Shepard:

Shepard punched the table, "This is insane, how the hell do they take me off this case? How the hell do they just brush off a threat this big? How do they-"

A hand fell on Shepard shoulder as he was cut off by Tali, "We get it Shepard, you're pissed. So are we but there is no use taking it out on the table."

Anderson sat back in his chair and held his hand in a way that offered help, "Look Shepard, there is a way that you can get out of here. Ambassador Udina put the hold on your ship. That means he can call it off. Likewise, my rank can get me to the release controls and I can get you out of here."

"So, which one are you going to do", Shepard asked with a worried tone.

"I can do either, but while sending a message from Udina's terminal is safer, the control is faster. Which do you think I should do?"

Shepard bit his lip, "What's your opinion Tali? Liara?"

Liara spoke first, "Safety should never be sacrificed for speed. If Anderson is at risk at all of injury then he should go to Udina's office."

Tali cut in right as Liara finished, "We don't have time to sit around and wait for a document to be notarized and carried out. The faster we get to Saren, the less chance there will be of him seriously damaging the Citadel. If Anderson can get the job done, then he should do it the fast way."

Shepard ran a hand through his hair and made the call, "Go to Udina's office and send the message."

Anderson stood up and nodded, "Will do, you better get to your ship and be ready."

Shepard stood as well, "Alright, and if you see that slimy cock sucker Udina, make sure to give him a good blow to the head."

Anderson and Shepard gave a bro clasp, "I'll make sure to sign it from humanities finest."

Shepard gave a nod and then turned to leave, "Let's move!"

The three took off as fast as they could back to the Normandy and threw Joker into a panic as they entered, "What the shit? What's going on?"

Shepard pointed toward the back of the ship, "Liara, Tali, tell the crew to be ready at any moment."

Tali took two steps before turning around, "Wait, why don't you announce it over the comm.?"

"Attention crew, we will be making an immediate jump at any moment. Be prepared for any moment."

"Thank you Joker", Shepard said as Tali walked away smugly.

Joker began setting his consoles for travel, "So, how did you clear it with the council?"

"Let's just say that the choice caught Udina by surprise", Shepard said with a smirk.

Joker finished setting his console and turned back around to Shepard, "So we are completely defying the council and Udina is the one being screwed over to do it, got it. So, when are we going to get the-", Joker was cut off by a bing from the message console.

Shepard grabbed Joker's chair and pointed at the icon, "That's the signal, let's get moving!"

Joker spun around and moved quickly detaching the gear that held the ship in place and reversing into the vacume of space. Once the ship had cleared the plasma barrier, Joker did a one-hundred-and-eighty degree turn and rocketed off. They had just cleared the arms of the Citadel when the Destiny Ascension began moving in on them.

Joker pointed over at the Navigation chair, "Shepard, the navigator was left on the Citadel. Can you plot a course around the Destiny Ascension?"

Gritting his teeth, Shepard jumped in the navigation seat and tried quickly to take in the controls. After that he figured the speed and direction of the Ascension, Shepard plotted a course that clipped right under the Ascension's left wing. That left it all up to Joker.

"Nice course Shepard, my grandmother always said that wings were meant to be protective."

Shepard clenched his fist and slammed it on the wall to his right, "You wanted a course right? This is the only one that would allow us to successfully bypass the ships turrets."

"Alright, switching to manual control", Joker then turned on the coom, "Attention crew, secure all belongings. We are going to pull a McFlander maneuver; this will cause extreme G-forces. Engineering, watch the temperature levels. Alert me when we need to vent."

Shepard grabbed his seat and belted in, "Alright Joker, if you kill me, I will beat you so much in heaven it might as well be hell."

"Just remember, it will be your fault that we died. You set the course."

Shepard gripped the seat tighter and gritted his teeth, "I don't make mistakes, I'm a Spectre."

Joker gunned the engines and flew down Shepard's flight path, "Ha, tell me when that phrase can e taken literally. I will bust my ass to become the second human Spectre."

Shepard looked out the window and saw the Ascension coming in fast, "Yeah, you actually have to be able to kick ass without breaking your foot in the process to become a Spectre."

The ship pitched and began to curve along the wing slowly. Shepard watched as the bridge came closer and closer to the wing but managed to stop just inches away from even grazing the ship. Joker had managed to perfectly travel along Shepard's flight path without veering out too far.

Joker switched it to auto pilot after passing the wing and set the destination for the widow system mass relay, "I may not be able to kick ass but I can keep it within the lines."

Shepard just stood up and gave the seat a pat, "That was amazing, I am going to head down to my room and check how much trouble we are in."

Joker just chuckled and said, "You know, if all else fails you chance use the 'I'm a spectre, I don't make mistakes' talk."

Shepard just pointed at Joker, "Don't make me pat you on the back."

Tali:

Tali put her arms up and shifted from right to left popping her back in the process, "Break time."

