Reflections and Destiny
Today marked an important day for Commander Shepard, whether she knew it or not. Currently she was on shore leave and wandering through some of the seedier wards of the Citadel and exploring what they had to offer. She liked to get grimy every once in a while, it helped her ground herself and reflect on recent events. Namely, her being stationed on the SSV Normandy alongside her longtime friend and mentor Captain Anderson. It was a welcome set of orders, and she'll serve proudly. Shepard had one more day until they'd begin their first mission, a shakedown run to make sure the Normandy is as advanced as promised, and to get a real feel of what the ship is capable of. Shepard shook her head, cracked her knuckles, and smiled a small smirk to herself once she found what she was looking for. This'll be fun. She thought as she headed inside a an obnoxiously loud bar referred to as simply Chora's Den.
—
In another part of the station, a small hearing was being conducted. It involved a couple of Alliance officials; Captain David Anderson, Ambassador Donnel Udina, and Admiral Steven Hackett and a renowned council Spectre, Nihlus Kryik. All of the men were meeting at a small table and discussing a very important matter.
"Commander Shepard, famous war hero known for single handedly defending Elysium from attacking Batarian Slavers. Her past isn't as important, however, considering she was a street rat that grew up in the slums of New York City." Udina commented, giving the hearing a small look at Shepard's history.
"Her past before the Alliance isn't important," Captain Anderson cut in, leaning onto the table, "but it doesn't discount the fact that Shepard always does the right thing and finishes her missions. She never says no to an order, and she carries out her missions to the best of her abilities, never cuts corners, and gets the job done above what was required." Anderson nodded, showing his support of who the commander is as a person and as a soldier.
Udina shifted in his seat while thinking to himself, Anderson better hope that her past has nothing scandalous to be snuffed out, otherwise the Council will scoff at her becoming a possible Spectre and deny humanity another chance of Spectre candidacy. He gave a short cough and rolled his shoulders, trying to relax.
The eldest and most respected Alliance official leaned forward in his seat, resting his elbows on the table. He regarded both of his companions opinions. "Yes, of course. Shepard is an outstanding soldier, has excellent morals, and gets the job done. I have no doubt that she'll be a perfect fit for becoming a Council Spectre." He then looked over at the fourth member of their meeting, a medium brown Turian with frost colored facial markings. "Do you have any questions about the commander, Spectre Kryik?"
"Commander Shepard sounds like a well respected woman," Nihlus began, looking over the three human men around him, "but would she serve the needs of the Alliance first before the Council, or would she serve the Council first as every Spectre is sworn to do so?"
Donnel Udina paled at this inquiry, he didn't personally know the commander besides their initial meeting when she first visited the Citadel. However, before Udina could really start sweating, Captain Anderson spoke without a thought.
"The Commander is an honorable woman, she would ultimately serve the Council first, as a Spectre should. After her duties to the Council are fulfilled, then she would assist her Alliance." He nodded and looked at the Turian.
"Then I agree to oversee Commander Shepard during this process. Thank you all for meeting with me." Nihlus nodded at each of the human men. He then rose to his feet, shifted out of the chair, and turned to leave.
The three human men all waited until his departure, and then collectively sighed in relief. Shepard is their best pick and if she wasn't satisfactory enough, they'd be in hot water.
—
Shepard weaved her way through the crowded club, music was reverberating in her chest. It sounded like Expel 10, so it wasn't exactly terrible but it certainly wasn't one of her favorites. She much preferred music from around the 20th-early 21st century, it just had more substance.
She made her way to the bar, probably the only reason she came here. Seedier bars always had the stiffest drinks. She had enough of the Citadel pushing their elite agenda down her throat, she wanted somewhere with grime and honesty. Places where the common rabble would frequent in their downtime hours.
The bar was illuminated by a couple of spotlights, and scantily clad Asari were moving to the music. They were trying just a tad too hard to impress those around them, Shepard watched them for a moment, empathizing with them that this is where they work at and they do it because they must to survive. The Citadel could be a very dangerous place if you didn't find a means to survive.
Shepard then glanced towards the Turian bartender who was currently arguing with a balding human C-Sec officer.
"Harkin, I've told you. Pay your fucking tab or I'll bring it up to C-Sec." The bartender threatened.
"I hear ya, I hear ya. First… one more drink!" Harkin tried to reason, already obviously drunk and craving more of his liquid vice.
The bartender sighed. Shaking his head before responding.
"Harkin, go home. Pay your debt before you come back. Nobody is going to serve you otherwise." The bartender signaled to a couple bouncers, who then grabbed Harkin's shoulders, pulling him with them.
"Fu-fuck you!" Harkin slurred while trying to wrestle his way out of the bouncers' grasps.
Shepard averted her eyes and shook her head, that man needed some help.
"Now, miss, is there anything I could get you?"
Shepard looked up, and spotted the same Turian bartender cleaning his spill pad behind the bar right in front of her.
"Yeah, I'll have a glass of Serrice Ice Brandy."
Shepard nodded at him as he moved to grab a bottle of the aforementioned. She noticed that Turians always moved gracefully, as if they were in a dance to their objective. It definitely didn't excuse the fact that they were definitely built to be an apex predator. The way their legs were built and their feet, angled and ready for a sprint. How did her people manage during the First Contact War?
"Here you go, ma'am." The bartender interrupted her thoughts by sliding her glass towards her.
"Thanks," Shepard smiled warmly, "have you always had a problem with that man, Harkin?"
The Turian seemed surprised she noticed his exchange with the man.
"Uh, no, not really. Just for a few months. He used to be an upstanding customer, paying his tab and had a good personality. Then suddenly he took a full 180, it was a shock, really. Don't know why." The Turian shook his head.
"Ah, I see," Shepard said softly, "I hope he's doing okay and gets back on track." She smiled up at the Turian.
"Me too." The Turian shifted his mandibles into a relaxed 'smile' as humans took to calling it. Strangely, it also made a lot of humans look afraid.
In a way this was weirding this Turian out because no human has ever seemed so… comfortable dealing with his race before. He guessed there was a first for everything. He then shook off his thoughts before he got lost in them, and turned to help another customer.
Shepard sipped on her brandy, just surveying her surroundings again. Krogan were in the corner making bets, there was a couple of stoners laughing at something on their omnitools, and there was an old Turian in the corner receiving a lap dance from a young Asari woman. He didn't seem too into it, almost like he was distracted.
Oh well, Shepard thought, maybe I'm not the only one who isn't seduced by the Asari.
She took another sip, and internally congratulated herself for making it this far and for being a better person than she was eleven years ago.
At least nobody has figured it out. Yet.
—
A/N: okay, so that was the first chapter! Woo! I've written this chapter on my iPhone and will continue to do so until I get a new computer. The thing is, writing on mobile leaves plenty of room for errors, so please let me know if there are any. I love Mass Effect and I'm excited for the release of Andromeda in 2017, but I had to finally write my own story of my Shepard in the stars for everyone else to see. This fic will follow the basic Mass Effect storyline with all DLCs included, but dialogue will diverge slightly and not be quoted word for word. As we go on, Shepard will have flashbacks, and it'll reveal a ton about how she came to be and who she is truly as a person. Stay tuned!