The Villa - One Month Later

Jasper stumbled through the doorway into his small room at the villa, mud, blood and vegetation clung to his person and clothing like a second skin, like a stain that would never wash off. One month, an entire month of non-stop intensive training, twenty hours a day or more, the lack of sleep made his muscles ache just from standing or basic movements, scratches and cuts never stitched or looked after had turned into nasty scars, the thought torn muscle in his leg only a terrible strain which had pained him for more than two weeks with nothing more than some tight strapping to aid his steps, whatever body fat he had left dissolved his frame into a slightly less bulky but titanium strength wiry muscle. Knowing he would pass out if he lay onto the Spartan bed, which to him looked like a seven star hotel room, Jasper groaned his way into the small bathroom attached to his room and turned on the hottest most glorious shower he ever had. It burned and scalded every bruise and sensitive spot but this was a bounty from the gods themselves, leaning into the stream of water Jasper closed his eyes and let the last thirty days of live fire practice, combat runs, calisthenics, obstacle courses, brutal hand to hand fighting and sleepless nights wash away and leave nothing but the simple truth that he had passed, barely mind as all but one other were fully qualified marines, but become a bone-fide N1. It had been so strenuous more than once Jasper had entertained the notion of quitting after attaining his first number and only the thought of his mentor, David Anderson who had completed this course and the other six with the most exemplary honours they could bestow kept his fire burning. Leaving the bliss of the shower Jasper went to the mirror to shave and was momentarily taken aback by the face that stared back. The electronic eyes still their bright green hue sat into a deeper set of sockets, cheekbones and jaw now far more defined, nothing remained of the farm boy from Mindoir only Jasper Shepard the Soldier stood looking into the mirror and after a shave, leaving some light stubble and a haircut jasper began to feel human again, opting to once again hit the shower.

After putting on some clean fatigues and spitefully kicking the dirty things under the bed Jasper called the one person he couldn't wait to hear the voice of.

"Shep it's good to finally hear from you" an excited Dornez answered, her face filling the screen

"Good to hear your voice too Dornez" Shepard winced, even his voice sounded different.

"Got a frog in your throat there" she teased.

"Aren't you funny?' Jasper shot back acidly "No it's just training here was seriously brutal."

"Can't even imagine while I'm stuck doing hit and runs on Terminus forces with the Agincourt."

"Pre-service ship work such a drag for you?"

"Nah not really but I still get pumped every time my boots hit the ground."

"Have you heard from O'Laughlin or any others?" Shepard asked changing direction.

"Irish, Santos and Briggs are working border work with an Alliance attaché to Citadel Security" Dornez grumbled, "but they all sound happy with the work they're doing and the booze available."

"Haha trust those freaks to enjoy anything" Jasper laughing at their tenacity "what about Rogers?"

Dornez looked away for a time before saying "He's doing alright, last I checked he's on Arcturus working Intel from deep space chatter."

"Sounds dull."

"Yeah but it's a great stepping stone for someone like him" Dornez pressed "did you see his tech scores?"

"Off the charts last I noted" Shepard admitted.

"Yeah couple that with his combat and you've got a serious deep cover infiltrator."

"Well hopefully that will help work the stick out of his ass, seriously he makes Turian's jealous."

"Tell me about it" Dornez joining in with a short laugh "I forgot to mention, Santos got pegged for biotic training!"

"You're joking!?" Jasper exclaimed "That's awesome when did this happen?"

"About a week ago, an Asari with the attaché noticed his latent ability and if all goes well he'll be outfitted with advanced L3 implants within a month and be shipped to a biotic squad."

"Man I'll have to call him soon."

"Haha he is pretty excited to tell you so don't spoil it" Dornez threatened with a comically serious furrow in her brow.

"I promise, I promise." Jasper placated.

"So tell me about N training so far."

