Mass Effect Interim:
Commander John Shepard sat on the med-bay bed inside the SSV Normandy.
It had been two days since he, along with the Alliance Fifth Fleet, had saved the Citadel Council from the Geth and their master Sovereign.
People were already calling him the Saviour of the Citadel; according to the news that he'd seen earlier in thanks to his Omni-tool.
As he sat there, relaxing from his injuries, he thought over his life.
He was born and raised on Alliance ships, with his mother Hannah Shepard. When he was old enough he had enlisted, following in his mother and father's footsteps. He quickly realised how gifted he was as he rose in the N ranks, until he reached N6 and became one of the best they had trained. Then, he and his team were sent to a human colony: Akuze.
His whole team was killed, leaving him the only survivor.
For months, after he attended many tests to gauge his mental health, with help from his mother and Anderson, he picked himself back up and used the experience to his benefit.
Then the Alliance offered him the chance to join the elite N7 program. With help from Anderson, who quickly became his unofficial mentor, he quickly made a name for himself as one of the best in recent history. That is, apart from Anderson himself.
His crowning achievement was becoming the first human Spectre, and chasing down rogue Spectre Saren Arterius and his army of Geth; preventing them from wiping out all organic life in the Galaxy in conjunction with ancient machines called Reapers.
The Med-bay door hissed open, snapping him out of his thoughts and he opened his eyes to watch as Doctor Chakwas walked towards him, her Omni-tool raised as she waved it over him.
"Well Shepard. How are you feeling?" She asked, not looking at him directly as her attention was focused on her medical Omni-tool.
Shepard nodded, "I'm okay, I guess. I feel out of it, out of the action. I just want to get out of here. No offence." He raised his hands in surrender at the good doctor.
"That's the pain killers in your system. Don't worry Commander, according to your scans, your ribs are healing quickly, although they are still bruised. The cracked and damaged ribs have been repaired by medi-gel. You will still have a limp for a few days as your leg heals. Nothing I can do to help though, it's better to let it heal on its own. As for the facial scars... There's not much I can do about those, I'm afraid they're going to be permanent."
Shepard nodded and flexed his hands into fists, "And what about the tingling in my hands?" He asked, continuing to flex his hands as he watched Chakwas.
"Well, that I don't know. It's something to do with the implants you got in your arms. I could try and contact the doctor who performed the operation on you after Akuze if you like?"
Shepard thought it over before nodding "Yes, please do. So... When can I leave?" He put on his best award winning smile and locked eyes with Chakwas.
"Oh, don't look at me like that young man!"
After a few more moments, Chakwas caved in, "I guess you can leave within the hour."
Shepard nodded and breathed a sigh of relief.
While it was nice to relax, he was bored of the same four walls of the med-bay. With the help of Doctor Chakwas, he pulled himself into a sitting position and took deep breaths as pain flared in his chest from his ribs.
"Any pain aside from what you just experienced?" asked Chakwas.
Shepard nodded, "Yeah. I can feel a dull ache in my chest."
He watched as Chakwas nodded and went over to a cabinet next to her desk, before she pulled out a bottle of white fluid and a needle.
Upon seeing the needle, he shifted on the bed restlessly. It was the only thing he was afraid of, but he would never admit that to anyone. Only his mother knew of his secret and given any chance she would tease him for it.
He tensed ever so slightly as Chakwas held up his arm and patted it until his vein bulged. Gritting his teeth, he waited and breathed out as the needle cut through his skin and the clear liquid was injected into his bloodstream.
"That should help with the pain for a few hours. I don't have to tell you not to get into a fight, do I young man?"
Before he could reply, the door to the medical bay hissed open and Tali stepped in. She had obviously heard the conversation through her helmets audio pick-ups.
"No you don't doctor. If he does, he'll have me to answer to."
He watched as she folded her arms across her chest and leaned onto her left foot. He could see her suit was a little worse for wear; the normally sleek black had faded and the gold around her neck was chipped and scratched. He looked back at Chakwas, "Tali will make sure I stay out of trouble. Can I go now?" he pleaded with the doctor.
"Well, I do need you to fill out some forms that will go into your continuing growing medical file, but that can wait till later."
He carefully got to his feet and hobbled over to Chakwas. Wrapping his arms around her, he gave her a brief hug and a kiss on the cheek, "Thanks for looking out for me mum."
With that, he hobbled as fast as he could out of the room, but not before a bandage hit him on the back of the head.
