The Battle for Elysium

One month from the destruction of the Collector base, the Normandy SR2 was called into the Citadel to be Cerberus de-modified. During this time, Shepard and his entire crew, including the non alliance and geth crew, were given permission to leave. Tali and Shepard decided to use this time to visit Elysium.

The shuttle arrived just outside the Elysian Fields Resort entrance in the early morning, the sun was just coming over the horizon and the air was cool and refreshing. Shepard and Tali left the alliance shuttle that transported them to Elysium together holding hands, and grabbed their bags then headed for the main entrance of the Resort.
Tali and Shepard approached the large blue building of the Elysian Fields Resort. Shepard stopped at the entrance to the Resort, Tali turned around and asked "Shepard, what's wrong?"
"Nothing Tali," Shepard replied, "it's just that this is the same resort that I stayed in during my leave just prior to the Blitz."
"I see," Tali said, "it's nice to know that the owner of the resort wanted to show you the appreciation for destroying the collector base and gave us a free deluxe suite."
"It was," Shepard said, "c'mon, let's go and check in."

Shepard and Tali entered the resort, as they walked towards the reception desk they noticed that the other patrons were giving them with strange looks. "Shepard, everyone is looking at us." Tali said.
"I know," Shepard said, "I've heard that people here since the blitz have become racist towards aliens."
"So it's my fault?" Tali asked sadly.
"Well, it's either that or people are looking at us because of me." Shepard said, "I don't care either way though, I love you, Tali."
"And I love you," Tali said as they approached the check in desk.

The female receptionist at the counter was wearing a light blue blazer with a black vest underneath and a short darker blue skirt; looked up from her computer monitor and took one look at Tali and Shepard and then looked back at her computer monitor. Shepard cleared his throat and said, "We have a reservation."
"No you don't," the receptionist said.
"We do," Shepard said in a calm voice, "look in your computer, under Revan Shepard."
"Fine," the receptionist said, and made a few clicks on the keyboard and then said, "You're not in here."
"Do you know who I am?" Shepard said.
"Yes," the receptionist said, "you are a Quarian lover."
Shepard suddenly reached over the counter and grabbed the receptionist by the collar of her uniform and pulled her over the counter, bringing her face directly in front of his own. "Check again," Shepard said in a calm yet threatening voice, "and this time actually check, then after you're done with that apologize to Tali." He then tossed her back into her chair.
"Fine," she said with scorn in her voice, "Hmm appears you do have a reservation here, with the Quarian Tali'Zorah."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Tali asked.
"What do you think," she said in a snide voice, "you Quarian."
"If I had my shotgun," Tali said in a threatening tone, as she started to lean over the counter.
"What's wrong with Quarians?" Shepard asked.
The receptionist had fear in her eyes and her jaw was open, then a voice called out, "Ah, Commander Shepard," a man in a dark blue suit with a small dark moustache and crew cut hair; came up and kissed Shepard on the cheeks, "I am the manager of this Resort, Sinclair P. Donald. I hope you haven't had any trouble so far?"
"Only trouble is this receptionist of yours," Shepard said, "but she was just about to apologize to Tali for insulting her, weren't you."
"No, I'm not going to apologize to this, this, Quarian," she said, "when the Geth attacked the Citadel my sister was one of the many that didn't make it out in time and was killed."
"Then, I will apologize for you," Sinclair said, "She apologizes for anything that she may have said that offended you Shepard or the lovely Miss Tali."
"And as a sign of respect to you and the Quarian people," Sinclair continued, "I am suspending you immediately from work for till the end of the month. And if you try to argue with me, you will be fired." And with that the receptionist stood up and walked out of the resort.
"I am truly sorry, Shepard," Sinclair said, "but you must understand, ever since the Blitz, people here have had a lot of tension towards aliens. I am one of the few resorts left that will still cater to alien species."
"I understand," Shepard said.
"Its people like that, that give humans a bad name," Tali said, "fortunately, there are humans like, Shepard that give humans a good name."
"I couldn't agree more," Shepard said and looked Tali directly in her glowing eyes behind her mask.
"Oh, such passion," Sinclair said, "Shepard do not worry about your bags, I will personally make sure your bags are taken to your room. So please take a walk about the city, and take a trip down memory lane. Oh, yes, by the way, a package from Councillor Anderson arrived just before you did."
Shepard took the package and opened it, inside was two M-5 Phalanx Heavy Pistols with a note that said, "Shepard, Tali, just in case you need these during your time on Elysium. P.S. Enjoy yourselves."
"I guess he knew you two might have some trouble here," Sinclair said, "now here you go, your passes that will let you go almost anywhere here."
Shepard and Tali took the pistols and passes, and then headed towards the pool, "I wonder why, Anderson would send us pistols?" Tali asked.
"He probably thinks we'll get in trouble," Shepard said.
"Because of me?" Tali asked.
"Since people here are quite racist to aliens," Shepard said, "probably."
"I'm sorry," Tali apologized.
"There's nothing to apologize for." Shepard said, "These people should be the ones apologizing."
Shepard looked at Tali as they neared the pool, "Forget about it," Shepard said, "let's just enjoy the time we have together," then put his right arm around her shoulders, and held her close.
They exited the resort and entered the pool area, "This is where it all started," Shepard said, "I was here, during the time of the attack."
"What do you mean?" Tali asked."
"My friends and I were here just before attack took place," Shepard said, "I'll tell you story if you want."
"I'd love to hear it," Tali said as they walked around the pool and sat on a couple of pool chairs as the sun came up and Shepard began his story.

