Shepard finally reached the stairs leading to the Council after discovering that the location of the meeting had, unbeknownst to him, changed. He paused. After all of the speeches he had delivered, to his adversaries or allies, this was going to be the most important one.
And Udina is not going to be happy with what I am going to say. Oh well. Never liked him anyway.
Shepard walked up the stairs to the meeting area as quickly as he could. Apparently, they had already started without him. Liara was silently standing there, waiting for the Councilors to finish their own discussion with Councilor Udina.
Still wish Anderson had kept the job.
The Turian Councilor, Sparatus, was speaking to Udina.
"We've got our own problems Councilor. Earth is not in this alone."
"But Earth was the first one hit. By all reports, it faces the brunt of the attack."
Councilor Udina's face was contorted with worry and his eyes almost seemed pleading when he spoke.
I guess he hasn't fully coped with the news yet.
At the mention of intelligence reports, the Salarian Councilor named Valern, his race known for intelligence gathering, cut in.
"By your reports."
Shepard confidently strode onto the end of the ledge to speak for his race.
"Our reports are accurate. Alliance space was the first system we know of that was attacked by the Reapers. Our ground forces are being decimated as we speak and our fleets are only slightly better off."
"No they are not Commander" the Valern explained. "Reports from STG teams show that Earth was not the first planet attacked. As a matter of fact, nor was Alliance Space. We have reports that Batarian Space was the Reapers' entry point to our galaxy."
Makes sense. That's where they wanted to enter using the Mass Relay.
"But we can help Earth. We can't help the Batarians" Councilor Udina argued.
Ever the logical mediator of the Council, the Asari Councilor, Tevos, responded.
"We are well aware of the Batarians' position of complete isolation. We are also aware as to the cause of this."
She said this while pointedly looking at Shepard. Shepard took the jab in stride and remained standing at ease before the seat of galactic power while Valern elaborated.
"Earth was by no means the first planet to be attacked. It is not a special case."
"Agreed" Shepard announced.
Everyone there was taken aback. Udina snapped his gaze on Shepard and the other Councilors looked at him with confusion and a hint of… almost gratitude.
I have to save the galaxy, not just Earth. I'm sorry Anderson, but you have to wait or no one will be able to come and save you.
"Earth is not important in it of itself. However, it is the largest known Reaper stronghold and should be noted as such. It is also the location of the largest resistance movement against the Reapers. Admiral Anderson himself is leading them. We can use the time we have to regroup our forces, regroup your forces, and undertake our plan to destroy the Reapers. When our forces are ready, we can bring the fight to the Reapers. First by concentrating our forces where the Reapers are weakest, and then move on to their strongholds. Then, we can free Earth."
There was a long pause in the room as everyone digested what Shepard had just said. Sparatus was the first to understand.
"That is… an excellent plan Commander. A sound military strategy."
"What!" Udina cried out.
Tevos and Valern were quick to jump onto Shepard's bandwagon.
"I agree with the Commander on this issue" Valern announced.
"As do I" Tevos proclaimed.
That's a first.
Udina was not taking this well at all.
"Are you insane Shepard! You are going to get Earth destroyed!"
Shepard swallowed.
"I'm sorry Councilor, but this is the best plan to ensure that Earth has a chance. If we just throw a patchwork of haphazardly and hastily constructed forces against the largest contingent of Reapers known in the galaxy, we will be destroyed and no one will be left to save Earth."
Shepard didn't like having to say this, but he knew that it was the only way.
"We cannot let our rage and want to save a single planet of billions overcome our need to save the galaxy and the other trillions."
Shepard's face seemed to be made of stone as he said this. It was the correct path but each word still tasted like the Thresher Maw acid that had scarred most of his body on Akuze as they left his lips.
"Those are your own people that you are condemning to death!" Udina shouted at him.
"So be it."
