AN: Oh, boy. Lots of fun stuff going on right now. Sorry for the long wait let us continue the story. Sorry this one is a little short. Things will continue to be pretty crazy until after October. So bear with me.
Anderson tripped over something, assuming it was just a tree trunk or rock he didn't look down and kept walking. But when he heard Kaidans gasp he decided to look down, aiming the sights of his gun down to be sure it wasn't something he needed to shoot. His jaw slacked open as he lowered the gun, he was staring at CWO Hannahs breast plate. He looked up at the two men they nodded raising their guns and scan the land. He holstered his pistol before he bent down and picked up the plate. He felt his blood run cold, there was no blood and now he was vastly concerned what was happening. 'Keep it together, you know she wouldn't betray the Alliance.'
"General Hackett."
"Report."
"We've found CWO Hannah Shepards breast plate. But visual does not show any blood or damage. Can you send a pick up to do a thorough scan."
"Attach a beacon to it and we will send for pick up, Hackett out."
Anderson did so, before he sighed placing a hand over the alliance insignia. He knew Hannah well but even now he was wondering about some things, could she be torturing the turian? Or could she have gone mad? Maybe that strange animal who bit her caused an infection? Or, he felt this was the worst, maybe her and the turian are working together?
"What should we do Anderson?"
He turned back to look at Kaidan, Vega was cutting some bark off of a tree to play with. He looked back at the breast plate and sighed.
"We continue forward. She has to be somewhere nearby," he said before stepping forward.
"And what do we do when we learn she is a traitor."
Anderson froze, before he heard the punch. He turned to see Vega rubbing his cheek as Kaidan glared at him cracking his knuckles. He stormed in between the two and gave them each a look before he sighed.
"If she is a traitor then we send her into the Alliance prison to answer for her crimes," he turned to Kaidan, "Understand?"
"Sir, yes sir," he grumbled before he slammed his fist into a tree and walking forward.
"And Vega, enough," Anderson said turning to look at the large man, "I don't need more trouble than what I've already got."
"Whatever, let's just find her."
Anderson sighed watching the two men walk forward into the wilderness. He wasn't happy either but he knew this was getting out of hand fast.
…
Hannah turned over on the ground looking at the glowing fire. It was night and the sounds of the world was terrifying. Garloc was sitting by the fire keeping it alive, the world was very cold, especially for him. She sighed before she sat up and looked at him as he observed her.
"Can't sleep?"
"No," she said rubbing her arms, "Could you?"
"I guess not. Shanxi is a fairly safe planet, shouldn't have to worry about being attacked."
"Yeah, that would be bad." She allowed her chuckle to die off staring up at the sky. The milky way banded the sky. She wondered where her planets solar system was in the vast galaxies size, "You know earth is mostly water."
She looked back at Garloc to see him looking at her interested so she continued, "It's a large lumpy blue planet. She keeps us well protected and provides us with a wide variety of lands. From ice to swamps to desert sands to forest moss. A large variety of animals, many of which we still do not know exist or not and so much more. I miss my planet, I miss my girl."
He watched her as she drew her knees up under chin wrapping her arms around them to hold them in place. He scratched one of his mandibles before he poked the fire with a stick.
"Palaven is a big red and brown planet. It only has one ocean the rest is land. It has only two major land types, hot and very hot," he smiled hearing her chuckle at that, "But it is a wonderful place and I miss it too."
She didn't know what to say after and they allowed the silence to fall upon them. Insect sounds surrounded them. She sighed before standing and stretching, she walked over to the river to get some water. She knelt down and went to dip her hands in before she leapt back screaming. He was beside her in a second staring at her swollen hand and the stingers in it.
"Oh, no," he quickly picked her up before he started back into the forest from the way they came. Hannah felt her blood run cold, why wasn't he just using the blue gel?
"What, what's wrong?" She grit her teeth as her hand thrummed again in pain, "Where are we going?"
