Goodbye, my Love

Disclaimer: Bioware owns all.

Chapter 1: A New Beginning

The green wave prickled at the tip of the crucible and catalyst. Hackett ordered urgently, "The crucible is loaded, all ships to the rendezvous point."

One by one ships began hitting the FTL speeds, obeying the command both in fear and good faith. James watched as Joker frantically circled the citadel with the Normandy, not yet leaving. A person was missing. He would not leave her behind again. Not like last time. It was his turn to pull her ass out of the fire, or so he thought.

James grabbed his arm gently, "We need to leave, she's gone."

Joker sucked in a breath. He knew she was gone, but he wasn't ready to just let go. Joker's eyes fell to the command console, he nodded regretfully. Quickly the ship's drive core began to hum with the rush of FTL travel. The Normandy began blazing through space, the green aura spreading and following them. Joker ignored it. Edi spoke from her seat slowly, "I analyzed the crucibles uses quite extensively. I have concluded that the end of the Reapers would mean an end to all synthetics." Her voice dropped off with a humane sorrow. The man she had grown to love and care for with all her synthetic heart spoke again, "Good thing you aren't synthetic then."

"Jeff..." Edi began once more to clarify where they stood. Joker cut her off, "No, Edi. You aren't synthetic, you are a part of this crew, and a part of me. I love you. I know Shepard, she would do everything she could to preserve the most amount of lives, even if it cost hers."

Edi lowered her head, "I love you too." It was all she could utter as the green flame began taking over the ship. Alarms began to scream and echo, and suddenly the wave was inside. James turned and stared as it took over everything, "What in hell of fire-"

The wave swept the cockpit, shaking the Normandy to it's core. It began a quick descent over an unknown planet. Joker was too busy to realize the green synthetic lining that had grown into his skin.

The ship hit the ground with both force and the grace of Joker's abilities. It slid to a quick and quiet halt amidst the planet's foliage.

He groaned in pain as he lifted himself up off the console. Fear gripped him as he dared a look to Edi. She stood slowly, her eyes were green and her body had taken to a green glow. James examined himself with just as much intense curiosity. The hatch slid open as the crew began to pile out of the lower decks. Garrus stood with them. He spoke slowly, "I guess Athena pulled it off."

Edi responded astutely, "Yes, she did. It appears she figured out an alternative to destroying all synthetic beings in the galaxy."

The large marine examining the green lines in his skin muttered, "How do you figure that?"

"Because I am still here." Edi replied blatantly.

Chakwas spoke softly, "Must be some kind of effect from the gun, because we're all green." Everyone examined themselves carefully.

Joker hobbled slowly to the airlock. It slid open as he stepped outside. "Anybody recognize this place?"

Garrus rumbled, "Reminds me of Virmire."

Joker nodded his head, "Exactly."

Kaidan and Tali agreed as Edi affirmed the observation, "This is in fact Virmire."

Kaidan shook his head, "Cruel place to end up with all that has happened here and just happened."

Garrus spoke softly, "I want to know what happened. If that goddamn Mako hadn't flipped on Javik and I, we would be with Shepard now."

Javik replied sharply, "And we would be dead as well. I haven't known Shepard long, but something tells me that she would have wanted us alive, so we can assist in the rebuilding of the galaxy." He paused as the attention of the crew turned to him.

"We should not squander this gift Shepard has given to us. My entire race saw the end of their cycle in complete terror, we watched as the last bit of hope for survival faded from each of our eyes. She prevented these horrors from happening to each of you. She prevented them from the galaxy. She horded each doubt and worry so that you all might sleep peacefully at night, with the hope of a new day. By character and nature, Shepard should have been a Prothean. I was put into cryogenic sleep so that I could assist in the defeat of the Reapers for a new cycle. I find that I was never needed. Your Shepard saved everyone, and without her none of this would be possible."

He gestured to the air around him. "You have a new day to look forward to. A new life, and the lives of your children and grand children. This is a gift that should never be taken for granted because many cycles were robbed of it. Do not sigh and wish for more, because you have more than millions ever had."

Liara despite the sorrow in losing a friend smiled, "So the Protheans were as noble as I thought. They cared for each species and defended them."

Javik shook his head, "None like your Shepard. She has bested us all."

Kaidan chuckled softly, "She has always bested us. In every way possible."

Donnelly replied, "I had the unfortunate experience of playing Skyllian with her once. When you say every way possible, it is the truth." He finished with a laugh. Gabby leaned against him with tears of laughter in her eyes. "It was so worth seeing you get taken down a notch."

James laughed, "I remember one time I challenged her to a spar in the cargo. Man, did I regret that. She laid my ass clean on the deck without breaking a sweat. Silly me thought I could take Shepard."

The crew gave appreciative smiles and laughs as they thought of all their times with Shepard.

Garrus smiled sorrowfully as he thought back to their date on top of the Citadel. She had let him win, and he knew it too. He shook his head, Athena never thought of herself. Others always came before. Such a selfless and wonderful being she was.

Liara spoke up, "There is a knowledge in my people, with our lifespans we outlive most species. We watch as peace enters and war breaks out, and to new eras of peace. We do not only love our own species, instead we branch out, we watch and stand by as our loved ones die around us of old age, while we are still young. We have come to realize that mourning a loved one for centuries only brings misery. You must enjoy the time you spent with them, because that is all you will have."

"We must enjoy the time we had with the Commander, because that is exactly what she would have wanted from all of us."

Javik nodded his head in affirmation, "In my cycle we recognized the Asari even in their youth to be very intelligent and talented. I am pleased to have seen your species grow to become so wise."

Liara flashed him a brilliant smile. It was the nicest thing Javik had ever spoken to her. He offered her a small Prothean smile in return.

As the crew dispersed to begin repairs on the Normandy, Javik approached Garrus. The Turian stared out to sea, his mind at war with itself.

"You know, in my entire lifetime, this is the first I have ever witnessed true peace."

Garrus looked to him slowly as the Prothean contemplated the landscape. "Your Shepard was truly something."

Garrus nodded his head, "That she was." He looked down. "And more."

Javik nodded his head, "She spoke of your bond. I had thought it to be a mutual bond to relieve stress. I see that it was much more."

"Did you ever have a bond?" The Turian asked curiously.

Javik chuckled, "No. No, I did not. The Protheans believed to focus on thing at a time. We focused entirely on the Reapers, there wasn't any time or thought left over for bonds. I realize now, that that was what killed us. As the years went by, we lost our humanity if you will. We had nothing to survive for. We were just cannon fodder in an endless and terrible war."

Garrus shook his head. "And yet, a Prothean saw the end of the destruction. You won."

Javik chuckled again. "That is true. It relieves a great burden to know this. I can return to my people, and give them their proper burials, and return to the stars with them."

He nodded his head, "Well Javik, it has been an honor to serve with you."

Javik looked him in the eyes, "And an honor it has been to serve with you Garrus Vakarian of the Turians."

Javik turned to leave, "Before I go, I must let you know that I gave Shepard my memory shard before she left. I told her to leave her memories there for the next cycles to see and read, like the Protheans have done for this cycle. I suggest finding it. No doubt she will have left memories for someone as important as you."

With that, the Prothean strode off to work with the crew.

Garrus' mind was alight with wonder. How could he possibly find this shard? Would it be worth it to relive her last moments? There wasn't any time to ponder this. The sooner they got off the ground, the quicker he would be to retrieving her shard. He needed that shard with every fiber of his being, it was all he had left.

I found it intriguing when Javik gave Shepard the memory shard and told her to put her memories in there. A story immediately popped into my mind. Hopefully yall like this one :)

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