N7 Month Day 10: Transform
21 June 2185
Normandy SR-2
On route to Omega Station, Terminus Systems
“This is my body. I have a right to know what was done to it. I want to see the files from the Lazarus Project, Lawson. Please.”
Miranda hesitated for several moments before relenting. “I will have everything transferred to a datapad and I’ll deliver it within the hour, Commander.”
And so here the Commander was, sitting in this grandiose cabin - with a fish tank - reading through the sordid details of her “reconstruction”. Frankenstein’s monster is definitely an apt metaphor. AJ sighed as she ran her left hand through her short auburn hair for a few moments before rubbing her face, the sensation of smooth, uncalloused hands sliding across angry, glowing red scars highly unnerving. Who the fuck wakes up two years after they’ve bit the bullet? No one. It’s absolute madness. Sheer lunacy. Something straight out of a cheesy 1950s science fiction movie. She snorted as the thought of her father loving just this kind of movie came to mind.
Yet one of the first things Shepard had done was have Karin do a full medical workup. The results were eye opening: increased speed, increased strength, eyesight and hearing all significantly improved beyond normal human capabilities using research stemming from Cerberus’s super soldier experiments. They’d managed to augment her DNA with Asari genes for biotics, and Krogan genes for improved musculature.
Close to a third of her body was synthetic, strewn with cybernetics and biosynthetic fusion to speed along her “recovery”. There were details for additional procedures that had yet to be done: synthetic skin, muscle, and bone weaves to further increase her resistance to damage and injuries.
Frustration bubbling to the surface, energy buzzed in the air as her hands began to glow biotic blue. Oh for the love of… Taking a deep breath, Shepard focused on relaxing, the glow subsiding after thirty seconds.
“Wait, you’re a biotic?” Jacob asked. AJ stared at her left fist, glowing with biotic energy. Wilson lay crumpled against the opposite wall, out cold.
Gently placing a hand on her shoulder, Jacob grabbed the Spectre’s attention as he motioned onward. “You can talk to Miranda about it later. We need to get to the shuttle.”
“According to Operative Lawson’s notes, the explosion that sent you flying from the Normandy saturated your suit with eezo from the drive core. With multiple punctures, you had virtually no protection against a high eezo exposure. You’re lucky your first exposure occurred in utero. Even while… while dying… your body was starting to form the nodes for biotics. All Lawson had to do while rebuilding you was complete the process. You’re in the upper range for a human biotic.”
Shepard crossed her arms, leaning against a bed in the medbay. She sighed deeply, eyes darting back and forth as she tried to organize her thoughts in her head. Finally giving it a small shake, AJ addressed the doctor. “Thanks for the rundown, Karin. I’d like a copy to look through later, and for comparison.”
“I’m going to ask Miss Lawson for the files on the Lazarus Project. I want to see if she’ll hide any of this from me.”
Doctor Chakwas gave a firm nod. “Understood, Commander.”
How much of me is even me anymore? Am I just a clone that thinks it’s Commander Shepard? Some elaborate forgery designed to pass for the real person? A sophisticated AI implanted into an organic body?
Tossing the pad on her desk, Shepard let out a long sigh.
-The Port Observation Lounge has a bar, Commander.
“Of course it does. We’ve got a fish tank, an AI, why not a bar too?” Getting up, AJ headed for the elevator. “Thanks EDI. ETA to Omega?”
-Four hours, fifty-seven minutes.
The elevator door closed as Shepard pressed for deck three. “Tell Joker to get his crippled ass to the bar.”
AJ was already three shots in by the time Jeff arrived. "You started without me? Really?" Putting her glass down, Shepard poured the pilot a shot of tequila. He shuffled onto the bar stool to the left, quickly downing the first shot.
"Damn, that's not your usual poison."
"It had the highest alcohol content. Three shots in and I'm not even buzzed. I may have to switch to ryncol if I want to actually get drunk."
They sat in companionable silence for a while, occasionally refilling their shot glasses. Jeff watched her carefully. "So... what are you chasing around upstairs?" AJ glanced in his direction before lowering her head, staring at her hands on the table.
"I'm still trying to wrap my head around everything. Nothing feels real to me. I'm walking around in a daze, with a face in the mirror looking back at me. I don't recognize it. For fuck's sake, I died, Jeff!" Shaking her head, the Commander kept her focus on her hands.
“Look, you've been awake for a week now. As far as I'm concerned, I got my best friend back.” Shepard turned toward him, meeting his eyes, her own swimming in uncertainty.
“Even with the changes? With all the synthetic parts?”
“It's like the ship of Theseus. The ancient Greeks replaced any boards that were damaged, and over the course of centuries, eventually every plank was replaced. There wasn't an original board left on that ship. Was it still the same ship?”
AJ pondered his words as Jeff continued, “Our bodies are constantly replacing cells. At our age, none of my original cells are left, yet I'm still me. So are you.”
“Are just a bonus power! I mean come on, you can lift things with your mind now! How cool is that?”
Shepard huffed. "I suppose you're right. Thanks Joker."
"Anytime, though don't make this a regular habit. You know I'm not a people person."
Grinning, AJ nudged him with her shoulder. "Jackass."
"I try."
