Chapter Text
Chapter 1: The New Normal
Tavos stood at the podium of the newly refurbished Council Chamber. Gone were the twenty-foot-high towers where the Councilors looked down upon the rest of the galaxy. Shepard’s threat to rip them down himself with an assault rifle and a grenade had been enough to get Sparatus and others to agree to the change. Now, the room contained a central podium on a reasonable viewing dais which could be pushed forward or back out of the way if the Council were giving special conferences. On either side of that were two desks, one for each member with their voting and information consoles. The desks could be lowered for sitting or lifted to function as a standing desk, a concession to Shepard who kept fidgeting in his seat, but the council stood no higher or lower than the people they were meant to serve. Across from that was a speaker’s podium which could be removed followed by seating for media and guests. Along the side of the room were the consoles and workspaces for the various secretaries during public meetings. A lovely mural had been placed behind the Councilors of the vast expanses of Council space replete with Relays and marked colonies. Shepard had smiled during his examination of the work when he found the tiny Normandy tucked behind earth.
The Asari Councilor cleared her throat “My fellow galactic citizens, Today is a joyous day. Today we mark one full Human year since the greatest force in last 50,000 years joined together, since the guns fell silent, since Commander Shepard fired the Crucible and ended the Reaper threat forever. So much has happened in the last year as each and every society and species has worked to rebuild their homes whether it be on Earth or Rannoch, on Palaven or Tuchanka. Every race has given their all to help create housing and crops, schools and hospitals, on not just their own worlds, but the worlds of others. Our relay teams have managed to light up paths across huge swaths of the galaxy, allowing passage home for so many of the species stranded on Earth at the end of the war. It is a testament to our new bonds as a unified galaxy that so many people chose to stay on their newly adopted planets even when a route to their species homeworld had finally appeared.”
Tavos gave a short pause for a sip of water. “We know how far the galaxy still has to go: our own Citadel still stands three arms short, the capitols of every major world across the Milky way still remain pocked with craters and burned-out ruins. The monstrous shells of Reapers still lay unharvested where they fell. We know that rationing and the shortages caused by war still bite, but we are getting better. Twice as much food is being produced now than one year ago and so much more of it is accessible, able to be moved where it is needed, as the relays continue to go live. Today we celebrate having survived one full human year from an event that wiped out more than half of the galactic population, made widows and orphans, and last in the bloodline for so many. It is a bittersweet victory but a victory none the less.”
The Asari waited for the applause to die down before she stepped back from the podium and closed out the press conference. The other three Councilors followed her out of the chamber as they made their way to the small meeting room where they actually conducted their business.
“I still think we should have gone for something huge for the occasion”, Valern noted as they sat down to a ration sturdy lunch of veggie sandwiches. “We should have had parades all over the galaxy and pomp and circumstance.”
“Not this year, Valern”, Shepard replied, “Every relay that lit up just showed us how much more work remained. The entire galaxy is still on heavy rationing, and we are barely able to hold back the black markets for food. To have some sort of big party would be a slap in the face for everyone still mourning their dead and licking their wounds.”
“Besides”, Sparatus added, “We’ve managed to plan an entire victory tour for Shepard as part of our anniversary celebrations. Visits to all of the major accessible worlds, ribbons cuttings, charity kickoffs, the whole, what’s the human phrase, nine miles?”
“Yards”, the Human replied coldly, “I’m glad you find this funny, Sparatus. I was just getting into a routine and it’s not like there’s a shortage of work to be done here that I could be doing.”
The Asari nodded, “Yes Shepard, but you can also do it from the Normandy. We’ve got QEC capability in this meeting room so we can pipe you in or any of the rest of us. We will also be using the next few months to visit our own homeworlds and take care of things that have been ignored for over a year. Remember, you had the luxury of the Citadel being parked a shuttle ride from Earth and the 5th Fleet, none of us have been home since well before the war started. I don’t even know if my house on Thessia is still there. Besides, you’ll have your whole diplomatic core with you, and I believe the Alliance is sending you some extra hands in the form of a certain biotic Lt. Colonel. I know you aren’t the shaking hands and kissing babies type, Shepard, but the entire galaxy wants a chance to thank you personally for all that you’ve done.”
The Butcher of Torfan sighed, “And the fact that you have me delivering pre-written solidarity speeches everywhere I go? That has nothing to do with why I’m being sent on this junket? Right as the anti-austerity protests are starting to gain traction.”
“I don’t know what you are complaining about”, Sparatus huffed, “You have the fastest ship in the entire galaxy. It’s not like we’re sending you in some rusty Quarian retrofit from the Morning War. You’ll show up, shake some hands, give a couple speeches, meet some babies named after you, and with any luck enjoy a secret off-ration state dinner or two. Then, you and your bondmate can cuddle up for a few days before you do it again. For once, Shepard, we aren’t sending you to clean out a mercenary base or find a Prothean artifact. Besides, we’ve even blocked off some time for you to come back here in between some of the stops for refueling and resupplying in case you start to miss your apartment.”
“Fine”, Shepard replied, “I’m doing this because you all insist it’s for the greater good of the galaxy, but I still don’t see what the big deal is, I didn’t save the galaxy alone, besides my crew, there were millions of soldiers and scientists and engineers and medics helping to stop the Reapers. I just hit the stupid button at the end.”
Tavos smiled at the human, “Shepard, I don’t know how you manage to stay so humble. I worked with Udina so I know it’s not a human trait, but it constantly amazes me how much work you put into deflecting praise for what you accomplished. Still, whether you see it or not, the entire galaxy wants a chance to thank you and you are going to give it to them. Now, I think we’ve all done enough for the moment. I will see you all tonight at the charity ball. I think this one is to raise funds for… for… we’ve had so many charity events in the lead up to the anniversary, I can’t even remember what this one is for anymore.”
“Tonight’s ball is for the surgeries for the kids still in the Orphanage. They’ve placed all but 500 with foster families, although they’ve added a few more now that the Citadel has a proper social services program. Thank you for that by the way. Several of the kids who have had operations and been successfully fostered or adopted will be there too, so it’s going to be a long night”, Shepard replied as he nodded at the others and made his way out of the Council chambers, Warden following right behind him from the hall.