Commander John Shepard

The brief moment of white vanished, and instead, as the displays flickered back on, we were looking at the Presidium. Specifically, the elevator up to the Citadel tower, and two Geth standing guard. We crashed right into them, and the Mako rolled over, damage indicators showing that all of the wheels had come loose, while two had just been torn off entirely. Not to mention the engine was absolutely fried.

"Well, any landing you can walk away from," I interrupted myself with a cough. "Is a good one, right? Ugh, come on, let's crawl on out." The back door was jammed, but we managed to open the emergency door that was on the right side. Making us crawl out from underneath the Mako. I noticed that the statue of the Mass Relay was still glowing, but spinning down, going dormant again. Hm, all this time. The others were still climbing their way out.

"You know, people may talk shit about this tank, because it handles like a goddamn drunk Rhino," Kaidan began. "But those people don't yet know it can survive mass relay transit."

"Barely," Garrus grumbled. "There goes all my hard work. Took me a month to get its sights calibrated just right."

"Hmph, so that's what you were doing all the damn time," Wrex remarked. I then allowed myself to get a good look at the Presidium. Large impact holes on the sides and some of the bridges, no sky cars in side. Fires spreading amongst the plants. And… fuck. Dragon's teeth just by the elevator. Occupied by Husks. We readied our weapons and shot them all before they even began lowering. When we neared, and they did, the husks simply fell over. And the Avina terminal was still blathering.

"Anderson! Anderson, you read me?" Nothing. Comms are probably jammed. We got to the elevator, and, somehow, it was still online. The moment we got beyond the Presidium ring, we were provided with a view to the battle outside. The Citadel fleet had been caught by total surprise. The wreckage of several ships, Turian, Asari, Salarian, and even a few Human ships committed to the defense fleet, floated beyond the ward arms. I wasn't seeing many Geth casualties, but I could see the Destiny Ascension appearing to retreat. Likely with the Council aboard. I then saw that the Citadel arms were closing. Come on… faster… faster…

Sovereign, absolutely dwarfing it's Geth escort, appeared through the clouds of the Nebula. Turian ships moved to intercept. Cruisers and Dreadnaughts. Sovereign literally being lit up by all the fire being poured on it. The Reaper didn't stop. The escort took out one of the ships, and another began veering to the side to try and avoid the massive metal Cuttlefish bastard. It wasn't fast enough, and Sovereign impacted it, without even a scratch, looks like, as the Turian ship was utterly destroyed.

"Spirits…" Garrus muttered.

The arms were still closing. And it was too late. They closed just behind him. Sovereign slowed himself down and began opening up his arms to land at the Citadel tower, we strained out necks to look up and try to get a view. We could see his massive arms grabbing hold of the tower, and the, the elevator stopped.

"Make sure your suits are locked, then activate mag boots. We're going out!" I ordered. Once everyone gave me the all clear, I took out my rifle, and shot the elevator glass, shattering it. The glass splintered out and spread into the vacuum. The decompression of the chamber was instant, but the mag boots kept us secure. Carefully, we stepped out onto the side of the tower, reorienting ourselves. Sovereign loomed ahead, making us all feel very, very small. I shook my head to bring my focus back to the task at hand, and led the others off the elevator shaft, which was blocked on our end up ahead, to the maintenance walkway along the side. It led us down partially inside the Citadel Tower structure, still following the elevator shaft.

Thanks to the soundless vacuum of space, we didn't hear another elevator rushing up behind us, and then coming to a sudden stop, and glass shattering, smoke blowing out. I wasn't sure if that was just some accident or not, but Geth stepping out confirmed that it was very much a deliberate act. Fortunately, it was less than a handful of troops, and a rain of gunfire put them down. It was slightly comical seeing the Geth bodies just go limp where they stood, being flown backwards slightly, floating in the 'air' as their mag boots came offline. But returning outside, it was rather eerie that we simply couldn't hear any of it. Not even Sovereign, his legs occasionally moving and pressing against other parts of the tower. A Krogan with a pair of Geth emerged to try and stop us, but Garrus' sniper makes short work of them, and the Geth fell almost just as quickly. We turned a corner to find Geth in the process of fortifying more of the maintenance walkway, the way up to a larger, more open area. Biotics plucked them from where they stood, though it took more out of our biotics to counter the mag boots, so we focused on just using our guns and tech attacks. As we tore through them and found our way at the top of the ramp the Geth were fortifying, we found that there weren't any others waiting. Not here. They wisely used all forces available to try and stop us, rather than a staggered, ineffective buffer.

