STRIKE A POSE
Chapter One
A/N: While many authors have done a great job in portraying their FemSheps, I wanted to try something a little different. Thankfully, the game is rather sketchy on Shepard's early origins—you get a barebones, but there's plenty of room to fill in different interpretations. One of the areas I wanted to explore here is her pre-Spectre career. I hope you enjoy my somewhat unorthodox...possibly even heretical...take on Shepard.
The Citadel: 2180
"Executor?" C-Sec Officer Garrus Vakarian marched into his superior's standing at attention in front of his desk.
"Officer Vakarian." Executor Venari Pallin, looking up from his desk, at last recognized the officer standing before him. "Do you know why I called you in?"
"I would assume it has something to do with the escape of Doctor Saleon." Garrus replied in a tone that bordered on insubordinate.
His mandible's flaring slightly at the junior officer's tone, Pallin replied, 'Partly, yes. You overstepped your bounds, Vakarian..."
"He was escaping with hostages..." Garrus protested only to be silenced by a raised hand and the Executor's firm voice.
"Not the point, Officer. Your order to fire endangered far more lives than just those hostages. What would have happened had stray rounds struck Zakera or Tayseri Ward? Did you pause to think about that?" The Turian C-Sec chief paused for a moment to allow his words an opportunity to sink into his stubborn subordinate's head. "Actions have consequences, Officer Vakarian—something your father understood very well. Unfortunately, that lesson did not seem to take with his son. But, that's not the only reason I called you in here." The executor allowed a brief smile to cross his face before continuing, "I have your next assignment. An extranet entertainment magazine...Galaxina...has requested permission to have what they call a 'photo shoot' on the Citadel...
"Photo shoot?" Garrus interrupted.
"Yes. They want to take stills and moving pictures at various places on the Wards and in the Presidium such as the Relay Statue and the Krogan Memorial." Pallin replied, savoring his next words, "You're providing security."
"What?!" An outraged Garrus all but shouted, "You can't be serious, Executor!"
"Oh...but I am, Officer Vakarian." Pallin responded, inwardly taking glee at his often-troublesome subordinate's plight, "You're to report to the Citadel Tower antechamber in two standard hours and will remain with the 'shoot' until it ends. Dismissed!"
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"C'mon, LT!" Corporal Fredericks called out as his platoon leader made his way out of the docking tube that connected the SSV Forrestal with the Citadel.
"I'm coming." 2nd Lieutenant Kaiden Alenko replied, "Hold your water."
"Hurry up, Lieutenant!" Sergeant Philips chimed in, "We're gonna miss 'em!"
"What's the big deal?" Kaiden said with a smile as he shook his head, "It's just some dumb extranet magazine photo shoot."
"Girls..."
"Swimsuits..."
"Bikinis!"
"All right! All right!" The dark-haired biotic threw his hands up in resignation, "You made your point. Let's go."
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"Nothing like getting paid after a job well done." Urdnot Wrex grunted in satisfaction as he saw that the amount agreed upon for his last job had been deposited to his account. "I like it when the client's smart enough to pay promptly and in full."
"So...what now, Wrex?" The grizzled human mercenary who had worked with the krogan bounty hunter on his most recent job inquired as he also nodded his head in satisfaction at being paid.
"Doesn't matter." The krogan gruffly replied, "For now, I think I'll take a look at the Krogan Memorial and then dinner at Fishdog's and after that...well, one fight's just as good as another. What about you, Massani?"
"Heading out. My ship's loading up now." Zaeed Massani replied as he packed the last of his gear. "Off to Omega and then...maybe cash in on a few bounties."
"Good hunting." Wrex replied, placing a rough hand on the human mercenary's shoulder. "You know...for a human...you fight ok."
"You too, big guy." Zaeed responded, "Watch yourself out there."
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"That must be where they're shooting!" Fredericks called out, pointing to the relay statue where a photographer, his crew, and several scantily clad models were gathered. "C'mon...let's get there before the crowd gets too big!"
Garrus Vakarian at once spotted the Alliance marines approaching the photo shoot. Shaking his head in wry amusement, the C-Sec officer decided that, as long as they didn't get too close or too obnoxious, he wouldn't give them any hassles. Besides, even though he knew that Pallin had put him on this duty as punishment, he was actually having fun watching the skimpily-clad models cavorting about.
"Would you look at that!" A marine private exclaimed as his eyes fell on an asari model wearing a dark green monokini.
