Mass Effect Saga - The Shepards, hope for the future

By: Black--Soul

Inspired by: Bioware masterpiece Mass Effect

Chapter two: Hopes for a better future

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April 3rd, 2164 C.E.
Planet Mindoir, Attican Traverse
Medical Bay, UMSA ZEUS, Mindoir high Orbit

Time had become very vague to the siblings of the Shepard family, in the medical bay on the dreadnought Zeus did they waited with their current caretaker Rose Shy for her husband Cloud Shy to wake up. The pony stallion had watched over the human children and the Krogan child without mutch rest. Until they all got shipped into the dreadnought and the medical team had taken care of the stallions neglected body.

The wing of the Shadowbolt Agent was nowhere to be found, even if it would have started to rot, modern medicine would have be able to revive it and with a long recovery time and some limitations be put back as if it never got removed.

But instead it seem Cloud Shy would have to endure the complet regrowth of the entire wing ahead of him.
It would be very painful, expensive if the military would not cover the costs, that he knew they would, will be connected with weekly medical checks up at the least, if not every third day.
But in the end the wing would be regrown.
Modern Magi-Tek supported medical services sure are miracles, in old times term.

Still 2 years if not 5 years until the day that the stallion would be able to restart relearning to fly, while the muscles would be trained over another year of harsh training, this was not going to be fun for anyone involved.

Fortunately would Rose and Cloud now have their remaining lifetime to raise their hopefully soon adopted foals, if noone claimed them.
But even if, than they could ask to live together inside the sphere security, where no Batarian ever will set foot. As well as guaranteed that the non Equestria born children can grow up safely.
Especially Angel Bunny Shepard deserved a real childhood, instead of what she had to go through on Tuchanka and Mindoir.

As the children enjoyed ice cream and did their best to forget what happend, did a Doctor came in and checked on the wounded special ops equine Agent. After silently doing his job he made some notes, he give a injection that would help the equine overcome the anesthesia medication after said doctor acknowledged the operation was a success and left again as swiftly as he arrived.

Not 6 minutes later did Cloud Shy woke up, he enjoyed rather groggy the children all petting him and when Rose had her giggled fits from the cuteness overload under control she was about to start a conversation, until a N7 marine came into the medical bay.

Rose Shy could see that who ever that soldier is, he meant business, the fact that a N7 adorned his armor on his left side also showed the mare that he was a equal to her. As far she knew only N6 & N7 are the human equal to a Shadowbolt.

But to be fair, while Rose and her squad had trained hard, what humans had to go through to earning their rank was a lot harder, especially since Equestria's natural magic made sphere species physical and mental health and resilience higher by default.

One reason why the homeworld of the humans Earth want certain families conceived and raised on one of the ring worlds. Because the 10.000 volunteers showed remarkable results in increased health and body attributes.

There are even procedures that removed Element Zero contamination, what accidentally revealed how magic essence could be used to coat bones with a very thin layer of magical stones that can cause humans to get minor magical affinities.

They are redicules small benefits for the in sphere citizens born, but for currently living humans it is extreamly valuable.
Higher healing factor, more durable bones, faster recovery from illness and general fatigue and in some rare cases something like sticky skin, that act towards any material one focuses on and let it stick to the human.
Ideal for numerous applications.

Many use it rather than buying clothing with pockets for example.
Like woman in thin bikinis with that ability just stick their money purse to their skin and thanks to increased mental capacities have it safely there until not needed anymore.
Just like someone might hold their keys or mobile phone in their hand, even if they had not thought about it for up to a hour and wondered where they put it.

While the Shadowbolt Agent was studying the human counter part of her military career, did he scanned quickly the surrounding occupants and introduced himself:

"Hello, I am Lieutenant Commander David Anderson, at your service." Anderson gave a not to stiff salute to them. "I am Jane's and John's sire and apparently someone named Angel Bunny Shepards guardian."

As Rose Shy eyes widen at the surprise, did the two human children walked over and take eatch a leg hostage. Rose Shy giggled at this adorable display of affection.

As Anderson pet the children's head, did Angel Bunny joined her human siblings, though she stopped right before his heels raised her hands and demanded hugs.

The human had lived through many life threatening situations throughout his time in the military, he was trained to resist torture and extream stress.
But noone ever prepared him for weaponised cuteness.

So he yielded nearly instantly and knelt with difficulty do to his leg additions that he had sired into the world and give the Krogan teenager a hug.

Rose Shy like the bipedal stallion instantly.
Meanwhile Cloud wondered if he should recommend to their royal highnesses to add resistance training against weaponised cuteness. Better to be prepared than sorry.
One day it legitimately would be needed in the future, even if just for soldiers with foals to say no to buying their colts and fillys candy before dinner.

As this repeated with the human children did the equines wonder why he called himself a sire and not a father. He seemed to be good with children around, or at least his own.

