"Kill me…please." Shepard weakly said to her captives, hand shaking with fear and pain. She was losing her internal clock, forgetting how long it had been. Was it months? Weeks? And Saren was still out there, and her crew was out there as well.
"Silly human. You know we can't do that. I mean…you kept aliens captive longer then this haven't you?" The turian guard replied, looking pitifully down at her.
Shepard only groaned in response, lying cold and hurt on the floor. The entire time she's been beaten, raped by aliens, tortured just for fun, made her rethink her views. She shuddered when the smallest of drafts hit her.
And to think she did the same to aliens during her time with the Alliance on her small time missions. …maybe not exactly the same, but she hasn't been entirely fair to them. Her prejudice past clouded her true thoughts and views.
Shepard then wondered…Was all her decisions in the past justified? In the end, all they ever did in that gang really was senseless crap. They stole from tourist aliens, but they also did the same to humans. She let innocent people die, without meaning to.
But then again could she have controlled those outcomes? She could've saved her sister, if she wasn't such a coward.
And here she was again. Being a coward. Asking to die by the hands of these aliens. Eventually…Shepard learned something new. That aliens could be just as big of jerks as they were. That if you stripped aside the outside differences, they were the same. That the aliens didn't think themselves of high and mighty and that all this time…she was wrong.
Shepard whimpered, her greasy black hair falling in front of her bruised face, and waited for rescue…if it was ever going to come.
"And tell me again why we're deep in the Terminus system?" Joker swiveled his chair around to face Pressley, who had taken up the job as Acting Captain until Shepard was recovered…if she was ever recovered.
Pressley shook his head. "Because the possibility of finding Shepard there is high. Slavers thrive in this area, its more then likely that we'll find some sort of sign of her here."
"Well if you ask me-" Rapid beeping from his console interrupted Joker and he quickly picked up the signal. "Incoming transmission from unknown ship ahead…looks like slavers. Shit…we really should've input the ghost mode on this baby. Patching it through…"
"Nice ship. Mind if we take it for a ride?" A turian said over the transmission. Pressley and Joker both shared a look. "But never mind that. We know who you are. Commander bitch Shepard's ship. And we do know you're Alliance so don't bother pointing that out to us."
Joker glared at nothing in particular, clutching his arm seat tightly. Pressley only straightened up, several crew members' murmurs from behind them growing louder. "We demand you return Shepard to us. Or else-"
"Or else what? You'll blow us up with Shepard inside?" Pressley flinched, his negotiation skills not exactly up to snuff. He didn't say anything for a moment, unsure whether or not to warn them once more. "…ha. Didn't think so. Here's this simple deal for you. You give us -this- amount of credits. And we'll give you Shepard."
The transmission was cut. Pressley's hands were gripping Joker's chair at that tense moment, waiting to see what would happen next…
"…why are you nice to me?" Shepard said hoarsely, the turian guard releasing her from the restraints.
"Because. Maybe we don't have to exactly…'torture' you per say to get what we want. I mean, it didn't work out for you and your petty human gangs. So what's the point?" The turian's logic was almost lost on her until it finally registered.
"…are you…letting me go?" Shepard's voice raised a pitch, her lost hope arising within her. Maybe she really is going to make it…maybe she can escape.
"No. Not exactly. Just…making you more comfortable." The turian admitted, sliding a pair of clothing over to her. The black sweats and white tank top outfit sat next to her and Shepard weakly sat up, her bruised and scar covered hand reaching for it.
"…thank…you." Shepard said in a small tone, the slightest of smiles appearing on her thin chapped lips. The turian could only nod, turning away for privacy to her and to hide the guilt on his face.
Shepard slowly put on the outfit, relishing in its cleanliness and warmth. She breathed deep, closing her eyes. The turian guard turned toward her and saw that Shepard had huddled up against the wall and it wasn't until that moment that he noticed how small and frail this once strong human was. …they had broke her.
"You know…" Shepard chuckled but the resulting sound wasn't pretty. "I was so blind in my hate for you aliens…that I didn't even bother to get to know your races."
The turian only remained silent, waiting to hear what the human was going to say.
