Chapter 5 is here! To kill-phil: Thanks for reviewing every chapter, it's helpful to see what's right and wrong, and what's not fully explained in the story. I'll just say I was originally planning to blow the Citadel to bits with the Illusive Man fight but... I had another idea, you'll see eventually! And I'm glad you think I'm doing something new, honestly the only reason I didn't let Shepard get hit by Harbinger's beam is... Well... A Reaper beam hitting anyone would incinerate you instantly, even if you're the great Commander Shepard. (Rannoch mission anyone?) Anyway, Mass Effect is owned by Bioware, I own nothing. Now, enjoy!

Ch. 5: The Farm-boy Biotic

Citadel

Commander Shepard

"Here Anderson, I've got some Medigel ready." Shepard had his omnitool out, and was preparing some Medigel for Anderson's leg wound.

The Citadel arms were opening rather slowly, but they were gigantic so that shouldn't have been unexpected. Shepard applied the Medigel to Anderson's wound. Anderson let out a deep breath as the Medigel did its magic and sat down next to the control panel.

Shepard sat down next to him. He looked out the window of the Council Chambers, amd saw Earth slowly coming into view. "We did it sir."

"Yes, we did. We all did." Anderson kept his gaze on Earth as its full beauty came into view. "It's… quite a view."

Shepard chuckled a little. "Best seats in the house."

Anderson seemed to ignore his comment and kept talking. "God, it feels like years since I just… sat down."

Shepard nodded. "I think you earned a rest."

Anderson just kept his gaze on the Earth. He began to smile at the blue orb that continued to grow slowly in the window. "You ever wonder, if things would've been different… How our lives would be… Different, if this hadn't happened?"

Anderson turned to face Shepard. "I had a family once Shepard, so long ago I can hardly remember it. I never did figure out what true family life was."

Shepard just smiled. "There'll be time enough for that now, Anderson, just think about Kahlee."

Anderson let out a chuckle. "No, Shepard, I… I think that ship has sailed. What about you? Ever thought about settling down?"

Shepard just shook his head and looked back at Earth. "I'm a soldier, Anderson, like you. I'm not really fit for anything else."

Anderson laughed again. "You not fit for something, Shepard? Just think about it for a second, who would make a better dad than you?"

Shepard kept his gaze on the Earth. "Yeah… I like the sound of that… I'm not sure I'd be much good at it though."

Anderson looked at Shepard with an amused gaze. "I don't know Shepard, I think you'd make a great dad."

Shepard looked down towards the room he had fought Saren in with a smile he hadn't used since his last talk with his father, all those years ago on that small farm on Mindior. He thought about the time before the raid on Mindior, about how he had once pictured his dad as a hero, just like people pictured himself now. Shepard knew now his father had only been a farmer, but nothing would change the fact he was a hero to his own eyes, and for some reason Shepard had the same effect on other people. Of course, with his real father long dead Anderson, who had saved his life back there on Mindior, was the closest thing to a father Shepard had left, and hearing those words from a man he greatly respected empowered his resolve.

"Thank you, sir." Shepard's smile widened.

Anderson wasn't finished, however. "Just think how proud your kids would be, telling everyone… their dad, is Commander Shepard!"

Shepard shook his head again. "I don't know about that… Not everything I've done is something to be proud of."

Anderson put a hand on Shepard's shoulder. "Nonsense, Shepard. You did good, son, you did good. I'm proud of you, and so is everyone in the galaxy."

Shepard smiled at Earth again, and in his heart he knew Anderson was right. He could make a great father, he could be a great husband to Tali, and he could, after all of the Reapers died, be with Tali for the rest of his days. Who knows, he could even fulfill his childhood dream of becoming a small-time farmer like his father, and have a quiet little house with Tali as his wife, and two little children, one boy and one girl, filling the house with their laughter, just like his father had.

"You know Anderson, you sound just like my dad, and what you said… I think you're right."

"I know I'm right son, you of all people deserve a little happiness out of this nightmare." Anderson said quietly. They sat there for just a moment, and then Anderson started to get up. "Alright Shepard, no more slacking, let's go save some lives."

Shepard stopped Anderson before he got up completely. "Wait, the Medigel hasn't healed your wounds yet, just stay here. I'll go check on the others and help them."

Anderson let out of grunt of disapproval, and then sat back down. "Ok, Shepard, but I'm not sitting here all day. When I don't feel the pain anymore I'm coming to help."

Shepard just smiled as he stood up. "I wouldn't have it any other way sir."

Shepard started walking towards the door to the keeper tunnels, and began thinking about Mindior again.

Flashback

Mindior, hours before the Batarian raid

16-year old Shepard was sitting on the dinner table, eating his food with his family. The sun was setting on the horizon, and Shepard would soon have to start his homework before his bed time. Harvest time was coming soon, and Shepard was looking forward to working in the fields again with his dad.

Shepard's father looked up from his plate and decided to speak, "So, how's school my boy? Finished all of your homework right?"

Shepard looked up from his own plate and answered with a smile. "Of course dad, it'll be done before I go to bed."

