Chakwas made some notes in her data pad, Joker and Elissa were sitting beside each other on a hospital bed, Joker shirtless and Elissa wearing her Alliance issue sports bra and sweatpants, neither liking the look on Chakwas face.
"I will clear you two for duty but," said Chakwas, clucking her tongue in disapproval, "the care you received in that prison was mediocre at best. I am going to place you both on a strict diet to increase the vitamins and protein you lost eating that prison slop and you are both going to be required to weekly check ups until your vitals are where I like them. Shepard, your wounds are still healing but with enough medi-gel and some bandages I see no reason you cannot still fight. Joker, you are going to continue your physical therapy with Vega though I will be there to supervise and will send him some suggested guidelines for the workouts, I'm also prescribing you some bone supplements which should building up the inner framework of your bones. You are both dismissed, though I expect to see you in about a week for another check up."
"Sure thing, Doc," said Joker, pulling his shirt back over his head, Elissa doing the same with her PT shirt.
"Thanks, Chakwas," said Elissa standing now, "I need to go get ready for the mission. Joker, I had Liara forward you the coordinates for Disnea."
"Thanks, Shepard," said Joker, smiling at her as she left the medbay, not really in a hurry to leave just yet.
Chakwas chuckled when she saw his face, "Should I give you a cooties shot?"
"A what?" asked Joker, reading over the diet he had been given, disappointed to see his favorite foods had been removed from the list.
"Something my mother used to say to me and my sister," said Chakwas, "and I used to say it to my children whenever they were in love."
"I'm not in love," said Joker trying to cover up the grin that was spreading across his face but failing dismally.
"Jeff, I raised four children, all of whom are happily married," said Chakwas in a motherly tone, "They each looked like you do now when they met their spouse."
"I didn't know you had four children," said Joker, laying back in the hospital bed.
"Most don't," said Chakwas, sitting back at her desk, "I try to keep my personal and professional life separate, the only person on this ship that knows about my children is Hannah, she's the godmother of my youngest."
"So do I get to learn their names and occupations?" asked Joker, putting his hands behind his head, content to listen to Chakwas talk about her family.
"Don't you have a ship to fly?" asked Chakwas, eyeing him.
"Not until Shepard tells me to," laughed Joker as Chakwas rolled her eyes.
"Alright then," said Chakwas, reclining in her seat, "My eldest Rosemary is a botanist, Quinton is a mechanic like his father, Olivia is a nurse and my youngest Lila is a pharmacist."
"Wow," said Joker, "talk about ambitious children."
"I'm proud of all of them," said Chakwas warmly, "I miss them terribly but they know I have a duty to the Alliance and this crew as they do to their respective careers and families. We do make sure to see each other at Christmas though, even if it means for me to just be speaking to them through a hologram console, at least I'm there with them in some way."
"We'll make sure you're there for real this year," said Joker sternly, sitting up now, "or we'll bring them to you."
"That's very sweet, Jeff," said Chakwas smiling at him, "but I could never ask the Commander to do something like that, it's too much of a favor that I don't feel I've earned."
"You brought her back," said Joker quietly, "I think you've earned a big favor or two."
"I'll think about it," said Chakwas, helping him stand, "but right now, you have to get this ship to Disnea and save the galaxy yet again."
"Don't remind me," mumbled Joker, his mind now filled with scenarios of the upcoming battle, most ending in a fiery explosion. He hugged Chakwas and left the medbay, trying to calm his racing heart as he took the elevator down to the bridge, not exactly eager to get this mission underway.
Joker sat in his chair, looking at the console in front of him but not really seeing the information or the controls, instead he was trying to push the idea of Elissa running into battle yet again as far away from his mind as he possibly could right now. For as long as they had been working together he had feared for her life, even more so after what the Collectors had done to the SR-1, and now that he had more to lose it was harder to willingly let her go.
"Mr. Moreau," said EDI from the co-pilot's chair, "are you alright? Your bio readings indicate you are under stress."
"No, EDI, I'm not alright," said Joker bitterly as he started the initiation sequence, "I'm scared as hell."
"Why? The Commander is more than capable of taking care of herself," replied EDI, bringing up her own controls, mimicking Joker's hand movements.
"Just because she's capable doesn't mean I can't worry about her," snapped Joker, he was already under enough pressure to navigate to a practically uncharted world while staying under the radar so they could go undetected by the Ardat-Yakshi all while worrying that his girlfriend might end up a smear on the wall.
"That is true," said EDI quietly, he knew she had detected the tone in his voice, that she knew she had pissed him off but he was not ready to apologize just yet.
"Setting course for the Disnea cluster," said Joker and he heard soft footfalls behind him, he knew it was either Samara or Kasumi, neither made much noise while walking.
