Synthetics and Spectres

AN: Firstly for those who have already read chapter one this is a complete rewrite. I felt that I could improve upon the original, and decided I wanted to make sure I delivered a good first impression for new readers. I held back a lot from my original variant, and I also didn't want to put in too much due to how long it has been since I wrote fiction. However, I have decided to toss that idea out the window, substantially longer chapter time.

To those new readers welcome, this AU fic will deal with some themes I always felt didn't get enough, or proper, attention that I had hoped they would receive in the series proper. First off, the reason Nihlus gives for proposing Shepard to the Spectres is due to your service history choice, but even the latest in the time line, Torfan in 2178, happens five years before ME 1. As such Nihlus in this universe proposed Shepard to be inducted into the Spectres a full six years before ME 1.

My second big focus is on synthetic augmentation, aside for Shepard's built in mood light in ME 2 we don't see any indication of real cybernetic augmentation that is visible. Now yes it is the future, but the sole source of visible cybernetics is apparently the freaking Reapers. Now yes the Reapers probably don't care all that much about aesthetics but I don't buy it. As such expect cybernetics to be less under the hood, and more chrome.

Lastly I will be playing loose with order of events once we get into game territory. Same goes for characters, expect characters from later games to show up earlier. Likewise with technology, unless it was stated to have been made after a certain point I may use it, and if it does state otherwise and I use it I intend to make sure it is explained in universe.

I will also include a song, or two, that I feel embodies the mood of the chapter. And check out my profile for songs that sum up characters, their relationships, and overall themes of the story.

Song: I AM ALIVE; Miracle of Sound.

S&S

"Welcome to the N7 database, please enter your query." The tinny voice of the V.I sounded from the console in front of the Turian. He was done getting the run around from that worm Udina, "Personal profile and service history." As the V.I processed his request he tapped his talons against the metal of the table. After Shepard had been injured following Akuze he had understood their request for her to be given time to recuperate, but now they were trying to push their own candidate. Some human female by the name of Rachel Gates, as if managing to fight off a bunch of poorly equipped pirates was enough to get you into the Spectres.

"Input access code." The aggravatingly calm voice of the V.I drew his thought back to the console, several clicks followed as Nihlus tapped in the code Bau had supplied him, "Access code accepted, have a nice day." Nice day? What moron programmed a military V.I with niceties, regardless several quick queries led him to his destination, Shepard's personnel file. "Computer, where is Evalyn Shepard currently deployed?"

Standing the Turian began to stalk towards the cockpit, he was done being patient. He would just go and approach Shepard personally about the candidacy. "Evalyn Shepard has been honorably discharged from the Alliance, reasons cited: Psychological disorder due to loss of her unit."

Nihlus merely stopped, his body halfway transitioned into the cockpit. "Spirits." But something didn't feel right about this to him, if she wasn't fit for service why not just inform him. "Computer contact Jondum Bau." By the time he had reached his workstation the screen was filled with a distorted view of the Salarian, "Sorry for having to bother you Bau, but I could use another favor. Shepard's been discharged from the Alliance, and I need to track her down."

S&S

While Nihlus was waiting for Bau to contact him with Shepard's location he decide to review the file the Spectre office kept on her.

'Lieutenant Commander Evalyn "Eva" M. Shepard. Nominally trained as an Alliance Sentinel, Shepard has little in common with the support specialists. She is the only child of the Late Admiral John Shepard, and Commander Hannah A. Shepard. Shepard is extremely intelligent, and has a particular talent when it comes to technology. Including but not limited to, heavy modification of firearms (her primary weapon was a Sabre modified to use both a council heat sink, and the human 'Thermal Clip'), creation and use of "micro-turrets," proficient use of the "Omni-Shield" which she uses instead of the traditional Tech Armor, and lastly a heavily modified military Omni-Tool. She is a gifted hacker, using extremely adaptable programs of her own design that enable her to access many hardened date sites (Note: Shepard is on a watch list for those most likely to be involved in A.I research). Subject is biotic, but like most humans is a class II, capable of light barriers and augmenting of close quarters strikes.'

