Hey guys-

and sorry for the late update. I was very disctracted with work, the Citadel DLC, travel and ultimately I was a little stuck writing Shep's speech. I want the story to come back to some Shep&Liara quality time, that's why I started writing. It is getting there. Thanks for bearing with me. As always feedback is highly appreciated!


Commander Shepard was outraged. She glared at the back of the consul who had just finished his speech and enjoyed the applause of his human audience. And only the human audience. He had just managed to deal a back handed insult to every other species present then he had droned about humanities strength and key role in the war against and defeat of the Reapers. He had then spun this into a flaming mandate for human expansion and control of Citadel space. The shock on the faces of the alien embassadors and leaders was conspicuous. How could Nicodis dare use them and their support of this celebration to make it look like they agreed with his view on future galactic politics? When the applause faded an awkward silence set in and Shepard sensed this powder barrel would explode given one more spark.

Unimpressed the consul continued: "I would now like to present Commander Jane Shepard of the Alliance military with the highest honor earth has to offer: The Medal of Honor."

Shepard stepped forward but the weird aftertones of his speech still hung in the air and this moment did not feel glorious. He had succesfully stolen this from her and had made it part of his human superiority campaign. She'd rather chew a razor blade then salute him. As he pinned the decoration to her uniform she stared blankly ahead, trying to contain the boiling anger inside of her.

"… And promote her to the rank of Captain."

The rage drowned out the applauding noise. She knew she'd get her chance to talk and set this right in a second.

But before she could start towards the speaker's desk, Wrex took that place.

Oh no, what is he going to do now? Shepard worried.

"The Krogan also have something to offer to Commander Shepard." He began. "She did not only stop the Reapers but helped cure the genophage that had made our people suffer for centuries. The Commander has shown herself a defender of our people's ways. She underwent a Krogan rite of passage and slayed a Tresher Maw. I therefore want to offer you, Commander, a honorary place in my clan. Do you accept?"

Shepard was at a loss for words for a few seconds.

"Wrex, it would be an honor." She finally said. She didn't know if this gesture was spontaneous, maybe he had sensed her anger over being used by the earth politicians. Or maybe it was meant as an act of provocation, following that dreadful speech. Either way she appreciated it much more then the cold medal hanging from her chest.

"Then you shall be known as Urdnot Jane Shepard to my people!" Wrex exclaimed and the Krogans in the audience started roaring and singing again.

"Enough with this non-sense…" The consul muttered under his breath and made a move to take back control. But he was cut off by Admiral Zaal'Koris who stepped forward now.

"The Quarians also wish to honor the Captain. She has not only protected the flotilla from Geth infiltration but also took back our home planet Rannoch, facing a Reaper face to face. Commander Shepard, if you accept, you will be known to us as Captain Shepard vas Normandy and are welcome anytime to join the flotilla with your ship."

"I gladly accept." Shepard said, becoming increasingly overwhelmed.

There seemed to be some kind of chain reaction as Primarch Victus and the Asari embassador also stepped up and offered Shepard the status as one of their own. The earth politician grew frustrated but the crowd loved seeing their hero in the spotlight.

When it was finally her turn to take the speaker's desk she pulled the speech from her pocket, just to have a quick look at the bullshit they probably had produced for her, just to give her fury some more edge.

From the outset of this mission, it read, the fate of the galaxy has rested in human hands.

Shepard smiled grimly.

"From the outset of this mission…" She began, leaving a little pause to enjoy what was coming. "…the fate of the galaxy was in the hands of all of us. We would not be here if it wasn't for our union and cooperation. Personally, I just think it's unfortunate that it took a catastrophic war to make us realize that.

Many of you may see me as the first human Spectre who sacrificed an alien council to replace them with human leaders. Or as the soldier who joined Cerberus to only save her own kind from the threat of the Reapers. Or as the commander who rallied defenses for earth and let the other planets die. Many of you may think that what I strive for is human superiority and looking at some of the facts, I could not blame you.

This is why I would like to take this chance to set the record straight."

Shepard couldn't see the consul but she could literally feel his terror.

"Every second I spent in battle, every bullet I took, every time I almost died, every life-or-death decision I made - I had all of our interests in mind. The councillors gave their lives to save billions of others who would have been killed by Sovereign. My work with Cerberus was a forced alliance with the only goal to defeat the Collectors, I despised every minute of the collaboration and in the end I killed far more Cerberus agents than I ever worked with . And while I was rallying defenses for earth I fought on the front lines of Palaven, Thessia, Tuchanka and Rannoch."

