The cold metallic walls of the interrogation room where a stark contrast to the jungle, which was only several meters above. A raven haired women was slumped in the lone metal chair, bruised, battered and naked, her hands bound behind her by nanopolymer cuffs. She could hear the muffled sound of boots striding along the corridor. She raised her head as the door slid open.
"Sir, we've found her," came an unfamiliar voice. Was this some form of psychological torture? Give her hope that I might be rescued? The woman sniffed at the thought of a rescue, she had been held captive for god knows how long, and every day had been a regime of systematic, brutal torture. She had long given up the hope of leaving this place alive, then there was another voice. No not a voice, radio chatter.
"Yes sir. She seems to be under some kind of sedation," the unfamiliar voice spoke again. His voice was followed by more radio chatter. "I'll have the field medic take a look at her now, but she's really banged up sir." Then there were hands examining her, feeling along her limbs. She knew she had multiple broken bones but couldn't feel them anymore, the sedation was always enough to dull the pain until the next round of torture. The hands lifted her head, a gasp came from in front of her face and her head was let go.
She could hear the whispering before the unfamiliar voice came back clear, "Sir, she has multiple fractures, contusions, deep tissue lacerations and she has lost both of her eyes. Request for immediate medevac." She must have been hallucinating, it sounded like she was being rescued. She felt her hand being freed from their bindings, her arms falling limply to her sides.
"Okay, this is going to put you to sleep. Don't worry, when you wake up you will be safe and sound," another voice came from behind her. She could barely nod before she felt the pressure of a hypostim being pressed against her neck, and then the cold embrace of unconsciousness.
Dr Karl Rossenbaum had been with the SSV Orizaba for several years. He'd seen everything from plasma burns to shrapnel riddled bodies, but nothing prepared him for the state of the woman that had come in on medevac from the planet's surface.
"You're telling me this is how you found her Corporal Jenkins? In all respects she should be dead," the doctor said, sounding both amazed and horrified. Amazed that anyone could survive such horrific injuries, and horrified at the same time that someone could inflict them.
Corporal Jenkins just shrugged, "What can I say doc that's the legend herself Commander Shepard. The hero of the Skyllian Blitz. The one reason Elysium is still standing as a city and not a ransacked shell."
Dr Rossenbaum looked over the scarred, sleeping form of the woman. He's right he thought. Here lies the hero of humanity. The woman who engaged a Batarian slave raid on Elysium single handed and won. All Dr Rossenbaum could do now was treat the physical trauma and hoped she pulled through.
It had been six months since Shepard had been transferred to the Lazarus facility. Here she was being treated for her more severe injuries. The person in charge of her treatment was Dr Miranda Lawson a brilliant physician, surgeon and biotechnology scientist. She had just finished her last set of simulations on a secondary project, and was heading to the PT room to check in on Shepard's rehabilitation. It had gone slow at first, having to learn how to walk again after having her skeleton rebuilt, but it had quickly progressed at an astonishing pace.
Miranda stopped in front of the PT room, fixing an errant strand of hair back into place before she stepped through the doors. She looked around and found Shepard running a sparring simulation. Miranda raised an eyebrow and wondered who gave her clearance to use it, especially as she was running a biotic CQC simulation of three asari commandos. What was more surprising was that she was the one on the offensive, weaving in and out of the biotic infused strikes the holographic commandos threw at her, dodging by a hairs breadth before counter striking with vicious precision. It was like watching a ballet of war, graceful yet visceral.
Miranda pressed the intercom of the simulation suite and cleared her throat, "Ahem. I don't believe I've given you clearance to use this Shepard," Miranda was annoyed at the fact that Shepard had yet again disobeyed another direct instruction of no strenuous physical exercise, yet was astounded by the speed at which the augmentations she had been given were adapting. Thinking back to the wreck Shepard's body had been six months ago, and the amount of work it had taken to get her stable, the name of the facility had never been more appropriate.
Shepard delivered a final biotic punch to the last Asari's chest and ended the simulation, before picking up the towel and wiping the sweat that was pouring from her face and neck. The thin white vest clung to her body, accenting the lean corded muscle of her abdomen. She stepped through the door into the main workout room and stared down Miranda, the irises of her new augmented eyes seeming to shift like liquid mercury, "You didn't give me permission Doc. I just happened to copy your pass code to my limited omni-tool from yours while you were seeing another patient," Shepard said coolly, "You must have forgot to lock it from outside access."
Miranda exhaled slowly, she didn't want to get caught up in Shepard's pace. She made a mental note to increase the security on her omni-tool and to have Shepard's taken away, not like it would stop her from accessing the training room since she would probably just manually override it anyway, "Good thing you are who you are Shepard, or I would have had you sedated last month," Miranda stared icily at Shepard, "You have some very important visitors, so I came to see if you were up to it which it seems you are."
