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Chapter Two

Joker, along with most of the rest of the team, had managed to save EDI. She had downloaded a backup of herself onto a silicon chip a few weeks ago. So she's the same EDI but she doesn't remember anything between when she backed herself up to now. She's smart though. She saw Shepard's name plate on the memorial wall and immediately turned and embraced Joker. "I am sorry for your loss, Jeff," she whispered to him. He had hugged her back and sobbed, relieved that she was back. Soon after, her name was taken down from the memorial wall.

I was angry and jealous. Everyone else was happy and relieved. While everyone was catching EDI up on the situation, I was down in the armory, prepping my gear. Our next mission was to escort EDI onto the planet so she could scan for survivors and anything salvageable. EDI was also able to boost the ship's signal and scanners. She found that the Relay we were heading for was badly damaged.

I looked up to find James with me, also prepping his gear.

"You ready man?" he asked. I nodded. "Got your head in the game?"

"I'm fine."

"Ok, just checking. You're the sniper who's supposed to be covering my ass."

"Don't worry about it, Vega. I'm doing it for her. I've got this."

Together we walked toward the elevator. EDI had managed to get it running again within minutes of being operational again.

"What do you mean you're doing it for her? She's gone, bro." He sighed. I could see that he was also grieving. We all were.

"We need to get to that Relay or we're staying here forever. And once it's up and running again, I'm going to Earth and I'm finding her." My voice rang with a tone of finality and confidence. I could hear it, so could James.

The elevator opened and we made our way to the airlock. EDI was waiting for us. I tossed a pistol I had found to her just in case, as Joker called from the pilot's seat, "Hey Garrus!"

I walked in and he spun his chair around. "Take care of her for me, please. I just got her back and I would hate to see a scratch on that brand new finish." I nodded. "Prepping airlock."

I got into our little formation as we crossed into the airlock. James and I put on our helmets. Preliminary scans show the planet has no oxygen.

We all checked our comm links as the airlock depressurized and we moved forward. The planet was an empty desert planet. We did end up finding some research stations, which we dismantled, as well as some useful mineral deposits. We loaded all we could into the cargo bay.

On the way back to the Normandy, EDI was walking beside me. "Garrus, may I ask you a question in Commander Shepard's absence?"

"Sure, EDI, ask away." EDI was very curious about what has happened in the last weeks. She took every opportunity to ask about it but she did not want to be obnoxious about it.

"Who is in command of the ship?"

"Uh… Joker, I guess." She took a moment to process my answer. That must have not been the answer she was expecting.

"When I asked Joker he told me to ask you. He said that you knew the Commander better than any of us and you would know who she would have put in charge."

"I…" I paused. I feared the answer to this question. If I had to take control of the ship, I would be replacing her. I couldn't do that. "I don't know who she would choose."

"Never talked shop up in her quarters?" James asked.

"Of course we did… I just truly don't think she would choose the same person now."

"Who had she chosen before?" EDI asked.

Just talking about her made me feel raw and fragile. I was struggling to breathe. I was tempted to just go find something to drink and find a quiet corner of Normandy to pass out and forget everything.

We were approaching the airlock now. "Joker," I said into my comm, "we're back."

"Great. Debriefing in the war room?"

"Sure." The airlock opened and cycled.

As I passed Joker, I told him to get us flying. Soon after, I followed James and EDI into the war room. The rest of the crew was there waiting for us. The natural head of the table was left open, seemingly for me. I took the spot reluctantly. I wasn't drunk enough to handle the pain of standing in the same spot as her. I braced my hands on the rail in front of me. I needed to establish something first before this could continue.

"It seems there has been some confusion on who commands this ship… Yes, she and I had discussed that weeks ago. But I don't think she would choose the same person now if she were… with us." I couldn't bear to phrase it another way. I was having a hard time standing as it was.

"Garrus," EDI spoke up, "I ask again, who had she chosen before?"

I turned away to hide my face, my pain… my shame. "Me…" I sobbed.

"Hold up, Garrus." Joker said from the speakers. "What makes you think she would change her mind about you? Trouble in paradise?"

I turned suddenly and shouted, "Because I failed! I was meant to protect her and she died. If she saw me now…" I laughed darkly. "She wouldn't be proud. I don't deserve to command this ship."

"Garrus," Tali said, "We are scrambling, just to stay alive. If you don't think you are fit to lead, then who is?"

"I do not have the authority to decide that."

"Then who does?" she countered. She had me there and she knew it. I stared her down until an idea came to mind.

"We all do. We vote. Everyone at this table plus Joker vote. We can vote for anyone on the ship. Vote on your omni-tools now and it will be decided." I watched as everyone immediately put their votes in. I picked at random: Liara.

I saw all ten of the votes were in. My mandibles flared in anger. "Well, I guess you all made your point. Do you all really think I am fit to command this ship?" They all seemed to ignore my bout of anger.

"Fine. Back to the debrief, I guess. EDI, the data?"

"The data I collected from the research station indicates that there are a few others in the system. The Relay will need to be supplied with significant amounts of Element Zero. However, before that we will need to repair the hull with the salvage we recovered from the research station. Once the hull is fixed and the Relay is powered up with the Element Zero, we will be able to fire the Normandy to the Sol system."

"How significant of an amount would we need for a single jump?"

"More than there is on the ship including what we found on the planet. I believe that if we go to this rich planet in the system we may have enough for one jump." EDI pointed to a planet on the display of the system in front of us

"Great, let's get started. Joker, EDI, set course for that planet. James and Cortez, go organize that salvage and Element Zero in the cargo bay."

"Aye, aye, Sir." Cortez and James saluted then walked out, EDI following closely.

"The rest of you, dismissed. Joker, Let me know when we're 20 minutes out. I need a drink."

He sighed audibly over the speakers. "Aye, aye, Sir."