Ryder stared at the ship. "No."
She glanced at her orders again. The words "Docking Bay 442" glowed on the screen. She looked at the white painted numbers that ran along the docks. 422 was large and unmistakable.
"I must be hallucinating," she muttered, ready to seek out the dockyard master. There must have been a last minute change in the docking arrangements.
"Corporal," a voice called.
Ryder turned and realised the Gunnery Chief. She snapped a quick salute. "Chief."
"At ease, Ryder," the Chief replied, an easy smile splitting her face. "I'm glad to see you on your feet again."
"It's all thanks to you, ma'am. Without you and the Commander, I wouldn't be standing here. I'm grateful."
"None of this ma'am shit, Ryder. Name's Ashley Williams," she replied. "But Chief works just fine."
Ryder couldn't help but grinned. She remembered how Shepard and the doctor had made sure she didn't "ma'am" them around either. The Chief was tall and imposing, sculpted muscles rippled under her skin as she put her hands on her hips. She cut a powerful figure. Somehow the Chief was a little more intimidating than Shepard.
"You look a little lost there just now, something is the matter?"
Ryder gestured at her omni-tool. "I was told to report to Docking Bay 422 and here I am but there must be some kind of mistake."
"Why is that?"
"I mean, the Normandy is docked at 422. I can't be assigned to her. I think there must be a mix up in my orders."
Williams chuckled. "There is no mistake. You're expected and that's why I'm here. Come on."
"But…" her voice trailed off as Williams walked away, fully expecting her to follow.
If this was a cartoon, Ryder's jaw would have hit the floor. She'd had to suffer the indignity of scooping it up and dragged it along behind her. The guilt at leaving her mother temporarily shunted aside, she followed Williams like a lost puppy. Her eyes wide, taking in the sleek lines of the Normandy. Reinforced steel plates, superior shields capacitors, IES stealth system and Tantalus Drive Core, it was the best of its class. Actually, it's totally unique. The Alliance had been in the midst of building another since the SR-1 was effectively assigned for Spectre business. The point at the tip of the Alliance's spear. And she was assigned to it.
No, she was requested by name. Surly, not the Commander…
As she approached, she spotted the telltale red hair belonging only the Commander of the Normandy. Shepard stood relaxed, her hips cocked and hands gesticulating at someone. Ryder's footsteps faltered. She would recognise that set of stiff shoulder and ramrod spine anywhere. She had seen it a million times, always facing her, always ahead of her.
What is Pa doing here?
Williams stood a respectful distance away while Shepard curled a finger in her direction. Ryder tightened her grip on her duffle bag and she stepped towards them.
"Sir," she greeted. "Commander."
Her father merely grunted. Shepard grinned. "I see you found your way to the ship without trouble."
"It was no trouble, Commander. I path found my way to the ship without any problem." She was happy to gloss over her disbelief of her orders.
"That's reassuring to know, baby Ryder."
Ryder winced while her father's only reaction was a sharp intake of breath. If she didn't enjoy the nickname, she doubted her father was a fan of it either.
"Shepard," her father's voice sliced through the air of joviality. "Is there any reason why you need another biotic on board the Normandy? You already have a full complement of biotics on your roster."
The smile slid off Shepard's face as she eyed her father. "Have you been checking on how I run things, Ryder?"
"I'm just curious why you'd want yet another biotic, and specifically my daughter, on board your ship."
"So this isn't a social visit? Not a father seeing off his daughter?"
"No."
Shepard snorted.
This was really unnecessary. Ryder was completely irrelevant to this conversation, she really didn't need to be here for this. But she gritted her teeth and stood at ease like the good little soldier she was. Swallowing her frustration at her father, she kept her eyes fixed in the middle distance. Ryder wished the floor would just open up and swallow her whole.
Her father stood ramrod straight, as if bending was beyond him. His grey eyes boring holes into Shepard'. The Commander on the other hand looked almost blasé about the entire situation.
"Ryder, as a courtesy to you, seeing as you are Baby Ryder's father," she said, folding her arms across her chest. "I want her, specifically her, because she is a good soldier. It doesn't matter if she is a biotic or not. She led her squad under extreme conditions. She used her mind to think and not just follow orders blindly. I value that in my people."
