Authors Note: What I wanted to do with this story is show a Shepard story done in the fashion of the novels; the distinctive fell off them. The best part of Mass Effect to me was the time investigating Saren, especially on the Citadel. It reminded me of the books, and inspired this story. I want to show a story of Shepard as a Spectre as Saren was in Revelation. That detective feel. So here we go.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything here. It all belongs to Bioware.
Prologue 1: What Is Past Is Prologue
"One minute till Relay synchronization".
I tuned out Flight Lieutenant Jeff 'Joker' Moreau's voice as I watched the Normandy glide effortlessly through space. I had more important things on my mind. Like the turian Spectre Nihlus Kryik who choose to grace our ship.
Officially, Nihlus was here to oversee the Normandy's shakedown run. But I knew he was really interested in only one thing: me. Our conversation two months ago was proof of this.
He wanted me to become a Spectre. Him and his Council masters.
Their interest in me is in some ways unsurprising. I was without a doubt the most powerful biotic humanity had. That's not me bragging, that's fact. When the Alliance discovered me, they were shocked to see a human with enough raw biotic power to match even the fabled asari Matriarchs. But this wasn't the reason the Council acted on their interest.
I was quite the master gun fighter. Pistols, rifles, you name it. I could drill fools between the eyes from a mile away. But this still wasn't the reason they approached me.
No, the real reason they wanted me was something far more… insidious.
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As I began my trek toward the Normandy's flight bridge, my thoughts turned to my early childhood- if you could call it that.
While I can't really remember much, I know enough to glean that my background is pretty much the same as any other orphan growing up in Sky Tokyo. Or rather, any orphan that was different than the normal Japanese status-quo.
While technology and medicine have come a long way in the twenty second century, it can only do so much. When I came out of my mother's womb, I can only imagine the looks on the faces of doctors present. Seeing a natural born albino isn't something all too common these days. While they may have eliminated the medical problems associated with albinos- such as nearsightedness and skin problems- they didn't take away my red eyes, my colorless skin or my white hair. I wonder if that was a decision on my mother's part.
I know very little about my parents. I know my mother was full blood Japanese, and by my facial features, it's safe to assume that my father was probably of European origin. My looks settled somewhere in between the two, a common thing in the multi-cultural society we live I today. And from what I remember of my mother, she was very beautiful- which explained my looks- though that may just be child bias. Despite this, my father was not in our lives.
Even still my mother raised me as best she could. I can still remember her holding me during the summer nights, with all the tenderness and affection a mother could have.
"You're my little treasure Taka-Chan" she would say. This must have garnered something of reaction from me, as after words she would say: "You love Mama too, don't you?"
Did I love her? Maybe I did. Not that it matters now.
I haven't really felt love or affection since then. I haven't felt mostly any emotion since then. Not since my mother was killed when I was four, leaving me to face the world alone. Leaving me with just instinct and impulses.
But as I came upon the Normandy's bridge I decided to put such thoughts behind me. I had a job to do, and my mother didn't mean anything anymore.
As I came upon the bridge, I found it occupied by five people, Nihlus among them. I stopped next to him, and he gave me a nod of in the way of greeting before turning his attention back towards the Normandy's pilot, Joker.
"Fifteen hundred is good. You're Captain will be pleased" was he said before turning around and walking back out of the fight deck.
The moment he was gone however, Joker turned around and shot a look of disgust to where the turian once stood. "I hate that guy" he spat.
Joker was usually rather tolerant of others, aliens included. Not surprising considering his crippled status. That he seemed to dislike like Nihlus was enough to make me disregard remanding him from taking his eyes off the pilot console. Curious.
The occupant of the seat next to him, Staff Lieutenant Kaidan Alenko, seemed to share my sentiment. "Nihlus gave you a compliment" he said, while keeping his eyes on his console. "So you hate him?"
"You remember to zip up your jumpsuit on your way out of the bathroom, that's good" Joker said with fire in his voice as he turned his attention to Alenko. "I just managed to jump us halfway across the galaxy and hit the target the size of a pinhead, so that's incredible!"