As the hug had been given to eatch child once, did the children unanimously returned to Cloud Shy for more petting.

As Cloud Shy despite his pain was melting below the slightly clumsy, but still very relaxing petting session, did Anderson moved over to Rose and sit down on the ground as not to strain her neck to mutch when looking up at his face.
Something that usually was done with wheelchair height conversation partners.

"Greetings miss Shy, as I have been informed before I entered the medical bay, it was your team saving first my own children, before you managed to save my new charge following the will left behind on the omnitool of my parents."

Rose tearing up was not to surprising, Equestria's population was quite empathetic.
Rose give her condolences to the young man or maybe middle aged man, hard to tell with humans for the ponies.

Anderson thanked her and was rather surprised when she hugged him, apparently was the rumor true that ponies are very social with body contact.

After some awkwardly given back pat's did they separated again. Anderson cleared his throat and got his head back in the game.

Cloud and Rose looked at each other in confusion, to their understanding did humans shared hugs on occasion, than again they just meet less than 10 minutes ago so it might be to soon for him to understand it as a gesture of generally in society practice acceptance. Unless their human society 101 lessons are not as accurate as hoped.

Any misunderstanding would have be corrected later, now the children and their imminent future was important, especially Angel Bunny security.

When the Salarian Union send a STG Agent and cooperate in actions, if not initiated the hole thing in the first place with Batarian slave traders, than only the Sphere Empire had the capacity to keep her save.
After all, entering and leaving was a very time consuming process that leads through multiple layers of medical scans and physical barriers.

The Alicorns also didn't made compromise with terrorists. Even if they didn't have to fear anyone using solar satellite canons, placed in orbit to glass planets and making them uninhabitable.
One more reason not to allow open travel in case someone try to hide cloaked satellites in orbits of planets that could be pressed for ransom.

Unless it was actually the not so subtle way of directly paying the Batarian Hegemony for services rendered, if this incident today wasn't a rare occurrence up to a once in a lifetime event.
The Citadel Counsel deserved the benefit of a doubt.

Human governments would really need to check things like that closer in the future.
Because that would be another reason not to go beyond non aggression pacts and trade that offered more than culture exchange and supply of food and medications for similar goods.

The literally air/vacuum tight sphere is what according to ancient legends keep the Star Demons at bay, until they left eventually.
Never to be seen again.

The Space Sphere Empire used its now 9 artificial sun's and 1 real middle sized sun to power the sphere power hungry systems and the since time immemorial active shield wall protection over the Sphere hull.
The immovable and penetration safe protection that was and will always be, keeping the sphere safe.

Rose started and paused, than restarted her explanation that hugs are something shared between friends just as strangers that are sympathetic to somepony. Anderson nodded his understanding, while Rose was biting her lip for a moment, she should check again if her current informations are up to date and accurate.

Anderson thanked the ponies for saving the children and he was aware of the situation, he glanced to Angel and Rose nodded in confirmation.
Rose mentioned that she like to take them all to safety if allowed to.
The royal family needed to be requested for this, but they had high hopes that they would not be denied.

Anderson asked what their intention with his children was, since the Krogan teenager was the only... 'attention drawing child'. As the N7 was watching the two of them carefully, he was suspicious in general towards military and political misuse, but that was set aside, when they told him that siblings should not be separated at their age, as if it is the most common knowledge known to every creature everywhere in the galaxy.

Further did they add that a herd should stay together when ever possible, strength in numbers. One pony knows something, a big grouping of ponies know more by default.
Even if the knowledge was often redundant.
Confirmation of knowledge and taking notes about it being up to date was necessary for civilian and military life, especially when it reached over multible species, in now a days multi species herds.

Anderson nodded in understanding and he started to believe that this two ponies had no ulterior motivation after all, something very rare this days for special ops operatives.

But he hasn't exactly considered that they are high class soldiers like him, rather than spys or assassins as many STG Salarian are.
The man paused, unsure how to learn more from them and verifying what he guessed to know.
His dark eyes narrowed as he pursed his lips, would he be able to even visit his flesh and blood if they entered the sphere?

Than again the Krogan and Vorcha traveled in and out all the time under supervision.
This might actually work if his mate agreed.

He had once married and changed his name to that of the love of his life, only for her to cheat on him because she wanted a more active partner on her side.
Yet she didn't mind spending his very hard earned money.
The divorce was not running to long or had any hard turns, a few thousand bits that she needed to pay him back and the matter was settled.

She hadn't even considered the possibility that a N7 marine could break her lovers bones without even trying, when said lover tried put pressure on the bad husband to make him continue to financially supporting his poor former wife.
Apperently did the brute had learned his lesson very fast and by the end of it all, former miss Anderson found herself solo flying with a speed comparable to a racing car falling down a cliff.

