In case it isn't clear, we're onboard the Normandy after Feros and Therum. The Toombs assignment will come first before Noveria and Virmire. Enjoy!
Chapter 3:
Investigating
Ashley couldn't believe what the Commander had just told her. Did Shepard just admit that she's a lesbian?
Nah, she was just yanking your chain.
No, I know that look she gave me. That's the look that Shepard gives when things get serious.
So what does that mean for me?
Shepard's made her choice, now you just have to understand what you're feeling.
What am I feeling?
Warmth, tingling feeling, and really, really stupid.
And what does that mean?
Don't know, but I sure want it to continue. And the only way to keep feeling this way is?
With Shepard. Damn it!
Ashley plopped into a chair in the messlooking to kill some time when she spied Raquel going towards the med bay. "Got a medical problem their Shepard?"
Raquel jumped, as she obviously did not see the Gunnery Chief relaxing at the table. "Heard Dr. Chakwas needs everybody to donate blood. You know just in case there's an emergency. "
"Oh yeah? What blood type?"
"Type B negative," Shepard replied.
"Well then I guess I should donate my B positive so I can save your ass of the battlefield too," Ash teased.
"As I recall, I saved you on Eden Prime," Raquel noted.
"Sure, but you almost fell in with the Thorian on Feros, and then there was that geth colossus on Therum that your pistol couldn't hack," Williams egged on.
"Hey, I had my shotgun for that one," Raquel said in mock defense. "I can save you with my donation too."
In more ways than one Shepard. In more ways than one.
What? Did I just think that?
"Commander Shepard?" queried Dr. Chakwas from the med bay door. "I'm ready for you now."
"Hey Doc, can I go next?" the Chief asked.
Chakwas nodded and she and Raquel went into the med bay. Ash was not waiting long when the door s slid open to reveal Dr. Chakwas once again. Williams walked in, and hopped onto the examination table. "Where did Shepard go?"
"Into the other room to speak to Liara," the doctor said nonchalantly as she prepared her pouches.
"Ever listen in?" Ashley asked. "I'm a stinker for scuttlebutt."
"It's hard not to hear them. That door is not soundproof," Chakwas noted. "It's made that way so an assistant can hear me if I need anything."
"Still Shepard, I can't help but feel there is something between us," came Liara voice from the other room.
Damn she's blunt, Ashley thought as Doctor Chakwas began drawing blood.
"But I also noticed something between you and Chief Williams as well," the asari continued.
So it's not just Wrex? Christ, how obvious am I?
"Ash…is…special to me Liara. I'm sorry Liara."
Were it not for the needle in her arm, Ash would have ran out of the med bay, completely embarrassed. At least I can depend of the doc not to say anything. But I'm special to Shepard? I've never been special to anybody outside of my family. With the donation procedure over, Ashley slid off the table and bolted from the med bay.
Where the hell am I going to go? The Normandy isn't that big.
The Chief wanted to go downstairs, but knew the elevator would take too long. Instead, she took the stairs and headed towards the cockpit. "Can I help you Ashley?" Joker asked, as Williams eased into the copilot's chair.
"I'm not sure. Can you?" she asked.
"That depends on what you need," Joker replied. "I'm only a miracle worker with the Normandy."
"Are you saying that I need a miracle Joker? And that I'm helpless?" the Gunnery Chief asked, taking a swat at the sarcastic pilot.
"You? Helpless? Perish the thought Chief. You and that assault rifle can rip a hole through anything thrown your way," Joker reasoned.
"And what do I do when the problem isn't on the battlefield?"
"You mean with you and the Commander?" Joker asked in a tone that showed he knew he was right. "Didn't think you were like that Chief, but I won't judge you."
"Does everybody know my business?" Ashley asked incredulously.
"I only know because of the radio system," Joker began. "You guys really need to turn off your suit radios. Even when you don't activate them, everything can be heard here in the cockpit, as long as they're Alliance personnel."
"So you hear everything that Shepard says," Ashley said in hushed tones. "Do you realize what people would pay to know her every sentence?"
"'I'm just a pilot Chief. A magnificent pilot at that, but I'm not an agent of the Shadow Broker. That would be treason."
"I know that!" Believe me, I know about the regs. "But…uh…"
"You want to know what she says about you?" Joker asked. "You know, people say that women are difficult, but all you really need to do is give 'em what they want," Joker said as he accessed the audio logs.
"Yeah Joker, just keep on thinking that and you'll go far," Ashley quipped back sarcastically.
The pilot chuckled and hit the activation key to begin playing the file he had selected. "So Shepard," came Wrex's voice. "You and the Gunnery Chef seem to be cozy together."
Everybody on this ship is so blunt!
"I'm sure to her, I'm like a sister," Raquel responded sounding disappointed.
If my sisters ever made me feel this way I think I would need to see a doctor.
"Heh, my krogan instincts tell me that's not how you would like it," the mercenary fired back.
"Your instincts should not try to examine my feelings," Shepard said quickly. "No matter how right they may be," she added quietly so that the radio was the only recipient.
The audio file ended and closed itself. "Wow, that was…enlightening," Williams said.
