Choice Of Chains

Normandy, 2185, October 26th 4:58 AM

My eyes open, and the first thing I see is Miranda lying beside me. Her eyes are closed, her breathing steady, she's still asleep. For a moment, I just watch her, marvelling at how peaceful she looks.

A small smile tugs at my lips as I inch closer, brushing a gentle kiss against her cheek. Her skin is warm, and there's the faint scent of her shampoo. Just as I pull back, her omni-tool goes off. Perfect timing.

Her eyes open slowly, and when they meet mine, she smiles. "Good morning," she murmurs, reaching to silence the alarm.

"Morning." I nestle closer, resting my head on her shoulder. She wraps an arm around me, it feels kind of comforting.

Her fingers trace patterns on my arm. "I know we should probably get up," she says softly, still sounding a little tired. "But another minute or two won't hurt."

I sigh, my hand coming to rest on her stomach. "You didn't get much sleep." She came back and spent most of the night at her terminal.

She lays her hand over mine, her thumb brushing against my knuckles. "I'll be fine. I can handle it." She says that, but I can see the slight weariness in her eyes.

"I'm worried about the mission," I admit, surprising myself. Normally, I'd keep thoughts like that to myself-or at the very least, I might tell Riley.

She gives me a curious look, her brow furrowing. "Worried about me on the mission, or just in general?"

"In general." I frown, trying to put it into words. "It doesn't feel right. Something's off."

Her fingers intertwine with mine, and she gives my hand a reassuring squeeze. "Shepard knows what she's doing. And we're all more than capable of doing our jobs." She pauses, her features softening. "You're worrying too much."

A short laugh escapes me. "Maybe you're right."

"There's no 'maybe' about it," she quips, raising an eyebrow.

I pull back, smirking as a reply forms in my head. But when I meet her gaze, the words disappear. I take her in, her hair slightly messy, her eyes bright and caring. She's stunning. Almost too good to be true.

"You're beautiful," I murmur, the words slipping without a thought.

She smiles as she tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. "Look who's talking."

I blink, completely thrown off guard. Compliments aren't new to me, but this feels... different. Her words settle somewhere deep, in a place I didn't even realise was empty.

"I-uh-" My voice catches, and I mentally kick myself. Real smooth, idiot.

Miranda cups my cheek, gently brushing my skin. Then she leans up, pressing her lips to mine. The kiss is soft, tender, and something more. It feels like more than just a kiss. It's comforting.

When she pulls away, her eyes meet mine. "Everything will be okay, Vex," she says softly, her eyes flicking to my lips before she adds, almost reluctantly, "But as much as I want to stay here, we need to get ready for the debrief."

I let out a sigh of frustration. "I know."

She chuckles, leaning in to press a kiss to my cheek before slipping out of bed. I watch her move to her closet. I really hope she's right.

I lean back on my elbows, my mind racing. I wasn't expecting it, but being with her makes me feel so... happy. I care about her, and I hope she cares about me too.

Normandy, 2185, October 26th 10:12 AM

Waiting by the shuttle, I check my weapon for what feels like the hundredth time. I wish Riley would hurry up, standing here only makes me more restless. Sighing, I glance over at Miranda. She's having a conversation with Samara and Thane across the bay. She appears calm about everything right now.

"You can check mine if you want," Grunt offers from beside me, holding his claymore out.

I stare at the shotgun, then at him. "Thanks, but I'm good Grunt."

He shrugs, slinging the weapon onto his back. "You seemed worried."

Shaking my head, I find myself smiling despite the unease I feel right now. It's sweet, in his own Grunt way. "I'm not worried... just a bad feeling, I guess."

Grunt chuckles, the sound low and deep. "No need. We have guns."

I can't help but let out a laugh. Maybe he's right. Maybe it really is that simple. "You're right. We've got this."

The elevator door opens, drawing everyone's attention. Riley steps out, her eyes scanning across the room. "All right, people! I hope you're ready. Let's go." She doesn't wait for a response, heading straight for the shuttle.

We enter it behind her and I take a seat beside Miranda. She glances at me briefly, her expression unreadable, and gives a small nod before facing the front of the shuttle. I follow her gaze, catching a look at the Collector ship as the hangar door opens.

It's massive. Sure, we knew that, we've seen one before, but being this close is something else entirely. It's just as ominous as the one we saw on Horizon. It makes us look like a speck of dust.

