Ch. 21
Without discipline the Army would just be a bunch of guys wearing the same color clothing. ~Franks Burns, "Novocaine Mutiny," original airdate 27 January 1976, written by Burt Prelutsky, directed by Harry Morgan
We arrive back at the Normandy, and I enter the conference room. Shepard had told me she has to punish me, regardless of the success of my actions, if I wanted to keep my secret. What can she take away I pretty much just wander, sleep and talk.
Everyone turns towards me, "Why did you go off on your own Will," Garrus asks. It hurt me these people are my friends, but I have to have my own secrets, even from my firiends.
"I had a gut feeling something was wrong," I say, "and logically the only person who would be in any danger would have to be the commander."
"Why didn't you tell anyone this," Kaiden asks. Who is it, I start wondering will Kaiden or Ashley die, which one. I usually picked Liara for the LI in the first game, so I usually rescued whoever went with Kirahee's team on Virmire.
"I had to act," I say, "I didn't want anyone to get in trouble for me."
"You brought your girlfriend," Ashley says, "why her and no one else."
"She invited herself," I say.
"You're that weak willed," Ashley asks.
"Liana was a logical choice as well," I say.
"How," Garrus asks.
"She knew which favors to call in, to get us in," I say back.
"Who owes you a favor that big," Shepard asks.
"Alexander Granz," I say, "I helped him out with a problem in one of his investments, for my payment I picked a favor."
"Alexander Granz," Liara asks, "he funded one of my digs."
Good wealthy benefactor established. "He told the administrator we were agents come to investigate several of his investments," I say, "they were quite accommodating afterwards."
"Why didn't you tell us this before we left," Shepard asks, "it might have helped."
"Like I said I'm bad at remembering the favors owed to me," I say, "Liana knows them."
"Will regardless of your intentions you disobeyed a direct order," Shepard says, "until further notice you are confined to the Garage, you may not go anywhere else on the ship without my orders and an escort."
"Understood ma'am," I say guess this means I'll miss Virmire. I'm not that disapointed, it was one of the more beautiful levels, but I don't like the things that happen.
"Now onto what happened at Peak 15," Shepard says changing the subject.
She fills us in on what I having played the level already knew. They had to fix up the tram station, went to the facility, and fought rachni brought back by scientists for use as weapons. Then they found survivors, nuked an underground area, and killed Matriarch Benezia, who gave them the location of the Mu relay, but without knowing which planet it wont be any help. I know the planet, but the galaxy gets saved by following the events as they came so I wont be telling them about Ilos.
"What's our next move commander," Ashley asks, "head for the Mu relay."
"The Mu relay could link to dozens of systems," Shepard says, "unless we know exactly where Saren is going we'd just be wasting our time."
"The commander is right we cannot rush off blind," Liara says, "we need to learn more about Saren,"
"Who put you in charge did the commander resign when I wasn't looking," Ashley says, ooh a cat fight, this meeting might get interesting.
"We're all on the same team here Williams she's just trying to help," Shepard says to diffuse the situation.
"Sorry Commander," Ashley says.
"Crew dismissed," Shepard says, we all head for the door.
"Noveria report is away commander," I hear Jokers voice over the intercom, "do you want me to patch you through to the council."
The door shuts and I don't get to hear her answer, Liana grabs my arm, "I'll escort you to the garage." We walk together to the garage, "Why were you confined to the Normandy in the first place," Liana asks.
"Oh right I never explained that," I start running through various lies in my head but, my mouth says, "Shepard needs to know the truth."
"She suspects you aren't what you say you are," She asks.
"She knows and wont let me off unless I tell her," I say.
"How could she know," Liana asks.
"I'm not the best liar in the world when my heart isn't in it," I answer.
"So Shepard needs the truth," Liana says.
"I'm going to give it to her," I say, "the whole truth."
"You can't," Liana says, "the Owner will..."
"Not know," I say to her, "unless you tell him."
"You're asking me to choose between you or him, don't Will," Liana says, "you don't know what he's capable of."
"I have a faint idea," I say to her, murder, kidnaping, various other unpleasant things. "But if I don't I wont get to go any further," I say to her, "I have to keep going."
"Why is this so important," Liana asks, "why do you have to keep going."
"I'll tell you," I say to her.
"When," She asks.
I kiss her forehead, I look into her eyes, "soon I promise." It just hit me, "Liana today is the 6th day of the 7th month in the human calendar right," I ask her suddenly.
"Yes, why," she asks.
"That means I'll be 18 tomorrow," I say triumphantly, "and you'll be 192, I should tell Shepard."
"Your only 17," Liana asks a little surprised.
"Oh yeah I haven't even told anyone how old I am," I say with a laugh.
"17 is young even for humans," Liana says.
"191 is young for asari," I say back.
"Okay I'm going to go hunt down Shepard," I say to her. I head back to the conference room, I arrive at the ending of a message from the council.
"...keep you advised if we learn anything else," I heard the asari councillor finish before she and the council disappear from the holograms.
Shepard notices me, "Will," she says, "I thought I confined you to the garage."
"Sorry I didn't make it there, I just wanted to tell you my birthday is tomorrow," I say, "so now you know a little more about me."
"Why didn't you tell us earlier," Shepard asks, "we could've planned something."
"Allot has been happening," I say, "we rescued an archaeologist, fought zombies, and that's just the last week."
"I suppose allot has been happening," Shepard says, "we'll do something later for now the council has informed me of a STG group following Saren has sent out a blank message."
"Sounds bad," I say back.
"It's on a planet called Virmire," Shepard says.
"I wish you the best of luck," I say to her.
"Tell me if you see anything," she says to me.
"Sure I'll go take a nap right now," I say with a big grin.
"What is it," she says noticing my smile.
"It's just I usually get in trouble for going to sleep and now I've got a great Commander who wants to know my dreams," I say with a laugh, "it's like permission to sleep."
She stares at me, "Just go to your garage," she orders.
"Yes ma'am," I say. I'm going to Virmire for my birthday, and I can't even leave the ship, well then Happy Birthday to me...