Ashley Shepard, Forgotten Hero

Chapter 4

After what seemed like hours the doctors finally told me I can see him. "He is in rough shape but he'll be ok, though I do recommend someone watches over him."

"I have an apartment here, I can check up on him." She nods and I walk over to my friend.

"Gave me quite the scare Joker, I told you it would only be a month." I try to make a joke out of it but he doesn't respond.

"Joker, why?"

"I can't fly, I can't do anything. I'm useless." I slap him.

"You listen to me, you aren't useless. You had better listen to me or... or.... well you'll find out."

"Ashley you're fourteen, you don't know about this stuff."

"Ok listen, I am actually fifteen. My birthday is today, and technically I am one hundred and fifteen. I became a soldier at eleven Joker, I've been though more traumatic stuff."

I turn on my heel and walk out of the hospital, when I get to my apartment I pull out the two picture copies I have of the old crew.

I leave one alone but for the second one I grab a permanent and non permanent marker. I make a permanent X on the people I know are dead, a non permanent X on the ones I don't know about. Shepard I just leave alone, no one can mark a picture of her.

I just lay on my bed and fall asleep.

Everyday for the next two years I visit Joker and it's an awkward visit, until one day I visit him and he is doing an awkward dance.

"Why the dancing?"

"She's alive, and they want me to fly!"

I take a step back, "Who Joker?"

"Let me explain, Cerberus needs a pilot to fly a ship so Shepard can save the world again."

"Show me what they sent you."

After I read what they sent I am dancing around awkwardly too. "So we have a week to pack up, awesome."

"Joker, this might be against the people or creatures that destroyed the Normandy." He stops dancing but he says.

"Then it's time to send them to hell, and get payback." I laugh, I'm so glad to see him happy again.

{One week later}

I tried to contact everyone that was on the old team but no one picked up, not even Liara. "I guess it's just us Joker," I say while I sigh.

"We'll just have to surprise them, lets go see the commander."

"Ashley, don't tell her about the whole depression thing. She'll blame herself, I couldn't stand if she-" I cut him off.

"Don't worry Joker, I won't."

"It says that we have to stop in Omega first, that place is full of criminals."

"Joker, I know. Lets just get going."

When we finally get to Omega I get out to stretch, but a merc grabs me from behind and starts to pull me back. I use lift and fling him into the ceiling, then I see a bullet go straight through his head. I look to the roof of a building and I see a sniper, he salutes then disappears.

I shake my head and walk back to the ship, "Lets go." We finally arrive at the place and I follow Joker. "Who are you?" An uptight women asks me. I don't like her.

"Ashley, that's all you need to know. Oh I do know Shepard and I'm with Joker, don't make me mad." I growl at her. She looks like she is about to argue but I am dragged away by Joker.