Commander Shepard looked at the three choices presented to him. This... intelligence calling itself the Catalyst had explained that in order to stop the Reapers' harvest, he had to pick from turning everyone into a synthetic-organic hybrid, taking control of the Reapers, or destroying the Reapers along with every bit of advanced technology in the galaxy. He wasn't too crazy about taking control, 'cause it was a quite real possibility that once he did, he'd be indoctrinated and want to start the harvest. Destroying them was also out of the question, as he really didn't want to throw the civilizations of the galaxy back to the dark age. And synthesis... well, he wasn't too sure that everyone wouldn't be turned to glorified husks.
But these were the options presented to him. And he had to choose.
"It seemssss you are at quite the impasse... aren't you?" An eerie, inhuman voice called to the Commander. Looking around for the source of the voice, Shepard could not find it, but it seemed to come from everywhere at once. Then, a shape began to appear in front of the beam of energy the Crucible had created.
A man, to be precise.
The man walked up to Shepard. The man's movements were stiff and awkward, as if he was unused to his own body. The man wore a blue suit, and a tie, right out of the twentieth century. In all honesty, he looked like a stereotypical G-Man. The man stopped in front of Shepard, and looked over him, almost like cat sizing up a mouse before striking. "Commander Shepard in the flessh. Scarred and burnt flesh, but you are here none-the-less." The man's way of speaking was odd. He placed emphasis on every syllable but the correct ones, and his S's were drawn out like the hissing of the snake. "And after all that hasss happened, well... I am quite impressed."
"Who are you?" Shepard found himself asking. "What are you?" This... thing in front of him wasn't human. That much was easily apparent.
"You..." He paused, taking a sharp breath in."Needn't concern yourself with my identity. I am simply a party... interested in your successsss. You've... managed to accomplish a great deal in a small timespan. More so than anyone else in this galaxy. You've... displayed a resourcefulness which I have rarely seen among members of your speciesss. Among any species, in fact. It quite reminds me of myself. But, back on topic, your determination and resourcefulnesss has enabled your galaxy to finally be free of the onslaught of the Reapers. Today isss the beginning of a new age. But today is also the end of another."
"What are you talking about?" Shepard wondered.
"I am talking about you, Missster Shepard." The man replied. "Ifff you choose one of the options thisss... Catalyst has presented, your life will end."
"I already know that." Shepard responded. "But it's going to bring peace to the galaxy at least.""
The man chuckled slightly, almost imperceptible. "Hm. What you do not know iss that the peace will not last. Each of these... choicesss is deliberately engineered to cause civilization to collapse shortly after it has been made. No matter which one, your choice will cause the destruction of everything you hold dear, and your sacrifice will be meaninglesss."
"No..." Shepard shook his head in denial. "That... That can't be right."
"It isss the truth, Misster Shepard. Thisss... Crucible will do nothing more than cause more harm upon itsss activation."
"All that work..." Shepard stared blankly at no particular thing. "For nothing?"
"It iss quite a... depresssing discovery. After all your sacrifices, to find out that your lassst hope was a trap? That iss why I have come here. Your... unique skillset has attracted the attention of my... employers, and they have sent me to extend an offer to you."
"What kind of offer?" Shepard inquired.
"The only one that matters in thisss day-and-age." The man straightened his tie, and a green orb of energy appeared next to him. "My employers have also authorized me to deal with the problem posed by thisss little... trap. If you accept the offer, I will take the liberty of dealing with the Reapers for you."
"And if I don't?" Shepard asked.
"Well... I can offer you a battle you have no chance of winning. Rather an anti-climaxxx, given what you've jusst survived. Just step into the portal, and I will take that as a yesss. Time to chooose..."
Shepard stared at the portal. The green glow it gave off permeated the large area where he and the man were standing. It didn't appear to be harmful, and Shepard gave it some serious thought.
Shepard took a deep breath in, and stepped into the portal. Once he was inside, he disappeared, with a bright flash of green light.
"Excellent choice, Mister Shepard." The man's voice echoed. "I will see you up ahead."
SUBJECT: SHEPARD
STATUS: HIRED
AWAITING ASSIGNMENT...