The world exploded in a blue haze for a moment, and then they were at the Citadel. The mako flew through the air, landed, flipped over a couple times, rolled over some geth, and finally came to a halt upside down.

"Status." Michael began unfastening his harness.

"Ow," came a response from Liara.

The rest started to chime in. "Commander?" Tali's voice quivered just slightly. Michael moved to her side and noted that the quarian's arm was quite definitely broken. Wrex had a good sized piece of shrapnel that had gone through his leg. They got both of them out of the mako and slapped medigel on. The Avina platform was helpfully informing them that the station was under attack, because the attacking geth fleet didn't make that obvious.

"You did good, Tali. We'll get a doctor back to you as soon as possible." Michael patted her uninjured shoulder. "Wrex, I'm sorry, but..."

"Get your ass moving, Shepard." Wrex examined his shotgun. "I'll watch your backs." He glanced at the Avina kiosk that was still informing them they were in danger. Then he shot it.

Michael shook his head and started moving.

#

Kaidan used his biotics to throw a geth back. Shepard and Garrus had dropped their usual competitive banter in favor of just killing geth as quickly as possible. Without a word, they'd assumed positions. Liara moved with Garrus, using her biotics to reinforce him, while he kept a position with Shepard. He put up a barrier while Shepard reloaded.

They got to an elevator, but it didn't take them far before coming to a stop. "We're trapped."

"Bullshit." Shepard hit the control for his helmet. "Suit up, we're going to do this the hard way." He waited until they all had their helmets in place, and blew a hole in the side of the elevator. They started walking up the side of the Citadel.

After shooting another geth, Garrus shrugged. "You just know they are going to add 'vandalism' to the list of charges."

"Yeah." Shepard threw a grenade into an oncoming krogan. "Let's go save their asses anyway."

#

"The station's arms are closing." Liara gestured as the area they were standing jolted slightly.

"Oh, that can't be good." Garrus shook his head.

"No. It's worse than that." Michael pointed up and they all turned to see Sovereign had made it inside before the station sealed. Leaving the Citadel fleet outside. "So much for having backup."

"So it's just us against the giant primordial artificially intelligent space ship." Kaidan sighed.

"Join the Alliance, Hackett said. Preferable to going to prison, Hackett said." Michael reloaded. "It'll be good for you, Hackett said."

#

"Garrus, cover me." Michael started moving towards the turret controls. He saw the telltale shimmer in the air that revealed Kaidan had put up a barrier. As quickly as he could, he hacked the turret controls and set it to fire on the geth dropship. Then he moved to the next.

He heard Garrus curse as a rocket exploded near him. One last turret, and a few moments later the drop ship exploded, forcing them all to dive for cover. "Everyone alive?" He waited a heartbeat as they all checked in. "Then get your asses moving."

#

"The cockroach has docked." Michael glared.

"We're almost to the council chambers." Kaidan sent another geth flying off into space.

"From the sound of things, the fleet isn't doing so well." Garrus touched his radio.

"At least it can't get -"

"Liara, don't you dare say it can't get worse." Michael sniped another geth. "The universe takes remarks like that personally."

#

Saren was in the council chambers. They headed up the stairs towards him. They were only about halfway when Saren tossed a grenade in their direction, forcing them all to dive for cover.

"I was afraid you wouldn't make it in time, Shepard."

"Had to wipe out a few hundred of your followers along the way." Michael readied his sidearm. "Sorry if I kept you waiting."

"You've lost. You know that, don't you? In a few minutes, Sovereign will have full control of all the Citadel's systems. The relay will open. The Reapers will return." Saren waved a hand.

If the man started monologuing, Michael was going to kill him twice. "I'm heading to that master control panel. And you can't stop me."

"You survived our encounter on Virmire. But I've changed since then. Improved. Sovereign has..." There was a strange note in Saren's voice. "Upgraded me."

Well, that was nicely ominous. "Fancy hardware's not going to save you."

"You don't understand, Shepard. There is a place for organics in the new order. The Reapers need men and women of action. People like us." Saren gestured. "Sovereign recognizes your value. You've impressed it. Surrender to the Reapers and you will be spared. Join us and we can find a place for you."

