firmly against her lips. His hands holding her in place. Jane's eyes were just as wide as Garrus' were before. She was in so much shock that she couldn't even move. Crow, Glint, Shinazu, Whiskey, and Edith were all just as surprised as she was. They did not expect the turian to do that. The kiss soon broke. Garrus then pressed his forehead against Jane's, still softly crying tears of joy.
"Whoa! What the fuck?!" She exclaimed. "Garrus, what are you doing-"
Before Jane could finish, she was pulled into a tight hug. The turian was still sobbing softly as he buried his face into her shoulder. Jane wanted to push him away, demand to know why he would just kiss her like that. However, for some reason, she didn't want to. Doe felt something within her, telling her not to fight this. That she should embrace him. Comfort him.
Though hesitant, Jane wrapped her arms around Garrus' torso and pulled him close to her. She rested her head in his carapace around his neck.
"It's okay, Garrus." She whispered to him comfortingly. "I'm alright. I'm sorry I scared you."
"Wh-what… What have you become..?" Garrus whimpered.
Jane fell silent momentarily. Her head nuzzled into the base of his neck. She replied with a single word.
Legend.
...
End Act 1