Ryder clenched her jaw, fighting to keep the grin off her face. It wasn't everyday a certified hero praised her in front of her fiercest critic. It took real effort not to glance in her father's direction to fully enjoy his expression. His pulse throbbed hard against his temple. Ryder held her breath, she knew harsh words hovered on her father's lips. If this it was her defying him, she'd had crumpled under the weight of his disapproval. But this was Shepard, a different woman, a stronger, far more capable one.
"Does that answer your question?" Shepard asked, her chin raised as she stared down her fellow N7.
He grunted, though he was by no means convinced. Instead, he looked at Ryder. She fought the urge to take a step back. Instead, she drew herself up to her full height, meeting her father's eyes. "Sir."
"Don't disappoint me, Sara," he said simply before nodding at Shepard and turning on his heel.
It was just a single sentence but it carried the weight of all the ways she had failed to live up to his expectations. Her brow tightened as she watched him walk away from her, like all the other countless times he had. She was home for days and she had never seen him after that first night. Why the fuck is he avoiding me?
A sigh escaped the Commander. "Is he always like this?" she asked, a frown creasing her brow.
Ryder couldn't hold back herself, she snorted, unsure how she was expected to answer. But it seemed the question was merely rhetoric. "Come on, let's get you situated," Shepard said, turning back to the ship.
Shepard was beyond annoyed. Having Ryder the elder judging her decision was completely uncalled for. But the way baby Ryder had reacted to the entire situation, she could tell there was history and context she was missing out on. Still, it didn't change her decision and her prerogative to requisition people the Normandy needed especially since her ground squad had been severely downgraded with the departure of Vakarian, Tali'Zorah, Wrex and T'Soni.
During the hunt of Saren, she didn't have many marines on board, just the bare minimum. She didn't have time to put in the paperwork and wait around for them to be filled. Now, the Normandy had returned to an all Alliance crew, she wanted to take the chance to fill it with capable people.
Shepard checked her roster. Baby Ryder filled the remaining hole she had. She would be leading fireteam Delta while Williams would lead Charlie. Alenko and herself would lead the spec ops team Bravo and Alpha respectively.
Glancing at the names tagged to Delta, Solarin, Díaz and Teo, they were all fresh on the Normandy. Picked up during their resupply while the Alliance sorted out the paperwork for transferring baby Ryder on board. A quick glance at their service records revealed nothing problematic on the surface. They all had exemplary records coming from boot. For Ryder, coming off an assignment that went so sour, the Normandy would be a good place to get her feet wet again.
She leaned back against her chair. Shepard had a feeling about baby Ryder. At a glance, she was just like any other Alliance grunt with her brown hair and eyes, the only remarkable thing about her was her biotics. But her service record spoke of a good soldier who thought on her feet, and acted with good instincts. The young Corporal had steel running in her bones but it couldn't all be leaning on the Ryder name. The report her squad had given during the debrief was proof enough.
But the record was also ridden with plenty of altercations where she was written up. The reason given time and time again was the same. Biotic prejudice. It was something Shepard had faced before but her time on the streets had taught her the value of stepping on someone's neck early so that she didn't have to deal with the never ending pettiness.
The streets had taught her to value what set her apart. Everywhere else told her different. Shepard never felt the need to conform. It was her advantage, her unique selling point if you would. After all, if she was good, it didn't matter if she didn't quite comply with everything. The Brass and the Council had to listen to her. The Blitz showed them and she learnt to put on the mask for the press. Taking Saren down must have proved it to them once and for all.
Shepard cast her eye on Ryder's service record, looking but not reading. She has potential and she needs some guidance.
It was a feeling she didn't have for a long time. The last time she felt this way about someone was back on Earth when she met a feisty little girl while she was running with the Reds. Her jaw tightened. The past was the past, there was nothing she could do to change things. She would do better here. She sighed and stood. Decision made, she tapped on her terminal and the orders were issued.
"And now back to our regularly scheduled programme of geth hunting," she muttered wryly under her breath.
