Sorry for the long wait folks, its been hard due too the work load,but here is the next chapter.
Hope you all like it and a big shout out to my proofreader for the years they been working with me.
Read and please review, I really like to get feed back.
Gods-own
Chapter 21: Dreams of different times
The ride back towards Port Hanshan was a painfully quiet affair, with only the rumbling detonations in the distance to break the uncomfortable silence.
"I don't think I've ever seen scientists run so fast in my life" uneasily chuckled Garrus as he attempted to brake the atmosphere from over the drivers com-link.
"True and it was rather nice that the Commander gave them a warning." added Alenko
"I only think he did that so that the security guards would get out of the way." muttered Tali from where she sat at the over end of the compartment. "It was a miracle that we didn't run into even more resistance on the way to the station"
"Imminent death tends to have that effect on people." I stated bluntly as I carefully shifted the lifeless form in my arms. "I learned that a long time ago"
"We're five minutes out Commander, I'm getting a lot of comm traffic. I don't think they're going to be happy to see us." the turian's tone had a noticeable uncertainty about it.
"If they get in our way shoot them" I coldly ordered, unsurprisingly this didn't go down to well with the rest of the crew.
"You can't be serious!" snapped the quarian. "You can't fire on innocent people!"
"If you've got a better idea then I would love to hear it" I replied flatly as the vehicle came to a shuddering halt.
"We could try, you know just talking to them for a change."
"Gonna have to agree with Tali on that one Commander, diplomacy should be our first option here." stated Alenko as he joined in on the conversation.
"Shut up lieutenant"
"Shutting up sir." He said with a wry smile but even as the man feel silent I felt a small hand gently tug against a ruined coat sleeve.
"What its Liara?" I quietly asked as the reclusive doctor fixed me with a sad steer.
"Please no more killing." she pleaded and for once I had to silently agree with her.
"Alright doctor alright." I whispered as I turned my attention back towards the weightless figure in my arms. "We'll do it Tali's way and I guess Alenko's too." which was rather fortunate because scant moments later the com-link burst into life as Jokers nagging tone came blurring out of the on-board speakers.
"Commander, Commander come in, come on Commander don't leave me hanging here."
"Wouldn't dream of it, what is your status?" the pilot let out a noticeable sigh of relief over the com before answering.
"I don't know what you've done Shepard but the entire ports gone to hell. Security is in a standoff with Wrex and Ashley and few of the other soldiers on board." I caught the uncertain glance that was being exchanged amongst the other members of my ground team.
"Tell them to hold the security back for as long as they can, we're almost there"
"Roger that Commander." cheerfully stated the helmsman as the line went dead.
"Vakarian."
"Yes Commander?"
"We're going in quietly, no fast movements, understand?" the turian let out a soft rumble of acknowledgement as he carefully started the mako back off down the slope towards the waiting garage.
"This will work out Shepard." said the young quarian firmly as we got ourselves ready. "Just you wait and see." I didn't share her enthusiasm.
"Down, down on the ground right now!" bellowed an unseen voice as we trundled out of the APC.
"I don't want to say I told you so Tali" I stated evenly as a phalanx of security personnel came into view. "But I told you so."
"Not really the time Shepard." muttered the teenager as the rest of the ground team closed in around me.
"I won't say it again!" snarled the security officer "Down on the ground!"
"Sod off!" my remark didn't go down so well and it was only the timely arrival of Captain Matsuo that averted a full blown showdown with the locals.
"Stand down!" barked the female officer as she came storming into the centre of the confrontation. "Who ordered you to be here Sergeant?"
"Administrator Anoleis, ma'am." spluttered the turian as he took a step back away from his superior. "I thought you'd been informed."
"Do I look like I've been informed Sergeant?" snapped the woman as she quickly turned to glare hot coals in my general direction; that's was until she caught sight of the limp figure clasped carefully in my arms. "Is she?" I nodded sadly "I see." the captain fell silent for half a second before slowly standing to one side. "You may pass spectre, I won't stop you, and neither will my men." a murmur of surprised discontent rippled out through the surrounding subordinates as they heard this.
"But what about the administrator ma'am, he isn't going to like this." the captain gave disinterested snort in response.
"Anoleis-san won't have much to say on the matter, I just saw him being dragged from his office by internal affairs agents" yet another ripple of surprise. "You wouldn't happen to have something to do with this would you Commander?"
