I ordered Joker to take his time getting us back to Illium as I wanted to enjoy as much time with Shiala and Gianna as possible. Both took advantage of this by spending time with me together before they each had me alone for a few hours. During our journey, agreements were made. Not just with Shiala and Gianna but with others as well.
Shiala would pack and return to Liara. She wanted to remain close to her good friend and knew that she would provide invaluable assistance. Liara could do the job alone, but it would be rather isolating with only her and Feron back on the ship. Gianna would remain on Illium to continue her usual role though Liara would send her work from time to time. I would fly Shiala back to Hagalaz before making my way either to Illium or the Citadel.
There would be another departure from my ship. Wrex had been in touch and with the Collectors now defeated, he requested that Grunt return to Tuchanka as he would undergo specialist training before taking charge of his own unit. I had no problem agreeing to the request. The mission was over, we'd been successful, and the agreement had always been that Grunt would return home upon completion of the mission.
We were a couple of hours from Illium. I was lying back with Shiala snuggled into my side. I didn't miss how her eyes gazed at me nowadays. They reminded me of Liara. Complete devotion and unconditional love. We'd made love for a couple of hours, Shiala proving insatiable as I ended up on my back because she wanted to ride me again. She knew we would be heading back to Hagalaz quickly, but that wasn't going to stop her.
Leaving Gianna behind was sad in many ways as I didn't know when I would be back on Illium and we had grown closer during the few short days that we'd been together. And when we were departing the next day, I didn't miss how long Shiala and Gianna hugged each other. I was left in no doubt that Liara, Shiala and Gianna had grown incredibly close while I was gone. Gianna hugged me last and the kiss we shared…
"You know how I feel about you, don't you, Shepard?" she asked lightly as her head rested against my chest.
"I think it's pretty easy to figure out. And we don't have to meld to figure it out."
"I'm going to stay here for the time being, but if I end up feeling rather lonely, I might just go and join Liara and Shiala. I don't think she'd mind."
"Keep in touch with me. And if you discover anything really big, let me know and I'll come help."
Only I rode with Shiala on the shuttle towards Liara's ship on Hagalaz. I wasn't surprised that Liara had been busy at work during our absence, making me laugh when after greeting me with one hell of a kiss, she had a large pile of datapads to hand over.
"Shepard… He knew about everything. He knew about the Reapers. He knew the Council is covering it up. He knew the Protheans had been defeated and then changed into the Collectors. He's quite obviously got contacts in Cerberus as he seems to know all about their operations. There's also a dossier in that pile about the Illusive Man. I've reviewed it more than once and I believe it's all true."
"Anything about me?"
That made her smile. "Shepard, you're one of the most famous humans in the galaxy. And given that you don't hide anything during previous interviews, he had information but it's nothing no one already knows."
I remained for a night cycle so I could have one more night with Liara. I wasn't surprised that Shiala did end up joining us, both whispering that they'd probably have a little fun while I was away. I assured them that was fine as I knew they'd been doing that anyway. Leaving wasn't as difficult as previous departures as Liara was now confident that she would be able to find as much information as possible regarding the Reapers. She would get in touch with certain people who knew about the threat, or at least believed in it, and send them information.
Our next stop was Tuchanka. It's fair to say that although there was a lot of respect for Grunt as a warrior, he didn't have many friends on the ship. But everyone still gathered to wish him good luck and farewell before I stepped onto the shuttle with him, and we headed down to the planet. Wrex was delighted to see me as always, and he insisted that I stay long enough to enjoy a couple of drinks with him.
Given that I didn't do that very often, a couple of drinks with Wrex and his warriors turned into me waking up the next morning with the hangover to end all hangovers. He had a good laugh at me when I managed to stagger out of the small room that I'd been placed in, my head thumping and left thinking that I was going to spend most of the day feeling sick.
"What are your plans now?" he asked once we were sitting down after breakfast.
"I'm going to the Citadel. Some of my crew will probably depart once we're there. Then it's a case of what to do next. Part of me does want to return to the Alliance, but I'm not sure how things will go there. I have my supporters, but the fact that I've spent months with Cerberus, even doing what I've done, won't matter to a lot of people."
"You could just work as a Spectre. But I guess that would mean restrictions."
"Kyla, the human councillor, supports me completely. But although she's one of the most powerful humans in the galaxy, even her word means little to certain groups within the Alliance. There's a hardcore group that Admiral Hackett has warned me about who want to throw the book at me. They think I disappeared when the ship was blown up to go and work with Cerberus."
"And the Reapers?"
I shrugged. "I don't know when they're coming. They are coming and we're not ready for them. I know that much. But when will they get here? No idea. I can only hope we're somewhat ready when they do. But the problem is that we're still separated. We might have the Council, but there's no real unity regarding how we would all work together. And we know how they hit the Protheans. Hit them hard and fast, separated them, then picked them off. If they do that to us, it's over."
"You know the krogan would stand with you, Shepard… But the genophage… I know it would be a war of attrition. Even if we won, the amount of blood that will no doubt be spilled, I'm not sure the krogan would survive in the end."
"I do wonder that if we're in a war of annihilation if the Council would change their mind about the genophage."
That made Wrex snort. "I won't hold my breath about it."
Grunt was sad to see me go as he had enjoyed his time fighting by my side. We agreed to keep in contact, and I knew Wrex had plans for Grunt and his new unit. If he wasn't fighting on Tuchanka, he was tempted to try and get Grunt off-world and fighting elsewhere as a mercenary group. I knew Wrex wanted to expand krogan interests and get off Tuchanka. What he wanted most of all was a cure for the genophage, but he had no idea if or when it would ever be cured.
Within a couple of hours of leaving Tuchanka, Miranda dragged me upstairs to my cabin and tried to fuck me into a coma. It was wonderful, and by the time she was finished with me, her skin glistened and the look on her face was one of utter satisfaction. She cuddled into my side, feeling her breath on my neck, as I had an arm wrapped around her in return.
"Just staking my claim again," she murmured, "We couldn't interfere when Liara and Shiala were here. We all know about your relationship with them."
"Any jealousy from the others?"
"A little but that's only natural."
"And you?"
"Shepard, I would have come here and just watched you with them. But I knew you needed time alone with each of them. And Liara has nothing to worry about from any of us regarding her new role. We know she's doing it for good reasons."
