Arc 1: The Return
Chapter 2: A Bright Day
Commander Jennifer Shepard shifted slightly, adjusting her posture in her full suit of N7 armor as the Shuttle lightly rocked from the turbulence outside. Her mind, however, was elsewhere, focused solely on the peculiar dream she'd only awoken from mere hours ago.
Unlike most dreams, she remembered the entirety of it, even this far after awakening. In fact, there was only one other set of dreams she could remember with absolute clarity… and she'd rather not dwell on those memories. After all, the Reapers were dead, so there shouldn't be anything to worry about. Yet… something felt off about that dream. It felt so real… and what was with that odd, light-made presence in her dream filled with darkness?
Her internal musing was cut off by a nudge to her shoulder.
Looking to her right, her eyes met one of her oldest friend's. Ashely Williams, in a full set of blue, alliance-issue Spectre-grade armor, frowned lightly at her, her eyes showing only concern, "You alright, Commander?"
Shepard let out a sigh, shaking her head and thoughts away, "I'm fine, Williams."
Ashley let out a quick scoff. "C'mon, Shepard, you're going to have to do better than that to lie to me."
Shepard chuckled at her friend's concern. Despite everything she'd been through with Ashley, even with their ups and downs, she could still count on her to worry, even when it's not necessary. Perhaps she saw her as a sister. After all, she had plenty of others to worry about growing up.
"It's nothing, Ash. Just thinking about my nightmare." She mumbled the last part.
However, Ashley still heard her, raising an eyebrow, "A nightmare, huh? Wanna talk about it?"
To that, the Commander shook her head, "No thanks, but I appreciate the offer."
"Alright. Well, if you ever change your mind…"
"I know where to find you. Hell, I almost never see you within ten meters of James."
Ashley's face reddened as her eyes narrowed dangerously. Before she could respond, laughter could be heard from the cockpit, before a large man in dark blue armor with a single stripe down one arm emerged, "Did somebody call my name? Lola?"
"Yeah, I was just telling your girlfriend how lucky she is to have a big, strong man like you."
Ashley's blush only deepened as James began to laugh, "Is that right, Ceniza?" He finally asked Ashley, suggestively wiggling his eyebrows. In response, she smacked his chestplate, shaking her head.
"Ass."
"Ahh, but I'm your ass, Ceniza."
"Get a room you two." Shepard said with a light chuckle, shaking her head at the couple. Only a moment later, someone else called back from the cockpit.
"We'll be landing in Bright Falls in five, Commander."
"Thanks Cortez!" She yelled back, slowly sinking back into her thoughts about her dream. Perhaps it meant nothing… then again, she WAS Commander Shepard. Nothing was ever just 'nothing' when it came to her.
The shuttle's thrusters slowly died down as solid ground met the craft. Only a moment passed before the door slid open, allowing Shepard to step out and into the sunlight. She wasn't sure why, but the warm light absorbing into her skin allowed her a sense of calm, making her subconsciously take a deep breath and close her eyes for just a moment.
It felt good. The light.
Opening her eyes after partaking in that short bout of relaxation, her eyes darted around, quickly examining her surrounds.
It was a quiet, small town; Bright Falls. The kind you'd see in vids and colonial advertisements. Except there wasn't a prefab in sight, each building a unique, antique structure built of brick and mortar. Some buildings, obviously newer, were built of more metal than the others, yet it managed to still fit the theme of a rural, homely town. Several skycars were parked on the ancient streets from days of old, only being currently maintained for the occasional antique car, foot travel, or biking.
Shepard felt a few flashes of her own colonial days on Mindoir, but quickly shook the thoughts from her head. The memories no longer bothered her, but there was little reason to torture herself by reliving those events in her mind. She was a far different Jennifer Shepard than she'd been back then, in her teenage years.
Turning to the other side of the old, paved road, Shepard settled her gaze on an old-fashioned diner, complete with the stereotypical exterior design only seen in antique vids and neon signs to complete the aesthetic. The sign read: "Bright's Diner", but above it rested the words "Oh Deer Diner".
