Okay, this chapter really isn't one of my favorites; but it just didn't feel right jumping right in where Lili wakes. Already editing the next chapter, so I hope to have you a better one soon.
Oh yeah…Bioware owns Mass Effect and all characters….blah blah blah…
Joker sat in his apartment, fuming over the recent news he had been given; the Alliance Brass wanted to ground him on the grounds of failed psych evaluations; something to do with caring more for the ship than its Commanding Officer. The brass needed someone to pin Shepard's death on and since they couldn't or wouldn't admit to the wild goose chase they had sent them on, Joker was their scapegoat; and their solution to that was grounding him…the best damn pilot in the Alliance Fleet. I guess if I wanted to fly, I could go kiss everyone's ass and ignore everything we saw on our hunt for Saren like Alenko. Boy did he turn on Shepard quickly? She would be so disappointed in him…But we did see them, and I'm not going to let them destroy her name; she deserves better than that! Joker looked at the flashing light on his terminal across the room; he had a new message…dreading what was probably just someone else who wants to tell me how I can keep flying. Someone had to be the one to convince these people that the galaxy needs saving, and with Kaidan deciding to turn his back on everything Shepard worked for, Wrex on Tuchanka, and Garrus missing, that left it up to him. He hadn't heard Tali in over a year and Liara was trying to get as much information as she could, being a new information broker. He had bumped into Kaidan on his way back from his disastrous meeting. 'Just tell them what they want to hear and they'll let you fly. They want to know that they hold all the power; that they can keep you quiet.' Kaidan's treacherous words rang in his head and he sneered at the memory as he hobbled his way to his terminal. He had told Staff Commander Alenko that he would not lie and betray Shepard just to get what he wanted. She deserved better than that from her friends; and that is what she was, a friend…one of the few Joker had.
Inter-Relay Message
Location: Classified
To: Flight Lieutenant, Jeff Moreau
From: Cerberus
Subject: Job Offer
It has come to our attention that the Alliance is wasting the talent of one of their best pilots. We would like to offer you a job. If it is any incentive, we are in the process of reviving Commander Shepard; you would be working directly under her. Also, as a show of good faith, we will provide state of the art implants to help with your Vroliks Syndrome, if you so choose.
Please consider our offer. You would be a great asset to our goal and to humanity.
Sincerely,
Cerberus Command
Joker sat staring at his console as he reread the message over and over again. Anger took place in his gut; replacing the year of self-hatred and contempt he held for himself. He couldn't believe that someone would try to fuck with him like this, not only throwing a damn job offer at him, but throwing Shepard in there as well. Sure he could see the logic at recruiting, Give the bastard what he wants and correct his biggest mistake. Narrowing his eyes his hands quickly flew over the keyboard. Shepard? Who do these idiots think I am? I watched Shepard die.
Inter-Relay Message
Location: Citadel-Bachjret Ward
To: Cerberus
From: Joker
Subject: RE: Job Offer
Cerberus Idiots-
Shepard is dead.
Joker
He stood and made his way across his apartment to get a drink; after a day like today he needed an entire bottle of something, the Brass grounding him and threatening to CAT6 him due to failed psych exam (the only thing keeping him enlisted is the good word of Dr. Chakwas, Councilor Anderson and Admiral Hackett.) and now Cerberus is messaging him, wanting to offer him a job and speaking of bringing Shepard back from the dead. Turning and leaning against the counter, he saw the light flashing on his terminal. "You've got to be shitting me? Don't these people know I'm a cripple?" Finishing off his glass, Joker once again made his hobbling journey across his small apartment with the aid of his crutches.
Inter-Relay Message
Location: Classified
To: Flight Lieutenant Moreau
From: Cerberus
Subject: RE: Job Offer
Flight Lieutenant, Jeff "Joker" Moreau-
No, Shepard was dead. We have recovered Shepard's body; we also have a team of the most brilliant human scientists working diligently to make sure that we do not lose her again. We believe it would make her more comfortable to have a friend available to her upon her awakening. If it would set your mind at ease, we can show you that we have the real Commander Lilith Shepard.
Sincerely,
Cerberus Command Idiots.
Joker sat there stunned, staring at his computer terminal. He couldn't believe what he was reading. Hell, he didn't even know if it was possible, but they sure were going through a lot of damn trouble to try and convince him of whatever they had lying on their science table was indeed his Commander. His mind made up, the opened up a response and began typing. If they were capable of bringing her back, he wasn't going to leave her in their hands alone. After all, it was his fault that she had died in the first place. He should have been the one to go down with the ship.
Inter-Relay Message
Location: Citadel-Bachjret Ward
To: Cerberus
From: Joker
Subject: RE: Job Offer
IF you can convince me that you have the real Commander Shepard and not some clone or wannabe, I will accept your offer…but not before.
