I am back and I have another chapter of One Night Changed It All for y'all. Mostly due to the fact I no longer have school to worry about for the time being. Anyways, this Chapter mostly covers to first part to Mass Effect 2. Enjoy!
Edit: I noticed I never really gave a solid description of my version of Shepard. She simply had long, dark brown hair and bright, almost electric, blue eyes. Her height is somewhat tall at about 5'8. Just thought I'd throw that out there if some of you like to imagine her appearance as you read.
One Night Changed It All
Chapter 4: Comeback
"Commander!" Morrigan stirred at the sound of her title, slowly rousing her from what she thought was a restless sleep. "Commander Shepard!" There the voice was again, this time she recognized as a female.
"Where….am I?" Morrigan croaked out, as if she slept with her mouth open and her throat was completely dried up. She tried to raise herself from what she thought was her bed only to feel inexplicable pain. "Ugh, why am I so sore?" Then it hit her. The memories of that day. The day she was spaced. The day she suffocated in her own suit, watching the Normandy's destruction, but also seeing her escaping crew members.
"You're not finished being healed. There's still some scarring left, but I need you up and moving now!" The female voice rang out again over the rooms intercoms. Morrigan slowly opened her eyes, careful to let them adjust to somewhat bright room. She looked down and much to her discomfort she was wearing would could barely pass as a gown of sorts. Suddenly she felt self-conscious at the idea of being so vulnerable to who knows how many people for who knows how long. "Commander, you're weapons and armor are in a locker at the other side of the room. Grab them and meet me a-" static cut the woman off, but Morrigan needed no more words as she heard gunfire and the soft rumble of explosions.
Morrigan slowly rolled herself off what she recognized as an operating table, carefully putting weight on her feet; stumbling at first when she tried to take her first steps. "How long was I out…?" She asked…though she wasn't sure if the woman on the intercoms would hear her.
"Long enough, now get moving. We do-…. –ch time."
Finally steadying herself, Morrigan walked over to what she assumed was the locker the woman told her about, opening it and she almost smiled at the familiarity of her N7 armor. Though she recognized it looks different than what she remembered. It look almost…new. As if a new model came out. She shook her head before tearing off her operating gown before putting on the body suit followed by clasping her armor into place. 'it even has less pieces?' she thought to herself in wonder. 'Who are these people? How did they even bring me back?' She wondered, clipping the last piece of her armor into place before she grabbed the pistol in the locker. She quickly noticed it was different from her pistol she used before she died. This pistol used thermal clips. They were new and relatively unproven, but were quickly becoming the "go-to" for weapons; last she remembered anyways. Her old pistol used the old fashioned heat sink, that would overheat after squeezing 10 or so rounds off in quick succession. She was going to miss having essentially unlimited ammo if thermal clips were the more common way to make weapons nowadays. However, she quickly noticed a problem.
"There's no thermal clips." She commented dryly, walking towards the exit of the room, the sounds of gunfire becoming increasingly louder.
"There should be some up ahead. A few men didn't make it. Take theirs, they won't be needing them anymore." The voice sounded in her ear this time. However, it almost sounded callous, as if the loss of these people meant nothing to her. That bothered Morrigan. Even with her worst of companions or allies from the past, she at least cared about their wellbeing enough. This woman didn't seem the type.
"How do you know all this? Who are you?" Morrigan asked cautiously, loading a thermal clip into her pistol.
"I'm Miranda Lawson. I'm a-Shit! Get down!" Morrigan quickly took the advice and ducked under a large crate. She quickly learned why, there were a handful of mechs walking by.
'Also newer models.' Morrigan noted to herself, quickly realizing she would be hard pressed to take them down by herself given her still adjusting to living again.
"Wait for my signal, then go down the hall to your right." The voice, Miranda, ordered again, and Morrigan decided she would just listen for the time being. It seemed she had eyes and ears all over the facility. "Go now!"
