W.i.t.G
What's up everybody!
In the last chapter, Kaidan had led some of the squad down to Edolus in Shepard's place, to save the commander any added pressure. The lieutenant, however, didn't expect a giant man-eating space worm to appear, and wreck shit. Shepard had to be prematurely woken from his sedation, to save what remained of the terrible situation.
I want to give a massive shoutout again to kill-phil, who has helped me out once more! That's two I owe you now! ;)
Let's get to it!
"We're at the Mako now, sir. Just waiting on you."
"Alright Sergeant. We're still a while away yet. I guess we'll get there when we get there."
"Aye, sir." With that, the comm cut out.
'I've got to give it to him; the Sergeant's efficient.' Chris thought, as a smirk broke out underneath his helmet.
The commander's head throbbed with an almost blinding pain, as the large man struggled to match the pace his squad mates were setting. With a heavy sigh, and a roll of his shoulders to relieve some of the tension in his body, Shepard shifted 'Lucy' in his hands slightly before attempting to repress a surging feeling of nausea. After a brief period of silence, the commander turned around slowly to acknowledge his Turian companion on the internal comm system:
"Are you alright Garrus? You seem a little shaken..." Shepard couldn't help the concern that laced his words. Although the man was suffering badly, he still prioritized the wellbeing of everybody under his command before his own.
Facing a Thresher Maw was idiotic in itself; never mind, hurtling at it at speed...
Garrus perked up a little, at the chance to make conversation with his commander.
'It must be what humans do once a mission is successful. It makes a nice change.'
"I'm alright, Commander. Thanks for asking. I just didn't picture fighting a Thresher Maw any time soon is all... I'm just trying to comprehend what we've just done."
Wrex barked out a laugh on the comm system, before he spoke up, his tone elated, "I knew Shepard would find us some good fights. It's even better knowing the Maw was burned alive... You know how to do things in style Shepard. I had a good feeling about waking you up."
Chris smirked under his helmet, as he struggled up another sandy dune, on their way back to the Mako.
"Yeah well, I'm glad you had fun Wrex. Just, leave me to rest next time, okay? And don't worry about it Garrus. You were fine out there. We worked well as team and overwhelmed a superior enemy. I'd say it was a job well done."
Garrus smiled at the Commander's reassurance, his grip tightening on his sniper rifle, as he nodded his head to the man's words, before Wrex addressed the human spectre:
"Shepard."
"Wrex."
"On Tuchanka, once a Maw has been defeated, it is customary for there to be a celebration-" Wrex paused, allowing for a vicious grin to split his lips, before he continued.
"-The one who actually kills the Maw, also has their own pick."
Shepard's face was serious, as he replied, "What do you mean by 'pick', Wrex?"
"The 'Maw slayer' gets their own pick of the women in the clan." At this, Chris' eyes visibly widened behind his helmet, whilst his face broke out in a reddening blush.
Wrex finished his explanation, his grin not abating, "What do you say, Shepard?"
Chris remained quiet for a few moments, his memories hitting the mental barriers he had erected to contain them like raging waters crashing against the flood gates. The memories of finding Lucy... Lucy having been used...
'They had their pick.' Chris bitterly thought, as his body was overcome with his emotions. He continued to be silent for a few more moments, before he replied, his voice quiet.
"We're not celebrating in that way Wrex. We'll never celebrate that way."
Wrex snorted in amusement, unaware of the hidden meaning in his previous statement, "Fine... Can we at least get some Ryncol then? I need a proper drink to celebrate with."
Chris dragged himself out of his inner melancholy, and nodded his head in acknowledgement whilst speaking up, tired all of a sudden due to the rush of emotions, "We're heading back to the Citadel anyway. You can get some there."
"Good."
Garrus could only chuckle, as he spoke under his breath:
"Krogans... Give them something to kill, fuck, and drink, and they're happy."
They continued for a few more minutes, before Chris spotted the Mako.
