Chapter 44: Terra Firma

"I'm setting the nuke."

Shepherd frowned. "Dammit, Kaiden, that's not your call to make!" Shepherd said.

"I know I'm sorry, but mission comes first you know that" he said sadly. "It's done, go get Ash, and get the hell out of here" The com then opened up.

"Fuck that! We can handle ourselves. Go back and get the Lieutenant!" Ash said.

"Damn it!" Shepherd cursed. This was not what he wanted. Both were insistent for him to go and save the other one. He wished he could save both, but there was no time to save both, he now had to make a choice, a choice between friends, the hardest choice in his life. Kaiden or Ashley, one would live and the other would die when the bomb goes off. Shepherd took a deep breath "Kaiden, stand by, we're coming to your position"

"But, Wayne…" Kaiden started.

"Damn it Kaiden, don't make this decision any harder, please…" Shepherd said weakly.

"I…I understand" Kaiden said.

"Ash, I…I'm so…" Shepherd sadly.

"Don't, I don't regret any thing" she said. "I know you'll catch Saren" Ash went silent as the battle on her front continued to rage. "Be good to her, Skipper, big sister's watching"

"Got ya" he choked.

"Ash…" Tali said in tears.

"Take care of him; someone needs to make sure he doesn't get himself killed." Ash said half-jokingly.

"I will, Keelah Sa'lai" Tali said. The com closed.

"Get away from him, Bosh'tet!" Tali growled as she kept firing.

"Rookie stay back!" Shepherd said. With each attack, Saren's biotic barrier flashed, absorbing the damage. Despite the unrelenting barrage from Tali, Saren just cracked his neck and extended his arm forward, launching a biotic throw towards her. It was strong, enough to push her down to the watery ground hard. "NO!" Saren approached the quarian and lifted her by the neck, the spectre eyes went wide as he saw Tali struggling to get out of his grip. Shepherd stood up, with pistol in hand. "Let her go, you bastard, LET HER GO!"

Saren's mandibles twitched in amusement. "So this suit rat is important to you…" he said. "Maybe I should kill her to make you realize your folly" His hand was tightening around the quaian's neck as Tali gasped for air, Shepherd's gun shook in his hand , he wanted to fire but he could accidentally hit Tali, but Saren was going to kill her. "You see, you see how powerless you are human, I have someone you care about, you want to fight but she will die if you do" he said.

Shepherd shot up from his chair, drenched in cold sweat, he looked around his surroundings, he was in the Normandy med-bay. On the one of the beds was Tali, recovering from being attacked by Saren. The mission was a success, but he felt hollow, Captain Kirrahe and his men were dead and more importantly Ash was dead, he just ordered a friend to her death. He took a look at Tali sleeping peacefully on the cot, and brushed her cheek gently. Not only that, he almost lost the most important person to him. The door opened and Doctor Chakwas came in.

"Hey doc"

"How long are you going to stay in here Commander?" She asked.

"Until Tali is fine" Shepherd said.

Chakwas shook her head. "You know she's in good hands with me, so why don't you tell me the real reason" she said. Shepherd didn't respond and Chakwas sighed. "It's not your fault, Commander"

"Yes it is, I made the decision, if I had only gotten there faster…" Chakwas came up to the Spectre and smack him upside the head. "Doc?!" Shepherd looked at the older doctor and she looked angry.

"How long do you intend to wallow in self-pity?" she asked angrily. "Ashley gave her life with no regrets, are you just going to dishonor her by hiding from the crew?" Shepherd lowered his head and Chakwas laid hand on his shoulder. "Look at me Commander, we don't blame you for the decision you made, and I wish to god we could turn back time, but all we can do is make sure her sacrifice was not in vain" The comm opened.

"Commander, you got a call from Captain Anderson, he says its urgent" Joker said.

"Got it" Shepherd said. He looked at Chakwas "You're right, I'm sorry for worrying everyone"

Chakwas smiled. "Don't worry, I think everyone will understand" Shepherd went to the comm room, on the way he saw the crew members bow their heads in respect, and understanding. He made it to the comm room.

"Shepherd" Anderson said. "I heard what happened to Williams…It's a damn shame she had to clear the Williams name like this…"

"Anderson, its okay…" Shepherd said. "So what the urgency?"

Anderson smirked. "The council has read your report; they're taking Saren seriously now. So they're assembling a joint-species fleet to deal with him and the geth." He shook his head. "About time"

"Reinforcements?" Shepherd asked, unbelieving. "Seriously?"

"You're to report at the Citadel as part of these efforts and for a debriefing, good luck son" he said. Anderson's image faded out. Shepherd sat back in a chair, and then smirked as he remembered what Chakwas said. Shepherd opened the comm.

"Joker, back to the Citadel" Shepherd asked. "We got a fleet to lead!"

"Hell yeah" Joker said. "Next stop: The Citadel."

After the Normandy had returned once again to the giant space station, they went on their way to the Citadel Tower. Kaiden and Tali agreed to come with him, as support, at first Shepherd was worried about Tali being out after her bout with Saren, but she ensured the spectre that she was fine.

"And you sure Rookie?" Shephers asked.

