"There is Ryder. He is N7, a scientist and was with Grissom through the first Relay."

"No. He has been blackballed after the AI issue."

"Right. Then, what about one of the Shepards? They were both spacers, lived aboard starships half their lives."

CE 2154, April 11th, SSV Einstein, Medical Bay

"PUSH, Hannah!"

Lieutenant Hannah Shepard, seasoned Naval Officer, Navy brat, proud member of the Systems Alliance Military, snapped. "I AM FUCKING PUSHING, YOU FUCKER!"

The medical officer in charge, Dr. Janelle Sanderson was not impressed. "Yes, dear. But push better."

"When I get this baby out I am going to fucking murder you."

"Yes, well. You'll have to get the baby out first, then, won't you?"

Gritting her teeth Hannah bared down one more time. It was interesting how one's mind worked at times. In that moment, during that last push, all she could think about was the sweat soaked blonde hair caught in her it was done. She collapsed back onto the table, her breathing ragged. Exhausted. She was sure she would never move she heard the cry. That beautiful first cry.

"It's a boy Hannah," Dr. Sanderson told her. Hannah, could not remove the weary smile from her face as she watched the medical team clean the child off, but frowned in confusion when she realized they were not passing the baby to her.

"What is it?" she said. Or that was what she intended to say. What she actually got out was, "What is… THE HOLY FUCK!" As her stomach cramped again, urging her to push.

"Ah, yes." the Doctor said. "It looks like you have twins Hannah. Now. PUSH!"

"Yes, until the boy started to develop biotics."

CE 2166, Arcturus Station

Lieutenant Commander Hannah Shepard was tired. Not just regular, stayed up too late reading tired, but bone tired. The kind of tired that sank deep into you. The kind of tired that made you question why you ever even woke up. She was mother of twins tired, but she had work to do.

The Quarian Flotilla had sent a diplomatic shuttle to meet with a human delegation regarding the Fleet's permissions to pass through Human controlled , Hannah thought it didn't look good. The human Systems Alliance had sent Donnel Udina. Hannah always thought he was a weasly little man, who barely kept his distrust of nonhumans under , it wasn't her problem, however. Right now she stood with the Quarian equivalent to her logistics position. Hannah admired the swirling patterns in the woman's body wrapping shawl. Or realk as she believed the Quarian had called it when Hannah had asked.

What had surprised Hannah the most was that the Quarians brought their children with them. It was heartwarming to watch her children play with alien children without hesitation. If anything, the only thing they seemed confused about was what to do with three young Quarians in rubber like environmental bubbles. Eventually, they just followed the adults to the cargo deck where the Quarian supplies were being gathered. It provided open spaces for the bubbled children to move freely while they played.

Her own children, both twelve this year, were creative with the younger aliens, teaching them the human version of tag. John, her son, had a distinct advantage, being tall for his age. His crystal blue eyes watched out for the smaller children as he pushed back his shock of blonde hair he laughed brightly, genuinely. Her daughter, Jane, had eyes as brilliant as her brother's, but had received her mother's deep red hair. Hannah frowned as she watched her daughter. The girl had picked up a control pad and was tapping at it.

The loud clank of machinery over head snapped Hannah's gaze upward as one of the heavy steel containers shifted in its ceiling mounted lift claws. Her eyes widened in horror as she realized it was positioned over the children when the lift released, dropping it's multi ton payload.

Hannah, and Meru'Zorah, mother of one of the Quarian children, barely had time to extend their arms as if willing the container to stop in the air when it DID stop. John's hand was wreathed in the bright blue aura of a biotic field as he stood, his other arm wrapped, protectively, over one of the Quarian bubbles. Its swirling energy surged up, punching into the container, smashing it aside, the container's side caving as if crushed by a giant fist. It landed clear of the children, bursting, and sending much of its payload of foodstuffs across the deck.

In shock, part of Hannah's brain registered that the bubble John was protecting so fiercely was the daughter of Meru's. Tali, she was believed the girl was named. Her mind snapped back to reality as she saw the blood flowing freely from John's nose as he stumbled away from the bubble, dropping to his knees.

"JAY JAY!" Jane cried, running to her brother.

"They were both living with their stepfather and half sister on Mindior when it was attacked. They both are keenly aware of what it means to live in the colonies."

"Does an Asari count as a stepfather?"

"Don't start that. They both know and respect the cultures of many alien civilizations. That can only help them."

