A/N: Italics indicate internal thought.
Bold indicates Reaper speech
Bold Italics indicate Reaper internal speech
Please comment and review
This is my first attempt at a story, so I am open to constructive criticism. Also If anyone has suggestions for the story feel free to give them.
Ceremony and Spectacle
Location: Palaven, Hastatus Decurion
Date: 17th June
Time: 1200
On a typical day, the halls of the prestigious Hastatus Decurion academy would be bustling with activity. Hundreds of cadets would be attending lectures, undergoing physical training or live firearm practice.
Today however was not a typical day.
Today the halls of the Academy were empty and quiet. The reason for this was the large gathering of people in the open area behind the Academy. The people attending the graduation ceremony.
At the head of the ceremony was a platform where many of the Academy's instructors stood, in addition to several high-ranking members of the Turian Hierarchy, including Primarch Tactus himself. In front of the platform stood the graduates, several hundred Turian's all wearing crisp formal military uniforms. What made this graduation ceremony different from others, was the presence of fifty human graduates standing at attention in their formal Hierarchy dress-blues. Behind the assembled graduates, hundreds of chairs were positioned, where the families of the graduates, both human and Turian sat. Behind all of them, a lone figure leaned against a doorway of the main building, the shadow of the building covering him slightly.
As Shepard looked at the stage, he couldn't help but feel his insides churning due to his nerves. He wasn't sure he was ready to face his family again, or potentially just as bad, face her, but considering that he had been given an invitation to attend the ceremony he figured he couldn't cause any further damage by speaking to them.
As another of the instructors finished speaking at the podium on the platform, John cringed inwardly, I know I was never one for ceremony, but this is ridiculous.
He was relieved when he saw that the next person to speak was the Primarch, realising that being the most important person here, he would in all likelihood be the last speaker.
"Hastatus Decurion has a long and rich history of producing many of the finest officers to ever serve the Hierarchy. Today marks another chapter in that history. For today, I see not only the future of the Turian Hierarchy before me. Years ago, a brutal war was caused by the humans and their naïve ignorance of the true dangers of the galaxy. The misguided actions of the young species led to a conflict in which many lives on both sides were lost. In the years following, the Citadel Council spared no effort to educate humanity of their mistake and integrate them into the wider galaxy. And today we take a great step towards a brighter future, as human cadets graduate from this prestigious academy. I believe this will strengthen the bond between our two species and pave the way for greater prosperity for both our peoples. For that, I thank you graduates."
The Primarch gave a Turian salute, which all the graduates and many of the attending guests returned.
Shepard could only scoff at the speech and its warped recounting of history.
Well I guess I better find Liz….at the very least to tell her I showed up.
000
With the ceremony's conclusion, the guests and graduates began to mingle, striking up conversations with old friends, offering congratulations.
Elizabeth Shepard and Ashley Williams had finally been able to find Liz's parents and Ashley's mother in the crowd.
"We're so proud of you Elizabeth," Hannah said as she pulled her eldest daughter into a hug, "I know I gave you a lot of crap about enlisting initially Liz, but I'm so happy for you," James Shepard said, also hugging his daughter. Both of the elder Shepards were wearing their formal military uniforms.
"I just wish your father could be here to see this Ashley," Sophia Williams said as she embraced her own daughter, "Yeah it would've been a laugh to see him pass out from the shock," Ashley joked, causing her mother to chuckle.
"I just wish that your brothers and sisters could have come," said Hannah, "I wanted that too, but the Hierarchy was really stingy when it came to the guest list," Liz responded.
She paused for a second before looking back at her parents, "did John come with you? I know I was able to send him an invitation," Both parents looked away sadly, "I'm afraid we didn't see your brother," James said, "We haven't been able to see him since his…"
The all stopped talking as they took notice of a figure walking towards them. They could only stare as John came to stop in front of the group. Unlike everyone else attending the ceremony, who were dressed in formal military wear, John simply wore a set of combat fatigues with a black hoddie and looked very out of place.