I grip the edge of my seat, resisting the sudden urge to reach for Miranda's hand. Why now? It's not like I've never been on a mission before. I just-I don't like this feeling.

The shuttle slows as we near an opening in the ship. I take a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest. This is it. We've gone over the plan several times. Get in, find a console, steal the data, and get out. It sounds simple enough. I just hope it really is.

We all fit our breathers as the shuttle lands. For a moment, no one moves, the weight of the mission settling in. Then the shuttle door opens and we all stand up.

Stepping out, it feels like we're walking into something alive. Instantly, the air feels oddly heavy. The walls look wet, glistening like sinew as they pulse faintly with an amber glow. It looks almost... organic.

"Looks like a giant insect hive," Miranda observes, drawing her weapon. She's right. That's exactly what it looks like.

EDI's voice comes over the comms. "Penetrating scans have detected an access node to uplink with Collector databanks. Marking location to your hardsuit computer."

"Good work, EDI," Riley replies before turning to us. "Take it slow, people. We're blind here."

As we move forward, the ship starts to look almost cavernous. The walls seem to shift subtly, which I hate. And every so often, there's a strange noise. It's like a low, guttural hum that vibrates through your chest.

"I've never seen anything like it," Samara remarks, glancing around.

"It's definitely something," Riley mutters, her grip tightening on her rifle. "But keep on guard."

Samara gives a small nod. "You don't have to worry about me, Commander."

"Shepard," EDI interjects. "I have compared the ship's EM signature to known Collector profiles. It is the vessel you encountered on Horizon."

My stomach tightens. Horizon. That means-

"We can find the colonists they took," I say, the words tumbling out before I can stop them. "Maybe we can help-"

"Vex," Miranda cuts in sharply. "Don't get your hopes up. We need to be realistic."

Riley sighs, glancing back at me. "Miranda's right. We'll find them if we can, but the information is our priority."

"I-" My words falter. They're both right. I know they are. But it doesn't make it any easier.

Miranda's face softens, her voice lowering. "I'm sorry, Vex."

All I can do is nod in response.

As we continue, some pods come into view ahead of us, the same kind we saw on Horizon. I try not to get my hopes up as we approach. Empty, fuck.

"Must have been horrible." Thane looks down at them, studying them with a grave expression. "Trapped in these pods. Completely at the mercy of the Collectors." He turns away, looking tense. "These poor souls."

I glance at him, surprised by the sympathy in his voice. He really does seem to care. I just wish he wasn't right.

We move on, heading further inside. Then, we see it-a pile of bodies, stacked haphazardly like discarded trash. My breath catches at the sight. It's horrifying... what the fuck happened here?

"Why would they leave them like this?" I manage, taking a step back.

"Test subjects," Miranda replies, placing a hand on her hip as she studies them. "Most likely discarded after an experiment." She sounds so matter-of-fact, cold. Maybe it's just a way to cope for her.

Riley flinches, stepping around the pile without another glance, signalling for us to keep moving. The group follows, though my feet feel heavy. Every step in this place feels like we're trespassing in some kind of nightmare.

Heading down the next hallway, the walls gradually give way to cold, dark metal. We enter a room lined with a few pods connected to terminals. Some are empty, but one has a dead Collector inside. It's some kind of lab, I guess.

Riley approaches a terminal, her omni-tool lighting up as she starts scanning. "EDI, I'm sending some data through."

"Data received. Analysing," EDI responds. A few moments pass. "The Collectors were running baseline genetic comparisons between their species and humanity."

Riley glances toward the dead Collector in the pod, her expression hardening. "Why?"

"I have no hypothesis on their motivations," EDI replies after a brief pause. "All I have are the preliminary results. They reveal something remarkable. A quad-strand genetic structure, identical to traces collected from ancient ruins. Only one race is known to have this structure. The Protheans."

We all fall silent as her words sink in. My stomach drops. Protheans? That can't be right.

Riley is the first to break the silence. "Are you saying the Protheans are working with the Reapers?"

"These are no longer Protheans, Shepard," EDI clarifies. "Their genes show distinct signs of extensive genetic rewrite. The reapers have repurposed them to suit their needs."

I shake my head, trying to process it. "And no one noticed? All this time?"

"No one has had an opportunity to study a Collector genetic code in this detail," EDI responds evenly as if that explains everything.

Miranda places a hand on her hip. "It doesn't matter what they were. They're monsters now."

