"If you have to ask…"

"…I'm just saying, the least they could do is add cheerful music."

The four of them were standing at ease as the elevator ascended to the Tower. Kaidan (now able to travel, at least) to report to the Council personally, Harbinger as evidence of the new threat, Garrus as moral support, and Shepard because she was Shepard.

Kaidan was at that moment shaking his head in response to Garrus' commentary. "They aren't slow enough anymore for that."

"And this particular transit is awkward enough as it is." Shepard added, glancing at the glowing Collector body behind them.

"This conversation is meaningless."

The tone indicated that Harbinger intended to merely mumble that in annoyance, but the fallen Reaper apparently had no grasp of 'indoor voices'.

"It's called banter, get used to it." Garrus told him.

"Clearly this 'banter' is the cause of our defeat. A marvel of a weapon. I am in awe."

"Barely an hour after eviction and he already has a grasp of sarcasm." Kaidan muttered. "I'm not sure if that's funny or terrifying."

The elevator door opened with a soft hiss, revealing a group of armed C-Sec officers, half a dozen in total. At their head was an asari, who held her hand up for the others to stand by when she saw Shepard exiting.

"Commander Shepard?" She asked casually.

"That's correct." Shepard replied.

"Officer Vanno." She nodded over her shoulder. The other officers lowered their weapons reluctantly, keeping a close eye on Harbinger. "You have a way of making a ruckus upon your various returns."

"I've noticed." Shepard remarked. "I take it you're here to ensure the Council's safety?"

"Such as it is." Vanno said. "I didn't expect a Collector, to say the least."

"It's under control." Shepard assured her.

"You can't be too careful with those things, so I hear." Vanno held a gaze on Harbinger for a long moment, then relented slightly. "I'll trust your judgment here, but I'll be around if anything goes awry." She thumbed behind her to a nearby meeting chamber. "They're waiting for you."

The interior of the meeting room gave the impression that the five councilors had been waiting for quite some time. Sparatus was pacing back and forth between two walls constantly, Esheel was checking her omni-tool with blatant disinterest, Ramirez has a drink in one hand and was covering his face with the other, and both Tevos and Wrex were engaged in a quiet conversations in a corner.

It was a testament to the situation that they all snapped to full attention when Shepard entered the room.

Ramirez and Sparatus looked as though they couldn't quite believe what they were seeing. Tevos smiled softly, if perhaps in a colder manner than normal. Esheel looked as though she were calculating her odds of survival. But Shepard only had eyes for one person.

"Shepard?"

"Wrex?"

Light and heavy footfalls alike took them to the center of the room. Shepard stared up at the massive krogan in front of her, and both of them broke into simultaneous wide grins.

"Shepard!"

"Wrex!"

Each put a firm hand on the other's shoulder, savoring the moment five years in the waiting. Within moments, however, they slid back into their formal demeanors, exchanging polite nods.

"Shepard."

"Wrex."

"I must admit…" Sparatus said. "When we sent Major Alenko to the mining facility, I didn't expect this result."

"And not at all an unpleasant one." Tevos added. "I trust you are well, Commander?"

"Well I'm not breaking apart at the seams just yet." Shepard replied, rolling her shoulders for emphasis. "Thanks to our new guest, strangely enough." She indicated Harbinger, who had just then entered the room behind her.

Wrex growled softly, deep in his throat. If he'd had a shotgun, there were no doubts that he would have pulled it. "Tell me that's not what I think it is."

"Ignorance is not a blessing for your kind, despite your desire."

Wrex grunted. "Alright. It's exactly what I think it is. Why is it at your back, Shepard?"

"You might want to sit down for this, Wrex…"

"A trophy, perhaps?" Esheel asked amusedly. "A scientific offering? I'm flattered."

"More like an unwilling ally." Kaidan said.

"Harbinger is…" Shepard began.

"The master of the Reaper fleets?" Sparatus hissed. "What possible…"

"Hey." Ramirez chose that moment to speak up. "Let's let the Commander say her piece. You don't get answers out of asking more questions."

