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The ship was smoothly drifting through the empty vacuum; slowly, steadily and comfortingly quiet. Beneath her, the bed was soft and cozy and nothing like the stone-hard mattress she was normally used to. Commander Ria Shepard opened her eyes abruptly, the blazing white Med-Bay light burning itself merciless into her retina. As she tried taking a deep breath the searing pain shot into her head once more, making her growl. "Damn it…" she hissed infuriated, massaging her pulsating temples. This wasn't the normal biotic headache she was already used to. "Ah Commander Shepard. You're awake. That is good news indeed." The voice of Dr. Karin Chakwas sounded through the room. The grey-haired woman approached her, feeling her pulse rather rudely. "And how are we feeling today after our previous little stunt with an unknown alien technology?" she asked her. In front of her mind's eye the images flared up again, still not making any sense to the young woman. As she sat up, flinging her legs over the edge of the bed the pain in her head became almost unbearable. Fighting the urge to throw up, Shepard shook her head looking the medic in the eyes. "As fresh as morning dew…" she joked. The older woman watched her closely, scoffing: "Captain Anderson will be very pleased to hear that you haven't lost your horrific sense of humor." "Of course it's our first and last line of defense!" the captain's voice sounded from the door. As Shepard tried to struggle up clumsily for a salute he waved his hand at her. "At ease, soldier. You have just woken up from a three day coma. No need for that sort of formality." Three days… Shepard thought to herself, swallowing hard. She could remember everything like it was only yesterday, how Joker had shown them the emergency-transmission from Eden-Prime, the strange space-ship in it, the Geth… Nonetheless the young woman straightened herself up slowly in front of her superior, like she was raised and used to. "Yes, sir." She answered curtly. "Now tell me everything that has happened down there. I have gotten something out of Lieutenant Alenko and Gunnery Chief Williams although it was rather incoherent…" he said, watching her closely with his stern brown eyes.

After she had told him everything a pensive and worried look was spreading across her captain's face. He had grown very quiet during her report and she couldn't even blame him. It did sound highly improbable, not to say totally impossible. A Turian Spectre killing another highly respected Turian Spectre in cold blood? The Geth, the horrifically transformed human beings and the Prothean artifact, which apparently blew up right after she had used it involuntarily. To top it all off the population of the human colony of Eden Prime had almost been obliterated by Geth Forces who were possibly lead by said Turian Spectre, who apparently went totally rogue. She would institutionalize herself if she could. Her whole body began to tremble as she thought about the sensation, when she had pushed the Lieutenant away from that thing and it had gained control of her. Although the physical sensation was nothing compared to the visions which had appeared in front of her mind's eye right after that. Blurred images of chaos and fear… Even now she was unable to shake them off. She had had her fair share of nightmares after the disaster on Akuze, but this was completely different. It almost seemed like that artifact wanted to tell her something, which surely couldn't be possible, it was just an object after all, wasn't it? Anderson murmured something unintelligible before looking at her again. "We have to get you to the Citadel. The Council needs to hear this. If Saren Arterius is really behind the attack on a human colony he needs to pay for his crimes! Damn, this was only a matter of time…" he said, grinding his teeth. There was more behind this, but Shepard couldn't wrap her mind around it. "Captain, if I may ask: how do you know this Turian?" The captain looked at her grimly, replying: "Let's just say he and I don't see eye to eye. And he dislikes humans… loathes us to be more specific. He thinks we are mere animals trying to feed our need for power by colonizing every suitable planet." "Then we need to tell the Council what he has done. He can't hide behind his Spectre status forever!" Shepard replied agitated. With his hand on the intercom the captain nodded. "You are right, Shepard. Joker? Set a course for the Citadel. We need to get to the Council A.S.A.P.!"

