Chapter 2: The First Human Specter

Straightening out his formal uniform in front of the mirror, Kaidan stood back and examined himself. After adjusting a hair or two, he ousted a long breath before he forced himself out the door of the hotel room.

He couldn't believe that he was back in London again, so much had been cleaned up and built since his last visit about four months ago. But he still feels like a solider on the battle field when walking down a familiar street to get into a taxi.

As bits of the big city flew by the windows, the major did all he can to relax and maybe catch up on a little sleep. But he could just feel like he was getting there faster than he was ready for and his heart pounded.

And before long, he had arrived on one of the crowded streets where the cab driver impatiently honked for a clear path. Also getting impatient, Kaidan paid his fare and got out, weaving between the masses while hoping they were too distracted to recognize him. But when everyone looked up at the sky, he knew exactly why and joined them in watching the legendary SSV Normandy sore overhead and land close by the memorial.

Finally he was recognized, but he was thankful for it as he was ushered passed where it was currently cut off from the public and only friends of Shepard could be around the monument. As he walked away from the noise of the crowd at into the rather quieter plaza, he stopped for a moment to scale his eyes up to the giant Shepard that towered over him. "Hey there, Shepard." he whispered before sighing "Looks like I'm back…"

He walked to the statue's feet where a small group was gathered having conversations. Though, when he looked between them all, he barely knew a few of those people. But when seeing the Normandy glint in the sunlight not too far off, he smiled and started for it immediately.

It was clear that no one had come out of it yet, but there was a ramp descending from the backdoor. He began to climb up, but suddenly, her voice hit him again and he looked back down to the exit where she once stood.

Don't argue with me Kaidan!

Still staring down at that spot, he leaned against the ship's wall, remembering that this was the place where they had their last goodbyes.

No matter what happens, I love you…always.

"Major?" He alertly turned around to find Garrus who was just about to start towards the memorial.

"Garrus! Good to see you again!"

"Likewise." He nodded. "Joker gave me a speedy ride from Palaven, I forgotten how much I missed this ship."

"You're not the only one." Kaidan patted the wall warmly.

"Yeah, I was surprised not to see you onboard. But I guess I'm not the only one trying to rebuild a planet."

"Doing what I can." He replies modestly.

Garrus walks further down the ramp and looks around at the city. "This place was in pieces last time I saw it, and I wasn't here before all that so I can't exactly say if it looks better or not. But it's not hard to see that you're doing a good job, you all are." Kaidan grinned and crossed his arms comfortably as the turian looked back at him for a moment. "Well, I've wasted enough of your time, I'm sure the Normandy crew is wanting to see you, Joker especially. I'll go mingle and finally check out that statue. Sadly, I've only seen it on the vids."

"I'll see you later then." the turian nodded and walked off.

As soon as he entered the deck, the Major was greeted by excited cheers and urgent salutes. It was good to finally been surrounded by some friendly faces. Vega, of course, was the first to jump in and strongly pat his back. There was the original team of Tali, Liara, and Wrex. Then the members of the 'suicide team' he knew little about of Grunt, Jack, Jacob, Miranda, and Samara.

At last, he was finally able to approach Joker who was accompanied by the rebooted EDI. Turns out, parts of EDI were still saved in the Normandy's AI Core so Joker could easily repair her back to normal.

"Still a down to Earth guy, Major?" Joker seized the moment for a cheesy joke, and it successfully made Kaidan smile.

But the easy part of the day only lasted a little while when they all found their seats in front of a podium at the feet of Shepard. Then, the blissful quiet wore off when they finally let the people flood in with cameras and shouting. All of the former squad members grumbled to this (though Jack shouted profanities at them.)

Soon, everyone did tone it down as music started playing and giant holographic screen stretched out in front of the statue. And when opening up with an old recording of Shepard saying "I'm Commander Shepard from Alliance Military and the first human Spectre." It then played a long stream of vids of Shepard and her deeds followed by a brief biography that summarized her life from her birth to her death.

Then afterward, starting off with General Hackett, people went up on the podium and talked about their time and experience with Shepard. This made the day seem like it went on for eternity. Kaidan felt like he was forced to sit there in that uncomfortable chair for hours, feeling the pain increase in his chest but having no choice but to choke it down.

He was relieved though when only a few of her former squad members went up and said something. They most likely wanted to keep their thoughts to themselves just like he did.

His mind did wonder elsewhere as the speeches droned on, but he didn't realize until it was too late that he was staring into the eyes of the giant Shepard. It didn't have the same feeling, not at all. But, it did oddly comfort him; feeling it only fitting that she be watching over everyone, even now.

Then at last, the whole thing was finished by a last word from Hackett. "Commander Shepard was the finest example anyone can follow, and she deserves every bit of praise she receives throughout the future which she had given her life to make possible. The name of the woman who stood for the many will be one that is never forgotten. We stand here now, Shepard, saying our farewells to you. Wherever you are now, we hope you have finally found the peace and rest you have earned."