'Oh Deer Diner, huh?' Shepard internally mused, chuckling to herself. A simple play on words, and if her memory served her correctly, she recalled that the town had some sort of important deer festival every year. Luckily for Shepard, this was the meeting place with her Alliance contact.
Turning her head to look over her shoulder, she saw both of her squadmates looking around the town with amazement in their eyes. Seems like they, too, were not very familiar with small antique towns like this, especially on Earth.
"Close your mouth, Williams. Who knows where it's been?" Shepard called back to Ashley, causing her cheeks to flood red with a blush, her eyes narrowing dangerously toward the Commander. James, catching what Shepard had just said, laughed aloud in amusement; both at what she said and how Ashley was behaving.
Before the second Spectre could reply to the verbal jab, Shepard waved over her shoulder and began crossing the street toward the diner, knowing that Steve would stick with the shuttle until further orders.
Crossing quickly, the squad of three quickly entered the diner.
The air was filled with the smell of fresh pancakes and greasy bacon, making Shepard's mouth water at the delectable aromas. She didn't need to see James or Ash to know they felt the exact same. After all, being stuck on a Military vessel with military-grade food together for so long, such fresh food smelled heavenly.
"Welcome to the Oh Deer Diner!" A young woman called out to the three of them. Shepard's gaze quickly fell upon the woman, making eye contact with the young woman's deep brown eyes.
The woman behind the counter wore a red uniform, stereotypical of these types of establishments, wearing a warm smile along with her clothes. She had brown hair reaching to the middle of her neck. Her hair was so evenly cut like that, if she looked down far enough, her hair would cover her eyes. Weaved into her hair, though, was worn-down red ribbon, matching the uniform. Smooth, tan skin was shown wherever the semi-conservative outfit wasn't covering, revealing a rather medium build with some muscles underneath. The woman worked out, but certainly wasn't military, which could also be inferred from her posture. Around her neck laid what appeared to be a custom-made necklace, shaped into the form of a heart. Shepard's eyes quickly darted slightly down, focusing on the young lady's nametag.
Charlotte.
The entire observation only took a moment, thanks to her training in scanning any situation at a moment's notice. That's when Charlotte began to speak.
"May I help you three today?" She asked, tilting her head to the right slightly.
Shepard nodded, "We're looking for Jordan Burke. He's supposed to be meeting with us."
"Oh! Mr. Burke?" She asked, perking up a bit, "He's over there…" She pointed to her right. "In the booth, enjoying one of our famous Oh Deer Special Breakfasts. Would you like me to ring up anything for you three?"
Shepard could practically feel the stares and begging looks in her partners' eyes behind her, boring into her head. Unfortunately, they had business to attend to… but maybe later they could…
She ended up shaking her head, "Sorry, we have some business to get done, first. Perhaps later."
Charlotte nodded in understanding, "Hey, I get it. No need to worry, I'll still be here…" She paused for a moment as the waitress' eyes scanned Shepard's face. "Hey, I think I've…" Her eyes suddenly lit up, "Oh. My. God. You're THE Commander Shepard, aren't you?!" She said suddenly and excitedly.
Ashley laughed, "Look Shepard, you've got a fan. Could this be Conrad's wife?"
Shepard didn't even want to discuss Conrad and his delusions, nor go down the rabbit hole that was Conrad's lack of a wife despite his prior claims in Ashley's presence. Electing to ignore her squad mate, Shepard smiling and nodded.
"Yes, but could you keep it down. I'm trying to maintain a low presence."
"O-of course. You can count on me, Commander. It's just… I'm a huge fan of yours!" Charlotte told her, "Y-you see, I was here on Earth during the Reaper occupation." She informed her, "I was actually hiding out in this diner when one of those Banshee managed to catch me… But then, before it could hurt me, a red wave of energy washed over the town, vaporizing that asari abomination." She explained, "That was you… You saved the entire galaxy, but you saved my life, too! I owe you my life…"
Shepard smiled at the young woman. The poor lady had to survive on Earth during the entire occupation? Even in a remote location like this town, the Reapers were relentless and merciless to any and all sentients they encountered.
