"Shepard! There's too many, we need to get the civilians out of here!" Sgt. Ryan Vincent yelled over the explosions and gunfire. Shepard refused to cease fire, even after hearing her friend. "Shepard!" he tried again, pulling her down to cover. Shepard stared into his eyes, seeing the fear and desperation. Looking past him, she saw the same look in the surrounding civilian residents of Elysium. There were too many Batarians for them all to make a run for it. Someone had to hold them off, buy the rest time to escape to the nearest docking bay...
She looked back to Vincent, a man who saved her life more times than she could count, her squad mate, a trusted friend. She took a deep breath, opening her comm. to the rest of the squad. "Vincent, get these people out of here alive. The rest of you are going with him, I'll hold them off." There was a break in return fire. "Lt. Commander, you can't just-"
"That's an order, Vincent! I'll buy you enough time to get to the shuttles." The rest of the squad was quiet while Vincent shook his head vigorously. "Shepard, you can't sacrifice yourself! We can make it!" Shepard grabbed the collar of his shirt, none of them armored being on leave. "There's not enough time! I can defend this position long enough for you to get the rest of these people into an escape shuttle. The docking bay isn't that far and you need the rest of the squad for defense. Now, go! That's an order!" She shoved him back roughly, emphasizing her authority.
He stared for a moment, clearly torn with following a direct order from his commanding officer and insubordination for a friend, a sister in arms. Eventually, he pulled himself together, issuing orders like the leader Shepard knew he was. "You heard her, Hendricks and Felix cover our flank. Martinez and Taylor, keep up barriers. Everybody else, keep those Batarian bastards at a distance, that means you Reed! Pay attention, move!" He issued orders, getting to his feet and telling the civilians to stay calm. Shepard stood out from cover, returning the lost cover fire. Vincents voice came over the comm. for the last time, "Lt. Commander," He said, panting in his haste, "Once we get everybody to the shuttles, we're doubling back to get you, just hold on."
Shepard sighed heavily, reloading a thermal clip. "Goddamnit, I gave you an order, a chance to live, now take it!"
"No can do, Shepard. You're our leader, a sister and the best damn soldier in the Alliance."
She broke cover, shooting a Batarian through one of four eyes. "You have a family, Vincent! I don't. Your daughter needs you, your wife. Your mother, father, brother. Don't get yourself killed over someone who has nothing to lose." She pleaded with him, trying to give him a reason.
"But, Lt. Command-" He tried again. "No, Sgt. Don't come back." She cut the comm. on her omni-tool. She squeezed her eyes shut, seeing the faces of dead civilians, children. Remembering the slaughter that was Mindoir, the faces of those shes lost to Batarian slavers. She could feel her body pulsing with biotic energy, her anger bubbling and boiling over in the form of her biotics.
She stepped out of cover, her body enveloped in a purple glow. Clips bounced off her biotic barrier, not fazing her threatening steps. Her eyes were black, engulfed with an awry of emotions. The first Batarian unfortunate enough to catch her gaze was immediately lifted from the ground only to be slammed back down seconds later. His skull flattening and exploding against the pavement. Curses rang out in the courtyard, Batarian fire increasing rapidly only to be deflected.
As they wasted their clips, Shepard tore through them like a hurricane of destruction. Batarian after Batarian meeting a fatal end as the advanced biotic threw, ripped, and slaughtered them. Some tried to retreat only to be pulled back by biotic energy and having the same ending.
It seemed like hours to Shepard, but it only took a couple minutes for her to defeat the remaining Batarian soldiers. She dropped to her hands and knees when the last body lay lifeless before her, breathing heavily and feeling the effects of burning so much energy at once. She reached shakily to her omni-tool, reconnecting her comm.
"Sgt. Vincent," she said breathlessly, "The Batarian threat has been," she took a deep breath, "neutralized."
She waited, hearing no response. "Sgt. Ryan Vincent, do you copy." She asked more firmly. There was static before another voice came over the comm. "Lt. Commander?" Lance Corporal Reed responded. "Ma'am, Sgt- Sgt. Vincent is dead." She stuttered, clearly overwhelmed. "We were ambushed by stragglers. Corporal Taylor and Private Hendricks are injured, but the threat has been neutralized and-and the civilians are being loaded onto shuttles," she paused, then seeming to remember her rank, bit out a quick and sharp "Ma'am."
