For those of you that have read my works before and know that I do have several ongoing stories already. I apologize for starting this fic now. But the fact is, that recently a Virus anally raped my console, and completely fried everything in the software. I lost all of my written documents, including the almost completed update for lost Soul, the halfway completed update for Void, the almost completed update for Pecado and finally the Jedi Knight story. So, in essence, I need to start everything up again. And quite frankly, right now I don't have the willpower to just tighten my bootstraps and haul ass to write up about forty two pages of lost writing.

So I've started this. A Mass Effect Fanfiction which I currently plan on splitting up into Ten seperate chapters, each of which will focus on one of the key missions of the Mass Effect game, including Bringing down the Sky and the events on the Citadel.

The first two or three chapters will be canonized almost to a T there will be little Deviation to the events of Mass Effect itself. After those chapters I shall begin to noticeably deviate more and more from Cannon, so for those of who who dont like re-reading cannon, stick with it a while, there will be several surprises along the way, including one major one for Shepard herself.

Anyway here's the first chapter of "The God from the Machine"

Amelia Shepard wasn't a woman of faith. Never had been. Her experiences both on tour and in her youth had convinced her long ago that if there truly was some kind of God in the universe then he most definitely was not a higher power that intervened in their lives, much less cared what the hell happened to them.

But even she could not help but look upon the ash covered soil of Eden Prime and think back to references of the biblical “Hell” Fires darkened the sky with black smoke, and the hellish glow of the flames beyond the horizon seemed to blanket the area into a nightmarish landscape. Burnt corpses littered the mountainous passes as she, Alenko and Jenkins made their way closer to the colony from the initial drop point.

“My god. What happened here?” Was the lieutenants soft spoken words as he knelt, hand hovering over he charred corpse of what was once human, holding a bundle in her arms.

“Stay focused Lt. , eyes up, hands on your weapon soldier”

The words were harsh, and fulfilled the intent behind them. The lieutenant straightened, hand going back towards the grip of his pistol. “Aye aye ma'am.” She nodded once, the reflective glint of her visor shielding her eyes from view with the movement. “Right. Jenkins, take point. Keep the formation simple for now. Alenko, behind me stay sharp boys we still don't know what we're facing here.”

The response was a quick, mutual “Yes ma'am.”

The rifle's heavy materials felt light in her experienced hands, the Onyx class armor's reinforced plates hugged her skin as dura-weave fibers regulated her body temperature, absorbing moisture and heat, powering the suits own control systems.

The heat of nearby flames licked at her exposed face, the harsh sting eliciting a curl of her lips as they made their way past the smoking debris.

Suddenly, her heads up display flared to life along her visor, multiple red blips blinking into existence, along the radar she could see along the one way reflective corner of her helmet camera.

“Contact! Find cover!!!” The alliance officer yelled, rushing off behind the cover of several large rocks, Alenko nipping her heels as several floating drones sailed out of the cover of the rocks, pulse lasers firing.

There was a scream, and a sudden burst of rifle fire as Shepard pressed her back to the stone, holding the rifle tightly in her grasp before she dared a peek around the corner.

She counted three drones, hovering on anti gravity propulsion systems, pulse rifles smoking with the recent discharge.

She spared a glance down at the unmoving corpse beneath them, narrowing her eyes in distaste as she caught a glimpse of Jenkin's shock twisted features before she was forced to get behind cover once again as the drones fired off another volley.

The rock at their backs , cracked and crumbled. The sounds of falling pebbles and large stones thudding against the ground as gray dust began creeping along their sides.

Looking to Alenko, who silently awaited her orders Shepard mentally asessed the situation before deciding on her next course of action. “Lt. I count three. Small fries, probably cant take much punishment. I'll create a diversion. When you get a shot, I want one good burst of those biotics, take out all three.

The Lieutenant nodded once, closing his eyes for a brief moment. There was a distortion in the air around him. A soft blue glow as the element zero masses were converged around him. Shepard took that as her signal, and with a tight, clenching of her teeth, the woman made her way around the stone, rifle in hand, eye down the sight.

