Epilogue: The Wake

The damage to the Citadel was great indeed. Even as the last of the Geth were destroyed, it was apparent that a great many casualties had been sustained. C-Sec had done all that they could to defend the civilians, but they had been facing almost impossible odds from the very start. The Geth had not been the sole cause of the damage, for pieces of Sovereign had been thrown everywhere, not to mention the damage caused by Sovereign's devastating weaponry. Tayseri Ward got hit the hardest; the Dilinaga Concert Hall, named after a famous Asari Matriach, was now reduced to rubble. Later estimates would place total reconstruction of the Citadel at taking anything up to ten years.

As soon as he could do so, after having to fend off various questions by C-Sec officers and UNSC officials, Alan had made his way to the Zakera Ward hospital. The only people he really cared about now would be there, and he hoped and prayed that they were alright. The whole Citadel was lined with refugees and maintenance crews, all working around the clock to restore some semblance of normality to their shattered lives. The looks on their faces made it clear to Alan that they knew nothing would ever be the same again; their illusion of safety and dominance was gone forever, and indeed many seemed rather listless, as if the catastrophe had made expect another attack at any minute.

The hospital itself was full of the injured, and the doctors were pushed to their limits tending to the various trauma victims. The hospital itself still stood, though there were clear blast burns on the outside of the building from plasma weapon impact. Alan worked his way through the corridors, pushing his way past the crowds of the injured, until he found the people he was looking for in Alistair's ward. Bishop, Call and Dorva were all in the word, as was Alistair, now restored to his normal self. Alan beamed at them as he entered.

"Are you guys alright?" he asked.

"Perfectly within operational parameters, Captain," replied Bishop, smiling slightly. He and Alan shook hands firmly, and Alan did the same with Call, who looked more than a little relieved.

"I..." she stammered. "I knew things were going to be dangerous, flying with this crew, but I never expected anything like... This is the first time I've actually feared for my life... I know that sounds stupid, knowing what I am, but..."

"It's okay..." Alan said sympathetically. "It's not stupid at all." He remembered Cortana, an AI that had shown itself perfectly capable of emotion, including paralysing fear, so he knew that he had no right to laugh at Call's reaction to the events. He then turned to Dorva, who stood straight-backed, as if he was in a military parade.

"Shipmaster..." he said, saluting respectfully.

"Ah, forget the formalities," said Alan. "You sail with me long enough, you'll learn that I don't care much for ceremony."

"He's not wrong there..." Alistair said, limping over to the others on crutches. "I've never seen him wear any of that poncy dress uniform malarkey. Mind you, the Fleet Shadow of Fury's never been big on formality."

"How you feeling?" Alan asked, looking relieved to see his First Mate up and about, though he tried his best to stop himself wincing at the sight of his scars, which covered the left side of his face, chest and the whole of his left arm.

"About as well as could be expected," Alistair smirked. "No-one would give me a mirror though. How bad is it?"

"Hell, Alistair, you were always ugly," Alan replied smarmily. "Slap some face-paint on you, and no-one will know the difference."

Alistair started to laugh, but then gave a sharp grunt of pain.

"Oh, please don't make me laugh, Captain," he gasped. "My beak's barely holding together as it is."

There was an awkward silence there, as there was one topic in-particular that Alan knew had to be addressed, but none of them seemed eager to discuss it. In the end, Alan knew that he had to get it out the way with, so he turned to Bishop.

"Did anything happen?" he asked awkwardly.

"I'm standing right here, mate," Alistair said awkwardly. "You don't need a second-hand witness."

"You feel alright talking about it?" Alan asked.

"Not really," Alistair groaned. "I guess I can't avoid it though, can I?" He took a deep breath. "I remember the Thresher Maw... Then I saw myself waking up here, only I wasn't moving myself, like I was in a dream. I saw... I saw myself, hurting people, throwing them against the walls, and there was nothing I could do about it. Sovereign forced me to watch while my body... If you guys hadn't stopped me..." He broke off here, shaking, not wanting to go on.

"It's alright, Alistair," said Dorva. "It wasn't you. You don't have to explain or apologise for anything."

"That's just it though, isn't it?" said Alistair, sounding worried. "Just like Telek, I'm a liability when we come across King Ghidorah or any of his damn minions. Maybe it's better I sit things out now, go somewhere where I'm not gonna hurt anybody..."