Udina couldn't say anything more. He stood dumbfounded. Liara stared at Shepard with awe. As the Shadow Broker, she knew when someone was manipulating people and Shepard was manipulating the most powerful people in the galaxy.
Shepard did not stop.
"Humanity has many other planets Councilor. We are resilient and resourceful. We will survive this apocalypse. A good friend of mine explained this very well. 'Home is recognized thought patterns. Known spaces. Familiar thought processes of fellow sapients. It is belonging. A planet is an amount of material massive enough to collapse into a spherical volume. Rocks, ice, and gasses are not home.' Saving Earth isn't our main goal. Saving the people on Earth is, and we can't do that without a concerted well planned galactic effort. The Asari, Turians, Salarians, and Humans must regroup and prepare. I personally offer my assistance in helping your races do so by any means."
A smile crept up Tevos' face. One attempted to do the same with Valern but his emotion was processed too quickly to reveal anything more than a twitch of the mouth. And Sparatus only nodded at Shepard.
"I'm curious Shepard. You mentioned that there was a plan you would undertake to destroy the Reapers?"
"Yes Councilors. Liara."
Liara stepped up.
"Councilors, we have a plan. A blueprint created by the Protheans during their war with the Reapers."
"A blueprint for what? A weapon?" Sparatus asked.
"We are still piecing the data together but it does indeed appear to be a weapon of some sort."
Valern continued the interview.
"You are sure it is capable of destroying the Reapers?"
"From what we can tell so far that is its intended use."
"The scale… it would be a colossal undertaking. No one has the amount of resources necessary for such a project."
"No. It can't be only one of us" Shepard explained. "We must all devote our races' resources to this project. I forwarded the plans to Admiral Hackett. The remnants of the human fleet are already gathering resources to begin construction."
Liara jumped in to support his claim.
"Our initial calculations suggest that it is very feasible to build."
"IF we work together" Shepard strongly asserted.
Ever the logical one, Tevos pointed out the obvious hole in their case so far.
"Hypothetically, if we did build it, have you considered that the Reapers destroyed the Protheans? What good did this weapon do them?"
At least she's more open to the idea now than she was earlier.
"It was incomplete" Liara elaborated. "The weapon was a missing component. Something only referred to as 'The Catalyst.' The Protheans ran out of time before they could finish building it."
Sparatus was skeptical and quite rightly so.
"What guarantees do you have that this weapon will do the job?"
"I'm afraid we don't" Shepard replied. "But this is our only option. If any better idea comes up, let us know. Until then, this is our best and only bet. The Reapers won't stop at Earth. They will destroy every advanced organic being in the galaxy if we don't make this weapon."
The three councilors looked at each other for a moment and typed into their consoles both communicating with each other and voting on the matter at hand. Udina could not vote because he had presented the plan to help Earth. The only thing Udina did was stare daggers at Shepard. Shepard didn't make eye contact. He stared straight ahead at the three other councilors, trying to postpone the thrashing that he knew Udina was going to give him. The three Councilors finally raised their heads. Tevos announced the official ruling of the Council.
"The cruel and unfortunate truth is that while the Reapers focus on Earth, we can prepare and regroup."
Udina face palmed almost immediately but that wasn't the entire decree. Valern elaborated.
"We are convening a war summit amongst our species to decide how to fight the Reapers. If we can manage to secure our own borders, we may once again consider aiding you."
"However" Tevos continued. "We have chosen to accept the other half of Councilor Udina's motion. When our militaries are able, with Shepard's assistance, we will begin undertaking offensive campaigns against the Reaper forces. We will assist the humans in securing Earth at its proper time in the strategic theatre."
Councilor Udina shot up at this statement.
"Shepard's idea was not part of my proposal! I did not vote on Shepard's proposition! That proposal cannot be passed by the Council without a unanimous vote!"