"How long do you want to stay with me?"
She lifted her eyes towards mine and they reflected the same feelings as Liara and others. Her devotion was now absolute. She didn't have to reply as the soft kiss on my lips was my answer before she cuddled into my side again. I think it's fair to say that Miranda did monopolise my time over the next couple of days. I wasn't complaining and no one seemed too unhappy about that. The only surprise to me was when Miranda arrived with Kelly on the second night of our journey.
An even larger surprise was that Miranda laid back and watched me and Kelly make love first. Only after Kelly was well and truly satisfied did Miranda join in, and having proven rather open-minded about having at least a little bit of fun with a woman when enjoying a threesome, Kelly proved to Miranda how talented she was. I fucked Kelly from behind while she was busy going down on Miranda. The noises Kelly had Miranda making made me grin.
Docking on the Citadel the next day, I told the entire crew that I would go to visit the Council first before any further decisions were taken. There was general agreement that everyone would remain on board for the time being.
My meeting with the Council didn't take place in complete secrecy given that the Collectors had been defeated and my departure from Cerberus was already news. Kyla congratulated me on protecting humanity. Kira didn't say much, the smile on her face one of utter relief that I had simply returned alive. I was surprised that Sparatus and Valern didn't complain about the destruction of the base. One of them would usually bitch and moan about my destruction of something or other. But the consensus was that they were happy that humanity was now safe and happier that my time with Cerberus was now at an end.
It was only when I walked into Alliance HQ that I realised that news had well and truly filtered through as I was greeted by everyone standing up and there was warm applause. I genuinely found myself blushing as I had my hand shaken constantly. Anderson walked out of his office, face absolutely beaming, and he took my hand in both of his.
"Well done, son. Well fucking done," he stated.
Jane was the last to greet me and the kiss she laid on me had the audience chuckling as she dragged me towards her office, slammed the door shut, and led me over to her desk. She sat up on it as we enjoyed a rather long make-out session. When we finally broke apart to take a couple of breaths, the smile on her face had me grinning like an idiot in return.
I immediately called the Normandy and told them that I would be out of contact for the rest of the day. I did sit down for a meeting with Anderson before Jane had the opportunity to take me away to her apartment. We discussed the Collectors briefly, but now that the threat was over, the Alliance could relax and focus on the real threat. What he wanted to know was my future plans.
"Until I'm sure that I won't be arrested, I won't be returning," I finally admitted, "I know who I was working with, but I've already been warned by Admiral Hackett about the voices demanding my arrest and incarceration. The Council has no such doubts about my loyalty. Until I'm otherwise convinced, I'll continue doing Spectre work though Hackett has been in touch from time to time about other jobs."
"If it was my decision, the only thing you'd be getting would be another medal, Shepard," Anderson replied.
"I'd rather that than prison time. What have you been hearing?"
"The rank and file aren't privy to the secrecy, but they know you, Shepard. They would know that you were working with Cerberus only to defeat the Collectors. Admiral Hackett made sure that news of your defection was released immediately. However, I do agree that sticking with Spectre work until we can confirm that you won't be charged will probably be the best thing for all concerned."
We chatted for a few more minutes as he told me a few things that the Alliance were doing before I bid him farewell and wandered into Jane's office. She was ready to go, taking my hand and leading me outside. When I asked what her plan for me was, she said that we would go back to her apartment for a little fun, then go out for dinner and a drink or two, before we returned to her apartment.
"And when we get back, I am going to swallow everything you give me before we make love… Then you're fucking my arse nice and hard."
Making love a few minutes later in her apartment, any doubt that I might have had about our relationship ended with a simple look in her eyes. We both knew how our relationship would work now and in the future. We might never be together permanently, but there was no doubt in my mind that it would endure regardless of where we were in the galaxy.
Dinner was fantastic as Jane knew all the best places to visit, telling me stories of her life on the Citadel. She admitted it was probably boring in comparison to mine, and that she was considering a transfer away from a desk job as she admitted that she was bored from time to time. But she had plenty of friends and she had me chuckling when a few of those friends were asari.
"I don't sleep with all of them," she added with a smirk, "Though I want to."
"Why don't you?" I wondered, taking one of her hands in mine, "Jane, you know what my life is like on the ship. Hell, I tell you about it because I know it arouses you."
"I have a little fun, but it's nothing like being with you, Shepard," she replied, giving me a smile that told me exactly how she was feeling.
We finished dinner and visited a nearby bar for a couple of drinks. She knew that I didn't partake very often, and she admitted to only letting her hair down around once a month or so. Returning to her apartment a couple of hours later, we were both naked rather quickly and she followed through on what she said earlier. On her knees before me, green eyes sparkling as they gazed into mine, her lips wrapped around my cock as her head slowly bobbed up and down.
She drew the blowjob out for as long as possible, bringing me to the brink more than once before backing off. When I gripped her hair and started to move my hips, her eyes lit up and she moved her head faster in time with my hip movements. I didn't miss the fact that she was fondling herself at the same time.
"I love you, Jane," I whispered. When her eyes immediately started to glisten, I knew that she loved me intensely in return, "Feelings never changed, did they?" She shook her head. "Close," I grunted.
Swallowing everything like she'd promised, I helped her to her feet and pulled her into my chest. She hugged me ever so tightly in return, feeling her fingers caressing my back before she shared quite the kiss.
"I love you too," she whispered back, "I'm not sure what's going to happen, Shepard. I know you'll never be monogamous. The good thing for you is that I like to fool around with asari and women, so if you do settle down in the sense of sticking to one place, I'll be there with you."
Lying back on the bed, her face was a picture of delight as I returned the favour and spent at least half an hour between her legs. And I returned the favour by teasing her. I knew all the right buttons to push when it came to Jane Shepard. When I finally helped her crest the wave and enjoy quite the orgasm, she could barely beg me to keep going it was so intense.
I got her off a few more times before she asked me to give her a moment, leaving a trail of soft kisses up her body towards her breasts before I was level with her eyes.
"Jesus, Shepard…"
"You know I love going down on you, Jane."
