Nightmares, fulfilled dreams and more trouble.
SSV Normandy
Deck 2. Captain's quarters, mess hall, medbay
19:15 (ship time)
I exit the room, leaving the rest of the group to help Jane come to terms with her new… situation. Ash left ahead of me, and I want to make sure she's safe… or, not "safe" as nothing could happen to her here, but that she doesn't have a "John-like" moment, with the crying and the curling in the bathroom. When I exit the elevator on third floor. I don't have to worry though, as I hear the repeated hits on a punching bag in the small gym behind the crew quarters.
Ash, not having bothered to take off any uniform, or even her shoes, is hammering away at the bag, almost knocking it off its hinges and chains. She's not using any kind of technique, juts sheer violence and rage. I must admit, I would have been surprised if she had just accepted all this. Maybe, a session of going to town on the poor punching bag will help. The room is otherwise unoccupied, meaning John must be having the whole "Revelations-party" in the CIC...
Honestly... I'm not looking forward to their reactions; I always hated unwanted or unnecessary attention, and this was not gonna be neither the wanted and necessary kind of attention. I take a seat on one of the workout benches, leaning against the ribs on the wall. Ash doesn't appear to have noticed me; she just keeps on punching the bag, almost like she wants to hurt her hands. I can't really say I know how she feels, I mean; I can sympathize with her, having met and hit the woman who would let her die, then just walking out in the middle of a rage-fit.
But... I've never had to go through something like that, having my own death told… oh wait…
"Ash… are you…. Okay?" I ask carefully. I'm not looking to further enrage her, or accidently piss her off. We may actually love each other… or I love her, and I think she loves me as well… at least, she's fond of me, or at least likes me more than…but in such a state… I think she's forgotten that…
"Yeah…" she keep punching the bag, often sending it flying in circles, receiving it with a kick upon its return to her; "Why do you ask?" I keep watching the punches for some seconds, considering how best to voice my thoughts. Is there even a 'best' way to do this?;
"Listen… I...I know it can't be easy, to hear someone talk about your death, or your impending death, in that matter… but… I can sort of put myself in those shoes… or… I don't know if that sounded right… what I mean is… I'm here, if you…-"She snaps towards me, eyes agitated and filled with frustration;
"-… wanna talk?" She asks, nearly snarls actually; "Sure, let's talk… So, I've just been told by a complete stranger that, not only does she know me, but she also left me to die on some fucked up mission on some fucked up planet! So yeah, I'm fine."
"I… I'm sorry…" I say. Ash sounds and looks like she is the definite opposite of "okay". Her eyes are red, and her hands are shaking. She sighs, deep and heavily. She shakes her head, the black hair falling down her cheeks, the bundle on her head has all but untied;
"Don't… don't be sorry Thomas… I'm the one who should be sorry. You couldn't know what would happen up there, what she would say… and even though you knew what could happen on that planet… you're not responsible for what happens… or what happened… " She shakes her head again, that beautiful yet saddened face, staring at me. A small smile emerges on her face, not the wonderful warm smile that she sends me when she's in good mood, or just not destroyed over learning of her dimensional twins death;
"I don't know how you do it, why you do it. Why you stick by me even when I'm shouting at you, yelling or even screaming and cursing at you… how you can even stand me at some points. Just now for example; you come down here and try to help me, and what do I do? I yell at you, swear and curse… why do you stick around?" Does she even have to ask me that?
I place my right hand on both her shoulder, gently squesing it, and use the left hand to raise her chin. Her eyes, those beautiful brown circles, framing the black center… they just go on and on… I could keep starring into them for hours…
I give a small chuckle, this time, a genuine one. I stroke her cheek, earning a small smile from her. When did I ever get this confident?;
"Why I stick around Chief? Well, I really don't know…" With a little awkwardness due to me being more than a little nervous, I kiss her on the forehead, a quick and soft peck; "It might have something to do with you… oh, and the fact that I couldn't go on for one day without you next to me…or, I mean, around. I mean, I don't know what you want, but... I want to do what I can to at least help you, also I like... I mean-" I end up stuttering, feeling shyness crawl up my face, along with some heat.
"You really do feel that way about me?" I don't think I've seen her this happy since we regrouped after the clinic-fight. Okay, maybe that was a completely different situation.
"Just pay attention, will you? and for the love of the Master, stop stuttering like a teen. Mortals, I swear..."
"Ash… you... you're probably the only person I've ever said this to… well, except for my mother, or my dad… once… but…. "I give a wide smile; "Ash... I think, I mean, I'm... I love yo-"I don't get to finish my last word, before she grabs me by the head, and kisses me on the mouth. Holy Mara!
It's a long and at the start awkward kiss, mostly because I've never done this before… but it gets better. She giggles, and guides my head in the right angle, our mouths matching and I am finally able to return the kiss. Her breath comes over me, in quickened pace as I stand almost petrified at first, hands flailing aimlessly in the air before coming to a rest on her back.
Her lips touching mine, pressing against them with this… passion, like desperation, it is mind-blowing. I hold her against me, feeling desire build for the woman in my arms. What started as a frightened, nervous attempt at returning the kiss, becomes something more as I feel fear and hesitation leave me, and I press against her lips, deepening the kiss with a hunger. A hunger for her.
I have never been this scared, and this happy, in one and the same moment. We stand there like that, and it feels like the only thing in the world… is us.
As the hunger slowly starts to seem sated, but with me wanting more still, Ash finally let's go of me and pants. I guess she never had a chance to catch her breath after the… Mother of Mara! She kis- no, we kissed each other! If only my parents could have known…
My entire body boils with something pleasant, like someone lit a fire inside me, and I'm now running on the very flames like a steam engine. I've never felt this happy in my life! Being born? Piece of cake! Waking up here? That... was sorta shit! Meeting Ash… the beginning of my life!
"Well, somebody's happy…"
"Oh I love you too you stupid piece of ghost matter!"
"… that's…. new…. "
I realize Ash is staring at me again, with the warm smile that always makes me melt inside. Her face, no her entire being just beams of energy. It's like someone just turned her switch on, making a whole new person, one who wasn't burdened by the loss and guilt of her fallen fellow soldiers, one who isn't afraid of the prospects of the future. One… that loves me back;
"Wow…. I certainly wasn't expecting…I... that was... amazing…" I breathe, almost chuckling with happiness. I just can't keep it in. my face is now a constant wide smile, and I'm not afraid of showing the world.
"Well, you weren't that bad yourself Mister Fisher… New to it?" She says with a smile. She suddenly starts fidgeting with her hair, making it look like she's actually a bit nervous;
"Like I said, I've never... been with anyone before, Ash… it may sound ridicules to you, but… well, you are the first girl I've ever kissed, and if I have any say in it, you're gonna be the last as wel- I mean, I..." At this, she widens her eyes and looks at me with surprise in them. Crap, did I actually mess up? I hope what I just said isn't going to scare her off. It almost sounded like a proposal… Then, she smiles again;
"Now come on you big fool, I think John is finished up there, and we wouldn't wanna get caught by Garrus down here, now would we?" she finishes with a chuckle, and starts moving for the elevator. I then grab her hand;
"Ash… Thank you…so much…" She still smiles;
"Thomas... believe me, it really was no trouble. I… well, I guess being my knight in blazing armor made you pretty attractive to me…" She just widens her smile even more. If someone wakes me up now… I swear to the collective Pantheon, I'll strangle him!
"Thanks, but... I wasn't just talking about the kiss, which...by the way, was the best thing that's happened to me since meeting you. I was also talking about the whole, 'you accepting me for who I am'. It made me so, so happy when you actually stood up for me back there. Not... because I needed defending, but because... it meant you had come to terms with who I am… with what I am…"
"Thomas… you are not a "what", you are a someone… and to me, that's a very special someone." I take her hand more gently, and squeeze it;
"There are... I... have no words to tell you how… how happy and glad that makes me..." I almost get a lump in my throat, being close to tears. But for the first time since… well, many years, they are tears of joy, not sadness. Ash breaks the silence by letting her hand glide out of mine, and squeeze my shoulder;
"Me too, Thomas… Now, let's get up there and make sure you get your part of the harassment, shall we?" She gives an almost evil smile, and I just think to myself "Woman… where have you been all my life?"
"Well, that's pretty obvious, seeing as she's-"
"Shut up…"
"Will do…."
The ride up in the elevator, is nowhere near awkward; Ashley leans on my shoulder, and I hold her like this until the pings tells me we're at the Mess Hall. As we walk up the staircases, I try to visualize the different outcomes the meeting could have had. I don't hear any gunshots, neither are there any signs of violence anywhere to be seen, so they haven't dragged Nicolai away. Alright mate… better brace ye'self. Questions and remarks are to be had…
The door to the CIC opens, and we round the corner to head to the conference room. We stop outside, and I look at Ash. She gives me a smile and a kiss on the cheek. Somewhere behind us, I can hear someone yell "Get a room!" Fuck him… I'm dealing with waaayy bigger shit here.
I sigh and breathe in. I open the door;
"Now there's the star of the show!" wait what? Why... did Garrus shout that?
"I never would have figured kid, but I guess it doesn't matter" Kaidan says. okay, they are taking it very well…and why am I floating in the middle of...
"Thomas?"
"Yeah?"
