-SPECTRES-

COMMANDERS OF THE NORMANDY

Presented by Alliance News Network

PART III

The Companions

Emily Wong

"It's a pleasure to have you here, doctor. I understand you just had a day or two of shore leave in London. How was it there?"

Doctor Karin Chakwas

Chief Medical Officer on the SSV Normandy

"It's lovely, thank you. Things have grown a little quieter as of late. I found myself getting bored, dear God, when was the last time any of us could say such a thing?"

Emily Wong

"It's remarkable, looking outside it's hard to tell the city was so devastated just two years back.

Tell me, when did you first come to know Samuel Shepard?"

Karin Chakwas

"I met him about the time Captain Anderson did. The three of us, we saw several missions together well before we moved to the Normandy.

The rapport between those two men was remarkable, even then. Anderson never said it, but I think Samuel was the closest thing to a son he'd ever known."

Emily Wong

"You yourself struck up quite the rapport, with both Shepards."

Karin Chakwas

"Oh, of course. After Benjamin joined, it was one big… well, I wouldn't say we were always so happy. But we may as well be a family, after what we accomplished together."

Video footage of the Normandy after completion, circa 2183

"Such a crew would prove an invaluable asset to all galaxy five years ago. In what has since been called the Eden Prime War, rogue Spectre Saren Arterius launched an assault on human colonies with the aid of the synthetic Geth race.

Unknown to the galaxy at large, the campaign was the early stage of an invasion by the Reapers, sentient machines responsible for a cycle of mass extinction over millions of years."

The Battle of the Citadel culminates in the destruction of Sovereign, recorded by on-site reporters

"Those angles always make it look so small. Nothing like actually being there, huh?"

"Definitely not, Joker."

Refilling another glass of juice, Sam looked from the TV set to another monitor on the kitchen counter. Set in a row were the names of every living squadmate he and Ben had shared in the past five years.

The team that first gathered in the hunt for Saren. The ragtag group of outcasts that helped bring down the Collectors. Even Javik, grumpy and isolated as he was, had called in from his lone sanctuary on Thessia.

Each of the Shepards' companions cycled in and out of the call as the documentary played out. Wong's program was covering the Normandy's maiden voyage, now. Familiar ground to many of them already.

Karin rested against a desk with a datapad in one hand and a glass of iced brandy in another. Likely not her first glass, if the flush in her cheeks was to be believed.

"It was… well, it was an experience."

"If only I had been there, Commander," Javik said in disappointment. "What a pleasure it would have been to see the Reapers' emissary so utterly vanquished."

Urdnot Grunt nodded, watching the recordings of the battle raptly.

"Hell yeah. I thought tussling with thresher maws was exciting, but then the Reapers came. It brings a smile to this tank-bred's heart that you woke me up when you did, Shepard. Might have died of boredom if I missed it."

Ashley Williams shook her head. The Lt. Commander was dressed in a navy-blue uniform, and a badge emblazoned with the Spectre logo was proudly pinned to her chest. Her hair was shorter now than it was before, barely even reaching her shoulders.

"Trust me, guys, it wasn't exactly a 'pleasure'. There we were, the center of all civilization on fire, with a gigantic metal space-squid ready to either fry or just step on us.

And you said it was even worse in your day?"

Javik smirked.

"Indeed. Few of you would have lasted more than a week, or even a day."

With his wife Brynn by his side, Jacob Taylor slouched on a luxurious looking sofa.

"I tell you, the next few months after that attack were a nightmare. People kept looking over their shoulders, like they expected the geth to come crawling out of the damn walls.

Caught myself looking up a few times, in case another Reaper decided to drop in."

Sam's eyes were fixed on the screen, watching the Alliance disassembly of Sovereign's ruined shell.

"People were right to worry," he stated grimly. "If we'd just returned to business as usual like the Council wanted, left it all behind us, none of us would be here now."

"Ah, Sam. Let it never be said you hold anything back when the Council's concerned."

Sam's chest welled up as Garrus Vakarian popped into view. He was among the first to join the call but had remained quiet until now. From what Sam could tell the sniper was back on the Citadel. The last time they had seen one another was in May of the same year, shortly after the turian received a special promotion.

"Glad you could make it, Garrus. I think you're on soon."

