Several people were already occupying the hallway when Tali exited her room. Many were in a daze, overcome by what they had just witnessed. Some were taking longer than others. Only Miranda, Javik, Ashley, Liara, Samara, and Grunt were meandering in the hall. Many doors remained closed. Before Tali walked more than a couple of steps, Garrus stumbled out of his room in front of her. Garrus landed on his hands and knees, breathing heavily. Without hesitation, and with some concern, Tali kneeled down on one knee next to him.

"You need some support?" she asked the shaken Turian.

Garrus' mind was still heaving with the discovery just revealed to him. He had been fine while inside the room, but as soon as he left, the firmness in his legs disappeared. Luckily, Tali's focus and determination were contagious. Some seeped into him and the madness in his eyes melted away. He nodded. Tali put her arm under his and lifted Garrus to his feet.

"Thanks, Tali."

"You'd do the same for me. Come on."

They both made their way down the hallway and those outside of their rooms joined them. They had nothing else to do. As each member joined the moving squad, their eyes confirmed to one another that they too had seen Shepard. That far away, pondering, yet pleasantly surprised look was unambiguous. Well, for everyone except Javik. He was either unfazed or truly lacked facial expressions that the rest could understand.

"Where are we going?" Garrus asked Tali, for she was leading the cohort. "Did Shep- ah, did the Catalyst tell you something we missed?"

Tali was more than happy to regale them with her magnificent tale. She told them of the Catalyst's plan to rebuild Shepard. Most voiced their jubilation.

"But we have no body" Miranda announced. "How is the Catalyst supposed to rebuild Shepard if there is nothing to build on? Bringing him back with a body was hard enough."

Tali breathed in deeply, knowing that her next few words would be the difficult part.

"He will need four bodies."

Then Tali revealed to them the necessary sacrifices required for this to work and that she had to go speak to Hackett about this. As of now, he was the closes thing to a leader for the humans and he should be notified if two of his people were going to die. The words tasted wrong as she spoke them, but she knew it was the only way.

Liara mumbled the now defunct prayer out of habit as she processed the news.

"By the goddess."

"Four souls. Two organic, two synthetic, will be consumed?" Samara asked quietly.

Tali nodded sadly.

This disturbed Samara. She went off into the elevator on her own to think. She had been speaking at length with the Prime about the Geth and she had discovered that they were surprisingly similar to organics. Only a few base molecules were different. Their essences were the same.

"But these people would be volunteers. We are not murdering anyone. Shepard would not want it to be that way" Tali explained as she voiced the rationalizations.

Everyone agreed with that. Grunt didn't care either way, he was more than happy at the thought of saving Shepard's sorry ass. Tali's omnitool came to life and she began typing fervently. She was trying to hack into the Citadel system to find out where Hackett was.

"We have to go to…"

Suddenly, all of the firewalls fell away and the location was presented to her as her digital probe entered the system.

Oh. Right. The Catalyst must have let me in. I forgot that he…it? It now controls the Citadel.

"To the Embassies. Udina's office."

"Well, come on people!" Ashley said with renewed energy. "Let's go tell Hackett!"

The undermanned squad made its way toward the elevator, not wanting to waste any time waiting for everyone else. Thanks to her audio enhancers, Tali was the first to hear the clunking footsteps behind them. She looked back and saw the Geth Prime, whom everyone now just called 'Prime', walking toward one of the Rapid Transit cars. The group would have taken one of those, but there was only room for four and only one car was available. All of her prejudices regarding the Geth were dissolving but some still remained.

What's Prime doing?

The rest of the squad had followed her gaze.

"Hey Prime!" Grunt called out. "We're gonna go pull Shepard's cold, dead ass out of the ground. Wanna come?"

Garrus shot him a look at the insensitivity he showed toward Tali and Shepard, but he saw that Tali did not mind. She was strong again. She didn't need his help anymore. That made him very happy.