Well that explains it, I thought. Joker took great pride in his piloting skills. Still, to take offence at something so trivial to the point of distraction was in my view very unprofessional. However, since he was normally competent, I'll choose to let it side. For now.
"Besides" Joker continued, "Spectre's are trouble. I don't like having them onboard. Call me paranoid."
"Your paranoid" Alenko replied. "The Council helped fund this project; they have a right to send someone to keep an eye on their investment."
Joker apparently found that ludicrous. "Yeah, that's the official story. But only an idiot believes the official story."
This was true enough. The Council was interested in me, but why choose the Normandy's shakedown run as the 'mission' to observe me? There was something going on behind the scenes. Still…
As Alenko turned to refute Joker's statement, I choose to make my presence known. I had enough of this childish nonsense. "That's enough" I said in my apathetic voice. "Your soldiers, act like it."
My skin isn't the only thing about me that's toneless. My sharp retort was enough to make both officers backs straighten.
"Sorry Commander" both replied. With that settled, silence took hold of the bridge. At least for a few seconds, until Captain Anderson's voice rang out over the intercom.
"Joker!" the voice called out, "Status report."
"We just hit the Mass Relay Captain" Joker answered. "Stealth systems engaged; everything looks solid."
"Good. Link us into the Comm. Buoy and link us into the network. I want all mission reports relayed back to Alliance brass before we reach Eden Prime."
"Aye aye Captain" Joker replied. Then he got a sly look on his face. "You better brace yourself sir, I think Nihlus is headed your way."
"He's already hear Lieutenant" came Captain Andersons deadpan reply. This revelation caused Joker's smile to turn into a look of embarrassment. Alenko snickered. I just stood there with an indifferent look on my face.
Fool.
"Tell Commander Shepard to meet me in the Comm. Room" Anderson finished, before ending the call.
Joker turned toward me, but I was already walking away the moment I heard the Captain needed me. I did manage to catch one last thing as I walked away.
"Why are both of our senior officer's major jackasses?"
As I moved towards the comm. room, the other occupants of the Normandy were a buzz with gossip. Apparently, they all shared Jokers misgivings about this mission. Despite my reprimand, Joker was right. Something big was about to happen.
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When I arrived to the comm. room, standing outside were two Alliance personnel I wasn't all too familiar with: Corporal Richard Jenkins, and Dr Chakwas. I didn't know Dr Chakwas until a few hours ago, on the account of us being in two different fields. And I wasn't familiar with Jenkins mainly because he was new to special ops.
I had worked with Alenko and Captain Anderson for a couple of months now. As Alliance SAS, the brass made liberal use of our talents in the Skyllian Verge against pirates and other such low lives. When Captain Anderson was given command of the Normandy, he immediately brought me and Alenko along, choosing me to be Executive Officer. It was a logical decision; outside of the regular Alliance Marine ship bodyguards, the Normandy had little in terms of offensive man power. A few SAS officers with actual combat experience would be invaluable.
But Jenkins was green. Where as Captain Anderson and I are N7, and Alenko an N6, Jenkins was a lowly N1.
Normally, numerical ranks were determined by proficiency. But in special ops, numerical ranks were based on that and experience and success rate. That Jenkins had only a 1 attached to his alphabetic designator showed just how new he was to this.
I already dislike working in groups. That some wet behind the ears Corporal would be joining us just made it worse. But I wouldn't show my… dissatisfaction. I wasn't going to look out for the young Corporal. If he was smart, he'd survive. If not, he was likely to get gunned down rather quickly. I'd seen it happen often enough.
"Hey Commander" Jenkins greeted as came upon them. "Nihlus is inside waiting for you."
I nodded my acknowledgment and went inside. Nihlus stood alone with his back turned to me.
"Commander Shepard" he turned and greeted. "Its good you got hear first. I have something to discuss with you."
"Am I to assume its Spectre Business?" I inquired.
He nodded.