"Don't you dare start talking like that," Alan interrupted. "I won't put up with any emo bullshit from my crew." As Alistair looked at him unconvinced, Alan pressed on. "You know, I've been thinking long and hard about what you told me, about when Brooklyn came to you during his Timedance. You want to know why I think he was sent there?"

"He lost a bet with the Phoenix Gate?" Alistair shrugged.

"I think he was sent there to make sure you survived," Alan continued more forcefully. "I don't know why, but I have the feeling we'll find out sooner or later. If some time-hopping buzzard thought you were important enough to save, then there's got to be something in the pipeline for you."

Alistair shook his head in disbelief, though for a moment Alan thought he saw a faint trace of a smile on his beak.

"Has anybody ever told you that you're a complete bloody nutter?" the gargoyle then said.

"More often than you'd think," Alan replied. "It must be true though; I put up with you lot, don't I?"

"And we in turn have to endure you, Captain," Bishop chimed in. "It seems that we all feed on each other's insanity."

"I agree with the Professor's diagnosis," another voice suddenly said from the doorway. Alan spun round to find José leaning on the doorframe. His left arm seemed to have been broken, as it was in a sling, and he had a bandage across his forehead. He peered around at the group, though did his best to avoid Dorva's eyes.

"Well, if it isn't the married one," said Alan, walking up to José. "Don't you have a wife to be seeing to right now?"

"Yeah, about that..." José said rather awkwardly. "You're the only one who's not seen her..."

He beckoned for Alan to follow him down the corridor, and soon both were walking into Rachel's ward. Once there the exhausted-looking but beaming Rachel put a finger to her lips, as she carefully held a small bundle wrapped in a soft blanket. Walking around the bed to get a better look, Alan saw a small face, fast asleep, in the midst of the blanket.

"I don't believe it..." Alan said, incredulously. "She came in the middle of a warzone?"

"Yeah," said Rachel. "I think the noise spooked her out."

"What a way to come into this world," sighed José. "Hope it ain't a sign of things to come."

"Does she have a name?" Alan asked.

"I have one," said Rachel. "I want to call her Inara. My mum talked about her quite often, and I always thought it was a pretty name."

"Don't I get a say in this?" asked José with mock indignation.

"Nope," replied Rachel simply.

"I guess it's Inara then," said Alan, smirking. "Well, I shall personally endeavour to be the weirdest uncle possible. I'll have to see about getting a crib installed on the Serenity."

"Not so fast, Captain..." José said. "Rachel and I have been talking and... well... we won't be going with you, wherever it is you're going next."

"We're going back to Earth," said Rachel. "I can talk to my Uncle Mal; he might be able to set us up with a ranch. Fresh air and wide open spaces is good for a baby, right? Serenity may be a good girl, but probably not when it comes to kids."

"That's alright with you, isn't it, boss?" asked José. "I don't wanna miss any moment of this. You can manage without me, right?"

"Why would I say it's not okay?" Alan said. "You really think I'd drag you away from your daughter?" He shook his head, smiling. "I grew up without my dad for most of my life. He was always away working in one place or another. I don't want that for your girl." He turned to Rachel. "You make sure he stays for you both, even if you have to keep him tied to the sofa."

Rachel chuckled at this, while José looked slightly flustered.

"Hey, boss..." José then said, as if there was something he didn't want to say but knew he had to say. "I hate to say it, but if Dorva hadn't stepped in... I don't know if I'm ready to forgive him yet, but the guy did good."

Alan just nodded. He knew that José would never say such a thing to the Sangheili's face. It looked like Dorva would serve on the Serenity never knowing the full extent of José's gratitude.

"I heard from Kiryuu that there'll be a grand memorial service back on Earth within the next week," Alan said quietly. "It sounds like it'll be taking place close to where the Covenant War Memorial is. Kiryuu's invited us all to attend."

"No sense in not being there," José said. "The doctors want to keep Rachel and Inara in the hospital a couple of days longer, make sure there's nothin' amiss. We'll ride back to Earth with you."

"I'll be glad to get out of here," Rachel chimed in. "Not even aliens can get hospital food right. I've had a craving for fried chicken and didn't get any."