"Get your ass up. You fainted at the door before anyone got to say anything..." Oh no!
"Wha?"
"I said get UP. NOW!" And a sudden bold of electricity shoots through me. I almost jumps up, and it makes me dizzy as hell. The conference room is filled with people, ground crew only. They are all looking at me, Nihlus in particular. Crap… that was embarrassing beyond words.
Everyone's staring, but seeing as no one else is gonna say something, Nihlus takes the opportunity;
"Well, Private Fisher. It really does seem like there is more to you than meets the eye. However, there is one thing, one last way of determining whether or not you've played us for fools." Wait what?
I look at John, seated next to Nihlus. He shrugs, and then nods. I look back at Nihlus;
"...And that is?"
"This voice of yours, well not your own voice, but the described being inside your head who spoke out on Therum. May we meet… hear him?" Oh you've gotta be kidding me! This can't end well!
"And why is that?"
"Consider this, will you; You scared Ash almost shitless, and she loves me. Now how do you think a conservative Turian Spectre will respond? He might get scared and fucking shoot me!"
"I highly doubt that. This could turn out rather interesting actually. Conversing with other mortals... haven't tried that in a few centuries."
"Oh really? I thought it would be boring as hell!"
"I will speak to them… hold on" And cue the headache. Just as if someone propped a mice into my ears and turned on that high-pitched and annoying-as-fuck tone;
"Well Spectre. You wished to hear my voice, and I speak to you!" 'The look on Nihlus face almost makes up for the unpleasant feeling of being used as a broadcaster. The turian seems taken aback, but quickly regains his posture;
"Well… this is certainly… interesting. To say the least." I see Nicolai massage his temples. I hope they didn't torture him or something…
"Stop thinking, I need to concentrate for this!"
"Sorry, sorry!" looking around the rest of the room, the faces are pretty much the same. Kaidan and Garrus are completely frozen, while John, who didn't hear the voice before now, looks like he's having a case of something. He is shaking all over, as if someone just splashed him in ice water. Wrex stares for a few moments, eyes narrowed into slits;
"Huh... so, a spirit? That makes sense..."
"Well, that's one way to say it." Kaidan says, his jaw finally moving after having been dropped on the floor.
"Oh do not look so frightened all of you! If I were going to posses your souls, I would have done so already!"Wait, posses their souls? Can you do that?!
"Quiet, I'm playing them! Don't spoil this. It may not sound like it, but I haven't had this fun in eons"
"Okay… just make sure they are not going to throw me out the airlock!"
"I aim to please."
"Why do you always say that?!"
"Say what?"
"That! The motto of yours, you're not exactly pleasing anyone right now!"
"Other than myself?" I swear, I can almost hear a chuckle.
"Do not worry or think Thomas some sort of exotic being. He is merely a human, my "host", if you will. I brought him here to make a difference; how he does it is up to him."
"But… how… why… no, how did he end up here?" Kaidan finally manages to utter. Guess I would have asked that one myself… you tell it.
"Fair question mister Alenko. Thomas originates from Earth, only not Earth as you know it. In another universe, back in the early twenty-first century, Thomas lived in the small nation you call 'Denmark'. One morning he was killed in a train accident, and woke up in my realm. I gave him three choices; to wake up on Earth again, his body crippled in ways that would make a certain scientist in that time look like a sports athlete. Mind you, the scientists could only move his throat. Thomas declined.
I then offered him what you humans know as Heaven, or Paradise. He could have had an eternity of peace and happiness. Thomas also declined this.
I finally gave him the opportunity to be remade, or as you call it "Reborn" in another dimension. Before we proceed, there is something you should know, as to why I chose this dimension to drop him off…" Oh…
"Actually, I would like to take over from here… it gets to not-personal if you do the whole voice-over, and I just stand here…."
"Well, it's your future… speak then…"
"But… I believe Thomas would be better suited to tell you this himself…" And suddenly, everyone's eyes are on me again, and I mean me, not my head where the voice just came from. Nihlus speaks up;
"Well, out with it Thomas!" he used my first name... Logical conclusion: Nihlus is pissed beyond regulations.
"Well… I'm glad everyone's seated, 'cause this is gonna be a bit of a bombshell. I don't know what Nic has told you, about where we are from, but in our dimension, a man named Casey Hudson, the leader… One of the leaders of a company called BioWare, found a way to cross the dimensional walls… or something like that... He must have, and this is purely my guess, traveled here and experienced all of this, hell, he must even have been a part of the crew on the Normandy… Well… he then came back to his own dimension but instead of telling the world this amazing story, or just sharing the technology like a decent person, he made it… a... a game instead. So, my entire… my old dimension, knows everyone of you people as nothing but pixels… as to why I was brought here? I can't say why it was me, was I special? I don't know, though I doubt it. But I do know why I was brought here; my … companion, has a problem of trying to surpass his predecessors with crossovers, from what I get. He even brought back the first European to fly, but I guess this was… is supposed to be his "masterpiece". The reason I was brought here, is, I guess... I was always something of a nerd in this universe on this universe, exploring all about it and so on, so...maybe he thought I might be able to change things for the better here, or at least the outcome. And one thing... that... that changed almost right away, was you, Nihlus."
"Me?!" he looks around, as if looking for other people called Nihlus.
"Yeah… you see, in the original, Gods I hate that sentence, version of Mass… of the… game that Hudson showed us, Saren killed you before Shepard could show up, and the only other witness was a traumatized dockworker… so, the Council didn't believe us when the team told them about Saren and the Reapers…"
"That's… something to be happy with… I suppose. But there is something else, before I hand you over to the other's questions."
"Fire away, I'm done with secrets." And I am. Hiding things from these people nearly got me killed a couple of times.
"What do you know of these Reapers? I haven't been able to dig up anything on them, yet they seem important to Saren's plan."
"Oh boy… you're asking for a headache and a lot of waking nights mate… sure you wanna…no, I'll say it no matter what, we need to be ready…" I breathe in again, looking to first Ash, who smiles at me, nodding to go on. then to Nicolai who's sitting next to her and Tequila. He nods, looking tense. Alright, here goes nothing!
"The Reapers… to describe them proper would take knowledge that even I don't have. I was… well, killed before the last part of Hudson's tale was published, but I'll share with you what I know." Suddenly, I feel like Ellen Ripley in Aliens 2, where she tries to explain a Xenomorph to the marines. The difference just is, these people will listen;
"They are... a sentient race of starships, enormous in size and wielding unfathomable amounts of power. If you want to imagine one, simply think back to the large ship you saw land on, and take off from Eden Prime. That was Sovereign, a Reaper of medium size, I think. They posses some kind of armor or shield that even the Destiny Ascension would have to work on, and their main cannon would cut through the Ascension's shields in one blow. What makes these things so incredibly dangerous, is the fact that they are not piloted by a crew, like the Normandy is. They ARE the crew. Each Reaper, and from what I know, there's thousands of them, is one being, one intelligence. They wiped out the Prothean empire 50.000 years ago, and every 50.000 years they come back to cleanse the galaxy of all life but the most primitive. They will be back, and soon."
"Bu- but that is impossible... I mean, even if that was the case, why would Saren be helping them? They want to kill us all as you say."
"That… is another thing that makes the Reapers so dangerous. Indoctrination. They use some kind of microwaves and ultrasound to manipulate and damage the brain of an organic, like Saren. Then the victim will start believing that the Reapers are the good guys, and all who fight them are bad guys… Saren is the victim of indoctrination. That is also why and how he could bring himself to aim the gun at you Nihlus."
"This… is… unbelievable… it can't be true… they would have found something to prove the existence of the Reapers, something to prove they had been here before…" I don't have an answer for that one, but right when I'm about to shrug, Nic rises from his seat;
"They never found it, because the people who did find it were indoctrinated by the Reaper corpses. Yeah... even when dead, the Reapers are dangerous. Other than that, the pieces of Reaper tech that were uncovered were sealed away, hidden and forgotten."
I give Nicolai a nod of thanks, then turn to Nihlus who, like the rest of the crew, is looking everything but happy with these news. Hell, I understand. As Anderson once said... or, will say; the truth is brutal, it's nightmare stuff." I guess... now I understand him. What he meant;
"Any... other questions?" I ask. I'm not trying to sound like a jerk, but my legs are starting to hurt and I would really appreciate it if they would let me sit down.
"No. I think that's all…. I need to speak with the Council. Shepard, you stay here, as well as you Fisher. The rest of you… dismissed." He looks really tired, and I guess I am as well. I look at the clock on my Omni-tool, thanking the divines that Ash taught me how to use that function. As the rest file out, Ash gives me a squeeze on the shoulder;
"You did good Thomas… I just think we all need some time to process this Reaper-thing… but I will see how the others took it. Whatever happens though… I'm with you in this."
"And so am I. 'Don't worry Amigo, you did great. I'll answer whatever questions they might still have, you know… Leave you and those two some space." Nic then says.
"Oh, did anyone mention Jane?" by hearing the name, I can tell Ash darkens a little. It's an improvement though, compared to the fact that she slapped Jane last time, and then started yelling.
"Nah, I think John wants to startle them one a surprise at a time… but it'll come though… she can't stay in there forever… besides, only a matter of time before Liara wakes up."