Not that this was a clever pun for anything.
It it would be that, than it's just fair that money stolen from him, starting from year one into a offshore credit account found itself at the bottom of a cliff.
Cliff Parachuting was a surprisingly fun hobby, a totally unrelated thought came to David Anderson by the way.

But ever since he give up on marriage and just...
helped sire 2 beautiful children, after a friend that happend to be a woman ask him for it.
After all, a N7 sperm donation was better than any random bloak shooting into a cup.
The arrangement was cheaper and more fun for both parties involved.
Kinda sad that his female friend was a more sensual lover, than his once official wife... go figure.

The mother of his children wanted her freedom to do what she wanted, unbounded.
Marriage was a unnecessary detail, with to many strings attached.

She didn't count the children as bonds, rather as the wings to reach the sky that noone could reach alone, all on their own.
Hannah Shepard was a class of her own.
Raised herself as a orphan in a well funded part of earth.
She never had a connection to her old name and despite never marrying, she take his family name for her own, her second name had finally value.
It would also be better to have Shepard on one's named document, than for a unrelated example Bonebreaker.

Humorous was that it was very fitting for her profession, but it apperently made people to be treated by her understandable nervous.

They sure where a very unconventional pair of humans, but it just worked.
Both are happy living their life as they wish, having fullfilled the biological urge to have secured one's bloodline sure had freed them from that kind of pressure.
Anderson was not bad a father when he was around on occasion, he was a great sire and friend, a damn great soldier. But children needed more than a on occasion visiting male acquaintance.

A father raises a child staying close an spend large amount of time... that just wasn't him, but he didn't mind financing the three of them.
After all, it was a investment in two very promising future alliance soldiers and the continuing support of one woman that know every trick in the book in the human traveld space, to get their patients through the aftermath of even the most horrible battlefield acquired wounds if the victim made it to her and didn't bleed out through unstoppable hemorrhage for example.

Even the most skilled human doctor is still limited by what medication and medical equipment limitations are found before them.

So the ponies might be what he never could manage, to be a loving parent, that had time and opportunities to raise them to decent citizens.
Maybe one day, very content adults without him there to screw it up.
He was a lone wolf operative for a reason.

But he had to be sure... they are his flesh and blood after all.
He rather jump out a ship and face re-entry of a planet atmosphere in his battle armor than see his little once neglected.
One reason why he had sent his children to his parents after all.

"I'm an N7." Anderson leaned back.
"My line of work doesn't allow me to spend a lot of time at home." Anderson sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"How can you manage it as a special tasks unit member yourself?

I rather not like to find out that you actually just let your parents raise the children like I have.
I can only judge somecreatures characters that I have meet personally after all.

Than again as long I can visit them and check up on them on occasion, it should be fine.
Ones own parents had to do something right, raising us after all. One does not simply become the best of the best, if the upbringing wasn't clicking in place. Making us work like a well greased clockwork."

"We want to..." Rose paused, glancing at Cloud, who nodded in encouragement.
"We would like to raise them as our own, we have raised two wonderful foals in the past and soon we plan to add two more."

They all fell silent, putting it out there. Anderson looked them over, judging them to have this probably planned out. That or something of the sort.

"Let's talk details, while we need to have her mother agree and help. After all, the children originally supposed to be picked up by her after her currently running tour is over. Roughly in 2 weeks time to be precise." Anderson said.

The entire ship had been engineered to be comfortable to humans, further was it refitted for the needs of their non human crew members like the slightly bigger and a lot more bulky Minotaur, that served as heavy infantry units.
Humans are the nimble scalpel, while the Minatours acting as the sledgehammer so the scalpel can reach beyond the hard shell of the target.

That entailed different kind of multi purpose furniture, training equipment and less obvious yet vital things, as the artificial lighting that measured days, twilight and night time.

When the woman named Hannah Shepard was guided by a crew member that was currently idal in his work shift escorted the unfamiliar guest towards the medical bay, where apperently her family wasto be found.

She would have usually to wait for her tour to end, but her superior had made a exception and handel her imminent vacation request taking effect immediately and had her stuff including herself a day later in a ship moving to Mindoir.

So it was the 10th of April, when she arrived at Mindoir. To her horror did it turned out that her mates parents had been murdered alongside a lot of other civilians. Woman and children had not been spared, with mostly young men and boys taken by them according to security footage from salvaged recordings.

She had been to the depth of hopelessness, yet she had been obly roughly a day on Mindoir and maybe her children had not been under the murdered and kidnapped lost of people.
In her disparate situation did she use a special communication system that connected special ops units with the higher official and not to official decision makers.

Her mate and sire of her children had special permission to include Hannah as a rare exception and it was a god send when he picked up and had given clarity about their children where abouts.