"I was so focused on becoming promoted, making my way through my Alliance career, trying to forget the past…that I just stuck to the negative and short minded view on aliens. But now that I look at you people and I think to myself…you guys can be just as big as bitches as we are. That you're no different. And that we're not that much different from you guys either."
Shepard sighed shakily, lowering her head. "…and here I was ready to die. But now all I can think of was how stupid I was. In a weird twisted way…my own captives saved my life."
The turian stared at her blankly, mandibles fluttering. After a few moments of silence he finally opened up. "I always thought you humans were just another arrogant and naïve species trying to make their way through this wretched galaxy. That your emotions led your path and you were an unstable race…and would fail in the years to come. But then again…your strength and your inability to give up was the one thing that made you humans unique. And that when you stripped apart your cover story…you humans really aren't all that bad."
"Well…looks like we both learned something from this huh?" Shepard looked up at the turian guard carefully.
The turian sighed a little, raising his talon hand up to his face. "Look…human. Despite the initial impression I had of you, you don't deserve to be on this ship in this situation." The turian grabbed the pistol from his holster, handing it to her. "…you deserve your freedom."
The turian guard left it hanging and Shepard understood what he meant. She felt like time was slowing down as she walked past him, grabbing his pistol, and nodded a silent thanks before limping off.
The turian who seemed to be the one as acting captain of the ship, the one who beat up Shepard the most, walked into a secluded room and laid down his pistol on his desk. He stood there for a few moments, mandibles fluttering, and hoped that the plan would go through.
He'd get his credits, the humans would get their precious human worse for wear, and they'd leave faster then they could say 'Spirits, Enkindlers, dear God!'
The turian shut the door behind him, pulling out a bottle of turian safe wine from his cabinet and opened it up slowly. He thought he heard footsteps behind him and it wasn't until he turned around to the sound of a gun clicking, that he came face to face with the human herself.
"Idiot turian." He was hearing the exact same words he said to her, except in reverse this time.
The human who's name was Shepard was staring at him directly, the pistol's aim straight for his head, and her skinny frail arms shaking under the weight of the pistol. No longer did he see hate in her dark blue eyes but revenge instead. Maybe he deserved it.
"I believe it is you turian, who needs to prove themselves."
A gunshot rang out.
Suddenly the transmission was reconnected and everyone on the Normandy was dead silent, awaiting to hear any type of noise. Gunshots were heard in the background, surprised cries following them. And then right out of the blue that one voice they've all been dying to hear for the past several weeks was talking. "This is Commander Shepard…I'm okay."
Immediately what followed was loud eruptive cheers of joy and clapping, all relieved to hear their Commander's voice once again.
Joker was silent in disbelief then soon starts chuckling, letting out a loud whoop. Pressley merely smiled, glad to be rid of the Commanding gig. Over the line Shepard had tears of happiness flowing down her cracked skin, the sudden rush of relief and exhaustion hitting her like a tide wave.
….she really was okay.
Shepard was limping severely, biting her bottom lip to absorb the pain but couldn't help but crack a grin as she saw Kaidan run up to her. The two shared a friendly hug, everyone's spirits high. "Good to see you Commander."
"Nice to see you too LT." Shepard nodded once, clapping her hand over his back before moving on. But Kaidan couldn't help but keep on staring after her with a small smile on his face.
"Joker. Holding down the fort?" Joker noticed how chipper Shepard was and seemed oddly surprised by that.
"As always Commander." He grinned up at her from his seat, all his worry and wonderings behind him now that she was back.
Shepard turned around away from him and saw Garrus standing there, bewilderment coloring his actions. She stood there, observing him. "Garrus Vakarian…" Shepard offered him her hand, feeling no resent or unnatural hate toward him. It didn't matter that he was a turian. It mattered if whether his character was good at heart.
"Commander." Garrus' surprise was evident but he took her hand, shaking it once before nodding in acceptance. Something new was sparking within Shepard…and it was all because of her recent excursion.
After that day the Normandy crew noticed Shepard's change in character, her ability to work with the aliens a little bit more smoother, brutality no longer controlling her actions, and how she was slowly step by step falling for her LT.