I Do Not Own Mass Effect

Chapter Eight: Theater, Brandy and Straws

Mordin wiped the sweat from his brow. After eight hours seventeen minutes and twenty five seconds Shepard was out of surgery and stable. With the crew informed of his state Mordin took in a sharp breath and suppressed a smile. It was possibly his greatest achievement…his personal greatest achievement.

"Good work, Doctor." Mordin offered before making his way to the exit.

"For now, rest, rest is good. Over worked, tired, possibly hungry. Must remedy. Be back to monitor Commander soon." Mordin declared. Dr. Chakwas followed Mordin with her eyes. She could never understand that man no matter how hard she tried. At one point he had completely given up on the Commander. Yet when one variable changed Mordin had become so optimistic…Dr. Chakwas was curious how the man's head operated. As she lost herself in thought Mordin had slipped back in unbeknownst to her.

"Apologies, Doctor. I got ahead of myself, do that often… didn't think of you. Go take first break. I'll watch over the Commander." Mordin announced, thoroughly startling Karin making her jump out of her chair. Mordin quickly apologized again and urged that she rest.

"No, I couldn't. Commander Shepard has been a good friend I have to stay with him. It would feel wrong if I didn't." Mordin bowed his head and drew a seat next to Karin. He rolled his neck and propped his arms onto the desk. Mordin closed his eyes silently humming Gilbert and Sullivan. Karin gave him a once over and grinned.

"The Commander had mentioned that you had performed. I was skeptical, still am." Mordin could only offer her a light egotistical smirk. He cleared his throat and began to sing. Needless to say Doctor Karin Chakwas was…taken away… to put things lightly. As he reached the end Mordin quickly cleared his throat.

"That was great! You have a gift, Mordin." Karin exclaimed. Mordin turned his head to one side and focused on his Omni Tool to keep his mind occupied. He was unaccustomed to receiving praise.

"Thank you." He managed.

"Have you been in any other productions?" Mordin wrapped his fingers against the desk while looked upward in thought. He took in a quick breath and replied joyfully.

"Many productions, many plays, musicals. Found peace in performances. I enjoyed making other people smile. Was, fun…always had interest in human entertainment. Tried out for hamlet, Francis Kitt production. Enjoyed Elcor perspective but was declined role. Settled for set extra… still had fun, good experience, learned about Elcor culture in detail." Entertained by the thought of seeing Mordin on stage Karin stifled a giggle.

"Sorry I don't mean to laugh. It's just I've never seen you so… relaxed. It's a good change of pace." Mordin bowed his head and turned to face Shepard. He felt himself smile inside. He was stable. That was all that mattered. He stood, smoothed out his shirt and moved over to the Commander. He checked the various machines attached to him and propped the Commander's pillow. Mordin rubbed his hands together and repeated the process twice more. Karin watched and slowly shook her head and teased.

"There you go again, over working yourself. You should rest, Doctor Solus, find some peace." Mordin vehemently shook his head.

"I find peace in work. Keeps me focused, keeps me free… keeps my mind from worry." Mordin again looked to the Commander. He bit his lip and shook his head again. Suddenly he balled his hand into a fist and pounded it against the side of the wall.

"Nearly failed today, nearly failed Commander Shepard. I am sorry, Karin… as a doctor… no as a friend I should have listened. Always options, always hope. I doubted you, doubted Commander. Without you I may have lost him." Karin Chakwas tipped her head forward in her chair gazing at the medical wing's steel plated ceiling suppressing a light smile and then turned her gaze to Mordin.

"Don't. Nothing good ever comes from feeling sorry for yourself."

"Maybe… but right about one thing. Without you I may have lost Commander Shepard. I wouldn't want any other doctor working with me than you." With that Mordin stood and made for the exit.

"Going to rummage mess hall for any leftovers, what would you like, look hungry… bad to be malnourished, leads to hunger which leads to low work output, which leads to…"

"Just some crackers and tomato soup please." Karin interjected before Mordin could launch into one of his rants. Mordin nodded before departing and added.

"Meant what I said about not wanting any other doctor working with me. Someone else might have gotten it wrong. Have come to see you as good friend, great friend." Mordin offered before leaving. It was good he didn't turn to look at Dr. Chakwas as she was slowly beginning to blush.

Garrus sat with his back hunched in the lounge alone with a vintage turian brandy. "Black Saw" was a powerful proof that was strong enough to knock out an Elcor and make a Krogan blush. He pounded a shot down followed by a turian whiskey as a chaser. He repeated the process twice before placing the drinks back.

Then he stood. Garrus propelled his shot glass to the side of the wall letting out a low hiss with his mandibles clicking rapidly. Another friend was put in danger because of that bastard Tarak! Maybe it was the drinks but Garrus needed to hit someone. Hit someone, hard. The commotion must have echoed into the halls because shortly after Kasumi poked her head in. She waved to Garrus before taking a seat next to him.

"Leave." Garrus growled with a mild slur. Kasumi only reached over the counter and found a Hawaiian Punch.

"I said leave."

"I know but this is a community lounge so… I'm here." Garrus began to bear his teeth and spread his mandibles out wide but something inside himself stopped him. He wasn't on Palaven. The gesture probably wouldn't even register as a threat to the human woman. As he returned to normal he couldn't help but notice she was smiling.

"What's with you."

"Nothing, Predator." Garrus let out a low growl and began picking up the shards of glass and tossed them in the trash. Kasumi watched with a bored unenthused expression. She flipped over the bar and helped pick up the glass that had scattered over to the floor. As she picked up the last of the broken glass Kasumi cut her finger. She uttered something in Japanese and placed her pinky finger in her mouth. Garrus looked over to her and muttered silent curses. He quickly reached into one of his pockets retrieving a handheld medi gel dispenser.

