Chapter Text
Geth cleanup was almost like a vacation. After all that time spent hunting Saren, finding Prothean artifacts, arguing with the Council and ultimately saving the galaxy? Spending a month on a back water planet, wiping out the last of Saren's Geth was nearly therapeutic. The best part was that this particular planet was in a "dead zone", effectively cutting them off from all other world communications. Shepard was almost sad when she put a put a bullet through the head of the last AI.
"Mission accomplished people, lets pack it up." Pulling off her visor, Shepard drew the back of her hand over her face, only smearing the thick layers of sweat and dirt. The planet was beyond humid, and every step left you three inches in mud, but there was something about the grime that just made it all the more enjoyable. It reminded her of her days in boot camp. The crew had so much practice killing Geth, it wasn't much of a surprise that not a single one of them had more than a scratch or a bruise. Though Shepard's armor would need a new coat of black and red paint, she was otherwise unharmed. Tracking mud through the doors of the Normandy, laughing with her teammates, Shepard enjoyed a moment she rarely experienced in her life. A moment of pure, carefree happiness. For now, there was no crazed ex-SpectRe leading an army across the galaxy. There were no superiors breathing down her neck, or lying politicians trying to screw her over. She could be who she was meant to be. Just a soldier following orders, fighting an enemy, and ending a mission.
~Commander, Counselor Anderson is waiting for you in the armory~
Before Joker's voice came over the speakers, Shepard had just returned to her quarters and peeled off most of her chipped, grime caked armor.
"Anderson?" She froze. What in the hell would he be doing all the way out here? Her stomach sank. There were no communications between planets, and messages could only be transferred personally. Anderson was on the counsel now, he was way too important to fly halfway across the galaxy just to deliver a message. He would only be here if something really bad was happening. Something so classified, that only a Counselor could be trusted with the information. In her book, there was only one threat big enough. The Reapers. Something was happening, something that meant they weren't trapped in deep space like she had hoped. Could there have been another way for them to get here? Adrenaline shot through her veins as she charged to the elevator, still in her greaves, boots and skin tight under armor. Mashing the button repeatedly as the doors slowly closed, she was lowered all the way down to the engineering deck. The second the doors opened wide enough to fit through, she took off.
Anderson was standing at the weapons bench, next to Ashley, idly chatting about weapon upgrades. This threw Shepard off as she got closer. Surely if his visit was about the Reapers, he would not be taking part in small talk with the crew. As soon as he looked up at the Commander, she snapped to attention with a salute.
"Ah, Commander," He acknowledged her salute with a nod. "Chief Williams was just telling me that you have finished clearing out the Geth. Good work."
"Um, thank you sir." Standing at ease, her hand lowered back at her side. "Sir? If you don't mind me asking, why are you here?" Without breaking eye contact with him, Shepard motioned Ashley to move along. After the young Chief left, Anderson took in the Commanders appearance. Dark reddish brown hair was coming loose from its ponytail, and wisps were clinging to her cheeks and forehead. Shepard's usually pale face was coated with dirt, making her bright green eyes stand out more so than usual. Her greaves and boots were scuffed and scratched leaving small lines of silver across the black and red polish. Her under armor was darkened with sweat, and her dog tags gleamed against the contrast. She looked every bit the soldier. It would be quite the challenge to change that.
"Calm down Commander, I'm just here to give you your… new assignment." He chuckled when her brow furrowed and her eyes squinted slightly, turning her head to the side. The Shepard stink eye was her personal way of saying 'Something's up, and I'm sure I'm not going to like it.'
Remembering what he was here for, he disguised his chuckle as a cough, straightened up with his shoulders back, and clasped his hands behind him. Having regained his official looking stance, Shepard stood ram rod straight, ready for her orders. Anderson nearly lost it as he imagined what her reaction was going to be.
"Commander Kara Shepard, you are formally invited to the birthday party of the Earth Prime Minister." After just his first sentence, she reacted as he thought she would. Eyes wide open, and jaw dropped in complete and utter shock. Holding down his laughter, he continued in his commanding tone.
"Exactly one week from now, at 1600 hours, you are to report to the address that will be sent to you via omni-tool. You are not attending as a soldier, not as a Commander, not as a SpectRe, not even as the Hero of the Citadel. You are attending as Kara Shepard. You will be expected to wear a formal dress, accessorize, wear makeup, and yes, god forbid, you will even do your hair." At this, she had completely lost her perfect posture. Her shoulders were slouched forward, hands hanging at her sides, shock and disbelief still clear on her face. He wasn't done yet. Anderson knew that with this last command, Shepard will definitely have something to say. "Because you will be a guest, you will not be armed."
That did it.
"What?!" Shepard's legendary temper had finally made its appearance.
"I don't think I stuttered, Commander. You. Will not. Be armed." He repeated.
"What abou-"
"No!"
"What if I-"
"No! No side arm! No Omni-Tool! No knives! Not even a retractable blade in your shoe! God help me Shepard, I will have you frisked at the door."
"Sir, you cannot expect me to go without-" Anderson cut her off before she could finish, fully expecting this argument. Shepard had what he had come to call, soldiers luck. Anything that could go wrong will go wrong, but after a few moments of chaos, the problem will be quickly resolved. Shepard was truly the only person with soldiers luck to have lasted longer than a few years in the military. As a result of having such a record, Kara had never once gone longer than a few moments without a weapon within reach.
"Commander, this will be a guarded event. Several Marines, even a few N7 officers will be making up the defenses in the very unlikely event of something going wrong. If it will make you feel better, you will be allowed to add two members of your crew to the guard. This is not up for debate, Commander. You will be attending, and that's an order. Have I made myself clear?"
Like a pouting child, Shepard had folded her arms and looked away, glaring at the floor.
"Commander…" He said in a warning tone.
She had just been about to remind Anderson that She was a SpectRe now, and didn't have to take orders from the Alliance. Then she remembered she wasn't the only one who had a promotion. Councilor Anderson, at her request, was now one of four people who could actually give her orders. At the tone of the Councilors voice, she snapped him a salute, with a glare in her eyes.
"Sir, yes sir." Gaining the response he was looking for, he made his way to the elevator to exit the ship.
"I'll see you there Shepard. Can't have you showing up without an escort." He smirked as the doors began to close.