Chapter 18: What happens next?

"The project base was over run, Councilor Udina. Anderson was killed in the first wave of the assault." After her rescue from Caleston, Ashley Williams contacted the Council. Udina was the only one to pick up as the other three are dealing with the growing panic in the galactic community. "Commander Shepard... was killed in action."

Udina, didn't speak, but seemed stunned by the news. "The threat of the Reapers invading the Citadel has grown. For all we know they could be on their way right now." Ashley sighed, feeling this conversation would go nowhere. Udina never really took any heed to a suggestion that hurt his bottom line. "I'd advise a full-scale evacuation of the Citadel."

"I'm already dealing with a panic! These machine's have swept into the batarian's systems and their refuge's are coming out telling stories of "dreadnoughts" devastating their worlds!" Udina barked.

"All the more reason to get people out of there!" Ashley's words seemed to come out on their own, taking all her frustration out on Udina she didn't attempt to hold her tongue. "We're looking at days if not shorter than that before the, Reapers get to the Citadel and open it wide open for the rest of their fleet!"

"That will be all, Williams. Bring the Normandy to port." And with that the hologram of, Udina faded.

Ashley stepped out of the briefing room, the crew staring at her and then breaking eye contact when she looked in their direction. The crew took, Shepard's death hard. Half of them belonged to the Cerberus crew that was saved by Shepard during the expedition beyond the Omega four relay. Beside her initial outburst at leaving Shepard on Caleston, Ashley didn't really grieve for Shepard as she had before. She felt numb to it.

She walked to the cockpit, Joker was there and seemed to have his head more on the stars than on the controls. "Joker?"

"Oh, Yeah?" She caught off guard "What can I do for you Chief, or is it Lieutenant now? I don't really remember, you seem to get a promotion every couple months."

"Being a spectre does that." Ashley said.

"So how are you holding up." Joker asked.

"Holding up?" Ashley repeated. "Funny, that seems to be exactly what I'm doing."

"I can't believe we lost him again. Anderson to." Joker leaned forward and just stared at the floor. "What is the point? These things can't be stopped."

"Hey!" Joker's head snapped right up to Ashley. "They hurt us today we aren't beaten... not yet. Shepard gave us a chance to stop them, his mission is mine now and we will stop these things."

Ashley was alerted by her voice being played over the ship's speakers. She glared at Joker, to which he only replied with a shrug. She continued. "We stopped them at the Citadel the first time and again at Arcturus! They can be stopped and we've proven it! We've all lost people on they way, and we'll lose more before this war is finished."

"And we will make them pay for every single one!" Ashley could her the crew cheer back in the CIC, she hoped that was enough.

The Captain's quarters:

Ashley wondered around Shepard's room. She was amused by the model ships, and the fish tank. The prothean orb on the coffee table seemed out of place and the helmet in the corner made her nervous. Like some one was watching her. The room was neat and almost seemed like it hadn't been lived in. She paused when she got to a dresser on the side of, Shepard's bed. They held his dog tags, the same ones she gave to Admiral Hackett, a year after Shepard's death.

With out thinking she took them out of their box. She grasped them tightly in her hand, holding them to her heart. Taking the time to remember her fallen commander. "Williams?"

She recognized the voice as belonging to Miranda Lawson. She was standing behind, Ashley, leaning on a closet. "Oh, Miranda." Ashley turned around, surprised to see her. "I didn't hear you come in."

"You've got a lot on your mind." Miranda stood up straight and took a step closer to Ashley. "We'll be at the, Citadel in a few hours."

"Alright. Anything else?" Ashley exhaled.

Miranda shook her head, no. "I heard your speech. The crew needed to hear it."

"I'm sure the Cerberus crew will head out once we land." Ashley whispered, not intending Miranda to hear it. Which she did.

"They respect you, Williams. I do to." Miranda placed a hand on, Ashley's shoulder, her eyes seeming sure of herself. "This is your crew now. I know you miss Shepard... I..." She paused as if to catch her self from saying something, and then continued. "We all do. But right now we need you."

Ashley sat on the bed and stared at Shepard's dog tags that were cradled in her hands. "I'm not, Shepard. What if I can't do this?"

Miranda sat next to, Ashley and took a deep breath. "Well that is too bad, isn't it? Right now the galaxy depends on us. So you don't get to doubt."

"Wear the burden the best you can... we've got a galaxy to save."

Elsewhere:

Velentrian Tenais, turian spectre and now a prisoner. The reapers promised to expose Shepard's treachery. He saw too late what they really were. Now they experiment on him and whisper, their words seeming correct and inescapable. He could not struggle, only obey. Their thoughts are his, their goals are his. They have enlightened him. In a short time they have brought him over to their side, erasing all uncertainty from his mind.

"You've nearly cost us turian. But this was expected, you're organic mind is full of these questions. We have relieved you of them."

"What is it you will have me do, Harbinger?"

"In the Citadel tower there is a control panel. Activate it and we shall spread across the galaxy. The chaos of organic life will cease."