Shepard nodded her appreciation to the human councilor. "We have bigger problems than one Reaper trapped in a collector body right now. We didn't win the war, not entirely. There's a planet in Dark Space that's immune to the Crucible's weaponry. We need him to find it and end this."

"And what does he gain from this?" Tevos asked.

"I desire only my continued existence. As a marginally intelligent sentient being, doubtless you understand the capacity of self-preservation."

"And you just get to walk away?" Wrex' eyes gleamed with malice. "That's not going to happen."

"You have the means and opportunity to destroy me. But in doing so you will allow the return of my brethren and the destruction of your civilization. In this case, you must ask whether you are willing to sacrifice your organic 'morals'…or your lives."

"Self-assured little son-of-a-varren, aren't you?" Wrex growled.

"Yes." Harbinger said simply. "My logic is absolute, and-"

"Beyond our comprehension, we know." Garrus cut in. "Order out of chaos, cannot stop the cycle, all that crap. Give it a rest."

Shepard held up a hand. "Whether we like it or not, councilors, he's the key to ending the Reaper threat permanently."

"How can we be certain of this?" Sparatus asked. "I have my doubts as to whether this…thing is entirely truthful."

"If I recall correctly, Councilor, 'doubts' don't have a very good track record with us." She punctuated 'doubts' with a dramatized motion of air-quotes using her fingers.

It was fortunate that Wrex' back was turned at that moment, because he was unable to hide his smile at that. Ramirez, still at the back of the room, had put a hand over his face to hide his expression, but his shoulders were shaking. Even Tevos smirked somewhat. Sparatus himself merely looked somewhat resigned. "Are you ever-"

"Going to let you live that down?" Shepard smiled apologetically. "Probably not."

"His point stands, however." Esheel reminded them, turning back to her omni-tool was barely masked indifference.

"Do I trust him?" Shepard asked. "Not in the least. But I can at least count on the struggle to live. Even Reapers have that."

"I do not trust him either." Sparatus said. "But I do trust your judgment. You have done the impossible before. This is merely another mission for you."

"Which brings us to another order of business." Ramirez motioned to his colleagues, who tapped their omni-tools in near unison (though Esheel did not looked pleased to do so). "It goes without saying that despite reports of your death, you are still a Spectre, Commander."

"In addition, we are reassigning Major Alenko to assist your mission in whatever capacity he deems necessary." Tevos added. "I trust this will not be a problem?"

"Not at all, councilor." Shepard and Kaidan replied.

"Now that our official business is concluded, I will be on my way." Esheel said. "Inform Dr. Solus that I will-"

"He's not here." Shepard said. "He asked us to put him on Tuchanka en route. We obliged."

"I see." The salarian scowled heavily at Wrex, who met her gaze unflinchingly. "I suppose I shall have to contact him directly, then."

"Don't pull him off of his projects." Wrex warned. "We agreed that he was under my payroll until the end of this month."

"Be that as it may," Esheel said with a small smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Some things are simply more important, councilor."

She walked brusquely past Shepard and closed the door behind her.

Tevos was the first to speak. "Sparatus and I have matters to attend to as well. Walk softly, Shepard."

"And make sure you always have a thermal clip." Sparatus finished, nodding.

"That went well." Wrex mumbled after they had left. "Thought I was going to have to headbutt the newt. But that might have caused a 'diplomatic incident'."

Shepard chuckled at that. "Glad to see the Wrex I remember is still under the suit. But…damn. I go out for two years, and you're the leader of clan Urdnot. I leave for another few months, you nearly rule Tuchanka. Five more years, and you're on the Council. I had better not go under again, or I'll wake up with you in charge of the universe."

"That'd be something to see." Wrex grunted. "First order of business would be to space that salarian."

"You and Esheel don't get along, then?" Shepard asked.

"She's the worst example of her kind that I've ever seen." Wrex growled. "What Saren was to the turians, she is to the salarians. But worse, because I can't just shoot her."