Jasper stayed on the line with Dornez for over an hour before the weariness could be held back no longer. Saying his goodbyes and receiving an uncharacteristically sweet kiss blown at his screen from a slightly red Dornez and a promise to call everyone else tomorrow, Jasper ended the call, lay into the bed and without even bothering to pull up the covers threw one arm over his eyes and passed out.
The dreams that day were bad, enough to rise Jasper after only four hours of rest, sweat covering his face and neck, breath coming in ragged gasps, a little voice begging with tears ringing out in his head. Grunting with the effort Jasper left his bed and stumbled over into the bathroom, the cool water from the sinks tap being splashed on his face chased away the last vestiges of the horror inside. Looking into the mirror and seeing the bright green eyes lined by the faint scar still across his face brought back more memories than they chased away. Sighed and with effort Jasper left the bathroom and crashed back into the bed and let sleep claim him once more.

Vancouver, Earth - 3:34pm

Jasper looked out the window of the commercial shuttle flying over Vancouver towards the docking port, the cities many reflective metals shining brightly in the midday sunlight. He had spent a week at the villa, observing other training regimes and conversing with the instructors on various techniques and even occasionally sparring with other N candidates. After receiving his briefings Shepard was invited back to the second stage of the N program to take place on the Alliance facility on the moon for extreme training in low gravity environments with limited oxygen and options, including live fire combat exercises against drones and skirmishes against fully armed Alliance Marine teams. It promised to far more gruelling than anything her experienced on earth and despite his own reservations, relished the challenge.
The shuttle pilot announced their locations and decent and Shepard took the time to briefly look at his omni-tool map leading to the apartment Anderson was letting him stay at until his N2 training began. Out of habit Jasper was already out of his seat just before the shuttle slipped into the discharge arms and had already slung his duffle onto one shoulder and made his way to the barely open door, squinting at the less shielding light. The fresh air rushing and people bustling felt so alien to him who had spent most of his adult life in military camps and on ships, but filling his lungs with non-dust clogged unfiltered air was intensely invigorating, bringing life back into his frame. Looking around at all the displays Jasper spotted the one he needed to exit from and made his way there with long strides, hoping to belay his perceived lack of knowledge about civilian areas and on his way spotted four marines in their fatigues around a table, their duffels spread haphazardly around it and a couple of empty beer bottles and some sort of card game going on. Curious Shepard made his way over and peered one of the man's shoulder to see what was going on and noticed it was Skyllian 5 a game that the recruits had played in the barracks but he never had time to join in and learn. Clearly annoyed someone was looking over his shoulder the man took a swig from his drink and turned around.

"Can't you see this is a private ga…" the man spoke belligerently cutting himself off and going quite the pale shade when he saw the Lieutenant bars on Shepard's sleeve.

"Officer on deck!" he shouted shooting out his seat and snapping a salute, a move quickly mirrored by his three fellows.

Shepard stood dumbstruck for a moment at their sudden straight faces and snap salutes until he remembered that he actually was a Lieutenant and his realising his uniform fatigues did have Lieutenant's bars on them. Hoping they didn't notice the lag, Shepard hastily gave an 'at ease' and against his hope they didn't sit down and go back to their game, continuing to draw attention from the passer-by's.

"Sorry sir, won't happen again sir" the soldier who was rude at first doing his very best to seem contrite despite the 'ease' posture.

"Just on the way back from shore leave" Jasper guessed, trying to diffuse his own awkwardness to the situation.

"Yes sir!" the now four men said in unison.

Jasper was panicking now, having never actually had to deal with being in charge of people he didn't know before and he thought of how Anderson would deal with the situation.

"Well then keep it down and deal a fellow in' Jasper decided on, turning and grabbing a chair from an adjacent table.

"Sir?"

"Skyllian 5 right" Jasper asked and after four nods followed "well I'd like a few rounds so deal me in."

"Now let's make our own deal shall we" he said after the four sat back down.

"I'll pretend I didn't see the beer, or hear the language while you were in uniform" Jasper continued blithely, noting their flinches of guilt with some amusement "if you'll teach a new guy how to play."

"Never learnt sir?" one of them said with a nervous chuckle.

"Nope not one bit and knock off the sir" Jasper sighed reaching for a beer and thankfully opening it on the edge of the table with the first bump "it's Shepard."