Ryder was overwhelmed. She had a CO that had personally requested she joined them. Admiring Shepard from afar was one thing, working with her was another. It was intimidating, more than the Chief's physique she had decided. The Chief and LT Alenko were both members of the crew that took down Saren. This was working with heroes who were semi-celebrities themselves.
Ryder was keenly aware that her fireteam were looking at her. Awe made them all slack jawed and bug-eyed. She cleared her throat and their jaws collectively clacked shut.
"At ease," Shepard said. "Walk with me, Ryder."
Ryder peeled herself away from her squad. Shepard led them through the doors of the cargo bay towards the elevator. She hit the button and called for the elevator. "How are you getting used to the Normandy?"
"It's great, mad—" Ryder said, before putting the brakes on her tongue when she saw Shepard's eyes narrowing. "Shepard."
A smirk parted her lips as Shepard nodded for her to go on.
"I've not served on a ship of the Normandy's class. Commander, it is a real privilege to be here. I won't let you down."
She chuckled. "I know you won't. The real work will begin soon as soon as the retrofit of the sleeper pods are complete."
Ryder nodded. She had seen the workers coming and going as they took out the old pods and putting in bunks that had better sound proofing and the ability to get some semblance of privacy.
"I appreciate not being forced to sleep standing up," she said.
"You don't want to ever do that. I have no idea what the original designers were thinking when they decided to put those in," a voice chirped in.
"Williams," Shepard greeted as Ryder said, "Chief."
"Shepard, Ryder," The Chief replied. "I'm glad you're getting rid of those things. So when are we leaving?"
"The best estimate is in 24 hours. Then we will be off to the Ondeste system."
"Isn't that in the Terminus?" Ryder asked before she could stop herself.
For a while neither Shepard nor Williams spoke. She took a deep breath and said, "Sorry, Commander. I didn't mean to be questioning your decision. It won't happen again."
Shepard grinned. "It's fine. I won't tolerate that when we are on the field, or when I am conducting a mission briefing. Everything else, I'd prefer my soldiers to think than accept orders blindly. Of course, you use your discretion when and how you question my words. I'd leave it to you to interpret that."
Ryder gulped, wondering if she had shot herself in the foot on the first day, again.
"All right, I'm sure you have your assigned duties. I won't keep you from them," Shepard said as she boarded the lift. "See you tomorrow bright and early."
Ryder blinked before turning to Williams. "Chief, why is the Commander seeing me bright and early tomorrow?"
"The LT didn't clue you in?" Williams asked, head cocked.
Her ever-widening eyes was her only response.
The full bellied laugh that erupted from the Chief's mouth could only be described as a chortle. "There is no need to be alarmed. Shepard just spars with the biotics on board."
Ryder couldn't help rubbing the back of her neck, fingers brushing against the raised bit of flesh where her amp was. "You know? You're ok with this?"
She snorted. "Why wouldn't I be? If I can get used to a krogan farting in the Mako while I wasn't wearing my helmet. What is the big deal with working with biotics? Biotics or no biotics, you are Alliance, a Marine like us. You bleed red too. "
"With Shepard around, everyone is forced to see things a little differently. She is not the typical Alliance CO. You'll find out soon enough," William clapped a hand on Ryder's shoulder and squeezed.
As the Chief left, Ryder couldn't help the feeling of lightness in her chest. The constant low level anxiety having to explain to her fellow squad mates that yes she was Alec Ryder's daughter, and yes she was a biotics. It had left her coiled tight like a spring whenever she started a new posting. It would get better or worse depending on the reaction of the squad. But there was always that one asshole.
With the tension gone, Ryder straightened her spine and took a deep breath. The recycled air of the Normandy somehow tasting fresher. For the first time in a long time, she felt accepted.
Ryder tugged at her BDUs and returned to the Cargo bay. She had a squad to get to know.
As ordered, bright and early, Ryder rose. Shift C was still in effect. She just had enough time to freshen up, changed into her PT gear, pouring a glass of water down her throat before showing up at the cargo bay.
The crates of supplies from the previous shifts were all cleared out or lashed down on racks. A wide open space dominated the cargo bay. Ryder wasn't the only one looking a little lost at the situation. She recognised Ramírez from Charlie team. The dusky skinned Lance-Corporal was hesitating at the threshold. Ryder stepped up to her back and asked, "First time?"
