Chapter Thirty-Five
Roxanne
I let out a content sigh as I lay my head on Garrus's naked shoulder. "I love you, Garrus Vakarian."
"I love you too, Roxanne Shepard." Garrus runs a hand down the side of my head, playing with my long hair. "But, it sounds like you're saying that in anticipation of something."
"No, not really." I shrug. "We both signed onto this with Raph knowing it was deemed a suicide mission. I have no regrets. Do you?"
Garrus hums in thought as his hand continues playing with my hair. "Nope. No regrets. I married the love of my life. I'm holding her in my arms now. I'm quite happy with where I am."
"Are you scared of what's to come?" I ask.
"No." I can feel his head shake as his hand pulls me closer. "I have full faith in you and your brother. If anyone can turn this into a mission we walk away from, it's you two."
I nod, settling back into his arms. "We've still got about an hour before we're there. I'm going to soak this up for a few more moments and then I'm going to find Sen."
Garrus nods as he runs his hand through my hair again. "Yeah, I'll come with you. I want to make sure she's okay too."
I lay in his arms for a few more moments before pulling away. "Alright, I'm going to go check on Sen."
"Right behind you." Garrus says, pushing off of the bed. "But I'm coming straight back here to make sure the main gun is fully calibrated."
"Understood, Garrus." I say as I pull my armor on. "Make sure you're ready to go too."
"I'm always ready to go, Rox." Garrus grins at me as he pulls his own armor on.
Serenity glances up from her datapad as Garrus and I come into the room she's in.
"What's going on, Roxy?" Serenity glances between Garrus and me. "Garrus?"
"Just checking up on you." Garrus says. "I know facing the Collectors like that couldn't have been easy."
Serenity frowns. "You're right; it wasn't, but our crew needs us. So, I'm all in."
"Sen," I place a hand on her shoulder as I lean towards her, "are you sure you're okay? To go through with this, I mean?"
"I'll be fine." Serenity says, her eyes showing her resolve. "I'm a Shepard. We don't back down from a fight, no matter if the odds are stacked against us."
Garrus chuckles. "That's definitely true."
"Commander," Joker's voice comes through the speakers, "we're nearing the relay."
"Be right there, Joker." I say, standing upright. "Garrus, get back to the main gun and make sure it's ready. Sen, come with me."
"Raph?" Serenity says into the comm. "Joker said-"
"I'm heading there now." Raphael says, cutting Serenity off. "Thanks."
Once at the second floor, Serenity and I jog to the cockpit. The emptiness of the Normandy bugs me but I squash the feeling down.
We'll get them back.
I place my hands on the back of Joker's chair as the Normandy approaches the relay. I don't spare a glance at Miranda.
"Everyone stand by." Joker says. "Approaching relay."
"Make it happen." I say, staring at the relay as we get closer.
Joker's fingers move over the interface in front of him before EDI's voice comes through the ship. "Reaper IFF activated. Signal acknowledged."
"Commanders," Jacob's voice comes through the comm, "the drive core just lit up like a Christmas tree!"
"Drive core electrical charge at critical levels." EDI announces.
"Rerouting!" Joker shouts, his fingers flying over the interface.
I keep my hand tight on Joker's chair as Raphael and Serenity grip the closest things to them.
"Brace for deceleration." EDI says as the Normandy jumps to FTL while going through the relay.
"Oh, shit!" Joker calls out once we're through, nearly colliding with the debris in front of him.
I keep my death grip on his chair as he maneuvers the Normandy through the field.
Once out in the open, he leans back in his chair. "Too close."
"That was exciting." I mutter, loosening my grip on his chair.
As we fly forward, I watch our surroundings. Nothing but debris surrounds the Normandy.
"These must be all the ships that tried to make it through the Omega 4 relay. Some look… ancient." Joker says.
"I have detected an energy signature near the edge of the accretion disk." EDI says.
"Has to be the Collector base." Raphael says. "Take us in for a closer look. Nice and easy."
"Careful, Jeff." EDI says. "We have company."
"Taking evasive maneuvers." Joker says, the Normandy shifting after he moves his hands on the controls. "Now they're just pissing me off!"
He punches a button in front of him, shooting two of the little orbs.
"EDI- take these bastards out!" Joker shouts.
"As long as the new plating holds." Miranda says, pacing behind us.
"They want another round? Come on, girl. Let's give it to them." Joker says.
Joker flies the Normandy straight up, making the little orbs follow. I keep my grip on his chair.
Once the Normandy is pointed downward, heading towards the little orbs, EDI's voice comes over the speakers. "Alert. Hull breach on the engineering deck."
"It's in the cargo hold!" Joker shouts.
"We'll take care of the intruder." Raphael says. "You get the rest of them off our tail."
"Aye, aye, Commander." Joker nods.
"Serenity, Miranda." I nod towards the elevator. "The three of us will handle that little shit."
"What about me?" Raphael asks.
"Stay here." I motion at Joker. "One of us needs to. Us girls will take care of that little fucker."
"Think biotics will work best?" Miranda asks as I pull on my armor.
"Yes." I toss a helmet towards Serenity before chucking another towards Miranda. "Helmets on since the thing tore through."
"Understood, Commander." Miranda says.
Serenity pulls her helmet on and lets her biotics swirl around her as we enter the cargo hold.
I duck behind the cover closest to me and let my biotics flare up.
"Sen, throw a warp into it after I get a singularity near it!" I shout.
"Got it!" Serenity says, pulling her hand up to follow my command.
Once the orb comes into the hold, I throw a singularity directly into its path, watching the pull on it.
"Now!" I say.
Serenity throws her hand forward, a warp slamming directly into the little orb. Miranda throws another warp into it, making the orb explode into pieces.
"Roxy, Sen, get your asses back up here." Raphael says into the comm.