"Good, that's my boy." Shepard's father turned to his wife. "Hannah, do we have any of that leftover pie? I think our kids deserve to eat the rest of it tonight."

Hannah Shepard continued eating, and said with a smirk. "It's still there unless you ate it all."

Shepard's father chuckled. "I guess that means there's some left." He got up and opened the fridge, taking the pie out of it.

Shepard smiled at the sight of the slice of pie now in front of him. Being a farmer on a distant colony world meant rarely getting more food than basic meat and potatoes, and pie was even rarer still. Shepard's father had gone to the most expensive store in town just to get the pie crust and the pudding for the pie, although the plants in it were grown on their farm.

"Better enjoy it kids, that was the last pie crust at the store." Shepard's sister, who was 10, started picking at the pie with her fork. Shepard, however, started to devour the slice of pie with extreme speed. When Shepard had finished with his own slice of pie, Shepard's sister stopped picking it and gave it to him, saying "Here, it's too sweet for me." And she walked off to her room.

Shepard finished the pie, helped his mother put the plates in the dish washer, and then started to head to his room. He walked into his room, double-checking his model ships were still hanging on the wall, and sat on his desk to start his homework. He was stuck on a particularly hard math problem when his father knocked on his door.

"Son, can I come in?" His father asked quietly.

Shepard went through everything he had done today in his head, thinking about what he could've done wrong. 'No, I haven't done anything wrong, what could he want?' He then got up and opened the door.

"Yes dad?"

Shepard's father sighed as he took a seat on Shepard's bed. "Son, I wanted to talk to you, about… the farm."

Shepard perked up instantly. Nothing interested Shepard more than farming, from fertilizer to automated harvesters. "Sure dad, what do you want to talk about? Is it about the west acres? I actually had an idea for improving them, if we irrigated the land a little more we might…"

Shepard's father cut him off. "No son, it's not about that. I've already heard it remember? And I did say it was a good idea. What I wanted to talk about was you, being a farmer…"

Shepard just looked at his father silently. He'd told his father a hundred times his dream was to inherit the farm, what else was there he needed to talk about?

His father looked him in the eyes. "Look son, I know you're a biotic, and I know we basically broke the law by not telling anyone… But I'm not sure we'll be able to hide the fact forever, especially since you seem to be especially gifted. The Alliance really wants people with biotic potential and… I almost said you were a biotic to an Alliance recruiter I was talking to in town." Shepard's father put his hand on Shepard's shoulder. "I know you never really wanted to be a soldier but… You do like ships don't you? And I'm sure you'd make me and your mother proud if you did decide to join the Alliance."

Shepard looked away. "I know dad, but am I really that gifted of a biotic? I can hardly move a bale of hay."

Shepard's father chuckled again. "Yes son, without an amp you can lift a bale of hay a meter off of the ground. That, my son, screams gifted." Shepard's father paused for a second before continuing. "You know, your mother once wanted to join the Alliance. If she hadn't met me I bet she would've, and I'm sure she'd have made a fine soldier, maybe even an Admiral. Heh, you know how your mother is, she was just born to lead, and son, I think you were too."

Shepard just looked at him quizzically. "Me? A leader? Dad, were not there at the soccer game last week? We lost by five goals to the so-called 'worst' team on Mindior!"

Shepard's father shook his head. "Yet you never gave up, and never let your team feel down. That's what makes leaders great, whether they win or lose. Son, whether you like it or not you'd make a great leader, just like you'd make a great father someday."

Shepard laughed. "Ha, that's not happening for a LONG time, kids are nothing but trouble and noise dad, don't you remember when Jane was little?"

Shepard's father just shook his head. "I also remember when you were little. Someday you'll change your mind son, but I just wanted you to know whatever you decide, I'll be proud of you, and I know you'll always do what's right. Now, did you need any help with your homework?"

Several Hours later

Mindior

Shepard awoke to the sound of a muffled explosion. He darted up and looked out his window. He saw fires burning in the fields, and alien ships flying in from the sky. He ran to his parent's room and noticed no one was there. He started to walk down starts when he heard a strange alien yelling in a language he couldn't understand at his father and mother. His father had his pistol pointed at the alien, and seemed to understand what the alien said, because he shouted back:

"Get out of my home Batarian!"

Shepard watched from the stairway. Jane came up behind him, as she had also woken up from the sound. Luckily the Batarian couldn't see him or Jane, but he could see everything that happened next. A few more Batarians came inside, and moved closer to Shepard's mother and father. Shepard's father yelled "Stay back or I'll shoot!" but the Batarians just kept moving. Shepard's father fired the pistol at the first Batarian, crashing his shields and killing him. Sadly, the other Batarians fired back, and killed his father and mother in a rain of gunfire.

Shepard couldn't help but let out a yelp of horror at the sight he had just witnessed. His father struggled a little, and looked up towards Shepard. As loud as he could with his last breath he yelled. "Son run!" Before he collapsed completely and stopped moving.

