The battle finished, Shepard climbs from the wreck of the Normandy, hurt perhaps, but unbroken. Unbowed.
Over the distant horizon, the sun breaks, shining light on a new day. Earth is saved. Humanity is saved. The galaxy is saved.
* * * * *
Later.
A crowd is gathered on the Presidium. Children sit atop their parents shoulders for a better view. Camera drones from news oranizations from across the galaxy flutter about, jockying the best angle on the proceedings.
The asari councilor stands at the podium speaking, while her human, salarian and turian counterparts are seated on the dias behind her.
"...and so, it is my great pleasure and personal honour to present to you this monument, which shall stand for all time as a testament to the bravery, the heroism, and the sheer, raw, animal sex appeal of the one being in the entire galaxy who had the courage to stand between our very existance and oblivion, and to tell oblivion to go screw itself; Commander Shepard!"
The asari councilor makes a grand gesture and the holo-screen fades, revealing a twenty meter tall platinum statue in perfect likeness of Shepard.
Thunderous applause.
Two minutes pass before the asari councilor has to gesture for silence. "The Avina terminal here will inform all who pass by of the Commander's great deeds and, in accordance with the Commander's wishes, any being who wishes to offer a small token of the appreciation we all feel, may donate five credits which will be forwarded to the Little Commanders' Urban Achievers Fund."
On cue, a young human girl breaks away from the crowd to approach the Avina. She pases her omni-tool over terminal, making the first deposit. Speakers cleverly hidden in the foliage at the statue's feet begin to pump out hard rock. The animatronic statue of Commander Shepard begins an extremely tasteful, hip thrusting, ass shaking dance.
Again, thunderous applause.
Leaning up against a wall, arms crossed, well away from the crowd, a grin touches Commander Shepard's lips. "You're welcome."
"Shepard," the voice is almost an accusation. "It looks like everything worked out in your favour."
"Udina," Shepard nods. "You're the last person I expected to see here. I heard about the scandal."
"Lies! All lies. Just wait, Shepard, I'll get my day yet."
"Oh, I don't doubt it."
Udina's mouth turns into a sour scowl. "You can keep your sarcasam to yourself. I still have allies. This is merely a temporary setback. In a way, I have you to thank for my future rise to glory; after all you've done, humans are looked upon quite favourably these days."
"I'm happy to be of service."
"Until then, the only position I was able to attain which would keep me on the Presidium is cleaning the statuary."
"Well, it's something at least." Shepard moves to leave. "Make sure you polish my crotch until it shines, Donnel. I want each and every kid that walks by to be able to see their smiling face reflected back at them."
Udina bites back a reply as he watches Commander Shepard, saviour of the galaxy, walk off one final time.