"That. Was. AWESOME," Caboose said as the group leapt into the hair and let out various cheers as the remainder of the pack lay either dead or dying around then,
"Hell yeah, it was awesome!" as Tucker extracted his sword out of alpha male and the rest of them lowered their weapons.
Wash glanced over at Carolina, and even though he couldn't see her face, he'd seen the way she glanced and nodded at Garrus at the beginning of this fight to know her current feelings on the newcomers. "You guys definitely know how to handle yourselves in a fight," Carolina said. "Care to tell us where you learned how?"
"Years of practice," Ash quipped as she collapsed her sniper rifle with the tap of a button before returning it to the weapons holster on her back.
"And a commander with a penchant for running headfirst into danger," Liara added.
Garrus squawked out a few words, and whatever he said, the other four females responded to it with nods. "Agreed…they'd probably be safer back at the Normandy," Liara said.
Wash and Carolina exchanged looks again. "The Normandy?" Wash asked.
Ash approached the Freelancers. "Garrus here feels that your crew might be safer back at our ship-" she said as he paused and motioned in the direction of the jungle-covered cliffs in the distance. "Especially after what just happened here," she finished as she pointed to the bodies of the wild animals that now littered the campsite.
"Won't they just attack us there, too?" Epsilon asked as he reappeared on everyone's HUDs.
Garrus and Liara both shook their heads. "We've kept constant watches since our arrival one month ago," Liara explained as knelt down near one of the boars and activated something that encased her entire forearm in a strange glowing light, "This is the first time we've ever seen them organize in an attempt to kill."
"Probably has something to do with the cliffs Joker managed to crash-land on-" Ashley began quietly, but a few words from Garrus stopped her from continuing her thought any further.
Wash and Carolina took a few steps away from the main group. "Give us a minute," he said as he and Carolina moved as far out of earshot as possible.
"Take your time," Ashley called out as the Normandy crew began to check the bodies for any signs of life.
"Your thoughts, boss?" Wash asked quietly. Because I'm all for joining up with them right now, he added to himself.
Epsilon glanced over at Ashley and Garrus, who now stood with their sniper rifles cradled in their arms. "Honestly, they're probably our best chance of getting off this planet," he began.
"That's what you said about that passing freighter-" Wash interjected. "By the way, my hip still hurts if I land on it the wrong way after that grappling hook incident-"
"Yeah, yeah, enough about your hip, old man," Epsilon cut him off dismissively. "Also, you're the one who all for adopting Squawkers over there-"
"Can it, you two," Carolina ordered as she inserted herself between Epsilon's hologram and Wash, her back to Epsilon as she glanced over at Garrus again. "You trust him?" she asked as she jerked her head in the six-foot plus alien's direction.
Wash looked over at Garrus, who was now watching the three of them (well, two, since the Normandy crew could only hear Epsilon) intently through his visor. He jumped in front of a drone and tried to protect your helmet-less ass from his own rescue party, Wash thought as he held eye contact with the turian. And that's after you literally stabbed him in the back with his own knife. "Yeah…I trust him," Wash answered finally.
"That settles that, then," Epsilon said. "I'll let you two tell them while I go around to the others," Epsilon said as he disappeared, presumably to inform the rest of the simulation troopers of Wash and Carolina's decision.
Carolina approached Ashley and Garrus first, with Wash close behind her. "Normandy crew, we've decided to accept your offer," Carolina said in her best ambassador-like voice. "In return, we'll do what we can to assist you."
"Which…may not be much," Wash added as he glanced back the Reds, who were now loudly discussing the edibility of the dead boars.
Ashley and Garrus chuckled, and Wash realized that it was first time he'd ever heard the alien laugh as Garrus said something that *sounded* like English, but didn't quite hit his ears at such.
"Garrus says, 'Welcome aboard,'" Ashley translated warmly as Dr. Chakwas approached the pair.
"One of you planning to radio back to camp and informing them that a small army will be marching back with us, then?" Dr. Chakwas suggested as she brought her arms across her chest.
Ashley nodded. "I'll handle that, doc…ready to move in ten?" she asked as her arm became encased a bright orange tool.
"More like five," Carolina replied with a laugh.
Wash turned to the rest of the group. "You guys okay with this?" he asked.
"We're in," Sarge answered first. "Grif, Simmons, grab whatever you can carry and prepare to move out!"
"Aye-aye, sir," Grif and Simmons replied to, with Simmons' response being far more enthusiastic than his orange compatriot.
"I'll help, too!" Donut added as he ran off to join Grif and Simmons.
As the simulation troopers burst into the flurry of activities that were required to pack up anything and everything salvageable from their crash site-turned-camp, Wash watched as Garrus approached Dr. Chakwas and appeared to have a brief exchanged that consisted of indecipherable phrases from him and multiple nods at said phrases from with her. "There should be just enough for all of them, I believe," she answered with a thoughtful expression.
"Enough what?" Wash asked as he approached the pair.
Dr. Chakwas briefly glanced up at Garrus, who nodded before he turned to face Wash. "Mr. Vakarian was inquiring about the Normandy's supply of translators," she answered. "I told him we should have just enough for everyone who's willing to take one."
"Translators? Like software?" Wash asked hesitantly. Because if it's a finite resource, I highly doubt it's software…
Dr. Chakwas shook her head, and Wash's stomach sank. "Hardware, actually. The most effective ones are implanted directly in the brain's primary auditory processing centers-" Dr. Chakwas began.
Wash glanced over at Carolina, who had unlocked the trunk and appeared to be deep in conversation with Epsilon regarding the contents. "Um…implanted?" he asked as he turned back to Dr. Chakwas, his voice breaking nervously.
Dr. Chakwas paused as if she was studying Wash, then reached up and removed her helmet, which revealed the head of a middle-aged woman with short grayish-white hair. Damn. She could be my mother, Wash thought as the doctor continued to regard him with a concerned look. "You sound concerned, Agent Washington…"
Epsilon suddenly appeared next to Wash. "Last time someone tried to implant something in him, he lost his shit and passed out for a few days," Epsilon interjected.
"Only because it was all of your traumatic memories," Wash quietly muttered just loud enough for Epsilon to hear as he looked back over at Carolina, who was now deep in conversation with Liara and Tali, both of which who had each taken one of the bags and had hoisted them over a shoulder.
The doctor let out an involuntarily chuckle. "Sounds like our shepherd after shore leave," she said as the smile was quickly replaced a forlorn expression as she looked back at Garrus, who was now staring down at the ground. The doctor took a few steps towards Wash and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Your fears are understandable, Mr-"
"Washington," Wash supplied. Even though I'm not a fan of people using my full Freelancer name anymore.
"-Washington" Dr. Chakwas finished. "However, I've implanted thousands of these, and I've yet to have a human suffer severe psychosis as a side effect." As if to reassure him, Garrus nodded in agreement before making a comment and motioning towards Ashley, who was watching the rest of the group from a short distance away.