Morrigan got up out of cover and darted down the hall, testing out her body, quickly noticing how much faster she was running and how less tiring it was. "What did you do to me?" Morrigan asked, annoyed at the idea of being tampered with, despite her gratefulness at being revived.
"I promise, I'll tell you ev-….thing once I-" Static cut Miranda off again, though Morrigan failed to listen towards to end due to increasing gunfire and the sounds of a man grunting somewhat. She carefully paced down the hall, half wishing she had access to her cloak so she could freely poke her head out without fear of being shot at.
Rounding the corner she was a dark skinned man with shaven hair in a rather tight black and white body suit of sorts. She didn't know how to really describe it. He was pinned behind cover being shot at by the mech she saw earlier; though if they were the exact same, she didn't know. "Shepard, over here." The man called, ushering her over.
Morrigan ducked low undercover to prevent being shot at. "Who are you?" Morrigan hissed.
"My name is Jacob Taylor. I guess if Miranda has you up and running around, it must be bad." Jacob sounded, flinching with a round whizzed above his head. "Sorry to cut the interrogation short for you, but let's continue after this, when we're not being shot at."
Morrigan nodded, seeing logic in his request. "Right, what's the situation?"
"Hell if I know. One moment it's peaceful, next moments these mech are running around shoot anything that moves. Shouldn't be too much trouble taking these out, especially with my Biotics." Jacob answered, shooting out of cover and firing a few rounds off his pistol, taking down one of the mechs with a well-placed shot to the head.
Following his lead, Morrigan lifted her head out of cover and took aim, shooting at the handful of mechs at the other end of the room. She hit most of her shots, but none of them were definite kills, so to speak. Jacob however unleashed his Biotics, lifting two mechs into the air, letting them float there, making them easy targets for him and Morrigan to take out. With only two left, Morrigan aimed for the head of one while Jacob brought down the other one. She sighed in relief at the end of the firefight. 'I miss having my sniper rifle.' She lamented. She particularly liked her Reaper, but any sniper would work for her. She didn't mind pistols however. They would work for now.
"Phew, thanks. I guess being dead for two years hasn't made you any less deadly huh?" Jacob joked, catching too late at the shocked expression that showed on Morrigan's face. "Commander?"
"Two…Two years? I've been gone for that long!?" Morrigan asked, her voice raising towards the end. 'Two years…oh god. What have they gone through? James? Mom? Anderson? Joker?' She thought in a panic, bringing her hand to her head as she quickly felt a throbbing headache coming on; her breaths becoming increasingly erratic.
"Commander! Take it easy. Deep breaths!" Jacob tried to comfort to hyperventilating woman, as she collapse onto the ground in a heap. "Shit…she's totally lost it." He commented to himself, unsure of what to do with the emotionally broken women before him. That is, before he swore he heard a faint woman's voice in her earpiece. He recognized that voice. Quickly acesseing his Omni-Tool, he traced the signal back to it's source, patching himself through. "Miranda!"
"Jacob! Where's Shepard?" Miranda asked, her voice clearly showing desperation.
"She's here…and she's not here." Jacob answered plainly, not overly wanting to explain his situation.
"What's happened?"
"She uh…broke. I told her she'd been out for two years and she collapsed in a panic."
"Shit…hold on. I'm on my way. Also, be warned. It was Wilson who sabotaged us. Be careful." Miranda's end went silent, indicating she was beginning her trek to his location.
"Hold on Wils-" That's when Miranda ended the connection, "Ah dammit." He cursed to himself, bringing his eyes back to Morrigan who was still in a heap on the ground; her hands still clutching her head as she sobbed slightly. The full effects of being brought back from death after two years of said dead catching up to her. In reality he shouldn't be surprised. He'd hardly imagine anyone could handle such news, let alone experience. He had no one to compare it to, but he could hardly fault Shepard for cracking.