Riley exhales, crossing her arms. "Even if they're being enslaved, they're still serving the Reapers. We can't let that continue."

"And we're not letting them do to us what they did to the Protheans," Miranda adds.

Riley nods. "Agreed. Let's move."

Without another word, we follow her into the next corridor. She slows, her eyes fixed upward. I look up, pausing as I see the pods. There-there's so many.

"How many?" Grunt asks as he tilts his head to scan the rows.

"There must be hundreds," Miranda replies, the pain on her face mirroring how I feel. "How many do you think are full?"

"Too many," Riley answers. She looks away, heading up a slope.

EDI's voice comes through. "I detect no signs of life in the pods, Shepard. It is probable the victims inside died when the ship lost primary power."

I shake my head, the ache in my chest tightening. "I don't think that's any better."

Samara walks beside me. "We have yet to encounter any Collectors. It's suspicious."

She's right, we haven't. They could be dealing with whatever the 'turians' did to cause the power outage. But, it doesn't matter right now. I just want to find this console and get the hell out of here.

"Commander. You gotta hear this," Joker says over the comms. "On a hunch, I asked EDI to run an analysis on this ship."

"I compared the EM profile against data recorded by the original Normandy two years ago," EDI adds. "They are an exact match."

Riley stops mid-step, her jaw tightening. "The same ship? You're telling me this thing's been a pain in my ass for two years?"

"Something doesn't add up, Commander," Joker replies. "Watch your back."

She doesn't say anything else, instead pushing forward down the dim hallway. The metal walls become organic again, pulsing faintly as we pass by more pods scattered around.

Up ahead, a faint orange glow spills into the corridor. As we approach, the light grows brighter, illuminating another chamber. When we step inside, I stop in my tracks.

The ceiling is alight with pods, rows and rows of glowing orange containers, stretching endlessly. There-there's no way.

"There's so many," I whisper, unable to tear my gaze away.

Thane sighs beside me. "Well. I suppose we should have expected this."

Miranda takes a step forward, her eyes fixed up. "They could take every human in the Terminus Systems and not have enough to fill these pods."

I clench my fist, my stomach churning. "They're going to target Earth."

"No, they're not," Riley says, voice firm. She turns away to walk down the next path. "We'll stop them."

I glance at the others, catching their sombre expressions before following Riley. She's right... we have to stop them. We don't have any other choice. They're not filling these pods.

The path leads us to a sleek platform surrounded by short safety walls. At its centre is a console, gleaming faintly. Riley approaches it cautiously, her hand brushing the edge of the console.

"This doesn't feel right," I say, stepping closer and grabbing her arm. "Riles, wait."

"I know," she says softly, pulling away from my grip. Her eyes remain fixed on the console. "But I don't have a choice."

I nod. "Good luck."

She activates her omni-tool and leans toward the console. "EDI, you're up. Let's see what you can pull from this thing."

EDI's voice appears. "Data-mine in progress, Shepard."

For a few moments, nothing happens. Then, without warning, the console sparks violently and explodes, the force shaking the platform. The walls around us hiss as chambers along their surface begin to activate. This can't be good.

Riley steadies herself, glancing around. "What happened?"

"Major power surge," Joker replies. "Everything went dark, but we're back up now."

"I managed to divert the majority of the overload to non-critical systems," EDI adds, pausing for a few seconds. "Shepard, it was not a malfunction. This was a trap."

From the corner of my eye, a shadow darts by. My attention snaps to it, but the entire structure jolts violently before I can warn the others. The platform shakes and then starts to rise, leaving us no time to jump off.

Riley grips the console, trying to stay upright. "We need a little help here, EDI."

"I am having trouble maintaining connection. There is someone else in the system," EDI replies.

The platform jerks to a sudden stop, and I'm thrown backward, hitting the ground hard. Pain radiates across my back as I groan. Fuck it hurts.

Grunt stands above me, extending a hand. "Here."

I grab it, letting him haul me to my feet. "Thanks, big guy."

"Connection reestablished," EDI announces. "I need to finish the download before I can override any systems."

Before we can respond, more platforms appear, connecting to ours. Collectors come out of cover, eyes on us and weapons raised. We should have known.

"Get to cover!" Riley shouts, ducking behind the console.

I follow her lead, pressing my back against the metal as bullets fly past. The others scatter, taking what little cover the safety walls offer. With a nod to Riley, I grip my rifle tightly. These fuckers are going down.