Wash swallowed nervously and tried to push the memory of his disastrous AI implantation out of his mind. "How exactly does it work?" he asked nervously.
Dr. Chakwas rummaged around in a small kit for a moment before extracting a small metallic instrument with multiple tiny needles on one end, with said needles currently encased in a clear protective covering. "Numbing agent, small hole is drilled through your skull, and a sterile chip is implanted directly onto the auditory processing centers of your brain-"
Wash audibly gulped.
"If it makes him feel any better, I'd be more than willing to undergo the procedure first," Carolina said as she and Liara approached him. As they came to a stop, Carolina reached up to her helmet with one hand and pulled it off, her bright red hair creating a stark contrast the sea of green around them.
Dr. Chakwas smiled. "Ready when you are, Ms. Carolina," Dr. Chakwas said as she raised. "Mr. Washington, I'll need your assistance to properly calibrate her auditory centers…"
####
In the shade of a nearby tree away from the hustle and bustle of activity around them, Garrus and Ashley had just finished speaking with Vega and were now quietly discussing his earlier suggestion of bringing the rainbow assortment of soldiers back to the Normandy with them, which included his own broken memories of their initial encounter and his transport back to their camp.
"Not gonna lie, Garrus, I'm actually kind of surprised you trust them after all of that," Ashley said as she checked a thermal clip prior to reloading into her own Widow, a suspicious eye cast in Carolina's direction. "Especially her."
I'm sure turians had it worse during 314. "Believe, I had my doubts at first," Garrus answered as he glanced back at Dr. Chakwas, Wash, Liara, and Carolina. Wash's back was currently towards the pair of them him and obstructing most of his view of Carolina, whose helmet was currently being held by Wash as Dr. Chakwas held what appeared to be the translator implantation device just behind her left ear. "And besides, you saw what those boars were capable of…I'll be damned if I leave them down here to die."
Ash nodded. "Fair enough," she answered. "That light blue one with the yellow markings…you said he's the leader of the group that was there when you woke up?"
Garrus shook his head. "I think it's the female sea green one, Carolina…but the rest of the group seems to prefer Wash over her," he said as Liara joined Wash in observing Dr. Chakwas preparations for Tucker's implantation. He seems more personable, at least.
"The one that tried to slit your throat open?" Ash's tone turned surprisingly cold as she leaned in and dropped her voice to just above a whisper.
"According to them, I had this-" Garrus motioned to his own Black Widow resting in his arms, "-directly aimed at her skull," Garrus explained in attempt to soften Ash's hostility.
Ash looked from Garrus' Widow to Garrus. "So…how's she still alive?" she asked, clearly surprised that something previously in the Widow's sights was still alive and breathing.
Garrus motioned to Wash, who was currently standing next to Dr. Chakwas and talking to a dark-skinned figure in sea green armor. Must be Tucker. "Landed a knife between my armor plates when my back was turned," he added as he turned his back to Dr. Chakwas' group. "Dropped my rifle…and after that, well…" Garrus said as he glanced back at the group again, "my memory's a little fuzzy." Because there's no point in reminding either Ash or Dr. Chakwas that she also landed a blow to my head.
Ash was silent for a few moments. "Explains the blood there, then," she commented.
A few seconds of silence passed between them before Garrus realized that he'd soon be facing the person partially responsible for his rescue. And Ash probably wasn't nearly as delicate with him as Shepard was. "How's Joker doing?" he began.
"Presumably better, now that he knows you're alive," Tali chimed in as she joined the pair and turned to address Garrus. "And for your information, I would have personally shot you myself if I'd been in his shoes," she added as she handed him a dextro ration bar.
And one of my favorite flavors, too, he thought as he glanced at the label and sighed when he realized Tali had most likely been holding it for him. But she still needs it more than you do. "Tali, we've been over this…" he said as he attempted to return the unopened ration bar to her.
Tali pushed his hand back. "Primary engine core is ready to be brought back online, on your order," she answered. "So you can stop pretending I'm more valuable than you, Commander," she finished as she began to unwrap the bar for him before raising it up to his mouth.
Oh, she went there, he thought he grunted in response and obligingly took a bite of ration bar. "Thanks, Tali," he mumbled, his mouth full of food.
"You can thank me by staying alive," Tali replied curtly as she motioned for him to chew faster before she reached into one of her many armor pockets and brought out a water canteen. "Solo mission…stupid bosh'tet," she said disapprovingly as she shook her head and offered him a drink.
"Looks like Doc's about done with Wash's implantation," Ash cut in as Garrus accepted the canteen and quickly drained it. With his thirst quenched, he turned around to face the throng that now surrounded Dr. Chakwas. Ash's statement was correct: the Normandy's physician had already pulled away from Tucker's head and was already resetting the device for Wash, who had already removed his helmet in preparation for his own implantation. "And not half-bad looking with his helmet off," she added.
"Looks like Vega might have a little competition?" Garrus joked.
"Hardly," Ashley responded with a chuckle. "Also, pretty sure there's something between him and the redhead…they've barely been separated since we arrived."
So another human senses it, too, Garrus thought. Good to know I've learned a thing or two about human mating rituals.
"Time to go formally introduce ourselves, then," Tali chimed in. "I'm actually looking forward to talking with that maroon one," she added as the three of them began to approach Wash's back. "And I'd love to see that red one's shotgun…
"Of course you would…" Garrus said as the three of them approached the group, sniper rifles lowered and cradled in their arms.
####
You know, your ability to conceal pain is borderline frightening, Epsilon said as the pressure from the needle's withdrawal and subsequent burn of what Dr. Chakwas referred to as "medi-gel" finally subsided as Dr. Chakwas withdrew the instrument from Tucker's head.
"That doesn't look so bad," Wash said in a tone that suggested he sounded much more receptive to the procedure now than he'd been prior to Carolina volunteering to go first.
Says the memory of the man I learned it from, Carolina replied. "Worst part is the numbing agent, really," Carolina reassured Wash as she tried to look past him. "You said I should be able to understand everyone immediately?" she said as she turned and re-addressed Dr. Chakwas.
Dr. Chakwas nodded as she allowed the case to run a sterilization cycle. "Your ears hear still their actual language, but your brain will process those sounds as if you were both speaking the same one," the doctor explained as she covered the instrument again and pressed a button. "However, sometimes there are glitches where a word isn't translated in English and you end up hearing the original word…" she elaborated.
Which means I have to maintain an active link with your mind in order to understand the non-humans, Epsilon mused as Wash removed his helmet and presented the left side of his head to the doctor.
What's wrong, Epsilon…afraid of being out of the loop? Carolina chided. "Trust me, we've dealt with far worse on Freelancer missions," Carolina reassured Wash with a smile.
Wash's expression and body posture relaxed a bit. "True…" he agreed as he exhaled deeply. "Stay with me?" he said, a hint of nervousness still in his voice.