0

A week later, the memorial was erected on a great dusty plain, near the unearthed Portal Cartographer outside New Mombasa. It was a site of great importance to the UNSC military, as on the plain lay the great war memorial commemorating those who had died during the Covenant War. It had made the most sense to erect the new memorial there, dedicating it to all of those who had died in the Battle of the Citadel, honouring the names of those who had fought to save all of the peoples of the galaxy from the Reapers. Lord Terrance Hood was to be buried near his hometown later, in a small private ceremony reserved for his family and close friends, and here his name would also be honoured. The date of the memorial was one cool evening, as the sun began to set, bathing the area in a warm orange light.

Alan had made attempts to smarten himself up for the service, but he found it impossible to find clothes that were especially made for him. He felt like a complete fraud, turning up in his dark shirt and trousers when most everyone around him was in some form of dress uniform. Around him stood Alistair, José, Rachel with the newborn Inara, Bishop, Call and Dorva. In spite of their attempts to make themselves look presentable, none of them could shake the feeling that they stuck out like sore thumbs.

An immense crowd had gathered for the memorial; it seemed as if everyone in the UNSC had turned out to honour their heroes. Many Sangheili had also appeared, among them Otto 'Gamam and Rtas 'Vadum, who were at the front close to the Serenity crew. There were even representatives from the Asari, Salarians and Turians, who had arrived to show their respect for the sacrifice the humans had made saving their lives. Alan had to admit that he was surprised to see the Council there, in mourning with the rest.

Also close to him were the Normandy crew. Kaelyn Shepard, Kaidan Alenko and Garrus Vakarian were all in smart dress uniforms, while Liara T'Soni was wearing a lovely emerald-green evening gown. Tali'Zorah nar Rayya was still in her environment suit, while Urdnot Wrex was now wearing old ceremonial armour that apparently had once belonged to his grandfather. Alan saw Shepard walk from the group and up to the memorial, placing something at the base of it. The memorial itself was made to resemble an O'Neill Cylinder placed on its end; the shape of the Citadel. Each arm was engraved with the names of all of the UNSC servicemen who had died in the battle. Alan was later to learn that Shepard had placed a photo of Ashley Williams there, along with Ashley's grandfather's dog tags, which she had always kept in her cabin.

Telek 'Heros was also present, as were Cujo 'Mentatal, Tulsa 'Durosh and Tom Jimenez. Telek was, oddly enough to Alan, wearing a UNSC dress uniform, even down to the cap with golden laurel leaf fretting decorating the visor. He looked to Alan like a hunchbacked, somewhat gangly human more than a Sangheili warrior. Alan was sure that they were there to honour Mitsu, Wago, Davis and all those from the Fleet Shadow of Fury who were no longer with them. Close to the Shipmasters were three people that Alan recognised to be the three dragons he knew; Malcho, back in his human form, Tim 'Manda' Marx looking like a blond-haired Caucasian man, and Lofwyr Goldensnout as a gaunt-looking German with white hair.

All present listened to Admiral Hackett's speech, although Alan had to admit that he hadn't really been paying attention. He was looking over at Kiryuu, who was off to the side, dressed in his finest suit for the occasion. Alan wondered what was going through Kiryuu's mind at present; was he already thinking of ways to fight the Reapers should they return? Did he share the same fears and doubts that were already flooding Alan's mind? As Hackett announced Kiryuu's turn to take the podium to read the eulogy he had prepared, Alan wondered what it was he was about to say, and what impact his words would have on all present, both human and alien alike.

"Five years ago, we stood here at the end of a war that nearly brought the end of the Human Race," Kiryuu began. "We honoured the fallen then who gave their lives for our very survival. And now, we return again to the barren spot where the Portal opened to the Ark to remember another group of fallen heroes, heroes who gave their lives so that not only humanity survives, but all sentient life continues on. Words cannot begin to express the gratitude I have for these noble men and women.

"We honour especially one man who died at the hands of terrorists, a hero who stood beside me at the end of the Human/Covenant War. His guidance and strength helped as it did my predecessor and his predecessor as well. Fleet Admiral Terrance Hood knew what would eventually happen when he took up the mantle of leadership. When I heard what happened, I was more than angered and saddened to have lost a confidant and a dear friend. He will be missed.