"I got my eyes on the redhead." Corporal Fredericks said as he pointed to a redheaded human wearing a print bikini. "Looks like the LT's got a thing for blondes." The corporal laughed pointing to Kaiden who at that moment seemed entranced by the blonde woman currently being photographed.
Carrie Shepard flashed her most electric smile as she posed for the camera. Somehow, she had managed to work herself into the hollow inner circle of the statue where she'd leaned against one side while stretching her legs up and out, her pose alluring and enticing. Add to that the designer gold lame bikini she was modeling, along with the gold hoop earrings and gold high heels, she figured that if this didn't get her on the magazine's cover, nothing would.
"And that's it!" The photographer called out, pleased at his shot. "Great shot, Carrie. Let's get another shot with all of you and then we'll move over to the Krogan Memorial and do a few shots there."
"Sounds like a winner, Alec." Carrie called back as she jumped down off the statue, bringing up a slight biotic barrier as she did to ease her fall. Walking back to where her photographer and the rest of the models were gathered, Shepard spotted the Alliance marines gathered near the C-Sec officer watching over them. Spotting an attractive dark haired man wearing 2nd Lieutenant's bars, Carrie flashed a blinding smile and waved, "Enjoying the show, Lieutenant?" Then waving to the other marines, Carrie raised her voice, "Hey, boys! See you over at the Memorial!"
As she walked away, Kaiden scratched the back of his head as he began to walk towards the krogan monument. "There's something familiar about her...but I can't quite place it."
Garrus had also spotted the slight blue trace of Carrie's barrier. "That's interesting..." The turian agent muttered to himself as he kept pace with the models. "Now, how many human fashion models are also trained biotics?"
"Know any of those guys?" Linda, the redhead, asked Carrie as the models and their C-Sec minder walked together to the memorial.
"No." Carrie shook her head as she tried once again to push the memories of Akuze out of her mind. "I never served with any of them." She said quietly as her mind tried in vain to muffle the dying screams and pleas of her fellow marines.
"I'm...sorry...Carrie." Linda said in a soft voice as she saw the troubled look on the blonde model's face, "I forgot about...I didn't mean to..."
"It's ok, Linda." Carrie replied as she gained control over her emotions. "I'm a lot better than I was. At least I'm not tearing up bars and beating up on doctors and nurses now."
"That dark-haired guy is kind of cute." Asryna, the asari model remarked in an effort to get her friend's mind off her troubles, "Wonder if he's available?"
" I saw him first." Carrie chuckled, her laughter bringing smiles to her friends' faces.
"All right...all right!" The asari maiden chuckled, "But I've got dibs on our turian watcher."
"Deal." Carrie grinned as she called over to their C-Sec minder, "Hear that, Officer Garrus? You got a date with Asryna for tonight. Hope you're ready to embrace eternity!"
"Carrie Lynn Shepard!" The asari model pouted, "You know I don't embrace eternity on the first date. You gotta buy me dinner first!"
"C'mon...you know you wanna." Carrie grinned as she pushed the asari in Garrus's direction. "Go talk to him...we got a few minutes while Alec sets up. Go!"
"Oh...all right!" Asryna sighed as she sauntered towards Garrus, swaying her hips ever so slightly as she walked.
"If you don't fall for that, Mr. C-Sec..." Carrie muttered under her breath, "Then you're either blind or an eunuch." Then, seeing her photographer quailing before a large krogan warrior in front of the memorial statue, Shepard sighed as she rushed over.
"Hey, Alec. Problems?" Carrie asked. Then turning towards the imposing krogan, Shepard flashed her sweetest smile, "Mr. Krogan, Sir...this man's not giving you a hard time, is he?"
"Heh." Wrex rumbled, "Hardly. I'm just not going to let you or him or anyone else belittle the sacrifices of my people. We do a good enough job of that on our own. We don't need your help."
Her smile disappearing, Shepard answered back, all traces of levity gone from her voice, "I see—and—for whatever it's worth to you, I think you're right." Then, almost as quickly as it had vanished, her smile returned, "I think I have an idea." Turning to her photographer, Carrie pleaded, "Alec...you want a picture or two with a krogan, right?" Taking her photographer's weak head nod as a yes, Shepard pressed on, "Does it matter which krogan? I mean...we've got a genuine krogan battlemaster here. Big...strong...tough." Turning to Wrex, she grinned, "Bet you could take down a room full of vorcha without breaking a sweat."