"Already? Spirits, this is going to be painful. Why did I let you talk me into wearing that suit again, Sam?"

The booming voice of one Urdnot Wrex echoed on the chat.

"Afraid the camera's going to add a few pounds? Don't worry about that, Garrus, you're already practically a toothpick. If anything they'll be doing you a favor."

The assembled squadmates shared a chuckle as Garrus's scarred mandibles twitched in annoyance.

"Oh just you wait until it gets to you, Wrex. I doubt they'll even fit you into one shot."

This time, neither Liara nor Sam could help but join in as the chuckling turned to open laughter.

It was almost ludicrous. Here they all were. Soldiers, mercenaries, reformed criminals all laughing over something like an on-camera interview. It was as if all the horrors of the war were from some long-forgotten dream. Something that was not even real.

He could get used to this.

"Oh," Tali'Zorah chirped in, "Here it is!"

Sam whirled back to the TV. Emily Wong was on again and seated across from her in a fine black suit was Garrus.

Emily Wong

"Accompanying the human commanders and crew were a team gathered from several different species. Some with a less than friendly history with the Alliance. One such crewmember is with me today.

Garrus Vakarian. Former C-Sec officer and as of a month ago, the latest to join the ranks of the Spectres.

Garrus Vakarian

Spectre

Former crewmember of the SSV Normandy

"I'm surprised at you, Emily. After we all did back on the Citadel, you don't have to be so formal. How've you been?"

Emily Wong

"Fair enough, Garrus. I've been well. The past few years almost make me wish for those days investigating simple crime rings, publishing exposes.

Now, you were out there in the thick of it when Ben Shepard was made a Spectre and sent after Saren Arterius. You took it as a point of pride, moving to arrest or terminate Saren in spite of his record.

Some fringe groups in the Alliance questioned the Shepards bringing along a member of his race in the mission. Did such suspicion ever bother you?"

Garrus Vakarian

"Well of course it bothered me. If I spread rumors Sam Shepard was actually in league with Cerberus after their backstabbing the Alliance and joining the Reapers, I can't imagine a single outlet that wouldn't nail me to the wall for it.

We on the Normandy, we had a job to do. And no old prejudices were going to get in the way."

Emily Wong

"Well… Sam did work with Cerberus, if only for a short while."

Garrus Vakarian

"True. But he never had any real loyalty to them. They were a means to an end during that whole business with the Collectors. Nobody knew what a pain in the neck they'd become after that was over.

At the end of the day, our crew was loyal not to the Alliance, or the Council, but to the people of the galaxy.

Sovereign, Harbinger and the rest? They didn't care if we were krogan, asari, quarian, or whatever. We were all just meat for the grinder that was their harvest, their cycle."

Emily Wong

"Indeed, the ship did see many strange bedfellows. Your friendship with clan leader Urdnot Wrex is one of many.

A pity he couldn't join us."

Garrus Vakarian

"Ha! Are you kidding me? You'd have to tie up the old brute to sit him in front of a camera."

"Old brute?"

A now deafening chorus of laughs answered the indignant krogan. He was onscreen now, his broad face twisted in a look of utter betrayal.

"Come on, Wrex. You know it's all in good fun."

"Yeah," Grunt replied as Wrex shook his head at their old turian friend. "It's a term of affection."

"Hmph. Affection. You say that now, but how long until baby pyjak starts calling me about 'settling down'? Telling me I should fly to some beach for vacation? No thank you. I'm fine right where I am."

"And we wouldn't have it any other way," Sam interjected before things could escalate.

While his squadmates continued to watch a report on the aftermath of the Citadel, Sam heard a ping from his personal datapad. Reluctant to turn away from the reunion he waited until another ping sounded off.

Liara nodded for him to go ahead.

"I'll keep them company."

Sam smiled gratefully and gave her a kiss on the cheek, ignoring the ensuing catcalls and whistles.

"Ugh. Do you have to do that shit onscreen?"

The commander prickled.

"As your commander I order you…

Can it, Jack."

He then walked to the other side of the kitchen. Sam picked up the datapad, grinning at the name that popped up.

It took a moment to open the channel, and soon Ben Shepard's voice rang loud and clear.

"Hey, little brother. Enjoying yourselves, I hope?"

