A/N: I want to thank everyone for all of the follows, reviews, PMs, etc - truly, I appreciate every iota of attention this little story received. I'm so excited that I finally finished this, and I can't wait to move on to the next chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it. Thanks for sticking with this, despite the slow pace at which I update.

Best,

-jt-

Chapter 10: We Could Be Heroes

Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.

O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.

Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.

Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.

The grenade sailed through the air in a graceful, almost lazy arc. Liara supposed that in any other moment, she would have found some grotesque beauty in the way it soared, the silver plating of the disc reflecting the red and orange hues of the fires raging through the Presidium. Then the explosive landed near her feet, hitting the steps with a slight, almost humorous tinking sound, and finally her instincts kicked in. She dove to the left just as it detonated, slamming her body against a large concrete planter that shielded her from most of the blast.

Liara pressed her back flat against the slab, desperately gasping for air, her chest straining against the breastplate of her armor. A geth incendiary round had come too close for comfort, managing to warp the plating before she could recharge her barriers. The piece was now bent awkwardly, restricting her breathing just enough to be irritating, but she knew it would be unwise to take it off. She slapped a fresh clip into her SMG instead, ignoring the pain in her chest and just focused on taking short, shallow breaths. She was tiring, dangerously so, and although she had stubbornly kept pace with the hardened soldiers next to her, she privately wondered how much longer she could continue. Her biotics had been pushed to their limits and beyond, and despite her best efforts, her entire body was trembling. A flash of panic begin to claw at her throat.

But then she was staring into a pair of deep blue eyes, and a strong but gentle hand was on her shoulder. Shepard knelt in front of her, eyebrows furrowing in concern. She had ditched her helmet immediately after their impromptu spacewalk, much to Liara's chagrin, and her face was covered in soot and grime. The human's hair was damp with sweat and her bangs were plastered to her forehead. Thin beads of moisture ran down the side of her jaw, cutting a bright swath through the layers of dirt. Small nicks and cuts peppered her neck and cheeks. And yet, those deep, dark eyes were sparking with energy and her jaw was firmly set.

She looked remarkable.

Their eyes locked. A fleeting grin crossed the human's smudged face, and she gave Liara's shoulder a reassuring squeeze. Liara let out a long breath, then nodded. A renewed vigor coursed through her body as Shepard moved over to crouch silently next to her. The brief, wordless exchange was all Liara needed, and she began to steady herself. The commander radiated a calm, cool power that filled Liara with a steely determination. She had made it this far, and she would see it through to the end.

She looked across the open space in front of her and saw Ashley hunkered behind a planter on the opposite side. The chief made a few rapid hand gestures, then jerked her head in the direction of the grenade's origin.

Liara peered over the lip of the concrete ridge and watched Saren slowly rise over the main control console, standing on the same floating platform he had used on Virmire. His eyes had a manic gleam in them as he caressed his pistol, and his mandibles were twisted into what Liara could only describe as a leer. Even at this distance, Liara could make out the eerie glow of his cybernetic implants and modifications through the rapidly thickening smoke. The turian looked more like something that had been constructed in a lab, rather than a living, breathing organic. She was unable to suppress a shudder.

"I was afraid you wouldn't make it in time, Shepard," Saren said. Even the subharmonics in his voice seemed mechanical.

"Well, we had to blow up a shit ton of geth to get here," Shepard snapped irritably, and Liara rolled her eyes at the commander's response, but couldn't help but smile slightly. She kept her eyes trained on the deranged turian, trying to keep him in her rifle sights as he hovered spastically. Beside her, Liara heard Shepard reload her own rifle, then felt a gentle pressure against her hip as the human quietly slid an extra heat sink into the pocket on her belt.

Saren cackled at Shepard's retort. "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."

"Not if I can help it!" Shepard shot back, yelling over Liara's shoulder.

"You survived our encounter on Virmire. But I've changed since then. Improved. Sovereign has upgraded me." Saren's eyes began to glaze over as he spoke, and it seemed as if he was talking more to himself then the squad from the Normandy. "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."