"I'm sorry" Tevos explained. "But Shepard presented his proposal during the same time frame reserved for your proposal. According to Council law, they are therefore considered to be two parts of the same motion. If you did not want his proposal to be part of yours, you should have indicated this before the votes were cast. Because you did not, you are considered a party of the proposal and as such, cannot vote on it. Perhaps you had yet to hear of this rule due to your short tenure as Councilor so far."
Shepard smiled. Tevos had just cited one of the most obscure and least used laws that governed Council proceedings Shepard had ever heard. Those were all relics and were largely ignored anyway. Udina looked at her incredulously because of the ruling and the fact that she basically called him a rookie.
Now I know that she is on my side. At least, as far as she can be while still protecting her race.
"This meeting of the Council is adjourned" Tevos finished.
Before anyone could leave, Udina called after Shepard.
"Shepard! Meet me in my office."
Shepard could practically see the steam coming out of his ears. Liara and Shepard both began walking down the stairs away from the meeting.
Sparatus, Valern, and Tevos gathered together as they began leaving. Sparatus spoke to Tevos first.
"I don't recall there ever being a Citadel law of such a nature Tevos."
"There is none" Valern quickly answered.
"It was necessary to fabricate some information" Tevos said, defending herself. "Shepard is absolutely right on this issue and I will not have that young upstart Udina threatening galactic safety with his impudence."
"Oh. Is that all Tevos?" Sparatus asked with some mockery. "I thought it was that having a human propose such a course of action would protect us from the Sentient Life Rights Activist courts."
Tevos kept a straight face.
"That would be an advantage as well."
"And if Udina were to inquire into the existence of this law?" Sparatus inquired.
Tevos typed a few commands into her omnitool before replying.
"Then he would find that law in the official records but somehow be unable to unearth its origin."
Sparatus laughed.
"It seems that we are finally repaying the Commander for all of his work in protecting the galaxy and our lives. Good. Leaving a Blood Debt unpaid leads to ill will."
Tevos put her hand to her brow and closed her eyes in concentration.
"Call it whatever you want. We won't be able to finish paying the debt unless our races survive long enough. We should all go about doing so."
"The Salarians have been preparing ever since the Batarian relay was destroyed. We have several prototype weapons and defensive measures that we would like to begin mass producing. If the Turian war machine would assist us in doing so…"
The trio walked off, heads close, as they discussed ways in which they could aid each other in fighting the Reapers.
"I hope that's an offer of support" Liara mentioned. "I'll be digging up what I can about the Prothean device. My Shadow Broker contacts may be less useful here than my Archaeological contacts but I'll look everywhere I can."
"Good thinking Liara."
The duo walked under an extended roof that had pillars supporting it on the left side of the Presidium.
"That was amazing Shepard. You keep saying otherwise but your political prowess is amazing. You easily manipulated the Citadel Council into accepting your terms. You got what you wanted Shepard."
"You think so? I certainly have no intention of beginning a political career."
Liara's voice took a more somber tone.
"Was that… hard for you?"
Shepard sighed and put a hand to his head.
"I hadn't been to Earth since I was 18 until the Alliance incarcerated me. It's no longer home for me. My home is with Tali. I care about the people on Earth, but this is necessary. This is the only way. I still fucking hate it. My fellow humans are dying and I can't save them."
Shepard moved his hand from his face and used it to emphasize his words.
"I lied when I insinuated that Earth means nothing. It may only be a sphere of dirt. But it's our dirt damn it! So yeah, this is pretty hard. But as of right now, I have to do this or all of them will die."
Liara reached out and patted his shoulder to give him support. Her Shadow Broker contacts and talent as an information broker allowed her to know how close Tali and Shepard had become. He needed support.
"I'm sure she's fine Shepard. You are doing the best to save the galaxy. If there is anyone in the galaxy that you think is better than you at saving it, then by all means, go find that person and give the person the job. But you and I have been to a lot of places Shepard. We both know that there is no one else. You are the person who can save the galaxy and Tali. You have done it before, and there is nothing stopping you from doing it again."
