A/N: This is a FemShep version but I'd be more than willing to post a second version for MaleShep with his respective LI if you like. Similar situation with FemShep and any other LI she may have (Traynor, Garrus, etc)

I'm Commander Shepard.

Shepard felt a sense of duty rise up in her as she forward, a marred and bloodied arm drawing her Revenant assault rifle from her back. She had to do it, she had to.

'Shepard-Commander' Legions voice echoed in her mind. 'Does this unit have a soul?'

"God-dammit," Her jaw clenched and tears burned at her eyes, ripping and tearing at the wounds mapping her cheeks. "I'm sorry, Legion, I'm so sorry,"

'Looks like you found a little humanity, EDI,' It was her own voice now; happy and proud. 'Is it worth defending?'

'To the death,'

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…I can't let them do this, please forgive me,"

Her finger hesitated on the trigger as faces flashed through her mind. First came Legion; the light on his 'head' fizzling out just after he'd finally become an individual. Then there was EDI, quizzical and eager to learn, looking to Shepard for guidance, advice and sometimes subtle encouragement. Anderson; the only thing close to a father she had ever known, his hand smoothing down her ragged mess of hair before he passed away right beside her. His last words had been that he was proud of her. Would he really be proud of this? Finally, there was Kaidan. Ah, Kaidan. Forcing him to go with the Normandy had seemed like the worst possible thing at the time. His eyes welled up, he shook, he screamed at Garrus when the turian had pulled him back as Shepard left for the beam. Now, she mused, it was for the best. If this was to be her end, she wouldn't have wanted it to be his. Kaidan was too good a soldier to die here in such a way. His smile flew to the front of her mind; so proud and stoic even in his happiness but his eyes showed a joy that was hers and hers alone to see.

"I hope you can forgive me…All of you," She wavered again as she focused her scope, the Revenant primed and ready for her final assault. "I love you, Kaidan. I'm sorry Legion. I'm sorry, EDI…Joker, I…He…Fuck!"

She had to do it NOW. While she dithered, thousands more lives were being taken by the Reapers. She needed to destroy them. She had to. It was…Her duty. She was a soldier; she had always been told that sacrifices would be necessary. Ashley, Mordin, Legion, very nearly Samara. She just had to steel herself and shoot…Shoot…Dammit, Shepard, SHOOT.

There was a little voice in the back of her mind chastising her; pulling her finger back from the trigger another few seconds longer. They're your family, it said, you're betraying their trust.

"You realise that destroying us is unethical," The child behind her droned. "Lower your weapon; chaos cannot be controlled by more chaos,"

"SHUT UP," Shepard cried, tears dripping from her chin onto her boots. "The Reapers need to be destroyed. That's what my goal has been from day one, that's what we're all fighting for!"

She knew that this was more to encourage herself than discourage him…It…Whatever. Shepard closed her eyes and breathed in deep; suddenly feeling the presence of her entire family behind her.

"It's alright, love," Kaidan soothed. "You did everything you could. Let it end; that beachfront property on the Sunshine Coast won't be waiting for us forever,"

"You're a soldier, Shepard," It was Garrus now. "Sacrificing the one for the many is what you do. You can do this. I believe in you,"

"Shepard!" Wrex. "What are you hesitating for? Pull the damned trigger! Mordin didn't get blown to bits for nothing!"

"Don't cry, Shepard," Of course, that was Liara. "We know you wouldn't choose this if there was a better option. This needs to end today; for Palaven, for Earth…For Thessia. We're right here with you,"

"Lola!," Heh, hello James. "Have some cojones! Jeez, if I was the one hesitating like this you'd have kicked my ass and done it yourself by now! You're a hell of a soldier, Commander. We're all behind you. Shit, I'll get a tattoo with your name on it someplace special when this is all over. I want people to know I knew the chick that destroyed the Reapers. Get to it!"

"We have Rannoch back, Shepard," Then came Tali. "The geth are people now but…They know the stakes just like all of the organics do. Legion wouldn't be ashamed; he would be proud of you for making it this far. You have the shot; take it,"

"Shepard…" Finally, Joker. "I've been with you since day one. I've seen you do crazy shit but this is by far the most batcrap insane thing I've ever seen you do. I know what this means if you pull that trigger. I know what will happen to her…To EDI. I'm not gonna lie; I'm not okay with that but…I think I will be. After a lot of drinks. I got up on that dancefloor and waved my arms, Commander. I don't regret a thing. Kick those damned things straight back to hell,"

Then she opened her eyes and they were gone again. Her hand steadied on the trigger and her tears dried as her breathing slowed to controlled and steady huffs from her injured lungs. A fire lit up in her eyes and in her heart. She was the best damned soldier in the galaxy. It was high time she started acting like it.

"You must not know who I am," She breathed, her voice carrying triumphantly around her. "Or you wouldn't have come here in the first place. So let me make it really clear for you,"

She pulled the trigger and – over the roaring of the Revenants unyielding fire – Shepard's warcry seemed to reverberate around the entire universe; to every planet in every system in every galaxy.

"I AM COMMANDER SHEPARD,"

-Part 1 of 2 -