"I have been told the plan to resurrect Shepard. I must go and gather two platforms as quickly as I can."

"You've decided that fast?" Liara said, questioning the speed at which he reached the decision to sacrifice two of his people.

"Geth communicate at light speed. We do not have lengthy debates."

"And they're not stupid pyjaks" Grunt declared triumphantly.

Tali was overcome by how generous her former enemy was.

"Prime… I… Thank you. Thank you so much."

Prime turned its singular optic upon the benevolent creator in front of him. The gizmo opened wide, looking almost… content.

"Do not worry about us. Shepard Commander did much to help the Geth. He risked your people to allow the Reaper code to be uploaded into mine. Your efforts to control the Admiralty were barely successful. It would have been easier to wipe us out, but he did not. We owe Shepard our existence. We are willing. This is how it should be."

Before anymore thanks could be lathered upon him like so much oil, Prime entered the car and took off, leaving the gang with their astonishment and gratitude.

How is it that the most synthetic beings in the galaxy act the most like organics should? Garrus wondered to himself.

The still somewhat star struck gaggle of aliens joined Samara in the elevator and headed down to the embassies. In that small, silent container, everyone finally understood what they had witnessed.

I can't take it anymore!

Grunt was the first to broach the tentative subject.

"Did the war go to my head, or did all of that actually happen?"

All at once, the group burst out, even Garrus. They all began speaking at once. Tali had nothing more to say after explaining the plan so she remained quite while she racked her brain for something convincing to say to Hackett.

Grunt began by complimenting Shepard.

"Shepard's skill as a warrior is beyond anything! Even in all of Krogan history! He has made Death his little female varren, and become immortal; not just as words in a story."

Grunt ended his statement with heavy chest pounding.

"His memory has achieved immortality, yes" Javik replied. "This Shepard AI device is powerful, and will ensure Shepard continues to receive the recognition due to him for millennia. It turns out that we do not need your black boxes after all, Liara."

Liara smiled.

"I'm more than happy about that" she said cheerfully.

The mood had decidedly changed. There was always some happiness before they had all met with the Catalyst. Exultation from victory. But there was always that shadow of Shepard's death hanging over them. Now, sunlight was shining through.

"Second thing Shepard does when he wakes up is having that drink I promised him" Garrus said.

Tali knew what the first thing Shepard would do. A grin spread across her features.

While the others were energetic, Samara was very subdued. She was silent in the back of the elevator, head bowed, deep in thought. No one noticed, except the four eyed Prothean.

Looking at Tali, Garrus noticed the change in her even more profoundly. Her body language was confident, poised, ready to do anything.

"You look better, Tali."

Liara joined in the uplifting words. She saw the body language as well and knew what it meant.

"Glad to have you back."

Tali clapped her hands together with her revitalized energy.

"It's good to be back."

The group all smiled at her response and, after what seemed like an eternity, the elevator door finally opened. They all filed out of the elevator, but before the group could go far, the three Councilors and a group of four bodyguards came down the stairwell leading to Hackett's office. Sparatus motioned toward the walking crew and the official retinue aggressively advanced toward them. Grunt sniffed the air.

"I don't like this."

Garrus mentally agreed. He narrowed his eyes at the heavily armed guards and stopped the crew's movement. Tevos stopped her group in kind about seven meters from the group. The two seemed to have drawn up into lines of battle. The crew never had much affinity for the Council. They had done plenty to undermine or hinder their missions and these actions had not gone unnoticed. Not one bit. Tevos was at the head of the triangle the Councilors formed. She spoke first.

"Ah, excellent, most of you are already here."

"We understand that you have all been debriefed by the Catalyst AI." Valern said as he began to divulge their analysis of the situation. "We have been in contact with it as well. We discovered that it had presented a particular plan to you."

"A reckless plan" Tevos cut in. "One that commits war crimes."

