Chapter Three
James Vega looks through the medbay window, watching Liara coon and stroke Commander Shepard's face and arms. She's been in there for days. He rubs at his bruised throat thinking. How did this happen? Why didn't anyone see it coming? How could Shepard, the greatest hero the galaxy has ever know, be reduced to being in a nightmare and drug induced coma?
Sure, she's been restless since the war ended. but what soldier wouldn't be? Especially one like her. She's been a soldier, fighting almost non stop for over three years. You can't just flip a switch and expect her, or any of us for that matter, to stop fighting and rest. Why didn't she say anything? If not to the crew, surely she would have talked to Liara. They've spent every moment together since the war ended.
James turns away from the horrors in the med bay and walks to the port side Observation deck. Inside he sees Garrus sitting at the bar holding a glass of green liquid.
"Its funny." Garrus says swishing the liquid around in the glass, "She knows it's the only liquor I can't drink, and yet she always keeps a bottle out."
"I think she planned to build up a tolerance for it."
Garrus laughs, it sounds almost forced, "Instead she frequently wakes up in the head." Garrus puts the glass down and turns toward James. "How did we not see this coming, Vega?"
"Beats me Vakarian." James goes behind the bar and pulls out two beers. "She was so good at hiding it. She made us all believe she was just restless."
"What bothers me is, we've been through hell and back more times than I care to count. And I never even suspected that she wasn't all right. She always bounced back." Garrus says swigging his beer, "Hell, she died! And she still managed to keep going."
"I'm still lost on that one." James takes a drink then leans on the counter, "How did Cerberus salvage enough of her body when she fell through atmo?"
"You've seen what Cerberus is capable of. Are you really surprised they could bring someone back from the dead?" a hard edge comes into Garrus' voice.
"Whoa, easy Vakarian. Don't get me wrong. I'm glad they brought her back. But surely that's gotta screw with your head. Losing two years of your life?'
"I don't think she had time to think on it. She awoke and was thrown straight into the middle of another shit storm."
"Maybe this war was one too many for her." James stares into his beer bottle. Wishing it had the answers they all seek.
"I wish she'd said something!" Garrus suddenly roars and throws his bottle across the room. It crashes against the door just as it opens to admit Tali.
"I don't think that helps anything Garrus. And it's certainly a waste of good alcohol."
Garrus glares at Tali as he stalks out of the room.
Tali looks to James, "Vega. I take it he's not holding up well?"
"Are any of us?" James doesn't even look up. He hears Tali take a deep sigh
"I suppose not." She sits down in the seat Garrus had. "Does that help any?" She nudges his bottle with her hand.
James shrugs and takes a deep pull from the bottle. "It doesn't hurt any. What brings you up from Engineering, Tali?"
"I wanted to see how Liara was holding up. She won't let anyone in the medbay except . I asked how Shepard was doing and she just shook her head."
"Be glad you're seeing Shep now." James empties his bottle, "When the hysteria started it was like she was possessed. I'll never get the look on her face out of my head. She didn't see anything anymore. Her whole body and face were raw with anger and domination. Primal even." Shaking his head, he stands, throws the bottle away and walks out of the room.
Tali turns to look out the window, wishing the stars could give Shepard solace. Looking up into them, she whispers, "Keelah se'lai, Shepard." Then turns and takes the elevator back down to Engineering. At least down there she feels as if she's doing something useful.
"Joker, I sense that there is something you wish to talk about." EDI says turning her co-pilot chair to face Joker. "Is it about the Commander?"
"I don't want to talk about it EDI." Joker growls, "I'm still trying to reason it out in my head."
"Perhaps I can provide some, what is the term humans use? Enlightenment?"
Joker grins in spite of himself, EDI still hasn't got the full concept of being human. She tries so hard to learn. He knows it's because she wants him to like her more. "Yes. Enlightenment. I don't need any of that, I've got plenty."
"Would you like to tell me about the Commander? Perhaps when you first met? Or some of your favorite memories? I would like to, take your mind off things."
"Thank you EDI." Joker proceeds to tell EDI many stories about Shepard. it does keep his mind off of the present, and lets the tension ease from the bridge.