A/N: A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to read, review, follow and favorite this story. I appreciate any and all feedback on this.
Time spent in the hospital had been agonizingly and frustratingly slow, especially as isolated as Shepard had been the remainder of her stay, but the day had finally come. The Alliance agreed to spring her. The only catch was that she had to go through a huge ceremony before she was truly free… well, as free as any soldier could be. News of the ceremony was unwelcome but not unexpected; it went along with the decision to award her the Star of Terra. She secretly held out hope someone would just present a box, shake her hand while they smiled for a picture, and then be done with it, but that suggestion was instantly quashed. An achievement as monumental as hers required an equally monumental acknowledgement, no matter how far outside the truth the 'achievement' was at this point. As such, she was tucked away in the confines of a hospital room long past medical necessity since the powers-that-be wanted to ensure she was fully healed and camera-ready for her formal introduction to the galaxy. Apparently any signs of injury destroyed the image they wanted to project. It just wouldn't do for the Hero of the Blitz to limp all hunched-over across some stupid stage.
Shepard marched across the hospital's landing pad to the transport shuttle waiting to whisk her away to Alliance Command in Vancouver. Her heart fluttered as she neared the open hatch, hopeful a familiar face would be waiting at the controls. Yes, he was still technically in training, but a trip as short as this was completely within Joker's ability. Hell, he was capable of so much more, but most people weren't willing to see past the braces and medical flag on his files. Still, a few strings could easily be pulled in this sort of situation… Shepard's expectant grin faltered as she ducked within the vehicle. Broad shoulders and a very stiff back were all the greeting she got from the pilot. Apparently a simple nod of acknowledgement was too much. Joker would've greeted her with some off-color and completely inappropriate remark. She missed that… missed the laughs, too. At least the completely silent flight was fast.
A very perky young brunette with meticulous hair and makeup met the transport as it landed. That tingling little nagging feeling crawled across the back of Shepard's mind as soon as she saw the very eager woman; the day was going to be long and unpleasant. Anyone that vivacious and cheerful at this time of morning was either trying to sell you something or was going to lead you into the depths of hell. This was clearly the second option. Sure enough, the enthusiastic former beauty queen was there to escort Shepard to a large private suite for the five hours of prep scheduled before the ceremony. Apparently it takes a lot of time and effort to get a soldier like her media-ready. And a small army, based on the sheer number of people gathered within the suite. The brunette woman rushed through introductions, but Shepard missed them all. She was too focused on the largest assortment of beauty supplies ever collected in one room.
Shepard was never a girly-girl. She spent her childhood busting asses instead of breaking hearts and felt most comfortable in that role as an adult, too. Simplicity was the key. As a general rule, if a situation required more than lip balm and a bun then she was out. That kept her happy so far in her life, and was only broken when her mother intervened for special occasions… which usually started with an argument and ended with Shepard feeling completely overdone and pissed. Seeing the beauty specialists all armed with the tools of their trade just waiting to pounce left her feeling overwhelmed and completely out of her element.
A very tall, thin man with bright lavender hair that defied gravity grabbed Shepard's hand and led her to a chair positioned in front of a large, lit mirror. "Don't look so scared, honey. We're the best in the biz," he winked as he nudged her into the seat.
People descended on her like they'd been starving and she was the first fresh meal in months. For some reason it frightened her more than facing down an enemy – probably because she had to just let this happen. Hands and tools jutted into her personal space fast and furious. The whir of activity left her feeling claustrophobic and out of control, so she closed her eyes and just let it happen.
"For the love of… quit moving," an exasperated voice called out from somewhere in the murky depths of the room. Shepard tried to obey, struggling to keep her head straight against the constant yanking as instructed by the haughty voice. It took half a beat to realize who was leading the assault, but that voice was unmistakable.
Desperate for the reassurance of familiarity, Shepard opened her eyes to seek out the person behind the voice. Instead, she was greeted with the sight of something very sharp and shiny, and it was coming straight for her eyes. It was just a flash of movement, her hand quicker than her mind, and the assailing tool was airborne as Shepard jerked her head out of the way. Dramatic sighs filled the room, drowning out the solid thump of the tool embedding into the wall. One second of base instinct taking over undid all the work so far.
