MASS EFFECT CHASM: CHAPTER 27
A lop-sided smirk spread across Alenko's lips as he propped up his head with his arm in Shepard's bed. His breathing was still heavy from their session. He could feel the sweat dripping down his naked body as he held Zalena next to him with his other arm. She too was basking in the afterglow with her head resting on his chest. Her fingertips twirled around the hairs on his skin. The sensation sent chills down his spine. "I've missed you…," he whispered.
Zalena kissed his bare chest and nuzzled him. "I missed you too, Kaidan." She looked up at him with an angelic smile. "It's been too long since we made love."
"Way too damn long," Alenko agreed as he lowered his head to gently kiss her lips. He moved his hand to the small of her back and dragged his fingers up and down softly. "I wish this moment would never end. I don't want to leave this room. Screw the Reapers."
Zalena chuckled drowsily. "My sentiments exactly, Major."
"Hey," He teased. "Don't start pulling rank here."
"Sorry," Shepard grinned back at him with a spirited wink. "I meant Spectre," She seductively cooed.
Alenko rolled his body to where he was now hovering over her and leaned down to capture her lips once more with his. He could feel her body pressing upwards against him as she returned the expression just as intensely. A soft moan escaped her lips. She wanted him again. Hearing her, he flickered her tongue with his own as he lowered his body and held her. Suddenly, his mind flashed and he could see the Collectors, followed by the echoed screams of fleeing colonists on Horizon. He could see the paralyzed men, women, and children all around him as they succumbed to the swarms. Another flash and he could see Zalena being dragged off by one of the Prothean abominations. Its haunting glowing eyes stared right at him. "Prepare this human for her ascension."
"No!" He screamed as he broke free from the kiss. His body shook as he lifted off her quickly. Getting his bearings, he realized that he never went back to that hellscape and was still in the temporary sanctuary of Shepard's cabin.
Frightened by the strange turn of events, Shepard shot up after him. "Kaidan! What is it?"
Panting, Alenko's terrified eyes glanced around the room and then he looked at her in confusion. "I hope not a premonition." He moved to where he was sitting next to her in the bed and pulled the sheet up to his waist. "I just saw the colonists on Horizon and the Collectors. Then I saw one taking you away…" His eyes diverted over to her. "Zalena, I can't lose you again."
Shepard touched his face with her warm comforting hand. "And you won't. We will see this through."
"Partners," Alenko kissed her hand and clutched it. "I'll never doubt you again. If you should fall- "
"Don't," She put her fingers up to his lips to stop him from finishing his commitment. "Let's not talk about it. We have a long fight ahead of us. We should probably get some rest."
"Agreed."
The familiar backdrop of the woods entered Shepard's subconscious. The same ghostly shadows surrounded her. This time, there were even more to the point where more of her paths were obstructed. "
"I apologize, but prayers for the wicked must not be forsaken…" Thane's words poured down on her like rain from the mist that engulfed her location.
"Thane?!" She urgently looked around to find her old lover. Even if it was his spirit, she needed to see him.
"Commander Shepard, we've been expecting you…" Dr. Bryson responded instead.
"Shepard, please, my project, my work, my cure," The words from Mordin's last moment with her was a punch in the gut.
"Does this unit have a soul?" Legion beckoned to her.
It was the words of the dead. The excruciating reality of what she faced so far. "No…. please," She begged her mind. She wanted to wake up, to end the chaos, but her mind relentlessly kept her inside the torture chamber. The child's playful laughter begged her to follow him. Like a moth to a flame, she began to pursue it. Her feet moved without her control, turning as the child zigzagged around the oily black shadows and trees.
"Heads up, LT, just spotted a Geth ship headed to your location." Ash's words from Virmire came from her left.
Zalena stopped her pursuit and looked in the direction of where the voice came from. "Ash?"
"And if we make ourselves useful, think of how many lives could be spared?" Saren called out to her from the right.
"Your time will come, your species will fall," Harbinger taunted to her menacingly from behind.
The elusive child shot past her in that direction. "No! Wait!" Zalena moved to stop him, but the boy's arm slipped through her clutches. Unaware of the danger that he was in, the child continued to laugh in enjoyment as he ran through the mist, then disappeared. Seconds later, the deafening sound of the Reaper's horn blared throughout so loudly that it made her cover her ears.
Then Harbinger's words overlayed with Leviathan's, "Your mind belongs to me."
A red light hit her and then she snapped back to an awakened state. "No!" She screamed loud as she sat up, her heart was racing so rapidly that she began to hyperventilate to catch her breath.
"Shepard!" Kaidan snapped to alertness when he heard her and moved to hold her quickly. "It's okay! It's okay. Just breathe. Breathe."
Nodding her head to acknowledge his command, she cupped her mouth and began to take several long slow deep breaths to slow down her heartbeat. Kaidan remained quiet as he looked on with extreme worry. His hand comfortingly rubbed her back.
Finally, after catching her breath to where she could talk, she swore, "Damnit."
"Another nightmare?"
"Lost ones reminding me of where I failed." She clutched her jaw tightly. "And Harbinger making sure that I know it." She thought back to Leviathan. "Onboarding Leviathan worries me."
"One battle at a time," He chuckled light-heartedly as he kissed her cheek. "Remember that."
"Yeah, first the Illusive Man."
