08 - Stage Two: Anger

The mood on the shuttle was definitely somber. Everybody was lost in their thoughts or just plain tired. Shepard herself was torn between brooding and observing her team.

Brooding because Ashley. Shepard knew Ash would be shocked and angry, but her spiteful words were really undeserved. The commander supported Ash, they were friends, and she just spit on that. The gall, calling her a traitor! She really wanted to smack her for that, but was glad Garrus stopped her.

On the other hand this whole mission served to unite the team. It wasn't just a mission now, it was important. The individual team members had each their own reasons for being there - being it money, orders, happenstance or loyalty to her. But now they saw what the true danger, the true aim of the mission, and were united in their purpose.

Normally that would be reason for celebration, but… yeah, Ashley. She was livid and she just wanted to scream.

"Shepard? You're glowing" Trev pointed out.

"Yeah, your scars are like Christmas lights. It's pretty badass" Jack nodded.

"How are Christmas lights badass?" Jacob smirked.

He was promptly elbowed by the convict and she then used the same hand to encompass Shepard's scars "Like that."

"I like them" Grunt said approvingly.

Miranda looked searchingly over the commander "They should heal on their own. In time."

"Leave my face be" Shepard huffed.

"Typical. Trying to upstage me, now in scars. Not going to work" Garrus mock-grumbled.

Shepard unexpectedly burst into laughter. And just wouldn't stop.

"It wasn't that funny" the turian said in bewilderment.

"It wasn't funny at all actually" Kasumi piped up.

Mordin squinted his large eyes "Breakdown? No. Head trauma? Perhaps. Hysterics? Plausible."

"Word of advice, prof" Zaeed said in his gravelly voice, "Never mention hysterics in the presence of women. Especially if they're armed."

"Smart man" Kasumi, Shepard, Miranda and Trev nodded sagely. Jack just shrugged.

"Curious, curious"

The shuttle landed softly into the shuttle bay, allowing the ground tem to disembark and stretch. Shepard was fist out "Joker, get us out of here. Pronto."

"Yes, commander" the pilot swiftly responded, clearly picking on Shepard's bad mood.

"The rest of you, store your weapons and armor and take a tour to the infirmary. A mandatory one. No backtalk"

"This includes you commander, surely" Miranda said evenly.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever" Shepard waved her off and stomped towards the elevator. Infirmary actually sounded divine - Chakwas did promise her Serrice Ice Brandy last time she came by. She was tired, she was pissed, and a friend and a drink was just what she needed.

With the head start Shepard created the elevator doors closed before the rest of the team reached it. Garrus widened his mandibles in a turian grin "Rude."

/

Shepard was indulging in the long time soldier tradition of working out her anger on a punching bag. It wasn't working much - half an hour in and she was still supremely pissed. Angrier, actually, than when she began.

Ashley and the Alliance. The Reapers and the Collectors. And worse of all, the Illusive Man. Her so-called ally and sponsor. Cerberus, protector of humanity. What a joke. Funny how their schemes tended to end with human casualties. Unfortunate, to quote TIM.

"Unfortunate" Shepard spat out and unleashed a particularly vicious roundhouse kick.

"Commander?"

The vanguard heard her XO's voice and sneered "Need more of my friends to be used as bait? Or will just regular people suffice."

Miranda seemed unflappable "The Illusive Man sent three more dossiers. One is for your friend Tali. The other two are on Illium."

"You say it like it means something"

"Illium is where Liara T'Soni is"

Shepard turned away from the punching bag "Ah, is Timmy trying to curry favor after his little backstabbing stunt? Strange how I asked about her before and I got a bunch of 'don't knows'."

Miranda shrugged "You didn't ask me."

"My bad" the red-head said dryly and returned to her work-out. Miranda turned to leave but her superior stopped her "What's the team's status?"

"Good. All injuries have been treated and everybody seems in relatively good spirits" the XO reported, "Although Jack seems to think her injury was caused by not being used to armor and stated her refusal of wearing it ever again. Also, that it 'cramped her style'."

"As long as it is clear that she'll have to wear it again when against the Collectors"

"I'll relay the message"

Shepard sighed "Nah, I'll do it. Less explosive that way."

"As you wish. Anything else?"

"Plenty. A bath in a hot spring comes to mind. Pity I only have an aquarium"

"An oversight, surely" a corner of Miranda's mouth quirked decidedly upwards.

