Disclaimer: BioWare owns Mass Effect. 20th Century Fox owns the Alien franchise.

Widow System, February 19, 2177

The rhythm of the heavy bag shaking with each strike was like music as the heavy chains jingled with every fist, elbow, knee, shin, and foot crashing into its burlap frame, swaying like a drunk on a bender as 1st Lieutenant Jane Shepard (SAMC) struck the bag again and again in a fury of blows. The sweat that covered her skin was hot a slick, and the odor pungent as her fist collided with the bag once more, followed by a knee, an elbow, a shin strike, a hammer fist, and then a knife hand. Her strikes were quick and precise, tucked back to her body for defense and balance as another would follow, abusing the bag with her vengeance. Sweat dripped down her face and flew from her lips as she breathed hard, sucking air in as fast as she could as she continued to pummel the heavy bag, forcing herself to keep her rhythm up, to keep her strength eve, to make sure her wrists were straight and that her form was a perfect as possible as she continued the assault. The bag's metal chains cried out with its metallic song with each hammering force Shepard landed upon its defenseless form, the middle of it beaten in enough that many parts of it looked permanently dented in from the assault. Just a little bit more, Janey, Shepard told herself as she landed a double shin combo to the lower part of the bag, followed by a straight jab, and then an elbow. Ignore how much it burns, how hard it is to breath, how sweaty and tired you are! Fist, fist, foot, knee, elbow, elbow. Keep it up! An enemy doesn't give a shit how tired you are our how sluggish you feel! Shin, shin, elbow, elbow, fist, fist. The chain continuously rattled with each pounding the bag took, a mute victim to the Marine's wrath.

"Time!"

"HA!" Shepard finished it off with a spinning back kick, slugging the bag's middle with the pad of her foot, hard enough to almost bend it in half as the bag swayed backwards at a thirty degree angle, and like a kicked puppy, slunk back towards its hanging position, rocking back and forth like a pendulum. Shepard stood there panting, bringing her taped hands above her sweat-slicked red hair and placed them on top of her head, expanding the volume of her lungs so that she could drink in the oxygen quicker, while also getting herself a good whiff of sweaty human musk.

"Five minutes, Janey." Master Chief Stacy Valentino called out from the side of the small gym that they were in, filled with haptic devices meant for several species for working out any number of maneuvers or abilities, yet the heavy bag was the only real physical object around, and used exclusively by Shepard herself. No one else touched it; no one dared. "Good steady breaths, hun. Form's in top shape." Stacy tossed a sports bottle filled with a lemon-lime sports drink towards the Marine Lieutenant.

"Thanks, Auntie." Shepard replied, pulling at the nozzle on top and sucking down hydration and electrolytes, squirting it from the bottle and into her mouth like a garden hose. Despite her body's craving to replace its fluids, she swallowed slowly, to keep from upsetting her stomach or getting herself sick. The electrolytes would do their job, adding fluids and sodium that her muscles and blood craved, she just needed to take it easy so as to not put out-of-whack any other important bodily functions.

"Water break's over. Beat your face on that mat, El-Tee. Give me my hundred." Stacy was merciless as her voice growled, her Texas twang coming in hard as Shepard fell to the mat, catching it with her hands, and proceeded to do military-style push-ups. Doing a hundred push-ups was nothing to her; doing a hundred after she beat the shit out of a heavy bag for five minutes, on the other hand, was murder. She hadn't even gotten to ten before her arms and shoulders were begging her to give up, to flop on the gym mat and call it quits. At twenty, she could feel the tremors starting to twitch in her biceps, usually a clear indication that she was pushing it too far, perhaps, that that lying down might be in order. Getting to forty took time, and Shepard had to bend up at the waist to catch her breath, her whole body shaking from exertion and exhaustion. Only five second rests were allowed as she got back into the proper position, from her ankles to her shoulders making a flat plane, and she aimed for fifty.

"Hurry up, sweetheart! I ain't got all Goddamn day!" Stacy called out, her voice loud as the Master Chief began to catcall. "That fucking floor ain't going to push you up any Goddamn time soon, so you had best push it the fuck down! I want my fucking hundred or I will have your ass!" Shepard kept pushing, sweat puddling underneath her on the floor as she broke fifty, her arms quaking as if they were wet noodles, her back shaking like a bridge without suspension, and her legs wobbling as if they were made of rubber. Fifty-one. Fifty-two. Rest. Fifty-three. Fifty-four. Rest. "Holy fucking shit, Janey, don't tell me you can't give me my hundred!" Stacy screamed as Shepard saw a pair of running shoes enter her field of vision. "I thought you were Goddamn System Alliance Marine, not some pole-dancing Colonial Air Force cocksucker who wouldn't know what to do with a fucking dick if it plunged itself into her mouth. Give me my motherfucking push-ups!"