"Got your six," she said soothingly as Dr. Chakwas finished sterilizing the area.
Maybe, Epsilon answered back. On a completely unrelated note, I'm actually kinda shocked Wash is willing to do this, he said as Dr. Chakwas placed the tip of the instrument just above Wash's left ear.
Outwardly, Carolina gave Wash her most reassuring smile as she watched as one needles dart into Wash's head, to which Wash responded to with the tiniest flinch. Wow, that looks so much worse from here, Carolina thought. "That's the worst part, I promise," Carolina said.
"Actually wasn't too bad," Wash said as his face relaxed into a smile as the numbing needle quickly retracted and another needle rotated into the pervious needle's place.
Looks like his pain tolerance is higher than we both thought, Epsilon said. "Hey, doesn't going through bone require some kind of drill?" Epsilon blurted out.
"Epsilon…" Carolina said warningly. Do not make this worse for him, she added privately.
"It's contained within the current needle," Dr. Chakwas explained. "Slight pressure, Mr. Washington," she explained as the second needle shot into his skull. "In less than a minute, you'll have a fully functional translator."
Carolina reached up and put a hand on Wash's shoulder, which made Wash relax a bit. "You're gonna be fine, Wash," Carolina reassured him. Say anything else, and I'll chuck you into the nearest stream, she added to Epsilon.
Yeah, yeah, don't make it worse for him, Epsilon replied.
"Everything going smoothly?" a rich, multi-tonal baritone voice inquired from behind them.
The radical differences between the voice they'd heard in the jungle and the voice Carolina heard now momentarily stunned Carolina. Holy shit, is that-
Tucker and Liara stepped aside that Ashley and Tali could fit. (Both Ashley and Garrus were cradling their sniper rifles, but given the recent attack, it was probably for the best.) Behind them, Garrus' head was just barely visible above the women, but he had now turned away and was now focused on the Normandy further off in the distance, and appeared to be listening to a private radio transmission as the second needle pulled back, rotated away, and was replaced by the third and final needle.
"I've never spoken with a freshly implanted one," Tali's voice trilled as Wash and Tucker opened up for her, Garrus, and Ashley. Her bright tone combined with her rich accent made her voice almost a pleasure to listen to. "Everyone typically has these done soon after birth in the flotilla."
"Was that…" Carolina paused as she continued to stare at Garrus, who was still focused on whoever he was speaking with over the radio. He sounds so-
"Finally nice to be able to understand you two," Epsilon finished. "Or at least she can, I'm still dependent on her brain…for now."
"I'm sure I could figure out some sort of translator software for your AI," Tali mused as she brought a three-fingered fist up to her head and rested her chin on it, clearly deep in thought. "But I would need access to the suit's hardware…"
"Well, you can totally access my suit's hardware anytime you want…bow chicka-wow-wow!" Tucker added suggestively, to which Wash groaned at.
Tali looked from Wash to Tucker to Carolina. "Bow-chicka-wow-wow?" she asked as she turned back to Ashley for further explanation of Tucker's comment.
"Tucker, as the former leader of Blue Team, I order you to stop hitting on our new allies," Epsilon said.
"Oh come on, it's not like I haven't already had a 'close encounter of the third kind,'" Tucker countered. "Also, that one, not even consensual!"
Ash, Tali, and Liara all glanced at Tucker. "He's had relations with aliens in the past?" Liara asked, her tone genuinely curious.
"Oh boy," Epsilon said. "Yes, and no…" he began as he tried to figure out the shortest way to explain the bizarre series of events that had ended in Junior's creation and subsequent birth.
####
"-so, uh, yeah, we'd prefer to figure out the sleeping arrangements and food situation prior to everyone getting back here, because Traynor and Cortez are practically besides themselves trying to figure all of this-" Vega continued as Garrus felt his body temperature almost into an uncomfortable range.
Oh, I'm sure they are, Garrus thought as he glanced at Sarge, Grif, Donut, and Simmons, all of who were currently approaching him with their arms holding makeshift bundles formed out of what looked like parachutes. "They're human, if that helps any," he replied.
"Got dinner covered for tonight, then," Vega said. "Killed one of those boars by myself this morning."
Remember to tell him about today, then, Garrus thought as the so-called Red team came to a stop in front of him. "Quarters might be a bit more complicated…we'll discuss them in detail when we get back," he finished as he (unsuccessfully) tried to catch bits and piece of the Red team's conversations.
"Copy that. Over and out, Scars," Vega said as he clicked off his radio.
If we're truly close to restarting the core, I could have Wash and Carolina occupy Allers' former quarters, and if Javik's willing to share space with Liara, I could have the rest of them occupy his old area…or maybe they'd prefer the port observatory, better views and enough couches for them to spread out on-
"Oooh, ooh, can I bunk with the hot blue chick?" Tucker exclaimed, which interrupted Garrus' train of thought.
Garrus glanced down at Tucker and flicked his mandibles in confusion. Wait a minute… "Can you…" Garrus began in pure turian.
"He volunteered after me," Carolina's voice answered, and Garrus immediately looked up to see-
-the tree-filled atrium of the Council Chambers, with a sullen Executor Pallin mere minutes before the human Ambassador Udina and the crew from Eden Prime is supposed to be meeting with the Council regarding "alleged suspicious activities" of decorated turian Spectre and 314 hero Saren Arterius-
The head attached to the sea green armor had changed: instead of an oddly shaped helmet, a woman with a bright red hair that nearly covered her face now stood in front of him, staring back at him with unusually bright green eyes-
Spirits, what cruel joke is this-
"-Saren's hiding something. Give me more time…stall them!" he aggressively demands, his tone bordering on insubordination as an armored human appears on edge of his vision, but Pallin's closed stance is already his answer-
This is impossible…she said she was an orphan-
"-your investigation is over, Garrus," Pallin finishes as he turns away from Garrus, leaving him alone with the three Alliance humans, the front and center female whose appearance the Council was waiting for, and based on the fieriness in her eyes and body posture, she looks like she's well-prepared to fight her way through them-
"Commander?" he gasped in a barely audible whisper as he quickly closed the distance between him and the impossibly familiar red-haired figure in front of him-
####
The news of both Garrus' rescue and his encounter with the unknown spacecraft seemed to breathe a fresh energy into the Normandy's crew: for the past fifteen minutes he'd found himself half-heartedly listening to Vega as the Normandy's 3rd-in-command found himself fielding various inquiries regarding food, (Cortez) sleeping arrangements, (Traynor), and rules of engagement (Javik), all of which were responded to with the same general response: they'd discuss it detail when the rescue party and Garrus returned.
"Holy shit, is this what Shepard had to deal with?" Vega had muttered as he had momentarily knelt down again to assist Cortez with meat preparation besides Joker just prior to the sounds of more people climbing down from the airlock. (Based on the Scottish accent, it sounded like Ken and Gabby had emerged from below deck again to speak directly with Adams, and had remained outside to help lift the wild boar up.)