There was cheering from the aliens in the audience.

"I just want to ask you one thing: If this was a war against the Reapers, why did I have to shoot so many humans, turians, asari, krogan, batarians, salarians, geth, and vorcha? How many of your own have you seen go to a darker place for the promise of wealth, power and fame? It is not about what we are, it is about where we stand. If we let greed, thirst for power and ignorance guide us, the next war is just waiting to happen."

There was a pause as her words hung in the air.

"Some of you may think it is ironic that someone of questionable morals like me is offering moral support to the galaxy."

This got her some laughs from her audience.

"But seeing that advice is always a confession, it just means that I am speaking from experience.

Yes, my fellow humans, we would make for some great leaders because of our drive, determination and faith. But so would the Quarians with their incredible resourcefulness and sense of community; the Asari with their power, knowledge and wisdom; the Turians with their backbone and sense of duty; the Salarians with their rational thinking and effectiveness and the Krogan with their strength and stamina.

I have underestimated many of them and their traits and I have been proven wrong every single time. It is all of our strengths combined that makes a perfect leader. Now, you want to call me a human suprematist? You couldn't be more wrong."

By this point consul Nicodis and most of the human politicians saw their carefully laid plans shattered. Fuming with anger the consul was unable to do anything as it would have been highly inappropriate to interrupt the public speech of a war hero but he shot Admiral Hackett alarmed looks as if to say: Do something about your soldier!

Hackett didn't necessarily share Shepard's opinion but he respected her enough to not interfere.

"One thing this war has done is that it made us all equals. For the moment. We are all rebuilding our homeworlds, recovering from our losses, we all suffer from the same scarcities and we will all depend on the help of our fellow people to succeed. I want you to remember this time when the race for power starts. The time will come when you have to decide where you stand. When that time comes I want you to remember where you stood when this war was won. United."

She threw her fist up with that last word and saw thousands of thousands of people raising their hands with her as they cheered for her speech. Shepard waved to the crowd, glad that she had made her point.

As she joined ranks with her crew she exchanged a look with consul Nicodis. For a few seconds it was as if they were trying to stare each other down but then the consul was reminded by the city hall officials that it was time for the parade.

Shepard sensed that this wasn't the end of it.

"I loved your speech, captain." Liara said and squeezed Shepard's hand. As Jane looked around she saw the proud, approving and even moved faces of her crew.

"Thanks." Shepard replied, blushing a bit and nodding to the others.

In the piazza beneath them a procession of marines and marching bands starting moving down a lane that was cleared through the crowd. Open-top hover cars flew up to the balcony to collect the politicians, military officials and the crew of the Normandy. They then joined the procession through the celebrating crowd.

The noise and the closeness to the people was overwhelming but also rewarding. The crew waved, leaned out of the car to accept high fives and swung their arms in the air as if conducting the chants that broke out in the crowd.

Shepard was glad she got a chance to sit down. Her legs were already stiff and aching from standing and walking for so long. The whole day had been more exhausting than glorious and just having the noise and the music drown out all her thoughts was comforting.

"Politics is already catching up with you, isn't it?" Garrus, who was sitting next to the commander, had leant over to smirkingly give his comment. Shepard sighed and looked at him.

"I didn't expect anything else. But the scale of Nicodis' impertinence is unbelievable. It's like Udina all over again."

"I think you handled it very well, Shepard." He brotherly put his hand on her shoulder. "Your word has a lot of impact. They will have a hard time pressing their suprematist ideas."

"I don't know. Politics is a slow and exhausting process. My word may be of importance now but I don't plan to stay in their game. Nicodis seems hellbent on establishing a larger human … empire. It will take more than a speech to keep the peace."

Garrus nodded slowly, thinking her words over.

"How about we forget about all that for now and go have some real fun when this is over?"

Shepard grinned mischievously. "What do you have in mind?"

"How about a night out with the crew? Drinks, dancing, and the like."

"Sounds like a plan."

~o~

4am. Back at the Normandy a quite drunk Shepard could hardly feel her legs anymore from the pain. They were stiff and shaky and once she reached the bed in her cabin she let herself fall on it, face down and moaned in relief. Liara was right behind her.

"You should have let me carry you when I offered, you know."

"No one carries the commander.", Shepard said resolutely, her voice weak and muffled as her head was buried in the sheets.

Liara smiled. "Too stubborn for your own good. It wouldn't have looked nearly as stupid as you carrying Ashley on one shoulder, you show off."

"Oh, I'd love to show you who's looking stupid now but I'm afraid I can't move. At all." Shepard slurred.