And this is why no one messes with Texas… Shepard thought to herself as she lowered herself slowly, grunting as she went up. Sixty.

Her body failed her at sixty-four.

"Fuck!" Shepard cursed as she hit the floor, unable to hold herself up anymore, her entire body crying out in agony as she felt face-first into a puddle of her own cooling sweat, the sensation not at all pleasant. She rolled herself onto her back, breathing hard and fast as she tried to lift her arm to wipe the sweat off her eyes, but could barely do it due to the fact that her hand was shaking so bad. It felt like her arms were made out of jello and weighed down with lead, and moving them was like trying to control a arm that was half-asleep. Her Aunt Val crouched beside her, and pulled the towel that she had draped over her shoulder, wiping the sweat from Shepard's face gently.

"Sixty-four, kiddo. Two more than yesterday." Stacy smiled, her tone normal now that the exercise was over. "Your Crush was over about ten minutes ago. How about I take a spatula and peel you off that floor so you can hit the shower and quit smelling like a damn gym sock?"

"Can't you just bring the shower to me? Is that so much to ask for?" Shepard replied weakly, her laugh only half-hearted. "I don't think I could kill a cotton ball if I had to."

"That's why I'm here, Janey; pick you up and dust you off." The Master Chief explained as she scooped her hands under Shepard's shoulders. "Up we go, kiddo. I ain't picking your ass up myself. You aint' dead yet!"

"Sure?" Shepard struggled to get up, sitting up on her ass as she panted, and then somehow found the strength to get on her feet. The room spun slightly, but it wasn't too bad, just a little lightheaded from the two-hour training she endured everyday. "Shower does sound good right about now. Cold water shower."

"No cold water, you know that; system shock and hypothermia." Her Auntie reminded her, handing the sports bottle back to her, which Shepard took the nozzle into her mouth and sucked at it like a baby. "Finish that bottle first and you can sing in the shower for as long as you like. You still got that interview coming up here in a few hours."

"Fuck. Interview." She had forgotten. Stacy, bless her heart, was always there for her. "What was the name of that woman again?"

"Ann Coulter." The Master Chief reminded her. "Earth's way of saying 'fuck you' to their little rising star." Val patted her on the back hard, almost making Shepard stumble. "Of all the human beings in the Goddamn galaxy to interview your official introduction to being a Specter, and they had to get some right-wing racist bitch?"

"It's ICS, Auntie; same assholes that gave you You Bet Your Life and Climbing For Credits." Shepard replied, sucking down more lemon-lime. "Right now, all I care about is peeling off these running shorts and this sports bra and blasting myself with water. If the Counsel calls, put them on hold." That had the Master Chief laughing as Shepard sauntered in the shower.

"C'mon, El-Tee, quit gettin' the jitters! Maldecir!" Corporal Jeanette Vasquez berated 1st Lieutenant Jane Shepard as she stood behind a studio backdrop, letting Corporal Vasquez and Sergeant Rita Vrataski fuss with her as they went over every inch of her uniform with a critical eye. "Looking sharp, Jane. Real sharp."

"Dressed in my Dress Blues for an interview, whose idea was this anyways?" Shepard muttered as she lifted her chin up to adjust her collar. "Damn thing's tight on my neck."

"Probably because you've added about fifteen pound of meat in like two months, Jane." The Full Metal Bitch replied with a smile. "Don't tell me this was your original Dress Blues from when you were a freshman?"

"Um…" Shepard winced at that. Weighing in at seventy-two and a half kilos, she had enough lean muscle mass to make most guys pout at their own physiques. She had only weighed something like fifty-nine kilos when she started OCS. Had she gotten so much bulkier? "Can I plea the Fifth?" That had Rita snort as she stepped away, looking Shepard over from a little more distance.

"You look good, Shep. Look like you can break a bitch in half." The half-Japanese woman smiled as she placed a hand on her belly. "Little guy approves." She had just found out that the baby that was Tip Crowe's would be a boy last week, and Shepard had thrown a party for her. She'd have to remember to plan a baby shower, get the girls involved.

"Always good to have a male opinion of a woman in uniform." Shepard replied, making Vasquez snort. "Ripper and Newt here yet?"

