First blood
Commander Shepard hated the citadel. The station was a slap in the face reminding him that the reapers had manipulated the entire galaxy so effortlessly, predicting their every move countless times over.
That being said the view from Anderson's penthouse apartment was stunning and Shepard was more than willing to enjoy it. Not that he had much time to enjoy it as his shore leave would only last as long as it took the fleets to mobilize, but it would be more than enough time to enjoy himself and catch up with the rest of the crew. Shepard smiled as he thought of his squad, more like family than anything else how else could he describe Grunt's antics with a grin to Garrus, or feeling such pride for Jack after he had run into her at Grissom Academy and seen how she had matured, no longer the arrogant and slightly damaged psychopath, but a teacher and mentor to her students.
The sound of his omnitool going off shook Shepard out of his revelry. He quickly glanced at the name displayed on it before answering. "Shepard, what can I do for you Brooks?" In their first meeting the Alliance techie had not exactly been a bearer of good news, however considering recent events the fact that someone had attempted to hack his personal account was a fairly low priority.
Brooks' chipper voice sounded over the com, "Commander, I've got good news, I believe we've figured out who has been trying to hack your account but this isn't exactly information I'm comfortable sharing over a com channel."
Shepard frowned, "Brooks I can assure you this is a secure line."
"Commander, trust me this is news I have to give face to face."
Shepard sighed "Fine, I'm at Tiberius Towers, com me again when you need clearance."
"Yes sir." Came the firm reply.
Shepard slowly walked over to the bar and poured himself the most expensive scotch Anderson had, which he sipped tentatively, as he waited for Brooks to page him.
Sure enough half an hour later his omnitool lit up with a request from Maya Brooks asking permission to pass through the tower's security. Shepard swallowed the rest of the drink before reluctantly clicking the "yes" icon. Placing down his glass down, Shepard made his way into the bed room and went to the dresser opening the top drawer and retrieved the M-6 Carnifex hand cannon he had stored there earlier. After quickly inspecting the thermal clip he made his way back to the kitchen and waited for the knock on the door.
"Security show Maya Brooks."
"Apologies, Shepard" The dull voice of the VI droned "but we are experiencing a problem with our system please try again later."
"Bull shit," Shepard murmured now on red alert. Just then there was a knock on the door.
Shepard made his way to the left side of the door then carefully grabbed the handle. Shepard took a deep breath then swung the door open raising the pistol as he did so. Then froze as his own face stared back at him from the door way.
Shepard's mouth opened in shock "What the fuck..."
He was cut off from saying anything more as a shot rang out. Time slowed as he fell backwards, the pain caused him to instinctively let go of his gun. He hit the ground in a heap, blood pouring out of the wound. He lay there gasping as his attacker, an exact copy of himself, walked into the apartment followed closely by Brooks, the exotic woman strutted proudly, clearly pleased with herself. Shepard desperately pawed at the wound on his abdomen trying to slow the blood as pooled to the floor. The pain was unbearable the worst he'd ever felt.
"Don't bother." Brooks said coldly "That was a shredder round, we thought you might be wearing armour and we weren't about to take any chances. That round put a hole about the size of golf ball in you and tore out the other side as well. Overkill, but Cerberus has learned not to take any chances with you commander. You should take it as a compliment"
Shepard ignored her and focussed on his twin "Who the hell is he?" he demanded hoarsely nodding towards his doppelganger.
Brooks laughed "That's Commander Shepard."
"Fuck you." Shepard gasped fighting against the crippling pain.
"I was made as a back-up in case project Lazarus failed, an exact copy of Commander Shepard but when Lazarus was successful, I was thrown away only to be used as spare parts until Brooks found me." The doppelganger said emotionlessly and kneeled down bringing his head down right to Shepard's "But now I am Shepard."
"You're a clone." Shepard said his voice barely a whisper, his vision tinged with black.
"And you're not?" The clone said smiling "I'm everything you are, except I know where my loyalties lie."
Shepard struggled to sit up glaring at the two people who he now knew would be his killers. "You won't get away with it, they'll stop you."
The clone laughed "Who you're crew? They'll never have a reason to doubt that I am Shepard."
"Miranda-" Shepard's voice gave out as a coughing fit came over him. Blood sprayed out of his mouth and his head fell back to the ground.
The clone smiled "Don't worry Shepard I'll take good care of your girl, and if she doesn't recognize me I'll even keep her around."
Shepard felt the world spin and he knew what would be coming next, he'd died once before after all but he didn't want to let go. They were so close to winning, the crucible was almost ready, the galaxy was united. But all he wanted was to see his friends before he died, warn them about the imposter, his killer. However, it was too late already his vision was going dark.
The clone watched as Shepard drew his last struggling breaths and his eyes darted every which way before latching onto him. Shepard's eyes were full of desperation, hate and something like resignation but not fear, no whatever the commander was feeling in his last moments he wasn't afraid. The clone tried to look away but found he couldn't break the gaze of the dying man. He was drawn into Shepard's eyes and he watched as the light finally left.
There was a minute of silence before he turned to Brooks "What now?"
She smiled "We hide the body here and then you will go back to your ship, commander."
Wrex
Urdnot Wrex, chief of clan Urdnot looked at the ship docked in the port with a fondness, and while it was not his ship it was close enough to make him feel nostalgic. Yes the SR-2 Normandy was a good ship but it wasn't his ship. The ship he had followed Shepard on had been destroyed and Shepard had been killed.
"Beautiful isn't she?" The turian beside him remarked.
Wrex grunted "Maybe, but she's not the Normandy."
"Come on Wrex, she has a thanix cannon." Garrus said pleadingly "Do you have any idea what it can do?"
"Not the ship I was on with Shepard, and that's all that matters." Wrex stated with finality.
Garrus sighed "Fine."
There was a silence as neither really wanted to ask the question on both of their minds. Garrus however was the first to break "How's Tuchunka holding up."
Wrex barked out a laugh "We're kicking the reaper's ground troops off the rock well enough, but any ships show up… and well small arms can only do so much."
Garrus nodded sagely.
Wrex continued "But you're with Shepard, saving the galaxy." Wrex was surprised when Garrus visibly winced. "Garrus?" he asked confused.
Garrus's mandibles opened and closed in something akin to pain, "Wrex, Shepard has been acting strange. And not in the normal Shepard strange way either." He added as wrex went to interrupt him. "He's colder and has been behaving pro-human, almost like Cerberus."
"War changes people, and Shepard's seen his fair share of war."
Garrus shook his head the pained expression still on his face "Also there's some things that I'll say that he won't remember happening."
At that Wrex froze, this sounded very similar to something he had firsthand experience with. "Indoctrination? He asked fearing the answer.
Garrus shook his head "No, trust me this is something different but spirits damn me if I know what it is."
"Good."