Liz took a small step forward, "John…. you came," she said, slightly surprised.
"You sent me an invitation. I wasn't sure if I was ready to face you again…. I'm still not sure, but I figured I could come and congratulate you at the very least," he said, uneasily.
Liz sighed before speaking, "I know you suffered things I couldn't begin to understand, and I don't expect you to let it go easily, or even if you ever can," she looked him in the eye as a smile graced her features, "but for the moment, I'm just glad that you're no longer letting it consume your life like before," the siblings hugged each other.
Pulling away, Liz looked over his clothes, "seriously though…. couldn't you have dressed up a bit?" she asked in mock disapproval.
John merely shrugged with a small grin, "afraid I was never big on ceremony Liz," he responded.
"Well that's certainly true," Hannah cut in, "my word, during your medal ceremony it looked like you were about to storm out at any second," she laughed.
Liz looked at her brother with an amused expression, "Yeah another thing. Why are you coming to congratulate me mister 'Star of Terra'. I heard about what you did…. I'm proud of you, big bro."
"From what we've been told you pulled off some truly incredible feats," Hannah said proudly.
"Mum, you shouldn't buy every word the news report said, they tend to exaggerated a bit," John said slightly uncomfortable.
"Oh, I know they do." His mother said, "That's why I didn't ask the news. I asked David about it. He said the security footage he found was unbelievable. He said 'it was like watching you again during the first battle of Elysium Hannah"
James joined in, "he told us that only the son of the two craziest humans in the galaxy could pull off feats that insane," Liz burst out laughing at that.
She looked down slightly, "I tried to get permission to go to your award ceremony but…."
"It's fine," John said, waving off her apology.
"So, I hear you also got a promotion from it. Operations Chief now right?" she asked, her smirk returning.
John rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
"You do know it would have been easy to get you into an officer's academy instead of regular boot camp John," James said.
John smiled, "I know dad, but you worked your way up from a grunt. You told me that you only became the soldier you were because of those early experiences. I wanted to do the same. But if it makes you feel any better, I received a nomination for N class training."
James clapped his son on the back, "congratulations John, I think you'd really take well to that."
John fell silent as his eyes finally met another member of the party; someone he hadn't seen in over two years. Ashley Williams.
Here appearance had matured slightly but she was still as beautiful as John remembered. He had conflicting feelings at the moment. Back when he was abducted, the idea of reuniting with her had been the one thing that kept him going, in addition to memories of his own family. He had initially been terrified for her when he had received the news that she was going to become part of project 're-forged sword'. And after his confrontation with Liz he had simply been too ashamed to try and reach out to her.
John wasn't an idiot. He knew after two years of no contact they couldn't just resume their relationship like nothing had happened, especially considering how much he had changed. Additionally, he wanted to make sure that no one he cared about was caught in the crossfire of his true mission, that included her.
I'm sorry hellcat….. maybe in another life….. in a better galaxy…. we could've had a chance.
"It's…it's good to see you Ash," he said.
Ash smiled at him, "it's good to see you to farmboy."
John deflated slightly at his old nickname, "seriously Ash," she only laughed slightly in response, "what do you expect? When everyone asked me if I knew John Shepard, I tell them 'yeah I knew him back when he was a hopeless farmboy," she retorted.
"So….. are you doing ….. okay?" he asked, awkwardly. You idiot, he quickly voiced in his head.
"Haven't had to many problems," she joked before her face turned serious, "but seriously John, it's been two years, we're different people. And with how we are now…. I don't think…."
"It okay, I get it," John cut in, desperately hoping to put an end to this awkward conversation.
A moment of silence passed between everyone, before Hannah placed a hand on her son's shoulder.
"I didn't get a chance to ask you this before Jonathan," she said, "when you're celebrated as a hero, people tend to forget that you're still human, trust me I know this. Despite your victory at Elysium, it was a horrific experience. Are you okay?" She asked, her voice full of concern.
