We are coming up to the finale here pretty soon. I don't know about y'all but I am really excited. As always, reviews and comments are welcome, along with constructive criticism. R&R please and enjoy!
Luke slowly made his way out of his quarters as the Normandy came into dock. He hoped to slip away unnoticed but Garrus was waiting for him at the foot of the stair cases leading to the CIC. Luke sighed and gripped his bag tighter as he continued to move forward. As much as he could not stand to be on the ship anymore, the Normandy had become his home and the crew his family. The twisted knots in his gut reminded him of the feeling he got when he had switched shuttles heading for the Citadel rather than rejoining his sisters.
"Breaking up the team huh?" Garrus said falling in step next to him.
"The team… it's already broken. Staying will only make it worse. Besides, someone has to be on the Citadel to throw you guys a welcome home party when all this crap is over." Luke pat his friend on the back as he opened the door to the CIC.
As the door slide open, Luke's eyes widened. The entire crew was standing in two lines leading from the door all the way to the airlock. Most of them Luke had never talked to but they gave him a nod or a handshake as he passed. Some wished him luck, others told him that they hated to see him go. Engineer Adams held on to his hand after the handshake for an extra second. "You stay in touch now, okay? Don't forget about us."
"I got your number. If I ever need some help on my skycar, I know who to call," Luke said winking. Adams laughed and nodded patting him on the shoulder.
Luke arrived at the airlock to find Liara, Tali, Garrus, Wrex, and Claire waiting for him. Liara looked like she was doing her best to hold back tears. Tali is lucky, she had a helmet to hide behind. Luke sighed and shook Wrex's hand.
"You stay in trouble out there Shepard," Wrex said as a knowing smile stretched across his face.
"Don't I always." Luke chuckled and gave his friend a light punch in the shoulder. Wrex's gravelly laugh escaped the krogan but it seemed forced. Could Wrex be showing the slightest semblance of emotion other than anger?
"The ship won't be the same without you," Tali said hugging him. Luke smiled and gave her a gentle squeeze.
"Hey, I'm not cutting all ties. I'm just leaving the ship. Now, when you work out that bug that limits the range of weapon sabotage, you send me the code okay. I can't figure it out for the life of me." Luke sighed as the Tali's gaze turned toward the floor as she nodded. "I'll see you all for the victory party okay."
Laira embraced him but said nothing. It seemed odd that she was being quiet about his departure. Maybe it was to keep from crying?
"You know you are never gonna be able to stay away completely right?" Joker said supporting himself with his crutches.
"Geez, Joker. Would you go sit down? I really don't like the sound of snapping shin bones," Luke said placing a hand on Joker's shoulder.
"Then keep in contact. I don't want to have to break my foot off in your ass. I can't afford the medical bills to reattach it."
"I hear you. And you do the same. It is not going to look good if I have to kick a cripple's ass," Luke responded. It felt good to joke around a little but as soon as he smiled, he felt like he was betraying her memory by not continuing to mourn.
"Everyone dismissed. Get back to your stations. Joker, I'm going ashore with Luke then up to the Council Chambers. I just want to make sure Udina doesn't screw anything up," Claire said as she placed a hand on Luke's back guiding him toward the door.
Luke smiled slightly and nudged his sister. "You want me to come with you. I have not left your command… just the ship."
Luke watched his sister shift her weight a little before turning back to Luke. "Luke, I understand you needing some time, but you could do that on board."
"I can't Claire. I'm sorry. Do you want me to come with you or not?" Luke asked turning away from his sister as the airlock opened to the Citadel docks.
"I could use the company… yeah."
Luke nodded and slung his bag over his shoulder. "Well, we'll swing by my apartment first so I can drop this stuff off, then head to the tower."
He heard Claire jog to catch up with him as he exited the gang plank to the ship. As they stepped into the elevator, Claire started laughing. Luke looked over at her.
"What's so funny?" Luke asked. Now of all times, what could possibly be making her laugh?
"It's been what…500 years since the elevator was invented on Earth. Now even in space, we are still using them and they are still slow as hell."
Luke looked at his sister puzzled for a moment, but the elevator started to move. Sure enough, the hunk of metal was slow. It would take at least a couple minutes to reach C-Sec Academy. He couldn't laugh, not now. Not so soon after Ashley's death.
