Eric POV
Normandy SR-2, Crewman's Quarters, 2166
I sat in my personal cabin looking over my profile.
Lieutenant Commander Eric Shepard
D.O.B 17/04/2141
Military service- REDACTED
A lot of my files say something along those lines. Everything that I was credited for has been struck out for the sake of my previous cover. I would ask the Alliance to fix it if I particularly cared. But in truth I don't care that they want to keep their dirty little secret, it makes no difference to what I've done nor does it affect how I live my life.
My old life seems like a century ago. Being caught up in all of this messed up shit was starting to get to me. The only thing that seemed to be keeping me sane was my crew. I stepped into the elevator and headed towards the crew quarters. I was greeted by salutes and acknowledgements.
I needed to do my usual round of speaking to every crew member, and since I was literally right outside her room I decided to enter Samara's cabin. She was staring out at the astronomical number of stars. Being in a room with an incredibly beautiful asari would be most people's dream but she weren't any ordinary asari. She was a Justicar who already rejected my advances since she was beyond that part of her life.
"How have you been Samara?"
"Hello Shepard, I am well and it is thanks to you"
"Don't mention it"
"But I must. I was going to kill my own daughter if it wasn't for you and Mordin"
Samara's daughter Morinth was an Ardat Yakshi. She was going on a killing spree and as a Justicar Samara was duty bound to kill her. Mordin managed to develop a drug which would manage her urges and let her have sex without killing her lover.
"No one should ever be in a position where they have to kill their own daughter"
"And thanks to you I wasn't. Did you come here to check up on me Shepard?"
"There is that" I took her hands and stared into her cerulean orbs "I enjoy talking to you Samara and I care about you"
She maintained her icy exterior. She gently brought our hands to her forehead and closed her eyes. "Shepard… I've said this before and it gets no easier with each time… I serve a code that supersedes any feelings I may possess. In another time… another life"
"Is it too much to ask for" I whispered "You deserve something good in your life Samara. You've spent so much time in pain… I just want to help"
"Your persistence is admirable" she praised. That was before she flared her biotics and I was forced back "My mind is made up"
I was hurt by her decision but I didn't let it show. I approached the exit and looked back at her. For a split second I could swear that she was… sad.
I was attracted not only to her incredible beauty but also her resolve. She was incredibly determined to do whatever she put her mind to. She was so determined to do the right thing that she was willing to kill her own daughter for the betterment of others. I admire her a lot and I aspire to have that kind of virtue.
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Nate POV
I was snapped out of the memory when Javik released me. I fell on the floor in a daze. My dad wanted to get with Samara. Samara was part of my dad's old crew. Why did she never tell me that? I met her when she was at my dad's memorial and she said he was a great man. But I never knew just what he did for her to say that. Now I know. My dad is the reason that Morinth was alive.
"OK that was weird"
"I imagine it would be so. Seeing your father for the first time in years"
"No the fact that he tried to make a move on Samara"
"It's not so surprising. Samara is aesthetically pleasing and she's a strong warrior. She's the ideal mate for any warrior"
"Well if you look at it from a strictly evolutionary stand point. But… it's weird seeing my dad with someone other than my mum"
"Enough… we must reach the other locations. That one was merely to get you accustomed to the experience. The rest will be for the mission"
"So you're going to lead me on a scavenger hunt around the ship"
He growled out of frustration before regaining his composure "We must go through this chronologically so that you can best decipher what it is your father has done that can help us presently"
Javik led me across the crew deck towards the XO's quarters. Liara was lying on the bed, completely knackered from the day's training.
"Get out" she groaned
"Relax asari. We will only be a moment"
Javik stood in front of the desk and grazed his finger over the top of it. He gestured me over and placed his palm over my forehead.
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Eric POV
SSV Normandy SR-2, Crew Deck, 2166
Some nut job researcher on the Citadel decided to off his boss and Alliance brass wanted me to investigate. At first I thought it was a waste of my time, why send a Commander to investigate what should have been a C-Sec matter. That was before the guy began speaking in tongues. One second he was normal, then the next he was speaking like he was possessed. He managed to regain control and give me a set of coordinates that led to a mining colony called Mahavid and told me to find Garneau. He did all of this before blowing his own brains out.
Needless to say Alliance brass wasn't pleased with the outcome. They tried to blame me. Apparently whatever Dr Bryson was up to was above my paygrade and important.