The squad remained silent, as they continued to approach, not relaxing in the slightest. Rather, they prepared themselves. Wrex scanned the horizons, his shotgun following his gaze, and Garrus scanned the surroundings every so often with his sniper rifle. Chris simply walked ahead, assault rifle in his hands; ready.
Once close enough, Shepard could distinguish the different members waiting at the Mako: The Devil Jumpers had set up a perimeter around the Mako, their black armour gleaming in the harsh sunlight as they stood facing away from the other squad members, their respective weapons poised and ready.
They weren't clear of danger yet...
Chris could also notice his squad mates, sat near the Mako. Ashley was furiously pacing near the APC, with Kaidan sitting down in the entrance of the Mako, trying to talk to the Gunnery Chief.
There was one person missing, however...
With a bolt of panic surging through his body, the commander began to scan the 'encampment' to find the final squad member.
'Come on Tali! Where the hell are you?!'
It was only seconds later, did the answer to his question hit him.
Literally.
With no time to react, the commander was attacked...
Five minutes earlier:
'Come on nehya... Where are you?!'
Tali continued to wring her fingers at her waist in another furious dance, as she once more watched the horizon, waiting for Shepard to appear.
'What's taking so long?' Tali thought, as her anxiety suddenly flared up.
'What if he's seriously injured?! What if he's D-Dea-' The word became lost in Tali's mind, as she got up from her position, and rushed towards Lieutenant Alenko.
Without stopping for a pause as she got closer to Kaidan, Tali spoke quickly, her words laced with a hurried worry:
"Lieutenant!"
Kaidan turned his head around to regard the young Quarian woman, a smile on his lips beneath his helmet:
"What can I do for you, Tali?"
"Have you heard from Shepard?"
"Yeah. I just spoke to him. He's on his way back now. Why?" Kaidan said, as a smirk broke out on his face.
Tali continued to worry.
All of a sudden, a voice deep inside of her mind began to speak; unintelligible whispers came at first, before sentences began to form. Something within her very being urged her to seek him out. The smell of the captain began to fill her nostrils, as the hairs on her body started to stand on end.
She turned to face the sandy horizon once more.
'He's close... He has to be...'
"Permission to go and find the Captain, Lieutenant?" Tali said, her voice completely serious, as her body had a single purpose in mind.
Kaidan sat back, before replying, his tone incredulous, "Why do you want to do that Tali? The Commander said he'll be back soon. He doesn't need an escort."
"Do I have permission, or not?" Tali said, her tone clipped as she rounded on the lieutenant.
Kaidan chuckled softly before replying, "Sure. Whatever... Just don't go too far."
"Thank you, Lieutenant." Tali tilted her head to the side, before turning about face and walking towards the perimeter that had been set up around the Mako.
Getting closer to the perimeter, one of the black armoured soldiers spoke to Tali:
"Hey Chica! Where do you think you're going?" The soldier said, as she turned around to face the Quarian.
'He's close... I c-can feel it.'
Without thinking, Tali replied quickly, "The Lieutenant has given me permission to go and locate Shepard."
A chuckle emanated from the soldier, as her eyes behind her visor continued to focus on the young Quarian:
"He did, did he?" The soldier shouted to another soldier on the perimeter:
"Sergeant!"
A gruff reply was heard, as the other soldier continued to watch the horizon.
"What is it, Ramirez?"
"The Quarian wants to go out and look for the Commander. Apparently, she's got permission from the Lieutenant." The soldier called Ramirez said, her accent different to that of the other humans that Tali had spoken to so far.
'I should ask Chris about that...' Tali mentally noted, as she continued to watch the conversation occurring before her.
The older male soldier turned around at this, and spoke to Ramirez:
"Then let her out."
Ramirez turned around at this, and replied, her tone incredulous. "What? Why should we let her out?!"
"Because she's got permission private. What? Have you forgotten how to follow orders?"
'I haven't got time for this...' Tali thought, as she watched impatiently, as Ramirez turned around to face Tali once more.
"No, sir. I know how to follow orders." Ramirez said, her tone clipped as she stood to the side, out of the path of the impatient Quarian.