"Well, I'm glad that you're ok, Charlotte." The woman very slightly flinched at the name, as if finding it to be distasteful in another's mouth. Perhaps she wished to change her name, or preferred to be called by another name? Shepard only barely caught it, before it vanished.
"Thank you, Commander. Please, let me know if there's anything I can do for you while you're here in Bright Falls." Charlotte told her, before she began to ramble, "I mean, that is, if you plan to be here for a while. Why are you here, anyway? Wait a moment, maybe you're on vacation? Nah, but maybe you're on a mission? What's your mission? Is it about the husks?" Shepard's eyebrows shot up at her statement. "Oops. It's probably top secret. Forget I even asked. Sorry, I tend to ramble sometimes. It's just, you're THE Commander Freaking Shepard. I don't even…"
"Breathe, chicka." James cut in, resulting in Charlotte pausing mid-sentence and taking a deep breath. Her cheeks soon flooded in embarrassment.
"S-sorry…"
Shepard chuckled and shook her head, used to this sort of thing by now, "Don't worry about it. Thank you for your help. If I need anything, I'll be sure to stop by and ask."
Charlotte nodded, "Of course."
"I should go. Spectre business and all that." Shepard told the woman, who nodded.
"I guess I'll see you around. If you're still around, that is…"
Shepard stopped her steps and halted before the booth, her arms crossed as she leaned her weight onto her right leg. The Alliance Intelligence Officer she was supposed to be meeting was going all in on a plate of pancakes, eggs, and bacon. It only took the man a moment to look up at the group who'd stopped at his table, causing him to immediately swallow the food in his mouth and clear his thought with a sip of coffee. He wore a nice suit, instead of an officer's uniform, likely attempting to remain inconspicuous... which failed.
"C-Commander… you're early…" Agent Burke started, hoping the legendary N7 and Spectre was not upset with him.
Shepard narrowed her eyes slightly. "I'm actually right on time." She stated matter-of-factly.
The AIO chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his neck, "Sorry about this… I haven't eaten here in years."
"You've been here before?" Ashley asked from Shepard's side.
Nodding, he replied, "Yeah, I grew her in the UNAS. My mother brought me up here to Bright Falls on vacation every other year growing up." He told them, "The Oh Deer Diner has the best breakfast in the country, possibly even the planet or galaxy." He said, smiling at the thought of the diner's food.
"That's all well and good, Agente, but we're here on business." James cut in, just before Shepard could do the same. Minus the Spanish, that is.
"Right, sorry. Please sit down."
Ashley slid into the booth first, followed by Shepard. James, noticing the lack of room across from the agent, grabbed a stool and pulled it over to the table. Everyone sitting down now, Jordan Burke slid the food away from him toward the wall, making unobstructed table space between him and the three legends. How he managed to get the prestigious honor of briefing these guys, he had no clue… but he was grateful to whoever or whatever brought this opportunity to him.
"Alright, so let's start with what you've been told so far."
Shepard nodded, "The Council contacted me about the reemergence of Reaper technology here in Bright Falls. Four Husks and a Dragon's Tooth." She stated neutrally, "I believe I heard the Alliance is preparing for martial law if it turns out to be far worse than expected."
Jordan absorbed what she'd said, before responding, "You've been well-informed, Commander. The situation down here is complicated, to say the least." His eyes darted around the diner for a moment before resettling on Shepard, "Three days ago, Charlotte Dreamer, the waitress over there," He named, causing Shepard's and her companions' eyes to look over at the woman who'd greeted them upon entering the building. "She'd been jogging by the shore of Cauldron Lake just before dawn, when she'd reported the Husks and Dragon's Tooth."
"La Camerera found those things?" James asked, "Poor kid."
Jordan nodded, "Yes. Alliance officials landed no more than twenty minutes after the reported sighting. We found four dead husks, but a fully intact Dragon's Tooth. The four husks had signs of blunt trauma, and several stab wounds in vital weak points. After interviewing Miss Dreamer, we discovered she used a branch she found on her jog and a hand-crafted knife she owned to defend herself."
