Complete Interstitium by Assault Sloth - T - Mass Effect

MonkeyEpoxy · Feb 14, 2016

Title: Interstitium
Author: AssaultSloth
Rating: T
Genre: Sci-Fi
Status: Complete
Fandom: Mass Effect
Pairings: [Shepard/Tali]
Chapters: 33
Words: 535,038
Updated: May 1, 2014
Published: Feb 17, 2010
Summary: Flashbacks, interstitial scenes, and backdoor dealings. A companion to ME2 focusing on characters and worlds, big and small.
Link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5753454/1/Interstitium

So, yeah. It's probably the best Mass Effect fanfic that has been written so far. The writing is bitchin, the characterizations are bitchin and are mainly the focus of the story. It follows the plot of ME2, but it mainly focuses on the "in betweens" of the original story. An e.g. would be Tali waiting on some backwater pissant of a space station near Alchera, waiting for more updates on Shepard's death, knowing that his corpse is present.

I was shocked it wasn't put up for review before, but this is the easiest 5/5 I've ever put on here. It's a masterpiece. I'm pretty sure most Mass Effect fanfic fans have read this already. Should be easy for you too. If you haven't read it yet, and you like Mass Effect, I can't stress enough how much you should read this.

Also, just a random note. This is one of the fics that treats Krogan as the giant, fuckin, regenerative, high reproductive lizards that almost destroyed galactic civilization they are. 8 foot, 800 pound monstrosities that can shrug off mortar fire, regenerate injuries and stop moving vehicles, but I blame game engine height mechanics for that, though.

Another note (I'm reading through this again and will have to stop myself, else we'll get paragraphs and paragraphs of notes, especially when I got to Legion's chapter. My reflections on that would be longer than the actual chapter. Utter fucking literary glory), this is a perfect representation of Miranda, and the dangers of perfection. It gets spooky.

Nemrut · Feb 14, 2016

It's probably the only MaleShep story I can read but fuck me if it isn't also the best ME story out there.

Has been a few years since I last read it but I remember it to be excellent and making great use of various characters.

5/5

MonkeyEpoxy · Feb 14, 2016

An excerpt from chapter one that may, or may not, garner your interest.

Luckily, if Wrex was holding back despair he was doing a very good job of it. Eventually his drink arrived and his eyes stopped their relentless scanning. A drink sized to a krogan was a great bucket of liquid, almost a sink to Tali, but still it disappeared down Wrex's maw without delay. Only once the last few drops were gone and he'd set his empty tankard aside did one of his eyes roll down to gaze at her again.

"Survived your rite," he observed. It took Tali a moment to realize that he meant her Pilgrimage. She did not bother explaining that quarian 'rites' did not involve the same sort of violence as krogan rites did. Something told her it was Wrex's best approximation of a compliment; and if Wrex was handing out compliments, he really was broken up.

"Yes. I am Tali'Zorah vas Neema now," she said, trying to sound proud. Wrex nodded his approval. "How have you been?" In answer, the krogan shrugged again and squeezed his way out of the booth, apparently having had his fill of small talk already.

"Alive," he confirmed, plodding towards the exit. "Come on."

Tali did not bother to argue, and simply fell in tow behind the krogan as he worked his way towards the Alliance-held lower decks. She didn't know if the guards would be any more forthcoming with Wrex than they'd been with her, though they might be more inclined to talk if they thought they were about to be smashed into a fine paste. Mostly it felt good to be doing something, not just listening for a ship that would never come. She stuck close behind Wrex, letting him clear a path through the throngs. The station was crowded – more so than usual – ever since the Alliance had commandeered parts of the lower decks, and more than a few displaced miners squatted in hallways, playing cards or sleeping on makeshift beds. Tali could not help but notice the angry undercurrents everywhere they went. The Alliance was not doing much to improve its already-rocky reputation among humans out on the fringe.