"You were poisoned by Hannar fish, Innsuanon. The medi gel will not heal the poison. I have to find one of your kind or else you will die." She stared at him wide eyed, the pain still humming in the back of her mind now overpowered by the fear of the wound killing her. She couldn't help it when she began to sob burying her face into his chest. He supported her closer to him as he charged into the forest. She felt it though there was no way they would find anyone who could save her in time. This was her last time to be alive.
…
"You're as stubborn as a krogan," Adrien said watching Derek limp into the CDC by himself with Valaria just behind him. Derek smiled before he held his head up high and thumped his chest with his fist.
"I don't lie down and die."
"No you don't, Valaria," Adrien turned to her, "Since Saren had to be discharged from serving on this ship you are now promoted as my XO. Keep the ship in shape, I'll return after we have met with the council."
"Sir!" She raised her hand in what Derek assumed to be the turian salute. Derek followed Adrien to the docking wing before Adrien handed him a cloak with a hood. He took it and pulled it on. Two other turians joined them each grabbed his arms tightly. He glared at them before he looked at Adrien who shook his head at them, causing them to pause before letting his arms go.
"Well let's go."
The ship began its decontamination scan for a few minutes before the doors hissed pressurizing the inside with the outside. Finally the doors opened to two more doors that opened and Derek couldn't help but to have his jaw drop. The docking station was silent but looking to his left he saw five large arms of the station stretch out, each arm was crowded with large buildings. The whole station hummed as flying cars zoomed along, from closer he could see what they were but further down they turned into ants. He stared at a strange four legged creature with four arms, it looked at him briefly allowing him to see it's black eyes like an insect's.
"Best to not touch anything."
"I know better then to anger a couple of turians with guns." He listened to the other two growls but Adriens chuckle. He was glad it seemed that he was maybe making an ally with the turian. He followed him to the elevator, Adrien called the elevator up. Derek looked over the railing to see how far it stretched. In the middle was a tall tower pointing in the center of the station. He wondered how many alien species lived on this station.
The elevator arrived and they all stepped into it. He felt his body shift as the elevator began its descent to one of the arms of the station. He felt his stomach heave from the strangeness of it all. Especially as he could see the elevator descending and the arms of the station confusing his center of gravity. He covered his mouth and closed his eyes easing the feeling away.
The elevator swooshed open and he opened his eyes slowly to see an extreme sight he was sure no human had ever seen before.
…
"Hannah!"
Anderson jolted awake hearing a voice very different from any humans he had known. He looked at the other two, whom had readied their pistols nodding at him and staying low as he raised up from the brush they had been sleeping under. He looked down the scope of his pistol and saw a turian hunched over something.
"You have to stay awake! Your daughter can't have you die! Hannah!" Anderson approached the turian holding the pistol tight to the back of his head. The turian froze before slowly turning around. His eyes flooded from worry and fear to instant relief. Tears rolled down his face as he raised his hands above his head and shifted. Anderson barely glanced down but his shock overcame him and he hollered to Vega and Kaidan.
"Put your hands behind your back," Anderson said keeping his gun trained on the turian. The turian obliged wrapping his hands tight behind his back.
"Please help her, she's going to die," the turian sobbed as Anderson cuffed him. Anderson paused for a second staring at his blunted talons.
"What happened?" He asked ignoring what he saw and turning to Vega who was scanning Hannah. Her face and body had her veins strongly showing blue and purple through her skin. Her breath was short and thick and her nose dribbled mucus and her drool was thick and white. Kaidan was holding his breath as the scan finished.
"She was attacked by an alien, it poisoned her," the turian said, "Please get her to a doctor. I can help and then you can take me prisoner, but please promise she'll be saved."
"General Hackett!"
"Report."
"We've found CWO Hannah Shepard, she has been poisoned and we have captured a turian. He is offering help to save her. Has that shuttle pick up arrived?"
"It has just reached the drop off. I've informed them to remain there. Get her back here stat. Bring the prisoner as well. Hackett out."
"Vega carry Hannah," Anderson said before he pulled the turian up to his feet, "Follow Kaidan, I'll be behind you. Try anything and you'll have a bullet through the head."
"I wouldn't dream of betraying her." The turian followed Kaidan as they began heading back to where the shuttle was.