"Cheers" he said raising the bottle and taking a mighty swig his amusement rising with each one of their dumbfounded looks."

"With respect Shepard you don't really act like an officer" one of the other men laughed, at bit more at ease and grabbing his own bottle.

"Well right now I'm not, I'm just the new kid wanting to learn some cards."

Over the next hour Shepard lost every credit he bet even after playing a few open hands to get the grasp, but as an apology the men took turns buying each round, evening offering to return his credits. Shepard waved them off saying it was payment for the lesson and after shaking each of their hands and giving a salute of his own the men went to catch their shuttle and Shepard moved on to hunt down some lunch of the way to the apartment.

The next few weeks flew by with Shepard spending his time lounging in front of the holovision, working out at a gym two blocks down and a quiet little bar he found while walking one evening. Forgoing his uniform for some casual clothes and a leather jacket he took a liking too in Anderson's closet, he made quite a few friends at the bar and met a few lovely young ladies at the gym, who for some reason loved taking photos with him, all of which he sent to Dornez, thinking it would be worth the bruises to see her jealous, and with hind sight it wasn't.

Shuttle Orbiting the Moon - 2:00am Earth Time

'Okay Shepard listen up" an instructor yelled through his helmet comm "you've got a limited amount of oxygen to get you from the drop zone to the installation five clicks north, but between here and there you'll have to deal with the terrain and drones with live ammo."

"That means you're shields drop, you get a puncture and we may not get to you in time, you panic and use to much oxygen, we may not get to you in time, you mess up in low gravity and fall into a crater, we may not get to you in time, you run out of thermal clips and hit trouble, we may not get to you in time, do you understand everything I'm telling you."

"Loud and clear!" Shepard replied.

"Okay your jets have got limited burn to change trajectory so don't burn to early, okay drop in three, two, one, go, go, go!"

The cabin depressurised, and the door opened and Shepard launched himself into the void, towards the silvery surface of the moon, it's gravity taking hold of him far slower than falling to Earth but still enough to cause an injury from this height, using a small boost to speed up descent Shepard rocketed towards the surface pulling up just in time with a retro hit and thudded to the surface with a silent whump, moon dust billowing slightly. Looking around and calling up his helmet HUD Shepard saw the target 4.8 clicks northward bound over rocky and treacherous terrain, oxygen levels at 82% meaning he had about 2 hours of breathing left and about one hour of walking if he didn't run into trouble. About forty meters later trouble found him at two drones found, Shepard quickly brought up his Avenger and peppered the assault drone with fire, tearing through its shields and hitting it's circuitry causing it to fizzle around and crash into the moon. The second proved worse as it was a rocket drone and caught Jasper unawares, he having barely jumped away, the low gravity slowing his movements considerably took more than 80% of his shields and throwing him across the ground. Pushing up and using a great handful of moon dust as flak Shepard through it into the air, ducking back right and firing several, successive shots at the boosters at the bottom of the drone, making it over balance and crash. Hammering a few more round for caution Shepard swore noting being caught off guard had burned through 14% of his oxygen leaving him with only 68% left, eating away at his time to get to a place he'd hardly made a dent in. Snapping in another thermal clip and hoping for some good luck Shepard double timed it, burning through more air but covering far greater ground, his next encounter going far better. A turret concealed in a rocky crop, but not good enough, warned Shepard of combat, already having his weapon ready for the three assault drones, thankfully not rockets, that flew up. Two were dispatched before he was in range of the turret, and ignoring the drone, Shepard powered ahead confusing the firing solution, by weaving repeatedly and before the security system could send an electrical discharge to disable him, threw a grenade, watched it attach and blew it sky high, the last assault drone focusing on the wreckage of the turret didn't notice Shepard until he used the last of his clip to dispatch it. Using one of his three remaining clips Shepard checked the HUD reading 1.8 clicks north-east of his position, but only 28% air remaining and since double time had been working so well Shepard stuck with the devil he knew.

