Ch. 20
The best way to divulge a secret is to tell someone not to say anything about it.
Charles Fleischer, TED Talk: All things are Moleeds, February 2005
"I hope Shepard appreciates this," Liana says on the way to Peak 15.
"It doesn't matter if she does or not," I say, "she's my friend and she's in trouble, and no one has ordered me to do it," I grin behind my helmet.
"Sir, we are receiving some broken communications," the driver of this particular vehicle says.
"Put it on," I say. He pushes a few buttons and I notice a small TV screen scroll up. It flashes and we are looking to the inside of the Mako, Liara driving Tali bandaging the Commander.
"To any- we- ackup," Liara's voice fades in and out of the transmission. I get the message it's a call for help.
"Punch it," I order the driver. I feel a slight shift as we accelerate. "Can we respond to this message," I ask.
"No sir, we are receiving, but something's messing with our outbound communications," the driver says.
"Do you know how far they are," I ask.
"They seem to be returning from the Peak 15 tram station," the driver replies.
"Why are they in trouble then," I ask. Shouldn't all the geth be dead.
"I don't know sir," he replies.
"If we get there in time to rescue them I'll give you 100,000 credits," I offer. I feel us accelerate wildly. I look out a window, all this snow and no snow men.
"Sir, we are receiving the message better," the driver says.
"To any friendlies in the area, we need, backup," Liara voice says clearly, I hear an explosion and the message cuts out.
"Hit it now," I shout, I hear the turret whir and move about as a staccato of fire begins pouring out.
"How the hell did geth get here," the driver shouts, over the gunfire.
I reach out to the door, "I've got a plan," I shout to Liana. "I hope," I say to myself. I pull the door open and jump out, I hit the ground in a roll I rise up dusting off snow. "Shepard," I shout into my helmets comm I hear nothing, but static and the wind. "I'm on my way Shepard," I say to myself. I take off at top speed towards the battle. I see Tali outside working on the Mako while Liara covers her. I see a pair of armatures sight them, "Driver hit them," I shout hoping he can hear. I see my transport shoot by and ram into an armature, "glad I got a crazy one," I say to myself. Geth troopers begin moving in on the Mako when my transport arrives and pushes them back. I find a section of the mountain I can climb, "ok time to work on that fear of heights," I say to myself working my way up the cliff, "don't look down," I repeat to myself on the way up. I manage to reach a ledge without any complications. I pull out my sniper rifle and begin sighting geth. I get one in my cross-hairs the rifles computer adjusting for wind and distance, I slowly exhale and squeeze the trigger. I'm rewarded with the sight of this particular geth pitching over, I continue calmly whilst the two vehicles turrets take down the armatures. A short while later I start feeling the cold creep in through the suit. "I guess this means that this suit isn't all it's cracked up to be," I say trying to make my way down the mountain to the two vehicles. I reach the bottom, "Shepard," I say into my comm, "can you hear me now."
"Will," I hear Shepard's voice say over the comm, "you've got a lot of explaining to do."
"How about I save your life first," I say laughing.
"What's so funny," She asks a little mad it sounds.
"I'm just glad you're all alright Commander," I say back.
After the cleanup is finished I get my chance to talk to Shepard, her wounds had been treated, which will most likely entail a long speech of some kind. "Will," Shepard begins, "I gave you an order to stay on the Normandy."
"I'm sorry," I say without any remorse.
"Why were you out here," Shepard asks sharply like a commander, her face softens a bit, "not that I'm not grateful."
"To save your life," I say obviously.
"How did you know my life needed saving," She asks, "if you don't tell me the truth this time you can just stay at the spaceport."
"I'll tell you that much at least," I say, "not from any threats, but because you deserve to know."
She pulls me towards the Mako, "Liara, Tali, me and Will need to talk," she says kicking them out.
"I have...," I shift around, this will make me seem insane, "dreams."
"Dreams..." Shepard asks.
"When I go to sleep I see some event in our future," I reply, "I saw Tali getting hurt on Therum, I saw you guys driving back wounded, I saw Liana getting hurt on Eden Prime."
"How do you have these dreams," She asks.
"I don't know how I see these things, I haven't even figured out the rules that they follow," I say, "I had thought events had to include me but I don't know anymore."
"Why didn't you tell me about these dreams," Shepard asks.
"I was afraid you'd respond to my dreams the same way the council responded to yours," I say, "worse actually yours have a reason mine don't."
"I would have believed you," She says.
"Yeah I guess you would have," I say.
"Will if you ever disobey an order again," She starts.
"Without good reason," I ask.
"After we get back I expect you to report on your dreams from now on," Shepard says.
"Shepard two things," I say to her.
"What Will," Shepard asks.
"One please don't tell the others," I say to her, "I'd rather they didn't think I could tell their fortune."
"And."
"Two is thanks," I say hugging her.
"How did you get off the Normandy," she asks suddenly.
"Let's see..." I say trying to, "I knocked out the guard by the door, and I may have made a veiled threat to Joker."
She sighs, "I had hoped you had snuck off," she says, "this will be a lot harder to explain away to the others."
"Your smart," I say to her, "you'll think of something."
"Will," she says.
"Yes ma'am," I respond.
"My order about the Normandy is standing, after we get back you don't leave it," She says back with the Commander look of seriousness.
"Yes ma'am," I answer. "So what'd you find," I ask her.
"A no longer extinct species, a brainwashed asari matriarch, and the Mu relay," she says.
"Busy day," I say with a smile, then I frown suddenly, Virmire...