Claire sat down on the floor crossing her legs and pulling out a deck of cards from her pocket. "I think we have time for a quick game."
Luke could not hold back anymore. He burst with laughter as Claire tucked the cards back into her pocket and embraced her brother. "Claire, you are crazy." Luke could feel warm tears slipping down his face, hot and salty on his lips. He was laughing to the point of tears.
"I know. I learned it from you."
Luke smirked as he leaned against the wall of the elevator. Maybe Claire was trying to help him heal, but the wound in his heart was just too fresh. The hole in his heart that Ashley had left screamed out at him. Sometimes in horror, other times in fear, but on rare occasions, it was anger. He needed time to heal, recover, and reestablish himself. The person he had been the last time he had walked the streets of the Citadel was not the same man that stood in the elevator. His heart was cold and his world was emptier than ever before, even compared to the batarian slaver ship. At least there, he had hope for the future, for escape. Now Ashley was gone forever and there was no hope of her returning. He had to live on with that wound in his heart and the hopeless outlook that came with grief.
000
Luke stood back off the platform while Claire talked to the Council. It had seemed hopeful when they had arrived and Udina had told them that thanks to Claire, the Council was taking real action against Saren. However, it all just crumbled downhill from there.
The Council would not send a fleet to Ilos but station their ships like a shield against the attack they believed was coming. Of course the attack was coming, but they were looking at it in the same way that Saren knew they would. There had to be something else. The conduit. That had to be the key. It was on Ilos which was why Saren needed to find the planet, but what was the conduit exactly.
"You didn't trust me about Saren and look where we ended up. For the love of- can you not just go on a little faith here?" Claire barked at the Council.
Luke shook his head. They will never believe Claire without concrete proof. But what proof did they have. Claire had seen them in the visions and that was good enough for him. If they were going to get proof, they would have to go to Ilos. No, Claire would have to go to Ilos. He was out.
"I think it is high time you step back commander. The council can handle this with my help of course." Luke stepped forward. Did that slippery son of a bitch really just say what he thought he said?
"You son of a bitch! You're selling us out!" Luke shouted but a guard stepped in his way refusing to let him pass.
"It is just politics. Nothing personal."
"Nothing personal? NOTHING PERSONAL!? You are making a damn power play to make a grab at a council seat. It is all personal for you." Luke shouted.
Claire leaned in showing the Council her back, but she spoke loud enough for Udina and Luke to hear. "No one stabs me in the back Udina…no one."
Luke had to admit. He got chills simply from hearing Claire's tone as she spoke. This was not his sister or his commander. This was a demon rattling the bars of her cage waiting for her chance to be released so she could fight again. Claire approached Luke and waved him to follow her.
"Udina locked out the Normandy systems. Anyway to hack in and get us out of the dock?" Claire asked as they made their way down the steps to the rapid transit hub.
"The docking controls are only accessible though the restricted area that only traffic control personnel are allowed to be in and it is patrolled by armed guards," Luke explained as their car arrived.
"There has to be some way of getting the Normandy back in the air," Claire said as they closed the door.
"Well I think I have an idea of who might be able to help us. But you are not going to like me getting him involved," Luke said programming the destination into the skycar.
"I'll take whatever help I can get," Claire said as the car started to rise. She glanced over at the monitor to see the destination and Luke braced himself for the scolding, but it never came. She simply nodded and sat back in her chair as the skycar zipped through the Presidium toward the Alliance Embassy.
"You know, I thought you would want to keep him out of this. We're breaking the law of not just the Alliance and Alliance military, but the Council too." Claire started to say something but Luke held up a hand. "Don't try to stop me…I'm having fun…sort of."
Claire smiled and crossed her arms as they landed in front of the embassy and Captain Anderson came out to meet them.
"Good to see you commander," the captain said shaking her hand. "I'm sorry I could not warn you about what Udina planned for you."
"It's alright sir. We just need to get the Normandy flying again so I can get to Ilos," Claire said looking between Anderson and Luke.
Luke started to smile slightly. He was starting to hatch a plan that would be rather satisfying for him.
"Why is he smiling?" Anderson asked.
"Because he has a plan. God help us all," Claire said running her fingers through her hair.
Oh, I've got a plan alright, and I think I am going to find it very therapeutic.