"Two roomfuls." Wrex laughed, deciding that he liked this human female. "Plus the surrounding courtyard."
"At least." Carrie smiled. "So, Alec...Mr. Krogan..."
"Wrex." The krogan battlemaster interrupted. "Urdnot Wrex."
"Ok, Wrex." Carrie grinned, "Here's my crazy plan—I think you'll love it. We use Wrex in our shoot instead of the memorial. You get your krogan, Alec. And Wrex..." The blonde flashed her most electric smile, "You get to have your picture taken with a bunch of gorgeous females. If that doesn't get you named Merc of the Month by Badass Weekly, nothing will! Add to that, all the other krogan mercs'll be flat out jealous of you and..." She whispered in the krogan battlemaster's ear, "I'll get Alec to foot the bill for your dinner tonight. I hear Fishdog's is having a special on roasted varren."
Laughing, Wrex exclaimed, "I like you, human. All right. What do you want me to do?"
Chuckling, Carrie answered back, "Alec? What do you think of this..." As she sketched out her idea both the photographer and the krogan shook their heads, but the blonde model persisted, "C'mon, guys! It's a great idea and you know it. Wrex...it'll show everyone just how big, strong, and...virile...a krogan you are. And Alec...that's the exact same shot you were planning for the statue...so why not do it with a real live krogan?"
"All right, Carrie!" Alec threw up his hands in surrender, "We'll do it if Mr. Wrex is willing."
Chuckling, Wrex replied, "This had better land me on the cover of Badass Weekly."
"I guarantee it will." Carrie smiled as she called out to the asari model currently talking with Garrus, "C'mon, Asryna! Time to strike a pose!" Hopping into Wrex's arms, Carrie made herself comfortable, "Okay, Uncle Urdnot...let's bring down the boom!"
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And...that's a wrap!" Alec sighed in relief as he snapped the last of the pictures.
"All right!" Carrie nearly shouted out as she planted a kiss on the big krogan's cheek. "Thanks, Uncle Urdnot. We couldn't have done it without you."
"Heh...heh..." Wrex chuckled, "Don't forget, you owe me dinner at Fishdog's."
"You got it." Carrie smiled, "I'll meet you at 1730. Then, if you want, you can go clubbing with us at that new nightclub..."
"Flux." Asryna called out as she gave her contact number out to her turian date. "You wanna meet us there, Garrus?"
"I'll be there." Garrus smiled back.
Smiling and waving at the Alliance marines as she walked by them, Carrie paused for a moment in front of the attractive dark-haired man. Flashing a sly grin, she suddenly reached out to him. Pulling him to her, she kissed him hard on the lips for several moments as his mates hooted and hollered their approval. Then, whispering in his ear, she commanded, "Flux...tonight...be there."
"Yes, Ma'am." Kaiden stammered as she released him.
"What was that all about, LT?" Corporal Fredericks asked between bouts or laughter.
"I think I've been invited out on a date." Alenko responded with a shake of his head and a sigh.
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Strutting into the nightclub as if she owned it, Carrie at once spotted her friends. Asryna was already practically in Garrus's lap as the dark-haired Alliance marine, now in civilian dress, sat with the group...but not really a part of it. Well...we've got to do something about that! Carrie vowed as she approached, "Hey, guys! Miss me?"
"So...how was the varren?" Linda smirked.
"Pretty damned good." Carrie honestly replied, "No way I was gonna touch the ryncol though."
"I don't blame you." The marine lieutenant responded with a shy grin, "That stuff'll do worse than peel paint."
"Tell me about it Lieutenant..." Carrie answered back with a smile.
"Alenko." The marine responded, "Second Lieutenant Kaiden Alenko."
"Carrie Shepard." The blonde model answered back.
"You guys have something in common." Linda, the redheaded model, blurted out. "Carrie was an Alliance marine too."
Seeing the questioning look on Kaiden's face, Carrie sighed, "Still am." She admitted, "I'm in reserve status at the present time. Staff Lieutenant Carrie Shepard—so..." She teased, "I outrank you, Lieutenant Alenko."
As she mentioned her full name and rank, it clicked in Kaiden's mind, Akuze! That's where I remember that name from! As he took a breath to speak, Kaiden felt an elbow dig into his ribs. Glancing sideways, he saw the asari model, Asryna, gently shake her head. Exhaling, Kaiden instead replied, "Pleasure to meet you...Carrie."
