Aftermath

Chapter 13

After two weeks of dodging the press and mobs of curious onlookers outside of the Officer Tower, Shepard knew she was going to have to face the music. Hackett had suggested sitting down with Allers when she was ready. The days of PT with Ashley had helped immensely both physically and mentally. She felt more alert, more alive, more herself and she knew she had not only Ashley to thank but also Liara.

Though her waking hours were generally improved, her nightmares only grew worse. The violence and death was one thing. The guilt over her choices was quite another. In the silent hours of the dark night, there was nowhere left to hide, nothing left to occupy her thoughts, and the darkness would find her again.

The door to her apartment door beeped. She stood and gave herself a once over in the mirror. She was wearing her Alliance BDUs which fit her more normally now thanks to her workouts with Ashley. She ran a quick hand through her hair and straightened her shoulders. "Here goes nothin'," she mumbled to herself as she opened the door.

Diana Allers looked much the same as she had ten months earlier imbedded with the Normandy, though her dress was shorter and tighter, if that was even possible. She smiled warmly as she recognized Shepard.

"Captain, it's good to see you again. You're looking quite well for someone dead twice over."

"Allers," Shepard greeted her with a smile, stepping to the side to allow her in, followed by her robotic camera. Shepard motioned for her sit in the small seating area near the window and she took the seat across from her.

"Shall we get started?" Diana asked.

"Why not."

The robotic camera light turned on. Diana sat forward. Shepard squared her shoulders and tried not to grimace too much.

"Captain Shepard, the burning question across the galaxy has to be where you've been the last ten months since the Reaper defeat?"

"While I can't get into the specifics, I can tell you that I was injured during the attack on the Reapers. But I'm fully recovered now."

"Many have speculated that your survival was hidden by the Alliance while you conducted a covert mission. Is there any truth to that?"

"No."

"How do you respond to the fact that most species now refer to you as the Savior of the Galaxy?"

Shepard shifted in her seat, "I think it's dangerous to put the defeat of the Reapers in the context of one person's actions. There were millions upon millions of people from every species, civilian and military that gave their lives fighting the Reapers. My crew and I played a role, but so did everyone who took up arms or gave their lives. If you're going to call me a hero, then all I ask is that you call them heroes as well."

"A very noble response Captain." Diana smiled, "And now for the real question on everyone's mind. Is Captain Shepard romantically involved or is she single and looking?"

Shepard gave Diana her most charming smile, "That's classified."

###

In a matter of hours after Diana Allers left her apartment, the phrase "That's classified" had become the new sound bite across the Citadel.

Commander Ashley Williams rolled her eyes as she overheard Shepard's quote for the 20th time over the Galactic News kiosks as she made her way to Docking Bay 36. She nodded a greeting to the C-Sec guard at the dock.

"The ship is just pulling in now, ma'am," the Turian officer told her.

Ash leaned casually against the bulkhead with her arms crossed. A few minutes later the door opened with a shush and out stepped a figure cloaked in dark gray, face shadowed by the hood pulled low, preventing recognition from outsiders. Ash nodded a greeting and fell into step with the newcomer without a word.