After the six most gruelling months of their lives thus far the remaining twenty-four recruits who made the cut were progressing into advanced training and after splitting into four groups of six would increase their skills in squad tactics, marksmanship, heavy weapons training, martial arts and leadership. This would serve to see if after their training they were fit to serve on any Alliance vessel and integrate well onto any team.
Jasper Shepard strode towards the Sergeants quarters, hastily making his way through the crowds of vehicles, and recruits who were flooding in on a daily basis. Shepard wondered if it had anything to do with the aptitude tests they had been taking over the last three days to get a grasp of the young soldier's skills after basic, either way the message had been at the double so Shepard double timed it. Striding into the administration offices the cool breeze hit his face, cooling the thin layer of sweat which had sprung up on the beat over here, taking a moment to refresh him reflection in a passing metal bollard a set of piercing green eyes stared back.
One and a half years ago
Something that Jasper never though he would see again, light that had features and edges blurred into sight as he looked upon the first things he had seen since his original eyes were lost. The rejection rate had been so high Anderson had tried to talk him out of it, but Jasper went ahead with it anyway, his only chance to be a soldier. The bionic eye reconstruction had removed his old, ruined eyes and replaced them with cutting edge cybernetic orbs, the same size and colour of his original set, albeit slightly brighter, connected to the optic nerve and the information routed through several high-tech microprocessors. Everything he noted looked slightly angular and the images were far more refined, though this may have just been how things are supposed to look without glasses as it was his first time in living memory being able to see properly without them.
"I see you're awake son" Anderson noted from a chair in the corner
Jasper turned his eyes to the man for the first time seeing who the voice belonged. A heavy set face with wrinkles just setting in around the eyes, a strong jaw and a curiously alert set of eyes that looked slightly too small for his head.
"I hope you're not staring because I'm black" Anderson joked.
"No, no" Jasper started, "it's just strange to finally put a face to the voice."
"I don't think you need the aftershave to keep the ladies away Sir."
"Ha Ha Ha I'd say go into comedy but it seems you already are" Anderson stated looking flat out unamused, before a small smile cracked.
They both laughed for a long time, a start to good memories.
Shepard straightened his hair, a slight cough to clear the throat before knocking on the Sergeant door and after hearing a bark to enter, did just that.
"You wanted to see me Sergeant?"
"Yes, Shepard take a seat."
Shepard took a seat opposite the Sergeant desk taking note of the family photo and mountains of paperwork, smiling internally, he enjoyed this place, it never changed.
"Now we have the aptitude test results back and I wanted to personally congratulate you."
"Sergeant?"
"You ranked first out of every recruit on the base, not just the platoon you were assigned and in point of fact all of your merry little band scored very highly."
"My band Sergeant?" asked Shepard still in a slight shock over the results.
"Yes your little group, O'Laughlin, Dornez, Santos and Briggs, all scored very high results but you Shepard, it was damn extraordinary." Snyder said leaning back into his chair, "not only did you blow away every recruit hear you also set a new benchmark records."
Shepard not quite sure what to say out loud as the Sergeant rattled off all the records he had broken, but his mind was abuzz, filled with pride, hoping his performance would earn him Anderson's respect.
"You're definitely a solider but your skills in marksman ship and leadership are off the charts, not to mention for a regular rank and file, your unarmed combat is unmatched, so even though you wish to serve in this capacity I am personally recommending you for officer candidacy after your term aboard a ship and I tell you that does not come from me lightly."
"Thank you Sergeant" Jasper responded, straightening in his chair.
"Shepard I don't think you understand just how good you are" Snyder said leaning further back, "you're so damn humble about everything you've accomplished I'm not too sure if you're taking this seriously."
"You have made loyal friends who already look to you for orders, despite you being as raw as them and let's be honest here."
The greying Sergeant leaned forwards and looked Shepard dead in the eyes "I know you've seen war, your face bleeds it out of every pore."
"I don't know what you…"
"Cut the crap Shepard, I know your past, do you think I'm an idiot?"
"No Sergeant" Shepard replied unable to make eye contact anymore.
"I'm giving you command of your own squad for the next stage of training, O'Laughlin, Dornez, Santos, Briggs and Rogers."
"Rogers, Sergeant?" Shepard asked now looking back with a raised brow.
"Yes Shepard, Rogers, the man's as capable as any of you and yet always side lined by you five."
"Permission to speak freely?"
"Granted."
"The man's a dick Sergeant" Shepard expressed flatly.