"Pleasure's all mine." Carrie responded as Asryna flashed a brief smile of gratitude to Kaiden. "Wanna dance?"
"Carrie!" Linda laughed, "You know you can't dance worth squat!"
"I can too!" Carrie pouted, "Especially when I have the right partner! C'mon Kaiden...know how to tango?"
"Uh..." The hapless Kaiden Alenko stammered as Shepard practically dragged him out on the dance floor.
"C'mon, Garrus." Asryna grinned as she took the turian by the hand, "Let's show those humans how it's really done."
"Guess no one wants to dance with me." Linda pouted as she sipped her drink.
"I will." A male voice answered.
Looking up, Linda saw an attractive dark-skinned man. "All right. Let's go. What's your name?"
"Jacob." The man responded, "Jacob Tyler."
"Ok, Jacob Tyler...let's go cut a rug!"
Watching as Shepard and Kaiden danced together, Asryna remarked to her date, "You know, she really is awful when she dances alone, but put her with the right guy...or gal...and... Damn!" She exclaimed as Kaiden dipped her at just the right moment. "Think you can do that, Garrus?"
"Just watch." Garrus replied as he led his blue partner through their dance, ending it with a dip as well.
"Not bad." Carrie clapped as she motioned for her fellow models to join her. "Excuse us, guys—we gotta go powder our noses—why don't you guys wait for us outside the powder room, then we'll go out...maybe watch the skycar races...or something."
Watching as the girls disappeared into the ladies room, Jacob turned to his fellow males, "Guys...none of our friends are gonna believe us when we tell 'em about tonight."
"Tell me about it." Kaiden agreed, nodding his head. "I'm not sure I believe it."
"I know..." Garrus began, only to be cut off by a fusillade of gunfire coming from inside the nightclub, followed soon afterwards by shouts and sobs.
"Damn." The C-Sec officer swore in a low voice as he and the men with him crouched low.
Hearing footsteps approaching, Kaiden whispered, "You bring any hardware with you?"
"No. But I'm biotic." The dark-skinned man responded as a blue glow surrounded his arm.
"Great." Kaiden replied. "You go check the men's room. See if there's anyone in there. If there is...keep 'em safe. I'll keep watch here. Garrus...you're about to go where most men fear to tread. You're going into the ladies' room."
As Jacob and Garrus disappeared into the men's and women's restrooms, Kaiden crouched behind a small divider as the footsteps grew closer.
"Check the men's room." A voice commanded, "The women's room's mine."
"Yeah...yeah...have all the fun." The other voice complained as Kaiden waited for his opportunity. When one of the men entered the men's room, Alenko struck, hitting the intruder with a neural shock. Moving quickly, Alenko dragged the intruder into the women's room, binding his hands behind his back. Disarming the intruder, Kaiden looked up to find that Garrus, Carrie, and Asryna had already quieted the other women in the restroom.
"Everything ok, here?" The Alliance marine asked.
"Yeah, we got it under control, Lieutenant." Shepard replied, immediately taking command of the situation. "Take his rifle, Garrus. Alenko...take the pistol."
"What about you?" Kaiden asked.
"I've got my biotics." Shepard responded. Turning to Asryna, Carrie asked, "You weren't blowing smoke up my ass to get me in bed when you told me you were an asari commando before becoming a model, were you?"
"No." Asryna replied, "I was a commando in Matriarch Aleeta's retinue for thirty years. Decided I needed a change of pace." She smiled, "Kinda like someone else I know."
"Where's the guy who was with Linda?" Carrie inquired.
"Men's room." Kaiden automatically responded. "Doing the same thing we're doing here. Hope he took out the guy who went in there."
"Kaiden...Garrus...check on him." Shepard ordered, "We'll meet you outside the restrooms.
"Right." Kaiden acknowledged as Garrus nodded his head.
As the two men left, Carrie turned back to Linda and the other women in the restroom. "Everything's going to be ok. We're going to get you outta here alive and unhurt. Ok?" Nodding her head in satisfaction as Linda and the other women all nodded their heads, Carrie instructed, "Me and Asryna are gonna step out for just a moment. We'll be right back and then we'll see about getting you outta here. Stay where you are and remain absolutely silent."
As the two women carefully exited the ladies room, the spotted their dates with Jacob. "Take care of the other guy?" Carrie asked.
"Jacob got him." Kaiden responded, "He's a biotic too."
