(Sorry the formatting is messed up, I don't know what happened)
Concussion missiles and other high energy beams cut through the space all around the Normandy. Damaged minor reapers are literally throwing themselves at the fleets of the universe, trying to do something noteworthy as the last of their electronic breaths leave them. They cut the path for us, now it’s time for the final run. I won’t let them destroy what is left of my home world or threaten any other species in this universe.
“Joker, punch in the course for the reaper collective.” Discovering the hive mind mentality and deciding to use it against them is the only thing that we can hope will defeat them. Deep inside the center of the reaper ship is a central core that, when destroyed, will effectively render every other reaper as a piece of scrap to be harvested, just as they would have done to us.
Joker looks back from his seat in the cockpit as EDI calculates our odds of survival, the numbers are what I expected, dangerously low. Joker says in his usual cocky tone, “It’s not like we haven’t been in this position before, odds against us, lasers all around us, certain death and all of that. Just make sure that we are all in escape pods this time cap. I doubt Cerberus would be willing to scrape you up and slap you back together for a second time.” I know that he is just joking, but I see cracks in his resolve, a slight quiver in his smile. He doesn’t want me to sacrifice myself for him again.
I smile and nod, Joker turns around and proceeds to press in the coordinates and set us straight for the mass Reaper in front of us. It is more than double the size of the Citadel. We have found a weakness however, thanks to information gathered by Legion. There is a port that will let us land and travel from there. It should only take us 30 minutes to an hour at that point to reach the central core. The Normandy soars through space at the speed of light.
Someone taps my back and I turn around to find Liara standing behind me. Ever since I rescued her I haven’t been able to get her out of my mind. I died and came back, some might say for a better purpose, but part of me says that it was to get back to her. I promised her when we reunited that I would never leave her again, I hope that’s a promise that I can keep. As I look into her eyes, I see the fear that has been with her since I came back, the fear that she will lose me again.
“Shepard, there is a chance that none of us will make it back. I don’t want to lose you again, so I’m going to be there right by your side. I’m not letting you go again.” I smile at her resolve. She has grown to be such a strong person in the years since my death. I hope that she is strong enough to see this through to the end, no matter what it takes. I will give my life to save hers, but I won’t let her give hers to save mine. This universe is for her.
“I know you will Liara, you’re going to leave here alive, I promise.” I smile and gentry wrap my arms around her, embracing her. This universe is yours.
The explosions are everywhere; the collective is so near us now, joker has the course set. All we have to do is wait until we are inside, the cloaking device will make sure we get there. Suddenly a beam similar to the ones the Collectors’ used on the Normandy before fires out of a turret protruding from the hull of the reaper. The beam strikes the ship on the underside and the emergency lights turn the inside of the ship into hell. People are running scared as we lose atmosphere in the cargo section of the ship, crew are sucked out into open space. Someone they have altered their beams and sensers for us, this is about to get interesting.
“Joker what’s the damage?” I shout. Jokers hands move gracefully across the console, looking for an answer; EDI appears with one.
“Shepard they have struck our life support, in a few moments our air will be lost and the crew dead. I suggest that the crew be evacuated to the escape pods and that we allow one of the other ships to upload the virus to the Collector core. “
Jokers butts in, “No can do EDI, that ship is blocking our transmissions, and we couldn’t physically get the virus to another ship in time. They are too far out. Cap what do we do?” If we get everyone into the escape pods they will be fine. The fire will be focused on the ship; they can make it out of this alive. I weight my options and make a decision.
“Joker tell everyone to get to the escape pods, nobody else dies!” Joker sends the message across the ship, everyone on this deck makes a run for the pods lining the sides of this floor. Joker raises from his seat and makes his way to a pod, cursing the entire way about losing another Normandy. As we reach an empty pod the rest of my crew that I have with me; Garrus and Tali, meet us there. I wait for them to enter the pod and close it behind them.
I’ll never forget those eyes if I live to see them again, I thought. Liara, I love you. “Liara, I know you don’t understand, but this is how it has to be. I have loved you, lost you, and found you again. I’ll always be with you. I want this place to be free from them for you, so that you can live the rest of your life without fear.” I see her mouthing the words I can’t live without you as tears stream down her face. “Yes you can, you will, you are stronger than you know Liara.” I place my hand against the surface of the pod hatch; she presses her hand against the other side, screaming all the way. Goodbye.
The escape pod shoots away, once all the others are gone I bring up EDI on the console, sitting in the cockpit. “Do you even know how to fly?” she asks.
“No…. but you do.”
“Affirmative shepherd. Course set. “
“Let’s go”
About an hour later, inside the system core of the reaper. Shepherd has just installed the virus and this ship begins to impload around him as the systems overload. He simply stands awaiting his destruction, flashes of past events since first becoming a spectre form in his mind. Then it settles on one image, Liara. Shephered suddenly hears her voice in his head.
“How are you doing this Liara?”
“I’m using every last ounce of biotic energy to create a pysich field between our minds, I have to tell you something.”
“What is it?”
“I tried to tell you before, but I couldn’t find the time. Shephard I’m pregnant, we are having a child.” A tear wells up in shepherds eye as the news hits him. He will never see his daughter.
“I’m a father?”
“Yes Shephard, but I wanted to tell you something. I am so proud of you, of everything that you have accomplished. You have been a hero to so many people, and you are giving up everything for the universe to survive. I have loved you more than I ever thought that it was possible to love a person. Shephard, I will make sure that she knows of you and loves you and looks up to you. “
Shephard chokes on his own tears and Liara does the same. “I love you Liara, so much.”
An explosions in the area of the ship he is in tears through everything. Shepards body becomes nothing more than star dust.
Modifié par Gemini1986, 18 mars 2011 - 04:21 .
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