Mass Effect: The Requiem Saga: Genesis.
Volume 1.
Chapter 11.
The black and swirling darkness of unconsciousness clouded my vision. You can’t escape from this… yet I could hear voices. Voices speaking about me.
????: He rallied a resistance force…?
????: Took out the ground forces leader too. Bartok Ghornah.
????: Hm. Keep a tab on him. He could prove useful for something I’m working on.
????: Right.
~X~
Beep… Beep… Beep…Another noise, however, this one was clearer. And it was the first thing that came back to me. Next the feeling in my body, after that the grimy taste in my mouth… then my eyes fluttered open.
“Rrnh?”
I sat up, grabbing my forehead and feeling the sudden and immense ache that coursed through me. It wasn’t sharp pain, but it must have been an accumulation from all the bumps I took from the battle on Elysium.
Right… I was apart of The Skyllian Blitz. That’s a very weird sentence to say. I fended off Batarian invaders along with the rest of the colony and a few trained individuals.
I can’t believe we actually did it. I can’t believe… I did something like that. I’ve never done something that important.
But… I’ve also never killed anyone before that. And I killed a lot of people. A lot of Batarians. Including Bartok… I almost died then.
“Sh-egh-shit…”
I grunted out shit as I sat up and swung my legs to the side of the bed. I grabbed the few wires attached to my body and felt an IV in my arm. I ripped it out quickly and wiped the area quickly. I hated needles. I… I had a phobia of them. And I know that sounds weird, but I really hate them.
????: Oh my God, Doctor! He’s awake!
I looked over to see a nurse and a doctor rush into the room.
“Yeah… can someone get me some real clothes? This gown’s a little breezy, if you get what I’m saying.”
~X~
Several hours later, I was standing in my room, now wearing a Systems Alliance hoodie, a white t-shirt, and sweatpants. A doctor was finishing up my check up.
Doctor: You should be okay, there wasn’t any terrible damage, and you were just beaten up. But you need to stay here a little longer.
“What?”
Doctor: Yeah, we have someone coming in to speak with you.
“Uh… who?”
I don’t know anyone well enough for them to come here… well, I don’t think I do.
????: That would be me.
I looked up to see a familiar face. David Anderson. I smiled.
“Captain Anderson… heh, it’s good to see you.”
I stood up and put out my hand and he shook it. He took a seat, seemingly in a pretty good mood. The doctor walked out.
Anderson: It’s great to see you, Lieutenant. Or should I say, Commander?
“Hm?”
Anderson: Heh, I guess you came to not too long ago, huh? Haven’t seen the news?
“No, I just put on real clothes like half an hour ago after going through a huge check up.”
Anderson: Ah. Well, you’re the talk of the Citadel. That’s where we’re on, by the way.
“Oh. Oh really?”
I looked around, amazed at where I was, despite actually being in a hospital room. With further examination, I realized I was in Huerta Memorial Hospital.
“I’ve never been here before…”
Anderson: Really? Thought you had been.
I shook my head and he shrugged.
Anderson: Well, I came here at the perfect time then, because I came here to give you the news.
“Oh.”
Anderson: You’ve been promoted to Commander, Shepard. You’ve also been awarded The Star of Terra.
“Star of Terra… what is that again?”
Anderson: Heh, might be a bit dazed still, huh Commander? It’s a medal of honor.
“Oh wow. Okay. Do I really even deserve that?”
Anderson: What are you talking about?
“It’s just… you’re the one who saved them. Put them in the docking port and all that. Shouldn’t they be awarding you?”
Anderson: Commander, I helped them accidentally. I found the hatch that led to the tunnel during a fight where I got injured and then whoever was around helped gather people up and went down there. I didn’t even help with that.
“Oh.”
Anderson: You deserve it, Commander. Congratulations.
“Um… Shepard’s fine, Captain.”
Anderson: Then Anderson’s fine.
Anderson stood up.
Anderson: When they heard you were up, they announced they’d be awarding The Star of Terra to you tonight. Hope you’re okay with that.
