New Beginnings

Pomp and circumstance

The day arrived: my little bubble of peace and quiet ended with a loud burst in the shape of thousands of reporters and people clamoring my name. Shepard- not my name, but then again: none ever called me Hannah. Shepard and Hannah were two different people- one, an icon, the savior of the Galaxy, commander and girlfriend to the most badass turian vigilante the world had ever seen. Hannah- a shy child playing hide and seek in military frigates, dreaming of being just like her mother someday. I think I managed to do more than that- at least judging from what I remembered.

Garrus waited patiently for me to get ready that morning- I must've tried everything at least three times: what were they expecting? Were they waiting for a relaxed Shepard? An authoritative woman? A poised woman? Maybe I should've asked for a new N7 armor. With a helmet. Preferably dark. I ended up wearing a pair of black yoga pants, an oversized tank top a comfy hoodie and combat boots- they were getting whatever I gave them, that's what. I wanted it to be over before it even began.

He held my hand as we left the building's threshold... and there was the crowd I mentioned: a sea of people, faces: turian, human, krogan, some quarians in their suits... salarians, asari. Some of them were crying, others were cheering hysterically- I waved my hand, tentatively: they went wild. A ring of security formed before me, then all around me- and Garrus, who held my hand so tight I could barely feel it anymore, or was it the way around? I was too nervous. A memory came to me, from years ago: I was but a kid, battered- my right arm was in a cast; I was being given an accolade, a medal... for saving my unit from a batarian slaver attack. That episode was very similar to what was happening to me then, only at a smaller scale: I almost died, but didn't- people were safe. This time I'd get a very tall seat in the council in addition to a shiny medal (my brain reminded me the last time I saved the world I got locked up, but it doesn't count if you can't completely remember) ... but, what could I do there? Looking at those people, I had no idea what they'd been through: I'd been in a coma for a long time, the galaxy I saved was very different from the Galaxy I had before me. Fix one problem, and a hundred more arise: that's my mantra, it's a fundamental truth I've learned to embrace and accept- otherwise I'd go completely insane. Another truth I've learned, and not even a reaper-induced concussion could get rid of: sometimes you have to fake it till you make it. I would roll with it, I'd make it up as I went- as I always did: there's nothing a little ingenuity and sheer luck can't accomplish- and I had plenty of both. And if everything fails, you can always shoot your problems in the face- sometimes literally.

My little entourage didn't allow me to answer any questions on my way to the skycar- no comment, the commander has no comments at the moment, please step back. I honestly had no idea what I could've said, it was a relief to be spared of the interviewing. When I was finally in, I collapsed like an empty balloon: was it over yet? I already needed a nap, and I'd just gotten out of bed- I was also slightly hungover from the night before, but nothing some medigel couldn't mitigate; the guy who waited for us inside the car, a stern looking turian- is there any other kind of turian? Garrus doesn't count, he's not a good one - gave me a bottle of water and pill. He could tell, and I didn't ask how- I just took the water and swallowed the pill unceremoniously.

"Ready to meet with the council, commander?" he asked

"I think I'll never be" I answered; Garrus chuckled. 

This was going to be a long day.