Chapter 2

Jack wasn't completely convinced that Shepard didn't want something from her. Everyone wanted something from her. Why this purple-haired freak of a Commander wanted to spend time with her was beyond Jack's comprehension. Although, Jack wondered if the purple hair was an act of defiance. As far as Jack could tell, it probably was the only rebellious action that Shepard had. The woman had zero ink on her relatively flawless complexion. Well not completely flawless, Shepard had some serious scars on her face and some cybernetics seemed to be sticking out from underneath the scars she had.

"Since you won't leave, fine. What do you want to know?"

Shepard leaned against one of the bulkheads taking a relaxed sort of posture that was decidedly informal, despite the starched and pressed uniform she was wearing. "Those files…. find anything useful?"

"Still looking. By the way, thanks for getting me access."

"No Problem. What's in them?"

"Your Cerberus pals are into some pretty nasty shit."

Jack watched as Shepard folded her arms up and her eyes darkened and Shepard growled in a low guttural tone. "I know…"

"What…." Shepard paused. "What did they…what's your history?"

"I was raised in a research facility. I escaped as a kid. Been on the run ever since."

Shepard's eyes seemed distant for a moment, she seemed to be remembering something. Jack wondered what the fuck was bothering her. She took out her gun and aimed it at Shepard, maybe it would snap the Commander out of whatever it was and Shepard would focus back on her.

Shepard seemed to pull out of that deep far away gaze and pulled out her own side arm and aimed it back at her. When Jack lowered her weapon, Shepard did the same. "I am the one that's being chased, Shepard. But soon that won't be the case, I am going to be the one that chases them."

"You been thinking about this a lot, don't you?"

"See this gun, Shepard? I go to sleep with it. Everyone that I kill, I pretend it's the ones that did this to me."

"I see. Must be rough thinking everyone is out gunning for you."

"Fuck, Shepard, what do you know? You have had a relatively easy life."

"Easy? Don't make me laugh. Do you know how I ended up a Commander or why I chose this life? Probably not and I don't particularly feel like sharing my life with you either. But I assure you my life has not been sunshine and bunnies."

Shepard then came closer to her. "By the way…your form is off with that side arm. If you want to kill someone more effectively…." She paused. "I could show you…if you wanted."

"No, thanks. I don't need some Military Stooge and Cerberus…Bitc…umm.. teaching me how to kill. I have been killing people since I was a kid."

"Suit yourself. I thought you might like to know some new killing styles."

Jack raised an eyebrow. "You know something, Shepard. You are kind of destroying that straightlaced Military image you have."

"Good. You shouldn't pay any attention to the bullshit the Alliance puts out about me. It's filled with lies and half-truths. And then they try to make me into some sort of saint. I am not. Did you know they have an orphanage and school named for me back on Earth?"

"Really?"

Shepard laughed. "Yeah. Plus, they erected some sort of monument to me back on Torfan. I killed over fifty un-armed Batarians there. Might have been more. I lost count. I would have killed more if I could. You, well you get scolded for killing and end up eventually in Prison. Me, I get made into some Big-fucking hero. But enough talk, we're going to be docking at the Citadel soon and I figured we could all use some shore leave. You're welcome to join us, Jack. Or you can stay in this pit, vowing revenge against Cerberus. Your choice."

The Commander walked off. Okay, Jack thought, Shepard was one twisted woman. Not that Jack really cared about The Commander's past; however, a few things had slipped through that stoic Military façade that made Jack put down the Cerberus files and head straight to a terminal and try and dig up more info on the Commander. Most of it was classified but something popped up when Jack did a search on Torfan and Shepard. Shit, the fucking Commander might as well be considered a war criminal, but the Alliance painted all the actions of Commander Shepard during that raid, as the actions of a hero. That was seriously, fucked up.

A/N: Short, I know. but I will try and keep this going.