A year and a half ago.

Ashley awoke only to see a white ceiling above her. She groaned and turned to see out of the window a blue sky. Her eyes widened, she thought she was on the Normandy or another medical bay on a ship or station but not on planet. She wanted to stand but her body ached too much for her to stand. But she forced herself to sit up causing and Asari doctor to come up and lay her back down.

"Commander stay down. You need to rest." she said.

"But… my team..." Ashley muttered.

"It's over." the Asari said making Ash look at her with wide eyes. "We lost contact with the allied forces but from what we can tell, the crucible fired and destroyed the Reapers."

"Good." Ashley smiled before laying down and falling asleep due to her wounds.

The Normandy flew through into the area for scanning. As it did Ashley, which a smile walked up to one of the tables and sat down with food. She was glowing from the date she had with John yesterday. A nice meal and a good talk, until one of the other patrons decided to try and beat the commander up for not killing the council. John obviously decked him before security came and offered a free meal.

As she began to eat she noticed the liquid in her cup shake. She placed her chicken down before standing. Just then something hit the ship sending her into a wall. Grunting she ran into the crew quarters and grabbed her helmet. As she came out she noticed John running, she came up behind him as she slid her helmet on.

"John!" Ash called to get his attention.

"Distress beacon is ready for launch." he said as he turned to her.

"Will the Alliance here in time?"

The ship was hit with another shot causing the two to stumble into each other's arms. "The Alliance won't abandon us. We just need to hold on." he picked up a fire extinguisher and started putting out one of the many fires that were blazing. "Get everyone on the escape shuttles."

"Joker is still in the cockpit and you're here," she argued. "If you and him not leaving, neither am I."

A small explosion went off which caused him to stumble towards her. "I need you to make sure the crew gets out in the escape pods. I'll take care of Joker and get out." He turned to go but she grabbed on to his arm, something compelled her to grab onto him.

"NO.."

He looked back at her, "Ash."

Instinctively she realised what she did and let go. "Don't die." She said before moving and caught up to a group of crew members evacuating. She stood outside of the escape pod and waved them to get in. "Everyone get in. Go, go, go! Chakwas and several others jumped into the pod."

One crew member tried to make a run for the pod, but an explosion went off sending her into the wall. The impact broke her back and neck killing her. she shook her head and went inside the pod. She activated the pod and launched out. The ride was bumpy but soon calmed down and the restraints lifted allowing for the escapees to look out. Ashley was the first one to look out and see the Normandy burning.

She almost held her breath but then an explosion near the cockpit and two things where thrown from the ship, a body and a pod. Her eyesight wasn't perfect but the red line along the arm was distinctive. Tears fell down her eyes as she saw John not move and fall into the planet's atmosphere. She fell back into her seat and Chackwas moved up and understood hat just happened.

Ashley awoke to a light being shined in her eyes and she saw the Asari doctor checking her pupils. The marine moaned in annoyance as she turned making the doctor smile.

"Ahh your awake." she said.

"Yeah what about it?" Ashley asked.

"You've been out cold for a week. We applied medi-gel to your wounds and helped the healing possess. How are you feeling?"

"Like I was blown out an airlock." she muttered.

"That's no surprise, your ship crashed landed. You where the only survivor." she said apologetic.

Ash shook her head. "It's ok, some of the crew had the huskfication plague. They where already dead."

"I'm sorry to hear that." the Asari said as she scanned Ashley's body. "It's looks like you've healed quite well, good. But I'd recommend that you relax for the next few day's, the impact may have cause some fractures, and I need to make sure you're ok with walking."

"Fair enough."

"Doctor." a male voice said.

Ash turned to see a young marine walk in. he has short black hair and was around his late twenties with a scar over his eye. All in all quite handsome, she smiled as the doctor stood to attention.

"High commander, I'm sorry I didn't see you there." she said.

"Ahh so here is out guest." she said pulling up a chair and sitting next to her.

"She's fine sir but I would recommend rest for the next few day's."

"And in my experience, you do what the doctor says." Ashley said.

"Agreed, I promise we won't go anywhere." he said making the doctor smile and leave.

"So, how are you feeling?" he asked.

"Sore." she answered. "I was in a small place on the ship preventing too much damage to my body. But I've had worse."

