Shepard sat in her hospital bed and vigorously rubbed the soft pink skin on her arms. Despite the medication, they itched badly. In fact, everywhere she had received new skin grafts itched horribly. She rubbed harder than she dared and her skin began to burn. She groaned in frustration and gave up trying. Her Salarian nurse entered moments later.
"Extend arm. Blood tests are required," she demanded sharply.
Shepard complied, extending her arm to the nurse. The nurse scowled at the angry red welts on Shepard's arm. She looked at Shepard, clearly annoyed.
"Got to leave that to heal. Infection could still set in. Burns were bad," she quipped.
Shepard sighed. She had been lectured about this before. According to the nurse and the medical staff, everything she did was wrong. She ate too much or too little, she slept wrong, and she scratched at her healing wounds. The list went on and on.
"I know," she grumbled. "I just need something to do, something to focus on. You won't even let me leave this room."
The Salarian nurse remained silent and began to take the blood sample.
Shepard ground her teeth, aggravated. "Haven't I been under observation long enough?"
The Salarian nurse narrowed her eyes at Shepard. "Cybernetics were damaged. Massive burns and other injuries. Must remain under constant monitoring. Doctor's orders."
"I feel like a prisoner more than a patient," Shepard said.
The Salarian nurse ignored Shepard and continued her duties. She left the room without another word to Shepard.
"Fine. I guess I could just burn down the hospital," Shepard mumbled bitterly.
"I wouldn't advise that," Admiral Hackett said from the doorway. Shepard looked up at the old Admiral, glad for the company. "I have enough red tape to step over without you pulling a stunt like that. Do you know how much trouble your angry Turian boyfriend has caused me since you've been in here?" He asked.
Shepard chuckled. "I've heard some stories. The nurse told me that he broke the restraints on three different medical beds until they moved him in here with me."
Hackett sat in a chair beside Shepard's bed. "Yes, he did. He caused quite a stir for a sick Turian. Before that, he injured two security guards when he infiltrated his way into your room. It took six officers to pin him down. They had to sedate him to get him under control…twice!" Hackett exclaimed. Shepard did her best to keep her amusement hidden.
Hackett continued. "Did you know that he changed the lock code on your door? Not even the doctors could get in to see you without his permission!"
Shepard grinned. "He was just protecting me."
Hackett grunted. "I suppose. Loyalty like that is hard to find." He relaxed into the chair, pulling off his hat.
"They've been running so many tests on me lately that I haven't gotten to spend much time with him," Shepard remarked.
"And don't think I haven't heard about it from him," Hackett groaned. "He's relentless. I keep assuring him that I'm trying to get you out of here."
"So, what's the verdict?" Shepard asked. "When am I getting out of here?"
Hackett sighed. "The doctor's are fighting me on that. They want to keep you for further testing."
Shepard growled in disgust. She pushed herself off the bed and began to pace across the room. "I have been locked up in this room for two weeks since I woke up. They won't even let me have a datapad to watch the news! The only outside contact I've had other than you and my crew was from my mother on a closely monitored circuit! I'm going crazy. I need to get out of here!" She continued to rant. "Why are they keeping me here? Other than a few aches and pains, I'm nearly healed. Why won't they let me out?"
"It's because you're nearly healed that they won't let you out, Shepard," Hackett said to her surprise.
She stopped, turning to him. "What? Why?"
Hackett leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees and linking his hands. "You survived a direct hit from Harbinger's Reaper beam. Your body was charred beyond recognition. Your skin was literally burned completely away in places. You had internal bleeding, broken ribs, a concussion, and massive internal injuries to your vital organs, yet here you stand." He motioned to her. "They want to know why."
Shepard shook her head. "The Lazarus Project."
Hackett nodded. "What do you know about the project?"
"Only that they spent a great deal of time and money to bring me back. They used cutting edge cybernetics, medical science, and the best minds in the galaxy to recreate me. Miranda might know more than me, but she was just in charge of the project." Shepard resumed her pacing. "The only one who could answer any questions about what was actually done to me is dead. I shot him."
Hackett smirked at her comment. "Whatever the Illusive Man did to bring you back, it changed your physiology. You're healing more rapidly than you should and the doctors here can't explain it."
Shepard stopped pacing and remembered her clone, sickened by the thought that entered her mind. "Admiral, do you think I'm me?"
"What do you mean?" Hackett asked, intrigued.
Shepard closed her eyes and forced the unwilling words from her mouth. "The Illusive Man created a clone. What if I'm just another clone with the original Shepard's memories?"
