Shepard was chilled to the bone. Her heavy breath hung in thick clouds over her head as she shivered in the icy blue cave. Shepard's shuttle had gone offline on a return trip back to the Normandy, and was for some reason unable to come back online. She had gone on the mission by herself and wasn't suppose to be gone so long. The only ones who knew that she wasn't on board the Normandy right now was Garrus who she left in command and the A.I EDI. Shepard had opened the side panel of the shuttle up and was digging through the parts, trying to find a switch or what could be wrong. Her fingers seem to freeze together the longer she tried to move parts in the shuttle around, until she gave up. She looked outside of the cave, watching the blistering snow rage on with the wind, covering the the dreary landscape. Her mission was to recover some hidden tech on the planet, and bring it back to the Normandy. Command had wanted her to keep this under wraps since the knowledge of this technology could put her squad mates in more danger than they needed to be, and since they were to go on shore leave in less than a month she wasn't going to put anyone in jeopardy.
In truth, Shepard was glad she couldn't get back just yet. With the on coming Reaper invasion imminent she'd barely have enough time to sleep, however it wasn't like she could. Nightmares of lost friends, burning buildings, explosions, screaming innocence she could never save and choices that bite her in the ass kept haunting her, so at the most she'd only be able to sleep for a half hour before screaming and altering the friendly A.I. She knew she needed to think about them. Kaiden. Morden. Thane. She needed to talk to someone about them, to have a chance to grieve. It was all easier said than done. She had the habit of pushing her emotions back for the good of the mission, because it was the mission that mattered, not the people. At least, that was what she had to keep telling herself so she wouldn't crackle under the pressure.
She'd have to talk to a therapist after all was said and done. She was definitely suffering from some sort of P.T.S.D
The enticing Liara was also something else that wouldn't leave her mind. How much she had changed from the young asari researcher she'd saved, to the cool and confident shadow broker she was today. Liara was a totally different being now, but she still loved her with the same fiery passion that she held before she was rebuilt. What would happen when the war was over? Would she continue to serve and Liara continue with this shadow broker business? Or would they settle down and have some little blue asari children on the hillside of earth, if there was anything left at this point that could be saved. If she got through this war, she would really have to discuss her feelings with Liara.
She hoped her crew would all take a permanent shore leave after this hellfire they were all sure to endure. Retire, and take a break from all of this shit. Maybe they'd all get drunk, and play some cards, or practice shooting at some cans. She hoped everyone would make it alive.
"Shepard, your shuttle was offline. I have been able to reboot it's systems from the ship. However, your shuttle's battery life is critical, and will not get you back to the Normandy safely. Shall I send another shuttle Commander?"
Shepard smiled at the familiar A.I, "That'd be great EDI, send Cortez to pick me up"
"Of course Commander, ETA in ten minutes."
The small voice blipped and she was left alone with her thoughts of nightmares, love, and tiered friends.