The drones turned to her, cyclopean eyes glowing bright white as they forcefully turned their still firing las rifles onto her, following her movement.

Shepard moved fast, feet gliding over the grassy surface at her feet as adrenalin fueled her speed and spiked her reaction time.

It was over all too soon. The as the machines turned, Alenko took his opportunity, element zero coalesced around his arm, gathering onto a mental focal point at the lieutenants will and surging forward towards the minuscule drones.

The biotic field slammed into the first drone, a spectacular display of twisted metal and tearing wires as the field literally plowed through the drone as though it were a high speed tram tearing through a light weight grav vehicle.

The second drone did not fare much better. Grazed by the field, it spun out of control for a moment, wailing in a hollowed hum before it fell to the ground. Shepard took aim at the final drone, confused and alone its turret faltered between Shepard and the latest threat, attempting to calculate which of the two was the greater threat.

All too slow.

A three round burst rang through their ears as the first round smashed against whatever mediocre shield interface the second and third drilling their way through its metal plates, specking the ground with puss white fluid and black oil.

She stood for a moment, breathing heavily through her nostrils as she relished in the dying adrenalin. Sparing another glance at the still flickering drone on the ground. Alenko's second victim. She pulled her pistol and fired a single round into the circular screen at its front, shattering the panel. She watched the white light go dim before dying away.

She looked to Alenko, who made his way closer to the fallen Jenkins, eyes up and pistol ready.

She lowered her rifle, pointing it to the ground as her finger moved away from the trigger, resting along the side of the rifle. She walked closer to them, eyes trailing over the multiple holes and bleeding punctures where the pulse rifles had driven their energy based projectiles through the corporal.

“Ripped right through his shields.” Alenko said with a somber shake of his head as he closed the youths eyes, fingers carefully avoiding the drying blood that trailed from his lips. “He never had a chance” the lieutenant continued; standing up as he met Shepard's cool blue gaze with his own.

She broke her gaze away from his, looking down over Jenkins again. “Leave him.” She said after a short pause before she turned sharply to continue towards the colony, fingers re checking the calibration of her rifle. “We need to finish the mission.”

She felt, more than saw his nod. Grim and somber, no doubt he was somewhat shocked at her callous demeanor. Most were.

The radio earpiece along the side of her helmet chimed and she soon felt the voice of the Turian, Nihlus, caressing her ear. “Found some burnt out buildings here Shepard-- a lot of bodies...I'm gonna check it out. I'll wait for you there.”

He didn't wait for her to respond, cutting off the com channel easily from his end, she looked to the lieutenant. And with a quick jerk of her head gestured him to follow.

“Wait commander-”

Shepard paused, ducking on one knee as she scanned the tree line. “See anything lieutenant?”

“Shh...wait...listen...” The Alliance field officer stated with a slow turning of his head, after a few moments of careful focus on her senses Sheperd heard the muffled sounds of pulse rifle fire through her helmet.

“More drones you think?” She asked the Biotic.

“No, the pulses sound stronger. Whatever they are they're not drones-”

“Hmm...Sounds like its coming from the south. According to our maps that's-”

The distinct sound of a striker pistol being fired made both marines jump eyes turning southward.”

“Comander.” Kaidan said, turning to her with a somewhat hopeful expression. “Those sound like alliance marines over there Ma'am.”

She looked to the southern horizon then to the east where the glow of flames bathed the cusp of the hills with their orange glow; where the heart of the colony resided.

She looked indecisive for a moment, debating in her mind whether to head straight for the colony or towards the besieged marine forces.

“Comander-” Kaidan continued with some hesitation. “Those marines might know something about the beacon. They could provide us with intell and enemy number estimates.”

She hadn't thought of that. Decision made, the woman gave a curt nod before standing from her kneeling position. “I'll take point.”

Without waiting for his reply, Shepard rushed up the slope, boots digging deeply into the loose gravel as she pushed her way up.