I pop out of cover, aiming at the nearest Collector. My shot lands, causing it to fall. But another one starts to convulse and glow, its body pulsing with an orange light. Not this again.

"Forty-one percent complete," EDI chimes in.

Riley fires from her position. "Speed it up, EDI."

The glowing Collector raises an arm, pointing in our direction. "Neutralise Commander Shepard."

What the fuck. Riley said on Horizon that the glowing one knew her name, but hearing it speak is something else. I load a disruptor round, I need to take it out.

It starts erratically moving towards us. My shot misses, going past the Collector's head. Fuck. I duck back down, my heart pounding. It's getting closer.

"Eighty-four percent," EDI reports.

Riley winces as bullets hit the console. "Get us out of here, EDI!"

"I am simultaneously fighting Collector firewalls in over 8000 nodes," EDI replies. "I am tasked to capacity."

Peeking over the console, I watch Grunt leap onto another platform. He fires point-blank at a Collector, its head snapping back. Samara follows him, biotic energy radiating around her as she shields him from incoming fire. Nearby, Thane picks off one of those bloated husks.

I rise again, lining up my rifle. I'm taking that glowing bastard out. My next shot lands, staggering it, but it doesn't stop. Its glowing eyes lock on the console as it walks forward.

"You prolong the inevitable," it growls. "Your death is assured."

Before I can take another shot, a surge of biotic energy slams into it, sending the Collector off the platform into the dark below.

Miranda steps forward, her hands still glowing. "I don't think so," she says, giving Riley and me a quick nod before returning to cover.

We press the attack, coordinating shots and biotics to take out the rest of the enemies. The platform falls silent.

I lean on the console, chest heaving. "Glad that's over."

"Shepard," EDI interrupts. "You must manually reestablish my link to the command console."

Riley stands, activating her omni-tool. "Got it, EDI."

"I have regained control of the platform, Shepard," EDI confirms.

"I knew you could do it." Riley exhales in relief, stepping back from the console.

"I always work at optimal capacity," EDI says as the platform begins to move slowly towards a ledge.

Riley nods. "Did you get what we needed?"

"I found data that could help us successfully navigate the Omega 4 relay." EDI hologram appears on the console. "I have also found the turian distress call that served as the lure for this trap. The Collectors were the source. It is unusual." I knew it wasn't turians.

"That doesn't sound unusual," Samara says, stepping forward.

"I agree," Thane adds. "It makes sense to fake the distress call."

"No," EDI counters. "Is it unusual because turian emergency channels have secondary encryption. It is corrupted in the message. It is not possible that the Illusive Man would believe the distress call was genuine."

What? My stomach drops. That bastard. "He knew? We were just bait. I knew he couldn't be trusted."

"Vex, stop," Riley snaps, shaking her head at me. She turns back to EDI. "How can you be so sure?"

EDI pauses. "I found the anomaly with Cerberus detection protocols. He wrote them."

"He knew it was a trap?" Joker asks. "Why would he send us into a trap?"

"Because he's a lying, manipulative traitor!" I shout, my voice rising. I can feel the anger burning inside me. "I told you we couldn't trust Cerberus. And now look where we are!"

"There has to be some other explanation!" Miranda cuts in, stepping closer, hand on her hip. "The Illusive Man wouldn't do this to us. He-he just wouldn't."

I whirl to face her, I can't believe this. "Are you serious right now? He set us up, and you're still defending him? How blind are you?"

Miranda's composure cracks, anger flashing across her face. "You don't know him like I do! You-"

"Uh, Commander," Joker interrupts, sounding panicked. "We've got another problem. The Collector ship is powering up."

"Understood," Riley confirms, stepping between us and throwing us both a stern look. "That's enough, both of you. We don't have time for this."

"You need to get out before their weapons come online!" Joker warns. "I'm not losing another Normandy!"

"I do not have full control of their systems," EDI adds. "I will do what I can. Sending coordinates for shuttle extraction."

"Come on!" Riley shouts, sprinting onto the ledge. "We have to move!"

We bolt after her, heading down another hallway. The corridors twist and shift, the organic walls around us blending with metal. This place is like a maze.

"Around the corner," EDI's voice directs through the comms. "Take the door on your right."

