CHAPTER 11
"She's been in there, for what... a week?" Commander James Vega of the Normandy leaned against the wall near the elevator, crossing his arms. He didn't look like it, though. Despite his rank, he still wore a plain shirt and standard-issue tactical pants. Well, he barely even wore even that; his shirt was obviously strained, in a half-hearted attempt to contain his muscles.
"She is grieving, Muscles," the ship's AI said, stating the obvious. "Traynor gave me her file. She lost her mother during the war. The asari who provided her emotional support just killed her father. I believe this particular period of mourning will extend past a single week."
Vega made a face. "Well, yeah. I know that. And don't call me Muscles. You say it weird."
"Well, your muscles are ridiculous," the ship's pilot, Joker, pointed out.
The Commander rolled his eyes. "Look, it's fine when some sexy lady's sayin' it, but coming from you, Joker? You don't mean it. It... hurts my feelings."
The pilot snorted. "Ha ha."
Vega grinned. "I mean, you're hot, EDI – but you're obviously not into real men. You know... macho... and hot."
Joker punched Vega's shoulder. "Can it, Muscles."
"Was that supposed to hurt, Shrimpy?"
"You know, she can hear us," EDI informed them.
"Who can?"
"Rosemary Fletcher and the children with her," EDI said, looking smug. "CARD is with Oliver. He has taken a liking to him, and has been broadcasting everything to the room."
The Commander immediately stood up straighter. "Oh, come on, now. That's just creepy."
It was Joker's turn to make a face. "I still think CARD's a stupid name."
EDI cocked her head. "Communications Access and Remote Directory is a fitting designation for this particular AI."
"His name's still CARD. I just think it's weird."
Vega shuddered. "You know what's weird? You two having a baby and naming it CARD."
Joker shrugged. "Technically, EDI did all the work. She created his programming all by herself."
EDI frowned. "While we have consummated our relationship, our mating had yet to produce an offspring. Although, given recent information, a hybrid child is possible."
Vega just stared. "What?"
"I scanned Jeff's brain, and merged randomized personality traits from both of us. Using myself as a template, I inputted that data to produce CARD. I thought you would like the name. It is a tribute to your familiar name: Joker."
Vega laughed. "She's got you there, Shrimpy. Heh... CARD... It's not funny, but still kinda funny." Then he looked mildly disturbed again. "But still... an AI making another AI?"
"He is our baby," EDI said simply.
Joker smiled and put his arms around EDI's waist. "That he is."
"Ugh! Get a room!"
XOXOXOXO
Rosemary smiled for the first time in a week. The exchange between the ship's pilot, Commander, and AI was quite amusing.
She stretched out on the bed and looked at the ceiling. She'd been on the Normandy for a full week now. Dad's... gone. Her heart hurt. He'd died just when it had seemed he'd finally come to his senses. She turned her head to look at the table next to the bed, where the urn containing her father's ashes rested. That was all that was left of him. Just... ash. She felt like crying, but she'd run out of tears some time ago. Curling in on herself, she closed her eyes. The skin around her eyes were raw, and red. She was just... so... tired.
It had been nice of Commander Vega to give up his cabin. He was an intimidating giant of a man, but sweet. She put her arm around the curled form of her brother. He had fallen asleep, crying his little heart out again. Looking at him, she knew... she couldn't just give up. She looked at Oliver and at Keeya, sleeping next to him. Keeya had fallen asleep hugging Oliver, trying to take away his pain. She had to keep going... for them.
Knowing what she had to do, Rosemary got up.
"Do you want to see more," A young, synthetic voice asked.
Rosemary smiled at the metallic orb floating a little above her head. "No thanks, CARD. I appreciate it, though." She'd asked the AI for a virtual tour of the ship, not to eavesdrop on a private conversation – but he had gotten bored. He really was like a child, she thought, smiling to herself.
She went to the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror. I look like crap. She breathed in her hand and sniffed. Ugh. I smell like it, too.
She showered, lotioned, and put on one of her clean black dresses. She dipped her fingers in the jar of coconut oil Lieutenant Cortez had thoughtfully procured for her and ran the oil through her hair. Running a wide-tooth comb through her curls, she started to relax. She looked at herself in the mirror again. Much better. With her curls tamed and shining, she felt much better – like she could face the world again.
Determination was all well and good, but how would she do it? Her whole world had been up-ended. She didn't know who to trust. First Balint, then K'Mohi, who had spied on her... then Saeli. Just thinking about the Justicar heated her blood with rage. She closed her eyes and focused her breathing. Breathe... just breathe.
Saeli T'Garu had never been her friend. What she was – was a monster.
Rosemary had talked to one person that week – Yadai K'Mohi. She had dragged the ugly truth from her – of how exactly her father had died. Saeli had thrown her father's guards like rag dolls, breaking their bodies against the walls of the townhouse. She... had smashed her father's skull into the pavement just outside the door. When she had heard that – she'd had to be held down by K'Mohi and Vega. From the footage CARD had so kindly provided her, she'd seen herself... go crazy. Her eyes had flashed green, then purple and the sound that had ripped from her own throat... She hadn't recognized herself. She had sounded like a raging beast... angry... and pained.