"So I hear Commander Williams." he said but not getting a reaction from her. "You knew?"

"Well, come on I lead several operations against the Reapers so a lot of people know who I am. So yeah I knew that you knew." she said with a smirk before turning serious. "After I crashed what happened?"

The man fell silent for a moment before looking up. "The… the information we have is spotty at best. But from we've been able to piece together is that the Crucible did fire and destroyed all the Reapers…. But there only under a billions of us left."

"On planet?"

"No, in the galaxy. The Reapers took it all, what's more is that there are no governments left. The Alliance, the Council, all gone no one is left. We're on our own. Because of that, I've set up a local militia to travel out to other worlds and see what we can do. I would like you, when your ready to lead a task force to a nearby world and see what we can do."

Ashley nodded, this mentality appeared when humanity discovered the relay's. Send task forces out to other worlds and verify if it's good for expansion, but in this case it's creating a new government and bringing people back together. It was that kind of imperial mentality that many people in the past took with varying degrees of success. This caused mixed feelings inside her as she considered the offer. But then again it would be better to see the after affects of the war.

"Ok deal." she said making him smile.

"Good, by the way my name is High Commander Zeno."

"High commander?" she asked almost laughing. "So I take it that your the leader around here?"

"Yes, and yes." Zeno said smugly. "I decided to call myself High commander as I do not feel comfortable with the other titles of government."

"Fair enough, so what would my rank be?"

"Mmmm I'd think Task Commander given your skills." he said with a smile. "Also I need your normal clothing."

"Why?"

"Because this planet has little production for clothing and it's one of the things we need. So what we do is brake them down and create thin but warm pieces of cloth and then make them into toga's which requires little cloth to make."

Ashley sighed knowing full well that this wasn't going to be a negotiable. "Fine." she said.

"Thank you. Now get some sleep." he said as he took her clothing as she fell asleep.

OOOOO 6 weeks later.

In a sports bra and trousers Ashley was outside taking a long run to make sure her body was ok. The doctors needed to make sure that her bones healed properly, medi-gel is good for skin but not bone. That is a more complicated matter. Depending on the amount of calcium the bone's have boned become more stronger to a certain degree. As such several gels and techniques where made to repair bones completely. Basic bone healing was given to all medical clinics to help people who had bone trouble.

But since her injury's where moderate it mean that all she needed to do was rest and exercise in order to help the healing possess. Her muscle structure was slightly affected by her lack of exercise but not enough to prevent her from moving swiftly. Heading back she had gotten used to seeing people in toga's. The exception to this was the local police to wore a front three blue pouch webbing with a black shirt and blue trousers. This made them identifiable to everyone that they where the police. The locals termed them Enforces given how strict they where.

The laws on New Olympus where quite strict in terms of clothing, weapons and children. Clothing was meant to be in toga only form, weapons where not allowed in the hands of civilians and each family is only allowed at least 2 children due to possible food and resource shortages. With the clothing laws it was more or less a day in the jail because there was little harm done. As for owning weapons, this was more of a problem as the offender would be sent to the farms for 6 months as punishment.

The child laws, Ashley had mixed feeling about. If a family has three children has a third or more children who is not a twin or was born before the firing of the crucible where allowed to stay with their family's. The same went for pregnant women, but if a woman was found pregnant with a third child they would be forced to have an abortion to protect the settlements interests. Abortion was a touchy subject to humans due to religious and moral views. While Ashley was brought in with god in mind she thought that people had reasons but she was conflicted on this law here and now.

For started why should a woman be forced to have an abortion in the first place? The child could help with the local farm or mines, or even something like an engineer. But due to lack of edible food on the planet would make them and other people starve. Both arguments had validity but it wasn't her decision. That was something else she had a problem with, the government. Democracy works if there are sufficient resource to go around, however the situation didn't allow for this. In this case a dictatorship would work the best as the control is with one person with no worry about arguments.

But then again the person would remain in power for however long he chooses and make laws as much as he liked. Given what she had heard it was for the best. Warlords, as people had called them began to take over system by system. An apatite for power was dangerous as it worked both ways. Power corrupts, but it also makes those that lack strong will fall. It all depends on the person, who which was Zeno? A strong defender? A weak idealistic fool? Or a power hungry tyrant? Only time would tell.