"I'm sure you don't want me to help." Liara teased her.

"Oh no, I'm fine, maybe you could lift my head every so often so I don't suffocate."

"I am more afraid you will puke all over the place."

"No way, I know how to hold my liquor."

Shepard made an effort to turn around, straightening her arms to get into a push-up position but in the end just kind of rolled over like a stranded turtle. They both started laughing.

"And by the way, so do you." Shepard continued, "You seem very sober for all the Thessian red wine and champagne you had."

"I am always telling you we Asari aren't as frail as we might seem."

Shepard stretched out her hand and had to concentrate hard to touch Liara's nose with the tip of her index finger.

"Don't be smug, I could still drink you under the table."

"Yeah right!" Liara laughed. "How are your legs?" She started to unbutton the top part of Shepard's uniform which put a sheepish grin on the commander's face.

"They feel like useless logs attached to my body."

Liara had gotten all the buttons and Shepard tried to shrug off the uniform shirt without success, flailing her arms a little too much.

"I wouldn't feel my legs either after all the Tequilas you had."

Shepard laughed and crawled under the covers with all her clothes still on.

"Oh, I bet Jack, James and Garrus feel worse. They tried that krogan stuff."

"You did too, honey." Liara said.

"I did?" Shepard asked skeptically, trying to remember, and then everything went black.

~o~

Waking up the next morning felt like hell. Shepard took minutes to open her eyes and realize where she was. Her uniform was crinkled, her hair standing up, she was sprawled across the diagonal length of the bed with the sheets on the floor. There was a bitter taste in her mouth, she craved for some cold water and felt a massive headache coming on. As Jane tried to get up she felt that she couldn't move and it took her a few seconds to realize that it was because Liara was snoring on top of her.

"Lia... Lia... " Shepard tried to wake her up by softly shaking her arm. There was no reaction, just a louder snore.

"I know... I hate to do this but I really have to pee." Shepard said and shook the asari a little harder.

Finally Liara opened her eyes.

"Shepard..." she whispered hoarsely and the commander knew Liara was feeling just as awful as she was. "What.. time is it?" Liara mumbled and clumsily moved to the side so Shepard could get up.

"I have no idea." Shepard sat up and massaged her temples.

Liara curled up on her side of the bed, clearly not ready to face her hangover yet. Shepard fished the sheets off the floor and tucked her girl in.

"I love you." The asari mumbled, eyes closed.

Shepard smiled. "Love you too."

Jane grabbed her crutch off the floor and tried to get up to take a shower.

As she started to pull herself off the bed and shifted her weight to the left arm that was holding the crutch a sudden, stinging pain flashed through her wrist. She fell back on the bed as the pain forced her to let go of the crutch.

"Ouch..." Shepard flinched. "What the … ?"

"What's wrong, Jane?" Liara blinked at her from under the blanket.

"I don't know, my arm really hurts." Her whole body felt really sore but the tingling pain in her wrist was more than just a bruise.

Liara looked at her slightly concerned for a few seconds but then she seemed to remember something. She burst out in laughter which she immediately regretted because it made her head hurt like hell.

"It's not that funny..." Shepard pouted.

"Actually …" Liara said and freed one arm from the blanket to pull off Shepard's uniform shirt, "It's very funny you don't remember this."

Shepard turned her head to look at her left arm and found that she had no recollection of getting a tattoo last night.

"Holy crap..." she muttered as she held up her wrist to her eyes. She even started rubbing it on her N7 tank top to see if it was a prank and would come off. "Who made me get that?"

"Who d'you think?" Liara grinned.

"Jack..." Shepard said, "That crazy bitch. Do you remember how this happened?"

"Not completely..." Liara admitted, "Show me."

The tattoo was a diagonal cross made from two objects - a sword and a sort of staff that curved into a loop at the top. The tip of the sword and the staff framed the small tattoo of a black lightning on red ground Shepard had gotten after fighting in the Blitz*. Together the tattoos kind of resembled a pirate's skull and bones.

"Well, it suits you." Liara remarked.

"What do you mean?"

"Fight to protect. The sword and the shepherd's staff. Almost cheesy."

Shepard studied the image and smiled.

"I like that."

Then she shook her head, muttered: "What a crazy night…" and finally made it off the bed.

Liara buried herself again in the blankets.

"If you're getting up, I wouldn't mind some breakfast."


* this might need an explanation. I am German so it's pretty obvious to me and I don't know how well this is known in .. where you live .. but Blitz = lightning. In a way as cheesy as the shepherd symbolism. Shep is such a cheese ball ;)