All he could do now was watch over the vulnerable woman as he waited for Miranda and kept on the lookout for Wilson, despite his belief that he wouldn't betray them. As if on que he heard the man's voice. "Jacob!"
Jacob turned to the sound of Wilson's voice, followed by said man walking into the room, with a noticeable gunshot to his leg. "Wilson, what are you doing here?"
"Trying to shut down the mechs."
"You seemed to have sent more to us than shut down." Jacob retorted bitterly. He hardly thought so many mechs being in one place at the same time almost waiting ofr him was a bit convienient, though he would give the balding man the benefit of doubt.
"What? I was trying-" A gunshot rang out followed by a spray of warm blood erputing from Wilson's head as he fell limply to the floor; Miranda revealed to be behind him.
She wore what Jacob could consider a cat suit that held the same colorscheme to his own uniform, though hers left little to the imagination; especially with how much of a few one gets from her sizable breast. "Come on, I don't think this station can last much longer." She ordered as she stepped towards Jacob and helped pull Shepard up, taking note of Shepard's almost catatonic state as the trio made their way to the shuttle Miranda had procured.
It was a silent few minutes for Morrigan, Jacob, and Miranda in the shuttle; the pilot being completely separated from them as Miranda wanted the privacy should Morrigan come to speaking terms. To her relief, it didn't take too much longer for Morrigan to break the silence.
"Two years….why?"
"You…ah, don't want to know the details. All you need to know is that it took extensive cybernetics and a lot of tissue, organ, and limb regrowth to make you whole again." Miranda answered, to the point.
"Why me?"
"The Illusive Man believes you are the key to saving Humanity. He, like you, believe the Reapers are coming and you are our only shot at defeating them." Jacob answered this time.
Morrigan brought her weary amber eyes up to look at Jacob and Miranda. So many thoughts were swimming through her head, but she desired nothing more than to hightail it back to the Alliance and preferably fall into the arms of James or Anderson. Hell she would even kill to see her own mother at this point. Everything was so out of control.
"The Illusive Man? Who's that? Or rather, who are all of you?"
Jacob and Miranda eyed each other, giving knowing glances that Morrigan would find out sooner or later. Better it be sooner. Jacob spoke up, "What do you know of…Cerberus?"
"Former Alliance Black-Op. Terrorists." Morrigan answered before realization struck her as she recognized the symbol on both Jacob and Miranda's uniforms. Her anger flared at this new piece of information. She had heard about the Akuze incident and during her travels after Saren she had ran into Cerberus a few times, even running into a survivor of the incident, Toombs, he was called, who was being held by the same scientist who were at Akuze. Apparently Cerberus was behind the whole incident, deliberately planting men right over a Thresher Maw nest. It was at that point she found herself vehemently hating Cerberus despite their pro-humanity ideals.
Miranda saw the raging emotions in Morrigan's eyes, seeing the look of realization at who they were. "Some have called us that, but what we stand for is genuine. We only wish to preserve and advance Humanity. For now, we need your help."
"For what?" Morrigan sneered, almost thinking it would be better worth it to space herself rather than be associated with Cerberus.
"Ever since your death. A number of Human colonies have gone missing. The interesting part is that it's only human colonies. No aliens. The Illusive Man wants to figure out who is targeting us and wants them stopped."
"And he believes the Reapers are behind it?" Morrigan spat. She was given a nod from Jacob, "Why hasn't the Alliance done anything?"
"The Alliance has covered up everything about Sovereign and Saren. Hell even the Council have convinced themselves that the Reapers don't exist. Besides, the Alliance is stretched thin as it is." Miranda answered.
Morrigan narrowed her eyes at this piece of information. 'What has the Alliance so stretched? Last I checked there were very few Geth forces left in Alliance space and I was in the Terminus hunting them.' She thought to herself. "Fine, take me to this Illusive Man, I want to know what he knows."
