Hey all! I am really glad for the follows, reviews, etc! Again, very sorry for the long wait on the update, I have been very busy with school and training for my new job. I finally have some downtime to get the story out! I hope you enjoy! Again feedback is welcomed!
He replayed the events of the day again and again in his head. The Illusive Man was actually telling the truth about the missing colonies, he had reason to be skeptical. He was the head of Cerberus after all. He let out a sigh and leaned his head back to the wall of the shuttle. Seeing the colony of Freedoms Progress gone without a trace was all the convincing he needed. This by no means meant he trusted or liked Cerberus. But he felt like it was his moral duty, and his duty as a soldier to do something about it.
One good thing did come to him that day, Tali. He could not believe that she was even there. What were the odds of that even happening? He smiled as he thought about her. She had changed, but at the same time was the same girl he always knew. Except now she wasn't just a girl, she was a woman. She had grown up so much during her time aboard the original Normandy, and even more in the two years he had been gone.
He remembered how much time he used to spend down in engineering talking to her. She was always happy and eager to teach him about the ways of her people, and he was always happy to listen. For some reason he always enjoyed talking to her…no he always enjoyed just being with her. Something about her made him happy and relaxed. He never felt like that around Ashley though. When he was with her he just couldn't let his guard down. He knows how much she hated the fact he would never open up, but he couldn't burden her with his problems. He couldn't burden anyone with them.
The docking had been complete. It had been a long day, he wanted to sleep. But sleep seemed like a waste, he had been asleep for two years. He ran his fingers along his brow and down the bridge of his nose. With a sigh he gathered his gear and made his way on to the Normandy.
"Just like old times ay commander?" Joker asked while swiveling in his chair to face him.
Shepard let out a small chuckle. "Almost" He said sarcastically.
Joker shook his head at his commander. "What a downer." He then swung his chair around and turned his back to him.
Shepard made his way to his cabin to drop his things down. He took a shower and tried to lie down. He closed his eyes and hoped to find sleep but had no such luck. His mind was racing. He was thinking about his old crew, the mission ahead, the reapers, Ashley, and Tali…
He growled and got out of bed. He couldn't waste his time thinking about everything. He would drive himself nuts and get nothing done. He was going to have to handle this one thing at a time. He went to his terminal and started to do some research. He was going to track down his old crew, the Illusive Man filled him in, but could he really trust the source? He just wanted to be sure.
After a couple hours or searching, he discovered he was right. Garrus was off the grid. Ashley was on some secret mission and nowhere to be found. Wrex was back on Tuchanka…
He stood and walked to the bathroom to splash water on his face. He grabbed a towel and dabbed himself dry. He looked at himself in the mirror. It was strange. It was him, but at the same time he looked so different. He had the glowing scars on the side of his face, but Chakwas assured him they could be fixed. He had a small beard going, and he hated it. His hair was longer than Alliance regulations, but he kinda liked it longer. Plus he wasn't really Alliance any more. Well for no now. He searched the bathroom for a razor and began to scrape away at his facial hair. After a few minutes he was more recognizable. He smiled a little to himself. He finally felt more at ease and decided to try sleeping again, and this time he found it.
She had set the small shuttle to auto pilot. She was in no condition to fly physically and Veetor was in no condition to fly emotionally. . Veetor has finally stopped his ramblings and drifted off to sleep. He was in poor shape. She gave him fluids, food, and something to help him sleep. The shuttle was silent except for the hum of the engine. Finally some time alone with her thoughts. She was still in complete shock to see Shepard. She couldn't believe that he was alive, he was with Cerberus, but at least he was alive. She knew it was actually him when he mentioned the geth data and by the way he looked at her. She had never seen anyone with those eyes; they seemed like they could see through her mask and actually see her. She sighed, that was just her silly fantasy though.
Shepard was a surprisingly good medic. He reacted quickly and had cleaned and treated it so well she only had a small infection. She was sad that her suit was ruined thought, it had lasted her all through her Pilgrimage. She had put off getting her new one for quite some time now. It was time for her adult suit.
After about two days of flying the small shuttle finally alerted her they were near the fleet. She felt well enough to take it in for a landing. She was glad to finally be safe and at hope. She felt better than she had in a very long time.
It had been a long couple of weeks. But Shepard was used to that, and to be honest he was kind of glad to be back in the action, to actually be doing something and not running around and chasing geth. He frowned at the thought. It reminded him of his most recent visit to the Citadel. Things had not gone well with the Council and Anderson. After everything he had done they drug his name through the mud. They wrote off everything he had said and done. One good thing did come of the Citadel though, a small kleptomaniac named Kasumi. He smiled; he knew Tali would love the woman.