We followed the path, and we were nearly under the furthest of Sovereign's legs. Really hope he doesn't decide to start mashing us with those. Ahead, a Geth Destroyer began charging at us, but our combined gunfire took him down, but inertia and momentum is a funny thing. While it's lights flickered, he began floating up, but still towards us, forcing us to duck as he soared overhead.

"Fly away, little Bosh'tet," Tali murmured. We turned the corner the Destroyer came from just as a Geth shuttle was coming in. Miraculously, this segment had defense turrets. Three of them.

"Kaidan, Tali, get the closest turrets online. Rest of you, cover me for the furthest," I ordered. Tali and Kaidan immediately began running for their respective turrets, while the rest of us made the most of the time we had before the Geth began descending. I was halfway to mine when the first troop came out from the dropship underbelly, but Garrus, Wrex, and Liara were already shooting. So, I finished my sprint.

"Got it!" Tali called out.

"Mine too!" Kaidan added. I saw as a pair of missiles impacted the shuttle. I opened the control panel. Turned out, for me, it was as simple as giving it my Spectre clearance. I suppose the Citadel's defenses, at least aside from the arms, aren't something he cares about right now. The turret came online and joined the next barrage from the turrets as I helped kill any Geth dropping down. The dropship was smoking now, chunks of armor having been blown off. It was starting to drift slightly. While the next set of missiles ruptured a fuel line, and the dropship detonated in a chain reaction to the drive core, metal shards exploding out in all directions.

"Everyone clear?" I questioned. I got confirmations from the whole team, and we re-grouped, following the path the dropship had been blocking. We were now past Sovereign's leg, technically meaning we were under him. It may well have just been me, but I felt a weight pushing down on me.

Two Krogan and two Geth destroyers tried to stop us. Garrus took down one of the Krogan, while I focused my rifle on the other. The two Destroyers didn't last long under the other's gunfire. But just as those hostiles fell, a Juggernaut and another Destroyer joined the fray, forcing us to the sides of the pathway into cover. No orders were required. Tech attacks fried it's shields, but the Destroyer had its chance to get up close and personal.

"Keelah!" Tali exclaimed, as she fired a blast from her shotgun point blank into its center. Its torso might as well have exploded backwards, as the shotgun just absolutely tore through everything. Needless to say, it killed it, and we returned our focus to the Juggernaut. The bastard collapsing quickly under our focus, and its lack of shields. We turned the next corner, and now it was our turn to deal with turrets. These were Geth turrets that they had set up, not Citadel ones that had been taken over.

"I'll hack one," Tali reassured, getting down in cover as she opened her Omni-tool. The rest of us pushed ahead into what was essentially a trench, which provided decent cover against the turrets, but also made it difficult to shoot at the Geth further along. We were getting to a stand-still.

"Got it!" Tali called out. We looked up to see the closest Geth turret turning around and fire a missile at one of the other two turrets. Then turn slightly more, and fire at the next. Both turrets exploded as the missiles impacted, leaving us clear to move and take down the other Geth, as the turret even turned on them. We had lost some time there, so we ran to make up for it. By the time we reached the end of this sprint, we were well and truly under the Reaper now, but we still had further to go. The walkway continued back down to follow the elevator shaft, and that's when we saw it. Red emergency lights revealing a way back inside. We'd be one floor beneath the Council chambers. I got down, and pulled open the hatch, and we climbed inside, the gravity inside the station righting us up, and leaving us clear to disengage mag boots inside the airlock. We were, unfortunately, forced to let it run its course. We were still right beside the elevator but ran up an adjacent staircase. It was time to end this.

