Chapter 34: Calm

xxxx

"Forrest…"

"Hnngh?" I managed, recognizing Rana's voice before my vision focused enough to recognize her face.

"That is your name, is it not? You are a sound sleeper by all measures."

That was not Rana.

"Hmm! And all this time I was concerned with the Protheans, here we have a fully sentient alien completely integrated with an Asari crew. Remarkable! Biotic, able to learn Galactic Standard, fully capable on the battlefield!"

This was T'Vannis.

"Judging by all the records, you have been here countless times for countless injuries – oh! What does this do?"

I grimaced as she disappeared from view.

"Hmm, nothing, I suppose." She sounded disappointed. "Oh! There we are! Finally your blood is within an acceptable range." Suddenly, the Asari sprang back into view. "How do you feel?"

"Not great…"

"Well, I suppose you did endure several physical traumas. you were electrocuted, beaten by enemies and surroundings, and you pushed your biotic ability far beyond what you should have." A pause. "Is this a regular occurrence?"

"Ye-" I began to answer only as she cut me off.

"No, no need. I have all such information here." She quickly stopped hovering over me and wandered away looking at a datapad. "Yes. Quite frequent indeed! And how peculiar! You have element zero manifested in your brain! In theory, you could perform basic biotic moves without lifting a hand! Would that not be remarkable? I wonder how you could learn to do so. Certainly nobody could teach you…"

"That's all well and interesting…" I started, somewhat annoyed as I leaned up in the medical med with a spitting headache and everything else sore, "But do you mind telling me what's going on? Why am I here? Why are you here?"

"Oh, that is simple! I received a sub-degree in medical sciences when I graduated with an actual degree in archeological study. I rarely had a use for it, but when I was a maiden, I was certainly undecided on what I was to become. One day I hoped to be a doctor, the next a commando, and the next a scientist. The commando part never worked out."

"Ok. And the other part?"

She came back into view, hesitating for a minute. "Oh, of course. I am not sure how it happened – there is certainly nothing of the sort on record. And I definitely have no idea what you could do to develop such biotic abilities."

"No. What happened to me?"

"Oh! That! Why didn't you simply say so?" She exclaimed exuberantly. "From what we can tell, your blood was contaminated with that of the Ardat-Yakshi. Apparently, she was a host for a weak virus… when it entered your blood system, it quickly manifested and your immune system overreacted. In conjunction with physical overexertion you fainted. Luckily you were already out of the battlefield… All in all, it was quite a mess. That certainly sounds dramatic. It was not that bad. Simple antibodies were able to contain any virus cells that your body had not already decimated."

"So that's… that's it?" I asked, rather unsure.

"Yes. You can leave whenever you feel fit. The sooner the better, so I can continue working on decrypting much of this Prothean data."

"Well, in that case… Thanks for the help." With a nod I swung my legs off of the bed and readjusted to standing. Already feeling far better than I had before passing out. A bit of moving about and my head felt fine.

"Of course. If you wish, stop by later. Hopefully I will have made some progress on my work… if not, I can perhaps compile information on your biotics. Certainly that would be useful for integration in other non-biotic races. In fact…"

She trailed off, suddenly scratching her chin. I started backing away slowly. "We can talk more later. I should probably check in with Kaira…"

"Oh no! Don't worry about that." She exclaimed jovially, waving a hand in my general direction. "I've already informed her on your recovery. Surely you can stay for just another minute?"

"Fine." I grumbled, folding my arms. "What do you want to know?"

"Well, for one, how did you learn to use your biotics?"

"Kaira taught me shortly after recruitment. I'd never used them before then."

"Interesting… So you – oho! Those towers that we destroyed were, according to my information, part of a network. They were not used for any other purpose but a communication relay. Which would mean there must be more in the system, as well as the rest of the galaxy. Or… no, why would they do that? The atmosphere would interfere far too much for that! Unless…"

I continued backing away.

xxxx

"So…" Kaira started, looking away from the holo-projector of the tactical center, combat deck. "I see you're up. How are you getting along with the latest addition to the crew?"

