MASS EFFECT SOLACE CHAPTER 20
She hated waiting…waiting for the Alliance to finally decide on her fate…waiting for someone to finally accept the truth…the Reapers were coming. The Reapers were not waiting. She had been in lock up for over six months and that was precious time taken away from her. Krysta Shepard had no idea what the Alliance brass was doing in those six months. Were they bolstering their defenses in preparation? She seriously doubted it. Her arguments for the Reapers fell upon deaf years ever since she had contact with Saren on Eden Prime. She always been black and white and clearly the evidence was there. How could one overlook the obvious? Yet, the Council turned their backs on her, even when she saved their asses from Sovereign. They still denied the truth. Now, with everything at stake, the Alliance held her to maintain political stability. Within a few months, she lost contact with pretty much the outside world. Her old team fell out of touch. What were they doing? Did they move on? Were they ready? Where was Anderson this whole time? Would he be present for her hearing? He was instrumental in her argument that she needed to be free. She needed time to prepare…if she had time left. Would he even show? No word on him. James said he left the Citadel shortly after her arrest. Where did he go? It felt like everyone was abandoning her. What about Bray? Did Liara's agent reach him? How did he take the news? Not like he could come and see her. With the Hegemony placing a target on her back, Earth would not allow a batarian to simply walk into the facility to see the race's most hated enemy.
A child's laughter outside caught her attention. Walking over to the open window, feeling Fall's cool breeze strike her face, she saw a young boy playing with toys depicted of Alliance fighters. He was running around in circles with the toys in his hands making whoosh noises as the toys careened through the air. Watching him so engrossed in his imagination warmed her heart and a small peaked through her thin lips. She longed for those days when she was young and innocent. Course, she had a rough life on Earth, living off the streets, but she never heard of the Reapers and had no idea what was in store for humanity and life beyond the stars in the years to come. Did this boy know? Would his parents tell him the stories that were all over the extranet? Did they even believe them?
Hearing a male clear his throat at the doorway, she glanced over to see James Vega entering, snapping perfectly to attention. "I'm here to escort you to the hearing location, Commander."
It was time to face the music. Once last look at the child and then Krysta turned to direct her full attention on the marine. "I told you to stop calling me that, James."
Loud sobbing and medical alerts made it hard for Krysta to clear her mind at Huerta. Ever since Ashley Williams' admission for severe head trauma, Krysta remained vigil feet away from her room's door. That was four hours ago. A surgeon team was called inside about an hour after her arrival and since that time, they hadn't left. Every now and then, a nurse would go inside and then come out to go to the next patient. Krysta felt like she was too far away from her friend, but the medical staff, regardless of her knowledge to the patient and her credentials would not allow her entrance until they got Ash's condition stabilized. Why did it come to this? Was it careless of her to let the Illusive Man get the better of her at the Mars Archives? What was he after? She thought he was there to help humanity and yet he saw her as a direct threat. Even when she left the Collector Vessel intact for him to salvage what he could to improve humanity's defenses. Instead, he kept all the data to himself and would not disclose anything he was working on. It like her against Saren all over again. First, it was Jenkins on Eden Prime and then Kaidan on Virmire. Would Ashley be the first casualty of this war? Who else would be slated for death?
Propping her elbow up on the glass that overlook the Presidium below, Krysta stared down at the small forms of the high-class members that were able to stroll around leisurely through the lush gardens and fountains. "Excuse me. Are you, Commander Shepard?" An asari approached her. "I saw the news vids about you arriving. I'm so glad you are here and- "
"Get lost…" Krysta didn't look her way as she kept her eyes down. Not the person she wanted to talk to right now.
"I'm sorry?" The statement to the asari left her dumbfounded and she stood there.
"I don't want to chit chat." Krysta gruffly shot back. The still struck asari turned away quickly. Once she noticed she was gone, Krysta allowed herself to breathe once more and casted her brown eyes towards Ash's room. No sign of medical staff yet. What was going on in there? She moved away from the window and towards the room again, debating if she should just go inside to try to get any type of update. She hated to wait. Pausing outside the room, she wrung her hands and then decided upon storming in. Before she could take one step forward, she felt a familiar gentle hand on her arm. She turned to see Liara's warm bright-eyed face softly smiling at her.
"Any status on Williams?" Liara inquired. Krysta shook her head silently. "They have the best medical staff here. I'm sure they are doing everything they can to save her." Her soft voice of assurance brought a sense of peace to the situation.
"What if she doesn't make it?" Krysta asked the question of the hour. What would it do to her? To her crew?
"You shouldn't think like that." Liara reminded her. "You can't do anything for her staying here. I'll take care over. Go take a break."