Officially, the High Alliance brass was told that the Council wanted one of their own to join their ranks of the Spectres a month ago. This came as a shock to them, as they had given up trying to get one of their lapdog soldiers accepted into the Spectres years ago. However, they readily agreed, happy to accept the request.
Imagine their surprise when they found out that the one the Council wanted was Takashi Shepard, perhaps the most unruly and renegade soldier they had. Many aliens would laugh at that little irony.
It was that factor that set me apart from all the other previous human 'candidates'. They were 'Alliance poster boys'. They were loyal to the Alliance. I did what I wanted to, regardless of what my superiors wanted. Being in the Alliance Military meant nothing to me.
That was the deciding factor as to who became a Spectre. All Spectres had the will to turn on their own governments and species when the situation called for it. Combat prowess is all well and good, but unless there is a powerful will behind it, one wouldn't last a week in the Spectres.
Regardless, I found out about the Council's interest a month before the Alliance did. I was on shore leave on Elysium, when Nihlus discreetly approached me. I knew he was a Spectre immediately. Not only did I know his reputation, I could tell just by the way he carried himself. It's a Spectre thing.
He told me how the Council had been looking at me for years. That they wanted me to join them. The Councils offer: a rank as an agent of the Spectres. The cost: my rank in the Alliance Military and forfeiture of my Alliance citizenship. He gave me a week to think about it. I agreed the next day. In response, Nihlus instructed me to keep this to myself, until the Council came to the Alliance officially.
That isn't to say that that was my only encounter with Nihlus before now. For the past month, on my down time, I had been assisting Nihlus on several of his missions, as a way of proving to him that the Councils interest was justified. Considering they contacted the Alliance, it would seem I succeeded. Regardless, my Alliance superiors choose to remain tight lipped about the whole matter to me. Not that I cared.
I was more surprised that they agreed to hand me over. My skill in biotics and combat ability are the only things that allow me to bend the rules. I'm a powerful a weapon that they can exploit, so I can only assume they don't know about the whole 'forfeiture of citizenship' clause. If they did, I doubt they would be so willing to hand me over. I'm in no rush to enlighten them.
"This is the last mission you and I will be going on together Shepard" Nihlus said. "Do well, and your Spectre status is guaranteed."
"So what is the real mission?" I asked. "I doubt after all we've been through, this is the deciding factor."
"Real mission?" Nihlus parroted. "That discussion is best left for when your Captain arrives."
A sound of the door opening came after he finished his statement, and Captain David Anderson made his appearance.
"I think its time we told the Commander what's really going on" he said without preamble.
Nihlus adopted a strange smile on his face. "This mission is far more than just a simple shakedown run."
I didn't share his joke. "Truly?"
"Were making a covert pick up on Eden Prime" Captain Anderson explained. "That's why we had the stealth systems activated."
"What's the payload Captain?" I asked. Finally, we could get to what this was really all about.
Captain Anderson didn't answer immediately. Instead he put his hands behind his back and began pacing back and forth. It was a sign I recognized as a symptom of nervousness from him. That really spiked my interest. There wasn't much that could rattle Captain David Anderson. Its part of the reason I respect him so much.
"An excavation team on Eden Prime unearthed some kind of beacon on the surface." Captain Anderson paused, as if unsure how to continue. "It was Prothean" he finished.
Though my eyes and facial expression didn't change, my eyebrows went up, as close as an expression of shock you'll get from me. "They found Prothean technology on Eden Prime? And a beacon at that?"
"No" Nihlus replied. "They found working Prothean technology on Eden Prime."
My mind raced with the possibilities and implications of all this. Oh dear.
Anderson was right on Nihlus' coattails. "I'm sure you can see how big this is. Not to mention the reason we have the stealth systems active."
I sure could see how big this was. A Prothean beacon was hinted at in obscure texts relating to the Protheans, but was never found. But now that one was discovered… who knew what secrets it held. The last time the known space faring species found something like this; it jumped their technology forward several hundred years. The knowledge of the beacon could literally be priceless.
But that also brought up other problems. Eden Prime was dangerously close to the Terminus Systems. The Terminus was a lawless chunk of space, united only by their hatred and rejection of Citadel government. Many their held no love for humans. If knowledge of the beacon got out, fell into the wrong hands…
"The Terminus can't be allowed to know about this."
