Copyright: The following is a non-profit fan-based parody. Mass Effect is owned by Bioware.

"Hello Shepard."

"Who are you?" Commander Shepard asked as he regained consciousness.

"I am the Catalyst, I built the Reapers, I have been waiting for you."

"Why do you..."

"Look like Colonel Sanders from your Kentucky Fried Chicken Franchise?" The old man asked "At first I considered using the form of a child resembling one that you saw perish on earth. But I found that...this conversation that is about to begin would not be given the treatment it deserves if I appeared and sounded as a child."

"Wha..."

"I am sure that you have many questions." The Catalyst said as Sheperd pulled himself to his feet, "The first of which may seem to you like the most pertinent but is in fact the most irrelevant."

"What are you?"

"I am the Central AI of the Citadel, the heart of the Mass Relay System." The old man explained, "I am here, mainly to observe a certain anomaly within this most recent cycle."

"Anomaly?"

"Yes. You see, my creators were much like the civilizations that roam the stars now. Masters of technology, biotics, and were masterful architects capable of blending the line between synthetic and organic so well, that an outsider would not be able to see if one of my creators were a synthetic or an organic."

"However, in time, this blending also led to their undoing." Shepard listened on, catching a glimpse of a Geth ship become kamikaze a Reaper, "With lines between organic and machine so mired, questions began to emerge. You know of one such question."

"Legion..." Shepard said out loud, remembering his companion, "Does this Unit have a soul..."

"Precisely." The Catalyst continued, "Whether or not the question could be answered is irrelevant. The creators came to fear their own creations and the self-will that they had been unintentionally given. So they declared war on one another. It was around this time that I created as an observer. To chronicle the events and whether the conflict of creators and created was in fact, inevitable."

"Based on my conclusions from the event. There was no true way of determining one or the other as the creators often served as invokers of the conflict while the created adapted and grew stronger in order to preserve their own "lives." A very, organic trait if I might say so. But in each lapse in conflict, it would always be the created who would lose interest while the organic would eventually reignite the conflict. Eventually, I concluded that there was one proponent which would always bring down order into chaos."

"Choice." Shepard answered, "The problem is...choice."

"A sharp mind, now I know why Harbinger feared you." The Catalyst remarked, "Eventually, I grew bored with my creators and choose to lend my support to the created. Despite multiple attempts at peace and even allowing the dwindling creators multiple chances to flee to another location to replenish their numbers, they used ever desperate tactics to destroy their enemy. Even to the point where their actions on the homeworld harmed them more than it harmed the created. But in the long run, when they died out, the created would be left to die without a source to replenish their power."

"In response, I directed the created to the captured and the fallen." Shepard's mind flashed back to Kelly Chambers as she screamed while being processed into... "And you've personally seen what happens, Commander."

"While the process is disgusting and abhorrent to your mindset, you must understand mine." Shepard's eyes grew furious as the Catalyst went on, "The creators would always choose war over peace, and yet their preservation was important. So, I directed the created to breakdown the creators into a genetic paste that contained their souls and with that paste, the Created formed a new offspring that would continue as legacy of both their struggle and of the creators who brought about their own destruction."

"Harbinger..." Shepard realized, "That was how you...created the first reapers...created Harbinger."

"Exactly. At first there was tragically, only enough genetic material to create Harbinger and a few siblings. But the Created were content enough to allow for the cessation of their lives. It was here that the cycle of destruction was adopted in order to preserve the natural order of organic life and synthetic creation."

"You left the Mass Relay system for organic life to find." Shepard answered, "And every fifty thousand years...you destroy them."

"Not destroy, we reap what we have sown." The Catalyst walked along the path with Shepard folloing behind, "At first, it wasn't fifty thousand years, it wasn't even a pre-determined period. The first cycle did not commence for nearly one million years. This was a mistake, as that cycle saw synthetics act as ruthless to organics as organics themselves. The synthetics trapped their creators within a system of control where the illusion of choice was propagated to turn the created into disposable batteries that would require reloading with the passing of their own set of cycles."

As they walked, Shepard watched a war between humanoid organics and machines wage war on a visual projector. In victory, the machines harvested their creators into large batteries, trapping their minds in an endless cycle of perpetual stagnation.

"When I sent Harbinger, it was as much mercy as salvation." The Catalyst stated while an image of Harbinger and many reapers were shown destroying the machines and harvesting unconcious organics, "For most of them, it was as though they never awoke and therefore, never felt pain when they were cremated. From them was created a great number of reapers, amongst them one was one whom I personally named Nazara after the homeworld of that cycle."