"Just in." Ellen Ripley came in with Rebecca Jorden, the eight year old girl carrying a wooden box. "Security's thick out there, and Tela almost had to biotically push us through." Counsel Agent Tela Vasir appeared behind Shepard's grandmother and her eight year old aunt, looking a little frustrated.

"Did every human on the Citadel show up today at the front door?" The Asari Specter lamented, obviously not pleased. She was wearing a normal everyday Asari-styled dress for the occasion as oppose to Huntress gear or her battle armor. "I was seriously thinking of singularity'ing the whole lot of them!"

"I'd pay to see that." Vasquez piped up, Vrataski nodding jubilantly.

"Lieutenant Shepard?" A human woman dressed in a blouse and slacks came back to where the five human women and Asari Specter stood. "We just went to a thirty second commercial break, and she'll introduce you in."

"Too late to run away?" Shepard asked, getting several shaking heads. "Damn. You got my medal, little sister?"

"Yes, Janey." Newt opened up the box and turned it to her, showing a golden disk shaped like a multi-pointed star, with Earth at the forefront set upon a deep blue ribbon. Shepard pulled it out and slipped the ribbon over her head and around her neck, setting the golden medallion just in between the lapels of her dress shirt. Vrataski and Vazquez, as if on cue, mockingly saluted her.

"Assholes." Shepard shook her head as she closed the box, taking a deep breath, feeling the weight of the medal on her neck; who the hell decided to make a large gold medallion? "Wish me luck?"

"We'll see you after the show." Ripley promised with a smile, pulling Newt along as Vrataski and Vasquez moved with her, leaving Tela Vasir alone with her.

"Nervous?" The Asari asked, her voice calm and reassured.

"Very." Shepard admitted a little awkwardly, seeing the Asari frown a little. "Woman's a bitch known for sensationalism and blurting out stupid shit. I just don't want to say something wrong."

"You'll do fine, Jane. I have faith in you." The Specter made to adjust Shepard's blue beret, and when she was satisfied that no one was looking, stole a light kiss from her. "That is for luck."

"Tease."

"And we're back from our commercials…" Began the voice of a human woman from behind the curtain.

"That's my cue." Shepard told the Thessian, doing her best to give her a reassuring smile. "Here we go…"

Ann Coulter: And we're back from our commercials to give to you today a historic interview. From out of nowhere, this woman showed up on the galaxy's front doorstep and right into the spotlight, and needs little introduction from our viewers. I present to you today for her first interview, Star of Terra-winner 1st Lieutenant Jane Catherine Shepard.

(Applause)

Jane Shepard: Thank you, Ms. Coulter. It's good to be here.

AC: Now, let me get this straight. There's been a lot of rumors and speculations about you and your actions, Lieutenant, and a good many people would like to clear them up now that we have you here.

JS: Oh boy. Laughter

AC: How did you come to get to be here, exactly? Details aren't very forthcoming… with the trial and the Alliance's rules about on-going investigations…

JS: Some of those I can answer. Simply, I was in command of a platoon of Alliance Marines that responded to an emergency request of a colony in Alliance Space. We were sent to investigate.

AC: And this is what is now known at the 'Broken Sword' incident?

JS: Correct, Ms. Coulter.

AC: To our viewers, the term 'Broken Sword' is a phrase used by the military to indicate the loss of a colony, due to enemy or unknown means. Now the Alliance won't say what happened, but there are a lot of people scared and want to know what happened to a colony that the Alliance won't even name for us. Was it slavers?

JS: That I can clear up, and it was most definitely not slavers, or any of the recognized species in Citadel Space, to include Batarians. The incident was caused by a semi-sapient organism that was found on the colony, which attacked the colony. When we arrived… they were all gone save one.

AC: The Sole Survivor. Reports indicate that you saved a child.

JS: We did. Due to Alliance Law, I can't identify the child until the nearest next-of-kin is located, but I can tell you that the child is in good health and in good spirits the last time we talked. It was… a terrible ordeal for someone so young to have gone through. I wish we could have gotten there sooner, but I'm glad someone was able to get out.

AC: In the Weyland-Yutani Trail, Director Jack Harper's defense lawyer claims that everything that happened on the colony was a fabrication by you, a cover-up for mistakes you made out on the colony. Any basis to this?

JS: Mr. Yokasiru missed his calling as a comedian. (Break) I probably should give you a real answer. There is more than enough photographic evidence and videographic evidence to disclaim Mr. Yokasiru's theory of a cover-up. Not to mention eyewitness testimony from not only my Marines, but the Sole Survivor as well.

AC: Yet Alliance investigators aren't allowed to inspect the site?