Steven Hackett was my captain but he was getting transferred from this ship. Too bad he couldn't take Joker with him; he can seriously get on my nerves. After weeks of debate it was announced that I should take over from Hackett.
I chose to head to the XO's cabin. I already know that he's going to be there since the guy never seems to take a day off.
"Titus, you really need to take a break every now and then" I advised
"There's always more work to be done Shepard. Besides, I take short frequent breaks to optimise my productivity"
"Have you been talking to Legion because you're starting to sound like him" I joked
"What do you want Shepard? I've been very busy ever since you declared that I'd be your XO"
"Yeah that was only 5 days ago and this is the first time I've seen you since."
"Running this ship is incredibly difficult. Especially when you consider that I was on vacation when you told me."
"AAHH you can see the Consort at any time." I slapped Titus on the back
"I waited for 6 months for that opportunity Shepard. I was literally outside her door when C-Sec pulled me here"
"I already told you I was sorry. How about this, I'll pay for you the next time"
Titus punched me in the stomach and I was sent into the ground. Damn those Turians and their super bony fists. Alliance brass wasn't too happy with me for choosing a Turian as my XO but it was my decision. If he was available I would have chosen David Anderson in a heartbeat but he was named the CO of another ship. I chose Titus because he's the best for the job and there are few I trust more than him.
I met him when I had to save Rael from a merc band. I asked Rael to carry the Eclipse shipping manifest from Illium to the Citadel. Eclipse attacked Rael in the wards and Titus was the officer on patrol. We've been friendly rivals ever since.
"I need a list of all of the combat ready personnel aboard the ship" I wheezed. I used the desk to help myself to my feet.
"Right now we only have You, me, Rael, Kieran, Wrex and Legion. Everyone else is maintenance"
Kieran Alenko was the only Alliance soldier aboard other than myself and that's mainly because we grew up together. I've known him ever since I was 15. Wrex was a merc so his tab was being dealt with by the Alliance and Legion was brought aboard because we needed a techie. Geth are fairly common nowadays although the majority of them stay on Rannoch.
"Alright I need to go recruiting. We need to be able to completely rotate the squad. I have a feeling that this mission is going to be more difficult than the Alliance is making it sound"
"I've taken the liberty of looking for some potential crew members." Titus reached into the desk below the computer terminal. He handed Eric a host of data pads.
"Wow! When you start a job you give it your all from the get go"
"I don't shirk my responsibilities. Even those which were forced upon me"
"I'll make it up to you when this is all over Vakarian. You have my word"
I looked through the datapads. There were only 12 here. He must have done most of the screening before-hand. I know that we shouldn't have too many combatants because I'm not sure our armoury could sustain all 12. What surprised me was that there were 5 mercenaries on this list. Titus hates mercenaries so why would he even present the opportunity to work with one.
I'm guessing the ones he's recommended are more… honourable than those we encounter on the Citadel. I threw one away straight away when I saw that he had regular dealings with Cerberus. He may have been fairly experienced at 38 years old but with a multi-racial crew I don't think it's appropriate to have any potential racists.
I dismissed anyone on the list who I thought was either too inexperienced or not the right fit. I was left with 5 but I had to get rid of at least one. I opted to get rid of the Vorcha and the Batarian pirate. Blood Pack Vorcha were too unpredictable and the pirate gave me a bad feeling.
I had decided to choose two of the 4 mercenaries Zaeed Massani, 29 and Aleena 455. Zaeed was only a couple of years older than me but from his dossier he had a lot more experience. Aleena is an incredibly powerful biotic, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to work with her.
My final choice was an Alliance Soldier. Procuring her services would probably be easier than recruiting the mercenaries. She was 25 years old from Marcadia. She helped liberate the lunar base from a rogue VI. She led the team which reclaimed the Purgatory prison ship. She was trained a Turian Huntress. Trained in using her tech attacks to would her prey, she knew her prey's thoughts and movement before they did and her sniper worked with deadly accuracy.
"Titus can you make the arrangements for a transfer of personnel. I want Lieutenant Hannah Sanders on the Normandy"
"Aye, Aye"
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Javik removed his hand from my forehead and looked at me expectantly "Well… was there anything in that list that could be of use."
"Nothing we don't already know. Although now I know how my parents met and that they went some place called Mahavid"
"Mahavid… yes I know where we must go next"
Once again Javik led me to the elevator and we were headed upstairs to the CIC. Sam and Rikki were busy at work analysing whatever they had been given. I wanted to say hi but the Prothean who was dragging me by the collar was having none of it. He began searching for whatever DNA remained from the previous decades.