"T'Vannis? You mean… she's staying?"

"Well, we can't exactly return her to society. All she needs is a place to work, and we did need a doctor."

"Yeah, I guess… but…" I scratched my temple.

"But what? Do you disagree?"

"No, it's just… she's a little – crazy, for lack of a better term. She can't even hold a conversation!"

"True, but nor did you see her working when you were out. Yes, she can't hold a single thought, but she gets the job done."

"If you say so, commander. I trust your judgment – and T'Vannis seems like a character to have around."

"Well, thank you." Kaira nodded once, shifting once and looking back to the holo for a moment. "So you're feeling well, right?"

"Good as ever." I confirmed, stretching my back to make sure. "Considering what all happened."

That incited a chuckle from both of us. "Indeed. That was quite the episode. We fared relatively well. The Contractor forces, on the other hand… I believe we took down at least a battalion planetside. Not to mention the loss of gunships, shuttles, and frigates. But that's not the best part." She paused, getting my attention, then continued. "On the roof we were able to hack into their networks temporary. Rana was able to pull nearly 10 gigabytes of data before we were locked out. This is an eezo mine! The locations of private manufacturing plants and outposts; all sort of planning-related intel. You would not believe it."

"I don't. This means we can start the offensive?"

"Yes. We need to prepare and return the STG team to citadel space, but then it's our first priority to sabotage Contractor control points on Illium." She pulled up a galaxy map, pointing out: "His bases there are critical to the network. If we can destroy them, then he will be at least temporarily crippled."

"What sort of timeframe are we looking at?" I asked, resting my chin into a hand as I stared at the holo and the several information dumps present.

"It'll be at least five days." Kaira zoomed the map back out to where we could see the closest hospitable world in Citadel space. "It's more of a delay than I would like… but it'll have to do."

"Yeah. So what do we know about the Contractor forces on Illium?"

"Not a tremendous amount, but it looks like they were planning something big. At the moment, there are two bases of operation, on opposite sides of the same city. Far more supplies have been imported then exported."

"They're stockpiling weapons and gear?"

"That's what I believed as well. We don't have any sort of shipping manifests, but we do know that hardly operate there. Maybe that is going to change."

"Hmm. And you couldn't find any info on why? Or what their updated objectives might have been?"

"Nothing. I'm still sorting through it, though. Hopefully there will be more information. Otherwise, we will have to make do and gather intel directly. Like we are supposed to." Her lip curled while she said that last part, as if she had caught wind of something foul.

"We're not supposed to take things head on?"

"No – not if you ask Joran, the STG captain. We got into an argument this morning about the role of commandos. He believes we're nothing more than recon and flank support." Kaira sounded unusually bitter.

"Do I need to go have a little chat with him?"

"I'd rather you didn't. I'm going to have a hard time explaining the destruction of ruins and mercs to the council. I don't want to try and explain how an STG captain got stabbed."

I chuckled a bit morbidly. "Fair enough. They're camped in the cargo bay, right?"

"Yes. And keep Delina away from them as well, please."

"Definitely." I answered immediately, grimacing at the thought – then realizing something. "How am I supposed to do that?"

"I hoped you wouldn't ask that…" The Spectre chuckled for a moment, then began delving through a list of sorts on the projector. That was a lot of information. Too much, in fact. Kaira seemed to be able to handle it; I couldn't.

So I left.

xxxx

"I'm telling you, it's a great fucking idea!"

"Delina, for the last time: just because I have a hoverbike doesn't mean I should enter the Intergalactic 500!" I retorted against the belligerent Asari.

"Fine. Have it your way. I didn't realize you were such a wuss." She in turn snorted, folding her arms as she leaned back against the workbench and gave me a cold glare.

"Didn't realize you cared. Besides, we have a galaxy to save, remember?"

"You keep saying that, but I don't think you understand what it means. Do you even realize how big the galaxy is? There's no way the Contractor is going to take it over. Destroy it, whatever."

"Eh. Maybe once he's done for. Maybe then I'll consider it."