"I don't know what you're talking about Matsuo-san." I countered as my team stepped past the watching onlookers.
"I'll take your word for it." shouted the Captain after us as the elevator doors pulled shut behind us.
"See, I told you everything would work out." chided Tali from somewhere behind me as the moments quickly ticked by as the elevator spared ever onwards towards our intended destination.
"Makes a nice change." I muttered mere moments before the doors pulled apart. "I was getting rather sick of killing for one day."
"Your not the only one." added the young quarian sadly as we stepped out into the blinding artificial light.
The next hour or so just flew by or so I was told, I don't remember much of it to tell you the truth, partly due to the cocktail of medication that Doctor Chakwas forced into my veins and partly due to the full bottle of whisky that I'd been saving for a rainy day.
The darkly distorted landscape stretched out from all around as I found myself standing alone once more in amongst a sea of shapes and shadows.
"Was it worth it?" whispered Benezia in my ear as I slowly turned around to look into a churning storm of faces. "Was my life worth it?" I couldn't bring myself to answer as I felt her hand slowly slip down around my shoulders. "For the sake of the mission." but this self-inflicted torment was quickly interrupted by an all too familiar voice echoed in my head.
"It's time to wake up Toddy, wake up and smell the ashes."
"Wake up"
"Wake up!"
"Wake up Commander!" reality came hammering back to life as Jokers voice drilled its way into my skull. "Commander wake..."
"This had better be fucking important Flight Lieutenant." I coldly snapped as I dragged my bruised body upright.
"Uh sorry Commander." spluttered the pilot as he quickly regretted his decision. "But the Council is on the comm and their rather adamant about wanting to talk to you." my reply wasn't practically professional nor polite but it seemed to have the desired effect as the line quickly went dead.
"I don't get paid enough for this shit." but still like a dog that always forgets I manhandled myself into my dress uniform before gingerly making my way up towards the conference room, with hindsight I probably shouldn't have bothered getting out of bed.
"Is this report accurate commander, you found rachni on Noveria?" firmly demanded councilor Tevos as her ghostly apparition flicked into view.
"And then released the queen!" growled the turian representative as he forced his way into the conversation. "Do you have any idea what you've done?" I felt the anger, hot and heavy bubble up once more as memories recently born came flooding back to the fore.
"And what would you have me do, commit genocide on your behalf?" I countered pointedly as I glared at the disembodied politician. "Because that's what it sounds like!" a murmur of disapproval rippled through the gathered onlookers as they exchanged nervous looks.
"Now Commander no one is suggesting such extreme methods..."
"Don't fucking lie to me, don't you fucking dare!" I jabbed a finger at the stunned bureaucrats as I continued at full rant. "That is exactly what you're implying." the turian let out a snort of contempt as he heard the remark.
"So much for your vaunted dedication agent." commented Sparatus snidely as he fixed me with a cold stare, it really wasn't the smartest move the alien had ever done and it quickly came back to bite him, hard.
"My dedication?" I took a step forward. "My dedication!" the holograms flickered. "How many people do you think I've killed on your orders, how many more will have to die?" the councilors attempted to interrupted me but I wasn't having any of it. "Don't you open your fucking mouths; it's my turn to talk. I even killed one of the few people in this whole blasted universe that I actually consider a friend all for the sake of the mission and you bastards have the nerve to stand there and question my dedication!" the room fell silent as the council hastily spluttered out some meaningless political bull shit that I couldn't bring myself to listen to. "Enough!" the mindless chatterer died away as I turned to leave the room. "I don't want to have to go through this farce again, so unless you have vital intelligence on Saren or his whereabouts do not contact me, are we clear? Joker, lose this channel." the spectral figures didn't have time to answer as I cut the com-link with a snap of my fingers.
"How far out are we from the Citadel?" the poor pilot didn't even have time to turn around before he found himself coming under harsh scrutiny.
"We're still a good five hours out Commander." stammered the surprised Flight Lieutenant as he almost levitated out of his padded chair.
"Contact me in three hours." came my disinterested reply as I stomped off back along the command deck, I didn't even get half way before I started to catch snippets of whispering gossip that were floating through the surrounding air.