Ramírez nodded, eyes a little wide.
Ryder suppressed a snort of laughter as she wondered if she had the same look on her face. She put a hand on Ramírez's stocky frame and squeezed her shoulder. "Me too," she confessed. "Come on. I think they are waiting for us."
Ryder led the way towards the small group of people gathering inside. Shepard was dressed in a black tank top with a small N7 logo stitched over her right breast. Her black tights ended mid-thigh. Her red hair braided up and pinned out of the way. She nodded a greeting at them as she went through her warm up.
The LT was dressed in the Alliance standard issued PT gear, a white t-shirt bearing the Alliance logo and a pair of black shorts. She blinked and kept her eyes averted from Alenko's rather shapely legs. Ramírez nudged her and grinned. She chuckled. The LT cocked his head and asked, "Something on my face?"
Ryder shook her head. He handed both of them a ration bar. "I'd assume neither one of you had eaten yey?"
They nodded. "You should eat something. Especially before one of these sessions with Shepard."
"Is that a complaint I hear, Alenko?" Shepard asked as she stretched, touching the floor with her opened palms without any trouble.
"No, Commander. Just letting the newbies know the realities of training with you."
Shepard laughed as she straightened. There was a thin sheen of perspiration over her brow. "All right boys and girls, we have two newcomers to our little training session here. So let me introduce everyone."
She jerked her chin at a lanky fair skinned man. "That's Dworak. Say hi to the ladies."
He rolled his eyes and waved.
Shepard turned to point at the muscled asian man. "That's Arashi—"
"Hi ladies," Arashi greeted before Shepard could finish her sentence.
Dworak laughed. "Always the ass licker huh?"
Arashi lifted his chin. "At least I follow orders."
"All right, all right," Shepard said, raising her hands, "settle down boys. And that's Alenko, you should know him already. I'm Shepard."
The LT snorted at that. "Commander, you need no introduction, you're the poster girl for the Alliance. I'm sure these ladies got your poster plastered in their bedrooms."
Shepard narrowed her eyes, glancing at them. Ryder couldn't help the blush that crept up her cheeks. She groaned. "Way to make a lady feel old, Alenko."
The others laughed in varying degrees. She shook her head, hands on her hips, her stance wide. "Maybe so. Still, we wouldn't want my head to get any bigger right?"
Ryder smiled. It was like being back at the pre-enlistment biotics camp. The sense of camaraderie was like a warm blanket over her shoulders during cold nights. The easy laughter and the causal ribbing felt natural.
"Anyway, that's Baby Ryder, the one with the ponytail and Ramírez is the one with the buzz cut."
Ryder winced. This nickname was going to haunt her forever. Shepard's grin grew wider when she saw her reaction. "If you don't like that nickname, show me what you're made of later."
Shepard got her paired up with Ramírez. And they all started with the basics. Pulls, Pushes, Barriers as Shepard folded her arms and watched. After that, Shepard pulled them out and they observed the others working. Arashi was slinging powerful waves of biotics with abandon while Dworak was all finesse and precision. Alenko was a good balance between the two.
Ryder watched the more experiences biotics worked. Shepard shuffled and leaned against the crate next to her. "He is holding back," she said.
"Madam?" Ramírez asked.
Shepard's frown was immediate. Ramírez blanched as Ryder whispered, "Shepard or Commander, never madam."
"Do you want to try again?" Shepard asked, her smile was toothachingly sweet.
Ramírez cleared her throat. "Commander, why did you say that?"
Shepard sobered up immediately. Ryder listened as she walked them through the techniques each of them were using and how it differed from biotic to biotic. Most of the things Shepard pointed out were things she had never heard from an instructor. Since she started biotics training first as a private student with an ex-Alliance instructor, then later with the Alliance, Ryder always had formal training. But Shepard was pointing out all the dirty tricks of the trade.
"Now, it's your turn," Shepard said, pointing at the both of them. "Baby Ryder, are you still a baby?"
Ryder grinned. "Open your eyes and watch."