Liara frowned and looked over at Ashley, who seemed equal parts confused and repulsed. "What the hell's he talking about?" the chief grumbled over the comm.

"I'm not sure," Liara replied.

"Sovereign recognizes your value. You've impressed it. Surrender to the Reapers and you will be spared. Join us and we will find a place for you," Saren said.

Ashley snorted and shook her head in disbelief. "You've gotta be shitting me."

Liara almost smiled at the chief's reaction, but was too disturbed by Saren's continued rant. He was speaking now of the symbiosis between organic and machine, of the union between flesh and steel, of the pinnacle of organic evolution that he now represented and could offer Shepard. He was clearly indoctrinated, just as her mother had been, but his transformation seemed much more perverse. The way he spoke about it was almost sexual in nature, and her mind immediately went to last night with Shepard. She thought of the beauty of their union, of two souls truly becoming one, and to somehow equate that with what Saren had become was enough to make her stomach churn.

Liara glanced over at Shepard, who appeared more bored than anything else. "Blah, blah, blah," the commander muttered, unslinging her sniper rifle. She whipped her head around several times, evaluating their surroundings, then ducked down and spoke into the comm link.

"Alright. Chief, Liara - keep him busy. I'll swing around and try to get to that console," Shepard said.

Ashley nodded in acknowledgement, but Liara's gaze snapped over to the commander. "You are not going alone!" she hissed, more harshly than she originally intended. Her blue eyes flashed.

Shepard reached out, cupping Liara's cheek in a gloved hand and drawing the asari closer, their foreheads almost touching. The gesture was undeniable tender, despite the feel of the rough material against her skin.

"I'll be right back," Shepard said firmly, in a tone that Liara had no choice but to believe. She swallowed once, hard, and then the human flashed her a crooked smile. "Save a dance for me, eh?" The commander darted away before Liara could respond, disappearing into a thick swirl of smoke.

Liara didn't have time to think, only react, as Saren shot overhead on his platform, lobbing biotic charges at both Ashley and herself. Liara spun around, then tore down the small flight of stairs and threw herself behind another planter. The lush tree overhead exploded in a burst of smoke and fire, showering her with sparks. She heard the bark of Ashley's assault rifle, and glanced up to see Saren veer sharply towards the chief. Liara balled her fist tightly, summoning what strength she had left, and launched a warp field at the turian's head. It was weak, far weaker than what she had the capability of producing, but it was just enough to distract Saren. Ashley rolled away quickly, firing short, controlled bursts that pinged off Saren's shields. Liara copied Ashley's movements; adding her own volley of fire before relocating and waiting for her biotics to recharge.

The fight continued in much the same fashion; with both of them darting and ducking behind cover, popping up to shoot again, then hiding once more. It was enough to keep Saren slightly off-balance, but from what Liara could tell, they had yet to deal any real damage. She was running low on thermal clips, and every biotic attack she threw was weaker than the one before. Liara wondered, again, how much longer she could be effective. She gritted her teeth, fighting against both the fatigue that was weighing her down and the gnawing concern she felt whenever Shepard was out of her sight for too long.

In retrospect, Liara hadn't known what to expect when the human dashed away; her experience serving on the Normandy had prepared her for any number of explosions, blasts, or detonations from her remarkably imaginative commander. But this time, all she heard was a soft, barely audible pop. Saren staggered, his talons coming up to grip at his neck. She heard the sound again, and the turian spun around violently. He swayed and then looked he was suspended in midair, barely keeping his footing on the platform, his piercing eyes wide with shock. Saren stayed upright for a long moment, longer than he had any right to, then finally fell.

Liara looked in the direction of where the shots had originated, but couldn't see anything through the choking haze of smoke. Shepard's voice came over the comm.

"Make sure he's dead."