John took a deep sigh, "I'm not suffering any PTSD from the invasion…..but the truth is there's a lot of unanswered questions. Everyone's treating Elysium like it was a great victory, but everything I found told me that it was just the start of something else," he stated.
Liz looked down at her feet slightly, "I think you might actually be right John." She brought her voice down to a whisper, "I can't say much, but there's talk about a massive mobilisation towards the Terminus border."
"Well maybe-"
"Well, well, well, no wonder the alcohol taste so bad. Security must be enjoying the drinks too much if this disgusting ape was able to sneak his way in here," a loud obnoxious voice cut off whatever John was going to say.
Turning around the two families saw a group of half a dozen Turian graduates. The one who had spoken was easily identified as the leader of the group and was looking right at John with an arrogant sneer.
He came closer until he stopped merely inches from John's face, "I asked you a question human. How was a disgusting vagrant like you able to sneak into the festivities?" John's face twitched slightly as he caught the stench of alcohol on the Turian's breath, further reinforced by the half-full glass he still held in his hand.
"Back off Trakus," Liz cut in, pushing them both apart, "this is a family conversation. And to answer your question, he's my brother, I invited him."
"Your brother," Trakus gasped in mock surprise, he pushed Liz out of the way as he stepped closer to John again, "wait, I recognise you now. It is really hard to tell you apes apart, but it is hard to forget a face when every charity case they let into this esteemed Academy has been flashing it around for the past few weeks," he said, sarcastically.
He inched his own face closer to John's, "do you really think what you did is something to be celebrated? You cutting down a few thousand, barely trained, poorly equipped, thugs, makes you impressive? Though, I suppose for a species as pathetic as yours, you need to make yourselves look good any chance you get. Still in all honesty the attack on your colony just goes to show how much your Alliance depends on the mercy of the Hierarchy to protect it," he remarked scathingly.
John's fist clenched in anger as he met the Turian's gaze.
This wretch…..teach him that he…should be the one grovelling at our feet
He isn't a slaver, he's just some drunk idiot.
He looks down on humanity just as the rest of his kind does…eliminate him now….before he becomes something in the future.
No….I'm not gonna kill him just because he insulted me. He isn't worth it.
Shepard's expression turned stoic, "I think you've had too many drinks, this is a private conversation, so leave," he said, emotionlessly.
"Did you just order me to do something you filthy ape," Trakus attempted to shove the human in front of him, but John didn't move a millimetre.
"I'm not looking for trouble," John said, trying to diffuse the situation again.
"Well guess what?" Trakus sneered, "trouble just found you," he emptied his glass over Shepard's boots. John's arm trembled as he resisted the urge to deliver a right hook to this hinge-head's smug face.
"You really are trying to pick a fight, aren't you?" John said, stating the obvious.
Trakus gave a sinister chuckle, "it wouldn't be a fight human. It would be a massacre."
"Is everything all right here?" a stern voice asked, as Garrus Vakarian positioned himself between the two men.
"Nothing at all Sir," Trakus responded, his tone doing a complete flip, "I merely recognised Operations Chief Shepard from his exploits on Elysium, and asked if he'd be willing to have a friendly sparring match with me."
John raised an eyebrow at that, "forgive my ignorance of Turian customs, but you truly want to have sparring match in the middle of the ceremony?" John asked, genuinely confused.
"As hard as it is to believe John, Turian usually have sparring matches as part of social gatherings, Turian squad mates spar against each other during downtime as well. It comes with their militaristic culture, I'm guessing," Liz cut in to explain.
"While that is correct, I do not believe we should be having one at such an important ceremony as this," Garrus said.
"Come now Vakarian, surely you do not see any harm in a friendly match," another voice drew their attention, and the gathering looked to see Primarch Tactus himself approaching them.
Trakus and his entourage immediately saluted him. Garrus and Liz quickly followed.
"I just came here to congratulate my sister, nothing more," John said, coldly.
"You are addressing the leader of the Turian Hierarchy human. Show him the proper respect," one of the Primarch's guards barked.
