Autor Note: This is my version of how exactly Mass Effect 3 ended and what should happen next. I don't own anything, Bioware does.

Mass Effect 4: A Matter of Control.

Prologue: The Choice.

I never wanted any of this.

And yet here he was, Commander John Shepard, first human Spectre, standing at the top of the Citadel, presented with three options, each of them changing the galaxy in the ways most unpredictable and unimaginable.

I never wanted to be responsible for the future of my own people, not to mention the whole friggin galaxy. All I ever wanted is to serve humanity, the Alliance, and – as a Spectre – the Council and all races. But not like this!

But now Shepard himself had no choice. He was tired. More than anytime before, more that he thought it was humanly possible. Even worse, Shepard was dying. And out there, on the Earth and above it, his friends and allies were fighting. And dying too.

Fine. Lets get it over with.

For the last time Shepard looked at the Catalyst, but the boy was silent and clearly watching the battle that took place on the Earth's orbit.

He won't help me. He gave me a choice and now is waiting for the result and there is nothing I can do about it. So much for my small talk with the Iillusive Man. Stupid machine.

Shepard sighed and turned back to the beam of light, trying to clear his thoughts, ignoring the pain that threatened to consume his body.

So what are my options here again?

First, destroy Reapers. Normally this two words alone would be enough for Commander's to make a choice here and now, but… It wasn't about just destroying Reapers. The Catalyst said that the Crucible will wipe out all synthetic life forms, including geth. Including EDI, though this fact was never mentioned.

Hell, even Quarians can die if their suits will stop working before they will be able to adapt to the environment of their lost homeworld, Rannoch. Not to mention me, with all the tech Cerberus put in me.

But the real question was… could he do it? Could Shepard betray the geth, who kept all their promises and followed him into the battle for his own homeworld? Could he destroy the uneasy alliance between synthetic and organics that Commander himself helped to create in spite of everything the Catalyst said? Was Shepard willing to commit genocide of his own only to escape another one? Was it even worth it?

He slowly realized that the answer was "No."

I am sorry… I can't do this. If to save my people I must destroy another species, If to stop the genocide I must commit one… then me and all living creatures are no better then the Reapers. The cost of survival is high, I know this better than anyone, but this is wrong. I must find another way.

Shepard sighed again and looked into the beam of light that was ahead.

Convergence… could this be the answer? Bringing a new combined form of life into the galaxy, thus ending the Reaper's cycle and destroying the very reason for their actions, ensuring peace… Yes, that could be the perfect solution.

Shepard started to slowly walk towards the light, then his pace became quicker. Commander even started to run… only to froze in place when a new thought occurred to him.

The galaxy never asked for it. Asari, turians, salarians, humans… they didn't ask to be turned into some kind of hybrid creatures. They were not given a choice. Only Reapers want this to happen, just like they want to harvest all advanced life. The boy said it all is a part of the same cycle… but here is the thing – I don't believe in any of this crap, just like I don't believe that synthetics is bound to destroy organics. I always stood for the free will and the ability for everyone to choose their own future. If we are truly destined to achieve unity with synthetics because of natural evolution, we will do it by ourself, not because some genocidal AI and it's unstoppable fleet are telling us to do so. Who was the first to come up with this idea anyway? Don't know and don't care. They can all go to hell, I am not going to do their dirty work for them. I am not going to enforce the Reaper's will on the galaxy.

But that left the Commander with no choice other then…

The whole Citadel suddenly and violently shook.

"You time is almost up", - calmly said the Catalyst, - "Reapers are attacking the Crucible. When it will be destroyed, the cycle will continue as before. And you will die".

Shepard didn't answer. His mind was processing the last option left for him.

Can I really do this? Control the Reapers? I will be able to stop the war. Furthermore, I can use the knowledge, stored inside them to help rebuild the mass relays. And recreate all that the Reapers already destroyed – Earth, Palaven, Thessia and many more… With me controlling them there will be no next cycle of galactic extinction , nor will I let anyone to start another devastating war.

He suddenly remembered Garrus's words: "You are a peacemaker, Shepard. A rare thing these days. Now, if you can pacify the Reapers, we'll make you a saint."

I never wanted to become a saint, but if for the galaxy to know eternal peace , I must forever keep the Reapers at bay… so be it!

Shepard recalled other words as well, and they were not so pleasant: "You will die. You will lose everything " , but he didn't care anymore.

I will die anyway, and others will soon follow. I have to stop this. illusive Man wanted to gain control over the Reapers for the benefit of the mankind alone and failed, because he allowed them to get to him first. Now I have a chance to do the same, but I will use the Reapers for benefit of every race.

Commander gathered his last strength and run to the left, to two long cylinders, which were seething with energy. Shepard placed his hands on both of them.

Is this what supposed to turn me into some Reaper Overlord? How does it work exactly?

The unknown device started to produce massive waves of blue energy, which engulfed and eventually consumed Shepard's body, until it simply disappeared as if it never existed .

While he was changing, Shepard felt nothing, only cold and numbness, and before darkness took him, Commander's last thought was:

I am sorry, Liara, but I couldn't keep my promise.