I've done this as a separate piece from the start as requested. If you think I should just stop trying to exceed how well its previous part went, or continue, please let me know. :P Also, as always, reviews and suggestions are ALWAYS welcome. I own none of these characters. (Part one can be found here:.net/s/6255227/1/Synthetic_Hearts)
She hit the canopy and tumbled through branches with a multitude of snaps and cracks, each one slowing her rapid decent and sending her tumbling down into the thick ferny underbrush. Somehow, miraculously, she'd survived the 50 metre drop, coming to roll to a sudden halt beside a pile of bushes. A shower of boulders of various sizes cascaded down around and with her, crashing and bouncing before coming to a halt just as she did. She lay sprawled over the flattened undergrowth, hand outstretched as she lay unconscious and with multiple suit ruptures freshly torn into her armour which leaked bright red blood. All around her a tropical and unexplored paradise enclosed and enshrouded her, its secretive denizens sending alarmed calls to one another at this new disturbance. A soft moan escaped her lips and she moved her foot before laying completely still.
It was just darkening as her eyes flickered open and she got the first view around her. She winced in pain, curling reflexively into a foetal position and tucking her arms around her legs. She lay there like that for several minutes, before the throbbing pain in her head and stinging wounds numbed sufficiently for her to grit the remaining pain and sit herself up.
She could barely see, the only light source coming from the pale blue of coming night, giving any shape to the heavy underbrush. Things called mysteriously around her, lurking in the shadows of the large trees at various distances. She had no idea where she was and was slightly scared. Shepard rummaged around for the small tube of emergency medigel and rubbed it into her scratches, wincing slightly at the burning sensation. She attempted to stand but found her left leg gave out from under her instantly. Survival training kicked in and she grabbed a fallen branch and created a brace with it, securing it in place with shreds from her own shirt.
She reached up to the com link in her ear and tried to send a distress call to the Normandy.
"Come in Normandy. This is Commander Shepard. Requesting assistance. Come in Normandy."
She listened to static.
Damn, she thought. She realised the com link had been damaged by the fall.
It was only then she realised how cold she was, and she shivered, attempting to remove the cold sensation which spread along her spine. Sitting still and huddling in, she stopped and listened to the night around her. She figured she was directly below where she'd fallen, and figured she'd best not move until morning provided more light, so she could find her way back to the shuttle.
She sat there frowning into the darkness before instinctively reaching again for her com piece.
"Garrus?"
There was only the same, crackling static. She longed to hear his reply even vaguely, but there was nothing. She dropped her hand to her side and sighed, shifting in place for warmth.
"Commander, do you read me? Are you out there?" Garrus asked into his com link on Shepard's personal frequency.
There was no answer, only static.
"Commander?"
He asked again.
He sighed, leaning against the exploded entrance of the research facility and staring off into the evening. It was getting dark, but Garrus was resolute at finding his commanding officer. Dead or alive.
He'd tried her line seven times already since he'd cleared the last Geth threat from the facility. It had taken him all afternoon to do it, but he'd acted in his burst to avenge his Commander. The adrenaline had lasted until the last Geth had collapsed into a pile. Garrus had slumped against the nearest wall, powerful emotions washing over him. He'd contacted the Normandy and had told them what had happened… and they had agreed to his insistent suggestions they remain in orbit until tomorrow. He'd asked for more time. Time to find her.
Two moons high above reflected their eerie cold light down on him. He peered up at them, the reflection making his carapace glow with the same colour as the moons themselves. In contrast his facial markings looked black and deep, the ink midnight blue.
He stared up at them while thoughts swirled in his mind. He remembered how he'd felt when he had been asked to report his evidence against Saren – which he had none – to the Council. He'd asked for more time, that he would find evidence, but they had declined and dismissed him. He felt now as he did then, determined resolution his driving motivation. That determinism was exactly why he'd wanted to join up with Shepard in the first place – a recklessness Shepard had warned him about. But right now, he could think of nothing else. He was determined to find her.
He reached up and tried his com link again.