Chapter 8
Location: Milky Way, Serpent Nebula, Widow System – The Citadel
Zakara Ward – Dr. Michel's Clinic
There are better ways to spend your day, Rhia decided, than being shot. The ride to Dr. Michel's clinic didn't take long, after Ashley got a skycab, but getting into and out of the vehicle was a complete torture, as every single motion seemed to send pain down her entire body. She sagged against Ashley, trying to fight the feelings of dizziness and nausea that threatened to overwhelm her.
"Help! I need help here!" Shouted Ashley. Or least she thought Ash was shouting. It sounded odd, the words echoing strangely, taking on a tinny quality to the speech. The doctor's answer seemed to drone on her already drowsy mind.
"This way, quickly! What happened?"
"Gunshot, shoulder. " Was Ashley's terse and strained reply.
She felt the doctor touch her. Somehow she was on a table already. How did she get to the table that fast? Rhia blinked slowly, forcing the words to make sense.
"Major, can you hear me?"
Rhia turned, trying to focus on the woman speaking. The doctor? She wasn't' sure. She nodded numbly, blinking her eyes.
"Major, the bullet wound isn't as bad as it looks, but it's still in you. I need to remove it. Do you understand?"
Oh. The bullet was still in her. That's bad. She nodded again.
"Help me turn her."
Rhia felt hands gently lift her, rolling her to her side. A moment later a sharp pinch, then the pain in her shoulder seemed to almost instantly cease. "Was that it?" She mumbled.
"No Major, that was just a localized painkiller. I'm about to take the bullet out now."
She didn't feel it. In fact, she must have not felt a think, because as she blinked, she found herself staring at the ceiling with a disconcerting feeling of having lost time, her shoulder stiff and sore, a bandage wrapped around it. Her shirt had been removed, and replaced with a simple white t-shirt that was almost certainly not her own. Her stomach roiled in displeasure.
"Hey Major. How do you feel?
Rhia didn't answer as her stomach heaved. She leaned over, grabbing at a small basin and choked, retching into it. Ashley was at her side a moment later, pulling her hair back and keeping her from tumbling from the small medical bed.
"Hang tight ma'am. Doc is coming back in a moment, she should be able to give you something to help."
Rhia puked a second time, gagging, and held on to the small lifeline in front of her for several long minutes before she let Ashley take it away.
The other woman looked around and frowned. "I'm going to go find the Doc. Are you okay if I leave you for a moment?"
Rhia closed her eyes. "I'll try and not get into too much trouble while you are gone.."
A ghost of smile flickered on Ashley's face. "Of course ma'am. I'll be right back."
Rhia dimly heard the door hiss open and shut again, and she lay there, her head spinning slightly, the nausea she felt twisting her stomach into tight little knots, as she went over what had happened. She had been shot before, and been injured far worse, so why was she feeling like this? Was it side effect from the beacon maybe? That was a possibility, certainly. Though if that was the case, what other effects could it have had on her. She hadn't had any of the vivid dreams that John had described, at least not yet, but maybe it had affected her in other ways.
A thump and a muffled cry snapped her attention back to the present, and she sat up quickly, and immediately regretted it, the room spinning around her. It was still spinning when she tried to slide off the bed to her feet, her balance shaky so that she nearly dropped straight to floor. Her shoulder throbbed painfully, overriding whatever pain killers the doctor had pumped into her, and she had to keep a death-grip on the bed for several long moments before she felt stable enough to try moving again.
Two near falls, and a dozen unsteady steps got her to the door and muffled voices in angry tones echoed dimly from nearby. She reached for her side arm out of reflex, only to find it gone. She glanced around the room, but it wasn't in evidence. Either Ashley or the doctor had to have taken it. No armor. No gun. And so dizzy and nauseous that she could…no, likely would, pass out if she tried to use her biotics.
Rhia felt herself smile a bit at the absurdity. What's the point of life without challenges?