"Thank you." Tali briskly walked past the marine, before nodding her head to the Sergeant who had allowed her to leave.
As Tali walked away from the makeshift perimeter, she continued to walk in a single direction; a direction that she instinctively followed. It was if she'd already walked the path before. It felt like it had been ingrained into her memory; like it was in her blood.
After only a few moments, Tali's spirits soared at the sight before her. Her body flushed with relief; a growing sense of warmth and happiness began to take the previous place of her worry.
'I've found him!'
About one hundred yards away, was her target. Her nehya.
And yet... He hadn't noticed her.
That's when primal instinct took over. A small glimmer of her mental state remained:
'What in the name of the ancestors has come over me?! The lessons on bonding never explained a lack of control.' Without thinking, Tali began to run towards him.
'Nehya!'
Opening her arms as she got close enough, Tali pounced.
'What the fuc-'
Chris regained his composure, as he looked downwards, towards the sight of his supposed 'enemy'.
In the place of what he'd thought was a life-threatening and vicious pouncing enemy, was Tali.
Tali had wrapped her arms around the man's waist, and had nestled her helmet into the man's chest plate, squeezing her body up against his.
All that could be heard was the soft mumbling of the attached Quarian. The commander dropped his rifle to the sandy earth of Edolus, as he continued to regard the clinging Quarian.
'Huh. I'll be damned. I won't lie, this is actually kind of nice... I haven't been hugged first for a while... Not since Lucy, anyway.' A smile broke out on the man's face for no other apparent reason, as he wrapped his arms around Tali, the pain in his skull having been repressed for the time being.
"Well. That was unexpected. You alright Tali?" Chris said, as he spoke softly to the young woman:
"Yes..."
With a chuckle that Tali could feel as she nestled against his chest plate, he turned around to regard the bewildered Turian and the amused Krogan:
"It looks like they sent us a welcome party then."
Garrus chuckled unbelievingly as he continued to walk towards the Mako. Wrex just nodded his head appreciatively towards the pair, before he hefted his shotgun in his hands, and relaxed it against his shoulder. Once done, Wrex beckoned for the pair to move in front of him.
Chris nodded his head, before he turned towards Tali once more:
"Tali?"
"Yes, Captain?"
"Uhh... You can let go now." Chris said, as his face began to break out in another reddening blush.
"Right! Sorry! I-I-I didn't m-mean to..." Tali stuttered as she released her grip from her human, turning her head downwards as she bit her lower lip.
The usual niggling pangs of anxiety that Tali felt whenever she was near him, began to push their way to the forefront of her mind, 'Stupid bosh'tet! Of course he doesn't want you to hug him!' Tali silently berated herself, as Chris smiled behind his visor, before picking his rifle up, and walking towards the Mako.
Wrex chuckled at the sight, before he spoke up quietly, "If that hasn't told him anything, I don't know what will."
"Don't you start bosh'tet! You said you would look after him! Not let him get up to fight!" Tali replied, equally quiet except for the cold rage that laced her words.
Wrex smirked behind his helmet, before he replied, "You're welcome." And with that final statement, Wrex walked past the angry young woman.
"Nice going Tali... Now you just look like a bosh'tet. Especially in front of Shepard." Tali said softly to herself, as she began to follow the others back to the Mako.
But...
Although Tali's anxiety began to run rampant, causing a depressing melancholic mood to settle, a spark of hope remained.
This spark began to grow and multiply within her very being, instantly lightening her mood.
'If he didn't want me to hug him... Why did he hug me back?'
With a sudden skip in her step, Tali began to catch up to the others. Running past Wrex, Tali caught up to her human, getting close to him as she usually did.
Chris turned his head, and nodded appreciatively at her before he spoke, "You sure you're okay Tali?"
Tali turned her head to regard the man in question, and couldn't help the bubbly feelings that surged through her every time he was near.
"Never better."
"Shepard to Normandy."
"Normandy here. What's up, Commander?"