"Hold on, before we do that, I would like to ask you a few questions, to make sure you're one-hundred percent, and your memories are as they-"
"Woah woah Miranda. More test? We've just seen what she went through. I can vouch for her combative abilities, but mentally she's not A-Okay." Jacob interjected.
Miranda's eyes showed annoyance at being interrupted though she couldn't fault what Jacob was saying, given Morrigan's near mental breakdown. She turned a somewhat saddened gaze to Morrigan who was staring emptily towards the floor of the shuttle. 'Over four billion credits and it had a mental breakdown within 30 minutes of waking up.'
"I'll…be fine. Ask away." Morrigan mumbled though she didn't bring her eyes up from the ground.
"Okay…records show you grew up in space, moving from starship to starship. Father died young. You enlisted once you came of age. Elysium happened….You remember that?" Jacob asked.
Morrigan shivered at the thought of Elysium. Not something she wanted to remember yet. "Yes…I remember. It was not a good time. Funny, I was on shore leave when it happened. I had to gather a resistance to hold them off…"
Jacob waited a minute, as if expected the Commander to continue, but she didn't. He turned to Miranda. "There, that satisfy you Miranda?"
"Almost, let's try something more recent. Virmire."
Morrigan's gaze became angry as she brought her amber eyes up to look at Miranda. "Don't…" Causing Jacob and Miranda to feel a chill run down their spines at the look she gave them.
"Let's…go back to the Citadel, after the Alliance saved the Destiny Ascension and you killed Saren. What happened next?"
Morrigan's glare softened slightly, though it still held most of it's intensity. "I chose Anderson to be on the Council, I hunted Geth. I died."
It was now evidently clear to Miranda that Morrigan's emotional state was heavily damaged, likely due to her death experience. She was given a psychological profile over Shepard prior to her death. She had expected a somewhat distant woman who didn't talk much but wasn't unkind to those who spoke to her. One who also knew how to have fun when the time called for it. Not some fragile woman who one moment was saddened, and the next, the mere mention of the word 'Virmire' set her off.
The rest of the flight was silent as Morrigan returned her gaze to the floor, not noticing the ominous orange glow showing from the scars on her face. She was quickly debating on dismissing her meeting with The Illusive Man and returning to the Alliance. She just wanted to forget everything and move on with her life as if she didn't die. Oh how she wished that was the case. It hardly ever was. Actually…in her case. It never was…or will it likely ever will be.
It was nice to see Tali again. It helped alleviate the confusion she so strongly felt. Though her next meeting with The Illusive Man didn't help at all. Granted, he did brighten her mood by bringing Joker back to her along with the brand new Normandy SR-2.
However, it was only a moment's alleviation as she had two important things to do: Stop the Collectors and find James.
"Commander! It's good to see you again!" Karin exclaimed as she saw Morrigan walk in front of her med-bay.
"Chakwas?" Morrigan reeled her head at the sound of the SR-1's doctor. "You're here as well?"
"Where else would I be if not serving with you?" Chakwas retorted with a smile, enveloping Morrigan with a tender hug.
"I could hardly imagine."
"Well, the Alliance were hardly doing anything and when The Illusive Man told me of his plans for you and asked if I would serve on the new Normandy, I just couldn't see myself refusing."
Morrigan smiled at that. At least that would make two people she knew and trusted onboard the Normandy. "Well, we're heading to the Citadel before we'll be putting your skills to good use."
Chakwas nodded as she backed off to the Normandy. "Oh, Commander, if you would be so willing, could you pick me up a bottle of Serrice Ice Brandy? It's expensive so you don't have to…"
"I'll keep an eye out for it." Morrigan nodded with a smile before she turned to head to the elevator.
Within moments of walking into the embassy of the Citadel, namely the office of one Councilor David Anderson, Morrigan found herself throwing her arms around the seasoned Alliance ex-captain. "Anderson, it's damn good to see you again."