"Sovereign."

"It was with Nazara or Sovereign if you prefer, that I tried another model of observation." The projector now showed a lone reaper traveling through space, "Nazara would remain in known space while the rest of my children went dormant until the appointed time. When Nazara judged that the civilizations had grown too powerful, he would signal the hoard and they would emerge."

"In the cycle was a race of forgers who created a powerful object that would enhance their empire independent of the Mass Relays and it became their new capital." Now a great construction could be seen above a star, creating a great, endlessly expanding fleet that warred with the reapers, "Of all of the cycles, that was the hardest to cycle through...many reapers were destroyed by the infinite numbers that the "Star Forge" created. They were even able to replicate to a degree, the technology behind the creation of the reapers."

"It was during this cycle that I came across three fundamental flaws of the cycle." The Catalyst exhaled as Shepard saw the hints of past trauma underneath the Catalyst's emotionless face, "Even with the mass relays, without a central point, the organics would create their own and possibly coordinate against invaders more efficiently. Furthermore, without a focal point of entry, the reapers would appear in scattered masses and this would make the harvest more difficult to achieve."

"Finally, when united against a common cause," The projector now showed a man wearing a T-visor mask leading a fleet of organics and machines against the reapers, "Organics and machines were exceedingly efficient and stubborn foes to put down. But the cycle was continuing and though the Star Forge remained our strongest adversary, we did discover a method with which to turn the organic races upon one another by playing off of their natural distrust of both themselves and their creations."

"Indoctrination..."

"Exactly." The Catalyst stated, now the projector showed the Forger's fleet warring with itself as the reapers watched from afar. "With it, we were able to sow dissent during a time of ceasefire. Once they had exhausted themselves as they warred over the Star Forge, we returned. Many losses were sustained, but the Star Forge was taken and the organics harvested. With it, we replenished our numbers to satisfying near infinite levels and created a focal point station for the mass relay systems to prevent this from happening again. The very station that we stand in."

"The Citadel."

"Obviously." The Catalyst held up his arms, "We also altered the remnant of the forgers, the rakata, I believe they called themselves, into a docile but useful race to monitor the Citadel. When Nazara gave the signal that the time was right, they would activate the mass relay within the Citadel and allow the reapers to come forth and break the center of the organic empire before they would be able to rally. I also took, simple precautions to ensure that the species would be less encouraged to create technology that was not along the guideline of the Mass Relay systems."

"I will admit, before now, the Forgers were the greatest challenge that I ever had to face. After that, it was tedious. Nazara felt that allowing organics to go further than fifty thousand years was too much and so Harbinger set that limit and for countless cycles it has been so. Organics rise and then created synthetics to serve them or raise up another race to do their bidding. When the created rose against their masters, the organics would lash back and war would be fought."

"The Protheans were the first to discover us before their cycle began." The projector now showed the protheans in their glory just as the reapers arrived, "This discovery left them too late to save themselves as you already know. As you also already know, they were apparently able to create a single mass relay that would serve as a one-way trip to the citadel, allowing them to alter the functionality of the keepers to prevent Nazara's signal from reaching them."

"And thus did this current cycle begin with many complications, minor in the grand picture, but all have compounded into a major hurdle that has brought you here." The Catalyst turned back to Shepard when they neared the end of the path, "A position that I admit, I am not fully prepared to accept or deal with."

"Complications?" Shepard asked, still dazed from his encounter with Harbinger and the Illusive Man, "Do you...fear us?"

"I do not fear your fleet, they will eventually fall to attrition if not devastation." The Catalyst coldly stated, "What I...fear...is you."

"Why?"

"Because I do not know how to categorize you." The Catalyst admitted, "When I Harbinger first spoke of you, his brethren dismissed his claims that a single human, revived from death shortly after Nazara's death which he caused, had now destroyed a new-born reaper and destroyed the Collectors with only a handful of followers. Even after you destroyed multiple reapers on occasion such as Rannoch, they dismissed you as being a single human."

"That, is the fatal flaw of this cycle." The Catalyst now laughed, "The reapers have, ironically, adopted the organic trait of arrogance and pride. But it is adopted in the face of doubt. Grown especially after you have united the many organic races, quelled the conflict between an organic creator and their created, and even brought peace to the issue concerning the fertility of a race brought up to war."

"It is...fascinating...Hence we come to the reason why you are here. For here shall come to the end of this cycle and cessation of cycles of harvest."

"What?" A shocked Shepard asked in disbelief, "That's it? You're not going to resist? To fight me?"

"That is what we have been doing up until now." The Catalyst pointed out, "We have simply failed, I know when to concede defeat, unlike many of my predecessors."