"We're all ready for extraction down here, Joker. Where the hell are you?"
"Just look upwards in a few seconds, Commander."
"Acknowledged. Shepard out."
Chris cut the comm channel, and looked upwards into the light brown skies of Edolus.
True to Joker's word, a few seconds later, a loud roaring could be heard overhead as the Normandy appeared.
As everybody had stopped whatever they were doing to look upwards at the roaring sound, Shepard began to ping everybody's omni-tools and raise his hand. He circled it in traditional military fashion, indicating for the squad to form up on him.
Wrex was the furthest away, cleaning his shotgun; Garrus was sat down, similarly cleaning his sniper rifle, with Tali being the closest to the commander, doing something on her omni-tool. Ashley and Kaidan were just stood around, before they saw the signal, and moved over towards their superior, with the other alien members of his squad staying where they were, looking at the man bewildered.
The Devils had already been tasked with loading the Mako onto the Normandy when the commander had arrived, and so were not present to form up.
Chris sighed, whilst a soft smile broke out on his face.
'Of course they don't know what it means...'
Activating his squad wide comm once more, Chris spoke jovially, his tone full of good-natured humour, "Garrus, Wrex, Tali, get over here! If you want to stay on Edolus, that's fine, but I'd prefer it if you came back with me onto the Normandy!"
At this, Wrex put his shotgun away, and began to slowly lumber over to Shepard's position.
Garrus instantly got to his feet and rushed over to his commander's position.
And Tali... Tali was already near the large marine, so she didn't have to rush.
Once everybody was near, Chris simply nodded his head, before turning around to acknowledge the descent of the Normandy.
Once the ship had descended far enough, and the cargo bay doors had opened, the commander beckoned for his squad to go before him, activating his comm to Master Sergeant Rohan in the process.
"Sergeant?"
An instant gruff reply met the commander's ears, "Yes sir?"
"Are you guys alright in the Mako?"
"Yes sir. We're fine. I'll get the Mako on board as quickly as possible."
"Alright Sergeant. We're not in a rush, so take your time."
"Aye, sir."
With that, the comm cut out, and Chris smirked behind his helmet.
'Definitely efficient.'
It was at the end of this thought, that the commander opened his omni-tool to send a message to all of the ground team members. His squad members to be precise. He would give the Devils their debrief later.
Once the message to meet in the comm room was sent, the commander simply stepped into the cargo bay, past the inner shielding that protected the cargo bay from atmospheric de-pressurisation and other technical things that the large marine had absolutely no knowledge of...
Once inside, Shepard removed his helmet, allowing for his head and face to be free once more.
'I really, really don't like wearing helmets. It's like wearing a goddamn furnace...'
With his helmet in hand, the commander hobbled towards the cargo bay elevator, a joy-filled tune emanating from his lips in the form of a whistle, the pain in his head much more manageable now.
'Let's see what the Lieutenant's got to say for himself...'
"Good. I'm glad to see everybody got here in a timely fashion. Let's get started."
At this, everybody in the comm room paid attention to their commander, who once again was stood in the middle of the room.
"First things first..." Chris said in a relaxed manner, as he continued to look at his squad mates.
"What the fuck just happened Kaidan? What the fuck was that?!" He finished, his tone suddenly icy cold and sharp, as he looked at each of the members individually.
At this, there was a commotion of noise within the room, as the ground team members began to speak at once.
"Hey! Shut it!"
At this, everybody went silent, as their commander stared down at each and every one of them, his face impassive.
"Kaidan?"
"Y-Yes, Commander?"
"You can speak first. Then Ashley afterwards; then Wrex, Tali, Garrus, and then finally Liara. Go."
"I'm sorry sir. I-I thought I could deal with the mission without putting any added pressure on your shoulders. I thought that's what you would have wanted. It looks I've apparently failed..." Kaidan said somberly, his eyes meeting the commander's scrutinising gaze.
"We just tried to help Skipper." Ashley's contribution, again under the solemn gaze of the commander.