"Indeed, and now you must leave us alone. We are getting a transmission through to the Council" Nihlus says. John is already leaning against the railing on the side of the room, facing the three holo-disks where the councilors will appear… I think.
"Listen; I won't risk the disturbance and confusion of telling the entire council what we know. Rather, I have made contact with councilor Valern. We will see what he says to this… Don't be surprised though, if he refuses without evidence. And I doubt the voice would do here. No offence, but it is easy to make something like that over a comm. system. As if to answer him, a hologram suddenly flickers to life in front of us. The wonders of modern tech. The Salarian councilor stands before us, watching and waiting. New discovery upon even closer sight: Salarians are not the prettiest aliens out there...
"Yes, yes, now pay attention, will you!"
"Alright, alright, I was going to… sheeesh…"
"Nihlus, what news do you and… Commander Shepard have for me?" the Salarian councilor asks.
"Councilor we have uncovered a truly disturbing find. The flagship that attacked the Human colony of Eden Prime was not just a ship. It is an enormous AI, hundreds of thousands of years old, maybe more." The Salarian councilor looks like he's been slapped. Nice going Nihlus, stealing my act.
After some seconds of blinking, the councilor speaks;
"It is not that I question your words Spectre Kryik, but a sentient starship… hundreds of thousands of years old… that demands proof. What are your sources?" at this, Nihlus looks at me in a questioning manner, and I realize he's asking my permission to tell the Salarian. Hell, we got this far, but Ge'nesh! if that Salarian is just gonna refuse, like in the second game…
"This man at my left was present during one of the councils meetings, though I doubt you should remember him. You will, however, remember what I tell you now… the man who stands beside me, is not from our dimension. I have seen proof of this myself. He was brought here by an etheral being, who apparently resides inside his mind. When I asked for evidence of this presence, I was met by a being, so powerful that its voice alone made the room tremble and shutter. He brought Thomas Fisher here from a dimension in which a pre-spaceflight human named Hudson made it possible for himself to visit our dimension, and thereby cross the very boundaries of space and time. In returning to his own dimension, Hudson shared with the rest of the world his experience. But not as a tale of truth. He made a legend that people followed… Fisher here is one of them. When Fisher was brought here, it was therefore with the knowledge of things yet to come, and one of these things was the Reapers." The Salarian blinks again, this time he doesn't stop until after several seconds has passed, and the whole situation has become slightly awkward. He then looks at me, and I just want to die. As in, right now and here. Anyone shoot me please?;
"Hmmm… this is very fascinating indeed. That is, if this is true."
"Councilor, Nihlus already told you, but I'll say it as well. I'm not from here. I will gladly give you any evidence you would ask, as long as it isn't me going into some kind of wormhole… I've heard that is kinda unhealthy…"
"Yes, quite so… there is a way, actually. If we count out a meld with Tevos, I might be able to verify this claim if you meet me on the Citadel. Then, I will meet this "being" that resides in you. And if there is none, the matter is settled. If there is one… well, galactic policy might become very interesting… very soon."
"So… you are not just writing me off as a liar or a crazy?" That's honestly more than I had expected…
"Fisher, if the Salarians did things like that, we might never have advanced to a degree like what we are now. We do not write off or dismiss claims that may seem to weird to be true. We examine them, and if they hold, we gain the benefits where other races would have bypassed the chance."
"Well… I guess I can say I'm very pleasantly surprised…"
"Oh? I thought you would know the outcome from the legend of Hudson… or am I missing something here?" He's not dumb.
"No councilor, you are not. In the legend… or story that Hudson told us, both Tevos and Sparatus would be… present at this meeting, and Sparatus would write me off like a fly… don't tell him I said that…"
"Hmm… what other things can you tell me from Hudson's… story?" do I tell him about the Citadel attack?
"Is that even a question?"
"Hell no!" I have a chance to save countless lives here, and I'm not about to let it go to waste here;
"Yes sir councilor… there is… something actually. I am not sure what can be done about it, but you are on the Citadel, and have much better overview over the forces of the Citadel fleet and ground forces…" Gods that sounded retarded…"And there is one thing you must know. Saren, along with the Reaper he uses as flagship, will attack the Citadel. I am not sure when, but it will be within the next ten months. They will launch a full scale armada against the fleets of the Citadel, but there is another place where they will come from" God bless you guy who made the "Battle of the Citadel" vids on YouTube;" The relay monument on the Presidium is an actual working relay… it was built by the Protheans as a one-way gateway to the Citadel from a planet far far away. just be sure to start having forces deployed there as soon as possible. I don't think Saren will attack within at least the next two months though. So... you have time to organize some sort of defense for whatever comes through there." I swear, he looks like I told him I'm his mother, because the Salarian just stares at me for almost a minute. I guess all this is a lot to take in… but at least now I've told him, and he can use the info as he wants. It's out of my hands;
"This is... considering the meeting on the Citadel will prove you are telling me the truth, we will begin the preparations at once… Thomas Fisher… you may just have saved countless lives, you realize that?"
"Yes sir, just doing my job."
"Well… Well then, come see me when you dock at the Citadel next time, and we can get this little hearing over with. For what its worth though… I give you my thanks, Fisher." And he disappears. Wow, that went much better than expected! I can't honestly believe I pulled that off! I mean, the council wrote Shep and the Reapers off as imaginary in the second game, but now… The Salarian councilor is close to believing me. Damn, can this day get any better?
"There are ways…"
"I don't need to hear that thought to an end…"
"Alright, but there is something you should know, when done speaking with John'Shepard… I do believe he is waiting for you actually…"
"Oh… thanks."
"I aim to plea-"
"Would you stop saying that?"
"Well… alright…"
"Thank you… thank you…"
"Thomas, I've got to say… that was good. I mean, I expected him to refuse like at the meeting, but this Salarian seems to have a good head." John says.
"Of course he does. Valern was a member of the STG once, and they don't keep idiots around. That is also the reason I contacted him only, and not Tevos or Sparatus. You may find it strange that I chose not to include the councilor of my own race, but he is a conservative… something I've never liked much. He doesn't believe humans have much to offer, likely from his constant arguments with Admiral Fisher. But like I told Commander Dawson… before he was killed, I don't care if you are human… or even Quarian. You get the job done, I'm on your side."
"Thanks Nihlus… I must admit I never expected praise from you… from John perhaps, but you hardly know me… haven't even fought with me… yet…"
"I like that "yet". It does look like we have many missions ahead of us, and I'll be keeping a close eye on the two of you, as well as the rest of the ground crew, to see if there should be any candidates for the Spectres." Seeing the looks in my eyes, and the way John is standing, completely taken aback, Nihlus continues;
"You may be new here Fisher, but... you show potential. Your willingness to sacrifice yourself for Williams and Private Pennyloafer on Eden Prime was, I heard, instant. Your courage in battle also shows some promise. And I know the council said the Quarians were not ready for the Spectres Shepard, but you keep doing what you do, and I might be able to change their minds." Wow… did I ever state how awesome Nihlus is?
"No, until recently you found him annoy-"
"Well, he is awesome!"
"No arguments here…"
Nihlus then looks at both of us, and sighs. It's been a long day for him as well. Even though he didn't have to fight a horde of Aliens. He gives us both a nod, and leaves the room. John turns at me again, stretching and yawning;
"Keelah, I'm tired. I think we've been at it for almost twenty hours… we deserve some sleep."
"Yeah I agree with you there… but wait." he looks at me in what I guess is wonder, before something clicks in him;
"Ahh… gotta consult the voice first?"
"Yeah, he mentioned something important, before we left the room."
"Alright, what is it you wanted to tell me?"
"I may not be able to feel people I do not know, but there is a third presence in the room, one that I do recognize. And so do you, if you think about it…" now what did he mean by… ahh..
"Wait, John… Alright, Kasumi, you can come out now…" John looks at me like I've gone crazy. I can actually see what I guess is an eyebrow being raised behind the visor;
"Who are you talking to?"
"Me… but how did you know I was here? No one else seemed to notice…" The sudden appearance of the Japanese thief makes John almost hit the ceiling with shock, amplified by his biotics.
"Who the Hell is that!?" He shouts and points his three-fingered hand at Kasumi;
"Hey, take it easy… Sorry for bumping out like that, but scaring people is such a simple way of having fun."
"Easy John, she's a friend. Allow me to introduce you to Kasumi Goto, best thief in the galaxy." Kasumi pouts a little;
"Soon to be most known thief, if you keep up introducing me like that."
"So... Goto… she's the one with the code?"
"I'm standing right here you know, and yes, Hudson gave me the code to travel between the dimensions. It does require that the location I do it from isn't moving, else I might get ripped apart to the molecules… not really what I intend on spending my day with, if you know what I mean…"
"Sure… sorry, this is all very new to me and… wait, Thomas, how did you know she was here?"
"Call it a qualified guess"
"Oh no, last time you said that I ended up arguing with Keji. He wouldn't sell the info to the alliance, but I talked him over. I have a way around that man." She says, her hand on her hip and a confident smile on what of the face I can see.
"Sorry, some things I do keep secret. Even from you miss Goto."
"Awww, that's cute… maybe I won't spy next time you're alone with Ashley…" and she's gone with a childish laughter.