'Additional notes: Shepard due to an incident when she was Fourteen was exposed to a element zero a second time. While it made her into a minor biotic, the radiation had the side effect of causing her body to reject any cloned organs. As such she requires cybernetic replacements for any lost organs or limbs. Currently estimated to be in the range of 30% cybernetic following Akuze. Notable cybernetic characteristics include: Left eye; replaced following secondary exposure, right arm and much of the shoulder; lost to a Thresher Maw on Akuze, Upper right hip, lost to a Thresher Maw on Akuze. Rumor has it that Shepard her undergone several non-registered cybernetic enhancements but no concrete evidence exists.'

'Psychological analysis per Spectre Nihlus' request. Shepard is a patriot, primarily to the SA, but she also believes in the idea of the Citadel Council. As such appeals on behalf of the Alliance would gain leverage in the short term, while in the long term her loyalties would shift from the Alliance to the Council, this makes her an ideal initial human candidate for the Spectres. She is uncomfortable planet side for long periods of time, a side-effect of her having lived in space for most of her life. She has been noted to have at least several non-human relations, all with Asari, but these ended once she joined the SA, has not entered into a relationship since. Shepard is driven to excel in whatever she does, this is best evidenced by her holding 27 of 28 of the current records at N School (it should be noted that combat driving was the only record she does not hold). Ensuring that Shepard has tasks that challenge her will be paramount to gaining her loyalty, treating her like some common soldier is not recommended.'

'Combat analysis per Spectre Vasir's and Spectre Arterius' request. Shepard prefers to fight at medium range, traditionally using marksmen weapons. Originally she used a heavily modified Mattock rifle, but upon reaching N4 she upgraded to the heavier Sabre. Shepard nominally uses a N7 Hurricane as a backup CQ weapon, and while she can use most other weapons she is not an expert in their use. Shepard's prefers to use flame based tech attacks, as well as overloads. She is also proficient with the sabotage of her opponents weapons, but has a noted tendency to default to other methods. She carries two "micro-turrets" on her person, normally stored on her forearms for charging (note turrets can be fired from their charging position). One turret has a built in flamethrower, while the second one is fitted with a small missile launcher. Lastly Shepard uses a highly modified Omni-Shield, when she uses it she is unable to utilize ranged tech attacks, but reports have shown her augmenting the shield to ignite targets struck. Note: Shepard is right dominant, but has trained herself to fire primarily with her left in order to be able to maintain accuracy while using her shield.'

A chime on Nihlus' Omni indicated that Bau had forwarded him some data. He quickly glanced over it, before remotely sending the coordinates to the ship's V.I, he decided to finish reading the last section of the report on Shepard.

'Recommended elimination strategies per Spectre Arterius' request. Shepard is not a skilled hand to hand fighter, preferring to engage at range. Her Omni-shield is mostly used to protect herself from enemy fire, and to engage in flank/breach maneuvers. Attacks at extreme range are effective to the same degree they are to most humanoids. Note: It is believed that Shepard may have installed a highly modified Graybox sometime before Akuze, unknown on how it may differ in function from the standard model, if it does indeed exist.'

Nihlus powered down the console, before he transitioned from his chair to the bunk near his workstation. The trip to the Citadel would take nearly half a day, and he didn't plan on wasting a moment once he arrived.

S&S

Bau's information led him to a bar deep inside of Zakera Ward, the bar had some kind of odd Salarian name that translated to "Drunk in Shadows" which Nihlus was sure had to be a glitch on his translator's part. Entering the structure caused his brain to begin the unconscious procedure of identifying the room's layout, patrons, and potential cover in case of sudden attack. The bar itself looked worse than it's name, a battered room filled with bad lighting and beat up metal tables. A few booths lined the wall in the back, with one of them housing the sole human in the place. Though the combination of bad lighting, and their positioning made it difficult for him to tell if it was even female let alone Shepard.

