Chapter 15:
Virmire
Author's Note: Well here it is! A chapter that I have been planning for awhile that will basically start leading this story to its ending. Will Wrex stay loyal to Shepard? Will Ashley survive? Will Kaidan survive? Will they both survive? Or will they both perish? And how will Virmire be different with Patrick a part of the team? Will he finally find a way to return home? Or will he decline the opportunity and choose to live the life he had always dreamt about? The answers to these questions will be answered. Note that this mission may be put into two so be patient with me. So please review.
Patrick sat in the mess, his fingers trailing over the grip of his pistol and he remembered the first time he had held the weapon, his long fingers had been clumsy and he was just as likely to shoot Shepard as he was a geth. Now the pistol had become a part of him and despite not being as skilled as Kaidan or Ashley, he could still pull off a couple of remarkable shots.
Patrick's eyes wandered around the walls of the Normandy, a place that he had once known about, but never imagined that he would one day actually see. The advanced ship had become a second home to him and the nights that he used to be unable to sleep due to the fact that he worried about his family were long since behind him. He still thought of his father and his siblings occasionally, but after spending weeks away from them, he began to miss them less and less just like they probably had called off a search to look for him. They had probably moved on as did Patrick and that scared him. If he ever got the option to go home would he? Or would he choose to stay under Shepard's control and live the life he had always dreamed about?
Patrick sighed before standing up and sheathing his pistol, deciding that he wouldn't trouble himself with thoughts of events that were most likely never going to happen. What were the chances of returning to the real world? He had decided a long time ago that he couldn't go the way he came. There was no other way to return home so whether he liked it or not, he was probably going to remain on the Normandy for the rest of his life.
"Hamilton?" Patrick jumped as someone said his name, realizing for the first time how deep in thought he was. The young Serviceman turned to face Kaidan who had walked up next to him during Patrick's debating thoughts. "I was wondering if I could have a word with you regarding Virmire." Patrick nodded, but said nothing and Kaidan apparently took this as a sign to continue, "I'm scared, Hamilton. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't."
"Are you scared about facing Saren?" Patrick asked even though he knew that was not what was troubling Kaidan.
The lieutenant gave a small chuckle, "I think most of the crew is probably nervous about facing Saren, but we all have prepared ourselves mentally for him. We all knew that before this war was over, Shepard would have to fight him as would his crew, but no." Kaidan shook his head, "While Saren's ambition could give some of the crew nightmares, it is not why I'm worried about Virmire. I can't stop thinking about what you said… about how either the Chief or I won't be coming off the planet alive."
"That's only what happened in my dimension," Patrick explained, "Things could be different here." There was silence for a couple seconds and Patrick sighed, "Maybe I shouldn't have told you what I knew…"
"No, no, I'm glad you told me," Kaidan sighed before turning to look at Patrick, something burning in his amber eyes, "I'm glad you told me because now I can do my best to ensure Ash's survival." Kaidan turned away, staring at the silver walls of the Normandy. "Even if it means that I won't be returning to this ship alive."
"LT," Patrick snapped, "Don't think about sacrificing yourself just because I think someone is going to die. It may have happened in my world, but hell something happened here that definitely didn't happen at home."
"What?" Kaidan asked, an eyebrow raised.
"The Normandy crew in my world didn't have me," Patrick smirked, "And I know when everything is going to happen and if Virmire progresses in the similar way it did in my world, I know how to avoid it. I can do my best to make sure that everyone who is a part of this crew survives. I'm not going to lose a friend today nor will I lose one tomorrow."
"There's one thing you didn't think about, Hamilton," Kaidan said.
"What?" Patrick asked, sounding like Kaidan moments ago.
"You said that you weren't a part of the Normandy in your dimension and while you may know what happens to me and Williams and Shepard, you don't know what happens to you," Kaidan said, "And you're too young. You shouldn't even be fighting, but you are, but you sure as hell aren't dying. Not while I'm around. You will return to your world."
"And you will return to yours," A new voice spoke up and both Patrick and Kaidan turned, smiling softly, as Liara made her way towards them, a knowing glint in her sapphire eyes. When she reached them, she rested a calm hand on Kaidan's shoulder, smiling, "You are both forgetting that you two are not the only ones who know everything. I do too and I am not going to lose either of you. Lieutenant, you will return to your Earth and Serviceman, you will return to yours." Liara paused, thoughtful for a moment, "Wherever your Earth may be."
