Two Months After Liara's visit

Shepard rides her newly acquired motorcycle, which she managed to get from the Alliance on the condition that they implant a tracker on it. The past few months had been some of the hardest she had ever experienced. The only bright spot was when her crew was able to meet up with her, thanks to Liara's 'insistence' that they be allowed to visit. Shepard had a great time with her crew, even though it was only for one night, and everyone expressed their deepest apologies and regret. However, it was tough for Shepard to see Garrus again, knowing that the future they had talked about was nothing more than a dream.

Shepard arrived at a deserted cliff side with a lone tree, which she had discovered a few days earlier. She had been returning to this desolate spot ever since. After parking her motorcycle and grabbing her backpack, she headed towards the tree and sat down. She couldn't help but think about what could have been. Seeing Garrus again for the first time in months had been a very welcome surprise, but it also made her feel a sense of sadness and loss.

Their reunion did not last for long. They talked about what Garrus had been doing and how he was seeing his family again. His sister was on a business trip for a few weeks. Shepard could tell that he was hurting just like her. He wanted to be with her, but their respective governments simply wouldn't allow it. Despite everything, that night had been the most fun and blissful they had experienced in a long time.

As Shepard sat thinking about the past, she realized that she didn't know what to do with herself. For as long as she could remember, she had been in back-to-back action. Doing nothing day in and day out was new to her. However, she wouldn't mind it if it wasn't for the fact that she was stuck in this hell hole without Garrus. She simply didn't know what to do with herself under these circumstances. The restrictions imposed by the Alliance on what she could and couldn't do were driving her stir crazy due to the lack of excitement.

Shepard unzipped her backpack and took out a Predator pistol. Liara had managed to smuggle it in, knowing that it would be nearly impossible to keep a consistent supply of thermal clips. The pistol had been modified to use a heat sink instead. Shepard grabbed some old beer bottles and placed them on a small boulder. She fired at a bottle a few times but missed. Not being on the range or in the field had taken its toll on her skills. She let the pistol cool down and then fired again. This time she hit the bottles, albeit barely. After some more target practice, she let the pistol cool down some more before placing it back in her backpack. She got back on her bike and rode towards her apartment.

A few weeks went by with nothing exciting happening or anything fun to do. Shepard finally decided to meet her neighbors, much to the dismay of the Alliance. However, in the end, they allowed it to a certain extent. One of her neighbors was a young woman named Katherine Hudson, who was 28 years old, slim, athletic, and had long blonde hair. Katherine and Shepard hit it off pretty quickly, and Shepard was glad to have met her. It was one of the only things that was keeping her sane at the moment. Today, she was out and about with her new friend, who was one that the Alliance somewhat approved of. As they made their way back to the apartment before her curfew, Katherine wondered why Shepard had to be back so soon as it wasn't even 11 pm yet. Shepard had managed to get an extension on her curfew, but not for long. When they arrived, Shepard invited Katherine into her apartment.

As Katherine walked into Shepard's apartment, she couldn't help but notice the spartan appearance of the place. Shepard walked over to her small bar and reached for a bottle of whiskey. Katherine then placed a small device on the table, catching Shepard off guard.

"Commander Shepard," Katherine began, surprising Shepard. "Let me reintroduce myself. Katherine Hudson, security officer of the organization known as Phoenix. We don't have much time."

Shepard was taken aback. "Phoenix? The same group..."

"Yes, the same one that saved you and brought you to the Alliance. We're sorry, by the way, for what the Alliance has done to you," Katherine explained as Shepard looked at her inquisitively.

"What can I do for you?" Shepard asked, curious about what Katherine wanted.

"It's simple, my boss, Director Harper wants you to join Phoenix," Katherine said, before Shepard cut her off.

"If you haven't noticed, I'm retired," Shepard retorted.

"Yes, retirement was forced upon you by the Alliance. Phoenix can give you a sense of purpose again," Katherine continued.

"How so?" Shepard asked, intrigued.

"Revenge against the people who betrayed you. The current administration is not leading humanity in the right direction. They have taken something you gave us," Katherine said, looking at the savior of the galaxy. Shepard looked at her, curious about what they had taken.

"Hope... They have taken our hope. The hope you gave us to endure the Reapers and beyond," Katherine explained as they both drank the whiskey Shepard had poured for them.

