Her own paranoia

"My name is Maya Brooks, Executive Assistant to Ines Lindholm of the First Fleet," the woman explained. Ashley blinked. They were sitting in a cafe on the Citadel, a favorite of senior Alliance staff. At the moment, it was vacant, save for her, this Maya woman, and two or three staff who were handling idle tasks. Judging from the earpieces, it was safe to say they were probably more than simple baristas.

"Lindholm? First fleet?" Ashley repeated, quizzically. She'd heard of Admiral Lindholm of course, one of the most decorated women in the Alliance fleet, and way above Ashley's station. Admiral Hackett only knew her because of her connection to Shepard, she shouldn't even be a blip on Lindholm's radar. "What do you want with me?"

"To make you an offer, of course" Maya smirked. "You see, Admiral Lindholm has read your field reports. She found them enlightening... and disturbing." Ashley's ears perked up as coffee was provided. Maya nodded to the staffer gratefully and then took a sip from which she looked very satisfied.

"You mean... The ones about Cerberus? About Shepard?!" She almost panted the words with excitement.

"The very same..." Maya arched an eyebrow. "Perhaps coffee was the wrong choice of drink..."

"No, no, no," She insisted, then took a drink of her own, substantially more than a sip. A moment later, her face scrunched up and Maya stifled a chuckle. Ashley let out a soft gasp. "Ugh... That was... Uh..."

"Hot?" Maya asked. Ashley nodded. "I'll call for some ice water," Maya gestured to the same staffer, who nodded, having watched the entire thing with a look of equal parts confusion and amusement. It came a moment later, Ashley practically chugged it. "Anyways, Admiral Lindholm read your reports and concurred with your assessment of the situation. The idea that we cannot trust our greatest hero is one we cannot entertain. Shepard's loyalty must be ensured, and Cerberus must be brought to heel."

Finally someone was listening to her. Ashley felt a sense of vindication she had started to think she never would. She nods in eager agreement.

"Yes, yes!" She exclaimed excitedly, jumping to her feet. "That's what I've been saying for ages... We have to do something!"

"And we will," Maya gestured for her to sit back down, which Ashley did. "However, before that, Admiral Lindholm needs to know you are prepared to do whatever is necessary. I am authorized to tell you that while we can make Shepard loyal, we may have to take... unorthodox measures. Ones which are not necessarily approved of by Alliance command. Ones which may not comply with Council law. Ones which will require your absolute loyalty." She suddenly looked very serious. "You have a choice. Should you refuse, you can walk out that door, and this conversation will never have happened. If you agree, you will consent to any and all measures deemed necessary for the security of the Alliance, and whatever you are commanded to do, you will do without question. Are you willing to do that?"

"Yes," Ashley stated without hesitation. "Anything for the Alliance."

Maya smiled, and gestured for another coffee for both of them.

...

This time, Ashley's coffee was iced, which she was silently thankful for.

"So then..." Ashley asked, taking a sip. "Tell me what we're going to do. How can Lindholm make Shepard loyal?"

"Simple," Maya continued. "You see Admiral Lindholm has extensive contacts within Alliance black operations. They determined sometime ago that inflicting pain to extract information rarely works, if ever. However, apply pleasure, and you can get exactly what you want. After a while, they'll do anything for more, and given long enough, eventually they won't be able to conceive of independence from you, because they will live and die for the pleasure you offer them. It helps of course if you make some... tweaks, to their brain as you go, just to make sure that even if they could get bored of your touch, they never will."

"Brainwashing," Ashley summarized, "but for the greater good."

"Indeed. For the greater good." Maya nodded, then watched as Ashley's expression became skeptical.

"Interesting..." Ashley tapped her chin thoughtfully. "How do we know it works?"

"I'm sorry?" She said, putting down her cup of coffee.

"This technology... How do we know it works?"

"Oh... That's simple." Maya looked into Ashley's eyes. "I know because it worked on me."

"...What?" Ashley asked, with a certain amount of unease.

"I used to work for Cerberus before I was captured by the Alliance. I offered them anything they wanted to release me, and then I met Admiral Lindholm, who told me the only thing she wanted was me. After all, if she had me, everything I knew would be hers. Then they put me in the machine." She closed her eyes, and Ashley watched as a smile stretched from ear to ear. "Mmm... It was wonderful, you know, and I'm not just saying that because my new mind won't let me think otherwise. Even as I tried to resist, my body betrayed me, and I couldn't help but love every moment of it. Even as they rewired my brain, changed my thoughts, changed my personality, destroyed my sense of self, I didn't care. It was just too good! Free will was a small price to pay for the pleasure... Who I was was nothing compared to what I could be if I just gave up and obeyed, so I did. After that, I gladly shared everything I used to know, and pledged myself to the eternal glory of the Systems Alliance. Just like the staff in this cafe did. Just as you will."

Before Ashley could question that, she felt a jolt of electricity run through her back, and everything went black. Maya finished her coffee with satisfaction as the staff put down the stun gun and dragged Ashley's **** form from the room. It was nothing personal, but they couldn't have someone suddenly having an attack of conscience over their methods.

That wouldn't be a problem. Soon she wouldn't have a conscience to speak of, or indeed, a consciousness.

...

"Ugh... Ah!" Ashley moaned, laying on her back as the machine fucked her. Her mind had been burned out after the first 30 minutes, and in its place commands, obedience, and unending pleasure were driven into her brain with each thrust of the machine into her pussy.

"We didn't even have to make many changes with this one. She was practically primed to become a servant of the Alliance," Lindholm said to Maya, who was standing at attention. "We practically had to rebuild you from scratch."

"I remember, ma'am, and I am grateful," she said graciously. "I am much better as your tool than I was a free woman."

"I agree," Lindholm nodded. She was in her mid-50s, but she didn't look a day older than 30. Her blonde hair hadn't lost any luster and she remained firm in all the right places, as Maya couldn't help but notice. Was she always interested in women? Or was that something Lindholm had slipped into her head when she fucked her mind away? Speaking of which, Ashley had just cum again, her eyes rolling back in her head. The machine kept at it.

"How much longer ma'am?" Maya asked.

"Not long. Soon enough, we'll be ready to move. All the necessary preparations have already been made..."