Chapter Text
Sol System
2059 GMT
“All units, the Crucible is in position. Retreat to the rendezvous point. Hackett out.”
Joker sat at his console staring blankly out the cockpit windows. It all looked so surreal—after centuries of fighting each other, the combined fleets of every spacefaring species in the galaxy were here, fighting against the greatest threat they would ever face. An enemy that made the Krogan Rebellions look like a polite street protest, and the First Contact War look like two drunks on a street corner calling each other names. Ships began to break off from combat and head for the Charon Relay, pursued by rotund Oculus-class fighters from the Reaper fleet. Fighters from the allied fleets provided covering fire before making hot-landings on their carriers in preparation for FTL travel.
“We can't leave!” Joker blurted out. “Shepard's down there! We can't...”
“Flight Lieutenant, the order has been given,” Hackett's gravelly voice came over Joker's earpiece. “Break off and head to the rendezvous point with the rest of the fleet.”
“But what about Major Alenko? And Vega? And Liara and Garrus, and...” Joker bashed the console hard, wincing at a sharp pain that signaled a likely fractured bone in his right hand. “Damn, ouch! We can't leave them!” His voice was equal parts protest and pleading.
“They knew the risks going in, son.” the Admiral sounded sympathetic, but made clear that he was not going to brook any insubordination. “It's time to go—we've done our job, it's up to them now.”
“Jeff...” EDI said quietly from Joker's right. Joker looked down at the console again and sighed, slowly punching in commands.
“Acknowledged, Fleet. Normandy en route to Charon Relay.”
EDI stood from her seat and took the three steps to stand just behind Joker's chair. She placed a hand on his shoulder, and Joker looked up to see an expression that in an organic being would be a poor attempt at hiding fear. “Jeff...” she said, voice quavering slightly.
“EDI?” Joker took her hand and kissed it. “EDI, what's wrong?” The look on EDI's face turned to one of abject terror, and she stared off into the distance for an instant before immediately suppressing the expression and stood there looking down at Joker, then leaned down and give him a tender kiss, the look on her face changing to a more determined one. “EDI? Are you OK?”
Outside the Normandy, a quarian liveship abruptly peeled off from the rest of the fleet and jumped to FTL. Slightly panicked chatter over the comms indicated that the ships of the geth fleet stopped functioning, save for a handful that had quarian crew aboard who could pilot them to rendezvous with the remainder of the fleet. Joker ignored it, continuing to focus on EDI. “EDI, please talk to me...”
A Reaper broke off from the enemy fleet, following the quarian ship. Nobody noticed.
“No time...I love you,” she said. “Jeff...” She straightened up for a moment before her body collapsed onto the deck. The ship's power dropped, sending the inertial dampeners offline at the same time. Joker cried out in pain as he was thrown forward into the nav console, then back into his seat when the dampeners came back online and the ship's backup VI took over.
“All systems nominal,” it intoned. “Logged: Commander Shepard is ashore. XO Alenko is ashore. Chief Medical Officer Chakwas has the ship.”
“EDI!” Joker immediately hit the comm button right as a wave of red energy washed over the ship, making EDI's body convulse for a moment before falling lifeless again. “Joker to Dr. Chakwas! Engineer Adams! Somebody! Help! EDI's just gone offline!”
Everything in the cockpit was a blur after that. Dr. Chakwas and Engineer Adams both came running to the cockpit, followed by a handful of others. “Lieutenant Northrup and I have the helm,” a female ensign said before grabbing the co-pilot's seat. “Joker, go with the doc. Sir.” It wasn't a time to question what happened—the ship needed piloting, and the backup VI wouldn't be able to do it. Doctor Chakwas and Private Westmoreland gently helped Joker up.
“Shit.” Northrup swore as he tried to activate the Normandy's FTL drive. “FTL is offline—we're not going anywhere for a while.”
“EDI...” A Marine had picked up EDI's body. Joker reached out toward her, fighting against Dr. Chakwas, who was trying to restrain him without causing him further injury. “EDI, no....” His voice faded to a half-whimper. “We have to do something!” His years of training told him that he had to get back in his seat and get the Normandy with the rest of the fleet. His heart, on the other hand, was overriding that. He'd lost Shepard and the Normandy before. He had to leave Shepard behind a second time only because Admiral Hackett told him to—but now, he didn't care about anything except EDI and the Normandy.
“Jeff,” Dr. Chakwas said softly, her grip on Joker's torso firm enough to hold but not so firm that it would cause further injury. “Please. You've sustained multiple fractures. My concern right now is getting you to the medbay. Let Adams see to EDI.” She nodded to Adams, who trotted after the Marine carrying EDI's body. Adams said something to the Marine, who nodded. Adams smiled and patted him on the shoulder, then looked back to give Dr. Chakwas a brief nod before heading to the elevator to check on things in Engineering.
