Disclaimer : I do not own any of mass effect. Wish I did though
Author note :4th chapter. I know some people read it but please leave a review to tell if you liked/disliked it. and sorry for the time between the two chapters
Chapter Four
A long-awaited death
I don't know how I came back to the Normandy. Alcohol is nice for a while but, well, when being a soldier is the only thing you can do, you go back to the basis. And after a week, a spaceship comes, out of the blue and So here I am, throwing Joker into the last escape pod. Joker screams when I'm trusted out of the entrance of the pod. I can't reach it. No way. See you, Helmsman, the captain never leaves his ship. The Normandy explodes, pushing me out, tumbling. The alarms of my suit pop up, one after the other as I try to reach for for the oxygen leak...And then, the calm settle and my memory goes back to Amaretsu.
It was awful. Being completely drunk in front of your would-have been sister-in-law is already damn hard. But waking up in a crouch with Ash's mother watching me is the most frightening thing I've ever experienced. Tresher maws don't cut it. The guilt came back... And I don't think I puked because of the drinks I had the previous night.
"Ma'am..."
"Commander"
"About last night..."
"That's not what I want to hear, Commander"
If being court-marshaled feels just half as bad...
"What are you doing in Ameratsu?"
I suddenly find the floor particularly interesting, especially this little stain just beside my left foot
"Shore leave, ma'am"
Maybe if I piss her off, I'll just get thrown out...
"and?"
I should know better.
"and what?"
Play dumb, that's perfect. Dumb and dumberer.
"And you happen to drop by in front of the door of one of your fallen soldier's familly... Don't play with me son."
No threat in her tone. Just a plea for honesty from the wreck I am
"Well, I gathered Chief Williams stuff, thought you might want it back and..."
"and the Alliance can't do it by itself?" she says with the smallest hint of sarcasm... Boy, this one hurt. As mother, as daughter they say. And the booze hovering in my brain doesn't make things any easier... In the back of the room, I hear my omnitool beeping. Maybe I'll find a way out.
"Excuse me, ma'am, but..."
"So eager to leave us, son?" with the saddest tone in her voice. During my time with the Reds, I would have killed to hear someone speak to me like this. It hurts. Honesty. Lying is so easy, so much less painful. But I owe Ash this at least. Suddenly, my mind is freed of the alcohol, there is just the usual sorrow and guilt gutting me. In a whisper, I start speaking...
"You read the report, ma'am. I picked up Ash in Eden Prime. Everything was a roller-coaster from then on. But her ... she was stubborn, hotheaded but I always felt in control with her by my side. Being with her was..."
She touches my cheek, whipping the tears that were running down my face without me realizing it. The contact electrifies me, jerks me out and for the first time since Virmire, I allow myself to let go.
"I'm sorry ma'am... I'm so sorry..." and like a kid I melted
I hope your God truly exist, Ash, because I'm coming back to you. And don't you leave my six... I love you...
And then pain, pain, and pain again
"On the screen, something is wrong"
"Oh my God Miranda, I think he is waking up!"