A steaming pot of something that came quiet closely to chicken broth in front of her, Shepard sat pondering in the Mess Hall. The Turians... the first species humanity had encountered in the year 2157. Until then we had thought that we were alone in this galaxy… we couldn't have been more wrong…or arrogant. She thought, drinking a mouthful of the hot liquid. Shepard understood how one could be afraid of them, even though she wasn't. They had talons for fingers and their whole body seemed to be a walking weaponry wrapped up in a seemingly impenetrable exoskeleton. During her N7 training she had learned how to knock off a Turian in five steps, they had their weak-spots, like every species. In the corner of her eye she could see Chief Williams talking to another soldier. Talking about human superiority… There stands a true example of our short-sightedness. She let out a heavy breath as the woman caught a glimpse of her and came striding over. Oh no here we go… Shepard though, trying to put on her military face which she had almost perfected during the last years. It was impossible for anybody to get a read on her once it was on and it had been saving her a lot of trouble so far. "Commander Shepard, I've been meaning to talk to you!" Williams stated, sounding agitated. "Alright Williams, shoot." She replied, without turning her attention from the bowl in front of her. "With all due respect, ma'am, but I think running to the Citadel Council is a bad idea. The Spectres are their right hand; don't you think the head tells the hand what it ought to do?" she explained agitated. Short-sighted and paranoid… great combination. I have to remind myself to assign her to another ship once the business on the Citadel is wrapped up. "Maybe the hand is amputated… who knows." Shepard replied unimpressed. "Excuse me, Commander?" the chief asked puzzled. Exhaling heavily, Shepard posed the question she regretted immediately: "What is the real problem here, Chief?" The young woman looked at her sternly: "I do not trust those aliens to be frank. It's impossible to read them. It's almost like the animals back on earth. They can communicate with one another but we "outsiders" wouldn't understand a word were it not for the translators in our ears. Have you tried listening to a Turian or Asari talk with your translator muted? It's awful, really. Even their spaceship design is totally off...not suited at all for human physiology" She explained with a look of disgust on her face. Standing up abruptly, Shepard turned around to face the Chief. "I don't know if anybody has already told you, Chief Williams, but the Normandy is actually a human-turian collaboration project and surprisingly the solely human crew can live just well with that "unphysiological" design. This ship will be going to the Citadel where we will talk to the "alien" Council nice and easy without making fools of ourselves. I hope that won't be a problem for you?" she explained slowly but determined. She smiled inwardly as she recognized the immediate effect of her little speech in Williams, who just nodded, excusing herself meekly to the armory. Pleased with herself she sat down again, sipping at the now lukewarm salty liquid. "A bit harsh, but maybe appropriate." A male voice sounded behind her, giving her a start. "Lieutenant Alenko, I didn't see you there." She replied, coughing up the soup. The young Canadian gestured to the chair opposite of her and she nodded briefly. As he sat down she could see the worry in his hazel eyes…actual worry, for her? "How are you Commander? If I may ask?" he muttered eying her cautiously. For a moment, Shepard was unable to think of anything coherent to answer, so she just stared at the man in front of her, unmoving. "Commander?" he asked again, even more worried. Suddenly the young woman felt the unresistable urge to smack her head against the table You're just staring at him… Damn it, you're his superior, snap out of it! Though that dreamy eyes… "I am fine, lieutenant and thanks for asking." She replied curtly. This didn't seem to satisfy him at all, for he furrowed his brows at her. "I am so sorry, it was my fault. I am familiar with the protocols on unknown alien technologies, but I still was reckless enough to get too close to that damned thing! I couldn't have forgiven myself if that would have killed you after you saved me. I am very sorry and if you don't want me on this vessel or your ground-team any more I completely understand that!" he explained apologetically fumbling at his sleeves. Oh god that's actually adorable. Shepard though restraining herself from an uncontrolled giggle building up in her throat. "Don't blame yourself lieutenant. That sort of thing can happen to anybody. Next time we're about to recover some Prothean technology we'll know what we're facing." She replied, smiling at him. That seemed to have taken him by surprise as he answered stammering: "Thank you Shep… Commander." "Shepard is ok, lieutenant." The young woman replied turning her attention back to the bowl in front of her. "Well then just call me Kaiden… that is if you want, Shepard." "We'll see about that…Kaiden." Shepard said smiling.