MASS EFFECT 2: HUMANITY'S ONLY HOPE
CHAPTER 2: Introductions and Settling In
Sage gently walked up to the ramp into the Normandy as Mordin and Garrus held her hands to help her. Shepard gently walked in front of the group as Sage sighed and smiled at Garrus and Mordin, nodding to them in thanks as she adjusted the strap of her small shoulder back.
"Welcome to the Normandy, Sage," said Shepard gently as he removed his weapons and seated them at their rightful stands. "Everyone aboard is part of the crew and we are bound to pick up more potential members from the dossier. And I know you will be a good addition to the team."
"I will do my best, Commander," said Sage warmly with a gentle bow.
"Now we just have the matter of finding a place to let you stay here on the ship. Do you have any preferences towards a room that you'll be most comfortable in?" asked Shepard gently as he hung up his suit.
"Might I suggest the guest room beside the Life Support room on the third deck?" asked EDI as she popped up on a side panel beside Shepard as Sage gently gasped at the site of the orbed shaped AI as she warmly smiled.
"My, an AI…a very interesting member of the crew. I did not think that Cerberus would be so friendly towards other beings, artificial and real, to save the human race," said Sage honestly as she rubbed her belly.
"They are…for now…" said Garrus with a slight growl, not comfortable with working for an enemy as Shepard patted his shoulder to help calm him down.
"We still have grudges with them for what they did with Saeran…but we have to work with them to have a chance to save the human race," said Shepard seriously as Garrus sighed deeply and nodded, rolling his shoulders back as he cracked his neck to loosen up. "Thank you again EDI for the advice..." said Shepard in addition as EDI logged off.
Sage gently nodded as she softly stroked her belly. "Yes of course…" she said quietly as Shepard nodded.
"Commander Shepard…" said Miranda as she walked up, Jacob right behind her, towards the group and felt her eyes widened slightly as she kept her composure and kept her calm, unphased smile as she saw Sage. "I see that you have picked up our newest recruit."
"Yes, this is Sage Koyama," introduced Shepard as Sage bowed towards the two Cerberus officers.
"Ah…it certainly is a pleasure, Miss Koyama. I am Miranda Lawson and this is Jacob Taylor," said Miranda in a soft introduction.
"Welcome to the team, Miss Koyama. We have read your profile. Your knowledge of the functioning of the human body with your medicinal skills is most impressive. Your work on Omega was very interesting as well," said Jacob with a smile as he crossed his arms across his strong chest.
"Thank you for the compliments, Mr. Taylor. But I am more than certain that my work on Omega's poor suburbs is nothing compared to that of the other members to the crew," said Sage modestly.
"Nonsense. Helping community with control over minor illnesses. Help with making sure plagues don't distribute throughout all of Omega," smiled Mordin as he took in a deep breath and nodded. "Yes. Better for the entire community."
"Commander, the Illusive Man wishes to speak to us in the debriefing room," said Miranda gently as Shepard nodded and started to march towards the debriefing room as Garrus and Mordin followed behind their commander while Jacob and Miranda took the rear, Sage watching in the growing distance.
Shepard marched into the debriefing room as the table started to fold down into the floor as Mordin, Garrus, Miranda, and Jacob entered the two-way communication ring as the hologram like walls started to hover above the ground. The Illusive Man sighed as he blew out a long trail of smoke from his mouth and nose as he kicked off some of the ashes off of the tip of his cigarette as he looked up to see the five soldiers.
"Shepard, I see that you have picked up Miss Koyama. I take it that she is doing well," assumed the Illusive Man simply as he took in another deep breath of his cigarette.
"Could you mention to me why you failed to bring up the fact that she was pregnant?" asked Shepard firmly as he crossed his arms across his chest.
"I didn't want to mention it to you Shepard because I know you would have simply refused to have her on the team. I however did tell Professor Solus about Sage's condition," said the Illusive Man simply as he looked at the group staring in front of him.
"That explains why you were so eager to come," said Garrus a little bluntly in realization as he turned to face the salarian.
"Had to come. Check on condition of the offspring. See if Sage was not given enough nutrients due to monk lifestyle and being pregnant in a disease ridden community," stated Mordin quickly as he tried to defend himself.
"We don't blame you, Mordin. You were merely doing your job," said Shepard to calm the doctor.
"It's a little of a shaking thought though of having an expecting woman on board the Normandy," said Jacob honestly as Garrus nodded slightly.