/

"Ser Trevelyan?" Mordin spoke up to get the templar's attention that was firmly on a datapad in her hand. When the woman looked up Mordin was already walking away from the room "Have something for you, come, come."

Trev arched an eyebrow at the peculiar professor but obliged and followed Mordin into his lab.

"Had inkling, EDI confirms. Needed new project. Result here"

"What is it?"

"Should moderate withdrawal symptoms. Maybe stop completely. Have dose ready, used Doctor Chakwas' data" Mordin said brightly and picked up a thin tube-like device.

Trev was speechless - embarrassed, confused, grateful but also quite a bit angry.

The salarian seemed to notice "Was concerned. Your blood work fascinating. Seemed a fair exchange."

"What exactly will this do?" the templar sighed, it had been foolish to hope the doctor wouldn't find traces of lyrium in her. After all she had been using it for years.

"Fairly common remedy, Red Sand withdrawal. Couldn't identify unknown element but this will work. Will study more"

"That study shouldn't fall in Cerberus hands"

"Already disposed of monitoring devices. This for my own curiosity"

Trev shrugged, it's not like she could forbid him from it, no matter how she really wanted to do just that. Instead she rubbed her neck to ease the discomfort of the injection and said "Thank you."

"Daily doses for a month. Come tomorrow" Mordin said almost as an afterthought, already absorbed in something else on his research terminal.

The Free Marcher grimaced and left the lab, returning to Port Observation she had claimed as her own. Well, when she wasn't honing her shooting skills. "EDI?" Trev called, not bothering to hide her annoyance.

"Yes, Ser Trevelyan"

"Just what did you tell Mordin?"

"… I merely confirmed his suspicions."

Trev sighed "Well, I just hope it works. I haven't had a restful sleep since stepping onto this ship."

"Professor Solus is renowned for his results"

"Better him then Cerberus I guess"

"Trev?"

"Yes?"

"Will you continue playing chess with me even after you'll be able to sleep?"

The templar chuckled. Cold and merciless AIs her ass, EDI was a sweetheart. "Sure, EDI. Might consider letting me win sometimes though."

"Then how you would get better at it?"

"Did EDI just rib you?" Shepard chuckled in mild disbelief when she entered the room just in time to hear it.

"With her win streak she's allowed to. But I'll make a comeback, believe it" Trev smirked.

"Somehow I doubt that" the commander laughed, "EDI, what's the score?"

"Shssssh! That's private" Trev said theatrically.

"Winner-loser privilege" the AI chimed in.

"Well, that's just rude" Trevelyan pouted.

Shepard grinned "Here I was making rounds to make friends and I find you already have one. I'm sad."

"Ah, always room for more" the templar smiled.

"Good, good. You know, after Horizon everybody is suddenly more approachable. Like we're a regular squad!" the red-head smirked, "Even got personal details."

Trev chuckled knowingly "So you're here trolling for gossip."

"You've found me out"

"So, with what should I regale you today?" the blonde finally got to sitting down, "Hero of Ferelden? Hero of Orlais?"

Shepard sat down comfortably as well "I was thinking in continuing the personal details vein today. Like why, rather than how, you became a templar."

Trev shrugged "That's no long tale. My family is very religious so it's tradition after getting an heir, the spare and a daughter to marry into an alliance, have the rest go to the Chantry. I was brought up to join the cloister but that wasn't my style. Templar training was the only real option left."

"Oh. So you didn't join willingly?" the red-headed commander frowned.

"I did" Trev shrugged once more.

"So you're the fourth child?" Shepard hummed, "Can't really imagine, being an only child and all."

"Indeed, fourth child and second daughter. I have another brother, he did join the Chantry as a cleric. It placated Mother"

"Not a happy relationship?"

"Always was daddy's girl. Never liked sowing and all that Lady stuff so I'd sneak out of lessons and if Father had time he'd teach me the sword. Or my brother did"

Shepard chuckled "I could see that. Which brother?"

"The 'spare', Jerran. Maxwell was too stuck up for anything. He always said a future Bann had better things to do. And Adain always had his nose stuck in a book"

"You miss them?" the commander asked sadly.

"Only Jerran remains. Maxwell and Adain died at the Conclave" Trev said angrily, "I miss him dearly. We haven't spoken for some time even before the war, I had my duties and he was freshly married. I regret not staying in touch more."

"I'm sorry"

Trevelyan shrugged, there wasn't much that could be said to that.

Shepard's omnitool pinged. She exhaled in relief, glad of the awkwardness got interrupted "Oh, a distress signal!"