The words of this pep talk slowly sank into Shepard. He looked over at Liara and his eyes showed both thanks and longing.
"Thanks Liara. I just wish I knew how she is. I haven't seen or heard from her in so long."
They both left the Presidium. Liara went back to the Normandy to scrounge up her old archaeological colleagues, and Shepard went to receive the tongue lashing of his life.
Councilor Udina came storming into his office. Shepard was there waiting for him.
I should have worn a cup.
The tirade came quickly and without mercy.
"You traitorous little bastard!"
Shepard turned to the door and stood at attention just like he had done when being disciplined in the Marines as Udina entered. Udina went right up into Shepard's face but Shepard maintained his composure.
"I should kill you with my bare hands you fucking jackass! What the hell were you thinking! Do you want to commit genocide again! This time, on your own people you insane fucker!"
Udina slowed his use of slurs and moved away from Shepard to the window, disgust still prominent on his face. Shepard calmly explained himself.
"Sir, it was the only way to ensure that the Council would do something to help us sir. A compromise was needed. It was also-"
"I don't want your fucking excuses you imbecile! Everything the Council has ever done in response to human requests, even now, has boiled down to 'Maybe later.' Now that will be an epitaph on the mass grave of 11 billion."
Udina's body language and actual language made Shepard realize how much the news about Earth had affected Udina.
"Sir, I am going to make sure that as many of those 11 billion that can be saved, will be saved."
Udina paused for a moment and turned to look at Shepard. The contempt in Udina's eyes was now tinged by sadness as he realized that the events Shepard had caused were irrevocably in motion.
"You had better, or I will kill you."
Shepard didn't doubt him.
"The Councilors will help us free Earth Councilor. They cannot go back on their decree."
"Oh please Shepard. Political decrees can be distorted to mean anything. Besides, they are scared. Scared, and looking out for themselves."
"Our people are scared" Sparatus began as he strode into the room.
Shepard whirled toward the approaching Councilor and almost reached for the reinforced heavy weave fiberglass knife hidden in the lining of his pants around his waist.
How did we not hear the door opening! Must have been too embroiled in the conversation. Too focused while standing at attention. Damn you Pavlov.
"And we are looking out for them the best we know how." Sparatus concluded.
"Councilor" Udina greeted.
"Councilor" Sparatus returned diplomatically then more warmly spoke to Shepard, immediately sidelining Udina.
"Commander. I'm afraid I can't get you what you need. But I can tell you how to get it."
"I'm listening" Shepard reassured him.
"I would like to be the first to take you up on your offer to personally assist in securing Turian space."
"Happy to help."
Sparatus nodded at that.
"Primarch Fedorian called the war summit, but we lost contact with him when the Reapers hit Palaven."
"The Reapers are at Palaven!" Shepard exclaimed.
Sparatus looked grimmer than usual as he elaborated.
"Yes Commander. Our homeworld is under attack just as yours is."
"I'm sorry Councilor. I didn't know."
Sparatus again nodded in appreciation. Shepard did not share the same animosity toward Turians that some humans did ever since the Turians attacked humanity in the First Contact War. The Turians were a regimented militaristic society where everyone had clear goals. The focus on the military and disciplined behavior made Turian culture very attractive for Shepard. That, and the fact that every Turian was in or had been in the military at some point automatically made Shepard give them some respect. Not the same respect he would give to his superiors, but the same baseline respect he would give to any new squadmate of his.
"It will be on the extranet news soon enough. In any event, those meetings won't proceed without him. The Normandy is one of the few ships that can extract Primarch Fedorian undetected."
"And how will this help secure your borders exactly?"
"It will return one of our best military minds to the fight and provide a large morale boost to my people's forces. And the leaders of this summit will be the ones deciding our future. The fate of our fleets, where they fight, and with whom. A grateful Primarch would be a tremendous ally in your bid to unite us."
"I see. A Primarch is the leader of all Turian forces?"