"Okay, but before I do go, we are celebrating on the Citadel," Patrick grinned, "We need to celebrate our victory."
"What makes you so sure there is going to be a victory?" Kaidan asked, chuckling softly.
"I know these things and I am almost never wrong," Patrick laughed.
"Almost?" Kaidan asked and Patrick shrugged, smirking slightly,
"I'm not God."
"Team, meet in the debriefing room," Everyone looked up at the ceiling where Shepard's voice rang out, bouncing against the echoing, silver walls of the Normandy.
"Well," Kaidan whispered, "This is it."
They stood there in silence until Liara murmured, "We should not keep the Commander waiting."
"I don't know," At this Kaidan grinned slightly, but it did not reach his eyes, "I think I would rather face Shepard's wrath then whatever awaits us on Virmire.
"Hey," Patrick rested a hand on Kaidan's shoulder, "You'll be fine. I'll be fine. We'll all be fine. I promise."
And at that moment, Patrick knew what must be done to ensure Kaidan's survival (and Ashley's too). Something that could forever change the course of the game, but it would give Shepard a full crew when they went and faced Saren.
Despite the fact that both his and Liara's attention was on Kaidan, Patrick could sense that the Asari was thinking about him.
Did she know what he knew?
Shepard sighed.
It was a depressing sound.
It was a sound that the crew didn't hear very often.
It meant that Shepard suspected trouble was ahead.
Shepard sighed again before turning to face the crew and Patrick could see the worry on his Commander's face and the concentration, his blue eyes swiveling to each member of his crew. Patrick wondered if he was thinking about who would be returning to the Normandy at the end of the day. Kaidan's hands kneaded each other nervously and Patrick suspected that the lieutenant was thinking the same thing as the Serviceman.
"Well, this is it," Shepard stated simply and there were uncomfortable laughs around him, everyone attempting to ease up the tense atmosphere that was surrounding them. Even Wrex was silent, not making his usual bitter remarks that humans showed fear too easily. For that single moment, they were no longer humans, Krogan, or Turians. They were a part of a single crew, united to do one thing: stop Saren and hopefully prevent the world from destruction.
"We've worked hard to get to this point," Shepard continued, pacing around the debriefing room. "And now that we're here…" Shepard paused and let out a small chuckle, "I wish we were still vacationing on Therum."
"I know the odds are not in our favor. Saren and his geth outnumber us ten to one, but I know that we can do this," Shepard smirked slightly, eyeing each member of his crew, "I've fought beside all of you more than a dozen of times and I know that there isn't a greater team in the entire universe. If anyone can defeat Saren and the geth and whatever comes after them, it's all of you."
"Or we'll die trying," Wrex growled and suddenly everyone remembered the high stakes.
"Thanks for putting that optimistic idea in our heads, Krogan," Ashley rolled her eyes, but there was no intense hatred in them as there had been at the start of their mission. Ashley, who loathed every single form of alien species, had come to think of Wrex as… not a friend, but a fellow crewman. Shepard had united all the species against a single enemy. Even Garrus was prepared to fight a Turian.
"Wrex is right," Shepard sighed once more, "I'm not going to pretend this mission is easy. I know if we work hard enough we can defeat Saren, but I don't know how many of us will come out of it alive and I just want to say that all of you have been the best crew I have ever served with and I would be honored to give my life to save any of you today."
Everyone nodded, agreeing with Shepard's words and Patrick glanced around at the crew he had come to respect and care for.
How many would come out alive?
"Shepard," Joker's voice rang over the intercom and everyone stared up. Patrick had gotten to know the pilot so well that he could tell by Joker's tone that he was just as nervous as everyone who was going to be fighting. "We just broke through Virmire's atmosphere. ETA five minutes." There was a pause. "You need to choose who you want to accompany you in the Mako."
Shepard nodded, "Alenko, Hamilton, you heard the man. Suit up and meet me by the Mako in a minute."
"What?" Patrick choked, his ears ringing with nerves as he processed Shepard's words. "You want me to join you? Shouldn't you be asking someone…" Patrick's voice trailed off and he glanced around at the familiar faces, realizing that there was a dozen soldiers who could accompany Shepard better than he could. "Else?"
