Lauren opened her eyes. Everything was fuzzy and the light was too bright. As she regained her focus, she realized she was in the medbay of the Normandy. She started to sit up and saw the kind face of Dr. Chakwas. "Glad to see you're awake, Commander," she said quietly.
Lauren brought her arm up to shade her sensitive eyes. "Can you dim the lights?"
"Of course." As the lights faded to a more tolerable level, Lauren swung her legs over the side of the bed and leaned forward, her face in her hands.
"How long was I out, Doc?"
Chakwas was standing close, checking Lauren's vital signs. "About 15 hours." She paused to write enter something into her datapad. "You look like you'll be ok, but you did have some strange readings while you were out...like you were dreaming, perhaps?"
Flashes of memory raced through Lauren's brain. Blood. Screaming. Slaughter. Desperation. Death. "I don't know. I remember seeing something when I was in the beacon's grasp. Whatever it was, it was horrible."
Just then the door opened and Lauren turned to see Kaidan enter the medbay. He smiled at her when he saw she was upright. "I just came in to check on our patient," he said, a hint of a joke in his voice and relief on his face. "I see she must be fine."
"Indeed," answered Chakwas. She turned to Lauren. "Kaidan stabilized you on the dock. Your breathing was shallow and erratic, heartrate off the charts. If he hadn't been there...well, we wouldn't be having this conversation."
Lauren rubbed her temples. Her head was starting to pound in spite of the dimmed light. "What exactly happened?"
Kaidan noticed Lauren's pain and moved closer so he could speak quietly. "It was partially my fault. I'd never seen working Prothean tech before...I was using my omni-tool to try and get some readings...something I could look over on my down time, before we brought it to the Citadel and I lost my opportunity. Jenkins was just as interested as I was, but he's more of a hands-on guy."
Kaidan shook his head at the memory. "I should have never even bothered with it...Jenkins took a few steps closer and was pulled toward the beacon. I don't know how...I shouted and started toward him, but you rushed past, pushed me away and tackled the guy. Somehow I grabbed him and you were pulled back. It held you in midair for...maybe two minutes. Then the beacon exploded, threw you down." His quiet voice had gotten to barely above a whisper and he was looking at the ground, shame evident on his face. "My stupid curiosity...nearly got you killed."
"I thought you said it was Jenkins..." Lauren started.
"You did save him...but I didn't follow protocol. I messed where I shouldn't have messed. He was only following my lead. I'm his superior officer. I'd understand if you or Capt. Anderson give me a reprimand."
"We'll talk about that later, Kai-um, Lieutenant," said Lauren, catching herself on proper formality.
"Yes, ma'am. If you'll excuse me, Commander...Doctor," said Kaidan as he walked back out of the medbay.
The door closed behind him and he walked slowly to the table and sat down. He let out a huge sigh as a weight lifted off his shoulders. He hadn't realized he had fallen asleep until he felt a tap on his arm. He looked up. It was Ashley Williams.
"Hey there, L-T," she said, sitting across from him. "How's the commander?"
"Oh, hey...she's going to be fine. She's awake now. How are you doing?"
"I'm ok, I guess. I just...I can't believe everyone is gone. Kemp, Bhatia, Hennessy..." Ashley turned in embarrassment at her tears. "I'm a marine. I should be able to handle this."
Kaidan reached his hand out to cover Ashley's. "You will handle this. It isn't easy, but it can be done. I know you barely know me, but trust me when I say I've been there, so if you ever want to talk..."
Ashley pulled her hand back to quickly wipe her eyes. She smiled and nodded. "Thanks, L-T...I just might." She looked over at the medbay windows. "Captain Anderson is in there now. What do you think they'll do with me?"
"Well, I've recommended that you stay on the Normandy. I'm sure if Anderson has read my report, he'll agree. Shepard probably will too. I'd get comfortable if I were you."
"I guess I owe you one," Ashley smiled. "I really needed a place to land right away. It's not always easy being transferred around, shuffled from assignment to assignment and I've had my share."
"The Alliance can be...accomodating to those soldiers who have been through something like this," Kaidan said, with a knowing look. "Let me know if you don't want to stay aboard."
"No...thanks...I do want to stay. Where should I make myself useful?"
Kaidan motioned back to the elevator shaft behind his head. "Take that down to the cargo area. That's where we have the armory. It might seem basic, but to have someone available to care for our weapons would be a real benefit."
"I know I keep saying this, but thanks again...I'm sorry, I forgot your name too."
"It's Kaidan...Kaidan Alenko. Glad to have you aboard."
"You can call me Ash. I'm glad to be here," she said, then she walked to the elevator.
