Mass Effect: After the Smoke Falls

Few new (And shocking) turn of events Part 2

Shepard sat at the bar and drank as the night continued. Things were actually slower than usual, instead of them being all worked up. A lot was on his mind, like the death of Koylat and the return of Cerberus. He also had three more clones out there in the world, either wreaking havoc or not he couldn't say. He sensed someone sitting next to him and he looked to see Garrus sitting next to him. "So what are you going to do now?" The Turian asked.

Shepard shrugged. "Probably work at getting Cerberus off the map."

"I would probably just take a break or two." Garrus said. "We defiantly earned it"

"I would agree, but Cerberus cloned me and I don't want their poisonous influence in the galaxy anymore." Shepard replied, sipping on his drink.

Garrus just laughed and sat next to him. "I think we left more than a mark on the Galaxy. Destroying the Reapers probably made us Gods. I can imagine humans telling stories of "The Shepard" and his great deeds as a peacemaker and warrior." Shepard laughed and patted his shoulder.

"And his sidekick, "The Turian who is so bad-ass he can take a rocket to the face" and how he cleaned Omega of crime." He chuckled. Garrus smiled and shook his head.

"Whatever you say boss." He walked away and left Shepard to brood once again. Two hands wrapped around his shoulders and he looked back to see that they were owned by Tali. He smiled and leaned back, kissing her.

"You ok?" she asked.

Shepard nodded. "I'm fine." He stood up and they walked out of the bar.

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Mao rubbed his temple as he sat at the monitor that he was connected to. He couldn't believe that he had just killed one of his only allies against the Alliance.... and Commander Shepard. That bastard killed his brother and he would not stop until he had the great Commander's head on a plate. "I know that the Dalatrass was important to the plan, she was getting too instigative and I wanted her out of the picture."

"You do not make the decisions, human. We are the elite, we are supreme. We survived when our synthetic bodies were destroyed. I command you, and through you, the organization called Cerberus." Said a deep robotic voice.

"A lot of good that does you." Mao retorted. "What would a synthetic know about Commander Shepard?"

"We have monitored him since his first interaction with the Prothean Beacon. We know of his strength's. We know of his weaknesses. He is unlike normal humans, and he will soon fall." Replied the voice. "We are grateful that you have recovered are data, but we need a new platform. A new body. We wish to integrate."

"With us?" asked Mao. "Would that work?"

"Cerberus has reactivated our technology and integrated it with their own." The voice answered. "We are a higher being. Human and Reaper technology. We are Harbinger and we shall continue the cycle."

Mao pressed a button on the console and sighed. "All Units, plug in to information platforms A1 through C9. Repeat, all units plug into information platforms A1 through C9." Mao then pressed another button and closed his eyes. Centuries, no, Eons of information flowed into his brain, into the stored data banks implanted in his mind. He felt himself take a back seat, while a new, synthetic, and immoral form took his place. He opened his eyes, now glowing a bright yellow. "Assuming Direct control." He said, his voice layered with Harbinger's.

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Shepard sat next to his 'Brother', who was holding Liara in his arms. Next to him was Tali and across the room was Samara and Zaeed. "So what are you going to do now, Captain?" he asked Robert.

He shrugged. "Continue what you've been doing, saving tha galaxy."

"That's a pretty big goal." Shepard replied. "You sure you can do it?"

"Well since the Shadow Broker will now be stationing her information hub on the Normandy, I'm sure I'll be able to do it." Robert replied. "And once we find Cerberus, we'll stop them."

"Well since I'm now an Admiral, you'll be dammed not to have my support." Shepard replied.

"You'll also have the Flotilla's support on that as well." Tali replied.

"Well, I guess I don't have that much going on." Zaeed said. "I have your back, Shep."

Robert smiled. "This just keeps getting better and better."

"Hey! Let's get a picture to savor the moment!" yelled Garrus. Everyone walked over to the center room where Orion stood. They all sat on and around the large sofa.

"Please stand still." Orion said and he snapped the picture. Before long, most of the people on there would move on and have families of their own, but some wouldn't return for another reunion. The war against the reapers will continue, and it won't stop until Cerberus is wiped out. As the years rolled on, Shepard and Tali adopted a young Quarrian boy, Thane Shpeard Nar'Rannoch. Robert commanded the Normandy into many battles, but he was still unable to find the remaining three clones. He and John Shepard agreed that they would find them. In the end, stories of the Five Commander Shepard's would be morphed into one form, known as "The Shepard."

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Epilogue

"Grandpa what became of The Shepard?" asked the young boy.

The old man smiled. "Many say that he grew old and died, alongside his wife. Others say he died in a great battle. The stories never say what happened to him. When his clones were discovered, many of his tales were weaved in with theirs. That is how we refer to him as The Shepard, because we cannot deviate from what was his or the others.

"How do you know that The Shepard was a man?" the young boy asked again.

The old man smiled. "Because I served with him from the very beginning." They walked back to the house and the young boy went to bed. The old man smiled, looking at a picture that was taken on the day The Shepard was known as Commander John Shepard. Below it was a plaque with a medal attached.

THIS MEDAL WAS GIVEN IN HONOR OF THE BRAVERY OF

GENERAL KAIDAN ALENKO

END OF BOOK ONE