Protectors of Earth

     Ashes fell down from the sky as Shepard, Liara, and Garrus began their final stand against the horde that was the reaper spawn before them. Shrieks from the Banshees could be heard over the hum and roar of the Reapers above, a chill resting over the group. Rumbling like that of an earthquake shook them as a myriad of Brutes made their way to them, flipping cars and charging at full force. Shepard shared a small glance between her comrades as they dashed from one another, taking cover at different points, determined not to be surrounded by the horrors. The missiles from the tanks had taken down the Destroyer off in the distance as they took their positions in the rubble.

     Commander Shepard raised her assault rifle as she charged forward. Assaulting the nearest Brute with a barrage of bullets, she could see Liara out of cover in her peripheral, firing her Locust as she exterminated a group of Cannibals and Husks with a Singularity. Garrus, his Black Widow held to his shoulder, began his onslaught. A bullet whizzed by Shepard's face as she turned to see a Cannibal fall to it's knees and Garrus showing his clever grin. She nodded at him before rolling to the side as a Brute rushed forward, only to be stopped by a grenade blast.

     Shepard used the Brute as steps as she rushed forward, now using her Evicerator to pop off shots at the Cannibals below. Sending a Shockwave through her enemies, the vanguard jumped from her perch. She could see Garrus popping up and taking out each foe one by one. He quickly changed to an assault rifle as he joined in the fray with Shepard. Now back to back, Shepard caught sight of a now bloodied Liara fending off two Banshees.

     Liara, unsure if the blood on her face was her's or the abominations' before her, slammed one Banshee down with biotic force and emptied a clip from her Locust and into it's fanged face. The second surprised her with a Biotic Charge, suddenly appearing behind her. Liara's eyes locked with Shepard's as she saw the vanguard scream her name in panic. The banshee seized her by the neck, knocking her pistol to the ground. Lifting the struggling Asari into the air, the Banshee let out a horrific scream at her prey.

     Eyes wide, Liara stared down at the twisted version of herself, watching as it drew back it's claw of a hand. Knowing what was to come, Liara chose to stare straight back at her assailant.

     Tearing her eyes from the sight, she turned to see Shepard sprinting to her side. She stopped short as Liara felt a hot sting, then was dropped to the rubble.

     Wrex had come out of nowhere, charging the Banshee down at full force, causing Liara to be released. He towered above the now crumpled form of the Banshee, unloading his shotgun. Shepard pulled Liara to her feet, healing her slashed abdomen quickly with medigel. Garrus threw his rifle to Liara as he joined the group. The four quickly took in their surroundings, the reaper spawn had taken the moment of panic to completely flank the group from each side.

     The kill box, that is what the were in as they each faced outward, staring at their enemies. They let lose on the horde as Liara covered them the best she could with a biotic shield. Hiding behind the shield, and what rubble they could, the group began to tire. The horde never seemed to let up.

     Garrus lifted his weary arms as he sighted a new target through his Black Widow. As he pulled the trigger, a different bolt took down his target... a different bullet. He spun on his heel to see what looked like a small platoon of made up of a hodge podge of species quickly running down and across the rubble. There leader was a woman in Council Spectre armor.

     Ashley Williams and her team was cutting a path to Shepard, taking down Cannibals and Husks with her fists if she had to. As Commander Shepard  locked eyes with Williams, she heard her named called out from behind her. Still taking shots at the spawn around them, Shepard saw the unmistakable glow of the Psychotic Biotic.

     Jack's team was inbound on their position, and she was pissed. As she closed in, Shepard noticed more and more of her friends in tow.

     The battle raged and swirled around the group of fighters as they made their last stand on Earth's surface. The Krogan forces were being covered at a distance by the Turian snipers. The Salarian Spec Ops were  picking off their targets one by one as a handful of Geth Prime kept charging in on the Brutes, keeping them at bay. The Quarian squads kept dozens and dozens of drones on the field, both protecting and destroying. The squad of Asari Commandos held the line, keeping the Banshees from teleporting closer to any other allied forces.

     Shepard took cover behind a fallen column as an explosion wracked the group. She surveyed the situation from her position, trying to keep tabs on each of her friends. Garrus was high up on a ledge, Wrex was in the middle of the fray. Samara could be seen with Jack, protecting the injured under fire as Jack crushed any enemy with her biotics. Tali had rerouted the tank's guns and was using them to take out larger targets. Ashley was making her way to Wrex, wreaking havoc with every step and bullet. Javik could be seen to her right, he was bleeding as he snapped a Husk's neck.

     Shepard felt movement behind her and stopped herself from shooting the Asari doctor now taking cover. Liara looked tired, a slash running down her cheek. Shepard moved to her side, attempting to heal her but was pushed away.

     "This can wait," Liara breathed heavily, "Save it for severely injured."

     Another explosion went off and they duck down, Shepard slightly over her in a act of protection. They both knew what was coming, the explosions were increasing in frequency and the once distant roar of a reaper was no longer that far away. The took cover behind a partially destroyed wall. Liara rested her back to the wall, reloading a pistol. Changing her ammo to inferno, Shepard took a moment to compose herself.

     "Liara, whatever happens.." Shepard started, but was cut off with a feverish kiss. Liara had a vice like grip on the back of Shepard's neck as their shared a passionate kiss.

     "I love you too Jane." The asari said breathlessly. Shepard knew nothing else needed to be said.

     The two nodded at one another as they suddenly broke cover, rushing back in to the fray and blinding explosions.