"I don't deny the man's got the charisma of a rocking chair but he's a good soldier and I'm giving him to you for your squad."
Realising the conversation ended as swiftly as it began, Shepard stood from his chair and gave a very stiff salute asking "Permission to be dismissed Sergeant?"
"Granted."
Turning abruptly to open the door the Sergeant spoke out in a much more somber tone "You need to learn some things yourself, you were born to lead men into battle, but if you realise that too late their deaths with crush you."
"Every leader sends good men to die for the cause, that's being a soldier and you know you can get yourself killed but can you live knowing you'll make others die for you?"
"No man is left behind" was Shepard closing remark as the door swung shut.
Snyder leant forwards onto his hands, sighing and running them through his hair before saying "Seriously Anderson I don't know who's more bloody stubborn."
"Probably me" said a dark skinned man stepping out of a side room.
"You think he'll make it?"
"I think he'll wipe the floor with every one of us some day, but getting past that white knight on his shoulder, that's a different story," Snyder said leaning back again.
"We'll see" Anderson replied staring off into empty space.
"Yo Shep!" shouted O'Laughlin as he ran across the compound, "why'a the Boot lookin to talk to ye?"
"He wanted to congratulate me on my scores" smiled Shepard at Irish's nickname for Sergeant Snyder.
"Aye so whatcha getting?"
"Highest score across the whole compound, every recruit" then after a pause finishing with "even set some new records apparently."
"Well sheesh getta load of mister high n mighty haer" Irish mocked "shoulda we get ye a horse n carriage to go wit at?"
"Well considering you're on my squad that's entirely new possibility."
"Ye shittin me, you got squad leader!" yelping as he nearly walked into a pole.
"Hell yeah, you, Dornez, Santos, Briggs and Rogers." Shepard explained, sidestepping and saluting some officers.
"Well the lads an lassie will be right pleased, bot that sack o shite Rogers will be a payn."
"No shit Irish, I'm pretty sure Abby's going to murder him after the last time he stared her up."
Making their way to the bunks where the rest of the group were waiting for them to get back the conversation drifted to more casual things about the squad build-up, who would take point and flank positions, loadouts and other obstacles that will impede them in the advanced training waiting for them in three days' time. Shepard's wish to announce this quietly to his team alone went out the windows as Irish rushed in and shouted at the top of his lungs "Make way for ye new squad leader ladies and gents."
Hoots of congratulations came from around the building, fully half leaving their work to come and shake his hand, warm smiles and honest praise, the rest of the people just shouting, all except one.
"Well ain't this sweet, the bitch team got a boss bitch" Rogers's snarked from his bunk not even bothering to get up.
"Oh please Shep you gotta lemme tell him after that one" O'Laughlin chortled.
"That's an affirmative from me."
Nothing could stop Irish from launching into an epithet which involved several unveiled references involving the sexual preferences of Roger's mother and a goat posted on a 'big booties' adult site on the extranet. Rogers was on his feet a split second later, fists up ready to go all out,
"That's enough soldier" Shepard stepped in before violence could ensue.
"Fuck you Shepard, I one up your little bitch by at least knowing who my parents were!"
Irish went at Roger's like a hurricane ready to deal death, the two never got along and it was about to boil over into an all-out brawl which would see them both expelled and Shepard still nonplussed by the whole idea had to get them to work on a team.
"O'Laughlin stand down, that's an order" his very first order was directed at his best friend.
"Yes Sir" O'Laughlin said after a moment of heaving breath.
"Dornez, Briggs take him out for some fresh air."
Two quick nods followed by them flaking an arm of O'Laughlin's each led them out into the sunlight, Shepard knew Roger's wasn't going to like this so he crooked a finger at Santos and said "Ask everyone to take it outside for five and then yourself, say it's a favour for me."
Santos didn't even nod just went straight to it walking around and asking everyone to vacate the building for a short while, each second passing Roger's looked a little more nervous, licking his lips more furiously as they ticked on.
"So you going to go for it eh" Roger's remarked, gearing up for a fight "take me on while no one's looking, don't want to damage that nice little reputation."
"I couldn't give a damn about my rep Roger's but you need to listen and since I took the time to make sure you didn't look like a drama queen on prom night you're going to shut up and listen."
"You're on my squad."
"Like fuck I am!" came the inevitable response.
"I didn't ask for it neither would I have, but you're good at what…"
"Don't try to butter me up Shepard, I'm not joining your little dream team and that's that." Rogers butted in.