*****

Arcee, James, Cameron, Relena and Jack and I were all here, it was our first and last time we would be together. James wearing a black Speedo, his black, wet hair pushed back; and Cameron in a single piece white leotard bathing suit with her long wet, brunette hair styled in a long braid that reached her waist; were sitting in a couple of pool chairs sharing an orange drink in a large glass; Relena was wearing a violet bikini her long, dark blonde hair was tied back in a knot; and Jack was wearing a crimson red pair of trunks and had wet, short, dark brown hair were swimming in the shallow end of the pool and Arcee was wearing a black one piece leotard bathing suit with a holster which held her dark red oak bokken on the back of her waist, her long red hair hung loose and swayed back and forth as she smashed the ping pong ball back towards her three opponents; was playing a 1 on three match of table tennis with a few of the other people that were also on leave, I was wearing a black pair of trunks, and my hair was wet and pushed back, was on top of the diving board ready to jump into the pool.
Just before I was about to jump into the pool I saw a flash of light in the sky, I ignored it jumped into the pool. Just before I hit the water I heard someone scream "MISSILE, EVERYONE DOWN…" I hit the water and went deep under the water, I looked up to see a mass of fiery red and orange cloud above the water, I looked around staying underwater, I saw some bodies falling into the pool, knowing that they were most likely dead and nothing to be done of about them. I then rushed to the surface of the water, mostly because I was running out of oxygen.
I breached the surface of the water and looked around to see who else survived the attack. I couldn't quite see very much people were on the ground or floating in the pool. I swam towards the edge of the pool and got out of the water, to take a better look around. I saw James and Cameron were lying on the ground, their lifeless hands touching, their bodies, bleeding and full of shrapnel from the explosion. I looked around to see where Jack and Relena were, but I couldn't see them.
"Shepard," a female voice called, I looked around to see who called me, and I saw Arcee running towards me, "Glad you survived, saw your dive by the way, good one."
"Um, thanks," I said, "where's Jack and Relena?"
"I don't know," Arcee said, "I called out when I saw the missile, and jumped into the pool just after you hit the water…"
Arcee suddenly stopped talking with a horrified look on her face. "Arcee, what is it?" I said, she pointed towards the diving board which was now knocked over the legs, broken and pointed outwards at twisted angles. Skewered on two of the broken legs were Jack and Relena, the legs of the diving board, were bursting through their chests, blood streaming from their mouths, their eyes blank, their heads hung loosely, but on their faces were small smiles. I figured whatever had transpired just before the explosion was extremely pleasant, sadly no one would ever know what it was.
"We have to find out if anyone else survived the attack and contact the alliance." Arcee said, "Shepard, do, do you remember where the nearest bunker is?"
"Of course," I replied, "Arcee are you okay?"
"Yea, just a little sad about what happened to our friends," Arcee said sadly.
"I understand," I said, "but we have to keep our heads together if we are going to survive this."
"You're right, Shepard." Arcee said, and shook her head, "Shepard you go to the bunker and get supplies and weapons. I'll see if anyone in the Resort survived, and can assist us. Besides, my sword and sniper is in the building and I need to get them."
"Agreed, be careful," I said.
"Same to you Shepard," Arcee said.
I ran towards the bunker, and she ran into the resort.