With a mental command, she activated the magnetic locks on the back of her suit, flicking the switch on her rifle, it compacted. Folding in on itself, compressing its size as she reached back around to place it on her back. Magnetic locks engaged and with a snap that jerked the weapon onto the surface of her back the rifle was held firmly in place.

With another quick mental command, the alliance issue sniper rifle opened up, rear grip extending for an easy reach as she pulled it away from the disengaged locks. The barrel extended, minuscule hydrawlics pushing it along its tracks as it reached its full length.

She ducked low, taking careful aim as she looked down the hill, gesturing for the Lieutenant to hold as she crawled further along the edge of the hill

Finally she reached the edge, looking down through the ankle high grass towards two humanoid machines, beginning to make their way around a stone to flank a lone alliance marine.

'Just one?' Shepard thought somewhat ruefully as she took careful aim down the sight.

'Deep breath...breathe out and...'

The rattling vibration of a high powered shot ran down her spine, a single low pitched thrum shaking her chest as the weapon recoiled against her shoulder.

She watched with some satisfaction as the round ripped through the humanoid machines shoulder, in what would have been a gorish display if this were an organic target. White liquid, such as that of the drone earlier exploded from the exit wound as the round made its way through it, it spun around, loosing its balance and falling onto its hands and knees. Shepard turned her eyes to the second Geth, this one now aware of her presence and scrambling back towards the rock outcroppings for cover.

Another shot, this one striking the back of the machines elongated neck sending it to the floor, spread eagle, unmoving.

She turned back to the first target, watching as it tried to get back to its feet, only for a burst of assault rifle fire to tear its chest surface to pieces

She pulled away from the rifle sight, no longer limited to its spectrum of vision she found that the one responsible for that kill was none other than the Alliance marine they had saved.

Well...she at least knows how to pull that trigger quick.

Shepard waited for a moment, making sure they had the all clear before she stood up, sniper rifle clicking onto her back before she signaled the Lt.

They made their way down the hill, rifle and pistols in hand as they approached the lone soldier.

She was breathing hard, sweating, grime and dirt scuffing her armor and helmet and Shepard could just peek at strands of black hair that clung to her cheek as they slipped by the confines of her helmet.

“Gunery Chief Ashley Williams of the 212.” She said, flustered and harried “Are you the one in charge here ma'am?”

Shepard didn't acknowledge the question, instead proceeding with her own. “Status report soldier.”

Williams sighed, shoulders sagging with a mixture of palpable relief and exhaustion, seemingly happy to ignore the fact that her query had been brushed off in her exultation on seeing a friendly face.

“Oh man. We were patrolling the perimeter when the attack hit us. Came out of nowhere...I think...I think I'm the only one left.” Ashley stated, eyes clouding over with veiled despair that only the shock of the recent events and the still surging adrenalin managed to keep at bay no doubt.

Shepard looked to the still bleeding synthetics near them, limp bodies, void of movement. “Any idea what kind of enemy we're facing here?”

The woman hesitated for a moment, apparently wondering whether or not she would sound like a complete idiot for uttering her next words. “I think they're Geth.”

“Geth?” Alenko echoed, hesitation and disbelief clear in both his voice and posture. “Geth haven't been seen outside the veil in nearly two hundred years, why would they be here now?”

Shepard shrugged. “Does it matter? They're here. The Beacon's here. This isn't coincidence.”

“You're right commander.” The Biotic amended with a quick nod.

Turning back to Williams the Butcher of Torfan spoke. “Williams, with us. As of now you're working under my command. Do you know where the Beacon is?”

Williams nodded pointing down the ravine “South east from here ma'am. By the dig site.”

Shepard inclined her head once in a gesture of approval. “Alright then Williams. Take point, lead us there.”

“Aye aye Ma'am.” The chief said with a nod as she hefted her rifle; and though she pretended not to hear it. Shepard distinctly heard the hateful whisper that escaped the woman's tightly clenched teeth in a personal vow. “Its time for payback.”

