Chapter 146: Unravelling

### Summary

Solana and Khonine work together- Khonine keeping the Marquis distracted while Sol prepares to break free. The instant Sol is ready, Khonine smashes her face into the Marquis as Solana brings the pipe she quietly bent out of place down on top of him. The two turians briefly fight hand to hand- but Sol roars though the pain and chokes the sadist out. As she attempts to save Khonine’s life, she lets out a call through her omni-tool. Garrus and the THV *Athemis* are nearby and rushing to their location with help.

Dr. Chakwas forgot Viatrix’s bottle, and enters the apartment in time to catch Verity on the secure line. She casually mentions to the person on the other end that Shepard is ready to abduct- and almost dead, as well as mentioning the attempt on Garrus’ life by one Dr. Rossi. Chakwas draws her sidearm, preparing to shoot Verity in the leg to find out all she knows. Then the younger woman talks about the back up plan of kidnapping Viatrix, and Chakwas decides that people who think about laying a hand on little Vi don’t get to live. She shoots the home aide right through the head and into the desk, and gets a look at a face she recognizes but can’t place.

The *Normandy* calls Garrus with the news that Shepard knocked out three crew members and took the shuttle while glowing like the sun. She is heading to the planet’s surface; Garrus informs the *Normandy* that they will secure the Marquis and intercept Shepard.

Solana tries desperately to save Khonine’s life now that Calix is secured, though he keeps trying to get a rise out of her by telling her that Khonine won’t live either way. Garrus arrives with Balak in tow, who is horrified by Khonine’s state. Calix continues to try to get a rise out of his captors, hoping they might make a mistake and enjoying any hurt he can dish out- until Shepard arrives, glowing like she is made of light. Khonine succumbs to her wounds, and Calix mocks the assembled group before him. Then Shepard turns her full attention on him, as Calix attempts to claim that he made her. As she tells him that she will show him what she has learned, it finally dawns on Calix that he has made a grotesque miscalculation regarding if she was willing to let him live- or even have a clean death.

Garrus watches in horror as Shepard exerts her will on Calix- even as the criminal kingpin attempts to emotionally harm her enough to get her to stop. But Shepard is implacable and unwilling to have mercy as she takes all the suffering he has caused, and uses it to burn him out.

Shepard then turns her attention to Khonine and Balak. She sends the light surrounding her into Khonine and even as the batarian woman gasps in air, she falls. Shepard is dead before she even hits Garrus’ arms.

### Title Meaning

This chapter and the next are tied together. Shepard body is coming apart, and her mind is having trouble staying in one place. She is coming unmoored from herself and the person she chose to be.

### Easter Eggs

When Shepard says that she is "burning up a sun to say goodbye" she is referencing the Dr. Who episode "Doomsday", where the 10th Doctor does that very thing to say goodbye to his companion Rose.

#### Discord Highlights

Impromptu N7 Day live-reads, oboes at four in the morning on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and brand-new emojis.