He glanced over at where the politician in question had sat until recently. "She's probably got every inch of this room bugged, too. Good. Let her hear. I can rest easy knowing she can't touch me at least as much as I can't touch her."

"You're not worried about assassins or anything?" Garrus asked.

Wrex laughed. "Assassins on a krogan. You're an equal in combat, Garrus, you tell me - would you be worried?"

Garrus shrugged. "Not really, no. And I can't even regenerate."

"I seem to recall you two bickering more often." Shepard said thoughtfully.

"That was before Palaven." Wrex pointed out with a grin. "Now every turian feels like they owe me their ass on a plate."

"No need to overstate anything." Garrus said sarcastically.

"It's better than being 'filthy barbarians'." Wrex said. "I'll take it."

Shepard motioned to a nearby couch, where she, Garrus and Wrex moved to sit comfortably. Harbinger stared silently out a window, and Kaidan was having a quiet conversation with Ramirez.

"What have you been up to, Wrex?" Shepard asked.

"Trying to keep the peace around here." He said. "I'm starting to get better at it than Tevos. The…irony doesn't escape me."

"That's because everyone's afraid of you." Garrus pointed out.

"Better they be afraid and listen than look at their knees all day." Wrex grunted.

"I got a glimpse of Tuchanka on the way over." Shepard commented. "It looks like…well, nothing like itself."

"Amazing what a couple billion krogan can do if we're actually working together." Wrex said. "Led to our third celebration day, too. The first arboretum we built was like a krogan Unification. I don't usually eat green, but I have to admit, a salad tastes damn good when it comes from the homeworld."

"First?" Shepard asked. "What are the other two days?"

"Celebrating the end of the genophage and the defeat of the Reapers." Wrex glared at Harbinger. "Well. The first defeat. We call those The Day of Solus and Shepard's Remembrance."

"Nice play on words for the first one." Garrus remarked.

"Hmm?" Wrex thought it over and frowned. "Damn it, you're right. Too late to change it now, though. You always have to spoil things, don't you?"

Garrus laughed. "From 'equal in combat' to 'always spoiling things' in less than five minutes. Amazing."

"I don't know, I don't mind being spoiled." Shepard said thoughtfully.

"Ugh." Wrex made a show of moving further down his end of the couch. "Glad this thing is wide. You two drooling all over each other would ruin my suit."

"You're right." Garrus nodded. "Blood, sweat, and tears would look better on it."

Wrex snorted. "Don't I wish."

"Hate to break up the party, all…" Ramirez had finished his conversation with Kaidan and was now in front of them, holding a data pad. "But I do have a request from Admiral Norran." At Shepard's look of bemusement, he elaborated. "Hackett's replacement."

"Let me guess." Wrex said. "Odd jobs across the galaxy that the Alliance can't solve?"

Ramirez nodded. "Pretty much. It's just a forward, though. You're not new to the Spectre thing, Shepard, you know the drill about Alliance Command and their orders."

"You mean how I could tell them to screw off if I wanted to?" Shepard asked, taking the pad. "But what would I do with my free time?"

"Go see a vid, maybe." Kaidan shrugged. "They came out with a few Blasto sequels while you were gone."

"Hmph." Wrex growled. "Ended the last one on a cliffhanger. Bastards. Now I have to wait a year to see how he kicks that Ascendant in the quad."

"Ascendant?" Shepard asked.

"Biotic hanar." Garrus explained. "Relatively new. Apparently they're the hanar equivalent of Justicars, but with more focus on Prothean emulation."

"Huh." Shepard leaned forward, clasping her hands together in thought. "I'm not sure whether to be relieved that the galaxy is back to Blasto levels of normal, or worried that even the hanar have Justicars now."

"As if the super assassins weren't bad enough, right?" Ramirez shook his head. "Good thing they're on our side."

Shepard's omni-tool chose that moment to vibrate softly, indicating that she had received a message. She sighed. "I'm sure you have matters to attend to, Councilors. I should take this."

"Of course, Commander." Ramirez nodded.

"See you around, Shepard." Wrex nodded. "I still owe you a ryncol or five. Double that if you decide on something more like crap than a drink."