"Wait, hold up." Ashley interjected, "The kid managed to discover a group of husks, call it in, and kill all four of them with a knife?" She asked, bewildered. Shepard had to agree with her amazement. Husks were no joke, even with a rifle or hand cannon to deal with them.
Agent Burke chuckled lightly, "I know, right? We were surprised too. Anyway, she was in shock when we came upon her, because she was claiming that there were an additional six husks that had attacked her, but, quote: After I defeated them, they vanished into the shadows."
"Must have shook her really hard." Shepard remarked.
"Definitely. As for the Dragon's Tooth, it was obviously externally intact, so Alliance Intelligence took it into custody and had it investigated… Shepard, it was genuine. And more than that, we've confirmed it had all the necessary materials to convert a human into a husk. Internally and externally intact… that shouldn't be possible. Not after the Crucible."
"Any explanations for this?" She asked, "You must have some sort of idea about how this happened."
Jordan chuckled sadly, shaking his head. "Not really. We thought it might be because they were submerged within the lake, which saved them from the crucible, but that's unlikely. Think about it, if the lake protected them, why haven't we seen other surviving Reaper tech on other planets? And why now, after several years? After all, Earth was ground zero for the Crucible."
Shepard had to agree with the Alliance's lack of belief in the theory. If any amount of Reaper tech survived, it would have likely either emerged immediately after the Crucible fired, or waited several decades or centuries, when nobody would expect the Reapers. Something was odd here.
Obviously, Shepard had many more questions to ask, so she needed to figure out where to start.
"Tell me, if you already have this much information, why am I here?" Jennifer couldn't help but ask.
"Because you're Commander Freakin' Shepard." He answered immediately, "If this is Reaper stuff, who better than the expert, herself, to get involved." He took a deep breath, "Honestly, there are two main reasons. One, your expertise and experience with the Reapers could provide valuable insight into the situation, and help us figure it all out. Two, it will calm the masses and appease the galaxy to know that Commander Shepard is investigating this. Knowing the Reaper expert is here means we're actually taking this seriously, and there's no need to worry with you here."
Shepard felt a little flattered at that, yet also annoyed. She was more than just a Reaper expert… Though, she should have seen this coming, seeing as she had refused to retire after the war, it was inevitable that something like this would involve her.
"How many people know about this?" She asked next, "The Reaper Tech on Earth?" She decided to specify.
"The higher-ups in the Alliance know, the Council are obviously in on it, and most of the heads of the Galactic governments are aware of the situation. After all, if the Reapers are intact in any sort of fashion, this will involve everyone."
"And the public?" Ashley asked, "Seeing that there's a lack of panic, I'd imagine many don't know about this."
"And you'd be correct, Spectre Williams." He replied, making eye-contact with the woman, "All the public knows is that the Alliance is focusing rebuilding efforts on the western seaboard of the UNAS. Obviously, rumors are flying about Reapers and husks, but we've managed to minimize the damage."
"How'd you manage that?" Shepard had to ask.
At that, the agents flushed lightly in embarrassment, "W-well, we've leaked your presence on Earth. The public knows you're in the UNAS, overseeing construction and checking old Reaper sites on Earth to make sure everything is inactive."
"You've leaked that I'm here?" She asked, shocked, but not overly so.
"Unfortunately, it was necessary. Sooner or later, it was going to get out one way or another. This way, the damage can be controlled."
"What about the people here? I'd imagine that the news spread quickly around a small town like this. How is it not public knowledge yet?"
"That's the thing, Commander, the news has reached every citizen in Bright Falls. They all know, and they've been telling the Galaxy what's going on."
Shepard's eyes widened in alarm. This was not good at all. "I thought you said the damage was controlled, and most of the public didn't know about this?!" She asked, narrowing her eyes at the agent.
Jordan sighed, shaking his head, "How much do you know about Bright Falls, Commander?"
Shepard didn't see where he was going with this, but decided to humor him. "Not much. The Council mentioned the town was superstitious in their briefing. I've seen that it's a small town in the Mountains, that seems to have taken very little damage from the Reaper occupation."
