The Commander's Problem
Shepard woke up like every other morning, with emptiness in his mind, just another day he finally thought. He got up hesitantly, and steadily walked towards the window, gazing outside observing the scenery, he noticed a face on the street below his apartment building that looked similar to his old friend Jin. Immediately thoughts came racing back and Shepard was pulled back into last night's dream.
Known each other since highschool, through army training, especially within the elite forces training, where the bond was drawn closer. Life would be a different story without Jin, Shepard twenty eight years old at the time wondered as the normandy's shuttle descended from the normandy itself towards the dense widespread bushlands belonging to the planet Zerg, in the Batarian solar system.
"Have you noticed a strange sense flowing from this place? it feels as we don't belong here" expressed Jin.
"But this is what I've been training for every damn day since my introduction, this is my dream, my passion in life".
The vibe suddenly picked up as a hint of motivation was sensed within the airlocked room. The fourteen men specifically chosen for this mission shared similar desires of the frontlines in the unexplored territories of intergalatic space especially Jin and Shepard. Confident and prepared, stage one was ready to be ignitiated. The shuttle was approaching destination at a patch of exotic form of grass, the unknown was expected and the squad knew death was always an option, "not today" Shepard was thinking.
"Men our efforts today will benefit the future and safety for generations to come, so let us show the world why we were the ones for the job" commanded the captain.
"This is what we have lived for!" Jin filled with emotion told the composed Shepard.
All of a sudden louds shots were heard "boom, boom!" as Jin jumped off the shuttle, proudly taking the first leap on to alien soil. Next moment though, Jin fell flat faced down on to the alien surface, still as a statue, Shepard witnessed...
Shepard instantly woke up from the trance, shocked and confused. The sudden impact the memory gave was torture, the pain was too deep, even though he was greatly regarded as the most respectable person in the world, the brain was getting the better of Shepard.
Shepard was suffering from post-war traumatic stress disorder, he couldn't take it anymore. No Normandy, no wife, family is dead, no contact with associates, did not focus at work. He was not the same old Commander Shepard that everyone knew, the saviour that rescued the galaxies from the ancient Protheans' annihilation. Suffering from daily chains of negative thoughts, he wanted help, a way out.
Walking down the street to freshen himself, usually avoiding the nearby environment he would only quickly glance at women walking pass him on the rather narrow footpath. Except until this day, stunned from the sight in front of him, he glanced twice instead of once. Noticing the uniqueness and beauty the girl possessed, a different feeling about this one. He took off his hat hoody and opened up to the world around him. The girl noticed this act and looked again to find out it was the great Commander Shepard that the human race adored, a legend. Smiles were transferred causing Shepard to make the first move. As he approached this woman, eye contact was made briefly noticing the emotions in her eyes, same ones he had possessed before, feeling like he could relate. Shepard greeted her, but stuttered as the first words came out, quite surprised as this only use to happen when he was younger and more fragile. Noticing this odd timidness, she took the lead in conversation so Shepard could settle in comfortably.
"Wow, is that really you Commander Shepard?" stunned and curious asked the girl, "My name is Crystal, pleased to meet you" etc..
Walking apart from each other, the vulnerable commander knew she was the one, the one that could ease the mental scars. She was an average street girl working a nine to five job around thirty years looking minding her own business until the meet up. Seeking to be part of Shepard's daily life, and vice versa. She also felt that hidden connection and agreed to meet with the Commander once again.
After a few years the traumatic stress gradually faded, the love connection grew and he gained peace of mind accepting his brother in arms death. The Alliance also offered him promotion after promotion after a setback due to his past self. He was also living happily back at home with with his wife Crystal, where the love aura still lingered as he cared for her more than himself. Both happy, living a true life with no regrets or fears.
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