Anderson shakily brought his arms around the woman who was basically a daughter to him, "Morrigan, I heard the rumors, but I never thought they'd be true. Still, I'm glad they're right."
"I'm surprised as well, I didn't think it was possible for Cerberus to do what they did," Morrigan commented as she broke off her embrace, "Though they spent billions of credits bringing me back."
There was a shift in Anderson's gaze, almost one of distrust. "So that part of the rumor was true as well? That you're with Cerberus?"
Morrigan's gaze narrowed, her scars flaring a slight orange in response to her growing negative thoughts. "I am not with them! I didn't have a choice in the matter of being brought back to life and I was given solid proof that the Alliance is doing nothing for these disappearances of Human colonies!"
"I'm sorry, Shepard, the Allian-"
"-is stretched thin. Yeah, I know that too. Listen, if don't want to believe me, fine. But I'm using the resources they gave me to take down the Collectors." Morrigan started to rant, forgetting one of the reasons she stopped to see Anderson on the Citadel.
"Calm down Shepard, I believe you. Hackett believes you. Hell, the Council is even willing to reinstate your Spectre status."
Morrigan's anger subsided somewhat. "Then…"
Anderson waved her off as he turned to his com buoy, "I believe you are wanting to know of Lieutenant Vega's whereabouts."
"Yes." Morrigan answered immediately, her anger disappearing completely.
Anderson began to work on contacting James, keeping his back turned to Morrigan as he spoke, "As with many of your crew, after the Normandy's destruction and your…death, I had to drag James out of his drunken stupor and put him, in his case, in N-school. Hell of a soldier he's become, already an N6."
Morrigan felt a smile spread across face at hearing of James' progress as a soldier. "Where is he?"
It was at that moment that Anderson finished bringing up communications. To both his and Morrigan's surprise, an Alliance soldier didn't show up on the image; instead a young girl who looked younger that ten showed up. "Hi!"
Morrigan was stunned, as was Anderson. They expected someone else to answer. Thankfully someone's voice sounded. "Hey April, what have I said about answering these calls when I'm not around?" A familiar voice scolded, though it was mostly playful. It took a moment for big hands land on the little girl's side as they lifted the giggling girl up, before the man walked into view. It was James Vega, though Morrigan swore he was even more muscular with a few scars tracing along his face. "Oh, Councilor Anderson. I'd salute, but…" He gestured to the little girl he bounced in his arms, earning laughs from the girl."
Anderson smiled at the scene in front of him and while Morrigan found the scene adorable, she inwardly frowned at the idea of James having his own kid once she was gone, not registering the age of the child would be wrong. "It's ok Lieutenant, though I'd advise against letting her answer communications from now on."
James gave a nod, as he set the little girl down, "You go back to your mom and dad now. I'll be by when I'm off duty." He turned his attention to his own holo-image, still only seeing Anderson. "Is there some anything you needed sir?"
"Actually, there is a certain someone who has decided to show herself after so long." Anderson vaguely answered, earning a raised eyebrow from the muscular Lieutenant. "Come on over, Commander."
It was a breathtaking moment for James when besides Anderson's image, Morrigan Shepard stepped into view besides him. "L-Lola?!"
Morrigan smiled weakly, trying to fight back a torrent of emotions, "Hey James."
"How is this…?"
"Possible?" Morrigan turned her gaze down a moment as she tried to figure a way to explain herself. "Cerberus rebuilt me…and brought me back." James was unusually quiet for her, though she wasn't sure if it was due to the moment or he had changed since she had last seen him. He had an unusually serious expression written on his face, but showed no anger in his eyes.
"So…you back for good?" Came his question, his face written with a slight smile.
"I have no intentions of leaving, though I do have a mission I must do." Morrigan replied, overjoyed that James had taken the news as well as he had.
"A mission for Cerberus?" James asked carefully, trying to not tone his voice to make the question sound like an accusation.