The team was dumbfounded. Garrus felt as if his mouth had hit the floor. Grunt shook his head, trying to recover from the verbal head butt he had just received. Miranda cocked her head as she processed these statements, and Liara hung her head in a resigned fashion. Tevos continued.

"This… idea' she spat out "of murdering beings to unnecessarily resurrect a single man is disgusting and shows its origins in an AI's mind. We also cannot allow this decision to be forced upon us by this Catalyst AI. It cannot become the ruler of the galaxy. As the leaders and protectors of the galaxy, we cannot allow this to occur."

Tali clenched her hands into fists as her disbelief at what she was hearing mounted. Liara remained silent as she typed into her omnitool held behind her back. It faded from view, but remained active. Only Javik's eyes, the products of a vastly different evolutionary process, were able to see it.

What's she doing? Spying on your own leaders while being right in front of them? Disgraceful… but so very bold.

The rest of the group was far more vocal in its disapproval.

Miranda had two reasons to disagree. She knew that Shepard was the best leader in the galaxy and she didn't want to see all of her work undone even after Shepard completed his goal. Her words were unsurprisingly similar to the cold analysis that the Shepard AI had presented in her personal debriefing.

"Commander Shepard was the only person able to unify and lead this galaxy. He accomplished this feat far faster and more efficiently than you ever could. During this time of turmoil and reconstruction, he is far more valuable than any four individuals. The payoff of their deaths would far outweigh any imaginary crime we would incur."

"Shepard is not the leader of the galaxy" Tevos barked. "Neither is this AI."

Miranda's mouth twitched at that statement as she gained understanding.

I figured as much.

Grunt slammed his arms together and let out a small roar.

"He was the greatest warrior in the galaxy! He has earned this! If people aren't stupid bastard pyjaks, they will line up for this chance. If they are stupid pyjaks, I'll enjoy breaking their bones 'till they wise up."

Tali placed her hand on Grunt's left arm to calm him. She wanted to return to Shepard's embrace more than anyone but she knew what was over the line.

"No, Grunt. Not that way."

Grunt gazed at his former battlemaster's mate, and after a grunt, he nodded. Ashley took up the torch and continued the argument too quickly for the Councilor to respond.

"The plan never said anything about killing people without their consent. If they give us their permission, humanely killing them for this lofty goal will be fine."

Liara had been as quiet as Samara up to this point, but finally spoke more to the group of friends around her, not the Councilors.

"Asari revere life more than any other race. We live the longest and therefore death robs us of far more than anyone else. The idea of killing people in this way has been culturally imbued in us to be seen as… reprehensible."

"That is absolutely true" Samara called out loudly. "You are all calling for the deaths of innocents! This cannot and will not be allowed."

But volunteers could be OK… Tali thought meekly as the verbal assault escalated. She began rubbing her hands together as the negatives of the plan to bring Shepard back were being emphasized.

"We are not calling for any murders here!" Ashley shot back. "These people would be volunteering!"

With everyone's attention elsewhere, the usually noticeable form of Javik moved off to the side, away from everyone. He remained silent on the issue being disputed. The entire discussion seemed to be an unnecessary waste of time. It is a silly argument between the species of this cycle.

I will have to find a new way to refer to these people now that the cycle has ended. Impudent young undeveloped…

In the meantime, Tevos finally began a rebuttal.

"As always, the Justicar clearly sees the truth in the matter. The fact is, the beings of the galaxy have suffered through unimaginable hardships. They have seen their homes burned around them and their friends and family turned into horrific monsters."

Grunt snickered to himself.

Cowardly squishy aliens.

Samara walked over and joined Tevos, bowing slightly as she spoke.

"If I may Councilor."

"Of course."

That code of hers makes her far too obedient to authority Miranda thought as she grimaced. Even I wasn't that bad with the Illusive Man.

The Justicar nodded and continued Tevos' point.

"Then out of the fog of despair, came Commander Shepard. He saved everyone from complete annihilation. He has been uplifted to the status of a deity to billions of people because of this."