"Dammit Kasumi! I have a thing called privacy! Even he respects it!" I sneer and point to my head. Tha door opens, and the laughter disappears out of it.
"So…. How long has she been onboard?" John asks.
"No idea, she just showed up right before the mission on Therum and told me all about her new job. And no; she's not going to be stealing on board the ship. I think she called it "no sport"… because it's too easy, and she doesn't steal money or something like that… she goes for rare stuff and tech.
"You seem to know quite a bit about her… all from that first meeting?"
"Well, no... She was one of the characters in the… game."
"So… to change the subject, what is this "job" she's got?" John asks. Oh, I was hoping he would ask;
"To put is simply, she will get pretty much anything that isn't nailed to welded to the floor for us. Even in other dimensions."
"So… have you given her a mission yet?" Mission… me giving people missions… man, that sounds weird…
"No… not yet, but I do have some ideas for schematics she could get us…"
"…. Such as?" John yawns, his voice heavy with tiredness. Man, I'm feeling like hitting the mattress myself, but gotta wrap this up….yawn… first…
"The new corporal, Tequila. The gunship she flew in, before she ended up here. it was called the Typhoon and it packed one hell of a punch. Also, it's much more agile than, and almost as fast as the Normandy when talking transport and air support. Something I feel we might need later."
"Alright, she can stay… we can continue this tomorrow… or whenever the hell we get up… I don't even know what time… Keelah, it's past midnight, ship time…. Man, we need our sleep. Let's get some right now."
"Okay, I can agree with that… but John?"
"Yeah?"
"I was…. was thinking… do you sleep in the captain's quarters?"
"No..." John yawns;"... I don't. We Quarians don't like big open rooms for sleeping. It might be a side effect of living on ships for the past 300 years, but I sleep in the crew quarters… why?"
"I was just thinking, that… and don't get this the wrong way, it's you I follow, and other people are secondary, but how about letting Jane have it?" He stops on the stairs so abruptly that I walk into him;
"Give her the captain's cabin? But officially, she doesn't even work on the ship yet, let alone is she an officer…"
"Well, it was just a thought. Just hear me out. Either she or Wrex gets the captain's cabin, because I'm afraid of what his snoring might do to me…"
"On a second thought, maybe giving it to Jane is a good idea…" He says with a tired, if audible smirk.
"Oh, I... thought you didn't like it?" I yawn, rubbing my face to stay awake.
"Naah, but Wrex will just crush the bed in there…" He then enters the elevator and we ride it to deck 3.
"So, you'll let Jane have it?
"Yeah... Also based on what I've heard about her and Ash's relationship, it might be wise to keep them from one another… at least for now…"
"Thanks John… where are you going?" I notice John is staying in the elevator;
"I'm gonna go pick up Tali from her shift, then I think we'll go to bed as well.
"Oh… well, goodnight then." I say, and as the elevator continues downwards, I stumble into the dark crew quarters where snoring already sounds from Tequila's bunk. Nic is out of bed, so I'm guessing he's taking a… I mean, that he is visiting nature… I head to my bunk and get off all but my underwear and throw myself on the bed. Reminds me, I've gotta buy some new clothes next time I get the chance… perhaps I should just…. check…. With that…. guy… in the hanga-"And I drift off…
I am in a very large room. Actually, it's not just a room; it's the grand concert hall of the musical theater in Aarhus. There are about 500 people in here; many have worn long coats which are now splayed over the seats as an extra layer of soft material. The carpet is still down at the scene and…weird, I wasn't aware that this place had a carpet. I can see that this hall is filled to the brim, all seats taken, and some people are even sitting on the stairs. I can hear the occasional instrument being tuned in, a drum being hit on, and then tightened, a violin being played, then strung as well. I look around me, and when I look to my right, I see my parents sitting there. Both of them have taken off their coats, and like the rest of the people in here, used them as an extra layer of cushioning. My parents… so… it was all… just a dream? I mean, I can see them, I can hear them. I place my hand on my dad's shoulder, and I feel it. So… I never died? I never went to Mass Effect and met Tali and Quarian Shepard and Nicolai… and Ash?
I don't know if I why I'm not happy. I'm alive in my own world and my parents aren't dead. Who am I kidding, I'm sad because I fell in love in a dream, and the woman of my dreams never existed. My dad respond to the hand, and looks at me;
"Well Thomas, I hope you had a good nap. I was just about to wake you up, but seems like you took care of that yourself." He chuckles. Funny, I rarely see him do that. I can't even remember getting here, then again, I often can't remember if I brushed my teeth, or locked the front door. Reminds me of that dream I just had. It was so vivid though, as if it wasn't a dream, but a trance or something.
"Yeah, I had this crazy dream; I died and instead of going to Heaven, I was teleported into the Mass Effect universe where I met all the people from it and -"I stop myself when my father looks at me in a weird way.
"Thomas, you are over 20 years old… don't you think it's about time you stopped playing video games?"
"Well… yeah but I like it…" I try… man; I've never had to defend my games from him before. Then again, I've never been asleep in the concert hall. Speaking of which, the carpet has gone up. But… it's weird; there isn't any orchestra, just the scene. They've placed a lot of stuff there; trees, bushes, large square white buildings. Or, not buildings, but props and doodads too. But all the things on stage, they all seem so… familiar… I turn at my father;
"Dad, just what are we watching?"
"Well I'll be damned, YOU actually forgot? You chose this play. It's called "Welcome to the Family." It's about… well, pretty much what you just said I think; a boy from our world get's flung into the world of Mass Effect and meets all the characters. It also says here that it is romantically orientated. Just not in what way." Okay… this is weird. Since when was Mass Effect send to the theaters? And what about the mu -. As I think this, the telltale music from Mass Effect starts playing. It's that beautiful tune from the first game. And we see this guy, about my age it's supposed to be… I think. He's standing in a kitchen. It's remarkably familiar, and I realize that whoever this story is based on or created by, his kitchen is much the same fashion as mine. We watch him get in a car, and the screen behind him starts showing a moving background of trees. The carpet then goes down and some shuffling is heard from behind the carpet. The carpet goes back up, and the guy is still in the car. He then gets out of it, and pick up a rifle from the backseat. He also pick up what I guess is a tent. Either that or it's a weird jacket. He then proceeds through a lot of the artificial trees, and sets up his tent. When he's done that, he leaves the scene with his rifle. The light is then tempered, so that it appears to be evening. He gets in the tent, and starts sleeping. Well, not actually sleeping, he's an actor, so it's all just acting. But anyway, suddenly, the light is back, and the guy gets up. But where he put his rifle, behind the tent, he now pulls out a futuristic looking weapon. I guess this is where he has been flung into Mass Effect. Suddenly, there is a short period of sharp white light, and a silhouette is lowered from the top of the scene. He's dressed like the Grim Reaper, and he's wielding the scythe. He speaks;
"YOU ARE NO LONGER MORTAL!" The guy on the floor looks up with a scared look on his face, the mouth open with a silent scream. He reminds me of someone from my dream…
"Who are -? Are you saying I'm dead?" And this little conversation goes on for a while. Suddenly reminds me of the part in my dream where this voice spoke to me in the void. Strange. Then, the guy starts wandering with his new guns and the scene changes. He finds Ashley, and saves her from the geth. Then Shepard, a female Shepard comes to the rescue of those two;
"I never thought she would come in." A female voice to my left suddenly speaks up. "I mean, this time I'll see what happened in her version of our universe." I turn my head, very slowly. I almost start screaming. Oh mother of Holy f**king shit! ASH! My love!
Ash is sitting right beside me. I'm close to blacking out, but I just keep my stare fixated at her; she looks just like in the dream, besides the fact that she's now wearing normal clothes. I mean normal for my world. But… but…. This can't;
"What are- who did- what's going on?" I ask, I don't really know if I'm yelling or whispering, but no one else seems to notice.
"Thomas, are you alright?... don't tell me you didn't finish your English for tomorrow." I…I what? My English? But… is Ash attending my school? Do I even have English as a class? How is she here?
"Oh, now I see, this is all a dream, isn't it?" I ask her.
"A dream? No! What the hell are you talking about?" Ash says, her face filled with wonder and a bit of confusion.
Suddenly, a red light fills the scene. It must be that part where the team sees Sovereign leave the colony… but why are the actors jumping off the scene? A red light, like a laser, carves through the wall and obliterates a line of the audience that sat there. But no one's moving. There are no screams. But then, why did the actors not scream and warn people to flee? I look down at them again, but they are no longer human! They are those husk-creatures from the games. They just start tearing through the humans seated in the first row, splitting them apart, biting and clawing at them.
So… much… blood. Heads are being removed from their bodies, and there are still no screams. No one's trying to escape. People just… sit there. I turn from Ash to my parents, but they are gone. There is just a large smoking crater, the trail of destruction the laser carved through the audience. Suddenly, railroad tracks puff into existence where they were, and dismembered body parts starts raining from the ceiling. Then, the husks reach Ash, and I can't move. I can't shout or do anything. She just looks at me and smiles her warm loving smile as the creatures starts tearing her to pieces. The smile is still on her face when her head is torn off by the strong arms of the synthetic monsters. Then, all is dark.