Hackett stood and walked over to Shepard, placing his hand on her shoulder. "I've known you a long time. You're a damn fine soldier, Shepard. I wouldn't have staked the survival of the universe on anyone except you. You may have some extra features, but I know you and no one could duplicate you, not even the Illusive Man."
Shepard felt a measure of relief. "Thank you, sir." She sighed. "So, I'm a science project to these doctors?"
Hackett crossed his arms over his chest. "Not if I can help it. I'm scheduled to have a meeting with the medical board and chief medical staff today about your release. You're a war hero. You shouldn't be made to feel like you're being kept as a prisoner. They can only hide behind the term 'Medical Observation' for so long."
"You'd be surprised," Shepard said ruefully.
Hackett picked up his hat and placed it on his head. "You'll be out of here before you know it, Shepard. I promise."
PART II:
"How goes the work on the Mass Effect Relays, Liara?" Shepard asked, picking at her food.
"Great!" Liara answered, her image slightly distorted by the holoscreen. "After extensive and successful testing with unmanned ships, we were able to send in six ships staffed with limited personnel. They arrived safely and intact. The Mass Relays seem to be holding up, but further testing is needed. Luckily, the damage wasn't as severe as we feared it was."
Shepard nodded, shoving her food away. "At least we didn't have to rebuild them from the ground up." She eyed Liara. "You're enjoying this."
Liara adverted her eyes and shrugged. "I feel useful here, Shepard. I feel like I'm making a difference."
"You always sell yourself short, Liara. You've got a lot to offer the universe," Shepard said truthfully.
Liara smiled. "Thank you, Shepard. That means a lot to me."
Shepard smiled at her friend. "How's the progress on the Citadel?"
Liara perked up again. "Oh, that's going really well! All things considered, the damages…" Liara's face disappeared and the transmission went dark.
"Liara?" Shepard asked. The holoscreen became bright and the Salarian nurse came into view.
"Visiting hours over. Rest is required now," she said in her short, succinct tone.
Shepard felt herself flush with anger. "Really?"
"No arguments!" The Salarian nurse shouted.
"Wha…" Shepard scoffed and watched the holoscreen disappear.
Oh, I am so going to get her, Shepard thought to herself as she laid back on the bed.
Shepard laid in the quiet of her room, her mind concocting interesting and satisfying ways to exact revenge on the Salarian nurse, when suddenly all the lights powered off. Shepard sat up, the darkness wrapping around her like a heavy blanket. An alarm began to sound and slowly, the emergency power kicked on. Shepard sprung from her bed and stumbled for a second. Her eyes struggled to adjust to the dark amber light from the auxiliary control.
"Alert, Alert," the calm VI voice said over the intercom system. "Lockdown mode initiated. Emergency systems activated. All personnel please report to the Security Office on Level 7. This is not a drill. Repeat, all personnel please report to the Security Office on Level 7. This is not a drill."
"Oh, Shit," Shepard muttered and went to the door. It was locked. She growled in frustration and kicked it.
"What the hell is going on?" She called out to the air.
Have we been hijacked? She asked herself. Was there a hull breach? A fire? An Assassin? Her mind raced with thousands of questions as she searched for another way out of the room.
A banging sound snapped her attention back to the door. She stood motionless for a moment and then grabbed the small metal stool that sat by her bed. She raised it up, preparing to defend herself if necessary.
The door gave way and opened a moment later. A large figure stepped through the door and grinned at her.
"Shepard," Grunt said in an amused tone. "I like your new weapon of choice."
Shepard dropped her stool and grinned widely. "Grunt!"
Grunt advanced quickly towards Shepard, picking her up in his arms. "Battlemaster!" He cried out, squeezing Shepard tightly.
Shepard winced. She was still sore from her ordeal and he was squeezing the air out of her. Despite this, she hugged him back.
"Grunt, what're you doing here?" Shepard asked when he finally set her down. "What's going on?"
Grunt laughed his wicked little laugh. "Jailbreak."
"What?" Shepard asked, astonished.
"I thought it was time for a little change of scenery," Garrus said as he stepped into the room.
Shepard's mouth dropped open. "You orchestrated this?"
Garrus nodded. "Liara tapped into the emergency system while EDI broadcasted a fake alert throughout the facility. She's been very convincing."
Shepard shook her head. It had been EDI's voice she had heard over the intercom. In her surprise, she had not recognized it.
"Was that really necessary?" Shepard asked, motioning to the marred door.