Sam overheard part of some crass joke between Joker and the mercenary Zaeed Massani. Whatever it was, it caused half their crew to groan in exasperation.

"Oh, absolutely. But we're still a little disappointed you couldn't just call in."

"I wanted to, believe me. But I'd rather see everyone again in person. Besides, what's the point in time off if you can't catch just a day or two all to yourself?"

"Fair enough. But it's not just all to yourself, is it?"

"Heh... No, it's not."

Keeping the call going, Sam pulled up a map of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It was supposed to be a bright and sunny day today. If he knew Ben as well as he thought he did, the elder Shepard was not laying back on a couch or otherwise stuck inside. Ben was likely sitting by a river, or high up on a mountain with Miranda Lawson by his side.

"So, how's retirement?"

"Honestly… I think it agrees with me.

Miranda thought I'd have trouble adjusting to it. No missions, no traveling in a warship for weeks on end.

But I sleep better than I did. And that's good enough, for now."

Sam nodded in understanding. Though his sleep was hardly ideal, it had been months since he had any nightmares.

He stole a glance back at the TV. Admiral Steven Hackett was officiating a memorial service to the Alliance soldiers who gave their lives to save the Citadel and destroy Sovereign.

"Can't believe it's been five years.

You ever wake up, and you're not sure if any of it even happened?"

Ben sighed on the other end of the call.

"Once or twice."

The two were quiet for a minute, each thinking of something to say. It was not that they were unhappy to talk to each other again, far from it. The simple truth was that neither had much time for it now.

Four months ago, in his last act as Admiral, Hackett had arranged an honorable discharge for Ben. The Council were in no mood to deny it. After countless deflections and coverups, the end of the Reaper War left them with little choice but to just give the Shepards what they wanted.

Ben's retirement had given him the chance to live a simpler life, an easier life. But there was more work to be done. While Sam would have loved nothing more than to walk away, the galaxy was not going to rebuild on its own.

Command of the Normandy was his now. When their present shore leave ended, Joker would remain as his pilot while the position of Executive Officer fell to Ashley Williams.

Ben snickered at something, snapping the younger Shepard out of his thoughts.

"What?"

"Do you remember," Ben asked, "that Halloween after the battle at the Citadel? We were being sent out to look for geth, clean up any remnants of Saren's invasion while the Council cooked up any excuse for the attack that didn't involve the word Reaper."

Sam almost doubled over, remembering exactly what Ben was talking about.

"After a skirmish at the Traverse, you had the ship stop by that town in New York. Sort of an unofficial shore leave, in Sleepy Hollow…"

"Yeah! You and Liara split off from the rest. Both of you missed Tali getting drunk in the corn maze. She chased Garrus the whole way through. Her combat drone lit up like a damn jack o'lantern."

"Damn, I did miss that. You said she came crashing out of the hedge, and almost lit the whole place on fire with her drone."

After a considerable effort, Sam straightened up, trying to catch his breath.

"You were there, what was it she said?"

October 29, 2183

"The headless horseman has returned!"

In a flash of orange light, Garrus Vakarian burst from the perimeter of the corn maze. His armor was smoldering, and his pale blue eyes looked like they were about to burst out of his skull.

Behind him a quarian combat drone streaked over the rows of corn, lighting several stalks on fire. Named "Chikkita" by its creator, the drone was usually a bright purple, but tonight it was a fiery orange and carried the shape of a pumpkin.

Laughing madly, Tali'Zorah whirled out of the maze on a rickety old scooter. The quarian's head and shoulders were almost completely obscured by an indigo shawl, giving her an almost 'headless' appearance. She waved her omni-tool and sent Chikkita after Garrus again, which caused a gaggle of teenagers to scatter.

"You know, I like to think of myself as a generous man. One ghost story and a couple dextro-friendly shots, and this is what I get for it?

Leaning against the wall of a barn currently occupied by dozens of drunk partygoers, Ben Shepard and Ashley Williams watched the pursuit haplessly.

"I always wondered why Tali didn't ever drink on the ship. Ignorance really is bliss."

"You know, Skipper," Ashley remarked, "If you wanted mayhem you didn't have to wait until the week of Halloween. We could have just flown to that hellhole Omega any day of the year."

Ben sipped from a can of beer, shaking his head.

"I've heard the stories, Ash. You won't catch me dead in Omega."