Suddenly, I find myself in a dark room. A light is turned on, and I can see my parents tied to one chair, Nicolai to another and Ash to a third. All have a piece of cloth gagging them, leaving them to mumble and look around with scared eyes. A Korean man steps into the light. In his hand, a silenced gun is glinting. His eyes are hidden by a pair of sunglasses. As weird as it is, I notice that I've seen this guy before. It's that guy from Gangnam Style. Psy, I think his name is. He's just walking behind the three chairs. He opens the guns chamber, and loads a single bullet into it. He then looks at me;
"Well Mister Fisher. We seem to have reached an impasse. I have in this gun ONE bullet, and because I'm such a good guy, you get to decide, whose head it goes into…
Shit!
Shit!
Shit!
I look at my parents, their eyes now strangely calm. I look at my best friend, his eyes also filled with tranquility. And I look at Ash, the love of my life. Her eyes are filled with warmth, as she smiles at me, even through the cloth.
"Thomas… it is okay. I love you and nothing will ever change that. know that I realize you did what you could, and that I accept every weird thing about you… I love you Thomas, and I have done so since seeing you for the first time… an now, you won't have to choose…" Her voice sounds through my head, like her thoughts become mine, only with her voice to them.
Then, seeing as I will not choose one to die, Psy simply pulls the trigger, but he doesn't aim it anywhere. And still, the heads of all four people gets a small red dot on their forehead, and blood starts seeping out.
"NOOOOOOO!"
"NOOOOOO!"
"NOOOO!"
A pair of arms starts grapping me, their ugly claws piercing my skin. They are the arms of a Xenomorph, the blackness in them, the evil... makes me sick.
"Thomas?"
A face emerges from the shadows; John's laughing face, without the helmet. He's got a set of mandibles, but more like those of a spider. He laughs, evilly. Then he becomes Saren, the Turian smiles as he kicks Ash's corpse, now lying on Virmire.
"Thomas?"
Now, Saren has become a monster, eyes on stalks and fangs barred. He looks back at me, and we are back in the room. His face hovers above my dead friends and family. Above the head of the woman of my life, above my best friend, above my mother and fathers heads.
"Thomas"
"Thomas!"
"Thomas! Snap the fuck out of it!" that voice… it's strangely familiar. The arms have now changed. They are human arms;
"That's not working, let me!"
Suddenly, a series of sharp bolts of pain hits me.
"Snap out of it Thomas! That's a fucking order!"
I am in the crew quarters, the room is lit up, and all the people sleeping in there are out of their beds, standing above my head as Ash and Nicolai breathe out. They are relived… why are they relieved? I just watched my family di - Oh God;
"Bath -Bathroom!" I manage to stutter, while holding my stomach and mouth.
"That way!" some guy yells and point towards a door on my right. The crowd quickly scatters, and I rush out into the bathroom. I haven't even reached the toilet before the first gulps emerge, and I puke into my own hands, acid smelling like… well, puke. When I reach the toilets, I just grab the sides, and give myself in. I lose my only real meal since fleeing Eden Prime, over thirty hours ago. After having thrown everything up, I just remain with my head inside the porcelain bowl.
"All right people, shows over! Go back to bed" I hear Ash's voice somewhere behind me, but right now, I just don't care. I hate my life. Snot and tears mix with the puke that's smeared all around my face, and now my nose burns as well. Figures.
"I am sorry, but I could not wake you up. I tried but -"
"Right now… just shut up okay? I don't wanna hear it."
Nicolai kneels beside me, and seeing as nothing more comes up, he lifts me to my feet. He then guides me to the showers and, after having closed the door, takes of all my clothes and pushes me under the shower. He then turns it on, a hot rain of water following. I blow my nose, trying to get the last of the acid of there. I am somewhat rewarded with a piece of rice from dinner. I turn towards him;
"What happened?" I ask, my voice trembling with a mix of shock and some fear. A nightmare like that… it's not something you just rise from.
"We don't know, but about fifteen minutes ago, you woke everybody up by starting to scream and pretty much go into a seizure. We tried calming you down, but you just kept on yelling and screaming… then, Ash tried grapping you and shaking you, tried comforting you, and finally slapping you to wake you up and well, you woke up… you wanna talk about it?"
"No… yes… I don't… I was… I was back on Earth. Our Earth. I was in the musical theater, with my parents. It was so real, I thought all this" I gesture around me "had just been a dream. I then saw a play, can't remember the name, but it was about much the same as I have done. The guy in it was flung from there to here by a materialized Grim Reaper. He then met Ash and the others, along with a Jane, only she was blond there. But then, all those things started happening, and my parents were killed by a laser beam, and Ash was torn apart in front of me. Then, the scene changed into a dark room. You, Ash and my parents were all tied to chairs, and this guy, Psy from Gangnam Style, he walked behind you with a gun, saying I had to choose which one of you should die. And you and my parents were so calm, and Ash was sending me messages with her mind, how much she loved me, how she accepted me, how she was glad that I now wouldn't have to choose… between her and Kaidan I guess… then, he just shot all of you."
"Fuuuuuck….that… was…" Is all Nicolai can say. For now, however, I don't care about anything. I just want to enjoy this warm shower, and try to forget the nightmare my brain just put me through. Someone knocks on the door to the bathroom, and Nicolai turns around.
"It's me… is he alright?" Ash asks through the door. Nicolai then looks at me. I nod.
"Yeah, he's… just had a really bad dream… I'm sure he'll tell you about it later. He's right though, a bad dream, that's all it was… but how come I haven't experienced anything like this before? I mean, I have been here for long enough for seizures and such to hit me, and then it starts now?
"I have a theory that it is only when sleeping your mind is open enough for such things to happen…"
"Is there no way to prevent this shit? I don't want to sound like a child, you know, being afraid of nightmares, but I wouldn't be able to stand this shit more than one night before going over the edge, not being able to sleep…"
"Don't worry… this time you had the full blow because your mind was open, but next time you go to sleep, I'll make sure this doesn't happen again… it really was scary…"
"You don't say… But… thanks. It would be great if you could do that…"
"Don't mention it…"
After having stood in the shower for a quarter of an hour, I feel like a human being again. My body is warm, but I'll need some clothes. As if he knew what I was thinking, Nic hands me a dry pair of underpants, a bit bigger than my own;
"… Are these yours?"
"What? No way man, when I sent the ensign out for supplies, I sent another one for clothes for all of us… or, really just the two of us, seeing as we're the only ones with outdated wardrobes." He says with a chuckle.
"Thanks…" I dry up and put on the new clothes. Nic waits till I'm naked, then fakes a knock on the door, and whispers for only me to hear;
"Oh Aaaash! You can come in now!" he says in a mock tone.
"Fuck you man!" I say, my lips starting to form a smile. Does he always knows just how to help?
I get dressed; putting on the rest of my own clothes, then proceed to the sink and down my own weight in pure, delicious H2O. There is just something about having your mouth and nostrils filled with acid from the stomach that makes water taste so great.
"You know Thomas, you may have to see someone about this… too bad Kelly won't be with us till after two years… I think she would be good to have right now…" he says this in a mock tone, but there is also some seriousness in his voice. I shake on the head;
"No… right now, you and Ash are all the shrink I need. Besides, I've asked him to wake me up or stop those dreams again before escalating like that…"
"Well, okay… but just… never mind. Tell you what, next time we dock at the Citadel, we get you loads and loads of tea. How'd you like that?"
"That would be great, only I also have to meet up with the Salarian councilor next time we're there…"
"Huh… what for?"
"It's the voice and "I-know-everything" stuff. He apparently isn't writing me off as the two others would."
"Well that's fucking great mate! We've got a councilor on our side."
"Not yet…"
"Okay, we are going to have him on or side. Sounds better mister pessimist?"
"Hey, are you guys going to come out here, or do I have to kick in the door to save my boyfriend?" Ash asks from the other side… of the door. Not the other spiritual side…Wait a sec; "Boyfriend!"She called me her boyfriend!
"Didn't you kiss?"
"Well, yeah… but I never hoped to hear those words from her about me…"
"I guess something good came out of tonight, eh?"
"You could say that." Nicolai turns at me with a grin on his face;
"You know Chief, that might just be necessary; I'm holding him hostage in here with a piece of soap as my weapon!"
"Alright, get out here you two dick-heads!" Ash shouts, her voice mixed with laughter. Gods, that's the best remedy for nightmares. Nic opens the door, letting me exit first. When I pass him, he says;
"Ladies first." I then punch him on the arm.
"Ow, and here I was being such a gentleman!"
"Go fuck yourself ye bastard." I sneer in a mocking voice.
"Can't do, I'm taken…" at this, I stop dead in my tracks. What? Taken? He's only been aboard for twenty bloody hours! How in the name of Mara could he have met someone in… Oooohh….
"What? What is he saying, who is it?" the voice asks, his… voice brimming with excitement. Speaking of… I really should find him a name…calling him "the voice" does get awkward at some points. I narrow my eyes and stare at Nic;
"You're sweet on the corpo-"He then presses a hand over my mouth;
"Sssssccchhhhh! She could hear you, you bloody idiot!" He hushes me, and finally letting my mouth go.
"Ha! Now I've got the screws on you, bastardo!"
"Meaning what, exactly?" he crosses his arms.
"Meaning, that if you screw up the food, I spill the beans to Tequila."
"You wouldn't!"