Entering the passcode on the door of the structure, pressuring the room and removing his helmet with only 2% of oxygen left and filling his lungs with the clear air of the building was heavenly having made the journey in a little over an hour. Banging some dust from his lower amour and doing a cursory check for damage Shepard noticed blood leading under the door to the next room and instantly on high alert he put his helmet back on and while crouched banged the green button and entered the facilities main area. A marine lay on the ground blood splattered on the wall and floor, with a chest shot that didn't leave room for judgement, the man was dead. Shepard crept into the room staying low and as he come around a crate his body moved faster than his brain, a red line eased him into shot and fired, thankfully he had moved quickly enough the it only scored a deep rent on his shoulder plate and pinged into the wall behind him, the heat of his melting armour burning him even through the safety mesh. Not one to stall for time he swiftly ran from the cover of the crate to a poll five feet from his position, noting the presence of only one red beam, cocking another grenade, he threw it over his head, high and detonated it in mid-air. Judging where the sniper had been by where the bullet struck Shepard rolled out of cover, hit the deck and sure enough a sniper bot on the ceiling was lining him up after being distracted by the grenade. Not quick enough as Jasper poured round after round until a satisfying his and a small explosion signalled the end of it, taking the marines tags and thermal clips, Shepard moved on through the facility. Over the next two hours and carefully moving through the building Shepard dispatched six turrets, move than twenty drones assault and rocket, multiple sniper bots and by sheer luck disarmed a ring of thermal charges surrounding the console. Ever wary and still on alert Shepard shot the back of it to shit and sure enough the sick mind who had made this twisted game had electrified the console, using his omni-tool to disarm it Shepard then hit the button and the signal showed his time being three hours and twelves minutes.

Moon Base Delta - 6:30pm Earth Time

"Congratulations you have successfully finished the first stage of the N2 stage of training, an identical situation posed to show solo and commando traits as those of you who remain showed."

"Now as you all are now aware the time limit on the course was six hours, those of you who took longer and didn't finish at all are no longer with us."

Shepard weary eyes had taken note that a couple of familiar faces were no longer there but the ache in his body from the lack of adrenaline had set in making him utterly exhausted.

"Jasper Shepard step forward."

"Reporting" Jasper replied slowly, snapping out of his reverie.

"Good work son, you had the fastest time."

"Thank you Instructor."

"Back in formation."

The rest of the meeting was concluded and instead of being sent to eat, low gravity combat drills were held for the next four hours of gruelling hand to hand both inside the Moon Base and on the Moon's surface. After which they were told to be ready by 0400 hours and food could be gotten from the mess and the food while nearly flavourless was hot and filling, giving in to yet another Spartan bed and exhaustion filled dreamless slumber.

The months that were N2 training passed by in a blur and Shepard found himself becoming faster, stronger and more confident each day he conquered. Instructors allowed his stunts and his N colleagues differed too many of his judgements. The studying was trying and often foreboding but his mind was quick enough for him to keep up, often debating with his instructors on how things should be done often finding grey areas in orders and protocol which could be exploited. Jasper stood proudly when he received his N2 designation and on his way back to Earth could only wish the month before N3 would go even faster.

Arcturus Station, One and a Half Months Later - 11:52am Earth Time

N3 training in zero gravity and insurgency had been moving without a hitch until the next time trial where the N trainees had to complete several puzzles about situational combat while under the effects of oxygen and sleep deprivation, Shepard had deliberately held back, reducing his score to make sure every other soldier made it to the air lock. Getting everybody inside and sealing the hatch, everyone was taking their helmets off when suddenly the VI announced the air lock was opening, the cold stomach drop a happened as Shepard screamed for everyone to get their helmets on and moment later the hatch blew open without depressurising and everyone was shot into the abyss.

"Sound off, I repeat sound off!" Shepard yelled into his comms, everybody but one responding who happened put his helmet on in time.

The man had exhaled but lost his helmet and was beginning to be effected by the void. After getting the order out to have everyone return to the hatch Shepard boosted after the man's helmet getting it on him and sealed within the nick of time and helping him back to the hatch. This time making sure it was properly sealed and depressurised.