CE 2170, Alliance Colony World, Mindoir

"JAY JAY!" Jane cried, running to her brother. She dodged the burning pieces of the colony's prefab buildings. Jane didn't look at the bodies of her fellow colonists. She did not look at Mrs. Hunny, her math teacher. She did not look at Mr. Gage, the colony's general handyman. She did not look at Mr. and Mrs. Havier, their elderly bodies still holding hands, wrapped protectively around thier grand daughter's small shape. Jane couldn't see them. If she did, she would not be able to run. She would only be able to fall to her knees and cry.

John Shepard slowly brought himself to his feet, wiping the blood running from his nose. He pushed the body of the Batarian pirate away, its four eyes staring up, glassy in death. "I'm fine," he said nodding to his sister as she stopped short of him.

"You are not 'fine'!" she yelled at him, her voice was coarse from the smoke. "You have been pushing yourself! You know what Heststallia said!"

Glaring at her, John wiped more of the blood from his nose as he shook his head. "I don't exactly have much choice here Janey," John said, tersely, as he gestured to the burning town center around them. "We need to get home. I was just hot wiring this hover bike when the Batarian jumped me. Climb on, you drive better than me."

John looked at the hover bike that was owned by Lester Japers. Lester was a jerk. He was always yelling at everyone and looking down on them, but he didn't deserve the shot in the head he had received, giving the Gardener children a chance to hide. She shook the thought from her mind. "Yeah, okay…" She climbed onto the bike, turning on the systems. She was impressed with the simple wiring job John had done, under fire, no less.

A short drive that seemed to take hours brought the twins to their home. The farm was only a two hour walk from town, but it had always felt so far. Now it was not far enough. The Slavers were here as well.

Seeing her home on fire, the farm hands dead after the implantation of slave chips in their skulls, poured ice water into Jane's spine. Turning toward the door, she accelerated dangerously. Jane felt John's arms tighten around her waist, but he said nothing, trusting her. A feral grin spread across her face as she twisted the bike hard to one side, angling the mass effect fields that lifted and propelled the bike, up and into the Batarians attempting to open the door to the main house.

The bike was not an impressive model. However, Lester had spent a lot of time, and credits, tinkering and modifying it. The work showed itself as the mass effect fields hit. They punched straight through the Batarian's kinetic shields ripping their armor like it was tissue paper and scattering their pulped flesh across the front porch of the house.

John was the first off, leaping to the front door, pounding on it. "Hestallia!" he called out. "It's Janey and me! The Batarians are gone!" He waited a moment before pounding again. "Hestallia!"

The door clicked and slid open and the first thing the twins saw was the barrel of a shotgun. "Uh, Hestallia?" Jane ventured, stepping behind John. Which he noticed. Of course, she would stand behind him when there was a gun.

Hestallia, seeing the lack of slavers, slowly lowered the old Eviscerator model shotgun. The twins noticed the scratches and burns that bled blue blood over her bright blue skin. Though, what really surprised them was the combat armor their stepfather wore, It was goldenrod color with the black imprint of a sinking sun. It was covered in scratches, dings and patches. Clearly well used over a human lifetime worth of action.

Seeing the twin's eyes Hestallia barked a laugh. "I always told you I was a mercenary for a long time before meeting your mother."

"Uh...Yeah," John said, noting the rift in the left side of her torso, over her ribs that slowly, but steadily leaked blood. "Always thought you made the stories up. Seemed a little extreme at the time."

"Ha! Yeah well, I may have embellished a bit, but only for effect," Hestallia chuckled, and waved the twins inside with her gun. "Kelly is safe."

John and Jane stepped inside seeing the top of the head and wide frightened eyes peeking over the top of the couch. "Johnny...Janey?" the little voice ventured. As the child confirmed her siblings she lept over the couch and ran to them, wrapping her arms around their legs, sobbing.

Kneeling, John put a hand on his sister's head crest. He smiled at her, and traced some of the red pattern lines on the girl's face and head, eliciting a giggle. "It's okay Kel-ster. We're here, and we won't let anybody hurt you. Dad and us are unstoppable!"

The girl looked at John, a frown creased her face. "You're hurt, like daddy," she said as she reached up to try to wipe John's nose with the sleeve of her pajamas shirt. It was covered in little cartoon Krogan, from Kelly's favorite Extranet show, BattleMaster Gorge.

"What? You got hit?" Hestallia turned John around, concern on her face, as she looked him over. She shook her head at the boy as she saw the smeared blood on his face. "You have been overdoing your biotics again." It was an statement, not a question.

"Yes, sir," John shifted uncomfortably, but didn't look away from Hestalia's eyes. She saw the fire she had seen in Hannah's when they met. "I didn't have a whole lot of choice this time."

