Chapter Text
Normandy SR-1, orbiting Eden Prime
Commander Jane Shepard found herself pacing around the pilot’s cabin in a rare display of nerves with Kaiden Alenko. Apparently, her nerves were disturbing Joker, the ship’s pilot. Or he was just bored. Either way, he turned around in his chair with his usual cock grin. “Problems Commander?” He quipped.
Jane shot Joker a frosty glare which he stared down while Kaiden looked on in interest. Finally, Jane just sighed and leaned against the wall. “Just nerves about the mission Joker, that’s all. I don’t like not being told what we’re doing.”
“I hear that.” Said Kaiden, similarly leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. “And I’m fairly positive that this isn’t a normal mission either. I could be wrong, but normal missions don’t involve Spectres.”
As a collective, they all tensed a little and looked around. As they had discovered in the short time since the Spectre, Nihlus, had boarded the Normandy, Spectres presented themselves after the ghostly wisps of shadow they were named after, always seeming to appear just as a rule was broken or a regulation was violated. And they also seemed to know about every whisper spoken of them.
After confirming their relative isolation, Jane turned back to the other two. “Maybe, maybe not. We weren’t told anything. For all we know he could just be hitching a ride.”
“Like any of us here really believe that.” Said Kaiden, standing up and doing a brief stretch. “I just don’t trust them Spectres. They’re the council’s hit men and the less I have to do with them the better.”
“Ditto.” Said Joker and Jane simultaneously.
“Anyways, I’m gonna head below and get ready just in case.” Said Kaiden, heading for the doorway.
After he left, Jane turned back to Joker. “C’mon Joker. You’re the pilot! You have to know something!”
“Sorry Commander, but I was just told to fly. Frankly, that’s enough for me. And that’s kinda what I should be doing now so I’ll get back to it. Later Commander.” Ignoring the swearing Shepard behind him, Joker swiveled his chair back around and returned to the flight controls.
Sighing in frustration, Jane turned around and left the flight cabin, heading to the crew quarters. That is, until Captain Anderson’s voice crackled over the intercom system. “Commander Shepard, report to the briefing room at once.”
Confused, Jane dutifully diverted her course. “Commander Shepard reporting for duty!” She said, entering the briefing room and snapping a quick salute before standing at attention.
“At ease Shepard.” Said the Captain, turning away from Nihlus, whom he presumably been talking to before Jane had walked in.
“Like the rest of the crew, I suppose that you’ve been wondering what this mission is about and why it required a Spectre.” Said Anderson, now turning fully away from the Turian Spectre to look at Shepard.
“I… Am rather curious.” Said Jane, shooting Nihlus a brief glance before turning her full attention to Anderson. “If I may inquire sir, what is this mission about?”
Anderson smirked and pressed down on a controller that he had been holding. Instantly, a hologram flared up with terrain maps and various pictures of what looked like a Human colony and also what looked like some kind of crater.
“Three days ago, researchers dug up what appears to have been a Prothean beacon.”
“Prothean sir?” Asked Jane, shocked at such a huge find. After all, it had been the discovery of a similar relic that had propelled human technology by 300 years in only a few months.
“Indeed Commander. We immediately arranged for transport to a secure facility so that it could be properly studied, but there’s been a hiccup. And it’s because of this that we’re here as well as Spectre Nihlus.” Anderson gestured to the Turian Spectre.
“And what is this… Hiccup sir?” Asked Jane, still unsure of the situation.
“Communications with the researchers and a nearby colony cut out suddenly early this morning.” Nihlus said suddenly, his voice startling Jane for a moment before she regained her composure.
“Indeed. We have no evidence of attack, but we’d rather not take any chances. Nihlus here is the Spectre in charge of investigating this sudden silence.” Said Anderson, breaking back into the conversation. “And it’s also why we summoned you. I want you, Alenko, and Jenkins to go down with him. If there was trouble, I want you to find and recover the beacon as well as try to help any researchers or colonists you encounter. Now go and inform your team, Commander. You drop down in 20 minutes. Dismissed.”
Snapping another salute, Jane turned and walked out the door. After making sure she was gone, Nihlus turned to Anderson. “You sure she’s the one? She just doesn’t seem to have Spectre-like qualities.”
Anderson turned to Nihlus and smiled. “I assure you that she’s qualified. She lived on the streets as a child and managed to lead her whole team to victory during the Skyllian Blitz. She’ll impress you once she’s on the field.”
“Whatever. I’ll be waiting in the hangar bay while her and her squad get ready.” With that final comment, Nihlus turned and left.
Anderson sighed and turned to the window, watching the stars as well as the planet below. “Don’t screw this one up Shepard.”