Chapter 10: Time off
The Normandy approached the Citadel. Shepard felt that they needed some time off, even if just a little. They also had other matters to attend to at the Citadel.
At this point, Liara had at least partially gotten over the events of Noveria; Instead of confining herself to her cabin, she now focused on the missions with unprecedented determination.
Perhaps, as a way to take her mind off Noveria, she also focused on her weapons training with even greater tenacity.
Under Jaden's and Shepard's tutelage, she had gotten very proficient with pistols and had moved onto assault rifles. She also tried shotguns and sniper rifles, though she felt they were too bulky for her.
Combined with her biotics, she was now truly a force to be reckoned with, as was found out when she and Shepard helped Garrus and Wrex on their personal matter.
Tali had joined these training sessions as well. She had grown very fond of shotguns. Wrex clearly approved as he was more than happy to show her how it is done.
When Shepard asked Jaden about dual wielding, he explained: "Essentially, you trade precision and handling for increased firepower. While experience will allow one to partially overcome the loss of precision and handling, it is never quite like handling a single weapon. And you should not try dual wielding any larger weapons."
Wrex stepped forward.
"Hah, I'll prove you wrong!", Wrex threw in and took two shotguns into his hands and fired both at one of the targets. The pellets splattered all over the place, with large portion of them hitting the target next to the one Wrex aimed at.
"In my opinion, you still lack precision.", Jaden calmly stated, took two pistols into his hands and quickly fired at his target until the pistols overheated. The group he shot into the target was extremely tight. He then continued:
"But really. Dual wielding is mostly for show. There are very few circumstances where it is useful."
At this point Joker interrupted over the comm: "Two minutes to Citadel, Commander."
"Allright." Shepard said. "Clear down."
They cleared all the weapons and targets.
The Normandy docked.
"Uhh, Commander, there is an Admiral waiting for you. Rear Admiral Mikhailovich.", Joker continued.
"I can sense him", Jaden told Shepard, when they approached the cockpit. "He is full of pretense."
"Figures." Shepard replied. "But.. don't do anything to him. He's still an Alliance Admiral."
"I won't."
Shepard walked up to Mikhailovich and saluted. The Admiral then explained who he was and expressed his dislike for the 'expensive piece of tin', that was the Normandy.
The Alliance had spent billions on it, while they could have used it to built another heavy cruiser.
After the shakedown run on Eden Prime, the Normandy was supposed to be assigned under his command.
But instead of that, Shepard was given the command of the Normandy, when she became a Spectre.
As the Admiral was supposed gain command of the Normandy and because it was still an Alliance ship, he demanded to make an inspection to the ship.
Shepard, who had enough of him discrediting her ship, denied this, with her status as a Spectre.
Mikhailovich was furious. But he couldn't go above a Spectre, so he threatened to report this and left.
Following the Admiral's departure, Shepard and the others restocked supplies and then went on to visit with various people, like one particular fan and another Admiral, Kahoku.
Afterwards they had the remaining day off. They would leave for Virmire tomorrow.
In his cabin, Jaden placed his Detonators and the Thunderbolt into one of the lockers. In the Citadel, he would only carry his energy swords. He remembered the curious looks from few of the C-sec officers when he first joined Shepard's team. It would be a distraction to have them follow him.
The door opened, revealing Shepard, this time in a more casual outfit.
"Ah, Commander", Jaden started with his usual demeanor.
"We are going to go get some real food, instead of the military junk." She started. "Afterwards we're going to go visit the 'Starlite' -nightclub. I know you don't need to, but are you coming with us?"
"Unfortunately I will have to pass."
"You sure? I kinda feel bad leaving you out."
"I will have to pass, because I have another matter to attend to at the Citadel."
"You're not going to go after someone again...?"
"No. If I went after every single mugger or drug dealer, I would not have been able to join your crew in the first place. There is something I actually need to get."
"Oh.. Okay"
"But really, do not worry. You go on without me and have fun. Just try to not drink too much."
"Can't promise.", Shepard replied with a smile and left.