Nodding her head as she saw Jacob wielding a shotgun with a pistol and assault rifle close by, Carrie instructed, "Hand Asryna the rifle, I'll take the pistol, and you keep the shotgun—you look like you know how to use it."
"Wait a minute..." Garrus interrupted, "Since when did a...swimsuit model...learn military tactics?"
"Yeah." Jacob agreed. "The C-Sec officer or Lieutenant or even myself should be the one giving orders here."
Taking the blonde model's slight head nod as permission, Asryna replied in a manner that she hadn't used in years, "Carrie's an Alliance commando. An N7—I think is what you call them. She knows what she's doing—probably better than any of you men."
Nodding his head in agreement, Kaiden spoke, "I've heard of Staff Lieutenant Shepard. She was the sole survivor of a thresher maw attack on Akuze that wiped out her entire platoon."
"You're that Shepard?" Jacob whispered as Carrie nodded her head once.
"Yeah. And Asryna's an asari commando who probably has more experience under her belt than all of us put together. So...if we're done trying to figure out who has the longest hoo-hah, maybe we can do something useful—like taking out these bad guys without anyone getting killed."
"Right." Jacob acknowledged as he handed the pistol to Carrie and the rifle to the asari.
What are your orders, Shepard?"
"Jacob. Your job is to get the people here out and to safety when you get the chance." Raising her hand as the corsair took a deep breath to object, Shepard continued, "That's not going to be as easy as you think. You're gonna have to get them and any other civilians you run into past anyone else out there and out the door without firing a shot or getting anyone killed. You up for the job?"
"Yes, Ma'am." Jacob replied, unable to resist the charismatic model's pitch.
"Garrus. You any good from range?"
"I can manage." The turian smiled.
"Good." Carrie grinned, "Find yourself a nest. Make sure that rifle has a noise suppressor. Then, when you get a shot, take it. One shot kills... and only take your shot if you're sure you're not going to alert the others. We don't want a panic."
"Understood, Shepard." Garrus nodded his head as he slipped off to find a sniper's perch.
"Kaiden...Asryna...you're with me. We're gonna try to pick these guys off one at a time. Stick to quieter biotics for as long as possible—stasis...neural shock...if you can reave 'em and take 'em out quick and clean—go for it. If we have to start tossing singularities and shockwaves and throws around, then we're screwed—got it?" Seeing both heads nod, Carrie nodded her head as well, "All right...let's do this. Jacob? Wait for us to clear a path and then follow. Remember—get everyone out."
"Got it, Shepard." Jacob replied as the other three biotics slipped out and into the nightclub.
"Where are Jensen and Walters?" One of the intruders demanded.
"They went to check on the restrooms." Another voice responded.
"That was five minutes ago." The first voice angrily responded. "Find out what's holding them up."
"Right boss." The voice belonging to the one named Jensen responded. "Let's go Walters. Cardman's probably got himself some in the woman's room."
"Yeah." Walters answered back as the two bandits approached the biotics' hiding place. Smiling, Shepard sent a small blue trace towards Walters. Seconds later, Walters had turned his weapon on his partner and fired.
"What?" The leader hollered as he aimed his pistol at Walters who once again fired, missing the leader. The leader then fired, only to be felled himself by a shot fired from the club rafters.
"Got him." Garrus smiled in satisfaction.
"I've got this one." Asryna remarked as she reaved yet another bandit, putting him down before he could utter a sound.
Seeing the approach cleared, Carrie signaled for Jacob to proceed. Moving quietly and swiftly, the dark-skinned biotic smoothly guided the civilians towards safety, making sure they stayed low and in the shadows. Pausing, he signaled at the doors and held up four fingers.
"We've got four bad guys and no civilians in the way." Carrie informed her ad hoc squad. "We still don't want to cause any collateral damage to the club so let's take 'em out quiet-like—right."
"Sure thing, Carrie." Asryna smiled.
"Right, Lieutenant." Kaiden acknowledged, using Carrie's rank.
After a couple of stasis bubbles and reaves were applied, four bandits found temporary resting places on the nightclub's floor. "Ok, Jacob! Carrie signaled, "The coast is clear. We're gonna check outside and then you can get these people out.
"Gotcha, Shepard!" Jacob replied as Carrie and her squad exited the nightclub only to find themselves surrounded by several armored bandits.
"You're the ones who messed up our heist." The leader cursed. "Well...at least we'll get to waste you fu..."
