Breathe - A Mass Effect Fanfiction

Chapter 2 - Reunited

As the Normandy's current crew members crowded into shepards room he couldn't help but smile. It had only been about 2 months since the battle over Earth and they did their best to fill him. "What about EDI?" Had been his first question. Garrus and Tali spoke up at the same time "She's okay...we think, The AI core is still online but she hasn't actually been 'Active' since Earth." Shepard nodded, giving a hopful smile to Joker. "And the Geth?" Tali this time spoke up "A similar problem, There server hubs appear to be active but not their physical platforms, however from power increases in those hubs we suspect they are trying to retrieve their physical platforms."

As the Crew filled Shepard in on their survival and the reapers destruction he coudn't help but feel that maybe for once there would be Peace. Shepard turned his attention to Admiral Hackett "Cerberus?" He asked "We suspect they are all but defeated, No doubt they still have bases but they are still in dissaray. Anything that they still have we'll find and destroy." Hackett Answered honestly.

Javik stood for the most part silently in the group, looking around at the commotion. "Something wrong Javik?" Shepard spoke up "The Reapers have been destroyed and I live...I am to go where I must, to end my days." He spoke solemnly "However I wall say my Goodbyes later." Shepard responded hopefully. "I-..We'll miss you on the Normandy Javik.." Everyone looked at Shepard oddly "You're not retiring...?" They almost said in sync.

He looked to the group "I've been in the Service all my life, I don't think I could retire...Not yet at least. As long as Hackett doesn't put us up against Reapers I'll be fine." Before he could continue Hackett spoke up "Actually you might have to..." He said with a sigh "The council wants to parade you around for who knows how long and give god damn speeches." He said gruffly. "Nothing hard just stopping around different systems, 'We will rebuild'...that crap...I hate politics.."

Shepard was perfectly happy with that, he didn't want to give up the Normandy but he didn't want to chase down Collectors either. While he wouldn't have chosen exactly this, it would be a good mixture of the both. "I'm in if you're in.." He said looking at Liara, She nodded with a small smile. "Of course." It wasn't how she imagined the war ending but it was a retirement, sort of. Even she wasn't ready to give up the Normandy. She was still in her Maiden stage, 900 years of nothing would kill her. "And there's no Shepard without Vakarian.." Garrus Nodded "And no Vakarian without Zorah." Tali said, Shepard could only guess from that. "What about James and Kaidan? Where are they anyway?" Shepard asked, Hackett spoke up "James is in the N7 training, He'll be busy for a while...And Major...Commander Alenko is recieving his own ship, We need good men like him. And on the topic of promotions...You should get some rest...Admiral Shepard."