Wrex didn't seem to need any guidance to reach the lower decks (Tali wondered if he'd been on this station before) and before long they found themselves in a dirty steel hallway, empty except for two Alliance marines. The hustle and bustle of the upper decks was gone, replaced with a tomb-like stillness. From somewhere past the far end of the hall, soft, electronic voices spoke, too quietly for even Tali to make out any of the words.

Wrex plodded up to the marines without hesitation, stopping only when they stepped into his path.

"Excuse me sir," one of them said with an authoritative voice, "but the lower decks are off-limits." He stared at Wrex, his bravery looking almost comical in the krogan's shadow. Wrex just stared back as if the marine was something he'd just scraped off of his boot. He leaned into the marine's space, mere inches away, the challenge clear. To his credit, the marine did not back down.

"We want to see Shepard," Tali spoke up, hoping to defuse the situation.

"The lower decks are off-limits," the marine repeated, and stood firm. He was young, brave, and devoted, an ideal soldier, and Tali could not help but respect him. He was also, however, going to get himself killed. Tali could almost feel Wrex's incoming attack, and looked pleadingly at the second marine. Obviously Wrex could swat the two men like insects and Tali had no wish to see that happen. Luckily, the second marine seemed to agree.

"Let's just let them through, Will," he said, lowering his weapon. "They obviously know what's going on already, and Anderson said they might show up." Wrex's face split into a victorious smirk as he stared down the first marine who, after a few more defiant seconds, nodded and stepped aside without a word.

"Thought so," Wrex snorted, and continued down the hall like nothing had happened.

They walked. The voices coming from the end of the hall grew louder as they neared, resolving into words. Human voices – sad ones – speaking through some kind of communicator. Words about death, about loss, about unmet potential. Words about Shepard. Tali felt the tears reappear in her eyes as they met a windowed alcove. Garrus was slumped atop a nearby bulkhead, the omnitool on one fist glowing as he listened to the eulogy.

"Tali. Wrex," he said, nodding as they approached, but Tali said nothing, too lost in what she was hearing. She walked past the turian to a narrow window into a small hangar bay, where a dozen or so uniformed humans stood at solemn attention, listening to a dark-skinned man speak.

"Shepard was an uncomplicated man," the voice from Garrus' omnitool was saying behind her. The silent Anderson below her gestured to the frontmost of two dozen unremarkable metal coffins. It bore a single red stripe to differentiate it from the others, but otherwise looked wholly antiseptic. Nothing at all to indicate that it held the remains of a hero. "Uncompromisingly moral, uncompromisingly driven," Anderson said, standing ramrod straight at the podium. "He was stubborn. Rash, even, sometimes. But he believed in himself and those around him. The consummate soldier, loyal to a fault. There for the Alliance. There for the Council. There for the galaxy. In many ways Shepard was the best humanity had to offer. In others, the best anyone had to offer. I count myself lucky to have known him." It went on. Tali felt the moisture on her face begin to fog her helmet. Her dehumidifiers clicked up another notch.

"So it's true, then," she managed, voice cracking. She turned and looked for the first time at Garrus. He looked terrible – mandibles drooping, eyes bleary – like he hadn't slept in days. The ghost of a blue/black bruise graced one of his plated cheeks.

"It's true," he confirmed quietly, turning off the eulogy. "The last of the escape pods was recovered today." He stared solemnly into the floor for a long moment, and Tali knew he was feeling the same soul-crushing finality she was. "He's gone. Alliance troops have been scouring the system for days. Nothing. No traces at all." Tali turned back to look down at the funeral, her eyes brimming. Anderson was placing something small and metallic atop Shepard's empty casket, before standing solidly next to Liara and an ornery-looking Joker.

"How?"

"Wish I knew. I was working on the Mako's undercarriage when the ship started shaking; damn thing nearly fell on me. Some kind of cruiser hit us, but apparently not one in anybody's records. Tore through the Normandy like paper. Didn't stand a chance. Then it just disappeared." Garrus stopped, flexing his jaws in agitation. Tali could hear his pent-up sadness and anger trying to break free. Garrus had always had something of a temper, even if he kept himself on a short leash. Without Shepard that leash was already fraying. Tali rested a gentle hand atop his armor-clad knee, trying to project a confidence she didn't feel.