“She told me she loved me,” Joker said to the doctor. One tear and then another started to run down his face, his face becoming clouded by grief and his voice starting to break. “She told me...” Dr. Chakwas' vision became blurry with tears of her own. Everyone in the CIC stood in stunned, awkward silence, letting the doctor take Joker to the medbay. A few of them gently patted Joker on the shoulder or quietly offered words of support as he shuffled past. In the medbay, EDI's body had been laid out on the bed next to the AI Core door, her hands crossed in front of her and her eyes closed. Her expression was peaceful now, as if asleep. Under the bright lights of the medbay, her synthetic skin looked pallid rather than its usual pale blue-grey colour.
Dr. Chakwas helped Joker lay down on the bed to EDI's left, and started to scan him with her omni-tool. Joker reached out toward EDI, the fingertips of his broken right hand just missing her left shoulder. “EDI...” his voice sounded almost childlike. He took several deep breaths in an attempt to fight back the sobs that wanted to come out, and winced at a stick in his left arm.
“Jeff,” Dr. Chakwas said. “You have multiple fractures—your ribs took the worst of it. I'm setting up an IV for you...” She carefully took off Joker's hat and set it on the small portable table to her left. “I'm so sorry, Jeff. I wish I didn't have to be the doctor right now, but I have to get you healed. You'll be in here for a few hours at least...and I'll have to put a cast on that hand. I saw how you were holding it.”
“And EDI?” Joker asked somewhat bitterly as he pulled back his right hand, laying it across his stomach and wincing at the pain from the broken bone. “What about her?”
“We're not going to move her, Joker.” Adams said from the foot of Joker's bed. He had his omni-tool out and was scanning EDI's body with it. “My people and I are going to do everything we can to bring her back,” he said quietly. “She means a lot to us, too.” He looked back at Chakwas. “I just came up from Engineering—Donnelly and Daniels have everything under control, and are working to get the FTL drive online again.”
“Doctor Chakwas?” Samantha Traynor's voice echoed through the medbay.
“Yes, Sam?” Dr. Chakwas had moved to Joker's right side now, injecting a local anesthetic before splinting and applying a cast to his broken hand.
“Admiral Hackett is requesting a status report.”
“Tell him...”She looked down at Joker, who looked over at EDI for a moment before looking back and nodding. “Tell him,” she said, “That I am currently tending to one injured crewmember, and that I will give him a full report in a couple of minutes. He can court-martial me later if he doesn't like it.” She gently stroked Joker's brow. “She didn't abandon me in my time of need, Joker. I can't abandon her.”
“Who?” Joker half-whispered. His eyes were locked on EDI. “Shepard? Or EDI?”
“Yes.” Dr. Chakwas wiped away a tear, sighing to compose herself. “Greg,” she said, turning to Adams, “I'm going to turn the lights down before going to give my report to Admiral Hackett.” She activated her omni-tool and punched in some commands. “I want Joker to get some rest so the medi-gel and bone-mend treatments can do their job.”
“Go ahead,” he replied, smiling at her before she turned and left the medbay. He'd opened a panel on EDI's torso, and he was scanning her circuitry with his omni-tool. Adams looked up at Joker. “Some of her circuitry is fried.” He sighed and looked back down at EDI, reaching over with his free hand to stroke her synthetic hair. “I'll need to open her up further to determine the extent of the damage.” He looked back at Joker, then went back to his work. “But like I said, I'll do everything I can for her.”
Joker gave the ship's engineer a weak smile. “I suppose you think I'm stupid for being in love with a synthetic.”
“Not at all,” Adams said, still cataloguing the damage the Crucible did to EDI's body. “EDI's brain's a lot bigger than yours or mine, and she has this body as well as the ship—but she's got the capacity to learn, to find meaning in the things she does...and the ability to form relationships—friendship, love, that sort of thing. The only “real” difference is that instead of sugar and spice, this little girl is made of silicon and alloys.” He chuckled. “Now I know what Karin's--I mean, Dr. Chakwas' job is like.”
Joker managed a weak laugh as the sedatives started to work on him. “You and Chakwas...?”
Adams smiled and closed up the panels he had opened on EDI's body. He walked through the doors to the AI Core while queing up diagnostic routines on his omni-tool. “A gentleman never kisses and tells,” he shot back over his shoulder, letting the doors close behind him.
2119 GMT
Dr. Chakwas stood before the QEC in the Normandy's comms room and touched the panel. Admiral Hackett's image materialized in front of her, and he did not look very happy. “Major,” he said, using Dr. Chakwas' military rank, “I understand the Normandy was unable to make it to the rendezvous point in the Exodus Cluster.”
