Efleck Contest - Paying Their Respects - Alt End

Title: Paying Their Respects - Alternate Ending (For Efleck's Contest)
Author: xRebel666x
Game: Mass Effect
Characters/Pairing: Commander Kate Shepard (Efleck's femShep) and Garrus Vakarian

Paying Their Respects (with the Alternate aka Original ending)

  "We are gathered here today to mourn the life and celebrate the accomplishments of the lately departed Kate Shepard," the minister beaconed over the crumbling remains of his chapel. The walls were cracked and barely holding together. There were large portions of the ceiling missing with their support beams strongly retaliating against its current state. The war against the Reapers was over but left a path of destruction in their wake.

  Quietly standing behind his podium, he gazed at his surroundings. There was an alter that held a frame with an image of the blonde-haired Marine and was adorned with dozens of various white flowers. The pews were filled to the brim with battle-worn soldiers, bandaged war-effort participants, survivors from the surrounding areas, and teary-eyed crewmates. The entrance to the chapel was crowded as more and more people tried to squeeze in, all here to pay their respects to the Alliance Commander.

  "Kate was born and raised on Mindoir. At the young age of sixteen, slavers took away the last bit of family she had left. She was saved by an Alliance patrol, which encouraged her enlistment into the Alliance Marines. Shepard soon became a war hero, single-handedly repelling an attack of batarian slavers on Elysium. She was at the front of the line when Saren attacked the Citadel. She boldly stood against the Reapers, even when none of us believed her. She was a dedicated soldier, fighting for all of us until the bitter end," he continued, taking a brief moment of silence. He peered through the large hole in the ceiling, holding up his hands, "It's because of the Commander's selfless dedication that we have a clear sky to look up to. We all owe our lives to her… especially with how much she sacrificed for us."

  Directing his attention to the front row, he noticed the remaining survivors of the Normandy. Particularly paying close attention to the turian hunched forward and holding onto the last remaining memento of his beloved marine, her dog tags. "No one will suffer this sacrifice greater than her closest squadmates. Especially to the loved ones she left behind. Our thoughts go out to them."

  As the minister continued the memorial service, the audience within the chapel continued to grow. Once people heard about the ceremony, they ceased whatever they were doing to go join the hundreds gathered to say their final goodbyes to the savior of the galaxy. Noticing this congregation, a pedestrian wearing a hooded jacket decided to wander inside. They had bloodied pieces of cloth wrapped tightly around their hands and did their best to conceal the makeshift bandages hidden underneath their jacket.

  The mysterious pedestrian nudged one of the observers and asked, "What's all this about?"

  "It's a memorial service. We're all here to pay our respects."

  "I gathered that much," they remarked, "But who is it for?"

  "Shepard."

  "Shepard?"

  "Yeah, you must have heard of her. Commander Shepard, the war hero of the Citadel and the reason we're all still alive today," the observer sneered.

  "But she's not dead."

  The person standing beside them overheard the conversation and intervened, "She went missing shortly before the Reapers were destroyed. It's been over two weeks since that fateful day so the Alliance deemed her as deceased."

  The pedestrian shook their head and began pulling back their hood, "Let me rephrase this… I'M not dead."

  Her face was badly bruised and beaten, some part were still swollen. There were scabs from cuts trying their best to heal. The makeshift bandages wrapped around her neck were soiled with dirt and dried blood. Even with these many injuries, there was no mistaking it… she was indeed Commander Shepard.

  The news of the mysterious stranger's identity quickly traveled throughout the crowd. People were rapidly getting out of their seats and surrounding the newcomer, hounding her with questions about her whereabouts and repeatedly praising her for the job well done. When the word about Kate's return reached the front row, the turian clenching onto her dog tags was the first one to bolt towards the rear of the chapel.

  Pushing his way through the dense congregation, Garrus could hear her voice over the audience's ramblings. His heart pounded heavily against his chest the closer he got to her distinctive tone. Finally making it to the center, he was greeted with the familiar face he begged to see one more time.

  "Garru-," Kate began saying his name but was immediately interrupted by his lips locking onto hers. His arms wrapped around her and squeezed her tightly. Feeling her beating heart pulse against his chest was all the confirmation he needed… she was alive. As soon as he released their bond, she gasped for air, "I'm glad to see you remembered the protocol for reunions."

  "I took notes from last time."

  Shepard smiled at his remark, "I can tell. Who else survived? Are they here too?"

  "Pretty much everyone made it and they're probably still fighting their way up here… but we're more concerned on what happened to you. All of a sudden, you were gone and no one could find you. What happened?" Garrus pleaded for answers with his eyes on the verge of crying from happiness.

  "I don't really remember," she shrugged, "I know Anderson and I went up against the Illusive Man. But then I passed out. I do have vivid memories of having to make a decision but when I woke up… I woke up here on Earth. I have no idea what's real or not anymore. If I'm even really here…"

  "You are real, you have to be. You can't be a mirage."

  "How can I prove that this isn't a dream?" she questioned, stepping back and taking his shaking hands into hers, "I'm still having difficulties in wrapping my head around this…"

  "I don't know what to tell you, Shepard," he held his head low, "Is there anything I can do to make this better."

  "Yeah, just let me sit down for a moment. I'm feeling woozy from all this excitement."

  Garrus parted the sea of people and escorted Kate to the last pew to sit down. As she leaned back into the wooden seat and took a few deep breaths, he asked, "Is that better?"

  "Yeah… but I've got a fever. I can feel myself burning up."

  Shepard grabbed his hand and placed it against her forehead. He could immediately feel the warmth pulsating through her battered skin, "What can I do to make this fever of yours go away?"

  "Well, the only prescription…" she began and took a lengthy pause.

  Her turian companion inched closer, curious about her only remedy, "What? What is it?"

  "Is more cowbell."

  In one flawless motion, she hopped up onto her feet and clapped her hands. The crowd gazed at her in confusion and was under the impression that she had finally gone mad. Out of the swarm, one person pulled out their guitar and understood her intentions immediately. She reached into her jacket's pocket and pulled out a bronze cowbell. With a quick nod of her head, the guitarist began strumming a classic rock song. Shepard started hitting the cowbell with the melody.

  "All our times have come," she sang, "Here, but now there, gone."

  Everyone began singing along, "Seasons don't fear the reaper. Nor do the wind, the sun or the rain."

  Suddenly, the Commander heard familiar voices echoing through the crowd chanting along, "We can be like they are."

  One by one, the rest of the Normandy crew surrounded her and joined her in the Blue Oyster Cult song. As they joyously belted out "Don't Fear the Reaper" together, their eyes filled with happiness knowing that their commanding officer… their comrade in arms… their friend… had safely returned.