"Why was her name put on the dossier anyway, sir? Her condition will make it both difficult for her and the team to take care of her while we are on the mission," explained Miranda.
"I have already spoken to Mordin about helping Sage with her condition and keeping her up to the healthiest she can be. But as to why Sage is part of the crew, it is more about her as a symbol to humanity rather than for her skills," said the Illusive Man.
"A symbol of what?" asked Shepard curiously with a raised eyebrow.
"A symbol of hope…a symbol for the future of humanity. Having a child inside her would show how new life would be brought into a new universe for the human race. That is why upon the mission, it is also the responsibility of the crew of the Normandy to keep Sage Koyama and her child alive at all costs. No arguments," said the Illusive Man firmly as he glared a little at the group as they nodded solemnly and silently. "Good. I expect consistent reports on the progress of the unborn child and Sage's condition." With that final note said, the Illusive Man cut off the connection between their networks as the hologram net started to lower down to the ground.
"So…it seems the young lady is an official and irremovable part of the team," said Jacob with a sigh.
"What should we do now, Shepard?" asked Garrus curiously.
"Let's keep working on that dossier," said Shepard with a sigh as he started to walk out of the debriefing room as Miranda, Mordin, Garrus, and Jacob nodded as they followed out as well.
Sage smiled softly as she giggled and pointed to a few places on the control panel at the cockpit of the Normandy as Joker smiled and showed Sage the different parts of the ship.
"Alright, what's this now?" she asked happily.
"This is the sonar radial scanner. Capable of detecting foreign bodies around the Normandy for a radius of 500 clicks in all directions," explained Joker as he moved a few visual screens out of the way as he checked on the condition of the engines.
"Sage. Must check on health and that of the offspring. Check up as a new recruit," said Mordin gently as he walked towards the cockpit.
Sage gently blushed a little as she nervously rubbed her belly and nodded. Joker curiously raised an eyebrow as Mordin smiled gently as he extended his three-fingered hand towards Sage as she smiled shyly and nodded as she took it, following him towards the tech lab.
"Wanted to have a private moment. Know that situation with child is sensitive. Don't need to talk if you don't wish to," said Mordin in a soft voice as Sage sniffed sadly and wiped her tears away.
"No…I appreciate your discreteness Mordin…thank you…I assume…the Illusive Man gave you…all of the details?" asked Sage sadly as Mordin led her towards a chair as he helped her sit down and knelt in front of her.
"Yes. Gave me the outline of what had happened. Want you to know that I will keep you and the offspring at the best health. Make sure that you two are safe," said Mordin with a serious face as he kept holding Sage's hand in his.
Sage teared up more as she held onto Mordin's hands sadly and nodded. "It's just been…so long…and I've been so…scared Mordin…of what could happen…to the baby…if anything ever happened…" sniffed Sage sadly as she used one hand to softly cover her mouth as she sobbed softly.
Mordin gently stroked Sage's head as she kept sobbing softly, his hand guiding gently over her long black hair, using his hand as well to gently wipe away Sage's tears from her cheeks.
Shepard sighed a little as he rubbed his face with his strong hand and walked up to Joker's side once more, patting his shoulder lightly, careful of his fragile bones.
"How are things up here Joker?" asked Shepard as Joker blinked for a moment, as if coming out of a trance, and simply nodded, getting back to working off of the console.
"Uh yeah…things are fine here Commander," said Joker a little plainly as he kept looking in front of him onto the busy screen.
Shepard blinked a little curiously at Joker being so blunt as he gently leaned a little on the pilot's seat. "Something wrong, Joker?" asked Shepard questioningly.
"No, just…Sage seemed a little nervous earlier…" said Joker as he looked towards Shepard gently. "Mordin came and took her towards his office I think…"
"About what? Do you know?" asked Shepard curiously.
"No…just escorted her towards his office. Did really say much outside of just a normal check up," said Joker gently as he looked up to his Commander.
"Regarding the medical matter of Sage's offspring," said EDI as she popped up suddenly onto her panel beside Joker's seat.
"What about the child? Is there an issue regarding the baby's health?" asked Shepard seriously.
"No. The medical matter regards the situation at which the child was conceived," said EDI emotionlessly.
"I'm sorry EDI but I'm afraid that I don't understand what it is that you are saying…" said Shepard with a furrowed brow.
"The child Sage carries in her current trimester was conceived on forced terms…" stated EDI slowly.
"Damn…Sage was raped, Commander…" said Joker with a worried face as Shepard looked up at Joker with a slightly angered face.
TO BE CONTINUED…