Author's Note: Decided I would finally finish this fan-fiction after all. To be honest, looking back on this particular Fan-Fiction I'm not totally satisfied with it and how it turned out, even after I went back and edited the older chapters. But, I still prefer to finish a story then leave it forever unfinished. So here it is. I hope anyone reading this enjoys it.

Chapter 9: Fraud

Shepard wasn't sure how long everyone rested on the edge of the Seventh Circle and right on the precipice of the Eighth. But he knew it was a long time. Made worse by the fact that, no matter how long everyone rested, it seemed that they regained little if any of their lost strength. Eventually deciding that they could not continue to sit on their hands, Shepard reluctantly gave the order for everyone to prepare to descend to the last two circles of Hell.

"I repeat what I said before: how are we getting down there? I mean I try to be optimistic and all, but none of us are surviving a fall like that."

"I can give you all a lift."

All looked up and saw a large creature that vaguely resembled artistic depictions of dragons, but with the paws and mane of a dragon and, distressingly, the face of a man.

"What the fuck are you supposed to be?" Jack asked.

"My name is Geryon." The beast answered simply. "I can take you down to the Eighth Circle of this Inferno."

"And why would you do that for us?" Shepard asked.

"Because I have no love for this vile place or for its master. Any enemy of Lucifer is an ally of mine. There is someone waiting for you at the Eighth Circle. I have been told by him to take you there."

Shepard considered it, but not for long. Even if this was a trap and Geryon was lying to them, they were going to be fighting more of Hell's monsters either way, so Shepard decided that they might as well allow Geryon to take them down. He was big enough that he could take them down two at a time, and Shepard and Miranda got on first. As they descended, they held each-other tightly for support.

"Shepard..."

"I know, Miranda. We're almost at the end."

When Geryon finally landed, and Shepard and Miranda disembarked, they saw that the archangel from before was waiting for them.

"Hello, again, Shepard. I am pleased that you have made it this far."

"What are you doing here?"

"Saving unjustly damned souls, as you are. We angels have been doing it for as long as Lucifer has held this place. You did not seriously think the Almighty would allow people to suffer here for eternity, did you? No, he has us make forays into this vile place to save who we can. Heaven and Hell have been at war for a very, very, long time, Shepard. I told you before that your coming here had begun something here in the Inferno. I told you that it represented a changing of the guard and so it does. You can break the impasse, Shepard. You can break Lucifer's hold over Hell."

"How do I do that?"

The Archangel walked up to Shepard and placed a hand on him. Suddenly, the two found themselves somewhere else entirely. For a minute, Shepard thought he was back in the void where Lucifer had first made his deal with him after he died. But this place was not a full void; there was solid ground, and air that could be breathed.

"The Devil is not the only one who can access empty pocket dimensions." The Archangel explained. "We cannot stay here long. Just long enough for me to tell you what I must."

"Why does it have to be here?"

"Your friends will each have to go through one of the ten bolgia of the eighth circle by themselves." the archangel explained. "You meanwhile must undertake a different task while they do this."

"And what task is that?"

"When I first appeared before you I tasked you with freeing unjustly damned souls from the Inferno. And this you have done. But I also asked of you an even greater task. I would ask you to depose Lucifer and end his reign over the nine circles and in doing so end the suffering in this place altogether. But I also know that you cannot do this alone. You will need me at your side for when the time comes."

"I get the feeling there's a catch."

"The 'catch' as you put it, is that since the great rebellion in Heaven we angels are expressly forbidden from attempting to supplant Lucifer as the lord of Hell. We may free souls who have been sent here unjustly or who have paid their penance, but we cannot make a power play for the throne, just as demons and fallen angels are forbidden from attempting more strife from on high. Therefore the only recourse is for me to sacrifice who I am. I must bond with you, Shepard, and in so doing create a being that is neither man nor angel, but rather a hybrid that can walk in all realms of creation without hinder." As the Archangel finished his sentence Shepard fell silent. Finally though, he asked a simple, obvious question:

"Why me?"

"In truth Shepard, my choosing you is no coincidence, anymore than your being here has been. Many of us angels choose certain people, certain lineages in fact that we tether ourselves to specifically. We choose to guide and watch over lives we feel a particularly potent connection with without them ever realizing it. And the truth is Shepard that I saw the potential for greatness inside you very near the beginning. When you were faced with the most painful kind of loss and could have easily gone down a darker path from that. But instead you chose nobility, honor, courage, and life. And for this I have always admired you, and it is why I chose to watch over you."

"Have you...been watching over me this entire time?"

The archangel nodded. "Yes. I watched over you and made sure you stayed on the right path, every so often giving you a little nudge in the right direction but for the most part allowing you to do as you would. I used my power in other subtle ways as well, all the while ensuring that you were protected from things that could do you harm."

"But not me getting killed apparently."

"My power is not infallible. There is only so much I can do for you, and also only so much I believe I should do. As I said, you have the potential for such greatness. Potential you have largely realized. It would do that potential a disservice if I was any more of a guiding force in your life than I already am."

Again Shepard fell silent before deciding to ask another question: "Who are you, exactly? What's your name?"

"I have gone by a great many names over the ages. But the one I have always liked the best is Paragon."

"Paragon?"

The archangel nodded. "Yes. I feel it to be an accurate summarizing of my nature and the nature of any true Angel, so I use it in lieu of a more traditional name."

"I see…"

"Time is of the essence now, Shepard. Your friends as we speak will be fighting desperately in each of the ten bolgia. Some of them many not make it."

"They will. I know them all. They're the very best the galaxy has to offer. I'd have been dead again many times over without them."

"Perhaps, but regardless the greater issue remains: Lucifer must be unseated from his position as Hell's ruler. This can only be accomplished if we do as I have suggested. Merge together and become one, neither Paragon nor Shepard, but something much more."