Shepard clambered down from the overhang she had secluded herself in, one hand tightly gripping her rifle as she used the other to navigate through the debris Saren's geth had left behind. She couldn't resist a smirk as she wondered what the Council would think of the new renovations to their chambers. She particularly enjoyed the thought of Sparatus's ever-affronted visage as he viewed the damage.

She leapt down from a small ledge and landed with a huff, then sprinted towards the control console. She tossed a glance towards where Saren had fallen, and felt a surge of relief as she caught a flash of blue carefully descending through the skylight to investigate.

Shepard slapped the controls as she skidded to a stop, then began scanning the readout. She had control of all the Citadel's systems; all she needed to do was figure out how to open the arms and unleash the fleet against Sovereign. She made a few taps, then opened a comm channel. A panicked voice suddenly filled the chamber, the speaker's desperation evident even as the transmission was breaking up.

...Destiny Ascension! Main drive off line, kinetic barriers down 40%! The Council is on board, I repeat, the Council is on board!

Shepard shook her head, and her jaw began to twitch . Christ.

Normandy to the Citadel, Normandy to the Citadel! Is that you, Commander?

"I'm here, Joker."

We got that distress call, Commander. We can save the Ascension. Just unlock the relays around the Citadel and we'll send the calvary in.

Shepard stiffened. Fuck the Council. Why should she waste human lives saving them? The obstinate triad had fought her every step of the way, even before she had been made a Spectre, and had turned a blind eye to Saren's actions even when the evidence was insurmountable. How many people would still be alive had they acted sooner? Her thoughts immediately turned to Kaidan and Virmire, to Benezia, to Feros. Her hands clenched into fists. As far as she was concerned, the Council was complicit in all of those deaths.

But then a small voice creeped into her head. It felt foreign and unfamiliar, like it hadn't originated from her, but despite that Shepard knew the truth in what it was saying. This was bigger than humanity, bigger than her anger. The Reapers were real, they were coming, and it would take the combined might of the all the species in the galaxy to defeat them. As much as she hated to admit it, she would need the Council if they were to present any sort of united front. Shepard sighed, and her hands loosened. She felt a cool, calming presence in the back of her mind, and the familiar tingle that started in the base of her skull -

What's the order, Commander? Come in now, or hold back?

Shepard blinked, and the feeling vanished as quickly as it arrived. The commander leaned forward, bracing herself against the console. She hoped she knew what the hell she was doing. "Opening the relays now, Joker. Save the Ascension."

Roger that.

She kept the comm link open, listening as the human fleet engaged Saren's ships, wincing with each hit the ships took. Suddenly, the platform she was on began to shake, and a blinding beam of light shot out of the hole in the skylight. The emergency lighting flickered precariously, and jagged shadows from the broken glass danced ominously around the chambers. The platform buckled and twisted, throwing Shepard to her knees, and a deep, menacing rumble began coursing through the entire Presidium.

"Shepard! Get down here!"

"Chief! What the hell's going on?" Shepard struggled to regain her footing as the ground beneath her lurched. She was thrown onto her backside, then began sliding down towards the lower level as the platform rose to a near ninety degree angle. Shepard flung herself off at the last moment, just as the entire structure collapsed and fell into the lower levels of the Presidium. She landed heavily on a set of stairs, grimacing as the concrete jabbed into her ribs. She scrambled to her feet, scooping up her sniper rifle, and ran towards the skylight. Blood began thundering in her ears, nearly drowning out the shouts and gunfire echoing over the comm.

The station shook again and the vibrations reverberated through Shepard's core. She hit the deck, sliding on her hip to the edge of the skylight. She dug her boots into to the grating, stopping her momentum, then gracelessly flopped forward onto her knees. The sniper rifle came up instantly, but as she peered through the scope, she couldn't begin to process what she was seeing.