"Oh, I wonder how fast I can find her in the crowd right now."
"Okay, Okay… Sorry!… Now, can we please get out there and NOT talk about this again?"
"Roger that."
I open the door and find Ash standing on the opposite side. A knowing smile on her lips. Ha! She heard it! Slid your way out of that one my friend!
"Now, can we please get back to bed? It's bloody two in the morning, and I would like some more sleep before we have to get up." She says, steering away from what could have been a very awkward conversation.
"Yes ma'am." I say, a smile on my lips. She returns it, and it makes me heat up inside. Then proceed to hit the bunk, but this time it takes me a while to fall asleep.
Normandy mess hall.
09:26 (Ship time)
I sit at the table, in pretty much the same spot as I did when Garrus and Ash were sitting there as well. We've just given the ground team their second jump-scare, namely revealing the presence of Jane Shepard. Hell, we really didn't have much of a choice; after Nihlus caught her awake, he started questioning her. She may have been telling lies of omission, but the guy is a specter for Christ's sake. Being able to tell liars from regulars is part of the job… I think. Anyway, he made some inquiries with me, seeing as John was… otherwise occupied in the engine room with Tali as the sole other occupant… crap, now I get the images again…
"Want me to remove them?"
"Yes please…"
"Done"
"Oh… what did you do?"
"….Nothing…."
"Oh… okay…."
I told Nihlus what I could afford without him going nuts; that she is from another dimension as well, and that she is familiar with the crew. He then proceeded to call out whether this was a warship, or some kind of bus-stop for dimensional travelers. Didn't realize he had humor. Couldn't very well tell him that there are now two Shepards on the Ship… at least not until ten minutes ago, when Nihlus came around John and asked him about her... but the reaction was better from our other Turian member; Damn, if Garrus didn't drop his jaw when he saw her. I guess I should have said that it's possible she's not available, but why spoil it for the guy. Let him have his fun finding out for himself. The rest took it pretty easy, apparently they are becoming used to having weird things happen around them. I look down between my hands, to the bowl of cereal in front of me. Eating muesli almost feels like home. Even though the milk is synthetic here… I mean, how would real milk last this long, even with these days tech?
Ash is seated next to me, and when she's done eating her bowl, she leans against me, her head on my shoulders. I still can't believe how lucky I am. I guess to anyone looking, I would look like someone lit a light bulb inside my head, because I must be beaming right now. All of this, if you forget the dream, is just so perfect that it easily makes up for the fact that we're on our way to someplace called Feros… and the first place where I have no idea whatsoever about what will happen. I do remember Tali mentioning "tearing into the Thorian on Feros" in ME2, but… I am not going to voice those thoughts. It might do more damage than it would help. What if this Thorian is a contract, or a tree blocking the road? Ash's sigh brings me back to the real world, and I let a hand run over her hair, feeling its softness. She smiles. And I continue to let my hand run through her hair. It smells like shampoo. Funny, I've never paid this much attention to any girl… or woman before. They were just people like me… but Ash. She is a goddess. The smell of her hair, the brown in her eyes, and the smile on her lips… they are part of what keeps me going. That and what she called me last night, while I was losing my dinner to the WC. Boyfriend…. Boyfriend…. I've never been called that before…
"Hey Thomas, wanna know what I think of this so-called emergency on Feros?" Nic asks, joining us on the opposite side of the table;
"A penny for your thoughts… let me hear it."
"Well, based on what I know, they are most likely being attacked by geth, but there must be something else. It's never that simple with the Normandy... or Shepard for that matter…"
"Are you expecting a dragon to attack us? Or a zombie apocalypse?" I ask, mock in my tone and a sly smile on my face. Ash has gotten up, seeing as we aren't alone anymore. We weren't before either, but then we were the only ones at the table.
"Nah, but mark my words, something will be messed up on this planet… how far is it by the way?" he asks, looking at me as much as Ash.
"Don't know, but I think John said something about one day, possibly a bit more… plenty of time to get some training, or get in better shape." Ash says, then looks at me; "And plenty of time for another asskicking."
"Hey come on, I thought you were past wanting to beat my ass."
"Look at it as a way of keeping you on your toes, and alive." She answers, her voice holding both seriousness and a bit of playfulness.
"Well, I've already prepared lunch, so I'll be down there as well… to make sure you won't end up in a situation and someone walks in on y-"Ash gives him a hard punch to the shoulder, and he winces, rubbing his arm;
"Ow! Chief, what was that for?"
"Discussing stuff that doesn't concern the rest of the entire ship? Could that be the reason?" she says, once again her voice is half serious, half playful. Though not in the same way as with me. It's… hard to explain the difference, but its there.
"Fair enough… I'll keep quiet… just don't hit me again… its gonna be fun watching the two of you smacking each other though."
"You know, you're welcome to join. Always room for one more" she says in her mocking tone.
"Eehhhrrr… no thanks… me and Tequila are gonna see who can last longest on the weights… so, I'll just be a spectator here…" I get my best grin out;
"Oh yeah, that's right… you and the corporal's got a date…" this earns me a punch from him in return. I just laugh. Mocking him with his girlfriends always were one of the best things I knew back then. This time, the girl is just the tougher one… for once.
"Can it, will ya?"
"Wow Tengberg, I never would have guessed!" Ash exclaims. Her face lit in a sly smile. She's caught on to it as well: clever girl…
"Guessed what? There is nothing to guess."
"Then how come you stared at her like that outside the med-bay?"
"Oh… fuckberries…. I did?"
"Yeah, it was quite obvious that you were eyeing her" I say, almost unable to control a chuckle.
"How did you really know? I mean, if it was obvious, John would have said something… or she would have commented on it as well…. Right?"
"How I knew? Might be that you told me on the bathroom."
"Wh- Oh fuck… it was… I only meant it as a joke, you know!" his face is starting to become red with embarrassment now.
"Oh Gods, this is glorious!" I exclaim.
"Will you two please shut the hell up? She could hear you!"
"Oh, so there is some truth to it?"
"Oh for the love of… just shut up!" I then notice the said corporal making her way to our table, and I turn back to Nicolai;
"Oh, there she is!" I then poke Ash on the shoulder and point towards the elevator; "Well, we should leave the two of you alone. Come join us in the gym when you are "done"… got ya!" I smile, and Ash and I head for the elevator. Nicolai doesn't get to say anything before Tequila sits down at the same table. Good luck mate. With her, you're gonna need it. Once inside the elevator, Ash erupts in laughter, and I quickly follow. I really couldn't keep it back for much longer. Once I have the air to speak again, I look at the woman next to me;
"Oh, I'm almost feeling bad after leaving him like that!" I continue to chuckle, my breath only returning in short gasps.
"Hell no! that fool deserved it! After playing chaperone like that."
"Would he by any chance have a point?" I say, making my tone as playful as possible.
"Hey watch it Rookie, you're not on that level yet… just so you know."
"Oh, but you say "yet" does that-" she really likes punching people when they cross some kind of line.
"How about you restrict you speech to "ow's" and "ouch'es" when I beat you up?"
"Do you really have to do that? I'm still kinda sore on my butt from the other day…"
"Then I'll just kick on the opposite side of the butt"
"On second thought, my butt is completely fine…"
"I thought so." She says with her cocky smile and voice. As we exit the elevator, we find that we're not the only ones down here. which would be rather surprising, considering the size of the crew. Garrus and Wrex are both in here as well.
Wrex is breaking the scores it seems, pumping every single weight there is onto one bar. It almost looks like he could go through the floor, but he actually lifts the bloody thing. Seeing as he has a load on the bar bigger than my body… I'd say he pumping at least three-hundred kilos. Even for a Krogan that's pretty damned impressive. Alright, one thing I might challenge him in, is weightlifting; I'd be sure to lose here. but, then he would lose respect for me for losing… this is difficult…
Garrus is busy on a bench, using his arms to pull down the handles connected to the other side of the contraption. He looks like he's running on all but two of the weights. Damned, why are all the E.T's on this ship so pumped? He looks like he's noticed us, because he looks up and nods;
"Hey you two, down here for some lifting too?" I shake my head;
"Nah, I'm here to get my ass kicked… wanna watch?" his mandibles come apart in what I assume is a Turian smile;
"Are you kidding me? I wouldn't miss this for the world." Great, that's what I thought. Better not ask Wrex though, he might want to join. Ash moves on to the mats and takes of her shoes. We still just wrestle in our normal clothes I guess, but now I've got some spare clothes as well. This means I won't have to walk around in smelly sweaty clothes all day. Yay for me… now to get a sore ass… Wearing her normal clothes, minus the uniforms outer layer, the one with the ranks stitched on, Ash is tripping on the mat, beckoning me with an open palm. I know I'm gonna be sore as hell in less than one minute… but somehow, I'm okay with that.
"Alright Rookie, shall we test our mettle?" Okay, that sounded a little strange coming from her, but what the Hell…
"I accept thy challenge, oh superior in rank." This is not half-boring actually.
"You shall make a worthy opponent." She says and with that she goes for it. Her form's movement almost hypnotizes me, and I don't get out of the way before I'm on the mat with a sore forehead.
"HA!" I can tell Garrus is enjoying the show.