Lauren and Anderson walked out of the medbay together. They approached Kaidan and he stood, saluting the pair. Anderson raised his hands to give Kaidan permission to be informal. "Alenko, you did a fine job down there," said Anderson. "I'm going to need you, Williams and Jenkins. We're going to the Council about this Spectre Saren possibly going rogue. You heard the accounts from the survivors. They need to know that he is working with the geth!"
"Yes, sir," Kaidan said. "I'm..." But Anderson cut him off.
"I know what you're going to say. Don't apologize for anything. That beacon was destroyed. We don't know if it was set to go off on purpose. Your readings may be all the information we get from it. I'll be sending it to the top Prothean scientists they have on the Citadel. Now head on up, we'll probably be reaching it soon."
Lauren had stood quietly until she and Kaidan started to make their way up. "You know it's ok, Kaidan," she said as she climbed the stairs in front of him. "You didn't know what would happen. Where's Jenkins?"
"I'm trying to tell myself that, thanks. And Jenkins? He's been at his locker since we got back, cleaning his armor and his guns...pretty meticulously. I think he feels guiltier than I do."
"I find that hard to believe..." Lauren chuckled as they walked through the CIC.
"Maybe so...but I've done a lot of growing up in the last few hours."
Lauren stopped and turned to him, intrigued. "The last few hours?"
"Vyrnnus, Akuze...you. I have a whole lot to be guilty about, if I wanted to dwell on myself. And that's what I realized...I've been dwelling on myself. Seeing those colonists on Eden Prime...they didn't have a chance. This Saren has to be stopped, whatever he is doing with the geth. You know, I always held back a little...with my biotics...when dealing with a living target. I'm not going to do that anymore. I had always wanted to help people...if I'm not giving my best because I'm worried about something that happened years ago...I'm not doing anyone a damn bit of good."
"I'm glad to hear it...because I think this is something bigger than we realize," said Lauren, trying her best to shut the horrific images out of the forefront of her mind.
x-X-x
Standing in Ambassador Donnel Udina's office was getting on Lauren's nerves. They had been in there for over two hours and were still waiting on their "urgent meeting" with the Council. Did these people not care that hundreds, if not thousands, of humans were slaughtered because of their so-called top Spectre? She had heard Ashley say she wasn't a fan of politicians...Lauren's fondness for them certainly wasn't growing.
When he and Anderson left and ordered them to meet at the Citadel Tower in a little bit, Lauren was in no hurry. "I think we should make them wait on us," she said to the trio who remained with her.
"That's probably not the best way to deal with politicians..." Kaidan warned.
"Maybe not...but I want to just say fuck 'em."
"That's what I'd do, ma'am. Just saying," replied Ashley.
"Won't Anderson be angry if we're late?" Jenkins said tentatively.
Lauren looked at Ashley. "These boys just don't get it, do they?"
"I always thought marines were more badass than this," joked Ashley. "You guys are highly disappointing."
Kaidan rolled his eyes while Jenkins looked a little dejected. "We'll walk there," said Lauren. "But we're taking our time."
x-X-x
Lauren held good to her promise of taking her time. Kaidan had never seen her walk so slowly. Most of the time when she was determined about something...speed was her option. He smiled to himself thinking of her obstinancy. Ashley was a lot like her. He wondered to himself if having two Lauren Shepards on the Normandy was the best idea.
Trailing behind the pair of women, Jenkins looked pleased with the view in front of him. "Hey Alenko..." he whispered. "Can I talk to you later when we're done with all this? In private? Away from the commander?"
"Yeah, sure. Anytime." Kaidan couldn't hide the curious look on his face.
They walked up the steps into the main lobby of the Tower and two turians stood arguing.
"I know I can find proof on Saren. Just give me more time," said the turian in blue armor.
"No, Garrus, you've found nothing. This is closed," the turian in the silver armor replied and walked away. The other turian folded his arms and looked toward Lauren and perked up.
"Commander Shepard." Lauren stopped at being addressed.
"Can I help you?" she said warily. "How do you know who I am?"
"Sorry...I'm Garrus Vakarian, an officer with Citadel Security. I caught wind that you ran into Saren Arterius on Eden Prime. I've been conducting my own investigation on him. He's up to something, but I haven't been able to find anything."
"Yes, we're going to talk about him with the Council right now," Lauren said.
"Well, I'm sure it won't be enough. It never is and most of his files are classified. I've got another lead though...C-Sec isn't doing anything, but you are. If you need anything, find me."
Garrus walked away and Lauren looked at the rest. "I guess Anderson's probably waiting...we've held him up enough."
A/N: I won't take all parts of the story this slowly...but I guess I like this stuff. :) I hope you all are too! To guest: yes, I can see the shower situation being bad, I have to give that some more thought. :) Thank you for the reviews though!