As she arrived one of the nurses placed down her new clothing on one of the benches. She looked at the clothing presented to her. It was a simple short white toga with leather gladiator sandal like shoes. Made from her uniform yes but she just didn't like it, but then again she was one of the council who agreed to this. Sighing she took the toga and began to wrap it around her body before holding it together with a silver pin. She then said on the sandals which fitted perfectly around her feet. Moving her hair out of her eyes she looked to the settlement, children where playing in the street while people where going about their business. She sat down as she picked up a plastic bottle and took a quick swig as a human nurse came up.

"Task Commander Williams." she said as she looked at the datapad. "You have been given a full bill of health, you're free to go. But because of your rank you have been given a house close to the Palace. Along with a uniform and clothing."

"Thanks." Ash said as she stood and took the pad that was handed to her.

"Well need to check on you within a week but all in all you are cleared for duty." she said with a smile.

"Thanks." Ashley muttered as she walked into the settlement.

The Capitol of new Olympus, Mytos, was set out in a circle with the Palace being in the middle while white wooden houses where around the middle. Technology they had was limited to production of weapons, water filtration, food and farming and information. Holo pillars broadcast the latest new in the galaxy as well as New Olympian successes as well as local news. Ashley paid little attention to this as she headed to the centre of the settlement and then moved over to a house to the left.

The house itself was made out of the local white wood giving it a limestone like look. The inside had a wooden floor and pre-fab walls that had heating, and all the other luxury's that the pre-fab units had. This was a two sortie house with a v roof allowing for rain to come off the top. A simple design that everyone had. Walking up to the door she typed in a four number key and pressed her thumb on the finger-print scanner before the door opened. As she entered she then noticed a blue uniform on the stairs in front of her with a note.

She walked up to it and picked up the note.

Dear Ashley,

I hope you like your new house, but I do hope that you'll come to meet me for dinner at 4:30 at the market.

From Zeno.

Ashley looked to her clock and smiled, taking her uniform she walked up the stairs to change.

OOOOO

Zeno waited outside a cafe for a good five minutes, he was early just they way he like it. A moment later Ashley in her uniform came up and sat down in front of him.

"So, waiting for me too long?" she asked.

He smiled back. "Not too long."

OOOOO a month later.

"Awww come on I can pull you from that if you like." Zeno said over the radio.

"Please, we both know I'm qualified for this. We need more planet's under our control, we need more resources."

"Ok ok, but you owe me another meal out deal?"

"Deal." she said smiling and closing the communication.

She then turned around and headed for the lift and headed down. Task force commander was more like of Field Marshall in terms of command. Ash was in command of 1 Asari dreadnought, 5 Turian cruisers and 10 human frigates. This allowed her to command a force of around 1200 soldiers for scouting missions and planetary assaults. The planet she was on, Quint, was a lightly populated planet of mostly Asari and children. Being part of New Olympus it was Ashley's duty to make sure that the planet followed the laws of New Olympus.

It was the norm now, for her and others. It had been two and a bit months since the Reapers fell and now Warlords and taking over worlds and installing their rule was the norm. Ashley walked onto the ramp on her ship as she looked over the main settlement's inhabitance. The armour she wore was a blue top with long blue thigh high boots, over her left arm was a blue arm cape with an eagle holing a planet.

"I." she called out. "Am Task Commander Williams, you are now under the rule of New Olympus. I have one simple rule, obey me and we'll have no problems, disobey and I will make an example of you." she said firmly.

Walking down the ramp an air of authority around herself. "I do not tolerate any kind of disorder. So any disorderly conduct will be punished."

OOOOO 2 months later.

"So, when he jumped up on the table he drank the whole bottle down before falling on a Krogan to treated him like a pet when he fell." Zeno laughed.

Ashley laughed too but she nearly choked on her food. She coughed up forcing Zeno to pat her on the back. It had been three months since they had been dating, and the two bonded like glue. Once she stopped choking Zeno took a drink of water before pressing his lips on her's. Water flowed from him into her making her moan. She grabbed onto his collar and pulled off the kiss licking her lips.