She hit controls to slide the door open, hoping no one was in the next room immediately and would see. After a moment, no one came to check it out, and she dared a look into the larger part of the clinics office. No one was in eyeshot, but she could hear voices nearby. She peeked left, but only two more closed doors were that way, a pair of waiting rooms like the ones she was in. To her right was the hall way, leading to the front office and main lobby of the clinic, and presumably to the Doctors office. To the right it was then.
She pushed off the door frame, braced on the wall for support as she walked, and made her way down the hall as quietly as she could manage, the voices in the lobby getting louder as she did, until she was next to the small window that looked out from the back to the front desk and lobby.
A man in non-descript clothes held a small worn, but entirely serviceable looking pistol to the back of a woman that Rhia assumed was the doctor, and crouched behind her, using her like a human shield. A second man stood about three paces away, his gun trained on Ashley. A third was on his back, holding his face as blood poured out of his nose, his pistol shakily pointing at up his assailant in his other hand..
Ashley had pressed her back against the wall, and had her own human shield. She hid behind the fourth and last thug, her own pistol flicking between her trio of targets. A second pistol was pointed squarely at the temple of her impromptu hostage and shield.
"Alliance bitch! Give up, you can't take us all. "
"I don't have to. You can't take me down without me getting at least two of you. And the second one of us starts shooting, C-Sec will swarm this place. I just have to survive long enough for them to get here. "
"And the doctor dies if you don't put the guns down. Want her blood on your hands?"
"Dr. Michel could very possibly die if I give up too. Or you could let her go, you three put the guns down and leave, and we all live another day. "
"Not going to happen. By the time C-Sec would get here, you will be a cooling corpse, unless you let Varis go, and put the guns down now."
"Oh, like you are going to keep your word." Snapped Ashley sarcastically, she flicked her gun to the man on the floor as he started to rise. "Stay down."
Rhia leaned back down. She didn't have a gun, didn't trust her aim now even if she did. And she might get one good biotic attack off at best, and would have to make it count. Ash could definitely take two of them, but the doctor would get shot almost certainly unless the man holding her was the first one taken out, and Ashley wouldn't risk that shot unless she had no other option. Which meant Rhia had to do it. Oh boy. This is going to hurt.
She pulled herself back into a position she could see, her teeth grinding against the pain in her shoulder, in her head, as she raised her injured arm slowly.
The door to Medical Clinic hissed open and Rhia barely had time to register a turian in a Citadel Security body armor step into the room, leveled his pistol at the man holding the doctor, and shot him cleanly through the head. The man flopped limply to one side
The moment the turian fired, Ashley exploded into action, burying a pair of shots into the man whose nose she had broken, and simultaneously gunning down her impromptu shield as she dove for the floor.
The last thug hesitated, his gun aimed at the wall where Ash had been, and trying to reconcile the fact his allies lives had just been snuffed out. He finally started to spin, his gun hand swinging around on the Officer. Rhia shouted a wordless cry of warning and clenched her fist, sending rivulets of power streaking from her and ripping into the last gunman. The man screamed as the rapidly shifting and vibrating mass effect field that had struck him rent and twisted him. She heard a series of cracks as several of the man's bones broke, and the man went limp.
Rhia sagged as the world spun, her head pounding, everyone's voices taking on an echo and she struggled to stay upright.
"Major!" Ashley pounded around the corner, and slid under her shoulder, supporting her weight on her good side. "Damn it, Doc! Doctor Michel, I need you here!"
Rhia shook her head, feeling the world slowly starting to come back into focus, the spinning sensation slowing. "I'm okay. Honestly Chief, just get me to a seat." Ashley growled in frustration, probably at her commanding officers refusal for more help, before finally setting her down in the receptionist chair a few feet away. Freed from the need to try and keep on her feet, she finally had a chance to regard the room and its remaining inhabitants.