"I don't need a break." Krysta darkly argued. She just felt so angry inside. Ash's injury was a huge blow to her. Just as she was getting out of her hearing, the Reapers attacked the Earth, thousands of innocents died right in front of her, then Ashley was severely injured on Mars. She couldn't let her guard down for one second. Not now.
"I checked this place out. It's been awhile since I left for Mars. There's a new club called Purgatory. Go there and have a drink. I think James is there." Liara smiled at her warmly.
Krysta glared at her angrily. "I'm not here to celebrate, Liara." Her friend was in there fighting for her life and here Liara was suggesting she go down and drink.
Liara pulled away and looked at her deeply with concern. "I was only suggesting that you get your mind off things, Shepard." Krysta could tell the hurt in her voice. Her friend was defending her suggestion.
Taking another glance towards Ashley's room, Krysta sighed heavily and hung her head. Liara was right. She had to get away from Huerta for a bit. All the commotion was going to drive her mad. "I'll be back in two hours sharp." She moved quickly away towards the elevators. She just prayed that if it was Ash's time to leave, then she would hang on until her return.
It took her about forty-five minutes to get to her ship, change into casual attire and make it to Purgatory. She felt guilty standing outside the elevator on the ward floor that housed one of the biggest clubs on the Citadel, but she knew she needed the break. The bad part was that the war with the Reapers was only in the first stages. What would it be like for her months down the road? Her feet were firmly planted on the metal floors and her eyes would not move from the club's entrance. Was this where she really needed to be right now? What about the rest of her crew? She should be prepping for the upcoming war, not dancing or drinking.
Seeing an upset woman in business attire approaching the club like she was on a mission, Krysta decided to follow her to see what the problem was. The approach to the club made the woman feel like she was going out of her way to deal with a problem. She was mumbling heatedly under her breath. Krysta denied the urge to approach her then and there. Purgatory's pounding beat flooded her ears as she entered, and she lost herself immensely in the lights and sounds. People were laughing amongst one another and drinking while others were dancing. Were they completely oblivious to the real world outside? Or were they in complete denial? For a moment, she lost track of the dark-haired woman and then caught her again turning towards the outer part of the main floor towards a more secluded section.
Keeping her head down slightly to avoid attention, Krysta casually strolled by, taking a quick peek at the conversation the woman was having with her intendent. Doing a double take, she froze solid in place when she saw none other than Aria T' Loak herself sitting there smug with Bray standing beside her. Shaking her head in disbelief, she moved closer. This had to be a dream! Why was Aria on the Citadel? Why was she not on Omega? What all took place while she was in lock-up? Aria and Bray both caught her approach and Aria quickly dismissed the woman in front of her.
Krysta kept her eyes completely on Aria, avoiding Bray's. She could feel him staring at her. Her heart racing in her chest. Why was she feeling this way? Why couldn't she look him in the eye? "Aria…what the hell are you doing here?" Krysta could barely get the words out as she tried her best not to be rattled by the current situation.
"Omega was taken from me by Cerberus. See that they let you out." Aria coldly spat out. "I'm not surprised. I knew they would."
Krysta clenched her fists as she finally met Bray's gaze directly. "I did everything I could to warn the batarians on Aratoht. I didn't have a choice." Bray this time diverted his glance away as if he was avoiding the truth.
"I'm sure you didn't." Aria commented, trying to keep control of the conversation. "Excellent timing that you showed up. I was going to send a message to your holding cell, but I'm glad you were able to get out earlier. I want to help you, Shepard."
Krysta turned her eyes back down to the purple Asari sitting in front of her. "No deal, Aria."
"You haven't heard my offer. I know the war you are in is important. I'm willing to give you ground troops, mechs, ships, credits. All that I can muster from the merc gangs that have taken refuge on here. I know their contacts on this station and they are loyal to me." She paused as if she was trying to let Krysta take it in. "In exchange, I want assurance from you that when it's time to take back Omega from Cerberus, that you will help me. A fair deal. In fact, you are getting the better end."
Krysta stared right through T'Loak as if the offer insulted her. She tried to be nice and help others, but now was not the time. She had been ruthless before to get the job done and proved it on Torfan. She had to be that way again. If she didn't, more lives would be at stake, more of her team. If she hadn't trust the Illusive Man before and severed ties, maybe Ashley would still be with her and not fighting for her survival on some operating table. She knew that Hackett implored her to build Alliances to go up against the Reapers, but that was referring to the Turians, Krogans and the Salarians. The major players in Citadel Space. She needed the Turian military, the bulk of the Krogan boots and the Salarian espionage to get her through. She didn't need Aria and a few measly merc bands. Most of whom she tore apart on Omega when she rescued Garrus. For once, Aria was in an awkward position and to be simply, she was begging for aid because she didn't have the resources. She needed help and didn't want to be direct. For now, Krysta would make her sweat and only accept the deal when it was the right time for her; not on Aria's terms. A crooked smile went across her lips. She waited to make Aria squirm. "No deal." She turned and left the club, not looking back. She spent too much time away from Ash. She needed to get back to her.