Oliver was still in shock. Losing their father had devastated him, but he had overheard K'Mohi telling Rosemary how he had died – and it had broken him. Saeli had been like an older sister to Rosemary, but she had been like a second mother to Oliver. It chilled Rosemary to the bone, thinking of how often Saeli had babysat Oliver over the years.
Rosemary leaned on the sink, struggling to regain her composure. Something inside her had turned to stone – and she didn't know if she liked that.
Rosemary went back into the main area of the cabin and saw Keeya hug Oliver tight. "I'm sorry, Ollie," she cried. No matter what Rosemary said, Keeya blamed herself for everything that had happened. She cried all the time now. Rosemary went to her.
"He'll be fine... in time, Keeya," she told the toddler. She had to believe that Oliver would be fine. She needed him. She needed them both.
"I will be fine, Keeya."
Keeya started crying again. Rosemary almost burst into tears, herself. Oliver was sitting up on the bed, pale... but alive. He looked at his sister. "You're going out?"
Rosemary nodded. "I need to get to work," she told him. He deserved the truth. "We can't live our lives... hiding and grieving. Mom... and Dad wouldn't have wanted that. We can't stay on the run."
Oliver agreed with her. "I want to go back to the Citadel. It's our home, now."
"We'll get back," Rosemary promised. She looked at CARD. "Take care of him, will you, CARD? At least... as well as you can," she teased the AI.
"I may be just a metallic ball now," CARD said, sounding offended. "But my maternal unit, EDI, says she's going to make me a body soon. A humanoid one, too."
Oliver shook his head. "That's still... weird. You having a mother. No offense, CARD."
"Offense taken!"
"It's 'cause you're a 'pooter," Keeya explained to the AI. "We didn't know 'pooters have mothers."
Rosemary smiled a little.
"Your ignorance is understandable," CARD agreed. "But EDI tells me to call her 'mother'. My paternal unit, my 'father', closes his eyes and mutters to himself every time. I believe it's an organic custom."
After checking her appearance one more time, Rosemary left the cabin. She saw Vega standing near the elevator. Feeling shy, she thanked him again for giving her family the use of his cabin.
Vega shrugged. "It's really no problem. Kinda prefer the shuttle bay. I really do. The captain's cabin has always been too... fancy for my tastes."
The cabin door opened and Keeya peeked her head out. "There are no fish! CARD says there were fish in the water box. Where are the fish?"
Vega smiled. "Sorry, kid. They kept dyin' on me after the VI fritzed."
"Stay in the room, Keeya. I'll be back in a little bit."
The Commander went with her down to the Crew Deck. She was feeling hungry, and went to the mess hall. Feeling intensely awkward with several members of the crew staring, or trying too hard not to stare, Rosemary decided to take her meal to the lounge.
Garrus was already there, drinking by himself. It was nice to see a familiar face.
"Hey, now," Vega chided the turian. "You're on duty, soldier."
"You're one to talk," Garrus scoffed. "Cortez says you threw a couple back after every single mission down in the shuttle bay."
Vega grimaced. "Yeah... but I'm the boss now, right? Gotta be big on protocol."
"Then you're in luck. Because I'm not Alliance."
Vega threw up his hands. "Fine! You win. Don't know why Hackett let you stay on the Normandy, anyway," he grumbled. "War's over, you know. This is an Alliance ship. My ship."
"Yeah, keep thinking that."
Feeling that the argument could get worse before it got better, Rosemary interrupted them with, "How's Imitha, Garrus?"
Garrus blinked. "She's... fine. Well, she's floundering, really. Refuses to open Wakey Brews without you."
Rosemary sighed. "She'll be fine with a little direction."
"Yeah, yours. Why haven't you called her? She's been worried."
"Okay! This has nothing to do with me, so this is me... backing out of the room." The door almost closed before Vega walked in again. "Oh, almost forgot – We need to talk in the war room as soon as possible. Will you guys be done in an hour?"
"Why not? Sure."
"Remember – war room after you guys talk! No calibrating, or whatever you do in the battery, Garrus!"
Garrus only smiled. Vega nodded. "Right. I've got some calls to make. Stay here with Rosemary, okay, Garrus?"
Rosemary didn't want to put anybody out. "I don't need..."
"Hey, it's not easy losing someone. You take all the space you need, but you shouldn't be alone. Right. See you two soon."
Vega left. Rosemary smiled, grateful for the Commander's kindness. "He's sweet," she said quietly.
"Woah, there," Garrus teased. "I thought you were sweet on Balint?"
She frowned. "Who told you... Oh. Imitha." She sighed. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Okay." He didn't say anything after a moment. Then he activated his omni-tool. "Let's talk about Imitha, then. She sent over a list of Wakey Brews' things to look over. It's a few dozen pages long... Let's start with how many plungers do you think she should order? She has some concerns over the rancid nature of vorcha waste."
"Ew! No! Okay, let's talk about Balint! You win!" Nastiness!
Garrus grinned. "I always do."