"Joker," said Samara, standing beside him, looking at the star map on his screen, "set course for Lesuss, we need to pick up my daughter and talk with some of the other Ardat-Yakshi that are still at the monastery."
"Does Shepard know about this?" asked Joker, hesitantly changing the course, not wanting to go against Elissa's initial orders.
"Yes, I'm aware of the change," said Elissa, walking up behind them already in her armor, "Samara and I discussed it at length after my appointment with Chakwas and we both agree we're going to need all of the help we can get. Convincing some of the other Ardat-Yakshi to join us is the only way we stand a fighting chance."
Joker felt a pit in his stomach, hearing that they needed an army of their own to combat this growing one made him almost sick, nothing about this mission was going to be easy and he knew it just as the rest of the crew knew it as well.
"I will be in my quarters meditating if you need me, Shepard," said Samara, as she exited the bridge.
"EDI, could you give Shepard and I some privacy?" asked Joker quietly, and the AI robot nodded before standing up.
"Of course, Mr. Moreau, I will be by the galaxy map when you are finished," said EDI as she left and Joker closed the doors the second she was through.
"What's up?" asked Elissa, sitting down in EDI's vacated chair, looking at Joker with concern and curiosity.
"I'm worried about you." said Joker, quietly.
Elissa nearly sighed with relief, "Why're you worried? You never worry."
"Ellie, I've always worried about you," said Joker, trying not to show how much he actually worried about her, "I sit here, watching you face God knows what, and I feel completely useless until you emerge from whatever base or cave you were in."
"Jeff, there's nothing to worry about, I promise you that," said Elissa seriously, moving to stand beside him as he turned around to face her.
"You just said we have to recruit what remaining Ardat-Yakshi there are in order to fight the army of two hundred," whispered Joker, trying to keep his emotions in check.
Elissa could see why there was a need to worry but she could not let herself or him get worked up over the situation, "Jeff, listen to me, we've faced much more with a lot less and right now I need you at your best. We might be using the Normandy as part of this attack, and I can't have the Alliance's best pilot worrying about me."
Joker stood and embraced her, not minding that her armor was digging into his skin, instead he focused on the feeling of her arms around his torso and his lips resting against her forehead, he released her a few seconds later, "I'll never stop worrying about you, but I'll try not to let it affect my work too much. I love you."
"I love you, too," said Elissa, kissing him softly, "And I'll never stop worrying about you, so I guess we're even."
"Guess so," said Joker, sitting back down in his chair, the pit in his stomach lessening as he watched her leave the cockpit and EDI returned a few seconds later, resuming her post.
"Your stress levels have decreased since your talk with Shepard," said EDI as she brought her console back online, "I assume you are reassured in her success?"
"You could say that," said Joker smiling as he put in the coordinates for Lesuss, "By the way, EDI, I'm sorry for snapping at you before I was just overly stressed."
"Apology accepted, Mr. Moreau," said EDI and Joker shook his head, he would have to speak with Elissa about EDI and making her feel like part of the crew again.
"Ready to head to Lesuss?" asked Joker, feeling renewed, determined to get the crew there in one piece and then get them home in the same condition.
"Fully prepared and operational, Mr. Moreau," said EDI and Joker smiled, for a second she sounded like she had before their relationship ended and he counted that as a small victory.
"Approaching Lesuss, Commander," said Joker over the intercom, a couple of hours later, he was glad at least that the possibility of combat on this planet was unlikely compared to what was waiting for them on Lilonani.
"Thanks, Joker," said Elissa as she walked onto the bridge, "EDI, inform Garrus and Samara, tell them to be ready and at the shuttle in five minutes."
"Of course, Commander," said EDI, standing up, "I will take this as an opportunity to, how is it said, stretch my legs?"
"That's fine, EDI," said Elissa smiling as EDI left the bridge and she sat down next to Joker in the co-pilot's seat.
"She knows she can just use the intercom, right?" asked Joker as he prepared the Normandy to enter the gravitational pull of the planet.
"I think she wants to get more of a feel for interacting with organics," said Elissa adjusting her gloves, tempted to remove them and pick her nails, she was nervous about what they were going to find down there and if any of the Ardat-Yakshi would be on their side.
"Yeah, maybe, she's gotten better at it than before," said Joker, scanning the numbers that popped up on the screen, "Commander, there seems to be a distress beacon of some kind coming from Lesuss."
"Impossible," said Elissa coming over to check the screens, "We would've intercepted it long before now, EDI would have told us about it."
"Here, listen to this," said Joker, bringing up the message imbedded in the signal ship wide, Falere's voice filling the quiet.