"I'll keep that in mind." Shepard stood up, making her way out. Kaidan, Garrus and Harbinger fell in step as she checked the message.

Spaceport.

-M

She sighed.

Miranda was waiting impatiently when the four of them arrived, instantly recognizable even in a different, less conspicuous outfit than her norm (for which Shepard was slightly grateful). Jack, who with a full head of hair looked mildly normal, was paying more attention to the galaxy news coverage nearby than who was coming and going.

To avoid a panic of the station, Shepard had asked Garrus to take Harbinger back to the Normandy as quietly as possible. With permission to shoot the Reaper should it attempt an escape. Only one of them was displeased with that.

Miranda nodded when she saw Shepard and Kaidan, and motioned to an empty seat next to her.

"Going so soon?" Shepard asked when she had settled.

"It's nothing against your company, Shepard." Miranda assured her. "If it were just me, I'd stay on as long as you need me. But I work faster alone, here. And taking down Cerberus comes before everything else."

"Even a potential Reaper invasion?" Shepard quirked a brow.

Miranda smiled. "The galaxy is in good hands as it is. And this way I can keep them off your back somewhat. They might go after the Normandy if they discover what happened. I'm going to keep that from happening."

"If there's anyone I want keeping Big Brother's eye off my back, it's you, Miranda." Shepard offered a hand, but was not displeased when Miranda embraced her instead.

"I'll do what I can. Keep yourself safe, Shepard. The galaxy needs you."

"You too, Miranda."

She watched as the lone wolf stood and disappeared into the crowd. Jack soon took her seat, leaning back casually.

"Touchy feely stuff over with?" She asked.

"Looks like." Shepard said. "You're not going?"

"Eh, she said she'd keep me posted if she found any more outposts she needed help with." Jack shrugged noncommittally. "She'll probably page you, too, if it's something big. Besides, I've been away from the kids too long as it is. I'll come back, find out none of them can lift so much as an empty can anymore."

"I've seen how your methods work out, Jack." Shepard said. "They'll be ready and waiting for you, same as always."

"True facts." Jack chuckled. "I caught Rodriguez on a vid link a while back, she told me about her experience with a tank during a pirate raid. Shredded it. Just one of those times when you know it's working out. I live for that."

"Admit it." Shepard smiled wryly. "You shed a tear of pride over that one."

"Maybe." Jack said coolly. "I'm more worried about you, Shepard. We've been through this whole thing before, it didn't end pretty."

"At least this time I know what to expect." Shepard said. "You can't get much more prepared."

"Sometimes being prepared isn't enough." Jack said.

"Wise words, Jack?" Shepard asked. "Your job is getting to you."

Jack laughed. "You know you love it. Just be glad I'm not spouting weird-ass jumbled sentences that sound only vaguely like advice."

Shepard groaned. "That would be too much. I'm already living in a bad science fiction vid as it is."

"It might be like that for you, but everyone else reads your side of the Reaper War histories like the damn Bible." Jack pointed out.

"Oh fantastic." Shepard mumbled. "Religious comparisons. The best part being if I inspire a cult, I'll probably be the one called to talk them down."

"Look on the bright side, Shepard." Kaidan said. "At least you can't be worse than Major Kyle."

"I'm better than a certifiable, disillusioned Torfan veteran." Shepard shot him a look. "Thanks, Kaidan."

"No problem, Commander." He replied.

"Wish I could stick around." Jack said wistfully. "Sounds like you're in for a hell of a ride."

"Don't I know it." Shepard said, her gaze shifting to the crowd of the spaceport.

For a moment, she thought she saw a familiar set of turian eyes looking back at her.

When she looked again, they were gone.

[Author's Note: Inevitably some people are going to read this and think 'Wow, the council are accepting this plan readily'. So I'll put this out now. The last three times the Council told Shepard to screw off, it almost caused galactic annihilation, and they know it. Even they aren't collectively stupid enough to go for a fourth. Thus, the high level of trust.

Oh, and hey! New chapter! Enjoy!]