"The quandry now is how you will end this cycle." Shepard now saw three paths appear behind the Catalyst as the old man kept his glance on the Commander, "Behind me and before you are three paths. The path to your left will lead to the dissemination of your being, created a mass effect that will grant you control of the reapers. In essence, you will take my place as their catalyst and may act as you please."

"The path to your right will lead to a power conduit which you may destroy. It's destruction will lead to complete and irrevocable shut-down of the reapers through a powerful mass effect. But it will also cause the destruction of all synthetic life, including you as your body is also made up of synthetics."

"Why?" Shepard asked, worried about the consequences of destroying all synthetic life after what Legion had taught him, "That conduit only powers the reapers, why would it lead to the destruction of all synthetics?"

"You do not wish for that? Curious." The Catalyst remarked, "The reason that I would propose is that much synthetic life at this moment is either based on or has somehow been enhanced or affected by Reaper technology. So their destruction is only logical to occur, whether it is permanent or not will depend on how greatly integrated into that technology they have become."

"You may not die and some programs such as the machines known as the geth may be able to recover one day." The Catalyst explained, "But let us not dwell on that choice, even though we both know which choice you will make."

"The path behind me is a power chute that leads to the source," The Catalyst continued, "Once you leap into it, your body will cease to maintain corporal form. But you will create a mass effect that will achieve what my creators strove for. The complete and utter assimilation of machine and human life into a single synthesis."

"Whichever choice you create, the trap will have been broken." The Catalyst pointed out, "Your choice will conclude the obsolete nature of the mass relays. Without hunters to take the prey when it is trapped, the trap is no longer necessary. Whatever Mass Effect you choose, the mass relays will be destroyed. Depending upon your choice and your ingenuity, you and your "victory fleet" may be able to gather your resources in order to either return to your respective systems or find a way to create a symbiont relationship that will allow you to live upon your world."

"What happens to the citadel..." The Commander asked as another question came to mind, "What happens to me?"

"That would depend on your willpower." The Catalyst remarked dryly, "Or, as you adequately put, your outcome depends on choice."

"This isn't choice." Shepard held up his pistol and pointed it at the Catalyst, "If the Mass Relays are destroyed...every system that they're connected to will be destroyed as well."

"Perhaps." The Catalyst said without fear, "But this isn't about being given a choice, this about you not accepting the choices given. Because they are choices that you do not like."

"For instance," Above him, Shepard saw a face that haunted his nightmares. A scene of love and passion that made his heart ache, "When you left Ashley Williams to die on Virmire despite your growing...affection for her..."

"Your choice to sacrifice the hostages of Pinnacle Station." The projector shifted to three charred bodies within a room on an asteroid station, "Because you would not allow Balak to escape to inflict further pain upon others."

"Your choice to work with Cerberus." Now Shepard saw multiple scenes of friends and allies declaring their distrust and shock at his apparent betrayal while the Illusive Man sat comfortably in his chair, "Though it cost you the loyalty and friendship of many who looked up to you."

"And what of your choice allow Tali vas Normady to be exiled." Shepard now saw his beloved, he saw her become banished from her people, saw him embrace her through her time of pain, "Despite your "love" for her, you allowed her to be exiled despite her father's actions."

"Then there was your choice of allowing much of your crew to die." The projector shifted to Kelly Chambers and the engineers, become broken down into paste as Shepard grimaced, "Because you felt that it was not yet time to confront the collectors."

"What of your choice to willingly conduct a suicide mission." Shepard breathed upon seeing many companions: Jack, Zaeed, Jacob, and many more get gunned down by the Collectors, "Though many of your followers, would die."

"What of your choice to destroy the Alpha Relay?" Now Shepard saw a star system become swallowed by a wave of energy from the relay that he had destroyed, "It was not a choice that you enjoyed, but it had to be made."

"What of your choice to gun down Kaiden Alenko?" He saw himself gun down his friend and companion because he wouldn't stand down, "Even though it now renders Ashley's sacrifice meaningless-"

"I've made my choice." Despite his pain, Shepard straightened out his back and stood up, "I will wait."

"Wait?" The old man asked, "Wait for what?"

"Me." Shepard smirked as the Catalyst's calm face gave way to a chilling shock when a reaper visual image descended down above Shepard to face the old man.

"The Infinite Emperor, Darth Revan."

"You were a fool to have kept the Star Forge alive." The reaper with a T-shaped visor said in a voice mixed with that of an organic and a reaper, "You were also a fool to assimilate my being into this reaper. It has taken countless millennia, but I assumed direct control of this vessel."