"Don't question my orders, Hamilton, just follow them," Shepard stood up and walked towards the door before stopping, turning around to face Patrick, "You don't give yourself enough credit, Hamilton."
And with that Shepard was gone and Patrick whirled around to face the others.
"What the hell is Shepard thinking?" Patrick ranted, nerves making him more jumpy than usual. Although he would never admit it, Patrick was honored that Shepard had chosen him to accompany him and Kaidan on Virmire, but it was such an important mission, more important than Feros and Noveria combined. If he screwed it up… if he ruined the… no. It wasn't a game anymore. If he ruined his companions' lives then he would never be able to live with himself. Shepard had to choose someone else. "I'm probably the most inexperienced one out of all of us." Patrick turned to face Ashley, a pleading look in his eyes, "Ash, you should go with them instead. You've been with the Alliance longer."
"Time doesn't matter to Shepard," Ashley's words were calm as she stared at Patrick, "He wouldn't make this decision lightly, farmer. He obviously knows that you can do it."
"You need to calm down," Wrex growled, "The Chief is right. It's Shepard's choice and while I'd rather be the one killing geth, you may be one of the best choices." Everyone stared at Wrex who glared back, shrugging, "What? I may think that you aren't a true warrior, Serviceman, but you have spirit and sometimes that matters more."
"And anyway, its only until the Salarian base," Garrus added, a thin smirk appearing on his face, "You only have an hour until we meet up again and how much destruction can you do in an hour?"
"Have you not met, Hamilton?" Kaidan grinned before resting a calm hand on Patrick's shoulder, "Listen, there is almost no one I would rather be fighting with and I've got your back."
Patrick nodded and Liara walked so that she was standing next to the two Alliance soldiers, "You two should be heading to the airlock now. It is probably not wise to keep the Commander waiting. If all of us are stressed, imagine what he is feeling."
Patrick gave another curt nod and was about to follow Kaidan out of the airlock when he felt someone rest a hand on his shoulder. He turned around, his eyes locking with Tali's mask. The quarian was staring (at least Patrick assumed she was staring) at him, kneading her hands together nervously before blurting out, "You'll stay safe, right?"
"You have my word that I'll be as safe as I can be when fighting dozens of geth." Patrick grinned.
"Don't make jokes," Tali snapped gently before he voice dropped to a whisper, "I just… I just don't know what I would do if I lost you." Tali paused slightly as though realizing what she had said before adding, her voice fast, "Any of you. The Alliance and the entire universe needs all of you to be okay."
"I promise I'll watch their backs," Patrick said and then grinned teasingly, "It was nice to know you were worried about me though." Before Tali could defend herself, Patrick added, "I'm kidding, Tali. I'll see you when I get back." Patrick wrapped his arms around one of his closest friends and nodded to everyone else before following Kaidan out of the room.
They walked in silence until Kaidan laughed suddenly, turning to look at Patrick with amusement in his amber eyes, "You sure are dense, aren't you Hamilton?"
"What are you talking about, LT?"
"You do know that Tali fancies you," Kaidan grinned.
"What are you talking about?" Patrick defended himself, feeling a slight warm feeling on his neck, "Tali and I are just friends."
"To you maybe," Kaidan murmured and before Patrick could respond, they reached Shepard who was pacing around, talking with Navigator Pressley. "Commander, ready when you are."
Shepard sighed, "This is it isn't it?"
"Good luck, you three," Pressley muttered gruffly, staring at everyone with his piercing blue eyes, "You're going to need it."
"Commander, your team really needs to take out those AA guns," Joker's voice rang in Patrick's ears along with gunshots and Shepard's shouts as he tossed grenade after grenade at the never ending geth troopers. "I can't dodge them forever."
"In a fucking minute, Joker," Shepard shouted and Patrick took his eyes off the battle for a second to glance at his commander's frustrated face before he brought the sniper rifle back up to his face, firing a shot at a shock trooper who dropped to the ground. "We're a little busy right now." Shepard then waved Kaidan over who was a couple feet in front of Patrick, both the Commander and the Lieutenant, ducking behind rocks while Patrick was huddled near the wheel of the Mako. "Alenko, come with and see if we can find a way to disable those guns." Kaidan nodded and Shepard turned around to face Patrick who was covering his two senior soldiers with the sniper. "Hamilton, cover us!"