With a chuckle and Tali's help, he hobbled over to his cabin and pulled a fresh set of Alliance off duty clothes on. While in his cabin, he hit the intercom, "Joker! Any messages?" he asked as he stripped off the white medical T-shirt.
"Oh hey Commander! Yes, actually. The Council would like to meet with you at your earliest convenience. Other than that, Hackett sends his best wishes and Anderson wants to see you."
Shepard nodded, "Ok. Message Anderson and tell him to meet me outside the airlock. Also, message the Council and ask them for a meeting place. I'll be there."
"Yes Commander. And hey, we're all glad you're back up."
With that, Shepard heard the intercom click off and hissed as he bent down to take off the white medical trousers. Two three fingered hands landed on his shoulders and lifted him up.
"Here, let me help Nehya."
Feeling slightly embarrassed, he let Tali strip him off.
He had a quick shower to help freshen himself up. Whilst in the shower room, he glanced at his reflection in the mirror. Three long scars ran across his face. They had started to scab over and were red and inflamed. He stepped under the hot water and hissed as his scars ached in pain.
After the shower, he dried himself off, and with help from Tali, he changed into his clean uniform. His Omni-tool suddenly flashed, and he read a message from the Council.
'Spectre Shepard,
Your pilot told us of your recovery. Please can you meet with us on the bridge near the elevator that takes you to the council chambers; Ambassador Udina will be joining us.
We're all glad you're feeling better.
From, Councillors Tevos, Valern and Sparatus.'
Shepard realised that before this message he never really knew the councillors names. It just never seemed important. He looked up and noticed that Tali had left the room while he had been reading his Omni-tool. He began to hobble to the door, but before he could get within reach, it hissed open and she walked back inside holding a small jet black rod.
"Here. Take this. Chakwas says it's the latest thing: an Omni-crutch."
He activated the rod and an orange pole extended from the end. He leaned heavily on it with a sigh of relief, "Thanks. Come on. Let's go meet Anderson and the Council."
With very little help from Tali, he walked out of his cabin and up the stairs, through the CIC before he reached the airlock. From what he could see, most, if not all, the stations were empty and only Joker sat in the pilots chair. He could see Joker trying to hide a magazine with a rather rude picture of an Asari and what looked like a Turian.
As he reached the airlock he stood between the bridge and the airlock and motioned for Tali to go in first, hoping to use his body to hide Joker. After Tali stepped inside he breathed a sigh of relief and followed after her in the decon chamber. He noticed Tali pull out her shotgun from her back and cock the trigger ready to fire. She glanced at him and he raised a single eyebrow in question.
"What? It's been two days since the attack. Not nearly enough time to search the entire Citadel. Better to be safe than sorry." She said with a human shrug.
Shepard chuckled and stepped through the airlock door as it hissed open. The first thing he noticed was that even in the small corridor leading from the airlock door to the Citadel platform, it was filled with guards: each wore heavy armour and had their assault rifles ready.
A man in a captain's uniform stood at the end of the small corridor. Shepard instantly recognized him as Anderson, and quickened his pace to meet him. Once they were within arm's reach they both embraced each other in a hug.
"Damn son! You nearly gave me a heart attack two days ago. Are you okay? You dropped to the floor once you walked down from the wreckage of Sovereign."
Shepard tried to recall what happened. He had walked down the wreckage with a smile, as he watched his unofficial father figure stand by the love of his life staring wide eyed at him. Before either of them could speak, his energy just left him and he dropped only to wake up two days later.
"Yeah. It was just a tough battle sir, that's all."
He watched as Anderson's face scrunched up, "Sir?! Now listen here! Don't give me any of that 'sir' crap. I thought we left that behind us years ago?"
Shepard chuckled, "Fine Anderson. Do you want to come see what the council has to say?" he asked as he leaned heavily on his Omni-crutch.
"Sure, why not? Let's see what they have to say for themselves."
Together, Anderson and Tali walked past the guards and into the elevator leading to C-Sec headquarters.
He glanced over his shoulder and looked out onto the Citadel arm they were currently docked on. Even now, two days on, he could still see smoke rising into the air and fires were still raging in parts of the wards the emergency crews hadn't got to yet.
The other thing he noticed was the lack of traffic flying to and from the Citadel. Sure, some ships flew about, but they were mostly the Citadel's defence fleet.
He walked into the elevator and watched as the doors to the elevator slammed shut. The annoying elevator music began to play.
He thanked his lucky stars when the elevator dinged and the door hissed open.
He stepped out of the elevator once it reached the lower level, and stepped into what could only be described as a beehive of activity. C-Sec was packed full of both refugees and the Citadel police force made up of Turians, Humans, Salarians and even Krogan mercs running around.
