A/N - Australian / British standard English. There is a good chance of reading the following: lots of profanity, characters drinking, typos, and bad grammar at times.
Proofreading and editing suggestions provided by OhDave1. Any mistakes are still mine.
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Shepard rescues an asari archaeologist.
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The journey from the Citadel to the Artemis Tau cluster involved passing through a series of Mass Relays and then crossing space to the correct local cluster. It was from one side of the galaxy to the other, and even with mass relays to help, it would still take time to get there.
During our journey, I remained active in the gym while getting to know all my fellow squad mates. Each had their own story to tell, and we spent time discussing our lives up to that point.
I learned that Flight Lieutenant Jeff 'Joker' Moreau had a condition called Vrolik syndrome, a brittle bone disease, otherwise known as 'osteogenesis imperfecta'. It basically meant that his bones broke incredibly easily, and it left him wheelchair-bound when not in the pilot's chair. Therefore, he only moved when absolutely necessary with the help of a walking frame. He didn't realise that I was unaware when asking him about it and it was a little awkward to begin with. I wasn't sure if he would ever warm to me in the end, but he assured me that he was the best pilot in the Alliance and would remain professional.
Kaidan Alenko was a powerful biotic with additional technical skills. He had been one of many young children sent out to Jump Zero to enhance their biotic capabilities. He told me the story of the turian commander, Vyrnnus, who had been put in charge of their training.
"A turian? Why not an asari?" I had to ask.
"What the Alliance were doing wasn't exactly legal," he admitted, "The turian was nothing more than a mercenary, and he didn't care what he did to us as long as it brought results. He introduced himself as a war veteran, trying to get a reaction from us. None of us had even been alive during the First Contact War."
Everyone has their breaking point and Kaidan reached his when a girl he was obviously sweet on was hurt by the turian. When Kaidan fought back, it was a fight to the death and Kaidan came out on top. From what he knew, that pretty much put an end to everything going on at Jump Zero and he returned home. The reason no one had an inkling of what was going on was that the records were sealed, the Alliance too embarrassed that it had fallen out of control so easily.
"Yet you chose to serve?" I had to ask.
"My father was in the military, and to be honest, I didn't blame all of the Alliance. Biotics was new and interesting, almost another step in the development of humanity. I guess it's happened before, people being hurt in the pursuit of progress. No, the mistake was in hiring someone like Vyrnnus. If we'd hired an asari, even a mercenary, I think things would have been better."
Garrus Vakarian was a C-Sec veteran and an example of the rigid structure of the turian hierarchy. There was no missing his talents as a technician and engineer, and I noted rather quickly he had a love for his sniper rifle. He admitted that it had been with him through his military training back on Palaven and he cared for it as much as he did himself. He admitted that he was interested in applying for the Spectres as he found the red tape of C-Sec constricting at times when it came to investigating. But he also admitted that the loose rules governing Spectres allowed someone like Saren to cause havoc.
Urdnot Wrex played his cards close to his chest. He understood that humanity were recent arrivals on the galactic scene and didn't know too much about the krogan. He said that I'd learn more the longer that we were together, but for the time being, he was along for the ride but to be assured of his loyalty.
"You helped me, Shepard. Can't think of too many other people in the galaxy that have done anything for the krogan recently. And this Saren is bad news. I've lived long enough to see turians, asari, salarians, batarians... All the species have had members try to pull off stupid shit like this. The Reapers? I don't know if they exist or not, but if Saren is convinced, I'd take it seriously. The best thing you can do? Once you have that turian bastard in your sights, don't hesitate. Kill him."
Tali'Zorah nar Rayya had an infectious personality. Lieutenant Adams took her under his wing immediately though he admitted rather quickly that she knew more about engineering than nearly anyone in the Alliance. My conversations with Tali were illuminating and also rather depressing. The Migrant Fleet was stuck crossing the galaxy on thousands of ships after a war with the geth that had decimated their population. The quarians hoped to find a new home but had been prevented from doing so at every turn. As for her Pilgrimage, she hoped her time with me would help her find something that she could return to the Migrant Fleet with.
Doctor Chakwas had been with the Alliance for decades, signing up once she'd graduated medical school. She was a little older than I thought though I still considered her a knockout for a woman of her age. She admitted to a somewhat romantic view of the service before she'd joined up, but she wouldn't swap it for the world, admitting the idea of running a clinic back on Earth or a colony world as far too boring compared to travelling the galaxy on board a warship.
I pulled the crew together that wasn't working into the mess room one evening so we could enjoy a drink and a conversation. I knew Wrex and Garrus were naturally suspicious of each other, and Ashley had urged caution about letting any non-human into our sensitive systems, but I was confident that we'd eventually all get along. Humanity had proven that we could put aside centuries-long hatred when it came to a common enemy.
It was a good night and while I don't think it was going to make all of us the best of friends, I knew everyone needed to trust the human, turian, quarrian or krogan next to them. When we finally hit the ground, I knew it would take time to build ourselves into a team. That sort of thing didn't come instantly. But we could definitely discuss tactics beforehand. Tali's engineering prowess would help against the geth. Kaidan's biotic abilities would be perfect against any 'organic' enemy. Garrus and his skill with a sniper rifle would help clear paths. Wrex was what one would have called 'a tank'. Capable of sustaining damage while dealing out plenty of harm. Ashley and I had over a decade of training and our own skills when it came to warfare. We just had to combine all of that together to hone ourselves into an effective fighting force.
I was lying back in bed that evening, ship-time, when my omni-tool dinged. I smiled to myself when it was a message from Jane.
JS: First human Spectre?! Why didn't you let me know?!
Shep: Sorry. It's been a hectic few days since then.
JS: I understand. I guess there's less chance of making it to Arcturus now?
Shep: Probably not, but I'll likely be on the Citadel more often given the scope of the job that I'm now doing.
JS: I've only heard rumours as the Citadel and Alliance are being tight-lipped about it.
Shep: I can't say too much, but I'm hunting someone down who wants to bring untold destruction to us and maybe the galaxy as a whole.
JS: Marvellous...
JS: You think about me, Shepard?
Shep: Jane... Yes, I do. Fondly.
