She was officially an alliance marine. Three intense days of tests, physicals, and biotic assessments had taken their toll, but she had done it. Hackett had sent over a box containing two pairs of fatigues, a pair of dress blues, and an alliance-issued credit chit pre-loaded with her signing and biotic bonuses. The abnormally high amount in her account had Ella pulling up a message to the Lieutenant.

E.S.- The new gear arrived this morning. My account seems to be a bit credit heavy though. Know anything about that?

S.H.- I assure you it's standard signing and biotic bonuses.

E.S.- Standard my ass. I know this is at least double that. Where did it come from?

S.H.- Get your shopping done today Ella. You've been scheduled for amp implant surgery in the morning.

E.S.- You can't distract me with shiny things Lieutenant.

S.H.- Let it go Shepard.

E.S.- Is that an order?

S.H.- I can make it one.

E.S.- Everything comes with strings. People don't do things out of the goodness of their heart.

S.H.- There's no strings Ella. Enjoy it. You need supplies and now you can get them.

E.S.- . . . .fine.

E.S.- Will I see you before I ship out?

S.H.- You have 72 hours post-op recovery time before you ship out. I'm sure I can find some time to stop by.

E.S.- Okay. Guess I need to go spend some credits huh?

S.H.- Good luck tomorrow.

E.S.- Will do. . .and thanks Steven.

She logged out of the chat and signed herself out of temporary housing. If she only had four more days before boot-camp, there was no way Ella wanted to spend it in bland temporary housing. The extra credits were enough to get her checked into a decent hotel with a view of something more enjoyable than another building.

For the first time Ella could remember, she went shopping with her own finances, not with the "tips" she earned working as a distraction for The Reds. A new omnitool was her first purchase. It was easy to wipe the outdated model and drop it unceremoniously into the nearest waste bin. A few sets of jeans, tops, and boots for shore leave. She pined over a gorgeous caramel colored leather jacket, but years of scraping by had her deciding against it. Instead, she settled on a white fedora with black piping. It was frivolous and unpractical and Ella absolutely adored it.

Dusk had nearly settled before she began the walk to her hotel. Lost in her own thoughts, Ella didn't realize she was being followed until she was yanked into an alley. Her head rapped against the side of the building as a hand settled across her throat.

"Did you really think we'd let you go that easily little one?" Marcus shifted, crowding her against the wall. "The Reds took care of you for four years and you up and disappear?"

Ella's biotics flared and sent The Red's leader flying. "Don't ever fucking touch me again," she hissed as he staggered to his feet. "I don't belong to the Reds and made damn sure of that."

"The new leaders, we got plans for you girl. Plans you'll want to hear. You can even stay with The Alliance." Marcus took a limping step towards her, attempting to cut off her escape route.

"I have no desire to listen to your plans." She held her ground, refusing to back away from The Reds leader.

"You'll go nowhere. Street kids like you are cannon fodder, even with your biotics. Let us help you stay alive in there. All you need to do feed us information; drops, patrol routes, things like that." Marcus slowly stepped towards her as he spoke.

A figured stepped behind the gang leader and a rifle butt slammed against his head. Marcus crumpled to the ground a second time. "I believe the lady told you to piss off." Mismatched eyes connected with Ella's. "Been a damn long time sweetheart."

"Zaeed." She couldn't stop the relief, and happiness, that colored her voice. Ella stepped around Marcus, who smartly had not risen from the second attack. She leaned over the prostrate man. "I don't care who the new leaders are, or what they want. You can tell the damn consultant I'm done with The Reds."

The two exited the alleyway and walked together in silence. His hand settled on the small of her back as he directed Ella into a dimly bar and a booth at the back. Moments later a bottle of whiskey and two glasses sat on the table. Zaeed filled the glasses and placed one in front of her. Ella pushed it back towards him. "Not a drinker sweetheart?"

She shrugged. "Don't mind it, but I can't. Not tonight at least."

"And why's that?"

Her hand flicked up towards where the jack would be placed and rubbed lightly. "Medical procedure before I ship out. Can't drink beforehand."

"Make bloody sure you get an L3. Goddamn L2s make people crazy." He watched her jaw clench and relax a few times as she stared at him. "Well, spit it out."

"How did you know?"

"Besides seeing the goddamn blue lights coming from the alley? Steven told me why you ran from the bloody orphanage."

"Steven apparently doesn't know how to mind his own business," she grumbled under her breath.

Zaeed let out a sharp bark of laughter before downing his drink. "I've known the bastard nearly twelve years. He's a damn busy body."

Shepard answered with a grin. He pulled her into a conversation, aware the Ella only gave the most basic and superficial of answers. She deflected and redirected him whenever he got too serious. He'd finished half the bottle before her eyes began drifting shut. "Am I boring you sweetheart?"

Her eyes widened a bit. "No, just a long week with lots of early mornings. Plus adrenaline spikes are a bitch."

"Better get used to them. They'll happen a lot in basic. Let's call it a night."

Ella found herself pleasantly surprised when he followed her back to the hotel. She hesitated at the door and Zaeed's hands pressed against her lightly until she turned to face him. His thumb traced the line of her jaw before carding through her hair softly. Zaeed leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Good luck sweetheart."

He's disappeared into the crowd before Ella could respond to the casual affection. With an exasperated sigh, she headed back to her room to pack one last time. The new clothes were carefully packed into a crate for shipping to Vancouver and her omnitool was stashed beside the bed, but an unexpected package sat unopened.

Curious, she opened the box and pulled out the soft leather jacket she had admired earlier. Ella frowned as she noticed a slip of paper pinned to the collar.

I was disappointed to hear you turned down our offer.

You were admiring this. Take the jacket as a gesture of goodwill.

We'll be here when the Alliance fails to support you the way we do.

~V

Ella let out a very unlady like snort. She didn't know who "V" was, but she had a good idea. She tossed the jacket onto the desk with a pang of sadness before she crawled into bed. It was gorgeous, but the gang couldn't buy her loyalty. Anticipation over boot camp and a new life pushed aside past regrets as Ella drifted to sleep.

The shrill ring from the bedside terminal woke her before the alarm. A harried sounding desk clerk apologized for waking her, but a package had just been delivered and needed immediate delivery. Resigned to staring her day earlier than expected, Ella had it delivered.

A second unexpected package set her on edge. This one was smaller, but heavy. A few quick movements unsealed the small container. Inside was a mid-range Pinnacle pistol. Recruits were allowed to supply their own weapons, as long as they fell within SOP of the Alliance. Ella had planned on using alliance issue until she saved enough for a decent weapon. The Pinnacle was top of the line for recruits.

Ella lifted the pistol hesitantly. Her gaze settled on the folded piece of paper still sitting in the box. A quick read had her smiling.

Ella,

This will last longer than a goddamn bowl of ice cream.

Happy Birthday sweetheart.

Z.M.

This gift, she would take with her.