"Not exactly. A Primarch is the effective equivalent of one of your admirals but Primarchs are… perhaps the best word is 'revered' more than your admirals. The spirit of hundreds of platoons are ascribed to Primarchs. They are the embodiment of our ideals and our best military thinkers."
Shepard nodded in understanding.
He's right. Rescuing this guy would mean a large step toward bringing the Turian fleets to Earth.
"I accept your mission. Where can I find this Primarch?"
Sparatus began typing on his omnitool and a three dimensional holographic display of Palaven and her surrounding moons appeared above the Councilors wrist.
"Our latest intelligence says that the Primarch was moved to a base on Palaven's largest moon, Menae."
The holographic display zoomed in and focused on this moon. After a few moments, the Councilor turned off the display.
"One of my officers is waiting outside to give you the full briefing. I've done all I can to help. The rest is up to you."
Sparatus turned and began leaving the office. Udina came up to Shepard to discuss this proposition with him but was stopped by Sparatus.
"There is one other thing Commander. The Council, including Udina, wanted me to tell you. We have chosen to uphold your Spectre status. Your incarceration with the Alliance is in the Citadel records but will be overlooked. And various resources will be made available to you. Good day."
With that, Sparatus left the office. Shepard was rather pleased with himself.
Surely Udina has now seen the benefits of what I did.
"Well, that went well."
Udina was, in fact, in a better mood. The first whisper of an offer of support had already arrived in his lap.
"It's a start. I'll talk to the others in the meantime. See if I can get them to support this summit. Move things along."
"I appreciate it Councilor."
Udina waved him away as a sign of dismissal. Shepard exited the office and entered the hallway. As the door closed behind him, Shepard leaned against it.
Whew. That was close. Finally, I have a mission. Something to do to help stop the Reapers.
A Turian in all black armour and black war paint walked up to Shepard.
"Shepard. I am Commander Cato Septimus. Councilor Sparatus told me to brief you on your mission."
Shepard returned to his good posture as the Turian spoke.
"Shall we?"
"Of course Shepard."
Cato beckoned Shepard to follow him and he led Shepard to the Spectre office. The Turian's hand unlocked the scanner and his retina scan was also approved by the door. Shepard was surprised.
"Didn't know that you were a Spectre, Commander." Shepard said as they both walked down the long hallway to the Spectre consoles.
"Forget the formalities Shepard. It doesn't matter what rank you were or still are in any other military. All that matters is that you are a Spectre. You should feel honoured Shepard. Spectres rarely see each other unless they were both inaugurated into the force at the same time or are assigned to the same mission. And you have met four Spectres so far, myself included. A rarity. But I digress."
They both arrived at the Spectre consoles and Cato began typing into one of them.
"I was stationed on Palaven before the Reapers hit. I had been assisting our Reaper consultant in gathering supplies and intelligence regarding their existence. When the Reapers began their assault, I gathered all of the information I could. Luckily, I specialized in the Infiltrator Division of the Turian military and was able to remain on planet during the Reaper assault to acquire additional intelligence."
"Let me have it" Shepard urged him.
Cato finished typing and a larger holographic display of Palaven and her moons glittered into existence above the holographic display disk on the floor. A slow motion version of the Reaper invasion began.
"The Reapers hit us hard. They came at us from this side" he said as the display played it out. "And took out our bases on the two moons in their path by dropping thousands of troops, land based Reapers that Sovereign class Reapers deploy known as Destroyers, and five Sovereign class Reapers for each moon. We lost contact with our troops a few minutes later."
Shepard stared at the display with a calculating gaze, trying to discern a pattern of Reaper movements and deployment that he could predict and exploit. Cato continued.
"Most of the Reaper fleet however moved past the two moons and invaded Palaven directly.
The moons were just nuisances. Looks like the Reapers fight using only two tactics. Shock Action, themselves, and Attack at the Center of Gravity.. Why do the Reapers go after homeworlds specifically?