"Rodger, Commander!" Patrick shouted, quickly inserting a new magazine into his rifle while Shepard and Kaidan rushed towards the stairs where the Serviceman knew the gun controls were hidden. He just didn't know how many geth awaited his two friends. Patrick spotted a geth hunter walking along the side of a wall and with two easy shots, his target crumbled to the floor. Patrick took down two more geth troopers before patching in to Joker. "Shore party to Normandy. Joker, are you there?"
"Where's Shepard, Hamilton?" Joker answered his voice rough by the static that broke up their conversation. "I can't dodge those guns forever! They need to be deactivated now or the whole ship's going to blow!"
"Shepard and Alenko left to deactivate it about ten minutes ago. Have you heard anything from them?" Patrick asked nervously. Where were they and why hadn't they contacted anyone?
"Negative," Joker answered, "They... fuck! What the hell was…?" And suddenly the line went dead.
"Joker!" Patrick shouted and when no one answered, he swore. "Shit!" Patrick stared at the stairs where Shepard and Kaidan had disappeared minutes ago and took a deep breath before charging in after them, switching the rifle for his pistol. Patrick ran up the steps, listening intently for any signs of his friends.
"Shepard?"
No answer.
"Alenko?"
No answer.
"Anyone?"
"Shit, Hamilton, get down," Patrick felt himself be dragged to the floor by Shepard who was ducking behind a fallen piece of metal both of them with unsheathed weapons, pointing at the other side.
"What's going on?" Patrick asked, his voice rising slightly as a something above them exploded.
Please let it not be the Normandy.
"Two geth destroyers," Kaidan explained and Shepard sat up slightly, firing two quick shots at an invisible enemy.
"Correction," Shepard breathed, "One geth destroyer."
"I can probably hold him off with my biotics," Kaidan said, "You two see if you can deactivate those guns. Joker didn't sound like he was doing that well the last time we spoke with him."
"Stay safe, Alenko," Shepard nodded and Patrick rested a calm hand on Kaidan's shoulder before following the Commander around the backside of the building. As soon as they left, they heard gunshots explode behind them.
As they jogged deeper and deeper into the building, Patrick turned to Shepard and asked, his words coming out in short, rapid gasps. This was the fastest he had been forced to move so far. "How do we know what we're looking for anyway? How do we know what destroys the guns?"
Shepard stared at Patrick for a moment as though he hadn't thought that far ahead. After a couple seconds of silence, the first human Spectre shrugged. "Blow up the whole complex?"
Patrick laughed although he wasn't sure if Shepard was kidding or not and the two of them ran deeper and deeper into the geth's hideout although surprisingly it seemed rather empty. Shepard was a couple feet in front of Patrick and muttered, "I'm surprised there isn't that much resistance."
"We did destroy a lot of them, Commander," Patrick mused, "And the ones that we missed, must have fallen back to…" Patrick stopped himself. "To retreat."
What Patrick had been about to say was that the geth had probably fallen back to defend Saren's research facility where deep inside the deranged Turian was attempting to cure that Krogan genophage.
"It's an idea," Shepard allowed and finally the two of them arrived in a medium-sized circular room that contained many consoles all that beeped every now and then. Shepard stepped towards the nearest console and tapped it with his fist, "Think this is the control room, Hamilton?"
"I doubt it could be anything else," Patrick shrugged, heading over to a console on the other side of the room, manually deciphering one of the geth codes… an ability that Tali had spent hours coaching him on during one of their late night talks aboard the Normandy. "Commander, I think this may be the communications console. This could be the reason Joker couldn't get in touch with you when we were separated. I may be able to disable it…"
Before Patrick could even attempt to fix their problem, Shepard took out his pistol and fired one shot into the console. The machine began to buzz loudly and soon smoke clouded the screen. Patrick stared at Shepard and shrugged, "I suppose that works to."
"Joker, do you read me?" Shepard asked and Patrick tuned in to his on com link, Joker's loud chuckle heard, free of static.
"Shit, Commander, don't you scare me like that again. We thought we lost you," Joker laughed and Patrick could almost picture the Alliance pilot rolling his eyes as he spoke to the Commander. He would never roll his eyes at Shepard in person. "How is everything down there? Hamilton and Alenko still alive?"
