[Shepard knows what memory this is the moment Mu’s magic swirls into being, forming Chora’s Den and filling the air with the stench of sweat and alcohol. She tenses as she watches her younger self, this time only by three or so years, walk into the seedy bar with two humans flanking her sides. All three of them are wearing armor and armed to the teeth. They approach a tall alien, a turian, and Shepard speaks to him.
They speak for a few minutes, and it becomes clear what Shepard is trying to do- she is trying to see if she should free a man from imprisonment. The charges put against him are terrible. Terrorism and xenophobia, attempted mass murder.... It’s not surprising that Shepard rather quickly decides to leave the man in his cell. It’s then when another human appears, goading and impatient over her decision, that the rest of the situation comes to light.
“I knew you would rat us out, Shepard! Now it’s payback time! When we’re through telling our story, the aliens will all know what the first human Spectre really is!”
“My bio is public record. Everyone knows I ran with gangs as a kid.”
“They don’t know that the Reds target aliens specifically. We’ve got the backers to handle offworld missions. Your alien friends won’t like you so much when they hear what your gang did.”
Shepard’s eyes narrow, her hands clenched at her side. She and the man (Finch, as she calls him in conversation) continue to go back and forth. Her two human companions, one man and one woman, watch her silently, sending worried glances to the other as this goes on. Shepard glares, her voice hard and angry.
“What is this going to prove? I left that life a long time ago!”
Finch sneers, leaning forward to make his point. ”You never leave the life! If you won’t help us, we’ll drag your name through the dirt!”
Something in Shepard’s jaw sets. Finch continues talking. Her hand twitches towards her gun.
“Your alien friends will revoke your Spectre status! You’ll be nothing! Unless you’re willing to pay, say, 500 credits.”
In another second Shepard pulls up her gun, aiming it right between Finch’s eyes. The sounds of the nearby club goers diminish, as some people turn to watch, others continue to drink themselves into oblivion. The man flinches, throwing his hands up. His eyes are wide with fear.
“What I’m doing is too important to be derailed by someone like you, Finch.”
She doesn’t give him a moment. Not one last word before she’s pulled the trigger, the gunshot echoing through the club. There are a few gasps here and there but they are quickly hushed by other people as they turn around to not look. The music doesn’t stop. The dancers continue their routines. Finch’s body crumbles to the ground and the turian guard steps forth, nodding a little.
“Impressive. Perhaps the first human Spectre will not be a disappointment after all. Good bye, Spectre.”
He walks away, stepping over the body as he does. Shepard stands there, her face unreadable as she stares after where he left. Her companions look to her and the man speaks up.
“Commander… are you-“
She holsters her gun, still staring ahead. “I’m fine, Kaidan. We’re leaving.”
There’s only a brief pause before he nods and the three of them begin to move towards the exit. Shepard steps over the body and she doesn’t look back.
The present Shepard stares unblinkingly at the memory as it ends. There’s a tightness to her face as she stands there quietly.]
B. And when our children tell our story...
They speak for a few minutes, and it becomes clear what Shepard is trying to do- she is trying to see if she should free a man from imprisonment. The charges put against him are terrible. Terrorism and xenophobia, attempted mass murder.... It’s not surprising that Shepard rather quickly decides to leave the man in his cell. It’s then when another human appears, goading and impatient over her decision, that the rest of the situation comes to light.
“I knew you would rat us out, Shepard! Now it’s payback time! When we’re through telling our story, the aliens will all know what the first human Spectre really is!”
“My bio is public record. Everyone knows I ran with gangs as a kid.”
“They don’t know that the Reds target aliens specifically. We’ve got the backers to handle offworld missions. Your alien friends won’t like you so much when they hear what your gang did.”
Shepard’s eyes narrow, her hands clenched at her side. She and the man (Finch, as she calls him in conversation) continue to go back and forth. Her two human companions, one man and one woman, watch her silently, sending worried glances to the other as this goes on. Shepard glares, her voice hard and angry.
“What is this going to prove? I left that life a long time ago!”
Finch sneers, leaning forward to make his point. ”You never leave the life! If you won’t help us, we’ll drag your name through the dirt!”
Something in Shepard’s jaw sets. Finch continues talking. Her hand twitches towards her gun.
“Your alien friends will revoke your Spectre status! You’ll be nothing! Unless you’re willing to pay, say, 500 credits.”
In another second Shepard pulls up her gun, aiming it right between Finch’s eyes. The sounds of the nearby club goers diminish, as some people turn to watch, others continue to drink themselves into oblivion. The man flinches, throwing his hands up. His eyes are wide with fear.
“What I’m doing is too important to be derailed by someone like you, Finch.”
She doesn’t give him a moment. Not one last word before she’s pulled the trigger, the gunshot echoing through the club. There are a few gasps here and there but they are quickly hushed by other people as they turn around to not look. The music doesn’t stop. The dancers continue their routines. Finch’s body crumbles to the ground and the turian guard steps forth, nodding a little.
“Impressive. Perhaps the first human Spectre will not be a disappointment after all. Good bye, Spectre.”
He walks away, stepping over the body as he does. Shepard stands there, her face unreadable as she stares after where he left. Her companions look to her and the man speaks up.
“Commander… are you-“
She holsters her gun, still staring ahead. “I’m fine, Kaidan. We’re leaving.”
There’s only a brief pause before he nods and the three of them begin to move towards the exit. Shepard steps over the body and she doesn’t look back.
The present Shepard stares unblinkingly at the memory as it ends. There’s a tightness to her face as she stands there quietly.]