Saren's flesh had been stripped from his body, leaving behind a skeleton of cybernetic implants that glowed a hellish red. Shepard could see the gaping hole in the back of his skull, and knew there was no way the turian was moving on his own accord. Shepard thought she was watching a grotesque puppet show, with Saren a marionette being tossed about by a deranged handler. Liara and Ashley were on the far side of the atrium, pinned down by the impossibly massive biotics charges Saren - or what was left of him - was generating. Every time one of them emerged to unleash a burst of fire, Saren danced away, moving faster than anything Shepard had ever seen before.

The commander wasted no time. She brought up one knee to brace her elbow against, leveled her rifle, and fired. Saren darted away, and the round struck the ground harmlessly. The turian turned and sent a charge directly at Shepard's head. She barely had time to duck and roll away, feeling the singe of pure energy as it flew just over her. She deftly brought the rifle up and fired again.

Miss.

Duck. Roll. Reload.

Another miss.

Now Shepard was getting nervous. Ashley's voice, which usually sounded excited during battle, had risen a full octave. Liara's, always so calm and steady, was now panicked and hoarse. A feeling of sheer terror began clawing at Shepard's throat. She was on her last thermal clip. Exhaustion was finally claiming her. She was slow and sluggish, her biotics were failing...

Wait.

She wasn't a biotic.

Mind reeling, Shepard threw herself onto her back just as another charge sailed overhead. Those feelings were coming from Liara. The commander had no idea how such a thing could be possible, and although the realization was staggering, she didn't have time to investigate why it was occurring. She tried to quell the anxiety rising within her, forcing herself not to think about the danger Liara was in. Instead, she forced herself to take deep, slow breaths, trying to slow her heart rate even as Saren kept up his relentless assault.

Shepard thought back to her training, to the tedious drills and endless range sessions, the techniques she honed and sharpened even before N7 recruited her, the marksmanship records that made Ashley green with envy. She had been broken down then rebuilt to be a machine, to control the fundamentally human part of her, the heaving pulsing and rapid breathing that assured her she was still alive. But now, that programming was beginning to falter as she tasted Liara's fear like it was her own. She continued breathing in through her nose and out of her mouth, as she suddenly remembered something.

It was a trick she had stumbled across during her time at Fort Upham. Years later, she couldn't remember the exact circumstances of its discovery, and didn't want to reflect upon why it was so effective. Shepard only cared that it worked in those moments when everything else failed.

She rolled into her stomach, propped herself up on her elbows, and looked through the scope. She closed her eyes, exhaled deeply, then slowly opened her eyes again. Quietly, she began to speak.

"It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect..."

The words washed over Shepard as she voiced them, steadying her nerves and focusing her vision to a razor sharp clarity. She no longer registered the cries of her crew, or the chatter of the fleet as it engaged Sovereign. All she sensed were the sounds of her measured breathing, the deliberate rhythm of her own heartbeat, the cool metal of the stock as it pressed into her cheek.

"He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places..."

Everything slowed. Saren's movements became less spastic. More predictable. The rifle barrel turned as it followed the turian's path.

"He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms..."

Saren leapt towards the far wall, dodging one of Liara's warp attacks. His talons were outstretched. They glittered brightly despite the dim emergency lighting. Her finger tensed.

"Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation; and thy right hand hath holden me up, and they gentleness hath made me great."

The round struck Saren just as he touched the wall, impacting the back of his shoulder. He lost his grip and slid down, landing roughly on the ground. He turned, looking up at Shepard with an expression of utter outrage, what remained of his mandibles flaring wildly. His head snapped back with an audible crack as another round tore through his skull again, exiting cleanly and striking the wall behind him. Then were two more, in quick succession, slamming into his chest. Saren slumped backwards, shuddering as sparks flew out of his implants. He seized as he released one final electrical discharge, and the glow from his upgrades finally faded away.

And then there was nothing.

Shepard watched as Ashley and Liara slowly emerged from their cover, cautiously stepping towards the smoking corpse. Ashley kicked at it once, twice, her rifle pointed squarely at Saren's face. Only when it was clear that the Spectre would not rise again did she back away, gesturing towards Liara. They both lowered their weapons and looked up at the hole in the skylight.