She didn't need long to recover before her hand was guiding me inside her. As we made love, it was gentle and loving, one of her legs around me, the other bent at the knee and resting against my torso. I felt her fingers dig into my back as I started to thrust a little faster, our mouths rarely parting as we constantly made out. I loved all the noises she made while making love. She was always a vocal lover.
"You love fucking your little sister?" she teased. That made me growl and fuck her a little harder. "Want to put a baby in your little sister?"
"You are such a fucking tease, Jane… Maybe my little sister really wants her arse fucked hard later."
"Shepard… There's this little part of me…" I slowed down and left a soft kiss on her lips. "I always think that I'm weird, even a little sick, but there's still that little part that… Maybe not your sister, but maybe a cousin… Just something that would make this even more unique and special."
"You love having your big brother inside you?"
"More than anything," she replied, "Best big brother dick in the galaxy!"
It amused me that we still roleplayed after all this time, but I'll be honest, it was fucking hot to roleplay. When I came inside her, both her legs were wrapped around me, begging me not to pull out. I knew she was on birth control and was fanatical about it. Like nearly all of my lovers, she knew that children were not on the agenda right now.
She was riding me a few minutes later, really bouncing and grinding away when she enjoyed one hell of a climax. The sort that had her collapsing onto my chest as I wrapped my arms around her, and that's when she allowed herself a little emotion. And I knew it was because I had survived and returned to her. She didn't say anything for a couple of minutes before she lifted her head to kiss me before I caressed her cheek, earning a soft smile.
After another orgasm for me, we lay on our sides facing each other, my fingers running down her side as she gazed at me with that same soft smile. She shuffled closer so I could cuddle her, and I wasn't surprised that she eventually asked about my other lovers. I couldn't tell her about Liara being the Shadow Broker, but I told her that we'd spent time together recently.
"And you've been with Kira?"
"Not during this visit."
That made her smile even more. Our night together ended with my cock buried in her arse, Jane with her arse raised just enough as I mounted her. I had my mouth near her ear as I grunted and groaned, the whimpers and moans of her in reply being music to my ears. I loved hearing her beg me to fuck her arse even harder, and when I was really nailing her, she turned her head further so that I could kiss her.
She made breakfast for me the next morning after we made love upon waking up and fooled around a little bit in the shower. The smile on her face had barely faded since waking up, and we walked hand in hand towards the Alliance offices. We shared one last kiss before she disappeared.
Returning to the Normandy, I knew that some of the crew would soon be leaving now that the mission was complete. Miranda, Georgia and the former Cerberus crew members would be staying with me. Garrus had no real plans and remained loyal. Any conflict Tali might have had ended after her trial. She might have been found innocent, but it's safe to say that she felt that she owed me in return. I was left thinking that Doctor Chakwas would leave now that the mission was over, but she sat me down and assured me of her loyalty. She'd spoken to contacts in the Alliance, and she had been assured that there would be no disciplinary action against her when she eventually returned. I had a feeling that Admiral Hackett had been her contact.
Mordin chose to leave the ship as he planned on returning home. I wasn't exactly sure as to his future plans as he kept his cards close to his chest, but there is no doubt in my mind that his viewpoints about certain things had changed. I knew that what happened with Maelon still lingered, and talking about the genophage had clearly opened old wounds.
Triss was leaving as she was going to join Shani on Ferris Fields. We talked about her remaining and she admitted that she had enjoyed her time on the ship, and was pleased to have contributed to our victory, but she wanted to go and spend time with her good friend. She would take a shuttle from the Citadel.
Leliana would leave as she wanted to return to what she'd been doing on the Citadel. However, she was confident that I would be a regular visitor to the Citadel in the future and assured me that we would keep in touch.
Amelie and Aela would be remaining on the ship for the time being. Amelie admitted that she had found her life a little isolating before and enjoyed being on a ship surrounded by people. Aela didn't really have anywhere else to go and figured that I would be able to offer her a sense of adventure and the occasional fight.
Kasumi had no real desire to leave and her friendship with Tali was another reason for her to remain. Jack was still thinking about what she could do if she left as we'd discussed options, and she still had an idea about helping kids who had gone through what she did. And finally, there was Samara. She showed me her thought process by laying one hell of a kiss on me when we were discussing future plans, adding that she was still living by her code, but given that her daughter was now dealt with, as were the Collectors, she finally felt free of most of her obligations.
To be honest, I was at a bit of a loss as to what to do next. I met with Kira the next day and we discussed options in my role as a Spectre. She admitted that the Council agreed that I should take a little time for myself, that they were aware that my life had been hectic between battling the Collectors and taking care of the myriad of other issues that popped up.
Then Admiral Hackett got in touch with me on a secure channel on the Normandy. He asked me to go and speak to a Doctor Garret Bryson. Although the Reapers were still a closely guarded secret, he informed me that there were specialised teams looking into what was being called the 'Reaper theory'. Bryson was leading the investigation into one such theory and he asked me to visit with him. He already had all my reports but thought that a face-to-face conversation might help the investigation.
I learned within five minutes of speaking to him that Doctor Bryson was positively brilliant. A keen analytical mind, completely open-minded, and he completely believed in the Reapers. He had mounting evidence of their existence though he understood why the Council and the Alliance held it as a secret.
He probed my mind at the same time and was fascinated by what we had learned about the Collectors and their connection to the Protheans. I did suggest that he get in touch with Liara about everything that she had learned at the same time. We parted with the idea to keep in touch should I discover anything new whether it be about the Collectors or the Reapers. I gave a warning to Liara later that he would be in touch. She was happy to help after I explained to her about his investigations into the Reaper threat.
With no mission to complete, the Normandy remained docked on the Citadel for the next week. I spent most of my time in the company of Kira, Jane or Na'ira, the latter nearly overcome with emotion when I walked into the Consort Chambers. After hugging me tightly for quite a while, I found myself dragged to her quarters from where I didn't leave until the next morning. Sha'ira joined us the next morning, and I'll admit that I took a lot of pleasure in watching her with Na'ira before I joined in.
I was feeling rather relaxed when I received a message from Anderson. That wasn't anything unusual as we'd kept in touch nearly every day. After receiving a warm greeting from anyone I walked by, I found Anderson in his office. He rose to his feet and gestured for me to follow, ending up in a communication room.
