The galaxy had become a very different place since the destruction of Sovereign and public outing as to the true nature of the Citadel. John Alan Shepard's decision to save the three Council representatives at the cost of several hundred human lives earned him and his race a pardon for stereotypes typically associated with humanity. No longer were they seen as an intergalactic bully but rather as compassionate beings capable of the same selfless actions as the other, more established races.

Of course, not everyone shared this sentiment.

The volus were already well-known for their public disapproval of the perceived favoritism enjoyed by humanity. When they were made the fourth Council race, a millennia of invidious frustration came to a boil among the diminutive people. Din Korlack, Council ambassador to the volus, gave the Council an ultimatum: Appoint a volus as the fifth Council race or they would resign all diplomatic relations and become an isolationist state.

The Council, of course, were not a group that could be easily intimidated; They steadfastly refused. Though the volus had a much more colorful and extensive record of service than humanity, it was acknowledged that they had not contributed enough to the galactic community to warrant such an honor. In addition, the volus did not have a booming economy and only the slimmest military presence. Becoming a Council race would likely put a critical strain upon their finite resources.

Unconvinced, Din marshaled his people and they did exactly what they threatened. The volus severed all ties to the Citadel and retreated to their home world of Irune. The volus inhabiting the Citadel had all left simultaneously. Other volus spread throughout the settled worlds quickly got word of the revolt and similarly retreated. One month later, it was almost impossible to find a volus lingering outside of Irune, and even rarer to find one not harboring resentment for the "unfair" treatment given to humanity.

Though this was an obvious possibility, the Council wasn't concerned and concluded that Ambassador Korlack was bluffing. When he honored the threat, the Council flew into action. Through an arrangement for a mutually beneficial solution, they hoped the volus would eventually return to their embassy and abandon their campaign for a Council seat. Though they weren't physically adept, the volus made up for it with their prodigious mental acumen. It would be a severe blow to the galactic economy if no volus were left to crunch numbers and work out complicated equations.

For obvious reasons, Captain Shepard was not chosen to meet with the Vol Protectorate. However, being a Council race, a human was included in the envoy. Emily Bowers, the successor of Council ambassador Donnel Udina, was chosen by Chairman Anderson to accompany fellow Council race representatives and a litany of heavily armed guards to Irune.

Captain Shepard was to be one of the guards, disguised as an ordinary rank-and-file soldier.

Shepard's attendance was considered paramount to the success of the assembly but it was also classified. Shepard himself didn't understand how he would be of help unless an armed riot broke out, but that was probably what the Council assumed would happen. But now a problem surfaced, one that took priority of virtually every other ceremony and mission humanity had arranged. Captain John Shepard, legend for becoming the first human Spectre and a galactic figurehead for hope against the Reaper threat, had cancer. News spread like wildfire and by the end of the same day that Shepard himself had been informed, the extranet was an explosion of public concern.

Shepard's family had no history of this particular type of cancer. A month earlier he was a paragon of health and excellent physical fitness. How did he contract such a disease? Doctor Chakwas and a hastily assembled team of the greatest medical minds in the galaxy came to only one conclusion: The Prothean beacon.

The beacon was the beginning anyway. Subsequent interactions with Prothean technology, receiving the Cypher, and mental contact with two separate asari believing they were helping him order his thoughts gradually worsened his condition. Up until then, no one had fathomed that Prothean technology would have negative side-effects when linked to a human consciousness. But now the proof was in the pudding and it greatly humbled these alleged experts. Doctor Chakwas was especially apologetic and had a box of tissues on-hand throughout.

The beacon was designed to link to Prothean physiology, not human. That Shepard didn't show immediate signs of illness was a testament to his resilience. But now he was fighting for his life and a solution was needed. None of the Council races had medical technology advanced enough to eliminate the cancer altogether. Surgery and chemotherapy were the obvious alternatives but it was a temporary solution; the cancer was malignant and would inevitably return. The situation was dire and the answer was elusive.

After two days of brainstorming without results, Chairman Anderson held an extranet press conference admitting that Captain Shepard's condition was worsening and his chances of survival were low. Of course, the response from humanity was the strongest. People wanted to see their hero in person but he was confined to quarters and encouraged to get as much rest as possible. He was allowed guests, mostly those whom he had served with on-board the Normandy.

John hadn't slept much. It was hard when so much attention was bearing down on him at all times. If some doctor whom he didn't recognize wasn't asking for a blood sample, it was the guards positioned outside his room scuffling with another reporter whom had snuck past initial security. He was not afraid of dying and took this greatly amplified level of attention with spartan detachment.

Then Ashley arrived, and his recent awareness of his own mortality made him afraid of losing her. He was suddenly very afraid of dying. She laid in bed with him for hours, crying while Shepard silently consoled her. Very little discussion took place.

The next day Ashley again remained with Shepard until noon, at which time she was called back to her post. She had been on barracks duty when the news of Shepard's illness came and she abandoned her post. Out of respect, her fellow Marines covered for her and she was not written up. Later on she would ask how they knew she was dating Shepard, receiving only sly grins in response.


Shepard's second guest arrived later on that day. It was Garrus, whom had taken emergency leave from C-Sec. He arrived in uniform and sans the targeting reticule normally worn over his left eye.