Morrigan gave a nod, "Yes, but in a sense it could also be counted a mission for the Alliance. The Collectors are working with the Reapers and Cerberus…The Illusive Man has given me the resources to stop them. I don't agree with Cerberus, but we are putting aside our differences to stop them from abducting anymore Human colonies."
"Abducting Human Colonies? What for?"
Anderson spoke up, "We're not sure, but if they're particularly targeting Human colonies, it can't be anything good. Keep an eye out Lieutenant, Shepard has told me they knock out communications before they begin their invasion."
Morrigan whipped her head to face Anderson at the sound of his advice to James, "What? Where is he stationed?"
"I'm on Fehl Prime, guard duty for the colony here." James answered solemnly, now knowing he was a potential target for the Collectors. "Not so bad, the challenge is no action."
Morrigan frowned at the last part, though she could sympathize to some degree. They were soldiers, they didn't take well to standing around. "Be safe, James."
James gave a nod, "I will Lola." He then turned to Anderson, "If it's ok to you sir, I'm going to return to my duties and prepare the squad for a possible Collector attack."
Anderson gave a nod, before ending communications with James. A moment of silence passed between him and Shepard, not a whole lot could be spoken between the two; at least nothing that Anderson could say without getting himself and Shepard in trouble given her allegiances. "I should go, Anderson."
"I understand, Commander. I'm not able to do a whole lot for you right now, given my status, but I'll be here if you should ever feel like talking." He turned to Morrigan's companions who were waiting by the door, noticing the dark skinned man who was waiting, instantly recognizing him. "Corporal Taylor." He stated with authority, noticing the surprise of the man before he continued, "Yes, I know who you are. I understand your trust of the Alliance is minimal, but I ask that you keep her safe."
Jacob gave a salute, mostly in part that Anderson was amongst the few of the Alliance he still held the upmost respect for. "Aye aye, sir. I'll do my best."
"See that you do, we need her now more than ever."
With goodbyes given, Morrigan gestured for her team to follow her back to the Normandy, silently praying that James came out of it alive if the Collectors should attack Fehl Prime.
"We'll meet you on the Normandy, Commander. Though I recommend haste, we need to get to Omega as soon as possible to recruit Mordin." Miranda suggested, seeing the far-off look in Morrigan's eyes.
"Have you had any food or rest since waking up, Shepard?" Jacob asked, concern lacing his voice. He was already going to do his best to keep Shepard safe, but after Anderson personally requested it, he was going to double his efforts. Morrigan shook her head. Truth be told, it was all now just catching with her. No one else could say they were clinically dead for two years just to be brought back. Beyond that, she didn't recall eating the day she died; she hadn't eaten in over two years.
"I'm going to go grab something to eat real quickly then." Morrigan stated, earning a nod of approval from Jacob before he turned and gestured for Miranda to follow him back to the Normandy. If Morrigan were more honest with her new companions, she would actually have said she just wanted to be alone for the time being. She was hungry, sure, but she could eat something while she mulled over recent events.
Within moments she found herself over the presidium, noticing that there was a fair amount of construction going on. Evidently the Citadel had yet to be full repaired from Sovereign's attack. She hoped there was something good to eat at nowadays. It had been two years and she knew how fast business could go in out.
"Commander Shepard! Halt!" A voice of prominent authority called out, instantly halting Morrigan in her steps. She turned to see three Alliance soldiers walking toward her, one, based off their state of dress was a Rear-Admiral. It was a woman. The other two she couldn't tell but one was an N6 by the small emblem on his armor. As the trio walked closer, Morrigan was easier able to see who the woman was. She had similar brown hair to her own though it showed signs of graying. She also had her same bright blue eyes.
It dawned on Morrigan who it was, "Mom?"
The woman in question gave a warm smile at seeing her long-dead daughter alive after two years. She turned to the two men at her side, "You two are dismissed, I would like to talk to my daughter alone."
