AN:

Okay, in this you'll be witnessing the first evidence of my chosen religion for Ashley and Shepard (Catholicism). I chose this primarily because I'm actually familiar with the process of marriage in it, as well as prayers commonly used in it. Throughout this story, you'll hear Shepard or Ashley randomly quote something from the bible, as well as other major works of literature (particularly Tennyson, Shakespeare, and a very particular Scotsman)

Chapter Three: News

Two days later

Everywhere around the world, the same live image appeared on all omnitools. It was the first time that Commander John Shepard, now announced as the next human councilor would be making a public appearance since he'd been brought down from the Citadel after his successful campaign against the Reapers.

Start Transmission

"This is Emily Wong, from Alliance News Network, coming to you live from London, where moments from now, Alliance Commander John Shepard, commonly known as the First Human Spectre, and as the Savior of the Citadel, will be addressing the public for the first time since his victory against the Reapers. Commander Shepard is well known for his defeat of Saren nearly four years ago, as well as his legendary part in the Skyllian Blitz, where he earned the title 'Hero of Elysium'. He is widely accepted as the greatest hero that the Alliance has ever produced, and his victory here most likely will cement that fact." said the Reporter, "And there he is."

The screen shifted towards the door of the hotel, where a pair of geth primes walked to the side, allowing Shepard's hoverchair to pass through, followed closely by the rest of his crew, Ashley following directly behind him, her eyes scanning the crowd in seconds for any sort of discrepancy. This was to be the only press conference that Shepard would be doing over the course of the next week. The next one would be held two weeks later, to commemorate both his promotions as well as his appointment as the Human Councilor.

"There's Commander Shepard, followed closely by his fellow Spectre and close friend, Lieutenant Commander Ashley Williams. Directly behind them are Garrus Vakarrian and Admiral Tali'Zorah vas Normandy, often referred to as Shepard's most dedicated squad mates. They stood with him on the Citadel when he took down Saren and once more here in London during Shepard's charge to the Conduit. There's the AI EDI in her exosuit, Lieutenant Vega, Doctor Liara T'soni, and finally, The Last of the Protheans, Javik."

The screen stopped on each member as they were announced, before finally going back to Shepard who was sitting on his hoverchair on a small, quickly created stage. The stage had been shielded, so as to not allow anyone with less than honest intentions to hurt him when he was incapable of defending himself. When he cleared his throat to speak, the microphones all activating simultaneously, caused the entire world to become deathly silent. Every living sapient on Earth or in its surrounding orbit was listening intently to what he had to say.

Shepard looked out with a bit of apprehension, "I am John Michael Shepard, a Commander of the Alliance Navy, as well as a Council Spectre. There are also names that others have given me, and amongst them are the Hero of Elysium, Savior of the Citadel, Conqueror of the Collectors, the Avatar of Victory. But as I look around me, I see greater heroes than me. I look at each and every one of you and I see a hero, someone who did not give up. I see Krogans who stood next to Salarians for the first time in more than a millennium, not as enemies but as comrades, brothers-in-arms. I saw Asari and Drell stand side-by-side to take down brutes, to stop them from claiming human lives. I saw Quarians defend Geth, for the first time in three centuries, and have the Geth respond in kind. I saw humans beside Turians working tirelessly to keep those that could not fight safe. Yet even now, I hear the murmurs of dissent, I listen to the people that would say that Earth is only for humans, and yet they can come up with no response when I ask them where they would be without the Drell. the Volus. the Hanar. the Elcor. the Krogan. the Geth. the Quarians. the Asari. the Turians. or the Salarians. They would have humans believe that we could have stood alone. I will tell you that we could not. They would say that we do not need our allies. I will tell you that we do. But unlike them, who use only their zealotry to convince you, I will tell you why everyone here human or otherwise deserves to live here on Earth. Just three days ago I saw Asari maidens, children in the eyes of the Asari, pushing themselves and their biotics far beyond their limits many until they were in a coma and one they're not they're not likely to ever wake up from, to save human lives. On Tuchanka, I saw a young Turian give his life to stop something that would have destroyed the Krogan Race, and yet today I look out my window and I see the lack of unity. So who can tell me that they do not have a right to live? Anyone that tells you we should abandon their sacrifices because they don't look like us is an idiot and a fool. Now more than ever, in a time where we are weakest, we should not forsake our allies but rather embrace them and stand together, where we can do anything that we want to achieve. When I saw Krogans and Turians on Tuchanka fighting together, I saw the war machine that once laid waste to the Rachni, and yet today they hate one another as if they had never fought beside each other. That must stop. It is not a matter of liking or disliking, to continue the pointless little squabbles, the useless dick-measuring, is to demonstrate that the Reapers were right and I was wrong. It is to prove that this galaxy can never stand as a unified group and say, I am Human and I would gladly take a bullet for my turian brother or sister in-arms. Let us show the Reapers and any others that come to challenge us, that they are wrong. That this galaxy is strong, because where one race is weak the others are strong. It is time to stop judging others by species, and look at the qualities of each and every individual. It is time that to be Quarian does not mean you are less than an Asari, or a Salarian. So I ask now, that you look at all those around you, and see what I see. People that would not give up, people that fought for the safety of both themselves and others. I see in each and every one of you, a person that stood against insurmountable odds and said fuck the odds. Look around you and see people who gave up their homes, their loved ones, their friends so that you might live. And then tell me, that they do not deserve to stand on Earth and say that 'this is my home'."

The whole world stood stock still. It wasn't a surprise to anyone present that Commander Shepard would speak out to protest the supremacist groups, but they had never thought it would be the focus of his only speech so soon after the reaper attack. As the camera slowly passed through the crowd it stopped on several images: An Asari hugging the human next to her, as tears fell from her cheeks, a group of Turians heads bowed in guilt and several others before finally the camera panned back to Emily Wong.