"Comm -- err, Captain Shepard. How are you feeling?" Garrus sat down in a chair beside Shepard's bed. Courteous as ever, he waited to be invited in and offered the seat before taking it.

"I'm fine, Garrus, and it's good to see you." Shepard closed the book he was reading and placed it on the nightstand. "What's with the C-Sec uniform? Didn't you tell me you were going to apply for the Spectres and work to clear our 'good name'?"

Garrus winced. He had come today hoping that would not be brought up. Shepard picked up on his nervousness but curiosity urged him to wait for the reply. "Y-yes, I did say that. Certain circumstances have caused me to be permanently barred from applying, however."

"What circumstances? Your record is impeccable. What the hell could have happened that would bar you from candidacy?"

For the first time since he arrived, Garrus's eyes averted from Shepard's. He was truly ashamed. "I lost my temper, Captain. I shot at another candidate. We were on the firing range when he made a comment about using his Spectre authority to kill off 'alien' children without fear of reprisal. He was human and thankfully the only one I've ever met that I didn't think was worth the skin his miserable guts were wrapped in."

Shepard nodded silently. Whether it was a nod of understanding or disappointment was debatable.

"Captain, I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry, Garrus," Shepard chimed. "Give me the name of the recruit and I'll make sure he's removed from the list. You'll be reinstated as well."

Garrus sat ramrod straight and his typically turian mask-of-a-face took on the closest expression to bewilderment as possible. "C-Captain, that's not necessary! It was my fault!"

"Garrus, c'mere. I have another piece of wisdom for you." With a finger, Shepard waved Garrus closer. "Rank has its privileges."


Dr. Liara T'Soni was Shepard's third guest, but she did not appear in person. Her visit came in the form of a video e-mail for two reasons: One, her occupation as a former crackpot Prothean scientist turned reputable and highly-valued Prothean eye-witness made her a commodity. She was currently on Ilos, at the largest archeological dig ever amassed. Needless to say, she could not be at Shepard's bedside.

Second, like many other bits of information relating to Shepard's condition, the cause of it became public. Had he been able to send a reply, he would have told Liara that he did not blame her, but she definitely blamed herself. She was in hysterics during the entire video and only a few muddled words worked their way through her sobbing. The entire event unnerved Shepard more than anything else, because he didn't think asari could cry. It sounded much too human for his tastes.


His last guest was the one Shepard thought he'd see the least. Tali'Zorah Vas Beau entered Shepard's hospital room and hugged him like a daughter who had been separated from her father at an amusement park. Since returning to her people, Tali had been praised as a hero; the quarian equivalent of John Alan Shepard. The information gained on the geth had already opened up several avenues that had never been considered by the Flotilla before. This gave the quarians a second gift from Tali, as valuable as the first: Hope. Hope of one day defeating the geth and reclaiming their home world.

Her pilgrimage over, Tali was officially accepted by the captain of the Beau and left the vessel of her birth behind. Tali'Zorah, who was born aboard the Rayya, was replaced by Tali'Zorah, Crewman of the Beau. She wore her new distinction with pride.

"I'm here to return the favor, Shepard," Tali said gleefully, her voice static-y through the voicemitter of her mirrored environmental mask.

"You're not my subordinate, Tali. You're my friend and my friends don't call me by my last name."

"You're last…? Oh! You mean your first name! Oh…oh dear…I don't think I know it."

Shepard snickered and shook his head. "Shepard is fine."

"Good!" Tali sat up and released her boa-like grip from Shepard's neck. She stood off the bed and skipped to the other end of the room, drawing shut the blinds. She then moved to the door and locked it, giving it one solid tug to ensure that it was secured. Tali then turned around and moved her arms up to disconnect the respirator hoses from her mask. She slipped off her veil and pushed down on a latch separating the back portion of her helmet and her mask, which hissed with a rush of air. Tali then took off her helmet and set it down on the chair at Shepard's bedside, taking a moment to ruffle up her hair.

"Tali…you're a brunette."

Tali smiled and leaned over her friend, her astonishingly long locks shrouding her chalk-white face. "This is the favor, Shepard. My people have recently developed cybernetics capable of rendering us immune to most terrestrial diseases and illness; the first step in the quarian revolution against the geth." Tali's albino-red eyes shimmered like gemstones under the ceiling light. "With your permission and the permission of your medical staff, I have authorization from the Conclave to bring in a team who will perform this surgery on you. With any luck, your body will be able to fight off the cancer by itself. What do you say?"

His mouth flapped wordlessly for a moment. Shepard was simply stunned at this turn of events and unsure of how to respond. Chief concern on his mind was that he would have liked this news one day prior, so he could have used it to ease Ashley's troubled mind. If the procedure was successful, Ashley would no doubt fight with him for months; it was a small price to pay for her eventual forgiveness and a life time of enjoying her company.

Tali was patient and awaiting his reply with an amorous grin.

"Shepard? I know it's a lot to take in all at once but you do need to decide soon. Your cancer isn't getting any better, you know."

Shepard nodded, still muted by surprise. Her voice sounded quite different when not distorted by the machines built into her mask. He swallowed, sighed, then leaned to his right and pushed the nurse call button beside his bed. "Let's get started."