We follow her lead, bursting through the door. The space opens into a massive chamber held up with large support beams. Just as we take in the room, Collectors surround us, weapons aimed and ready.

"Shit." Riley leads us down a sloped path and into cover behind one of the beams. "EDI, what's the plan?"

"I am opening a door on the far side of the room," EDI responds.

Riley takes a quick peek, ducking back as bullets slam into the beam. "Samara, Miranda... can you get us there?"

Miranda nods. "I can handle it."

"As can I, Shepard," Samara agrees, her voice calm.

Biotic energy crackles around them as a thin shimmering bubble encircles us. I don't like it, but this plan might be crazy enough to work.

"Run!" Riley yells.

We charge from cover, the biotic shield protecting us as gunfire pelts against it. Miranda grits her teeth, letting out a groan. Samara seems focused, not showing any signs of weakness.

The far door starts to slide shut just as one of the metallic creatures from Horizon glides down in front of it. Its glowing blue mouth begins to charge. Oh no.

"Move!" Riley shouts.

The beam fires, slicing through the biotic shield. We scatter as dust flies around us. Miranda stumbles, falling forward onto one knee.

"Miranda!" I dart to her side and grab her arm. Hauling her upright, I sling her arm over my shoulders. "I've got you. Come on."

She leans into me, and together we stagger toward the nearest support beam. Another shot from the creature flashes past us, too close for comfort. My grip tightens on Miranda before I shove her behind cover, diving in after her just as the Collectors begin to close in.

I can hear voices through my comms, but I barely hear them, too focused on Miranda. I quickly check her over, seeing that she's fine. Relief washes over me as I lean back.

"Is everyone okay?" Riley asks over the comms.

"Thane and I are unharmed," Samara replies. "Where's Grunt?"

"He's with me," Riley confirms. "Vex? Miranda?"

I glance at Miranda, her eyes meeting mine briefly. "We're here, Riles," I reply. "What's the plan now?"

"EDI's almost got the door." She sighs. "But we need to take that thing out."

She can't be serious. "That took too much ammo last time."

"She's right," Miranda agrees, her brow furrowing. "We don't have the resources."

I peek out from cover as the creature glides closer, charging another shot. The Collectors push in on Riley and the others, pinning them down. Fuck.

No time. No options.

Taking a breath to steel myself, I turn to Miranda. "When EDI gets that door open..." I pause, swallowing. "I'll distract them."

"Are you insane?" Miranda scolds, grabbing my arm. Her grip is firm, almost desperate. "You'll get yourself killed."

I glance down at her hand, feeling a knot tighten in my stomach. There's a flicker of something-concern, affection-but I force it away. I can't think about that right now. "I don't have a choice." I shake her off, taking a step back. "You and the others get to the door. I'll buy you some time."

"Vex." Her voice breaks, and I see something in her eyes, something that just twists the knife more. "Don't do this."

I swallow the lump in my throat. "I'll be fine."

"I have successfully opened a door on the opposite wall," EDI announces. "I will keep it open as long as I can."

Before Miranda can say another word, I sprint out from behind the support beam, the creature immediately turning toward me. Its eyes glow as it charges up another beam. Perfect.

"Hey, asshole!" I shout, firing a few rounds with my pistol. The rounds spark harmlessly off its metallic body, but it's enough to draw its attention. Its beam fires, slicing through the air where I'd just been standing as I dive behind another support beam.

"Vex!" Riley shouts over the comms. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Keeping them busy." My heart pounds, but I force myself to keep moving, sliding into the next piece of cover. "Get to the door."

I rush out again, and I hear the unmistakable sound of Collector fire trailing my movements. Another beam carves through the floor, sending debris flying as I use my thruster to get to a higher platform. From here, I can see the others. They're by the door, fighting through the last of some husks.

Glancing back, I see the creature still following me. The Collectors have started moving, closing in around me. Good, it's time to get the fuck out of here.

Activating my cloak, I dart to the far side of the platform and leap down. Pain shoots up my legs, but I push through it. My heart races as I sprint along the room's edge. Behind me, I can hear the Collectors' wings. They'll figure out I'm not there soon enough, and I need to make every second count.

I rush through the open door and press my back against a wall, trying to catch my breath. The door seals behind me and the tension in my chest finally eases. Okay, it's time to find the others.

Heading further inside, I find a trail of dead Collectors and husks. The faint sound of combat gains my attention and I follow it to where the others are cleaning up the last of some Collectors.