"I'm fine, Wayne, only a bruise on my neck" Shepherd frowned. "It will heal don't worry about it" Shepherd reluctantly nodded his head. As the team was walking through the presidium, they saw a large number of people standing around with a bunch of signs waving in the air. They were chanting something, and gathering the crowd. "I wonder what's going on" Tali said. She then looked at signs, they all had different statement, but they all had the same symbol, a planet on a shield with swords striking through it. "What's that symbol?"

Kaiden groaned and palmed his face. "Great…A Terra Firma rally…"he said annoyed. "Must be close to that time again…"

Tali looked at Kaiden and tilted her head. "Terra…Firma? What time?" she asked.

Shepherd frowned. "The Terra Firma party is a human political party who opposes humanity's growing integration into the galactic community." He said. "They always protest to mark Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of the First Contact War."

Tali looked at Shepherd. "But why? Most races would do anything to be a member of the Council" she said. "Even some of my people"

"The party was created to preserve humanity's individuality" Kaiden said. "You see there was a fear that our culture might be diluted or lost after too much integration into alien cultures"

"But, that's ridiculous, the council has existed for centuries, and that's never happened to the over races" She said.

Shepherd scoffed. "Try telling…" He got interrupted by a person standing in front of the crowd that was walking to the team. The man was in a grey suit, with a matching grey hat. His face was light in color, with blue eyes and brownish-grey hair and beard that was well-groomed.

"Ah, Commander Shepherd, may I have a word with you?" he asked.

Shepherd rolled his eyes. "I'm busy" he said. He tries to walk off, but the man blocked his way, Shepherd would move the other way and the man would match his movement. Shepherd sighed. "What do you want?" The man's eyes lit up.

"I'm Charles Sarracino of the Terra Firma Party, with Armistice Day coming soon; we're making our voices heard by the alien appeasers on the Presidium."

Shepherd looked at the protesters and crossed his arms. "I see that, so what would a party of racists and xenophobes, want with me?"

Sarracino looked uncomfortable by Shepherd's bluntness and cleared his throat. "Yes, while some of our members do hold extreme views, most of us are just doing our part to stand up for humanity" he said.

Kaiden whispered to Tali. "He gets a few points in grace for that. At least he didn't freak out at Wayne's attitude."

"I would have welcomed it, myself, this bosh'tet is getting on my nerves already" Tali said annoyed.

Shepherd frowned. "So you're 'standing up for humanity' by protesting on the anniversary of the First Contact War."

Sarracino raised his chest up with pride. "Why of course, every year for 26 years, that war thought humanity that we should stand up for ourselves, after all no one else will"

"I thought the lesson was don't go opening uncharted relays" Kaiden said. "Besides, it was all a misunderstanding, nothing more, nothing less"

Sarracino frowned. "Yes, a misunderstanding that led to the siege of Shanxi, the first and only human colony under alien control" he said. "Terra Firma believes that humanity must 'stand firm' against alien influences - politically, culturally, and in the worst case militarily!"

"Nice slogan, but your people make a racial issue, kinda like the Ku Klux Klan did to people like me during the 20th century" Shepherd said.

Sarracino was taken aback at that statement. "With all due respect sir, we are nothing like those terrorists, we have extreme members but we would never resort to their methods"

"Trust me it's all based on cultural purism" Shepherd said. "And that shit has never worked well in human history"

"You want to be stand up for humanity? Then show humanity's best side, but not this" he said pointing to the protestors.

Sarracino scoffed. "Sounds like something that coward Williams would say"

The team glared at him. "General Williams was a hero. No supplies, cut off from Alliance Command, and turians threatening civilians. What he did saved lives." Kaiden said angrily.

"It was a disgrace!" Saracino growled losing his composure. "Williams shamed us, and if you ask me he got off easy" Shepherd grabbed his neck and raised the man in the air. The people stopped what they were doing and looked at the spectacle. The spectre gave a hard glare at the man.

"Listen to me, you fucking bastard, I served with General Williams' granddaughter, she was the bravest and most honorable solder I've ever met. She deserves better than having her family name dragged through the mud by the likes of you!" Shepherd growled.

Saracino eyes grew wide. "B-but..."

"If value your tongue, you won't ever disrespect a Williams again, do you understand?" he asked. Tali touched his arm.

"It's not worth it, Wayne." She said softly.

"You're right, sayang" Shepherd agreed, "His kind rarely is." He let go the man's neck and dropped him and started to walk away.

Saracino got off the ground and coughed. He glared at Shepherd. "Humph. You still know what color your blood is, Shepherd?" he asked with contempt. "You of all people should be for what Terra Firma is about after what the batarians did to you"

"I won't forget the crimes committed against me or my home, but I'll do it from justice, not racism." Shepherd said not looking back at him.

Saracino scoffed. "Pretty hypocritical coming from the butcher of Torfan" he sneered. Tali glared at the man and punched him.

"You don't know anything about him, bosh'tet, so don't talk like you do!" Tali growled. Shepherd touched her shoulder.

"It's not worth it, Tali" he said. "We got a council meeting to attend to" Kaiden and Tali nodded.

"Good, get out of here!" Saracino said. "We don't need an alien lover representing us!" The team walked away.

Sayang: Keelish for love or lover

A Proper send-off for Ashley, don't you think? REVIEW and COMMENT