Saren Arterius

If the task at hand were not so crucial, I would have shut off that infernal alarm long ago. But unlike me, unlike organics, Sovereign is not bothered by noise. I heard gunfire, the Geth alerting me to intruders. There's only one man it could possibly be. Just a little more, and I can save them. I can save so many, but most importantly, I can save them. Sovereign will spare them. He will spare me. That was the promise. It's all we have. I felt another surge of pain at my left wrist. Phantom pains, as they're called. A glance was thrown at my left arm, it looked just like that of a Geth now. Not just my hand was replaced by machine, but the entire arm. The procedure was not pleasant. But it didn't stop there. My eyes had been enhanced with cybernetics, as had my mandibles. To make them stronger. The left side of my torso, even. I no longer had a stomach, or a heart. Not my original, at any rate. But mechanical pumps, and a nutrient dispenser that essentially rendered my intestines useless. This was the alliance between organic and machine. My head pulsed with pain, putting me back on task. A punishment for even a temporary loss of focus. It's not a good sign, but… I'm still needed to be fully autonomous, right? The gunfire stopped, and I heard footsteps surging up the staircase behind me. I shut off the display and stepped forward, off the platform onto the Geth hover pad. I waited, long enough to make Shepard and his team hesitate, to begin to move. I primed a grenade, took the pistol from my belt. The hover pad whirred to life and shot up. The moment they came into view, I tossed the grenade. A Human, leading a Turian, a Krogan, an Asari, another human, and even a Quarian. Such an unlikely team. Unfortunately… or… fortunately? My head pulsed with pain again, but Shepard and his crew had all dove to the side, into cover, protected from the blast. Still, I had the elevation, I had the advantage.

"I was afraid you wouldn't make it in time, Shepard," I began. I could see his shoulder armor, the top of his helmet, poking out of cover. Both would make poor targets.

"Had to wipe out a few hundred of your followers, sorry if I kept you waiting, honey," Shepard retorted. Hm, Humans. Keeping a sense of humor, retaining confidence, even at times such as this? Almost admirable.

"You've lost, Shepard. You know that, don't you? In a few minutes, Sovereign will have full control of the Citadel's systems. The relay will open, the Reapers will return," I reminded. Before I could continue, to get to my point, the human spoke up.

"Oh yeah? Wouldn't be too sure about that. Picked up a little gift on Illos. I can kick that Reaper's metal ass right out of the station's systems."

He can? Then, maybe- My head pulsed with pain again. The Cycle cannot be broken. The whispers reminded. The damned whispers. The whispers continued, telling me what to say. I barely even noticed, and I bore no resistance. There was no point.

"You survived our encounter on Virmire, but I've changed since then. Improved. Sovereign has… upgraded me. I'm sure you noticed."

"Yeah that's what I thought you let him do, you fucking idiot," Shepard remarked. No, I can't let him continue. I can't let him speak. I must try to convince him. I can't let him convince me. Their lives depend on it.

"I suppose I should thank you, Shepard. After Virmire, I couldn't stop thinking about what you said about Sovereign manipulating me. About indoctrination. The doubts were eating away at me. Sovereign sensed my hesitation. I was implanted to strengthen my resolve. Now my doubts are gone. I believe in Sovereign completely. I understand that the Reapers need organics. Join us, and Sovereign will find a place for you too," Sovereign offered. Through me.

"If you weren't indoctrinated before on Virmire, you sure as hell are now. You're implanted with Reaper tech for fuck's sake! And just like that, your doubts ate away? Saren, you know goddamn well he's got you now." My mind… it's a mess, a jumble. I can't let him be right.

"The relationship is symbiotic. Organic and machine intertwined. A union of flesh and steel. The strengths of both, the weaknesses of neither. I am a vision of the future, Shepard. The evolution of all organic life. This is our destination. Join Sovereign, and experience a true rebirth!"

"He. Hasn't. Won. Not yet. I can stop him, Saren! Step aside, and the invasion won't happen!" Shepard continued.

"We can't stop it, Shepard! Not forever! You saw the visions, you saw what happened to the Protheans! The Reapers are too powerful!"

"With the element of surprise! By taking control of the Relay network! If we stop that now, if we spend however long it takes for them to get here, preparing for them, knowing they're coming, we stand a chance, Saren! Don't give in! Some part of you must know we can do this! Fight it!"

"I… Maybe… maybe you're right. Maybe there's still a chance for-" the whispers turned to a roar. My head felt like it was going to explode. My body surged with pain, all coming from the implants. I nearly fell to my knees; the pain was so great. I sputtered, losing control. "The implants…" I coughed. "I'm sorry. Sovereign is too strong! It's too late for me…" The pain subsided. There was my absolute confirmation.