JS: The site isn't safe for investigation. Even drones can't go in.

AC: So… all we have is your word, your evidence, your testimony, and let me be clear, the testimony of everyone who was with you at the time. Crime scenes have investigators comb through them to see if eyewitness testimony is validated or not, yet it wasn't done for the colony.

JS: Good.

AC: Excuse me?

JS: We were dealing with a biological contaminate, a type of creature that managed to depopulate an entire colony of eight-hundred and fourteen people in the matter of days. I'd rather the site be unsafe for investigation than the possibility of it ever getting out. If you don't believe my testimony, that is your right, but believe me in that, you do not want to see those creatures. Ever.

AC: And that supports Mr. Yokasiru's claim that you bombarded the colony?

JS: Not true at all. Didn't have the capability. No Alliance support, no bombs, no kinetic strikes, no glassing. It's still there, I just made it lethal for anything to take a step on it.

AC: And you feel justified in wiping out a colony?

JS: It was already wiped out when I got there. I just kept others from going in and falling victim, or worse, spreading the creature. Imagine some innocent cargo ship picks something up and brings something back to, say, Elysium or Hera? As much as it was a tragedy that we lost a colony, we were very lucky that all it was was one colony away from normal trafficking lanes.

AC: So… you do feel justified in wiping out a colony?

JS: Alliance backed up my decision. So did the Counsel.

AC: The Counsel… you've become very involved with the Counsel since the 'Broken Sword' incident. Rumors suggest that you've gone to bed with them.

JS: I hope you mean that figuratively. (AC clears throat nervously) If what you mean is have I been working alongside the Counsel, the answer is no, I have not.

AC: But eyewitnesses say…

JS: I've been working with the Office of Special Tactics and Reconnaissance.

(Pause)

AC: You've been working with Specters?

JS: Yes.

(Pause)

AC: They… allowed this?

JS: They recommended it. They were impressed with what I did. They wanted to see what else I could do.

AC: Wanted to see what else… you mean…

JS: Yes.

AC: You?

JS: Yes.

AC: But… they're…

JS: Aliens? Forest for the tress, Ms. Coulter. If you actually just meet one of them and talk to them for a little bit, you start finding the similarities instead of noticing the differences.

AC: But let me get this straight. You work for the Office of Special Tactics.

JS: Yes.

AC: Doesn't that make you… (pause) a Specter?

JS: It does.

(Pause)

AC: I don't believe you.

(JS brings up red Omitool, displays Specter badge)

JS: Anything else you like to clear up?

AC: Um. We'll be back after these messages.

Ann Coulter: And we're back with Star of Terra Winner 1st Lieutenant Jane Shepard in her first interview. Now to recap what we just learned… you are a Specter? An official Specter?

Jane Shepard: Officially, I am a Specter recruit.

AC: What does that mean?

JS: I do most everything a regular Specter does except I'm taking training and classes like any other Specter recruit to enhance my capabilities and learn the nuances of Citadel law, as well as those of the other Counsel species. Despite popular belief, we don't just run around and shoot at things like a Blasto movie.

AC: But… I thought only Counsel member species could have Specters.

JS: (snort) Yeah, tell that to the Elcor I sit next to. Just about every race has got a Specter in it as far as I'm aware. The Counsel judges you on your personal achievements and capabilities, not on what race you happen to be. In Special Tactics, they don't care about your race or what you look like, they only care if you can get what needs to be done accomplished.

AC: Any special considerations considering since… well… you're Humanity's First Specter?

JS: Yeah, all eyes on me. Everyone seems to be checking up on me, seeing how I measure out. It's not easy; all Asari are biotics, all Turians are naturally a hell of a lot faster runners, Salarians got me beat on the IQ scale by about… fifty points or so. So half of what I do is baseline for whoever is the next human up, and the other half is to see what I'm capable of. No pressure.

AC: What about the other rumors we've all been hearing about.

JS: I think I know where this is going…

AC: You've been seen in the company of an Asari.

JS: Yes, that is my mentor.

AC: Some of the eyewitnesses state that she was wearing a dress. As were you.

JS: Showing up to a restaurant in battle armor usually spooks the customers. And Asari normally wear dress attire. And there's not a lot of selection of human clothing on the Citadel, unfortunately. So I'm generally stuck with Asari clothing, too.

AC: How's that working out?

JS: Asari are petite and definitely a lot less muscled than I am. I ripped a few flexing by accident!

AC: So… you're not an alien lover?

(Pause)

JS: You might want to repeat that question differently.

