I felt a spike of pain race up my body as the Mako landed on the uneven ground and foliage of Meridian. I grit my teeth and stared blankly at the glass in front of me. Doesn't matter if it hurts as long as I get there faster. I activated the thrusters and we ended up being catapulted into the air.

"Pathfinder, it's nav-dead. That's why we lost it! Looks like maneuvering thrusters only!" Suvi informed me.

I laughed, "He thinks we won't chase him still?"

"We'll protect the arc," a new voice interrupted.

I blinked and did a double take, "Kandros? Who's with you?"

"The invitation was open-unless you're refusing Kadara's help?"

I grinned widely, "Of course not Kelly."

I felt another shock go up my body as the Mako landed on the ground rather roughly.

"We hold the kett, you secure Meridian," Evfra added in. Aw, even Mr. Sour-puss is here!

"Let's get the Archon then."

We only made it across some more rocky ground until another voice came over comm.

"He took them, dammit," I heard a voice growl over the comm.

"Dunn?" I asked. She sounds more pissed off then afraid.

"SAM isn't talking, but his core-it's lit up like Christmas. Shit! I don't know what happened, but he has Scott," Dunn replied back in a hiss. "He's trying to take Meridian, for whatever it can do!

Shit, she is angry.

"Focus on flying! I'll find them!" I tried to reassure her.

Dunn's comm didn't cut off soon enough as I heard her scoff from the other end. Probably didn't neeed to be told what to do cause it's her job.

I felt inertia weigh me back as another burst of the thrusters pushes us forward again. I felt my vision narrow to what was in front of us rather than the beauty of the architecture around us and how the foliage seemed to gracefully wrap around it. We entered a flattened area with two walls of rocks keeping us on track.

"Shit! Hard starboard! All power!" Dunn commanded over comm.

"Captain? Captain, what is it?" Cora asked from beside me.

I sent a glare Cora's way as she let the Mako slow down. "Don't you fucking dare slow down, Cora. We are on a time limit."

She nodded firmly and I felt the thrusters go off again. I heard the click of Vetra's mandibles as she snapped them towards her face. Why did you not bring him? Payback. It's to "Protect him", I suppose. We soared through the again and a large black blob in the clear vista caught my attention.

"That's not the Hyperion," I growled with fists clenched.

My comm hissed as Kandros came in again, "Kett are deploying to defend the Archon! Get in close!"

I saw Cora's eyes narrow from the edge of my peripheral vision. "Dangerous tactic, Kandros."

"He's right," Kallo pointed out. "Mix with their ground troops, the big ship can't fire on you."

I nodded. "As long as-"

"Debris incoming!" Kallo cut me off.

"Watch your heads," Sloane added with a chuckle. This must feel like the old days for her. Hell, it must be the older days for Drack!

A smoldering mass came crashing down to the side of us and Cora barely managed to drift out of its way. I smiled as the adrenaline started its course through my veins.

"Structures ahead, Pathfinder," Suvi said. "And major energy signals. I'm not SAM, but that's got to be some kind of control."

I heard a crack as Cora slammed her foot on the pedal and saw some purple lights in the relative darkness. She sailed us over another ledge only for the Mako to be hit by some grenade that shorted out all electricity.

"We're on foot now," I said with grit teeth as I climbed out of the Mako's wreckage.

"The Archon will not take Meridian," Cora said with some determination. "But he must be inside already!"

I took out my shot gun and launched myself towards a pair of Kett, effectively killing one with my biotics while the other fell to my gun.

"Then we have to hurry before he turns my little brother and Meridian into a weapon!" I yelled as I took down three more kett.

I saw ships lowering from the sky and growled, "Kett ships inbound!"

"Your own reinforcements on site, Pathfinder!" Kandros shouted.

"The Resistance is with you," Evfra added.

"Kadara's her too! Remember that!" Kelly said, not wanting to be left out.

I grinned as teams of salarians, turians, humans, angara, and glowing asari crashed into the battle field to unleash their own chaos.

"Let's go!" I yelled as I slammed into a kett with a mini-gun.

"We're anchored here, Pathfinder. You better not be dead," Kelly spoke over comm.