"The majority of our Palaven based tenth, eleventh, and twelfth fleets moved to intercept the Reaper fleet. There were about 200 Sovereign class Reapers at the outset of the battle. We were only able to destroy 15 of them before those three fleets were wiped out. Then the Reapers started to interfere with our communications but we were able to send out basic messages to other ships in visual range with powerful signal flashes. Catastrophe Plan number 47 was put into effect. Several fleets were recalled and regrouped in a neighbouring system while others regrouped around Menae to maintain a foothold from which to fight the Reapers. Luckily, at the time of the initial attack, Menae was on the far side of Palaven and was not immediately attacked by the Reapers."
"What about Palaven itself? How is the fight going there?
Cato shook his head.
"Communications with Palaven are essentially cut off, but we can see the fires spread further and further around Palaven from Menae. As of now, Menae is of more importance than Palaven. Three hours after initial contact, Menae was invaded by five Sovereign class Reapers and their assorted ground forces."
"So they use the same pattern for invading moons."
"It would appear so. Data from the first two moons and Menae indicate that five Sovereign Reapers can deploy twenty five Destroyers and an assortment of ground troops numbering around ten thousand."
That's not good.
"Is that all Cato?"
Cato closed the display and typed a few more commands into the console.
"I forwarded the relevant intel to your private terminal aboard the Normandy. Good luck Shepard."
Cato Septimus quickly left the Spectre offices to return to his duties. Shepard was left alone there. He looked at the time on his omnitool. In its haste, the Normandy had left Earth with very few supplies and was due to finish supplying in about twenty minutes. Shepard decided to spend the time investigating the Spectre consoles. He logged in and saw that he already had several messages waiting for him. During his browsing, one message demanded his attention. The message was a report on Quarian activity.
Finally something!
The report informed him that Quarians were disappearing in the galaxy. Before the pilgrims disappeared, they bought as many ship parts or weapons as they could and then left. Shepard understood the concept and methods involved in the Quarian Pilgrimage and knew that individually, this behavior was normal. However, all pilgrims were disappearing at the same time. This could not be a coincidence.
They are most likely all being called back to the Migrant Fleet. Good. Then Tali is in the safest place she can be; Surrounded by the largest fleet in the galaxy.
The information regarding disturbances along the Perseus Veil border was troubling. Shepard knew that the Quarians probably wouldn't believe Legions story about how the Geth do not want Rannoch and want to broker a peace. A war between the two races was still possible.
Damnit. I wish I could go find out exactly what is going on but I don't have time. Hold on Tali. I'll find you as soon as I can.
Shepard forwarded the information to his terminal aboard the Normandy so he could investigate into it at a later date.
Step one, make time. Step two, find a quarian. Step three, find the Fleet. Step four, Tali.
Shepard began walking out of the Spectre office.
But before I go, I should really find out how Ash is doing.
Huerta Memorial Hospital was crowded. Many members of armed forces and refugees were being treated but whenever one was treated, three more came to take his place. Some were just lying on the floor, waiting for anyone who would care for them.
But there are always people who just pretend that there is nothing bad happening in the galaxy.
Shepard's thought was referring to a pair of women arguing over what the name of the hospital should be. Shepard ignored their petty squabble and went straight for the door to the extensive care wing of the hospital. Before he reached it though he heard his name called out.
"Ah, Shepard. There you are."
He turned toward the shout and saw Doctor Chakwas standing on the side with Dr. Michel. Shepard smiled at seeing them both and walked over. It had been a long time since he had seen either.
"Dr. Chakwas, Dr. Michel! It has been a long time."
"Indeed it has Commander" Dr. Michel replied. "I hope you have been well."
Oh. Right. She doesn't know about… a lot. And it is all confidential.
"I've been better.
Dr. Michel's omnitool began blinking.
"Oh, excuse me. A patient needs me. Good day."