"Help! The monastery is under attack! They're taking us by force, some that resisted are dead! Please, if you get this, save us!" The message hit static and cut out. Even from sitting in the cockpit, Joker could sense that the atmosphere on the ship had just changed, the importance of this mission increasing with each passing second.
"Can you tell how long ago that beacon was sent out?" asked Elissa her mind reeling at the possibility they were already too late to save anyone.
"According to the data, about two days ago," said Joker and his breath hitched when he realized this attack had happened while they were on medical leave, "Ellie, this isn't your fault."
Elissa shook her head, "Of course it is, if I hadn't—"
"Don't start that crap," said Joker harshly, turning to face her, "Don't you dare blame yourself for this, blame Alenko, blame the Council but do not blame yourself."
Elissa blinked at him a few times, stunned that he had spoken to her that way but she knew he was right, even though she still felt completely at fault for the attack on the monastery, "You're right, Jeff, but I still feel responsible for finding answers."
"You do that," said Joker, taking her hand in his, "but the second you start blaming yourself, I'm going to have to administer corporal punishment."
Elissa gave him a coy smile, "Well, if that's the reward, then I might blame myself a little bit."
Joker gulped, that was not the answer he had been expecting, and he was not sure how to respond to what she had just said so he gaped at her instead while she threw her head back and laughed.
Garrus' voice cut through the intercom in the cockpit, "Shepard, you might want to get down here before Samara goes herself, she's trying to convince Cortez to take off."
"I'll be right down," said Elissa and she looked at Joker, "Keep the family safe."
"Don't I always?" remarked Joker smugly as Elissa kissed his cheek, "Come back in one piece."
"Don't I always?" called Elissa as she ran down the CIC, he feigned laughter until he heard her enter the elevator then he stopped and turned back to the consoles.
"No, not always," said Joker quietly and he flipped on the monitors on Elissa's, Garrus' and Samara's suits already seeing the inside of the shuttle as it prepared to leave, he leaned back into his chair and sighed, it was going to be a long mission.
"What do you think we'll find down there, Shepard?" asked Garrus as the shuttle flew towards Lesuss.
"Not sure," said Shepard quietly, looking at Samara whom was sitting down appearing to meditate even now, "hopefully we find clues."
"What clues?" asked Garrus, "We already know where they are and what their plan is, what else is there to find?"
"I'm not sure," said Elissa slightly exasperated with Garrus, "but I have a feeling there's something more to this than meets the eye."
"Possibly," said Garrus, the detective in him emerging, "I mean, why hit a monastery full of peaceful Ardat-Yakshi when there is apparently already two hundred non-friendly ones under one roof already?"
"Samara, are there records of all Ardat-Yakshi born?" asked Elissa, turning to the Justicar.
"Not usually," said Samara standing up, gripping the bar above her, "as I have said before, the emergence of such traits happens after an Asari has entered the stage of young adulthood and by then it is too late."
"Why is that of any importance, Shepard?" asked Garrus, adjusting his sniper rifle.
"I wanted to see if we could figure out where they might hit next and stop them there," said Elissa, "I'm not too crazy about flying to a planet where they have the home field advantage."
"You've done this before," said Garrus reassuringly, "Remember? We flew through the Omega four relay to fight the Collectors on their own base."
"Yeah," said Elissa giving a small smile, "I guess I have."
"Don't worry, Shepard, we'll get through this like we always have," said Garrus, nudging her with his shoulder.
"Rest assured, Shepard, this will turn out in our favor," said Samara, resting her hand on Elissa's shoulder.
Elissa smiled again, ordinarily she was not this worried about a mission but there was something unsettling about facing a huge army with only her small crew and no back up. She appreciated the support she was getting from her crew, it made her feel good they were still behind her all of the way even though they were flying blind in so many ways right now.
"Approaching the monastery, Commander," said Steve, putting in the landing sequence.
"Alright, thanks, Steve," said Elissa, steeling her mind against any negative thoughts about the mission that were creeping up on her. She needed to stay sharp, there could be anything waiting for them on the surface or in the monastery and in order to accomplish this successfully she needed to keep herself focused.
"Anything?" asked Miranda as she walked into the cockpit with Joker and EDI, she leaned against one of the consoles.
"They just touched down," said Joker, watching the monitor that showed the feed from Elissa's suit of armor.
"There are no readings of life on the planet's surface, other than those of the Commander, Mr. Vakarian, and Justicar Samara," said EDI from her seat and Joker felt a sense of relief, at least there was no danger of an ambush.
"You should tell Lola that," said James as he entered and stood behind Joker's chair.
"I have already relayed that information to the Commander, Lieutenant Vega," said EDI.
"How is she?" asked Hannah, Kasumi following behind her.
