Chapter 21 is here. Yeah! I'm not slacking anymore. Good. Mass Effect is owned by Bioware, now please enjoy my story!

Ch. 21: Politics

Galactic Senate Building, Citadel

Commander Shepard

Shepard got out of the taxi and looked at the Galactic Senate Building; the former biotiball Colosseum towered high above the rest of the Ward. Shepard walked through the gates and into the Colosseum itself. The interior of the Colosseum had been converted into small squares, almost like cubicles. Shepard walked onto the artificial grass and began trying to navigate through the sea of cubicles.

After a short walk he discovered a help desk. The Asari assistant turned off her comm and looked up at Shepard.

She smiled. "Hello Commander, how may I help you?"

"I need to find the Senate's meeting place, can you tell me where that is?"

The assistant turned to her terminal. "Ok Commander Shepard, I'll send the navpoint to your omnitool."

Shepard turned on his omnitool and received the navpoint. "Thank you."

Shepard started to walk away, but the assistant yelled wait.

Shepard turned around and noticed she was standing. She walked up to Shepard, put her hand on his arm, and began speaking lustfully. "If you want me to show you how important you really are, meet me at the other navpoint I sent. I'm sure you'll have a great time."

Shepard pulled his arm away. "Thanks for the offer, but no. I already have someone."

The assistant took a step closer. "That 'someone' wouldn't have to know. It would just be between us."

Shepard rolled his eyes. "The answer is no, plain and simple."

The assistant sighed and turned back to her desk. Shepard shook his head and began walking through the cubicle maze again towards the Senate meeting room.

Senate Meeting Room

The door opened and Shepard walked into the Senate meeting room; the lighting was a comfortable bright white, and there was only a thin, flimsy ceiling overhead. There was a large circular table in the middle with chairs surrounding it; on the chairs themselves sat the new Senators. The former councilors filled their respective Senate chairs. The Krogan Senator, a Krogan female named Khel Fehra, sat next to the Turian Senator Sparatus talking quietly to him. Wrex had spoke fondly of her, and Shepard trusted Wrex's words.

Next to Khel Fehra sat the Volus Senator Din Korlack. The former Volus ambassador, who had given intel to Cerberus until he was stopped by Commander Shepard, has given up any ties he had to Cerberus. Sadly for him his popularity has decline significantly because of his mistake, but the Volus have kept him in office for the time being.

Standing next to Din is the Elcor Senator named Behntin. As with most Elcor Behntin is quiet and conservative. He had his head turned to the the Salarian Senator Valern and was speaking in a friendly manner.

Next to Valern stood the Hanar and Drell senator Pathayalus. Pathayalus looked like most Hanar, although he seemed to be a darker shade of pink. But he seemed just as polite as any Hanar was.

Next to Pathayalus sat the Asari Senator Tevos, the former Asari Councilor. Next to her the Geth Senator, who was simply named Voice, sat speaking to the Quarian Senator Zal'Koris.

Next to Koris sat the Rachni Senator, the Asari Shepard met on Illium. She still hasn't told anyone her name; she simply states she is the vessel of the Rachni Queen.

Next to her Chancellor Steven Hackett stood talking to the Human Senator Natalie Koval and the new Batarian Senator Kelpin Her'doh. The Vorcha councilor's position was temporarily filled by an Asari with a Vorcha bondmate named Haerala T'Gali. Hackett noticed Shepard, and he excused himself from his conversation.

Shepard turned to Hackett and saluted. Hackett saluted back with a slight smile. He then extended his arm and shook Shepard's hand. "It's good to see you again, Shepard."

Shepard nodded. "It's good to see you too, sir. So when will I be able to appeal for the assistance I need?"

Hackett smiled. "Don't worry, Shepard, after we formally allow the Batarian Senator into our ranks we will get to you. Just stand in the back until we call for you."

Shepard nodded again. "Of course sir."

Hackett turned to the table and sat down. He cleared his throat and the Senators silenced themselves. Hackett looked around the room once and began speaking to them. "The next order of business has to do with our Batarian guest. He has arrived from Kar'shan and wishes to formally join the Galactic Senate as the Batarian representative. We have already heard his plea, so now we have to vote. All those in favor say 'yay.'"

All of the Senators said 'yay' in unison and Hackett nodded. "Motion accepted, record that Kelpin Her'doh is now the official Senator for the Batarian people."

Kelpin smiled and sat down next to Sparatus. Hackett looked around the room again and continued speaking. "With that settled, we have a new order of business to attend to. Commander Shepard has appealed to ask the Senate a favor. All opposed to him speaking please say 'yay.'"

No one said anything for a moment and Hackett continued. "Motion passes. Commander Shepard, please step forward, you now have the floor."

Hackett sat down and Shepard took a few steps towards the table. He let his gaze scan each face of the Senators, then he took a deep breath. "Senators, I am sorry to bother you, but I have a request. I would like to request a large meeting area for a private gathering."

Valern was the first to speak. "What 'private gathering' are you referring to?"

Shepard turned to Valern. "I wish to have my wedding, and the only available large meeting areas not in total ruin can only be found on the Citadel or Sur'kesh. I would prefer a Citadel meeting area, perhaps an undamaged church or something."

Pathayalus spoke up. "This one may not have heard you correctly. Did you tell this one you are having your wedding and you wish to keep it private?"

Shepard turned to Pathayalus. "Yes, that is what I said."