"Consider it? Either you do or you don't, Jackson!" She snapped then buried her face in her hands.

"I might do it." I shrugged, then for the sake of antagonizing her added: "…and I might not."

"You're hopeless. You're supposed to be into racing and extreme shit!"

"Jumping out of a gunship without a parachute isn't extreme enough?" I offered. She shook her head. "You're awful hard to please."

"Now, if you had landed in that group of mercs and proceeded to take them out, I would have been impressed. But you didn't."

"Yeah. Because I don't have a death wish."

"In which case, I'm not impressed." She huffed slightly and raised her chin.

"You know… if you're so obsessed with racing, why don't you go? Hell, I'll even let you borrow my bike."

A silent stare. "No. There are far more important things we must do."

"Exactly…" I chuckled, "So. More important things. Like making your rifle 0.001% more accurate."

"Yes. Thank you for recognizing the importance of that. As I recall, that precision has saved your ass on multiple occasions."

"True enough."

"Well, thank you for seeing reason – at least this one time." She shook her head. "Say, speaking of which… you up for a sparring match in the hold?"

"Yeah… maybe not." I evaded.

"Fine." She simply shrugged. "Since when have you been such a lame sport?"

"Since I got stabbed, electrocuted, nearly killed in falling debris…" I could have kept going, but I didn't.

"Whiner."

"That's not -" I started to defend myself, then grumbled. She had a point. "Ok. Fine."

"Ha. Told you so." She paused. "You know, that reminds me of Syaena."

"She used to be part of the 517th, right?"

"Yeah. The only real difference between her and you was that she liked to party. "

"That was the biggest difference?" I inquired skeptically.

"Pretty much." Delina shrugged. "Anyway, there was this one time she stopped a shuttle with her back. Broke it in five places. She was out cold for days and I was there when she came around. Hell, it was funny. First thing she asked for was a drink – because the mission was apparently successful! Even though she was in a cast for three months, I still brought her a bottle of ryncol that day."

"So…" I started, "If you ever make an incredible sacrifice for the team, you want me to bring you booze?"

The arms specialist scrunched her face. "Sure, you could. But that's not where I was going with this."

"Oh. Then do explain."

"I'm just pointing out that she was less of a whiner then you. Just for the record." There wasn't so much as a hint of malice in her voice; Delina seemed quite uncaring in fact. Therefore it was hard for me to tell if she was kidding or not.

"Well… you have a point. I'll work on that."

"Hell, just have a shot of ryncol. That'll grow hair on your chest."

"And you know that how?" I prodded.

"You're hopeless. How am I supposed to be influential when you won't even listen?"

"Well, you could try -"

"No. We're done here."

"Or maybe -"

"Out. Now."

I chuckled silently. If Delina couldn't have victory, she would at least have peace and quiet. I could allow that… this time. "Alrighty then. Enjoy your calibrations."

"I will." There was a pause as I began heading for the door. "Wait...what the hell?!"

xxxx

I was hardly in the mood to argue with a Salarian. And, considering I had already pushed it by talking with Delina, I was in no position to test luck or my patience. So for those reasons I avoided the cargo hold, opting to stay amongst the more pleasant of the crew.

"Hmm… no, that's far too high. No kinetic barriers operate at such a frequency. Unless, Well, I suppose that would be an improvement. If they acted as additional power rather than reserve… yes, that could work…"

I silently leaned back on the workbench opposite the unaware engineer. Her back was turned, and standing, she seemed to be fiddling with some capacitors in conjunction with poking at a datapad. I had no idea what Rana was working on this time, but it sounded promising.

"Resistance would be low enough to provide a temporary boost. Yes. That would be sufficient. The boost would nearly – no. Those calculations must be incorrect." With that she picked up the datapad and turned around. And suddenly her head jerked up. "Forrest! How long have you just been sitting there?"

"Eh, just long enough to wonder what you're working on now now."

"I assure you, it is nothing worth noting – perhaps a minor shield upgrade. I am not even certain it will work yet."