Shepard tossed the towel over her shoulder and didn't say anything for a few moments. Her expression hardened slightly before she simply nodded and began to head for the showers, "I will be in the visiting room in 10 minutes," she shouted back over her shoulder and disappeared into the locker room.
Ten minutes later Shepard was sitting in a visitation room with three men, one she knew personally. Captain David Anderson, her former CO before being transferred to N7 black ops Shadow infiltration group. The other two gentlemen she recognised from the award ceremony when she had be presented with the Star of Terra, Admiral Steven Hackett and the human Ambassador to the Citadel Donnel Udina.
"Shepard, glad to see you up and about. Although it's hard to believe that just six months ago you were almost a lost cause," Anderson nodded, "I don't want to even imagine what it must have been like being held captive by Batarian slave enforcers."
"Yes, that must have left you with some scars Shepard. Not just physical ones either," Udina stated, "Are you sure you are ready to be discharged?"
Shepard's eyes fixated on the Ambassadors. He was trying to force a reaction from her, she could tell that much but the question that floated around in her mind was why, "Ambassador I am more than fit for release. Only question is what I do during my retirement," Shepard said flatly.
"Yes, I had heard you were retiring from active duty Shepard," Anderson said, his voice tinged with remorse, "It's hard to see the SA's best soldier leave us. Just wish it was under better circumstances."
Shepard leaned back slightly, watching Hackett's reaction from the corner of her eye. The old Admiral had been silent since he had greeted her. Hackett shifted in his seat, leaning forward and clasping his hands together.
"Me too Anderson, but then that makes me wonder why you three are here. I'm not that important to warrant a personal visit from the Admiral of the fifth fleet, humanities Ambassador to the council and a SA Navy captain.," Shepard's voice sounding dry like kindling.
"Which brings us to why we're here Shepard," Hackett's voice rumbled, "Have you heard of Eden Prime Shepard?"
Shepard recognised the name of humanities furthest colony from Sol. From what she had heard it was a beautiful planet but she hadn't actually been there, "I've heard of it Admiral, why something special about it that I should visit?" Shepard's voice staying calm and level while her mind whirred into motion. What could have happened there that would require her old CO, an Admiral of the fleet and the human Ambassador? This meeting wasn't making much sense.
Hackett carried on despite Shepard's thinly veiled sarcasm, "We actually don't know Shepard. We lost contact with the colony nine hours ago. Complete system wide jamming, any drones we send in have gone dark as soon as they exit the relay," Hackett explained, "We're here to ask for your help. We know your record Shepard. We need to know what's happening on that planet and you are the only shot we have."
"The Admirals right Shepard, of all the resources we have you are the only one that has a chance at getting the job done," Anderson stepped in, "It's crucial we get your help."
Shepard closed her eyes. She was already retired as far as the SAMC was concerned, just a civilian recuperating in hospital and yet here they were asking, no begging for her help. What else could she do? It wasn't like she had a whole load of skill sets. Shepard was good at two things, hiding in plain sight and killing. That's what her heroic career boiled down to, a military wet work squad. At least this was just intelligence gathering, what harm could it bring? "Fine, I'll take the mission but I will be on a civilian contract. I don't take orders from anyone but Anderson, understood?" Shepard folded her arms as she gave her answer.
"Agreed Shepard, you will be stationed on Captain Anderson's new post, the SSV Normandy. She will be able to get you into the system undetected. Also you will be going in as a three man squad of your choosing once aboard," Hackett smoothly agreed. Shepard didn't like the fact she would be taking two marines with her but it was better than a full fire team.
"Fine Admiral, I'll assume you've already made arrangements for my discharge from the Lazarus facility?" Shepard asked, wondering how far had they planned ahead in the hopes of getting her on board. Anderson would have told them that she would be going stir crazy in hospital.
Udina flashed a slimy smile and nodded, "Of course Shepard, I'd anticipated you would eventually agree and took the liberty of having you discharged this afternoon. A shuttle will arrive to take you to a frigate for your transfer to the Normandy."
With their business concluded, the three visitors rose from their seats and made their exit. Anderson stopping short at the door and turned back, "Glad to have you aboard Shepard. It'll be like the good old times."
Anderson chuckled to himself and left, leaving Shepard with more questions than answers, but this was something she had gotten used to as an infiltrator, only getting the barest of details to survive a mission. It was why she had put in her retirement application as soon as she was conscious four months ago. Well for now there wasn't much more to be done than clear her foot locker and annoy Dr Lawson one last time by hacking her omni-tool and leaving a little good bye message.