“That is correct, Admiral.” Chakwas scratched her brow and sighed. “Flight Lieutenant Moreau suffered several broken ribs when EDI went offline right before the Crucible activated. We have the ship's backup VI online, and we are currently working on getting the FTL drive repaired. Flight Lieutenant Moreau is currently under observation in the medbay, and Lieutenant Adams is currently trying to make repairs to the AI Core.”
“I see.” Hackett crossed his arms. “Your orders have changed then, Doctor. The Normandy is to stay in the Sol system and help coordinate search-and-rescue efforts on the ground. We're also missing a quarian ship—the Khelish Pride. We received word that the geth took control of the ship and took off out of the system with Harbinger hot on its heels. You're to keep an eye out for that ship, Doctor. If it comes back and shows any sign of aggression, your orders are to blow it out of the sky.” He sighed deeply. “Admiral Raan is sending a couple of ships from the quarian patrol fleet to assist—they'll be there in a few hours. And if you find Shepard...”
“You'll be the first to know,” Chakwas replied. She opened her mouth to speak, but Admiral Hackett put up a hand.
“I know that you're a doctor and not a soldier,” he said. “This is a huge responsibility to put on you right now. But Commander Shepard has always spoken very highly of you—both as a friend, and as a crewmate. I have every confidence in you, Doctor Chakwas. Hackett out.” His image vanished, and the room went dark.
Dr. Chakwas stood there in the darkness for several long minutes, looking down at the floor. Her mind wandered back to when she was imprisoned by the Collectors, watching helplessly as colonist after colonist was rendered into grey goo to build a Reaper. Shepard had come to get her, the remaining colonists, and everyone else that had been kidnapped from the Normandy—now Shepard was gone, and Dr. Chakwas felt like she was back in the pod again...powerless to do anything but watch others die while praying for help to arrive. She buried her face in her hands and began to weep. Strong arms wrapped around her, a gentle hand stroking her silver hair. She sagged against the other person, smelling a touch of pepper and cinnamon, and heard Engineer Adams whispering softly in her ear.
“I've got you, Karin.” Adams held her close and let her cry. “It's OK, I'm here for you.” He buried his face in her hair and breathed in the mingled aromas of medi-gel and lavender. After several minutes, Dr. Chakwas' sobs gave way to heaving breaths. She stood and looked at Adams, who smiled at her. He brushed a stray lock of silver hair from her face and kissed her forehead. “You're not in this alone,” he said, gently wiping a tear off the doctor's face. “I'm here with you, and so is everyone else on this ship.”
“Oh Greg,” Dr. Chakwas half-whispered, her voice breaking, “It's all so...I don't know.” She sighed deeply and laid her head on his chest. “Give me a few minutes,” she whispered, eyes closed, “to get myself together.”
“Would you like me to leave you alone?” Adams looked down at her. “I'll tell everyone not to--”
“No.” Chakwas closed her eyes, smiling at Adams. “Your presence is reassuring...and I need that reassurance right now.” She leaned into his embrace, and the two of them stood there alone in the darkened comms room.
London
20:59 GMT
“I...am...krogan....”
A lone krogan dragged himself toward the beam. He saw Harbinger's weapon cut down everyone in front of him, including Shepard, before taking off. A giant chunk of something had crushed his left leg, but he refused to give up. He refused to stop. He was Urdnot Grunt, and he would avenge his Battlemaster. Grunt reached an upended M35 Mako, and levered himself up on his one good leg so he could fire his shotgun at a group of husks that were mobbing a human that had also survived the attack. “Die already, you sons of bitches!” the human roared as he unloaded clip after clip into the husks while Grunt blasted multiple shells at them. Purplish blood spattered the human's battered yellow armour.
The human ran over to the wrecked vehicle. Grunt saw the yellow armour and the artificial eye, and nodded in recognition. “Zaeed...” he said. His vision was starting to swim from the loss of blood, something that his redundant nervous system couldn't totally compensate for. “Good to see you again. Shepard has fallen...” The young Krogan felt his anger rising again. “I must avenge her!” He took a step forward, fell down, and started to slowly drag himself forward, toward the beam. “I...am....”
Zaeed fired a few shots into a cannibal that came around from behind the Mako, then knelt down next to Grunt and grabbed his shoulder. “You're not going anywhere, you crazy tank-bred bastard,” he snarled right before he leveled his rifle at another pack of oncoming Husks. “Your leg's crushed, and you'll bleed out before you get another 40 meters.” The grizzled merc knelt down and slapped a double-dose of medi-gel onto Grunt's wounded leg, letting the gel get to work stanching the blood loss before opening fire on the husks. “And Shepard will ma--”
His words stopped short when the Reapers' transport beam changed colour from an actinic white to blood-red, and crimson wave of energy exploded out over the battlefield. The husks convulsed briefly, then turned into ash along with a nearby group of Cannibals.