"Did you see the Commander just now; I could have sworn that I smelled alcohol on he walked by; he's in a right state." but I didn't care and with every swig of the small bottle in my back pocket I cared even less, an decision which didn't go unnoticed by several members of the crew.
"Really Commander, drinking is never the answer." chided Doctor Chakwas as she caught sight of me emptying the last traces of liquor into my mouth.
"Drinking is always the answer doctor. Just not always the right one." I muttered evenly as I glanced over at the slumped form in the corner of the room. "Has Doctor T'soni talked to you at all since we came back?" the gray haired practitioner shook her head sadly as she gazed over towards the sleeping figure.
"She was understandably distraught when you bought her mother aboard so I gave the young lady a mild sedative and let her sleep in here."
"Thank you Karin, I won't forget this." the woman gave a slight snort.
"I would have done it anyway Commander."
"I know you would have doc, I know you would have" I whispered as I made my way towards the back room, that little, tiny room, which for the shortest of times had been transformed into mausoleum for the dead.
"Do you want some help Shepard?" enquired the specialist softly as she watched me fill a small bowl with water from a nearby tap.
"I'm fine thank you" to her credit didn't ask again and for that I was deeply grateful, this was something I needed to do alone.
"Shepard." I hadn't even heard the door open, so it came as a complete surprise as Liara quietly appeared just behind my right shoulder.
"Are you sure you want to be here Doctor?" the woman sat down next to me as I returned a cloth to a nearby bowl.
"She was my mother Commander, I owe her this much" I nodded in silent understanding as I passed a spare hand towel to the trembling figure.
"Take your time Liara, I can wait." the young asari smiled weakly in thanks as she tentatively began cleaning the dry blood from Benezia's limbs.
"It's strange, when I was young her hands always look so strong, but now they look so small and so weak." tears hot and heavy began running in glittering streams down the doctors face as she returned the gory fabric back to the bowl.
"I'm taking your mother's body back to the Citadel, from there you can make the necessary arrangements to send her to Thessia." the moment stood still, a singular second, drawn out for what felt like a life time.
"I appreciate it Shepard." whispered the woman as the uncomfortable silence came to an end.
"She would have done the same for me." there was a long pause as the young asari seemed to make up her mind about something.
"You and my mother were extremely close, weren't you Commander." it wasn't really question.
"Yes we were, why do you ask?" but she continued on without really listening.
"More than friends?"
"We're we intimate if that's what you mean" the conversation was becoming more and more uncomfortable with every passing minuet.
"Was she happy?" the question took my breath away as I found myself stumbling to respond.
"I don't know, she used to smile and laugh a lot during the time we spent together, so I hope she was happy, I know I was." I whispered sadly.
"I think she was Shepard, at the end she was truly glad to see you, that speaks more about the two of you then you can possibly imagine." it wasn't much but for once I didn't feel so bad about having the good doctor here at my side.
"We're twenty minutes out from the Citadel Commander, better get ready" Jokers voice echoed out of the speakers as I sent a message from my internal heads up display.
"We'll have someone to meet us at the docks; they'll take your mothers remains to the nearest morgue, go along with them, take your time." Liara nodded quietly in understanding as moments later I found myself trudging towards the airlock.
"Hey Tali you busy?" the teenager's flustered response trundled out over the line as I entered the elevator.
"Er just a tad Shepard, engineer Adams and I are down in the sub-level doing some much needed checks on the Normandy's backup systems, it might take some time." I let out a regretful sigh as I remember her telling me about this a few days ago in the mess hall, in all the confusion it had totally slipped from my mind.
"I'm going ashore, do you need anything?" there was a slight pause as I got the unmistakable feeling that I heard the sound of something heavy hitting the floor in the background.
"Er, no we're all fine down here." I raised a sceptical eyebrow.
"That wasn't something expensive hitting the ground just now was it?" there was a noticeably long pause before the teenage quarian spluttered a hasty response.
"No of course not. It must be your imagination."
"Right" I didn't really believe it but I wasn't going to push the issue. "I'll pick you up some dextro donuts or something on my way back from Synthetic Insights"
"Is something wrong, do you need me to have a look at your prosthetics?" I caught the notes of concern in her voice and mentally chided myself for making her worry about someone like me.
"I'm fine, it's just a general check-up, and with everything that we've been through the company has been rather adamant that my augmentations are routinely checked." Tali let out a relieved sigh as she heard this.