Anderson and Nihlus nodded in agreement. "We go in quiet" Anderson began, "pick up the beacon, and sneak back out. Quick and silent." He paused. "There's one more thing Commander. Nihlus isn't just here to assist the mission. He's here to evaluate you."
My answer was short and to the point. "I know." At Anderson's surprised look, I explained. "I've known for a while. Navy grapevine and such." That was a half truth, but Anderson didn't need to know the whole story.
"…I see" was Anderson's only reply. "Well-
"Capitan!" Joker's voice over the intercom started us all. Well, as startled as men like us could get.
"What's wrong Joker?" Captain Anderson replied.
"Transmission from Eden Prime sir! You better see this!"
As the message played on the communications screen, I realized this mission just got infinitely more complex.
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Twenty minuets later, Anderson, Nihlus and I stood alone in the ship's cargo bay.
While Anderson remained in his captains' uniform, Nihlus and I were dressed for battle. Nihlus sported black and red armor, with all manner of weapons on his person. As for me, I went with my standard black-ops gear. The only way to describe it was to call it a metallic light grey ninja suit. At my sides were two Hahne-Kedar pistols. On my back was an assault rifle and sniper rifle respectively. I needed nothing else; my biotics made up for anything else.
The mission was simple: Nihlus and I would be dropped off at different drop points, and from there we would make our way to the beacon. We would be going in hot. The reason was apparent.
Eden Prime burned. From its initial scan, the Normandy had picked up images of Eden Prime's capital city Constant in flames. Eden Prime was obviously under attack, and it didn't take a genius to figure out why. It had to be about the beacon, why else would someone attack this place. Eden Prime was an agricultural world, filled with farmers and other organic professions. While it was know as paradise in terms of land and terrain, there was nothing else here.
The three of us stood silently in the cargo bay, waiting for the doors to open. Nothing was said; nothing needed to be said. We were all professionals here. But even still, there was tension in the air. I had a bad 'feeling' about this mission, and I'm sure my turian compatriot felt the same. There was a lot riding on our shoulders. Just then the bay doors opened. We reached drop point one.
Nihlus stepped forward. "Let's keep our radio transmissions minimal" he said to me. "We don't know who were fighting here." I only raised an eyebrow in response.
"Yeah, you know how talkative I am."
Nihlus only smiled before running forward and jumping out the ship. A few seconds later we reached drop point two, my stop. As I began to move forward, Anderson called out to me.
"Good luck Takashi" he said. "God be with you." I gave him a thumbs up, which contrasted horribly with my indifferent facial expression. Nonetheless, it got the message across. I ran forward, jumped out, and began the mission that would be marked as the beginning to the fates of many.
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The moment my feet hit the ground, I whipped out my N457 Tactical Assault Rifle. As per the mission, Nihlus and I had been dropped outside the city limits. While the Normandy was state of the art in terms of technological stealth, a visual scan would pick it up with no problem. Thus, we couldn't be dropped in too close to the 'hot zones'. We would have to make are way in on foot. I lifted my left arm and checked my omni tool. Nihlus and I already knew where the excavation site was, and we agreed before hand to meet up there. Gaining a sense of direction, I raised my rifle and made my way forward.
A few minutes in and I began to get the sense something was wrong. The path I was taking was thru a park/wildlife preserve, and during this time of day, there should have been people here when the attack started. But that was the strange thing; while there were blood stains all over the ground, there were no bodies. Anywhere.
What kind of person kills everything in its path, but then stops to gather up bodies? What kind of enemy are we facing?
After twenty minuets of running thru the forested area, I had my answer. A low mechanical hum was all the warning I had before someone opened fire on me. My combat honed reflexes kicked in immediately.
I rolled out of the way and found cover behind a large rock as the shot hit the grounds were I previously was. From my left side I peeked out to see who fired. Three bipedal targets were advancing forward, guns raised. They must have thought I was an unarmed civilian; they were moving out of cover rather carelessly. I would repay them for their foolishness. I raised my N457.
