Chapter 20 is here! Has it been 20 chapters already? Wow, who would've guessed I'd still want to write after so many words! :D But there have been over 6000 views to my story now... Anyhow, as always Mass Effect is owned by Bioware. Now that that's done I hope you enjoy the story!

Ch.20: Shore Leave

Normandy SR-2

Commander Shepard

Shepard stood quietly in the helm listening to Joker and EDI discuss the Batarian senator. They both seemed surprised Shepard had allowed him on the ship, but they didn't argue with him; they knew the best way to end the hate was to be nice to them. Shepard continued to listen to their conversation as the Normandy began flying through the relay.

Joker turned around as he gave EDI temporary control. "So Shepard, what's the Batarian political guy like?"

Shepard turned to Joker. "He's a politician, you know how they are. It doesn't matter the species, politicians remain the same." Shepard sighed. "Hopefully some sense was knocked into their heads now though, because if I have to go through any more political bs I just might get angry."

Joker laughed. "If the politicians do anything Shepard, they would deserve any punishment you see fit. The Turian councilor has been a lot better lately though, too bad for him he's only a senator now."

Shepard smiled. "Senators aren't much different from the Councilors, Joker, but I see your point. I hope the new constitution will help keep the power in the right place."

The Normandy flew through the Charon Relay and began flying towards Earth. The Citadel continued to hover above the planet; it had sustained only minimal damage to most areas besides the Citadel Tower. The Galactic Senate currently used a former biotiball Colosseum in the Wards for their meetings as the Citadel Tower continued to be repaired.

The Normandy descended towards one of the wards and docked. Shepard turned around to open the airlock. The Batarian senator, Kelpin, then began walking out of the elevator with his bodyguards behind him. He walked up to Shepard and shook his hand.

"Thank you for the safe journey, Commander. I hope this senate is as good as you claim they are."

Shepard shook his hand back. "I can't guarantee it, but I know they're doing better than the Council. Hackett is a good man and most of the Senators I know or have seen before. They're all good people."

Kelpin nodded. "I just hope they are in the mood to help my people, we have almost nothing now."

"I'm sure they will offer any assistance they can, but everyone has suffered. At least the Salarians are sending as much aid as they can spare."

Kelpin nodded again and turned to the door. "I should be going, Commander, the Batarian people need my help. I hope we meet again."

Kelpin walked out the door with his bodyguards surrounding him. Shepard turned back to Joker with a smile. "I think he'll make a good senator for the Batarians though, he has his head in the right place. Hopefully we won't have to worry about them anymore."

Joker nodded and turned his chair around. "I'm sure you're right, Commander, he doesn't seem like a bad guy. I just hope the Batarians stop their slave activity now that they've been nearly eradicated."

Shepard chuckled. "Yeah, I hope so too. I'm pretty sure it was something that was deeply rooted in their culture, but with them barely holding on to a viable population I think that might change."

Shepard walked up to the comm and turned it on. "This is Commander Shepard. We have arrived at the Citadel, so everyone has a little shore leave. I'll send a message to everyone when you need to return, but you can assume you'll get a few days off. Crew dismissed."

Shepard heard a few cheers and he smiled. Now all he had to do was talk to the Senate, get the wedding set up, and make sure everything was getting better...

Normandy SR-2

Javik

"... you'll get a few days off. Crew dismissed." Javik heard over the comm. He stopped writing and let out a breath of relief; maybe looking at the Citadel would clear his head. He turned off his terminal and began walking towards the door, but again looked at the Echo Shard. 'What could be in it?' Javik thought as he turned away and opened the door. Whatever was in the Echo Shard could hurt, but to be able to see the Protheans in all their glory, to see the woman he knew nothing about but still loved... Javik cursed to himself and opened the elevator door. The Quarian and the Human engineers were already in the elevator talking quietly about engines. 'Stupid primitives and their worthless engines.' Javik thought as he stood quietly in the corner of the elevator.

Then the Quarian turned to him and spoke. "So, how are you doing, Javik? Ready for some shore leave?"

Javik looked at Tali with a bored look. "Of course I am ready, there is never a moment I am not."

Tali shook her head. "You know you can calm down just a little bit now, the Reapers are gone."

Javik glared. "You do not understand, Quarian. You have your mate, your homeworld, your people..."

Tali sighed and turned back to the other engineers. Javik remained standing in the corner quietly. He couldn't shake this damned 'love' emotion! It was eating at his insides, telling him he needed to see her face again, or find someone new... Javik shook the thought from his head, and began thinking about the Citadel. There were so many things he hadn't seen yet, so many wonders he had to learn about, and he had to clear his head of the past, even if for only a few hours.