She immediately turned around and gave a wave to Engineer Adams and then pointed for the door. He looked to the door and then gave Tali a thumbs up seeing that she was leaving. She then turned on her heels and took off through the door into the cargo bay.

The tone of the cargo bay was drastically different from the engineering bay. Everyone was moping and there was an aura that was radiating from Wrex's crates. Garrus just sat hunched over his console not even moving his eyes from the holographic display. Ashley on the other hand was completely antsy and ready to move at any moment.

Tali had never truly even talked to Ashley, nor did she really care about her until Virmire. Then again, Ty single handedly made Shepard choose between her and another human being. Tali couldn't imagine picking between two people to get something to eat. To hold the power over life and death, that was a power nobody wants.

Tali decided that maybe just to say something to her would give her some comfort and Tali made her way over to Ashley, "Hey Ashley, how a-"

Ashley turned her head and cut Tali off before she could finish, "-about you and me go up to the comm. Room and talk for a little bit? Good idea Tali", Ashely grabbed Tali's hand and pulled her over to the elevator quickly.

Tali followed Ashley blindly but once they were in the elevator she gave a tug to pull her hand back but Ashley had a firm grip on her. Her eyes moved from the wrist to Ashley's jaw which was grinding on, her eyes were blinking very frequently, she was swallowing almost every couple seconds, and she just kept on fidgeting.

Letting all possible outcomes run through her mind, Tali decided the best course of action was to follow Ashley and see what was up. She just came to this conclusion right as the elevator opened and Ashley took off pulling her along like someone pulls a disobedient dog. They had just got to the comm room when Ashley broke away and began talking like a mad woman.

"I just don't know what to think, Shepard chose me over a higher ranking officer. Along with that we have been establishing sexual relations and Shepard may have picked me because we have confessed feelings for each other. I could be court marshaled and thrown away from a very long time. Shepard could be court marshaled and thrown away for a very long time. I have no idea what to do, should I turn myself in, keep quiet, or turn Shepard in? Tali, I really need some help and you are the only person I feel I can trust with this information. Can you give me any advice whatsoever?"

Tali was taken aback by What Ashley was asking and thought about what she was going to say for two good, long, awkward minutes before finding all the right words, "Ashley, there are many things that could happen from this point. I don't think I am the right person to-"

"I know", Ashley cut her off again, "I'm just so frustrated. I have no idea how to feel and when I let myself think it through all I feel is relieved I wasn't the one who stayed. Am I just a terrible person?"

Tali walked over and took a seat while let Ashley pace back and forth, "Well, I'm sure you are just-"

Ashley just cut Tali off once again causing Tali to begin twiddling her fingers, "I know exactly what you are going to say and you're right. I am freaking out more because Shepard loves me more than his friend, someone who he has been working with for weeks before I came in. I just feel like, like-"

This time it was Tali who cut off Ashley, "You feel like you may have subliminally forced Shepard to choose you?"

Ashley's shoulders slumped and she fell into a chair across from Tali, "Yes, I don't know what to think. What would you do?"

Tali thought and related it to the one thing she did know, "Look, Ashley, sometimes in the flotilla we get attacked by pirates and have to choose what ships we evacuate and others that we save. Now, the ones we abandon still have use as we take out what parts we could and put them into the ones we saved. You get what I am saying?"

Ashley thought for a moment and let the words sink in, "You're saying that I need to accept that I was the one saved but remember that Kaiden was there and he is one of the reasons we made it this far?"

To be honest, Tali had no idea how Ashley pulled that out of what she said but it fit, "Poetic Ashley, just poetic."

Ashley stood up with a renewed confidence, "Thanks Tali, I think I need to go talk with Shepard, but before I do. I know Ty was the reason that I was where I was at and he could have done something to stop it, but after what he said and about how he thought he was protecting us. Do you think he can be forgiven?"

Tali knew her exact answer to that question and she looked right into Ashley's eyes as she gave her answer, "If he was really trying to protect us and was being true to his word, then he would be here right now. Not on the Citadel like the Bosh'tet he is."

Well, that's it for the one year anniversary chapter. Oh, that's right, happy Users day. Well, day after Users day. It was actually today that I woke up and saw what I had wrote and posted on though so I am a little lenient on my celebrating. So here is a toast to all my friends old and new, all my readers from day one to today, and everyone who was just passing by to throw an idea into the hat. I drink to you!

Thanks for one good year with 43 chapters 20 ones that sat WTF, 13 that I think sent a good message and 10 that are some of my best work. I want to let you all know now that Users 2 will be released on October 14th of 2013 and the title is… (time for dramatic pause) Users 2: Glitched. Let that sink in while you imagine where I am going with the rest of Users one.

This is still my final stretch. By now if you are reading this I am on summer break and hope to crack out my final chapters here soon. Now is the time, if you think that something from a game will be useful and awesome for a climax drop it in the reviews or send me a PM. I already have a cool climax written but it could use a few more items of fan service.