"But...if I merge with you...I won't be me anymore will I?"

"Not entirely, no. Nor will I be myself entirely following the fusion. The being that emerges will have elements of both of our characters but will also have an identity all it's own. And power beyond what either of us possess by ourselves."

"But what about my friends? Everyone I've grown close to. Mordin, Tali, Garrus...you said you've been watching me from the beginning Paragon. You know they're the only family I've got. I don't want to give them up."

"Who you are will live on inside the hybrid" Paragon stressed. "You will not be erased anymore than I will be. You will just be...different. As will I. It is a sacrifice we must make for the greater good."

"I don't know…" Shepard said.

"I can sense more than just fear for your friendships filling your mind. You think of one person in particular. The woman for whom you care deeply."

"I love her." Shepard admitted. "I've loved her ever since I helped her sister on Illium, and I've cared about her before that. I can't lose that love. I wouldn't be able to live without it."

"And you will not lose it." Paragon said resolutely. "You must have faith that all will be well, Shepard. It is what you have done before. It is what you must do now."

Shepard let out a deep sigh but nevertheless nodded. "I know Paragon. I'm just afraid that's all. I was so angry and alone for much of life that even when I found my calling I still didn't feel like I was fully alive. I'm not sure I even felt all that human. But my friends, my crew...Miranda...they all fill that void. And the thought, even the possibility of losing that, terrifies me."

"Your fear is natural and understandable" Paragon said. "It shows that for all of your virtues you are still a person. And that may be what I admire about you the very most."

"...alright. I'll do it."

"Good." Paragon raised one arm. "Take my hand, Shepard."

Shepard breathed in slowly, and shut his eyes.

I love you, Miranda. I wish I could have told you one last time.

Shepard took the hand, and there was a bright flash of light.

Meanwhile, Shepard's squad had at first found the Eighth Circle of Hell relatively unpopulated, at least until they came to a series of ten ditches. Within each one was scores of more condemned, their punishments differing depending on which specific ditch, or "Bolgia", it was. Some were beaten and whipped by demons, some were floundering in sewage and waste, some were thrown into pits, and so on. And it was not just damned souls that filled these ditches, but scores of demons, including more of the Arch-Fiends from before. No sooner did the Demons see them did many begin to leave their posts and swarm out of the Bolgia and towards the squad.

"There's no way we can take them all..." Tali breathed.

"Bah, I'd rather die on my feet." Grunt said challengingly, readying his assault rifle.

The demonic horde continued to surge forwards, some brandishing burning swords, some brandishing whips, some brandishing axes, and a host of other weapons. The moment before the battle between the two was joined in full, a bright column of light erupted between the two sides. A wave of bluish-white energy erupted, sending the front-most Demons flying backwards helplessly and forcing the rest back. When the light faded, standing there with wings outstretched was a figure whose armor was similar to Shepard's N7 armor, but the black parts in silver and the red now blue. Shepard's helmet was now gone, and instead he wore a hood. His visible eyes glowed with a silver-white light.

"Shepard...?" Miranda asked.

"Yes, and no."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Garrus asked.

"Now is not the time." The angelic figure said. "The legions of Hell will soon be upon us again. Now, we must fight. Fight!"

That was sufficient to shake the squad out of their surprise. As the demonic hordes came rushing in again, the fusion of Shepard and Paragon led the charge, using his Angelic blade to cut through demons like wheat. Blasts of intense, Holy Light vaporized others. Hellfire and various weapons all rained down on him, but he endured it all. With him serving as the vanguard, the rest of the squad was able to rally, unleashing what ammunition they still had at the forces of Hell. Demonic monsters fell in droves, and soon the squad was making its way through each of the Bolgia in turn. The further they pushed in, the more they sent the demons scattering in disarray. From the Panderers and Seducers to the Flatters, from the Flatters to those guilty of Simony, from those of guilty of Simony to the False Prophets. Through this again to the Corrupt Politicians. They were halfway through before at last Lucifer's voice roared: "STOP!"

Manifesting before them all, his still immaculate appearance looking completely out of place this deep in Hell, he looked at Shepard's squad and their Angelic savior with contempt. "I will not have you wipe out all of my demons. You've made your point. I see clearly that it takes one such as I to lay you low. So be it. Come down to the lowest circle, then. Go down into that coldest, most desolate part of the Inferno, where I will be waiting for you. Face me if you dare."

And with this challenge, Lucifer vanished, and all of the remaining demons pulled back. For the next half of Fraud they met no further resistance, all other Demons and shades alike shrinking away as the group passed them. None said anything the whole while. All told they were probably far too exhausted by then to talk even if they had had anything to say. All of them had obvious questions regarding Shepard's current state of being, none of them quite realizing that the angelic warrior leading them wasn't really Shepard anymore. He was something else. Which in turn got the angel thinking:

What do we call ourselves now? 'Paragon Shepard' seems a bit too obvious. Kind of a mouthful also.

I am not an egotistical being. We may continue to answer to Shepard.

But we're not Shepard anymore.

Then choose a new name.

The angelic warrior thought about it, and then at last decided: The Redeemer. For that is what we are. We redeem damned souls in this place.

A wise choice of name.

The newly christened Redeemer continued to lead Shepard's Squad through each of the Bolgia, until finally they came to the very end of the Eighth Circle. Everyone could sense it, and what that meant for them all in turn. The very last, final, horrid circle of the Inferno was now upon them, and deep within one final challenge with Hell's Master. Perhaps they should have felt some relief, some satisfaction, even fear. But the truth was, the whole squad felt little beyond a foreboding sense of dread.

"Prepare yourselves." The Redeemer said simply. And with that brief bit of caution, he and Shepard's squad all descended into the last Circle of Hell.