Ch: 3 [Jack's anguish]

Jack had sought solace in the intensity of training, pushing her body and mind to their limits. The weight of guilt and regret weighed heavily on her, and she sought an outlet for her anger—a way to drown out the painful memories that haunted her.

Within the training area, Jack unleashed her biotic powers with unbridled fury. Her biotics crackled and glowed, a manifestation of her rage and grief. She shouted at the holographic representations of the Reapers, their cold, metallic forms serving as a conduit for her anger.

"You think you've won? You think I'm going to let you take everything from me?" Jack's voice echoed through the empty space, her words infused with raw emotion. "I won't let you destroy everything Shepard fought for! I won't let your existence go unchallenged!"

With each word, her biotics surged forth, tearing through the air in a ferocious display of power. The room trembled under the force of her attacks as she channeled her anguish into each strike.

"You took him from us, from me!" Jack's voice cracked, her pain reverberating through the room. "I should have been there! I should have fought by his side until the end!"

Her attacks grew more frenzied, fueled by the overwhelming sorrow that threatened to consume her. The holographic Reapers shattered under the force of her biotic onslaught, but no matter how much destruction she wrought, it couldn't mend the wounds in her heart.

As she continued to pour her anger into each attack, her body began to protest. Fatigue gnawed at her muscles, and exhaustion seeped into her bones. Yet, she pressed on, desperate to exhaust herself physically, hoping it would bring her a temporary respite from the emotional turmoil within.

In the midst of her chaotic training, a familiar voice cut through the air. "Jack!"

Startled, Jack turned her gaze toward the entrance of the training area. Miranda stood there, her expression a mixture of concern and determination.

"Jack, enough," Miranda's voice was firm but gentle. "You can't keep punishing yourself like this. Shepard wouldn't want to see you like this."

Jack's biotics flickered, the rage within her subsiding for a brief moment. She panted heavily, her chest rising and falling with each labored breath. Her gaze met Miranda's, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"I couldn't save him, Miranda," Jack's voice was choked with emotion. "I should have been there. It's my fault."

Miranda stepped forward, her presence comforting amidst the storm of Jack's emotions. "Jack, we all carry our regrets, but blaming yourself won't bring Shepard back. We need to find a way to honor his memory, to fight for the things he believed in. It's time to move on. Shepard would have wanted you to move on, Jack."

The room fell into a tense silence as Jack's anger flared once again, her emotions spiraling out of control. The pain and guilt that consumed her overwhelmed any semblance of reason. Blinded by her rage, she saw Miranda as an embodiment of her own perceived failures.

In a sudden surge of aggression, Jack lunged at Miranda, her biotics crackling with unrestrained energy. "You know nothing!" she screamed, her voice laced with a mixture of anguish and fury. Her movements were swift and unrelenting, fueled by the turmoil within.

Miranda, taken aback by the sudden attack, instinctively raised her arms in defense, deflecting the biotic wave with her own. She tried to reason with Jack, her voice steady but tinged with concern. "Jack, please! This isn't the way. We're all hurting, but we need to find strength in each other."

But Jack's fury refused to subside. She saw only an obstacle—a reminder of her own perceived shortcomings. The blows of her biotics crashed against Miranda's barrier, a clash of raw power and desperation.

Miranda, a formidable fighter in her own right, expertly evaded Jack's attacks, doing her best to keep the situation from escalating further. She recognized the pain behind Jack's actions, the profound loss that fueled her rage. In her heart, she understood the depths of Jack's anguish.

Yet, Jack's onslaught continued, her attacks relentless and fueled by an overwhelming need to vent her frustration. "You don't know what it's like! We were supposed to have a happy ending!" she shouted, her voice strained with anguish. "You don't know the guilt, the regret that consumes me! He was supposed to be here with us... Argggg!"

Miranda's eyes locked onto Jack's, her expression a mix of empathy and determination. "You're right, Jack. I may not fully understand, but I do know what it means to carry regrets. We all have our burdens, and it's through unity that we can find strength and healing."

With a final surge of energy, Jack's assault began to lose its fervor. The anger that had consumed her began to wane, leaving behind a trail of exhaustion and sadness. Her biotics flickered, their vibrant glow fading as she took a step back, her hands trembling with the weight of her actions.

Breathing heavily, Jack looked at Miranda, tears streaming down her face. "I... I'm sorry," she choked out between sobs. "I didn't mean to..."

Miranda, her own barrier dissipating, approached Jack cautiously, her voice filled with compassion. "It's alright, Jack. We all grieve in different ways. But we can't let our pain divide us. Shepard wouldn't want that."

As Miranda's words reached her, Jack's anger subsided further, replaced by a deep sense of remorse. She crumbled to the floor, her body shaking with sobs as the weight of her actions crashed down upon her.

Miranda knelt beside Jack, offering a comforting presence. "We'll get through this, Jack. Together," she whispered, her voice filled with conviction. "We'll honor Shepard's memory and find a way to heal."

******

AN: We will see 1 episode of all the crew members and what they are doing after their little reunion.