As a picture of Shepard saluting appeared on the screen with music, Kaidan, all the former squad members, and everyone sitting down rose up in respect. Alliance Soldiers in formal attire and rifles marched in formation under orders, sending off her memory with a twenty one gun salute.

After this, when people were no longer organized and silent and the crew was heading back to the Normandy, Garrus walked beside Joker to comment "Maybe I don't fully understand your people's gun-funeral tradition, but isn't it bad to shoot thermal clips into the air?"

"Probably." Joker shrugged. "But it's been around since the Middle Ages— I think – it's not changing anytime soon."

Then EDI chimed in to help in enlightening him. "The Twenty-one Gun Salute varies a little by country. The use of gun salutes for military occasions is traced to early warriors who demonstrated their peaceful intentions by placing their weapons in a position that rendered them ineffective…" Garrus listened with interest and her voice trailed on in the distance beside him.

Joker smiled and shook his head with a light-heated laugh for his girlfriend's usual rambles, and then turned to the major, making them both stop. "Hey, um, major, I have something to ask you, and you're probably the best guy to answer this question."

"Go for it."

"The Alliance requested that we donate Shepard's armor to her section in the museum, Hackett left it up to me, but I think that's a decision for you."

Kaidan sighed and shifted uncomfortably while turning his head to look at the building nearby that was now becoming overcrowded. He had thought her armor had been completely destroyed in the last fight, but then he remembered that she did have a couple backups.

At first, he thought about fighting the decision, but what would happen to it if he said no? Sit up in her cabin packed away and gathering dust? "I guess the best place would be in a museum, where it would be protected, taken care of, and treasured." He replied and Joker nodded.

He had followed Joker up to her room where he had wanted to shut his eyes as soon as the lights came on. Needless to say he was bombarded by every memory he had tried to forget in the last year. He had half expected her to turn around the corner at the stairs leading to her bed and greet them.

She was there though, in Kaidan's mind…her scent…her clothing…and even the empty bottle sitting on the desk from when they last spent time together.

Joker asked if he was okay as he stood silently in the middle of the room, but he didn't answer and instead, quickly collected a military-grade silver case under her bed that contained the suit of armor. And as the elevator descanted, they both stood quietly as Kaidan held the case in his arms.

With his body already exhausted from the walking, Joker had to stay back at the Normandy. But just for security's sake, a few unfamiliar crew members escorted the case towards the museum. The case was no longer in Kaidan's hands by now, but in the hands of two men marching in front. Kaidan just became one of the armed men walking beside it.

His mind began to drift again while watching the museum draw closer. He knew that he has going to have to go through that Shepard section now, and had wanted to back up as soon as he was helping the others clear a path to it.

He was gently pushing people back as the case holders passed behind him, when suddenly, there was gun shots heard. He quickly twisted back to see the case holders on the ground, holding where they were wounded and a figure with its face concealed by a black hood stood over them with a pistol.

Kaidan jumped quickly to grab the person, but they took off, grabbing the case in one hand and trying to disappear in the horrified crowd. "Hey!" Kaidan yelled after the person, shoving everyone out of the way as he ran and tried to find a clear place to shoot.

The person then sprinted out of the thick of the crowd, starting towards the street and shooting anyone— not fatally— who got in their way. They were fast, but Kaidan was right on their tail as they ran across a street, vaulted over a fence, and into an ally in hopes to throw him off. But Kaidan was not easily lost as he copied the thief's movements and began firing after them.

The first few shots were tactfully evaded by the hooded thief ducking and rolling out of the way. But when they were not fast enough to get back up, a shot landed in their leg and a woman's voice gave a yelp of pain as she dropped to the ground. Kaidan recovered the case in one hand while pointing the rifle down at the woman.

As she lay on her back, he had thought she was done. But with a roar of rage, the woman stood back up on her good leg and threw herself at the major, pressing him to the ground. They rolled around, throwing punches. She was trying to rip the case away from him as he flexed all his muscles to keep her hands back.

She was a lot stronger than he thought she would be, and very fast with a fist. But he is able to grab her hooded head and slam it hard against a wall, knocking her out.

With soreness, the major climbed back onto his feet and rested against to wall, looking down at the mysterious woman as the rest of the men finally caught up with him. "Major Alenko! Are you alright?" one asked. Stiffly, he nodded and watched as they grabbed the woman and pulled down her hood.

All the air in his lunges left him immediately as he stared in shock at her face. Her black was no longer pulled back…her ivory skin now carried a bruise on her forehead…and her eyes were concealed by sleeping lids.

It couldn't have been her, there were little changes to her face but everything was exact. But it didn't like her at all…she wore clothes that only people on the street would wear…and the way she had attacked him…she didn't recognize him at all.

The men were stunned as well, lifting her face and examining it many times until one of them finally said it.

"Commander Shepard?"