"That is all true, but the superstition is much deeper than you think." He answered simply. "Lean back and relax, Commander, while I tell you the legend and history of Bright Falls and Cauldron Lake."
Shepard shook her head at the man being melodramatic, but decided to humor him, leaning back against the soft booth seat.
"Bright Falls is a small, rural town located in the mountains, built right next to Caulrdon Lake, the fourth-deepest lake in the world, formed within a volcanic caldera long ago. It goes so deep, and becomes so dark down there, that the majority of the lake bed it still unmapped to this day. This beautiful town, with its serene forests, homeliness, and calm lakefront, has become a minor tourist attraction, specifically attracting artists of all types. Musicians, artists, writers, you name it, a famous artist of that specific art has visited, been born, or died here.
"Those are the simple facts. Many artists have come here to either live or visit over the centuries. However, a large number of them have either gone missing, died, or gone insane while here, contributing to the already immense mythology and superstition around the town.
"According to the citizens of Bright Falls, there's an evil entity located in Cauldron Lake, bringing mischief and death. They say the evil within the lake calls forth and gives inspiration to artists when they come to Bright Falls, and when they produce art while here, it comes to life, but twists it to its own whims. Apparently, the legends say that the evil used to take the form of a witch, but now, and I quote, uses the face of a well-dressed man. Whoever encounters this witch or man will go insane, fearing the dark for the rest of their lives.
"Apparently, in the early 21st century, a famous writer came to Bright Falls on vacation with his wife. Legend says she was kidnapped by the evil within the lake, and he wrote a story to appease the evil. Upon doing so, the Well-Dressed Man took the writer's life, but set the woman free. These events, and the writer's love for his wife, caused the evil to fall asleep, bringing peace to Bright Falls. Well, for a time, that is."
"A legend from the 21st century?" Shepard asked, "That's peculiar."
He nodded in agreement, "I agree. You see, there are actually several police reports, newspaper articles, and even a book from that time period that paints an odd picture of the events. The writer wrote a final, fictional novel based on Bright Falls and the legend of the evil in the lake while he stayed here on vacation. Police reports show that his wife went missing for over a week, before the man went missing and his wife reappeared. He was never seen again."
"So, the town used those events to further their superstitions?"
Jordan nodded, "Yes. Apparently, many of the officials in Bright Falls at the time were obsessed with the mythology of the lake, and further propagated the legend. Obviously, there may be some sort of truth to the myth, as there often is with most myth, but the legend is just ridiculous." He told them. "And that's why there isn't a panic and why not many people KNOW about the husks. The townspeople believe the husks are a sign of the evil within the lake reawakening."
"So, the townspeople are crazy?" Ashley asked, raising an eyebrow in confusion.
"Not necessarily. Most of them do not believe the legends and myths. But because of the town's reputation, most people, including many people in the town, believe the whole story about the husks is another attempt at a new legend of the lake. Most just ignore the rumors and continue with their lives as if nothing has changed… and that's the way we'd like to keep it. We're just lucky that these things decided to reappear in such a location. Makes damage control that much easier."
Shepard, though definitely doubtful in the legends of the town, found them somewhat fascinating. Perhaps they would be an important insight for the investigation. After all, most myth had some truth to it, so perhaps the legends were talking about Reaper tech existing within Cauldron Lake for centuries, being the reason behind all of the legends.
Jordan continued, "Though, that's just the watered-down version of the legends. You'd need to talk to someone more familiar with them to get a better idea of what they believe."
"Like what?" Shepard asked, her curiously peaked. At the raised eyebrow on Jordan's face, she gave her reasoning in being interested.
"I see your point. Well, a couple miles from here, further up the mountain, is an old power plant-turned museum, called The Museum of Light. They'd probably have all the information you'd ever want about the legends… Though, I'd be careful over there if I were you."
"And why's that?"
"Well, the owner is a little…"
"Loco?" "Crazy?" James and Ashley added in sync, causing their smiles to grow as they made eye-contact. Shepard just elected to ignore them for the time being.