Almost feel bad for guilt-tripping Garrus into leadership, Joker thought as he tried to listen in to the whispered conversation now being held between the ship's engineering crew, which was punctuated by occasional glances at Vega and Joker from Gabby. "Those three seem…oddly happy about something…"Joker said to no one in particular as he returned his attention to Cortez and Vega.
Cortez briefly over glanced at the whispering trio. "Based on Adams' intent expression, I'd say they've got good news for us," he offered as he returned his attention to preparing the meat in front of him.
"-and you're sure of this?" Adams said, his voice no longer a whisper.
Enthusiastic nods from both Ken and Gabby. "Gabby and I have gone over this ship at least a dozen times," Ken's rich Scottish accent continued, his own voice no longer a whisper. "If we can bring this energy core back online, we could easily bring the mass effect field generators and engines back as well-"
Joker's eyes went wide at the words "engines" and "back online" hit his ears. He carefully twisted himself around to face everyone. "So, how close does that bring us to getting her airborne again?"
Adams turned to acknowledge Joker. "According to these two, very close," he answered.
Vega shot a confused at expression at Adams. "Uh, wouldn't the outside of the ship-" he said as he pointed to the multiple black marks that scarred the Normandy's exterior hull. "-make that a bit problematic?"
"Mass effect fields held us together pretty good after an Occulus punched a hole in the shuttle bay during the Collector base attack," Joker replied. Thank God for that ship armor upgrade, he added quietly to himself.
Adams nodded. "As long as we don't end up in any protracted battles…honestly, we might be able to make it to the nearest planet or space station for
"Didn't I hear something about you guys taking parts from the Thanix, though?" Vega asked.
"We didn't touch the Thanix," Gabby cut in. "Garrus could still cripple a good-sized craft if the need arose-"
"-assuming I'd even let them get that close-" Joker interrupted again. Also, seriously, what's even left in this galaxy to attack us?
"It'd be all hands on deck when we we're in the air-" Adams continued, "-but yes, Mr. Vega, the engineering crew believes we're nearly space worthy."
"Pending a few electrical and life support systems tests," Ken added.
Vega let out a heavy sigh as he activated his omni-tool. "Yeah, think this definitely qualifies as an 'important update,'" he said as he started pressing buttons.
Joker raised his eyebrows at Vega. "You're calling him now?"
Vega nodded as he began to open his radio channel. "He's been living on half-rations for a month, Joker…the sooner we can get him off this planet and closer to his own food, the better."
####
Even without a translator implanted in his brain, Wash knew that something was clearly amiss when he heard Garrus quietly whisper the word "commander" as he continued to stare at Carolina like he'd just seen a ghost.
"Oh no," Dr. Chakwas said as she looked over at Garrus, who had now taken a few steps towards Carolina and now cradled her face between his hands, his forehead practically touching hers while whispering something that Wash couldn't make out as both Ashley and Tali rushed towards them, the pair of them gently trying to
"What's going on?" Wash asked, panic rising in his chest at the sight of Carolina's unprotected head between Garrus' hands. The last person who laid hands on her neck nearly killed her- he thought as he
Dr. Chakwas sighed as quickly recapped the implantation tool and stowed it away in the small carrying case. "He's mistaken your partner for our late commander-" she began as she began to frantically search her armor pockets for something.
"-and his…" Liara paused as if she was searching for the right word. Wash felt her hand on his hand on Wash's shoulder, and something in his gut told him that she was trying to hold him back.
Wash glanced at Carolina's body again, her face obscured by the turian's hands. He avoided eye contact with me when Chakwas said her name… "Former lover?" Wash whispered his guess quietly as he turned his head to face Liara again.
Liara nodded sadly. "Goddess, we should have seen the resemblance sooner-" she muttered to herself.
"Her hair and eyes," Dr. Chakwas said. "Different hairstyle style, but the color...just similar enough that his concussed brain might confuse them." She shook her head. "Knew I should have dosed him with the anti-inflammatory, but he's been fairly reasonable."
Wash tried to process what the Normandy crew had just confirmed for hum. "So…he was in a relationship with a former superior officer?" Wash asked, his panic now subsiding into confusion. "Doesn't your military have rules against that?" Unlike the Freelancers, which had no rules, which York and Carolina clearly took advantage of-
Another sigh from Liara. "Yes…" she began as the three of them continued to watch as Tali tried in vain to separate them, only to have Garrus turn and stare at her. "He's technically not part of the human's military," she explained.
Yet, they look to him as their leader, Wash thought. Then again, the Reds and Blues look to you, and you made their lives a living hell during your search for Tex, York, the director- Wash shook his head in an attempt to clear the unpleasant recollections from his mind. "So, is there a reason no one's doing anything?"
"Last time he was confused and separated from her," Dr. Chakwas said as her hands seemed to close around something, "it took nearly four people to restrain and sedate him," As she finished her sentence, she pulled a small syringe out of her bag. "Found it!" she exclaimed triumphantly as she got up and quickly made her way over the group.
It was all Wash could to do as he watched Dr. Chakwas skirt around the group and approach Garrus from behind, where Tali and Ashley had managed to partially pull a reluctant Garrus away from his red-headed partner as Dr. Chakwas closed the distance between her and the six-foot alien who was somehow convinced that Dr. Leonard Church's daughter was his dead lover. I should say something- "Carolina!" Wash called out, but Carolina didn't break eye contact with Garrus.
Epsilon suddenly appeared next to Wash. "Easy, there, big guy…just a simple case of mistaken identity," he said calmly as Dr. Chakwas raised her right arm, the tip of the syringe sparkling in the sunlight.
"How can you just leave her like that?" Wash growled quietly at Epsilon.
Epsilon flickered for a moment. "Listen, I know what it looks like from here, but trust me, the last thing he wanted to do was hurt her," he continued calmly as Dr. Chakwas' syringe connected with the side of Garrus' neck. "Damn, nice shot, Doc," he commented as Garrus' hand automatically tried to go up to where the syringe had been inserted. "Come on, let's go back and check on her."
Don't have to tell me twice, Wash thought as Tali quickly went to Carolina's aid while Ashley grabbed both of Garrus' shoulders and tried to get his attention-
####
Spirits…what the hell is going on? Garrus thought as he tried to process the sudden turn of events: Carolina standing in front of him, Shepard wearing sea green armor (that was never her color, she painted it to match her eyes), Ashley and Tali begging him to step away from the commander, Ashley separating them and insisting that the woman in front of him was actually dead, his stomach churning and head throbbing the entire time-
Garrus closed his eyes in an attempt to refocus his mind, I just need to lay down and rest my eyes for a bit, he thought as he knelt down and covered his face with his hands.
"Garrus…can you hear me?" Dr. Chakwas' voice called out somewhere above him.
