Picking up where the previous post left off...
Can the Reapers feel shock? After Harbinger's demise, they certainly pause.
As Alliance ships cluster in the distance to extract potential survivors, Shepard acts first, and runs to the beam.
The squad (the same squad composition that assisted Shepard with the Harbinger boss) hesitates, exhausted from the battle, then sees more Reaper reinforcements on the way. The squad staggers after Shepard.
(On NG+ Easy, NG+ Normal, NG+ Hardcore, Insanity) CHOOSE PLAYER
At this point, an option window appears:
Option 1: Play as Shepard
Option 2: Play as one of the squadmates.
(The idea here is that the first time the game is played, Option 1 is the only option available. Thus the Catalyst ending is largely experienced as it is now, with a few modifications. With a NG+, though, you get to see how well the Catalyst punked you - especially if you chose Control. Note that Option 2 is only available on the first playthrough if playing on Insanity difficulty. I think after playing through the game once, all the endings would probably unlock anyway, so on subsequent playthroughs you can end the game however you want; but it's important for that first playthrough that you as the player experience what the Catalyst is trying to "sell" to Shepard.)
If Option 1:
Shepard ascends the beam by himself (the others follow shortly after). TIM orders his soldiers not to attack Shepard.
(Reason why:
1. If Shepard was more aligned with TIM (saved Collector base), TIM wants one last chance to prove his case.
2. If Shepard was not aligned with TIM (destroyed Collector base), TIM's pride forces him to prove to Shepard how wrong Shepard was.
Either way, it is a conversation that TIM wants to have, and he does not fear Shepard, confident in his own power)
(Proceeds without the intercom conversations with Anderson (Anderson is a possible squadmate); instead, Shepard talks to himself / herself). Arrives, has confrontation with TIM. The Illusive Man's powers force Shepard to see another Shepard. The indoctrinated apparition shoots Shepard. The confrontation continues as in the original game. Shepard looks down after it is over, and sees that (s)he is shot. Crawls to console, pushes button, has a monologue with himself / herself. Communication radioed from Hackett about something wrong, crawls back to the console, collapses.
Shepard ascends and has the conversation with the Catalyst (Extended Cut Version). The conversation with the Catalyst, like the talk with Leviathan, occurs in his / her head.
If Control or Synthesis is chosen, squadmates extract from the Catalyst command console and take Shepard's body back to the Normandy. The ending then proceeds as we know it now (Extended Cut version). Shepard does not survive.
The Catalyst is not in favor of Destroy, because that choice ignores the very problem it was designed to address. It only provides information on the Destroy option when forced to, through dialog choices. If Destroy becomes available and is chosen, Shepard shoots the tubes, and "wakes up" on the platform below with the squadmates regrouping after fighting off some Keepers. More Keepers are coming (their intention is to attempt to issue commands to the Crucible through the Citadel console). Someone must remain behind to hold them off (Shepard's choice - "each of you needs to be ready to die. Anything less, and you're already dead."). Shepard and the other squadmate extract, watching the other squadmate fighting the fight of their life (cue the music https://youtu.be/TLxv_g_zQkY) followed by the Crucible firing.
Special: Shepard can stay and defend the console if the LI is in the squad. The LI will stay and fight with him / her.
(As an example: Shepard leaving Garrus behind to hold off the Keepers. Gut-wrenching. It could technically be possible to complete the Harbinger boss with all squadmates / commanders surviving, but you will always have to leave one squad-mate to defend the console if choosing Destroy. The last time you got to pick your squad was the Harbinger boss, so that choice has additional implications for this sequence as well.)
If Option 2:
Squadmates arrive a minute or so behind Shepard. They push on, hurry forward, wiping out any remaining Cerberus.
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| Concept from The Art of Mass Effect 3 |
While Shepard has the conversation with the Catalyst, the squadmates come upon his / her body. (If one of the squadmates was also taken on the Leviathan mission, possibility for extra dialogue, as the physical symptoms of the interaction would be similar to Shepard's condition after exiting the diving mech.) Squadmates radio for extraction. Joker disobeys Hackett's orders and sends the shuttle in.
As the squadmates wait for extraction, a group of Keepers approach. The squad raise weapons, unsure, but the Keepers move slowly off to the other approach ramps. One squadmate thinks the large Keeper presence + Shepard's cold but still living body = something is wrong (duh, obviously, but more wrong than usual. Maybe have an exchange like, "Something's wrong." "Is there ever anything NOT wrong?") On the pillars that line walls, Reaper indoctrination devices are deployed (near the ceiling). The Keepers turn, and attack the squadmates.
(Shepard, talking about choices with the Catalyst, notices nothing.)
(Cue the music https://youtu.be/jJn8bKqdwjc)
Here follows a timed section: the squadmates must defeat the Keepers & destroy all the devices within the time limit.
FAIL:
If the Keepers are not killed and devices not destroyed when time runs out, Control is chosen by Shepard. (S)he recognizes the validity of the Catalyst's concerns about the Singularity, and agrees that the Reapers serve a useful purpose, which must be continued. (S)he agrees to add his / her influence to the Catalyst.
Cutscene: The squadmates extract, bringing Shepard's body back to the Normandy. The ending proceeds as in the Extended Cut.
SUCCEED:
If all the Keepers are killed and all indoctrination devices are destroyed when time runs out, Shepard chooses Destroy. (S)he rejects the Catalyst's arguments, opting instead to fulfill his / her original mission.