"Alright Chief, that was just to let you build up your confidence. Now, have a taste of-"
I crab around her, focusing on any sudden movements. She moves for my foot, just like the first time, but this time, I know what she has got in mind for me. As she kick after my legs, trying to snap them from beneath me, I move the leg she isn't focusing on and pushes her own up and around. She lands on the mat with a heavy bump.
"Told you I would get-" I don't get to say much else before she grabs me with both her legs and hurls me through the air. I land beside her with an even heavier bump;
"Seriously Ash, you've got to teach me how to do that!"
"Let's make a deal, you win the next one, and I will. If not… well, there is always next time, right?"
"Oh you Banshee!" I say, putting up my fist in a fake mockery.
"Well come on then, you wanna learn, you've got to fight better than that."
"Hey no fair, I got you!" Even while I'm speaking, she throws herself at me, getting an arm around my chest and attempting to drag me down. Oh no you don't… while I'm nowhere as technically good as her, with her stances and weird moves, at least I'm stronger than her… or, actually, I just think I weigh more. The point is, here the techniques won't work as she's got no-
BAM!
And I'm on the floor again. What the hell?
We continue like this for about half an hour, me winning about one in seven matches. She ends our fight by grapping my arm and yanking me off my feet using some kind of martial art move. One second I'm solid on the ground, the next, I'm flying over her shoulders before being reunited with the mat. Normally, I'm a terrible loser, and I'm just about to make some bad or stupid move when I look at her. Do you know the rumor about a hunter looking the deer in the eyes, and not being able to shoot?
"Who me?"
"Hm... what?"
"Were you asking me about the hunter thing?"
"Eehhhrrr… yeah, it was you I was asking…"
"That's illogical, I'm your memory, and therefore I know all you do…"
"Yeah… right…."
Gods that was awkward…
"Hey Thomas… sorry about that last one… does it hurt?" actually, it hurts like the Devil is raping me with a spiked club.
"Nah, not that much. I'm a little sore, but it's nothing big…" Inside, I'm screaming in pain. My entire left thigh feels like someone's holding it over a campfire. That was one mean ride she gave me there… but I keep up the happy face. I can scream in pain later. I just give her my best smile, but I can feel it's being ruined by the burning feeling from my face when it kissed the mat last time. I bet I have a huge red mark across the face.
"Ha! Yeah amigo, she kicked your ass there!" Nicolai's voice comes from the weights.
During the fight I didn't even notice him and Tequila entering. They are both using the weights Wrex used earlier, and I'm not surprised to see the corporal lift two or three more weights than him. I mean, he's buff, but she's a goddamn marine for Talos' sake. I would have been really surprised if he could keep up with her. Still, even what Nic lifts is more than I can by far. I tried one of his hand weights once, those he used as a normal training. I couldn't even do three of them, but he lifted them like they weighed only 500 grams. His short dark-brown hair is standing straight up, probably because he's dried his forehead from sweat. Tequila doesn't look that much better, her usual ponytail having fallen down over her face, and her eyes constantly blinking because of the sweat running from her forehead. Yet, she keeps going, and since I know Nic, he's not about to back down to her. Even though I can practically see how hard it is for him. Like all ones muscles are screaming for mercy. Both are now breathing hard, and I really can't make out who's having the harder time here; me, or him.
A little later, after I step out of the shower room on the same deck, I notice that my Omni-tool, which I of course didn't bring to the shower, is beeping. Huh… that's… odd. Seeing as we shouldn't reach Feros till late tomorrow, there shouldn't be any briefings already. I pick it up and strap it to my arm again. I then check to see if someone left a message, and as I thought, there is one. From Nic. No surprise there. After Ash had kicked my ass, he told me about a little bet he had with Tequila. If he could last longer than her, he was taking her to the movies, and she had to like it. I bet it's him saying he lost, and now the corporal is cashing in her victory; fifty pushups. Amigo… when the hell do you learn not to challenge big badass women? Alright, let's see how he justifies his defeat… wait, what? In the message, Nicolai has typed;
"Hey dumbass, told you I could beat her in this crap! Next time we're on the Citadel, I'm taking the Corporal out. Lol, I got a date before you, and you had the head start.
Even here I'm better with the girls than you are. Ahh, I'm just pissing ye off; You've got Ash, and she's not a bad girl… or I don't know if she is, but that's not really my business, is it?
Nic."
"Oh that mother-" He fucking beat Tequila! I didn't think anyone could. I mean, did you see the weights she was lifting?
"Me?"
"Yeah… I am talking to you when I'm just thinking to myself.
"Oh… should I read your mind to find out if that's true?"
"Don't go there…. I'm warning you."
"I am an eternal being, capable of sending people across the dimensional walls and bringing people back from the dead. What could you possibly do to harm me?"
"I could check if a site called "Spacedicks" still exists…" I always found that site the most disgusting thing created by mankind, next after Nicki Minaj, but here it might work.
"GODFORBID NO! IT TOOK ME HOURS TO CLEAN OUT THAT PART OF YOUR MEMORY, AND IT WAS ONLY FIVE MINUTES!" Yeah, one of my classmates had shown me the site, and curious as I am, I stayed long enough to see him open a random movie called "two girls, one cup"…. I spent the next fifteen minutes on the toilet throwing up. That wasn't the best day in High-school…
"So… we've got a deal then?"
"YES, yes, I'll leave your mind alone… for now…"
"What was that?"
"Nothing… nothing…"
Man, did I just win an argument with a divine being? Damn right I did! Bow Chika wow wow! Oh for… where did that come from?
"Jesus… now what to do?" I have actually reached the point in time where I am on the Normandy… and I have nothing to do. I look at the laptop positioned next to me, left there as I went for breakfast some time ago. Wasn't there something I should check out when I had the time?
"That is correct, you made a mental note that you would check up on several scientific breakthroughs being made in your own time and dimension."
"Oh… yes, thanks."
I sit down and open, I guess, the laptop. I still have to get used to these things not actually having a plasma or plastic screen, but a holographic one. Oookay… Google… Skylon… hmm, Wikipedia still exists… okay… Wow… As I read through the history of the Skylon project, I stumble upon one detail that almost makes me piss myself in a mix of happiness and shock; "Skylon: In the early twenty-first century, human scientists from the Governments department of spaceflight, NASA, started developing a prototype spacecraft.
The "Skylon" was meant to be the new kind of cargo-vessel between Earth and the ISS( the International Space Station). However, with the first successful flights of the new jet-propelled spaceship, it became apparent that interest had skyrocketed along with it. Multiple space agencies, such as the ESA and UK Space, ordered the schematics for their countries and developing as well. In return, the ESA offered their expertise in jet-science, bringing invaluable research into the project.
In 2018, the first manned version of the Skylon was completed, and the astronauts were now being transported to the ISS by Skylon. Later, in 2027, the Skylon, and it's evolved sibling, the ATLAS, helped bring material and crew to the moon for the construction of the Neil Armstrong Lunar Base (NALB). From here, missions with drones were being prepared and launched with much less cost due to the low gravity of the moon.
After five years, in 2032, more than 29 drones and probes had been launched from NALB, most heading for Mars. In 2041, the need for protection against asteroids became obvious, as the SSV Hamlington, a cutting edge Skylon spacecraft was severely damaged by an asteroid. NASA now began evolving a new type of megawatt laser to be outfitted on the Skylon Spacecrafts, along with improvements to the hull integrity on the ship.
Having discovered the use for HE-3 in 2019, the Skylon now ran on cold-fusion, and more space was freed up from the use of HE-3 in the reactors, instead of the chemical reaction of regular socket fuel. This meant that crew could now begin making themselves more comfortable onboard the ship." Cool, but this almost looks like… oh, there is more…" in 2081, after having established the first manned research-outpost on Mars, humanity began the second settling of a planet in human history. While this was nowhere near the cities former scientist and researchers had hoped for, the stations were quickly followed in 2103 by the first real settlement, Lowell City.
A facility began construction of new types of Skylon and Skylon II-type spacecrafts, the second version evolved with a stronger lighter hull, and two onboard lasers for the destruction and mining of asteroids. On board the S-II, there also were facilities for refining the material brought back from asteroids in space. As predicted, these huge boulders held vast amounts of raw materials, such as iron, gold and ice. Most were taken to the facilities on Mars where they were used in different scientific research programs, most of which are secret to this day.
In 2148, a prospecting team lead by now famed and deceased Mateus Silva, unearthed the Prothean ruins in the Deseado Crater. Having discovered the ruins, humanity now had evidence that they were not alone in the galaxy. Due to this, interest in space exploration once again skyrocketed, bringing billions of dollars from sudden private investors to NASA and ESA.
Having also discovered a new element that seemingly defied all know science about the natural elements, scientists dubbed this new wonder Element Zero, given its complete lack of protons. In normal science, this would declare the element non-existent. However, the new element was found to have abilities few had dreamed of. One was to enable the use of FTL travel. The Skylon, being the most advanced spacecraft in humanities arsenal, was put back on the drawing board, and the Skylon-III was born from this. Complete with extra reinforced hull, and a drive core capable of accelerating the new space craft to unheard speeds, humanity reached 1 Light-year/week for the first time in history.