"No one wouldn't jump at this chance to bring their god back" Tevos added. "But only because they are not in their right minds. The trauma of war is still fresh in their minds. They are not thinking clearly. Presenting them with this prospect and carrying it out would be murder due to this mental instability. Given the nature of this mental instability, presenting this prospect is tantamount to murder."

"The murder of innocent beings" Samara put in, eyes a bit more determined and narrowed than usual.

None of the group could adequately respond. Several guffawed angrily or gaped in shock. No one wanted to massacre four people, but no one expected the poison that was in the Asari's words. Miranda raised an eyebrow.

A weak argument if I've ever heard one for that purpose the Councilor tried to hide.

"Varrenshit!"

Everyone turned toward the elevator at the rude intrusion. Wrex stomped toward them and the entire crew followed behind. Confusion swept over Garrus' features.

How do they know what's going on?

Then he saw Liara's fingers dancing around her wrist as if typing. Liara saw his gaze and shrugged her shoulders innocently.

That sly girl. She's been broadcasting this meeting to the rest of the crew. And I thought I was paranoid. She's probably recording it too.

"Commander Shepard was a warrior, Wrex" Sparatus retorted. "He deserves his eternal rest. He would not want to be brought back. You should understand this."

Tali felt like screaming at him.

How can you pretend to know what Shepard would want! You didn't know him! You DON'T know him!

Wrex looked incredulously at the Turian.

"You really have no idea what kind of warriors we Krogan are."

"Not surprised" Grunt growled, leering at the Turian Councilor.

The ever neutral Valern decided to put in his two cents, speaking from Tevos' left side.

"Whether or not we should bring Shepard back is irrelevant. We have more pressing matters to attend to" he said, referring to the ongoing galactic reconstruction. "We cannot divert resources to this project."

Garrus' mandibles looked like they were going to fly off.

How can they be so against the idea of bringing Shepard back!?

Before he could voice his contention, Tali began yelling at the leaders of the galaxy, at first, specifically, at first, at Valern.

'How can you say that?"

She then turned her burning gaze on the entire group opposing Shepard's resurrection.

"How can any of you not even consider the idea!?"

Garrus quickly came to her aid before any verbal attacks were sent her way.

"Shepard saved all of your lives on more than one occasion! The Catalyst agrees that it would be helpful in stabilizing the galaxy if Shepard was here. His life must be considered. You all owe him that much."

Tevos answered this declaration rather flippantly.

"The Commander did his job and we are grateful. We will remember him, but we cannot let imagined debts hold us back. Garrus, there is no life to consider. The Commander is dead and we do not have his body. Accept it and move on."

"You Bosh'tet!" Tali screamed and ran at the seemingly indifferent councilor.

The Asari's eyes widened in shock at the reaction. She was ignorant of Tali's deep emotional relationship with the man she was speaking of. The ever loyal and just Samara jumped in front of the frightened councilor and flared her biotics in anticipation of a strike from the charging Quarian. Zaeed grabbed his pistol off his hip and aimed it at the crouched justicar, ready to protect a member of the crew he had enjoyed serving with. Jack's fingers spread out as blue energy seethed from them as she too prepared an assault. Dr. Chakwas ran in front of the Councilors and held up her hands as if to ward off this dispute. Traynor did the same except on the opposing side. They both wanted to defuse this escalating conflict. Miranda reached for a weapon but Jacob grabbed her hands, keeping them from firing a gun or using biotics. The last thing he wanted was violence here and now. In fact, most of the crew just wanted to prevent violence. The four guards following the Councilors raised their weapons with their fingers on the triggers. Garrus, Wrex, and Grunt responded by removing the safeties from their shotguns now in their hands.