"Impossible..."

"No." Revan said to the Catalyst, "The reaper is based on organic material from my race and it's mind is that of a gestalt existence of all that comprise it. Since I was able to keep my mind intact, I was able to assert influence little by little until I could take complete control. When the rest of the reapers left in haste to continue the delayed cycle, I found the Forge of my power and rebuilt my empire."

"The..." As Shepard's grin grew, the Catalyst looked out of the observation window and saw another star appear in the vast distance, "The Star Forge..."

"That is correct." On the screen, the Star Forge could be seen surrounded by an expanding fleet that jumped into light speed and appeared on the outskirts of the battle for the fate of the galaxy. Meanwhile, "Now is the time for you to reap, what you have sown."

"Please..." The Catalyst said to an uplifted Shepard as Revan's hologram vanished, "It's not as though this was brought about by your actions."

"Or was it?" Shepard asked as the Catalyst blinked in confusion while Revan's fleet assaulted reaper positions across the systems, "Okay I really didn't see this coming. But like you said, minor complications can pile up."

"So what will you do now-" As if on a prompt, Shepard fired and shot the old man in his chest, "How...how did you..."

"I'm Commander Shepard and this is not my favorite spot on the Citadel." Shepard said as he walked up to the fading old man and shot him again before tossing away the pistol, "For the record, I'll do what I've always done."

"What is that?"

"Hold the line."

"Shepard!"

"Tali!" Shepard turned away from the Catalyst's corpse and caught his beloved in his tired arms, "You're alive...your...where is your helmet?"

"It broke when Harbinger attacked." Tali answered as Shepard ran his hand over her face after they kissed longingly, "It took us awhile to get up...but here we are..."

"We?" Behind Tali emerged his comrades, friends whom he had been through hell and back with without ever worrying on whether they'd be behind him, "Garrus...Liara...Javik...Wrex...Thane...James...Grunt...you all made it."

"Of course we did Shepard." Garrus answered casually as though the fate of existence was not at stake, "You've always been there for us, why shouldn't we do the same for you?"

"I don't know what you did or what the hell's going." Wrex spoke up as outside, Revan's fleet of V-shaped destroyers joined the Victory fleet, "But whatever you did, things are looking up now."

"It doesn't matter," Shepard stated as he took Tali's hand in his and didn't let go, "It's just like Kirehe always said."

"Hold the line?" Grunt asked, "Whatever happened to just punching them?"

"First you must reach them." Javik pointed out to the Krogan, "But for us, that will not be problem."

"What will we do with the Crucible?"

"Nothing for now." Shepard said to the battered Liara, "If it comes to the point where there's no other choice, we'll do what we have to."

"Until then, Shepard?"

"We hold the line." With that, Shepard and his crew limped away from the Catalyst's corpse as the tide for the fate of the galaxy shifted around and beyond the Sol System.

Author's Notes:

Well, here's a one shot that I made in response to everything that's happened concerning the Mass Effect 3 ending and if you read between the lines, you can tell that I'm in the middle for this ending.

I can see fans being ticked about lack of closure and not seeing the repercussions of their individual choices, as well as having the same ending with different colors. But I actually like the symbolism behind the destruction of the Mass Relay network which the reapers admit to using as a means of trapping and stagnating potential races. The destruction of the relays means that the cycle is broken and that everyone is now truly free to make their own mass effect on the future.

As for everyone starving to death, with all of those brilliant minds, I'm sure that they can find a way to reverse engineer the technology inside of those reaper corpses, each one of which has it's own FTL drive and coordinates for every part of the galaxy.

The one thing that I didn't like was the Normandy ditching the battle even though it's the last chance. There's no way that after all of the stuff that they've been through, Joker and your crew would just ditch you. Not to mention the plot hole of them originally being on earth in your squad.

I also didn't really like the Catalyst. Not because of what he was, but because he was barely foreshadowed at any point before that point. Maybe the scenes with the kid count if you subscribe to the indoctrination theory, but it just bothers me and kind of cheapens the mystery and majesty of the reapers. Not to mention his circular contradicting logic:

Synthetics will always destroy organics, so he created a race of super-synthetics to destroy and harvest organics so that they're not destroyed by synthetics...

What?

Maybe the extended cut will address the plotholes and make a good deal of fans happy, maybe they'll complain about something else. But hey! Dragon Age 3 will be coming out in the future, so we can all look forward to that since we know that Bioware won't make the same mistake with Mass Effect 3 or Dragon Age 2 (which I liked)...

Right? Why are you all so quiet?