"The fuck just happened" one said.

"No damn clue" Shepard replied knowing this couldn't have been a malfunction and spotted a familiar head of hair rush around the corner through the door.

"That fucker."

"What Shep?"

"That fucker Kai just spaced us." Jasper shouted unsealing the inside door and legging it after him.

Shepard rounded the corner at the end of the course and saw him just standing there as though he did nothing casually talking to the instructors.

"LENG!" Shepard roared, charging him from across the room.

The smugness disappeared as Shepard huge frame speared him around the waist, Jasper getting flipped in the process but throwing Leng along for the ride. Both standing to their feet, Jasper saw red as Leng threw a right jab, followed by a left hook, Jasper ducked down and after blocking the knee thrust Shepard did a three burst punch, right to the kidney, left to the ribs and a devastating right smash to Leng's jaw. As the man hit the floor Shepard straddled him raining blows on his face like a man possessed, throwing off two instructors before the rest flew forward to restrain him.

"Shepard explain yourself" the lead instructor shouted.

"Leng fucking spaced us all to win this bloody race." Shepard struggled his eyes locked in Leng.

"It's true" many of the soldiers who had arrived added in.

'Is this correct Leng, you spaced my other trainees?"

"You always say, sir, expect the unexpected" Leng drawled, wiping his chin. The way he drew out the word 'sir' only sought to enrage Shepard further.

"From the enemy not you own teammate!" the instructor bellowed "Report to my office NOW!"

Leng escorted by two instructors was taken from the room, but not before shotting a glace through all the soldiers between him and Shepard, it said 'I beat you.'

"At ease son, I understand your reaction but that behaviour is unacceptable to the uniform you wear and those bars on your shoulder."

"He tried to kill us to win a damn race!"

"Debateable but you need to cool off, ten days in the brig for assaulting a fellow trainee, you will have to catch up on any training you miss."

"If this ever happens again I don't care what angels you have on your shoulder I will throw you out of this program do you hear me!?"

Shepard nodded and taken to the brig by MP's who had responded to the ruckus and in those ten days Shepard had one of the soldiers visit him, the one he had saved, letting him know Leng had been shifted to another N team so as to keep unit cohesion. After Shepard was released he had to work three times as hard to keep up with the curriculum but eventually passed once again with flying colours. As in time did he with N4, N5, and N6.

Before he knew it two years of hard training had rolled by and he was a fully credited N6 graduate, only able to achieve the coveted N7 through an actual combat situation and that would be whenever one presented, but instead of his planned return to Vancouver to enjoy much needed rest he received a call from Dornez.

"Dornez, hello from classified!" he greeted cheerfully.

"Well aren't you bounding with joy" Dornez replied scathingly but with a smile belaying her attitude.

"Well you haven't been able to hold me for two years so I'd say you're the grumpy one."

She responded with many things that shouldn't have been said over a monitored Alliance channel.

"Easy there tiger."

"Bite me Shep, you're last message said you've got some shore leave before rotation?"

"Yeah well the Alliance can't really start a fight for me to get my N7 so it's regular duties for me."

"So what will the might N6 Lieutenant be doing for his leave?"

"Well was thinking about hitting a nice little bar on Earth."

"I got a better idea, I've been saving up my shore leave, as have some other vagrant well-wishers and since I'm still attached to the Agincourt" she hinted.

"Okay you, me and the boys, colour me intrigued, what's your idea?"

"Ever heard of Elysium?"

Author's Note: My deepest apologies for the delay on releasing this chapter. The usual plague of minions and self-doubt eating away at my self-esteem and the effort into my personal projects is no excuse to the many fans of Mass Effect. The end of this chapter should leave no illusions as to what's coming next in terms of Prologue story… that's right ladies and gentlemen I give you the Shore Leave and the Skyllian Blitz. Dun Dun DDDUUUNNN! Leave a note or comment or review… or review letting me know how this turned out and let me know if you want me to focus on more on Shepard's development during the Prologue, the story within the Prologue or a nice continued balance of both.

As always thanks for reading.

C.C.