"But now, we lay to rest Lord Hood and many other heroes like him. They have served well in the face of adversity and I hope that they are given no less than full honours. I will say this, though. A battle won does not mean the end to a war. This is only the beginning. We would be doing our fallen heroes a disservice by not acknowledging that. Let their spirits know that we will continue on with the fight against others like Sovereign, and they will rest peacefully."

With that, he bowed his head, his eyes downcast and in deep thought. Telek pulled his cap off and lowered it to his side. Tom did the same. Just as all the officers began to lower their caps, the Marines lifted up their assault rifles for the 3-Volley Salute. The gunfire echoed across the barren hill. Kiryuu stepped down and approached Telek.

"We've lost Jacob, Miranda, Sergeant Johnson, Cortana, and now Terrance as well," he said. "And let's not forget Colonel Davis and your two Shipmasters Mitsu and Wago."

"I guess my time of pullin' off miracles is slowly comin' to an end," said Telek. "My luck is wearing thin."

"Both of our luck is wearing thin," said Kiryuu. "And I'm afraid we are running out of time. You and I both know how the Citadel is going to take this. Even if we've proven that there is a very real threat, they would still shove it off to the side and just stick their collective heads back up their asses."

"What's your point?" Telek asked. "This is somethin' I already know."

"My point is, I need someone out there that can still keep an eye on things," said Kiryuu. "Discretely. And I know you are very capable of doing that if you want to. After all, you were the captain of the nigh-uncatchable Shade of Darkness. I don't doubt that's something beyond your tricks."

"I don't want to risk possession again either," said Telek.

"That's why Dunkelzahn is staying with you," said Kiryuu. "Much like Biollante is a bit of a pain upon that monster, so is Dunkelzahn. Do this favour for me, Telek. And for them..."

He motioned back towards the memorial.

"They need it too," he said.

"I suppose this means you're putting me back on the payroll again," said Telek.

"I could put you on my personal payroll, Admiral," said Kiryuu. "As my very own privateer..."

"You may be rich, but you ain't got the budget to keep my ship up."

"That's why I will do a little persuading to President Mendoza," said Kiryuu. "But you will still answer to me. I am not about to let this go, not ever."

"Alright, then," said Telek. "For them." Then, he leaned in closer to Kiryuu. "Somebody better find me some paint. I'm gonna be needin' to stick Calico Jack's Jolly Roger on my new ship."

"I suppose it wouldn't be a pirate ship without it," said Kiryuu with a slight smile.

"Well, I did borrow it without asking," Telek said. "Much like I did my old ship, and my last ship before that damned Reaper blew a hole through her. Sooner or later, I'm gonna get the Shadow back, but I think I might keep the Wrath as well. Make up for losing Wago's ship and Mitsu's as well and Tom's ship. A supercarrier for one destroyer, one battlecruiser, and an assault carrier; good trade. But it can't replace the souls of those ships. Damn King Ghidorah."

"Telek," said Kiryuu. "Tell me you will do what I ask; you will be my eyes and ears out there."

"Sure," said Telek. "But why not you? Gonna be too busy with the Citadel stuff again?"

"Well..." Kiryuu began. "I..."

"Is there something you wanna tell me?" Telek asked.

"I've had some thoughts..." Kiryuu began. "The battle I went through has brought something up... something I need to figure out."

"Just don't get caught snoopin' like you did last time," said Telek. "I heard what happened with you and C-Sec."

"You should have heard what they did to poor Malcho," said Kiryuu. "Just for being what he is."

"Make those bastards at the Council come to Earth some time," said Telek with a slight grin. "And send them to downtown Seattle. Let's see how long they last in the middle of some Troll and Orc gang war. They'll think twice about thinking humans are a bunch of racist, primitive inbreds, especially seeing what Humanity really is all about."

"Why not send them right now?" asked Kiryuu wryly, jerking his head in the direction of the Councillors stood out of earshot. "They are standing right over there."

"Ah, let 'em hear," shrugged Telek. "Ya think I give a crap what they think of anything now?"

Kiryuu chuckled, shaking his head. He then turned to face the memorial and sighed.

"There will be a funeral service for Terrance in two days, in Washington D.C.," said Kiryuu quietly. "Family and close friends only. I know that he counted you as one or the other; possibly both."

