Oh my goodness, finally feeling a little human. Honestly the cold weather is crippling. It just keeps snowing! Unfortunately because of which my recovery keeps being throwing back. But slowly and surely I'm getting better :P Have you missed me?

Chapter 37

The shuttle screeched into the hold, raising sparks and causing the few crew members in the vicinity to cringe and hold their head in their hands until it stopped. The door began to close and the bay re-pressurised. Garrus shook Alex awake, the ship was being rocked and forth and he steadied her as they were thrown around. A loud clunking sensation, followed by a worrying hissing noise.

'What was that?' Liara asked returning from the cockpit. Garrus' eyes widened he knew that noise and it wasn't good. He managed to grab hold of one body belts as the artificial gravity released.

'What the fuck?' Alex said groggily as her body was thrown upwards. Garrus halted her ascension by wrapping his arm around her waist. Liara shuddered but managed to use her biotics to create a field in which she hovered gently. Alex held tightly onto Garrus, 'shit! The AG's fucked, we need to get to the CIC now! As long as the oxy unit is alright,' she sighed 'here's fucking hoping.' She unwound Garrus' arm and pushed herself off and opened the shuttle door. The members of crew that were in the bay were holding onto to whatever they could find. 'You all alright?' Shepard shouted, they all replied, one of them even giving her a thumbs up. Conversation was paused for a moment as the Normandy bucked and they all held on until the shuddering stopped.

'Sorry people, this is getting a little rough, EDI is repairing the AG now. Brace yourselves planet shock wave in minus three minutes.' Joker's voice crackled through the speakers.

Alex pushed herself out and she floated through the bay. Garrus and Liara followed. At least she didn't have to worry about the fact she was almost crippled, she pressed the intercom button next to the lift. 'Joker! Report!' Garrus activated his mag boots and was drawn to the nearest surface, as the Normandy was flying on her side he was standing on the wall. Liara was tending to one of the technicians that was trapped in a railing.

'Commander?! We're gonna get buffeted pretty bad, hull integrity is holding but our kinetic shields are under 50%. Worst case scenario? We die. Best case? We live, I've got EDI and Tali reconfiguring our power lines to boost the shielding. About a minute and a half now Commander,' he sighed. He was in bad shape, he was pretty sure that he had several fractures and had broken at least one rib. EDI had given him a powerful pain-killer and it was seeing him through. He would need a couple of weeks off to recover, if they lived through this.

'Okay Joker here's what I want you to do, cut the engines to the minimum, create a booster, as soon as we get hit, use the thrust from the shock wave and the boost and drag our sorry arses out of here. Think you can do it?' Shepard asked, Garrus held her steady by holding her good ankle, he squeezed her leg gently, reassuringly.

'Please Commander, remember who you're talking to,' Joker cracked. Alex smiled, 'oh and Commander, I'm glad you're okay.' He added.

'All thanks to you Jeff,' Alex praised. She heard Joker laughing, Garrus leaned over and spoke into the intercom.

'I owe you a crate,' he said. Joker had already signed off but Garrus knew that he had heard him. They heard the engines turn down, the constant hum quietening. Alex sighed and rubbed her head, she was mentally counting down the seconds. Turbulence caused the hull to groan and tremble. She winced as her precious ship cried in protest at the strong winds and gravity pull. Garrus pulled her close and she floated in his arms as they waited for the inevitable. Alex closed her eyes, tiredness was closing in, she was afraid for her crew but she couldn't help herself, for the second time that day she blacked out. Garrus wrapped his arms around her and checked her pulse when her head dropped as she passed out. He cradled her softly. Liara having freed the trapped man created a larger stasis field; it covered all the crew in the bay and would protect them when the time came.

'Is she okay?' Liara asked brushing a strand of hair out of Shepard's eyes. Garrus' mandibles twitched.

'I think so, she's been through a lot, I'll get Dr. Chakwas to check h-' he was cut off as the shock wave hit the Normandy and Joker released the booster. All of them were thrown into the nearest object to them, Liara swearing in Asari as she landed awkwardly on her arm. Garrus protected Alex from the worst of the impact, he wished he still had his helmet on, it would have softened the blow to his head as it connected with the wall.

The Normandy drifted through space, she had been in worse conditions, but she looked like she had been through several wars. Debris had struck the hull, fortunately most of it had been blocked by the failing kinetic shields. EDI and Tali had repaired the AG unit shortly after the blast. Garrus had carried Shepard up to the medical bay once it was safe. Many of the crew stood to the side as he passed, watching. He could tell that a lot of them were worried for their commander. That had been about an hour a go, he currently sat in the canteen holding his helmet, turning it over in his talons. Dr. Chakwas had sent him out his constant pacing was very distracting she said, she wouldn't take no for an answer either, there was a woman who would tear you apart at the drop of a dime.

Trying to distract himself from the current turn of events he decided to browse the local news from Palaven. As much as it depressed him to see his beloved home world being torn apart he couldn't bear not knowing what was going on. He flicked on his omni-tool and began to read various articles, one particular article caught his eye, a woman, human; she was a survivor of one of the cruisers that was shot down as they tried to evacuate. She had opted to stay on the planet as she had extensive knowledge of Turian physiology, she was a renowned military, medical mind. The article fascinated him, the woman had survived desperate odds, yet she insisted that she stay in an open war zone in order to help others, she reminded him of Alex, defiant until the end. His eyes scanned the page, hmm it seems her name is Mia Vormillian, now why does that sound familiar? He clicked on the hyper-link that highlighted her name, he knew her from somewhere, but he couldn't place his talon on it.

More to the point, what in the spirit's name was she doing on Palaven? He thought waiting for omni-tool to open the link. His question was soon answered, a photograph popped up, snapped in a park, from the sky it looked like Palaven, she was holding a Turian's arm, a smile on her face and flowers in her hair. Garrus knew the look she was showing the Turian, Alex looked at him like that when she thought he wasn't aware. He smiled grimly, it seems that the woman was due to marry a Turian general which is why they had been snapped by the Paparazzi. There wasn't much else about their relationship apart from the outrageous replies about how the mixing of the species was a disgrace to the spirits, the usual thing from people who knew no better. Garrus stared at the photo for a moment, something was kicking him at the back of his mind, it took a few seconds but then he realised what had been bugging him.

It was Theros.

Mia was engaged to Theros.

Did he know she was still alive? Garrus thought. No, probably not, that's why he's been clinging to Alex, they're so similar. Garrus sighed, he had to tell Ris'ono, even though he hated him. But, maybe he could bring her here instead. It would get her out of the hot zone, she would be safe. Determined Garrus looked up his old contacts and sent a few messages.

He better be grateful for this.

I know it's short, I know it's been a while. I am really sorry, I am getting better, I know I keep saying it but updates will get better. It's just been a little rough this year. Please drop a review if you would be so kind.