Edit: So, it turns out Michael Dorn is an actual person... He's a voice actor (for Mass Effect, no less), so I don't think uising his name for this is a good idea... I'm changing the last name to Hollister.

Chapter 2

Status Granted

Shepard hadn't been to Earth in nearly four years. To see it now, closing in fast toward the window of the crew quarters, was almost too much to bear. There were a lot of memories on Earth, not all of them good. But all of them were significant.

Shepard was born and raised on Earth. San Diego, to be more precise. Not by his parents, of course. Whoever they were, they were long gone now. Had been since the day he was born. Members of a gang known as the Tenth Street Reds took him in and made him one of them. As soon as he was old enough, Shepard began taking on jobs for the Reds, many of which ended with him getting into trouble with the police. Shepard would always be loyal to the Reds, though, never selling them out or betraying them in any way. They were more than his friends. They were the only family he'd ever known.

Then Michael Hollister was recruited.

Shepard knew that Hollister was trouble the moment he laid eyes on him. The Reds were known as lawless, but this guy was just crazy. More xenophobic than any Cerberus member Shepard had heard about. He once blew up an entire embassy of asari "in the Reds' name". Shepard knew Hollister had to go. So did Swift, the gang's leader. But she saw something in Hollister. Something Shepard or the rest of the gang could not see.

"He's too dangerous," Shepard protested.

Swift smiled. "Shepard," she began. But the words she wanted to say were quickly dropped. She kissed him instead. "I love you, but you really need to let me deal with these things. I can take care of myself."

Shepard sighed and held her closer. "I just don't know…" he said. "What if another incident like the one with the asari embassy happens again? You know the rest of the galaxy hates humans."

Swift smiled and shook her head. "The galaxy does not hate humans. They're just not sure what to make of us yet."

"Well, if things keep going the way they're going, they're gonna make up their minds about us very quickly. Swift… I know this is your show, but I've got a feeling about this guy. We can't afford to take any risks. Not now."

Swift thought for a moment. God, Shepard thought. Even in a situation like this, she's distracting to look at. After a moment, Swift made up her mind. "Okay," she said. "If it means that much to you, I'll take care of it." Shepard smiled and kissed her again.

Soon, after the embassy incident, Swift kept her word. She excommunicated Hollister from the Reds. But Hollister was more cunning and persuasive than any of the Reds had been prepared for. He took multiple members with him, then attacked the Reds head-on. The battle lasted for hours, with casualties on both sides. Hollister personally executed Swift in front of Shepard, pleasurably noting the pained expression on the helpless man's face. He then moved to kill Shepard, but Shepard used what strength he had left to tackle Hollister out of the window. Hollister was killed, and Shepard was arrested. While in prison, Shepard was approached by an Alliance captain identifying himself as Hackett. He offered Shepard the chance to join the Alliance, to escape not only prison, but the gang life Shepard had been a part of for so long. Shepard thought about Hackett's offer for three days before accepting. There was nothing left for him in the Reds. Not anymore.

Anderson interrupted Shepard's thoughts. "Everything okay?" he asked. Shepard nodded, trying to decide if he was trying to convince Anderson or himself. Either way, it didn't seem to be working. "We'll be landing in a couple of minutes. Get whatever gear you have and meet me at the airlock after we dock."

Shepard saluted. "Yes, sir."

Ambassador Donnel Udina was waiting for Anderson outside the Kennedy's airlock. He never really liked soldiers. They were gruff, uncivilized, and preferred to fight out their differences rather than come to any sort of agreement. Humanity was ready to fight the turians to the death in the First Contact War, never once considering a peaceful solution. It took the Council, three representatives from the galaxy's most influential and powerful races, to quell the fighting and bring about a tense peace between the two races. That was the kind of power politicians had.

That was the kind of power Udina wanted.

Anderson greeted the ambassador with a firm handshake. "Ambassador," he said, with only a hint of an icy tone in his voice.

"Commander," Udina replied, not bothering to hide his contempt. "How is the survivor?"

"He's alive. I suppose that's something."

Of course it's something, you twit, Udina thought bitterly. "And his psychological condition?" he demanded.

Now it was Anderson showing bitterness. "He watched his entire unit die and couldn't do a damn thing to stop it. How do you think that affected him psychologically?"

Pretty badly, I'd imagine, Udina thought. But it wasn't any of his concern. Shepard was a survivor of a brutal thresher maw attack. The human public would view him as a hero, and if Udina backed him, he'd be praised by the community. "I want to speak with him," he said simply.

Anderson held up his hand. "I'm not sure that's-"

Udina cut him off. "Immediately."

Anderson opened his mouth to protest, but the look on Udina's face told him there was no changing his mind. Seeing no alternative, Anderson consented. I hope that kid's ready for this, he thought.

Shepard waited uncomfortably in the ambassador's office. He knew what this was about, of course. He'd followed politics all of his life, though he rarely admitted it. Unlike other soldiers, he didn't see it as a waste of time. Of course, he wouldn't be caught dead doing it. He was a very… spirited person, to say the least. At last, Udina, entered the office, the look on his face a cross between contemptuous and smug.

Shepard hated him already.

Udina sat down, bringing up Anderson's report on Shepard's rescue with his omni-tool. "How's the leg?" he asked, though Shepard got the feeling that he didn't really care.

"Stings. But it's nothing."

Udina smiled. "I'll bet. Getting shot tends to hurt, or so I'm told." He looked back at the report. "One thing is missing from here: the reason for the operation." He looked up at Shepard, and was only mildly shocked and mostly pleased to see the boy's face had hardened to an angry scowl that he tried, unsuccessfully to contain. "Why were you there, Lieutenant?"

Shepard had to resist the urge to punch Udina in the face. His whole unit was dead, and this asshole was interrogating him about why he was there? "That's classified," he said flatly.

"There's no such thing as classified on a failed mission, Lieutenant Shepard. If you don't tell me, how can I prove that you and your unit were on official Alliance business?"

"Ask Captain Hackett."

"I'm asking you."

"I can't talk about the mission. We were all told not to mention it to anyone."

"Why?"

"Those were our orders."

Udina scoffed. "And you mean to tell me you always follow your orders?"

This caught Shepard by surprise. What was Udina playing at?

Udina pulled up another report. "This is from Captain Hackett. Dated October 3rd, 2179. 'Lieutenant Shepard disobeyed a direct order yesterday. He was ordered to attack the batarian squad from behind, and yet he still insisted on a more guerilla-styled approach. He took his squad and hid in the trees, and when the rest of us engaged the enemy, he opened fire on the batarians, quickly defeating them. Our own side suffered no casualties, the sole reason I am not recommending any action be taken against him.'" Udina looked up at Shepard, still smiling smugly. "I can pass this on to your superiors at any time. Without Hackett's generosity, of course. You'll probably be demoted, possibly even court-martialed."

Shepard swallowed hard. He was blackmailing him? Was he serious? He couldn't believe it. Finally, he spoke. "Fuck you."

Soon after, Udina contacted Anderson. "I want him promoted. Staff Lieutenant. Make it happen, as soon as possible." Then another thought struck him. "Oh, and grant him N7 status."