Chapter 8: Recuperation
Gunnery Chief Ashley 'Ash' Williams
Owen and Shmi-Skywalker Larss' home, Tatooine
10:7:12 (25 BBY)
We were now officially on day 13 since we landed on Tatooine. It feels just like yesterday when I had stayed behind on Virmire to nuke Saren's base. Turned out I had been dead for 3 years. Miranda and Oriana filled me, Nihlus, Benezia and Saren in on all that happened. The Collector abductions, the proto-Human Reaper, the Reaper War, the Cerberus Insurrection.
And finally...the Crucible and the Catalyst.
And the entire galaxy had been rallied together by one woman, the same woman who now hung on to life by a sliver.
Dear Lord, if you can hear me, please save her. Save Em.
A figure stumbled out of the room in which Em and Capt...no Admiral Anderson were recuperating in. As Eragon looked around bleary-eyed at all of us, Miranda rushed up to support him, while we all stood up. Hmmm, better file this detail away for later. Oriana's eyes flashed in amusement, apparently preparing teasing comments to use on her sister when she had the chance.
"How are they?" asked Benezia in concern, while Saren looked on from her side. After listening to what actually happened to him before Eden Prime made me feel sorry for the ex-Spectre.
"They'll recover, they just need to rest" he replies as Shmi and Owen walk in. Shmi, on seeing his state, chased him off to a bedroom, threatening dire consequences if he wasn't resting and the plates she had set out weren't empty. I decided to have a peek in, to see how badly of they really were.
Anderson slept on a cot, fresh bandages wrapped around his chest and around his head. My focus then shifted to where Gideon knelt in front of Em. He brushed some of her platinum blonde hair from her face, which was completely wrapped in bandages. Only one eye of her's was visible.
"Gideon?" I ask. His eyes snap onto me. This is the first time I have seen him out of armour. And the guy is ripped. He's built for endurance, to keep going on and on. His blond hair, sky blue eyes and tanned skin made him look like a surfer boy.
"They'll be fine. Just trying to get rid of the indoctrination in her mind" he replies. Oh good...wait indoctrination?
"She's indoctrinated?" I whisper in horror. I remember how Benezia was when she was under Sare...no Sovereign's control. He shakes his head in the negative.
"Just traces. Whispered suggestions, a nudge here and there. If the Reapers had her completely indoctrinated, it would have been counter-productive for them. So they did just enough to cause her to do things their way" he elaborates as he rests one hand on her forehead. He then continues.
"I have touched only the surface of her mind" he says as he brushes her hair aside "but I need to go deeper. Get to the root of it to destroy the indoctrination. But, I can't do so without her, or someone close to her's, express permission" he looks pointedly at me.
Oh wow, just wow. He wanted me to give him permission to dive into Em's mind? Think dammit, think!
"Is there no other way?" I ask him. He nods.
"Yes, but it might cost her her memories, her personality, even what make her Commander Shepard" he replies. I take a breath, hoping my friend will forgive me for this, and reply.
"Do it"
Sorry I took so long to update, my new (and first) job is taking up all my time.
Eipok There will be no more Covenant, but just one more badass will be arriving from Halo.
R&R!