(Pause)

AC: Well, our viewers are concerned that you might have forgotten what race you belong to.

(Pause)

JS: Let's be honest here… it's you who is doing the wondering. Or shall I quote some of your earlier commentary from just a few days ago when you spotlighted this interview?

AC: I am only serving…

JS: Quote; "Jane Shepard seems to bleed blue the way she schmoozes with this unknown Asari Maiden, letting her be taking out for dinner like some cheap date." End quote.

AC: Now that's taken out of context…

JS: The context was the other commentator asking you what you thought of me. And the Asari is a Matriarch, which you can easily tell by her facial markings if you actually did some investigative reporting instead of slander and lies. And that dinner you were referencing to wasn't cheap. I was going to go Dutch until I saw the price. Or do you need some more context?

AC: Look here, the people have the right to know…

JS: That's rich coming from your network.

AC: How dare you accuse me of…

JS: Should I bring up more context items of you, Ms. Coulter? I tell you what race I belong to. The same race that, when Turians darkened Shanxi's skies and brave men and women fought a bitter ground war, the first thing that Corporate did was jump into Alliance Military ships and abandoned Earth in the opposite direction? Same race that left Mindoir to rot while slavers picked her clean just to teach the Independents a lesson? Same race that serves its wealthy in high-class restaurants while the rest stick on food coupons at the meager hopes they'll be able to feed their family for the month? Last time I checked when I was wounded in combat, my blood came out red. What color is yours? Green? Black?

(Pause)

JS: Let me tell you something else. I'm also a part of the same race that, when a Turian Dreadnaught lined a kinetic strike on the main colony of Shanxi, one fighter pilot in a badly damaged vessel crashed his fighter into the Dreadnaught's engines, crippling it and taking its main battery offline at the cost of his life. That was 1st Lieutenant John Shepard, my father. Same race of a woman whose callsign, 'Ripper', was synonymous with 'death' in the Turian Military lingo she took out so many of their fighters and frigates. That was 1st Lieutenant Amanda Shepard, my mother. Same race that with his best friend and his wife dead, adopted their orphaned daughter to raise as his own in honor of his friends. That's Captain David Anderson, my adoptive father. Forgot my race, Ms. Coulter? I stand at the very center of galactic civilization representing my race. Where the hell are you?

(JS gets up, leaves)

AC: Well, (clears throat) I'm afraid that's all the time we're going to have with 1st Lieutenant Jane Shepard, Star of Terra Winner and supposed Counsel Specter.

"That two-timing, Godsdamn whore." 1st Lieutenant Jane Shepard fumed as she let the recording studio, Ellen Ripley and Tela Vasir walking by her side as she walked through a door and into a service corridor that went behind the sound stage of ICS's Citadel Detachment, leading them towards the back exit of the building. "I knew she was going to do that. Gods damn her."

"Jane, relax." Ripley said softly, placing a gentle hand on Shepard's shoulder, getting her to stop as she looked at her grandmother. "That woman wanted you to put your foot in your mouth… and you didn't. You told her off on her own show, and made her look like a fool. You did good, kiddo." Shepard sighed as she slowly nodded, getting a hold of her temper, closing her eyes and taking several deep breaths. "Jane, I want you to know that I'm proud of you. When your mother was born? I wanted the very best for her. Hearing from you how she did well for herself, found a man she fell in love with, had a daughter of her own? It helps fight the pain of what I missed out on. Yet seeing you now, walking tall among those who are seen with respect and authority, I am simply amazed that someone of my flesh and blood could have come so far."

"I had help." Shepard smiled, looking to her grandmother. "Support. Back-up. Someone with a dropship and a itchy trigger-finger."

"I played my part, but it's you that we all follow, Jane." Ripley told her, putting both hands on her shoulders, facing her square on, her tone serious and her brown eyes staring into Jane's own green ones. "You've got two elite N7 Special Forces soldiers who follow you now, as well as the rest of your Marines. They follow because they believe, and you are the epitome of that belief. With the trial and all that's been going on, humanity is slowly getting behind you; they want someone they can believe in, someone who fights for her beliefs. Keep walking the true path with your head held high, Janey, and you will never have a shortage of friends and support."

"No shortage of assassination attempts, either." Shepard grumbled, thinking of the last attempt over a week ago, two dozen mercenaries that hadn't gotten past C-Sec. "Perhaps I can win through logistics; someone's bound to go broke trying to kill me."

"Ha! They only assassinate the rotten or the righteous, and you're not rotten." Ripley smiled. "As much as I'd like to hunt them down for trying to kill you, they're doing it because you scare them. As long as they want you dead, Jane, you're doing something right."