Cutscene: If Shepard starts going up the ramp towards Destroy, the Catalyst drops the Starbrat act and, in the deep "So be it!" voice, demands Shepard stop.
(Why? The Catalyst is not in favor of Destroy, because that choice ignores the very problem it was designed to address.)
Shepard shoots the tubes, and "wakes up" on the platform below with the squadmates regrouping after fighting off the Keepers. More Keepers are coming (their intention is to attempt to issue commands to the Crucible through the Citadel console). The non-player squadmate remains behind to hold them off. Shepard and the other squadmate extract, watching the other squadmate fighting the fight of their life while the music begins (https://youtu.be/TLxv_g_zQkY), followed by the Crucible firing.
Options 1 and 2, DESTROY ending only
Shepard's escape after choosing destroy is the ultimate disenfranchisement and insult to the Catalyst, who sends a dozen Reapers to intercept the Normandy. The Normandy escape sequence occurs as we have it now, except the Normandy is not running just from the fireball. The Reapers are in the Normandy's wake, chasing it. As the fireball gets closer, it catches the Reapers from behind, destroying them one by one. Fade to black as the music swells and the fireball catches the Normandy (Extended Cut version). Ending slides are not altered, save for the memorial scene, where the final name put on the wall is that of the squad mate who died protecting the console. Final scene is the same from the MEHEM.
Special: If Shepard and the LI were the ones defending the console, the final scene, instead of being the one from MEHEM, is based on the "breath scene" of first the LI, then Shepard, waking up in the rubble.
SHEPARD SURVIVES
Option 1 SYNTHESIS ending only.
(Note that SYNTHESIS IS ONLY AVAILABLE AS AN ENDING CHOICE IF PLAYING AS SHEPARD, not as one of the squadmates.)
Squadmates radio for extraction. Joker disobeys orders and sends in the shuttle. Squadmates discover that Shepard is not breathing. The shuttle arrives, collects squadmates + Shepard's body, and sets off again. Cutscene of ships jumping away through the relay. Crucible charges. Joker won't leave Shepard behind. Shuttle crashes into the Normandy's loading bay. Bay doors close. Normandy accelerates. In the cargo bay, all that remains of Hammer gathers around the shuttle. Crucible fires BEFORE the Normandy can jump away. In the shuttle, one of the squadmates holds Shepard's body.
(the following is intercut with the Extended Cut images of the green shockwave crossing the galaxy)
(cue the music https://youtu.be/TLxv_g_zQkY)
- The green wave engulfs the Normandy.
- The door of the shuttle opens.
(EDI's core programming is not located in Dr. Eva's body, so unless the Normandy is destroyed which in this scenario does not happen, her voice will always be available.)
IF EDI's BODY SURVIVED THE BEAM RUN:
If the squadmate holding Shepard is not the LI: EDI stares, suddenly aware, confused at the vast array of organic emotions flooding her consciousness. She stares down at Shepard's body. Approaches, bends down. Asks, "Can I hold him / her?" Takes Shepard's body in her arms, stares at it. Her reverence is only matched by her grief which comes pouring out as she clutches Shepard's form tighter. Thus the birth of synthetic sentience is accompanied by its most profound moment of grief ("When we are born, we cry..."). The door of the shuttle opens. The Normandy's loading bay slowly becomes crowded as EDI exits the shuttle, carrying Shepard's body. Ending slides are not altered, save for the memorial scene, where EDI is the one to put Shepard's name on the memorial wall before receiving comfort from Joker ("I am alive... and I am not alone").
If the squadmate holding Shepard is the LI: EDI stares, suddenly aware, confused at the vast array of organic emotions flooding her consciousness. She stares down at Shepard's body. Approaches, kneels down beside the pair. Takes Shepard's cold hand, holds it against her face for a moment. Her reverence is only matched by her grief, but EDI's new-found compassion forces her to reach out and comfort the LI. The door of the shuttle opens. The Normandy's loading bay slowly becomes crowded as EDI helps the LI carry Shepard's body out. Ending slides are not altered, save for the memorial scene, where the LI is the one to put Shepard's name on the memorial wall before turning receiving comfort from EDI ("I am alive... and I am not alone").
IF EDI's BODY DID NOT SURVIVE THE BEAM RUN:
Same scenes as before, though since EDI's platform isn't present, it devolves into a moment that is focused on the LI instead of EDI (unless we'res also re-writing Legion's history, then he would be the first alternate to EDI in a Synthesis ending).
If the LI is the one holding Shepard's body, the LI receives comfort from Steve Cortez (by default, since his post is in the shuttle bay), or Samantha Traynor (if romanced and / or Steve died in London).
If the LI is not the one holding Shepard's body, the LI rushes into the shuttle as soon as the door is opened.
If Shepard romanced no one, Joker will leave EDI (who, even if her platform was destroyed, still has her core processing units safely housed aboard the Normandy) to pilot the ship, and Joker will be the one who grieves the most over Shepard.
CONTROL ENDING
I don't have anything to add to the Control ending. The presence of god-Shep was perfectly implemented in the game as we have it now (in my opinion).
And there it is, my idea of how Mass Effect 3's ending could have been improved. If you made it this far, thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts. I still love the game - Mass Effect 3 is probably my favorite of the Shepard trilogy. But sometimes I wonder just how good the game could have been without corporate deadlines and budgets plaguing the creative spirits at BioWare. This is my shot at providing an answer.
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