“Oh. I uh… I don’t have a suit. Or a uh… or a home.”
Anderson: Yes, we seem to have found that is the case with most of the people who were on Elysium.
Anderson sighed.
Anderson: All right, how about this? We’ll put you up in a room in a hotel somewhere on the station, we’ll get you a suit, and you’ll accept your award tonight then go back to your room until we know what to do with you.
“I uh… okay, Anderson. Thanks.”
Anderson: Don’t thank me, thank command. They’ll be the ones paying for it.
“Heh. Okay.”
Anderson: I’ll make a quick call and then I’ll take you to get your suit and we’ll get to the award ceremony.
I nodded and stood up, still achey. I followed him out of the room and began to think about where I’m really at right now. The Citadel. Even before… well… this, I’ve always thought what it would be like to go here.
I might as well enjoy it.
~X~
I walked out of the dressing room with the woman who had given me my suit, standing in the middle of a shop. Anderson had gone to a hotel nearby to register me for my hotel room.
I looked at myself in the mirror. A military man’s suit, blue with yellow outlines and shoulder pads, and a Systems Alliance symbol on its breast. Another thing that I could recall from memory. It looked good. It looked professional.
But yeah, luckily enough, they had one in store for me and it looked good. Couldn’t really ask for anything more suit-wise. So I turned to the lady.
“Looks great.”
She smiled and brought me over to ring me up.
Lady: Hey, you’re that guy from the news, right?
News story? When have I been… oh. Right.
“Oh uh, right. That’s probably been me.”
The lady’s face lit up.
Lady: Wow. We have a real hero shopping here. Thank you for your service, Commander Shepard.
Hero? …No. No I’m not a hero. I’m not a hero in the slightest. I’m lucky. Jervis Proctor was a hero. Vahan Octavian was a hero. I’m just a guy who got shot last. But, at least for now, I am technically serving with The Systems Alliance. So…
“Yeah… right.”
I was about to walk off when I had a huge smile grow on my face.
“Ah… Miss, would you like free endorsement?”
~X~
I walked out of the store to see Anderson waiting near a… a flying cab. Okay, I know it’s the future and shit, but I’m really going to have to get used to flying cars. I walked up to him when, over the store’s speakers, my endorsement played.
“I’m Commander Shepard and this is my favorite store on The Citadel.”
Anderson: Really, Shepard?
“Hey… she uh… she asked.”
No she didn’t.
Anderson: All right, let’s just get going.
~X~
We stood in The Council Chambers on The Petitioner’s Stage, seeing the room fill up with various men and women, about half of them military, others look like family members.
????: Ah, Shepard.
I turned to the sound of my name to see Galen, in formal attire, walking up the stairs to The Petitioner’s Stage.
Galen: How are you?
Galen and I shook hands, both of us smiling at seeing each other.
“I’m doing… surprisingly well. How about you?”
Galen: Great. I just got news today that I’m getting sent off on a special assignment.
“Care to share?”
Galen: Not allowed. Classified and all that.
“Ooo. Sounds fancy.”
Galen: Heh, yeah.
Galen and I stood next to each other after he exchanged greetings with Anderson. We looked over the plaque of names next to us and we saw Vahan’s.
“Hrm. Did you know him well?”
Galen: Not very, but well enough. He was a good man. Rough around the edges, but… good. I don’t know if he had family or not. I don’t think he did.
I felt an overwhelming tinge of guilt. I’ve been trying to hold back my emotions ever since I got here… I’ll be able to manage but… damn it.
Galen: May his spirit find peace.
We talked until everyone was ordered to be seated. Four people stood up on the stage, Galen, Anderson, a guard, and I. The Turian Councilor stood to his feet.
