36.
With the Geth disposed off along and around the council chambers that just left Saren, but when they got to the walkway he wasn't there.
"Mother fuckers got away again!"
Both Wrex and Cass turned astonished glances at Liara as the curse exited her mouth.
"What? You think Aria has the monopoly on Asari swearing?" Liara scowled.
"No" Wrex shook his head, "Just not from you Li" He shrugged.
"He's here" Cassie said with certainty and motioned with her hands to send Wrex and Liara either side of her.
She was right, and it took a split second for them to dive out the way before the grenade he hurled as he rose on his hover board exploded. Wrex held Liara close to him and shot a concerned look at Shepard who signalled she was OK.
"Good, but not good enough" Saren smugly announced.
"It's over dick weed" Cassie yelled at him "One way or another you are not leaving here a free man"
Saren shook his head "You don't get it Cassandra, do you? Not really and I didn't, not fully until now. The Reapers are unstoppable"
"What are you talking about!" She scowled.
"We cannot hope to beat them, they have lived far longer than any organic race, they destroyed the Protheans and they were the pinnacle of evolutionary power. Think Shepard, they destroyed the greatest Civilisation we know about, we would be nothing but piss water to them"
"What and you think this is the answer? How many innocent people have died for your devotion Saren? How much Turian blood, Asari, Salarian and Human, even Krogan blood have been spilled for your mad schemes?"
Saren uttered a dry laugh, "After our little chat on Virmire I saw what you were saying had truth. Eventually Sovereign would have gained total control over me, and I made my decision. Man and machine in perfect symbiotic harmony, all the strengths of both, none of the weakness. Think about it Shepard! We would all be immortal"
Cassie got up and stood facing Saren, in slow disbelief she shook her head "You allowed yourself to be indoctrinated? Are you mad! You stupid fucking moron, there is no symbiotic relationship, you have just sold your soul to become its servant, and in doing so you have betrayed all that you swore to uphold"
"Its a new world order Shepard, the crew of the Normandy, you, would all be welcome"
"You killed your own brother for this exact same reason Saren...oh I read the file on my way to Ilos. Your brother was doing the same thing you are advocating, but he turned not just humans into husks but Turians into something more...despicable, robbed them of their souls and what made them individual. Here you are Saren, doing what your brother did all those years ago. You sicken me, and you are a traitor, a slave and a traitor and you will have a traitors death"
Saren cocked his head a little, her words hitting home briefly, His older brother, creating those travesties of his people that he called Marauders. He thought about doing the honourable thing, but as quickly as the thought approached it vanished, Sovereign reasserted his dominance and whatever humanity was left within Saren was gone.
He let some sort of roar go and moved his hover-board over Wrex and Liara ready to decimate the barrier Lira erected. Cassie, using the balcony as leverage launched herself into the air and came down on Sarens back hard. She pressed her advantage punching him several times, taking some punches back that would leave some nasty bruises.
She pulled his head and planted a head butt square and centre "NOW WREX" she yelled,
Wrex aimed his pistol and shot Saren through the back. Cassie jumped down as the Hover board spiralled out of control and Saren fell through the glass, the shards penetrating what was left of his organic body.
"We have to get those arms open" Liara said with a degree of urgency.
Shepard put Virgils' disk in and watched as the Citadels arms opened.
They listened as the distress signal from the Destiny Ascension came through. Wrex argued that they should leave the Destiny Ascension to die, despite Teevos there would still be a current of mistrust towards humans and that was a feeling he knew well.
Liara looked at him as Joker told them he was with the fifth fleet and they could save the Destiny Ascension.
"How can you say that Wrex! That would be murder disguised as war"
"No Liara, its called being practical, we know these bastards will come back and you don't sacrifice all your pieces to save a queen" He looked at her then Shepard "I guarantee that once this is over, any promises made will be swept under the carpet"
"You cant do this Shepard, this is bigger than humanity, leave them to die then the council races will hate and fear humanity more then they already do"
Cassie raised her hand and listened to her ear piece. She was listening to a message that her omni tool had picked up, one that she was not supposed to hear. She made her decision and thanked the lords of battle for that little cross wire interruption.
"Joker, bring the fifth fleet in, give the Destiny Ascension time to escape then hit Sovereign"
"Roger that Commander. Fifth fleet on me,"
"This is Admiral Hackett, rescue the Destiny Ascension then hit that bastard with all we have, no matter the cost"
"Thank you Cassandra" Liara breathed.
"I hope they remember this Cass" Wrex was all too painfully aware of the way the council worked
"So do I Wrex. Make sure that bastard is dead"
"Cass, why didn't you take the shot" Wrex wanted to know.
"I made you a promise Wrex" She looked at him with a weary smile "I keep my promises"
He leant forward and kissed her head then headed down as Liara put a shot through Sarens head to make sure "He's dead"
Outside the Fifth Fleet came in guns blazing clearing a path for the Destiny Ascension and seeing her damage made Joker realise how close she had come to total destruction. "Destiny Ascension, this is the SRV Normandy, you are clear to leave, repeat clear to leave, Fifth Fleet on me, lets deal with that bastard"
Joker, a man that eschewed command now made for a commanding presence on the bridge. Chakwas had medical bay up and running and as they made their way towards the giant Reaper it was certainly needed.
Adams was yelling at his crew to make sure the Normandy's engines ran smooth and that her weapons were primed, as Joker took her through manoeuvrings no other pilot could manage ever Adams muttered something about the kid being a show off but secretly toasted his friends unique flying skills.
Pressley sat in the co-pilots chair and his jaw fell as Alliance ship after alliance ship fell to the high powered beams that came from Sovereigns impressive and terrifying array of weapons. Any call for retreat was discounted as Hackett disavowed the request.
"Its up to us now, hit that fucker with everything we have no matter the cost"
Joker saw and opening and took the Normandy up then into a curve and finally a swan dive, weapons blazing, with the other frigates that were with him and finally blew the Reaper to hell.
Cassie, Wrex and Liara, recovering after Saren had returned to life and started fighting them again until they finally finished it. As the Reaper died, what was left of Saren melted away into ash and Cassie glanced up to see debris falling towards the chamber.
"MOVE MOVE MOVE!"
One of the arms came through the windows and brought the final destruction to the chambers and then there was silence.