p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"They walked me to Huerta, where Chakwas met us. She did the exam and prescribed me a medication for pain. I took the first pill gratefully./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"Kaidan looked up as I stepped into the waiting room, relief clear on his face. He bolted to his feet, rushing to meet me halfway./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Relax." I laughed, standing still under his inspection, his hands patting me down before going to either side of my face./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""I thought you were-" He swallowed hard. "Are you okay?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""I'm fine. Just a few broken ribs and a tender hip. I'm emfine."/em I covered his hands with mine, intertwining our fingers./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"His forehead gently touched mine, his eyes closing. "Thank God."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"I squeezed his hands. "How are you? The others? Where are they?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Everyone's fine. Just some minor cuts and scrapes." He pulled back a bit to look at me again. "They're waiting in Udina's office, for word."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Word about what?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""You."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Oh." I shook my head, rolling my eyes. "They couldn't have waited elsewhere? I'm sure he doesn't want them in his hair."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""He offered. The Council wants to meet with you, so he suggested his office."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Guess we shouldn't keep them waiting."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Shepard, I-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"I pressed my lips to his for a few seconds. "I know. But everything worked out. No casualties, right? He wasn't lying?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""He wasn't lying. You... You're incredible."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""I try." A shit-eating grin./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"He pulled me slightly toward him, giving me a deeper kiss./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""I don't suppose I can stop you from doing things like that in the future?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Not a chance." My tone was kind, to soften the words. "Besides, it always works out. Now." I stepped back, shifting so I was holding one of his hands. "Let's not keep the Council waiting."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"We walked in comfortable silence, holding hands until we reached Udina's office. Before either of us could open the door, the Councilors approached. The asari motioned for me to follow, Kaidan coming with me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"Once we were around the corner, they faced us./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Shepard." The asari Councilor nodded./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Councilors." I returned the gesture./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""The Council owes you a great personal debt, Shepard. One we can never repay. By defeating Sovereign, you have saved billions of lives. You have the courage of your convictions and a ruthless determination to succeed. Through your actions, you have become a symbol of everything humanity represents."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"The turian spoke up next. "Your species has indomitable will, a fierce, savage spirit that will not bend or yield. We used to believe this made humans stubborn, even dangerous."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""But now, we understand that these traits are what make you strong." The salarian Councilor picked it up. "There are dark times ahead; the Council needs humanity and its strength."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"They were... I exchanged glances with Kaidan. They were asking for humanity to join the Council./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""We will need a list of potential candidates." They continued./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"The asari gestured toward me. "Given all that has happened, I am sure your recommendation will carry a great deal of weight, Shepard. Do you support any particular candidate?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"And now it was clear why they'd led me away from Udina./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"They didn't want him to overhear this./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"I thought for a few minutes, weighing the pros and cons for several people I knew that would potentially do well in the position./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Captain Anderson." I said, surprising everyone present. "We need someone who isn't a politician, who won't take bribes or do things unethically, simply because they can. And, no offense to Udina, but I know he's done both." I tapped my omni-tool with my free hand./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"With that, they nodded to me, I nodded to them, and they passed us. Heading to Udina's office. A few seconds later, my team walked down the hall the way we'd come, Liara saying she wanted to check on me, since they hadn't heard anything from Kaidan yet./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Hey, guys." I raised my free hand, giving a sheepish smile./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"She squealed and ran at me, grabbing me up in a hug. I hissed in pain, but allowed it to happen./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Oh! Oh, no! I'm sorry!" She pulled back, eyes wide. "How are you? What did Chakwas say?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""I'm fine. A few broken ribs and a tender hip, but that's it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Your hip?" She tilted her head./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Ah, I dislocated it, and put it back in place, during the incident. So, the muscles and tendons are just out of whack, is all. It'll be okay in a few days." I waved it off./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""That's... You act like this is all normal for you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""That's because it is."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"I whirled around, throwing myself at the new voice./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"Nihlus was up and about, the bastard, and hadn't given me a heads up./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""You're awake!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""You're surprisingly still alive."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"We shared a laugh. I pulled back to get a good look at him. Perfectly fine, except for the beginnings of a scar on his forehead. No doubt sporting a matching one on the back, as well./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""I hear you've been getting a lot done." He shook his head. "Saren?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""He's dead." I frowned. "I got through to him, but the only way out that he saw was to kill himself. After that, he became this weird... twisted thing. A warped version of himself. Probably a result of all the things Sovereign did to him. We killed that thing, too. And Sovereign, a Reaper, like what I've talked to you about before, is dead, too."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""But there'll be more, right?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Yeah." I pointed at his omni-tool. "I stayed linked to yours, so you can read at your leisure. It's got all of my reports. The personal notes I've made. Everything."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Good. I'll get caught up when I get the chance."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Oh, and they all know."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"He blinked, looking around at everyone. "Really."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""I know. I don't know what happened." I shrugged helplessly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"His eyes came back to me, a glint to them I'd missed. He was proud of me. "We have to catch up, just the two of us. When you have time."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Well," I looked into the future. "I'll have time tomorrow. And later, in a few weeks, after my ribs have healed, we'll be out taking care of pockets of geth. You're free to join us, if you want."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Sounds like a plan."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""But right now, I've got plans." I reached back and grabbed Kaidan's hand. "I'm starving. Catch you all later."