"I wouldn't miss it," said Telek.

"Thank you," said Kiryuu. "We can discuss things further there."

The two shook hands firmly, and Telek walked back to the rest of the Shipmasters. Kiryuu looked around at all the different groups, now irreversibly involved in this affair. Malcho was in deep discussion with Manda and Lofwyr, doubtless relaying his discoveries from the Array, including the truth about the Forerunners. Most of the Normandy crew were leaving, no doubt heading back to the ship. Kaidan lingered a moment to embrace Shepard warmly before leaving to catch up with the others. Alan, meanwhile, was embracing Rachel, saying his farewells to her and José. As he watched he saw them walk away, doubtless to prepare the Serenity for departure. Alan turned and walked over to Kiryuu, Shepard joining them seconds later.

"So, I guess it's really going to happen," said Alan. "I bet the rest of the Reapers are already on their way."

"Perhaps," said Kiryuu. "Now that Sovereign has failed, I am sure they will try to find another way to return. Remember that they are still out in the void between galaxies, further out than even the Ark. Without the Citadel Relay, even at slip-space speeds it would take them at least two years to reach our galaxy. Sovereign's destruction has bought us time, and we must take every advantage that we can."

"We'll find a way, Mr. President," said Shepard bracingly. "You said it yourself during the war; the only thing needed for the enemy to win is for us to do nothing."

"Perhaps," said Kiryuu quietly. "Of course it will not be that simple; if it was, then the Covenant could have been defeated by just one man. All things considered we were extremely lucky against Sovereign. Luck alone will not be enough to stop an entire Reaper armada. We must prepare while we still can."

"I take it that's going to be your project from now on then?" Alan asked.

"That..." muttered Kiryuu. "And a few other things..."

"What is it?" asked Shepard. Kiryuu sighed, running a claw through his dreadlocks.

"There is something else that I must look into," he replied. "When King Ghidorah tried to use my connection to the Array against me, something – I'm not sure exactly what – stopped him. In that moment, I saw something. I am sure that, for the briefest of moments, I peered deeper into the Array than I ever thought possible. There..." He paused, closing his eyes and holding his claws up to his forehead. "Normally I can capture memories, even dreams, perfectly, but this one... It is like trying to hold water in my cupped hands. I cannot stop thinking about it." He looked over at Malcho, who was still in discussions with Manda and Lofwyr. "I must ask them about it."

"Great, another mystery to solve," shrugged Alan. "We seem to be a magnet for them. I'm giving serious thought to renaming my ship the Mystery Machine."

"No, I don't think that would catch on," Shepard chimed in. "I assume you'll be returning to the Fleet Shadow of Fury?"

"I don't think Telek will be sitting on his laurels with the Reapers still out there," replied Alan. "I fancied going private for a while, but I reckon the big face-ache will need my help."

"I understand, Captain," said Shepard. "Shame, really; I liked the idea of having a wingman."

"What, my clapped-out old ship keeping up with the Normandy?" asked Alan. "Now that would be a bloody miracle."

It was then that Captain Anderson approached them, now back in his smart dress uniform.

"Mr. President?" he said. "The Council tell me that they want to speak to you and Commander Shepard."

"After all the trouble we caused them?" Alan asked mockingly. "I suppose they'll be trying to tell us that Sovereign was just a great bid bread-bin."

"I suppose I'll have to get this over with," sighed Kiryuu. "I had hoped to avoid speaking to them again, but now..."

The group followed Anderson closer to the memorial, away from the crowds, where they found the three Councillors waiting for them. There was also the unwelcome presence of Ambassador Udina, whose bruises were starting to fade and who looked very sullen. The five of them stood before the Council; Tevos was facing the monument, her eyes closed, and her mouth forming silent words. Alan wondered if she was saying a prayer for the dead. She turned to face Kiryuu, who regarded the Council coldly.

"Kiryuu Knight," she began. "We know that you have every reason not to like us..."

"Understatement of the century," muttered Alan.

"But we believe that you ought to know that the charges against you have been dropped," Tevos continued. "You have been granted a full pardon, and on behalf of the Council I wish to offer my most sincere apologies."