Along with Kasumi he had picked up a salarian doctor named Mordin. He sure talked a lot, but Shepard didn't really mind. He was only on the ship for a day and already had ideas for improving everyone's health and armor. Shepard smiled. Omega was an odd place. It had brought him the rough and gruff mercenary Zaeed. He made him self comfortable in one of the spare rooms on the engineering deck. He often popped in with him and listened to his old war stories. The two were similar in a way, but at the same time they were polar opposites. Omega had also brought him back with his best friend, Garrus. He was going by Arch Angel. He was glad his old friend actually believed him and what he was fighting for. Most of all he was glad to have someone he knew and could trust on board that was not part of Cerberus.
They picked up a tank bred krogan that decided to go by Grunt. It was a strange day when he released him from his tank. The krogan had attempted to kill him until Shepard was able to prove himself a worthy fighter. He had been amazed at its strength and abilities. He proved himself more than useful when they were picking up Jack, aka Subject Zero. Jack was a force to be reckoned with. She was bitter, crude, loud, and strong. She was someone that you did not want to cross and definitely not piss off. He was worried about her behavior toward his crew. Especially Miranda. The two did not get along at all. He was going to have to keep a close eye on them.
With recent events he had taken to taking frustrations out in work outs in the cargo hold. He was starting to notice his muscles coming back. Maybe it was the cybernetics, but he appeared to be getting in to shape a lot faster. This was something he was not going to complain about.
He had finally had enough of the weights and moved to the treadmill like device and began running. He tuned out the world around him. He had been running for about twenty minutes, he could have sworn he heard a noise from the entrance of the hold. He jumped and placed his feet along the outer edge of the treadmill and looked back. Nothing.
"You're losing it Vickie boy" he muttered and jumped back down to continue his run. After about five minutes the small thief appeared out thin air on the handle bar.
"Heya Shep!" She said with a big grin.
This caught Shepard completely off guard. He let immediately lost his balance and s shot off the treadmill. He rolled a couple times and let out a groan. The thief was on the ground laughing clutching her sides. She staggered over to him laughing.
"Are you okay?" She asked while still laughing.
He mock glared at her.
"If anyone else pulled that they'd be out the air lock." He said with a smile.
He had grown to like the thief, she reminded him of his sister. The similarity didn't make him sad, but happy. She finally gained her composure.
"You looked extra tense the past couple of days. Wanna come to my room for some sake and ramen?" she asked with a big smile.
He thought about it for a second.
"Alright. I just got to shower and change." He said while standing up.
"See you in an hour?" she asked.
"See you then." He said while making his way to his cabin.
He plopped down on the black couch. Kasumi handed him a bowl of ramen and a large glass of sake. She sat on the opposite end of the couch with food and drink in hand. The two ate and drank with small conversation.
When the two were done they sat in comfortable silence for a moment.
"Shep?" she asked suddenly.
"Goto?" he replied with a smile.
"Can I ask you a personal question?" she asked slowly.
He thought about it for a second. He really didn't like getting personal at all. He looked at her.
"Alright, shoot." He finally gave in.
"Who is the girl in the picture in your room?" she blurted out. She kicked herself for not being more tactful in the matter.
"Why you interested in me?" He asked while winking and making a mock kiss at her.
She glared at him and tossed a pillow at him. He laughed and feigned pain by falling on to the floor.
"You wish!" She exclaimed while jumping on him and mock wrestling.
"I forgot you got the hots for Jacob." He shot back while laughing.
She play punched him in the shoulder. He saw her cheeks turn red. She got off of him and sat back on the couch.
"Seriously Shep. You don't really talk much." She said while picking up her glass.
He leaned back against the couch. He grabbed his glass and poured the rest down his throat.
"You know that's the same thing she said. The girl in the picture." He said with a sad smile.
Kasumi didn't say anything. She frowned and looked at him.
"Her name is Ashley. We had a thing before I died. But I don't know. She always got mad at me because I would never open up to her. I just feel like I can't you know? You know about me, the battles and experiences. Same thing everyone knows." He paused.
"Living with the memories is hard. It haunts me all the time. The guilt and pain. I can hear them sometimes, everyone I have hurt or killed. I can't share those memories with anyone Kas. This is my curse." He said while swallowing hard.
He looked at her. This is the part where Ashley would always yell and go off at him.
She poured him another glass which he downed quickly. She looked at him and cocked a brow, but poured another glass.
"We all have our demons Shep. I know I have mine. But trust me; it helps to talk about it once and a while. If you ever feel like it I'm here for you." She said with a small warm smile.
"Thanks Kasumi." The two kept drinking, talking, and laughing. Before either knew it, they both fell asleep. Kasumi sprawled out on the couch and Shepard on the floor.
Beep….beep…..beeep….Shepard groaned and silenced his Omni tool. He rolled over to try and get comfortable again.
"Bridge to commander, the Illusive Man would like to speak with you." Joker's voice chimed over the rooms intercom.
Kasumi and Shepard both groaned. Shepard rubbed his eyes.
"Alright be right there." He replied groggily. He staggered as he tried to stand. He looked over to the couch and Kasumi was already out again. He chuckled and shook his head as he made his way to speak to the Illusive Man.