Jaden waited until the others had left. He then brought up his omni-tool and pointed it at the locker where he had put his weapons. The locker vanished. He then exited the Normandy as well.
He made his way to his apartment, or safe-house, that he would use whenever he stayed in the Citadel.
Once there, he contacted one of his old acquaintances from the Terminus Systems.
This acquaintance of his could get anything, anywhere, unnoticed. And now, he needed something.
His package would be ready in a few hours.
In the meantime, he simply gazed out of the windows, his hands behind his back and observed the flow of traffic.
Few hours later, he went to retrieve the package.
The retrieval went without any problems, he then began to make his way back to the Normandy.
He got onto the elevator. As the elevator moved up, he simply leaned against the wall, with the metallic box on the floor by his feet.
Shepard and the others really needed this. The 'real food' was a refreshing change and in the nightclub they could let loose.
Garrus, Kaidan and Liara weren't much of a drinker types, so they left after couple of rounds of drinks.
Shepard herself stayed with the remaining group, as she partially felt she was responsible for them. She was their Commander after all.
Wrex really liked his ryncol.
Ashley and Tali were the ones who really wanted to let loose. In the end they had a drinking contest against one another.
After the contest, they were barely able to stand, so Shepard and Wrex needed to provide support for them.
They got to the elevator that would take them back to the Normandy.
At first they thought the elevator was empty, until they noticed a pair of glowing white eyes in one of the corners.
"Good damn, Jaden?" Shepard asked.
"In the flesh", came the reply from the darkness. Next to Jaden's feet there was a metallic box.
Ashley or Tali didn't seem to realize he was there.
"Ah, listen, Ashley and Tali had a drinking contest. Care to help with them a bit?"
"It might be best if I did."
Finally, Ashley noticed Jaden.
"Heyyyyy Jaaadeeen... Wwwant a drrrink?", Ashley slurred, barely able to stand.
"I will pass", he replied calmly.
At this point Tali tripped on seemingly nothing. Jaden caught her with his powers before she fell.
"Hehehhehe, you're soooo funnnyyyy." Tali giggled.
"Yes, yes. I am a very funny dark figure." Jaden tried to sound annoyed and indifferent, but Shepard could recognize slight amusement in his voice.
The elevator finally arrived to the Normandy docks. Jaden lifted the metallic box and took it with him.
After getting Ashley and Tali into their cabins, which wasn't an easy task, Shepard asked:
"Is that box what you were getting?"
"Yes.", Jaden opened the box, revealing partially transparent Detonator crystals.
"Blank crystals", he explained "I've used my Detonators quite a bit more than what I did before joining your crew."
"You know, you could have just told me. As a Spectre I could have arranged them to you without a problem."
"You could not have done it discreetly. An old acquaintance of mine can."
"I thought you don't really work with anyone else?"
"I do not. Not directly."
"And a 'discreet' acquaintance? You mean a smuggler?"
"Possibly.
Jaden refused to elaborate further and Shepard knew it was pointless to try to pry answers from him. She just hoped Jaden knew what he was doing. He probably did but still.
They entered their own cabins. Jaden brought up his omni-tool and the locker with his other weapons appeared, untouched. He then got to work and began to modify the blank crystals.
The next day, the Normandy departed for Virmire.
Notes
A short one this time.
Of course they needed to take some time off after all that has been going on with Ontarom, Noveria and on the some of their smaller tasks.
I'm not very good at imitating drunken behavior, so apologies.
Although Saren is supposed to be way ahead of Shepard (and thus it would be a bad idea to take time off), i always like to think that Saren's progress at finding the conduit is noticeably slower than Shepard's (Might be because he doesn't have Liara to help him).
Or he's deliberately waiting on Virmire for Shepard, to either try to convert her on his side or to eliminate her.
I never really liked Mikhailovich. When i saw him for the first time i got a really strong "i'm an Admiral, worship me" -feeling from him.
There is nothing sinister about Jaden's special delivery, he just wants to stay as discreet as possible.
And his 'safe-house' is quite a secret. No one really knows about it.
Pteaset: Glad to hear you like it. Let's hope this remains likable .p