I never planned a Ch2 for this, but I was sat awake the other day thinking about this story and I had to put pen to paper again. I do not intend on continuing this.
1 month later
The citadel had not changed much in the 468 years that she had been away, people are still using the Reaper station as a grand refugee hub, and there is an unmistakable stink of desperation in the air. As Shepard walks down Memorial Avenue, she notices the many stares that are sent her way. Maybe they stare because her face adorns one of the memorials, or perhaps it is the blatant Reaper technology that courses through her veins and pierces out from under her skin, or maybe people simply recognise her for who she once was. Whatever their reason to stare, Shepard does not care, she knows what she looks like, she knows what she has become in her solitude with the Reapers. She knows she has become more, and sometimes, she knows she has lost her humanity.
Looking around her surroundings, Shepard can see an ever-increasing number of CSEC guards, carrying ever heavier armour, and more powerful weapons, there is no question they are here for her. The Council by now will have developed technology to detect Reaper presence, and she will light up their sensors like a Christmas tree. Seeing a few of the heavily armoured guards approach her cautiously, hands gripping weapons, Shepard points upwards, just as ships start to drop out of a mass relay corridor. If this happened 472 years ago, the Reaper war would never have been won, Nazara would have been victorious. In minutes, 1 million, 468 thousand and 391 Reapers are in the Serpent Nebula, from the small destroyers to the 10km large previously unseen gunships. Even if the Council was at full strength, with all their technological advancements made after the Reaper war, they would never stand a chance. With her time in Memorial Avenue at an end, Shepard approaches one of the guards who is simply sat, looking to the 'sky' and the million-plus strong Reaper armada that should spell his doom. Shepard may be forgotten, but the Reapers place in history is cemented in, their legacy never to be forgotten.
The guards provided Shepard with no resistance, and with permission granted, Shepard was escorted to the Council Tower, where people had chosen to flee to, looking for the Council to provide them with direction. In the Council tower, there is a crowd around the Council as they debate the current issue, but the crowd departs and becomes mute as Shepard approaches, they know what she is, and who she represents. Getting to the podium with the Council, Shepard looks at those who stand above her; the Asari, Krogan, Human, Turian, Volus, Salarian and Hanar representatives. "Creatures of blood and flesh, the Vong has this empire on its knees," Shepard says with deep mechanical undertones to her voice before any of the councillors could speak, "They did not plan on us."
Eventually, it is the Krogan to speak, "I remember you fighting the ones you come with. Now you have their stench. You have fallen far."
Shepard turns to look at the Krogan, Eve is her name. "I am not what you remember." Just as Shepard is about to finish speaking, she quickly raises a hand to the right side of her head and almost screeches, "You will be silent." It is evident to all that the comment is not for the Council or those in attendance. After regaining her exposure, she speaks again, "In just 5 weeks, the Vong will encroach this station, in 9 weeks, there will be no home system that has not been ravaged and its children slaughtered, in a year, most of the species before me will be extinct. Let me free, and we will see no further system is lost to the Vong."
"At what cost?" Comes a request from the Turian Councillor.
"Our lust is unquenchable," Shepard informs, her voice carrying a certain chill to it. "I may not wish to stop with the Vong."
"You can not expect us to make that decision." The Asari representative rebukes.
Shepard looks this Asari in the eyes as she says, "In 5 weeks you will no longer be able to make a decision, your time to act will have perished before you. I offer you the hand of the beast."
Just a short scene, but I think it still lives up to the title. Is it the cost of victory for the Council, or for Shepard?