Shepard didn't care, however. She dropped on her side, rolling on her back to stare up at the empty, blue sky of Elysium. Her eyes burned with unshed tears and exhaustion, but she knew it would have to wait. "Reed, keep sharp until I get there. I won't be long." She hauled herself up, stumbling from her lack of strength. She straightened her spine, reloading a fresh thermal clip and breathing deeply. Some vacation...
Shepard awoke to the sound of… Paper turning? She looked over sluggishly to see Miranda sitting in the armchair, her legs crossed and tucked under her like a child, a real book in her hands. Shepard couldn't read the cover, but whatever it was Miranda was thoroughly engrossed. Her brow was furrowed slightly in thought, creating a perfect, cute indent in the middle. She chewed slightly on her bottom lip as her eyes mowed over the words. Shepard smiled at the sight, she truly was beautiful in more ways than one.
"A real book, huh?" Shepard asked, her voice rough with sleep. Miranda looked up, a small smile playing at the corner of her lip, "Yes, I like the way the pages feel and smell." She closed the book, setting it on a nearby table before crossing the room to help Shepard sit up. "Yeah, nothing beats crusty pages and moldy book smell." Shepard teased, smirking when Miranda rolled her eyes. "I'll have you know, you bought me that book."
Shepard chuckled, "Must of cost me a fortune."
"A small one, but you said it was worth it." Miranda gloated.
"Tsk, Ms. Lawson, taking advantage of my memory loss are we?" Miranda rolled her eyes again, but allowed a small laugh to pass her lips. "How did you sleep?"
Shepards smile faltered slightly and tore her gaze from Miranda. "Good," she shrugged. Miranda gave her a questioning look, clearly unconvinced. "You always were a bad liar." She said, "What is it?"
Shepard sighed heavily, the dream still fresh in her mind. "I think… It was more of a bad memory than a bad dream." She said softly, picturing her squadmates faces. Miranda sat beside her, taking her hand and softly stroking the palm with her thumb. It was incredibly soothing, Shepard found, calming her rising anxiety from the memory.
"Which one?" Miranda whispered and at her question, Shepard wondered how many others there were. "Elysium." She answered. Miranda nodded quietly, already knowing the full extent of that story. They stayed that way for awhile, Shepard watching Miranda's thumb and Miranda humming a familiar song. She'd heard it before, she was sure, but what was the name… "Nielson's Fifth." She said aloud when it clicked, looking toward Miranda, her smile radiant and captivating. Shepard had to take a deep breath to try and slow her heart rate. "You remember." Miranda said proudly, giving Shepards hand a light squeeze.
"How much do you remember about us, Shepard?" Miranda questioned softly, not meeting her gaze. Shepard thought for a moment, trying to think of something, anything. The truth was, she didn't remember anything. Miranda herself was familiar, but other than the feelings she gets around Miranda, she doesn't remember a thing. She wants to lie, knowing that truth would certainly hurt, but knows better now. "Nothing, honestly. I," she hesitated, unsure exactly how to express what she feels. Miranda looks up to her in anticipation, and looking into her deep blue eyes, seeing the pain, the loss, the love behind all her masked emotions made Shepard hazy. She didn't know how to put into words what she felt for a woman she barely remembered.
So naturally, being the illiterate, but bold Commander Shepard, she simply grabbed Miranda and kissed her. It was rough, at first, sloppy in her haste, but as quickly as it happened, it softened to a passionate slow kiss. They melted into one another, fitting perfectly. Miranda hummed surprised content, but never resisted. Her hand came to rest over one of Shepards against her cheek, relishing the warm feel of her lover once again. Shepard only hoped that it was enough, the action speaking louder than any words she could have said. When they finally broke apart for air, they were breathless, eyes closed with their foreheads resting against each other.
"I don't remember, but I know what I feel." Shepard whispered, brushing her lips against Miranda's once more before pulling back to look at her. Her face was flushed, her pale cheeks a rosy red. Shepard smiled at the sight. "Good," Miranda said simply, still trying to catch her breath. "There's still time for the rest, but for now…" Miranda grabbed Shepard once more, pressing her body closer to her and recapturing her lips. But for now, I just need you close again.