Chapter 6:

Beacon

Kaidan and Ashley were looking at the beacon while Shepard signaled the Normandy. Kaidan walked back over to where the commander was , just as the beacon began to glow with a strange green pulse that lifted Ash into the air. Shepard saw Ash go rigid and he shoved Kaidan aside, bolting for her.

He jumped and caught her just as the pulse turned solid. He managed to throw her clear but in doing so he got caught in the beacon's grasp. He was hoisted in the air. Ash turned to go to him, but Kaidan grabbed her by the arm. "No! It's too dangerous!" His eyes went wide "Oh shit! Run!" He drug her by her arm to the nearest cover her could find. He pulled her behind the shipping crate, bringing up his Biotic Barrier up around the both of them.

She barked. "What the hell? My shields are up!"

As he ducked down next to her wrapping himself around her with fear in his eyes he yelled "No! So far nothing i've seen can hold up to a blast from him when he's. Uh... emotional. It shorts out electronics in the blast radius, shield emitters, even on drop shuttles. And he looked upset when..." But he was cut off.

As if to punctuate his statement a Dark Energy blast wave, flew past just over their heads. It hit the storage lockers which sounded its alarm then popped open, circuits smoking. Then a second wave hit, slamming into the crate and shoving them back a few meters. "Holy Shit!" Ash yelped. Watching as her omnitool peened then shut off, her shields flickering as they died.

Kaidan felt the static in the air start to dissipate. "Can you feel that?" Watching as the static danced from his hand to hers.

"Yeah, what about it?" She started to ask, but he cut her off.

"His... Shep... The Commander's Biotics are... different. Uncontrolled it tends to fry electronics. So if you feel the static? Find cover." He slowly peeked over the top of the crate. Finding it somewhat safe he stood and offered his hand to Ashley. Once she was standing they started over to Shepard when the beacon exploded, knocking Shepard out.

They ran to his side and Ash checked his vitals while Kaidan radioed the Normandy. "Normandy! We have a code BLACK! I say again code BLACK! Shepard is down!" They could hear the comm aboard the Normandy, as she screamed toward the spaceport. Someone was complaining about Joker listening in on mission comms. and not waiting for an order before heading for the pickup at breakneck speed.

"Then you explain to the Captain how we Lost someone. No, how we lost Shepard due to your insistence on following protocol." Joker said exasperatedly. The Normandy slid up and they loaded Shepard on a stretcher rushing him to the medbay.

The dreams were vivid, he could be mistaken for dead with his vitals showing coma like levels. But his brain waves were off the scale, worst nightmare levels. Dr. Chakwas was getting concerned but then he awoke. "Ah Commander. How are you feeling?"

Shepard rubbed his temples "like the morning after shore-leave" Shepard growled "How long was I out?"

"About 15 hours. Something happened with the beacon I think." Chakwas paused, when Ashley interrupted.

"You had to push me out of the way. The beacon pulled you in then exploded, a system overload maybe. The blast knocked you cold. Alenko and I carried you back to the ship." Ash finally took a breath, she was worried. Here was this unusual man. War Hero. The Lion of Elysium, and she almost got him killed. She was studying his face for any sign of anger but saw none.

He was pinching the bridge of his nose "Thanks. Hey where's..." As if on cue Capt. Anderson strode in with Stubbs in tow.

"How's our X.O. holding up?" Anderson asked Dr. Chakwas. Stubbs ran up to Shepard growling in his usual high-pitched whine indicating concern. Shepard scritched Stubbs's neck and sighed "I'm fine little Brother. I'm fine. Just... Bad dreams." he told Stubbs.

Ashley just stared in awe at the loving interaction between Shepard and Stubbs, and the fact that he was here at all. "A dog? You have a dog?" Ash finally squeaked out.

Anderson smiled then told her "Well in all honesty, he has A Human. An actual N7 commando, for a Human." he finished motioning toward Stubbs.

Then in almost perfect unison he and Shepard said "Package deal".

"Wow" was all Ash was able to get out as she leaned down and put her hand out to Stubbs. He was small, only about fourteen inches tall, and just about two feet long. But when he turned and growled at her with his hackles up, you would swear that the Hounds of Hell were coming for her soul. She pulled her hand back and slowly inched away.

"Stubbs don't be rude" Shepard stated firmly and Stubbs quieted down but watched her like a wolf watches his prey.

"Shepard, we need to talk about the mission." Anderson ordered before Stubbs could change his mind.

Ashley snapped off a salute, " I'll be in the mess if you need me" and then she followed the Dr out of the room.

Dr. Chakwas patted her on the shoulder "Don't take it personal dear. Stubbs takes a while before he passes judgment on whether someone can get close to Shepard, or himself." She told Ash reassuringly.

"But! A dog! On a military vessel! How? How?" Ash was trying to ask, but was unable to form a coherent thought.

Chakwas smiled "Don't fret he will explain it to you, just ask nicely. Oh! and stay away from the subject of his tattoo's. Very dangerous ground there." They both turned as the lights flickered and Shepard could be heard over the din of activity in the mess hall "Fuck the Council! That colony would be a damn smoking crater, if it wasn't for us!" Then it got very quiet, too quiet.

Ash looked around and saw that everyone had made themselves very scarce all of a sudden. "Well I better go get ready for Tombstone's arrival, talk to you later dear." Dr. Chakwas turned and headed back into the Medbay, just as Anderson and Shepard walked out both grumbling about proof and idiotic politicians.

Anderson returned to his cabin while Shepard headed for the lift, Stubbs following closely behind pausing only long enough to stare at Ashley making her uncomfortable. They got in the lift, the doors closed and they were gone.

Ashley grabbed a bite to eat then crawled into a sleeping pod. But then something hit her. She met Commander John Shepard. The hero of Elysium, etc, etc, and Stubbs. But who is Tombstone? She got out of the pod and went to interrogate Kaidan