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What’s in a name?
Maya Brooks has had many names over the years. Hope Illium, a psychologist on the Citadel known as Captain Channing, and Rasa, the one who started it all. None ever stuck for more than a few years, just long enough for her to find her target and finish the job.
Except this time the job is different.
This time, Brooks needs Commander Shepard alive at the end. Or at least one version of her, at least.
Unbeknownst to the hero of the galaxy, while she lay in a coma for two years aboard a Cerberus ship, the organization took it upon themselves to create multiple replicas of the woman. The Illusive Man had insisted upon them. What if she was injured in battle and needed her exact blood type when the medi-gel wasn’t enough? Or what if she was poisoned by some sort of alien toxin and needed new organs to recover?
Brooks had wholeheartedly agreed with the plan in the beginning. It made sense to want to ensure the health and well-being of the current face of humankind. That’s why she joined the organization in the first place. They shared the same purpose. To protect human rights and keep them from being held down by the other races.
But that isn’t how Cerberus operated behind the scenes. Sure, they fronted their pro-human propaganda all over the Citadel and any other major hub, but Brooks ended up working a job she never thought she would when she signed up.
As Commander Shepard found her bearings aboard their ship, Brooks was tasked with creating dossiers of all the hero’s closest allies. The assignment wouldn’t typically have been an issue, she had done it before for the organization, it was the friends that Shepard kept that gave her pause.
Brooks had heard rumors over the last couple of years that there had been aliens aboard the original Normandy. Of course, she never wanted to believe them. How could the first human Spectre willingly work with those that would wish to see them as second-class citizens in the galaxy?
But, the rumors had indeed been true. Through relentless research, Brooks was able to track most of the former squad mates down and even more.
A former turian C-Sec member turned Omega vigilante, an asari justicar, and a young quarian. The Illusive Man considered them the best of the best, despite being aliens.
Brooks had tried to go along with it at first. Cerberus was looking out for them, after all, but there was only so much she could take.
How could she sit there and watch Commander Shepard heap piles of praise on these aliens? Their one hero and she’s willing to throw herself in front of a hail of bullets to protect a colony of them.
Worse than that, the galaxy inevitably turned against her, demonizing her for simply working with Cerberus. All because society deemed them a “terrorist organization”.
It was bullshit if you asked her and it was even worse when The Invisible Man did nothing to protect or defend them from even more public scrutiny. So, she did the only thing she knew that would help her and humankind come out on top.
She woke up Shepard’s clone.
It had been rough at first, admittedly. The clone was no better than the incredibly cheesy AI version of the Commander that hangs out at the Citadel’s docking bay; spouting random facts about “their” heroic deeds and cheesy quips.
Brooks was patient, though. She had to be. As the days progressed, she would sneak down to the med-bay every night, coaching and teaching the clone how to be properly human.
“And it was when you arrived in Vancouver after the suicide mission on the Collector base that you were arrested.”
Brooks paces the floor of the med-bay, her fingers impatiently tapping at her data-pad as she recalls the events of the past two years in full detail.
“You’re going to need to be able to describe the reaper attack on the city exactly as it happened,” she says, turning to face the other Shepard. “You can handle that, yes?”
The clone nods, standing from their cot. “Sure can. Especially with these neural implants.”
She taps her temple, a cocky grin toying at her lips. “My mind is like a diamond now.”
A matching smirk appears on Brooks’ face as the clone approaches her. She’s perfect in every way. Fiery auburn hair that practically glistens under even the worst lighting, vibrant green eyes, and scars that match the original’s in age and intensity just right.
“Is that so?”
Brooks reaches out, brushing back a lock of hair. “So, I don’t suppose you would mind taking a trip with me? We need to plan how we’re going to get close to Commander Shepard and I’m not sure we can do that here with the Illusive Man breathing down our necks.”
The other Shepard stares into her eyes curiously. Brooks had never had the fortune of seeing the commander up close and personal, only being able to view her from a distance. But now, face-to-face, it’s impossible to tell the difference.
“You have a crew for me?”
Brooks beams in response. “Follow me.”
Hours after their meeting in the med-bay, the two, alongside a few of Brooks’ most trusted confidants made their way down to the docking bay. It hadn’t been hard to convince others to join her cause. After the fiasco with Collectors, quite a few members were frustrated with the Illusive Man and his willingness to allow aliens both into their organization and onto their ship. All it took was some sweet talk and potentially empty promises and she had them eating out of the palm of her hand.
The only problem now was getting off the ship and onto one headed towards the Citadel. She doesn’t want to raise any alarms by going in guns blazing, but she may not have a choice but to put a bullet into the head of the rookie guarding their only route of escape.
Brooks sighs, cocking her gun. She turns to face the clone over her shoulder, nodding towards the guard.
“Follow my lead,” she whispers. “And let’s try not to raise a scene, yeah?”
“When have I ever?”
The clone rolls her eyes in response to the warning. Clearly Brooks’ training has paid off because she is now emulating some of the Commander’s most annoying traits.
“Hands up! Don’t make any sudden moves!”
Brooks rises from behind the crates they had been hiding behind. She points her gun at the guard as she slowly stalks towards him. A flicker of fear crosses his face at the sudden intrusion, but he quickly masks it with faux confidence.
“You? Really? I thought you were one of us?”
“One of you?,” Brooks asks incredulously. “I haven’t been one of you since Cerberus stopped prioritizing humans.”
Scanning the area to ensure there were no traps or extra guards in the vicinity to worry about, she encroaches on the young man’s personal space. It doesn’t matter if any cameras are connected to the main feed. She knows there’s a delay and by then her and her crew should be long gone.
“If you were smart you would come with us.”
Shepard’s clone descends from the shadows, a fierce and determined look on her face. The fear that had previously been on the guard’s face returned in full force.
“Co - Commander Shepard? But I - I thought -”.
Brooks groans inwardly at the blubbering fool. This was a tiny problem that she hadn’t expected to deal with. No one was actually supposed to witness her absconding with Cerberus’ most prized possession.
“Listen,” she hisses, trying to remain calm under pressure. “I do not have time for this and I certainly don’t need you squealing to your boss about this.”
Brooks can see the beads of sweat dripping down his forehead. She understands the guard’s need to be loyal; she certainly felt it towards the organization for far too long, but she doesn’t have it in her to empathize with his plight. It will only get in the way of her and the new Shepard’s plans.
“I - I swear,” the young man stutters, lifting his hands in surrender. “I won’t tell anyone! I - I - ”.
The guard doesn’t have a chance to finish his sentence before her newfound asset smacks the back of his skull with the butt of her gun.
Brooks watches, dumbfounded as the man crumples to her feet. “What about not raising a scene did you not understand?”
“He needed a nap and we needed to get out of here.”
Their small crew takes the opportunity to rush out from behind the crates, running haphazardly towards the shuttle.
“Don’t be mad,” the clone says, stepping closer towards her, getting away from the chaos around them. “Besides, Commander Shepard didn’t need any more innocent blood on her hands.”
The ever-present smirk remains on her lips as she takes Brooks’ hands, squeezing them once before tugging her towards the shuttle.
Brooks lets her, though. The clone is aggravating and frustratingly beautiful, but she also holds the key to a lot of potential; a future yet uncharted. A way for her to finally shed this identity and gain a mantle that she has always longed for.
Hero.
SpaceVixen Tue 01 Apr 2025 06:05AM UTC
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