"Admiral Hackett has requested a private conversation, Shepard. I don't know the details. But he requested you specifically for something."
I waited for the door to lock behind me before I established a link with Admiral Hackett. He appeared on a large screen in front of me and the salute was automatic. He returned it before I found myself standing easy, hands behind my back. I didn't even realise that I was doing it until halfway through the conversation.
"Commander Shepard. Thanks for agreeing to speak to me."
"No problem, sir. What's the situation?"
"We have a deep cover operative out in batarian space. Her name is Doctor Amanda Kenson. Doctor Kenson recently reported that she found evidence of an imminent Reaper invasion."
I felt my blood go cold. We were not ready.
"What do you need me to do, sir?"
"Just this morning, I received word that the batarians have arrested her. They're holding her in a secret prison outpost on terrorism charges. I need you to infiltrate the prison and get her out of there. As a favour to me, I'm asking you to go in alone."
"Terrorism charges? I don't get it, sir. I mean, I know what the batarians are like when it comes to humans."
"She was deep-cover, Commander. We spoke only when we had to. I'd heard she was investigating a rumour of a Reaper artifact in the system. Her last report said she'd found it."
"Indoctrination," I stated immediately, "Anyone working with any sort of Reaper device is susceptible to it, sir. What can you tell me about Doctor Kenson?"
"She's one of our top scientists and has been working as an agent in batarian space for years. It's a deadly assignment, and she's one of the few up to the challenge. She and I go back pretty far, Commander. I won't let her rot in some batarian torture camp."
"You know that I still have quite a few people with me, sir. They're all talented individuals, and we made a hell of a team taking down the Collectors."
"If the batarians see a squad of armed soldiers, they'll kill her. This is serious, Commander. Discretion is required."
"Where am I going, sir?"
"Aratoht. The prison is hidden underground at the batarian outpost. I'll send you all the information I have at the completion of this call. Once you've secured her release, confirm her discovery and if the information is reliable. We'll debrief when you're back."
"I'll prepare for departure immediately, sir."
"Good luck, Commander. Hackett out."
Given that discretion was required, I didn't tell Anderson, Jane nor the Council what I had been asked to do. Anderson was aware that it was something of incredible secrecy. All I told him was that I would be leaving the Citadel immediately. Joker didn't ask too many questions when I told him that our destination was the Viper Nebula cluster. There is only one system, Bahak, in which there are five planets. It was batarian controlled and I knew that going in with the Normandy would require stealth.
It was only after leaving the Citadel that I called together the crew and squad members who remained and explained the situation. Naturally, many of them worried about the secrecy involved and the fact that I would be heading out alone. But once I explained Hackett's request, everyone agreed somewhat begrudgingly that they would follow the orders given.
Miranda insisted that she would fly the shuttle that would drop me on Aratoht. She wasn't the only one to watch as I readied myself. Armour. Shield pack. I carried every conceivable type of weapon. I was almost like a walking tank. Before boarding the shuttle, the squad formed up and wished me well. Miranda was quiet as she flew the shuttle down towards the planet. Hackett's information included the coordinates of the prison. The shuttle touched down on the edge of the base.
"You'd better come back alive, Shepard," she warned me, "Otherwise I'm going to come and kick your arse."
"Anyone would think you cared, Miss Lawson."
She gave me a crooked smile before opening the shuttle door. I stepped out and waited until the shuttle was up and away before making a move. Given the nature of this mission, I'd asked Miranda to place a small camera on my shoulder. I wanted as much evidence as possible regarding the Reaper threat. Given the Council had a record of not taking me at my word, video and audio evidence should be irrefutable.
The prison was a ruin. It felt almost ancient in a way. Walls were crumbling. Sections had caved in. The weather was atrocious so I could only imagine what conditions would be like in any holding cell. The prison was also a maze and finding my way forward was difficult. Without a schematic of the prison, I was going in blind.
I heard batarian voices though didn't run into any for a few minutes. I did have to deal with the occasional varren. They were easy to put down with the blast of a shotgun. Given the howling wind and storm outside, the guards didn't hear anything so no one came to investigate.
Once I made it into the prison proper, that's when things would get tricky. Discretion was advised, but I wasn't really one for sneaking through anywhere. And given my rather well-known distaste for batarians… Let's just say that I wanted to go in all guns blazing. But despite the apparent size of the prison, I didn't count many guards.
My Omni-blade came into play as I was happy to slide it into the neck or gut of a batarian guard or two, making sure that I hid the body to be found long after I had escaped with Doctor Kenson.
I'll admit that I did make a wrong turn or two along the way, but as I descended into the bowels of the prison, I knew that I was on the right path. I overheard snippets of conversation between guards that I would later kill. They had ideas on what Kenson was doing in the system. Some seemed to believe that she was trying to direct an asteroid into a mass relay. I was left wondering what that would do.
When I found Doctor Kenson, she was in the middle of being interrogated. I found my way into the cell just as the batarian was about to begin another round of torture. After putting a bullet through his head, I managed to release her. She had a rather wild look in her eyes. Understandable as I could only begin to imagine what they'd been doing to her since her capture.
"Who are you?" she asked as I helped her out of the restraints.
"Commander Shepard."
I was a little surprised she didn't recognise me. "Commander Shepard? I heard you were alive. Hackett must have received my message."
"We're not safe here. We need to get out now. Can you walk?"
Once she was free, I helped her stand up and I could tell she was a little woozy. After giving her a moment to recover, I offered her a weapon and she gladly took my SMG. Then it was time to get out of Dodge.
She proved rather talented with a weapon and took delight in overloading systems that caused a series of explosions. Batarians were quickly sent flying through the air, alarms started to blare, and we knew that it probably wouldn't be long until a message was sent off-world about her escape. We worked methodically and I was impressed at her skill with a firearm. Little wonder that she'd been chosen as a deep cover operative. The guards were simply no match for us. Most of them barely wore armour worth a damn, few of them were shielded, and their weaponry was substandard. They probably thought it was an easy posting.
The only way off the planet was by shuttle so we made our way to the hangar bay, hoping that there would be a shuttle that we could steal. Getting there wasn't easy. It was the sheer weight of numbers as the entire facility was ordered to stop us. I lost count of the number of batarians that we killed, but my mantra has been and will always be that the only good batarian is a dead one. And they were going to find a lot of dead batarians.