"They're both fine," Shepard said before turning to look at the console next to the destroyed communications one. "Hey Joker, do you still want those AA towers taken out?"
"Hell yeah," There was the sound of flesh hitting metal and Patrick grinned as he pictured Joker slapping the Normandy in his excitement. It was good to know he didn't abuse his "baby." "These sons of bitches have been trying to take me down all day."
"Alright then, Joker, pull the Normandy away from them. I don't know if they are going to go out with a bang."
"Why would I even be near them?" Joker mumbled, but Shepard ignored him, turning to face Patrick,
"And Hamilton, get ready to run like hell."
"Why?" Patrick asked, but his question was answered when Shepard took out a grenade.
"Ready?" Shepard asked, an eyebrow raised.
"Always." And with that Shepard through the grenade at the console and Patrick obeyed Shepard's order perfectly.
He ran like hell.
"Get in the Mako, LT!" Shepard shouted as he and Patrick sprinted down the stairs of the building and Kaidan gave them a look of surprise before pulling himself into the Mako, driving it towards them to pick his crew members up.
Shepard slid himself in first and as Patrick was pulling the door shut behind him, Kaidan asked, his amber eyes wide with confusion, "What the hell did you two do in there?"
There was a loud bang and smoke began coming out of the open windows of the building and Kaidan rolled his eyes as he drove the Mako forward, "Shepard, can't you go anywhere without blowing something up?"
"Nope," Shepard smirked, "Now drive."
Kaidan drove them through the collapsing doorways of the building and they emerged from the other side surprisingly unscathed. The lieutenant turned to Shepard as they drove, "The Salarian camp is only two clicks away."
At first Patrick thought that two clicks would take some time to cover, but with the speed of the Mako (not to mention how fast Kaidan was pushing it), they were there in a matter of minutes and they were pulling themselves out of Mako into the open arms of their fellow Normandy crew members.
Shepard instantly put an arm around Ashley who blushed darkly and the two of them moved to a corner where they were talking softly and Kaidan hugged Liara, grinning and saying something about 'actually making it out alive.' Patrick grinned and shook hands with Garrus who surprisingly congratulated him on a job well done before moving towards Tali and the Serviceman could practically sense the Quarian shaking with relief.
Patrick stopped in front of her and grinned, shrugging slightly, "I told you I would be fine."
"This isn't over yet," Tali murmured and Patrick smirked, a playful glow shining in his pale eyes,
"You always know how to be positive, Tali. That's one of the things I like most about you."
Tali let out a small laugh, "I just like… preparing myself for whatever happens. I guess it is a trait I got from the Flotilla."
"Preparing yourself for whatever happens?" Patrick asked, raising an eyebrow, but the grin remained fastened on his face, "So that means you already mentally prepared yourself for my death?"
"No!" Tali gasped and Patrick laughed, almost as though he could see the shock in his closest friend's eyes.
"I'm only kidding, Tali," Patrick grinned, "But I understand you wanting to prepare yourself for whatever happens next. We are living in a dangerous era, but I'm going to make a promise to you. When we kick Saren's ass, I promise you that we are all going to the Citadel and having a celebration."
"I'd like that," Tali murmured, lifting a thin arm and touching Patrick's shoulder softly.
Remembering Kaidan's teases, Patrick sighed, "Listen, Tali, there is a lot you don't know about me just yet and now isn't the time to reveal everything just yet… maybe when everything is over…"
Tali nodded, "I understand." She then turned away and added, "I think Shepard is waving us over."
And indeed Shepard was.
The human and quarian made their way over to their Commander who had gathered his team with a sweep of his hand. On his left was Ashley who caught Patrick's eye and gave him a small grin which the Serviceman gladly returned, pain making his heart go numb as he thought of the possibility that he might never see his friend again. On Shepard's left was an unfamiliar salarian, but after a couple moments, realization sunk in. The salarian was…
"Everyone, this is Kirrahe," Shepard explained, gesturing towards the salarian. "He is the captain of the investigation team the Council sent. Captain, this is my team."
Kirrahe's black eyes widened as he stared at Shepard. "This is your team? This? I told the Council to send a fleet! Do they honestly expect two small teams will be able to stop Saren?"
"With all due respect, Captain," Shepard nodded politely to Kirrahe before continuing, "This team has never failed for and I assure you that they will not let you or the Council down."