She let her mind shut out the cooling bodies of the men that had just been killed. A little part of her screamed at it, but she had seen enough death and dying that for now she could shut that part of her mind away until she could deal with it. Doctor Michel was shaking, holding her arms protectively across her body, looking at the floor in horror, periodically brushing back dark brown hair from her fair complexion in a manner that looked both habitual and a nervous tick at the same time. Ashley had slumped on the floor a few feet away, looking exhausted suddenly, her dark brown eyes hidden as she closed her eyes. She blew a strand of hair out of her face before idly tucking it away.
The C-SEC officer was talking quietly to the obviously traumatized Doctor. He moved with the same avian grace that Nihlus had, if a fractionally bit more cautious. His clan markings on his face were blue, running across his nose and under his eyes, and he had a very non-standard looking combat visor over one eye. He glanced over, and seeing her watching him said one last thing quietly to Dr. Michel, before stepping over to where they were sitting. Dr. Michel disappeared into the back of the clinic.
"Major Shepard. I'm glad to see you and Chief Williams are alright. "
"Thank you. I was just about to kick things off myself when you showed up."
"I'm glad you waited for me to tag along for the ride." He said, his tone warm. His mandibles twitched in what she took was probably a smile. "I already took Chloe's statement, but could you two tell me what happened?"
Rhia shook her head. "No idea. We were both in the back. Ashley left to find Dr. Michel, and then I heard shouting. I came to see what was going on, and found the same stand-off you saw when you came in."
He nodded and looked down at Ashley, punching in something on his Omni-tool. "Chief Williams?"
"Doctor had left, saying she would come check on the Major in a few minutes. When Major Shepard woke up, and seemed actually worse rather than better, I thought maybe the Doctor should have a look and went to find her. Found these four threatening her, demanding that she tell no one anything." She glanced at the name tag on his armor. "Specifically, Officer Vakarian, I think they were telling her to not tell you anything."
Rhia blinked up, the name finally clicking into place. "Vakarian. Garrus Vakarian." She blurted out suddenly.
"…yes, that is my name." The alien cocked his head to one side to regard her curiously. "Have we met, Major?"
Rhia shook her head. "No. But we were trying to find you. We wanted to ask you about Saren."
Garrus eyes narrowed a bit. "What about Saren?" He asked cautiously. "I already gave my report to the Council."
"And I heard you ask the…Praetor? For more time." Rhia stated. "If you hadn't heard, they denied our request."
Garrus blinked several times. "I thought you looked familiar! I admit, I occasionally have difficulty telling humans apart, but I should have recognized you. You were part of the mission that called Saren into question."
Rhia smiled in spite of herself. "Yes. I believe the rest of our team headed to C-Sec to report the incident that sent me here were also trying to locate you at the same time." She looked at Ashley for confirmation, and got it in the form of a quick nod.
"The Commander and LT should be –"
Ashley was cut off as the door opened again, and several other officers in C-Sec Uniforms stepped in, guns raised, and quickly lowered them. "An alert went out about a hostage situation, and weapons fire. I take it the situation has been…." The second turian officer looked at the bodies on the floor in what was clearly disgust or annoyance. "Contained?"
"Yes. No civilian casualties. These were all gunmen."
"I see. Statements?"
"Just was finishing now. Please let the Praetor know that I'll have the report to him shortly. Could you notify the morgue while I finish here?"
The other officer nodded, and brought up his holographic omni-tool. "Officer Krythis, authorizing a stand down. Incident contained."
Garrus turned back to Rhia as the other Turian continued a string of orders, presumably to do as he had requested of him. "I will need to finish this, but I can meet you in about an hour if you want to speak about…Sa-" He stopped himself before finishing the Spectre's name, coughing slightly. "About him. Shall I meet you in your Ambassadors Office?"
"That will work perfectly."