Garrus opened his eyes and found himself on his knees, one hand still at his neck. "Dr. Chakwas…" he said as he opened his eyes and looked back up at the familiar aged face that had brought him back from the brink of almost a year ago.
"Tell me where you are right now, Mr. Vakarian," the doctor instructed as someone laid a hand on his shoulder.
Garrus looked around and saw that the hand belonged to a fully armored Ashley Williams standing next to him. Ash? You only wear your helmet if you're going into combat, he thought as the fog that seemed to have been clouding his mind suddenly lifted. "I'm…" he began as he saw Tali, Wash, and Liara all talking to Carolina while a crew of multi-colored soldiers watched him intently. "Spirits, what the hell just happened?" he asked as he cradled his forehead in his hands.
"Temporary brain swelling," Dr. Chakwas said. "The rising temperature and increased activity caused a rise in body temperature…and given your recent history of head injuries" the ship physician explained as she squatted down to pick up an empty self-injecting syringe. "
Garrus looked over at Carolina, who was now conversing with Wash and looking down at her helmet's interior. "So what'd you hit me with this time?" he said as he noticed the empty syringe on the ground.
"Anti-inflammatory…mark my words, Mr. Vakarian-" Crap, why does she keep using my last name? "-you keep this up and I'll personally declare you unfit for command," Dr. Chakwas continued sternly as she folded her arms under her chest.
Garrus sighed. The ship's physician: the true authority aboard any warship. "I promise, I'll it easy when we get back to the Normandy," he said as cradled his head again. "Also, who'd I nearly kill this time?" he asked dejectedly as he remembered Vega's account of his last confused rage.
"Oh, no one got hurt…" Ashley began, "But you did mistake Carolina for Shepard," Ashley finished. "Called her by Shepard's first name, brought her so close to you that your foreheads were touching-"
Upon hearing the phrase "You mistook her for Shepard," Garrus was overcome by absolute horror. You made forehead contact with a human you've barely known for hours? Spirits, if the Hierarchy finds out about this First Contact protocol violation- "Crap," he finally as he furtively tried to figure out how to handle the situation.
"Any better?" Wash asked as he took a knee facing Garrus and Carolina slid her helmet back on.
For a brief moment, Garrus wished that Wash had removed his helmet so he could accurately read his facial expressions. Probably why they all keep their helmets on all the time: easier to conceal how they feel. "Carolina, I…" How the hell do you apologize to someone for something like this?
"Been there, done that, and North goaded me about it for weeeeeeks after it happened," Wash cut back in cheerily as he popped back up into a standing position. "Also, apparently screamed Carolina's mother's name out during my implantation…and let me tell you, THAT caused quite a stir-" he continued in an almost uncomfortably perky manner. Almost as if he's trying to break the awkwardness-
"Well if it wasn't for that, you wouldn't have had the motivation to find me and Carolina and dismantle the remains of Project Freelancer," Epsilon's disembodied voice answered from a re-helmeted Carolina's direction.
The female Freelancer nodded in affirmation. "To be fair, I probably didn't help the situation this morning," she said, and Garrus realized she was referring to the fact that she'd landed a solid right hook to his face earlier this morning.
Garrus looked up at Wash, who was now holding out a hand to help him back up. Oh great, he's probably pissed that I damn near made out with his- Garrus paused as he glanced at Carolina, who was also looking down at him -well, whatever they are, he thought as he took Wash's hand. "If I've offended either of you-" Garrus began as closed his talons within the human's hand.
Wash's five fingers gripped Garrus' three a little tighter as Wash helped pulled him up. "Apology accepted," Wash replied as the rainbow assortment of both Normandy, Reds, and Blues finished gathering around them…and something in Wash's voice told Garrus that the Freelancer had already forgiven him.
Well, that makes a nice change, Garrus thought as everyone looked to him. "No more time for implants?" Garrus said as he turned back to Dr. Chakwas.
Dr. Chakwas shook her head as she folded her arms across her chest. "You needed to be back at the Normandy two hours ago," she said in the tone that Garrus translated as "If you fuck up like you did two minutes ago, you will lose command immediately." And I'm not about to give up what most of the crew wanted me to have, Garrus thought.
Garrus nodded in defeat. "Ash, give the order."
Ashley nodded once. "On it," she said as she turned and started to round up the remainder of the red and blue soldiers, one of which was still wandering about the campsite.
"Ready as we'll ever be!" Sarge answered with affirmative nods from Donut, Simmons, and Griff.
"Lead the way, Garrus," Dr. Chakwas instructed as she pointed towards the stream, which would serve as one of the primary landmarks for navigating back to the Normandy's crash site.
Wash reached for his rifle. "Mind if I stay up front with you?" Wash asked as Garrus reached for his Widow.
Garrus looked at Dr. Chakwas, who nodded once. "It'll be good to actually be able to talk to you now," Garrus said brightly as he checked the safety on his Widow.
"I dunno, I think I was getting pretty good at figuring out your confused looks," Wash quipped as Ashley began to order the rest of the group to file behind the pair, to which most of the simulation troopers felt the need to add their own colorful commentary to.
"Which by the way, is not easy for most humans to do," Liara added in her most complimentary manner.
And on that, she's not wrong.
####
As the group began to make their way back towards the Normandy's crew base of operations, Epsilon took the opportunity to enjoy a few minutes of silence to himself while Carolina and Ashley got to know each other on the group's trek back towards the crashed spaceship on the cliffs.
"-and that's how I ended up watching my sister stand up for herself," Ashley finished as she concluded her story of how she'd gone home on leave once to help her younger sister out with a pushy boyfriend.
"Smart girl," Carolina said. "But after watching you fight, I assume she learned some of this from you?"
You know, if I didn't know any better, I think we might have just encountered the first woman in the universe that you might actually get along with, Epsilon joked privately as the group's pace picked up a bit.
What's not to like about her? Military family, decorated war-fighter, better with a sniper rifle than you-
"Okay, now that's just mean," Epsilon said.
"Excuse me?" Ashley said, as Epsilon had interrupted her as she was about to say something else.
Maybe we should keep our conversations public for now, Carolina replied as she turned back to Ashley. "Epsilon and I were just discussing your skills with that sniper rifles…and he didn't appreciate my comment regarding his own," she finished smugly.
Ashley laughed. "Hey, I'm good, but Garrus is actually better," Ash said as she turned her attention towards the front of the line, where Garrus and Wash were still presumably leading the pack back to the Normandy. "But how would an AI program physically handle a rifle?"
This'll be a fun rabbit hole to go down. "Actually had a robot body for a bit," Epsilon said.
Carolina brought her hand just over AI slot. "He lives here now," she said as she pointed to the back of her neck," "but everyone's helmets have a slot that can hold him."
"Your friend up front have his own?"
Are we really going there, C?
Yes, Carolina unanswered. "Epsilon was actually supposed to go to Wash-" Carolina began.