Normandy SR-2

Garrus Vakarian

Garrus stood next to the elevator waiting for it to arrive at the Crew Deck. 'Why is this elevator so slow?' Garrus thought until he saw Liara begin walking up to him.

"Hey Garrus..." She said quietly as they waited for the elevator.

"Are you feeling better, Liara?" Garrus asked. "I'm sorry about the other day..."

"It's fine Garrus, really." Liara turned to the elevator. "Tali and I spoke, everything's fine now."

Garrus nodded. "I know, with the war and all, it was hard for you two to talk to each other much... I'm glad you finally worked out your differences."

Liara smiled. "So am I, Garrus. I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I lost a friend like Tali."

"Neither would I, Liara." Garrus smiled. "She's one of a kind..."

The elevator doors opened and Garrus and Liara squeezed in with the engineers and Javik. The Prothean seemed to be a more uncomfortable than usually, but it was probably nothing...

Normandy SR-2

Commander Shepard

Javik sped past Shepard with a nod as he stood next to the airlock waiting for the others. Shepard smiled as Liara passed him, wondering to himself what she would be doing with her shore leave. Garrus nodded at Shepard as he passed him as well, and Shepard wondered what he would do with his... Tali was still talking to the engineers and nearly walked past Shepard, but Shepard grabbed Tali around the waist to stop her.

Tali squirmed until she heard Shepard's laugh. She spun around and glared at him teasingly. "Bosh'tet, I was having a conversation!"

Shepard pulled her closer. "And I'm sure it was interesting... but you don't have to talk about work on shore leave. We have a few days all to ourselves..."

Tali rubbed Shepard's arm with her hand. "What are you suggesting we do?"

Shepard smiled. "Well, I got Liara to book us a room at one of the only fancy hotels still open. It has soft beds, running water, and a gourmet meal. We are a few rooms away from her though. Oh, and it's possible it has a decontamination unit..."

"Hm, now why would you do that?" Tali teased.

Shepard shrugged with a devilish smile on his face. "Your guess is as good as mine."

Tali shook her head and sighed. Shepard kept his hands on her waist for a few seconds until Tali cleared her throat. "You know, there is a hotel room waiting for us."

Shepard sighed in feigned defeat and put his hands to his side. He then grabbed Tali's hand as she began walking away. "You're not getting away that easy." He teased.

Tali faked a groan. "Fine, if that's how it has to be."

Shepard and Tali walked out of the Normandy hand-in-hand. There were construction crews everywhere fixing the damage and picking up the pieces of the Citadel. This Ward was hit the least, however, and many of the buildings and businesses remained.

Shepard and Tali continued walking through a crowded courtyard. The taxis were on the other side, but people continued to block their path. Most of the people were construction workers, but some were just civilians. With great effort Shepard and Tali were able to squeeze through the crowd; they arrived at the Taxi lot.

Shepard and Tali walked up to a taxi and Shepard let his hand fall to his side. "I need to meet with the Senate before I can go to the hotel. But don't worry I'll meet you there as soon as I can ok?"

Tali laughed. "Shepard, you haven't even told me where this hotel is."

Shepard's eyes widened in embarrassment. "Oh... well, here it is." Shepard said as he opened his omnitool and sent the navpoint for the hotel to Tali's omnitool.

"Thank you." Tali said as she walked over to one of the taxis. The door opened and she got in. "Don't take too long, my captain."

Shepard smiled and nodded. "I'll get there as quickly as possible, my lady."

Tali's taxi flew off and Shepard got into another one. As the taxi flew towards the Galactic Senate building Shepard looked at it and sighed. 'Here I go again..' He wasn't looking forward to listening to politicians...

Author's endnote: So, sorry about the late chapter. It might have something to do with the fact I wrote two chapter 20s and fought in my head over which one I should publish... The fight was brutal, but ultimately I chose this one. It may be shorter, but it sets things up a little better in my opinion. Now Shepard is on the Citadel talking to the new Senate! We get to learn about the Senators, maybe talk to Hackett, and so on next chapter. Going with my other chapter would've completely cut this stuff out for more drama, and I'd like to take this Galactic Senate out of my mind and give them faces. :D Luckily you'll never know what my other chapter was about... maybe. I might use it later actually, it might fit in with the... No, can't give spoilers, it would ruin the fun and that's what we're here for. See you next chapter and Keelah Se'lai!