I step forward. "I'm glad you didn't leave without me."

They all turn, relief flashing across their faces-except for Miranda's. Her expression is tight, her mouth pressed into a thin line as she glares at me. I look away, I can't do this now. Not here.

Riley steps forward. "Don't you ever pull a stunt like that again." Then, after a second, she places a hand on my shoulder. "But, good work."

Before I can reply, Joker's voice interrupts over the comms. "Uh, Commander? Hate to rush you but, those weapons are about to come online. Might want to double-time it. You know, so we can leave before they blow the Normandy in half."

"Understood," Riley replies, already turning toward the group. "Let's get out of here."

The team falls into a sprint, racing through the dim corridors. The sound of feet and guttural growls of husks gaining behind us. The shuttle finally comes into view, its door opening as we approach.

"We're out of time, Commander!" Joker's voice is urgent now. "We have to go!"

"You heard him!" Riley shouts, turning around to cover our retreat. "Get on board!"

Samara steps forward, glowing with biotic energy as she unleashes a massive shockwave. The husks are thrown back, buying us time to pile into the shuttle. I glance back as Riley pulls Samara inside, the door slamming shut behind them.

"Move!" Riley snaps, quickly getting into a seat.

The shuttle takes off, speeding toward the Normandy. We enter the hangar and the rough landing sends me tumbling forward. Before I hit the floor, something catches my arm. Miranda.

Her grip is steady, and for a moment, neither of us moves. Her eyes search mine, and there's something there-something I don't want to name. I pull my arm away, forcing myself to stand.

"Thanks." My voice comes out short, I hate how cold it sounds.

Joker's voice appears over the ship's comms. "Strap in people... gonna make them work for it this time."

The shuttle door opens, and Riley is the first to bolt out, heading straight for the elevator. The Normandy jerks sharply as Joker starts evasive maneuvers, and I stumble, catching myself on Grunt.

"Sorry, big guy," I mutter, strapping in beside him.

He just chuckles. "What you did back there was crazy, but you're alive."

"Yeah." I sigh and glance at Miranda, now seated across from me, her expression unreadable. She doesn't look at me, and for once, I'm grateful.

I'm just glad to be alive right now.

Normandy, 2185, October 26th 3:31 PM

I tug my shirt down, sighing as I lean against the armoury table. Finally out of that damn armour. I'm so fucking tired. I can't wait to have a nap.

EDI appears on her node. "Miss Ward, the Commander wishes to see everyone in the debriefing room."

Yeah, figured as much. I push off the table. "On my way."

As EDI disappears, I head for the exit. I spot a few crewmates heading down the hall. We exchange nods before we walk into the debriefing room together. Riley is already there, standing at the far end of the table. Her hands are planted on it, she seems stressed.

When everyone's finally gathered, Riley lets out a deep breath. "The Illusive Man claims he knew we could handle it and sent us there willingly."

Jacob is the first to speak. "So the Illusive Man didn't sell us out," he says as he leans onto the table. "Could've fooled me."

I scoff, taking a step forward. "What? We barely survived. He can get fucked."

"Vex," Riley snaps. She glares at me, hard enough to make me want to back off. "We all need to calm down."

Mordin starts pacing. "Lied to us. Used us. Needed access to the Collector data banks. Necessary risk."

"Bullshit." Jack crosses her arms. "He could have warned you."

"I know," Riley agrees, straightening up. "I don't like it, but the plan worked. We have the information. Now we know what we need a Reaper IFF. And we know of a derelict Reaper we can get it from."

"Assuming it's even functional," Miranda mutters, moving a hand to her hip.

"My analysis is accurate," EDI says, her hologram appearing on the table. "I have also determined the approximate location of the Collector homeworld based on navigational data from their vessel."

A map appears above the table, lines spiralling inward toward a bright void. That's... the galactic core.

Miranda's brow furrows. "That can't be right."

"It's somewhere in the galactic core." Riley stares at the map, arms crossed. "EDI doesn't make mistakes."

"Can't be." Jacob shakes his head. "The core is just black holes and exploding suns. There are no habitable planets there."

"Could be an artificial construction," Mordin suggests, leaning closer to the hologram. "Space station protected by powerful mass effect fields and radiation shields."

Miranda folds her arms. "Even the Collectors don't have that kind of technology."