"We are secure for the moment," Hayjer added.

"Secure like we're staying. Next stop, the Archon," I growled before stepping into the gravity well.

I felt myself begin the sharp descent downwards. My body relaxed when the pain stopped as I was pulled downwards. The weightlessness easing the tension in my limbs. I let a sigh escape my lips.

"How deep can we go before we're back in space?" Vetra asked from beside me.

"I don't know. Guess we'll find out soon enough," I shrugged slightly despite her not being able to see me.

I sucked in a breath ass I saw a giant tower sort construct illuminated in blue and orange. Dark spires surrounded it and I saw more shadows on the tower itself. Waves of blue energy framing them.

"Do it! Secure the adaptation matrix!" the Archon commanded.

I raised an eyebrow.

Cora seemed just as surprised, "The Archon? Does he know he's broadcasting?"

It connected.

I chuckled quietly, "It's Scott. He's doing it without the bastard knowing!"

I pushed myself forward once we had landed on the ground. I sprinted past several remnant who seemed to be inactive.

"Why aren't they attacking?" I asked. How much control does Scott have? Sure, he can broadcast the Archon, but does he have enough power to-wait. I could do it. So can he, especially with SAM. However, the Archon is still there.

I saw another remnant up ahead facing towards a set of doors. No, the Archon wouldn't be doing this. He's an idiot.

"Oh, I love you baby brother," I whispered while running at the area they were pointing at.

"It might be the Archon," Vetra said, trying her best to keep up with me.

"Who else could it be, Vetra?" I asked over my shoulder. "There's more than us and the Archon here."

I heard a grunt in reply.

She understood.

I turned a corner towards a bright blue light. It seemed to be more of a beacon as it shone through the arch at the end of the corridor I now raced through. Ready or not, here I come, bitch.

I saw the door close and quickly switched directions to the doorway to the right.

"Prepare to repeat the cortical stimulus," Archon voiced again.

"Get the hell out of my head, bastard!" Scott yelled in retaliation.

"You are irrelevant. I will use your connection," Archon replied monotonously.

I heard my brother cut off a cry he was about to let loose. I felt my own biotics flare up at his pain and only pushed myself even more. Sprinting down the hallway as quickly as I can despite the pain coursing through my body.

The door opened to reveal another gravity well and I ran towards it.

"Nope. Not liking this," Vetra gasped out.

"Doesn't matter. I'm saving my brother and our new home," I grit out between my teeth.

"No backing down now," Cora shrugged.

I activated the well and began to float forwards, through the glowing hallways and dark spires, to the tower we saw earlier.

I remained silent as I worked out some sort of battle plan for whatever we found there.

Landing unsteadily on my feet, I made my way past the idle remnant. The long pathway seemed to stretch on as I felt myself beginning to lag slightly.

Cora touched my shoulder, "Ready, Pathfinder?"

I hadn't noticed her making her way towards me. "More than ready," I panted.

"Let's do it," Vetra said resolutely as we finally saw the door in sight.

"The connection is ready," The Archon voiced. Shit! "I can feel it."

"Not for long now buddy," I grit out.

"There… Meridian, the network… so close!" He shouted.

"We need to move! Come on!" Vetra urged again.

I mustered some more energy as I finally got to the door. Stepping out into a long path, my eyes saw kett jogging ahead of me. My attention was drawn back towards the figures situated upon a hill made of remnant triangles. The blue light from above contradicted the red fog below, sending shivers up my spine.

"It arrives! This attempt to rival me is no longer amusing, Pathfinder!" The Archon glowered.

"Hey, Sis. Get my clues?" My brother asked weakly.

"Clear path, Scott," I gave him a tiny smile.

"Tried to keep him distract it wa-"

"So determined, but so pointless. Your connection serves me," The Archon cut him off.

"Really, you bastard? You interrupt our bonding and no-"

Scott was cut off as a wave of pain seemed to come over him.

"I know how it works. The mind is trained to think like the Remnant creators. In this case, painfully," The Archon added while tubes were attached to his back by those minions of his. "But I'm content to let him bear that burden. Whatever gives me Meridian. I will transcend what you pretend to be."

