Previously on Reflections and Destiny…
She took a deep breath and held it, as soon as she heard a break in fire, she leaned out of cover and took aim…
—
Her sights were set on a Batarian's neck, she took the shot. Blood erupted from his wound and his gurgling momentarily distracted the others around him, she then managed to shoot another in the chest before leaning back into cover.
She really, really wished she was in armor right now. Having to rely on iron sights instead of her armor's computer calculating shots made her feel uneasy. She was nervous.
"Flank the human," the leader shouted, "make her scream!"
Shepard glanced around the tree and noticed other Batarians providing covering fire as a small team broke off to try and get around her line of sight.
Shepard quickly warped another Batarian that was close to her position, shredding him apart before quickly ducking back into cover.
"C'mon, c'mon… Where's Roberts, Lucas, and Marx?" Shepard wondered aloud as she waited for another break in fire. She was trying to stay calm, deep breaths, staying focused. She couldn't let them further into the city.
As she leaned out of cover again to shoot the Batarian, her omnitool pinged, distracting her .
"Ah, shit!" Shepard gritted her teeth, she'd just been shot in the arm. Answering the call, she was met with Roberts and Marx.
" Shepard," Roberts began, he looked stressed, "Lucas left hours ago while you were out, so he's a no go. The police have been notified of the breach, but for now they're focusing on securing the citizens and making sure they're safe."
"I- shit, okay… hold up," Shepard leaned out of cover to shoot two other Batarians, one was killed the other was wounded but retreating back into cover, "ask Marx if she can hack into the colony's security cameras, we need to figure out if this is isolated or part of a siege."
"Yes, ma'am." Roberts said, he then turned away from the camera and communicated with Marx.
She leaned out of cover again to put a bullet between the eyes of the Batarian she'd just wounded.
"Alright, Marx is on the cameras. She said it would take a moment." Roberts updated.
"Alright, good. Now I need you to coordinate with the police until I get there, see what their plans are . I should be back in city in a few and you can all report to me then."
"Yes, ma'am! Oh, and lieutenant? Give 'em hell." Roberts saluted and ended the call.
Lieutenant Shepard was in command, that just sunk in.
Shepard didn't hear anymore gunfire so she leaned out to be met with the Batarian leader of the small team she just slaughtered.
Now that she had a closer look, he was scarred. His two left eyes were clawed shut, and his armor was battle damaged. They must've been Batarian pirates because they definitely didn't look military wearing armor like that.
"Human, this is just the first part of the plan. Your colony will become rubble. This city is the beginning." He sneered. "Elanos sends his regards, Alliance scum."
"Well, tell him I send mine."
Shepard used her biotics to lift him off the ground before throwing him. His body flew into a still standing section of the wall, his body crumpled to the ground and appeared lifeless.
Still, Shepard thought, what if he isn't?
She cautiously walked towards his body, awaiting any movement to indicate he was still alive. She leaned down to check his pulse, suddenly his right eyes flew open as he lunged at her with a knife.
She ducked out of the way, it narrowly missed her head. She then grabbed his wrist and his arm, and twisted it back so he stabbed himself in the throat.
He was choking on his own blood, as he was bleeding out. It would be a painful death.
She could've shot him to end it.
She didn't. She got up and started walking away as he was gripping at his throat and gagging on his own blood.
When she was a slight distance away, about 5 minutes from camp, she started to feel the adrenaline wear off and the dull throbbing in her arm appeared, she just remembered she'd been shot.
She bent down, ripped some fabric off her pants leg, and turned it into a makeshift tourniquet for her arm. It'll have to do.
—
"Shepard!" Roberts shouted, he was in full armor. "Get in here."
Roberts was waving her in towards a small building in the outskirts of the city. He was already wearing full armor minus a helmet, but his brown hair was still messy and in his eyes, he needed to get it cut.
When they were recruits, she used to childishly call him cocoa, he reminded her of warm hot chocolate. Light brown skin, dark brown hair, and chocolate eyes. And he always had a warm personality, he was like the home she never had.
"You look like shit," he grabbed her arm and looked at it before tying her tourniquet tighter.
Shepard snorted, "tell me something I don't know."
He then grabbed her face and turned her head to the side to examine her.
"Well, your ear has been clipped…" He squinted at the wound while looking it over.
"Shit, really? A Batarian lunged at me, tried to stab me in the face, guess I'm glad that my ear was the only thing that was caught." Shepard replied, sheepishly. She thought he didn't catch her.
Roberts smiled, lopsided as ever before he turned and walked deeper into the house.
Shepard followed him for a few seconds before pausing, "where's Marx?"