First things first though, he needed a drink. A reedy looking Salarian tended bar, and he seemed to only grudgingly leave his stool after Nihlus leaned up against the bar. "Just give me something that won't kill me, and give that human woman in the back a round on me." That the Salarian simply nodded Nihlus chose to take as he got the gender right, or the lizard just didn't care, he didn't really care to take a bet on that one.

Pushing himself off the bar he weaved through the haphazard tables that littered the middle of the room, approaching the side of the human's booth that was unattended. With this angle he was actually able to confirm that yes it was indeed Shepard, and while the woman did not look drunk the handful of glasses in front of her did not attest to sobriety. Her visible eye tracked his form as he approached her, she said nothing as Nihlus slid his armored form into the side opposite of her.

"The fuck do you want." Her words were not slurred, but they had the easy anger of someone who was not in full control of their actions. Nihlus considered whether it would have been better to wait, but he couldn't stall at this point. His mentor Saren was diametrically opposed to any human being considered for the Spectres, and Shepard drunk in a bar on the citadel would be just the type of situation he would use to his advantage.

"Shepard, my name is Nihlus Kryik. I'm a Spectre and I need to have a private conversation with you. Is there perhaps someplace we can talk in private, after you have sobered up some." Talking wasn't Nihlus' strong suit as he was swiftly remembering based off of the reactions of the human in front of him.

"Are you accusing me of being drunk!" Shepard's right hand slammed into the table, leaving a not insubstantial dent in the metal. "And what kind of bullshit is this, there is no way a Spectre would just walk up and act like this was some bad spy film. If I was a Spectre I would have hacked into their Omni, left a message stating the time and place of a meeting. Not whatever stupid Turian version of a practical joke this is." The now livid human woman flowed out of the booth, her gait was steady but she was obviously trying to prevent herself from starting a brawl.

"Shepard, I know who was behind Akuze!" Nihlus could only hope that this was not going to blow up in his face spectacularly.

S&S

Akuze, just the mere mentioned of that living hell brought it back to her. The smell of ash from the shuttle detonation, mixed with the smell of acid melted flesh and dead Thresher Maw. The screams from her men, from those damned beasts, of herself as the Maw had taken her arm and part of her hip with it. The feel of the ashes on her skin as she had dragged her half dead body through the battlefield, her only hope was the slim chance that the communication equipment on the second shuttle still worked.

Waking up on Arcturus, sans arm and stuck with some monstrosity they considered an appropriate prosthetic. The constant blocking of any attempt to open an investigation into the event by the Admiralty, her discharge based on grounds that she had imagined the strange signal beacon as some means of coping with the loss of her men, learning that her own Mother had testified against her mental health.

Shepard knew she was close to losing it, to just letting it all go. Pull out her pistol blast this smug Turian bastard in the head, move on to the human embassy and take out Udina if she was lucky. But no, just no. That wasn't how this story ended, and so she turned to face the Turian. "Talk."

His mandibles flared slightly, a small outward showing of surprise. "Not here Shepard." His Omni glowed briefly and she heard a chime in her ear indicating the arrival of a data packet. He continued, "I just forwarded you a set of coordinates, meet me there by the next quarter rotation and we can talk." The Turian slid out of the booth with surprising grace, "Goodbye for now Shepard, and don't forget to enjoy your drink." Shepard's eyebrows raised in confusion before she noticed the small Asari server she had been ignoring this whole time.

She shook her head at the young maiden, "No I think I've had enough for today."

S&S

She needed two things first, one intel, two weapons. Weapons were simple, she would just need to stop by her apartment. As for intel she needed to confirm that tall, dark, and half an idiot was indeed a Spectre. Luckily that could be handled easily by taking a trip to see her favorite human on the Citadel, the fact that Bailey was the only human on the Citadel had nothing to do with the matter.

