Chapter 4: The Road Less Traveled

The last thing Commander Jane Shepard remembered was a strange voice. She had understood the strange voice, but couldn't quite place it. She awoke with a throbbing headache and a heavy heart. She sat up sharply, and regretted that decision. The medbay and Dr. Chakwas were spinning around her. It wasn't even one of those nice, 'I am buzzed' kind of spinning's. This was the kind where she knew her life just took a severe left turn down some dark alley. Then she heard Dr Chakwas.

"I had to lock the medbay doors to keep Kaidan from checking in on you every five minutes". Jane looked at her confused. "How long was I out?" She asked. "Well, we docked at the citadel about an hour ago. So, two days." The good doctor said. Jane swung her legs to the side, rubbing her head and focusing her eyes to make the world less spinny.

"Not so fast Commander. How do you feel?" Chakwas asked. Jane looked up at her. Her heart was unbearably heavy, and suddenly she felt that she was lost in some kind of dark alleyway. Jane knew something bad was going to happen. She smiled to herself, and then it hit her, "I shall be telling this with a sigh. Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." She quoted. Dr. Chakwas looked at her thoughtfully. "You know, had I not delivered you and known your family and your history, that would have sounded not as great. But your love for Robert Frost is dually noted Commander". She said smiling and typing something on her omni-tool. "Either way, I detected some unusual brain activity. The kind that wouldn't have you quoting, 'The Road Not Taken', but the kind with abnormal beta waves". She said.

Jane's smile faded as the doctor that stood in front of her, the one she has known since birth, became serious. "I also noticed an increase in your rapid eye movement, signs typically associated with intense dreaming. Now I won't pretend to be a psychiatrist, but I am assuming this was not the road you were intending to take, was it Commander?" Chakwas said.

Shepard stood up, and looked out the window of the medbay to the empty mess. "I saw…" she started, but stopped. She looked down at her hands and turned around. Dr. Chakwas noted how the Commander paled as noticeably a horrid thought rose to her. Chakwas saw that Jane's shoulders slumped down suddenly like the weight of the world was on her. The good doctor wondered if it was the death of Nihlus that did this to Jane. However, before she could speculate further, Shepard continued, "I saw death, destruction, and an end. I saw…" she paused. "An end, but I don't know whose". She looked up at her beloved family friend. Chakwas looked at her, she wasn't the little Jane she had remembered, and right now she wasn't even the Commander Shepard she had grown quite accustomed to seeing. Dr. Chakwas was looking at a woman, a woman with a mission.

Sometime between talking to the council at the Citadel Tower, and meeting the C-Sec turian Garrus Vakarian. Jane had a strange feeling. She still had a raw spot in her heart where Nihlus was supposed to be. She closed her eyes and could swear she heard the gentle hum of his sub-vocals. Either way, she had a job to do and she hoped that looking at this new turian wouldn't divert her from her goal, get more evidence against Saren to convince the council.

Jane ended up quite successful. She even ran into Garrus again in the clinic, and recruited him to her cause. He had some glorified hero quality about him that made her pay attention. She rescued and recruited a quarian named Tali'Zorah Nar Rayya, and even a Krogan, Urdont Wrex. It wasn't until they had all settled on the Normandy that Jane stopped to reflect. "Commander Jane Shepard and her motley crew", she thought.

The Asari Councilor spoke up first. "Commander Shepard, step forward." She said, "it is the decision of the council that you be granted all the powers and priveledges of the special tactics and reconnaisance branch of the citadel."

Jane's eyes grew wide. This wasn't happening. The Salarian councilor continued, "Spectres are not trained, but chosen." People started to gather around, "Individuals forged in the fire of service and battle, those whose actions elevate them above rank and file."

Jane looked behind her at the faces of Udina and Anderson. While Anderson beamed with pride, Udina looked ill. The Asari councilor spoke again, "Spectres are an ideal, a symbol." Kaidan and Ashley had huge smiles on their face. "The embodiment of courage, determination, and self-reliance. They are the right hand of the council, instruments of our will."

She looked at the rest of her motley crew. Garrus was shocked, Wrex looked indifferent and amused, and Tali? Well, Jane couldn't see what kind of look she had. She looked back at the council as the Turian councilor looked at her with fierce eyes. He knew about Shepard and Nihlus. His voice boomed through the tower, "Spectres bear a great burden. They are protectors of galactic peace, both our first and last line of defense. The safety of the galaxy is theirs to uphold." Jane noted the disapproving sub-vocals he was giving off. She wondered what her new turian recruit was thinking about that. She made a mental note to ask when they were back on the Normandy.

Finally the Asari councilor finished, "You are the first human spectre, Commander. This is a great accomplishment for you and your entire species." Jane blushed, and quickly but confidently replied, "I am honored, councilors."

Jane reflected on how her life had just changed. Maybe the road less traveled was the better one? She had convinced the council that Saren was looking for the conduit, with the help of Tali. She just had to convince herself that she could do it. Stepping onto the bridge with Joker smiling at her, and Anderson's heroic presence missing she gulped and order the Comm to be open. This was it, this would set the tone. Don't fuck this up Shepard.

"This is your Commander speaking. We have our orders: find Saren before he finds the conduit." She paused for dramatic effect. "And I refuse to let anything get in the way of that mission! We all know what happened on Eden Prime. We saw the destruction. We saw the bodies. We saw what Saren did, and I plan to make him pay!" When did her hand ball up into a fist? "For too long our species has stood apart from the others. Now it's time for us to step up and do our part for the rest of the galaxy! Time to show them what humans are made of! Our enemy knows we are coming. When we get into the traverse, Saren's followers will be waiting for us, but we will be ready for them, too." She stood taller, proud, and confident. "Humanity needs to do this. Not just for our own sake, but for the sake of every other species in citadel space. Saren must be stopped, and I promise you all...we will stop him!"

Chakwas smiled proudly, "That's my girl!"

Wrex balled up his fist and pumped it in the air.

Tali nodded.

Ashley and Kaidan stood tall and saluted.

Joker stood tall and proud.

And Garrus, he was in awe of how one person could inspire a Krogan, Quarian, and the entire race of Humanity to fight back for what was right.