Michael exchanged a disbelieving look with Kaidan, then rolled his eyes. "I'd rather die than live like that."

"Then you will die. And your companions. Everyone you know and love. Everyone you've ever met. Don't you understand? You will all die." Saren's floating platform lifted him higher. "The Reapers can't be stopped. Not by the Protheans. Not by you. The cycle always continues."

What the hell? Why not try diplomacy? "The Reapers don't use organics. They devour and discard them. As soon as the conquest is over, you'll be cast aside."

"I had no choice. You saw the visions. You saw what happened to the Protheans. Surrender or death - there are no other options."

"You could have resisted." His disgust was real now. There were things out there worse than death. Worse than scavenging from dumpsters and sleeping on the street. "You could have fought. Instead, you surrendered. You quit."

"Maybe you're right. Maybe there is still a chance for..." Saren clutched his head. "Unh. The implants..." Saren's floating platform moved drunkenly as Saren clutched at his head. "Sovereign is too strong. I'm sorry. It's too late for me."

Michael rolled out of cover and started up the stairs. "There's still one way to stop this..." He nodded to Saren. "If you've got the guts."

For a moment, Saren just stared back at him. "Goodbye, Shepard. Thank you." Saren laid the barrel of his sidearm against his jaw and fired.

#

Michael worked the console quickly. "Vigil's data file worked. I've got control of all systems."

"Quick." Kaidan nodded. "Open the station's arms. Maybe the fleet can take Sovereign down before he regains control of the station."

"See if you can open a communications channel," Garrus added.

Opening the channel took only a moment. "... the Destiny Ascension. Main drives offline. Kinetic barriers down 40%. The Council is on board. I repeat, the Council is on board."

And then a voice he was actually happy to hear. "Normandy to the Citadel. Normandy to the Citadel. Please tell me that's you, Commander."

"You were expecting someone else?" he asked Joker.

"We caught that distress call, Commander. I'm sitting here in the Andura sector with the entire Arcturus fleet." Well, when Hackett offered backup, he really wasn't kidding. "We can save the Ascension. Just unlock the relays around the Citadel and we'll send the cavalry in."

Garrus shook his head. "Are you really willing to sacrifice human lives to save the Council, Shepard?"

"Commander..." Liara stared at him.

"This is bigger than humanity." Kaidan gestured. "Sovereign's a threat to every organic species in the galaxy."

"This Council must be sacrificed for the greater good. Don't waste your reinforcements. Hold them back until the Citadel's arms open up. Save the human fleet to attack Sovereign."

"What's the order, Commander? Come in now to save the Ascension or hold back?"

Hackett was leading the fleet. If anyone could pull this off, it was the geezer. "Opening the relays now, Joker. We need to save the Ascension."

"I hope you know what you're doing, Shepard." Garrus nodded.

"I'm giving humans the opportunity to kick ass." Michael gestured at the wreckage they'd left behind on their way in. "Fortunately, we're pretty good at it."

#

Hackett's voice came over the communication relay. "Alliance ships move in. Save the Destiny Ascension."

"Commander - we're picking up reinforcements."

"It's the Alliance. Thank the Goddess."

Joker's voice came over a few moments later. "Destiny Ascension, you are all clear. Repeat, you are all clear."

"The Citadel's opening." Hackett's voice came again. "All ships move in. Concentrate on Sovereign."

"They're having fun without us." Michael shook his head. He gestured to Garrus. "Make sure Saren's dead." He looked over the readout. A moment later, he heard the sound of Garrus firing another round.

Kaidan's voice came back up. "He's dead."

Michael was about to suggest they find a good spot to sit and watch the action when the platform started shaking. Red lightning seemed to strike around them. The weird energy slammed into Saren's corpse. The platform collapsed, sending Michael plummeting into the area below just as Saren's corpse exploded in red light.

And then the damn thing got back up.