Together the marines made their way down the ravine, moving in the standardized alliance V formation, Ashley in front with the assault rifle, rifle, Shepard two steps behind and two to the left with the long range sniper rifle, and Alenko taking up the rear, four paces directly behind Ashley.

Sometimes it annoyed Shepard the Alliance regs had against Biotics. She understood the need for safety protocols, as it was, Biotic commando squads could easily take down about a dozen common marine platoons, as such, the powers of Biotics were viewed with wariness and some distrust. Because of that, many Biotics had anger issues and problems with authority.

As a side effect of that, at times, was kept to a minimal, not allowing a Biotic adept marine to learn how to properly and effectively use the shot gun, or providing him with the muscle stimulants and implants necessary for the body to effectively handle the use and weight of the heavier class armors. If Alenko had such skills and implants in him now, then the Biotic could easily take point on several missions and be nearly three times as effective as a normal marine.

A stupid cycle, really, one that the Brass was only now becoming aware of and attempting to remedy.

And that was the brain power behind ten trillions in tax payer money...

'Shepard.'

Great...the resident specter decided to drop in again.

Pressing a hand to the radio controls along the side of her helmet the woman spoke. “Nihlus. And here I was starting to shut up all the other voices in my head.” Along the corner of her eye, she saw Alenko giving Williams the radio frequencies they were on.

'Cute. Regardless of how many sentients your cognition holds Shepard. Just checking in to tell you there's been a change of plans. There's a space port ahead. Seems completely overrun and burning as well. I'm going to check it out. I'll wait for you there.'

“See you there Specter.” Amelia stated with a personal nod as she cut the communication line.

“There's a specter here?” Ashley said, startled as she looked back to her current commanding officer.

“Eyes forward Williams.” Shepard barked rather harshly, snapping Williams neck back around towards the proper forward position with the sound of her words alone.

Alenko chuckled softly behind the two of them, deciding to answer the Chief's query. “Yea, trust me chief when you see this guy you'll know. That Turian has enough firepower to take down a building.”

“That and he's a Turian- we don't see many on Eden-”

“You're both marines in the middle of a hot zone, stop gossiping like twelve year olds before you give away our position to every drone and Geth in the outskirts of the colony.”

Properly chastised both marines nodded. “Aye commander.” They chorused.

Soon enough, they approached the dig sight, eyes scanning the nearby hills for Geth, finally, as they reached the center they allowed themselves to lower their rifles, with Williams addressing the two Normandy crew members.

“This was the Dig site. The beacon was right here. They...must have moved it I guess.”

“By who?” Alenko questioned. “Our side or the Geth?”

“Hard to say” she answered.

Amelia stood off to the side, eyes scanning over the macabre display of a human marine impaled on some kind of pike, his crimson blood seeping from the wound and trailing slowly down the side of the cylindrical spike. “Alright...fine...if the Beacon's not here; Williams, you got any theories on where it may be?”

She shook her head, sounds of uncertainty rising from the back of her throat as she shrugged helplessly. “Err...I guess maybe up at the researchers camp. Its just up the ramps.”

“Then lets move. We don't get nothing from standing here.”

Nihlus pressed his back against the wall, hugging the bulwark surface tightly, the sound of heavy, methodical footsteps clanking against the steel surface of the grimed and blood stained floors echoing in his auditory receptors.

His mandibles clicked in agitation, trying to pin point the sound, waiting for it to be in what he estimated to be his best firing range.

He stilled his breathing, talons scratching with an impatient tick at the ground beneath him as his claws caressed the rifle trigger.

Finally, there. The Geth should be about twelve paces away, perfect range for his wide shot rifle.

He rounded the corner, shot gun at the ready when he was stopped, a sharp gasp stilling his motions as he straightened. “Sa-Saren”

Slowly, the addressed individual turned, revealing ashen gray skin, a stark contrast to Nihlus's darker skin tone. Another noticeable difference was the fact that Nihlus bore his skull white clan markings proudly, yet Saren bore no markings. More likely than not, he was orphaned, or abandoned at a young age, and as such, grew with neither clan nor relations. Not an unknown occurrence but certainly an oddity.