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Eric POV
That was probably the worst and most arduous mission I've ever had the displeasure of being a part of. I took Wrex, Titus and Legion. When we landed everything was perfectly calm. That was before Cerberus released a host of adjutants. They were nightmarish and they would have ripped me in half had it not been for Wrex.
The colonists were acting very strange and emotionless. None of us could tell what was wrong with them so we searched for Garneau ourselves. When we did finally find him he was just like that nut job research assistant. After chasing him around the building he managed to barricade himself in a one of the houses.
We had to fight through 17 adjutants just to be able to open it up and when we did Garneau had already blown himself up. All of our pain and effort had been for nothing. So it was pretty obvious why I'd be pissed off. The only thing we salvaged was a single datapad. It held the Nav-point of a research base on Namakli.
"I just wish I was the one who could have ended that crazy bastard's life" I snarled after getting out of the decontamination chamber. "Vakarian run these coordinates" I ordered.
I was so enamoured by my own rage that I failed to notice Joker yelling my name from the cockpit. I was suddenly knocked to the ground by an unknown force and I skidded along the metal grate. Thankfully I was wearing my armour so the damage wasn't too bad.
"Told you that would get his attention". I struggled to get back to my feet. I fought whatever pain was running through my body. My vision was fixated on a young girl sitting in the co-pilots seat.
She stood and began approaching me. She was very tall for a woman and she approached 6ft but was likely just short of that. She was a lithe woman, with auburn hair which fell just short of her shoulders. Her facial structure was defined with super model like features. She was wearing standard issue Alliance uniform.
"Who are you and why are you aboard my ship" I questioned
"Calm down Mr Bossman. You don't even ask for my name or how I am. You're so rude" the woman pouted. She has to be almost 20 years old. She looks very young.
"Rylee what did I tell you about causing trouble" another woman walked in from the CIC. She looked really young as well, however not as young as her friend. She had beautiful near flawless, mixed race skin. The only blemish being the small, fresh scar which was on her right cheek. She is fucking gorgeous.
"I'm sorry about my friend. She has this tendency to seek trouble out. But she knows when and how to act professionally. Isn't that right Rylee" Rylee received a look that could have frozen hell and she gulped
"Yes ma'am. Sorry Commander"
"I'm Hannah Sanders and this is Rylee Leigh"
"Oh you're Lieutenant Sanders. I remember requesting that you be transferred. But I don't recall asking for…"
"She just said that my name is Rylee. Are you fucking stupid or something" she furrowed her brow in confusion. Hannah smacked her on the back of the head.
"Name and rank Marine!" I bellowed in my Commanding officer voice
Every marine knows to straighten their posture, salute and listen to their CO. Rylee merely looked at me as though I were a weirdo and shrugged her shoulder. "Ensign Rylee Leigh… I guess"
"You guess"
Hannah decided to intervene "Her situation is unique Commander and let's leave it at that"
"I don't recall asking for Rylee's transfer"
"Sorry Commander but we're a package deal. You can't get one without the other" Rylee smiled and placed an arm around Hannah's shoulder.
After 10 minutes of talking Hannah managed to convince me to keep Rylee along. Apparently Rylee and Hannah had been partners ever since the Purgatory prison ship break out. Rylee was a biotic with great potential which was why she was groundside on so many missions with Rylee.
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Nate POV
I was jarred out of the memory. So that was how my parents met. It was all because of whatever mission they were on back then. Jack's mum seems like a more subdued version of Jennifer. She's just as mischievous as Jack and seems to have passed the gene for knocking Shepard's to the ground to her daughter.
"They should have visited some planet called Namakli."
"Namakli… I haven't heard of such a planet during my travels of the ship"
"I know where you should go. We should ask Joker where my dad went after Namakli. He's the most likely to tell us where to go. I doubt Samara, Zaeed, Legion nor Aleena would tell us"
"Good idea. If he doesn't comply I can tap him on the arm to break it" the Prothean smirked
"Don't break his arm he needs to fly the ship"
"Fine… but his legs are up for grabs"
"No hurting Joker Javik. Besides we might need him later"
We both turned our focus to the cockpit. Joker was currently in the middle of his nap. There were crewmen operating the computers leading to the cockpit but I doubt they'd intervene. Let's see if we can make Joker talk.