Shepard stood, clutching her rifle, and slowly raised one hand. Ashley returned the wave, but Shepard didn't respond; instead, her blazing blue eyes were fixed on Liara. Shepard could see plainly the thick layers of dirt and grime covering her high cheekbones and delicate curve of her jaw. Even though her shoulders were slumped forward in complete exhaustion, she was giving Shepard a broad, dazzling smile and her crystal eyes shone with pride.

Sovereign is down! Sovereign is down!

Liara's eyes widened, and Shepard spun around to look above her. She turned back around, and barely had time to yell before the everything became black.

The weight was unbearable.

It pressed down on her, in the darkness, unforgiving and relentless. She was surrounded by it, and felt as it slowly began consuming her. She knew it was dead; she watched it disintegrate then fall, but somehow it was still alive. It pulsated and writhed above her as it continued to force itself on her, through her, to her very core. Each breath she took wasn't expelled by her lungs, but rather torn from her, as the darkness reached into her mouth, past her teeth and down her throat, grasped the oxygen and pulled it out of her throat.

She was choking, slowly, horribly, and soon the darkness above her would take what was left. She would be reduced to nothing, disintegrated, all while she heard sweet whispers in her ear, telling her that had a made a mistake, that she should have joined them, that everything that every mattered will burn...

Shepard jerked awake violently, and her body immediately seized in pain. She inhaled sharply, trying to breathe through the ache, and made an attempt to assess her surroundings. The commander was assailed by a wave of nausea the instant she lifted her head. A bright light flashed over her, and the sickness worsened. She closed her eyes and let her head fall back with an audible groan.

And then she heard the voice, so soothing and perfect it made Shepard ache. The voice that was usually soft, and yet could convey such determination.

The voice that cut through everything and always brought her back.

"Evan, be still."

Shepard opened her eyes again, slowly this time, and she could see that she was in Normandy's medbay. Chakwas was hovering above her, running a scanner over her battered form and clucking disapprovingly at what had to be a growing litany of injuries. Shepard felt the weight of another on the bed, and gingerly turned her head to find Liara sitting next to her, a broad but relived smile on her face. The human grinned weakly, then tried to sit up again when she realized something was restricting her movements. She looked down and saw that her left leg was in traction, encased in a stasis field that was being generated by two curved cylinders that stretched the length of her calf. Thin tubing wrapped around her knee and had been inserted into both the joint and calf muscle; one to allow wound drainage, and one to pump an icy solution throughout to reduce swelling. Shepard groaned again, this time in aggravation, and struggled to push herself up further so she could get a better view of her mangled leg.

Liara reached out and placed her hand on Shepard's chest, exerting a gentle pressure downward that kept the human in place. "Evan, please. You will injure yourself further."

Shepard flopped back down with an exaggerated pout of defeat, and was immediately rewarded with another wave of pain. She exhaled slowly, through gritted teeth, and focused instead on the sensation of Liara's cool touch on her heated skin.

"What happened?" Shepard asked.

"A damn Reaper fell on your head, that's what happened," Chakwas replied gruffly, still frowning at the results of her scans. "I expect you'll make a full recovery, although it will take some time. You have a rather major concussion, a basilar skull fracture, several broken ribs, a collapsed lung, and, somehow, managed to not only fracture both bones in your lower leg, but shred every one of your knee ligaments in the process." Chakwas stopped her ranting long enough for a thoughtful look to cross her face. "Although, I should probably thank you. I haven't had to rebuild an entire joint since medical school. I needed the practice."

Shepard sighed heavily at the doctor's report and her eyes flicked over to the device holding her leg in place. Despite Chakwas's formidable skill, Shepard knew that it would take time to rehab from such a traumatic injury. Time she wasn't sure they all had anymore.

The commander looked over at Liara. "Are you - ?"

