MASS EFFECT DESCENCION: CHAPTER 26
Days spent on the Citadel were coming to a blur and each day Sh'sk felt worse. His body ached and he felt cold. He knew he was running a fever, but had to push through whatever he had. Since their arrival, no medics had been down to see any of them. Their supplies were limited and they were running scarce on essential items. No one stopped to check on them from C-Sec and it seemed like no one really cared. Everyone was keeping to their own kind. C-Sec officials acted like they were being put out by their now regular walk throughs to make sure there was order. Every day, some fight would break out among the refugees and arrests were made. More and more officers were being placed. Mostly human. They eyed the batarians suspiciously and so did the humans that came from Earth and some of the other colonies that were raided by the Reapers. Sh'sk often had to break his ration in half or skip a meal to make sure his kind had enough food.
"You do not look well, my brother." The elder walked up to where Sh'sk was propped up against one of the living quarters. "Why do you not flag down someone to ask for aid?"
Sh'sk felt his head swimming as the fever was climbing. He was burning up. "Why would any of them care? We are on our own here."
"The supplies will come. They are just backed up right now with all the refugees."
"Doubt it. We are about to run out." Sh'sk felt faint. He tried to take a step, but then collapsed to the ground. He just wanted to close his eyes. He could hear alarm from the others, but their voices were faint. Was this what death felt like? He didn't have time to ponder the question as blackness took him.
The sound of someone new in their camp awoken him from his slumber. He found himself on a cot in a living unit. He tried to open his eyes, but they burned and his body ached all over. He listened in to see who the others were talking to. He coughed as he slowly sat up and then the door to the unit slid open. Looking towards the door, he made out a shape of a female human. She appeared to be with C-Sec and the same officer that came to his aid at his arrival. She moved towards him to check on him and seemed worried about his condition. As she spoke, he couldn't help but try to look at her. She looked familiar, but from where? Then it hit him… no it couldn't be. "Human, lift your head."
The command seemed to puzzle the female from where she was checking his vitals and she lifted her face to meet his gaze. It was her! The same slave that came to Omega and sold to Aria by his order. The same female that he saw working the club in lower Afterlife. How did she arrive to be on the Citadel now and with C-Sec? There was no way that this was just pure coincidence. "Do I know you?" She asked the same question he was pondering. Her blue eyes studying him as if she was mentally trying to put the pieces together.
Sh'sk diverted his gaze quickly. "No. I haven't been here." He quickly spoke and recoiled from her. "Go away." He couldn't let her know who he was. It seemed like she was not able to recall his familiarity and he was thankful for such. If she knew, she may alarm C-Sec of his shady past and then he would be imprisoned or escorted off the station. He didn't know what C-Sec's take was on mercs even during emergency times.
"You are burning up. Why didn't you treat your wounds?" She stood up and opened her omni tool. "I'm going to call Huerta."
"Don't bother. Just let me die, human." He swatted her away.
"Don't say that. I'm going to get Dr. Michel. She will come see you. You are going to live. You understand me?" She pleaded as she moved away to initiate the call.
Defeated, Sh'sk moved back down on the cot as he looked up at the ceiling. How ironic fate was. First, they sought aid from the humans and now a human slave was going to save him. Maybe the gods were not finished with him yet even though it seemed he had a hand in his kind's destruction.
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A few hours later after the officer left, Dr. Michel arrived at their encampment. She was young for a human doctor and had red hair. She approached him with a smile. "You must be Sh'sk. I'm here to examine you. Can you sit up for me?" Sh'sk slowly rose from his position to comply with the request. "Now remove your shirt." He did the same, but slowly as his arms ached. The lacerations were red and yellow puss was oozing from the skin's penetration. Dr. Michel's green eyes first fell upon the Blue Suns tattoo that he didn't get removed after he left Omega. He failed to take it off and never thought about doing so. The acid bath was expensive and painful. He noticed her look and shifted his body some on the cot.
"You going to report me now to C-Sec?" He shot to her gruffly.
"No. I do not care. I'm a doctor and I want to take care of my patients. We all have done things that we are not fond of." She gently touched the area of his skin surrounding one of the cuts. "Not good at all. Must have been a pretty tough battle."
"Heh, too tough." Sh'sk winced as she poked at the wounds.
"I have some ointment that you need to apply twice a day and I will give you an injection of a strong anti-biotic. That should take care of the infection." She reached into her bag to get out what she brought with her.
Sh'sk noticed the female officer coming inside their encampment and making a beeline straight to where they were. He quickly grabbed his shirt, ignoring the pain and slipped it on. He didn't want his secret to be exposed. "How's the patient?" The woman asked with a soft smile to him.
"He will be fine. I'm about to give him a shot and then he will be free to go." Dr. Michel pulled out the syringe and prepped his arm.
Sh'sk looked up to face the woman and ignore the injection. "Thank you, human."
"My name is Andromeda Kryik." She gave him another smile. "I'm glad I could help you guys. I have more supplies coming in this afternoon.
"You didn't have to do that. Surprised that humans actually care." He nodded his head in a respectful gesture. "My name is Sh'sk Bek'tall."
"Not all humans want you dead, batarian." Andromeda grinned with a playful wink. "I'm now in charge of your unit so you will be seeing me more."
Sh'sk finally allowed himself to smile back. "Looking forward to that."