"You're not going to make a trophy of it? Are you, Predator?" Kasumi asked coquettishly. Garrus just muttered some more before shaking the medi gel dispenser in the air.

"Want to stop the bleeding?" Garrus growled.

"But you might lose the scent…Predator." Kasumi teased before offering Garrus her hand. The turian clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth and eyed the master thief carefully before applying the medi gel. She winced for a second but after it stopped burning she offered a sheepish grin.

"Thanks."

"Whatever." Garrus grunted before sitting back down and grabbing a new glass.

"You should switch to something nonalcoholic." Garrus waved her off before pouring another shot of brandy.

"Why?"

"Can't hunt xenomorphs properly." Garrus shifted in his seat to look Kasumi in the eyes…hood… whatever was there…

"What are you yammering about?" He asked with a mild irritation. Kasumi just took her seat next Garrus and continued to sip on her punch.

"Nothing." Kasumi replied with a slight lilt of sarcasm. Garrus didn't pay attention to it and finished his drink.

"Why are you here?" Kasumi shrugged and finished her drink.

"Heard someone throwing things" She offered flatly. Garrus dug his finger into the side of his temple and let out a low sigh.

"Let me restate that. Why are you staying."

"To take my mind off of Shepard's condition… and to be entertained by a half drunk turian." Garrus snorted and shook his shot glass around.

"I wouldn't say half drunk." Kasumi tilted her head as she examined the glass.

"True…drinking never helps you know. You shouldn't be mad at Tali, just give her some time." Kasumi stated absent mindedly. Garrus shot her a dark look but Kasumi was gone. She had cloaked away. He shook his head and was about to sip from his drink but his glass and all his fine turian brandy was gone! She stole it!

"Not funny, Kasumi!" Garrus slurred. Somewhere he could have sworn that he heard the thief chuckling but it could have been the booze. Garrus wasn't sure.

Tali worked on a scale version of a quarian live ship on her cot. She sniffed and blinked the drying tears away. She sniffed again as she placed the finishing touches on the model before setting it down to dry. Wayne would go crazy when she gave this to him. He would love it. Tali knew he would.

"Stupid Garrus, bosh'tet!" Tali grumbled. If he hadn't drug Wayne along with him, if he hadn't…

"Keelah!" Tali barked as she flung herself onto the bed. She was still angry but she knew that she shouldn't. Looking up the ceiling she noticed that some of the railing was loose. Automatically she stood and propped it back into place.

"Evening." A voice called from behind her, scaring the life out of Tali. Kasumi stood behind her with a bottle of turian brandy, nonalcoholic Saki and two shot glasses, one with a straw.

"I'll be honest I'm not entirely sure how you're going to drink this." Kasumi offered as she sat down next to Tali. The quarian swiped the drinks from Kasumi and poured a shot for the both of them.

"Very carefully, that's how." Tali stated. The young quarian girl reached over into a small duffel bag and placed two tablets into her drink and then wiped the edges with an anti-bacterial cloth. As Kasumi watched her she asked.

"I thought you needed a drinking tube for your helmet." Tali simply shrugged.

"That's a precaution really. The suit disinfects anything that's introduced to the food injection port. For instance, I could use that straw if I really wanted to…" Kasumi shook her head and frowned.

"You have a food injection port but are calling that a straw." The thief stated plainly. Underneath her mask Tali frowned.

"What's wrong with that?" She asked flatly. Kasumi answered back without missing a beat.

"Well it's cool your mask has all these ports, tubes… whatever else that has all these cool names… I just think the straw needs a name to."

"We're not naming a straw." Tali rebuked bluntly.

"We could call it an… emergency induction port. Because your only to drink during emergencies! " Tali sipped on the straw and face palmed.

"We are not calling the straw an emergency induction port…" Tali declared.

"Oh yes we are! That's pure creative gold!" Kasumi demanded. Tali smiled and shook her head.

"I have a shotgun, bitch!" Kasumi's response was to throw her arms up in mock surrender but not before asking if she was sure she wouldn't reconsider. To which Tali answered with a pillow to Kasumi's face. Afterwards it was on. Full-fledged pillow warfare. No holds barred, take no prisoners warfare. In which there would be no victor. The battle raged for several minutes before Kasumi nearly spilled the Saki and brandy. After that the two girls settled down and continued drinking. Kasumi would steal glances at Tali. Afraid to ask how she was holding up.

"Are you alright? How are you taking this?" Kasumi asked, fed up with her own indecision. Tali sipped on the turian brandy and mulled over an answer.

"Angry at the both of them. Garrus for taking Wayne along and angry at Wayne for going…" Tali admitted as she hugged one of her two pillows. She let out a soft breath and continued.

"But I can't be mad. It wasn't… I don't know how to say it. It wasn't anyone's fault but that's a cop out." Kasumi offered a warm smile and rubbed Tali's arm.

"All we can do is be by the Commander's side until he gets better. That's all we can really do." Kasumi offered. Tali smiled weakly under her mask. Her tears were returning. Why did this have to happen. Mordin had said that Wayne was stable but every time she would picture him he was the way he was in that ally. Bloody and broken. Tali could not handle it and started to break down again. She didn't even realize that Kasumi was embracing her until she blinked the tears away.

"Shepard's going to be okay. So stop crying, alright. It takes a lot more than some mercenary to hurt old Sheps." Kasumi stated soothingly. Tali nodded her head in agreement and straightened up. She sniffed and blinked away any tears that were still there and raised her glass.

"To the birth of the emergency induction port!"

"Compai!" And with that the girls finished their respective drinks.