"We have been studying Vigil's data file supplied by Commander Shepard," said Ikram. "It confirms your account and Councillor Tevos' account from the Array; about Sovereign, about the Reapers, and especially about King Ghidorah and his Cycle of Extinction. It is our hope that with this information we can begin to develop sufficient means of defending our own people from the Reapers."

"I'd like to believe that the Reaper threat died with Sovereign," muttered Valern. "However, something tells me that this is far from the case."

"You assume correctly, Councillor," said Kiryuu frostily.

"I am surprised, however, that you made no mention of them specifically in your speech, Knight," said Valern. "That is very astute of you, and we would prefer to keep it that way."

"You must be joking..." Shepard breathed.

"Officially Sovereign was just a highly-advanced Geth warship that Saren commandeered," said Ikram. "No public acknowledgement will be made of the Reapers from us."

"Governments change," Alan spat, "but the cover-ups always remain the same."

"It is not an ideal situation, Captain Tyler," replied Tevos. "However, it is a necessary measure to-"

"Preserve galactic stability," Kiryuu cut in. "I saw this coming from a mile away."

"Think about it, Knight," said Valern sternly. "I have studied the history of your people. There was a time when they degenerated into mass panic when they mistakenly believed that a Martian invasion was taking place! As much as we like to pretend otherwise our peoples are not that different from humans. If the peoples of this galaxy learned that their days may very well be truly numbered, how do you think they would react? There are certain groups out there that would take advantage of such chaos, including Cerberus. No; it is for the best that we make no announcement of this. Our developments to fight the Reapers must be kept out of sight, at least until we know that we are ready for them."

Kiryuu shook his head. When he looked at the Councillors again, it was with an expression of great disappointment.

"I understand, Councillors," he said coldly. "I do not agree, but I understand."

"Oh dear..." Tevos sighed. "I had hoped we could avoid such unpleasantness, especially when now more than ever we need to stand united."

"Then you should have thought of that before trying to have me arrested," Kiryuu snapped. "Even if you have dropped the charges against me, I shall not be returning to my position as ambassador." At this a nasty sneer played across Udina's face.

"We had hoped to offer you a position on the Council instead..." said Tevos, causing Udina to drop his sneer as quickly as a changing traffic light.

"Come again?" Alan asked.

"That is why we called you here," said Tevos, turning to Shepard in-particular. "We came to this memorial service to recognise the enormous contributions the Alliance made in the war against Sovereign and the Geth."

"Many humans lost their lives in the battle to save the Citadel," said Ikram, waving his hand towards the memorial. "Brave and courageous soldiers who willingly gave their lives so that we, the Council, might live."

"There is no greater sacrifice," said Valern, who for once sounded deeply impressed. "We share your grief over the tragic loss of so many noble men and women."

"The Council also owes you a great personal debt, Commander," said Tevos. "One which we can never repay. You saved not just our lives, but the lives of billions from Sovereign and the Reapers."

"Commander Shepard," said Ikram, "your courage and selflessness have shown to us what humanity, the UNSC, and the entire Orion Alliance stand for."

"And though we cannot bring back those valiant soldiers who gave their lives to save ours," Valern chimed in, "we can honour their memories through our actions."

"Humanity has shown that it is ready to stand as a defender and protector of the galaxy," said Tevos. "You have proved that you are worthy to serve beside our ranks and stand alongside us in the Citadel Council."

"Councillor," Udina suddenly cut in, his tone making Alan want to vomit, "on behalf of humanity and the United Nations Space Command, we thank you for this prestigious honour and humbly accept."

"That is why we hoped you would accept the position, Kiryuu Knight," Tevos suddenly said, prompting Udina to turn as white as a sheet. "We now realise that your actions were in the galaxy's best interest; you had the most selfless of reasons for doing what you did. We need someone like you on this Council, to stand united with us as we seek a way to end the threat of the Reapers."

Kiryuu paused for a moment. Alan thought he had seen a fleeting look of surprise on Kiryuu's face, but he in turn was rather surprised when the mecha shook his head.

"It is a very tempting offer, Councillor," said Kiryuu, "and I am honoured that I was your first choice. However, I am afraid that I must decline."

"What?" asked Shepard incredulously.

"This is the opportunity of a lifetime, Knight!" said Anderson. "Earth needs someone like you on the Council, watching not only our interests but those of the galaxy! I can't think of anyone better-qualified!"

