Author's Note: Hello! I'm sorry for my long absence! I have been dealing with the world's worst migraine constantly for the past month. Am just now getting able enough to see and type on my comp. So, we are getting better, and with starting work again, I'll do my best to write every night and bring you something new at lease once a week.
Got a short chapter today, it's closing off the early early years and setting us up for Shep's N7 training to come!
Enjoy! As always, Read and Review!
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Shepard stands at attention on Arcturus Station. Confused and yet still in a fog of recovery from her burns, she stares out into the crowd of media and Alliance personnel gathered to witness this ceremony.
She fights hard to not rub at her tingling arm in its sling. The feeling of skin and nerve grafts is a very disconcerting one. But focusing on her injury keeps her from being completely nervous at standing on the dais with the surviving crew of the Dauntless, listening to the formal speeches about awards and commendations for their bravery and valiant effort at recovering their ship from the mercs that had boarded them.
Listening to the formality of the awarding officer at the podium as he address the crowds is making her feel even more awkward, and feeling disdain for him. He doesn't look like he's served a day in combat of his entire life. He probably has some cushy assignment in the Alliance, a nice office, maybe with a view out of the station,or maybe he's stationed on Earth and comes to the station for awards ceremonies.
She is startled out of her thoughts by a elbow to her side, flinching slightly she looks to her right and scowls at Lin, the owner of the offending elbow. "What do you want?" she hisses at her softly, trying to not be obvious or loud.
Lin smiles and nudges her head to get Shepard's attention on the podium speaker as he calls Lin's name.
Shepard gulps as she watches Lin walk to the dais to accept her medals and the officer's commendations. She knows she's next and, glancing to her side, she realizes she's the only one left on the dais. The crew having been called by alphabetical order, has left her at the very end. Part of her wonders if they intended this before she has to snap her attention back as the officer calls her name, waving his hand to signal her forward.
She takes a hesitant step forward, then another. Her back ramrod straight as she approaches the podium.
The officer extends his hand for her to shake. Snapping a sharp salute, Shepard grips his hand in a brief handshake, not missing the flash of holo-cameras as they go off all around her. "Lieutenant JG Shepard, congratulations on your heroic actions that led to the recovering of the Dauntless by it's crew. Surely without your quick thinking, decisive actions, and despite your injury, you managed to get out the emergency signal, find and release the surviving crew of the Dauntless. Allowing them to retake control of the ship and assist in the deaths and capture of many of a group of independent mercenaries. Without your actions the Dauntless may have well been lost, and all hands aboard killed."
He pauses for a moment to reach beside him, pulling a velvet box from the dais and opening it for her to see; Inside there is a Purple Heart and a Meritorious Service Silver Star medals resting on a blue velvet cushion.
"For your outstanding service in the Systems Alliance Navy during combat, I hereby award you with the Alliance Purple Heart for courage through injury in service to the Systems Alliance." He pulls out the Purple Heart medal, leaving the breast stripes in the box.
Shepard snaps to a sharp salute as he pins the medal to her, stepping back he retrieves the second medal, "The Service Silver Star is in recognition of your heroism in going above and beyond the call of duty in your efforts to regain control of your vessel during an enemy raid." He steps forward again, pinning the bigger medal to her and leaving those stripes in the box as well. He closes the box and hands it to her, "Congratulations Lieutenant JG, may this be but the beginning of a long and distinguished service from you." He shakes Shepard's hand and steps back to the podium. Shepard turns to the crowd, salutes, then steps off the dais to rejoin her crew along the side of the dais.
"I told you," Lin teases Shepard as she comes near, "I told you, you're going far."
"Two medals, hardly anything to bristle over." Shepard scoffs, truly she just wants to be another grunt in a uniform, awards and ceremonies aren't her thing.
"One of those medals is a very distinguished one." Lin comments before looking behind Shepard, "We have company. You know any short blondes with crazy green eyes?"
"Crazy eyes?" Shepard turns and sees Deunan walking up to the both of them, "What're you doing here?" She exclaims, taking Deunan into a fierce hug.
"Came by to see my girl get her fist combat commendations is what." Deunan chuckles as she pulls out of the embrace. She looks to Lin and extends her hand, "And who might you be?"
Lin laughs as she takes Deunan's hand, "I'm Lin. And you are?"
Shepard smiles at seeing her two friends introduce each other, "That's Deunan, Deunan Knute. Her and I go way back."
Lin raises an eyebrow at Shepard in question, "Way back, huh?"
Shepard scratches the back of her neck nervously, "She and I, we knew each other before I became a marine. We went through boot together. Deunan," Shepard raises an eyebrow of her own at Deunan, "This is Lin." she emphasizes her name, hoping Deunan will catch on who Lin is to Shepard.
Deunan's eyebrows go up in surprise, "Oh! Lin! Yes, I know who you are." she winks and whispers to Shepard, "Nice find Kels, this gal's a keeper." She yelps as Shepard gives her a soft punch to the shoulder.
Lin laughs a second time at the exchange between the two women. She could almost assume they were sisters the way they banter with each other, "Ah, see now, I have heard nothing of you, but you've heard of me?"
"Yes, well…" Shepard stutters, trying to figure out what to say. "You see…:
Deunan laughs her dog's bark laughter and claps Shepard on the back, "What our girl here is trying to say is that; her and I were a thing for a bit there before she joined the Alliance. I had to follow her in to keep her scrawny butt out of the fire."
Lin smiles at Shepard's obvious discomfort with the present topic of conversation, "Good thing I was stationed on the Dauntless with her, kept her mostly out of trouble for you."
Deunan gives a extravagant mock bow to Lin, "My most gracious thanks, good miss."
Shepard groans and hides her face in her hands, muttering, "This soo cannot be happening…"
Both Deunan and Lin break out in laughs, Deunan hooks her arm around Shepard's elbow, Lin taking the other, "Let's go find us some good booze and you can regale me with the tale of your heroics." The two women steer Shepard from the room.
