Hi there, everyone! Just a little note up here. This is an action-light story, I have no plans to include battles or even fistfights in this story, so those of you who came looking for explosions and Shepardly gung-ho heroism, sorry to dissapoint. Also, I have no DLC for either game, so don't expect to see any expansion characters, items, vehicles or features. Strictly vanilla, release content here, with one caveat that I'll let you spot for yourselves, virtual cookies will be awarded for correct answers in your review (apologies to TheRev28 for shamelessly pinching that strategy).
Also, this is my first Fanfic, and it lives or dies on your feedback, so if you want to see more tell me! I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. So, without further ado, take it away, Shep!
As the final echoes of the gunfight died away and the corpse of the terrorist lay pooling blood around itself and more than a dozen others, Commander Shepard rose from his crouch and frowned at both himself and the situation.
"Sorry, but you were a threat to galactic stability, and I have certain duties..." he rationalised out loud, before pulling himself back to the situation at hand. "Jack, Legion, any injuries to worry about?" He asked, slapping his assault rifle back onto it's magnetic holster.
The human species' most notorious biotic stepped from the shadow of the massive (and very definately broken) mech she'd been sheltering behind with an elated grin on her blood-spattered face.
"Nah, nothing worth cryin' over. Damn, but you'd think with all the money he poured into security this might have actually been a challenge..." Shepard wondered about that. Could he and his crew even conceive of defeat anymore? If he lost his way, chose to overthrow the Council and rule the galaxy as a dictator, get it all done his way first time with no arguments, could anyone stop him? Would anyone even bother to try? They were disturbing questions... he decided he'd rather not know the answers.
"Self diagnostic reports several minor chassis fractures and a number of damaged sub-systems, Shepard Commander. Autorepair protocols are in operation, lasting damage will be negligible." Again his team forced his mind back into the here-and-now.
"Good. Let's get out of here before Cerberus' techs reboot the surveillance systems and discover what's been going on up here for the past half-hour." Shepard took one last look at the vast, self-aggrandizing chamber he'd only ever seen before in holo-conference, taking in the arrogant beauty of the churning blue star boiling and illuminating the immaculately dressed cadaver of his latest kill before turning on his heel and leading his comrades away. He didn't notice the smouldering, half-smoked cigarette he crushed under a booted foot as they left.
Another threat down, another daemon buried. Not much left to do now, soon he could relax and enjoy total victory. He was almost done being a soldier, and the end couldn't come soon enough.
"Ryan Shepard, holder of no less than fifty decorations including the Star of Terra, awarded by the Alliance and all the other Council species, Champion of Elysium, first human member of the Special Tactics and Reconnaisance branch of the Citadel Armed Forces, Hero of the battle of the Citadel, destroyer of the Reaper threat, saviour of humankind and the galaxy in general" Major Ellison's voice flowed out across the camp, rolling like distant thunder, always quiet but never inaudible, thanks to amplifiers and hidden speakers " is an inspiration to each and every man and woman serving the Alliance, in government or the forces, groundside or fleet." These words really didn't need saying, more than half the 25,000 or so recruits he was adressing would never have enlisted but for the tales of Shepard's heroics. Humanity was finally starting to step up and build a navy worthy of a Council species "But I can tell you from personal experience that he is also very much a living, breathing man who bleeds and breaks, just like you. His example is one that goes beyond exemplary, but it is one you can aspire to follow..."
Many thousands of light years away, the crew of the Normandy that were not on duty were gathered around a holographic screen in the mess, all hoping to catch a glimpse of Sarah Williams during her passing-out ceremony. Sat smack-bang in front of the image was her eldest sister Ashley, flanked by other members of what the Normandy had come to call 'the ground team', at least, the seven who had remained with, or returned to, the ship after the Reapers were finally and decisively defeated. Massed behind them, mostly about the mess-table, were the other off-duty crew.
"Hey, there she is! All right, sis, way to show 'em girl!" Ashley practically jumped from the floor when she spotted the image of her sibling among the crowd, spooking Garrus, who had been sat attentively listening to the Major's long-winded speech, chuckling occasionally.