"Yep, damn near broke my heart and every other male in the Alliance," Joker responded, ruining Ash's moment. "You're a lucky woman Chief."
Ashley did not respond, and only sat in silence, thinking to herself. She's acknowledged her feelings for you. Why can't you do the same?
I know that there are feelings there, but I'm not sure what they are or what they mean.
Do the feeling make you happy?
Incredibly happy.
Do you get the feelings around anybody else?
Not even close.
That's love stupid!
That's crazy! It doesn't even make sense.
You read poetry, and almost every poet out there has it written down that love is crazy.
That's only in fantasy, this is the real world.
And here you are, in the real world feeling like you do.
Fine. I have feelings for Shepard! Are you happy?
For now.
"Got a message from Fifth Fleet Commander," Joker said, startling Ashley. "Patching it through."
"Commander," came Hackett's scratchy voice. "We've had reports of Alliance scientists being killed on Ontarom. I know the Council has their mission, but this assignment may be of personal interest."
"Oh?" came Raquel's voice at the Navigation Map.
"That's all I can say, Fifth Fleet out."
"Riiiiggghhttt. Ash, suit up and get Wrex. The two of you are coming with me. Joker-"
"Already on it ma'am."
Ashley pushed off of the chair and made her way to her locker. After getting the krogan, the two waited for Raquel to meet them at the Mako launch bay. "So Chief, how's Shepard?"
"Screw you," Ash responded, drawing chuckles form the krogan.
The elevator door opened and Raquel trotted over to her waiting shore party. "Check your targets, there could still be scientists planet-side."
The drop to Ontarom was quick and painless, as was getting inside the only structure. The building was the standard Alliance colony building with a common room that greeted anybody who walked inside. "I got a body over here," Ash said as she nudged a corpse with her boot. "Standard wounds, it's not the geth."
The trio continued down a hallway and into a larger room than the first. Ash peeked her head around a pillar to find a whole mercenary team aimlessly wandering around. The Chief put her fingers to her lips and waved Shepard up to her position. "Is Toombs done yet? I want to get off this rock and get paid," complained one grunt.
Williams handed Raquel a grenade with a smirk. "They'll never know what hit them," she whispered.
The Commander nodded, activated the explosive, and threw it at the enemy group. There was only one yelp of surprise before the grenade exploded, clearing out the room. "I think we're good Commander," Ashley noted as she surveyed the room for survivors.
The shore party continued down another hallway and entered the next room to find the lead scientist and another man who Ashley assumed was Toombs. The balding scientist was on his knees, with his arms shielding his head, and the mercenary stood shaking trying to hold his pistol steady
"Mr. Toombs you're insane, you need help," cried the scientist, slowing getting to his feet at the sight of Shepard.
"It's Corporal! Corporal Toombs! You don't get to lie. Not today you sleaze ball psycho!" yelled Toombs, pointing his gun for emphasis.
"Toombs? Is that you?" Shepard asked. "You're alive? I thought everybody else died on Akuze."
"Yeah I lived," Toombs said taking his eyes from his target but not lowering his sidearm. "I ran just like you did. Hell, we all ran. But the attack was too much and I blacked out. When Cerberus found me, they were delighted I had survived."
"Cerberus?" Ashley asked.
"They're a black ops group of scientists trying to make a super soldier. The Alliance shut them down, but they didn't disappear. They set those maws on us Shepard! And this man is one of them. He deserves to die!" Toombs cried, shaking even more than before.
"This man is crazy," the scientist blubbered. "You can't believe him."
Raquel raised an eyebrow at the Corporal. "You're sure?"
"Oh I'm positive Shepard. Do you know what it feels like to have thresher acid injected into your veins?" queried Toombs, shuttering at the thought. "Well I still remember, and I remember the face of the one who did it."
"Toombs, I'm going to arrest him, just put the gun down. You don't want to kill him. This way, we can get you help," Shepard reasoned.
Ashley tensed, knowing that things had reached a breaking point. If her kills that scientist, we might have a problem.
Toombs looked frantically from the scientist to Shepard several times before taking a deep breath and lowering his pistol. "You're right Shepard. I don't want to kill him, I just wanted to track down the man that caused all the pain and make the screaming stop."
"I know Toombs, I fight for those men everyday."
"The vids all say that you're the only one to survive Akuze Shepard. Who am I to argue?" he queried before pointing his pistol to his chin and pulling the trigger.
Raquel and Ashley jumped as the echo rang against the walls of the room. "You only get one life, and he kills himself."
"He died in honor," Wrex intoned.
"His life is gone, but his memory won't be. Toombs is another innocent life that we fight for," Raquel said solemnly before turning to the scientist. "Is it true?"
"More or less, but it was justified because-" but the scientist couldn't finish after Shepard's bullet went through his skull.
Raquel turned walked quickly towards the exit shedding a single tear. Ash wanted desperately to wipe it away, but fell in line and waited for the Normandy to pick them up.
so I've taken the little advice and enabled anonymous reviews. just want to thank whomever is reading this story and i look forward to any reviews!