Show this fool…..what we think of …his 'proper respect'
John ignored the presence and gave the guard a cold stare, "I'm not a Turian. He's not my leader," he responded simply, stepping forward.
"That is of course true, but a friendly competition between one of humanity's most capable soldiers," he gestured to John, "and one of the Hierarchy's most promising cadets, would help to show some comradery between our peoples."
The Primarch then leaned in closer to John and whispered in his ear, "this will also ensure nothing 'unfortunate' happens to your sister's position in the Hierarchy."
John gritted his teeth at the veiled threat.
Kill him…teach this powerless insect….what threatening your family warrants
I kill him here and the Hierarchy will only take revenge on all of humanity, Shepard internally responded.
"Fine," he muttered.
"Excellent," the Primarch responded.
A few minutes later both John and Trakus found themselves in one of the sparring rings used for training at the Academy. A considerable crowd had gathered around the edge, eagerly anticipating the match.
The Shepards and Williams were also there, although they were much more nervous than the rest of the spectators. Liz was desperately searching through the crowd trying to find a specific person, eventually she saw him standing near the Primarch.
"Instructor Saren," she called out to him, catching his attention, "please sir, you got put a stop to this now."
"Don't worry Shepard, I will be sure to step in if it looks like he's going to suffer a serious injury," Saren tried to calm her.
"Sir, I'm not specifically worried about my brother getting hurt," she replied, trying to hide her worry.
"That's good," Saren responded, "because I wasn't referring to your brother."
In the ring John was not enjoying this at all. This entire situation was bringing up bad memories for him. He scrunched his eyes shut as images began to flash through his mind.
He slammed his fists into the chest of fallen Batarian until he was no longer breathing.
He drove a sword through the chest of an Asari
"BLOOD BRAWL! BLOOD BRAWL! BLOOD BRAWL!"
"Come on human," John opened his eyes to look at Trakus, "I want you to show me what you've got," the Turian then gave a slight chuckle, "of course I really know the answer to that," he looked John in the eye, "nothing."
Shepard just glared at the idiot, "final warning. Call this fight off now," he growled.
Trakus just gave him a sadistic grin, he lowered his voice so that only John could hear him "you know I will admit for a human, your sister is a real find piece of meat. And I'd really like to have a taste of her. Maybe we'll do just that when she is under my command."
John eyes narrowed and his body tensed, you just crossed the line asshole.
A klaxon sounded, announcing the beginning of the fight. A second later John shot forward. Slightly shocked by his opponent's speed, Trakus threw a right hook at the human. To John, it look like the Turian was moving in slow motion, he ducked under the punch and delivered a powerful uppercut under Trakus' chin. The blow lifted him off the ground slightly but moving fast, John grabbed the Turian's head and slammed him into the ground.
The crowd was completely silent. The Primarch scowled at what transpired, while Saren stroked his chin, curiously. Liz breathed a sigh of relief, thankful her brother hadn't gone too far.
Idiots lucky I didn't crush his head like a grape, he thought looking down at the groaning form of Trakus.
What's wrong with you John….. he's still alive.
Shut up, like I said his just an arrogant moron, he's not worth killing
"We done?" he asked sarcastically, looking up at the crowd.
It was then that six Turians made their way through the crowd and leapt into the ring and surrounded him. John quickly recognise them as the Turians who were accompanying Trakus earlier.
He raised an eyebrow, "really?" he asked.
"You really think we're gonna let you get away with this, you fucking ape," one of them said to him.
John couldn't stop himself from tensing in anger as several members of the crowd roared in support of the graduates' actions. Liz turned back to Saren in panic, "please sir, stop this before somebody gets hurt," she begged.
"My apologies Shepard, but I believe this will be an important learning experience," he responded.
"Learning experience?!" she exclaimed, exasperated.
"Yes," Saren responded, turning to look at her, "they will learn not to underestimate what humans are capable of."
John just shook his head slightly, realising there wasn't any way to avoid this, he looked directly at the Primarch, "I think you should make up some beds in the infirmary," he called out.
