Chapter 9: Indoctrinated Part-I
Emily Jane Shepard's POV
Emily Jane Shepard's mindscape
Time unknown
I sat on the street, my back against a brick wall as the rain kept pounding down on me. The body of the man who tried to force himself on me lay a few meters away from me. It was the first time my biotics had manifested and I was all of 14. I had just survived the raid on Minidoir, losing everything I loved. One of the Alliance soldiers who had come to Minidoir after the attack decided, after my medical treatment and psychological counselling, decided to adopt me. His name was David Anderson. And here I was, halfway between home and school, debating on what to do. When it had happened, I remember running away, in shame and fear, and not being found by anyone for 3 months. 3 of the worst months of my life. I remember, on finally being brought home, Anderson pulling me into a hug, with tears streaming down his face, asking me to forgive him.
It was the first time I called him Dad.
I jerked my head up when I heard someone walk by. That didn't happen then.
"Whenever you're ready Commander, you can come out of that alley. You're not that same scared little girl you were" a strong, deep male voice sounded out, with a strong British accent.
Whoever it is, is right. I'm Commander Emily Jane Shepard, N7, Spectre, Hero Of Elysium, Butcher Of Torfan, Hero Of The Battle Of The Citadel and Hero Of The Galaxy.
I shakily stand up and push off the wall. I step out into the pouring rain and am greeted by a man, with tanned skin, sky-blue eyes and wheat blond hair, dressed in jeans, a white t-shirt and a black leather jacket. He walks up to me and wraps his jacket around me. It's inordinately warm. I no longer feel cold and wet. The rain also started to slow down.
"Who are you? And what are you doing here?" I ask him. He gives me a small smirk.
"The name's Gideon. And you Commander, I don't think you need any introductions. And as for what I am doing here, well I am here to help you" he replied. The rain now was slowing down to a drizzle. He offered me his right arm and I put my arm through his, We started walking down the street towards where I stayed with Anderson while he was posted ground side.
"Help me how?" I ask him. He frowns before replying.
"There's no easy way to say this Commander, but the Reaper's managed to indoctrinate you" he said. I felt like someone had replaced my backbone with a freezingly cold iron rod.
"What?!" I reply, my voice filled with horror and shock. He patted my arm reassuringly.
"My job is very simple. Break the indoctrination. And Javik was right you know, despair is the Reaper's greatest weapon. They used your worst memories, your most painful recollections as a means to try and control you" he replies. I honestly don't know who he is but something about him tells me he is real.
"So how do we break it?" I ask. He looks at me thoughtfully, humming.
"Well, we have to visit each of these memories, all horrors that have been lost due to time. The way out is by making your peace with them" he said. I just sigh in response. He nudges me with his elbow.
"Hey there, don't pull such a glum face. I'll be with you every step of the way" he says in his reassuring bass. I then notice where we were. Anderson's home's door loomed over me. I looked at Gideon for reassurance. He nodded to me.
"Go on. Open it. Your deepest regret here was not going back to the Admiral instead of running away" he said. I take a deep breathe and let it out to calm my nerves, readying myself for the punishment I would receive. As I opened the door I was caught in a golden light. Then everything faded to black.
R&R!