"The Commander is exhibiting levels of calm she has not displayed before on any critical mission," replied EDI and Hannah nodded, she had warmed to the AI more during Elissa's incarceration, when they had fought to keep the Normandy out of Kaidan's hands.
"Shep's always been good under pressure," said Kasumi, sitting on the floor, watching the feed on the monitor.
"That's an understatement," mumbled Joker as he widened the monitors.
"Do you think Samara's daughter is alright?" asked Miranda, reading the minds of everyone standing there in the cockpit.
"Who knows," said Hannah quietly as she watched Elissa charge towards the doors of the monastery, resting against the closed door, looking in through the other door that was hanging on its hinges.
"This was the work of a Justicar," everyone heard Samara say.
"How can you tell?" asked Garrus, as they entered cautiously.
"Most biotics, even Ardat-Yakshi, hesitate to forcibly enter sacred places such as these," said Samara her voice hard, "Only Justicars are guiltless about entering these areas with violence and force."
"Why do the Ardat-Yakshi hesitate?" asked Elissa as they entered one of the rooms.
"I'm not sure," said Samara, "it's just an observation I've made during my years of hunting them down, even Morinth took enough care to use her own hands to open the doors to a sanctuary, once during one of our confrontations."
"She claimed sanctuary?" asked Garrus, not hiding the surprise in his voice.
"Of course, I was out to kill her, she wanted to live, it was the logical answer," replied Samara calmly as they walked up the stairs.
"I get the feeling something's about to happen," said Tali as she entered and stood beside Hannah, her mask fixed on the screen.
"I think we all have that feeling," said James quietly, they were all watching intently, no one's eyes flickered away from the screens as Elissa and the rest of the crew made their sweep of the monastery so far finding nothing out of the ordinary.
"Guess they took everyone," said Joker, resting his head in his hand, "even the bodies of the dead Ardat-Yakshi they shot up."
"They haven't left yet so Jackie probably thinks there is something more here," commented Hannah, who was now sitting on the ground next to Kasumi.
"One more section to search and then we're done," said Elissa her voice calm as she opened the door in front of her, the camera then focused on a mound on the floor. The crew in the cockpit had to focus their eyes on it before they realized it was a body.
"No!" shouted Samara, her voice broken, devastated as she rushed forward past Elissa, and gathered the body in her arms, "Falere, oh my sweet girl, I'm so sorry."
Everyone in the cockpit hung their heads, this was not the outcome they had been hoping for, they had all been secretly hoping Falere had made it so Samara would have someone left to call her 'Mother.'
"Samara," said Elissa softly as she knelt down beside the Justicar, she put her hand on her shoulder, "I'm so sorry."
"It's alright, Shepard," said Samara weakly as she held Falere closer to her form, "I just want some time—"
The room was suddenly full of coughing and rattled breathing, cutting Samara off completely, the crew looked up and saw through the camera Falere's eyes flutter open feebly.
"Joker, tell Chakwas to prepare the medbay!" said Elissa through her ear piece, "We're bringing Falere back with us and she's critically injured."
"Aye, aye, Commander," said Joker, patching into the medbay's intercom, "Chakwas, Shepard's bringing back an injured Asari, tell Liara and prepare the medbay."
"Of course, Joker," said Chakwas.
"Thank heaven," Joker heard Miranda say beside him and he nodded, she had said it all for them.
"I'm going down to meet them," said Hannah and the rest followed behind her except James who stayed to watch the ground team's progress back to the shuttle.
"We might actually have a happy ending here, Joker," said James smiling as he clapped Joker on the shoulder.
"It's not the first time," said Joker, unable to contain his grin, although they had missed the attack by two days, they were still able to save the one that mattered most to Samara and that was a victory.
"No, but they're becoming few and far between," said James, and Joker could see the ghost of a smile on his face.
"Don't worry, big guy, there'll be plenty more moments like this," said Joker, uncharacteristically optimistic for once, this had been their biggest victory since the Reapers and he was not about to let the details of what was to come kill his mood.
"Whatever you say, amigo," said James, "I'm going to head to the mess, Rupert's making some kind of fireball chili and he bet me fifteen credits I couldn't finish a bowl."
"Damn, James, you know you can't die on us right?" laughed Joker as he brought up the consoles instead of the camera monitors.
"Hey, who said I would die?" asked James, pretending to be offended.
"I can just see your headstone now," said Joker, ignoring James' question, "Here lies Lieutenant James Vega, N7 drill instructor, helped take down the Reapers, defeated by Rupert's fireball chili."
"Ah, screw you, pendejo," laughed James as he left the cockpit.
Joker smiled to himself as he punched in the sequence to open the doors for the shuttle, although they had an army to fight soon, it felt good to have at least one victory under their belt before the showdown.