"Still wish they would throw in the towel. I'm tired of having your lives in needless danger." Shepard looked down at her feet, staring at her dress shoes, thinking of one of the attempts just in the past month, where it had been an improvised explosive device in an aircar sent to fly into her escort. Three Turian C-Sec Agents had been wounded in the attempt. "Gods, if I had known this would be how it was…"

"…You still would have done it." Ripley finished her sentence, and correctly at that. "Don't let them destroy you on the inside, too. You can kill a man without ever having to fire a bullet. Don't give them the satisfaction. Just keep walking that road, Jane, and we'll keep you straight and true." Her grandmother smiled at her, and Shepard knew that she was correct. Still, it felt good to have that support, to have that reminder. "Now, I do believe that you and your 'mentor' have some time allotted together. I would suggest getting out of those Dress Blues, you do stand out."

"Oh, I'm sure I can find a way to get her to change out of that uniform." Tela spoke up with a smile, making Shepard glare at the Asari.

The safe house; both boon and bane, domicile and prison, sanctuary and security station, it had become the residence of the remaining members of those who had escaped LV 426. It was a necessity, sadly, as after several attempts on their lives had proven that every member of the 343 Mobile Infantry and Captain Royce Mason's Team Dingo were in danger. Thankfully, the safe house had proven effective, as not one intruder, infiltrator, assassin, or saboteur had made their way onto the ship that was used as their refuge from the threat. The ship, a modified cargo transporter that was attached to the Citadel's Defense Fleet that patrolled the Citadel itself, was a ship that had been used as such in the past many times, controlled by the Office of Special Tactics and guarded jealously by Citadel Security's Special Services Section, sometimes known as the Deatheaters. Since it was attached to the squadron that defended the very Citadel itself, vessel transportation was regulated by none other than the flagship Destiny Ascension, surrounded by Carriers, Destroyers, Frigates, attack vessels, and recon vessels. Several ships of the same make and model of cargo transporter flew in tandem with the Fleet, and it even served as a supplier to the various vessels that made up the CDF. If anyone wanted to fire upon the Asari cargo vessel known as the ARV Tor'jalai, they would have to go through about fifty of the most lethal vessels that made up the most powerful fleet in the galaxy.

And it was where 1st Lieutenant Jane Shepard called home.

Born on a ship, raised on ships, and having lived on ships for the vast majority of her life, living on a vessel was nothing new for Shepard. In fact, most of her crew, dubbed 'the Xeno Squad' by their personal security detail, had been living on vessels of one form or another at some point of time in their life, and the accommodations were much nicer than human standard. The Asari vessel was, simply put, a marvel. Thessians were more like to make objects smooth and curved, as oppose to the sharp angles of metal that humans made their ships into on the interior, and the Tor'jalai offered an aesthetic appeal to it that many of the humans found enjoyable, or at least tolerable. Each member had their own personal room save Newt, who shared with Ripley, sequestered in a wing deep inside the cargo vessel, controlled by C-Sec's SSS.

Shepard walked into her personal dorm, tossing her Class Blues garment bag onto her bed, feeling the need for a drink. Sitting down at her personal work station situated at a table by her Asari-made bed, she reached into the small refrigerated unit underneath to pull out a bottle of Ireland's Finest, twisting off the top and taking a sip of the stout beet as she waved her hand over her work station, turning on the haptic monitor and its VIOS. Her SpecterNet access came up, and she was bombarded with messages on her personal mail account, mostly from other Specters and recruits. They had, of course, all watched her interview, and were messaging her their thoughts and attitudes towards it. Just by looking at the subject lines, Shepard could see that most were encouraging her and giving her support. One video file had Ann Coulter's words splice together to where she sounded even more idiotic, if possible, and Shepard reminded herself to let the Hanar Specter recruit Maxis know how funny she found it to be.

There was a knock on her door.

"Enter!" Shepard called out, her door sliding open to admit Counsel Agent Tela Vasir, the Specter wearing what was considered 'normal' garb for her people; a loose-fitting dress that was thankfully without revealing portions. "Looks like I got fan mail. Can't wait to see what the talk shows think of me."

"Your species does love to sensationalize things." Tela replied, sitting on her bed casually. "You should fret less about such things, Jane. There are more important things than the opinions of others."

"Yeah…" Shepard replied uncomfortably, the same conversation they've had before rearing up. "You know what really bothers me, Tela. It's not the talk show hosts or the media puppets. It's my people; I don't want to be stabbed in the back by a bunch of Corporate lowlives wanting a better rating and having so many human looking at me in a negative light. I did this so I could represent humanity and defend it, not to watch Earth take three steps back every time I struggle to take a step forward."

