#veronica shepard

[naomisnews]

Veronica loves being a nuisance

[naomisnews]

Been in deep with my Renegade girlie, Veronica Shepard!

Tough as nails and a hard arse, but a complex bean with a lot of layers to her, especially explored in 2 when she falls in love for the first time

Now she’s in 3 and…really trying her best to not freak out! She’s trying her best, even with my own torturous lore for her.

Love Veronica, even if she’s hating me for what choices I’ve picked for her.

[naomisnews]

Thank you to the amazing @skellyn for this incredible commission of my RenShep, Veronica! Yes, she’s a Nickelback fan. If you’ve ever played the Mass Effect games, you’d understand how much it’s a need for her.

[hopepunkbutch]

Christmas in the Maternity Ward

(Made a bunch of drabbles, so here we go. We’re starting with Veronica and Kaidan. This is a lot of fluff with some cursing. Enjoy!)

There wasn't much to say as Veronica laid in the hospital bed on Christmas eve. The contractions were becoming quite more frequent, and her hand hadn't left Kaidan's since they'd arrived. She had that same look on her face as when she'd fought Saren nine months prior. Grim determination. 

Kaidan gently brushed back some hair from her eyes. "Not exactly where we planned on spending Christmas." 

She rolled her eyes. "Oh come on. It's not Christmas yet." Veronica took a glance at her omnitool. "Well, I stand corrected. 12:01. Merry Christmas." 

He brought her hand to his lips. "Merry Christmas, Veronica." 

"I am approximately the size of a beached whale and I'm done being pregnant." The pair of them laughed. "The beauty mommy bloggers lied to me, LT. There is no glow." She laughed some more until the next contraction hit. "Ahhh, shhhhhhhh..ssssson of a biscuit!" 

Kaidan pat her shoulder. "Still trying to swear less?" 

"Trying? I'm succeeding, bitch-oh god damn it." Veronica brought a hand to her face in embarrassment. 

"Presents after?" 

She glared at him. "I thought we said we weren't getting each other gifts." 

Kaidan's eyes lit up with laughter. "And you are fooling exactly no one. Mom brought my new armor shield mod in from you." 

Veronica shook her head in amusement before finally deciding to accept whatever he offered. Kaidan set a small box in her unoccupied hand. She deadpanned at him. "If this is what I think it is, then I will murder you. Don't even think that I can't." 

"I promise you it isn't." 

She grumbled something obscene before flicking the box open with her thumbnail. Inside laid a flat, dark green pendant. Veronica tried to catch his eyes, but he wouldn't look at her. 

"I remembered you saying green was your favorite color, and I thought maybe you could wear it with your dog tags when we get back to active duty and-" 

"Kaidan." He flushed as he finally met her gaze. "Thank you. I love it." Veronica brought his hand up to her lips with a smug smile. She could get used to him being so flustered.  

[hopepunkbutch]

N7 Month, Day 17: Home

(heck yeah domestic fluff with fshenko. I'm having a good day. No warnings. Unless you don't like sleepy seven year olds. Then probably a warning for that.)

Veronica ambled into the kitchen to set the coffee on. She was still getting used to her new leg, and it didn't really calibrate right in the mornings. The apartment was quiet. The air traffic outside her window was still. Everything felt at peace. Like a church mouse, she grabbed a pan from under the stove and eggs from the fridge. 

The kitchen came to life with warm light as she worked. Soft lamps set the space aglow. Veronica set a plate of bacon on the microwave to keep it warm. She had her back turned when strong arms hugged around her waist. Kaidan nuzzled at her jaw and neck. She smiled to herself and set her plate to the side to make his.

"Mornin'," he mumbled. Sleep still hung heavy on his grumbly voice. 

Small feet pattered on the linoleum floor. Curly bedhead hauled itself up onto a seat at the counter. Veronica passed her little girl a medium sized plate. That biotic hunger would be the death of them all. Theresa rubbed her eye with her fist then set to work on the meal in front of her. 

Veronica turned around in Kaidan's arms and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. He looked a bit put out. "Brush your teeth and we'll talk, dragon breath." 

He sighed to himself and kissed her forehead. Mock-disgusted noises sounded from behind her before devolving into laughter. Veronica grinned and took her plate to the seat next to Theresa's. This was more than she could have ever asked for.

[hopepunkbutch]

N7 Month, Day 14: Archeology

(My Sara Ryder nerding out about Liara is probably the most canon thing I've ever written. Warning for celebratory alcohol and certain, ah, implications having to do with Veronica Shepard and Kaidan. Enjoy!)

Sara navigated through the party with a fluid grace matched only by her asari friends. She was determined to meet her hero. She noticed a tall and elegant figure staying to the fringes of the gala. Her eyes fell upon a shorter and slightly wider figure. She weaved towards her and made eye contact soon after. The tall commander thought she was the target of Sara's eyes and was rather surprised when she walked over to Liara instead. 

"Dr. T'soni, I read your thesis on Prothean civilization. I would love to hear more of your theories after these events." 

The asari scientist was somewhat taken aback by this. Most of the people approaching the victorious party made a beeline for Shepard. Veronica turned to Kaidan and laughed a bit at this unprecedented turn of events. 

"Looks like you've got a fan, Liara." 

Sara flushed a pretty pink, but she was determined to talk with her. She took a short drink from her champagne. "I used to protect a team of scientists in studying Prothean artifacts. We debated your theories on the Reapers and such, but my colleagues didn't think you had enough concrete evidence. I can't wait to see what they say now." 