"I swear, it's like you never put on makeup before," the voice chided from directly behind the chair as the reflection of cool blue eyes locked on Shepard's. There was no mistaking their relation; the family resemblance was uncanny.
"That was not makeup, mother." Shepard's lips turned up slightly as she tried to hold the older woman's gaze, but hands appeared out of nowhere and began yanking, tweezing, and doing who knows what else once more. She ignored them all and focused on her mother. "I don't know what it was, but it looked scarier than most of the equipment I handle… and you know what I do for a living."
"Don't be so dramatic, dear. A little grooming never killed anyone. Not from lack of effort on your part just now," the elder Shepard sighed as she gestured towards grooming tool embedded in the far wall. "If you spent a little more time on your appearance we wouldn't have so much work ahead of us today. You could be so pretty with just a little effort…"
"Thanks," was Shepard's terse response as her lips pulled in to a tight pucker. Backhanded compliments were one of her mother's strengths. At least she got it out of the way at the start of the day this time. It was much easier than sitting around waiting for it to drop, because it always appeared eventually.
"Oh sweetie, don't take everything so personally. I'm looking out for your best interests." Hannah shooed away the makeover team with nothing more than a stern look, then stepped into the now-vacant space and hugged her daughter from behind. There was no response. Wrinkles creased her features, instantly aging her by decades as she stared down the smooth reflection of her child. The cold shoulder was an unpleasant but completely expected response. "I'm sorry I didn't visit while you were recovering. I was really busy with work…"
Shepard remained stiff-backed as she watched her mother carefully. There was no doubt Hannah had been busy; Shepard kicked down a hornet nest and the Alliance was tasked with cleaning up the angry swarm. Everyone was busy. But they both knew an exception would've been made if Hannah pressed the issue. It was always possible to find a few hours within 6 weeks if she really wanted it. That just wasn't who her mother was, though.
"I'm glad you're here now," Shepard finally responded. They couldn't change the past, so it was best to focus on the present.
"So am I, sweetheart, but I'm here on official business, too. I've been recruited by someone in the upper echelon to keep you in line." Hannah winked knowingly. "I also got the bonus task of acting as your delivery service."
Shepard watched her mother carefully as she took the items she was handed. This was a surprise. She studied the small bundle in her hands, too focused on the mysterious package to care that she'd been surrounded once more. There was only one way to find out what was so important it required hand-delivering.
A data pad lay on top of a small box within the bundle. Reading would be difficult with all the tugging her head was currently enduring, so she laid the pad aside and focused on the box. It was an unremarkable container. The only blemish to the plain beige package was her name scrawled across the top in sharp chicken-scratch. That was all she needed. Running one finger along the perimeter, the seal gave with a soft pop to reveal the confusing duo within: a new amp and sunscreen. Shepard turned to face her mother, unsure what the contents were supposed to mean, but two very slender yet firm hands smelling faintly of pomade held her fast, preventing any movement. Resigned, Shepard dug deeper in the box for an explanation. That's when she found the small, hand-written note in the same barely-legible writing. The writing would be difficult to read in any environment. As it was, she had to keep moving her arm to keep up with the jerking motion of her head and it took several minutes to decipher.
Shepard,
I don't agree with the decisions made by top brass, but you can use it to your advantage. You have a secret weapon your enemies won't be prepared for. Learn how to wield that to the best of your abilities when you report to N-School in Rio next month. I wanted to deliver this in person, but you know how it goes… Congrats, kid, you earned it. I know you'll do me proud. Just don't forget the sunscreen – I saw what you looked like after one day in the Elysium sun, and Rio's a lot less forgiving.
Anderson
Shepard looked up from the box in her lap, her face dangerously pale. "Did you know about this?" Shepard called out, eyes wide with shock. The beauty team may not let her move, but they couldn't keep her quiet. That didn't stop them from making little noises of frustration, though.
Hannah stepped forward, silencing the most theatrical huffs with a single glance, and took the note. It was nice to see she was as irritated with the drama-filled beauty team as well. Both perfectly-manicured eyebrows shot up and a huge smile spread across the proud mother's face almost instantly as she read the short letter.
"This is wonderful! You'll do great; you deserve this chance."
"I don't deserve this… any of this. I was just in the right place at the right time," Shepard spoke into her lap as she shook her head, refusing to meet her mother's eyes.
"Don't be silly. You managed an amazing feat. You held off an entire army without a single casualty!"