*****


The sun was high in the sky, by the time Shepard finished the story, and more people had come down to the pool area, and they had given Shepard and Tali strange looks. But that didn't bother them; they were too caught up in the story to pay any attention.
"So in the first, few seconds of the attack, you lost almost all of your childhood friends," Tali said apologetically, "Shepard are you crying?"
"I am," Shepard said, "remembering that day, is never pleasant."
"I'm sorry for making you recall it," Tali said.
"Its fine," Shepard said, "remembering the old days, is always saddening."
"I understand," Tali said, "I get sad when I think about my parents."
"Do you want to move on to another landmark?" Shepard asked.
"Sure," Tali said, "The looks that people are giving us are starting to make me feel uncomfortable."
Tali and Shepard got up and walked out of the pool area and followed the path that Shepard took on that day. Along the way Shepard told Tali that the path that they took was heavily destroyed and mostly on fire. Soon they got to the small bunker that was left behind to commemorate the young soldiers that had died during the first few hours of the attack.
The bunker had been transformed into a gift shop and named the 'Star of Terra gift shop' after the award that was given to Shepard. Once they entered the bunker the few people that were in the shop gave them strange looks, which they just ignored and took a looked around, in the shop were toy guns of the weapons that were used in the battle, and small action figures of Shepard and a few other soldiers.
"I like this one," Tali said as she picked up one of the Commander Shepard action figures, "Shepard?"
"Tali come here and take a look at this," Shepard said, and Tali came over and looked at what Shepard was so interested in.
"What is it, Shepard?" Tali asked.
"This," Shepard said and rubbed his hand over the plaque that was in the corner of the bunker.
The plaque read, 'This building is to commermerate the brave soldiers that died during the ground siege of the Skyllian Blitz.' then it listed a bunch of names that Tali didn't know.
"Did all these people really die during the ground siege during the Blitz?" Tali asked.
"Unfortunately so," Shepard said, "I'll tell you the story, if you want."
"Sure, but first can we get this little figure?" Tali asked.
"Sure," Shepard said, "but why do you want that, when you have the real thing?"
"So that you'll always be close to me," Tali said.
Shepard and Tali got the doll, surprisingly with no strange looks from the employee that worked there and actually a loving comment on how good Tali and Shepard looked together. As they left the bunker and headed to the next landmark, Shepard told Tali what happened during the ground siege of the Blitz.


*****


I worked my way towards the bunker after the air attack; I had just reached the bunker, as a shot hit the wall bunker that just missed me. I entered the bunker to be met with a bunch of rifle barrels, then a greeting. "Shepard," said a voice.
It was Sergeant Kal Rata, "I was worried about you kids, when that first wave hit."
"Sergeant, what's going on?" I asked.
"Pirates," Kal said, "from what I saw of the first wave, pirates, slavers and Batarians warlords, and who knows who else."
"Understood, sergeant," I said.
"What happened to your friends?" Kal said.
I looked down towards the ground and said, "they're dead, everyone that was at the pool died during the first wave. Only me and Arcee survived."
"I'm sorry, Shepard," Kal said, "at least you and Arcee survived. Where is she by the way?"
"You know, Arcee," I said, "she went to get her rifle and sword from her resort room."
"I should've figured," Kal said, "well, if anyone can be safe on her own, it's you and her."
"I was near here when the attack hit, I saw the resort go up in a large explosion," Kal continued, "I was able to get these grunts inside the bunker when I did, or they would all be dead."
"What happened to your leg, sir?" I asked.
"I was the last one inside and a piece of shrapnel penetrated my thigh, just before the door closed." Kal said, "Luckily there was a good supply of medi-gel, and someone bandaged my leg."
"Sir," one of the soldiers said, "there is a large group of Batarians approaching. What should we do?"
"Defend them off of course," Kal said, "and get Shepard some weapons."
"Shepard, can you hear me?" a crackly electronic voice came over the bunkers speaker.
"Arcee," I said and made my way to the communication console, "Arcee, it's Shepard, I'm here in the bunker and Kal is here too."
"Kal, how are you doing?" Arcee asked.
"Fair enough," Kal said, "my leg got hit by some shrapnel during the first attack."
"Understood sir," Arcee replied, "I am in my room and I can see the flag ship, in the center of the square, about 5 klicks from your position. Also there are about fifty troops approaching your location."
"Thanks, can you give us any help?" I asked.
"No, unfortunately, I can't," Arcee said, "from where I am you guys are out of range. I'll work my way towards your location."
"We know you're in there," a voice said, just before a large explosion. Gunfire sounded out followed by screams of death and agony.
"Sorry about that Shepard," Arcee, said," a couple of Batarians blue my room door open. At any rate, I'm off, see you in a few." The comm. system then went dead.
"I guess I have to get going too." I said, and grabbed a pistol and a assault rifle from a table. "Kal, how many snipers do you have?"
"I don't know," Kal said, "how many people here know how to use a blasted sniper?"
About five people put their hands up, "Five snipers, and ten soldiers holding snipers. One of you none snipers give, Shepard your sniper."
The closest soldier handed Shepard his sniper and he slung it over his shoulder using the shoulder strap, "Thanks," I said.
"What's your plan, Shepard?" Kal asked.
"I think you know, sir." I replied.
"Understood," Kal said with a smile. "Someone hand me a sniper, and someone else get on the mounted turret and on my mark, Snipers cover Shepard as he runs from the bunker. We'll follow shortly after."
Just before I approached the exit to the bunker I changed into a black piece of armour that was stored in a locker. I then approached the exit of the bunker and press myself up against the door, waiting for sergeant Kal's signal. He shot a round, and I then ran out the door and gunfire burst from both sides. I dodged the rounds coming from the front and trusted the people behind me not to hit me. I got close to an alley and jumped ran down the alleyway towards the center of town, I, no longer could hear the gunfire, suddenly two Batarians and a Krogan came running from a side alley and blocked my way. The Batarians were armed with assault rifles and the Krogan with a Shotgun.
"So, you're the soldier that ran from the bunker," one of the Batarians said, "a human, what are you trying to be, a hero or something."
"No, not a hero," I said, "just a soldier defending this human colony from a bunch of Batarian slavers."
"Oh, am I going to enjoy killing you," the Krogan said and they all took aim. Suddenly one of the Batarians heads exploded. The other Batarian and the Krogan looked at their dead colleague and the Krogan started to charge at me, I quickly took my pistol and placed a few shots in his head, the Krogan fell and slid and stopped at my feat. The other Batarian just stood there, not moving. Then he split in two striaight down the center to reveal, Arcee, holding a Katana in her right hand and her M-91 Mantis sniper rifle in her left. She had changed into a pair of red shorts with her bokken stored behind her from left to right and her Saya from right to left, with a black tank top; "Looks like that's two for me Shepard."
"Thanks for the save," I said.
"No, problem," Arcee said, "Let's go, it's only a few klicks to the ship."