I am a slave. And everyone is going to die.

Shepard stood, and dropped his pistol.

"It's not over, Saren. Not yet. You can redeem yourself."

Heh, redemption. I've done too much to ask for redemption. I don't even know if I regret the things I've done. I did them all for Galactic security. But… I know two things I don't regret, even if I regret what I've done to them. My grip tightened around my pistol. I knew what I had to do. I began to raise my pistol, but it was angled upwards, not towards Shepard. But towards my own chin. Sovereign again roared, demanding that I shoot Shepard, that I obey. It hurt. It hurt so much, but I didn't care. I ignored it. It would all be over soon. And, I do this not for me. I do this for two people, people I left behind, but have still kept an eye on for all these years.

"Goodbye, Shepard. Thank you." I placed the barrel of my pistol under my chin.

I'm sorry, I left you. I'm sorry my actions nearly brought about the ruin of all. Including you. Vetra. Sideris. I hope Shepard's actions will save your lives. My daughters, Nyx.

I pulled the trigger, my eyes already closed, and the last thing I saw, was the memory of me holding my baby girls, years apart.

Commander John Shepard

"Jesus fucking Christ," I murmured. I didn't expect that. Saren's body fell back through the glass, shattering it, and his hover pad fell down beside him. I approached the haptic display of the control panel which had appeared, and removed the data disc from my secure pack. I looked for a place to insert it, and a strange pillar rose up to chest level, bearing a slot big enough for the data disc. I inserted it, and the pillar returned back down, and the display turned green rather than orange. Prothean text scrolling across, too fast for me to read. The parts I did see was code. Numbers. Then, all in a moment, it stopped. The screen read: 'Input Command.'

"I got it! I'll get the arms open, and I'll call the Hackett. Open comms," I ordered. 'Communications unscrambled,' scrolled across the screen.

"Shepard, that didn't go through the translators. You just spoke Prothean," Garrus exclaimed.

"Well shit," I muttered, impressed.

"Destiny Ascension. Main drives offline. Kinetic barriers down forty-percent. The Council is on board. I repeat, the Council is on board!" an Asari, likely an officer on the ship, was broadcasting a distress.

"Normandy to the Citadel. Normandy to Commander Shepard. Normandy to anyone, respond!" Joker's voice poked through.

"Joker! I read you! We have control of the Relay network and the Citadel!" I informed.

"What? Never mind, tell me later. We caught that distress call. I'm here in the Andura sector with the Fifth Fleet, but the Relay won't respond. Send us in, we can save the Ascension, take down the Geth fleets," Joker suggested.

"We may need those ships for Sovereign," Wrex murmured.

"Doesn't matter, we have lives to save. I'm opening the relays," I stated. "Unlock relays around the Citadel," I ordered the console. "Open Citadel Arms." 'Relays unlocked. Citadel arms opening.' The console read.

"Relays active! We're coming through!" Joker exclaimed.

"Alliance ships, move in! Save the Destiny Ascension!" Hackett broadcast his orders.

"Display the battle outside the station." The console's display then split in two. One half for orders, the other, a camera feed from the station. Alliance ships moving through the nebula clouds, getting in position. The Destiny Ascension was getting swarmed and coming under heavy fire. I smiled as I saw the Normandy at the head of the Fleet. The nebula must have hidden the fleet from Geth sensors long enough, as they weren't moving to open fire on the Alliance, or even moving. But once ships started firing, bursting through the clouds, then they reacted. Too late. Torpedos and Mass Accelerator rounds, including those from the main guns of Dreadnoughts were impacting Geth ships, carving through them like Paula Deen wielding a hot knife in a room made of butter. Unfortunately, some Geth ships were able to return fire. Two Alliance ships had gone down by the time the exchange was over. Despite how heavily the Citadel fleet had taken a pounding, they had still managed to pick off a significant portion of the Geth fleet. Now, what remained of them, including the Destiny Ascension, were saved, the remainder of the Geth fleet neutralized.

"The Citadel's opening! All ships, move in. Fire on Sovereign," Hackett ordered. I turned to the others.

