Chapter 2: a military life

"Yawn."

My hand pressed firmly agents my mouth arm half starched before I remembered the three Alliance solders walking behind me and my arm swiftly retreated to my side. "Tired Doc? Maybe you should grab your blankey and lay down."

"Yes I am tired but I can't sleep at the moment considering are situation, and am not shore how a "blankey" as you put it, will help me sleep any faster."

She stared at me blankly then Ashley turned to Varric said, "commander do we have too- !"

"No Williams we won't leave and yes wear taking her with us."

Kaidan quickly cut in, "so ma'am how'd your old company suddenly discovered this new material?"

"They didn't just discover anything in fact its taken years to make. Apparently it was supposed to be a shield that could absorb anything."

"So what happened?"

"Scientist curiosity and greed."

"What?"

"They wanted something exemplary so they improved it more and more. Then curiosity set in and they wanted to see how much it could absorb so they tested it again, and again, and again. Eventual it was curetted, and well you know the rest."

At this point both Ashley and Varric wear listing intently. "Anyway this door to the left leads to the armory, and this one to the right leads to my lab. If you need to replace any of your guns or ammo I would advise doing so now."

Slowly the Alliance solders slouched over to the armory that's wean I remembered something, "what I should replace your medi-gel."

"Replace? There's nothing wrong with the ones we have!" Ashley snapped.

"Yes but mine are better," was my simple reply as I opened the large medi-gel container and silently handed them seven each.

"I said we don't- holy shit warred you get these!"

"What," Kaidan said looking astonish, "Your that Arabella? The Arabella that basically invented medi-gel and won the peace prize at the Tensai Awarders?"

"I didn't invent medi-gel I modified it, but I did win the peace prize."

"Am sorry but what's the tensai Awarders, and what do you mean by modified?"

"Around six years ago I owned a small clinic at the Citadel. Back then medi-gel was strictly for life threading injuries because it would constrict too tightly, and cut off circulation. So I simple fixed it allowing it to be put to practical use. Eventual important and rich people cote wind and I allowed them to sell it. And the Tensai Awarders is like the Nobel Peace prize exempt it's only for scientists."

"You "fixed" medi-gel," Varric smirked and shock his head as he said "only the British."

A tiny frown graced my face as I said "am not British."

"Doc have you heard your accent? You're obviously"-

"Not to be completely rude but maybe we can ask about my accent after we aren't in danger of dying yes?"

My frown had turned into a grimace as I reparsed the urge to grown as I thought of the inevitable stream of questioned after this ordeal was over. "Just let me have a butcher at your armor so I can make the medi-gel compatible."

The three of them stared at me oddly finally Ashley, "what the hell does that mean?"

"It slang for to have a look, wait you know what just come over here."

Varric chuckled but obeyed without a fuss, letting me install the medi-gel efficiently. "This upgrade will allow you to, if needed, use your medi-gel to heal your comrades."

"Thanks this will help." "You're welcome?"

What's his game? He's already saving me there's no need thank me. Then a single beep brought everyone's attention to my omni tool, on it colored in fiery red was the number ten minutes. "We should hurry", Varric said voice void of emotion.

And so we did them heading to the armory in a fast nit pace, wall I went to my lab putting the finishing touches on the materiel. It had only been five minutes until I heard a faint "wow," identifying the three Alliance solders presents. It was wow worthy though, my materiel. Mostly it was a sky blue liquid resting at the bottom of the tank peacefully; however barely visible was a gas that cooler changed every other second. "One second let me finish this aannnndd done!"

"What did you do?" "I just hit the finale liquidation process; it should be done in ten to twenty minutes."

"That's too long Doc cant you shorten the"- "No."

"OK Arabella show me the lay-out of the building." "Alright, by the way right now probably the time to tell you I'm a biotic." "Any good?"

That's when I noticed my shotgun laying on my desk in the far corner. Then with a single pull it landed safely in my hands, "yes."

"Alright that's good. Me and Alenko will go on the ruff, am a biotic and a pretty good sniper. You and Williams"-

"No way in hell!"- "And Williams will go down in this bottom level, Williams is a heavy hitter and with your biotic we should be able to make it a killing ground."