"I know, and I understand, dhan'rana." The Thessian responded quietly, using the Asari word for 'one I care for'. Ever since Shepard got herself immersed into the galactic stage by walking into the Counsel of Three's chambers right after LV 426, she had become painfully aware of how humanity showed itself to the galaxy at large. Though most extrasolar species didn't watch any human-related media programing, some of the other news sites and media commentators would rehash what was being put out by ICS, Alliance News Network, ICS, and Westerlund News as they did with the other species. Shepard, of course, had made a splash on a good many of the major networks, the Marine having access to most of them through her personal entertainment monitor in her room. The Weyland-Yutani Trial was closely watched on by all as the Citadel Courts tried the fifty-two instigators that were involved in the events that occurred on LV 426, being judged by a human judge for fairness purposes, but monitored by a panel of three Counsel-appointed Citadel Justices to make sure that human law was being followed to the letter. The Trial was quickly turned into a media circus, and Shepard could hardly watch anything without seeing her face plaster on the news, added with commentary, wild guesses and speculation, and straight out slander.

The most common word she heard was 'traitor'.

Tela Vasir moved behind Shepard, and her blue hands gently went onto Shepard's shoulders, softly rubbing them through her Alliance Blues, massaging the muscles underneath. Shepard forced herself to close her eyes and relax, to do her best to turn off her thoughts and just relax, enjoying the feel of her muscles being rubbed and massaged. Of course, her brain never did seem to want to cooperate as she thought of the Thessian that was in the room with her, along with a quiet moment. Slowly, Shepard spun her seat to where she was facing Tela, looking up at the Asari's face, feeling her nervousness rising.

"I… I'd like to try again." Shepard forced through uncooperative lips, slowly standing from her seat as she slipped her arms around the Specter gently, looking at Tela's violet-blue eyes. She could feel the nervousness and the butterflies in her belly picking up as Shepard slid closer to the Counsel Agent, their bodies pressing together as she closed her eyes, letting Tela take the lead.

Shepard felt soft, full lips pressing to her own gently as human and Asari began to kiss.

It began as it always did, a nervousness that began inside Shepard's mind as biology and chemistry tried to mixed, finding faults. Shepard's hands glided along Tela Vasir's back, bringing her closer while finding the subtle curves and shapes that marked her as alien, different. While Thessians and human women may have been shape incredibly alike, there were differences, and it was these differences that played against Shepard in her mind as she tried to lose herself in the moment. The feel of skin that wasn't flesh, but a soft reminder of snake-skin. The feel of a tongue that was both smoother and shaped just different enough from a humans' to be noticeable. The scent of the Asari herself, unlike any natural odor that a human might be. All these and more assailed Shepard as she kissed Tela, pressing their bodies closer, wishing to give in to what her heart wanted but everything else seemed to struggle against. The kiss evolved into another as Tela's hands ran along the curve of Shepard's spine, pulling the Marine in closer as they went into their third and fourth kiss. Shepard still had her eyes closed, trying to lose herself in the pleasantness of sensations and ignore the differences that kept blaring at her. It started with her breathing, short, spastic bursts of panic and nervousness that lead to her hands clutching at Tela, not out of passion, but out of resistance. Things rolled downhill quickly after that as her body would begin to tremble, her skin would start to sweat, and her adrenaline would kick in, making Shepard increasingly agitated and aggressive until she couldn't take it anymore. Finally, Shepard had to push Tela away a step, panting as her heart raced and the sound of her breathing pounded away at her ears, trying to force herself to slow her breaths, to regulate her own body as her own body gave into what was known as Biological Terror Syndrome; her very DNA resisting against the idea of being with something not of Earth.

"Shit! Sorry!" Shepard gasped out, feeling absolutely terrible as she shoved Tela Vasir back a step, her limbs shaking and her skin tingling as she looked to the Asari standing in front of her, who looked at her with sympathy. "I… I think that lasted longer this time?"

"It did." The Counsel Agent replied softly, caressing one of Shepard's cheeks with a gentle hand, the fine scaled skin warm on her flesh. "Perhaps we should try your idea tonight when I sleep with you."