"She's back in town, she broke into the police station to get direct access to the visual feeds. She decided having no lag would be better because every second counts if this is a siege." Roberts replied as he was rummaging through a bag.
"Ah, here," he turned back to Shepard and bandaged up her ear, "better?"
"Much," Shepard smiled before putting her commander face on, "tell me what the police are up to, has the Alliance been contacted yet?"
Roberts stiffened and his eyes shifted.
"No, no they haven't. Police don't want Alliance interfering."
"That's bullshit! What if this is a siege? Peoples lives are at stake!"
"Trust me, I know," Roberts guided Shepard towards a back door, "it's just how colonies are. They don't like us interfering."
"Still, stupid fucking call. Let's get to Marx, that way we can get a read on the situation."
Roberts opened the door and Shepard followed.
—
"Marx!" Shepard shouted when she saw the younger girl hunched over a terminal.
"Lieutenant," Marx turned around, worry etched in her brows. "You were shot!"
Marx's petite body was curled up in the chair. Her short hair was in disarray and she hadn't even had time to put in her contacts, she was wearing her glasses. She was like a little sister to Shepard. Strawberry blonde hair, pale skin, light brown eyes, and so many freckles that they rivaled her own.
"I was, Marx, but I'm doing okay. How are things?" Shepard inquired.
"Not so good, the police are trying to act as if the wall wasn't just blown apart south side. I'm monitoring communications and they're telling civilians to report to the town hall immediately." Marx pressed a few keys, before swiveling around to face Shepard. "Look, here," she pointed at the Eastern Wall, "the camera keeps glitching out, like someone is actively trying to block the signal. I was checking the recordings from the south wall, and about an hour before the wall was blown the same glitch happened. I think it's Batarian scouts covering their tracks."
Shepard furrowed her brow and bit on her lower lip, "which means they're about to strike the east wall… fuck, we're in a siege."
Shepard turned around and looked at Roberts, "contact Alliance command. We're going to need the Alliance's help, whether the colonists like it or not. We don't need another Mindoir. After that, you're coming with me to the Town Hall."
Shepard turned back to Marx, "I need you to monitor camera feeds. Keep me updated via omnitool and send constant reports to the Alliance so they can corroborate with our efforts."
She then glanced between them, "at the town hall we need to update the civilians, the police aren't going to cost this colony their lives."
Roberts and Marx glanced at each other before smiling proudly and saying "yes, ma'am!"
—
While Roberts contacted Alliance high command Shepard was sitting on the floor and pulling on her armor, going through the motions of clasping seals for each section. A faint hiss followed after each seal air locked.
"Lieutenant Shepard is in charge, sir. Yes, that's right. No, they won't cooperate. Shepard has decided to directly speak to the colonists. The nearest ship is over 6 hours away? Damn it. Ensign Marx has figured out that the next wall to be breached is the east side in 40 minutes. Yes, I understand, we'll make do." Roberts was pacing as he was speaking to someone at Alliance HQ.
Shepard stood up once she gave her armor another check over and glanced at Roberts.
Poor kid, the Alliance is all 'go by the book', they need to rush this, Shepard thought.
Shepard walked over to to a now armored Marx, "hey, will you be okay here?"
Marx looked up and smiled, "yeah, I think so. I've always been better with computers than using a gun – even with the in suit computer running background aim assist. I'll be fine." She then reached down and grabbed something. "Plus, if things come to it," she flashed Shepard what she was holding, "Roberts just helped me get this Striker II."
Shepard couldn't help it, she smiled a genuine smile. "Good, I'm glad. Keep in contact, I'll see you soon."
"Likewise, LT." Marx saluted quickly and turned back around to her video feeds.
"Shepard, ready to head out to the town hall?" Roberts reminded her.
"Yeah, let's start a civvie militia and see if we can get the police to help."
—
"Why should we believe you?" A frightened man shouted at her. They were in the middle of the town hall, trying to warn the people.
"What could we possibly get from this? I know you're scared, and I know that this is a huge risk. The Alliance just wants to help, but they can't help you unless you help yourselves. If those Batarians get in this city, we're all done." Shepard tried to reason with them.
The crowd looked like they were starting to come around, understand what was at stake.
"But you're Alliance, we don't like the Alliance!" One of the officers in the back shouted.
"It doesn't matter what I'm a part of, this is about survival. You either fight or you let them win. I'm choosing to fight, who's with me?" Shepard rallied.
"I'm with you." An older woman declared, she was probably around the age of 40.
"So am I," a young man said, who looked 18, "we all are."
"Well, that's that… what about the police force? Are you still going to refuse to defend your city because you think letting the Alliance help means you're weak?"