*****


"It was right here, where she saved my life from the two Batarians and Krogan," Shepard said.
"Remind me to thank her later for saving your life." Tali said.
"I think she already knows," Shepard said, "but, I will."
"Shepard, do you think we could stop for some lunch?" Tali asked.
"Sure, Tali," Shepard said, "I'm getting a bit hungry too. Good thing we made a pack lunch. Let's get to the memorial monument, and then we'll have our lunch."
"That sounds great," Tali said, "on the way; I would love to hear the conclusion to the story of the Skyllian Blitz."
"Sure thing," Shepard said, "So, Arcee and I continued to the flag ship of Pirate and slaver horde."


*****


Arcee and I ran towards, the flag ship, as we neared, we encountered more slavers and pirates. Any that got too close she made quick work of them with her sword, we eventually got to the ship. The ship was large and heavily armoured, and there were a number of slavers and pirates between our location and the entrance to the ship.
"Shepard, do you know what kind of ship that is?" Arcee asked.
"No," I said.
"It's a modified Batarian, war frigate," Arcee explained while looking through her rifles scope, "from what I can tell, most of the crew quarters have been modified to be ejected, and likely have been modified to be holding cells."
"You can tell that just by looking at it?" I asked.
"What can I say, Shepard," Arcee said, "I've studied all ships."
I just looked at her with a sense of aw. "Shepard, you're creeping me out, when you stare at me like that." Arcee said, still looking through the scope. "I've come up with a plan."
"Let's here it," I said.
"This plan does rely much more on you doing more of the work," Arcee explained, "I'll cover you with my sniper, while I'm doing that, you infiltrate the ship release the people and then rally them to take down the Batarian warlord."
"You're kidding right," I asked.
"Nope," Arcee said.
"I think you would be much more suited to doing that than I would." Shepard said.
"Shepard," Arcee said, "despite my grades at the academy, I am no leader, you are."
"I don't believe it," I said, "you came up with this plan, you told me to go to the bunker. If anything, I'm the follower and you are the leader."
"Shepard, the only leadership skill I have is strategizing; I have no other leadership skill than that. You may have listened and obeyed what I told you to do earlier, but that just shows you know when to listen to your subordinates."
"If I were to try to rally the prisoners to take action, I would most likely fail." Arcee continued," I believe in you, Shepard, they'll follow you. I know I would follow you into the depths of hell if you asked me too."
"Arcee," I said quizzically.
"Don't say a thing Shepard," Arcee said, "this is your time to shine, go now, and make a name for yourself." She then used her Katana to climb the building to get a good vantage point. The last thing I heard from her was, "Now, Shepard, go. Go and protect the citizens of Elysuim."
I ran, ducked and dodged any blaster fire that was at me. I knew Arcee wouldn't let a single enemy near enough to me. The closest one that got near me, head exploded before he could fire or do anything. I grabbed his body and used it as a shield as I approached the ship, the gunfire increased. I made it inside the ship with barely a scratch on me. The door to the ship closed after I got in. I later found out that Arcee had shot the controls closing the ship entrance from the outside.
The inside of the ship was dark and I could hear people crying, and moaning in the distance. I walked through the hallway of the ship and looked around. There were people huddled up in holding cells. I approached one of them and said, "Don't worry; I'll get you out of here."
I wasn't sure if they heard me or not, there was no response in anyone from the holding cell. I approached the bridge of the ship, but before I got to the entrance to the bridge, the door opened and standing in the door way was a Batarian standing in red armour, and had what looked like a very powerful rifle in his hands. "So you think you can stop this raid, and destroy this operation all alone?" he said.
"I'm not alone," I said, "Outside this ship I have a friend shooting your troops. Plus if I liberate these people I'm just betting they would love to get their hands on you."