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"The two of us walked away, leaving everyone to gossip behind us./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"Kaidan looked up as I stepped into the waiting room, relief clear on his face. He bolted to his feet, rushing to meet me halfway./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Relax." I laughed, standing still under his inspection, his hands patting me down before going to either side of my face./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""I thought you were-" He swallowed hard. "Are you okay?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""I'm fine. Just a few broken ribs and a tender hip. I'm emfine."/em I covered his hands with mine, intertwining our fingers./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"His forehead gently touched mine, his eyes closing. "Thank God."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"I squeezed his hands. "How are you? The others? Where are they?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Everyone's fine. Just some minor cuts and scrapes." He pulled back a bit to look at me again. "They're waiting in Udina's office, for word."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Word about what?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""You."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Oh." I shook my head, rolling my eyes. "They couldn't have waited elsewhere? I'm sure he doesn't want them in his hair."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""He offered. The Council wants to meet with you, so he suggested his office."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Guess we shouldn't keep them waiting."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Shepard, I-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"I pressed my lips to his for a few seconds. "I know. But everything worked out. No casualties, right? He wasn't lying?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""He wasn't lying. You... You're incredible."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""I try." A shit-eating grin./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"He pulled me slightly toward him, giving me a deeper kiss./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""I don't suppose I can stop you from doing things like that in the future?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Not a chance." My tone was kind, to soften the words. "Besides, it always works out. Now." I stepped back, shifting so I was holding one of his hands. "Let's not keep the Council waiting."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"We walked in comfortable silence, holding hands until we reached Udina's office. Before either of us could open the door, the Councilors approached. The asari motioned for me to follow, Kaidan coming with me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"Once we were around the corner, they faced us./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Shepard." The asari Councilor nodded./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Councilors." I returned the gesture./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""The Council owes you a great personal debt, Shepard. One we can never repay. By defeating Sovereign, you have saved billions of lives. You have the courage of your convictions and a ruthless determination to succeed. Through your actions, you have become a symbol of everything humanity represents."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"The turian spoke up next. "Your species has indomitable will, a fierce, savage spirit that will not bend or yield. We used to believe this made humans stubborn, even dangerous."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""But now, we understand that these traits are what make you strong." The salarian Councilor picked it up. "There are dark times ahead; the Council needs humanity and its strength."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"They were... I exchanged glances with Kaidan. They were asking for humanity to join the Council./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""We will need a list of potential candidates." They continued./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"The asari gestured toward me. "Given all that has happened, I am sure your recommendation will carry a great deal of weight, Shepard. Do you support any particular candidate?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"And now it was clear why they'd led me away from Udina./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"They didn't want him to overhear this./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"I thought for a few minutes, weighing the pros and cons for several people I knew that would potentially do well in the position./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Captain Anderson." I said, surprising everyone present. "We need someone who isn't a politician, who won't take bribes or do things unethically, simply because they can. And, no offense to Udina, but I know he's done both." I tapped my omni-tool with my free hand./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"With that, they nodded to me, I nodded to them, and they passed us. Heading to Udina's office. A few seconds later, my team walked down the hall the way we'd come, Liara saying she wanted to check on me, since they hadn't heard anything from Kaidan yet./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Hey, guys." I raised my free hand, giving a sheepish smile./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"She squealed and ran at me, grabbing me up in a hug. I hissed in pain, but allowed it to happen./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Oh! Oh, no! I'm sorry!" She pulled back, eyes wide. "How are you? What did Chakwas say?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""I'm fine. A few broken ribs and a tender hip, but that's it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Your hip?" She tilted her head./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Ah, I dislocated it, and put it back in place, during the incident. So, the muscles and tendons are just out of whack, is all. It'll be okay in a few days." I waved it off./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""That's... You act like this is all normal for you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""That's because it is."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"I whirled around, throwing myself at the new voice./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"Nihlus was up and about, the bastard, and hadn't given me a heads up./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""You're awake!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""You're surprisingly still alive."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"We shared a laugh. I pulled back to get a good look at him. Perfectly fine, except for the beginnings of a scar on his forehead. No doubt sporting a matching one on the back, as well./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""I hear you've been getting a lot done." He shook his head. "Saren?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""He's dead." I frowned. "I got through to him, but the only way out that he saw was to kill himself. After that, he became this weird... twisted thing. A warped version of himself. Probably a result of all the things Sovereign did to him. We killed that thing, too. And Sovereign, a Reaper, like what I've talked to you about before, is dead, too."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""But there'll be more, right?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Yeah." I pointed at his omni-tool. "I stayed linked to yours, so you can read at your leisure. It's got all of my reports. The personal notes I've made. Everything."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Good. I'll get caught up when I get the chance."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Oh, and they all know."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"He blinked, looking around at everyone. "Really."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""I know. I don't know what happened." I shrugged helplessly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"His eyes came back to me, a glint to them I'd missed. He was proud of me. "We have to catch up, just the two of us. When you have time."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Well," I looked into the future. "I'll have time tomorrow. And later, in a few weeks, after my ribs have healed, we'll be out taking care of pockets of geth. You're free to join us, if you want."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""Sounds like a plan."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;""But right now, I've got plans." I reached back and grabbed Kaidan's hand. "I'm starving. Catch you all later."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: SulatKamayRegular; color: windowtext;"The two of us walked away, leaving everyone to gossip behind us./span/p