Normally I'd be irritated, maybe even angry, that someone was giving me orders in my lab, but strangely I wasn't. Maybe it was because he explained his reasoning, or maybe because his plan was actually good, either way it's clear he's a natural leader. The need to follow him was almost overwhelming. "Alright Alenko, Williams, Arabella lets kick there ass and then drink shots on the Normandy!" "Hell yeah!"

Varric let out a single chuckle then he and Kaidan left. After a few seconds I turned to Ashley and said, "What's a Normandy?"

"It's are ship, look if we're going to work together don't talk unless you really, really need to."

I was about to ask why, because really it didn't make sense, but her sinister glare stopped me. Silently we left my lab and headed into the armory, the rows of guns looking intimidating. I'd collected them from mercenaries, pirates, and even petty thieves, anyone trying to kill me. Not all of them were stat of the art in fact some of them were barley functional, but all of them had ammo. At least they did before the Alliance soldiers had come but, it doesn't matter, at least not now anyway. In lease then ten seconds we wear at the end of the room. Ashley turned to me confused at the wall that was in front of us, but before she said anything I held out my hand and waited for it to be scanned.

She jumped back startled, but quickly composed herself, then with wary steps Ashley followed me into the hidden hallway. We booth walked still silent Ashley sending me suspicious glances time to time. It was nice, refreshing even to find someone almost as paranoid as me. When we reached the end of the hallway there was once again a wall, and once again I held my hand out. Slowly I and Ashley stepped out into the light. My eyes winced at the light I'd spend much too much time in my lab. Then slowly the mercenary band appeared at least ten times as much as the previous assault.

Well at least they looked *Daft, Sending out all of your men, and not even making them surround the building, Morons. Then they stopped. They were too far away for a clear visually but I could see their outline. The mercenary stead staring us down then their leader (at least I presume he's the leader) slowly raised his hand, but before It could rise the entire way a bullet hit him right between the eyes. "One down," Varric said his voce surprisingly pleased.

"He's right," I said Ashley turned to me confused, "he is a good shot."

Surprisingly Ashley chuckled but then her eyes turned cold when the mercenary charged guns blazing. Not to be outdone my biotic's flared lifting ten men well Varric shot each one. That's when all hell broke loose. Kaidan and Varric used their superior position, and their biotic's to eliminate the snipers and anybody still in the back, well I and Ashley killed all the ones running towards us. Ashley sighed then in a bored tone said "so had any hot dates lately?"

"Do you really think, one second," one of them had a grenade looking about ready to **Bung it at us.

So with a single shot his eyes grow dark, hand slack, and the grenade went off bring two other people with it. "That we should discuss this hear, now?"

"Why the hell not, it's not like any of these guy are getting to close to us."

"Of course not I've been far too busy for going on dates." "So uptight, what are you a virgin?" "Yes."

Ashley turned to me shocked, (although that didn't stop her from shooting the nearby thug running at us) "your series arrant you? About everything not just this"

"Am always series," was my short reply shooting another merc as I talked.

"You know I don't usually say this but you, defiantly need to get laid."

"What!" This time I stared stunned (Ashley had to shot the ***Bottle merc running at as at full speed) nobody had ever said anything like that to me.

"Maybe when we reach the Citadel, get you in a club." "No, no am fine really."

"Have you at least had alcohol?" "Am a doctor, vaca my teddy bear."

"Ha, was that a joke?"

"Yes? Was it any good?"

"When people laugh Doc that means it's good."

"Oh right.

There was silence after that, but unlike before it wasn't awkward, less tense. Then the last one fell, blood gurgling from his mouth as he tried one last word. "Alright guys that's it, Williams, Arabella me and Alenko will meet you at the lab," Varric said his voce sounding tired.

"Alright sir we'll meet you there."

So with sore limbs I and Ashley stood up, sluggishly walking back to my lab. "Taking any of your guns Doc?" "No only these I don't need the rest."

So we carried on, those last few sleepless nights finally taking their toll on me. When we arrived Varric and Kaidan were looking at the material amazed, and pleased. "I think its done ma'am."

And it was, after five months, and several sleepless nights it was done. And even if the cure itself is still years away at least am closer than anyone ever been. "Varric can you grab me those canisters?"

He didn't say anything at first, just stared at the metical arms crossed. Then he blinked and realized that I was speaking. "Yeah shore, sorry about that people don't usually call me that."

"Do you wish to be called something different?" "No, no Varric fine.