Apperently did Andersons parents had not made it, but had hold out long enough so military forces could arrive and save her three children.
Hannah was surprised to learn of a new addition to their family, but that was something to ne consider and adapt to later.

The woman hitched a ride on a military shuttle when Anderson organized a escort for her.

So now the mother of three followed a service man to the medical bay number 2 and could only await their arrival until she would be reunited with her family.

Rose Shy and Anderson left there assigned gust quarters towards the medical bay, they had been informed that she Shepards mother Hannah Shepard had arrived on the ship and would meet them in medical bay 2, where Cloud Shy still was recovering and was to be scheduled for released tomorrow.
The children had been well behaved and seem to cope well with the experienced trauma thanks to excessive petting of their ponies and the on board stationed mental doctors.

Many had their emotions a wreck and their minds shattered, when the Batarians had shown why noone like them and their culture in general. How the counsel races made enough sense of them to grant them a ambassadorial space on the Citadel was a mystery.
Yet did relief forces and reconstruction personnel send from the sphere had unexpectedly been more efficient in helping many of the colonies affected population to cope and in time perhaps overcome their trauma.

Many Griffon or Pony reconstruction helpers and farmers found themself overwhelmed by the amount of petting, cuddling and snuggeling by children and adults alike.
Months later when most had returned to the Sphere had seen not to few staying when unexpectedly many former sphere citizens found themself unwilling to return, when they found a mate or two under the human population.

Mindoir would be historically speaking the first Colony outside the sphere, sharing multi species herds or flocks, depending on the composition of the unusual families by human standards, created in Hadley's Hope.

When the service man had escorted Hannah to the entry of the medical bay, did he wished her a good day and left.

Hannah walked through the door and see Anderson with a Krogan child on his back shoulders enjoying the ride and high view.
Unnoticed as of yet, she just stood there and watched them for a minute.

Hannah had always worked on orbiting hospitals of the United Multi System Alliance or in rare cases had been deployed on a planet after a Batarian or Pirate strike on one of the many Colonies the humans had claimed.
But she was still mostly accustomed to humans.
She simply had not yet made non human acquaintances and while the Krogan juvenile was not a problem, since she had experience in patching Krogan back together, did the ponies made her uncertain of herself.

She had near her orphanage a zoo that let the orphanage visit them often, there for Hannah had learned to love animals. Especially her love for petting and feeding them.
But these alien ponies had her feel uneasily for some reason.

She watched through the open door as they interacted with one another.
Her children where absorbed in petting a in the bed laying stallion, that typed away at a omni tool specific towards sphere and human species.

Meanwhile her children's sire entertained the Krogan child by swinging his upper body from side to side. That men would be the perfect father for her children if he wasn't trying to fix the galaxy for mankinds future, one battlefield assignment at a time.

The mare apperently holded a one sided conversation with the stallion. Hearing a pony talk was very strange, but Hannah had to remind herself that they are not animals, but aliens from a highly advanced space traveling race. Alternatively she could continue to see them as animals since humans are simply highly evolved nearly bald apes.

Everything give a sense of normality and happiness so mutch so that Hannah was simply uncertain how alien the view was, yet how familiar their atmosphere to a wholesome family outing was. Very unexpected for how traumatic the situation must have been when the attack happened.
She was cocking her head slightly in confusion.
These ponies sure are a conundrum to be yet experienced and learned from.

Seeing a doctor walking by, Hannah Shepard stopped him with hand on his shoulder, pointing at the scene. "Who are those two ponies and the Krogan child?"

The Doctor looked over his shoulder at what the woman was pointing and was pondering his response at the woman. "I don't know who the Krogan child is other than she is the only surviving Krogan of the raid on Mindoirs colony Hadley's Hope, but the stallion in the medical bed is Cloud Shy, while his wife Rose Shy is watching the children that they saved. I don't even know why noone else is with them besides the soldier currently entertainingthe Krogan girl, until there situation has been resolved, they are a welcome addition to the medical bay with their surprisingly upbeat attitude.
They both are Shadowbolts and they saved the colony alongside other unexpectedly arriving reinforcements, when we still had been hours out before arriving ourselves and forcing the Batarians to run or surrender.

The Batarians still have stragglers near Hadley's Hope that his units the Shadowbolts is helping clean out.
By now it is clearly only a matter of time until everyone of this raiding scum is found and terminated. Looking forward to know the colony will be save and sound by the time we leave again."

Hannah let the Doctor go on to do what ever she had interrupted and watching the two ponies with intrigue.

This family meeting was about to get a lot more event filled than already expected by the UMSA female doctor and now mother of three children.

Author's Note

Hope you enjoyed the second chapter.
The third chapter is written half way, but proofreading beside general low free time to write is slowing down my speed.
Also that I have other stories that need some attention as well.

Have a good day / twilight/ night and stay snuggly ♡