Memoirs of Shepard: A Mass Effect Fan Fic

Chapter Three

Three

I'm just playing with Bioware's toys.

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**Memoir**

Before I start the next session of what I did so many years ago, let me tell you about right now.

I had Joker dock on Illium so the crew could have a couple of days of shore. I wanted- still do, in fact- to escape my memories...if only for a few days. It hasn't worked. Here it is, day one of shore leave and I've locked myself into my quarters. I tried spending time with Garrus, Joker, Tali, and Chakawas, but it felt so...so not complete. I tried being by myself and losing in the crowds, but that didn't work. Now I'm here.

It doesn't matter...I guess it's time for my past.

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Elysium.

It had been four years since I has enlisted and six monthes since I completed my N7 training. I was on shore leave from the Thalia.

That night was the first date that I had allowed myself since the private. I was in a black dress and in heels- I had even polished my nails. I looked just like the young woman my mother always wanted me to be- not that she wasn't proud of me for completing my N7 training. Anyway, it was a blind date and I never met him.

The guns began firing at 1900 hours and, luckily, I never went anywhere without my pistol. I raised the skirt of my dress up and removed the gun from it's holster on my thigh.

I grabbed at someone nearby. "Get everybody to the park. I don't care what it takes, I want them there," I ordered as calmly as I could while still sounding stern. As the man continued to stand there, I said, "That wasn't a suggestion." He stared for a moment more before running in the right general direction.

The shots were coming from the northern entrance, so that's where I headed. Until that day, I had never realized how difficult it was to run in heels. Then again, I had never been so girly as to wear them all the time.

When I reached the gate, I saw that no one was seriously injured, but they were low on both medi-gel and hope.

"Who's in charge?" I demanded as I took cover, my training kicking in instantly.

A man, probably in his forties, puffed his chest out and stared at me. "Who the hell are you?" he demanded angrily.

It was about that point that I remembered that I wasn't wearing anything to identify myself. "Lieutenant Shepard with the Alliance," I answered as I leaned out of cover to shoot a slaver.

The man slowly deflated and relief was evident on his face. "Good to have the help, ma'am. They've got us pinned and the only way to go is back once they breach our defenses."

"Have you radioed for help?"

"No time. They just hit us and we've been fighting for our lives."

There were five officers, none of them were trained to handle a fight of this magnitude. They were civilians and I was trained to protect civilians.

"The colonists are gathering in the park. I want all of you to go to them. On your way, radio to the Alliance that we need renforcements. I'm going to hold them back as long as possible. Do you understand?"

The guards all stared at me for a moment, not understanding. One by one, though, they began to understand. "Lieutenant-"

"There isn't time to argue with me! Call the Alliance and protect the civilians- that is your job!"

Slowly, they followed my orders. With that accomplished, I returned my full attention to the battle. Many batarians and slavers fell to my bullets.