"Yeah," Patrick added, grinning, "You'll soon find out that we're full of surprises."
"Some more than others," Kaidan said, catching Patrick's eye and the Serviceman was sure that the lieutenant's comment was directed at him. Not many people had the same secret he did.
"What exactly is Saren doing here?" Liara asked from Kaidan's side, her kind eyes staring at Kirrahe. Ah. That was Liara. She was the only one who ever seemed to always remember that the lives they were all leading was not fun and games.
Kirrahe took a deep breath before explaining, "Saren has built a research facility and it is protected by dozens upon dozens of geth troopers. I have lost most of my team attempting to penetrate its high walls."
"Research facility?" Tali asked, Patrick glancing down at his friend, "What is Saren researching?"
"The Conduit?" Ashley suggested, glancing at Shepard, but Kirrahe shook his head.
"Something worse, I'm afraid," Kirrahe sighed, "Saren has been studying the Krogan genophage. He has found a cure." The group fell silent and Patrick couldn't resist glancing at Wrex who was glaring at Kirrahe as he spoke of his people in such a tone. "I take it by your silence that you know what this means. That facility must be destroyed. We unleashed the Krogan and that was an action we regretted for many decades. We cannot repeat our mistakes."
"We are not a mistake!" Wrex snarled before storming away, everyone's eyes on his retreating form.
"I trust he will not be a problem?" Kirrahe asked and Shepard shook his head, but there was a touch of nerves in his blue eyes.
"No, he will listen to me," Shepard said and Kirrahe nodded,
"Good. Saren has more than enough angry Krogan for us to deal with. Now if you excuse me, I would like to take a minute to talk things over with my team. We will invade Saren's facility as soon as possible."
Shepard's team began to disperse after that. Garrus walked away with Tali and Liara and the three of them headed towards where Kirrahe was talking with his team, probably trying to get a feel of their new allies. Patrick stood beside Shepard, Kaidan, and Ashley. All four of them were staring at Wrex who was shooting angrily into the nearby water.
Shepard sighed, "Do you think I should talk to him?"
Kaidan shrugged, "It couldn't hurt."
Ashley snorted, amber eyes staring at Kaidan, "Actually, LT, it could hurt a lot."
Shepard sighed once more. "Ash, watch my back."
"Aye, aye, Captain," Their eyes met and Patrick could almost hear Walt Whitman's famous poem echoing in his ears. Shepard stared at the three humans on his team for a moment longer before walking over to the Krogan who sheathed his shotgun as soon as he saw his commander.
Patrick sighed and turned around to face Ashley, his eyes dark with worry, "Ash, listen to me. Wrex won't hurt Shepard, I'm sure of it. Shepard can be very persuasive and I know he will manage to convince Wrex to leave his anger for Saren and Saren alone. If you shoot Wrex then we are going to lose a valuable member of our team."
"Are you crazy, Hamilton?" Ashley whispered, her amber eyes flashing from Patrick to Shepard and back again, "Wrex is a loose cannon and now that he sees us as his enemies, he is only going to be that much harder to control."
"Ash, please, I know Wrex won't shoot." Patrick pleaded.
"Listen to him, Ash," Kaidan whispered and he locked eyes with Patrick, surprising the Serviceman. The lieutenant trusted him enough to side with him over someone from his own world… someone who didn't give him a death sentence.
"What is wrong with you two?" Ashley asked her amber eyes wide, "You want me to place Shepard's life in jeopardy because you two think that Wrex won't attack him?"
"We are asking you to trust us," Kaidan murmured.
"Please Ash," Patrick repeated.
A gunshot went off.
The three humans whirled around, Patrick's heart pounding nervously in his chest.
Shit! What if I was wrong?
What if this isn't a paragon Shepard?
A renegade Shepard would have killed Wrex instantly!
Or maybe I was wrong about Wrex!
Would he shoot Shepard?
"I don't believe it," Ashley breathed, amber eyes wider than before.
"You have to understand how a team works, Ash," Kaidan sighed, "Sometimes you have to do things for the greater good even if you don't want to. Sometimes the hardest answer is the only possible one."
Patrick sighed as Shepard and Wrex walked over to them, neither of their dark eyes betraying what they had talked about.
"Everything alright, Commander?" Kaidan asked.