"But unfortunately for him, he received the AI fragment that held all of the original AI's traumatic memories from being tortured into splitting itself into pieces," Epsilon interrupted. "Seriously, I'm surprised he allowed Dr. Chalk there-" Epsilon motioned towards the small-framed woman next to Doc, "-to drill into his brain in the first place."
"Which is why I went first," Carolina cut back in sharply, and he didn't need to read her mind to know that she was less than thrilled with Epsilon's unprompted explanation.
Ash let out a low whistle. "Damn…what the hell were guys doing before you ended up here, then?"
And down we go, Epsilon thought again as he sensed Carolina trying to figure out the best way to explain all of their past adventures. "It's a long story," Carolina began. "You sure you want to hear it?"
Ashley nodded. "Hey Liara, how much further?" she called out ahead to the light blue alien in the middle of the group, who had been patiently entertaining Caboose's endless ramblings for the past twenty minutes.
"At least forty minutes," Liara yelled back before turning back to Caboose.
Ashley turned back Carolina. "I'm game if you are," Ash offered.
"Long or short version?" Carolina asked.
Ashley paused. "Long…"
"Well, it all started when a bunch of aliens attacked one of our planets…" Carolina began.
####
"Hey Scars, got a minute?" Vega's voice crackled over the radio as the Reds, Blues, Freelancers, and Normandy crew started to move upstream and back towards the Normandy.
Wash (who had wanted to remain next with Garrus after his successful translator implantation) turned to glance at the side of his "Fitting code name," he commented quietly as he glanced at the right side of Garrus' face.
"More of a nickname," Garrus said as he raised a talon to his visor to open his radio channel. "Problems, Jimmy?" he replied as he kept his eyes on the stream, his attention now focused on his next trailblazer mark as Wash automatically focused his own attention on any potential threats to the group. Even in a different universe, military culture remains the same, Garrus thought with a sense of contentedness.
"Yeah, James here underestimated Tali and Adams' ability to get us the hell off this planet," Joker's voice cut in, which led Garrus to assume that Joker was probably standing right next to Vega.
Garrus' mandibles flicked as he recalled his conversations with Tali from both the lifetime ago that was yesterday and this morning. "Tali mentioned something about a power core restart," he said as his heart sank at the anticipated news of the Thanix's demise.
"As soon as you get back here, we can run a systems test," Adams' voice interjected. "We were able to spare your Thanix, thanks to her," he added.
Spirits alive, I'm buying her an entire pallet of dextro chocolate the first chance I get, Garrus thought as his mood quickly brightened at both tidbits of good news. "Excellent work, all of you…over and out," Garrus finished as he clicked off his radio.
"That sounded promising," Wash commented as they both stepped over a large tree root. "Mind if I ask what a Thanix is?"
"Normandy's main gun," Garrus answered. "Reverse-engineered by my people from an alien weapon, and part of the reason the Normandy was almost untouchable," he said with a hint of pride as he looked up at the slowly growing cliffs in the distance, his eyes resting on where her knew the Normandy was currently nestled in. She invested so much into you, Garrus thought with a pang of sadness.
Wash seemed to process this information for a few seconds. "So how'd you guys end up stranded here?" he began hesitantly, as if he was afraid the question might offend Garrus.
Garrus sighed heavily. "Short version? Our pilot was trying to outrun an unknown threat, and he overloaded the electrical systems in the process," Garrus began as he struggled to fight back the nauseous feeling in his stomach and the unpleasant memories from the first day of the crash. "Ship damage was minimal, but the most of crew-" Garrus paused again, afraid that speaking about the events of last month would make them unpleasantly real again-
Wash was silent for a few seconds. "Wasn't grounded," he finished quietly.
Garrus looked over at Wash. "How'd you guess?"
"Your tone," Wash replied. "And my armor's capable of EMP discharge, so I've learned a thing or two about electricity," Wash paused again. "How many survivors?"
Garrus turned and motioned to the group b. "Them," he said as he turned back around, "plus our comms specialist, our helmsman, a shuttle pilot, three engineers, Jimmy, and Javik." And our ship's AI, Garrus added silently to himself. "We've operated with a small crew before, but-"
"It's gonna be a challenge now," he finished.
Garrus nodded. "Especially with our shipboard AI out of commission."
Wash turned to look back at the line of people following behind them: directly behind him was Tali and Simmons (who had also opted to undergo translator implantation prior to the group's departure from the crash site), who, based on the bits and pieces he'd picked up on, had been animatedly engaged in non-stop technical and computer talk for the past fifteen minutes. "Pretty sure your purple friend back there might be able to teach Simmons a thing or two…he's actually fairly handy with computers."
And if he can read Standard, he'll be just fine. "He did figure out why I couldn't eat your food, first…" Garrus said. "What about the rest of your group?"
"Hmmmm…" Wash paused thoughtfully. "Other than Grif flying small planes once or twice, I think Carolina and I might be the only other people you want to trust," he said. "Everyone else can be a bit…"
"Problematic?" Garrus finished.
"Yeah, let's go with that," Wash answered quickly.
Better than nothing, Garrus reasoned as he spotted another one of his trail makers, and as he did, the memory of Shepard, Tali, Jack, Samara, and Cortez dancing next to him in her apartment on the Citadel. Tali-
Garrus glanced back at the back of the group where Carolina and Ashley were bringing up the rear. "You said your leader has an AI built into her suit?" Garrus asked as a semi-ludicrous idea entered his mind.
"AI fragment," Wash corrected. "But he's still powerful enough to run both her suit's special feature and calculate the best plan of attack," he added.
Tali and Javik are going to flip when I suggest this, Garrus thought to himself as he quickened his pace a bit. "I have an idea…but it needs to wait until we get back to camp," Garrus said as Wash fell in stride with his turian march pace.
####
With nothing to do but await Garrus' return, Joker had taken opportunity to enjoy the soft breeze and warm sunshine as he patiently watched the sky above for Glyph and the ground below for signs of foot traffic while the rest of the group continued to prepare for the rest of the crew's return.
-her footsteps approach again. In a ship full of strangers who have pledged loyalty to a terrorist organization and hired help, he can count on one hand the number people she frequently seeks out the opinions of when it comes to new crew acquisitions…and oh, does he already have opinions on the drell assassin she recruited today-
Leave it to Garrus to outdo her in one go, he thought with a smile as he closed his eyes and turned his face up towards the warm sun again.
-"Another dangerous alien aboard Commander…thanks! Why can't you collect coins or commemorative plates or-"
Joker smiled to himself. To be fair, she did collect ships, he though as a pale light blue object popped up above the trees again and turned to face the Normandy. Without much thought, Joker automatically opened his omni-tool to allow for tightbeam transmission from Lira as the sound of approaching footsteps barely registered behind him.
"They're a little more than two clicks away," Adams' voice said confidently from behind him.
