Hey! bestknight32 here! I actually dont have much to say today so. I'd like to thank dahliingg for making the base of the story and Tim Baril for making this chapter you two are the best! Alright thats all until next time! "Im commander Shepard and this is my favorite next chapter in the Citadel".


Amiya wanted to show Hayden the Rhodes Island bridge, the command and control center for the mobile base. Along the way, they passed by the physical and combat training area.

Hayden, pausing and looking through the door, saw a few faces he recognized from the rescue mission. They stood or sat in a vast, gym-like space with various blocks and walls here and there that likely simulated an urban environment. Soldiers stretched, exercised, checked weapons at a table, and chatted to each other. He got the feeling that they were waiting for something.

A door led from the gymnasium to a smaller room with workout equipment. Another door led to a room with screens and computers.

Amiya turned and looked back. She returned along the corridor and poked her head through the doorway. "Thinking about trying some low-level exercise to stay in shape? Might be a good idea for healing your heart. Though overdoing anything strenuous would be dangerous, right?"

"Actually, I was thinking that maybe I should thank people. For the rescue." He pointed towards the computer room. "What's that room for?"

"Strategy training. We go over how to move in the field, where to be, and how to create offensive and defensive formations. We also use it to study data gathered from past operations to see where we've done well and where we can do better."

He swallowed, suddenly nervous. "Do you…have records of my past missions?"

She met his eyes. "Yes. But those in charge have recently started using them as examples of strategies we don't want to use. You know, because, as I said, many of your missions were controversial."

"People died."

"Yes."

"I wonder if I should see them. Learn something of who I was before."

"Mm. You could. But…that might colour your vision of who you could become in your new future. You might see how things went in the past and feel inclined to repeat it. Are you sure you want that?"

He thought for only a moment. "No. I want a fresh start. Try to learn better ways. From what you told me earlier, I sacrificed people too easily. Ideally, I don't want to sacrifice anyone at all."

She beamed. "That's good to hear!"

He furrowed his brow. "I was a medical doctor, correct? If so, then why was I in the field leading military teams?"

"Because you're, er, you were a gifted strategist."

"But wouldn't losing an important researcher hurt the project? I mean, curing the disease is the most important objective, isn't it?"

She shrugged. "Sometimes, I guess there wasn't a choice. You came up with ways to win when others couldn't."

"Still. It seems silly for a doctor to be running around with soldiers."

"Well, you did spend a lot of time checking on different people, seeing different symptoms. You studied the environment, collected samples from people and places."

"Surely there are others, younger and fitter than I, who could do that better."

She gave a slower shrug. "Mm, you've always been someone who liked to do everything yourself. You were very hands-on and liked to do as much as you could yourself."

"I sound like an idiot. If I really had such an important role as a researcher, it would have been a waste if I'd died. Is Rhodes Island primarily a research organization dedicated to a cure, or is it a military one?"

"We're dedicated to a cure, first, of course! It is true that the military side has grown over time. It does provide income. And there are enemies out there and security; we do save lives. We couldn't do our job without the combat side of RI."

"Yes. I see."

"As you're starting over, we know that you have the capability of doing either job. Would you prefer to be in the field as a strategist or in the lab as a researcher?"

"I would very much prefer to help find a cure as fast as possible so that we can save as many lives as possible. After all, this military activity is only making people die faster." He gave her a stern and worried look. "You're hastening your own death due to Arts use, are you not?"

A sad smile. "Yes. But I'm not a brilliant scientist. I don't have the mind for it. I help out with admin work and other stuff when I can. But when someone out there needs my help, or we need to rescue one of our own, then I put my Arts to use. Some of us have to be willing to make that sacrifice. Or the world will never overcome the challenges we're facing right now."

It was a very mature outlook, especially for one so young. It made him feel small. However, it also made a part of him want to be like her. Impulsively, he put a hand on her shoulder and spoke, his voice touched with emotion. "Try not to use it any more than absolutely necessary."

Her smile became happier. "I'll do my best." She entered the room and pulled him after her. "Come on. You said you wanted to speak to them, right?"

As they approached the others, the others took notice and lifted their heads, turning their way with blank faces or stony expressions. None betrayed any joy at seeing him. There was no friendliness in their eyes. One young man grimaced and looked away, ignoring them.

Hayden came to a stop before the largest group. He recognized Cardigan, Adnachiel, and Steward amongst them. Feeling awkward, he cleared his throat. "Hello. I'm sorry to interrupt. I just wanted to express my gratitude for my rescue." He paused. "I know I may no longer be the man I was, the one that you hoped to find out there. Or perhaps hoped you wouldn't find. I just wanted to say that I'm thankful. And that I will do my best to contribute to Rhodes Island and find a cure for this mad illness. I'll…find a way to repay the sacrifices."

The one who'd grimaced snorted in contempt, then got up and walked away.