“--make it.” Zaeed looked around the battlefield—the only light came from the moon now. He activated the flashlight on his rifle and swept it over the long killzone leading to where the beam had been. It was a wasteland. marauders, banshees, and brutes lay dead on the ground, and in the distance the profiles of Reaper destroyers stood silent and unmoving. “Sonofabitch,” he whispered. “She did it!” Zaeed looked down at Grunt, who had rolled himself over onto his back. “She's a hero, kid.” He patted Grunt on the head. “A goddamn miracle worker,” he said.
Grunt smiled and closed his eyes before he could say anything. Zaeed shook his head and laughed. “You're not going to make my life easy, are you?” The merc tapped his comlink. “Anyone alive out there? I've got a krogan who needs a medevac.”
“Can't he walk?” A random krogan grumbled over the comlink.
“Negative, he's out cold and has a crushed leg. Not even a redundant nervous system will fix that.”
“We've got them in sight,” another voice said over the comms before the nameless krogan could respond. “We'll handle it.” Several mercs made their way through the wreckage toward the pair. One of them, a turian in black armour and matching facepaint, looked down at Grunt and gently nudged him with his right foot. “Thought we'd lost you for good there, Zaeed,” he said.
“Don't do that Mannis,” Zaeed warned the turian. “If he manages to wake up he'll take your goddamn leg off and use it as a crutch.” He laughed. “And I'll make sure the replacement you get comes from the shortest bloody volus in the galaxy.” The assembled mercs laughed with a mixture of fatigue and relief. “Glad to see we're all in one piece. I thought we were all dead when we got separated.”
“It's a ghost town out there now,” Mannis—the Turian merc--said. “Whatever happened, there's not a single living Reaper to be found anymore. That we've seen, anyway.” He rubbed at a crick in his neck and turned a wary eye over the ruins of the city. “You really think they're gone?”
“Shepard...” The groan from Grunt made everyone look down. “Help me up Zaeed,” he said, voice thick and slowed with fatigue and shock. His head was rolling from side to side, and he was getting delirious. “Got to...fight...”
“Not anymore you don't,” Zaeed grunted. “Check that Mako,” he said, pointing to a vehicle nearby that was sitting rightside-up. The turian and a salarian ran toward it and clambered inside. “If it starts,” Zaeed shouted, “Then we've got a ride out of here. Tikka,” he said to an asari in the group, “get some medi-gel ready. We're going to need it if he starts bleeding again.” He looked down at Grunt. “Stay with me, kiddo. We're going to get you some help for that leg.”
“You know him?” Tikka asked. She prepped a dose of medi-gel while two other mercs used their flashlights to provide enough light for her to work. “Shit Zaeed, this is pretty bad,” she said, carefully peeling away blood-caked shards of armour and applying medi-gel to the skin underneath. “Shattered bone, extensive nerve and tissue damage...Redundant nervous system or no, he's gonna to lose this leg.” Grunt just groaned, fighting to stay conscious.
“He's a friend,” Zaeed said quietly. “Helped me and Shepard take out the Collectors.” He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. “It's been a long night.” He looked up when he heard an engine roar to life, and saw Mannis clamber out of the Mako and run over.
“Noreth's got it running,” he said. “But the armor on the driver's side is mostly gone and the shield generator is destroyed, so we'll have to be careful not to let anything fall on or shoot at us.” The mercs picked up Grunt and loaded him into the open side of the Mako, then climbed on and assumed defensive positions. Mannis slapped Noreth on the shoulder, and the Salarian engaged the drive and slowly wheeled the Mako around.
“Move him over,” Zaeed growled, briefly nodding in Grunt's direction. “We might as well see if we can pick up a few more wounded on the way. How's our medi-gel supply looking?” he asked as the group slowly rolled up to a mixed group of soldiers. “It looks like we're gonna need it.” The Mako came to a stop, and Tikka and a human merc hopped out of the Mako's open side.
“Some of these guys are about as bad off as your Krogan friend, Z--looks like we got here in the nick of time,” Tikka said over the comms. “What does that make us?”
“Big damn heroes, babe,” her human companion replied as he prepped a medi-gel dose for one of the wounded soldiers.
“Ain't we just,” Zaeed growled in reply. “Get the worst of them on our ambulance—we'll take 'em to a field hospital. Stabilize the rest, we'll send their coordinates in, see if we can't get them a pickup.” He started throwing junk out of the Mako to make some more room. “Goddamn Shepard,” he muttered,”You better be alive, because you owe me a shitload of drinks for this.”
“So Zaeed,” Mannis asked him. “What is she to you? Commander Shepard, I mean.” Zaeed snorted in response.
“She's...she's a true friend--somebody who taught me a valuable lesson in teamwork and priorities,” he said quietly. “And I hope she's still alive somewhere, because I gotta feeling the galaxy still needs her. Come on,” he said, indicating the mercs tending to the wounded. “Let's help get these poor sods loaded up so we can get them to the field hospital.”
Art by Ammo