Joker
oooOOOooo
The Illusive Man sat in his chair listening to a data pad update from Miranda regarding Project Lazarus. It had taken them longer and cost considerably more than he had planned; but as long as they were achieving progress, they would get all the funding they needed. He had only denied Miranda one request in the beginning, to install a control chip; he was not going to chance it altering her in some strange way, he wanted Commander Shepard, not some expensive knock off that would do things differently. People looked up to her, the respected her; he needed her.
Progress is slow, but Shepard shows signs of recovery. Organs are again functional and there are signs of rudimentary neurological activity. In an effort to accelerate the process, we've moved from simple organic reconstruction of the subject, to bio synthetic fusion. Initial results show promise.
His eyes glanced over her notes before typing out a quick reply. He would need Operative Lawson's help in earning Shepard's trust. The easiest way was just ahead.
Inter-Relay Message {Encrypted}
Location:
To: Miranda Lawson
From:
Subject: Project Lazarus Help
Miranda
I am sending someone to you. He needs to know that this is the real Shepard and that she hasn't been altered. Take care of this for me. We need him to assure that Shepard stays with us.
Illusive Man
oooOOOooo
Miranda Lawson led Joker to a room overlooking the lab where Commander Shepard lay, a sheet pulled up to her bare shoulders. Pulling up a screen that would show him a closer view of her, Miranda began her prepared speech for Joker. Honestly, to him she sounded as if she did want to be here explaining this to someone she knew wouldn't understand. "She is the exact same person she was before. All physical reconstructions are complete, but we still need to evaluate all mental and neurological functions. Our orders were clear, 'Make Commander Shepard who she was before the explosion, the same mind, the same morals, and the same personality.' If we alter her identity in any way, if she's somehow not the woman she was before, than the Lazarus Project will have failed. I refuse to let that happen." She turned to look at Joker, her eyes watching him carefully. "She is not a clone nor is she an AI of any kind. She is flesh and blood; now she just has several extensive cybernetics, most are to keep her functioning and others are to give her a little more of an edge. Here…" Miranda turned on the screen, showing Joker what Shepard had looked like when Liara had brought her to them. "This is Shepard when we first received her body. As you can see, she is the real Shepard, recovered from the surface of Alchera." She zoomed in on the small patch of skin that wasn't melted away to reveal a type of vine tattoo and pulled up several charts of blood work and medical records from before her death and during her reconstruction.
Ignoring the medical crap that he couldn't make sense of, Joker looked at the ink and then back at Miranda. "What is that supposed to prove?"
Exasperated, Miranda pulled up an old photo of Lili. "There. Does this help?"
Joker glanced at the girl on the screen. It definitely looked like Lili, minus the gruesome scar across her face. She had the same curly strawberry blonde hair and piercing green eyes. Her form held the same thin athletic figure and freckles across the bridge of her nose, though Lili would beat the shit out of anybody who ever mentioned those. The only change was that the girl on the screen looked to be about ten years younger. Her shirt had ridden up high, revealing the tattoo that flowed across her waist just above the ripped low riding jeans she wore. "Okay, so you have the real Shepard. How do I know she will be the same?"
"None of us will know for sure until she wakes up, but I have done everything in my power to make sure that she is the same."
Silent for a moment, Joker thought about what was happening in the lab below them. He looked through the glass again before coming to his decision; he wasn't leaving her alone with these people, he may not be much help to her, but he could be there for her. "All right, I'll join you on one condition…I will only answer to Lili, no one else."
Miranda nodded; The Illusive Man had told her to expect as much. Shepard and her crew didn't trust Cerberus and she commanded loyalty from even the most untrusting of people. Now if only they had a way to actually control Shepard. She still thought putting a control chip in Shepard would have been a smart move, she was an unknown. She'd just as easily turn on them as work for them. "If you'll follow me, I'll get you started on your implants if you choose….."
"Miranda, we have a problem."
Miranda tensed at the sound of the voice flowing through the room. Quickly she moved over to the window to look down into the lab below them. "What is it, Wilson?"
"I'm getting some unusual readings."
Joker couldn't help but think the man sounded excited about the idea of unusual readings coming from Shepard; and after years of people watching and listening to others instead of interacting with them, Joker was a pretty good judge of character and situations. Something about the owner of the voice sounded off and immediately, Joker didn't trust him. Looking up at Miranda, he held his hands up in defense as she gave him a pointed look with narrowed eyes. "I get it. I get it! I'll stay here until you return." He felt as if she was trying to intimidate him to stay behind, he rolled his eyes at the thought that he would even be much of a threat to her or her 'project'. He really didn't feel like trying to keep up with her anyway.
Miranda all but ran out of the room as Joker turned and looked out the window to the lab below, eyes widening at what he was seeing. Turing, he looked at the screen that Miranda had left open. Lili was moving as Miranda ran to her side.
Wilson looked at Lili in awe and glee as her head moved to the side and her breathing sped up. "I think she's waking up!"