"Gah! Spirits, Ash, don't do that to me..." he sputtered, leaning back and looking at her with wide eyes, his mandibles twitching.
"Oh, sorry lizard-features. Feeling a little jumpy today, are we?" Ashley grinned mockingly. Since their original campaign together Ashley and Garrus had come to be good friends, although Shepard's influence was undeniable there. Garrus was one of the Commander's closest confidantes and Ashley was currently wearing an engagement band Shepard had kept in his equipment locker for more than five months before he could gather the courage to propose to her.
"Both of you, please! He's getting to the part about how Shepard always found time for anyone in trouble, it's my favourite section of the adress..." A semi-synthesized and heavily accented voice rose from the extreme left of the huddle, and Tali, who was sat cross-legged with her head resting in her hands, found herself the object of everyone's attention. For those who knew her well it was fairly obvious that she was suddenly very self-conscious and uncomfortable with the scrutiny.
"And how did you manage to acquire a copy of today's speech, Tali? Things of that nature tend to be rather heavily defended and encrypted. After all, it's of galactic importance that a passing-out ramble remains secret." This half sarcastic inquiry issued from the other side of the ground team's gathering, from Miranda Lawson, who cocked an eyebrow towards the end.
"I, uh, that is..." Tali looked from face to face before straightening. She wouldn't let herself look intimidated by or, ancestors forbid, outdone by Miranda "I came across it while I was doing Shepard a favour. Spectre business, you know." Now she almost looked smug, if you knew what to look for.
"Is that so? Well, I'll have to quiz you about that later, miss Zorah." Ashley said, turning back to the holoscreen with a frown.
"Sorry, but that's not going to happen Second Lieutenant." Tali stressed the rank "Shepard's actions as a Spectre are his own business. I'm sure you know that not even other Spectres are cleared to read his files or interrogate his agents." Tali's manner became slightly haughty and she lifted her chin as if to prove the point of her statement.'You're not getting to me either, Ms. Williams!' She thought to herself, deliberately using the human's surname instead of any official title, in her own head at least. As far as Tali was concerned Ashley had become far too bossy and self-satisfied recently. And everyone knew why... well, she wasn't letting little miss Horizon think she could just assume command while Shepard was away, engagement ring be damned. No, the second human Spectre needed reminding that there were people around who'd stuck with the Commander through the dark days of Cerberus oversight while she was off being childish.
"Damnit, I was hoping you hadn't gotten around to reading that little bit of the Spectre Handbook yet..." Ash trailed off, defeated for now.
Jacob wisely remained quiet as the ladies bickered, contenting himself with a shake of his head. There had been a... tension between the three of them ever since they'd been united aboard the Normandy and even Shepard's proposal to Ashley, while causing a sensation aboard the ship, did nothing to ease it, in fact they seemed to be more antagonistic with eachother than ever. Of course they had been very careful and polite about it, but it was still getting worse, and would probably continue to do so right up until the wedding itself. Even then there was still the remote possibility that one or another would do something stupid on the day, if they didn't get it into their heads that Shepard's decision had been made years ago. He wasn't keen on that idea and had been queitly trying to keep the peace, for Shepard's sake. After all he'd done for everyone he certainly didn't deserve that.
Jacob noticed that, while he'd been thinking, they'd stopped sniping at eachother 'Now or never Taylor, time to change the subject quick' he thought.
"I'm willing to bet that from now on the Williams' will be in demand." Jacob tried to distract them all from their rivalry and fill the silence. No-one replied, but at least they didn't seem about to start up their private war again. He began to wonder, not for the first time, why Shepard had gone to the effort of recruiting Miranda and himself again. They had re-joined the crew after the Commander made it clear to them that their choice was between loyalty to himself or the Elusive Man. Jacob had given the matter about two seconds' thought before he signed up, but Miranda had tried to argue Cerberus' corner for a full minute before she gave in to the inevitable and reluctantly betrayed the shadow organisation. Jacob thought that the betrayal was less reluctant than she made out, but he supposed she had to at least keep up a pretense of resistance, for appearances if nothing else.