"You take my home. You hurt my brother. You try to kill me. You've lost your chances to beat me and the people of Heleus and now there's no time left. I've matched your every step. You have failed."

"You learn by accident. I am the genetic inheritor of a thousand species!" The Archon floated up as blue power encased him. Great now the retard is a light show for all. "No more mercy. Kill them all!"

A fleet of kett came from behind remnant doors and I felt myself fly into action. I was racing across the bridges, jumping across gaps, and slamming into remnant wherever I could. I grit my teeth as a new wave of pain entered my body.

"I can't keep this up, Sis!" Scott yelled in warning with a crack at the end of his voice.

I jumped across another chasm and fell to the ground with my hammer halfway through the head of a floating kett goon. My vision began blurring as the pain came back in another fierce wave, burning up my whole body from the inside out like acid. My spasm of pain was interrupted by voices.

"I can see-"

"Oh…no, no, no! He's-Shit! He has access!" I yelled.

"-the network. They were architects of life. You command nothing!" the Archon said in awe.

"I made the cluster livable for thousands!" I sister screamed back, my own biotics sparking with fury.

"No," The Archon answered. "You have led your people to their deaths."

My eyes widen before everything was whited out by a flash. I blinked several times to regain my bearing only to be met with a giant mechanical remnant squid.

"Shit! Get down!"

A blast was fired at us and we were all sent tumbling into the floor below. I hissed in pain and glared up at the Archon.

"Sis, the Archon's… pulling too much power!" Scott warned.

"Tell me!" I yelled back.

"It's… all going straight through him… shut fown the inter faces!" Scott gasped. "Take Meridian out from under-Ah!"

I cringed and felt an onslaught of emotions come over me. I dived towards cover as another beam was directed towards me. "I need your help!"

"Shit! How?" He cried again.

"Call out where to interface! Give me targets!" I yelled again before diving out of cover to deliver some shots to the squid menace.

"Where to Scott?" I asked, locking away my emotions for now.

"Nav… Get there now…! I'll expose it!" Scott said back in a pant.

I nodded and sprinted towards the marked location. My sides felt like daggers were being run through them, but I ignored the pain. I dodged the remnant who took shots at me and let my team mates take them on instead. I took cover by the console and began taking shots with my rifle at them.

Gotta hurry!

I heard the machines dropping like flies only for more of the menaces to come out. I saw a bar in my vision showing me the process of hacking a smirked. Just got to take out these fools and we'll all be good.

Right?

"The Archon's… fighting me!" Scott grit out.

"Just keep up the fight, Scott!" I yelled back reassuringly.

"Assisting," said a monotonous voice.

"SAM?"

"I'm still restricted, but the more Remnant you destroy, the more fractured the Archon's attention," SAM informed me.

"Stay grounded, kill more. Got it," I nodded.

"Soft spot?" Scott asked.

"The armored head," SAM replied.

"Let's open it up!" Scott replied with some more vigor.

I quickly began firing shots into the squid's head. I felt sweat drip down my face, but ignored it. I saw a red beam directed towards me, but the boom of a sniper rifle took it out.

"We couldn't sit this out, Sara! There's too much at stake," Jaal intercepted.

"Just don't get killed!" I commanded.

"Of course!" Jaal replied.

I dodge the squids fire and continued my assault only to be interrupted by Scott screaming. I blanked for a moment only for reality to take hold again as my shields were downed. I ducked behind the console and saw the flash of it being ready. I placed my hand atop it and interfaced.

"Next!" I yelled.

"Other side!" Scott screamed back.

I ran forward until I saw the point at the other end of a gap. I quickly turned to another interface and created a make shift bridge with what I was given, quickly making my way across the chasm to the next interface.

"Drack, Vetra, and I will charge across everyone take up the rear and make sure nothing gets through!" I commanded before launching myself at remnant after remnant. Drack roared as he crashed into another foe and I heard Vetra laugh at his antics.

I took cover and begin firing some more rounds into the mouth of the squid monstrosity. It's gaping maw closed and it roared in fury.

"I've got it I-Rrgh!" Scott growled in pain again.

"Scott!" I screamed as panic started to spread through me.