The place was literally chaos.
In the crowd, he could just make out Garrus giving orders to junior officers.
Shepard could see piles of Geth robotic bodies piled up in empty corners surrounded by armed guards. He glanced at Anderson and Tali, "This place sure is busy."
It wasn't meant to be a question but Anderson answered anyway, "Almost straight after the attack, the Council requested anyone able to help try to organise the Citadel. They deputised any able bodies, including some Krogan mercs that happened to be staying on the station, to help search for any Geth hidden around. Admiral Hackett sent every able body from the Fifth Fleet he could, but he took some heavy losses. Eight ships so far that we know of, but there's a lot of junk just floating around out there. And that doesn't include the number of refugees that have nowhere to go."
Shepard closed his eyes for a second mourning the loss of so many lives. Deep down within himself, he hoped the Council was worth it
"And what about the wreckage of Sovereign?"
He watched as Anderson sighed and rubbed his nose, "That, we don't know. So far, the Council has remained tight lipped on that matter. Maybe they don't want to cause any more unrest. I just don't know. Anyway, let's get a move on."
As Shepard started to hobble his way through the crowd he heard a gasp. He noticed the entire crowd had seen him, and almost instantly silence descended on the chaotic headquarters. Everyone stepped out of his way, clearing a path all the way to the elevator that would lead them to the Citadel Presidium.
As Shepard, Tali and Anderson walked down the path, clapping erupted echoing loudly as cheers also erupted. He watched as Tali lowered her head in embarrassment and practically ran the rest of the way, smacking the button on the elevator. He glanced around the room and saw females crying and muttering their thanks; kids stare at him with wide eyes while those that had served in the military saluted him.
Shepard hobbled down the passageway created by the people around him, and walked carefully up the steps to the elevator hissing under his breath with every step as pain shot up and down his leg. As he stepped into the elevator, and the doors finally shut, he could still hear the cheers even enclosed inside the elevator as it groaned and raised into the air; the crowds disappearing as they went through the elevator shaft.
"Well. That was awkward."
Shepard nodded and closed his eyes briefly; a wave of sickness washing over him. The elevator started to slow down and after what seemed like an eternity, the doors opened and they stepped out onto the Presidium.
The normally bright, and clean Presidium was now dark as lights flickered, either damaged or broken. Smoke had stained the once clean walls and small holes showed where bullets had hit the walls.
Some walls were missing. The lack of any metal covers showed all different sorts of wires and other tech related gadgets. What sickened him the most were the piles of bodies lined against the walls with white, blood stained sheets over them.
The air was thick with death, but also hope.
The once crystal clear water running down the centre of the Presidium was now a murky colour and had large chunks of metal sticking out of it. Guards and search parties shouted in the background, and drones with blue cones of light scanned piles of debris for any survivors.
Around them, Asari commando's, Salarians, Humans, Elcor, Volus, Turian and even the odd Batarian and Quarian worked as one unified force. There were no racist comments being thrown at each other.
Spectres organized the search parties, and other such defences. He could identify them by their bulkier armour and prototype weapons, and if that didn't give them away, the emblem sure did.
It gave Shepard a sense of hope for the future. They walked through the Presidium until they reached the bridge. Rocket drones flew around, protecting the three Council members. A squad of different species surrounded them, with their weapons constantly scanning the area; Asari commando's formed biotic barriers around the Council.
As he got closer, he noticed Udina standing in front of them. His white tuxedo was surprisingly clean. He had his hands at the small of his back, as he stood at attention. A turian walked towards him with his Omni-tool raised:
"Hold on there. Please stand still while we confirm your identities."
Shepard and his team waited as the Turian scanned him, then Anderson, and finally Tali.
"Sorry for the inconvenience Spectre. Please go right ahead."
Shepard nodded and stepped towards the three Council members.
He had to swallow down a chuckle at seeing Udina's huge black eye that covered most of the left side of his face. He watched as Tevos nodded at the Asari around her and the biotic barrier disappeared.
Shepard and Anderson stepped besides Udina:
"Ambassador, Captain, Commander Shepard. We have gathered here to recognize the enormous contributions of the Alliance forces in the war against Sovereign and the Geth."
Next to speak, was Valern the Salarian councillor, "Many humans lost their lives in the battle to save the Citadel. Brave and courageous soldiers who willingly gave their lives so that we—the Council—might live."
