The Council

Allers: You'd only been on the Citadel for a couple of hours and you'd already been in four gun fights.

Ashley: Yeah tell me about it, in fairness though we didn't instigate any of it.

Allers: But in that short time you'd met three of your team mates: Garrus Vakarian, Urdnot Wrex and Tali'Zorah nar Rayya Vas Normandy.

Ashley: That I had, but at that time I didn't know them not really. From what I'd seen so far Garrus was reckless. Wrex was a Krogan, I don't think I need to say anymore on that. And Tali, well Tali was pure innocence.

Allers: What about the Commander and the Lieutenant?

Ashley: The Lieutenant and I got on well together. And the Commander I was warming up to.

Allers: And at that moment in time you were off to see Udina again.

Ashley: Yeah back into the serpent's lair.

Everything kicked off when we walked into Udina's office.

"Full on assault on Chora's den and skirmishes in the wards, what are you playing at Shepard?"

"Securing the evidence that you need Councillor."

Luckily before the Councillor could say anything else Anderson spoke up.

"Made some new friends Shepard?"

"Making allies sir. This is Garrus Vakarian, a C-Sec officer who's been gathering evidence against Saren. The Krogan is Wrex, he volunteered. And this is Tali."

"A Quarian Shepard? How low are you willing to go?" Udina interrupted.

"My name is Tali'Zorah nar Rayya you bosh'tet. And I have evidence incriminating Saren against the attack on Eden Prime."

"Miss Rayya. What do you have?"

"It's Tali. I managed to salvage this from a Geth's memory core."

"The attack on Eden Prime was a success; we are one step closer to finding the conduit."

"And one step closer to the return of the reapers."

"Who was that second voice?"

"It doesn't matter she's with Saren, we need to bring this to the council."

"Well done Commander. Meet us at the council chambers."

We were dismissed yet again. The Commander led us out of Udina's office and down to the presidium. From there we would have to take an express elevator up to the council chambers and be there in a couple of minutes.

"Alenko, take Garrus and Wrex back to the Normandy. Ash, Tali you're with me."

In the elevator up to the council chambers we listened to the news broadcast about the devastation of Eden Prime. Where the blame was being diverted onto the Geth. The news also said that there weren't that many survivors and the few there are were being taken off world and treated for any injuries sustained. Those survivors needed closure, needed to know that those who were responsible were caught. They weren't the only ones who needed closure. I needed closure as well. Hopefully this would be a step in the right direction.

As the elevator carried on I was curious. I'd never heard much about the Quarians and I was interested. But it would have to take a back burner, but one question was needed first.

"Tali, what will you do after you've given the council the evidence?"

"If it's okay with the Commander, I'd like to stick around."

"That's fine with me Tali."

"Chief, I take it you don't mind if I stay."

"It's Ash and no I don't."

"Shall we go see the council?"

The elevator had arrived at the council floor and we moved towards Anderson who was waiting for us.

"Shepard they're waiting for us."

When we reached the council Udina was already showing them the evidence Tali had found. He stopped it just before the second voice and allowed the council to take it in, and waited. He then eventually played the second part of the recording; it was the Asari councillor, Tevos, that spoke first.

"Wait, I know that voice. That's Matriarch Benezia."

"Who?"

"She's one of the most respected and powerful Matriarch's in our culture. Commander you have proven the accusations against Saren to be true, he will be stripped of his Spectre rank and will never be allowed into council space."

"That's it. He attacks our colony and all you do is strip him of his rank. That's not good enough, send in the fleet after him."

"We cannot do that Commander, sending a fleet into the Terminus Systems will start a war. If my fellow councillors agree there is something we can do."

Councillors Sparatus and Valern both silently agreed with Tavos.

"Commander Shepard step forward. It is the unanimous decision of the council to make you the first human spectre. In you new capacity you are the arm of the council, your decisions will reflect upon us. We may not be able to go after Saren, but you can. You'll now be able to purchase stock that is set aside for Spectres. Good luck Commander."

"Commander this is a big step for humanity, we have so much to prepare. Meet us at the Normandy in two hours."

Such a jackass, not even a congratulations.

"I'll say it if he won't. Congratulations Shepard."

"Thanks Chief. To the Normandy."

It was a silent journey back to the Normandy. The Commander lost deep in thought. Tali was messing about on her omni-tool. This just left me waiting for the elevator to reach the presidium again. The broadcast in the elevator was still talking about Eden Prime, the numbers of the dead were rising. Also pockets of Geth resistance were still being found on the surface. No mention of those creatures we had encountered, which was a good thing it would only freak the people out. At that moment my comm system came to life.

"Ash its Kaiden, how did it go?"

"The council have revoked Saren's spectre status and they're not going to go after him."

"Really that's it. That's not exactly what we were hoping to hear."

"I've not finished LT, what they are going to do is send the Commander after him with her new authority."

"What new authority?"

"Spectre status. We're on our way back now. No doubt she'll tell you when we get back."

The elevator arrived at its destination C-Sec. For some unknown reason the only way to the docking bay was via C-Sec, which meant using another elevator. It didn't take us long to reach the Normandy and there was still two hours until Anderson and Udina were due to arrive. As the decontamination procedure finished and the airlock door opened Pressly was waiting for us on the other side. He gave a crisp salute and handed the Commander a data pad.

"Chief take Tali down to the armoury and have her shotgun stored and tell Kaiden to get up here."

"Yes ma'am."

I'd only been on the Normandy for less than a day but I still knew my way around. I led Tali down to the cargo bay where the armoury was.

"We're just going to store you shotgun Tali. Can't have you walking around with a loaded weapon."

"This is a nice weapon Tali, have you ever thought of upgrading?"

"I've placed my own upgrade programs into its mainframe. I've upgraded its capacity for thermal clips and it now fires incendiary rounds."

"Very nice, if you want I can place it on the gun rack at the back or I could place it in my locker so it's safe and only you and I can access it."

"You'd keep it safe in your locker for me?"

"Yeah of course I would. Now let's go find Alenko."

It didn't take us long to find Alenko he was showing of his biotic skills to Garrus and Wrex at the back of the cargo hold. We just stood and watched for a while, it was impressive but at the end of the day it was pure showing of.

"Hey LT, the Commander wants you on the bridge."

With a quick nod he left, leaving us on our own.

"So Chief, how long have you been serving under the Commander?"

As soon as Garrus asked the question, Wrex and Tali both looked straight at me. Clearly they were both interested.

"All of about two days Garrus, why?"

"So you're not like the Lieutenant then, you're in the same boat as us."

"Yeah that's one way of looking at it."

"You know why we're here, why are you?"

"I suppose it's only fair. The Commander saved me from the Geth on Eden Prime just after my entire squad had been decimated by them. That's my story."

"I'm sorry Chief, I had no idea."

"It's okay, but please call me Ash."

I think this is most likely the first major step away from canon. I know normaly Ash is a bit of xenophobe but I'm moving away from that. For this story she's not a xenophobe she's just doesn't trust in others. Saying anything more may spoil the rest. So carry on reading.

As always any comments or views are more than welcome.