7 / Chink in the Armour
What colours does Shepard wear, and why? Are they a fan of heavy or light armour?
"And this is Captain's cabin… YOUR cabin, Commander." The AI's voice resonates all over the huge loft in which Shepard has just stepped in.
"Thank you, EDI. Dismissed."
The woman puffs as she lets her sight wander around her. This is a real apartment, with a big soft bed, comfy couches, desks, a private bathroom, even display cases and fish tanks! The Illusive Man doesn't seem to care about wasting money… Is everything planned to make Shepard accept becoming a Cerberus operative, maybe even becoming a 'fan' of it? Yes, probably it is, but may she be damned if she will fall for that… NO WAY.
She approaches the glowing blue tanks, leaning her hand on the glossy glass. "Empty fish tanks… Empty, just like me…" she murmurs gloomily.
Almost two days has passed since her awakening in the Lazarus labs, and this is the first time she is alone, finally able to realize what really happened to her.
She died.
She has been fucking dead for two damned years.
Two years away from everything that matters for her – the Alliance, the Council, her colleagues, her friends…
Two years away from HIM.
God, she can't even think about his name at the moment, it hurts too much.
"Damn…" she breathes as she swallows hard, holding back her tears. She doesn't have time to waste with sentimentalism. She died, but she has been brought back to life to save the galaxy AGAIN. And he isn't with her, she is all alone in this now. This thought rips her heart into pieces, but she has to deal with it. And she has to work with these damned terrorists she used to fight with determination.
Cerberus… CERBERUS! FUCK! She thinks while the sadness is being replaced by a terrible anger against her damned fate. "WHY!" She yells punching hard the wall next to her.
Suddenly a faint beep captures her attention, and she looks to the panel installed in the door of the wardrobe at her left. Without even realize what she's doing, she starts to tap on its holo-keyboard, finding out that it is a dashboard made to monitor and to customize her armor.
During this last two years a lot changed, especially in the armamentarium field. The new N7 armor she wore yesterday for the first time is pretty amazing; it is similar to the medium armor she was accustomed to use, but with an enhanced protection and a great boost to the shields, together with a very good freedom of movement and an amazing lightness.
How did Cerberus obtain a channel to the N7 stuff? She asks herself shocked, while the menu of the panel shows her how to customize each piece with others available on sale in various shops around the galaxy.
Wait… I can even choose a dye to color it?
At the moment the armor is black with red and white strips on the right arm: the official colors of the N7 squads. But now it seems so wrong wearing them, because Shepard feels like she doesn't belong to the Alliance anymore: she is just the ghost of the woman she used to be.
"This one is very pleased to see you again, Commander Shepard."
"Thank you, Delan." She answers to the Hanar as she steps into his shop at the Presidium, "I am here to look for a new armor, mine got damaged during my last mission!"
"This one has just received a new assortment of material from the Kassa Fabrication, and he is sure you will find something interesting for both you and the other human is there with you."
Shepard turns to look at Kaidan who insisted to go with her to have shopping, making excuses that he also needs some new upgrades for his pistol. Though, she is more than sure that he just wanted to spend some time with her, and she can't help to be glad about that.
"That's perfect Delan, show us what you've got." She boosts the merchant.
After a while there she is wearing a brand new Colossus armor. She stares to her own image reflected on the mirror as she tests all the joints in correspondence to her shoulders, her elbows, her wrists…
"Mmmh this is quite good…" She says kneeling on the floor and then jumping on her spot, "What do you think, Kaidan?"
"This medium armor is a good compromise between the agility of the light one and the protection of the heavy one. It seems perfect for your Vanguard combat style, Commander."
"Yes, I agree with you. I gain a very large amount of shields without losing my freedom of movement."
"And… If I am not out of line, the snug shape fits perfect on your body… Ma'am."
At his words, she feels her cheeks flushing out of control. My body… He's staring at my body… Oh my God… But her thoughts are interrupted by his embarrassed coughs.
"Moreover, the black and red tints remembers the N7 colors." He adds, like he's trying to smother his flirty behavior, "And they suit your crimson hair so well…" or maybe he's more than intending to make her blush?
"Ok Delan, I'll buy it." She affirms in one sure swallow.
While the bittersweet memory fades from her mind, Shepard sets the panel to dye all her new armor with a deep burgundy color, mindful of both her beloved old Colossus one, and all her blood has been wasted with her death. Then, after a moment of indecision, she states that the red N7 strip should be remain like it is, the recollection of everything she was and probably she will never be again.
From that day, she always wore those tints, even when she was back in the Alliance, and even when she finally got back with the love of her life. They are a reminder of all she has been through: the good moments, the hard times, all the fights she won, the things she lost, her death, her rebirth…
Everything will be always colored by beautiful, intense, reds.
