Chapter 9

"Most important part," Mordin said into the horrified silence, reaching to the computer and adjusting it so that the holograph zoomed in to show just the head. A series of small blinking lights lit up on the brain. "Subject—"

"Her name is Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams," Shepard interrupted with a hard glint in her eye.

Mordin blinked rapidly. "Of course. Meant no disrespect. Speaking as a scientist. Distance necessary. Helps to avoid personal pain. Will use her name if you wish it." He took a breath. "Chief Williams implanted with control chip, or chips to be more precise. One for each region of the brain with the main located on the frontal lobes. Presuming that chips communicate with each other. Controls all higher thought and movement. Probable linked control of cybernetic systems as well. Moving her remotely like a mech."

Shepard looked at Miranda who seemed to be struggling to retain her usual mask of calm competence. Clearing her throat, Shepard gave Miranda a significant glance.

"Yes," Miranda said, pursing her lips, "This is what... I would have done to you had I been in charge of Project Lazarus."

"Wait a minute, what?" Kaidan stepped forward. This was the first he'd heard about such a thing.

Miranda spared him a look that somehow managed to look condescending and apologetic at the same time.

"If you had brought back to life the one person that might rally the galaxy against the Reapers, wouldn't you have done everything in your power to make sure she stayed the course?"

"I wouldn't enslave her!" Kaidan growled.

"Enough," Shepard said, rubbing her brow. "The real point is that Ashley wasn't acting on her own earlier."

"Indeed. All signs point to chip activity, even now when under sedation. Reason she keeps fighting when sedation wears off."

"So what do we do about it?" Shepard looked at each of them in turn. "We can't question her while the chip is active. She'll simply ignore us."

"Or feed you false information according to whatever orders she's receiving," Miranda pointed out.

"Have ideas," Mordin said, pacing in thought. "Electrostatic generator could short out chips. Downside: uncomfortable, possibly painful for subject. Unknown ramifications against cybernetics. Could cause permanent systematic failure."

"And this ship is only equipped for limited term life support," Chakwas pointed out.

"Subject on life support would defeat purpose," Mordin continued, walking toward the windows. "Must be conscious, cognizant, able to recognize old friends, memory intact." He turned around, walking back toward the beds. "Or perhaps microwave emitter. Hazardous, could lead to radiation poisoning—not helpful in cancer patient." He turned again. "Perhaps focused infrasound wave. Tune into frequency of control chip, override systems, take control ourselves. Potential side effects damage to delicate inner ear mechanisms, joints or organs."

Override… An idea occurred to Kaidan. He pulled up his omni-tool, keying up his combat sub routines. "What about overload?"

They stared at him.

"Think about it," he insisted, "we use this in combat. It generates a pulse that overloads the systems of the tech we're trying to affect whether it's shields or overheating a weapon."

"He's right," Miranda said, also keying up her omni-tool, "an overload is powerful enough to override safety protocols but gentle enough that it's a temporary effect only. If we use overload on Chief Williams' control chips, it would cause them to shut down in an automatic safety protocol to prevent overheating."

"And the shutdown would create a vulnerable window," Kaidan continued, getting excited. "EDI could you hack into the system itself during that window and disable it?"

"Certainly, Commander Alenko."

"Excellent!" Mordin nodded approvingly. "Simplest solution best. First time using overload on cybernetic systems. Interesting field study. Will take notes."

"We shouldn't try it until the sedative wears off," Dr. Chakwas said, sounding excited herself. "Shouldn't be long. I make it another half hour perhaps."

All of them except Chakwas and Shepard exited the medical bay. Mordin headed to his lab, presumably to prepare for the notes he wanted to take for the "field study." Miranda took the opportunity to eat lunch and finish some paperwork.

Kaidan, feeling a little gritty from the day's events, gathered his things from his bunk in the crew quarters and headed to the shower across the hall. He washed quickly, scrubbing his fingers through his hair, working up a lather along his skin, and letting the hot water run into his face for a brief luxurious moment before turning it off. The small holes at the bottom of the shower stall sucked the rest of the water into the drains to be cleansed and recycled for the next person's shower. As he dressed, he hoped that his idea would work. And what if it did? Would Ashley still be Ashley? Would she be able to speak with them, remember them?

Will I be able to apologize to her? He blew out a breath, stomach clenching with guilt. Survivor's guilt, the head people called it, but it was more than that—Shepard chose me over her. Was it because of us? Did she make the right decision?—and though he'd made his peace with that long ago, with all of this going on everything seemed to come slamming back as if Virmire had happened yesterday.

He pulled on his under shirt, pulling his dog tags out from underneath, and had picked up his Alliance officer's jacket when EDI's blue holographic interface popped up on the console beside the door.

"Commander Alenko, you are needed in the medical bay. Chief Williams has escaped her restraints."

#

Joker leaned against Rupert's counter, refreshing his cup of coffee. He looked up as the medical bay door hissed open and people began pouring out. Joker set down his mug and hobbled over as quickly as he could. Chakwas and Shepard were discussing something quietly at the computer. They looked up at the opening of the door.

"Hey," he said.

"Joker, you shouldn't be here," Shepard began, but Joker cut her off.