Bray didn't like the change in Krysta's face. He knew she was guarded on Omega, but it was a façade. This time, he could see the pure enjoyment of turning down Aria T' Loak. Omega didn't mean much to Shepard, he would admit, to the terms of saving her homeworld, Earth, but innocent lives were at stake. Omega's stronghold only solidified Cerberus' position and gave them direct access to the technology to maintain the upper hand. Krysta should have seen this. Why would she turn it away? He longed to see her to only see a much darker side of her. Did she change in that short of time away from him? What caused it? Was she still held up about Aratoht?
"That was...unexpected." Aria tried not to sound disappointed in the rejection, but he knew that she was. She let the statement linger in the air, as if she was expecting him to make the next move.
"I'll go talk to her." He moved away from his position to follow Krysta. Now it would be up to him. Hurrying through the opening, he saw Krysta outside the club, waiting for her elevator to take her back to her previous destination. Jogging towards her, he called for her attention. "Commander Shepard, wait up!"
Turning her head to look at him, her eyes transfixed upon him, but it seemed as if she was not really looking right at him. She was looking through him. As if he was not there. The doors to the elevator opened and she remained still to let the previous riders depart first. Growling in frustration, Bray quickened his steps and roughly grabbed her arm before she had a chance to take a step ahead. The sudden action startled those next to her and several others scurried to the elevator to remove themselves from the situation. Grabbing his hand, she maneuvered to where she took hold of his entire forearm and flipped him over her shoulder and onto his back near the rail. The back of his head slammed against the railing. "I'm not making a deal with her, Bray!"
Bray looked up at her in pure shock and disbelief by the sudden attack, his head throbbing from the pain. Was this the same woman he believed to have feelings for on Omega? "You don't know what's going on Omega!" He snapped back defensively. "I was there! Innocent people are dying!"
"What about Earth? Have you heard the news? Earth was attacked by the Reapers. So, what if Cerberus is attacking Omega? The Reapers are killing thousands as we speak. My friend Ashley could be dying at this very moment at the hospital and Aria wants me to kiss her ass?!" Krysta growled as she stared down at him. The batarian was tight lipped, but guarded, as if he was expecting another hit from her. His silence made Krysta turn away from her to return to her previous destination.
"I believe you." He called out to her.
"What?" His response to her was vague.
Gingerly getting up, nursing his throbbing head, Bray kept his eyes on her. "An agent of the Shadow Broker approached me on Omega soon after you turned yourself in. The Broker spoke of your innocence. I believe you, Shepard."
"It doesn't matter anymore, Bray." This was the first time in a while that she spoke his name out loud without any type of hostility behind it. "The actions I took on Aratoht didn't stop them. They still hit Khar' Shaan destroying your entire homeworld. We were not ready."
"Blame the Alliance."
"If they didn't lock me up, the humans and the batarians would be in open war." Her demeanor softened as she divulged her emotions that were bottled up inside her. She never had a chance to confide in anyone while she was in holding. Now, it seemed she was unleashing everything to him. She begged for inner strength to keep it together so wouldn't fall apart then and there and cry like an infant. That would be a huge publicity day. Commander Shepard crying to batarian outside club.
Bray's voice softened more to match hers. "Just hear out Aria. Cerberus is the enemy. They attacked Omega and are using it as a command post. There are innocent lives still on the station. Aria is proud. She wouldn't come to you unless she really needed it"
"I know Cerberus is the enemy. The Illusive Man is responsible for what happened to my crewmate." Krysta's voice darkened once more as the terrible incident that happened to Ashley at the Archives replayed in her mind. "The Illusive Man was never an ally. He was just using me to get what he wanted, and he got it. I don't want to be used again."
"Aria is not using you." Bray shook his head. "She can be your ally right now."
"I don't trust her, Bray. I need allies that I can trust. When I leave here, I'm going to Palaven to gain Turian support. They have a strong military fleet."
"The Turians were not always allies to the humans." Bray interjected matter-of-factly. Everyone knew the transgression that happened between the two species during the First Contact War.
She knew he was right but dealing with Aria right now and subjecting to her will was not on her game plan. She had to keep her focus, even if it meant ruining the bond she had with Bray for whatever that was anymore. "I'm sorry, Bray. For now, the answer is still no. I must put humanity first and that means dealing with the Turians, not her."
He looked at her in disbelief. His eyes wide with disappointment and shock. This was not what he expected at all from their reunion. "Then perhaps Aria was wrong…" His voice lowered. "Omega doesn't need you."