Shepard watched as the Turian councillor, Sparatus, mandibles shifted to show his slight displeasure, "There is no greater sacrifice, and we share your grief over the loss of so many noble men and women."
"The Council owe you a great personal debt Spectre Shepard. One we can never repay. You saved not just our lives, but the lives of billions from Sovereign and the Reapers."
Shepard nodded at Tevos, but kept his eyes on Sparatus who tried to hide his eye roll with a cough. His attention was taken from the Turian councillor, to the Salarian Valern:
"Spectre Shepard, your heroic and selfless actions serve as a symbol of everything humanity and the Alliance stands for."
Shepard watched again as the Turian councillor spoke. When he did, he could tell he had rehearsed his lines well:
"And though we cannot bring back those valiant soldiers who gave their lives to save ours, we can honour their memories through our actions."
In the corner of his vision, he could see Udina take a small step forward with a smug smile on his bruised face.
Councillor Tevos spoke next, her voice had a tinge of pride in it and her eyes held a glint of admiration:
"Humanity has shown it is ready to stand as a defender and protector of the Galaxy. You have proven you are worthy to join our ranks and serve beside us on the Citadel Council."
Before Shepard or Anderson could speak, Udina jumped in almost as soon as Tevos finished talking, "Councillors, on behalf of humanity and the Alliance, we thank you for this prestigious honour and we humbly accept."
After Udina finished, Shepard could swear he heard 'Asslicker' whispered in an almost silent voice. With a glance at Tevos, who winked at him, he realised she had said it. He coughed and snickered under his breath, and forced himself to calm down as Valern spoke to Udina:
"We will need a list of potential candidates to fill humanity's seat on the council."
He watched as Tevos nodded to him and spoke, "Given all that has happened, I am sure your recommendation will carry a great deal of weight Spectre. Do you support any particular candidate?" He watched as her eyes seemed to look briefly at Anderson who was standing to his left.
Shepard realised what she was trying to do. If Udina was given the seat on the Council, he would only help something that would benefit him and not do what was actually best for the Galaxy and humanity as a whole. With a small smile, he addressed the Council, "We need someone with the courage to stand up for what they believe in, someone like…." He allowed himself a small pause as he glanced at Anderson and then Udina...
"Anderson."
"What?" Anderson said, clearly in shock.
"You can't do this Shepard! Anderson only allows his fists to do the talking! Just look at my face for crying out loud!" Udina roared in anger.
Shepard went to interrupt, but was cut off by Anderson who stood just a little bit taller:
"Only with you Ambassador, only with you."
"Are you sure about this, Commander? The Captain is a soldier, not a politician."
Shepard looked at Udina and allowed himself to finally smile, "I'm not choosing you Udina; we already have enough politicians on the Citadel. The Captain would be perfect for this job."
He watched as anger spread on Udina's face, but before he or Udina could do anything about it, Tevos cut them off.
"I think it's an inspired choice. The Council would welcome him with open arms, should he accept." She said with a small smile and a twinkle in her eyes.
Nearly everyone in the room, including the guards, looked to Anderson. All except Udina, who had balled his fists practically fuming with anger.
"I'm honoured, Councillor. As humanity's representative, I'll do everything in my power to help the Council rebuild."
Shepard decided he had had enough, "Talking about rebuilding is all well and good, but the Reaper's are still out there and I have to find some way to stop them."
With that, he spun on his heel and using his Omni-crutch, hobbled through the guards to where Tali was standing in the background. He could hear Anderson talking to the Council, but he ignored it all for the beautiful Quarian standing with her arms crossed and leaning on her left foot.
When he was within arm's reach, he wrapped his arms around the small of her back, "Come on. Let's go see if any where's open, and get some food."
With that, they walked through the crowds of united aliens and humans, unaware that hidden in the shadows at the far end of the room they were being watched. More specifically, by a woman in a tight white and black skin suit, with boots that went up her thinly muscled legs and ended at the knee.
Her long shoulder length hair blew across her face as a speeder flew past her. She reached up, and removed the yellow eye patch that covered her eyes and hung the two metal ear covers on her belt. She opened her Omni-tool and sent a signal out through a heavily encrypted comm channel.
It was a simple message. One that simply read:
'Have important news. Will contact you once in a secure location.'
With that, she got into a speeder that was parked just to the left of her, and activated the controls, setting the auto pilot to take her to the nearest safe house.
a big massive thank you to ConradVernerN7 for taking the time from his busy exam packed schedule for taking the time and beta reading this chapter and to the rest of you welcome to Mass effect interim please read and review and if you have time check of Conrads Story war in the galaxy.