"I have as much right to see her as you and Alenko do!" He rubbed a hand down his face. "I just... want to see her for a minute, is that too much to ask?"

"Of course not, Jeff," Chakwas soothed. She motioned Shepard toward the door. "She's under sedation right now. We'll be right outside if you need anything."

He nodded, throat suddenly tight, and stood there stupidly as the women left. Grumbling to himself, he limped to Ashley's bedside, staring down at her. He still could hardly believe it was her, but he'd recognize that strong jaw and those firm lips anywhere. The restraints made her look different: weak, helpless, something that the Ashley Williams he remembered never was. Hesitating, he reached out a hand, touching the backs of her fingers.

"Never thought I'd see you like this, Chief," he said with an uncomfortable chuckle. "But damn is it good to see you anyway. Not that you can hear me, probably. The doc put you under... said you're dangerous, but I always knew that. Anyone that can nail a guy between the eyes at three hundred yards merits caution. S'why I never..." He trailed off. Regrets, buried deep, resurfaced.

The fingers under his hand twitched. Joker sucked in a breath.

"Joker...?" Her voice was hoarse, groggy from sleep. But it was her. It was Ash.

"Ash!"

She swallowed, moving slightly within the bindings of the restraints. "What's going on? Why can't I open my eyes?"

"There's some tape stuff there," he said, squeezing her hand. His heart was thudding like crazy. Damn, he'd missed her.

"Can you... take it off? I'd… like to see you."

"Sure. Give me a minute." It didn't seem like a big deal, he thought. Why would they tape them shut anyway? He winced as the surgical tape pulled a little at her skin, but then it was free. She blinked a couple of times, then her eyes focused on him and she smiled.

"Hey flyboy."

Joker smiled back, not willing to admit how it felt to hear that nickname again for the first time in three years.

"Hey yourself. Never thought I'd see you..." Again. "In a place like this."

"You know me," she said with a wry smile, "I go to all the classy joints." She smacked her lips together, making a face. "Ugh. My mouth tastes like something crawled inside and died in there."

"I'll get you some water." He hobbled to the little sink in the corner, filling a glass at the tap and taking it back to her.

She raised an eyebrow as he hovered the glass over her lips. Her head was restrained so he would likely spill it on her as he tried to give her a drink.

"Here," he said, setting the glass down. "Let's make this easier." He tapped the control for the head restraint and it zipped away.

"That feels better," she said, moving her head around, "but we've still got spillage issues. I can't lift my head up very far." She twitched her hands and laughed. "Any other time something like this would be kinky." She winked at him.

Joker hesitated and he berated himself. Why are you hesitating? This is Ashley! She would never hurt you. She was one of the few—along with Shepard and Alenko—that hadn't treated his condition like a joke.

"Alright," he found himself saying. "But only one arm and I'll have to strap you back in before they come back. Shepard and Chakwas would kill me otherwise."

She didn't say anything, just watched as he undid the arm. Her fingers flexed and clenched in their new freedom and accepted the glass of water he pressed into it. She leaned up as much as she could, still spilling a few drops, but managing to get most of it in her mouth. She laid her head back with a sigh.

"That's better," she wiped the back of her hand across her mouth. When Joker returned from setting the glass on the sink, she was watching him with a small smile.

"What?"

"I was just thinking about that night at Flux with the Commander and the LT, remember?"

Joker did remember and felt his face flush. That night, Alenko had finally convinced him to leave the safety of his pilot's chair for their last free evening on the Citadel and to celebrate Shepard's promotion to Spectre. Sometime in the night, it had stopped from being an obligation to actual fun. He hadn't gotten really drunk, just tipsy enough that his legs started giving him troubles. Ashley, just as tipsy as he was, had hoisted him on her back as if he weighed nothing and they had charged back to the Normandy, laughing and whooping with drunken glee the whole way.

And in the Normandy, when she'd deposited him safely in his chair, they'd kissed—an accidental, brief, alcohol-induced kiss. Nothing else had happened and they'd never spoken of it afterwards. Joker had assumed that the haze of alcohol had wiped it from her memory and didn't bother to bring it up: he didn't date crew. It was better that way.

"Um, yeah, I remember," he said, clearing his throat. "Didn't think you did."

"How could I forget?" Ashley's voice dipped lower and her one free hand reached up to his face, her fingers teasing his beard. Joker's breath caught in his chest. Her fingers wandered across his jaw, touching gently on his lips, traveling down his chest and to his arm and there it stayed, rubbing up and down his forearm.

Joker suppressed a shudder. "Ash—"

"Let me out, Joker."

His eyes snapped open. There was an oddly intent expression on her face and her touch on his arm had stilled, though she still held onto him.

He swallowed hard. "You know I can't do that—ow! Hey, lighten up on the grip there—"

"Do it or I break it." Her voice had changed. Just a moment ago it had been low and husky, bringing images of her to his mind that had no business being there. Now it was harsh, demanding; the voice she used to chew out an ensign who spilled coffee on the workbench and didn't clean it up.

"Ashley, what—augh!" His question was cut short by the sound of the bones in his arm breaking like twigs.


A/N: I actually wrote a drabble based off the event Joker remembers in this chapter. It's in my profile under the story marked "Shore Leave" with the chapter title "Piggyback."