"That isn't true. A lot of people died because I wasn't fast enough to save them." Shepard's voice was barely above a whisper, almost impossible to hear over the ambient sounds of the assembled crew.
"Alright, everyone out of the room; I need a few moments with my daughter," Hannah ordered, and every single person in the room immediately dropped everything and left without hesitation. That was the type of response she was accustomed to. A commanding, almost intimidating aura radiated from her very being, a trait also exhibited by her daughter since birth. It was a Shepard thing.
Both women waited in silence the scant few moments it took for the room to empty completely. The sheer size of the cavernous accommodations was apparent once the small horde escaped into the halls. It was only then that Hannah knelt by her daughter's side. "How are you doing, really? And before you answer, remember that I'm asking as your mother and will know if you aren't being completely honest." Placing a loving yet firm hand under her chin, Hannah lifted her daughter's face until their eyes met. "You look like you need to talk. I'll listen… no judgment."
Shepard sighed, releasing the weight that lay heavily on her heart. "I hate this, mom; the position they're putting me in. I didn't ask for this – any of this. I just did what I had to."
Hannah leaned in and put a comforting arm around her daughter. She'd always been so independent, so damn stubborn, that Hannah often forgot how young she really was. But the raw, open look of fear made her daughter look like a teenager again, and that made Hannah's heart ache. "I know, honey, but nobody really asks for this. Well, some do, but they're never the ones who can actually handle it. But you… You'll be able to handle it."
"I don't know about that, mom. I just… I feel so damn isolated. I don't know how else to put it." Shepard shrugged in frustration. "Everywhere I look a bastardized version of me is staring back. Everyone knows my name… well, my last name, but I didn't speak to a single person in the last month. I'm still a topic on every news show, with people scrambling to tell the galaxy how well they knew me, but nobody even bothered to actually come see me. Even the hospital staff avoided me – they were afraid I'd read their minds or control them or something equally asinine. And I'm supposed to keep my mouth shut about my condition because it would hurt recruiting… I… I feel like a giant baby and you don't need to listen to me throw a tantrum." Shepard pulled away, suddenly aware of how raw her emotions actually were. Giving voice to them only made them stronger, and thus more dangerous.
"Shhhh, calm down," Hannah soothed as she pulled her daughter into a tight hug, relishing the moment her daughter finally melted into the embrace. "I know it's rough, but that's all part of military life. I warned you about the hard parts, but you chose this path anyway, just like I knew you would. It's part of you and always has been. You just have to learn not to take it all so personally."
Hannah pulled back to really look at her daughter. It had been years since she took the time to do so, and her heart ached when she realized just how mature the young woman was. Time flew by in a blink of an eye. It was time she knew.
"I know exactly how you feel. I went through the same thing when I was pregnant with you." Hannah ignored the surprised look on her daughter's face and pressed on. "It was a huge scandal, you know. We'd been in deep space for several months when I suddenly became pregnant, so there was no question what had happened. Top brass offered leniency if I gave up your father so we could share the punishment, but I refused. He had a promising career ahead of him. I couldn't jeopardize that. They kept me under close observation when I refused to answer, so I had to keep your father away from me… us… to protect him. I became a pariah. People I thought were my friends disappeared, afraid they'd get pulled in to the scandal, too. When all was said and done, the young doctor on the ship was the only person who'd speak to me. Honestly, she's probably solely responsible for my sanity. It was the loneliest I've ever been, but it was worth it."
"I'm sorry. I… I didn't know I caused you so much trouble." Shepard blinked back her tears as she spoke.
"Don't be ridiculous! You didn't have any say in the matter, and I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat." Hannah smiled as she squeezed her daughter's hand. "I didn't tell you that to make you feel guilty! I just wanted you to know I understand, and it will get better. You'll find the people willing to share the load eventually, and you're strong enough to carry it on your own in the meantime."
"I think this will make you feel a bit better," Hannah added as she pulled the data pad from her daughter's lap and turned it on.
Shepard eyed the OSD suspiciously as she pulled it closer. Skimming the contents quickly, she was unsure of what she was supposed to see. A short note sat atop a generic media transcript, and none of it mentioned her in any way. A short, questioning glance to her mother didn't give her any clues, either, so she resigned herself to actually reading the entire thing.