"...which is why I know each and every one of you will make me proud. It gives me great pleasure to welcome you, the new cadets and privates-third-class of 2188, into the service of..." The speech was apparently coming close to a conclusion, although you could never be entirely sure when it came to military self-congratulation.
The blue visage of E.D.I. sprang into existance from a nearby platform and the shipboard A.I.'s calming monotone voice slithered over the sound of the holoscreen.
"I have just received a burst from Commander Shepard's shuttle. He has arrived at Jakarta station and Jeff is making final adjustments for the jump. I estimate our CO and his mission team will be back aboard the Normandy in approximately two hours." There was a chorus of variations on the theme of 'thanks EDI' from all assembled, and her 'head' dissolved back into the projector.
"Is it just me that gets nervous knowing she can pop up anywhere, anytime and has full run of our boat's systems?" A thick, scottish accent announced that Ken Donelly had something to say, not that that was surprising to anyone.
"For crying out loud, Ken! She saved all our lives, are you still that afraid of our A.I.? If Tali can get past her being a machine, not to mention Legion, can't you?" Gabby shot back.
"I'm not afraid of her exactly, it's just... machines break down, that's all. One little logic function goes wrong and then *schlooa-ourk!*" Ken made a comical sucking noise "the airlocks are open and we're all swimming in the vacuum without the benefit of suits."
"Ahh, don't worry," Ash waved a hand dismissively "Joker can handle her..."
On what he liked to call the bridge Joker, bathed in a gentle orange luminescence that bounced from every polished surface of the control stations, ran some calculations and came to the same conclusion that he had for the past fourteen times. He liked to be sure of himself when it came to making transit through the relay network, his pride and reputation hung on consistant excellence.
"You must be aware that those figures are correct, Jeff, there is no need to check them again." EDI commented quietly.
"Better safe than sorry, old girl. Besides, I can't help feeling I'm missing something small..." Joker replied, barely slowing as he reviewed their planned approach vector, speed, effective mass, internal hull temperature and a dozen other factors almost subconsciously.
"Of course not, Jeff. You are the best pilot in the known galaxy, and I am close to perfect as a navigator and copilot." EDI's statement was absolutely without a trace of conceit, but Joker decided to keep the banter up anyway. Somehow it helped him think.
"Pride comes before a fall, but thanks for the compliment. I'll remember it when the Commander gets home, give us something to tease you about."
"You are so cruel sometimes, Jeff." Somewhere along the road EDI had picked up what seemed to pass for a sense of humour.
"You love it." Joker said offhandedly, already laughing inside hard enough for several people. Of course he wasn't going to tease her, he'd let her stew until she forgot about it... and then maybe. Or perhaps he'd leave it a year or so, then work it into something. He always liked to keep things like this filed away in his head in case he needed a snappy comeback or a spur-of-the-moment one-liner.
Then he spotted something on one of the screens that flanked his station. 'well ain't that interesting...' he mused before making his decision.
"EDI, give me bridge gunnery 2, please." the screen to his far right seamlessly melted into his main panel, and he ran some new calculations, his attention frequently flickering to the appropriated readout.
"Bet you a defrag against two hours of extra bunk time I can bring us in to Jakarta half an hour ahead of schedule."
"Gambling is prohibited aboard Alliance vessels, Jeff, but I will take your wager if the stakes are immaterial."
"Aww, you're no fun! Alright then, we play for pride."
"Pride it is Jeff, make your play."
Joker adjusted his sitting position a little, sat right back again and pulled the brim of his cap down. A wan smile played across his face.
"I'm gonna need full manual for this, and tell everyone to brace themselves, in about five minutes..."
Well, how'd y'all think I did? Was it good, was it bad? Did you just read to the end 'cos you have insomnia? Sorry it was short, but like I said, this is my first try and until the story proves itself it's on life support and chapters will be... less than epic in their length.
Please review, particularly if you want to see the rest of what I have in draft written up properly, and keep reviewing if you want me to write a second 'book'.
Lastly, thanks for reading this far, and hopefully I'll see you all at the next chapter!