Shepard

"Shepard now that we have a moment I feel it's necessary to confirm that you don't have any lasting brain damage from being dead for so long so I'm going to ask a few questions."

Miranda states after the long period of silence I had been partly enjoying.

"That's not necessary Miranda I've seen Shepard in action and can vouch for her."

"Her being able to use a gun is one thing Jacob, but I need to make sure she has all her memories intact. So Shepard it states in your file you were born on earth is that correct?"

"Yeah it was pretty rough but I learned to survive"

"Alright it also states that while on Vermire you had to leave one of your teammates behind an Ashley Williams is this correct?"

This question is harder to answer seeing as the thought of leaving one of my teammates behind to die while I flew away is something that still haunts me.

"I left a friend to die that day and it's a decision I didn't make likely."

"See Miranda Shepard still has her memories"

"I had to make sure."

"Alright but I have some questions of my own like what exactly did you do to me? Why has my appearance changed? And would someone please tell me how long I've been gone?"

Miranda and Jacob both look to each other as if trying to decide just what to tell me and how to tell me. Finally after an eternity Miranda sighs and answers me.

"First of Shepard you've been dead for two years and as to how we brought you back we used DNA we extracted and kept preserved from a creature we found in a tomb hidden on earth."

"You put unknown DNA into me…wait two years!?"

"Yes two years, but as for the DNA we did some research and believe that whatever creature it came from was probably the source of the vampire legends."

They put vampire blood in my body?! I should kill them with my bare hands! Not to mention I've been dead for two years.

"So in order to bring me back you turned me into a vampire?"

"Not quite Shepard you see we had to reduce the purity of the blood so it wouldn't overpower your human DNA, but when your body wasn't responding we increased the dosage which greatly sped up your body's natural healing process which enabled you to fully recover from death. I'm afraid that although it dead heal you the vampire blood in your body is dominate which is why your appearance has altered."

"Are you saying I'll have to drink blood to survive?"

"Sadly yes for you see without a fresh intake of blood your body will starve itself until it becomes unbearable and you become far less civilized."

"Please what's the worst that could happen if I don't drink blood when I need to?"

Instead of answering Miranda gestures toward Jacob who rolls up his sleeve to reveal a right arm covered in viscous slash marks some fresh and some in a state of healing.

"Shepard about a year ago we tried the Dark blood out on some volunteers they tried to resist drinking blood completely but after a few days without it they went feral and tore each other apart. I was sent in to put down the survivors but with their increased speed and strength it took six biotics to take them down.

"So that's it drink blood or go insane?"

Like hell I would drink someone's blood directly from them I'd have to be insane. I might have different blood in my body but I'm still human inside.

"From the tests we ran on you and another batch of volunteers you can only suppress you're hunger if you feed directly from someone and as a bonus it seems any blood will do, so you could feed on any species as long as their still alive."

"I'll say this now, I will not drink blood because if I do it will mean I've given up living as a human."

A dead silence passes after my statement and we stare at each other Miranda trying to stare me down while Jacob eyes wide with awe.

"I was afraid you'd say that Shepard."

She nods at Jacob who in an instant launches himself at me and pins me to the wall of the shuttle with his left arm while forcing my mouth open with his right. Miranda pulls out a small knife from Jacobs's belt and drags it across her hand bringing her blood to the surface. The smell hits me immediately like nothing I've ever felt before my mouth waters and an unknown sensation comes from my jaw and when I wriggle my tongue feel two larger than average canines.

"My what large teeth you have Shepard. Now listen up you are no longer human and if you want to keep living you have to feed and seeing as we have no blood packs as a backup here you'll have to do with a few drops of mine"

She states extending her hand over my mouth and squeezing her fist letting a few drops of crimson fluid drop into my mouth. The affect is instant my taste buds light up with every drop and my body is filled with energy.

"That should hold you over for a while"

She pulls her hand away and I have to fight the urge to grab at it the moment Jacob releases me. While Miranda goes off to wrap her hand I think about what just happened to me.

I can't believe I just drank blood and it felt…good so freaking good. I can't let my urges get the better of me.

After a few hours of flying we finally arrive at the station where Miranda tells me her boss wants to talk to me and points me down a hallway where I could talk to him.

I step into the glowing circle where a holographic image of her boss appears.

"Hello Shepard It's good to see you alive and kicking our should I say undead and kicking."

"Let's cut the small talk and you just tell me what you want and why you brought me back alright"

He takes a long drag from his cigarette before standing up and looking me in the eye.

"Fine we brought you back because human colonies have been going dark and nobody is doing anything about it."

"And that's where I come in right?"

"Correct I want you to find out everything you can so that we can stop it."

"Fine but don't think for a moment that I trust you"

The call ends and we arm ourselves before returning to the shuttle and going to the last targeted colony. When we arrive we find no one not one person just a bunch of reprogramed mecs that are easily dealt with. When we near one building a strange sensation hits my ears like someone removing cotton from it and then it was like all sounds were amplified I could hear the sounds of Miranda and Jacobs heartbeats along with the heartbeats of the people inside. I signal this and we charge in catching them off guard.

"Put your weapons down now!"

The three quarian men stop what they were doing and raise their guns and were about to fire when a familiar face walk into the room.

"Everyone calm down we don't want a fight… Shepard!? I thought you were dead" Tali states before rushing forward and giving me a hug.

"I was for a while but I was brought back to find out why the human colonies have been going dark."

"Tali you trust this human?" One quarian says finger on his trigger

"With my life no lower your weapons you couldn't take Shepard if you wanted to."

"Tali it's good to see you but why are you here?"

"We're here to find one of our friends that was on pilgrimage when this place went dark. He ran when he say us and we think his suit is damaged so he may be delirious"

"Don't worry we'll find him and send him to you"

"No we will find him without the help of these humans come on men" the male quarian says taking the rest of them out of the building forcing Tali to chase after them. When we catch up to them after a few minutes of searching we arrive just in time to see them die at the hands of a giant mec which we take down with a few rockets to the head.

We find the quarian at a control panel mumbling to himself and typing at the screen.

"Hello can you tell us what happened here?"

"Must not find me… must stay hidden if hidden than I am safe from swarm"

I type in a code on my omni-tool and the screens go dark forcing him to turn around.

"You not get taken?"

"Please tell us what happened here and where everyone went"

He types at the screen and it lights up with video of insect like creatures carrying pods filled with people.

"They came and took them away but I hide and stay safe."

"Shepard he could have some vital information we should take him with us." Miranda says looking to Veetor

"No he needs medical help and I'm taking him" Tali says storming into the room.

"We just need the data from his omni-tool Tali he's all yours after that."

Tali nods at Veetor who sends Miranda the information before heading over to Tali.

"Thank you Shepard it's good to see you still have your compassion after being brought back." With those words she leaves taking her friend away.

"Shepard! That quarian had vital information and you just gave him away." Miranda screams as she gets in my face

Maybe it was the heat of the moment or maybe just all the rage I've been bottling up since I woke up but in that instant without quite realizing what I was doing I reached out and captured her neck in my right hand raising her off the ground a few feet as I did so.

"Listen here Miranda I don't work for Cerberus and I do things as I see fit question my orders again and I'll snap your pretty little neck."

With a small flick of my hands she's sent into a nearby wall.

"Now let's get out of here."