Chilling Shards Of Illusion
Prologue
Ocean eyes stared at the ceiling, waiting…
"Same dream?"
"Mhmm"
"As always we are going to start from the beginning."
"Ok."
She took a breath, exhaling slowly. She closed her eyes, recalling her dream.
"Does it start the same?"
"Yes. I am laying on an open field. On a small hill. Hands behind my head, looking at the clouds in the sky. The warmth of the sun makes me close my eyes, only for a second before I open them again. It's dark, I'm standing and in front of me a mirror… and I approach it-"
"You actually approach the mirror? The dream doesn't end at you seeing the mirror?"
Celestine shook her head "No. I was able to approach the mirror. Standing in front of it, inches away from me… my reflection is blurry. I reach to touch it… my… touch, shatters the mirror. The shards surround me."
"Do they show anything familiar?"
"No… I cant make out what I see… it's murky… blurry… there are whispers that I don't understand… and then suddenly they float away from me. I almost go to chase after the shards but a sharp noise stops me. I look down and there is this shard that I stepped on."
By now Celestine was sitting on the sofa… as if in a trance she acted as though she was reaching for the shattered fragment.
"The shard… I pick it up… it has broken lines since I stepped on it…"
Celestine stopped talking as she stared at her hand. The one she was suppose to be holding the broken fragment.
"What do you see Celestine?"
Celestine looked at the women behind her desk. Glasses on top her nose, ready to fall down her nose. The light from her small desk lamp, reflects on her glasses, casting an eerie shadow on her face.
"I see eyes… that look like mine…" Celestine's eyes widen slightly.
"And then?"
Celestine looked away, "the shard shatters into tiny pieces and I wake up."
"I see… well. This is certainly a new development. Other than that, I say you are ready."
Celestine smiled nodding.
"Thank you doctor… for everything."
The doctor smiled as she clapped her hands and the entire room went bright. Celestine blinked a few times to adjust to the brightness.
"Anderson should be waiting for you in his office. You may go."
Celestine nodded and got up, stretching as she walked towards the door. Before she took a step out of the door she turned around, tilting her head to the side.
"Do I call you to continue our sessions?"
The doctor shook her head.
"Karin will take over for me. I am confident she will let me know if something happens. Of course you are welcome to call me whenever you need someone to talk to."
Celestine nodded and turned around, the door swishing close as she continued down the hallway.
The doctor turned to her phone on her desk and pressed a number.
"Get me Hannah."
"Right away, ma'am."
0-0-0-0
Celestine was a nervous wreck as she walked down the hallway. She made a turn, stopping as she looked at the grand window to see past her reflection and saw the Normandy docked.
Her red ruby lips upturned into a smile. She had been on the Normandy countless times, but this time, it was different.
"Celestine!"
She blinked and her ears twitched at the voice. She tore her eyes away from the ship to looked at the reflection of the fast approaching person.
"Beautiful isn't she?"
She smiled, "that she is Jeff. That she is."
She turned to the man who favored his left side. Jeff "Joker" Moreau. Damn best pilot in the whole Alliance fleet. Probably in the galaxy! He is a tall man, but due to his illness, he always bent forward and therefore, slouch. He always wore a cap with his military attire.
Celestine flicked his hat. He turned to her. His sparkling green eyes staring at her with amusement.
"Don't call me Jeff," he said with a shake of his head. "You sound like my mother."
Celestine blew a breath before it turned into a giggle, prompting Jeff to laugh along with her.
"Alright Joker," she smiled. "Ready to go?" she turned around and started to walk away.
"I was born ready Cele," he nodded as he followed her to her destination.
"Celestine Claire Shepard!"
She stopped once her ears registered his voice. Her heart accelerating as she turned. Her midnight blue eyes zeroed in on the bright green eyes that shone with excitement at the mere sight of her.
"Nihlus!" she grinned and practically threw herself at him.
He laughed, "damn good to see you!" he said as he embraced her.
"It's damn good to see you too!"
A moment longer than usual lasted as they held each other before she let go of him. Nihlus could hear her heart beat and smiled softly at her. He turned to her companion that had an uncomfortable scowl on his face, even if he tried to hide it.
"Hey Joker," nodded Nihuls
"Hey Nihuls. How are you?" Jeff nodded back politely.
"Been good. On my way to a mission," he turned to look at Celestine.
"Always the busy bee I see," she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Jealous?" he raised a brow plate as his mandibles opened wide to give her a grin.
She winked at him, "maybe a little."
They both laughed.
"Don't tease me Cele," he smirked. "I'm suffering as it is."
Jeff snorted, "get in line." He murmured.
"You are such a flatter. Always know what to say," said Celestine as she smack Nihuls chest lightly.