This also made exploration of the rest of the Sol-system possible, and in 2148, humanity discovered that the moon of Pluto, Charon, was actually a massive piece of Alien technology, now known as the Mass Relays. Activating this relay in 2149, humanity jumped hundreds of light-years into outer space, starting the second age of space exploration. The Skylon-III, having served as an example of how the mass effect drives worked, was now being replaced by several new types of spaceships. The combination of the vast amounts of new raw materials and the discovery and use of element Zero, or Eezo, made it possible to construct starships the size of current marine warships, as well as classes far surpassing these.
The discovery of the relays and the ruins, also made the leaders of the world realize the possibility of Alien civilizations, and the risk of them being hostile caused these new starships to be outfitted with the latest cutting-edge technology Humanity was in possession of, including nuclear weapons, terrawatt lasers and 200mm naval cannons. Along with hulls designed to survive the impact of a 20 kiloton bomb, Humanity journeyed beyond the relays, now having amassed what would later be known as the "First Charon Fleet".
Wow… just wow… so… all of this might just as well just have been in the future?
"Possibly… but you have not yet read it all…" The voice says, urging me to continue.
"Upon expanding their territories, human explorers came across so-called garden worlds. These planets were placed in the famed "Goldilocks zone" being able to sustain life as known to humanity. Colonizing these worlds became the new weapons race of the twenty-second century. The sixth world, named Shanxi, after Fanpei Shanxi, the discoverer of the planet's breathable atmosphere, was later the only planet ever attacked and captured from humanity by alien forces.
In 2157, the First Charon Fleet discovered the now infamous Relay 314. When attempting to activate it, they were approached by the first extraterrestrials ever known to mankind; The Turians." Wow, this is heavy stuff…
"Upon seeing the fleet trying to activate the relay, the Turian fleet opened fire upon the First Charon Fleet, obliterating all but one ship. Having escaped the onslaught, Captain Marcus Fredian returned to the Acturus station, then only seventy-eight percent complete, and was debriefed about what had happened. Humanity was now at war. Following the siege and liberation of Shanxi, the occupation of two Turian colonial worlds, and the brokered peace made possible by the galactic council, the Skylon III was taken back into service and given some serious overhauls. In 2171, the Turian and Alliance governments began the further co-development of the Skylon-IV. Renamed the SR-1 project, the Skylon-IV, or SR-1 ship was now the most advanced starship in the known galaxy. Given command over the ship in 2178, Captain David Anderson named the new ship the" Normandy."
To this day, the Normandy is under the command of newly instated Quarian commander John'Shepard."
I just sit there, completely speechless. The Skylon project, the project I had followed with amazement as a boy… became the SR-1. Mother of Akatosh….this is SO AWESOME! I feel the hair almost jumping off my skin, I'm that exited over this. I mean, this is almost like I saw the Normandy back in my own universe.
"Well, this is certainly unexpected…"
"Unexpected? Unexpected?! This is the fucking most awesome news I've had for a long time!"
"What about the boyfriend-stuff?"
"Well of course that's better, this is just in another wa- wait a sec…how do you know about that? I thought you locked yourself out of Ash related thoughts?"
"Just because I don't spy into those thoughts, it doesn't mean I can control everything I hear, okay?"
"Okay, okay…"
"Now… your tool is beeping again…"
"Oh… it is." And he's right, of course. I've got an incoming call from John.
"Buenas Dias, you've reached the time-travelers, would you like to order a travel?" Hell, he knows, so I might as well have some fun with it.
"Not now Thomas, report to the conference room, we've got an incoming transmission from the colony on Feros… Sounds like trouble."
"Alright Commander, I'm on my way." Well, I was bored before… now then; let's see what this is all about. I get up from the bed and proceed to the elevator. I meet Ash inside, and we ride up in silence. Normally would chat, but I think we both sense something is wrong. As we enter the conference room, we find the rest of the ground crew in there, even Nicolai and Tequila. They haven't been made real members of the ground crew yet, but something tells me they will soon be needed anyway. John and Nihlus stop discussing something when we enter, turning their attention to us. John then turns on the screen, and a picture from a surveillance camera pops up. At first, everything looks quiet, people who I'm guessing are the colonist go about their business. John then changes the camera to the next day. The difference is stunning. All over the place are scorch marks, places where grenades have gone off, and the occasional body is lying on the ground. Then, a series of shots pass by the camera and the transmission cuts off.
"Well… this is not exactly what I was hoping for…" I say. I was aware something must be wrong on Feros… but this looked like all-out war. John turns towards Nicolai;
"Tengberg, make sure dinner is ready for tomorrow, 'because you won't have time to make it there… you're going in with us… and that serves for you as well, corporal Tequila… everyone but Thomas… dismissed." Well, that was unexpected… does Tequila even have armor yet? I mean, yeah she's got her M10 armor, but I don't know how well it'll stack against… whatever it the geth are firing at us... besides, her boots are still eroded by bug-acid… perhaps we have some down in the armory… wait a sec… if we have an armory… why the hell did I go all the way to Miller & McCarthy?... Gods, I'm an idiot… well, at least that trip brought me around the Citadel, and I got some time with Ash.
"You've got it… Commander." Nicolai says. I guess he needs some time to remember that he only calls him John when off missions, or just in relax-time in general. Then, he does something that really surprises me; Nicolai salutes John… I mean Shepard. I've got to keep track of this myself as well… He then leaves the room like the rest, leaving me alone with Shepard and Nihlus;
"So… why did you want me to stay Commander?"
"Since we all know that you have a fair share of… well, knowledge of this universe, what's going to happen and such… Do you know anything about what's going on at this colony?" Shepard says. I slowly shake my head;
"Sorry commander, but this place was never mentioned in… well, it was never mentioned in the short version that told the story of these years…"
"So… you don't know what awaits us on Feros?"
"Besides the geth? I'm pretty sure there are geth there, or they wouldn't have sent a distress signal out, would they?" I ask. Nihlus sighs.
"Agreed, but I actually think it for the better that we do not have any expectations about what we find on Feros. Since, as you say Fisher, "Canon has been Fucked up" and in that case it's better to be alert for anything, rather than expect one specific thing to happen." I look at Nihlus, the Spectre's… brows? going into a deep frown.
"Well Nihlus, that was a piece of gold I never thought I would hear from you… always thought you were a "by-the-book-and-forget-everything-else" kind of guy…" John says.
"Well… I had a run-in with a Justicar once, and that taught me the value of being able to improvise…" Wait, Justicar?
"Let me guess; Samara?" I ask. Man, I love giving this guy those faces. He just stares at me like had I morphed into an Elcor right in front of him;
"Fisher… I don't think I'll ever get used to you knowing those things about people… but yes… Samara the Justicar... She was by far the most honorable opponent I've ever had. And it was only her sense of honor that saved my life."
"Because you surrendered?" Shepard asks… why do I even call him Shepard, I mean, he said himself that I should call him John… screw that, I'm going with "John".
"No… because I gave her the choice between saving an innocent or capture me. By her code, she chose the innocent. She was a marvelous opponent."
"You respect her…" I say. Hell, I know Samara respects him for being able to outwit her, so why not the other way around?
"Yes… the fact that she stands for the innocents, capturing and killing who she views as the wicked and cruel… is something to admire. If only the Spectres had her…"
"Remember Nihlus, she may still want your ass on a plate, even though she actually respects you…" I say.
"How do you know… never mind, I am not really sure I want to know… but you said she respects me… why?"
"Because you were able to outsmart her… I think." Funny, we went from discussing Feros to talking about memories…
"Yes… but can we go back to discussing Feros?" John says. I wonder if Quarians are mind-readers…
"Sorry John… do we have some kind of plan for this?"
"Well, seeing as we will only face geth, I hope, our first objective will be to secure the survivors, along with the colony, then we scrap the rest of the synthetic bastards, and that should be it…"
"Hmm… pretty simple… I like that…" I say. As long as we don't run into more bugs…
"You do realize that when people sya things like "At least now it can't get worse… it usually does…"
"So?"
"You've just issued something similar, stating that we won't encounter the Xenomorphs…"
"It doesn't work that way… I hope."
We stand and look at each other for a moment, and I can sense the meeting is over;
"So… John if there is nothing else…."
"Right, dismissed… just be ready for anything tomorrow…"
"Hell commander, I'm ready for the next two years." I say, a small grin spreading across my face.
"Keelah… Thomas, have you heard of such a thing as situational awareness?"
"Sorry commander… but I'll head down in the mess hall if you don't need me."
"Right… just, try and keep the appearing of more cross-dimensional people on an all-time low… this whole "Jane-thing" still gives me headaches…"
"No promises there sir." I say, and head out the door. I want to check in with Nic, and then head down to the armory. I have a feeling I'm gonna need my guns tomorrow.
Alright... how did you like that?
Personally, this chapter has by far been the most difficult to write, with keeping it all together. How did I do in the romance scene? Man, that part was difficult to get out right...
And a big Thank You! to Kaiya Smith. He/She really helped me through the councilor meeting in this chapter. What i had in mind turned out like cr*p.. can I say that here? Oh well, I curse a lot more in the story, so I guess I can... I mean, Fanfic hasn't banned me yet... I think :)
Alright people, let me hear your thoughts about this chapter, even if you hated it. I can take it, the critisism just helps me get better... even though it leaves a hole in my heart when i spot critisism...
Don't forget to review, and till next time...