"You can tell that just by looking?" Traynor asked incredulously.
"Give or take a few meters," Adams said with a laugh. "I've developed a pretty good spatial awareness over the years."
Joker turned his head to see the pair of them looking out over the cliff's edge. "Why'd you never buck for pilot, then?" Joker asked casually as the pair seated themselves on either side of him.
"Felt I was better suited to support roles," Adams replied as he settled himself on Joker's right.
"Until you and Chakwas sneak off for target practice while the rest of us attempted to drink ourselves into new livers," Traynor said, her tone still one of disbelief. "Never thought I'd see the day where the ship's doctor demands to go out on a rescue party…"
"You're telling me," Joker said as he recalled his own disbelief at Chakwas' insistence on accompanying Ash, Tali, and Liara on Garrus' rescue mission.
Adams chuckled to himself. "There's a lot about Karin that the crew doesn't know about," Adams said cryptically.
"Clearly," Traynor said as she turned to look back over the edge. "For what it's worth, I'm happy for the both of you," she added. "Even though most of you have broken at least five Alliance regulations against fraternization-"
"Eh, I think we've all earned the right to break a few rules after saving the galaxy, what, like three times now?" Joker quipped as he threw his hands up and shrugged his shoulders.
Traynor laughed again. "Third time's the charm?"
Just wish you were here to enjoy it, Commander, Joker sighed loudly as he looked down at the ground.
"She would have been proud of you, Joker," Adams said after a few seconds of silence. "And if Garrus hasn't told you this, then that'll be his one failing as our ship's commander."
Joker raised a questioning eyebrow at Adams, who still maintained his focus on a point somewhere out in the jungle. "Wait, who told you-"
Adams continued to stare out over the horizon, cool as a cucumber "Take an educated guess," he answered evasively he closed his eyes.
"Did you-" Joker turned to Traynor in hopes of receiving an explanation of why the Normandy's turian commander should be communicating his former lover and superior's feelings to the long-standing pilot.
"Nope, not part of this conversation," Traynor said quickly, her eyes closed as the breeze whipped through her hair.
Joker sighed as the three of them sat in silence for a few minutes. Even Garrus left her for a time to go back to C-Sec, Joker thought pensively. Then again, Garrus probably couldn't turn his back on the destruction of the Citadel…just like I couldn't keep my mouth shut after the Collector attack on the SSV. Joker glanced at the wooden Mantis next to him on the ground. Funny how all three of us willingly turned our backs to our own militaries for the sake of saving the galaxy.
Unprompted, the memory of talking with Shepard at Purgatory's bar pushed itself to the forefront of his brain. "I've served with you from the day you took command-"
"I'd follow you into hell," Joker finished quietly as he recalled his words to Shepard.
"And you did, Joker…you did," Adams said as he rested his hand on Joker's shoulder.
A few minutes of silence between them followed as a heavy weight seemed to lift from Joker's chest. I did, he thought as he looked down below at the jungle again. And I saved the one turian you refused to let die with you, he said as he caught sight of Garrus and company though a break in the trees.
"Hey Adams?" Joker asked, his tone now brighter and more curious.
Adams opened his eyes again. "Yes, Joker?"
"Where'd you first run into Garrus?" Joker inquired as he gave into his sudden urge of curiosity.
Adams paused for a moment as his face scrunched up. "Shuttle bay by his locker…walked up, introduced myself as the chief engineer, and asked him what he thought of her," Adams continued reminiscently.
"Of Shepard?" Traynor asked, her eyes wide.
Both Adams and Joker laughed before Adams managed to answer Traynor again. "No, the Normandy…the original was a joint project between turians and humans, remember?"
"Oh, right," Traynor said. "What was his response?"
Adams smiled. "Said he felt right at home," Adams answered. "Poor guy…with Williams was staring daggers at him and given the history between turians and krogan, he had practically agreed to living in a viper's nest." Adams paused for a seconds. "He relaxed a bit after a tour of the engine room," he finished. "Said the humans did a pretty good job of modifying turian designs to their style."
Good guy Adams, always making everyone feel welcome, Joker thought as his respect of Adams grew a bit more.
"And no second thoughts about allowing a strange turian aboard one of the Alliance's most closely guarded secrets?" Traynor asked.
Adams shook his head again. "When you've in the Alliance as long as I have, you learn not to question your superiors without good reason…" However, as Adams finished his sentence, his expression fell and he heaved what sounded like a regretful sigh.
Joker and Traynor glanced at each other before turning to Adams. "But…" Traynor began.
"I should have been there with the rest of you," Adams sighed as he leaned forward. "Karin, you, Garrus, Tali-"
Joker grinned. "Hey, someone had to be the good Alliance boy while we were off saving the galaxy," he joked. "Plus, court marshaling is a real pain in the ass," he added gingerly as he recalled the long hours he spent seated in his ill-fitting Alliance blues being constantly interrogated by Alliance brass regarding his time with Cerberus.
"Point…well, at least I got back here in the end, right?" he said as he leaned back and looked up at the sky."
"It's been good to have you back…Greg," Joker finished as he placed a hand on Adams' shoulder again.
Adams smiled. "Likewise, Joker…likewise."
####
As the doors open from what was possibly the most awkwardly silent elevator ride ever between the grandchild of the human who surrendered to the turians and a member of a race that his people had all but sterilized, Garrus takes a moment to survey the new area of the ship: to the left, equipment lockers and a weapon bench
"Lockers have been assigned for each of you," Williams explains as she raises her arm and motion towards the left side of the room-
"We're here," Garrus said finally as the group approached the base of the cliff where two ropes hung side by-side. "You guys ready to meet the rest of our crew?" he added as he glanced at Ashley, who acknowledged his inclusive statement with a nod.
"Ready as we'll ever be," Carolina answered as she took her place next to Wash.
"Copy that, shore party," Adams' voice replied.
-"Hmm…bit more roomy down here," Wrex grunts approvingly as he sniffs the air and eyes the open area on the left. "Think this place is big enough to handle both of us-"
Wash paused and craned his neck back in his attempt to see the top. "Something smells good," he said as he inhaled deeply. "Dinner?"
"Hope you like fire-roasted boar," he said. "It's what the rest of the crew has been living off of since we crashed a month ago."
"Those are edible?" Wash asked, surprised.
"Better than stale ration bars," Ash said. "Also, think we should send up one of the new guys with you?" Ashley suggested as she pointed to the second rope.
Garrus nodded. "Good idea, Ash," he said. "Wash?"
Wash glanced at Carolina for confirmation, who silently nodded as Wash holstered his assault rifle on his back. "Not gonna lie, looking forward to whatever's cooking up there."
"Put in a good word for me!" Tucker called out from behind the Reds as Wash and Garrus secured themselves to the rope pulley system that would lift them back up the cliff's edge.