Ashley snorted at Ben's bluntness and replied, "You never know. All the places we've flown to, what we've done. When the Reapers are dealt with, you'll have plenty of choices for a vacation home."

Reapers. Just hearing the word brought a bad taste to Ben's mouth, and he set his beer can down.

"If we can deal with them."

Ashley rolled her eyes.

"Oh come on, if anyone can get us through this, it's you boys. We took down Sovereign, anyone else would be crazy to challenge us now."

Ben appreciated the gunnery chief's optimism. Particularly since his own was lacking lately. Though their victory against Saren and his master was still fresh, the crew of the Normandy had no illusions about the gravity of their ongoing mission.

"Sovereign was one Reaper. And we needed a whole fleet to bring him down. That day on Virmire he spoke of hundreds, thousands more like him. Waiting out in dark space. They're all coming, and it's going to take more than just a fleet to stop them."

"Well, no pressure."

Garrus emerged from the masses, his shoulder plate still mangled from Tali's dangerous Halloween prank.

"Ben, as your crew mate, as your friend, I'm going to have to breach protocol somewhat. I ask… no, I demand you never let Tali near alcohol in our presence. Ever again!"

Without pause, Ben pulled Garrus and Ashley along, away from the party. As they went on their way Ben could see Tali hoisted above the crowd by a pair of powerful, red-clad arms.

Above the assorted cheers and laughter Ben heard Urdnot Wrex bark, "Back to the ship with you, princess!"

"Wrex, you're such a kill joy…"

The whole crew would sleep much more soundly knowing Tali was accounted for.

Nodding at Ashley, Garrus asked, "Before I interrupted you two with fearing for my life and all, what was the topic of discussion?"

"Ben and I were talking about life after the mission. Where we see ourselves when it's over."

Garrus looked almost wistful, leaning his head back to look at the clear night sky. "I'm sure there's always work to be done on the Citadel. Though all of that would feel so dull after fighting geth, husks and a kilometers-tall messenger of fiery death. But what about it, Shepard? What kind of life do you see, if your Spectre days ever do end?"

It was a question Ben had pondered many times himself, and never had he found a real answer.

"I… If I'm going to be straight with you two, I have no idea. Fighting's all I've known for years now. One day we put down a local slaver ring, then lightyears away some pirates raid an important shipment, and boom. Off we go again.

Now this, Sovereign and the Reapers. Even if there's an end to this where we all walk out alive, thing's will never be the same. For any of us."

Ashley snatch a bottle of dextro-based ale and handed it to Garrus, both of them still hanging on to every word their commander said.

"Can't argue with you there. I kind of hoped my sisters would get to grow up bored with the state of the world, but if they have kids I'll have to sit by and listen to war stories about Aunt Ash and her alien buddies."

"So," Garrus sniped, "You and us aliens are buddies, are we?"

While Ashley grimaced, Ben thought back to her attitude regarding aliens when the mission began. She and Charles Pressly had that in common, the chip on their shoulder regarding humans and aliens working together so soon after an all-out war.

But things were different now.

"Sorry. That was… That was stupid. When we first joined up, I can guess how you all felt about me. Tali, Wrex, Liara. And you're right, I must have been a pain to be around for a while there.

I'm sorry. Sorry I didn't believe in you sooner. You think you can forgive me?"

Garrus listened to Ashley's apology intently before giving her a gentle nudge.

"It's okay, Williams. You weren't alone there. Back when I was stuck with C-Sec I bought into all that crap people spewed about krogans and quarians."

He jerked his head in the direction of the party.

"Then Wrex and Tali came along. And here we are now, sharing a drink and getting sentimental on some bizarre, macabre human holiday. I think that's progress."

Ashley gave the turian a warm, appreciative look, one he returned in earnest.

"Speaking of drinks," Garrus observed, "I can't help but notice our crew's resident connoisseur in strong whiskey is missing. As is his partner."

Acknowledging him, Ashley looked about in concern. "Yeah, where is Sam anyway? I lost track of him after a walk in the maze."

Ben rolled his eyes. "I'm sure he's fine. It's not like he's ever alone these days, anyhow."

It was true, following their official coming out as bondmates, his brother and Liara T'Soni were hardly ever apart. Not that Ben minded at all. Knowing Sam was happy, truly happy after all they had been through, it meant the world to him. It made his day easier at least, to know Sam did not require supervision anymore like some rowdy child.