"It's possible," Riley counters. "They work for the Reapers. They built the mass relays. Who's to say they couldn't build a space station surrounded by black holes?"

Fuck. No wonder no one's ever returned from the Omega 4 relay. It's worse than I expected, I suppose this really is a suicide mission.

"The logical conclusion is that a small safe zone exists on the far side of the relay. A region where ships can survive," EDI explains. "Standard relay transit protocols would not allow safe transport. Drift of several thousand kilometres is common, and would be fatal in the galactic core. The Reaper IFF must trigger the relay to use more advanced, encrypted protocols."

Jacob nods like he's already made up his mind. "So let's go to the derelict Reaper and get it."

"We're not ready." Riley scans the room, her gaze lingering on each of us before she exhales slowly. "Today just proved that. We need to take time to build the team and upgrade the ship."

Jacob leans back, his jaw tightening. "Sooner or later we need that IFF. I say, why wait?"

"She's right," Miranda says, turning to Jacob. "It's a derelict Reaper. What if the Collectors are waiting for us? We may want to take precautions before we take that kind of risk."

I glance at Miranda. I should agree with her. Hell, she's probably right... but all I can think about is how quick she was to defend Cerberus.

Jacob shrugs. "It's your call, Commander. Whatever you decide, we're with you."

"I've made up my mind, we need to prepare." Riley puts a hand on the table, turning the hologram off. "You're all dismissed."

The room falls silent for a moment before everyone begins to file out. Miranda hesitates, glancing at me. Our eyes meet for a second, and then she's gone.

Jack catches my attention, smirking approvingly before she leaves.

I linger a little longer, the knot in my chest tightening. Riley's right. We need to prepare... for the mission, for the Reapers, for everything. But something tells me I've got my own battle first.

Normandy, 2185, October 26th 5:18 PM

The observation deck is quiet, with only a faint hum in the background. I stand by the window, hands in my pockets, staring out at the vast expanse of stars. My face stares back at me, half-shadowed in the glass.

The door opens behind me. I don't turn, but I see Miranda's reflection stepping into the room. She pauses, the door sliding shut behind her.

"I assumed I'd find you here," she says, her gaze already fixed on me.

I exhale, the weight of what's about to happen heavy on me. "Miranda, we need to talk."

She hesitates, but walks closer, stopping a few feet from me. "I thought that might be the case."

Turning, I lean back against the glass, arms crossing tightly over my chest. "This isn't working." I pause for a moment. "Our relationship... I can't do it anymore."

Her calm composure falters slightly, her brow furrowing. "Vex, if this is about what happened with the Illusive man-"

"It's not just that," I interrupt, trying to keep my tone steady. "Miranda, at the time, there was evidence that he betrayed us, but you still defended him." I sigh, running a hand through my hair. "From the start, I knew you'd always pick Cerberus. I convinced myself that it was different now, but... I was wrong."

She takes a step closer, her expression hardening. "You think I don't question him? You think I don't see the flaws? I'm doing the best I can, Vex. You know that."

"That's the problem, Miranda." My voice rises. "You see what Cerberus is, and yet you're still so blindly loyal."

"You know what Cerberus means to me!" she snaps, voice matching mine. "I wouldn't be standing here without them. They aren't evil. Why can't you see that?"

"I do see it!" I shout, stepping forward. "And I see you. I know you believe you're doing the right thing, but I can't keep pretending that one day you'll wake up and see the truth. You won't. And I can't-" My voice cracks, but I force the words out. "I can't keep hoping for something that's never going to happen."

Her lips part as if to argue, but no words come out. For a moment, she just looks at me, her eyes searching mine. "Is this what you want?" she quietly asks.

"No." My chest tightens, the word catching in my throat. "But it was inevitable."

Her eyes narrow slightly, a flicker of anger crossing her face before it fades into something softer, something harder to face. "Vex-"

"I'm sorry," I cut her off, the lump in my throat making it hard to speak. "I have to go."

I brush past her, the room suddenly feels suffocating. My feet carry me to the door, even as a voice in the back of my head begs me to stop. I have to get out of here.

"So that's it?" Her voice trembles, and I stop in my tracks, turning to face her one last time.

Seeing the glint of tears, I take a shaky step back, forcing myself to meet her eyes. "Yes."

I quickly turn and leave, the door sliding shut behind me. The pain inside deepens, but I don't stop walking. I can't.

Thank you for reading and I hope you all enjoyed the holidays.