"We won't have much else to see. Let's… Let's check on him. Make sure the job's done," I ordered. We jumped down, biotics softening the fall, and slowly approached the body. Wrex pulled his pistol out and shot him twice more in the head. Blood had already made quite a pool around him, and the lights from the Reaper tech were dim.

The station began to shake, and electricity filled the air, making my hair stand on end. A bolt of red lightening impacted Saren's body, causing it to convulse violently, the Reaper tech glowing straight back to life. It sounded like Saren was screaming, but his Flesh was burning away, and then, it burst, the shockwave knocking us all back to the wall. The body began to stand. The only thing that remained, were the implants. A metal skeleton, more or less. Long talons, long, spindly arms and legs, a hollow chest, and a metal skull. It roared, and then jumped to the wall like a Geth hopper. We rushed to our feet and opened fire. Something inside his chest was firing small explosive rounds, but fortunately, not that rapid fire, and we could avoid them without too much issue. Odd, however, that this… thing, wasn't leading its shots. He kept hopping around like a mother fucker, and we kept shooting as best we could.

"Sovereign's firing back! One shot just tore through a goddamn cruiser!" An officer in the fleet called out. Shit, we need to fucking end this now. Us, and them. "He's too strong, we have to pull back!"

"Negative! This is our only chance! Take that monster down, no matter the cost!" Hackett ordered. We returned to the task at hand. This thing's shields were strong but faltered under our concentrated fire. I was concerned that even hitting the bastard itself wouldn't do much. But, well, we'd just have to try, won't we? Aim for the head when possible. It jumped again, but some shot must have gotten lucky, as the skull just shattered, and the body flipped, tumbled, ending up on its back, and once more engulfed by the red… energy? It left nothing but ash and scorch marks.

"What… the actual fuck," I muttered. Let's get back up there." We returned to the control panel, using a maintenance door to exit the small garden down here. I figured I'd still need to do something to keep Sovereign at bay.

"The hell? Sovereign's shields are down! He's gone limp, adrift! Now's our chance!" Joker called out. Holy shit. We did it? Did Sovereign put too much power into Saren's body?

"Hit it with everything we've got!" Hackett bellowed.

"Oh yeah!" Joker laughed. "Shit's working! Firing torpedoes!" A moment passed. "Ha! Hell fucking yeah! Killing blow, motherfuckers!" Joker couldn't stop laughing. "Bastard's breaking up like a Piñata!" We started cheering. Laughing. Everything. I looked out at the large window at the back of the Council chambers. Shit. Some of the shrapnel was heading right for us.

"Everyone, jump back down!"

Commander John Shepard

It had been an hour before a rescue team arrived. We were all trapped down in the same garden we fought Saren in. In the maintenance corridor separating the garden we fought Saren's body in, and the rest of the Council chambers. And because of the haste, not all of us landed comfortably. Nothing to really be concerned with. The worst just being a sprained ankle. When they did find us, it was easy, as we were able to broadcast to them. And when the team did arrive to dig us out, pulling away chunks of Reaper, I couldn't help the grin when I saw David at the head of the group. I stood, met the man, and we embraced, just, laughing.

"Damn good work, son. Damn good work. Now, the Normandy isn't far. Chakwas will want to look everyone over, but some people want to speak to you there as well," David began.

"Who?"

"You'll see."

"Secrets, huh? Alright." I turned back to help Tali stand, as she just so happened to have been the one to sprain her ankle on the fall. One of the medics offered to take my place.

"No, no. I got it."

"He's got it," Tali chuckled. I couldn't help but notice Anderson's smirk.

"Guess I won't be getting his head to mount on my wall," Wrex grumbled.

"Sorry big guy. You can get the next big ol' baddie to start fucking up our day, alright?" I offered.

"Damn well better," Wrex chuckled. Tali giggled against me.

"So… you'll be going back to the Fleet?" I asked sadly.

"I…" Tali paused.

"Don't worry about it. I'll… uh… we'll… miss you," I muttered awkwardly, as I almost gave it away, I think.

"Well… maybe… I think maybe I want to stay a little while," Tali revealed. "Just… I don't want to go just yet." I couldn't help but smile.

"I think you just made my day, Ms. Zorah."

"And saving the galaxy didn't?" She asked, likely with a smirk under that mask.