Shepard grabbed his sister and ran as fast as he could to his room. He opened his window and told his sister to start climbing down. He grabbed the knife his father had bought him last Christmas, a whistle, and the full bottle of water he had left on his desk. He paused for a moment then grabbed the picture of his family off of his desk and climbed down the side of the house quickly. His sister was waiting, hidden from sight, and they stayed there for a brief moment, looking for any Batarians, before running into the fields. Shepard knew the fields in and out, and he knew if they got to the forest they would be safe. He remembered a small cave he had found with Jane a few years ago, and figured that would be their best bet for survival. They continued running through the corn fields, and began to hear screams and saw, to their horror, ships being filled with humans in cages and lifting off to God knows where.

When they reached a road they stopped. They had to cross this road to get to the forest, and the cave, but they would most likely be seen. Shepard thought for a second then turned to his sister. "Ok Jane, this is going to be hard, but we need to run as fast as we can across this road if we want to survive."

Jane just looked at Shepard and started crying. "But… We left mom and pop behind… We have to go back and save them."

Shepard felt tears well up in his own eyes. "We can't save them now Jane... They're already gone."

"No, they can't be! Why… Why are they here? Why are those FREAKS here!?" She started crying louder, and Shepard heard the strange Batarian language again, shouting something. He knew they had heard them.

"Come on Jane, we have to go now!"

Jane kept crying and started running right behind Shepard. Shepard heard more Batarian shouts, and saw a few shots fly past him. He reached the trees and moved behind one, then looked back in horror. Jane had just been hit in the leg, and she had fallen to the dirt. She was still crying, and she tried to get up, only to be hit in the arm. She raised her head and whispered 'help me…'

Then the last shot was fired. The mass accelerator round hit the back of her head, coming out through her forehead, and she fell to the ground dead. Shepard felt a terrible mixture of rage and sadness overflow in him. He began to glow bright blue and he left his cover. He looked straight at the Batarian squad and one of the Batarians, probably the leader, laughed at the farm-boy biotic. Shepard let out a rage-filled roar and charged at the laughing Batarian. The Batarian's bones broke instantly, and he fell to the ground dead. The other Batarians took a step back, and then aimed their guns at Shepard. Shepard unsheathed his knife, and ushered up a powerful biotic barrier. The mass accelerator rounds fizzled away at the sheer power of the barrier, and Shepard just walked up to one of the Batarians with eyes filled with rage and hate. He took the knife and slammed in into the Batarian's neck. The Batarian gagged then fell to the ground. The Batarians moved in on Shepard, trying to get him from behind, but he looked back and, with another yell, let out a powerful Nova attack. The Batarians were flown off of their feet, and the few close enough to Shepard were killed. Shepard then charged at another Batarian, killing him instantly, and picked up his weapon. It was an old battle rifle, rarely used by anyone but slavers, but Shepard didn't mind or care. He raised the gun and, with accuracy few grunts could match, killed the remaining Batarians with the bare minimum of gunfire. The Batarian squad was all dead, and Shepard turned to his sister.

He knelt down next to her, and lifted her into his arms, hoping she was still ok. But all he saw when he flipped her over was the hole in her head, and her pale eyes empty of life. Shepard began to sob loudly, clutching his sister in his arms, desperately hoping for the spark to return to her eyes. After a short time he set her down, closed her eyes, and eyed his gun.

His eyes once again filled with hate and anger. 'The aliens will pay!' He thought. 'They'll pay for EVERYTHING!'

End Flashback

Shepard shook his head, trying to end the thoughts he was having. That time seemed like a lifetime ago to Shepard, and it had not been the only time he had felt that kind of loss. He had similar feeling on Akuze, when he lost his entire squad, on Virmire, where he had lost Ashley, over Alchera, where he lost 20 good men and women, and where he himself had nearly died, and when he lost Mordin, Thane, and Legion. Sometimes it left like he always lost. He didn't like feeling like a failure, but each time he lost someone and he lived that's exactly how he felt, and that dormant anger, suppressed so long ago, rose a bit inside of him.

'… I know you'll always do what's right…'

Shepard shook his head again, this time clearing those thoughts completely. He had done what was right, and he knew his father would be proud of him. Then Shepard heard the sound of gigantic metal clamps connect to the Citadel. The Crucible had docked.

Author's note: Yes, I had to give Shepard his back-story! Bioware just tells us what happened and that's it! We don't see it, we don't see how it affected Shepard, and we only get a few tiny mentions of it ever, so I had to expand on it. Wow… My longest chapter yet, hopefully I didn't ramble XD. Anyway, as usual I hope you enjoyed the story and I'd appreciate any reviews, follows, chocolates, favorites, etc., and I hope to see you next chapter!

P.s. Explanation time: All races communicate using translators, according to the codex. Also, according to the codex, not everyone has a translator implanted in their heads, only those who will actually come in contact with other species on a regular or semi-regular basis. That being said, obviously little Shepard won't have any clue what the Batarains are saying, but his father will, as he goes to town often and there are a few aliens in town. There, explained! :D Also, no one ever says who saved Shepard from Mindior, (just says an Alliance patrol) so why not Anderson? It would give a whole new perspective to his character, and explain their fatherly-friendship thing they have going.

EDIT: Fixed a soccer-related thing... Sorry if I hurt anyone's heads with my soccer ignorance before but I'm American sorry XD