"Damn it, Wilson. She's not ready! Give her another dose." Miranda was furious that he would chance the entire project, if Shepard woke up now, she would die…again and they didn't have the resources to bring her back a second time. The machines around her started beeping uncontrollably as Lili began moving more. She lifted her hand as if reaching for someone before she began to move like she was trying to get off the table. "Shepard, don't try to move." Her eyes opened and Joker stared wide-eyed as Lili's vibrant green eyes stared up, seemingly right through him. If there was any doubt that is was really her down there that squashed them.
oooOOOooo
Dr. Chakwas sat in her office on the Mars Naval Medical Center. It wasn't a ship job in a med bay but it would have to do. After Commander Shepard's death, the Alliance had split up all of Lili's team. They had sent the aliens all home; not liking that Shepard had given them complete access to her ship. She and Joker were grounded and Alenko was promoted. …Ass kissing little shit. She turned to her terminal and began to read her unread messages, surprised to find one from Jeff.
Inter-Relay Message
Location: Citadel-Bachjret Ward
To: Karen Chakwas
From: Joker
Subject: Shepard
Dr. Chakwas-
You will never believe who I saw yesterday. Lili! She is alive, not quite whole yet, but alive! Cerberus recovered her body and began reconstructing her. They are assembling a team for her and offered me a job, flying, for Lili! They asked if I knew anyone else who was on her crew that would be willing to work for her again. Though, we would not work for Cerberus, we would work for Lili; I made sure of that! We would be directly under; and answer only to her. You were the first person I thought of. I know you thought of Lili as a daughter, especially as much time as she spent in your med bay. Besides, I figure you would want to do your own scans of her to make sure she is whole and doesn't have some unwanted hardware in her. I know it's hard to believe; but I'm telling you Doc, it's Lili. She's half-dead and still trying to leave the medical facility. I'm attaching the information I was given, if you are interested. Honestly, it didn't make much sense to me.
Joker
oooOOOooo
Zaeed sat at the bar in Afterlife, debating on whether or not he wanted to take the Asari stripper to his room later. They just never compared to Lili. Two years had gone by and she was still what he bloody wanted. Damn her for leaving him in this sorry state! She wouldn't even bloody respond to his goddamn messages. He downed the remainder of his whiskey and motioned the bartender for another just as his omni tool pinged.
Inter-Relay Text Request
To: Zaeed Massani
From: T.I.M.
T.I.M. 15:26: Mr. Massani, I would like to hire your services. I'm sure you're acquainted with the name Commander Lilith Shepard? She is in need of a team to help her with a mission concerning the missing human colonists. It is a dangerous mission; and should you survive it, you will be very well compensated if interested.
Letting out a deep breath, Zaeed scoffed at the absurdity of the message. Everyone knew that Shepard had died when her ship exploded. Rumor was that she single-handedly fought her attackers as they boarded after she had made sure to get all of her people onto escape pods. Once she knew that her crew was safe, they say that she blew her own ship up to kill the enemy.
Lifting up his glass, Zaeed rolled his eyes. He didn't believe any of it, no one was that selfless; and the Council and Alliance Brass refused to comment on what had happened to her ship. Putting his glass down, he motioned for the Salarian behind the counter to refill his glass as he pulled up a response.
Text Accepted
ZM 15:32: I was told Commander Shepard was dead.
T.I.M. 15:35: Yes, she was; but even the deathly void cannot hold this woman down for very long.
ZM 15:38: You think I'm a bloody idiot? I'd be a goddamn fool to join your cause without knowing what we'd be fuckin' up against.
T.I.M. 15:40: Of course. I would have been very disappointed if you would have accepted without question. Attached is the sum of which you will be paid…
Zaeed opened the attachment from the unknown source and dropped the new glass of whiskey he'd just been served. Son of a bitch! That's a lot of goddamn creds! That's twice as much as what Vido was offered to kidnap those bloody kids! With that kind of money he could finally retire somewhere, though the thought of retiring and living out his life alone and without any action didn't quite sit well with him. If he were one hundred percent honest with himself, which he wasn't; the only time retirement sounded good was when Lili was talking to him…it always bloody came back to that damn woman. His omni tool pinged again, pulling him out of his thoughts.
T.I.M. 15:41: …In addition, we have information we believe you'd be interested in and helping you in acquiring it.
Z.M. 15:43: Who the hell are you?
T.I.M. 15:46: You may call me The Illusive Man. I am the head of Cerberus. Might you be interested in my offer?
Z.M 15:50: That depends; what bloody information do you have that I would want so much?
T.I.M. 15:51: The whereabouts of Vido Santiago.
Z.M. 15:52: Done!
T.I.M. 15:54: Excellent! Vido is on Zorya. I'm sure if you look into it yourself, you will find our information is accurate. Commander Shepard and her team will help you take him down.