Shepard, this is in regards to our last discussion. The Alliance reached an agreement with Jon Grissom to start a project that will hopefully fill the void you mentioned. Note the location of the project, as it is no coincidence. Also, the Alliance is mandating retraining of all military staff, including but not limited to hospital personnel, in regards to treatment of biotics. This is effective immediately. Thank you for bringing that to our attention. – Hackett
The press release announced the commission of Jon Grissom Academy, a school for talented youth in a space station over Elysium. The location was an obvious connection with her, but none of the rest of it really made any sense. The stated mission was "to serve a student population demonstrating excellence and passion for math, science, and the liberal arts." That really didn't have anything to do with her. Yes, she'd been a good student, but formal education had always been available. The confusion lingered despite rereading the release several times over. Finally, she gave up and looked to her mother for any clues.
"I was briefed on this one when I picked it up," Hannah began to explain with a warm grin. "The Academy's main program is the Ascension Project. It's a human biotics training program. The Alliance is working with civilians on this, and every biotic will be welcomed. Upon completion of the program every single biotic will be given the choice to either join the Alliance or be integrated back into society."
Shepard skimmed the press release once more, now understanding the meaning behind the report. The Alliance listened to her. They were going to make things better for other biotics. She made a real difference. Tears pooled in her eyes as it all sunk in.
"Don't you start crying on me, soldier. It's going to take a few hours to get you ready as it is, so don't make it harder on us." Just like that, Staff Commander Shepard replaced Hannah Shepard the mother.
Shepard choked on a laugh as the beauty team reemerged and swarmed over her once more. The actual process of getting ready was a blur as Shepard, now content with her position in the galaxy, sat back and let it happen.
A few hours later Shepard fidgeted nervously backstage as a monotonous voice droned on. It was impossible to tell who was speaking from her position in the wings, but they seemed to be doing one hell of a job putting the assembled crowd to sleep despite the fact that her frantic call to arms was playing on a loop in the background. Hell, she was even fighting against heavy eyelids, and she had enough adrenaline pumping through her to kill a small animal. Once the words "single-handed", "miraculous", and "no casualties" met her ears, she decided it was best to tune out the drivel being spewed by the older man. At least she'd stay awake this way. Besides, someone would shove her out on stage if she missed her cue.
"What the hell did they do to you?" a familiar voice, colored with a mix of shock and amusement, call out as she turned away from the stage.
"You don't want to know," Shepard responded, wrinkling her nose as her best friend approached. She'd never been so happy to see Jeff's mug in her life, but a wide, goofy smile was all the greeting he was going to get. They weren't really the hugging type. "Just don't do anything to earn a commendation; it isn't worth it. I got your note, by the way. The nurses turned eight shades of red when I explained what it meant… so well done."
"But it made you smile, didn't it?" Joker waggled his eyebrows and they both started laughing. It was loud enough to wake a few members in the audience in the first two rows, which was probably going to earn them both a stern talking-to.
As if on cue, a large hand fell on Shepard's shoulder. She made a slightly guilty face at her friend before turning to face whatever trouble she'd earned.
"I thought you could use a little encouragement, soldier." Hackett's eyes danced as he patted her shoulder.
"I didn't think you'd make it, sir." Shepard chose her words carefully, always weary of anyone listening it, but there was no denying her happiness at his presence.
"I wouldn't miss this for the world. I had to call in a few favors and catch a ride from a student pilot," he nodded at Joker before continuing, "but even that was worth it… I think." He winked at Shepard, knowing full well how much that little remark got under Joker's skin.
"I have official business, though. I'm here to make sure you follow the Alliance's story. You're an amazing soldier who single-handedly held off a large invasion…"
"Nobody would really believe I could do all that on my own, sir," Shepard interrupted.
"They already do." Hackett squared his shoulders and stared deeply into Shepard's eyes. "I know you, though; you won't take all the credit. That's just how you are. So I'm not going to remind you that the vid they're playing right now was a call to arms, and it would look really bad if nobody answered that call. Because pointing that out would defeat the reason I'm here." A mischievous grin spread across the older soldier's face. The apple really didn't fall far from the tree.
"You made the Alliance… and your family... very proud. Now go get the recognition you deserve." Hackett's large hand clapped Shepard's shoulder affectionately before shoving her gently onto the stage.