The Threat That Looms Ahead: Chapter 9: Drive
Shepard had stopped looking at the clock a while ago. He couldn't sleep. He felt restless, even at the comfort of Jack's company in his bed. It certainly wasn't because of a lack of activity. He had been pacing about the Citadel all day. He had no way of telling what was keeping him up. Eventually, he grew tired and left the warm confine of the bed to get himself dressed. He'd spent more than a few hours watching her sleep from a chair across the room. While it was still dark outside, the dawn wasn't too far away. The Wards on the citadel were in a constant state of night, the presidium being the only part that went through a day/night cycle. However, the moving of the Citadel over Earth, had made Ward sunrises a reality, thanks to the native sun of the Sol system. He figured it was about time they shared one. He went and placed a hand over her head and kissed her exposed shoulder. Wake up, Jack, he whispered softly. The woman hummed in her sleep and shook him off her. Come on, get up, he kept his voice low as he walked back and off the bed.
There better be a Cerberus invasion, if you're gonna wake me up, dumbass, the woman grunted and pulled on the sheets.
I was thinking of something like going for a ride and then grabbing some breakfast, the commander spoke his mind freely.
The biotic's eyes opened wide at the mention of a possible meal. She lifted her upper torso off the bed. I could go for some breakfast. Where are we riding to?
It's a surprise, the specter smiled.
*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*' **'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'**'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*' *'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*' *'**'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*
They took a shuttle car across the wards. Jack looked around, above and below. As the Citadel's arms rotated around them, people went about, some going, others returning from work, people out to have fun at a party, a club or simply relax with a drink at one of the many smaller bars all around. She looked at the lights and how lively everyone was, as if this whole war that nearly wiped out all existence had never happened. She stared at Shepard, sitting behind the controls of the shuttle car. He was taking the scenic route and being uncharacteristically silent. On the other hand, she was still sleepy and too hazy to strike up a conversation. It hit her then, that the boyscout enjoyed being on the driver's seat and just making his way around the city. He liked the night in the Wards and the flicker of lights that illuminated the lives of the crowd around them.
Outside felt like a different world. An incoherent mass of objects flying about them at maddening speeds, other cars no more than blurs as they moved across the windscreen, the noise of engines and people talking obscured, muffled, filtered and discarded for the relative silence and order of their shuttle craft. It felt calm and steady. Serene, was the word that came to Jack's mind. It was as if in this entire universe, a being of total chaos, he could bring about order and stability. A constant that had kept every threat she had ever known close enough to be at arm's length, yet too far to get to her. Even though she was grateful for the sense of security he had provided her with, the reason she was with him, run far deeper than that.
As the car made its way past a series of tall buildings, Zero noticed the view beyond the galactic hub. She saw the Moon as it orbited around the Earth, both spheres seeming like nothing more than huge chunks of coal from this side. Soon, the Citadel would move around the big black ball and find itself basking in the glory of the morning sun. Inside the shuttle, soft music played with synth sounds and low drawling lyrics. For some reason, the singer's voice reminded her of Legion, as it chimed in a similar robotic sound. On occasion, a female voice would interject in the song, giving it a different vibe every now and then. Jack rocked her head and thumped her boot to the beat as she seemed satisfied just trying to catch a glimpse of infinity, out the window.
Shepard smiled behind the wheel, seeing as how his mate, in spite of being drowsy and silent, seemed to appreciate the gesture. He enjoyed the ride, being behind the wheel was one of his favorite things. He didn't care about driving fast, making good time or even what the destination would be. All he cared about, was the journey and the people he was with. He wished this one would never end. Then he reminded himself that, if he had a single credit for every time he had wished that, he'd have enough to buy the Reapers out. He took a turn out of the usual traffic route and went for someplace a bit more distant.
The commander landed the shuttle on top of a still rebuilding platform somewhere in Tayseri. Jack stared at him perplexed. There was literally nothing there. Nothing worthwhile, at least and certainly no place for breakfast, like he had promised. Shepard caught the look and replied with a smile. He opened the doors and let the air in. It felt a bit colder than usual. You're gonna want to see this from the outside. He walked to the front and climbed on the hood of the car. His mate, having nothing better to do, followed behind him and climbed up on his lap. The specter felt her shiver. Whether it was just too cold for her or from her lack of sleep, he wasn't certain, but he at least had the courtesy to take his jacket off and cover her up, while still holding her in his embrace. She simply mumbled her thanks.
It was only a moment until she saw it, finally, the thing he wanted to share with her. The black orb that obstructed the view moved away and the first few rays of Sol rained upon the Citadel. As the light went through the mass effect fields that held everything in place, it provided the wards with a harmless iridescence that showered everything it touched. The human biotic was young, but experienced enough to have seen wondrous things, both beautiful and terrible, but out of all of them, this was the one that had left her with her mouth open. She moved her hand through the air and saw it changing colors throughout the visible spectrum. Shepard, this is amazing, she exclaimed. The phenomenon lasted less than a minute, before the the angle of the rays and the position of the Citadel shifted making the light return to its usual dullness. That was beautiful, she proclaimed, still entranced by the sight she had just beheld.
Not as beautiful as you, he mused with a smile. It was a cheap compliment, he knew it, but he just couldn't help himself.
Jack arched her sternum and knocked her head back, looking into his eyes, a frown on her face. Dumbass, she scolded.
*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'**'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'* '*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'* '*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'**'*'*'*'*'*'**'*'*'*'*'*'*'* '*'**'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*' *'*
*Bonus points if you get the song Shepard's playing in his car.
**Looking back at this, it's a really cool chapter. Dialogue is kept to a minimum, while we explore deeper thoughts and feelings of our characters, a glimpse of life on the Citadel and lots of pictures of it. I just wish people could see the pictures through my mind's eye or that, at least, my descriptions fed your imagination enough to generate your own. I wish I could write like this and better all the time. Unfortunately, conflict and plot is usually driven by dialogue and exposition. This was a rare chance.