"That's a relief and yes donuts would be appreciated thanks." the line went dead and I found myself for the first time in a long time totally lost for words.
"You've been drinking again I see." commented Cedric coolly as he watched me stroll into the R&D lab.
"What was your first clue?" I snorted in disinterest as I took a swig from the hip flask.
"Well besides the obvious, I would have to say a close second is the fact that I can smell your breath through my air filter." I gave the man the finger while proceeding to pull a newly acquired pack of cigarettes out from a coat pocket, much to my colleges disgusted.
"Keelah, don't smoke in here you'll set the fire alarms off." muttered the male quarian as he throw a crumbled printout at me.
"It's an R&D lab, unless I decide to light a chair on fire we're fine." the man gave me a disapproving look.
"All right fine, don't smoke in here because I bloody hate it and those things will kill you." but the remark didn't really cut much water with me as I stuck the business end of the device into a nearby burners blazing mouth.
"We all have to die of something" I stated evenly as the choking smoke stung the back of my throat. "Live with it."
"You can be a complete ass when you drink you know that?" muttered Cedric coldly as he watched me strip off down to my waist with professional scrutiny, well that was right up until the point that my bear chest homed into view. "By the homeworld." my entire upper body was blended mass of bruises of many shapes and sizes, making me look more like a patched up punching bag than a person.
"It sucks to be so popular." I chucked weakly as I took another swig of whatever was inside the stainless steel container.
"I assume that your ships doctor gave you something for the pain?" I pulled a small bottle of whiskey out for the other man to see. "And you're chasing it with alcohol why?" I shrugged in response.
"It was the closest thing on hand." the quarian ran a hand over his helmeted face as he heard.
"Well that's just great." muttered the tech expert as he brought his omni-tool to bear. "I'll remember to tell the medics that when you pass out."
"Who are you, my mother?" I countered.
"Just shut up and stay still." muttered Cedric as he began scanning the verse metallic parts of my anatomy. "Or do you want this to take longer?" I didn't have a response to that so I contented myself with taking a second lungful of nicotine. "Keelah, she really did a number on you didn't she?" whispered my friend as his entire display began flashing with warning signs. "You've got hairline fractures all over the place."
"Well you know Bez always did prefer it rough." I whispered as the painful memories began to surface once more.
"It wasn't your fault Todd, it really wasn't." gently stated the researcher as he placed a gloved hand on my shoulder.
"I ran her through Cedric, if I'm not the one at fault then who is?"
"Saren." firmly replied the quarian as he fixed me with a serious stare. "Saren is the one at fault"
"And he will pay for it." I snarled before dropping back into depressed gloom. "As will I" fortunately for everyone there came a distinctive ringing from a nearby terminal as an all too familiar call sign flashed across the screen.
"Ah that'll be the boss; he said that he wanted to have a word with you when I talked to him yesterday."
"This is going to be fun." I muttered unhappily and it wasn't as the glaring face of my superiors clearly indicated.
"Have you been drinking again?" barked the CEO as he rounded on me.
"Sir?" I spluttered as the figure angrily jabbed a cigar into his mouth.
"Because that the only rational explanation for you action towards the Council!" I ran a hand over my tired face as the man continued my verbal dressing down. "I got a video call for councilor Tevos at one o'clock in the morning telling me one of my top agents was cracking under the stress of his assignment."
"Just a minute..." but my denial was stopped in its tracks by Mr. Coyle as he raised a single digit to silence me.
"I know you're not losing it son, but for Christ's sake threatening the Citadel Council, what were you thinking?" I held my tongue as the figure let out a frustrated sigh. "I'm getting too old for this shit." grumbled the man as he glanced over at Cedric. "How's he doing Cedric?"
The researcher grimaced slightly at the question.
"It depends on your definition of "ok" Sir" stated the individual as he brought up a holographic display of my body. "Agent Andrews prosthetics suffered some damage during the last operation but nothing to serious, I should be able to get everything fixed up by the end of the day."
"Good, do a general services and then contact me again, I need to talk to the councilors individually and try to smooth things over." our superior turned to look at me one more time.
"Until further notice I want you on your best behavior, in fact given the nature of the last few weeks I think you're owed some shore leave." Mr. Coyle glanced over towards Cedric once again. "Give him a week off Mr. Dolan, I'll take care of the paperwork. And you!" he jabbed a finger in my general direction. "I don't want to hear a peep out of you for a whole week, am I clear?"
