This is just another one of those little side-projects that percolated in my head and demanded to get out. It, like pretty much everything else, is going to be a low-priority burner, but maybe it'll kick off others to start something along those lines. In between the sudden demands of Papiergeist, and trying to meet my imposed focus upon Infy, I just needed to release, and so here it is.

Prologue

"What about Shepard? She grew up in the colonies."

Three heads turned to look at Donnell Udina, two of them surprised by the suggestion, while the third showed no expression whatsoever. After all, it wasn't often that a career politician would suggest such a colorful character.

"What about her," Captain David Anderson asked, himself interested as to why Udina would suggest a girl who had become a prized pupil to himself.

"She spent most of her life on frontline starships, so she is aware of how difficult life is on the frontier," Udina answered, steepling his hands as he looked at the gathering, "furthermore, her military service is unparalleled considering."

This drew a snort from Admiral Steven Hackett, "That would be an understatement, Ambassador. It must be a familial thing, but she seems to always find themselves in a conflict wherever she goes. Her service during the Skyllian Blitz and the Torfan campaign has earned her a hero status among the enlisted."

"And a rather hefty bounty on her head from the Batarians," Udina added, "Anderson? Your thoughts?"

"She'd be good as a representative for humanity," he conceded after a few moments, "the only things I would be worried about is how she would handle situations in which her combat training would not provide an answer. Don't get me wrong, gentlemen, give her a few years and I think she would be ready, but do we want to push such a daunting task upon her at this stage?"

This caused an uncomfortable shift in the room, considering this was the first attempt by humanity in providing an application for what was largely considered the right hand of the Council. This was a large step that was fraught with plenty of minefields to which it could blow up in humanity's face, considering even now, the status of humanity in the view of the rest of the galaxy constantly seemed to be in flux, depending on the political winds of the day.

"Well, David, you seem to have your own suggestion," Hackett deadpanned.

Having put his foot out, David Anderson looked to his left at the fourth member of their ad hoc meeting as Donnell Udina lit a cigarette for himself.

"The Major."

Udina, who had been mid-drag into his cigarette began choking, eyes widening in surprise, as Hackett adopted a thoughtful expression. After a few moments of regaining his breath, Udina decided that it would better to err on the side of caution so as not to be surprised, and stubbed out his cigarette, his eyes flitting to the fourth member himself before looking back to Anderson.

"The Turians will bray for blood," Udina observed, before a predatory smile began, "okay, I'll bite, Anderson, give me your sales pitch."

"I don't think I need to give one, Udina," Anderson admitted with a shrug, "considering everyone has grown up with stories of her. If you want the best example of what humanity can provide, I think we can all agree that she would be hands-down the best."

"Then there is the political aspect of it," Udina mused, catching on quickly, "the Asari would be for it, considering her connections with the Matriarchs on Thessia. The Salarians view her as an interesting oddity, then again, they view humanity in much the same light, so they would likely greenlight it. The Turians, well, those that don't outright despise her, will either respect or fear her, considering her actions on Shanxi."

"All valid points," Hackett agreed, "the only problem is that she's retired again, and no one knows where to find her."

"Not exactly," the fourth finally spoke, his mouth unmoving and causing all three men to turn toward the fourth, a man with grey hair that shined like silver in the low light, and dressed in a white suit jacket with a grey shift that had a zip-up collar that reached up to his cheeks.

While the tale of Motoko Kusanagi was one that was spoken and taught to children, the story of HIdeo Kuze was one that arguably had a larger impact upon humanity that was still felt even today. A former revolutionary, the man had 'died' almost two hundred years ago, only to reappear almost a decade later to the stunned shock of many. What his return had heralded was a revolution in cyberspace that had changed the very direction of humanity from its largely self-destructive ways, having helped avert a fifth world war, and focused it as a species upon exploration and expansion.

But even more importantly, both culturally and societally, death become a choice, instead of an eventuality thanks to what was largely referred to as The Dejima Revolution. As a result of this, Kuze had accrued a cult-like following over the years to where the man was considered in the same vein as other social figures such as Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi. And more often than not, he was found in the circles of power, or involved in significant events, as a an advisor of sorts.

So when he had imposed upon this meeting, all three other men had been interested, as Kuze, much like The Major herself at times, was largely reclusive, instead spending large amounts of time in cyberspace communing with others.

"You know where she is," Udina asked, surprised, though that was quickly tempered with the knowledge that if anyone knew where Motoko Kusanagi was, it would have been the man who's story originated in the same time and place, let alone a rumored lover.

"I do," was the simple response, as Kuze's face refused to move. It was a unique feature, as while Kuze's resurgence over a hundred and fifty years ago had been in a different body, he had quickly returned to his choice of having a face made by a sculpter.

"So the question is, should we supply her application to the Council, then?"

"What about Shepard, though," Hackett asked.

"Why not both," Anderson asked, before shrugging his shoulders, "Kusanagi would likely pass with flying colors, because, whether we like it or not, she is Spectre in all but name because of her career. It will also provide the Council with a different perspective on cyberization outside of what we have tried to make them understand. Shepard is not fully cyberized like the Major, but she does have the bare minimum of what we expect from combat troops. With Kusanagi's worldly knowledge, and Shepard's military prowess, I don't think the Council will take offense if we offer them as a pair, and Shepard could use some grounding in regards to the world and the galaxy at large so when Kusanagi chooses to retire again..."

"So we're settled then, we'll submit the applications for both," Udina asked.

Agreement seemed to be the common feature to the gathering, before they looked again to Kuze, who then chose to rise to his feet.

"I will personally talk with Councillor Tevos then, for assigning a Spectre overseer. I feel that she will be intrigued by your selections."

"Kuze, may I inquire as to where The Major is currently at," Anderson found himself asking, as the cyborg walked towards the door, stopping as the door opened.

"She's at a monastery on Eden Prime."