Once Doctor Kenson set the autopilot when we were in the air, we could take a moment to relax. "What are the chances of them coming after you?" I wondered.
"Substantially high. Batarians don't take kindly to humans who plan to destroy their mass relays."
"So the charges against you were true?"
"Yes, although that's due to only having half the story. My people and I were here investigating rumours of Reaper technology out in the fringes of this system."
"And I'm guessing that you found something?"
"We found proof that the Reapers will be arriving in this system. When they get here, they'll use its mass relay to travel throughout the galaxy. We call it the 'Alpha Relay'. From here, the Reapers can invade anywhere in the galaxy."
"And that's why you want to destroy it. Makes sense although I'm guessing it would cause catastrophic damage. Perhaps even destroy the whole system."
"While true, doing so would stop the Reapers' invasion. Even at FTL (Faster than Light) speeds, it'd be months or even years before they got to the next relay. We came up with what we called 'The Project'. A plan to launch a nearby asteroid into the relay and destroy it before the Reapers could arrive. You are right about one thing, Commander. Destroying the relay would wipe out the entire system."
"Is this project still in operation?"
"I imagine it is. We were one button press away from launch when the batarians arrested me."
"How the hell were you caught though?"
"I have a feeling that they've been monitoring our operation for weeks. We've been careful in buying what we need to direct the asteroid. I was out on a scouting trip with only a couple of men when we were captured. Thankfully, they never found our base."
"Okay, while I believe you considering everything that I know about the Reaper threat, it still won't be enough to satisfy others. How did you learn about this invasion?"
"The evidence came from what we call Object Rho, a Reaper artifact we discovered among the asteroids near the relay itself. When we get back to Arcturus Station, I'll explain everything and provide copies of all notes on the artifact."
"I still don't get how you know the invasion is coming?"
"It showed me a vision, much like your Prothean beacon, I imagine." That gave me pause. The beacon was Prothean. She was talking about a Reaper artifact… "The Reapers are coming, Commander. I know that is certain."
"What about indoctrination?" I asked carefully. Liara had given the Council, Alliance and people she knew in the Asari Republics everything that we had learned about indoctrination. We knew how the Reapers worked.
"We've been very careful. We know what we're dealing with. You're not speaking to an idiot, Commander. I saw what Sovereign did at the Citadel. Trust me, I know what's at stake."
"Look, I believe you, but for us to destroy an entire system, I'm going to need to see evidence. Proof that won't see both of us thrown in a cell for a very long time."
She got in touch with her people and let them know we were coming. Doctor Kenson seemed fine, but the idea of working around a Reaper artifact… I remembered what happened to the scientists on the derelict Reaper, and that had apparently been dead for millions of years. I had no idea what this Object Rho actually was, but unless they found some sort of way to shield themselves from the effects, then there was a chance that some of her people could be showing signs.
I knew that I would have to be careful.
The base was on the asteroid that they would send hurtling into the mass relay. Stepping off the shuttle, the first thing that I saw was a timer counting down to zero. Kenson explained that it was the countdown to Arrival. When the timer reached zero, the Reapers would come pouring through. It meant that we had a little over two days to deal with the matter. She explained how they had figured out the timing based on pulses from the Reaper artifact.
I didn't like the sound of that either.
Making our way through the base, nothing seemed particularly untoward. The people we passed by seemed friendly enough, many of them relieved to see Doctor Kenson back alive and well. We discussed the Reaper situation while walking, and Kenson was adamant that we had to stop the Reapers.
She opened the door leading into where Object Rho was sitting and… I knew it was wrong immediately. It was sitting out in the open. The energy the artifact was releasing…
"When we found the artifact, it showed me a vision of the Reapers' arrival," she said.
"Doctor Kenson… This is not good," I stated, my hand slowly moving towards my weapon.
"Give it a moment, Commander. It'll give you the proof you need."
It did… And when the Reaper artifact released a surge of energy, I felt it flow through me, and collapsing to the ground wasn't any real surprise. That's when I heard the raising of a weapon, managing to turn my head to see Kenson pointing a pistol at me.
"I can't let you restart the Project, Commander. I can't let you stop the arrival."
I heard boots on the ground as I knew they would want me out of the way. Waiting until she glanced away for a moment, I managed to disarm her and then pushed her away. She went stumbling backwards as I took out my assault rifle. I was ready to shoot her though gunfire caused me to turn and fire back at where it came from.
Kenson escaped and was soon talking to me through a loudspeaker. What I didn't expect was the Reaper artifact to also demand my surrender. Apparently if I did, it suggested that I would be spared.
Guess it thought I was like Saren. Willing to surrender. Kenson made sure to throw anything and everything at me. I couldn't believe the number of idiots with guns being sent in to take me down. When the heavy mechs arrived, that's when I unleashed my heavy weapon. The explosions were deafening in such a confined space.
The artifact continued to glow brighter as I fought off the hoard. I had no idea what it was doing except that I heard the same threats from it that I heard from Harbinger. I'd just taken down the heavy mech when the artifact released an enormous pulse…
And suddenly I was dreaming about the invasion as well.
I'm not sure how long I was out for, but I woke up to find myself in a med-bay. The doctor overlooking me disappeared quickly, as frightened of me as anyone that I fought. A couple of guards were taken down rather easily, proving my strength by snapping their necks like twigs. The doctor looking after me placed a shield to stop me from getting out. That took ingenuity, but when I was finally out and back in my armour and had a weapon in hand, I looked up at the timer.
I had a maximum of two hours.
"Well… Fuck," I muttered to myself.
I got to work and laid waste to the guards sent in my direction. Kenson was now manic with desperation to stop me, screeching over the intercom to stop me at all costs. It was obvious to me that every single one of them was completely indoctrinated. Kenson had played one hell of an act with me, and I did feel slightly foolish. But she'd been incredibly convincing at the same time.
I was left wondering what Hackett was going to say when I eventually showed him all the footage. I checked on my Omni-tool that my camera was at least still functional. It was, as was the audio system. The evidence of Kenson would be damning, but the Council could no longer deny the evidence.