"Crystal sir." I muttered
"Good." the line went dead.
"Well that went worse than I feared but better than I hoped." Stated Cedric as he caught the expression playing across my face.
"Shut up Cedric."
...
"Alenko pick up, that's an order!" my voice barked over the com-link as I stormed out of the branch office.
"What's the matter Commander?" frantically enquired the lieutenant as the reply came thundering down the line.
"How many crew members do we have ashore?" there was a quick pause as the man presumably shouted the order throughout the length of the command deck.
"Twelve people are not aboard, including the gunnery chief and Garrus." I let out a quiet curse made my way towards a nearby elevator.
"Do you want me send out a recall order Commander?" added the subordinate as the glass doors pulled shut behind me.
"No there's no need for that, just keep me up to date on the crew roster an contact me when the members of the ground team return"
"Roger that Sir, Normandy out."
"I'm getting too old for this" I muttered quietly as I brought up a floor map in my optical display. "At least they can't stop me from drinking." it felt like a there long time until Alenko sent me a status update, which was rather unfortunate considering that I'd been in Flux for most of the afternoon drinking my way through their entire collection of whiskey, a decision that I was quickly regretting in no small part to the suited figure that was glaring at me angrily from across the bar. "Yo." in hindsight it probably wasn't the best chose of words.
"Don't 'yo' me!" snapped the teenager as she came storming over. "Do you have any idea how worried I was when I got the call from Mr. Dolan, I thought that something terrible had happened, but no here you are drinking yourself under the table you stupid bosh'tet!" I allowed the comment to wash over me as I took a deep sip of my drink.
"Last time I checked there wasn't any law saying I couldn't get drunk on shore leave."
"But you're not on shore leave." countered Tail sharply.
"As of four hours ago I am." I coolly replied, rather understandably this was met with a look of disbelieving skepticism.
"You, on vacation," I grimaced ever so slightly at the words. "seriously?"
"Seriously, now will you stop yelling?" I don't think the teenager quiet knew how to handle this information, but as long as she wasn't shouting alien obscenities at me I didn't mind.
"So what's the plan now?" enquired the teenager as she looked around uncertainly.
"Well I was going to have another drink, care you join me?" it took my colleague a noticeably long time to make up her mind.
"Alright, but just the one." stated the figure as she dropped onto the stool next to me.
"What do you want a fruit juice or something?" I meant it with all sincerity, though extremely quickly I got the distinct impression that it wasn't received as such by the way that the young woman buffed out her chest unhappy.
"I'm not a child Commander, I can drink alcohol if I want!" snapped Tali as she glared at me through her visor.
"I made no insinuation of such, this isn't a contest and you don't have to prove anything to me" I let a small smile slip across my face. "You've already earned my respect" the teenager let out a tiny squeak from next to me as she heard this. "But if you want something with more of a mature taste then I think we can give it a shot" I glanced over towards the volus that was keeping bar. "Hay Doran got any quarian liquor back there?" the stumpy individual looked up from a bag of mixed nuts.
"Unfortunately no, it's rather...expensive and I haven't found...a new supplier in quite...a while"
"Well do you have anything like quarian alcohol then?"
"I have a cocktail recipe invented...by a quarian" replied the barkeep as he began pulling a bewildering array of bottles out from under the counter. "Will that do?"
"That will do fine, thank you" spluttered the woman nervously as she began fidgeting with her hands.
"I knew a guy a few years back...one of your lot...I believe that he was...on a "pilgrimage" or something...he'd come up with the recipe after visiting...Palaven." as he said this the stumpy individual continued to pour what looked like the contents of several bottles into a nearby blender.
"Er this isn't going to kill me is it?" uncertainly enquired the teenager as she court site of yet another unidentified liquid being poured into the almost phosphorescent mixture.
"I have no idea." I replied "should be fun to watch though"
"You're not helping." snapped Tali sharply as she shore the evil grin plastered all over my features.
"Never meant to." but the friendly banter quickly died away as we both watched as the barman carefully made his way over towards us with said drink in question.
"Is it supposed to be frothing like that?" spluttered the woman as she gingerly reached out to take it, only to be brought to a halt by my hand grabbing tightly around her elbow.
