Disclaimer: I do not own the Mass Effect universe; I'm merely playing with the wonderful world Bioware created. Characters you do not recognize from the series however are of my own creation and belong to me. There will be changes to the in-game storyline and other aspects of the universe so do not expect this to merely be a retelling of the game as we know it. This story will contain scenes of a very mature nature (sex, violence, gore, torture, angst, etc.) so please consider yourself warned.

A/N: This story came together due to my dissatisfaction with the romance options for M!Shep in ME2. Don't get me wrong, I love Tali but I wish we could see her. I don't mind Jack and Miranda, but they didn't do anything for me as a LI for Shepard (and I mean come on, we can only listen to Miranda bitch about being perfect for so long). And seriously, don't even get me started on Ashley!

So I developed the idea for this story to give M!Shep the attention he deserves and delve into his backstory. Cause I mean come on, it isn't until ME3 that Shepard is given the option for expressing how worn out he is and that's just wrong! I require more delicious angst!

Anywho, ranting aside…

Any and all reviews are greatly appreciated and I thank you in advance for giving this story a read. The next chapter will be up soon and I'll be digging into the meat of the story! All the best, - Fallon.

Prologue

Satent System, Pylos Nebula, December of 2162

Blood-curdling screams echoed down the narrow, sterile hallways of the facility. Lights cut in and out as the generator strained, pushing all of its juice into the containment cell in the center of the station. The station's staff hurried toward the screams.

The network of winding hallways converged on the containment cell, the source of the pained screams.

The cell was surrounded by thick walls with heavy metal and tech cores designed to repel any rays of refined element zero and radiation which sought escape. In the control room, a dozen scientists and doctors viewed their subject on screens from cameras situated in the cell. All of them remained straight faced at the image on their screens, seemingly unmoved by the subject's agony and cries for mercy.

They had a job to do and their pockets were well-lined for them to do it. Their employer demanded results and the stakes were high – Project Valkyrie needed to succeed.

Inside the cell, the subject, a young woman, struggled against the restraints which bound her to the exam table. There were numerous IVs in her arms, neck and legs and tubes criss-cross over her body to connect to the machines that surrounded her. Based on the fact that she was still alive, she could only assume some of what was being given to her through the IVs was meant to nourish her. A very small part of her was grateful for it, even if it was insufficient to sustain her beyond the next four months.

A muggy heat surrounded her and she choked on a sob.

Sweat covered her brow and dripped down her face, matting her brown hair to her neck. Weak and sickly, there were dark circles under her sunken eyes and she fought to merely keep them open. But she knew she had to stay alert and fight back, if not for herself but for the baby growing inside of her.

At five months pregnant, her stomach was the only part of her that wasn't thin. In the time she had been in her cell, the subject of her captor's experiments, her only source of comfort was the periodic movement inside of her. When she was at her lowest, her child would kick and remind her why she couldn't close her eyes and give in to what was being done to her.

What was being done…

Tears welled up in her eyes. For all the physical pain she was going through, she could only guess at what was happening to her unborn child. Technicians had been in her cell, wearing heavy, high tech suits designed to withstand exposure to high levels of eezo, to poke and prod her swollen belly. She still remembered the panic that had overcame her when they had first approached her with a massive needle and held her down as it was inserted into her stomach.

She shivered and slowly raised a weak, thin hand to her stomach. Her child moved inside of her and she gave her stomach a small rub, hoping that it was enough to sooth the tiny life growing inside of her.

That small action exhausted her and her hand fell back onto the table like it weighed a ton.

She whimpered and looked around her, finally noticing the tech that had entered the room and was now entering something into his omni-tool.

She searched for her voice.

"W-Why are you doing this?"

The tech looked up, clearly surprised to see that she had the energy to form a sentence. Since her arrival she'd done nothing but scream; her speaking limited to 'please' and 'don't'. After all, in the weeks she had been here nearly constant testing had been done. It was necessary if the results their employer desired were to be achieved. But the physical effects on the woman were extreme. He doubted she would even be able to stand if they allowed her to try.

His focus returned to his omni-tool, "I'm not at liberty to disclose that information to you, miss. Suffice to say your sacrifice will be for the betterment of humanity."

Her heart sank.

I'm not going to survive this…

She inhaled deeply and tried to steady her quivering lip, "My baby…"

"Your daughter will usher in a new age for human biotics." The tech said in a cold voice, "You should be proud to be the vessel for such a subject."

A girl…I'm having a girl…

The elation of knowing her child's sex was overshadowed by suffocating fear as the tech's words sunk in. She would die…and her captors would have her baby girl to do with as they saw fit. For all she knew, they planned more experiments for her child once she was born. Her child would know pain and suffering, hardship and sorrow…

And there was nothing she could do to stop it.

She clenched her teeth as anger flooded over her to dampen the fear.

"M-My little girl isn't y-your play-thing…"

The tech sighed in frustration and looked up from his omni-tool to approach the table she was strapped down to. She could only see his eyes through the mask he wore, but it was enough for her to see how very little he cared for her suffering or her pleas.

Cold…so cold…

He paused in his approach and raised his hand to his ear; to what she could only assume was an earpiece his mask concealed.

"Understood," the tech turned to leave, "and for the record, Mrs. Eklund, she won't be our 'play-thing'…she will be our future."

The door sealed with a hiss behind him and the lights in her cell dimmed.

She stiffened on the table and squeezed her eyes shut as another wave of eezo was pumped into the room.

As her the muscles of her body began to seize and pinch, she arched off the table and tears welled in her eyes.

This is it…this is how I die…

She screamed, her lungs burning from the effort and the eezo she couldn't help but breathe in. The tiny particles of eezo invaded her every cell, coursed through her veins and took root in her heart, changing her at a level only the technicians and doctors monitoring her could see.

My baby…my sweet girl…I'm so sorry.

Her agonized, shrill cries echoed down the corridors, past cold figures that went about their business as usual.