The base was enormous though I knew that I simply had to find my way to Central Operations and figure things out from there. I knew the asteroid had to be directed into the mass relay. I knew hundreds of thousands of batarians would die because of it. And I'll admit that conflicted me. I didn't like them at all, but I knew most of the batarians about to die were innocent. This was going to make anything I did on Torfan…
It had been a long time since I'd completed a mission on my own. I switched weapons depending on the situation. When things were up close and personal, the bark of my shotgun would echo. If the enemy was in cover and at distance, the crack of my sniper rifle could be heard. Otherwise, it was my assault rifle gunning down numerous waves. Most guards were poorly trained, had little armour, and their weaponry was basic. Nothing compared to what I now carried.
I finally made it to Project Control. A VI program was in charge. When I told it that I wanted it activated, it gave me a warning.
"Activating the Project will result in an estimated three hundred and five thousand casualties. Do you wish to continue?"
I replied by pressing the button that activated the fusion torches. They lit up almost immediately, the surge of power almost knocking me from my feet.
"Project activation in progress. Warning: Collision with mass relay is imminent. Begin evacuation procedures. Do you wish to contact anyone?"
"Establish a link with any batarian outpost."
"Done."
"All colonists living in the Bahak system. This is…"
Kenson appeared on a screen in front of me, her eyes wild and it was obvious that she was now completely under the influence of the Reapers. "No!" she exclaimed, "Do you have any idea what you've done, Shepard? You leave me with no choice. If we can't stop this asteroid, it must be destroyed!"
"Tell me where to find Doctor Kenson," I ordered the VI.
"Doctor Kenson is travelling to the reactor core module."
She stupidly told me exactly what she was going to do while the VI downloaded a schematic of the base to my Omni-tool. I listened to her insane ramblings before I cut her off. I made my way forward, dealing with the guards who still tried to stop my progress. If they'd had any sense, they would have been trying to get off the rock. But it was obvious their indoctrination was now absolute.
I found Doctor Kenson waiting for me. And she was smart enough to know that she was dead, one way or the other. Either I'd kill her, or I'd leave her on the asteroid to be obliterated when it slammed into the mass relay.
Kenson got to work on destabilising the reactor core while I had to fight off more idiots and deal with fixing what she was trying to do. Everything she did, I managed to reverse. I could only imagine her outrage each and every time. She was trying to stay one step ahead of me.
But she failed.
When I finally made it into the core, she was raving about Reaper blessings and no longer hearing their whispers. I would explain later to Hackett about her indoctrination. It would all be on video.
When she pulled out a detonator, I didn't hesitate to put her down. She slumped back against the console that she'd been working at. When her hand released the detonator, I tried to leap out of the way of the explosion. I failed and I felt my head slam into a wall and I was knocked out…
I woke in time to alarms blaring and a warning that a collision was imminent. I immediately called Joker and ordered him to pick me up, but the communication systems were damaged. The only option was to get to the landing pad and hope I could get through there. We'd barely have enough time for the Normandy to swoop in and pick me up, make it to the relay and get through before the system was destroyed.
The last wave of guards was waiting for me at the landing pad. Instead of trying to make their own escape, they were trying to prevent mine. A clear sign of their indoctrination. After I put them all down, I took a moment to look up and the mass relay lay in the near distance. We would have minutes to spare, if we were lucky.
Thankfully, I managed to open a communications channel once it was clear. Before I could call the Normandy, a hologram appeared nearby. It was of a Reaper. Somewhat similar to what I'd seen on Virmire. I knew it was Harbinger from the sheer size of the thing.
"Shepard. You have become an annoyance. You fight against inevitability. Dust struggling against cosmic winds. This seems a victory to you. A star system sacrificed. But even now, your greatest civilisations are doomed to fail. Your leaders will beg to serve us."
"We haven't even started yet, Harbinger. One star system. Two. Ten. Whatever the cost, we will stop you. And when you do finally arrive, we'll be ready for you. Think you can just steamroll your way to victory? Think again. We'll be ready and waiting. We will fight. We will sacrifice. And we'll find a way."
"Know this as you die in vain: Your time will come. Your species will fall. Prepare yourselves for the Arrival."
Joker must have heard our communications as the Normandy appeared as the hologram of Harbinger faded away. He pulled the ship in close, and as soon as I was on board, I ordered him towards the mass relay. As we passed through, I made my way to the galaxy map and EDI showed me the situation.
The explosion when the asteroid hit the mass relay was cataclysmic. The shockwave was enormous. No one in the system would have stood a chance. At least most of them wouldn't have felt a thing. Given the situation and my contact with the artifact, Chakwas immediately ordered me to the med-bay and put me to sleep, wanting to monitor my situation.
I woke up a couple of days later, the Normandy on its way back to the Citadel. And I had a surprise visitor as I looked out into the mess to see Admiral Hackett talking with Miranda. He walked into the med-bay a few minutes later as I stood up and I saluted as always.
"Good to see you, Admiral."
"Sounds like you went through hell down there, Commander. How are you feeling?"
"Fine considering everything that went on. I wasn't expecting to see you on my ship though."
"You went out there as a favour to me. I decided to debrief you in person. That was before the mass relay exploded and destroyed an entire batarian system. What the hell happened out there, Commander?"
"What have you heard, sir?"
"All I know is that I sent you out there to break Amanda Kenson out of prison, and now an entire system is destroyed. I hope you can fill in the leap of logic between those two events."
"I can do even better than that, sir. I have proof of an imminent Reaper invasion. Video and audio. The only way to stop their arrival was destroying that relay."
"And Kenson?"
"Completely indoctrinated, sir. And I did try to warn the colony…"
"The Hegemony has reported no survivors. This video evidence will prove that it was more than a threat?"
"Absolutely, sir."
"I won't lie to you, Commander. The batarians will want blood, and there's just enough evidence for a witch hunt. And we don't want war with the batarians. Not with the Reapers at the galaxy's edge."
"What are you suggesting, sir?"
"You did what you did for the best of reasons. But… There were more than three hundred thousand batarians in that system. And now they're dead."
"I did what I could to save everyone, sir. Even Kenson."
"I know that as do others, Commander. If it was up to me, you'd be getting another medal. Unfortunately, there are many who won't see it that way now."
"What do you suggest?"