"Bah, that's just a footnote compared to this," I joked. She giggled again, and I think leaned against me more than she was. Not that I was complaining.

"Hand it over, Vakarian," I heard Kaidan whisper behind me.

"Only lost because I'm used to Turians. And they don't normally stumble around like… whatever the hell they are," Garrus whispered back, grumpy.

I thought it better not to ask what they were talking about.

When we arrived back at the ship, walking through the cheering, hooting, and hollering crew, I left Tali in Chakwas care down in the med-bay, and followed Anderson back up to the comm room. Inside, I was surprised to see the Council. And-

"Udina, get the fuck off my ship."

"Comma-"

"Get. The. Fuck. Off. My. Ship. Or I will drag you off of it." It was then I noticed he had a black eye.

"Listen to him, Udina. He'll leave you with more than the black eye I did," Anderson suggested. He began grumbling but walked out and away.

"Commander-" Tevos began.

"Look, honestly, I'm still just as pissed as you three as I am at him. But considering everything else right now, I'll bite, I'll listen. So, just letting you know." The Councilors glanced amongst one another.

"We can certainly understand. We have gathered here to recognize the enormous contributions of the Alliance forces in the war against Sovereign and the Geth," Tevos tried again. Hm, staring off well.

"Many humans lost their lives in the battle to save the Citadel, brave and courageous soldiers who willingly gave their lives so that we, the Council, and what remained of the Citadel fleet, might survive," Valern continued.

"There is no greater sacrifice, and we share your grief over the tragic loss of so many noble men and women," Sparatus added.

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

"Commander, your heroic and selfless actions serve as a symbol of everything humanity and the Alliance stand for," Valern nodded.

"While we cannot bring back the lives of those who sacrificed themselves, we can honor their memories through our actions," Sparatus put in yet another piece.

"The Alliance has shown that it is ready to stand as a defender and protector of the Galaxy. You have proved your worth to join our ranks, and serve beside us on the Citadel Council," Tevos revealed. My eyes went wide. Well, that is big.

"Well, since I kicked Udina off, I suppose I'll do this for him. On behalf of the Alliance, on behalf of Humanity, we are honored by this privilege, and accept."

"Any recommendations to take your seat on the Council will be greatly appreciated, Commander," Tevos added. Well… I glanced at Anderson.

"David, I am so terribly sorry for what I'm about to do here. But… you would make a fantastic Councilor for Humanity and the Alliance. You have the courage to stand up for what you believe in, and the determination to see it through to the end, done to the best of your abilities. And then some." There was one thing I wasn't telling him, not yet. Later, of course, but not in front of the Council. In the coming years, I need a friend on the Council, supporting me. I did have a bit of a rocky start with the Council, after all.

"John?" David asked, surprised.

"Look, even if you turn it down, don't want to accept, I do have one other recommendation. I recommend that Ambassador Donnel Udina be kept as fucking far away from the position as possible. He is absolutely scum, and more likely to serve his own interests more than Humanity's and the Galaxy's."

"I believe it to be an inspired choice," Tevos grinned. "We would welcome you with open arms, should you accept, Captain Anderson." David let out a deep breath.

"I feel like I should wait for Parliament to elect one…"

"Of course. In the end, however, we approve or disapprove the candidate. We shall inform your Parliament that we are willing to appoint you as Human Councilor as soon as possible, they will likely elect and agree quickly," Valern explained.

"Well… if they do elect me, then… I accept."

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Well, here we are guys! But, well, I'm not done with ME1 just yet. One or two more chapters, then a short break, and then ME2. Hope you like the thing I did with Saren, not just making post Virmire where he first appears as half Geth and all that shit. And the little thing of the theory of him being Vetra's dad. Links back to my Andromeda story. Anyways. I fly out for Florida Monday morning, and I'll be there with family for about a month. Fortunately, I'll still have the means to write scenes from in-game, so that won't disrupt schedule. However one week, will be a full family reunion that I won't have that ability, nor will I really want to do writing anyways. That week will be included within my break so long. And don't worry about the next one or two chapters to finish up ME1. As I don't need gameplay to help write them, they won't be hindered. Anyways, just that heads up. I'll still be able to upload on time on Monday. Hope you guys enjoyed, see ya in the next one!