"I was told to stay aboard the ship Shepard. That's it." Wrex's definitive answer.
"Keelah, Shepard... We, just wanted to make sure you would be okay." Tali's input.
"I wanted to help Commander, but I wasn't chosen for the mission. I was left aboard the ship with Wrex." Garrus' contribution.
"I didn't know what was happening, Commander. I was only informed of the situation once Doctor Chakwas informed me you'd been woken from sedation." Liara meekly finished.
Chris continued to glare at everyone in the room. Everybody except for Wrex melted within their seats under his gaze.
With a heavy sigh, and a large hand being brought up to rub his weary eyes, Chris finally spoke:
"Do you guys know how reckless that was? Do you know how close you came to being killed?"
The question lingered in the room, like an extremely bad smell, as everybody's eyes turned to face the lieutenant.
With a throaty gulp, Kaidan nodded his head, before nervously speaking:
"Sir? Permission to-"
"Cut the 'sir' crap out, Kaidan. Don't get formal with me." Chris said, as he continued to look at the lieutenant.
With a shaky breath, Kaidan looked upwards, towards the man's hazel eyes.
Eyes that were once full of warmth and comfort, were now what could only be described as full of pain.
Pain, and suffering.
"I-I wanted to try and lead the squad Shepard... I wanted to try and take some of the added stress away. You weren't even conscious! The Doc said you'd be out for much longer, but we didn't have time to wait. We were all worried. I-I just wanted to help. And... And I've failed. I-I'm sorry."
Once Kaidan had finished, he looked down towards the floor once more, as the others turned their attention back to their commander.
Chris stood for a few moments, not moving from his place, as he continued to look at the lieutenant.
"Kaidan?"
Kaidan looked up from his position, his countenance displaying utter remorse and guilt.
Chris moved over at this, and placed a hand on the man's shoulder, "What are you sorry for, Lieutenant?"
Kaidan was silent for a few moments, his head hung low, before he replied, his voice subdued, "I failed, sir. The mission turned FUBAR, and I couldn't control it."
"Congratulations, Kaidan."
At this, everybody in the room looked towards Shepard; most of them bewildered:
"You've just learnt what it means to be in a position of power."
Kaidan looked towards his superior, surprise evident in his tone, "Commander?"
Chris smiled down at the man, a genuinely warm smile, "You failed Lieutenant. That isn't something to be sorry for."
"I-I don't understand sir. I failed! I endangered lives!" Kaidan said, as he stood up from his position to face his superior, anger and confusion racing through his veins.
Chris folded his arms, as he continued to have a traditional shit-eating grin on his lips, "So what? Do you think you should be reprimanded then?"
"I-I don't know, sir."
Chris smirked, as he nodded his head, before he turned away from the lieutenant, and moved towards the door:
"Answer me this Kaidan: should I be reprimanded?"
Everybody looked at each other with confused expressions, at the behaviour of their commander.
Kaidan shook his head, before he replied to the closed question, "No sir. Why should you be reprimanded?"
Shepard turned around sharply at the end of Kaidan's question, his smile now full of sadness, as he simply pointed to a position on his chest plate, just above his heart. Tali shifted uncomfortably in her seat, whilst the others continued to simply watch the spectacle before them. It was if, when she viewed his pained expression, his sadness brought her pain...
"Do you remember what I told you, Kaidan?"
The sudden realisation of the situation hit Kaidan like a tonne of bricks, as he registered what the commander was pointing to.
"I couldn't save her. She was under my command, and I couldn't save her from the Batarians. Should I be reprimanded, Kaidan?"
"B-But that's different!"
"Is it? I've endangered lives in my career. Willingly and unwillingly. I've failed so many times, I can't even begin to remember where it all started. By those standards, you would have me reprimanded then?"
"No. Hell no!"
"But by your logic, I've failed."
"I-I don't understand sir."
"I've failed as a commander. I wasn't able to lead the squad down to Edolus. Does that make me a failure?"
"No."
"Do you know why I carry my tags around with me, Kaidan?"