"Evidence against you is shoddy, at best. But at some point, you'll have to go to Earth and face the music. I can't stop it… But I can and will make them fight for it."
"I'll have to think about it, sir. I can't afford to languish in a prison cell for weeks or months on end. There's a war coming, and we have to be ready. All of us."
He met my eyes and nodded. After saluting each other, he turned and walked away. Just before he left, he turned back to face me. "Do whatever you need to do out here, Commander. But when Earth calls you, you make sure you're there with your dress blues on, ready to take the hit. You've done a hell of a thing, Commander. Good luck."
After Hackett departed the ship, I sat down with the crew and we discussed our options. I thought someone like Samara would have been furious with me considering the cost, but even she saw the logic. It was either destroy the mass relay or let the Reapers come pouring through. I eventually suggested we go to the Citadel first and present everything to the Council. I would take advice from them and see what happens.
Obviously, they were very aware of what happened. I was left thinking that Sparatus wanted me in chains and dragged off somewhere dark to be asked quite a few questions. But when I played them video and audio of what happened on Aratoht, opinions changed and quickly. It was the last conversation with Harbinger that finally had them seeing the light. There was no way that could have been faked.
I warned them that we probably only had months before the Reapers found a back door into the galaxy, and once they did, that would be it. War would begin. Sparatus told me that he would talk to the higher echelons of government in the Hierarchy and get started on a massive build-up of the fleets. Valern would ensure that his people would devote as many possible resources as possible to ways of countering the strength of the Reapers. Kira already had my support but would now ensure that the entire Asari Republic's apparatus was put on a war footing. Kyla already knew about the Alliance and the secretive way that they'd gone about expanding the fleets.
But when it came to me, they echoed Hackett's warning. The batarians would now consider me enemy number one. After Torfan, they already hated me. Now that I'd wiped out one of their systems, they'd likely stop at nothing to bring me down.
"Would you like to spend time on Thessia?" Kira asked me in private later, "You know that we'd do nearly anything to protect you, Shepard."
"Hackett was right though. I do need to face the music. But I can only imagine the reaction now. Working with Cerberus was one thing, but this is an entirely different scale."
"How do you feel?"
I shrugged. "I mean, I do feel bad as I know the cost paid in blood. Three hundred thousand sacrificed to stop possibly trillions being killed instead. Not all batarians are the same. It would be like thinking all turians have a stick up their arse. I have to live with what I did."
She made me feel a little better that night when we made love. And when we melded, she learned everything that happened on Aratoht. And it scared her, how close we had come to the Reapers arriving. Kira had never doubted me about the Reaper threat. Now that we had the rest of the Council on board, it was a case of trying to prepare. I agreed that we couldn't release the information to the galaxy as a whole. It would cause unrivalled panic.
I told the crew the next day that we would be heading to Thessia as it would probably be the safest place for us to be for the time being while I decided if and when I would return to Earth. I let Anderson know what I was doing, and I also told Jane. They both understood the decision taken for the time being as I simply wasn't to go back to Earth only to sit in a cell for however long while the powers that be decided what to do with me.
Tess met me when we landed in Armali a couple of days later, and I wasn't surprised to see Benezia next to her. There were also at least a dozen acolytes with them, and I couldn't help chuckling to myself as I had a good idea of just how my time on Thessia might pass. My squad and crew members were invited to join us as we were taken to a vast mansion that Tess had owned for centuries. The grounds itself were enormous. It was a palace the likes of which I'd never really seen before. There were so many different rooms that I joked about getting lost.
Within a day of arriving, we were visited by numerous representatives of the Asari Republics. I was under instruction from Kira to show them any proof that they wished to see. As they watched the video and audio footage, cut down into a couple of hours to prevent them from seeing the carnage that I'd otherwise caused, I watched their faces and there was no missing the fear that swept across them.
"Goddess. What chance do we have?" one of them asked.
"We'll have a chance if we're prepared and we come together to fight," I replied, "If we don't come together, if we try and fight them off alone, we don't stand a chance."
"When will they arrive?" another asked.
"I'm not sure. They were incredibly close this time. I'm talking minutes away. They will already be searching for another avenue. We probably have half a year, a year maximum. And this time, we simply won't know which relay they will enter through."
"Goddess… We must start preparations," Lady Navera finally stated, "Thank you for providing us with this evidence, Shepard. We've always believed in you, but now seeing this…"
Benezia was frightened as hell after watching it as it stirred long-dormant memories of her time being influenced by Saren. She needed my company for the next few nights as the nightmares returned. Tess was with us in bed and we both helped keep her calm. Not saying that we didn't have a lot of fun as well, but I knew that anything to do with the Reapers would upset Benezia.
Everyone else was enjoying their time on Thessia at the same time. We would find ourselves wandering around Armali and while humans were now regular visitors to the asari home world, I guess my face was just rather well known as every single asari that I met would want a hug, kiss on the cheek, or would bluntly ask if I wanted a little fun. Miranda was left blushing quite often as many asari were incredibly friendly towards her. Many asari appreciated Jack's body art. Even Kasumi found herself flirted with, while every asari thought Tali was simply adorable. As for Samara, she enjoyed being back on the asari home world, and being a matriarch, she found herself in conversations with Tessia, Benezia and numerous other matriarchs as they discussed the situation.
I ended up spending three months on Thessia and they were incredibly relaxing. It was the first time since I had joined up with the Alliance that I'd had such a long time to simply laze about. But when Admiral Hackett finally got in touch and requested my presence back on Arcturus Station, I knew that was a request that I couldn't ignore.
"Charges are pending, Commander," he warned me, "I will meet you on Arcturus. You will not be arrested nor embarrassed in any way. However, I must warn you that certain members of your crew might be arrested should they arrive with you. Anyone we know that was a formal member of Cerberus will be taken into custody."
"I'll pass that warning on, sir. Give me a week to make preparations."
"Of course, Commander."
Miranda knew that she couldn't come with me all the way to Arcturus. We would make a final stop on the Citadel before she would leave. Samara would remain on Thessia with a promise to keep in touch with everything that loomed on the horizon. Kasumi would leave the ship on the Citadel as she didn't particularly want to find herself on Arcturus. Tali would return to the Migrant Fleet. Jack would come with me as she had an idea that would perhaps work for her future. Georgia would leave with Miranda in the hope that she could simply disappear. Amelie and Aela would also leave the ship on the Citadel as neither wanted to be anywhere near the Alliance. Neither had been Cerberus, but both knew that the Alliance might be rather interested in what they'd been up to previously.