"I am humbled by your vote of confidence, Captain," replied Kiryuu, giving Anderson a small bow. "However, with all due respect, I tire of galactic politics. The incidents over the last two weeks have shown me that I can do more good away from such things. I intend to return to the Utah Foundation, my old company, and continue my work from there."

Alan nodded, looking at Kiryuu with respect. He had the feeling that the Council didn't really want Kiryuu; they just wanted his knowledge of the Reapers. He wondered if, after everything that had happened, the Council no longer ignored Kiryuu; they feared him. He couldn't decide if that was an improvement.

"So you will not help us?" asked Tevos, looking worried.

"I did not say that, Councillor," replied Kiryuu. "I am available for consultation on any matters regarding the Reapers and their creator. If your goal remains the same as mine – that is to say, the preservation and protection of all life in this galaxy from anything that could harm it – then we remain on the same side."

The Council looked very surprised. It seemed none of them had expected anybody to reject a position on the Council. Anybody else would have jumped at the chance. Alan saw Udina smirk slightly at Kiryuu, which made him hate the man all the more; he felt that Kiryuu should have taken the job if only to prevent someone like Udina from doing so.

"We respect your decision, Mr. Knight," Tevos said. "I cannot pretend that I am not disappointed, but I understand."

"That means we will need a list of potential candidates for the human seat on the Council," said Ikram.

"Given all that has happened," Valern suddenly chimed in, "I am sure your recommendation will carry a great deal of weight, Commander Shepard. Do you support any particular candidate?"

Shepard looked rather taken aback at being asked this. It was a big decision, and everyone was now looking at her. After taking a moment to compose herself, she spoke up.

"We need someone with the courage to stand up for what he believes in," she said, turning to look at Anderson. "Someone like Captain Anderson."

"Him?" Udina spat, incredulous. "You must be joking! Anderson prefers to let his fists do the talking!"

"Only with you, Ambassador," replied Anderson. "Only with you."

"Are you sure about this, Commander?" Udina stammered. "The Captain's a soldier, not a politician."

Alan did not doubt that whoever was appointed would be facing a political minefield; the kind that Udina could easily worm his way through. However, after everything the man had done, Alan knew that he would rather see someone more trustworthy in the position.

"That's the point," replied Shepard. "We've already got too many politicians on the Citadel. The Captain would be perfect for this job."

Alan looked at the Councillors. Oddly, none of them objected, even knowing what Anderson had done. Indeed, Valern and Ikram looked positively relieved, while Tevos was actually smiling.

"I think it's an inspired choice," said Tevos. "The Council would welcome him with open arms, should he accept."

"I'm honoured, Councillor," said Anderson. "As humanity's representative, I'll do everything in my power to help the Council rebuild."

Alan noticed that Kiryuu was beaming at Shepard; clearly he felt elated at her decision. He also couldn't help but notice that there was an odd look of sadness in Anderson's eyes, as if he didn't really want the job. However, that to him was a sure sign that he was the right man to do it; there was no ambition to get in the way.

"Sovereign's defeat marks the beginning of a new era," said Valern boldly, "for both humanity and the Council."

Alan and Shepard looked at each other. Both of them knew that this was far from over. They were sure that, in spite of their bluster, it would take time for the Council to accept the facts fully, and they wondered just how seriously the Council was actually taking them. Whatever the case, both knew that they had work to do.

"Let's not go patting ourselves on the back just yet," said Alan.

"Sovereign was only a vanguard," said Shepard. "The Reaper fleet is still coming; hundreds of ships, maybe thousands. I intend to find some way to stop them."

"As do I," said Kiryuu. "I hope that the Council will not waste the opportunity that has been given to them. You are right, Councillor Valern; the threat has not died with Sovereign, but there is still hope if we prepare."

"Now if you'll excuse us," Alan chimed in, "we've got monsters to fight."

With that, the three of them walked away from the Council, each going in their own separate ways. Anderson watched them go, a look of great admiration on his face, before turning back to the Council.

"They're all right," he said, in the strong, commanding voice of a born leader. "Humanity is ready to do its part. United with the Council, we have the strength to overcome any challenge! When the Reapers come, we must stand side by side! We must fight against them as one, and together we will stop them and their creator once and for all!"

THE END