The three laughed as Nihlus caught her hand. After their laughter died down she cleared her throat, pulling her hand slightly for Nihlus to release her.
"Well, it was good seeing you again. Don't be a stranger."
Nihlus released her hand with a tilt of his head.
"I will try not to be," he responded softly.
Jeff and Celestine waved goodbye as they continued on their way to their destination.
"Well, I will see you around, Cele."
They stopped at a fork in the hallway.
Celestine nodded, "don't worry Joker," she said with a wink. "You are still my number one guy."
"Don't make promises you cant keep, Cele," Jeff shouted followed by a laugh as he watched her walk away.
"Wouldn't dream of it, Jeff!" She yelled back.
Celestine reached a door at the far end of the hallway and knocked. The door panel to the side of the door turned from red to green, allowing her permission to enter the room.
"Sir?" She asked as she walked in and the door slid shut behind her.
"How many times am I going to tell you not to call me sir?" the man said sternly as he looked at her.
She chuckled, "alright, sorry David. Didn't mean to upset you."
He chucked with her.
"So, what's the four, one, one?" She asked once she cleared her throat and stood at attention with her hands behind her back.
"I need the Normandy to go to Eden Prime for a shakedown run," said a man from the chair in front of Anderson's desk.
The chair swiveled around. The man who was in the chair looked to be in his late forties with a scar going down one side of his face. He wore an official Alliance military cap to go with his formal Alliance uniform. His clear blue eyes soften at her appearance.
"Hello Steven," Celestine greeted softly.
"How are you feeling?" Hackett asked as he got up from the chair and approached her.
"I'm fine," she said as she followed him with her eyes.
Hackett inspected her to see if anything else would be troubling her.
"How are you, really?" he prodded.
Celestine sighed, "I haven't slept well in two days," she admitted while rubbing her neck as she looked down.
A movement caught her eye. She looked up to see Anderson approach her as well.
"Nightmares?" Anderson asked concerned.
Celestine grimaced before she composed herself.
"You could say that… though they feel more… real than anything," She murmured the last part.
"If you need anything, let Karin know," Hackett advised as he lifted her chin to look into her eyes.
"I will let her know, Steven," she nodded with a gentle smile.
"Well. It's time. We should get going," said Anderson as he looked at his digital watch.
Hackett removed his hand from her chin and hugged her, "cuidate mucho, mi Colibrí," he whispered in her ear.
All she did was return his hug and nodded. It was a moment before Hackett sighed and let her go.
"Let's go say goodbye to your mother and then we can be on our way. Heaven forbid she never sees her child," Anderson chuckled.
Celestine laughed, knowing her mother all to well to know that she didn't say goodbye, there would be hell to pay. She shook her head as she turned around and went through the opened doors followed by Anderson and Hackett.
"There you are!"
They turned to a woman, in her early forties with clear sky blue eyes and her raven hair up in its usual bun. She also had the same formal Alliance attire like Hackett. She had her hands on her hips and her foot was tapping impatiently, waiting for them. Her voice was soft but stern.
"Sorry Hannah, we-"
Hannah Celestine Shepard put her hand up to stop Hackett from making excuses. She opened her arms to her daughter as Celestine went to embrace her.
"You better be careful my Geai Bleu," she whispered into her hair.
"Ne vous inquiétez pas, je vais mère," Celestine replied softly as her arms tightened around her mother.
Hannah kissed the top of her head and held her at arm's length and smiled at her. Celestine smiled in return.
"Take care of her Anderson," Hannah said sternly as Hackett and Anderson approached them.
"You know I will. She is always in good hands," he said seriously.
"I'm not a child you guys. I can do this. I am ready," Celestine saluted to them and did an about face walking towards the docking bay of the Normandy.
"She is starting to have nightmares again," informed Hackett as he watched Celestine walk away.
"I know," Hannah sighed sadly as she placed a hand on her throat and the other under her armpit. "I wish those nightmares would just disappear…" she whispered.
"We will have to tell her sooner or later," Anderson interjected.
Hannah shook her head, "lets hold on, until she at least figures it out."
The two older men nodded as they looked in the direction Shepard went, with concern.
Translations:
Cuidate mucho mi Colibrí → Take good care of yourself my hummingbird. (In Spanish)
Geai Bleu → Blue Jay. (In french)
Ne vous inquiétez pas, je vais mère. → Don't worry, I will mother. (In French)
Welcome everyone! I hope you enjoyed my first chapter of the re-make of The Chilling Shards Of Illusion! :D)
I took a long break, I know. But I had a writers block that wouldn't go away until a my lovely MEFF friend inspired me to start writing again ^_^
I still have a slight writers block so I won't update chapters regularly but slowly it will get there.
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Much love, SerenityxGarrus