I owe Marie so much for properly introducing me to the world of Mass Effect. This image is dedicated to her.My brothers purchased the first game years ago when it was first released, and even then I was inexplicably drawn to it.Unfortunately, I am no good at FPS, and by no good that is to say I utterly suck/fail. Even on easy I struggled to complete the entry level missions XD Something about my inability to sit still, or duck for cover. Psh. I wanna charge my enemiesAnyway~I met Marie during my brief time spent at the UofU and she took me under her wing and showed me the vast majority of Mass Effect 1&2 to properly prepare me for the 3rd and final installment.^_^We picked up the game opening night along with a crowd of other anxious gamers, and then spent the next 3 days playing it straight through without adequate sleep or lengthy breaks.We beat the game in a relatively short amount of time, having completed all the quests, and extra tasks assigned for obtaining the 'best' endings. Best, as if any of them were an actual reward.While I remain loyal to the franchise as a whole, I like many others was severely devastated by the passive and inconclusive endings. It completely lacked that powerful sense of camaraderie and unity that was paramount across the entire series.It was sad, and not in a good way.Upon ME3's completion, Marie requested I draw something to cheer her up. Her Shepard remained with Garrus across the span of all 3 games, and as the ending lacked a proper 'final moment' with him I created one.-Spoilers to follow-Amidst the lackluster endings provided the only moment I found truly engaging was Shepards final struggle to enter the Citadel. Once inside you awaken to find yourself barely breathing and buried beside the bodies of your fallen comrades, and you most continue on. After a brief showdown with the Illusive man, you collapse beside Anderson, and in his final moments there is a brief moment of collapse and silence as Shepard watches the chaos raging down below them. Her eyes flicker shut for but a moment, exhaustion and anguish overtaking her as General Hackett calls her to action via her intercom.She mutters a broken, "What do you need me to do." Before collapsing to the ground and crawling to the main control system. Her bloody limbs crashing to the floor and colliding against her shattered armor, strikes me as a powerful symbol of her fading spirit.I found it all very moving..watching somebody as invincible as Shepard continue to move forward whilst teetering on the precipice of death. Seeing her stained skin, and hearing the desperation in her voice... I don't know something just clicked and I emphasized with her.I took that emotional energy and turned it into this-An image that was meant to encompass that feeling of complete futility, that final breath before the fall into the arms of the abyss...before you are reminded that you are never alone.-S.o.S.-----------------------------------Mass Effect Garrus&Shepard (C) BioWareImage (C):