The six surrounding him charged. He grabbed the one in front of him by his collar, and delivered a rapid trio of punches into his face, sending him falling to the ground unconscious, with blue blood pouring down his mandibles. Another Turian grabbed him from behind, while a third came at him on his right. John delivered a jab into the throat of the Turian in front of him, sending him to the ground gasping for breath. Next, he Judo flipped the Turian that had grabbed him, then curb stomped him in the face, knocking him out.
He side kicked a fourth Turian, sending him onto his back spitting up blood. He delivered a powerful judo chop to the shoulder of a fifth. A noticeable crack was heard and the unfortunate soul fell to the ground screaming. The last Turian present charged at him but John clotheslined him, knocking him out.
John took a moment to survey the unconscious and groaning Turians before him. Suddenly he heard noise behind him and turned around to see Trakus struggling back to his feet. A smug grin formed on Shepard's face, "your friends…. they were showing me what they got," John paused for a second as Trakus looked at him with unbridled rage, "Nothing," Shepard finished, mockingly.
Trakus pulled out a combat knife, "you are fucking dead," he sneered and lunged at the human.
"John!" he heard Liz call out in fear.
Without showing a single trace of concern, John simply ducked under Trakus' lunge, letting the Turian go past him, "nice swing, very smooth," John mocked.
Trakus roared in anger and swung his knife at Shepard again. John leaned back lazily to avoid it, "missed," John taunted. Trakus swung his knife again, "missed again," Shepard said after dodging the second attack.
Trakus yelled and swung his knife downwards. John's hand shot out and grabbed the knife hand. With a quick twist he snapped the Turian's wrist and grabbed the knife. John then delivered a spinning heel kick to Trakus' face, knocking him to the ground.
Trakus lay on his back, spitting up blood. John stood over him and pinned him to the ground with his foot. He flipped the knife over in his hands a few times, looking into the fear filled eyes of the Turian.
His arrogance….his delusional self entitlement…..that is what makes his species believe they have the right to enslave yours…. teach him Jonathan….teach him what he has a right to…
These vermin they think we should be slaves because that's all we're good for. But we can be more…. We can be more than they ever were. He thought he was better than me just because I'm a human.
I should….. I should teach him how mistaken he was,
yes Jonathan… Do it…..show them all.
Without a second thought John brought the knife down towards Trakus' head. The Turian screamed and scrunched his eyes shut.
After a few moments Trakus realise he was still alive and opened his eyes... the knife was stuck in the ground, the blade an inch away from his throat. Shepard leaned down until their faces were inches apart, "try that shit again….and I will remove what makes you male," John growled.
John stood back up and quickly threw the knife to the edge of the ring. He turned around and was about to storm off but then he heard the sound of clapping behind him.
Turning around he saw that Saren was standing in the ring, "very impressive Shepard. Although I have no doubt that such opponents were easy for someone with your experience," the instructor complemented.
"All right cadets," Saren said, addressing the crowd," what is the lesson to take away from this?" The audience broke into a large amount of grumbling at the question. "Do not underestimate humans in a fight. Especially do not discount them on the simple fact of 'they are humans', that type of thinking is going to get you killed."
Saren then walked over to Trakus still groaning on the ground. He kneeled down and grabbed the younger Turian by the throat, "I heard what you said you piece of shit, if you ever say anything like that about one of your fellow cadets, I will personally see that you spend the rest of your sad career stationed on the worst planet I can find. No matter what your family standing is," he growled.
Trakus promptly made his way to the infirmary while the rest of his friends did the same, supporting some of the more injured ones.
Saren turned back to John, "well now that they are out of the way. Perhaps I could interest you in fighting an opponent more your calibre."
John scowled at him, "I'm pretty sure this has been made into a big enough spectacle already, and I am done with it," he growled, before starting to walk away.
Saren gave a light chuckle, "you have the same fire as your sister," he mumbled under his breath before addressing John again directly, "unlike the arrogant morons who you just beat to a pulp, I truly recognise the victory you helped achieve on Elysium, there are very few in the galaxy who could hold off an entire invasion force single-handedly, then lead a successful counter-attack with only four soldiers. I confess I am simply curious about the kind of person who could accomplish that, especially for one as young as yourself."