Shepard nodded, glancing at Wrex just as Kirrahe walked over to them, black eyes blinking rapidly as he stared at the human Spectre and the Krogan mercenary, "I trust everything is alright with your team, Commander Shepard?" Shepard nodded. "Good, good because me and my team have come up with a plan to infiltrate Saren's facility. You and your team will infiltrate the facility and place a nuke that my engineers have constructed. My team will serve as the diversion. I really believe we can complete this mission."
"Excellent," Ashley grinned, but Shepard wasn't blind.
"What's wrong, Captain?" Shepard asked and Kirrahe sighed,
"You must understand, Commander, that I have lost most of my team in combat with Saren, the geth, and the Krogan." Wrex flinched at the mention of Krogan. "I do not have enough under my command to pull this mission off successfully and many of my men will die at the end of today." Kirrahe sighed once more. "That makes what I'm about to ask so much harder. In order to pull off this mission, I would need a member of your crew to accompany me and my team."
"I volunteer myself, Commander," Kaidan offered instantly just as Patrick knew he would.
"Are you insane, LT? Shepard will need you to set the nuke," Ashley protested just as Patrick knew she would, turning around to lock her amber eyes with Shepard's ice blue gaze, "John, let me help Kirrahe."
"Chief, you know as well as I do that you could set the nuke just as well as I could and besides," Kaidan stared at Shepard and Ashley, "You have an important place here."
"LT," Ashley glared at Kaidan, who sighed,
"With all due respect, Chief, it's not your decision."
"Why is it that whenever someone says 'with all due respect' they really mean kiss my ass?" Ashley sighed.
"Settle down," Shepard said, his voice low, but still possessing the commanding tone everyone was used to. "Ash, I want you to stay with my team. I don't think I'll be able to pull this mission off without you."
Patrick nodded slightly. He knew that Shepard would never let Ashley out of his sight.
The Commander turned to Kaidan, blue eyes nervous and Patrick knew he had chosen who would help Kirrahe.
Patrick sighed.
He was about to interfere big time.
"Alenko, I want…"
"Shepard, can I join Kirrahe's team?"
Patrick felt everyone's eyes turn to him.
"Hamilton," Shepard murmured as though he didn't believe what he was hearing. "You want to join Kirrahe's team?" Patrick nodded and Shepard sighed, exchanging a quick glance with Ashley who gave the young Serviceman a comforting smirk. "Alright, Hamilton, you have proven yourself and I trust that you will be a good asset to Kirrahe's team."
The Salarian nodded, "He seems brave. We will work well together."
Shepard nodded before turning to Kirrahe, "Perhaps we should finalize the plans?"
Kirrahe nodded and gestured Shepard to follow him, Ashley tailing behind the human and the Salarian. As soon as they were out of earshot, Kaidan rounded on Patrick.
"I know why you are doing this, Hamilton?" Kaidan snapped, "And I want you to know that I can take care of myself. I don't need you sacrificing yourself to save me. You are too young to be doing that." Kaidan cast a quick glance in Shepard's direction, satisfied that their Commander wasn't paying them any attention. "I want you to tell Shepard that you want to switch positions with me. I'm prepared to give my life for the Alliance. You aren't even a part of this world."
"I know what's going to happen, remember that LT," Patrick murmured calmly, "I have just as good as a chance surviving out there as you do- probably better and in case you haven't noticed, this is really my world now. I've been here for weeks and I care for Shepard and the others just as much as you do." Patrick sighed, "And besides I promised you that you would come out of this okay and you will be much safer with Shepard and the others than with Kirrahe."
"What about Tali?" Kaidan asked, obviously not going to lose the argument as quick as Patrick wanted him to, "She cares deeply for you. What if something happens to you out there? It will kill her."
Patrick glanced towards where Tali was talking with Garrus, waving her hands as she spoke. He also spotted Liara staring at them, her blue eyes never leaving Kaidan. Well that wasn't in the game.
"Tali's feelings for me are the same as Liara's feelings for you."
Kaidan jumped at this and glanced at Liara quickly before turning back to Patrick, "There's nothing I can say to persuade you to remain with Shepard and allow me to accompany Kirrahe?"
Patrick shook his head and Kaidan sighed,
"Well good luck, then."
Author's Note: Well what do you think? A nice, long chapter for all of you. Please review and let me know what were your opinions!