"Let's find a place to ourslef's." she said surly making him smile

OOOOO

Ashley and Zeno, both naked fell onto the bed with Ashley on top she pinned him down and years of sexual frustration was released. His dick was large and inside her making her moved up and ride him like a horse she looked at his scared muscular body with lust and just rode with a smile. She was like a wild animal as she pressed her lips against him. Zeno just enjoyed himself as he thrust his hips into her making her moan into the kiss. This wasn't love, this was wild sex.

As she thursed in her Ash fell onto her side before forcing Zeno onto the top forcing to fuck her more. She then pushed him off before turning so that she was on her hands and knees. He picked up speed and making her cry out.

"Ahh yes, fuck me! Fuck me like the bitch I am." she called.

Zeno was more then happy to oblige and picked up more speed. But as he did making her moan Ash felt guilty yet she didn't know why. The pleasure of sex was just like the number of time's she had it but something was missing, she felt empty like something was missing. She could feel her limit coming and Zeno then came in her making her moan and climax. While she felt a wait lifted from her, another wait fell on her. She felt satisfied but not satisfied, a guilt weighed on her hear and she felt nothing through the experience. What was going on with her?

OOOOO 5 months later

A silhouette of a man stood before her surrounded by fire. Quickly he turned and the face of John Shepard met her's.

"ASHLEY!" he said jumping to her.

Ashley sat bolt upright on her bed before falling back down. She looked at her left to see a gold ring around her finger. Her heart didn't race, she didn't even feel anything. That was strange, her mother had told her that after their marriage she and her father couldn't keep their hands off each other for a long time. But she didn't have that kind of desire, she looked to Zeno next to her and felt nothing. Was this normal? She got married yesterday and she should feel something, some lust, some kind of love but there was nothing. Getting up out of bed she walked over to a sink and poured some water into her hands before splashing herself. Maybe she was too tired, but no she was fine, she looked at the ring.

Something was wrong.

OOOOO 1 year after the Reaper war.

Ashley looked over the prisoners awaiting for orders. Most of them where women and children, all they did was steal some clothing and question the laws of New Olympus. Not really anything to get over about but according to he husband they where part of a large resistance cell. So she waited to confirm this, but part of her doubted it. She doubted her own husband, he had changed since they day they got married, the charm was gone and a ruthlessness took over him. She didn't want to believe it but there it was, there was also the simple fact that she no longer loved him.

Soon enough a ship landed and Zeno came up to her with a tone of authority around him. He stood next to her and looked at the prisoners.

"Are these them?" he asked.

"Yes, now where is the evidence that they are part of a resistance cell?" she asked.

He looked to her before moving up and kissing her, she pulled herself off him and slapped him across the face. "This is no time for that, evidence now!"

"Here is the evidence." he said handing her a datapad.

She read it before looking up. "Let the children go." she ordered.

"Belay that." Zeno said making her look to him. "Flame troopers up!"

"WAIT." Ash yelled as four flame troopers moved up to the fence.

"Burn them!" he said before Ashley could say anything.

She didn't hear the cry's, she didn't hear the screams in pain ass she saw was fire, fire and burning flesh. She stood there even until the fires died down. Zeno turned to his ship before stooping 10 feet away from Ashley. He turned to her seeing that she was still there.

"Ashley, time to go sweetheart." he said in a soothing voice.

Ash said nothing as she looked to the cape she was wearing, she then looked ahead to see what was left of the women and children. Zeno called her name again making her turn, she looked to him then to her cape. Taking a hold of it she ripped it off and there it to the floor making the soldiers eyes widen. She then reached for the ring on her finger and took it off. Reaching fore her pistol she them picked it up and aimed it at Zeno.

The soldier's next to him aimed at her, looking from one to the other she dived to the right and fired four rounds in rapid succession taking down the shields of two. As they aimed again she moved fast and fired again with six rounds flying through the air hitting two of them in the chest and neck. As for the final two who came charging with electrified batons in hand. As thy got in close she pressed the barrel up against one of them and pulled the trigger.

The round pierced one on his lungs causing him to fall. As the other one came in with a swing she judo threw him over her shoulder and fired 9 rounds into his neck before turning her attention to Zeno. She walked up to him and passed him dropping the ring she gave him in the dirt.

"Consider that a devoice." she said before heading to one of the frigates.