"What… exactly are you trying to do?" I asked hesitantly, motioning to her temporarily abandoned workstation.

"Well, I had hoped to create an additional shield network that would immediately replace the standard set upon failure, but there is no way to do so without causing interference, and changing the frequency reduces the barrier's ability to stop projectiles…" She took a breath. "Although a temporary boost is hardly beneficial. I have been hoping to make some sort of breakthrough. Instead I make minute adjustments."

"Well, you gotta start somewhere, right?"

"Yes, but that is just it! I have only started countless projects! None of them have actually proven to be groundbreaking. Not for our team, and certainly not for the galaxy."

"Nothing groundbreaking, but look at what you've figured out so far. Custom firmwares, particle beams, assault shields. Those count for something, don't they?"

"I am not sure… They are simply copies with minute improvements."

"And you're hoping for a breakthrough? Something revolutionary?" I asked; she nodded glumly. "Well… look on the bright side: you have plenty of time."

"That is quite ironic coming from you." Rana stifled a chuckle as she glanced to the datapad and then back up to me. "But thank you. I know I shouldn't take it so seriously… I cannot help thinking I should be doing more."

"Well, what about the project you're working on now? That's new, isn't it?"

"Not entirely. There have been attempts at overclocking shield generators though such attempts have seldom been successful – for long."

"And the difference here is… You're trying to basically overvolt them?"

Rana perked up. "Yes! Precisely. I do not know how the generators will react, though. There is certainly a reason nobody has done it…"

"Maybe. Or maybe nobody thought of taking that approach." I paused as she turned about with a hand to her chin and seemingly lost in thought. I continued. "Now, I'm not sure how this would work… but couldn't you rig a shield to emit a pulse when it was downed?"

"Not with normal shield generators. But it might be possible to install an array of devices specifically designed for the purpose… Though it would be extremely limited in application. Interesting, nonetheless." She typed something into the datapad. "Also, I have been trying to make sense of your native language."

That was quite the topic change from shield generators. I shook my head and tried not to reel. "Ok. You have a question?"

"Well, yes. There is a specific term that I have been unable to understand. I… believe it is military terminology." Rana shook her head and set the datapad down. "Going commando?"

I bit my lip for a moment, fighting back a laugh. "Yeah… that's not exactly a military term."

"It is not? But I thought..." She started, seemingly baffled. Of all the terms not to translate over. "Then what exactly does it mean?"

Somehow I kept my face straight. "It means… well, to wear your usual attire sans undergarments."

"That does not even begin to make sen-" She started quickly, then, as her face darkened several shades, threw a hand to her forehead. "Goddess…. I'm sorry."

I was just cracking up. "Hey, you didn't know. And no, it doesn't make sense."

"Please let us put this incident in the past." She shook her head sadly. "How am I supposed to focus after that?"

"For one, you don't have to work all the time…" I offered.

"If I am not working, then of what purpose do I serve? I must be productive in some way…"

"Well… I should probably leav-"

"No! That isn't what I meant to imply! Your company is hardly distracting, and you often think of things that I would not. As long as I can keep myself from asking naïve questions…" She trailed off and began to turn back to her work.

"Alright. I'll stay then. But…" I emphasized, getting her attention once more before she was lost into her thoughts and programming. "You need to take some time off next time we get a break."

"Do you not recall our last shore leave?" The engineer energetically countered, "I put work aside for an entire evening!"

"Exactly. That was a few hours."

"And after barely escaping with our lives, I had to work several extra hours that night just to stay on track." She finished, folding her arms and giving me a look that could only be read as do not make me keep explaining this.

"Alright… yeah." I conceded, slowly walking up to where I was shoulder to shoulder with her – and was stopped by an outstretched arm.

"I do not recall saying anything to indicate that I did not enjoy that evening." She raised a brow suggestively, quickly placed a kiss on my lips, then turned back to the plethora of disassembled shield capacitors and circuit boards strewn across the workbench. "For the time being, we are best to try overvolting the shield generators and then begin work on on coordinating them with the additional capacitors."

xxxx