Chuckling, Hestallia dropped a hand on her stepson's shoulder. "Don't worry, I understand this time. Just remember your limits," she said, her voice turning serious. "You are no good for anybody if you pop your brain."

"Yes, sir," John said again. He was about to speak when the roar of powerful engines passed over head. "Alliance drop shuttles!" he cried.

Jane nodded. "Yeah, model 44s. I recognize the off tone of the dual field emitters."

Looking at both her stepchildren, Hestallia just shook her head. These children are so bright it is scary at times. They will be going far, she thought to herself.

"The boy is a marine, he was the only survivor of a Thresher Maw attack. That has to leave some serious mental scarring. There is potential of it being an issue."

CE 2177, Alliance Colony World, Akuze

They won't be going much farther, Lieutenant John thought, as he pulled Private Phillips up and over the boulder he, and what was left of his squad, had taken refuge. Carefully setting the soldier down, John pulled his emergency med kit from the pouch on the leg of his combat armor.

As John adjusted the tourniquet on the private's leg just above where it had been sheared off, he began to apply the Medi-Gel to the wound. Phillips was lost in shock, and merely whimpered as the aid was performed.

"L.t.," called one of the soldiers. Fear thick in her voice. "I don't think we are going to make it…."

His head snapping around, John leveled a look at her. "Specialist. I AM going to get you out of here. We are Not going to all die on this rock," he told her fiercely.

There was a small shudder and quiet moan from Phillips, causing John to turn back quickly, only to see the light leave the private's eyes. He had lost too much blood. With a deep sigh, John pulled the med gear off the dead trooper, as well as his tags. His pocket already had half a dozen tags. Those he could reach. Too many he couldn't.

"But, L.t.," the soldier started again. "It's FOUR thresher maws! I didn't know they came in twos, let alone fours."

John chuckled lightly at the Specialist's attempt at humor. It was testament to the her bravery and was one of the things that had attracted him to the small girl. He knew it was outside of regs and would get both of them in ridiculous amount of trouble. If they were found out. "Look Pina, I only attract the best."

Comm Specialist Pina pushed her auburn hair back under her helmet. "Look, Johnny," she started, he voice turning back serious. "I know we haven't been a thing long…"

"No," John cut her off.

"What?"

"Don't. Haven't you been watching the movies we went to? That is surefire way to get yourself killed," He smiled at her reassuringly. At least he hoped it was reassuring.

"Of course not. We generally spend them making out." She smiled at his exhausted look. "But seriously, I enjoyed the time we…" That was when she disappeared in front of him. The Maw's acid scorching even the stones she had sat on.

"All soldiers have some scars. He and his sister both were on leave on Elysium when the Blitz happened, they held off the Batarians long enough for help to arrive."

CE 2176, Alliance Colony World, Elysium

"You know. I feel like I enjoyed the time we had BEFORE all this bullshit," Jane Shepard said evenly as she ducked back down behind the thick oak table she and her brother had tipped on it's side to use as cover. She scowled at her assault rifle as she waited for the heatsink to vent and looked at her blonde twin. "I hate Batarians."

John laughed dryly. "Well, we only seem to meet the assholes," he replied as he stuck his pistol over the table and fire several rounds blindly. "I am sure there are some good ones. Someplace."

"Pfft, I'm beginning to doubt that." Jane shook her short cropped red hair. "I want to point out you never complimented me on my new haircut."

"Are you serious?" he stared at her incredulous. "NOW, you bring that up?"

"Allow a woman her vanities, Jay Jay. This is why you are single."

John scowled darkly and Jane knew she had hit on target. There was something in him. Something dark since Akuze. He buried it, she knew, but she knew her brother enough, felt it in him. It drove him to force his way into the N7 program. It drove him to be the youngest soldier to finish it. And the fastest qualification. She was afraid for him. But she didn't show it. Her face was a mask of neutrality.

With a breath John shook his head again, a small smirk coming on his rugged features. "Fine. Oh, dear sister. Did you do something new with your crimson locks? They are simply fabulous" he told her, his voice a monotone that dripped pure sarcasm.

"Tell me I'm pretty."

"...You're pretty."

Reaching over, Jane patted her brother's knee. "See! You CAN learn!" she said cheerfully as she popped up and unloaded the entire heatsink of the rifle into the four Batarians that had begun to charge the twin's cover. Their shields flared briefly but quickly collapsed under the assault rifle's barrage. The armor underneath fared no better, neither did the flesh beneath that.

"The sister is a Navy officer, like their mother. She led a team on Torfan. She lost most of her squad, but eliminated the whole Batarian base."

