"Hey, Commander. How are you doing?" I asked, sitting across from her at the mess table, where she was chasing cheerios in a bowl with her spoon.
"Alright, I guess. All things considered. Kaidan will be joining us when we leave. What about you? You haven't done anymore experimenting, have you?"
I laughed.
"No. Though I have to say, I'm curious. I just don't understand how, or why."
"I guess that's just something you're gonna have to ask 'it'" She said, referring to the voice. "But first things first. I have you scheduled to receive an implant first thing tomorrow morning. And then I'll begin training you to properly, and Safely," she emphasized on the Safe. "Use your biotics."
A silence fell over us as she continued to eat her cereal.
"Listen, about Thane…" I started.
"No. I get it. People are going to have to die to end this war. I just wish…"
"That there was something more you could do about it." I finished for her, quietly.
"How many more?" She asked staring down at her bowl.
"One. If everything goes like it's supposed too. But this one can't be avoided. Not without sacrificing one or possibly two species."
She looked up at me, then lowered gaze once more.
"Well, I told my parents of relieve them of Lizabelle this weekend. We are sticking around the Citadel for the next few days, right?"
"Yes. But you'll be restricted to bed rest until we figure out how your body reacts to the implant."
"Still. I think it would do Joker some good to see his daughter. And for you to see your goddaughter."
She chuckled.
"Alright. Go get the little one and get some rest. You're gonna need it."
oOo
I sighed and laid back on the pillow wincing as my neck stung from the pressure. It'd only been two days since I'd gotten my implant, and everything had seemed fine so far.
Shepard had been caring for Lizabelle while I'd been laid up.
Joker had pretty much refused to leave my side, with the exception of ducking out for a couple hours to see our daughter.
With the Citadel still in shambles, it surprised me that Shepard was able to set up the procedure so quickly. Guess that's one perk to being the galaxy's last hope.
The door slid open, and I sat up.
Shepard walked in, carrying two containers.
"Figured you'd gotten tired of hospital food, so I had the mess sergeant cook something up. Not much better, but." She said as she handed me one of the containers.
"It'll be over soon. I mean, well, we still have a few more months, but… I… I don't know how this will end. Shepard, if you survive, what'll you do after it's over?"
"Hah. I'd think you'd know better then I would."
"You'd think." I said chuckling. "But they really don't tell you. Whether you live or die. Who survived. Who didn't. It's assumed everyone survived."
"But you don't believe that it won't end without more casualties."
"Mass Effect 3, where everyone you've come to know and love, dies." I said.
It was funnier when I didn't personally know all of the characters.
"Coming into this, I was Certain that there was a way I could get everyone through this alive. But after Mordin, and now Thane? What use am I if I can't even protect two people?" I said, my head bowed.
"I couldn't save them anymore then you could. And right now, I truly believe that there are worse things than death."
"Don't die." I whispered.
"What?"
"Promise me this war won't kill you. You're my best friend. And it'll kill me not knowing if you survive."
"Anna, you're here. You'll be here when it ends."
"Not if it fits the pattern from the last universe. Just… if you promise you'll survive, you can't break it. And then I'll know when I-"
"If I can't die, that sure as hell doesn't mean you can. You have to promise too." She said, giving me the genuine Shepard glare.
"Shepard, you know-"
"No. You promise, or I won't."
I stared down at my hands for a second.
"I promise." I said still staring at my hands. "But if anything happens-"
"It won't. You don't break promises, remember?" She said, smirking as she stood.
"The doctors said you should be able to leave tomorrow. Then the real training starts."
The grin on her face as she exited the room slightly scared me.
I flopped back on the pillow with a groan.
oOo
Hey guys! Long time no talk. I've been trying to update as often as possible, but with the story drawing to a close, I find myself more and more reluctant to write, not wanting to finish the story and say goodbye to the characters.
(Don't worry, we still have at least several more chapters to go before it's over.)
But I wanted to say thank you to everyone who is still following, and to everyone who's favorited and commented.
To those of you asking if I have gotten a new beta, no. Unfortunately I haven't heard from WindPhoenix in quite some time, and hope that everything is well. I have been doing my own proof reading for the last several chapters. (If you can't tell)
Thank you to Ria Shadowheart, OfficialWeedTesterGuy and Revliledpembroke for your support and comments.
Thank you all again for sticking around this long.
Sorry for the short chapter, and I'm hoping to have enough free time to write and post the next chapter within the next few weeks.
Thank you!
Shalom!
~ Ali