A minute more found the two alliance soldiers outside the clink. Rhia pulled up her omni-tool and sent a brief text only message to John, letting them know they were alright, and to pick them up from the clinic before she slumped just outside the door to wait. This had been a long day.
"I am fine!"
"No, you are not Major." snapped Doctor Chakwas in irritation. "You collapsed twice in the space of an hour. And now I find out that you have acute polonium poisoning? And you have been running around the Normandy and the Citadel for the last hour? You Major, are going nowhere."
Rhia gritted her teeth in frustration. "My stomach is a little queasy is all! I feel fine now!"
Doctor Chakwas shook her head. "You are most decidedly not fine. The polonium in your blood stream makes using your biotics an unacceptable risk, unless you want to send yourself into a seizure, as well as interfering with your sense of balance and aim, especially if your blood pressure were to spike, such as in combat. You are not fit for duty, Major."
"Fine." She snapped and turned on her medical tormentor. "But I am NOT staying in Medical." She whipped her arm away from the Doctor "I'll be up at the helm, bothering Joker, since I have nothing else I am allowed to do." The older woman crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing.
"As long as you do not attempt to leave the ship. I will have C-Sec bring you right back if you do."
"Yes, mom." groused Rhia as she stormed out of Medical. A couple of the Normandy's engineers dodge out of her way as she passed, shooting looks of alarm. She ignored them pointedly and stomped up the stairs to the CIC.
Joker was leaned back in his chair at the helm of the Normandy, his almost ever present cap laid over his eyes. At her stomping approach he commented through the hat without moving. "Afternoon Major."
Rhia flopped in the seat to his left and crossed her arms. "Chakwas is a tyrant."
"Oh, I don't know about that. More like that Aunt who always pinches your cheek. Family, but you know, the one you never want to have to visit."
Rhia made a face at him, though Joker didn't see. He could probably imagine though, she guessed, which was good enough.
"So what are you in for?" Asked Joker, lifting the cap up so he could peer over at her with one eye.
"Polonium Poisoning. With all the craziness at the clinic, Doctor Michel didn't finish running all the tests that would have caught it when she took the bullet out, so now I'm slightly radioactive."
Joker raised an eyebrow. "Slightly Radioactive. Uh huh. Should I be attempting to scoot away? Cause you know, that would be a dick move, to make the cripple have to try and run away from the crazy radioactive senior officer"
"At the moment I'm only a danger to myself. Unless I have a gun. Then who knows."
"Uh huh. So slightly radioactive in your case will do...what?"
Rhia sighed and felt her face flush. "I uh...collapsed. Twice. Well, maybe three times, not sure."
Joker suddenly seemed to be caught between sincere worry and grinning. "Uh...wait, you? Major Shepard, Protector of Elysium, fainted?"
"God, not you too. Who told you?"
"I'm originally from Tiptree. My sister kind of hero worships you. I didn't recognize you when you came on board, but it clicked later. "
Rhia sighed. "Never escaping that. "
"Especially not if you fainted."
"I did not faint. I collapsed. It sounds better."
"Dropped unconscious? Uh, yeah, you fainted. "
Rhia briefly considered throwing something at him, but the only things around would have been fatal for the Normandy's pilot. "Anyway. I collapsed on the way back to the Normandy, and again when I got here and was getting checked out by Chakwas. Apparently scared her half to death. So now, I'm here on some lovely blue pills to counteract the radiation, where I get to sit with my hands tied. "
"Well, I'm glad you're going to be okay."
The communication unit started blinking, and Joker rolled his eyes, and set his seat back up to answer the incoming hail. He eyed the blinking text message. "Huh. Apparnetly the the Turian and Krogan's info combined was enough to get that Garrus guy to authorize a sting on Chora's Den. The Commander, Alenko and Williams are going along for the ride. "
"And if I leave the ship to go and join them..."
