It was grim work in the infirmary, although Jia Alenko was grateful daily that they were at least indoors now. It was easier to keep a patient warm and approaching comfortable here, in the old London Underground, than in a tent or on the move. She found it a bit claustrophobic, but it was better for the wounded and the dying. At least they couldn't get rained on here, nor was anyone slopping about in ankle-deep mud.
"Ma'am. Admiral Anderson sends his respect and a buck-load of volunteers," Carrey announced upon entering the infirmary.
"Volunteers?" she asked, regarding the gaggle of children in their mid to late teens. They all had the chastened aspect of people who had been caught after curfew.
"Just until he can figure out what to do with them," Carrey assured her. "Figured you might need some help with any heavy lifting. Otherwise, put them to work rolling bandages, but they're to take your orders," Carrey raised his voice for the benefit of the 'volunteers.' "And he'll come down like billy-oh if he has to see to any disciplinary problems."
My, could those children look any more guilty? Guilty, and mildly resentful.
"Thank you, Carrey. I'm sure the extra hands will be very helpful. And thank the admiral, too."
"Ma'am." With that, Carrey withdrew.
Jia regarded the children, noted how clean and well-kept they all looked. "Alright. Who are you, and why are you really here?"
One of the boys and a girl of similar age exchanged dubious looks. "We came to help," the boy grunted sullenly.
"It doesn't seem to be appreciated," the girl corroborated. All the others looked as though they felt the same way.
"If you wish to carry a gun, there is no better time," Jia answered.
The girl blushed. "They wanted us setting down a barrage in the middle of Podunk Nowhere!"
Jia frowned. "You are…ordinance?"
"Biotics, ma'am," the boy clarified.
"Ah, so is my son. But I don't think you're his group. Maybe you know him? Kaidan Alenko?"
"You might ask Jack, she's our instructor. I think she's mentioned an Alenko a couple of times," the girl said. "She's with the Admiral, now."
"No she's not," a new voice announced, as a skinny girl with many tattoos slithered into the room, looking rancorous, as one who had just been squelched and wasn't used to the sensation. At her knee padded a rather large varren who, although it looked grumpy, didn't seem notably aggressive.
It did whine as it came into the room though, probably smelling the morgue.
"She was asking about a Kaidan Alenko," the girl volunteered.
"King of the Boy Scouts? Yeah, I know him, why?" Jack asked.
Jia rather liked the title, though she wanted to ask about it later. "I'm his mother." Not for the first time, Jia stifled a chuckle at the reaction to this statement. Yes, she didn't really look like Kaidan should be her son; he took a great deal after his father. Jia's throat tightened at the thought of her Peter. Once again, she forced herself to put aside grief, to put aside hope, to focus on what she could affect, not to lose herself to the nebulous future that might bring sorrow or joy. She had enough sorrow and difficulty to deal with in the now; it was better to narrow her horizons.
"He was fine last time I saw him. Married a great girl, if you like that sort," Jack answered with a shrug, as if this was the most she could say about anyone else.
In spite of the infirmary, in spite of the morgue nearby, in spite of the dead, the dying, the Reapers, and everything else, Jia's heart leapt in her chest. "He did!" It was something else Jia wanted to ask about, but later.
"Yeah. When I saw them last, they looked happy. Happy as they can be," Jack appended. With a war on, who could be really happy? Especially people with family in very dangerous places.
She was glad the girl said yes. "That's very good to hear, thank you. Now, there's plenty to do. First, those with first aid training, please move to this side of the room," Jia indicated one wall.
Slowly, the young biotics separated out. From there, she divided the up further, sending them on their ways. They obeyed with good grace, although anyone could see they still resented the less than warm welcome they'd received.
"I don't understand why Admiral Anderson wished you to serve here," Jia said to Jack, once she had everyone settled to their tasks.
"He's pissed off because we said screw it to a dumbass assignment and came here instead," Jack answered sourly. "He'll come around. But he's got to rub it in first, I guess."
Jia found herself smiling rustily at the 'I did something good for once, it'd be nice if it was appreciated!' attitude. "I'm sure he will. I think that it would be too wasteful for you and your children to remain here with me—although I appreciate the extra hands."
Jack nodded, glancing around the infirmary. "Not a lot here."
"Injuries from Reapers are very bad," Jia said in a low voice that wouldn't carry. "Most who come here stay a short while, and then we put them in the morgue. We'll need another one, soon."
This seemed to jar Jack out of her mutinous resentment. "It's that bad?"
"On a good day," Jia answered truthfully.
"Well, we're here now," Jack growled, taking a knee to scratch her varren. "We'll see what we can do to even the odds."
Jia wanted to warn them all to be careful, but knew there was no point in saying it. 'Be careful' went without saying in this place; for too many, 'being careful' simply wasn't enough. "Please, tell me about this girl my son has married. I-obviously, there hasn't been a lot of time for us to talk. I can't help being a little curious."