"I am not who I once was... I am no longer needed," Shepard said, but Katherine interrupted her this time.

"That is the Alliance talking, not Commander Shepard," Katherine replied calmly, but Shepard lost her composure and screamed, "Commander Shepard is dead!" Katherine watched as Shepard seemed to be beaten down by her own emotions. But Katherine remained unfazed.

"She was killed by the Reapers at the end of the war! Killed by the very people she dedicated her life to. The organization she fought for. For years..." Shepard said, her voice cracking with emotion. Katherine saw the hurt and betrayal on her face.

"Shepard..." Katherine began, but Shepard interrupted her. "Call me Jane or Edwards," she interjected.

"Very well...Jane. I know what they took from you. Read the report. I just don't know how it feels..." Katherine said, trying to console her.

"No, you don't..." Shepard replied, her voice heavy with grief.

"I lost my boyfriend in the war. He was stationed here on Earth and was killed in the first hours of the war while I was wandering the galaxy on a ship. We were there the day you led the final assault. Every time we heard of the great Commander Shepard, it gave us hope," Katherine said, laying bare her own pain and loss to Shepard.

"Commander, you are needed now more than ever. You have a chance to make a difference and take back what was stolen from you. Join Phoenix and help us restore hope to humanity and the galaxy ," Katherine said with conviction.

"We need that again. We need Commander Shepard again. To liberate us from those who want to subjugate us," Katherine said passionately, imploring Shepard to join Phoenix.

Shepard looked away, lost in thought. "Look... We're not asking for an answer right now. I'll still be here if you need anything, even if it's just to talk," Katherine said, rising from her seat and turning off the jamming device.

"Have a good night, Jane. We'll talk later," Katherine said as she walked out of Shepard's apartment, leaving her think things over

One Month Later

Shepard has returned to her isolated cliffside to practice her marksmanship. The past month has been a wild ride, to say the least. Despite being aware of Katherine's identity and affiliations, she has proven to be a trustworthy friend. Shepard can't afford to be too choosy with her allies at the moment.

Yesterday, Garrus, her Turian lover, came to visit her. They spent some time together, but Shepard sensed that he was holding back. Eventually, Garrus told her that he would always love her, that would never change, but their romantic relationship had to end. Their respective governments were doing everything they could to keep them apart, and he believed that there was no future for them as a couple. Shepard was devastated by the news and broke down in tears. To her, it felt like the Alliance had taken everything from her - her career, her life, her friends, and now the love of her life. Although she knew that Garrus was likely forced to end things, it didn't lessen the pain at all. Garrus left shortly after their breakup, leaving Shepard alone with her thoughts.

Shepard stands at her makeshift shooting range, with only one beer bottle left as her target. But she can't bring herself to aim down range. Instead, tears stream down her face as she reflects on the betrayals and abandonment she's faced. Everyone she's ever known, everyone she's ever helped, has left her to suffer in this virtual hell.

She looks at the bottle, then at her pistol, and wonders if there's only one target left after she shatters the last bottle for her to shoot. She thinks that ending this nightmare is the only way to escape the agony it has caused her. She believes that she is no longer needed or wanted. With a heavy heart, she raises the pistol to her head, ready to pull the trigger and end it all.

But then, something inside of her stops her. Shepard's hand trembles as she brings the gun down to her eye level. But in that moment, she breaks down completely. She covers her eyes and falls to her knees, still clutching the pistol. Her sobs echo across the empty desert as she struggles to come to terms with the betrayal and abandonment forced upon her.

As she gradually calms down, she drops the pistol onto the hot sand. Her body is wracked with sobs, and her tears fall to the ground, mixing with the grains of sand. Finally, she looks up at the sky, her eyes red from crying, and takes a deep, shuddering breath.

Shepard remained kneeling on the scorching sand, her pistol partially buried beneath it. Tears continued to stream down her cheeks, she is just tired, exhausted. She was weary of fighting, tired of constantly coming to the aid of countless beings. All she wanted was to rest, but she knew that she couldn't do so just yet. With a deep breath, Shepard picked up her pistol and rose to her feet, making her way over to her bike. She carefully placed the sand-covered weapon into her bag before mounting the vehicle and riding back to her apartment.

As she pulled up outside the apartment complex, Shepard's heart sank a little. Perhaps Katherine was there, and they could finally have the talk that has become inevitable and necessary.