Saren then folded his arms as he continued to gaze at John's still retreating form, "Of course, knowing the place where you gained most of your fighting experience," John froze at that, "even back then you were pulling off impossible victories weren't you…..Blood Brawl," Saren finished.
Shocked murmurs began to run through the watching crowd.
He dares to make a light…..of the horror….you endured.
John turned around, a look of fury etched on his face and started to make his way back towards the instructor, "that part of my life is behind me," he growled, "and I'm trying to make up for it."
"Indeed, I am truly sorry you were ever made to participate in such a barbaric and revolting activity," John told himself that the Turian's sincerity was false, "still you gained quite the repetition for fatalities, didn't you?"
John swung a right hook at Saren, who raised his left, prosthetic arm to block the strike. Saren delivered a right hook to Shepard's jaw and then kicked him in the chest, causing him to stagger back. John regained his footing and looked back at Saren.
He growled in frustration, in his anger he partially lashed out with his enhanced strength. He was extremely lucky for Saren's prosthetic left arm, it had been able to hide the true strength of his blow. He had to be careful, he couldn't risk exposing himself here. He took a deep breath and charged again.
He threw a punch with his right hand, which Saren easily caught, he tried the same with his left fist but the same thing happened. Thinking quickly, he proceeded to head-butt Saren, his opponent stumble back slightly dazed, and Shepard took advantage of the opportunity. He tried to sweep kick the Turian, but Saren recovered quickly and jump flipped over Shepard. As John turned around Saren kneed him in the stomach and delivered an upper cut into the human's chin, sending him onto his back.
Shepard quickly flipped back to his feet and rubbed his jaw. Those hits hurt quite a bit, I know my powers increased my strength and reflexes but I've got to remember that it doesn't make me invincible or immune to pain.
I've got to remember who I'm fighting; this is the number one Spectre in the galaxy, a lot stronger than the regular grunts I fight, I've got to be more careful.
Saren swung a left hook at John, he successfully blocked it, but once again only by using his own enhanced strength to withstand the force of the robotic limb. John tried to deliver a kick into Saren's knee, but he quickly tensed the muscles in his legs and positioned it so John kicked him in the thigh. It did much less damage but it still caused Saren to sag slightly, John quickly followed up with a punch to his chest, forcing him back.
Seeing him push the Spectre back, John quickly re-assessed the situation.
Deciding to end this John charged forward, he ducked under Saren's punch, then jumped and gripped his legs around Saren's waist in a scissor lock and pulled him to the ground.
Shepard stood poised above the Turian; his fist raised. After a few moments he stood back up, "if you want me to fight you, don't hold back against me," he said coldly. Saren proceeded to laugh and also stood back up, "you are truly impressive kid, where the hell were you when they were finding volunteers for the re-forged sword program?" he asked rhetorically.
John's eyes flashed red, though thankfully nobody saw, "two things," he said with barely restrained anger, "one. I will never fight for you honourless, cowards. Two. To answer your question, beating others to a bloodied pulp so sick freaks could get their kicks."
John quickly started to make his way out of the ring, he spared a glance back at Liz and Ashley, they looked both relieved and slightly shocked. John released a deep sigh.
Liz I really hope you can make your dreams of showing how humanity can help the galaxy a reality, but maybe…..maybe I should keep away from you…..I've already been too scarred by the darkness of this galaxy. Somebody like me…. I would just be poison to you and all you want to achieve
John quickly made his way off the Academy grounds.
Saren observed the human's retreating form. As he did another Turian came up, "why did you need to make a further spectacle of that?" Nihlus said.
"I needed to get an idea of what kind of person he was. Afterall he is the one she told us about," Saren responded.
"Yes he is," Nihlus nodded solemnly, "but she says there is still no definite answer to what path he will choose,"
Both Turians looked back at the retreating human.