Voice moved its facial flaps and began speaking. "The Geth believe Commander Shepard's wedding would improve organic moral. Therefore we suggest Commander Shepard's wedding be in a public place with a public audience."

Koris nodded in agreement. "I second that, it would certainly give everyone a little happiness in such dark times. This must be a public event."

Hackett began speaking. "The motion to make Commander Shepard's wedding a public event has been put to the floor. All in favor say 'yay.'"

The Senators responded ' yay' in unison again. "Motion passed, Commander Shepard's wedding will be a public event. Commander Shepard, when do you what this wedding to take place?"

Shepard sighed. "I didn't want it to be a public event, but I do want to have it in a few days if that is possible. I have a plan on my omnitool, but I'm sure there are better wedding planners than me."

Hackett nodded. "Send the plan to my assistant and she will pass it out to everyone. There are several churches and other meeting areas that have not been destroyed, we will have people look into that."

Shepard nodded. "Ok, thank you. Please send me details quickly." Shepard turned to the Senators. "Thank you for your time, Senators. I rescind the floor."

Koris cleared his throat and spoke up. "Commander, I have one more question for you that I'm sure everyone else would like to ask. Who is it that you are marrying?"

Shepard chuckled. "It wasn't obvious to you, was it Koris?"

Koris tilted his head to the side with what could only be described as a confused look on his face, if you could see it through the face shield. "I do not know what you mean, Commander, can you please answer my question?"

Shepard smiled. "I am marrying the one who has always been with me, the one I love with all of my heart. She is beautiful and I know she loves me in return. I am marrying the one who makes me whole, Tali'Zorah vas Normandy."

Koris's eyes widened. "Tali? You mean the Quarian Tali?"

Shepard nodded. "Yes."

Sparatus laughed. "A Quarian? Why must you always try to ruin your image, Comma-"

Shepard's fist hit the table and he glared at Sparatus. "You questioned me about the Reapers, about the Collectors, and about every goddamn decision I've ever made and what did I do for you? I've saved your life every time I could. But if you DARE to question who I want to be with again, the Turians will be looking for a new Senator!"

Sparatus' eyes widened and he looked down in defeat. Shepard's looked at the rest of the Senators with the same glare. "Anyone else what to say something? Anyone else want to go against what they're supposed to be doing here? I don't give a shit about your political bullshit, but if you dare to even think about being an ass like Sparatus here all the good I've done for you will be for nothing. You people need to make sure your heads get out of your asses and STAY out of your asses so you can actually do some good for the rest of the galaxy. You KNOW the Reapers are gone! That means we can stop fighting and face any challenges together, as one. The ways of the Council are gone, done, finished! This is a new galaxy, and I don't want any one of you to be harboring your prejudicial bullshit from the past. So I love a Quarian, does that affect you? Is society ruined because I love someone? The answer is no. So let's move on and actually try to bring peace and harmony to this galaxy, alright?"

Shepard took a deep breath and continued. "Again, thank you for your time, Senators. I rescind the floor. Good day."

Hackett nodded to Shepard and Shepard walked out of the room. He took another deep breath and began walking out of the building. 'Why do the Turians like that prick so much?'

Citadel

Javik

Javik stood on a balcony overlooking the Wards. The Citadel was so massive... Javik wondered how much power his people truly had before the Reapers arrived. Had they truly been the masters of all the galaxy? Had they truly been as advanced as the Citadel AI had said? Javik began thinking about the Echo Shard again. It had the answers to these questions, and so many more he had formulated in his head. Touching it would give him the answers to everything; touching it would reveal the knowledge of his people and his past. Again he heard Shepard's voice in the back of his mind. 'Let old ghosts rest.'

Why should he not know what happened? What caused him to wipe part of his memory? Why did these strange feelings for the Asari make him want to do something so irrational?

Javik shook this thought out of his head. These damned emotional thoughts were tearing him apart! And they all led back to the Asari... This was her fault! She was the one to blame here! Liara... was the one who made him feel something besides anger again...

Javik cursed his foul ideas. Was he a primitive now? Was he going to be a slave to his emotions like them? Thinking about Liara continued to torture him, but what could he do? He could not control this newly unlocked part of his mind... He had thought in his cycle this feeling never existed; the war was the priority and you knew anyone you talked to could die... but somehow, he had found a way... Now there was no war; now his repressed emotions wanted to spring forth like a river. He wanted to hold Liara in his arms, he wanted to be seduced by her eyes, he wanted... Javik cursed loudly and punched the railing of the balcony. He was acting like a primitive; he had no self control! The Asari controlled him like a puppet master controls his puppets, and she didn't even know it. The only thing that could drown out this strange feeling was the Echo Shard; he had to learn its secrets! Only then could the torture end! Javik turned away from the balcony and began walking towards the Normandy. He had a shard to touch and a past to learn about. Who cares what the Commander said, he needed to know!

Author's endnote: Defend Tali's honor! Learn about the Senate! See more of Javik's inner torment! This chapter has all of that and more! This was interesting, and I hope you liked my take on the current Senate. They may change at some point, as they aren't elected for life (especially the Turian Senator... Curse you Sparatus! Oops, I mean, I can't replace him he's supposed to be there! Why would I EVER replace him? Hehehe...) Anyhow, hopefully I haven't spoiled my little plan and I hope to get to Tali and Shepard's wedding soon... but they do have a few days together all alone in a hotel room... ;) Have a good day and see you next chapter people!