"Are you sure you want to do this Tali?" I glanced at the steaming concoction. "All joking aside this could end up with you needing to go to hospital, are you sure?"
"Isn't that why you're here Shepard, in case it all goes wrong?" I grimaced as I heard this.
"Thanks for reminding me." I pulled a straw out from its plastic wrapping. "Remember small sips, take your time and try not to pass out"
"It can't be that strong." chuckled the teenager nervously as she slipped the drinking utensil into her helmets mouth piece.
"Don't bet on it" I stated uncertainly as I watched the girl take a tentative taste of the potent brew, it was subtle at first like a raising summer tide but before longer it came hammering down hard, sending a shuddering wave thundering through the female figure.
"Keelah I think I've gone blind." whispered Tali hoarsely as she waved a hand in front of her face. "And I can't feel my tongue." I couldn't help but let a small snort slip from between my lips as I watched my colleague crumble up over the counter top. "What's so funny?" slurred the girl.
"You're drunk." I replied smugly as I downed another glass of whisky. "And only after two sips"
"Smug bosh'tet"
"That I am" we broke into snorting laughter as soon as I said this.
"It's nice to see you smile again." giggled the quarian drunkenly.
"I didn't realize that I'd ever stopped." I remembered slurring.
"You did, ever since we went to Zhu's Hope you stopped smiling." A quiet silence descended on the conversation after that.
"Do you know what the worst thing in the world is?"
"What?" spluttered the confused companion as her pickled brain desperately attempted to restart itself.
"I said do you know what the worst thing in the world is?"
"Too take another life?" I smiled sadly at the reply.
"Doing the right thing for the wrong reasons." the alcohol stung the back of my throat as I paused for half a second.
"I don't understand." whispered the girl as she glanced at me hesitantly. "What do you mean wrong reasons?" I let out a frustrated sigh as I ran a hand across my face.
"Why do you think we're on this mission?" I watched as she thought the question over.
"Because we have to save the galaxy?"
"And that would be the answer of nearly everyone on board the Normandy." I took a deep breath. "Except for me." the bottle rang empty as I let it drop back down onto the counter.
"I'm not here because I want to save the galaxy, or to avenge the death of my friend; I'm not even here to follow orders," the room had fallen totally silent. "I'm here because I'm getting paid; it's as simple as that." Tali shook her head in denial.
"I don't believe that for a moment" stated the woman forcefully. "You're a good person Shepard, I know it"
"I wish I could have your optimism." I replied calmly "But in my experience only the good ones die and I intend to live for a long, long time."
"Then I'll just prove you wrong." sleepily whispered the quarian as she slowly passed out on my shoulder.
"Heh. Good luck with that." I softly muttered.
...
The alarm flashed loud on my heads up display, forcing me to sit up, groaning all the while.
"Why did I leave that thing on?" but any further grumbling were quickly brought to a stumbling halt as the mother of all migraines came sauntering of the hill. "I really got to stop drinking so much." I whispered softly as made a beeline towards the sick bay, only to be meet by the glaring features of Doctor Chakwas.
"Enjoying yourself I hope?" coolly demanded the physician as she fixed me with an ice steer.
"I did right up until I walked in here" I replied as I found my attention being drawn towards the seemly sleeping form in the corner of the room. "She ok?" Chakwas snapped here gaze away from me for the briefest of moments.
"She's extremely hung over, I've given her a sedative and advised the young lady to get some rest; unlike you, she follows a doctors advice." the gray haired woman let out a disapproving huff as she returned to her desk. "How much did you give her to drink exactly?" I ran a hand over my face.
"One glass."
"What, really, what the hell was in it?" enquired the stunned specialist as she raised a disbelieving eyebrow.
"I don't know, but it was literally glowing" Chakwas grimaced understandingly.
"That was probably a bad sign." she added.
"Yes, I thought so as well" unfortunately the conversation was brought to a rather violent end as the lingering pain in my temple flashed.
"Migraine?" I forced an uncomfortable smile.
"Wow, with that kind of deductive reasoning you could be a detective." the good doctor shook her head disapprovingly.
"There are other ways to spend your free time you know." chastised the woman evenly.
"And when I find one that works better I'll let you know." I replied as she handed me several blue pills. "Regular strength?"