Liara immediately cut her off. "I am fine. Chief Williams and I only sustained minor injuries. We were shielded from most of the debris that crashed into the Presidium." Her eyes darkened suddenly, and her usually full lips became drawn into a thin line. "You, however, were caught out in the open. It is remarkable that you were not injured more severely." She spoke softly, making slow circles with the thumb that was still resting on Shepard's chest.

"It took the rescue crews several hours to dig you out and you've been unconscious for nearly a day," Chakwas added, which only seemed to add to Liara's distress. "And I think it's bloody well time you wore a damn helmet."

Shepard scowled, but Liara grinned slightly at the remark, so she let it pass. Shepard brought her left hand up to cover the asari's, pressing her hand into her chest, hoping Liara could feel the steady beat of the human's heart beneath her palm. Liara glanced away shyly for a moment, then looked back into Shepard's eyes.

Out of the corner of her eye, the commander could see Chakwas smiling. The medical officer quickly finished her scans. "Get some rest, Commander," said she pointedly, eyeing both Shepard and Liara. "I'll be back to check on you later." She turned and deftly exited the med bay.

Shepard looked back at Liara. She lifted her right arm, allowing Liara to move closer, and then lowered it back down onto the asari's lap. "Hey," she said quietly, hugging Liara's slender waist.

"Hey," Liara responded in kind. She moved her hand from Shepard's chest and began lightly stroking the human's arm. Shepard tensed instinctively as Liara's fingers brushed over bright ink and puckered, damaged skin. She didn't stop, though, and Shepard relaxed into her touch.

"I'm sorry if I scared you," Shepard said, their eyes meeting.

"I was not scared. I knew you were still alive," Liara replied. Her cheeks darkened at the admission.

"Yeah, I can...feel you." Shepard frowned, unsure of how to describe what she had experienced during their battle with Saren. "What's going on, Li?"

Liara glanced away, seemingly embarrassed. Her fingers tightened around Shepard's forearm. "I am not sure. Such connections are not unheard of, but they usually occur between bondmates of several years, if not decades. I - I cannot explain it. I hope you do not find it upsetting."

"No, I don't, actually." The corner of Shepard's mouth twitched upwards. "So...can you read my thoughts?"

"Oh no no! Nothing like that." Liara waved the hand that wasn't gripping her human's arm. "It is only when you are experiencing a very strong emotion, such as anger or fear. And I believe that is the same for you."

Shepard nodded. "That's right. I could feel how exhausted you were."

Liara smiled wanly. "And I felt how steady you were, even when Saren had us cornered." She cocked her head, as if she had just remembered something. "You were praying," she remarked in surprise. "I heard you over the comm."

Now it was Shepard's turn to be embarrassed. She looked away and awkwardly scrubbed at the back of her neck. "Yeah."

"It calms you." Liara spoke with a slight glint in her eye, as if she had discovered a new piece to a puzzle she had been unable to solve. "You learned that from your mother," she added quietly.

Shepard didn't answer, instead keeping her gaze trained past Liara to the far wall of the med bay. She didn't move until she felt the tips of Liara's fingers underneath her chin, gently turning her head as the asari leaned forward and pressed their lips together. The effect was immediate. Shepard opened up, her anxiety forgotten, and her hand began trailing up Liara's side to pull her closer. When they parted, Shepard let out a long breath. Despite the pain coursing through her entire body, despite the crew she had lost, despite everything she had been though, she felt more at ease now in this infirmary with Liara next to her, then she ever had before.

"So, what now, Doctor?" Shepard asked with a crooked grin.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you did say you would be with me until the end." Shepard's grin widened. "Looks like we got the bad guy, saved the universe, the council, and the Citadel...what else is there to do ?" Even though she spoke flippantly, a dark look flashed over her face for a brief moment.

Liara smiled, understanding the meaning behind Shepard's words. She leaned forward again, lightly brushing her fingers against the human's cheek. Her eyes sparkled.

"I think this is just the beginning, Commander."