The leader never got to finish his words as a rumble followed by the leader exploding from a spread of shotgun pellets that shredded the robber's body. Another of the bandits found himself tossed in the air by a punch thrown at him by an eight hundred pound krogan. "Uncle Urdnot's here and he's laying down the boom!"
The third bandit was launched across the room, this time courtesy of a throw by Kaiden. Asryna and Carrie, working together, took out the remaining bandits with a combined singularity-warp attack.
"Well...I guess that does it." Carrie smiled as Jacob led the nightclub patrons out of the bar and into safety, followed soon afterwards by Garrus, still cradling his sniper rifle. "So guys...what do we next?"
"I'm not sure..." Kaiden replied, "How do you top an evening like this?"
"I don't know." The blonde model shrugged her shoulders as she laughed, "Maybe save the galaxy?"
"You can pencil me in on that, Staff Lieutenant." Kaiden grinned, "I'm on the Honolulu, just give me a call when you're ready."
"Count me in too, Shepard." Jacob waved as he left, arm-in-arm with Linda.
"If there's a good fight and lots of roast varren, then I'll be there." Wrex rumbled as he stomped away, laughing heartily the whole time.
Laughing along with everyone else, Garrus waved, "Let me know when you do and I'll join you. Right now though, I've got a stack of paperwork I'm going to have to fill out."
"I might have to get in on that action too, Carrie." Asryna smiled, "Just so long as we can strike a pose together every once in a while."
"You betcha, Asry!" Carrie smirked mischievously, "Speaking of which...We better check in with Alec. I think we've got a shoot tomorrow."
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"Grow up, Angelo." Service Chief Ashley Williams growled as she saw the printed out poster of a blonde woman and an asari playing beach volleyball hanging on the squadbay wall. "This isn't a college dorm!"
"Well I'll be a goddamn..." Zaeed Massani chuckled as he opened up his copy of Badass Weekly on his omnitool. Right on the cover was a photo of Urdnot Wrex with a beautiful blonde woman wearing a gold lame bikini in his arms. "Way to go big guy!"
"Now that's what you call recruitment material!" Flight Lieutenant Jeffrey Moreau smirked as he laid eyes on the cover of this month's Galaxina magazine. "If only all staff lieutenants could fill in a uniform like that..."
"Hot..." Samantha Traynor smirked as the name Carrie Shepard came up in the little game her and her suitemates at Oxford were playing, "Definitely H.O.T...HOT."
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Waking up to the beeping sound from her monitor, Carrie Shepard called out, "Yes..."
"Captain Anderson wishes to speak with you." The VI responded.
"Put him through." Carrie responded as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "Yes, Sir?" The blonde model responded, falling quickly back into military protocol.
"I read your after-action report concerning the incident at Flux." Anderson stated as a smile of approval crossed his lips, "Damn good work, Shepard. You took down those bandits and got everyone out of that nightclub without a single casualty and only minor property damage. I'm impressed and so are a bunch of other people."
"I had help, Sir." Carrie modestly replied.
"I know, Shepard." Anderson again smiled approvingly, "You pulled together three people you didn't even know and one person you only knew as a model and had them working together as smoothly as most teams that have had weeks and months working together. That tells me a lot about your leadership skills and ability. I want those skills and ability working for me."
"But, Sir...my status..."
"Your reinstatement to active N7 service is sitting on my desk right now, Staff Lieutenant." Anderson announced. " I can't say much over an unsecured line, Shepard, but I can tell you this. I want you for something special...something I think that you are uniquely qualified for. So...should I put in those reinstatement orders or shelve them? It's your call."
"This is important, Sir?"
"Very." Anderson declared, "I need the best for this."
"Then, Sir, count me in—on one condition."
"Oh?" Anderson responded, raising an eyebrow.
"If you're looking for the best, then there's a biotic you should know about. He's a second lieutenant by the name of Kaiden Alenko. He should be on your team."
"I read about Lieutenant Alenko from your report." Anderson smiled, "I'm pleased to inform you that he has already agreed to join me."
"Then, Captain." Carrie grinned, "Submit those papers. You can count me in."
As I said, this is a somewhat heretical take on FemShep. You'll note, she never used a gun during the entire story. While Carrie will use a gun if she has to, she does not like to use them. She's much more comfortable using her biotics and even then, prefers the surgical strike to the blunt hammer. Also, Carrie isn't afraid of being a "girly-girl"—she rather likes it. And yes, she is very much a paragon. I hope you liked Carrie in this little romp and if you want to see more of her, just let me know and I'll try to oblige you.