Dr. Michel left the two old friends alone.
"Why are you here Dr. Chakwas?"
"I'm working at an Alliance R&D lab down in the Shaita Wards coordinating closely with Admiral Hackett. I heard you had escaped Earth in the Normandy and that someone on board was critically injured. I came as fast as I could. I, along with Dr. Michel, assisted with Lieutenant Commander Williams' surgery."
Shepard grimaced as he explained the event that had caused the injury.
"We had a run in with a Cerberus synthetic on Mars. Ashley took the worst of it. How's she doing?"
"Very well, all things considered. I'm impressed with Ashley's resilience, along with Dr. Michel's expertise. I wish I had been there to help when she needed it most. She never did bother to become seriously wounded when I was on the Normandy."
Shepard smiled at the small riff.
"It's been six months Doc. What have you been doing during my…absence?"
They both walked over to the window away from the crowds so they wouldn't be overheard. Just in case they spoke about any of Shepard's active or complete missions.
"I was fortunate. When they impounded the Normandy, the Alliance didn't really know what to do with me. I was never officially part of Cerberus and I'd gotten a proper leave of absence from my previous post. The Collector Mission was just my vacation."
Shepard laughed at that.
"Good. So you hadn't technically done anything wrong by joining me to defeat the Collectors."
"Yes. Though I suppose if you were judged to be a war criminal, I would have been tried as an accessory."
"I guess the Alliance makes for an angry spouse."
"Indeed" Dr. Chakwas said with an amused expression at the reference.
"I have to say Doc, the med bay misses you and I'm in need of a doctor."
"I couldn't agree more. You're a Spectre and if you deem me necessary for your mission, then my contract with the R&D Department will be nullified. You say the word, and I'm with you."
With a flourish, Shepard announced her reassignment.
"Well then as a Spectre, I decree that the med bay wouldn't be the same without you Doctor. Get your things. The Normandy is at docking bay D24."
"Thank you Commander. Come see me when you come aboard."
"Don't thank me so soon. Remember, Joker is still aboard."
A smirk accompanying a few chuckles formed on Dr. Chakwas' mouth.
"And I'd be surprised if he's been remembering his medication."
They both arrived at the ship. Shepard left Chakwas to make herself accustomed to the ship while he charted a course for Palaven. He had Joker call the crew back into the Normandy. When the ship was full, it took off into the final frontier. A few minutes later, Shepard made his way down to the med bay. The door slid apart before him and he saw that Dr. Chakwas had already changed into the familiar Alliance Medical Personnel uniform.
"Everything okay down here Doc?" Shepard inquired.
Dr. Chakwas looked around for a moment to confirm her findings.
"The Alliance team cleaned up the bloodstains and restocked, but it's still my old med bay. Feels like home."
"Welcome back."
Dr. Chakwas took out her omnitool as she replied.
"Thank you but let's waste no time. If I may, I would like to examine you."
Shepard gave her a curious look.
"Something wrong with me?"
"No, but we should keep an eye on all those cybernetic implants Cerberus grafted into you."
"I've always wondered Doc, how much of me is machine?"
Dr. Chakwas looked at Shepard's face. He didn't seem to consider it a heavy question with possible metaphysical implications that would call into question his humanity so she answered the question as she saw it.
"Most of your skeleton is machinery and plenty of your muscles have been cybernetically reinforced or regrown with nanites."
Shepard was taken aback.
"Expensive stuff. Bringing me back."
"And worth every penny. Let's just make sure everything is okay."
"I guess a checkup never hurt. Just no scalpel this time Doc" Shepard pleaded.
A few moments passed as Dr. Chakwas passed her omnitool over Shepard and allowed it to take many scans of him.
"Alas, to my great disappointment, it is nothing invasive. I'm just going to run some diagnostics on your implants, and they will take a few readings."
Dr. Chakwas' stared at her omnitool as she analyzed the acquired data. Eventually, she slowly and carefully replied.