"Maybe she did. But it is said, unofficially, mind you, that she also killed any that offered to surrender."

CE 2178 Batarian Extremist Base, Torfon

"You're pretty well finished here," Lieutenant Commander Jane Shepard said coldly, looking down at the Batarian prisoners. Her helmet sat on the table she stood next to, as she ran a gauntleted hand over the dark red stubble on her head.

"How dare you hide behind our civilians, you human scum!" The Batarian on the comm yelled. Jane could see the spittle fleck from his lips as he yelled with impotent rage.

With a dramatic sigh, Jane pulled her pistol and placed it against the back of the head of one of the female prisoners. She saw the Batarian leader's eyes widen, his mouth open to speak. But before he could even make a sound she pulled the trigger, exploding half the female's brains over the comm screen. "Now, I have five left," her voice was as hard and cold as ice. "Two of them are children."

"Don't bother Commander. The Batarians don't care about their young," A soldier behind her said, spitting on the ground near the body. "I hear they eat them when they are too stressed." He was angry. Every soldier left was angry. All eight of them. They wanted revenge. For Elysium. But more so for their squad.

"You're thinking of rats, Sargent, " another soldier said, tapping commands into the console next to the Commander. "All set," her told her, stepping back.

"Alright! " the Leader shouted. Before his voice fell, barely audible. "Alright. We surrender. We are opening the door."

"Very good," Jane replied, as she removed her gauntlet. She wanted to feel this without anything in the way. It would be far more satisfying.

After a few moments the irised door imbedded into the floor, opened, the first Batarian began to come up the ladder, his hands up. He blinked rapidly at the harsh light of the Alliance trooper's flood lamps.

One of the troopers lashed out with a boot, knocking the Batarian back down into the bunker. The trooper beside him released a tank next to him, pouring the volatile fuel it contained, it flowed quickly and freely.

Jane could hear the cries of fear and surprise from the bunker. It brought a smile to her face. A cold dark smile. The smile of a person who may have lost a solid grip on her sanity. She nodded to her other troops and chuckled under her breath as they threw the five prisoners down the steps into the bunker. Including the two children.

"Shepard! Shepard, come in!" Jane recognized the voice. It was Major Kyle. He was her commander in this...operation. "Shepard, report in, have you cleaned out that last bunker? Bring in your prisoners. That should be where the Batarians put their civilians."

Jane stopped and thought a moment. She tapped her omni-tool. "I'm sorry Major," she replied, glancing up at her troops. She looked at them one by one. Each one of them nodded. "It looks like the population decided to commit suicide rather than be taken alive."

Jane's fingers hesitated for a moment over the panel next to her. Her mind flashed to the members of her squad she had lost. Menendez, and her obsession with Asari, she wouldn't stop bugging her for information once she had learned that Jane's stepfather was one. Alberton, the man, boy really, just came fresh from boot. How he bled out in her arms crying for his mother. Tennings, how his head disappeared in a red mist as he tackled her down, saving her from the sniper round.

Her finger came down on the haptic board's key. The jerry rigged engine from the downed shuttle roared to life. It's flame poured down into the bunker, the fuel catching. The bunker erupted in an explosion deep underground. A small, sick smile crossed Jane's lips.

"Shepard out."

"It hardly matters, I think. She just achieved her Captaincy, and a command of a light cruiser, the Perugia."

CE 2183 Systems Alliance Light Cruiser SSV Perugia

"On behalf of the Systems Alliance, and Systems Navy, I present you with these bars of your captaincy," Captain Hannah Shepard proudly pinned the silver eagle onto her daughter's uniform.

Jane Shepard fought hard to suppress the grin that threatened to burst over her face. Finally! She won! She beat Jay Jay to Captain, and command of a ship! Sure, it was nice that she was one of the youngest people to achieve the rank in the Systems Alliance, but it was far more important that she did it before her brother. Jay Jay had beaten her to Commander, but let's see him beat this!

"Captain Jane Shepard, in light of your service to the Human Systems Alliance, I do hereby grant you command of the SSV Perugia," the gravelly voice of Admiral Steven Hackett brought her mind back to the present.

"Thank you Admiral. I hope to be half the Captain my mother or you are," She said saluting.

"Already looking for my job?" the Admiral returned Jane's salute. "Buttering me up won't help you too much I am afraid."

"Well," Jane chuckled. "Worth a shot!"

Jane lost her battle and grinned widely, he back straight with pride when she heard the VI make the announcement.

"Captain Shepard has the deck."

"Alright, pulling her, can I believe we agree on John Shepard then?"

"I'll make the call."