"Well there you have it, straight from Commander Shepard as he calls for the world to maintain its unity. This is Emily Wong, Alliance News Network."

End Transmission

Shepard sighed as he finished speaking, and was slowly taken back inside towards his room. He had been greatly disappointed at how quickly disunity had resurfaced, and he hoped that this slowed its spread.

Time Skip: Three Days Later

A small Catholic Church just outside of London

Shepard sat on his hoverchair at the small church in the outskirts of London, his hands clasped in front of him as he prayed, Ashley kneeling on the bench next to him.

"I believe in one God, The Father, The Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth of all that is seen and unseen. I believe in One Lord, Jesus Christ, the only son of God, Eternally begotten from the Father, God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God, begotten not made, one in being with the Father, through him all things were made, for us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the father. He will return in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen."

"Our Father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on Earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen."

"Hail Mary, full of grace, the lord is with thee, blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus," started Ashley and Shepard took one of her hands in his own as he continued. His thumb playing with the thin platinum band with a single diamond mounted in its center that was on her left ring finger.

"Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and in the hour of our deaths, Amen." He finished, and squeezed Ashley's hand softly, a gesture that she returned.

The two of them continued for a while, going through most of the prayers both knew before they eventually stopped and Ashley stood. She walked behind Shepard and gripped his hoverchair, bringing it towards the Priest's Office behind the Altar. Knocking softly she received the reply to enter and pushed the door open so she could bring Shepard inside with his hoverchair.

"Father?" she asked as she walked in, and the priest turned and greeted both of them with a smile. He was relatively young, probably around Shepard's age, maybe even a few years younger.

"Oh, welcome," he said, before gesturing to a seat, "please sit."

Ashley took the seat and brought it over so she could sit next to Shepard. The Priest took a seat as well and placed his hands on his knees before asking them how he could help them.

"We'd like to schedule a marriage," said Ashley, and the priest looked at her with a wide smile.

"Congratulations," he remarked, "Marriages are one of my favorite duties. Is there any specific time frame that you have to work with? And do you want a private ceremony, or would you like a public one?"

"Private," responded Shepard before Ashley could, "I'll handle the location, as for the time frame…within the next two weeks if at all possible. We'd like to settle down together as soon as possible, since we probably won't be able to get everyone together again in a couple of weeks."

"Alright, then just give me a moment to pull out the necessary forms for you to fill out, as well as the simple questionnaire I need to ask you so that I know how best to organize your ceremony."

Both Shepard and Ashley nodded, before the two of them were handed several pieces of paper. Ashley took them all, and placed them in her purse.

"Okay, I want you to know that everything you say here is under the greatest confidentiality. First question then…names," said the priest, "Are you going to take your husband's name Commander Williams?"

Ashley looked at him in surprise at having been recognized, before saying, "Yeah, I will."

"Then I'll address you as Mr. and Mrs. Shepard when I introduce you to as a married couple," said the priest, "Next question, you both have performed the sacraments of initiation and confirmation correct?"

The two of them nodded once.

"Commander Shepard, I understand that you are to be the new Human Councilor on the Council," said the father, and Shepard nodded, "Will I need to give you any information on my staff beforehand?"

Shepard shook his head, "Father Josemaria Estobal, Born August 11th 2152, in Madrid. You are the third child in your family, as well as the only son, having two sisters. One of your sisters was killed here in London about three weeks ago, the other is currently serving aboard the De Gama and has two children both of whom are studying aboard the dreadnought's academy. Went to a public school until the age of 16, when you graduated a year early, you immediately went into the priesthood, going on to be ordained in 2178. You joined the Society of Jesus in 2180 while you were serving in a church just outside of Pamplona, before you were transferred here in April 2186 about a month before the reaper invasion. When you were transported into the camps, you handled food distribution so the people you had under your care wouldn't starve because they didn't moderate their rations. During the battle here in London you suffered two minor wounds and a more serious blunt blow to your left leg which will most likely leave you needing a cane for anything but very minor movement for the rest of your life unless you get surgery from a major hospital, well beyond what the church is capable of providing for you as it stands at the moment."

The father actually looked shocked at how detailed Shepard's information was.

"I can do the same with all seventeen members of your staff. From the accountant who has a constant runny nose, to the pro-Terra Firma deacon you have serving under you," said Shepard, "I'm a Council Spectre Father Estobal. I make it my business to know everything I need to about people who will be in a position that could put my friends and family in danger. I will warn you that you will be searched before going inside, so any weapons or the like that any of your staff carry…might not be in their best interest to bring. Council Spectres will be handling security, so please make sure that your staff is aware of the situation. Also…I'd like it if you made sure no one found out about this besides your staff… for obvious reasons."

"Yes, of course. You have my word that no one but my staff will hear of this," said Father Estobal, and Shepard nodded, thanking him as did Ashley. The rest of the interview continued quickly and about twenty minutes later, Shepard and Ashley got onto the Shuttle that had been assigned to him by the council. Shepard nodded his greeting at the salarian spectre, Jondum Bau, as Ashley helped him to get onto the Shuttle, Bau keeping a lookout. As soon as Ashley got inside, Bau shut the door and slammed on the hull twice, before walking over to his shuttle, which would be providing Shepard with an escort.

Can I say that this has been nearly impossible for me to write? I kept on going back and undoing things because I didn't like how they were turning out. I had a scene in here which had Shepard reminiscing about the night before Ilos…but had to take that out with FF's new enforcement policy…so that kinda sucked. It brought my word count down to just above 2700 according to MS word.