By this time, everybody was looking at each other, completely lost, as Kaidan continued to look at his commander:
"I-I think I do sir."
With a soft smirk, Chris quietly replied, "No, you don't. I keep them around with me Kaidan as a simple reminder. To remind me of what I've lost. They're a reminder of what I fight for. They're a reminder of my failures."
Chris looked towards the floor, before he spoke up once more, "Yes Kaidan. You're right. You failed. You tried to lead the team, and you fucked up."
With a sudden burst of passion, Chris looked upwards, a fire in his eyes as he pointed at himself, "You're wrong Lieutenant, when you say that I'm not a failure! I am a failure! And yet, I work as hard as I can to correct them. My whole life is full of bad decisions and failures... If you think your actions on Edolus should be classed as a failure, then I am at a loss to the definition of what failure actually is. Nobody's dead! We're all here! Look around Kaidan!"
With this, Chris turned around to face the door, his armored fist hovering over the holo panel for the door, before he solemnly spoke:
"So what are you going to do? Are you going to wallow in your own self-pity? Or are you going to pick yourself up, grab yourself by the bollocks, and call this one a learning curve?"
Kaidan was silent for a few moments, before he finally replied, his voice passionate, "It was just a bump in the road, Shepard. I can come back from this."
With a smirk, Chris hit the holo panel before walking through the door, speaking as he did so, "Squad, dismissed."
Chris walked straight from the comm room, and towards his cabin. He didn't say a word to anyone, as he intended to rid himself of his armour and relax for a few hours before the squad arrived at the Citadel. The pain in his skull had spiked again whilst addressing the squad; so much so that the only thing Shepard looked forward to was crawling into his bed, in the pitch black darkness.
Kaidan stood in the comm room, and watched as his superior walked out.
All eyes in the room fell on Kaidan, before a meek voice spoke up in the background, "Should we go and see if he's okay? I-I'm going to go and check to see if he's okay..." At this, Liara stood up from her seated position, and moved towards the door.
It was Wrex that replied first, his usual gravelly tone firm, as he stood as well. "He's fine. He just needs some rest."
Liara began to protest, "I just think that we should make sure he's okay... He sounded extremely upset and distressed. I could maybe meld with him and try to help..."
At this, Tali jumped up from her position, and glared at the Asari, all the hate and venom she could muster was portrayed straight through her eyes... Before Tali could passionately argue, Kaidan rose his hand for silence, before speaking:
"He needs his space. He'll be fine... I'm sure of it."
Ashley stood up as well, before she moved over towards the lieutenant, "Are you going to be okay LT? Skipper gave you one hell of a grillin'..."
Kaidan had a soft smirk on his lips as he replied distantly, "I deserved it. I just needed to be reminded that we all fall down at some point."
Garrus spoke next, his tone inquisitive, "What was that about with his chest Lieutenant? The commander seemed to be extremely upset when he mentioned it."
Before Kaidan could speak, Wrex simply spoke up as he exited the comm room, "Don't pry Turian... It might be bad for your health."
Garrus simply smirked, as he followed after the large Krogan; out of the comm room.
Liara simply nodded to herself, before she too exited the room.
Ashley gave Kaidan a pat on the shoulder, before she left as well, leaving just Kaidan and Tali in the comm room.
Kaidan began to move towards the door, before Tali spoke up, "K-Kaidan?"
Kaidan stopped in his tracks, before he turned around to face Tali, "Yes, Tali?"
"I-I don't mean to pry, but... W-Why was he so upset?" Tali said, as her fingers engaged in another furious dance, her head swimming with different emotions at the sight of her distressed nehya.
'It physically hurt to see Shepard upset like that.' Tali thought, remembering the pain that shot through her when she saw the upset, pained expression of her saviour.
Kaidan sighed heavily, rubbing his eyes with his right hand, before he replied, "Do you remember that talk we had?"
"Yes, I do."
"The one where I said he was 'broken'?"
"Yes..."
Another heavy sigh, displaying his hesitation in explaining the commander's personal business.