Silently Varric handed me the canisters. Each one was about the size and shape of a soup canister; however they wear of far better quality. "So Arabella do you want me to get any of your things before we go?"

"No that's fine; the only thing am going to take with me are medical supply and this cure and I'd rather nobody touch either."

"You're not even going to take that sniper rifle? It's a HMWSR master."

Right that one. Truthfully I'd never been much of a sniper. Part of being a sniper is calculation "which I have dawn pact) and the other part is patience (which I have little to none). I'd set up a simulator, line up my shot, set up ten different solution I miss, and then I would wait, and wait, and wait some more. Finally it came to the point where I'd shot anyway ****bugger the outcome. In fact I only have one sniper rifle and I just kept it on a whim. "If you want it you can have it."

"Really, are you shore?"

"Yes," smiled tiredly thank me, and then left for the armory.

It was complete silence until Varric came back, grinning from ear to ear. "Are you ready?" "

"Yes we can leave now." Truthfully I hoped never to set foot on this planet again.
"Alright, now it's time to kick Saren scaly Turian ass and
ravel him to the Council"!
"Saren? You mean Saren Arterius the Specter? What did he do?"
All three Alliance turned to me stunned. Then Varric said, "You know Saren?"
"No not really. He arrived at my lab a couple days ago, not really shore how he know I was hear but anyway, he started demanding I give him my medi-gel's. I told him no and to get out."
"Why did you kick him out?"
"He started threatening me. I might have given him some if he gave me a valid reason instead of saying he was a Specter and it was my "duty" to give him them."
Varric bit his lip thinking then he said "is it possible to go to
any other planet other then Eden Prime?"
"No you have to go to Eden Prime from here to get fuel, especially if you have a large ship like Saren. Before I answerer any more of your question can you at least tell me why you're asking them?"
"Saren attacked Eden Prime and nearly wiped it out, even worse he's teamed up with the Geth."
"The Geth, synthetic AI that wear created by the Quarian? They haven't been seen outside the Perseus Veil in over three hundred years why team up with Saren?"
"There was a Prothean Beacon on Eden Prime we think my have taken some information from it."
"Were you able to use it as well?"
Varric bit his lip again, and started to shift from one foot to the other, finally he said, I'm not shore but it activated and right before I passed out I saw something, a vision."
"A vision? A vision of what?"
"Synthetic's, Geth, maybe something else initially. It wasn't clear."
"Intrusting that Beacon may have projected images in your head, and if that's true Varric you may have just seen the reason the Prothean's are extinct."
"Doesn't that give you a warm and fuzzy feeling commander?"
"The fuzziest," Varric replied deep in thought.
Then he smiled, eyes lighting up. "Why don't you help us take down Saren?"
"What?" "You're a witness, and good in a fight so if we get attacked, and I know we will, I won't have to worry about you. Better yet you're a doctor and have an infinite amount of medi-gel."
Again the overwhelming need to follow was there, lased with logic and reason. Varric was unlike anyone I'd ever meet. Always extending a hand, and so far, not judgmental. "You do realize tacitly am a criminal."
"The Council doesn't have to know."
"People are trying to kill me."
"People try to kill me twice a day. If you really don't won't too I understand, we are sort of a danger magnet."
Ashley coughed into her hand, and I swear I heard "only you."

"No it's not that, it's just….. Do you really won't me with you?"
"Is that a yes?" "Ha ha it's a yes."
Ashley and Kaidan looked stoned, however Varric grin just got larger. "You laughed." I suppose I did."
It felt odd this laughter. My throat tickled, and my mouth felt strained with the unfamiliar feeling. "So," Varric glancing at me with an odd glint in his eyes, "what's with your accent?"
Of course he remembered that. "It's not that exiting, I'm from a colony that was originally established by England, and people there have held onto the language as well as the accent."
"Oh, then why not tell us that right away?"
"Varric why do you shave you're hair?"
"Because am in the Alliance and its easier, but what-"
"Now imagine that every new person you meet asks you that."
"Oh, I see. Anyway let's get out of here

*Daft: it means silly or foolish. When Arabella said it, it meant stupid.

**Bung: is British slang for several things but when Arabella use it, it means throw

***Bottle: like Bung Bottle can be use severely way's but when Arabella say's it, it mean's courage, or no fear.

****Bugger: once again this can mean severely things but when Arabella use Bugger it means damn.