a/n: It's Saturday, I have no work tomorrow, and I work evenings next week, so I decided to crank out the last chapter. I know it's incredibly short, but I couldn't add it onto the last one. Enjoy.

-brittsis

Rae dressed in her best uniform, ready to face any fire the brass may throw at her. The reports stated that she executed unarmed prisoners. The heat she was about to receive was bound to be monumental. She entered the large room and saluted the four admirals sitting at the desk. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted her ICT instructor and frowned. Why would he be here?

"Lieutenant Commander Shepard." Hackett spoke from the desk, drawing her attention back to the desk.

Rae snapped to attention and saluted the Admirals. "Reporting as requested sir."

"At ease soldier." Hackett, lifted a data pad. "I have here the report of the incidents on Torfan from multiple parties. It says here that it was your job to infiltrate the base and retrieve prisoners that were inside."

"Yes sir." Rae shifted her weight, readying for a long debriefing. "Allow me to explain Sir." And she told them everything, from her point of view. She ended with her shuttle docking in the Einstein. "I did what needed done sir."

Hackett nodded and retook his seat. Another Admiral stood and lifted his own data pad. "Tell us Shepard. What would you do differently?"

"Intel sir. It dropped the bar on multiple occasion." Rae spoke frankly. "If we'd known about the AA guns I wouldn't have needed to split my team and might have gotten the prisoners out quicker. If we'd known about the heavy artillery, maybe Major Kyle wouldn't have broken under the pressure of loosing so many men and there'd be more alive today. But that's all what if Sir. Given the same situation, I'd do it all over again. The Alliance needed this victory sir. We needed to show the galaxy that humanity isn't going to take shit."

The man nodded and sat down, waving to the other Admirals. One by one, each stood and asked a question or two. Rae answered each one truthfully and to the fullest of her ability. When it was done, her instructor stepped forward and had a quiet word with the Admirals. Finally Hackett stood again and cleared his throat. "Shepard this hearing was brought together to determine several things. One if you were still fit to lead a team. Two, if you'd be willing to do what ever it took to get the job done. And three, what we should do with you. After much deliberation we have come to a conclusion."

Hackett looked at the other Admirals who all stood, "You are hereby promoted to the rank of Commander in the Alliance military. Your instructor has also informed us that your actions on Torfan has proven your abilities. Commander Reagan Shepard, you have earned the title of N7."

The Admirals all raised their hands in salute. Rae snapped to attention and raised her own hand.

"You will receive your new orders tomorrow. Enjoy the rest of the day Commander."

Reagan had taken part of the Theshara Raids. The Alliance had tracked several pirate FTL trails to the moon and decided to end the attacks once in for all. Because of her work on Elysium and Torfan, she'd been given full reign on the project. She pieced together a team of fifty soldiers and divided them up into teams of ten. Most Commander's gave orders from the back, protected by the lines of tropes. Not Reagan. She stood at the front and rallied her troops. Even with her broken arm, she charged head long into the fight and ended the pirate raids on human colonies.

After the raid, there wasn't much for Raegan to fight. She moved around from ship to ship doing various missions. She even fought along side a few Turians against the Blue Suns. It had been an educational experience. Rae had discovered that her hatred for the Batarians didn't extend to all other species. In fact, she found herself more at ease with aliens than she did with humans.

Carole kept in touch, sending Rae a message through the extranet. Charles's condition was improving but he still had episodes of panic once in a while. Rae stuck besides her decision and didn't visit him ever. The wound on her heart had healed but she couldn't chance his health.

It was her twenty-ninth birthday and she had been granted leave. Dressed in civilian clothing, Rae pulled the hood of her brother's jacket down to hide her face. She stepped off the shuttle and took a moment to look around. The last time she'd been here, the port had been engulfed in flames and pocked marked with rifle and mortar fire. Hunching her shoulders, Rae hurried through the streets and tried not to notice how everything was different. It took her awhile to find her way around but she finally found the graveyard.

She stopped in front of their graves and slid her hood off. Squatting down, she took a moment to look at each of the head stones. She didn't know who had ordered them and made a mental note to thank them. "I forgive you," She spoke softly and hung her head. "You guys were hurt, every one of you. You'd lost a brother or a son and didn't get to say good-bye like I did. So you hated me for it and I can't blame you anymore. You're my family and I only wish you could be alive to hear this."

Rae took a deep breath. "The Shepard name means something now. Depending on who you talk to I'm either a hero or a butcher, either way they know I will go to any lengths to protect them." She stood and looked around. The site was filled with headstones. The number of people lost during that attack. "Your sacrifices will not be forgotten."

She closed her eyes and for a brief moment she could see everyone gathered around her. They all smiled at her, pride in their eyes. She opened her eyes to find only Bodie standing there, a smile on his face.

'I love you Rae.' He turned to leave.

"Wait, where are you going?" Rae called out, tears forming.

'You don't need me anymore.' He looked at her over his shoulder. 'You haven't for a while but you weren't ready to admit it. Live your life to the fullest Rae. And be happy.' He faded away, a smile on his face just reserved for her.

"Commander Shepard?"

Rae turned to find a soldier standing on the edge of the graveyard. She quickly wiped the tears from her eyes and went over to him. "Yes, how can I help you?"

The soldier saluted her then held out a data pad. "Orders ma'am."

"But I'm on leave." She took the pad from him and began to read the contents.

"Yes Ma'am. But Captain Anderson requested you personally. You're to report to the Normandy at Arcturus Station tomorrow at oh six hundred."