Tali picked up on this, "You don't have to tell me Kaidan. I-I just want to try and help is all."
With a soft smile Kaidan nodded his head, "It's okay... I know you're just trying to help."
Kaidan looked straight at Tali, as he spoke, "When Shepard was pointing to his chest, he was indicating to something he carries on his person. Something extremely special to him. I-I'm not going to tell you what it is Tali... If you want to know, you can ask Shepard himself. I shouldn't even be telling you this anyway..."
Tali simply nodded her head, indicating for Kaidan to continue:
"So... When he mentioned about being 'reprimanded', there was an event in his life that only a close few know of... I only know, due to that fact that I used to be a part of his squad, back when we hunted pirates and slavers... We were all warned that he could be mentally unstable, but we found out from the man himself... We were tasked with locating the key organisers of the 'Skyllian Blitz', specifically the attack on Elysium by Batarian pirates and slavers. You with me so far?"
Tali nodded her head, understanding what the lieutenant was trying to say:
"Okay... Well, a major part of Shepard's life was taken away from him during the Blitz. She was taken by the slavers after Shepard had gone on his own to protect a group of civilians. The slavers had taken Shepard's girlfriend. The Batarians had taken Lucy from him, when he wasn't there to defend her. That's why the Commander was passionate when he speaks of failures. He sees his inability to defend others as a failure. At least, that's what I think he meant."
Tali stood for a minute, saying nothing. Her head was swimming with different emotions and thoughts...
Sadness. Anger. Remorse.
Guilt.
Tali stood, and looked towards the lieutenant, before speaking quietly, "Keelah... The Batarians; they stole his m-mate?"
Kaidan looked puzzled, before he replied, "Yeah... If you want to call it that."
Tali hated herself for what she was about to say next, but it wasn't as if she could control herself, "Whatever happened to her? To Lucy?"
Kaidan looked blank for a moment, before he solemnly replied, causing the tension in the room to increase ten-fold:
"She's dead."
They both stood in silence for a moment, before Kaidan simply walked out of the comm room, leaving Tali on her own.
Tali stood for only a moment longer, before she too left the comm room, heading towards Engineering, intent on mulling over what she had been told...
"Commander?"
Nothing.
"Commander? Come on Commander!"
Again, nothing.
"Commander! Get up dammit! This is important!"
At this, the commander groggily groaned; his hand began to reach behind his pillow before wrapping around his combat knife.
"Joker? Is that you?"
"Commander! You're up!"
Shepard snorted, as he released the hold on his weapon, "What is it, Joker?"
The large marine began to relax back onto his pillow, his eyes still closed as waited for Joker's response.
"We've picked up a distress signal sir!"
Chris bolted up from his bed at this, before standing up, his sleepy daze completely having completely abated:
"What's the situation, Joker?"
"We received an incoming distress signal on Alliance channels. It was garbled to begin with, but we managed to decipher most of it. It looks like it came from the Asgard system, not far from Widow."
"Get to the chase, Joker!"
"Aye sir! It appears that an Alliance research station on one of the neighbouring asteroids around Terra Nova has been captured by terrorists. Should I change course for the Asgard system?"
"What kind of a stupid question is that?! Yes! Change course for the Asgard system!"
"Yes sir."
Chris moved over towards his armour locker again, before he spoke once more, "Do we know what the asteroid's called?"
The reply over the comm was immediate, "Yes, Commander. It's called Asteroid X57."
Chris remained silent for a moment, as he began to equip his armour once more.
It was Joker that spoke first however, "Should I inform the other ground team members, Commander?"
Chris simply smirked, before replying:
"There ain't no rest for the wicked, Joker..."
"I'll take that as a 'yes' then..."
So there we have it!
That was a bit shorter than the other chapters, simply because this is a filler!
X57 and some Batarian arse kicking up next!
Do you like what you see?
Leave a review, or send me a PM! :)
Happy New Year Guys! Hope you've had a good holiday season! :D
Come on 2014... Be good to me!