Liara smiled graciously. "You're Sara Ryder, correct? Your mother made leaps and bounds in terms of biotic implants. It's an honor to meet you." 

"The honor is all mine. Did you happen to uncover anything about the Protheans during all this?" Sara nearly bounced on the balls of her feet. 

"I'll have something of a dissertation on my website within the week. I really do appreciate your interest, Madame Ryder."

She bowed minutely and turned to look up at Veronica Shepard. "And...thank you for...y'know, saving everybody." 

Veronica raised her glass with an amused expression and headed off, Kaidan lingering at her back. From Liara's expression, they were probably going to find some nondescript corner. Sara raised her glass in return and carried on through the crowd that allowed her to disappear. 

[hopepunkbutch]

N7 Month, Day 3: Reaper

(So...some context. This is a noncanonical version of Veronica Shepard who doesn't exist much anywhere else. As much as I put my OCs through, I like them to end happy. This very much isn't that. One of the prompts last year involved the Refusal Ending, and at the time, I wrote it off as something none of my Shepards would ever dream of doing. But then I thought....of course, Veronica would. Here we go, folks.) 

Shepard shambled into the cargo bay like a ghostly apparition. The color had almost entirely drained from her face. Kaidan hauled her in towards the med bay, hoping against hope that everything would be okay. She had to be okay. Chakwas went to work, and he paced outside.

Liara met his eyes from the door of her station and motioned him inside. His gaze flicked to his commander, his wife, still unconscious on the doctor's table. Her brow furrowed with insistence. Kaidan entered her de facto lair, almost flinching as the door slid shut behind him. 

"What happened?" 

She took a deep, steadying breath. "We won't be able to know much until she wakes up, but I've been able to piece some of it together." She turned and hit a few keys on her board. A diagram of Earth and the Crucible appeared in miniature. 

"As far as I can tell, there was something that kept the Crucible from firing, an input that had to be registered by Shepard at a higher level. A choice of some kind." 

Kaidan crossed his arms over his chest. "What kind of choice?" 

"It likely would have been fatal for her regardless of what she did." She glanced down at her fidgeting hands. 

He swallowed thickly. "How is she still alive? What did she do?" She didn't look at him. "Liara?" 

Her eyes bored into his. "She chose not to decide. She ran and made it out alive. Now Anderson and The Illusive Man are dead. It might have been a way to live to fight another day, but...this was supposed to be that day. If we can't get the Crucible to fire-" 

The door opened behind them. Dr. Chakwas stood in the archway. She walked back to her med bay and expected them to follow. They did. Veronica sat up in bed. Her cheek, forehead, left arm, and right leg were medigelled and bandaged for healing. Tears slid over the cloth. Kaidan knelt by her side, holding her uninjured hand tenderly. 

"Veronica-" 

"The Catalyst wasn't a what. It was a whom." 

Kaidan glanced to Liara. Shock and awe. He looked back to the commander and squeezed her hand. 

She continued. "I could have destroyed all synthetic life in the galaxy. The explosion would have killed me." A rattling breath separated this option from the next. "I could have chosen to control the Reapers, give up my physical form to ensure the survival of all life." Another breath. "Or, I could have synthesized my DNA into all life in the galaxy. All of my DNA. Nothing more of me would remain." 

Veronica paused to sob. She took her hand from Kaidan's to hold it to her face. She was a broken woman. "They--the Reapers--got to me. No matter what I did, it was suicide, and for a moment, it seemed like those were my options." 

Liara finally stepped forwards. "Shepard, you could have saved everyone. All those lives if you'd only decided. Do you realize what-" 

"Shut the hell up. Of course, I do!" Her strained voice rang through the silent room. Only the hum of the machinery. "But it would have meant bending to the Reaper's will. They were changing me, just like they did to Saren and The Illusive Man. I couldn't let what happened to them happen to me. I had to do something. I had to fight it." 

Veronica paused for effect. "We're all going to die. There's no way around it. All of us. But we'll die fighting, and we'll give the next cycle the best chance we can. Clear?" 

Dr. Chakwas answered from the corner of the room. "Understood, Veronica." 

Kaidan hugged her close, and for just one moment, there was peace in the galaxy. 

[hopepunkbutch]

Fateful Meeting

(@alienshepard : Because you asked. Have some pre-relationship Veronica and Kaidan.)

Veronica gazed out at the Normandy. She was as beautiful as promised. New paint and everything. She couldn't help but whistle at the sight. After a few minutes, she noticed someone watching her out of the corner of her eye. She cleared her throat and looked in his direction. She remembered him from the crew briefing with Captain Anderson. What was his name? 

"Commander Shepard?" She nodded. "Lieutenant Kaidan Alenko. It's a pleasure to meet you." 

Veronica met his extended hand and squeezed. "Thank you. I've been getting that a lot lately." 

"Right. After that business with Akuze, you're something of a living legend, right?" 

She smiled bitterly. "Emphasis on the living part." 

Kaidan rubbed at the back of his neck. "Right...sorry." 

"Not something people think about, but hey! Went for N7 training to make sure it doesn't happen again." 

His eyes flicked to the emblem on her jacket. "Where do you even buy things with the logo on it?" 

Veronica cackled. "There's a gift shop at the end, just like museums." 

"Seriously?" That smile could end wars and cure cancer. 

"As if I'd ever tell." She grinned, turning around to lean back against the railing on the observation deck. "Any idea when we'll be getting her in the air?" 

"Pre-flight checks just started." He shrugged. 

"Ah. Half an hour, forty-five minutes. Still, best to be on time. Walk with me?" 

Kaidan walked up beside her. "Gladly."