"Alliance was on the scene in a few hours," Garrus continued. "Me and the other survivors spent the night in a cold hangar bay while they decided what to do with us."

"What do you mean?"

"Council officials have decided to keep this a secret," Garrus said, his tone of voice making it abundantly clear what he thought about the decision. "They don't want anybody to know their champion went down, especially when their heads are so far up their asses they can't even figure out how it happened. So they shipped us here. Citadel, C-Sec, Alliance, they're all here. Trying to contain the mess."

"That's…"

"It's crap is what it is," Garrus interrupted, eyes flaring to life. "Shepard gave them everything and this is how they repay him. Lay him to rest in a damn mining station, surrounded by politicians who are only worried about how his death will reflect on them." Tali looked at him, shocked by his outburst. She had never seen Garrus so angry. At her glance, Garrus stared ashamedly into the wall, chest heaving as he fought to calm himself. "They're going to throw it all away," he said after he'd regained control. "Undo all he did. All of it. Half of the crew has already been reassigned and shipped away. The Council is going to use this as an excuse to ignore the Reapers. Ungrateful bastards." Tali frowned down at the mourners below her. They were few in number, just a handful of privileged Alliance officers and council representatives, only those who could be trusted to keep their mouths shut as long as possible. Of Shepard's loyal crew, only Joker and Liara were present.

It didn't seem right. Shepard deserved more than a cold reception like this, more than a formality. Half of the galaxy should have been there to pay their respects and celebrate all he'd done for them. But instead he was being shoved into obscurity, his victories already forgotten.

"They should be in those coffins," Garrus muttered darkly, shaking his head in disgust. Behind them, Wrex chuckled, the first noise he'd made in ten minutes.

"So let's go down there and do some rearranging," he rumbled, shotgun in hand. Tali couldn't help but frown at his cavalier attitude.

"Shepard wouldn't have wanted this," she said, gesturing towards the window, "but do you really think he'd want you turning his funeral into a battlefield?"

"Yes," Wrex said simply. Aghast, Tali looked to Garrus for help.

"Don't bother causing trouble Wrex," the turian said, not bothering to lift his gaze from the floor. Tali couldn't help but notice that he did not explicitly disagree with Wrex. "The decision is made, apparently." Wrex rumbled with laughter again.

"That how you got the eye?" he asked, pointing to Garrus' bruise.

"I… may have come to a… disagreement with one of the citadel representatives," Garrus admitted. "Otherwise I would be down there."

"Ha!" Wrex barked approvingly. "Kicked out of a funeral for fighting. There's hope for you yet, C-Sec." He turned down the hall. "Come on, Tali. Our turn."

"I… No," she stammered. "That thing down there isn't Shepard."

"No, it's not," Wrex agreed, turning to look at her. "Even if he was dead, Shepard wouldn't lie around in a box. That man will die on his feet." Wrex's stare was dead serious in its denial, and Tali felt her heart break all over again for the krogan. He looked as scaly and heartless as ever, but inside he wasn't even willing to consider that his adopted warlord had fallen while he wasn't there.

"Wrex," she said quietly, "Shepard is dead." Wrex just shrugged.

"We'll see," he grunted, plodding away.
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SmileOfTheKill · Feb 14, 2016

Oh god 500k words. I'll attempt to read this.

Red Aviary · Feb 14, 2016

Wait, this wasn't already here?

5/5, definitely the best Mass Effect fic I've read so far.

Hachi · Feb 14, 2016

Huh, would have thought this already was in the library.

Easily one of the best story in the fandom, anyhow.

Those who come looking for a fanfiction with a lot of action might be disappointed, though. Like the summary says, it focuses on the different characters of ME, and not on the overall plot, and it's fucking great because of that.

5/5

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Complete Interstitium by Assault Sloth - T - Mass Effect

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Complete Interstitium by Assault Sloth - T - Mass Effect

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