Author's Comment:

I don't know if any of you thought this about the last chapter, but I do like making cliff hangers, and I am slightly evil. xD

Jokes aside, time to continue this deviation of the norm of the Mass Effect universe, my vision of a good continuation to the story of Commander (Anna) Shepard. Thank you for reading, and know that this story has just begun.

Chapter Four: Familiar faces

The two crew members at the security checkpoint were about to yell out for Shepard to come back, but they were so tired of the constant security checks, they decided to let this one slide, almost like Shepard did when dashing through the War Room, almost sliding on the metal floor. She slows down in a few steps as she reaches the vidcom room. She taps at the console and the holographic representation of David Anderson appears.

"Shepard. It is good to see you on your feet and healthy."

She stared at him, tears of joy slowly sliding down her face. "How are you alive?"

He grins, laughing lightly. "I may be getting old, but it takes a more than a beating and a gun shot in the stomach to keep me out of action."

Anna sighs, a load off her shoulders, relaxing. "I would be lying if I said that since I woke up, I wasn't worried about your fate."

"I trust your word on that."

"So are you back in action?"

"Not completely. The damage I sustained during the Reaper War left some side effects. I can only walk around if I use a cane. Still, they put me in charge of the rebuilding efforts in London."

"So, I assume you will want your apartment back?"

"No. You are a public figure that needs a place on the Citadel, due to your duties with the Council. I plan to settle down in London once it is rebuilt. Besides, Kahlee doesn't like living there."

Anna felt the Normandy jerk forward. "Wrex and Eve must be on board. So how are things with Sanders?"

"She left her earlier assignment to help the rebuilding efforts of London… and let's be honest, it is also because I am helping in the same event."

Anna smirked. "Well, I hope we get to talk some more. I have a job to do."

"You know where I am, Shepard. And go get Garrus, I am sure he misses you."

They salute each other, and Anna establishes a link to the Council member she trusts the most. The Asari councillor appears, as Anna puts her hands behind her back. "Councillor Tevos."

"Shepard, it is good to see you. How are you feeling?"

"A lot better, compared to the time I was on board of the Citadel, trying to activate the Crucible."

"So is there any particular reason you are calling?"

"I just wanted to let you know that I am back on my feet, and ready to work. I also wish to warn you that when I gather the representatives of each race I will debrief everyone as to how we ended the Reaper war. But before I do that, I have a team to assemble, and I have to find Harbinger."

"Ah, yes. The main Reaper… we find it odd that he wants to talk to you first, but at least they stopped attacking, and are even helping."

"How so?"

"Thessia was devastated, Commander, but we see Reaper ships every day, at least the smaller ones, helping to the best of their ability. Some ships even drop off supplies to help us rebuild. Whatever you did, it was worth it."

"Thank you, Councillor. Shepard out."

"Before you go, Commander, I have to let you know that your Spectre status is reactivated as of now. Good luck out there."

"And Councillor?"

"Yes, Shepard?"

"Let the Krogan have a seat in the Council. Urdnot Wrex is attempting to change their society, and his companion, Eve, has great vision."

The Asari smiled. "I will take your judgement into consideration. Also, Ambassador Dominic Osoba is now the new human councillor. Just wanted to let you know…"

Shepard walks away from the vidcom room, passing the War Room, and finds Wrex staring at the small discussion room, surrounded by walls of glass. "Remember the day, Shepard? When the discussions we had here determined the fate of many things?"

"Yeah, I do… I still wish, to this day, that I could have punched the Dalatrass in the face…"

Wrex slowly turned his head at Shepard, stared for a few seconds and then started to laugh, loudly. "I can't say I am not surprised to hear you say that, Shepard, but I it is still great. The way you looked at her at the end of the meeting, I was actually imagining you jumping over the table and clocking a right arm swing on her face."

Anna shakes her head, chuckling. "You have no idea how much I wanted to do that. If it wasn't for the fact that we need to rescue the females out of Sur'Kesh, I would most likely beat her to unconsciousness." She begins to walk away. "God damn stuck up bit-"

"Commander, we will be arriving at Palaven shortly. It is recommended you take a full body suit, as the radiation levels are harmful to non-natives."

Anna walked across the security checkpoint, being followed by Wrex. "Thank you, EDI." Anna looked back. "Are you coming, Wrex?"

"Nah. Go on and visit your Angel. I will be using the War Room with Eve to send some information to Tuchanka."

"Angel? Very funny, Wrex." The amused krogan smirked, going into the elevator first, to meet up with Eve at a lower deck. Shepard then takes the elevator up to her cabin, in order to gear up before arrival. She feels tense, putting on her suit carefully, in order to avoid the malicious effects of the radiative atmosphere of Palaven, but she was happy, she was going to see Garrus again.

"Due to traffic, we have to wait half an hour to land on Palaven, Commander. You might want to find something to distract yourself with."

"Thank you for the heads up, Joker."

Anna heads down to the crew deck, her helmet in hand, and opens the door to the med bay. "Shepard. I was wondering when you would come down here to visit me." Dr. Karin Chakwas turned around in her chair and stood up, giving Anna a warm embrace. "Good to see you back on your feet, Commander."