The situation looked grim. With their attention focused elsewhere, no one noticed the loud thuds of metal on metal coming closer at an alarmingly fast rate. Curious, Javik turned his head from the enthralling spectacle toward the sound. He blinked his four beady eyes when he saw the source of the sound but did nothing to interfere. It was not his place, but he did allow a smile to form on his face.

Tali had her eyes glued to the two asari before her as she ran. Tears obscured her vision. She didn't see the large moving object come into her field of vision until it was nearly too late. The sprinting Geth Prime stopped on a dime between the two groups. He stuck his right arm out in front of Tali to stop her. Tali nearly slipped, but was able to slow down enough that she only lightly collided with the mechanical appendage. Prime held its other hand at Samara in the universal sign for stop. Samara looked into its cycloptic optics and nodded. She let her arms fall and relaxed as her biotic power receded from view. The guns remained out and pointed at each part of the opposition.

"Please cease this unnecessary conflict immediately!" the synthetic voice echoed out from the platform.

Sparatus grimaced and his annoyance at this inflammatory debacle reached its peak.

"Finally, someone speaking sense, and it's the Geth no less. Lower your weapons" he ordered his entourage.

The guards looked at each other nervously but lowered their guns. In reciprocation, Garrus signaled. His group lowered their weapons as well… except Zaeed. Kasumi hit him over the head and moved his gun upward at the same time in case he accidentally fired. The experienced mercenary did not, but did not appreciate the smack on the noggin. All he did was glare at the thief, but holstered his weapon. She smiled in return.

I always wanted to take his ego down a peg she happily thought.

The acting Geth ambassador turned its head at Samara.

"Your blind faith in this group of aliens and your code is misplaced in this case. You are not analyzing the situation. Neither are you' he said to the Councilors. 'You cannot rule over the galaxy in such a manner as to control how people use their lives, unless they affect the galactic community. This plan does not affect the galactic community in a deliberate fashion. Living is a choice. Anyone can choose at any time that they no longer wish to live if the outcome is to their satisfaction."

"That's part of the problem" Tevos retorted. "The people would be under intense emotional and mental stress when presented by this issue. They would feel an obligation to Shepard to bring him back based on his recent actions. They have experienced tremendous trauma and are not in the right mind to decide whether or not to throw their lives away."

The Prime was quick to respond. The debate now continued, but with far more civility.

"That is not a problem; that is how an organic mind develops."

The succinct answer baffled the Councilor and the Prime was more than capable to deduce that from her facial expression.

One eyebrow raised, mouth slightly opened. Logical deduction based on previous experiences… Confusion. Additional information obtained from facial scans… Councilor Tevos has not been wholly honest as to the motivations behind her decision to prevent Shepard's return.

"Organic minds are constructed while in embryonic development, but they are never completed. Death merely ceases the neurological construction and maintenance. Each new experience shapes the mind. These are not individual problems compounding atop each other. They represent a new level of understanding or perspective the organics have reached. Surviving the Reaper's onslaught and Shepard's delivery of salvation are irrevocably in the minds of the people. They are under no mental duress, they have merely lived longer than the now dead trillions. They have more experience from which to base their decisions upon. You cannot control the people and force them to deny their nature. Living is a choice. If someone wishes to choose 'No', for whatever reason, as long as they are not diagnosed with a mental disorder, then you have no right to stop them. Every sentient has the right to determine which path to take. My people know that better than any other. Your words 'Accept it, and move on' are quite appropriate. But not for us. For you. Accept the nature of organics and move on."

No one spoke. No one had anything to say. The group that supported resurrecting Shepard had nothing to add to the Prime's speech. They all calmed down and mentally agreed very loudly. Tali smiled under her mask as she saw the fruits of saving the Geth continue to multiply before her eyes. The Councilors and Samara were speechless. The acting Geth ambassador had left no loopholes for them to sneak through and his reasoning was quite convincing. Prime removed its arms from in between the two parties and stood still, its optic shifting between the groups trying to gauge the effect he had on the situation.