"And as soon as my med bay has power, you're getting a full scan, Mr. Vakarian," Chakwas said as she folded her arms across her chest. "Especially that shoulder," she added as he turned his back towards her.
And that's what I get for not cleaning my blood off my armor, Garrus thought as he secured the rope to his armor. "You know, I did survive a rocket to the face…" he said as he gave the rope a few tugs to signal that he was ready to be lifted up as he looked back over his shoulder.
"Only thanks to Cerberus," Ash muttered quietly.
-He approaches the row of lockers and opens his own…and much to his surprise, he finds that it already contains a number of armor, weapons, and omni-tool upgrades. He glances over at Wrex, who seems be intently studying the contents of his own locker-
"Found a lot of gear lying around on Eden Prime," Ashley replies as she continues maintenance work on the most recent version of a Haliat Armory Equalizer sniper rifle. "Commander wants her…ground team…outfitted with the best-"
Which included Spectre gear, Garrus thought happily to himself as the distance between him and the group below grew larger. Garrus looked back up at the cliff's edge, where his visor could just make out the outline of Adams' head and shoulders above him. "One of your new friends, Garrus?" Adams called down as he noticed the light blue armored solider rising alongside the turian.
Wash looked up in the direction of Adams' voice. "You could say that!" Wash yelled back.
-The sound of footsteps behind him causes him to turn around to come face-to-face with a man he hasn't seen before…and unlike most of the humans he's encountered on this ship, this one has considerably more lines in his face and favors the dress blues over the standard Alliance work uniform worn by most of the other crew.
"You must be the turian from C-Sec," he says warmly as he offers his hand out to Garrus. "Greg Adams, chief engineer-"
And one of the few friends I had down in that cargo bay at first, Garrus thought as he recalled his first meeting with the man who spent most of his time in the glow of the Tantulus drive core, relatively isolated from the drama that existed on the upper deck. "That's the chief engineer, Lieutenant Adams," Garrus said to Wash.
"Adams, chief engineer…" Wash repeated the name aloud as if making a mental note to himself.
Garrus looked up again and allowed himself a contented sigh. Hopefully Javik won't startle them too much-
####
"He looks good, Joker," Adams said as he carefully backed away from the edge. "Ash and Karin said he sustained a few injuries, but as far as I can tell, he's still in fighting shape."
Joker grinned from his spot near the fire. "Yeah, well, he was also up and calibrating the main gun battery hours after taking a rocket to the face and losing almost a quarter of his blood, so I'm sure getting attacked in the middle of the jungle is probably just an early-morning warm-up for him."
Adams quietly chuckled to himself. "I keep forgetting that's how he got those scars."
"Toughest-" Vega said as he paused between rope pulls, "-sons of bitches-" he continued as he and Cortez continued their efforts, "-in the galaxy!" he finished breathlessly. (Javik, on the other hand, seemed to barely break a sweat as he continued his efforts on his own rope.)
"Insulting my mother, Jimmy?" Garrus' voice called out from below.
"He could hear that?" Traynor asked, surprised.
"You do realize his mom died while Shepard and I were imprisoned by the Alliance, right?" Joker said casually as he turned to face Vega.
Vega's expression turned into one of horror as his face reddened. "Shiiiiiiiit," he muttered.
Cortez nudged him to continue. "Too late now, Vega…" he said. "Hey Donnelly, you mind lending a hand? We've got at least another ten bodies to bring up."
"On it," Donnelly called out from the interior of the Normandy. "Hey Javik, you want a hand?"
Javik shook his head. "Your hands are needed to restore functionally to this ship, engineer," Javik answered. "But I appreciate your offer of assistance," he added with a brief four-eyed glance and nod at the Scotsman.
Joker grinned. Sounds like Liara's been teaching him a thing or two about interacting with other humans, he thought cheerfully. Wonder if he still wants to throw me out the airlock, though?
"I never knew that," Traynor said as Garrus finally rose into view. As soon as the familiar visor-eyed turian appeared above the cliff's edge, Vega, Cortez, and Javik quickly anchored their ropes down before Vega dashed over to Adams to assist him with pulling up both Garrus and another strange figure in unfamiliar light blue armor.
"Welcome back, sir," Adams said as Vega helped Garrus clamber over the edge of the cliff.
Joker grinned. "You know, Garrus, the Alliance has pretty stiff penalties for dereliction of duty," Joker began lightly as he stood up with the help of the wooden Mantis replication.
"Says the man who's stolen the Normandy three times," Garrus replied nonchalantly from the midst of Vega, Adams and Cortez while Traynor, Ken, and Gabby took up positions on the pulley rope. "Lower the rope, we're got a lot more people to bring up," he instructed as he broke away from the throng and crossed over to wear Joker was standing. "However, friendly reminder, I'm still technically part of the turian military with maybe three or four turian generals above me now?"
That, you are, Joker reasoned as he stared at Garrus quietly for a few moments, and without warning, he opened his arms and embraced the six foot turian in the tightest hug he could manage without breaking all the bones in his upper body, which resulted in multiple audible awws from the crew behind him. But you're the one turian that Shepard was willing to sacrifice her own life for.
Garrus gently returned the favor. "I'm sorry, Joker," Garrus apologized, his tone softer.
"No more dead friends, please," Joker said quietly in Garrus' shoulder as he held back the tears now welling in eyes.
Garrus hugged him slightly tighter before releasing him. "No more dead friends," he repeated as he rested his talons on both shoulders. "Good news, I've made a few new ones while I was out in the woods," he added lightly as he turned around and motioned to the armored figure in light blue armor, who was now being assisted over the edge by Cortez and Adams.
"You know, I used to give Shepard a ton of shit for the crew she brought back when we flew under Cerberus colors," Joker began again as the solider approached them. "Seriously, everyone she brought aboard could have easily killed us all in our sleep."
Garrus laughed. "Well, this one could kill you with a knife at twenty paces," Garrus said a little more loudly to the newcomer behind. "Wash…meet Joker," Garrus said by way of introduction as the light blue figure offered a hand out to Joker. "Don't worry, I already told him about the Vrolik's," he whispered quietly as he gently pushed Joker towards the heavily armored person now approaching them.
Joker groaned. "Uhhhggg, you know I feel about people finding out about that…" he said loudly as he gave the newcomer a once-over. Damn, this guy looks like he's ready for another Reaper war-
"Well, can't have someone hurting the best pilot in the fleet now, can we?" Garrus commented as the ropes began moving again.
No, we can't, Joker thought to himself as Garrus' tone eerily mimicked both his predecessor's and his lover's own as they watched the ropes lift the next part members. No, we can't.
####
A/N: Might be a record for shortest time between updates! I've developed the habit of actively keeping track how much time I spent writing, a habit I've found to be oddly encouraging. As for the next update, I'll aim for next month! (Assuming playing through the Mass Effect Legendary Edition doesn't eat up all my writing time, haha.) Also, looking for a beta reader, so PM me if you're interested.