Zakera Ward, like most of the Citadel had a handful of major C-SEC fortresses in each of the wards. While smaller precincts pulled double duty as both customs stations, and local stations for the surrounding area. In her opinion it was an amazingly inefficient system, but it had been done that way for longer than Humans had had cars so she kept her opinions mostly to herself.

While she walked over to the precinct she ran a quick diagnostic on her arm, she wasn't going to risk getting caught hacking into C-SEC just because she didn't run a quick inspection of her gear.

The arm held no resemblance to what the Alliance had given her, she had used most of her funds to construct and upgrade an arm to her own specifications. Synthetic muscles mimicked the shape and movement of her original arm, the dark black plating was capable of turning blades and small caliber rounds. She had taken a military Omni tool with her when she left the SA, it wasn't to where her previous one had been but she was working on it. She had also installed an Omni-Shield emitter into the arm, though it needed a larger power supply to be able to work to full specification. As is it was more of an Omni-Buckler, but sometimes that was enough. A beep in her ear signified that the diagnostic was complete and everything was all green, satisfied she strode forward into the precinct.

Spotting the man at his desk, his usual cold cup of coffee next to him, brought a small smile to Shepard's face. "Yo, Bailey. Do you have a minute?" As she shouted this she initiated the hack via the remote up-link she had had installed at the same time as her Graybox. The man scowled at the sound of his name, spinning slowly in his chair to face her. "For the last time Shepard, no I cannot get you permits to carry weapons on the Citadel. Your just lucky that no one has tried to impound that arm of yours, we both know you could do more damage with that thing than you could with a rifle."

She only smirked at his, crossing her arms in front of her while leaning against an empty desk across from Baileys own. "I don't know about that, I can do an awful lot of damage with just one little rifle. How do you think I beat the compound in record time?" The compound was the final test that you had in N-school before you entered the active service portion. The idea being that if you couldn't handle the most lethal controlled environment, how did you expect to survive in the least lethal uncontrolled environment.

"I seem to recall hearing that it involved an unauthorized explosive. Couple of the guys with family in the Alliance were talking about it a while back." Shepard could only groan, "It was their fault, they said we could take anything from the table. Not my fault no one thought to overload the generator for the turrets before. And I used a rifle when they made me take the test a second time, still set a record."

Bailey raised his hand in defeat, "Alright you win, so what did you need."

"I'm not exactly sure, but I think I may be leaving the station soon. I paid that Volus for three months in advance, so I was wondering if you could keep an eye on it. Make sure that he doesn't try to rent it out to someone else while I am gone." A small beep signaled the completion of hack, time to swing by her place to complete phase two.

Bailey burst out into a chuckle at the mention of her apartment, "Ya I'd hate for some poor bastard to try to live in that broom closet you call an apartment. If the amount they paid for it didn't drive them insane, the size of it sure would."

She watched as he wilted under the glare she was giving him, "I happen to like my apartment Bailey. Now are you going to help me or what?"

"Yes Shepard, I'll make sure a few of the boys keep an eye on your place. And look take care of yourself out there."

A small smile tugged at her lips, "You watch out for yourself too Bailey." Giving him a small wave she walked out of the precinct into the thoroughfare, bringing up the date her hack had acquired. "Well, shit," was her only response to the blinking Spectre statue indicator underneath Nihlus' name.

S&S

Her apartment was one step above shoe box, two steps down from cozy. It was expensive, had a terrible view, and she didn't like her neighbors. It did however have a lot of places to hide items of a semi-illegal nature.

First she dropped her pistol on to the bed, the weapon bore little resemblance to the Carnifex she had bought when she first arrived. She had stripped the plating, recoil dampner, replace the sight with an electronic one linked up to her cybernetics, and put in a larger heat sink.

Next she took out her 'trouble' bag from under the bed. Inside an Alliance body glove, itself a fictional light armor replacement. Along with two micro-turrets she had manged to reconstruct, though she was still fiddling with their programming. Lastly she pulled out a Kuwashii visor, intended to go over her still natural right eye, it was necessary to level the playing field between it and her cybernetic eye.