Turian Councilor: We gather here to recognize the heroics and the deeds done by the men and women who fell during the now-dubbed Skyllian Blitz. Any soldier who serves their race is commendable, one who dies will forever be known as a hero. May their spirits find peace in the afterlife. We recognize…
And he began to list off names. To be honest, I didn’t listen to most of it, I just looked out onto the crowd. Sad people, some were crying, some were stone-faced, and others looked broken as people. It was just… I could barely handle it.
Turian Councilor: And, along with the remembrance of the dead, we celebrate the survivors. Most particularly, one human stands from the rest. In a time of panic, disorder, fear, and chaos, he stood against the madness and rose up, rallying a resistance force, and saving what was left of the civilian populous of Elysium.
The Turian Councilor handed Anderson a box, who took the main stage.
Anderson: For going beyond and above the call of duty and his courageous and distinguished service, Commander Shepard has been promoted to Commander and…
Captain Anderson opened up the box and presented me with a medal. The medal was an upside down star with The Systems Alliance symbol in the middle of it, surrounded by a circle of stars, and wing design coming off of the star, the whole thing colored different shades of gold and silver. It was quite a beautiful award.
Anderson: Please, accept this medal in honor of those who had given their lives to protect and serve The Systems Alliance and Elysium.
Anderson pinned on the medal to my suit and patted me on the shoulder. As I did so, I gained a round of applause from the audience. The military and those who had their family members died eventually stood up, applauding and clapping… for me. I… I didn’t know how to react. I just cracked a small smile, nervously shuffling my feet with my hands behind my back.
It died down soon enough and the ceremony went on without a hitch.
~X~
I walked into my hotel room without a piece of luggage at all. Hell, I only had one other pair of clothes and a pair of blues that Anderson had gotten me after the ceremony.
Anderson stood at the door, handing me the pair of blues and my room key.
Anderson: I’ll contact you in a few days. You’ve earned a little bit of shore leave.
“Thanks. I really mean that, Anderson. For everything. The suit, the cab, the room, the blues… it means a lot.”
I put my hand on the back of my neck.
“I uh… I don’t have a lot of people left in the world now. So… yeah. Stuff like this means the world to me.”
Anderson just gave me a warm, father-like smile and pat me on the shoulder.
Anderson: Don’t mention it at all, okay? It’s the least I could do for a brother in arms.
“Right. Still, thanks again.”
Anderson: Well… I’ll be going. It’d be good to get some sleep now.
“See you later.”
Anderson then head down the hall, walked into the elevator, and went on his way.
I closed the door and sat on the edge of my bed, assorting my clothes into the drawers of the room. It was nice. Simple, two rooms with a television, a night stand, a couch, a bathroom, and a bed. That was pretty much it.
After getting changed out of the suit and into just the sweatpants I got earlier that day, I thought about what I had said to Anderson for a moment.
Did I have people here? I don’t know my background… I know I’m a ‘war hero’ but… what was my origin here? In this world?
I grabbed my omnitool and after fiddling around with it, I found what looked to be my biography. I read through it and basically picked up this…
By God…
Commander Shepard was born and raised on Mindoir, a small border colony in the Attican Traverse. When he was sixteen, slavers raided Mindoir, slaughtering his family and friends. He was saved by a passing Alliance patrol, and he enlisted with the military a few years later.I… Ah… I didn’t have family… the last of the friends I had in this universe died on Elysium… I…
And I couldn’t hold back anymore.
I closed the biography and every single emotion I had pent up in the last few days, the anger, the sadness, and the fear released and I began to cry. I crawled up onto the bed, clutching at the covers as tears rolled from my eyes as I sobbed louder than I ever had before. I’ve never felt worse in my entire life.
I was alone.
~X~
Well… what about Shepard? He grew up in the colonies.
I know him well. He knows how tough life can be out there. His parents were killed when slavers attacked Mindoir.
We all know he proved himself during The Blitz. Held off enemy forces on the ground until reinforcements arrived.
He’s the only reason Elysium is still standing.
We can’t question his courage.
Humanity needs a hero. And it seems like Shepard’s the best we’ve got.
I’ll make the call.
To Be Continued in Volume 2…