"Those are your orders, follow them or not, it's not on me, but if you're half the soldier you think you are, you swallow up that pride and meet me and boys as the Servicemen's Bar on the lane."
Shepard then turned smartly and strode away, hoping his heavy breath out didn't beget his nervousness, he had just acted like he was the boss, he even fooled himself for a moment, the authority felt borrowed as if it wasn't even his. Opening the door, he turned briefly and saw Roger's had already left out another door and with a sigh he walked over to the squad, he'd never even drank before so why he made it the bar he wouldn't even guess.
"You ladies down for a night at the Servicemen's?" Shepard asked the group.
"Is a whore's knickers round her ankles quicker than a bear shates in the woods?" O'Laughlin cheerfully asked.
"At least make those gross rhetoric's make some sense Irish" Dornez sighed.
"Ahh ye.." O'Laughlin began.
"Say wound me again and you will be."
Santos and Briggs outwardly laughed at Irish's predicament and Shepard cracked a smile, these team were like a family and his smile got bigger when Dornez caught his eye and winked knowingly, she had Irish in the bag.
"Either wee I'm doon for tonight" O'Laughlin quickly moving on from his defeat.
"Same here I could use a stiff drink" Dornez chimed in.
"Sign me up boss, I'm gonna use the next two days getting over tonight" Briggs added enthusiastically.
"I don't drink much but I'll come along, the companies always good" Santos added in his soft voice.
"Well then let's go grab some chow in town before we hit the bottle, I'm new to this."
"He's gonna be fucked up" Irish whispered loudly.
Rolling his eyes Shepard moved out, Dornez and O'Laughlin to his right and left and Santos with Briggs coming up behind, moving like a unit even on off hours though unbeknownst to them Roger's was watching them leave, almost wishing, wishing he had left with them then and there.
Shepard was not good at holding his alcohol. By the time they rocked up to the bar service was in full swing, navy personal and civilians alike drinking and laughing the days labours away in a smoky old style atmosphere. All but O'Laughlin headed to a table in the corner as he strode with a purpose towards the bar keep ordering three shots of whiskey per person. The laughter that followed Shepard attempt to knock but even his first one and the laughter as he spluttered his way through the second and third only turned into amused chatter as Dornez went and got a round of beers. A few hours later and the night was in full swing, Shepard sitting in a haze, fumbling around for his glass and occasionally burping a little wetly didn't take away from the enjoyment the evening was bringing.
"Ey Shep looka like Roger's showed up afte all" O'Laughlin mumbling through his eighth beer.
Shepard turned his rubbery neck towards O'Laughlin's finger point and sure enough Roger's was sitting in the stool at the bar closest to their table being very sure to keep his back turned to them.
"A toast to Shep our new squad leader" Dornez slurred happily, raising her glass and amazingly keeping most of it inside the glass.
A resounding to Shepard and clicking glasses followed by barrelling laughter and to Shepard's amusement even Roger's raised his glass, still pretending to not listen. A few more hours flew by talking about family and life back home and for once Shepard joined in, he talked about Mindoir before the attack, the farms and people he even saw Dornez tear up as he described in perfect detail the sunsets which shone over the horizon every evening.
"You know what lads" Briggs stumbled into the conversation "Santos and I were chatting about getting some tats to match."
"Hell yeah boyo I'm game" Irish managed to get through a new beer that he had magically incarnated out of thin air.
"I'm in if this island dumbass gives me back my fucking beer" Dornez spat out reaching for her drink now being slurped by O'Laughlin.
Santos passed Dornez his beer with a smile saying he had already had enough which she accepted blithely and her drunken stupor already forgetting that O'Laughlin had pinched hers.
"You know what I'm in too!" Shepard said trying to stand up and failing spectacularly as he fell of the side of his chair with a clatter.
The table erupted into laughter as everyone praised Shepard's big 'beer muscles' and dragged him out of the bar, O'Laughlin briefly stopping to pay the tab, insisting Shepard first night of drink was on him. The cool rush of air hitting his hot skin was invigorating as Shepard stared at the sky now on, if an unsteady pair of his own feet, quickly following after the squad as they hunted down a good tattoo place. Twenty minutes passed in a whistle and laugher image as the five strolled down an empty street, save the odd passing hover car and it helped everyone sober up a little as hiss of a door let them into a twenty-four tattoo joint.
"Can I help you boys" a heavily tattooed man asked "and lady my apologies."
"Weya lookin to get some matchin tats for our squad" O'Laughlin managed to say half literately.
"Sounds easy enough, you got the creds we got the work" the man nodded "you got any designs?"