"You need to hurry, Sara," SAM said. "We're all straining."

I felt another bead of sweat roll down my chin. "Yes."

I jumped upward as I launched myself from pillar to pillar to the end of the path. I sprinted up the jagged platform to the interface.

"I'm here! Now Scott!"

"I'm trying. I-ah!" He gasped in pain.

"Just a little more! We have to kick his ass, Scott!"

"I'm not done yet!" Scott gasped. "Hold there!"

I nodded and launched myself to a nearby Remnant, the whole team had already caught up to each other by now. I saw bullets flying to and fro. I felt pain coming from my whole body, not knowing if it was from nearly being killed or the wounds I probably gained, but ignored.

I pushed myself to another Remnant and fired a round into its beady red eye. A ray of red surrounded me and I dived away. I stared into the red energy of the squid and sent a lance of energy its way along with a barrage of bullets.

"Jaal and Vetra, send all you have at Mr. Squid over there!" I yelled.

They nodded. I looked over to see Peebee mindlessly standing in the middle of a red ray as she fought off the other remnants.

"Shit! Peebee!" I yelled before using a charge on her to send her flying away. Electricity was sent up my arms as an orb of blue surrounded me. I screamed as I collapsed to the ground in spasms. Need to get out! I crawled forward out of the blue dome of electricity surrounding me. I felt my arm being taken by something and was dragged to cover. Big beady eyes stared at me from a reptilian face. I nodded my thanks at Drack and stayed behind the cover to regain my bearings.

I saw the squid flinch away from the shots being sent its way. It's mouth closed and I took my opportunity to interface again. I finished and dove behind cover, clamping my mouth from the scream of pain ready to escape me.

"It's down! How do we bring it all home?" I asked.

"One more… Just… one…?" Scott gasped out.

"Scott? Scott!" I screamed. Panic engulfed me as I sprinted past all the remnant.

"We are out of time, Sara. Hurry," SAM said with not an ounce of emotion despite the pressing situation.

I jumped over the pillars that I had passed earlier and landed roughly on the ground. I crawled my way up to a run as I sprinted to the interface. I planted my hand on the machinery and saw the blue electricity coursing around my fingers. The Archon was overhead, ripping the tube from his back.

I screamed as I pushed forward another surge of energy. A mechanical roar echoed behind me, then a crash. I fell onto my knees exhausted.

"Sara, Meridian is… online," SAM said in my ear.

I nodded as the tower in front of me began glowing a bright blue.

I felt a hand touch my back. I turned to see the clear blue eyes that I had memorized. I gave him a small grin. He lent me his hand and I took it. My body was quickly swung forward onto its feet. I gave him a nod of appreciation before looking back to my brother who still sat at the top of the now glowing tower.

Walking while my brother using me as a crutch was painful to say the least. We finally made it outside and Lexi took him from my care, gently setting him on a rock not too far away to check up on him. I saw people of all the races gathering around me. Shit… another speech?

"SAM is broadcasting the victory. Across the cluster. Aya is celebrating too. You did it," He whispered into my ear.

Yep, another speech.

I grinned, "Oh, no. I'm no good at this alone. We did it."

I turned to face him.

"You're amazing," he said quietly, a small smile on his face.

"Of course, I am," I grinned giving him a small jab to the chest. He caught my hand and his eyes searched my face for a moment. I stared back for a split second before his hand became tangled in my hair and pushed us together again. A whistle came from behind me along with a "Get a room!".

I grinned against his firm lips. He grabbed my legs as I hopped up to straddle his waist despite the pain. I pressed my forehead to his and give him a chaste kiss before laughing away the stress that had been within me for months.

I heard a voice scream from behind me, "My sister fucked an alien?"

A.N.

Hahahahaha! I did it! After a huge hiatus (so, so sorry... I have already set up the stake to burn me at) I have completed it! I hope you guys liked it and the story in general... this is the last chapter (unless you guys want a weird 'Post-meridian just for fun' chapter). Thanks for the reviews and for pulling it through with me! Sorry for not getting in Jaal's well deserved slap, I just couldn't get it in. Hope no character is too out of character.

3

MeanE