#

Kaidan threw up a barrier, but almost wasn't sufficient. Shepard barely managed to roll clear of the incoming attack. The thing that had been Saren leaped to the top of the chamber, moving in a way no turian would have been able to manage. It moved again before he could bring his biotics to bear, then leaped at Liara. Garrus only barely managed to pull her out of the way.

As it turned back towards him, Shepard leaped out of his cover and caught hold of the thing, slapping a grenade on it before rolling clear once more. Kaidan immediately ducked in the same direction, wrapping a barrier around them both.

The grenade exploded, and... The thing attacked again. "You've got to be kidding me..." Shepard growled as he brought up his sidearm and started shooting again. He stood, making a target of himself as Garrus repeated his previous attempt with the grenade. Again they all ducked, with the biotics wrapping barriers around themselves and their teammates.

It was still moving. Shepard had to put two more rounds in it before it finally stopped moving and dissolved into component parts.

"Commander, look." Liara pointed.

They all looked up to see the red lightning now tracing around Sovereign. The giant ship was clearly in trouble. It detached from its position and started to fall. Joker's voice could be heard. "Its shields are down. Now's our chance."

"Hit it with everything we've got." Hackett ordered.

The fleet closed in, the Normandy at its head. "Hard on my flank. We're going in."

And then the Normandy put a big hole in Sovereign. Garrus, Liara, Kaidan, and Michael all started cheering as Sovereign exploded.

Right up until they realized the debris was heading right towards them. "Go." Michael ordered, and they all began to run.

#

He regained consciousness to find himself trapped by debris. Garrus was nearby, breathing but still out. Kaidan managed to get to him, and applied medigel. Liara was stirring, and shook her head when he ran the medical scanner over her. There was no sign of Shepard.

Kaidan didn't want to consider what that might mean. He could smell smoke. He shifted position, trying to push some of the debris out of the way with his legs. It didn't budge. Trying it with his biotics just made his growing headache worse. Liara's attempt didn't fare much better.

Garrus woke a couple minutes later. "Status?" He groaned.

"Can't get anyone on comms." Kaidan rubbed the back of his neck. "Shepard must be trapped elsewhere."

"Damn it." Garrus shook his head, and then yelled. "Shepard." There was no response. He tried again. Then he slumped. "Damn it."

Forcing the thought out of his mind took effort. He ran the medical scanner over Garrus again mostly just to give himself something to focus on.

The debris shifted. It shifted again, and then there was light. A man in a citadel security uniform moved some of the debris away. Then he smiled. "Captain Anderson. We've found them. They're in here."

Anderson was there a heartbeat later, helping pull them out. "Take it easy..." He helped Kaidan to his feet. "It's over. You're safe now." He looked around. "Where's the commander? Where's Shepard?"

Kaidan started to shake his head and then... he caught movement out of the corner of his eye. Someone was making their way towards them from the other side of the chamber. He couldn't help but smile when he saw Shepard standing atop part of the rubble that had been Sovereign. He was limping, bleeding, and gloriously alive.

#

"I can't help but notice this isn't a prison cell, Captain." Michael leaned in the doorway as he watched Wrex glare at the doctor tending to Tali. He wasn't sure what they'd given the quarian, but she was doing a rather amusing pantomime of the mako's trip through the mass relay. Complete with sound effects.

"It seems they'd prefer not to make a big fuss by arresting us at this juncture. Considering you're a big hero and all." Anderson shrugged.

"I admit..." Michael turned to see Hackett. "I did sort of want to see you explain why you expected us to believe you'd managed to kidnap a krogan warlord."

"Hadn't thought that far ahead, sir." Michael shrugged.

"The ambassador and the council want to speak with you." Hackett folded his arms. "As soon as possible."

"I think I'd rather go to prison."

"Don't tempt me." Hackett smiled. "Did you really hang up on them?"

"No." Michael rubbed the back of his neck as Hackett continued staring at him. "Maybe. A little. Only a couple times."

"Son, you are so overdue for an ass-kicking..." Hackett turned towards Anderson. "Did you really punch Udina?"

"I, uh..." Anderson sighed. "Yes."

Michael stared. "Captain?"

Hackett just sighed, shook his head, and walked away.