"On second thought, that scalpel might be necessary."
"What?" Shepard sputtered out, dumbfounded as to what could be wrong.
"Your implants are showing signs of rejection" Dr. Chakwas replied in a somewhat concerned voice.
"I thought you said that wouldn't happen if I maintained positive thoughts? I think I certainly have!" Shepard questioned. "What does this mean?"
Dr. Chakwas continued staring at her omnitool as more data came through and continued answering with the voice of a doctor who has seen countless in agony on her table. It was an analytical voice.
"No, I said that your scars wouldn't glow if you maintained a positive outlook. Your body wasn't rejecting the implants at the time. I've worked on several bioengineered people in my career but nothing as advanced as what you have. Your body has started to realize that it was rebuilt by artificial means and is slowly beginning to treat your implants as foreign bodies. These implants, like many others, have methods to stop this effect but your body appears to be overcoming these methods one by one. Soon enough, your body will reject the implants faster than they can soothe your immune system. This is happening through no fault of your own. Your body is running its natural course."
Shepard started getting nervous.
"How will this affect me?"
"Initial symptoms include a red glow exhibiting from your implants along with some heat. This is caused by the implants release of their counter measures when any cells of the immune system attack them. Increased blood flow and capillary action will enhance and heighten this glowing effect. Subsequent symptoms are more debilitating such as joint pain, Muscular Dystrophy, and bone fractures."
Shepard's eyes had slowly widened as the list went on.
"Doc! I can't suffer from any of those! My job doesn't exactly allow it!"
Dr. Chakwas' voice softened as she saw Shepard's anxiety.
"We still have a couple of months until the more severe symptoms kick in" Dr. Chakwas assured him. "The red glow effect should already be occurring. Don't be alarmed if you start exhibiting this symptom in battle. Your fight or flight response and combat adrenaline will cause it. The glow is harmless and the heat will not affect you. But the heat will not endanger your health because the cybernetic implants will also ensure that your core temperature does not rise due to this artificial heating."
"What about the part including broken bones!" Shepard pointed out.
Dr. Chakwas finally looked up at him.
"I need to operate on you as soon as possible to find out more about these implants before I can treat this. There are cures for this when regular implants are the subject but these reverse engineered Reaper implants are practically an unknown to me."
Shepard's right hand reached up to the back of his head as he paced in a small circle.
"How long will this procedure take?"
"I will need to perform surgery to test certain bones in your body that received the most cybernetic augmentation. Your ribs, femur, humerus, ulna, radius, tibia, a few metatarsals, phalanges, metacarpals, and all of your vertebrae. Tissue tests will be easy enough."
Shepard did not like the sound of getting cut open just about everywhere on his body.
"That sounds difficult Doc."
Dr. Chakwas nodded, her face grim but her eyes determined.
"I will need time to prepare. In a shipboard med bay, this procedure will take a long time. Luckily, we have just restocked. If there are any medics aboard they should report to me as soon as they can. I will need assistants."
"Joker!" Shepard yelled up at the ceiling. "What's our ETA?"
EDI responded before Joker's human reaction time could process the request.
"The Normandy will arrive in the space around Menae in four hours and twenty seven seconds."
"Yeah" Joker belatedly affirmed. "What she said."
"I'll need more time than that to prepare and explain the procedure to any medics we have. Finish your task on Menae first Commander then come and see me."
"EDI!" Shepard called out.
"Yes Shepard?" the disembodied voice answered over the ship's PA system.
"Call every medic we have to the med bay immediately."
"Already done Shepard."
Shepard reached for the door's controls but had to hear one last confirmation before he left.
"And you are sure that I'll be okay for the next few months?"
"Absolutely Commander. By then, I should have a cure ready for you. Don't worry about this Commander, worry about not getting shot."
Shepard breathed a sigh of relief and left for the shuttle bay. He needed to blow off some steam.