After several moments of thought, Samara looked down as if ashamed.

"I'm sorry. You are right. I'm afraid I was overzealous. I was pressing my code upon others, infringing upon their free will. I was wrong."

She turned her apologetic gaze to Tali in particular.

"I'm sorry, Tali. I was not going to harm you but my planning to use my biotics on you to protect the Councilors despite knowing that you meant no true harm is unforgiveable."

Samara knelt and pressed her forehead to her knee in submission. Tali saw this and quickly knelt down in front of her. Tali placed a reassuring hand on Samara's left shoulder.

"It's actually quite easy to forgive. No harm, no foul. We were all out of line."

Samara looked up and a small smile came to her lips.

"Thank you, Tali."

Samara stood up and rejoined her comrades as did the Doc. Only the Councilors were left and they had yet to express how the speech had impacted them.

Sparatus was the first to speak his mind.

I never liked Shepard, but if the Quarian loves him that much, better for him to be alive than gone. I don't care how hard Tevos leans on me.

"Well, if only volunteers are used, I have no problem with it. People can do with their lives as they wish."

"What?" the Asari said as she whipped her head towards him.

Sparatrus stood his ground and met her gaze.

You almost left the galaxy to burn. You have the least right to lead this galaxy. My people fought and died with Shepard to save everyone. He deserves this choice.

Garrus took note of this. Apparently, Tevos was no longer the de facto leader of the Council. The Reaper war had weakened their position and shown them to be cowards until the very last moment. He turned and saw that the Shadow Broker had noticed this change in dynamic as well. She had subtlety moved her omnitool in place so that it could record the Councilors. The usually noncommittal Valern spoke up as well.

"If this plan does not affect galactic reconstruction in any negative way, you may do as you please."

Tevos glared at him as well but he showed the same strength as Sparatus. Tevos looked at the eager faces of the numerous crew members. As her gaze swept along, it softened when she saw the light in their eyes. She knew she could not get her way. She dropped her gaze and sighed.

I'll never be able to stop them now.

"Alright. You can go tell the leader of humanity this news. It seems the Geth already know" she said looking pointedly at the Prime. "You have our permission."

That last statement was an attempt to save face, but it had no real meaning. Javik heard that last statement and became quite confused.

"You intended to stop us?" Javik blurted out.

The Councilors gave him a collective sidelong glance and took their leave, bringing their four guards with them.

With the Councilors and their goons gone, the crew could safely speak their minds. Miranda had come to a similar conclusion that Prime had reached. She voiced her feelings when the elevator doors closed behind the last Councilor guard.

"This doesn't add up. This little excuse of 'protecting lives' is so flimsy a second rate politician could have made it up even if it has a cultural root. No… Tevos must have had political motivations. Shepard is the god of this galaxy, and he could easily usurp their power, even indirectly. He is a liability. Without him, the Council's power is secured. Without Shepard present to make his will known, the Council could even say or do anything it wanted if it could even loosely ground it in their distortion of Shepard's ideals and no one would be around capable of stopping them. By keeping Shepard dead, they would be both preserving and extending their own power base."

"That explains why she was so assertive in reminding us that the Councilors rule the galaxy and nothing else' Jacob explained.

"They would never be able to do that" Ashley called out. "We really know what Shepard would want."

"Tevos holds sway over large sections of the media" Miranda informed her. "We would be a minority. But having lost the support of the two other Councilors, she will not be able to pervert Shepard's ideas for her purposes. Only a unified Council could do that. She knows this. "

"I agree with Miranda's analysis" Javik finally said, breaking his silence.

Miranda nodded in appreciation.

"She won't do anything stupid."

"I'll make sure of it" Liara said menacingly.

With her web of agents and surveillance material, no one doubted her ability to uphold that promise.

"Let's go then" Wrex ordered. "This place reeks of political backstabbing."

The now complete crew moved on from this now silent verbal battlefield, and arrived at Hackett's office.