Chapter 4

Over the next few days, Kelly's prediction came true and everyone seemed to settle back into their usual routines. Shepard was studying the new star maps in her cabin when Joker's call interrupted her.

"Um, Commander, you better get down to Engineering," the pilot suggested, a bit strongly.

"What's going on Joker?" she asked.

"Well, Engineer Donnelly is upset with the new arrangement down below and the um, discussions, are not going well."

"Who exactly is he having discussions with?" she demanded, growing tired of partial stories.

"Garrus and Jack. Commander, I think you need to get down there."

"OK," she muttered, growing tired of having to break up disagreements, "I'm on my way."

She punched the elevator button, again appreciating its efficiency and heard the raised voices as soon as the door swished open to the Engineering deck.

Donnelly's Scottish brogue was even heavier when he was upset. She could only barely make out what he was saying. As she entered the room, all eyes turned toward her and the din ceased. One engineer was red faced, Daniels was trying to blend into the background, Garrus and Jack looked guilty and Tali just amused. The commander's unease rose when she noticed the sniper rifle that Garrus was carrying.

"OK, who's going to explain this to me?" Shepard asked, then regretted as everyone started speaking at once. "Enough!" her command voice instantly brought silence.

"Daniels, what's going on here?"

The engineer stood a little straighter as the commander addressed her directly. " Well Commander, Engineer Donnelly and I were concerned that the range would lead to damage of the ship. The turian here does not seem to agree."

"Wait, what range, what are we talking about?" Shepard cut in, trying to get to the bottom of it.

"If I may, commander?" Tali requested. The quarian continued at a nod from the spectre.

"Garrus was teaching Jack the finer points of using a sniper rifle and decided they needed somewhere unused and long to practice. The lower engineering deck met their requirements so they set up a range down there. The engineers here, found out about it and were not happy about potential damage to the ship. We were just discussing alternatives."

As she looked around, all heads were nodding. "Thank you, Tali."

"Garrus, I appreciate your sharing your skills, but on the ship?" She chided.

"We did set up an area and targets that absorb the shots, it's the only place on the ship that has the distance and no traffic. We need to keep sharp and only practice is going to help there. I really don't see the problem," the turian responded calmly.

"But commander, the new couplings are right in back of that, if they miss, they'll be ruined," Donnelly pleaded.

Shepard's glance returned to the turian.

"I never miss," was his curt reply.

"Donnelly, is there any way you can shield the area to make it more safe?" Shepard asked the engineer.

"Well, I guess, commander, if I had the right materials," he replied thoughtfully.

"OK, then Garrus, as soon as you get Mr. Donnelly here the materials he needs and help him build the retainer, then you can continue your lessons. Understood?" Sometimes she felt like an arbitrator rather than a commander, guess that was all in a day's work.

"Very well, Shepard," the turian replied.

Both seemed appeased so she considered it a done deal. Looking around the room she noticed that Jack had slipped out during the discussion. There was another conversation she had to have. Shepard left the main engineering desk and headed down the metal staircase. The biotic was sitting on her cot, head in her hands.

"Hello Jack," Shepard began

"Hey."

"Nice of you to disappear before," the spectre sat on the small table against the far wall.

"I get blamed for enough shit," she said defiantly, "didn't see any reason to add to that. So, what do you want anyway?"

"Oh, I don't know, maybe I miss your friendly nature when you're not around," the commander said, trying to keep a straight face.

"Well, I'm not a girl's club kind of person," Jack refused to be baited.

"OK, so I just thought I'd check to see if you got banged up the other day. I know you refused to see the doctor."

"So, what's this now – you show me your scars and I'll show mine?" the biotic's eyes blazed.

"Guess that means you're OK, well good," Shepard smiled as she turned toward the stairway. "And besides, maybe you'd like that. I do have a lot of scars."

The speechless biotic didn't have time to respond before the spectre was out of site. She wasn't sure what she would have said anyway. Damn cocky commander, who did she think she was anyway? And what was she really after? Jack's thoughts were spinning when she noticed something on the table where Shepard had been sitting. She picked it up. A kid's game or something. She clicked the button and the holo puzzle appeared. What the fuck was this? A challenge? Damn spectre. But the puzzle intrigued her and she began to unravel it. A hour later she put it down with a thud. Damn spectre. After pacing the room, she picked it up again and worked on it deep into the night.

Floors above, the commander stood at the tank, gazing at its new denizens. She followed their graceful patterns, soothing in their symmetry. Thoughts swirled in her mind, restless emotions threatening. Her body had been resurrected, but somehow, the peace of mind, the oneness of spirit had not returned. Was two years really that long a time? Or was it the permanence of the thought that she had been dead. Too many questions, too few answers. And as always, there were more important matters at hand that had to be dealt with first. The nights were not that restful any longer.