Steward did the same. On his way past, the younger man deliberately clipped Hayden in the shoulder. "Save your empty words, old man. You're worthless now. Not even a scientist anymore. Those sacrifices were wasted on you."

"Steward!" Amiya called at his back. "Come on, now. That's not fair."

Steward whirled, his face twisting in anger. His eyes bore into Hayden. "You leave so many dead in your wake. Always. Whether you're sending people to their deaths on your cold-hearted orders or they die saving your stupid life."

There were murmurs of agreement from the others. More frowned.

Hayden pleaded with him. "I'm sorry. I have no memory of the past. I don't know what I did or didn't do or why."

"Convenient," Steward spat. "If it's even true. You think you can fake amnesia and we'll forgive everything? Jump at the change of being your willing pawns so you can get the rest of us killed too?"

Cardigan stood, face tinted red and her knuckles white on the gun in her hands. Others followed suit.

"Murderer."

"Killer!"

He looked back and forth between them, feeling desperate. "I can see your pain. I am sincerely sorry for anything I've done in the past. I'm sorry I don't remember it. But if there's anything I can do to make up for it, please tell me. I will try."

A young man exploded from his seat and grabbed Hayden's collar with both hands. "How about we take it out of your flesh? A life for all the lives you've taken?"

"Yeah!"

"Make him pay!"

Before a fight or a lynching could occur, Melantha entered the room, her sword sheathed but in hand. She strode towards the heated group.

The man holding Hayden released him and pushed him back a step.

Melantha gave Hayden a polite smile. "Good morning, Doctor. Are you here to train?"

He swallowed and shook his head, smoothing his ruffled shirt. "No. I just wanted a word with…"

She nodded. "You used to be a strategist. Are you planning on taking that up again?"

A loaded question. All eyes turned on him.

"I'm…not sure. I'm surely not qualified anymore. I would have to relearn so much to be of any use." He decided to be open with the group in the hope of gaining some trust. "I've been told that some of my decisions in the past proved to be costly and controversial. Perhaps the person I was treated others as, well, pawns instead of people. I don't know. If so, that is horrible. But if I ever did go out in the field again or if I did have something to contribute, I would like to do things better. I want to focus on saving lives more than anything."

Melantha studied him for a long, awkward moment. Then she gave a sharp nod. "That's good. But every time a warrior steps onto the field of battle, they know their life is at risk. A strategist knows not everyone will come back alive."

"Still, if I was so great a strategist, then couldn't I have come up with plans that didn't require so many lives?"

"That's a good question."

Others in the group agreed.

Melantha continued. "There's only so much a strategist can do, though. Out there, everything is fluid. Things go wrong, things change. You can only control so much. There's only so much blame you can put on the strategist's shoulders." She turned to the others, but her face was calm.

It was enough for a few to calm down and back up. Cardigan turned away to compose herself.

Doberman appeared behind, causing Hayden to turn as she spoke. "Nobody wants to be a disposable pawn. None of us want to feel like our lives are cheap and readily thrown away for an easy victory. It would be nice to know that the one coming up with the plans, the person trying to help us win, did actually value the lives of those out there, those of us risking everything."

The others piped up in agreement.

"Damn right," Steward growled.

Hayden hung his head. He couldn't remember the past, yet he was ashamed of the man he had apparently once been. "If that's how I approached things before, it was wrong. I certainly don't want to lose anyone at all. Life is precious. I wish we didn't have to fight at all."

"Don't we all?" Doberman moved past him, preparing to lead the group on its exercises.

Seward walked past Hayden to rejoin the others. This time, he didn't bump into the doctor.

Hayden watched his back. He hoped they could work things out.

Amiya pulled him away, and they exited the gymnasium as the others began to drill. "Don't worry. We've lost friends and companions. Everyone is just raw and emotional right now, looking for someone to blame."

"I know. Still, maybe I deserve it."

They went to the Rhodes Island bridge. It was a bunker on the top floor surrounded by thick walls and steel plating. A narrow sheet of thick, fire and shatter-proof glass ran down each wall so that one could see out in all directions. In front, the view looked out over the extended deck that was the roof of the base.

Hayden stood at the window, watching the prairie and forests very slowly go by. "Where are we going?"

"We're leaving Ursus territory," Amiya told him. "To avoid further conflict."

"It's beautiful out there." The landscape was untouched and wild, completely opposite to the ruined cityscape he'd woken up in. He felt his mood lighten.

Amiya agreed, back in good cheer. "Isn't it? I love nature. I wish we had more time and could explore out there more." Her enthusiasm tempered. "It's terribly sad how so many catastrophes have scarred the landscape. Actually, that's why I only look out this window, forwards."

"Oh?" Wondering why, Hayden turned around and went to the rear window. His spirits fell again.

Behind them stretched ugliness. The tracks of the super heavy mobile base had churned the landscape into mud.

Amiya sighed next to him. "I wish there was more we could do to preserve this world. But even those with the best intentions seem to hurt it."

"What is this world called?" he asked.

"Terra."