O'Laughlin rummaged around in his pockets until Briggs tapped him on the shoulder and shoved a little crumped piece of paper into his hands before turning into the man and saying "All of them have the initials S.F. except for the man over here" thumbing at Shepard "his is just an S."
Shepard didn't say do much as everyone got the matching tattoo on their left upper arms, he didn't even notice the design because he thoughts preoccupied him, an errant thought from long ago blanked his mind and opening an opportunity this night to never forget. The pain was brief as the man got to him and began stencilling his arm, the tattooist was good only taking about twenty minutes with each one and from the murmurs of approval and raucous applause behind him Shepard knew his work was accepted.
"Yep you're all done big man" the tattooist said wiping some sweat from his forehead.
"Yeah I was wondering if you would do some other work for me" Shepard asked.
A quite work to the tattooist and some gesturing gave form to an idea that had been brewing in his head, the tattooist seemed concerned at first but started nodding as Shepard explained.
"Alright on the back from shoulder to shoulder you say?"
"Yeah just plain lettering but I want to feel it, you know?" Shepard said seriously "make it hurt, I won't want to forget this."
"Alright son just talk to your boys first they look concerned."
The man was all but one of his squad stood here with tattoos ready to follow him into hell if he asked and they looked at him with equal concern and curiosity. If I can't trust these people he thought I can't trust anyone.
"I'm getting someone's name tattooed on my back and no it's not a sweetheart I'm pining for" Shepard said turning from them before removing his shirt entirely in front of them for the first time. He had always been careful in the showers and in the bunks at night but this night he embraced the trust he felt and bared the hideous scars which covered his back and torso, where whips and nails had bitten into him those years ago.
Even the hiss and shock of his comrades who had heard but never seen the cruelty he had been subjected to could deter the mission.
"The name is Jane" the new squad leader answered before it could be asked and he was glad his new eyes didn't let him cry "she was my kid sister on Mindoir."
The table was cool and the needle was hot and it burnt his skin but Shepard relished every moment of pain, etching it into his memory and afterwards seeing her name forever on his back where no one would ever reach her gave him the closure he needed and wanted. Jasper would never forget Jane but she would be with him forever. As they paid and left the parlour the seriousness faded and laughter started once more, but everyone uniquely careful to not touch Shepard's back for they alone knew the treasure that he held there.
"Okay boys this is where I call it quits" Dornez said huffing with her hands on her knees "you win I can't keep up the bunk it is for me."
"You Shep?" O'Laughlin asked
"Say what?" he slurred picking up a slumped head from crossed arms.
"Haha I'll take that as a yes for being done."
"You boys keep the fires burning" Dornez volunteered, picking up the slumping Shepard "I'll drag his majesty back to his throne."
O'Laughlin, Santos and Briggs continued down the road hunting another pub while Dornez helping Shepard stand and for reasons unknown kept trying to tell jokes.
"Hey, hey Abby guess why you can't see elephants hiding in tree" Shepard whispered gleefully.
"Dunno why not?"
"Cause they're really good at it."
Shepard basically fell over again howling with laughter and even Dornez couldn't help but join in.
"Shep that joke was shit."
"Yeah but it made you laugh didn't it Abby!"
Lurching to the side Dornez had to grab him and pull Shepard towards her sending them into the wall, now she was trapped between the wall of a hotel and a large, drunk, giggling man. Suddenly the giggling stopped and Dornez looked up into a pair of very serious eyes, his lips slightly parted and breath now coming in ragged gasps. She instinctively bundled he muscles ready for a fight but didn't really have the heart, his desire was plain but he reeked of confusion, like a teenager leaving a girl at the door. His jaw more rounded than what she would usually consider attractive but his thick shoulders and arms sang to her, that raw power and testosterone hit her like a train and suddenly she threw caution to wind, grabbed his collar and kissed him. Despite the shock of being kissed Shepard held up mightily and attempted to kiss back with the same ferocity until Dornez started laughing, dealing his pride a savage blow.
"Sorry" Shepard said letting go.
"Hey I can tell you're out of practice but I never said stop" her eyes smouldering.
Before he could exercise that iron self-control his will crumbled and crushed her against the wall, her moans as his body pressed against hers driving the drunken frenzy, somehow making it into the lobby of the hotel, swiping an Omni-tool, up the elevator and into a room, where their inhibitions faded and didn't comeback until the sunrise shone through the window, then two very drunk, very sore soldiers passed out on the bed sheets with twin snores that could've woken the dead.