Optic implants glowed deep blue behind his eyes, a glint of silver in his iris as the veteran specter turned to his somewhat younger counterpart.

When he spoke, his voice was flat, bored, veiling whatever intent he felt as he turned to face his fellow Turian. “Nihlus”

“Humans, thank the maker!”

“Williams, Alenko, cover the doorway- keep your eyes peeled.” Shepard said, entering the small trailer, half broken, walls buckling in on themselves with visible claw marks along the metal grating along the outside.

The two marines did as they were told, with Williams taking a spot along the side of the door, and Alenko seeking a small port hole along the side of the portable building.

With that done, Amelia herself turned to face the two scientists, whom were previously huddled along the other side of the cubicle, apparently hoping to become invisible if they made themselves small enough. “Commander Shepard. Systems Alliance; Tell me what happened here.”

The woman took the lead, still visibly shaken, but nowhere near the level of intensity the male next to her was showing, shivering in cold sweat, hugging himself as he seeped into a whimpering mess along the corner. Quite a pathetic sight if she did say so herself.

“I-I don't know...one second we were just cleaning up the camp, the next those...those things were right on top of us. The marines held them off long enough for Manuel and I to get in here but...I-I think they came here for the Beacon”

Shepard sighed, shaking her head with something akin to irritation. Another master of the obvious- “Where's the Beacon now Doctor?”

“We moved it this morning towards the space port. Manuel and I stayed behind to finish packing up equipment and backing up data.”

Shepard nodded. “Allright, stay here. We need to get to that Beacon quick, Alenko, Williams. On your feet.”

The two soldiers nodded, moving like clockwork as they each stepped out, assuring the areas were clear as they stepped over the burnt bodies of humans and the shattered dura-steel shells of the Geth.

Nihlus straightened, rifle pointed down as he allowed himself to breathe easier in the company of not only a fellow Turian, but the living legend of the Specters himself. Walking to the Turian's side as he looked down on the dead shell of a Geth that had apparently been killed by the marines in the initial fighting. “I hadn't expected to find the Geth here. The situation's bad.”

Saren circled the area, prowling as though he were looking for prey, listening to his fellow specters footsteps, waiting for his moment. The gun dislodged from his hip with a mechanical whir and a hiss of hydraulics, falling into his taloned hand, a comforting, familiar weight as he turned, lining the barrel with the back of Nihlus's skull.

“Don't worry...I've got it under control...”

The sound of a single gunshot resonated through the hills, almost echoing despite the open space and Shepard's momentum grinded to a halt, stopping so swiftly Ashley and Kaidain almost bumped into her.

“Something wrong Ma'am.” Ashley questioned after several moments of silence.

Shepard remained silent, eyes heavenward as she listened for any hint of the gunshots direction, or possibly a second shot. Had that even been a gunshot at all...perhaps a distant explosion or something. “Not at all...keep moving. Remember, eyes open, fingers on your triggers.”

They made their way over the next hill, eyes immediately scanning over the shattered space port, a smoking ruin of twisted metal and ruptured fuel lines.

Then she saw him.

He was laying on his stomach, dark, colossus armor blinking as its support systems continued pulsing with electrical energy, vitals and and life support systems attempting to resuscitate the turian through drugs and stimulants.

Shepard stepped forward, already knowing the Xeno to be dead but deciding to check just incase. She went up the stairs onto the platform, ignoring the heat of the nearby flames as she came closer. Kneeling down, she almost checked for a pulse point, realizing before she did that not only would the hardened turian plates along the neck would prevent her from feeling the sensitive pulse, but also that his anatomy was completely different from that of a human.

“Nihlus.” Was Alenko's shocked breath. Shepard had to admit, she too was shocked. She expected a Specter would be the last thing the Geth would notch onto their tally here. Overrated much?

