Ashley Shepard, Forgotten Hero

Chapter 15

(Two months after Ashley wakes up Kaiden)

Well after I blacked out in the base, I was carried back to the Normandy and Kaiden stayed next to me the whole time. Now I am with Jack and Kaiden teaching the biotic students of Grissom Academy, it is a lot of fun.

Jack is a pretty damn good teacher, I feel bad for Shepard though. She's been discharged and is locked away while everyone of the crew is let off the hook. Moderately, only Shepard and Joker got in the most trouble.

I am looking on the news about Earth and what I see scares me, "Jack...... the Reapers are real."

I am seeing hundreds, thousands, of Reapers land on Earth. Destroying everything, I don't shed any tears though. I have to stay strong for my students, I have to.

"Oh my god, I hope Shepard is ok."

Over the next week I hear reports about all of the other planets.

An explosion stops one of out classes, I look out side and I see the familiar gold and black symbol.

"Jack, Cerberus is here," I call to her. I see the shuttles come in and I pray to god that Shepard fines out about this.

I am about to pass out when I hear a familiar voice call out to us, Shepard! The gunfire stops and I collapse to my knees, I was the main person holding the barrier up.

"Are you ok Ashley?" Jason Prangley asks me. I am more of a fellow student than their teacher but I still have access to all the staff only places.

"Ya, just need some more energy." I munch on some food but an Atlas breaks through the wall. I am about to help hold the barrier when Kaiden puts a hand on my shoulder and shakes his head. Jack helps in my place as I get my energy back.

There is an explosion then silence, I go down with Jack to see Shepard. As soon as we get down there Jack slaps Shepard.

"I told you not to trust Cerberus!" She yells at her. I notice that Liara is with her, and so is Garrus. I go over to talk to them, they hug me and ask if I'm alright. I nod my head and we continue to have a conversation until Jack tells us we have to go.

As we fight across the second floor I am shot in the arm because someone distracted me. "Rodriguez!" I yell at her.

I slap some medi gel on the wound and continue to fight, finally we make it to the shuttles. Rodriguez and I are the last people to be going to the shuttles and we aren't going to make it. The glass explodes in front of us as Jack and Shepard cover for us, we make to the shuttle.

"Shepard should we be barrier defense or front line attackers?"

"Barrier defense," I sigh is relief these kids aren't ready for a full out front line war.

I ignore the rest of the conversation, but one question I have to ask is bothering me.

"Jack, if I went with Shepard would you be mad?"

She shook her head and I ask, "Shepard can I serve on the Normandy again? I would like to help your fight by being in your crew, Jack can take care of leading these kids."

"Sure, Kaiden you too?" She asks my boyfriend. He shakes his head, and looks at me with sadness and guilt in his eyes. As I'm and leaving the shuttle Kaiden pulls me to the side.

"Ashley I'm sorry, but....." He doesn't look me in the eye.

"What Kaiden?"

"I don't think we can work out with this war, I'm-"

"Cut the crap Kaiden, I know you like Jack. But think about this, what happened to you loving me forever and always?" I turn on my heel and walk away from the only person I have ever loved.

As soon as I reach my familiar cabin I break into sobs, I can't believe that he broke up with me. We were supposed to love each other forever, I take out my dagger it twirl it in my hand.

My door opens and I hear a gasp, I guess Liara saw my dagger.

"Where did you get that?" She asks me.

"Stole it from Cerberus, stupid bastards let me keep it without tagging it." I laugh. As I twirl it biotic power flies out in spirals, following the flow of my blade. So I am making a spiral, and again she gasps.

"That is a biotic power dagger, only true biotics can use it. Nothing synthetic can use something like that, how is this possible."

"Ask Shepard, I need to sleep." As soon as she leaves I whisper my mothers favorite poem.

"There is a women who always keeps her head up high,

Her eyes sparkle like a bright star in the sky.

She has the stamina, beauty, and courage that one would admire,

Even the love and happiness one inspires.

She is a women that one can always count on,

And a women that sees no wrong.

Her beauty shines from the inside out,

It flows like a journey down a long route.

Her smile shines beautifully like the sun rising over the horizon,

And her intelligence, wisdom, and hard work are not surprising.

She is a genuinely caring women who goes the extra mile to help one in need or broken hearted,

And throughout all of her hard work, no one ever sees her fall apart."

I didn't notice Shepard standing in the doorway, she coughs and I turn around. I salut and she laughs.

"What poem was that from?" She asks me.

I will not cry when I talk about mom, I won't.

"My mom told me this poem, It reminds me of you but she said it reminded her of me when she told it to me."

I pull out my necklace, the copper shines in the artificial light of my cabin. Kaiden gave me this necklace after we lost Mia to the Quarians and Jack to the Collectors.

"What's that?" She asks me, pointing to my necklace.

"The only thing I have left from my time," I whisper. I lost my boyfriend to a friend, my sister and best friend to a power failure and I lost my ship to poor conditions.

"Not all, I went on your ship and got a lot of stuff from it." I hug her so hard, I can't believe she did that for me.

"Thanks Kathryn, oh and Garrus is looking for you." She turns and runs to find Garrus. After she leaves more tears run down my cheek, and my terminal beeps.

I open the email and it is from Rose, I heard that she was on the Normandy but I dot know where she is now.

'Ash I am at the hospital, Kaiden was hurt by a stupid Cerberus robot. I will be here if you want to visit, or see you BEST FRIEND! Haha, hope your alright. I heard that the place you were teaching at got attacked, hope everyone is ok.

-Rose Alenko.

P.S. I will explain the new last name when you come and see me!!!!!!'

I can already guess that she's getting married, lucky her. At least someone loves her, or at least someone who will marry her. I have no one, and I never will because everyone on this bloody ship is older than 18. I wonder if anyone other than Joker knows my real age, maybe that's why they expect so much of me because they think I'm older.

I decide to sleep, then I'll ask Joker tomorrow