"You knew I was here?"

"Well, Dr. Chloe made sure I was amongst the first to hear you are here. Plus, with the CIC personnel that came down here talking about how you were back, it would be hard to miss out on the big news, even if Michel hadn't warned me. Anyway, it is good to have you back on board, Anna."

"Good to be back, Karin."

Shepard was about to walk out of the med bay, when Chakwas sat down on her seat. "Shepard… remember when you told me we would share another bottle of Serrice Ice Brandy after the war was over? Well, I hope that you comply with your oral contract."

Anna smiled, saluting Chakwas before stepping out of the med bay. Her next objective was on the other side of the ship, where Liara kept her Shadow Broker material assembled. As soon as the door was opened, she threw herself at Shepard, giving her a strong hug. "Shepard!" Anna smiled and hugged her friend back. "You seem surprised. I would think the Shadow Broker would be aware of my return to action."

"Sorry, Shepard, but I have been absorbed in my work with Javik."

Anna looked at Javik, pleased. "So you finally decided to put aside your bad habit of calling others primitives?"

"The truth is, Shepard, that I am the last of my kind. Liara made me see reason when she told me that our culture and history needed recording, so the greatness of our cycle couldn't be forgotten."

Anna glanced at Liara, thinking of how much of a smart manipulator she was.

"It has been good seeing you Commander. Is there anything you need to discuss before each of us resumes our duties?"

"No. That is all. I just wanted to check on my crew after being four months in a coma."

Javik nods, and Shepard replies in the same manner. She walks out of the room, and Javik continues to issue information to Liara, who eagerly writes it down. Still in the need of distraction, Anna walks around the back, checking the observation decks. She enters the Starboard Observation Deck, her mind drifting.

"I am honest Eve, I have grown fond of you."

Anna's mind snaps back to reality, and curiosity settles in. She looks around and sees Wrex and Eve holding hands in the left side of the room.

"Truly, Wrex?"

"Truly. At first, I saw you as a symbol of hope for our species, but with time, I realized you were much more than that. I have fallen in love with you."

"Oh, Wrex, I always knew that you were not like most krogan."

Suddenly, Wrex gains a shocked expression, one that matched Shepard's: hanging jaw, wide set eyes. Eve looks back and forth between the two and starts laughing with heart. Wrex looked at Eve and then at Anna. "Shepard, you…"

Anna laughed out loud, leaning against the wall. "Wrex, I thought I would never see the day."

"Can you keep quiet about this?"

Anna nodded. "Don't worry, I won't let anyone know you have grown soft."

Wrex exhaled out of embarrassment, which only amused Eve further. Joker then warns Shepard of their arrival on Palaven, as the traffic had cleared out faster than expected. Shepard makes her up to the CIC, as the Normandy docks in a location fit for its design, too well fitting to be a coincidence. The Commander walks out, accompanied by Liara, who decided it was best to have someone walk along with her.

The two realize that the Normandy had docked on the outside of a dome like building, which was built, unknown to Liara and Shepard, as a way to safely receive visitors of other species, before sending them to other parts of the city. They walked out of the ship, and into the security checkpoint, which included a scanner, as well as a pressurization room. They walked out of the last, after hearing an automated announcement. "You may now remove your protection gear while inside this building. Have a nice day."

As they were led to the centre of the building, they found themselves in one of the most spectacular parks ever seen. Although definitely not as large or elaborate, Shepard still felt like she was inside a miniature turian rendition of the mythicized hanging gardens of Babylon. She then looked around and saw three turians. Two males, one sitting down, and the other standing up, facing him. The third turian was female, and was sitting next to the other.

The two sitting down looked over at Shepard and their eyes immediately became locked on her. The third turian was confused at their behaviour and decided to look back. When he did, he saw the love of his life standing there, helmet barely hanging on her hand. Like when she received the announcement regarding David Anderson, her brain froze, and a few seconds later she found herself running at Garrus, dropping the helmet along the way.

Liara picked it up, smiling just like Solana and Garrus' father did, as they both held on to each other and kissed. Solana walks up to Shepard and jokes. "So you are the human responsible for stealing my brother away from home?" Anna was about to shake hands with her, but both women threw the idea out the window, as they gave each other a quick embrace.

"My name is Solana Vakarian. Nice to meet you."

"Anna Shepard."

"Believe it or not, Miss Shepard, your status as a major public figure makes some of your details, such as name, common knowledge." Garrus' dad walks up to her and gives her a quick handshake.

"Mister Vakarian."

"Don't be shy. I am glad my son has you as a companion. When I first heard that you were a Spectre, I found myself somewhat cringing at the thought… but after all your deeds during the war were revealed…" The Vakarian patriarch stands at attention, saluting Anna. "I am honoured to be in your presence." Anna salutes Garrus' dad, happy that this hurdle had been overcome. She was even surprised to find Garrus' parents to be so accepting of their relationship, but then again, not every turian was like Saren, in terms of opinions about humans.