Garrus shrugged. "Grunt was impatient to see you. I thought I'd let him have a little fun."
Grunt chuckled and bounced from one foot to the other, confirming Garrus' remark.
Garrus reached out and took Shepard's hand, pulling her close to him. "Now, can you walk or do I get the pleasure of carrying you out of here?"
Shepard smiled up at Garrus. "Not to seem ungrateful, but you know Hackett's going to court martial you for this."
Garrus smiled, leaning in close to Shepard, his mandible brushing her cheek. "Who do you think authorized this?"
Shepard pulled back, shocked. "Hackett's in on it?"
Garrus chuckled. "He got the chief Medical Staff and the Medical Board confined to one room for a meeting so we could lockdown this entire place to steal you away."
Shepard laughed, kissing Garrus. "I'm impressed. You sure know how to show a girl a good time, Vakarian."
Garrus swept his arm under Shepard's legs, pulling her up and cradling her to his chest. She wrapped her arms around his neck. "Oh, just wait. There are more surprises and the best is yet to come."
"If you two are done making gooey eyes at each other, I suggest we get out of here!" Grunt interrupted.
"Right behind you," Garrus complied, holding Shepard close.
They ran through the hallways of the Nimbus to the docking bay. Grunt expressed his extreme disappointment that EDI had bypassed the locks on the doors blocking their paths.
"I thought this was going to be a challenge," Grunt griped as they turned the corner. As they rounded another corridor, they came face to face with Shepard's Salarian nurse.
She stared at them, wide eyed and shocked. She glared at Shepard and pointed to her in Garrus' arms. "That's my patient!" She protested.
Grunt grinned widely and advanced towards the Salarian nurse. She shot a worried gaze back between Shepard and the approaching Krogan. Grunt pressed his face against the Salarian nurse's, growling menacingly.
"That's my Battlemaster!" He yelled. The Salarian nurse quaked visibly, frozen in fear. Grunt huffed and placed a hand on her shoulder, shoving her out of the way. The Salarian nurse fell to the floor and stared at Grunt in disbelief. Grunt gestured to the clear path he had just made for Garrus and Shepard.
Garrus stepped beside the nurse, staring down at her. "Thank you for your cooperation," he said sarcastically.
"Fine, good riddance!" The Salarian nurse shouted after them. "More trouble than you're worth!"
Grunt stopped walking and turned around. The taunt had been a challenge to him. He glared at the Salarian nurse and lowered his head, letting loose a battle cry that made Shepard's insides turn to pulp. The Salarian nurse screamed in terror, scrambling to her feet. She ran down the corridor, throwing a glance backwards at Grunt and slammed into a metal door. She staggered for a moment and then crumpled into a heap on the floor, out cold.
Grunt laughed raucously at the sight. Shepard even heard Garrus snicker.
"Grunt!" Shepard began. Grunt stopped laughing and dropped his head, preparing to be scolded. "Thank you for that," Shepard said, no longer able to suppress her own laughter.
Grunt raised his head, flashing her a wicked smile. "My pleasure."
They continued to the shuttle bay uninterrupted. Vega greeted them. "Hey, Lola, looking good."
Garrus set Shepard down and she went to Vega, embracing him. He stool rigid at first, but then hugged her back. "I've missed you, Commander," he whispered, dropping his macho act.
Shepard smiled. "I've missed you, too, James." She looked over his shoulder. "Where's Cortez?"
Vega smiled. "He lost the toss up." He stepped aside, ushering her into the shuttle. "Your chariot, Commander."
Shepard smiled and stepped inside, aware that Vega was inspecting her intently. Garrus came up beside him. "Don't get any ideas about my girl, Vega."
Vega snickered. "Oh, I have ideas, Scars. And trust me, she's thinking the same thing."
Garrus towered over Vega. "Big talk for such a short man."
"Yeah, well at least I am a man and not some overgrown prehistoric bird lizard," Vega contested.
Shepard shook her head. "Hey, come on, guys. I want to get back to the Normandy."
"Shepard's right," Grunt interjected, pushing between Garrus and Vega. "Besides, we all know she loves me the most."
Garrus and Vega turned to Grunt and then back to each other and laughed. Grunt growled at both of them and boarded the shuttle. Garrus and Vega followed, still chuckling.
"Let's get you back to where you belong," Vega said, closing the shuttle door.
"I couldn't agree more," Shepard said.
Garrus sat down beside Shepard, gazing down at her lovingly. "EDI, lift the lockdown. Our Commander's coming home."