Making Goals

A/N: Sadly, I do not own Mass Effect. I'm aware that's a shocker to most, but try not to be too devestated. But let me quick say that if I did own ME, there would be quite a few changes... Namely "Future Space Bisexuals".

A full soccer stadium roars to life. Cameras flash, people clap, and sometimes a shirt or two lift by means of showing the spectators just what team is being rooted for and by whom. It's beautiful, intense, and euphoric to a young and enigmatic Jane Shepard.

It was her Sophomore year at Citadel, and it was the game that would make or break it all. Semifinals.

For being a sophomore, it was quite the honor of being Forward on a championship-winning, big-league team. (Sure it wasn't the olympics, but for Shepard it was close enough.)

The score was 3-4, and the ball was located just outside of the opposing teams goal.

Cerberus.

They were a tough team to beat.

The goalie; dark-skinned and lean in stature, was proving to be the most dangerous in terms of their victory. He blocked everything that came his way... But Shepard was hoping to change that.

Garrus gripped the dirtied and wet soccer ball with tan hands, shifting it slightly within in his grasp. With very little twirl of the ball, a stream of water droplets flew off and landed into the damp grass below. It was an eerie and intense setting for an eerie and intense game. 'Made it all the more real, Shepard noted.

Water droplets fell from Shepard's red bangs, obscuring her view for just a moment before everything shifted back into focus. Garrus, clad in a sticky and wet blue uniform, hoisted the ball above his head and looked all of his team members straight on. Although his stare scraped by them all, Shepard could feel it linger on her for just a split-second more than the rest.

This ball was hers.

This goal was hers.

This game was hers.

… And then it came.

And she slipped.

Flashes of white shrouded her vision as the crowd around her erupted in a mass collection of distorted and diverse noises. Some booed, some gasped, and few cheered. However all of that went away when Shepard looked down and saw something she thought she'd never see: her leg, twisted and mangled under the weight of her hip. She couldn't even feel the cool grass beneath; just a series of hot, flashing pains.

Then everything went dark.

A lone hand clenched itself tight, "you can't be serious. This is bullshit!"

Director Hackett, in all of his gray-haired glory, crossed his fingers and leaned back into his plush leather chair. He was anything but amused by Shepard's choice of words, but carried on nonetheless. "We're sorry Ms. Shepard. Our board of trustees has come to the unanimous decision that it just isn't in your best interest to continue."

Jane grit her teeth, "to hell with the board. I feel fine. That's all that should matter."

"If it's any consolation, your scholarship will remain intact-"

"I'm sorry, but to be quite honest I don't give a damn about the money. I came here to play soccer."

"I know it's the last thing you want to hear, Ms. Shepard, but there's more to college than soccer."

This sentence stopped the existence of Jane Shepard immediately. Her breathing slowed, and her eyes hallowed as she looked upon her previous role model. "I'm sorry," she started, "I need some time to think."

Picking up both aluminum crutches in one quick sweep, Jane stood with practice. The cool metal burned her skin, trapping her in a weak and frail state.

It was all a load of shit.

"Please, recuperate wholly Ms. Shepard. If anything goes amiss, you're suspension will be extended, I'm sure."

Jane huffed. "You're acting like you don't have a say in the matter."

A gentle knock sounded upon a grand wooden door, followed by the noise of careful entrance.

"Miss Lawson, our top student and colleague. How can I help you?"

Miranda Lawson gently inserted herself into the dimly-lit interior of her Director's office. Her hair shifted and swayed as the variance of temperature created an unforeseen draft. Across from her the Director of Cerberus sat; his face hardly visible due to his choice "lighting circumstances". At first the dark room and brooding behavior of the Director had worried her, but over the years she had grown fond of the illusive demeanor that these factors brought. "Director Hawthorne, I believe we spoke over email about some ideas I wish to be taken into action?"

"Yes, I recall." He paused to lean forward, "...What might those be?"

First on the list, "Jane Shepard."

The illusive Director pursed his lips, pressing her forward.

"I recommend you consider recruiting her to join us, here, at Cerberus." The Australian's thick accent warped her words in a highly desirable way, making her sound more convincing than she already was.

"And why should I, or "we" if I include the board, consider this?"

"She's desperate and itching for action. She nearly handed us our ends last fall, and I think she'd make a wonderful addition to our team."

"Oh?"

"Her statistics are amazing. From her freshman year at Citadel, she raked in profits beyond anything else we've seen here at Cerberus. And with her suspension and drive to continue playing, now is as good a chance as ever to convert her over."

"Ah, yes. She was suspended for concern of health. What do we plan to do about this?"

"We clearly don't have all information on her suspension, but it's safe to say that her injuries will keep her out of Citadel fields for over a year... If we were to transfer her here by next semester, after her injuries have officially healed, I'm sure that it will be reasonably safe for her to continue on our side."

"... And what if you're wrong, and her injuries cause her to be a liability?"

"I'll accept full responsibility."

The Director smiled. "You're just a student, Miranda. I'm sorry, but you hardly own the authority to make that choice. As well as the ability to accept another student's sports career as a liability."

Miranda straightened her posture and pursed her lips. The light chiffon blouse was suddenly making her feel very vulnerable. It was unsubstantial, just as she felt at that moment.

The Director grinned, "... I'll see what I can do."

A/N: I hope the quick prologue is alright with you lot. It's pretty flashy (as in short and sporadic), but that's how I do things 'round these parts.

Please review! Thanks for reading! Next chapter is almost done, just going to extend it some more.