Shepard felt like a famous rock band had boarded the Normandy. All that anybody on the ship wanted to talk about was the Avengers.

Shepard walked past the mess hall and heard a mighty groan. He leaned through the doorway and saw Zaeed and Jack watching Wrex as he tried to lift Thor's hammer. Thor stood nearby, smiling and with his arms folded. Steve "Captain America" Rogers stood alongside Thor, as Hawkeye and Black Widow sat on a table near Rogers. Black Widow clapped as Hawkeye cheered.

Shepard leaned against the entrance. "Wrex, will you stop trying to pick that thing up?"

The krogan groaned loud enough to shake the entire deck. Zaeed glanced at Thor as he took a sip from a drink. "I'll bet you he fucking hurts himself."

Thor's hearty laugh filled the room. "I've seen bigger try."

Cap frowned at Zaeed. "Language, people!"

Jack furrowed her brow and looked over her shoulder at Cap. "Language? Fuck you."

Zaeed turned back toward the krogan. "I'd watch out, Rogers. She's got a big crush on you."

Jack glared at Zaeed. "Fuck you too."

Cap's face was beet-red as Thor grinned broadly and slapped his shoulder. Shepard walked on. This was definitely going to be fun. As he reached the Engineering deck, he saw Donnelly, Adams and Dr. Chakwas watching as Bruce Banner and Tony Stark tinkered with captured Reaper technology. Stark's friend James Rhodes stood with the Normandy crew members. Along the wall stood five empty Iron Man suits, along with the blue Iron Patriot suit used by Rhodes. Shepard spoke to Dr. Chakwas first. "Keep an on eye on them both. I don't want them getting indoctrinated from that tech."

Stark rotated his chair around toward Shepard. He wore faded denim jeans and a scarlet MIT t-shirt. "No worries, Shep old buddy. I already know how the Reaper tech does that. And how to stop it. That won't be a problem."

Dr. Chakwas and Shepard exchanged a look, and Shepard's eyebrows went up. "You're shitting me."

Rhodes shook his head. "He's not."

"All the same," continued Shepard, "I'm not taking any chances. The last thing we need is for the Reapers to have Iron Man or the Hulk on their side. She'll give you daily exams."

Stark glanced up and raised his voice. "JARVIS, are you and EDI finished updating the Mark 150 suits?"

The voice of a distinguished Englishman spoke over the com line, instead of EDI's familiar voice. "Sir, EDI's calculational abilities are remarkable. We can have the Mark 150 suits prepared for space flight within a day." EDI's feminine voice spoke next. "Thank you, JARVIS, I appreciate the compliment."

"JARVIS, this is Tony. Behave yourself. She's taken, remember?"

Shepard turned and looked toward the empty Iron Man suits. "Stark, between these flying suits and your work ethic, I can see why they call you the Iron Man."

Stark didn't look up. "Thanks Shepard. Most people see only the suit. Pepper and Rhody always saw past that, though. But they're fun to fly."

"I'll bet. Can I have one?"

Stark chuckled. "You sound like Rhody. Yeah, sure, why not. JARVIS, we're going to configure one of those suits for Shepard. Let's add a stealth mode, and let's paint the suit in red, black and white. With an N7 logo on the chest plate."

Shepard could barely contain himself. "I owe you a bottle of ryncol."

"No problem, Shep. On days like this, the work doesn't feel like work."

The Reapers never knew what hit them. Most of the Avengers fought alongside the Alliance ground troops. The monstrous green form of the Hulk leaped into the fray and sent thundering punches that sent a pair of brutes flying. The green beast then pummeled them flat. Banshees and Marauders dropped like flies as they were all struck in the head by the deadly aim of Captain America's shield, Thor's hammer, and the rifles used by Hawkeye and Black Widow. Thor swung his hammer into the ground over and over, sending shockwaves that sent hundreds of husks flying through the air and made them easy prey for the Alliance troops fighting alongside them.

Shepard, Stark and Rhodes flew buzzing circles around a Reaper destroyer. Shepard let out a whoop as the Reaper swung its crimson beam crazily and clumsily in a futile attempt to kill them. It was like a dull brute swinging a club into a swarm of gnats.

Rhodes toggled his com. "Shepard, what are you waiting for? Use your missile already. You've had a clean shot for ten seconds!"

Stark grinned. "Oh, Rhody, let him have his fun. That Reaper's dead meat."

Shepard switched his missile's status to armed. He heard EDI's voice in his headset. "Stark Industries M920 Cain ready for firing. Fire when ready." His eyes narrowed and his heart raced as he focused on the Reaper's beam weapon. He switched his engines to afterburner and swooped in low. Then he let the missile fly and broke away.

The M920 missile struck the Reaper squarely in its beam weapon and exploded in a blinding flash. A chunk of the Reaper blew off in a monstrous cloud of smoke and orange flame. It staggered backward and then fell to the ground in a thundering crash.

Shepard pumped his fist as Stark and Rhody's cheers filled his headset. Stark shouted, "Way to bust him in the chops, Shepard!" Shepard admired the view as he flew once last time over the wrecked Reaper.

"Yeah, baby! Did you guys see that Reaper stumble before he fell? Did you? Somebody should've cut that drunk bastard off!"