Actions

  • Entire Work

Work Header

Rating:
Archive Warnings:
Category:
Fandom:
Relationships:
Characters:
Additional Tags:
Language:
English
Series:
Part 2 of The Woods
Stats:
Published:
2014-03-03
Completed:
2014-04-17
Words:
50,677
Chapters:
33/33
Comments:
39
Kudos:
85
Bookmarks:
10
Hits:
2,269

The Dark Woods

Summary:

When Cerberus brought Zoey Shepard back to life, they made sure to keep her that way.

Now she must learn the difficulties of watching those around her fall to the Reapers while she cannot.

Part two of the Woods series, sequel to The Deep Woods. Set during the events of ME3. Progressively more AU, non-canon. Established Garrus/FemShep, Tali/Kal, and Thane/Kasumi. Developing Ashley/James. Prepare for a lot of laughs and a lot of tears. Minimum Mon-Wed-Fri updates.

COMPLETE.

Notes:

Hello, and welcome to part two of the Woods series!

This is a sequel to my other work, The Deep Woods, set during the events of Mass Effect 3. I will leave a summary below of its predecessor to prevent the necessity of reading it, although it is recommended. I will note for new readers that I put a song at the beginning of my chapters that I find captures the feel of the chapter, either through the lyrics or the melody, that I'd recommend listening to while reading.

I would like to thank the loyal readers who have partaken in this journey with me so far, and I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I've enjoyed writing it. Part two is my pride and joy and I'm absolutely thrilled I finally get to post it. There will be a lot of lighthearted fun and a lot of sadness, and I assure you this won't be a journey you'll soon forget.

Thank you, a million times over, for taking the time to read this.

 

Deep Woods summary:
Zoey Shepard discovers that when Cerberus resurrected her, they created a cell in her implants that repairs all damaged cells, resulting in immortality. While coping with the changes and putting together her team to hit the Collector base, she discovers and acts on her feelings towards Garrus Vakarian. But her crew is kidnapped before she can fully develop her team and she's forced to assault the base to save them, resulting in the deaths of Jacob, Jack, and Legion. Now she has to confront both her overwhelming guilt and the Alliance's charges for her crimes against the batarian people during the Arrival.

Chapter 1: Prologue

Chapter Text

Zoey Shepard was a dirty fucking traitor.

 

After everything he had done for her -- bringing her back, keeping her alive, giving her a ship -- she cut all ties to Cerberus.

 

The Illusive Man grabbed a nearby light and threw it across the room in frustration.

 

Dirty traitor bitch.

 

He knew the truth. She was so caught up with the notion that there was a clear cut good and evil, and that evil had to be destroyed, that she missed the entire big picture. Humanity deserved advancement, not to be held back by a Commander with a skewed sense of morality and judgement.

 

Shepard didn't know it yet, but by crossing him she had made the most foolish decision of her life. She had no idea about his magnificent gift, his true power.

 

Besides, Cerberus's destiny was bigger than her. Bigger than the Alliance. Bigger than the galaxy.

 

A ping resonated through his office, and his new assistant's sugary sweet voice played through the intercom. "Councillor Udina is requesting to speak with you, sir."

 

Needing to relax himself, he took his time pouring a drink, sitting, and lighting up a cigarette. "Patch him through."

 

The comm channel behind him opened, and he heard Udina's familiar brown nosing. "You called for me, sir?"

 

The Illusive Man spun his chair to face the human ambassador. "We need to organize a coup."

 

A wicked smile spread across Udina's face. "Go on."

 

Shepard's world will crumble.