"We're in this fight too," an older man in uniform said, "I demand it. Still, I doubt the Alliance won't try to demand from us following their help. I just see that it'd be a dumb move to refuse it either way."
Roberts stepped up next, "alright then," he began, "Shepard and I put together a plan."
And they did.
Their plan was to fortify the positions of interest to the Batarians. Civilians over the age of 18 were supplied with basic handguns and light armor from the police station. Those with training from previous military or police experience were given leadership roles. Those with health backgrounds set up an impromptu medical center and prepared medical kits for each individual squad. Shepard, Roberts, and the Police Chief, Hannigan, were put in charge of each wall that wasn't breached yet. There was a small group of police sent to hold the southern wall in case the Batarians decide to strike there again.
With only moments to spare, the Batarians attempted to take the eastern wall, but Roberts managed to stop them.
"Shepard, Roberts has already seen to the group trying to break the eastern wall," Marx reported.
"I see, I knew he could do it. See anything else amiss?" Shepard was currently ducking in cover in a building's alleyway, it gave her a clear view of most of the northern wall.
She really hoped the Batarians weren't dumb enough to keep trying.
"Actually yeah, I'm getting weird signal interference from the south wall again… do you need me to investigate?"
"Wait, weird how?" Shepard stood and leaned against the wall. She furrowed her brow, that wall section is being watched by a squad of police.
"The camera is offline, I haven't heard any gunfire, but something just doesn't seem right." Marx sighed as she pinched her nose bridge, "should I go investigate, ma'am?"
Shepard chewed on the inside of her cheek. Marx was right about being better with computers instead of guns.
If she doesn't send Marx, it could give Batarians more time to organize a strategy in the south. Still, if she does send Marx and she dies… she wouldn't forgive herself.
She needed to be in command of the situation. They all knew what they signed on for.
"Okay, Marx, check it out. Go in quick, scout around, and if there's trouble, don't get caught." Shepard pursed her lips.
"Yes ma'am, I'm going to head down there. Marx out." Marx cut the connection.
Please be careful, Marx, Shepard thought to herself.
She hoped there wouldn't be any nasty surprises.
—
It's been a few hours since Marx last reported in.
"Marx, come in," Shepard repeated into the comm.
She kept on trying to establish contact with Marx, but it kept failing.
Shepard kept pacing around in circles.
"I'm going south, Roberts," Shepard spoke into her comm, "I need to find out what happened to Marx."
"Ma'am the Alliance said that they're inbound, under ten minutes to provide support," Roberts responded back, "I'm curious too, but you're needed here to speak to Captain Hackett."
"You can handle him. I'm going to find her."
—
Shepard was frantically running towards the south wall breach. She needed to know.
"No, no no no… please, no…" Shepard started tearing up as she stumbled onto the scene.
There was nothing left near the breach in the wall. It was rubble, Batarians and Humans blown to bits. What caught Shepard's eye is dangling from the tree she was using as cover earlier were Alliance dog tags.
Shepard carefully pulled them off the tree and turned them over.
Lillian Marx.
"Shepard, Captain Hackett is here. The colony is secured. Waiting on you to make it back." Roberts spoke suddenly into the comm.
—
Fast forward, a few days later. They were on the SSV Agincourt.
"You don't get it, Roberts!" Shepard was livid, "she died, and I'm getting a Star of Terra, going into the fucking N7 program. and a God damn promotion. She got a fucking hole in the ground."
Roberts was clenching his fists, Shepard wouldn't accept it that it was the risk they all signed on for.
"Shepard, she knew the risks, we all did. She wanted to keep that colony safe, and she asked for those orders. It isn't your fault, it isn't anyone's fault except for those Batarian bastards!" He threw his arms in the air.
"I- I know," Shepard collapsed onto the ground and held her face in her hands, "it doesn't make it hurt any less. She deserved so much more than to die taking out those Batarian fucks." Shepard was crying.
"Sh, I know," Roberts sat down beside her and gripped her shoulder, "I know." He then pulled her into a hug.
—
"So, Joker, looking forward to this shakedown run?" Shepard motions around with her arms, "looks like you have a hell of a set up, here."
"Oh, boy, am I! Although, I've already set the Normandy through her paces, but you can ask the Captain about that." Joker smirks.
"Really? I guess I might have to," Shepard chuckles, "I'm going to meet this Spectre we have on board, see you around."
"Careful, Commander. That one is a hard ass." Joker warns and turns back around.
—
A/N: Okay, very heavy on the flashback this chapter. I wanted to fully explain what Elysium was like for Shepard. It was another thing that shaped the Commander we now know. (And it also gave her a gnarly scar on her ear.)
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