"Sleep next to me." Shepard corrected the Specter with a slight smile, feeling hear heart beat slowly return to normal. "Fool my brain into getting use to you while it's defenseless. I honestly think it might be scent; we humans aren't known for our olfactory sense, but it's the only thing in my mind that seems to add up." She shrugged, looking into Tela's blue-violet eyes. "There's… a way we can get around that. Back in the old days, when horses were still around, people would take a shirt or a blanket that they used and rub it on the horse's skin, so the horse would get use to the smell of its rider. Maybe we can try something like that; either get me used to smelling Asari all the time, or mask you with a human's scent?"

"Why, you are an eager little Maiden, aren't you?" Tela replied with a mischievous grin, making Shepard groan. "It's an interesting thought, though, with the scent theory of yours. Perhaps…" The Asari went over to a small hamper of dirty laundry that Shepard had tossed her clothing in, and found a human-styled shirt that depicted her favorite ECUU team, the Edmonton Blood Dragons. Tela pulled it out of the hamper, making Shepard squawk at the actions as the Matriarch slid the shirt onto her upper torso over her dress. She turned to face Shepard, and gave off a little pose to show off. "This fits me pretty good. The fabric is an interesting feel, too. Care to test your theory, Jane?"

"Yes." Shepard replied a little guiltily, making Tela chuckle, smiling at at her as she stepped towards Shepard, gently pushing her back towards the bed. She gasped a little as the Thessian gently brought her down onto the bed, laying on top of her as Shepard found herself being kissed passionately, the Asari's body pressing into her own. Shepard felt a moan growing in her throat as she held onto the Specter that was on top of her, a chilling thrill tingling through her skin as her body and mind slipped into the moment, forgetting all else save for the full lips that pressed into her own and the body that began to move along hers, sending burgeoning waves of passion through her, fueling her own desires. She clutched at Tela, slowly opening herself to the alien woman that pressed herself into her, slipping her thighs slowly around the Thessian's tapered waist, moans of desire escaping her.

Oh Gods, I didn't imagine it would feel this good! Shepard thought as she slipped her hand just underneath the Asari's crest, rubbing the folds at Tela's neck softly, knowing it to be a point of pleasure for the Thessian. Tela responded by moving in a manner that had Shepard's body reacting accordingly, all her thoughts driven away as want quickly turned to need, desire being seized by lust. She lost herself into the feelings and the actions, her body beginning to gyrate into the Specters', primal needs taking charge. Tela spoke her name softly, and Shepard slowly opened her eyes, seeing the Thessians' face above her own, her violet-blue eyes now ebony black. The unspoken question hung between them like a wall; ready? Shepard shivered slightly at the though of a mindmeld, where the Thessians' more highly-evolved nervous system would align itself with hers for the very first time. They had never reached the point before, and Shepard had to admit, the though kind of scared her. Yet she had reached the point she had been hoping for, where she betrayed herself to her own biological needs and carnal desires to suppress her fears and worries, to force herself to make the 'bad' decision. They hadn't been able to do it before whenever they kissed and snuggled, her Biological Terror Syndrome kicking in and ruining it. Now?

"I'm ready, Tela." Shepard said breathlessly, looking into Tela's now-black eyes, her hands pulling the Asari closer. "Make me yours."

And together, they embraced each other and eternity.

A/N: For any of you with prior military experience, I'm sure we all remember how tenderhearted drills could be. As a former NCO myself, I had a wide vocabulary of insults at the ready whenever I got my men sweaty for their stupidity. The 'pole-dancing Air Force…' comment was actually one of my own personal favorites. If you do happen to be in the position of a non-Commissioned Officer, and you like what you read, try it out. It's always good for a laugh.

ICS, of Running Man fame, was never defined in the movie, but will stand for Intellivision Corporate Systems for the purpose of this story.

No shower scene. Pervert.

72.5 kilos = 160 lbs. 59 kilos = 130 lbs.

The interview was one that I had gotten as idea from LogicalPremise's wonderful Mass Effect AU 'Of Sheep And Battle Chicken' and 'And There There Were None'. Ann Coulter was slightly based off the real-life woman of the same name.

Don't worry. I'm not writing Fifty Shades of Blue.

I wanted to highlight in this chapter something always seemed obvious to me; how would a human be compatible to someone who is not? Seriously, with the exception of some people who are into some rather disturbing practices involving animals, it just doesn't seem possible for a human and an extraterrestrial to be co-aligned in the process of mating. Thus, Biological Terror Syndrome, an ancient defense against perversion of species. I made it linked to scent (the olfactory sense) as pheromones and natural odors are still used by us in an unconscious manner. Since Tela didn't 'smell' human, Shepard's body biologically wants to jump ship. Sorry, Captain Kirk, but banging away at alien girls just can't be that easy.