It was a rather empty Normandy that docked on Arcturus two days later. Joker was flying the ship as he was going to hand himself over and hope they went easy on him. Doctor Chakwas was also with me. She'd kept in touch with people from the Alliance and was confident that after a couple of interviews she could at least keep practising medicine.
Hackett greeted me as I stepped off the ship, flanked by a number of other officers. After a salute and a handshake, I introduced every other member of the ship who had remained on board. No one was arrested publicly though anyone who had been an employee of Cerberus was led away flanked by a pair of guards.
I was led to an interview room where I found myself sitting down with Hackett and a couple of other senior officers. They explained the situation. There was a majority of members within the Alliance Parliament that wanted me charged with something. They wanted to make an example of me after my stint with Cerberus, but what happened with the Bahak system needed a firm response in their eyes. The Alliance Armed Forces, all branches, were doing their best to protect me though they realised that something needed to happen. I couldn't get away with it scot-free. They cared little about what the batarians thought. It was about the reception back home.
"We'll take you to Earth in a week's time, Shepard," Hackett explained, "As of now, you are hereby inducted formally into the Alliance Armed Forces at your previous rank. That will not be stripped off you at this time. While you are facing no charges at this time, we are requesting your presence back on Earth where charges may be laid against you. For your safety and to keep certain elements happy, you will be restricted to barracks upon landing on Earth. However, you will be allowed communications access as we are aware that you do have contacts with those regarding the threat."
"And while I'm here, sir?"
"The same situation. Consider it a form of house arrest. You are free to come and go on this station, but you cannot leave. The Normandy will be impounded. Sorry to say, but it is no longer your possession, Shepard. We'll have engineers looking over it quickly to figure out how Cerberus managed to build such a ship."
"I understand, sir."
I languished in a rather comfortable apartment for the week. I wasn't allowed any contact with anyone from the ship though I did manage to reach out to Kira and Liara, informing them of the situation. Kira was upset to hear that I would be confined to Earth for a while though understood the reasons. Liara suggested that she would get in touch with Admiral Hackett and keep that avenue open for information.
A week later, I was standing with Hackett in the docking bay when we were joined by two others. The first to shake my hand was Anderson. "Another promotion, Shepard," he stated, "You're now looking at Colonel Anderson."
"Bloody well deserved, sir," I replied.
The other person was Jane. She looked ready to leap on me though managed to stay in place. But Anderson and Hackett didn't miss how we looked at each other. Hackett eventually cleared his throat.
"Given you will be confined to barracks back on Earth, Shepard, there are those that want to make sure that nothing can happen otherwise, if you get my meaning."
"What? They think that I'll try and escape?"
"That is one possibility. There is also the fear of an attempt on your life," Hackett replied.
That made me laugh. "What? That won't happen. No batarian has ever set foot on Earth."
"No. But there are some humans that, well… Being honest, they really don't like what you did. They believe that you will be the cause of all-out war between the Alliance and the Hegemony. That being the case, we offered Lieutenant Shepard here the opportunity to be your personal guard while you're back on Earth," Anderson explained.
"We also know all about your relationship," Hackett added, "But given that fraternisation rules no longer apply…"
"Any idea how long I will remain in detention, sir?"
"At the moment, it's indefinite until decisions are made. That's all I can offer at the moment, Shepard."
We boarded the shuttle a few minutes later, Jane taking my hand and holding it as we began our journey back to Earth. We must have arrived in complete secrecy as the dock that we landed at was completely deserted, a skycar already waiting to carry us towards our destination. Hackett and Anderson talked between themselves while I stared out the window. Jane eventually shuffled a little closer.
"First time in a while?" she wondered.
"I haven't set foot on Earth since the day I left with the Alliance. All my training took place off-world. To be honest, my memories of Earth are not particularly fond. But it is my home, and I will fight to defend it."
Hackett and Anderson led the way once we arrived at Alliance Headquarters of the Americas. I noticed quite a few glances in my direction as I knew everyone would recognise my face. Jane held my hand tightly the entire way. I learned quickly that I wasn't going to languish in some cell. We were shown to a furnished and rather luxurious apartment.
It was explained to me that I should expect to be interviewed from time to time. I understood and suggested that I was an open book. Whatever they wanted to know, I would tell them if I had the information. It was explained that I would be confined to my apartment though I could make use of the nearby gym facilities, as long as Jane was with me. Otherwise, all food, clothing and other supplies needed would be provided.
As soon as the pair left after a round of handshakes, Jane closed and locked the door before she straddled my lap as I sat on the couch. The look in her eyes had me smiling before we shared one hell of a kiss.
"Shepard, I hope you know that I'm going to spend every day going forward making sure that I keep you smiling and with no intention of doing anything silly," she whispered.
"I think you should guard me while naked."
That made her snort. "Please, do you think either of us will be wearing much clothing over the next few weeks and months? You'd better be ready for it."
"I'm guessing they didn't ask anyone else about this?"
"Nope. Anderson was contacted by Hackett, and it was offered to me immediately. I was never going to say no to just spending all this time with you." She paused and kissed me softly. "I love you," she whispered.
"I love you," I replied. Those three words always made her smile, "So do you have any plans for me, Lieutenant Shepard?"
"I do. Most of them involve you being naked and in the bedroom with me."
"I like plans such as that. Will you be naked as well?"
"God yes."
"Going to take advantage of this, aren't you?"
"I've got you all to myself for however long this lasts," she said softly, "I know what's coming, Shepard. And it scares the life out of me. But I know that when the time comes, you'll be leading the fight. And… Next time, I'll be there with you. Shepard and Shepard…"
We both knew what was coming. So did many others across the galaxy. Preparations were now being made. Their arrival was on the horizon. When and where? We simply didn't know. But I knew that once they arrived, it would be a fight to the death. It was going to be catastrophic, no matter how prepared we were. The price of victory… It didn't bear thinking about. The price was going to be high. But no matter what, I knew one thing for certain.
The Reapers were coming.