26.

Ashley looked at the pictures that sat on Shepards desk. Recent ones added from their small Shore Leave on Terra Nova and the victory pictures at Pinnacle Station. That had been satisfying beyond belief, the Skipper had topped all the leader boards and beaten Admiral Ahab's simulation, no holds barred. Not to mention one smug Turian shut up for good, even Garrus had been impressed with that one.

Garrus was not like any Turian she had met. He was respectful to her and he helped her with her Sniping, by the end of this tour she suspected that she would be pretty good with a snipers rifle. He had picked up some flaws she had whilst practising, and when he took a turn all of them had been kill shots.

Garrus Vakarian, in her opinion had to be the greatest sniper she had ever met. He seemed to be in a world of his own, he would shut everything else out as if it had just faded to nothing and, over the course of the last year, he had shown her how best to improve her own minor technique. So much so, that it was not unusual to see them on the Normandy's small shooting range together,

Now she was in her skippers quarters. The scuttle butt had already told her what had occurred between the Lieutenant and Shepard, in fact the atmosphere between them was so sour, it would curdle milk. Ashley had not wanted this to happen, she knew that they all needed to focus and have their minds on the mission.

Yet she also did not want to let the Skipper go, Normally being with another woman had never entered Ash's mind, it was not something she had ever really considered but, she could not envision her life without the famous Commander Shepard by her side. At the moment the Skipper was talking to Liara about something. There was a slight pang of Jealousy at the thought of the Asari monopolising her lovers time, but Cassie had made it clear to Liara where her heart lie. Still it didn't stop Liara's crush.

She turned as the doors opened and Cassie came in, throwing her jacket over the back of her chair and flopping into it. "Blood council" She muttered under her breath,

"What they done now?"

"They tell me about Virmire, tell me they want me to check it out..then have a go at me for stopping that Batarian raid on the Asteroid. Seems the Batarian Hegemony has lodged a formal protest, Teevos sided with me but the other two...ugh" Cassandra threw her hands in the air "What is the point of being a Spectre if all I get is stonewalled by the council when I am "Supposed" to do what needs to be done to keep the peace." She rubbed her brow "and then there's Udina"

"What's he done?" Ash handed the Commander a coffee and sat herself across from the skipper.

"Took me task over how I acted on the asteroid" She did not mention that he also told her that her relationship with Williams was highly inappropriate. She had told him to mind his own damn business and stay out of what does not concern him. She had also reminded him that as a Council Spectre, she did not answer to him or the Alliance any more. "Kaidan filed his report"

Ashley shook her head "Wow, things that bad between you two and its my fault"

Cassie frowned "And you come to that conclusion because?"

"I am Alliance Skipper and it makes no difference about the technicalities, we shouldn't be doing this, I also figured that he would have something to say about us"

Cassie set her mug down and leant forward "Alenko asked me on a date before you boarded the Normandy Williams, I turned him down, politely, but I said no never the less, I explained that I just didn't date guys. He was fine with it...until I started dating you and you know what, I don't care about the kiss ass Udina's of this world or Alenkos. I can sleep at night knowing I did the right thing and for once followed my heart. If you want to end this Ash that's up to you but it had better be for the right reasons and not because Alenko or Udina are sticking their noses in where it is not wanted."

Ash met her commanders gaze with one of her own. "Not a chance" She punctuated each word just so her point was made. Satisfied that it was she moved across to where the Commander sat and slid onto her lap. "Can I ask you something Shepard, if Greg and Tali's pulse hadn't worked..."

"I'll tell you what I told Alenko Ash, I would have dealt with it but if it meant that twenty lives had to be forsaken to save the millions that lived on Terra Nova...then that's a choice I would have accepted..no matter how distasteful."

"And Balak?"

"The Hegemony want him back, The Alliance is not letting him go, he's a war criminal, he would have killed millions to make a point" Shepard pulled a face "I wasn't going to let him go"

"Commander, sorry to disturb you but Councillor Teevos is asking permission to come aboard" Jokers voice came over the intercom.

Ashley and Cassie exchanged shocked glances and both stood up "Ash, get an honour guard lined up, lets show the Asari councillor we humans know how to give respect."

"Aye aye" Cassie gave her a quick kiss and ran a hand through her hair "Tell her five minuets Joker."

"Aye ma'am"

The N7 elite scratched her brow and shook her head a little, what on earth would Teevos want here and now?

Only one way to find out she supposed. She stopped off at the medical bay and asked Liara to accompany her then meeting up with Williams and the eight men and women for the honour guard made their way to the CIC.

As Shepard watched, she observed that the councillor was indeed the consummate politician, and, to the human Spectres mind, the true power behind the throne of the Council. She greeted each and every crewman and woman, even the four non-humans with as much respect as the humans.

Shepard had no idea how old Teevos was, but she was beautiful. Her skin was an azure blue, white markings covered much of her face and her eyes, they sparkled with genuine awe and amazement as she accompanied the Commander on a tour of the Normandy.

She listened with interest as both Tali and Adams explained how they had managed to save the Engineers of Terra Nova. She shook her head as Liara relayed the true brutality of the Batarians to her fellow Asari. Eventually she was taken to Shepards quarters that also doubled as her office. She accepted the drink Cassie gave her and sipped it.

"I grew a liking for Scotch when Captain Anderson took me for a night out once" She remarked "A truly honourable man Anderson."

"One of the best" Cassie muttered.

"Cassandra, I was saddened to hear about your twin brother, I read the report and I was saddened to read of such a callous and uncalled for action against your own people" She seemed to be genuinely sorrowful.

"Thankyou Councillor" Cassie replied, to be honest she tried not to think about such things, the implications that the Alliance knew what Cerberus was up to all along was too much for her to even try and put together. "Forgive me Madam Councillor, but this is an unusual step for one such as yourself, to come here alone...was there a reason for your visit?"

Teevos set her glass to one side "Indeed there was Commander, but I must ask that Lady T'Soni leave...this matter is Spectre business and highly confidential"

Liara inclined her head and giving a last look at the Commander walked out the room. Cassie arched and eyebrow and poured herself and Teevos another drink.

"There is an ongoing mission that I have for you and you alone Cassandra...it involves the Salarians"

Shepard listened.

Two hours later Teevos left the Commanders quarters and the Normandy headed for Virmire. Shepard never discussed what the Councillor wanted...truth be told she wouldn't even know where to begin. This was however an ongoing mission, one that might take years and one that would have to be solid in evidence and proof before she made a final move.

Now she understood what being a Spectre really meant.