She stripped out of her clothes, and slipped into the bathroom taking the body glove with her. She pulled her blonde hair back into a messy bun, revealing the crimson cybernetic eye her hair had previously been hiding. Her face, like the rest of her body was more hallow than it would have been had she been taking care of herself. She'd never been the most curvaceous woman, though she had been told she had a great ass, but looking at herself, really looking at herself, made her realize how far gone she had been these past few months. Shaking her head she began to pull the light armor on, her muscles were much more defined than they normally would be, due she supposed to her not lowering her fitness regime while she ignored her body's caloric intact requirements. Not that she wasn't normally in shape, she kept very fit, but unlike some N7's she didn't consider her danger level equal to how much she could bench.

Finished with getting her armor on she slid the above her sink to one side. Revealing a safe she had installed into the wall, inputting a quick code the door gave a confirmation noise, slowly swinging open. Inside was a several thermal clips and a field stripped 77-Vindicator assault rifle, a weapon she was forced to buy following the destruction of her Sabre, and the rarity of Mattock rifles these days. She quickly reassembled the rifle, inspecting the parts as she inserted them into the quickly completed rifle. Satisfied she sat it on the ground as she popped off a panel under the sink, sliding out her 'bad day' case. She took both it and the rifle with her, setting them both on the bed.

She waved a hand in front of her wall closet to activate it, causing the wall to slide open revealing a small crawlspace she had filled with clothes. She pulled out a pair of black slacks, along with a long sleeved high necked shirt. Pulling those on over her armor she turned back to her bed, first slipping the visor into place over her right eye. Next she placed the turrets on her forearms, the magnetic strips built into the armor keeping them in place. Next she popped the latches on the case, revealing not only even more thermal clips, but three detonation charges. Usually they were used for small scale demolition, but you never knew when you would need an explosive. So she had modified them to be used in two further fashions, in a proximity mode, or as a timer/impact based grenade mode. These she placed on the magnetic strip on her left hip. She took her pistol and placed it on her right hip, she also fitted ten thermal clips in slots built into the armor's waist, allowing her to pull her shirt over them. Finally she placed the 77 in the now empty duffle bag, before slipping into the pair of combat boots she always left by the door. The only thing she wished she had was a shield module for her armor, but she simply hadn't had the funds left after she set up her little bolt hole.

Shepard steeled herself, it was time to go and meet a Spectre.

S&S

The air taxi she had hailed dropped her off only a block from the coordinates Nihlus had given her, they corresponded to a warehouse near the Tiran spaceport here in Zakera. The streets were sparsely populated, but there were still enough civilians milling about that she figured that a bullet to the head wasn't coming. After all if that was the case he could have shot her in the bar, she wasn't however, going in assuming that a friendly chat was all the Spectre wanted.

It didn't take her long before she spotted the building, it was a standard squarish block of a building. But it was built into the corner of the district, so the result was she had no option but to either walk in the front door. Or set off an explosive charge in public, near civilians, on the Citadel. "Well played Spectre" She murmured to herself.

Approaching the side of the door she slid her left hand into the bag, pulling out the rifle with her left. In a single smooth motion she slid a thermal clip from around her waist and inserted it into the gun, right before she shoved open the door. When nothing terrible happen she quickly peeked inside before advancing to a crate she could see close to the doorway.

The interior was badly lit, the kind you get when you have natural light but it is improperly placed. Her eyes picked out shipping containers scatted about the room, some the size of a footstool, others large enough to fit a Mako. All of them potential ambush sites, "All right Spectre I'm here, what the hell do you know about what happened at Akuze!" Her ears picked him up before her eyes did, he blended amazingly well to the shadows.

"If you want to know who was responsible for Akuze Shepard, then you need to beat me. Prove to me that you weren't just lucky when you got off that rock." As if on cue lights hidden throughout the room flared on, her cybernetic eye had already adjusted allowing her to get a lock on the approaching Turian's form. She fired off a burst into him, only to watch his shield absorb it. She went through the mnemonic to summon a barrier, only to feel herself grow faint, and for no magic force field to appear. Nihlus slammed into her, his right arm clamping down on her left wrist forcing her to drop the rifle from it. While his left slammed into her stomach forcing the air in her lungs out in a gasp.