"I say let them be."

...

...

Liara traversed the dark maze at a brisk pace, looking over her shoulder. The young asari was shivering in the chilly evening air, her breath fogging in front of her. Her costume, a light jumpsuit modeled after the lead actress in the film Alien, did not help.

In the light of the full moon, the tall corn cast long shadows across the maze.

Several corn stalks rustled nearby, and the doctor raised her hand. A shimmering field cascaded over her body, and a pulse of energy materialized in her hand like a lightbulb, bathing the path in blue light. Breathing heavily, Liara slowly pivoted this way and that, waiting for any sign of movement.

"Where am I?"

The faint whisper echoed somewhere behind Liara and she whirled about with a gasp.

"Samuel, come out now," she said in exasperation.

"You made your point, you win. You're very good at this game."

To the right, there was a crunch and a shuffling of corn, and without thinking Liara cast a biotic lift field on the source.

"EEE!"

Liara's face flushed purple. It was not Sam Shepard floating in front of her, but a pair of young women. One of whom was dressed in an old-fashioned witch costume, the other in what looked like a schoolgirl's uniform. Both women's makeup was rather smeared, and their hair noticeably ruffled.

"What the hell?"

"Goddess," Liara yelped as she released her biotic field, "I'm so sorry! I thought you were someone else."

Liara averted her eyes as the couple scrambled away.

"Keep the hell away from us," one shouted angrily.

The other grumbled, "I knew the maze was a bad idea. Told you we should have just gone to a movie."

When they were gone, Liara was alone once more. The asari rubbed her arms to stay warm as another cool wind blew across the path. She stayed where she was, still blushed in embarrassment.

Then, without warning, two arms appeared from the corn stalks behind and seized Liara.

Shrieking loudly the doctor lit up in a burst of dark energy again, raising a hand to illuminate the man who was now looming over her. He was dressed in a western man in black costume, with a long coat and wide-brimmed hat to complete the ensemble.

And he was wearing a particularly wolfish grin.

"Hey, there. Got a little distracted?"

"You bastard," Liara said, laughing as she fruitlessly tried to push Sam Shepard off. Pulling her to the ground playfully, Sam pinned her hands down and sat above her, joining in her laughter.

"Of course I did. You knew there were others out here, didn't you?"

Darting his eyes side to side to make sure no one else was around Sam muttered, "Maybe," before turning his gaze back down to Liara.

"Come on, I told you Halloween's the time for pranks. Ben and I, we just thought we'd take you all out here to relax. Loosen up a little after those weeks on the ship."

"Oh? Is that what you're calling this, commander?"

Liara squinted at him. Still keeping her eyes locked with his, the doctor ran her leg slowly up his, allowing herself a small smile.

"Loosening up?"

Sam's cheeks reddened and eyes flickered mischievously. Just like that, Liara was back in control. Since consummating their relationship towards the end of their first mission, Liara had grown a good deal more confident. Both out in the field, and in the bedroom.

"Where are the others?"

"Likely to head back to the ship soon. And I believe the last of the attendees just walked out of the maze.

We are all on our own…"

Sam rose up, unbuttoning his long coat.

"Then let's make the most of it."

Diving down he planted a kiss on Liara's neck, and the maiden gasped in pleasure. Quickly she pulled his coat off, and the seams of her jumpsuit were undone, leaving her bare chest exposed.

A faint blue glow illuminated the path around them, and Sam paused.

"Easy," he panted. "We don't want anyone finding us like this."

Liara nodded, breathing deeply as she subdued the dark energy cascading off of her.

"Of course."

The human and asari slowed down for the moment, gazing at one another longingly.

"Do you remember the day we met? On Therum?"

Sam stroked the side of Liara's face, not taking his eyes off hers.

"Of course. I'll never forget it."

"After you stood against that krogan to save me, and we returned to the ship, all I could think of was you. Not the mission. Not the geth, or Saren…"

Her voice almost trailed off.

"Or my mother. It was only you. You saved my life, put your trust in a complete stranger. No matter what my name was, where I came from, or what danger people thought I posed because of Benezia.

From that day on, we faced death time and time again together. And all the while, I knew I didn't ever want to leave your side."

