Mass Effect: A Few Good Soldiers

Epilogue: New Beginnings

Slowly she became aware of a rhythmic beeping and when she slowly opened her eyes she saw the familiar sights of a standard Alliance medical ward all around.

"Welcome back Kara," the familiar voice of her mate, Garrus Vakarian, entered her consciousness, "You had me worried."

Rolling her head to the left she saw Garrus lying in a hospital bed similar to the one she was in but unlike her he had his right leg in a bone white cast and elevated on a system of pulleys. After that she quickly glanced down at herself and saw that her midsection, arms and legs were strapped to the bed, to keep her spine still and she had numerous medi-gel patches, to heal the burns she'd suffered, all over her arms, legs and she could even feel a few on her chest

"How long have I been out," she questioned or at least tried to question but the dryness of her throat and tongue prevented her from being able to properly form words.

"Hold on Agent Shepard," an orderly who had no doubt been alerted the moment she regained consciousness. The navy orderly promptly rushed to her side with a cup of water that had a bendy straw in it and put the end of the straw next to her lips.

Having gone through this before she knew he was just doing his job but she couldn't help feel embarrassment had not being able to fend for herself. Nonetheless she took several deep sips from the cup before thanking the orderly and repeating her original question, "How long have I been out?"

"About two days," was Garrus's answer, "a damage control team found us after the battle was over and brought us here… the SSV Hopeful if I remember correctly."

If here memory was accurate the Hopeful was one of only three St. Luke-Class Hospital Ships in the Alliance Navy. These nearly kilometer long ships were comparative in size to dreadnaught class worships, but instead of being armed with the deadliest weapons known to galactic civilization these ships were crammed full of the most advanced medical equipment in the galaxy.

"How about Alenko and the rest of them," Shepard asked as suddenly as it passed her mind, "did they make it out alright?"

"No worse for wear," Garrus tilted his head to his side, "Liara and Tali had a few scrapes and bruises but nothing serious," his face broke in a turian smile, "guess we weren't as lucky."

"No you weren't," a stern commanding voice interrupted their revelry, "good work commander."

Years of ingrained military discipline just didn't disappear because one left the military. Shepard reflexively made an attempt to sit forward but fell back against the bed, "Admiral Hackett sir," she said smartly before adding, "it's not commander I'm retired…forcibly," she smiled though it was a brittle one.

The Admiral's age face shifted into a mask of displeasure, "Yes I heard about that," the frown deepened even more to Shepard's amazement, "the ambassador has no business involving himself in military affairs. I can get you your commission back if you want," the Fleet Admiral finished.

Shepard mulled over the Admiral's question deciding whether or not to accept his offer. After a few long seconds she shook her head, "No thank you sir," she said, "If I'm going to be a Spectre I don't think I should have any conflicting loyalties."

Hackett was silent for a few moments before saying with a sigh, "I respect your decision Shepard and I hope the Council realizes just how fine a soldier they're getting."

"Thank you Admiral," she said and she meant it. Hackett wasn't the type of man to give out praise unless it was well deserved.

"Get well sailor that's an order," he said with a slight smirk. Then the smirk faded from his lips as he said, "The Council wants to see you the moment you've recovered. They want to congratulate you personally… plus according to rumors they're talking about adding a human councilor and they want your opinion on who it should be."

Shepard tilted her head and arched an eyebrow, "Isn't that a decision for the President or the Parliament to make?"

Hackett titled his head, "Yes but at this point as the woman who led the team that saved the Citadel your recommendation will carry a lot of weight."

"Who's in the running?"

The aged admiral stroked his chin apparently deep in thought for a moment befoe he finally answered, "Several Senators, Orlan, Marks, Cho to name a few. Ambassador Udina definitely," he finished with a scowl.

Shepard noted each of the names. Orlan was the head of the Intelligence Oversight Committee, Marks was the Majority Leader in Parliament and Cho was a member of the Military Oversight Committee. And then there was of course Ambassador Udina who stabbed her in the back and nearly cost everyone everything.

"Thank you for the heads up Admiral," she said settling back into the fairly comfortable hospital bed as a fresh round of aches shot through her body.

The Admiral nodded, "Heal up Shepard," he turned to acknowledge Garrus, "you too Vakarian," and with that Hackett turned and left the room leaving her and Garrus alone again.

XXX

Two days later in the franticly repaired Grand Hall Lieutenant Commander Adam Lee, the rest of the surviving members of his squadron, Admiral Hackett, the other high ranking members of the Fifth Fleet and members of the combined as the three Citadel Councilors thanked them for their service in their defense and in the defense of the Citadel.

Lee stood at ease with his pilots as the asari councilor spoke at length about gratitude and the debt that was owed to the brave souls who fought had died just a few days ago. Lee tried to focus on the speech , but his concentration was interrupted when his XO whispered from his side, "Whose the team up with Hackett?"

The fighter pilot glanced over to where the Admiral was standing and saw what his XO was talking about. There were two humans, one a blonde woman in a wheelchair, a turian on crutches, a asari and a quarian.

"The woman is Shepard ," Lee ventured. He'd never meet humanities first Spectre. He'd never even seen her before that short extranet interview and from this angle he couldn't be absolutely positive. But it made sense if that was her and that the team she lead to hunt Saren.

"Really… the Spectre," the XO said taking another look at the blonde woman wearing a military style but not quite military suit, "Damn… do you really think she's screwing the turian?"

"Not our business eltee," he said nudging the man in the side, "besides she's a Spectre and the last thing I'd want is to piss one of them off."

"Yeaaaah," he side with a smirk, "what a lucky SOB."

The naval aviator didn't exactly disagree with that comment, but still it could wait for later. The Grand Hall of the Citadel wasn't the best place for this conversation, "Eyes front Jimmy."

"Aye aye."

Returning his attention to the Councilor he listened as she continued her speech. Somehow all the pretty words and even the promise of seat on the Citadel Council in his opinion didn't make up for all the dead men and women. It didn't end the war either. The geth were still out there and unless that attack had been their entire fleet, which he doubted, they were still in for a long bitter war.

Thanks for sticking with me through all this. I have a plan for another fanfic to jump off from this one but I'm not going to do it for a while. My next fic is going to be a Dragon Age fanfic.