"I'll tell Chakwas, and she'll haul you back by your ear." He gave her a look she couldn't quite put a finger on. Concern maybe? " Tell you what Major. You never got the full run down of all the toys we have on here did you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Come with me, got something to show you." He slowly stood, carefully levering out of his seat. For a moment Rhia reached out to help, then stopped herself. Something told her that Joker wouldn't take too kindly to being "assisted" unless he really needed it. Together, they paced down the length of the Normandy until Joker stopped at the large holographic display just in front of the Captain's station. A couple of the few remaining crew men on board gave them some confused looks as Joker punched up a communication window and sent a voice only hail to John.
"Commander, its Joker. I've got the Major here, and she's itching for something to do. With your permission, I wanted to demonstrate the Ground Tac-Com display."
+I thought the Major was on bed rest? +
Rhia leaned over Joker so the interface could pick her up, brushing up against Joker as she did. "Yeah, Chakwas and I came to an understanding. Not allowed off the Normandy without a babysitter, so I'm here playing with your toys."
John chuckled on the other end. +Fine. Just don't break anything. Give me a second to get the others linked in. Tactical Channel 2. +
"Affirmative Commander." Joker punched in a few things on the holographic consol and picked up a small one sided visor and handed it to her. "You'll need that."
She put it on, and waited. Then the holographic display for the Normandy completely shifted into a map layout of the Citadel. Joker fiddled a bit more, and the screen zoomed in close on Zakara Ward, and several small blips. He started to explain as he worked. "This basically makes you tactical control. This lets you get tactical feeds, including audio and visual from anyone on the ground team, as well as a map overlay of their position. The VI will extrapolate for facilities we don't have on record, as well as enemy troop positions, concentrations, on top of tracking everyone's vitals who is keyed into it" He watched another pair of blips joined the first three. "Like so. I assume it's keyed to allow it to distinguish between different species, but I could be wrong.
Rhia looked at the display in amazement. Getting this kind of real time live feed was a field commander dream. "How?"
Joker grinned. "Specialized communications set up, coupled with a whole lot of computers. I don't know the exact specifics, but the tech that they brought in from R&D was ecstatic about being allowed to play with it all."
"Major Shepard to ground team, can you all you all hear me?"
Kaidan's voice broke up a tiny bit as he responded. +Loud and clear Major. Couldn't sit this one out?+
"Not a chance in hell. I hate being sidelined."
+I couldn't agree more+ chuckled the turian officer. +Glad to hear you are feeling better Major.+
"What can I say, I rebound fast. I would be there now, but our Chief Medical Officer decided to lay down the law."
+Are we all set on your end?+ Asked John. Rhia switched her visual to Ashley's helmet so she could see him.
"I think so. Five feeds, anyone else coming for the party?"
Garrus answered against, sounding a bit smug. +Not this time. Part of the reason this got approved at all was the fact that I was bringing my own brute squad.+
A voice she didn't immediately recognize popped on, and she started. +Speak for yourself Turian. You didn't bring me, they did.+
Garrus's response was smooth. +Just saying what they were told, not what really was going to happen, Wrex. +
"+ Long as we are clear+ Growled the Krogan. She would have sworn the huge alien was smiling, though his myriad of teeth made it look more intimidating than friendly. Probably the way he wanted it.
"Alright, time to cut the banter I think. Commander, lead on, I'll feed you anything this spits out at me."
+Yes ma'am. Let's move out!+
Rhia swapped her view to John's, and leaned forward over the console, leaning on the metal rail, and waited for the show to really begin.
Author Note: Hey, I stayed on schedule this week! Barely. Next week, or th week after I'm going to fall a bit farther behind. I've been struggling a tad with this next chapter and how I want to do it, and have re-written a couple of variations on it. I'm still not satisfied, but i'm getting more so. Muse hasn't abandoned me, but she's being contrary a bit. So for the next chapter, expect a possible (well probable) delay.
Also, I cameoed someone in this one. Can you figure out who it is? I think it's an easy spot, but I'm biased.
