1.2 Hero of the Citadel

Councilor Anderson's Office, Presidium, Citadel

"I'm sorry," Anderson shook his head at Jon. "Shepard… I'm going to have to agree with the Illusive Man on this one, as much as I dislike Cerberus. You really shouldn't have come tromping around the Citadel before speaking with me."

Shepard looked a little dejected. "They honored me with the title of the Hero of the Citadel. That's a title I take very seriously. I couldn't walk around its streets, looking its citizens in the eye and let them think I was dead. They deserve the truth."

"I see that," Anderson nodded at Jon's armor. "I see you've had your Cerberus armor painted alliance's navy blue with bright aqua in our military fashion. A little much, don't you think?"

"Really?" Jon looked doubtful. "I thought it would be inspiring for them, but you might be right." He looked off the slate gray colored balcony at the green garden-like stretches of the Citadel before him. "It might be more than they can handle, seeing a hero back from the dead like that..."

Anderson turned to look out off the balcony as well. "And what's this I hear about you stopping at every store on the Citadel giving endorsements? Could you be any more blatant about announcing your arrival? I've got people complaining that the entire souvenir district is an echoing cacophony of speakers blaring 'I'm Commander Shepard'."

Jon smiled sheepishly, his radiant blue eyes faltering. "I probably should've taken it easy there. I was just so excited to gear up and get back in the game." He looked up. "Where is the council?"

Anderson shook his head. "I told you, they won't see you. Letting the last council die can have that kind of effect. Even when you made me councilor, I'm only one representative. And my advisor Udina… he's so preoccupied with his own political portfolio he's barely mentally present when I need something done." He sighed, his dark hands gripping the balcony rail. "That rat bastard really gets under my skin some days." Jon noticed his knuckles were getting white. Anderson continued, almost to himself, "I'd like to knock his block off, string it up and use it as a punching bag. Some days, I'd like to punch it so hard that the quantum entangled molecules on the other side feel pain. Some days…"

"Whoah, Anderson." Jon's simmering blue eyes were intense, as always. "Come back to the light."

"What?" Anderson snapped, annoyed, "I'm fine. He's just an annoying piece of shit. Sorry." He grumbled to himself a bit then uttered, "The council won't see you, but as a councilor myself, I can use my alliance channels to reinstate your spectre status, while keeping the council busy and off your case."

Shepard was shocked, "That's actually more than I could hope for. That would help tremendously! Anderson this means so much."

"Okay, okay, Shepard," Anderson shook Jon's hand off. "You appointed me this council seat immediately after letting the old one die, so the new council fears me a little. At least they did until they thought you were dead. They won't be happy to find out you're back. So, like I said, I'll give you your status and allow you to do your own thing. That's as much as I can offer right now."

"That's tremendous." Shepard clapped his old friend on his robed shoulder. "I'll keep you posted of everything I do. Hopefully as soon as I find the collectors, solve the riddle of the Omega Four relay and stop the reapers, I can be reinstated to the alliance officially. Then things can get back to normal."

Councilman Anderson just stared at his friend Shepard for a moment, then blinked blankly. A warm feeling washed over him. Here was his friend, Commander Shepard. So utterly loyal to the alliance that the possible end of the galaxy was a mere hurdle to hop over in order to get back to the alliance again. The man was honest, he'd give him that. How he got where he was today, neither Anderson nor anyone else in the entire alliance navy could be able to say. When Anderson had read the story of Shepard being on vacation on the Citadel, receiving a transmission from Elysium during the Skyllian Blitz, and coordinating the successful defense from his video game chair, Anderson had become a believer. When Admiral Hackett had witnessed Jon uncharacteristically sacrificing the council's ship in order to avoid leaving his beloved alliance fleet vulnerable, the admiral had seen how deep Shepard's loyalty went – and he too, became a believer.

"Anderson!" Snapped Udina, appearing out of nowhere. "I need to speak with you! I… Shepard?" He scoffed in disbelief. "What are you doing here?!" He made a reviled face like he was noticing a vermin infestation. There was even a bit of fear in his eyes.

"I'm reporting to my highest ranking alliance officer, Councilman Anderson!" Jon saluted Anderson proudly and with great showmanship for Udina's benefit.

"That's not necessary," Anderson waved it away with a smile. "Udina I don't answer to you. Get your rat bastard ass back to your office before I kick it there."

"You can't talk to me that way," Udina physically shook with rage.

"Just shut the fuck up and get out of here," Anderson waved him away and turned his back. Udina grumbled and sauntered off.

Anderson then threw Shepard a proud side glance, "And that my friend, is how you handle business here on the Citadel."

"Damn, Councilman," Jon laughed.

"Shepard, I'll call you Jon if you like," Anderson pleaded, "Just stop calling me Councilman."

"Don't worry, Anderson," Shepard assured, intensely, "I'll investigate the vanished colonies for the alliance and we'll use Cerberus' help to link them to the collectors." He exhaled, determination brewing in his eyes. "And then I'll be back, and we can get me reinstated and back in business."

Anderson shook his head. He had long since learned that trying to explain to Shepard things like, it might not be possible for things to return to normal, politically speaking, was pointless. He might as well tell the man that reality was an illusion. Udina had labeled Shepard's unbelievable string of successes a galactic joke. Maybe it was. But Anderson was Shepard's friend, so maybe the joke was on Udina, because Shepard was killing it out there. So instead he just smiled. "Keep on making believers, Jon. I'll be here."