"Well… Kinda…" He said vaguely, "She's an ex-Asari Commando with an extreme case of PTSD, though she claims its more than just that. She's obsessed with the legends of Cauldron Lake, but she's not in the best shape, mentally."
Shepard nodded, filing the information away for later. "Okay, so what is our plan?"
Agent Burke nodded, "Well, it's early in the day, still, and I have several tasks to do before the end. I'm thinking meeting back here at 2200 hours? I'll have more information from the higher ups about the way to proceed from here, and we'd be able to investigate the scene without the public watching us that late into the night. As for now, that's up to you. I'm planning to finish my meal before I return to work. I need to speak with local law enforcement."
Shepard mused internally for a moment before coming to a decision, "I'll follow up on the legends at the museum. Perhaps we'll learn something there."
"Sounds like a plan, Commander. Just remember, take what you hear from these guys lightly. These myths seem to pervade all aspects of their life." Jordan said, before activating his omni-tool, "Here's my contact information, and the location of the museum. I'll contact you around sunset."
Shepard slid out of the booth after receiving the information, followed by Ashley and James, and made her way to the door. Over her shoulder, Charlotte called out.
"Have a good day, Commander."
Shepard smiled at her words and waved a farewell over her shoulder as she stepped back out into the warm, bright day. The sun was high the sky, signaling the middle of the day. Knowing it was approaching winter here, Shepard was aware of the shortening days. Followed by her squad, the senior Spectre led the way back to Cortez and the shuttle.
'Time to learn more about these 'myths'.' She mused to herself, enjoying the warmth of the sun as she walked back to the shuttle.
Codex Entry:
The Galactic Council
The Council is a multi-species conglomerate of representatives and one of the largest political powers in the entire Milky Way Galaxy. Originally founded shortly after the first contact between the Salarians and Asari, the Council eventually grew to host the Turians and, more recently, Humanity within the upper representation. The other various races within the countless clusters within the Milky Way are often involved one way or another, but usually only have representation through an Embassy, rather than any true political representative.
However, things began to change following the Reaper War.
The Galaxy was in a rough spot. Humanity's Councilor was a deceased traitor, and many ambassadors were dead or retired to help at their homeworlds. As a sign of the joint cooperation during the Reaper War, the Council offered Embassies to the remaining excluded races, and began looking into allowing the Quarians to join the Council, as their fleets were a turning point in the war. The fact that they once again controlled their homeworld was also a plus.
Currently, the Council's authority is almost as strong as it was prior to the genocide, but only within Council Space. An Asari named Aria had managed to wrestle control of another large portion of the Galaxy, with another equally large portion bordering on the brink of lawlessness. The Council, however, tries their best to maintain the illusion of control. At least, until it is no longer an illusion.
The former Council members, aside from the former Human representatives, remain unchanged, including Sparatus, Tevos, and Valern. Currently, through an emergency vote in the Alliance, a woman by the name of Christine Angela represents Humanity on the Council. Often referred to as the single best possible choice for the position, she has done much work in stabilizing the Galaxy following the war.
A/N:
It's been a while. I'm going to be honest for a moment:
I've been having problems recently. My drive to write has been taking some hits with my college classes recently, so I haven't had much time to write. I have, however, been slowly writing since my last update for my stories, but it has been slow. Now, all of that, compounded with the fact that my computer died and lost all my progress on The Pinnacle of Evolution, my drive has been at an all-time low. I want to keep writing, though, and do not want to abandon it. That being said, I have a new computer now and am working on the next chapter of that.
I did, though have this saved, so I decided I wanted to upload something, so here's this. Some things are weird, I hope they are ok... Some things in this chapter... some ideas for this story are no longer really here, so some of the allusions and connections in this chapter may or may not exist in the rest of the story and may turn out to be easter eggs. Or maybe not, I'm not sure yet.
Also, I recently played Control which was a pretty fun game... scratch that, I loved it, so I ended up writing a quick little chapter for it based off an idea I got from the game. That's uploaded too. Anyway, I apologize for everything, but it is as it is... see you around again soon, I hope...
-SWRwriter