Reaching up to caress Sam's face, Liara pulled him close.

"I knew that I loved you."

Sam took her hand as he saw her eyes start to grow wet. His were too, as much as he tried to fight it.

"I love you too."

The lovers embraced again, melting into one another in the bright moonlight.

"I know it was hours before we saw the two of you again. I trust you enjoyed yourselves that night?"

Sam nodded, still lost in his thoughts.

"Yeah, we did."

Ben's tone turned incredibly smug as he drawled, "I bet."

Sam felt like dropping the datapad in the lake outside.

"Aw, shut up."

While Sam's brother indulged in his annoyance, he stole a look back to the other side of the kitchen where Liara still sat. It sounded like Garrus and Wrex were now both serenading their old crew with a story of Wrex 'riding' a Geth Colossus. While he had pounded away at the machine with his biotics, Garrus had picked off its head from sixty yards away.

Hell of a story. At least, it was a hell of a story the first five times they had told is.

"What comes next for you two?" Ben asked at last.

"The lake house ought to do you both some good, when it's all over. Miranda even expected to see a ring on Liara's finger the last time we met."

"That's… I mean, I've thought about it, sure. But I don't know if this is the right time. There's still so much we have to do. So much we have to fix. So many more we can help, before it's done."

"Sam," Ben told him urgently, "We spent the better part of a decade at war. None of us knew of we'd make it out. But we did. And now for the first time in… God knows how long, I think we can afford to be just a little selfish.

I'm not asking you to walk away, to stop helping people. That drive to do good, to look out for everyone else, you know I always adored that about you. But don't you think after all this time, you and Liara deserve something in return?

Don't worry about the right time, or the right place. You already know her answer."

As he listened, bit by bit Sam turned to a cabinet placed high above his refrigerator. It was an old one. For the first month they had lived here, Sam and Liara used it to store various seasonings. Then their new patrol missions began, and most of their food had to be transported to the ship.

Neither had the time nor the inclination to refill the cabinet until they could spend a prolonged period of time here. Which made it the perfect hiding place for…

"Yeah. I guess I'll have to pick a day soon, before some other great disaster strikes."

"That's the spirit. Trust me, you'll feel better when its…"

For a second Sam thought the sound had cut off.

"Ben?"

Then he heard his brother let out a ragged breath. Sam knew the sound well, knew it from their days in the war.

"What is it?"

"Look like you're on camera again."

Ben's voice was grim now, completely devoid of the joy it carried mere seconds ago. Sam did as Ben said and looked to where Liara and their old squad were still convened. Liara was looking at him sadly, as was everyone present.

A pit opened up in Sam's stomach as he saw what was playing on the broadcast.

It was footage of the planet Alchera. The crash site of the first Normandy. The cameras panned out to the scattered remains of the once proud ship, before transitioning to a photograph of him shortly after the battle of the Citadel.

"The Normandy's excursion to the Omega Nebula was to end in catastrophe.

The enigmatic race called the Collectors, now known to be servants of the Reapers, launched a surprise attack on the Alliance vessel. Twenty crew members lost their lives to the attack, among them Navigator Charles Pressly.

But the most terrible loss of all was the young commander. As his fellow soldiers fled the ruined ship, Samuel Shepard gave his life to ensure his brother and Jeff Moreau made it onto the last shuttle.

A mere hour later, the galaxy would receive the news that Commander Samuel Shepard was dead."

Samuel Shepard

KIA

Author's Note: When I started out writing this Mass Effect fanfiction series, I knew I was going to have to decide which of the Shepard brothers bit the dust in the Collector attack. Had to be one, not both.

Those who read my first story, Two Against the Galaxy, know that Ben was the poster boy, the reasonable and level-headed leader of the team. But what would happen when his little brother isn't there anymore? What if the one person he's always had to look out for and be responsible for isn't around?

In the next chapter, we enter recollections on Mass Effect 2, which will take up several chapters. Our heroes remember a time when the status quo was abandoned. When the reckless youngster had to take up command for the first time, while his older brother grappled with loss and finding love in an unexpected place.

Stay tuned!

PS: As seen in the new cover image for the story, I am basing the appearance of Benjamin and Samuel Shepard off of two real actors, appropriately two brothers. Liam and Chris Hemsworth.