"Regular strength." stated the physician as I downed the pain medication like tick tacks. "I would advise you getting some rest but we both know that won't happen"
"I wouldn't bet money on that doc" came my reply as I made my way back towards my ever so tempting bed; unfortunately the opportunity was crushed flat as the overhead speakers blared out an all too familiar tone.
"Commander you've got a priority call from Admiral Hackett, I've sent it to your private terminal."
"You're doing this on purpose aren't you Joker?" I muttered bitterly as I stomped off towards my quarters.
"I love you too Commander." chucked the pilot as he hung up on his end.
"I really hate that man sometimes." but my angry grumbling was sharply dropped as the unmistakable outline of the Admiral flashed across the waiting screen.
"Commander."
"Haven't you heard sir I'm on shore leave." I replied sarcastically, the man fixed me with a knowing look.
"When you're on the Alliances' payroll you don't get the luxury of breaks." stated the old soldier. "We both know that." I snorted disinterestedly as I glanced at the figure on the over side of the screen.
"I take it that this isn't a social call."
"A situation has developed that requires your personal attention."
"When doesn't it?" I countered. "Look Admiral I'd love to help but can't you just deploy the N7? I have a lot on my plate already."
"It's about Akuze."
...
"Get this ship moving!" the order reverberated down the length of the ship as I came storming out onto the command deck.
"Commander?" stammered the surprised Pressly as he tore his attention away from the glowing control panel.
""You heard the order executive officer, Get. This. Ship. Moving."
"But it's not possible sir, we still have crew ashore and Citadel air traffic control hasn't authorized us to depart." stated the gray haired man uneasily as I thundered passed him.
"You've got fifteen minutes, if they're not on board we leave them, and if we don't get authorization we leave anyway. Am I clear Mr. Pressly?"
"Crystal sir." spluttered the officer as he saluted. I had to give him credit, he composed himself rather quickly.
"Then get to it!" the man throw up a near textbook salute before barking out a ear shattering series of instructions.
"Joker!" the helmsman almost levitated out of his seat in surprise. "Plot a course for the planet Ontarom in the Newton system, I'm uploading the coordinates now." the pilot raised a skeptical eye brow.
"Like to tell me why?" he asked in an obviously irritated tone.
"Because I'm telling you to." was my forceful response as I lowered myself until I was mere millimeters away from his face. "Good enough for you flight lieutenant?" there was an unmistakable edge to the question which didn't go unnoticed by the unfortunate individual in front of me.
"Just dandy." spluttered the subordinate as he quickly brought up the nav map "No problems whatsoever"
"Good" I didn't even bother to glance back over my shoulder as I stomped back down towards the crew deck. "Now hear this, all crew prepare for immediate departure, I repeat prepare for immediate departure!" moments later I caught site of maybe half a dozen alliance personal coming sprinting up the winding staircases in a multitude of disheveled states as my order echoed out over the ships inter-com.
"Commander what in heaven's name is going on?" Doctors Chakwas's voice snapped my attention back to reality as I heard her voice over my ear piece.
"I need Tali up and in engineering asap doctor, can you manage that?" there was a long pause before she answered.
"I can give her an extremely mild stimulant, which will counter the sedative and help her to wake up, but I want it on record that I do not approve of this decision"
"Duly noted." I replied as I marched towards the cargo bay elevator, the descant as ever was tedious beyond belief and I was deeply grateful when it eventually creaked open.
"I take it something is going on judging by the look on your face Shepard." chuckled Wrex as he looked up from the workbench as he heard the door open.
"Get your gear together; I want you and the rest of the ground team ready to go as soon as I say the word" the mercenary nodded in silent knowledge. "Make sure that everyone knows" I didn't bother to continue the conversation as there came a persistent ping from my omni-tool. "Looks like Pressly's fifteen minutes are up." I pressed a finger to my ear piece.
"Executive Officer." I said, opening a com line to my second in command.
"Sir?"
"How many people are we missing?" there was there slightest of pauses before the unseen speaker responded.
"Six couldn't make it back before we departed."
"Get them to report to the embassy, they can wait there until we get back." I ordered.
"Sir I strongly disagree with this course of action." countered the second in command as I turned back towards the elevator.
"I am giving you a direct order." I bellowed as I heard the doors clamp shut behind me.
"Understood Commander."
Once again thank you for reading this work, hope you enjoyed it.
please let me know what you think.
Sincerely Gods-own.