"Yes, Admiral Shepard." The N6 soldier saluted along with his companion before they walked off and out of sight.
Hannah turned back to her daughter, a long of nostalgia written on her face. "God, you don't look a day older." She commented as he brought Morrigan in for a warm embrace. At first, it felt awkward as she and Hannah hadn't been on good terms for years, and the last time she was affectionate with her mother was during her early teen years.
"Well, I was technically dead and my body was preserved, so I didn't age." Morrigan returned the embrace, deciding to enjoy the embrace. It was awkward sure, but it was nice to be this close to her mother, even if it was only temporary.
"Yeah, I heard about it. Anderson let me know. He always lets me know about you."
"Well, he was like a father to me growing up and you two were always good friends." Morrigan replied a smile gracing her face. Finally a conversation that didn't immediately turn to an argument.
"So, this is temporary, right?" Hannah asked sternly as she pulled back from Morrigan and stared right into her eyes.
"The arrangement with Cerberus?" Morrigan asked. Hannah nodded in response. "Yes. They brought me back asking my help in stopping the Collectors. It's a good cause; at least this one is. The Alliance isn't doing anything to help. Once I'm done, The Illusive Man and I are parting ways."
"Good. Some of the Brass want to lock you away just on the idea of you being with Cerberus. Hackett has fended them off, saying that your being with them is a undercover mission as a Spectre, but even then, there are some who want to lock you up." Hannah warned. Hell, the moment Morrigan had died, some had slandered her name, even trying to turn her into a pariah, saying that Sovereign's attack was her fault. Thankfully the only real damage was that Morrigan's claim of Reapers was dismissed and nothing more.
"Well, if they feel the need to lock me up. They'll have to wait until I finish dealing with the Collectors…if I survive." Morrigan stated grimly.
"Morrigan, have you had an examination yet?" Hannah asked in worry as she brought her hand up Morrigan's cheek only to have it swiped away.
"Mom, I died and came back to life! I lost two years! Everything is so different now. It's quite clear I'm in no state, mentally, to take let alone lead missions but I have to. No one else will." Morrigan retorted defiantly, glaring heatedly at her mother.
"I know, but if you keep going on, honey, you could break."
Morrigan scoffed slightly. "A small price to pay then. I'm sorry mom, but I must go. I can't afford to let anymore colonist to get abducted." She then dismissed Hannah as she turned to walk back to the Normandy; deciding to forgo eating a bit longer, if not the rest of the night.
Hannah Shepard watched on in worry as she watch her only daughter walk off. They had always argued since Morrigan had expressed her desire to serve in ground deployments, but despite that, Morrigan had never been so dismissive of her. She wasn't sure if it was the trauma of dying and coming back to life or something Cerberus did to her. Either case worried her greatly. She lost her daughter once and didn't want to go through that again. Unfortunately there wasn't anything she could do. Morrigan was her own woman, she could take care of herself. She should at least trust in her ability to come back alive. For now, all she could do was wait and continue serving as Rear-Admiral until Morrigan came back.
So as you can see, Morrigan is mentally unhinged somewhat at coming back to life, hence the change of her personality. This will likely continue until she is in lockup between ME2 and ME3. The deteroriating mental state (though not excessive to madness, but swings in personality, brief hysteria, minor more temporary things) and the start of bad dreams/no sleep will start to show. I like to see it as while Death in itself is just "nothing" as if a dreamless sleep, but the idea of coming back to life, two years having gone by, along with everyone you ever known moving on, thereby causing severe mental stress was appealing to me. The next Chapter will either skip around Mass Effect 2 and finish it up or I will skip to the 'blank' period between Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3 (where Shepard is locked up). I've yet to decide. Anyways, if you liked the story so far, feel free to follow or leave a review. If you have questions or suggestions, feel free to leave that in the review as well or shoot at me in a PM. I'll be sure to answer it. I'll see you all later!