To everyone following me: I'm sorry to be bombarding you with so much sad. I honestly don't know where it's all coming from, but I hope you like it anyway. Thanks for reading, and for all your awesome reviews so far! You guys know how to make a lady blush. :)

/1487-32-4C784JS/

/THE FOLLOWING IS AN ENCRYPTED TRANSMISSION. ANY ATTEMPT TO INTERCEPT THIS TRANSMISSION BY UNAUTHORIZED PERSONNEL WILL RESULT IN PROSECUTION./

SENT FROM [DATA EXPUNGED] TO CMDR. SHEPARD, J.

Gunfire and the distant scream of Reapers break through the static, followed by a male turian voice. He is out of breath, and is interrupted several times by husks before beginning.

"Hey, Shepard. If you're getting this, that means I'm dead. I wanted to let you know, though, that I went to those coordinates you sent, but no one was there. So I—"

There is a rumbling explosion; the turian roars and fires at something that sounds like a cannibal before continuing.

"What was I . . . oh, yeah. So I went to the refugee center and finally tracked them down. They were both fine, Solana had a gash on her arm and her father was limping a little, but they're okay. I got them to the shuttle a little while ago. You should be hearing from them soon."

He sighs, and the Reaper sounds closer now.

"I still see their faces when I close my eyes, the ones I . . . got killed, back on Omega. Spirits, if I could turn back the clock and take it all back, I would. I was a coward, and . . . oh shit, it doesn't matter much now, does it?"

More gunfire, and the unmistakable howl of a banshee.

"I hope this makes me and Garrus even now. Thank you, Shepard, for giving me the chance to redeem myself."

The synthetic scream of the Reaper tears through the static, mere yards away.

"Their faces aren't as angry anymore."

There is a long pause, then an exhale.

"Spirits forgive me."

/END OF TRANSMISSION/