“Alenko, contact the normandy, get-”

There was a screech of metal scraping against metal, a shifting of crates near the rear of the blatform along with a sudden, deafening clang as one of the massive crates toppled over.

In a blink, all three marines had their weapons aimed and ready to fire, eyes down the sight as they waited for a target.

“Wa-wait!” Was the cry that rose hesitantly from behind the crate, a hand peeking out of the side. “I'm one of you I'm human.”

A second later a head followed the hand, a full, scruffy beard framed the man's face, a beanie clinging to his head. “The turian. I saw what happened to him.”

Shepard looked down to Nihlus at this, dark purple blood seeping from between his mandibles and sharpened teeth. Afer a few moment of expectant silence Shepard snapped. “Well!”

The dock worker jumped, frightened by the harsh edge to her voice he stuttered out a response. “I-well-I- the-the other one shot him.”

“Other one? What do you mean other one?” Ashley asked, tilting her head to the side, curious. “As far as I know there aren't any Turians on Eden Prime.”

“There were two Turian's here, your friend and another one he called Saren.” The dockworker answered, leaning on the crate between them. “I-I think they may have known eachother.” The worker hesitated, and Shepard took a moment to signal Alenko and Ashley to take up their flanking positions, realizing they were completely exposed in this place. “Your friend let his guard down...and Saren...killed him...shot him right in the back.”

“Hmm...” Shepard groused, mostly to herself. How troublesome. Regardless, dead specter or no. It didn't matter. Not to their mission parameters anyway. She needed that beacon. “We were told a Prothean beacon was brought to this place. Where is it? Did the Geth take it?”

“N-No. We moved the beacon to platform 242 this mor-” Shepard didn't wait for his next words, turning sharply she looked to Kaidan and Ashley, a silent signal to follow as she took point this time.

“Ah-Th-The other Turian went that way ya hear!!!” The dockworker called out to her as she made her way towards the cargo train.

“Alenko, forward the update to the Normandy-tell the captain what's going on. See if we can get another team to meet us near platform 242.”

“Aye aye ma'am.”

Saren's taloned feet clanked against metal gratings as he made his way down the ramp, towering over geth troops as he pushed past the synthetics, standing within the shadow of the great warship, its massive spinal curvature towering high, over the ground, dwarfing everything on this planet, even the great communication spires that stood high over the other structures of this colony.

The Turian marched over towards a single white Geth, its cyclopean eye shining brightly enough to irritate his optical implants as he growled down at the machine. “Set the charges. Glass the colony. No evidence remains.”

The Geth gave a sound, a strange vibrating gurgle. It was an alien sound, one indiscernible to organics, like the growl of some animal, seemingly benign and without translation. But to Saren, the understanding was clear, the artificial creatures voice transcending through the boundaries of language, alive and dead, machine and organic.

He marched past the Geth trooper approaching the pulsing beacon, a relic of the ancient and long lost legacy of the Prothean empire...this was all that remained...all that survived...

He stepped closer, approaching the device slowly, almost reverently. He saw the pulse of green energy, a tingling spreading over his leathery skin, seeping into his pores and trailing up and down his spine.

With a drowning pulse, he felt a sudden weightlessness, as the beacons ancient anti gravity radius activated. A foreign presence in his mind that was like a cold winters chill, the words of death caressing his ear. A cry for help...a plea of mercy...

And then...screams...

The cargo train grinded to a halt on magnetic tracks, a hiss of hydraulic brakes and a humm of electro magnets as the three marines stepped off weapons raised up above onto the catwalks, scanning the area for Geth.

Marching up the ramps the team was soon greeted by a rather heart stopping sight...

“Is that...” Ashley gulped.

Hand rushing to her radio control, Shepard pursed her lips, snarling into the reciever. “Normandy. This is the Shore party, answer Joker!”

The crackle of static hissed across her ear making her grit her teeth as the sound irritated her molars in a reflex reaction. 'Yikes comander somebody blow a gasket down there?'

“A whole lot of gaskets are about to blow down here. Get the normandy to our coordinates and ready bomb teams, we've found Geth charges.”