"Come on Shepard, this can't be your best. Prove to me that you survived, because all those poor bastards you served with simply didn't have what it took to keep breathing let alone fight a Thresher Maw."

In the back of her mind she knew he was goading her, but that little voice meant shit to the red that filled her vision. She slammed her knee into the Turian, the biotic field enveloping it cracking something in his chest, as well as forcing him to release her left. She activated the turret on her left arm, sending a trace of small caliber fire at him. He dived behind one of the larger shipping containers while she retrieved her rifle, activating her Omni-shield she advanced slowly into the room. He struck again from the shadows, going again for her left. This time though she intercepted him with her shield, she fire two bursts into his form before he had recovered from her block. Before she had time to hit him with a third she found herself blown off her feet, struggling to right herself she saw the Spectre had held a shotgun in his free hand.

"Fucking concussive shot." She growled, the Spectre was trying to slip into the shadows of the room once again. "Not this time Nihlus." Her body flared a brilliant corona of blue and purple, as the largest shipping crate near Nihlus sent him flying into the wall of the structure. She was only vaguely aware of meeting the floor as her body crumpled from overexertion.

S&S

Nihlus had come to first apparently, his Spectre armor had dosed him with stimulants and medigel to get back up after cracking his head into the wall. He had the raided his ship's non-dextro medical supplies to get Shepard back up and running. And so she found herself awkwardly sitting on a cargo container across from the Turian whose skull she had tried to open like an egg.

"Okay this is awkward enough as it is without the silence. You said you had info on Akuze, now are you going to tell it to me or not?"

Nihlus nodded, "I will but first I need you to understand that this is not just about Akuze. This is an opportunity Shepard to use those skills that the Alliance has tossed away. I am formally extending an offer for you to prove yourself worthy of becoming a Spectre. This business with Akuze would simply be the first of several missions together."

"Spectre? As much as I would love the opportunity we both know the Council isn't going to turn around and nominate a N7 who was just ejected for being crazy into the Spectres." But, if the opportunity was real. Could she really chance saying no, chances to even be considered were extremely rare.

"Indeed you are right, if you were inducted officially you would be posing as an Asari Spectre. It would also entail you to engage in intense training to pass yourself off as an Asari, nothing cosmetic but everything from language, to how to walk. Or at least that was how Vasir was describing it as."

Shepard idly rubbed her cybernetic hand's thumb and index finger together, "Alright say I am interested. What is the next step?"

The Spectre was lit in a hazy orange glow as his Omni-tool projected a small holographic symbol above it. It reminded her of two hexagons, blended together, but it was not a symbol she recognized. "This symbol is of the pro-humanist group Cerberus, they have been active since the Relay 314 incident. From data we managed to uncover from another related cell it led us to this device." A new picture appeared, this one resembled an Alliance beacon, but it's interior workings were nothing alike. It was also something she had seen before, on Akuze.

"I saw that device, or a similar one on Akuze. We thought it was simply a beacon set up by one of the missing colonists. But when it went missing afterwards I tried to find out what happened to it, and well we can see where that path led me."

Nihlus nodded at that, "We have tracked down the location of the cell we believe is responsible, or working in concert to that of the Akuze cell. So Shepard are you in?"

She looked into those avian like eyes for a few moments before responding, "Yes I'm in, but I don't intend on leaving a single one of the bastards alive. My unit deserves that much, I deserve that much."

S&S

If anyone is worried about Shepard being OC/SI level of broken don't worry. I just needed her to be competent so then she can be eclipsed in even more glorious ways!

Complaints, critiques, secret family recipes! Send them my way. Though it won't speed up my progress at all. And since this is a rewrite, thank you to everyone who read and liked the original variant. I hope this is an improvement.