One Show Only (No Encore)

Shepard and Joker and the Alliance. Cross posted to AO3. Thank you very much if you've commented or reviewed!

Chapter 02: Joker

"This is bullshit, Commander," Joker said, spinning the pilot's chair around to face her. His beard was ragged and the shadows under his eyes were deep enough to hide the Normandy. "You just saved the galaxy from Reapers - again- and now you want to turn yourself in to the authorities? We have the Krogan and we have the Geth. Why do we need the Council?"

None of the crew slept well, not since the Collector base. Shepard, who only needed a couple hours each night, post-upgrade, rose to find crew members drinking gallons of tea and coffee no matter the early she left her cabin. Joker was the worst of the lot, catching catnaps in his pilot's chair and leaving a small mountain of dirty coffee mugs in the copilot's seat. It was time for her to let him go, to let them all go. They deserved a rest, and Shepard needed to get the Alliance and the rest of the Council on board the Reaper Defense ship.

"Because the Council," Shepard explained patiently, "has access to resources the Geth and Krogan do not." She leaned back against the copilot's chair. It would be an uphill battle to make the rest of the crew go, but she was not sure even she could convince Joker. Everyone but Joker and Chakwas would understand why they needed to leave, and why Shepard needed to do this.

The Council could mobilize every species in Council space. It would not just be the Turians, Asari, Salarians, and Humans, a formidable on their own. It would also be the Hanar, and the Drell, and the Elcor, and dozens of other races working toward galactic defense. At the most, they had a couple years before the Reapers showed up en mass. Sovereign had been almost unstoppable. A Reaper fetus had almost killed her entire team. The Krogan and Geth were good, but to defeat the Reapers, Shepard needed the entire galaxy. That was something only the Council could get her.

"Uh, I think the Krogan and Geth make a pretty terrifying team," Joker grumbled. "I mean, if I was making a fantasy football team, I would totally pick them." He sighed, though, and Chaya knew it was her point.

"Also, before anything else, I'm an Alliance Soldier," Shepard said. "The Alliance is catching hell for what I did. If I don't turn myself in, it could be war. We cannot afford that. I have a duty to stop that."

"I hate it when you play the 'duty to the Alliance' card. It's so unfair." Joker looked up at the shimmering starscape above them. He bit his lip, and Shepard let him think. After a long moment, he focused on her. "You deserve better than what they're going to give you," he said. "We've spent years trying to convince people about the Reaper threat. It's not like they've ever believed you before. Now you want to try and convince them while you're tried for terrorism?"

"A trial will be public," Shepard said. "Everyone will pay attention to it. The Asari, the Turians, they'll pay attention. The Salarians will dissect everything. Even if their leaders don't, if we can convince enough of their people, we can force this. We can prepare. I have to do this."

Joker glared down at his hands. "Fine," he said. "Then I guess we're turning ourselves into the Alliance."

That was what she had been afraid he would say. "Oh, no," Shepard said. "No, we are not doing anything. I am going to Arcturus. You and the rest of the crew stay and work from the outside. Lean on contacts, report to the Council -"

"Turn myself into the government like a good little soldier." Joker interrupted. "Too bad, ma'am. If that's where you're going, that's where I'm going. The last time I didn't follow you, you died saving me. We aren't doing that again."

"Joker..." Shepard said.

"With all due respect, Commander," Joker said, "You didn't choose this. Cerberus brought you back and you did the best you could. I picked this. The Illusive Man made an offer and I accepted it. If you're duty-bound to turn yourself in, then so am I."

End 02.

Friday: In which gift-giving habits are discussed.

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