#

"Ambassador. Captain. Commander Shepard." The Asari councilor smiled when they approached. "We have gathered here to recognize the enormous contributions of the Alliance forces in the war against Sovereign and the geth."

"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 - might live."

"There is no greater sacrifice, and 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. 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."

"Your species has an indomitable will, a fierce, savage spirit that will not bend or yield. We used to believe this made humans stubborn, even dangerous."

"But now we understand that these traits are what make you strong. There are dark times head; the Council needs humanity and its strength."

It was a good speech. Michael didn't even nod off once. Udina stepped forward. "As the Alliance ambassador, I accept your offer. Humanity will join its strength to yours. We will take our seat on the Council."

"We will need a list of potential candidates." The salarian nodded.

"Given all that has happened, I am sure your recommendation will carry a great deal of weight, Commander." The asari councilor met his eyes. "Do you support any particular candidate?"

Wait, what? This was something he got a say in? Um... Well. Shit. Uh... He swallowed. "We need someone with the courage to stand up for what he believes in. Someone like Captain Anderson."

"Him?" Udina shook his head. "You must be joking. Anderson prefers to let his fists do the talking."

"Only with you, Ambassador. Only with you." Anderson shrugged as he cemented himself as the optimal candidate. And if he was the Councilor, they wouldn't be able to change their minds about arresting him for helping to steal the Normandy.

"Are you sure about this, Commander?" Udina stared. "The captain is a soldier, not a politician."

Another point in Anderson's favor. "We've already got too many politicians on the Citadel. The captain would be perfect for this job."

The asari councilor nodded. "The shadow of war darkens our future; selecting someone with military experience is a wise choice."

"I'm honored, Councilor." Anderson straightened. "As humanity's representative, I'll do everything in my power to help guide the Council."

"The battle with Sovereign destroyed our illusion of peace and security. Now the galaxy will look to us - the Council - to defend them."

Michael took a deep breath. "Sovereign alone nearly wiped you out. You won't stand a chance if the whole Reaper fleet shows up. Not unless I find some way to stop them." He turned, and left the council chamber to go find his crew.

"Shepard's right." He heard Anderson's voice. "We're on the verge of war with an enemy unlike any the galaxy has ever known; a war for the very survival of all life as we know it. Humanity is ready to do its part. We will not back down. We will not surrender. We will lead you into battle against the Reapers and we will drive them back into dark space."

#

They sat around a makeshift table in the hold of the Normandy, passing around a couple bottles provided by Wrex. "Udina really expected you to pick him as the Councilor?" Garrus's mandibles clicked.

"Yep." Michael nodded. "Tali, got you a souvenir." He tossed her something.

She caught it, and then laughed. "Is this Udina's timepiece?"

"Normally I'd point out stealing is wrong..." Kaidan took a swig. "But since it's Udina we're talking about..."

Joker sighed. "The only real problem is since the Normandy isn't stolen, I have to give it back."

"Who says I was letting you keep it in the first place?" Michael raised an eyebrow as he took a drink.

"You wouldn't have gotten a say. You'd have been in jail."

"To not having to break our commander out of jail." Liara held up the bottle.

"It's almost a shame." Garrus handed the bottle back to Tali. "I had a plan and everything."

"Did this plan involve Wrex eating anyone?" Tali asked.

"Yes." Garrus nodded.

"I like that plan." Wrex downed the rest of a bottle. "Shepard, go get arrested."

"The night is young." Michael took another drink.

"Could always go rob a bank." Kaidan stared down at the bottle. "What is this stuff, anyway?"

"To robbing banks." Tali laughed.

"Where does Udina keep his money?" Joker asked.

"Good question." Michael shrugged. "Maybe best we don't know. We're supposed to be..." He put a hand over his heart. "Symbols of everything humanity represents."

"A bunch of drunks." Garrus gestured.

"I'll drink to that." Joker demonstrated.

Michael looked down at his bottle. "Myself not least, but honour'd of them all; and drunk delight of battle with my peers. I am a part of all that I have met." He lifted the bottle. "To Ashley."

"To Ashley." They all lifted their bottles, and drank.