"In that case, I'm betting you want to get to the controls that open the cells?" he said.
"Yep, that is the plan," I said as I raised my rifle and took aim at a set of controls on the wall beside him and fired. The shot hit and the cell doors opened up, but, no one from the colony moved, they just remained still and silent.
"These people have lost all of their hope, if you think you can stop me, then come and get me." He said.
I ran in the opposite direction, and fired a few shots behind me. I took cover a pillar and called to the people, "People of Elyium, I have come to free you, get out of your cells and help me defeat this Batarian warlord."
"These people have lost all hope," the warlord said, "when they were brought aboard we made sure we made them hopeless."
"If they won't help me defeat you," I said, "Then I'll just have to do it alone. I have friends that support me; you killed most of my friends during the first wave of the attack. Even if I die trying to defeat you, I'll know that I tried to defend them and get vengeance."
I then jumped out from behind my cover and took multiple shots at the warlord, and when I got close enough to him, I used the butt of my gun to smash him in the stomach, then face, sending him to the floor. I then took aim, but before I could fire, he fired a concussive round which sent me flying into the pillar. I was dazed and by the time I shook off the concussive hit, I could see that he then stood, towering overtop of me.
"Any last words," the warlord said.
I looked around for my gun, but it had flown into one of the holding cells, as well as my other weapons, I just looked at the Batarian straight in the face and said, "Even if you kill me, you won't get away with this."
"Strong words," the warlord said, "for a weak human."
But before he could shoot me, a small kid jumped on the warlords back and pulled him back enough for his shots to miss me. He flailed around in front of me and then he threw the kid to the ground and took aim at the kid, but before he could fire. Pistol, rifle and sniper rounds hit the Batarian multiple times, knocking him back towards the bridge. He hit the bridge door and then the bridge exploded and sent the Batarian flying forwards and I rolled out of the way just in time, and he hit pillar, and I could hear loud cracking sounds of the Batarian bones breaking.
There was suddenly a sound of metal creaking and then the ship leaned forward and we all slip forward out of the ship into the open area, something hit my head and I went unconscious.
"I woke up hours later in the Alliance ship, the SSV Agincourt's medical bay. I looked around the medical bay and saw sergeant Kal on the medical bed next to mine, his leg bandaged up properly and in a splint. On the other side of me was Arcee, sitting in a chair, her head resting, my bed and asleep.


*****


"This was where the ship was destroyed by the Alliance Navy. It was there that I met, Pressly for the first time, and learned more about what happened. Apparently when the ship tipped forwards," Shepard said, "a piece of metal pierced the left side of my abdomen and the door of the bridge hit my head and that is what knocked me out."
Shepard and Tali was finishing their lunch underneath the Memorial statue that was placed at the center of the small garden that was built on top of the area where the pirate ship was. The statue was of Shepard standing overtop of a Batarian with a rifle in his hand. At the bottom of the statue was a plaque that read, 'Here lies the four of friends of the Great Commander Shepard and to commemorate the many soldiers that never made it past the first attack'
"Is that why you brought these flowers?" Tali asked.
"It is, their bodies weren't buried here, and they were buried on earth as per their family requests." Shepard said, "I decided to bring these flowers to remember them."
"I think that's lovely," Tali said.
"I wish Arcee was here," Shepard said, "it would be nice to remember the old gang with her."
"Shepard, perhaps once everything with the Reapers is done, assuming we survive," Tali said, "perhaps we could all get together and have a dinner together and talk about the adventures we had together."
"That would be lovely Tali," Shepard said and they left the memorial statue, and to enjoy the rest of the time they had together for the month.