“How big?”

“Big enough to blow us into the next system with our ashes burning up in Terra Nova's atmosphere that's for sure. Get down here Joker-now!”

A rush of heated air brought her gaze to the side of the platform, where the Normandy was beginning a steady descent, its cargo bay doors already opening, with several marines in full battle gear, visible within the metal hull. “You need only ask Commander”

Shepard didn't appreciate Joker's wry humor, but given his impeccable timing, she'd refrain from...disciplining him...until he really pissed her off.

Reaching up to the radio she spoke again. 'Allright Joker tell the teams to find and deal with these Geth charges, Alenko, chief Williams and I will keep moving to platform 242. Once the teams are done here, have them join us. We may need the extra support.”

'Roger that commander sending orders to the fire teams now.'

Looking to Alenko and Williams, the former of which gawked openly at the Normandy, clearly impressed by the most state of the art vessel the alliance military had at their command, the commander gave them both a sharp “Move out” before they began making their way down the platform.

Finally, they reached the designated platform, glancing down the balcony, Shepard motioned Ashley to take a support position, watching as the gunnery chief found a good spot with her sniper rifle to cover them, laying flat on her stomach and looking out across the platform, trying to ignore the still pulsating Prothean Beacon.

Looking to Kaidan, she signaled him to get behind her, Biotics at the ready.

Shepard marched down the catwalk, rifle at the ready, she could fear the hairs along the back of her neck tingle with trepidation, almost feeling the gaze of whatever was stalking them boring a hole through the back of her skull as it kept its gazed fixed on her.

She simply knew there was something here, even as her suits sensor arrays picked up no life support systems, motion, element zero masses or electric weapon charges, she just knew that something was here. And she trusted her instincts. It was they, that had kept her alive on Torfan after all.

And they did not fail her here.

From the nearby cargo crates, three of the synthetics burst from their confines, weapons drawn, eyes glowing bright white as they fired their pulse rifles.

Two to the left, one to the right.

She turned left, trusting Williams to take the shot to the single one behind her, firing her rifle into the first geth that entered her vission with a battle cry as Alenko lunged to the side, avoiding a charged particle blast from the second Geth as he released a powerful Biotic energy wave, that smashed his synthetic opponent into more of the crates, dazing the creature as Alenko reached his feet again, firing wildly with the hairline trigger of his pistol.

A thrum of a high powered shot reached her ears, and, not feeling her rear shields being assaulted by pulse rifle fire, she trusted the gunnery chief had hit her mark.

The geth infront of her took the rounds to his shields, she watched its power fluctuation, measuring how much longer his shields would hold in comparison to her own.

She grit her teeth, crisscrossing her stepps as she banked left and right, hoping to throw the machine off balance, play the odds in her favor. The geth wasnt very smart. It remained stationary, easy pickings.

The pulse lazers washed over her shields, a distortion of air alerting her to the strikes, she moved in close, and more and more of her rifle rounds hit the creature, and its shields, finally buckled, leaving it naked to the hail of gunfire that shattered its chassis, killing it as white fluid seeped from the entry wounds.

Her rifle hissed in her grip, smoking as the heat sink overheated in its compartment, burning her hand within her glove, the pain was dulled by adrenalin.

Shepard turned, finding that Ashley had indeed taken down the Geth behind them, and watching as the Lieutenant was just about ready to finish off the last.

Suddenly, something struck her side, hard, it knocked the wind out of her and she fell, tumbling to the floor in a heap as the rifle fell from her grasp.

She reached, blindly, feeling , thin, bony fingers along her neck as she grasped the assailant, finding another Geth on top of her, this one smaller, its color more opaque, less reflectant of light.

The human woman snarled, hand curling into a fist before she nailed the machine right across its cyclopean eye, sending it staggering back with something akin to a whine of pain. She reached behind her back, pulling her shot gun free from its place along her waist, unfolding it from its compact form before she took aim, and fired.