The N4 fired three four round bursts. With the silencer attached to my gun, the fools never saw or heard it coming. The ultrasonic slugs ripped right thru their energy shields and slammed into their heads. They came apart like melons. Three shots, three kills.
Consulting my radar, I made sure no one else was here before I made my way to my fallen victims. It was then that I got another shock to the system. The bipeds were synthetics. Or to be more specific, they were Geth.
What in God's holy name are Geth doing here? They haven't been seen outside the Perseus Veil in over three hundred years.
The answer came quickly: they must have been here for the beacon. That would explain the strange ship seen in the emergency transmission. I wouldn't have thought it possible, but the mission became even more complicated.
I shook my head and moved on. Geth or no, I had a beacon to find.
The next few minuets were spent moving thru the brush instead of walking down the path. This time, I would have surprise on my side. The few geth patrols in the area were silently mowed down from a distance by my N4. Despite being artificial intelligences, they didn't have a firm grasp of modern tactics. Indeed, they seemed more like gun wielding animals. Standing out in the open, careless as all get out. The first geth patrol was lucky enough to spot me first that they got shots off before I did. Their compatriots weren't so fortunate, and I made them pay for it.
Still, when I gunned down the larger patrols, my systems didn't detect any radio activity from the geth. In other words, they didn't call for backup, or send word of warning to the main force.
I felt like I was walking into a trap.
As I emerged out of the wilderness and moved down a residential countryside, using the local houses and barns for cover, the trap sprung.
My heads-up radar on my omni tool showed no more than forty hostile contacts. But I didn't need that to see the full scope of the geth trap. Most of the geth choose to pop out in the open to open fire, while a small few choose to us the surrounding buildings as cover. If I were an ordinary soldier, my chances would be slim. But I had biotics on my side, and powerful ones at that.
Just before the geth opened fire, I created a mass effect field at my feet. When they did open fire, I had already telekinetically propelled my self to the top of a nearby street light. Before the geth could gather them selves, I acted. Holding out my arm, I used telekinetics to lift twenty of the exposed machines in the air. With a casual downward flick of my wrist, I brought them back down to earth with devastating force. Their bodies shattered on impact. That was half their strike force.
Twenty left.
The remaining geth got a bead on me and opened fire again, but the result was the same; I had already jumped away. While I was in mid fight, I switched my rifle for one of the pistols at my side. Using my own natural skill and the pistols 'smart targeting system', I opened fire on four exposed geth. These geth didn't have kinetic barriers, and with ten shots I felled them all before landing with cat like grace.
Sixteen left.
Directly across from were five geth taking cover in a barn trying to find cover. That wouldn't save them. With my left arm, I gathered dark energy, and with a sharp thrust, sent it hurling towards the barn. The effect was instantaneous. The ban looked as if a hurricane gale just slammed into it. What parts hadn't been crushed on impact were sent flying backwards. Among them were pieces of the four geth who tried to take cover.
Twelve left.
Two snipers who had taken up position in two local residential houses used the opportunity to try and line up a sight. I would have none of that. I telekinetically lifted them out of their positions and sent them slamming into each other. I let their sad remains fall to the earth.
Ten left.
The remaining geth let loose a barrage of desperation fire. None of it came close to hitting me; even though I was out of cover. It was surreal how terrible these synthetics could shot. Holstering my pistol, I held my arms in front me. I won't get explain all that was involved in my next attack, but it's enough to say that I used rapidly shifting mass effect fields to create friction around my hands.
And out came several bolts of lightning. The geth never had a chance to react; the energy ripping their bodies to pieces.
Zero left. I was standing in the midst of a scrap yard. I didn't gloat over my victory; I simply drew my N4 and continued on.
As I moved forward, I could help but think about how utterly… inefficient these geth were. My animals with guns statement seemed to be truer than I thought. Just how had these clowns defeated the local Alliance Marine garrisons?
My thoughts were cut short as I heard gunfire up ahead. Reading my rifle, I moved forward.