The wide shot rounds pelted the creature across the chest, its light weight flying across the platform to land hard on its spine thin back, unmoving. It would have been almost comical the distance the little bugger flew if she hadn't long ago become desensitized to such things.

She grunted, reaching her feet as another high powered shot rang through the open space, the powerful, high speed bolt careening through the air, smashing through the last Geth troopers shields and leaving a grapefruit sized hole in his chest.

“You alright commander?”

“Just fine Lt.” She answered the Biotic, gaze traveling towards the pulsating Prothean Beacon a few feet away.

She stepped closer, hesitating for a moment before giving the device a once over, feeling, more than hearing the Gunery Chief and Lt. march up behind her. Basking in the sight that few others in the entire Galaxy had ever seen.

“This is amazing...actual working Prothean technology...” The lieutenant breathed, an unashamed hint of awe lacing his voice.

“It wasn't doing anything like that when they dug it up.” Ashley admitted as Shepard brushed past her, hand reaching for her radio controls.

“Normandy, this is shore party one. We've found the beacon, need extraction and pick up.” The blue eyed woman stated, ignoring the irritating crackle of static in her ear as she waited for Joker's response.

'Roger that Shore party, fire teams are dealing with the Geth charges, once they're done we'll move to your coordinates and pick you up. Captain orders that you secure that site and hold position until we arrive, Beacon is top priority.'

“Roger Normandy. We'll hold here.”

Turning back around to the Gunnery chief, who stood with her rifle in hand, the Alliance field officer moved to give the woman her next orders. “Williams, keep that rifle handy, I want you taking position on the-”

She paused-startled, she pushed the confused Williams aside, gaze finding Alenko, almost convulsing in a standing position, moving towards the beacon, as though he was being pulled, slowly towards the Prothean artifact, with pulsated with powerful energies of deep, forest green. The particles washed over the Biotic Lieutenant reducing him to clutching his head in pain.

Shepard rushed forward, they'd just fought through nearly three dozen Geth troopers to be here and she was not about to tolerate the Lt. dying because of an inanimate object when they were already done!!!

She reached forward, grasping the LT by a ridge along the back of his suit before yanking him back, away from the prothean energy field.

She moved to get away, tried to get back. But as she did the beacon pulsed once, its field expanding, and before the commander could react the green particles washed over her, pulling her into its field.

Then came the pain.

It snuck up on her, a slow tingle that bloomed into an agony that bored through her skull. The pain was blinding, staggering, she felt a single shudder rush through her body, her back arching like a bow.

Images passed before her eyes, fractured and fragmented. Her eyes were open wide, heavenward, but she saw nothing, she stood over a black abyss, the galaxy was burning before her eyes, it was crumbling, bleeding, breaking, the planets themselves cried out in anguish in seas of red flame as everything was reduced to ash and dust.

She heard screams, a flash of teeth, powerful claws tearing at her skin, the pressure in her head increased, as if it were trying to crush her very skull.

She...couldn't...

Suddenly, with a wailing cry the beacon shattered, its shrapnel slamming into her chest as she was thrown back, hitting the ground with a harsh impact. Alenko and Williams ran to her, green electricity sparking from the beacon and racing along the surface of her armor before dying away into nothingness.

The visor of her helmet was cracked, mouth still opened in a silent scream, the white of her eyes was all the two could see before her world went dark.

Well here's the chapter hope you all enjoy it.

Honestly I've thought of several ways the story could go, with several pairings that could help it along in certain ways. Each have their own pros and cons and quite frankly, I'm a bit indecisive on which way it should go.

The decision is between Garrus and Saren, yea two Turians. Mainly because 1, I dont like Alenko as an option, he bores me, Williams with her racist attitude gets on my nerves, and Liara is far too bookish for my tastes. Garrus is at least somewhat interesting and Saren, well...from what I can tell its never been done before I like to be original. Like I said both options have their own pros and cons so for right now I'll leave the decision up to a vote. Something I havent done since the early days I started here in.

I cant say when I'll update again. It all depends really. Anyway hope you all enjoyed it