"You didn't tell her!" Joker blustered as he quickly ran through the Normandy's systems reports. Nothing in the reports had changed, but like everyone else it was a routine he just did. A routine that helped keep him somewhat sane.
"I didn't think it would be prudent to let Shepard know at the time since she seemed quite distressed..." EDI responded.
"And the thought that she may want to know if her girlfriend in onboard didn't cross your software circuitry?" Joker shouted. "Great...she's going to think it was my idea. After I have finally stopped jumping out of my skin every time she approaches me. I really don't need a repeat of the last 'talk' her and I shared."
"I thought the scene was quiet entertaining..." EDI quipped.
Joker shot the glowing orb a disgruntled look. "Oh but of course having the Galaxy's deadliest woman inches away from breaking your legs is tons of fun! Thanks EDI!" Joker hissed.
"Joker..." A growl sounded from behind him.
He went rigid in his seat as he could feel the hairs on the back of his neck rise. "Oh shit. Oh Shit." He said as he hurriedly tried to make it look like he was 'working'.
"Joker." The growl came again.
"Maybe it's all in my head. Maybe she really is not just behind me right now, because that would be just great..." He said as his arms flew over displays. Then quicker than a flash of the eye his chair was pulled around and he sat there looking up at his Commander. "Oh shit! Ah ...hey Commander..." Is all he could force out.
The titan looked down at him, both pupils as black as death itself.
" Commander it really wasn't me this time honest!" Joker squeaked as Shepard leaned down hunching herself on the arms of his chair. "Oh shit...its not going to be a 'talk' is it? Maybe the rack would be better? Look I know EDI can pilot the Normandy, but I'd really like to not be in full body cast for six months to a year!"
Shepard only gave him a rouges grin.
"Oh shit..." Joker swallowed.
Then Shepard leaned in and kissed him lightly on the cheek. She quickly leaned up and smiled back at him. "Thanks Joker. For everything."
Joker looked back at her stunned. "What the...Ah right Commander."
He heard Liara laughing hysterically at little further down the gangway.
"Joker tell the crew to assemble in the CIC within the hour." Shepard said as she turned and walked down the aisle.
"Right, yeah, what ever you say Commander." Joker said still looking on as Shepard continued down with Liara at her side.
Joker turned around and looked blankly at the displays. "What the shit!" Joker said in amazement.
[][][][][][]
Soon after Joker had sent out the call every crew member stood in the CIC. Their expressions contained a mixture of apprehension, wonderment, and doubt. El'Jaid stood at the podium of the galaxy map. All eyes were drawn to her. Liara stood to left quarter, and Kelly was at her usual station to El'Jaid's right. Joker took the stance at the point of the Galaxy Map. He was flanked by Miranda and Jacob. El'Jaid knew that Kasumi was also near floating amongst the crew in invisibility. Seeing and listening to everything.
El'Jaid licked her lips of amethyst as she ran a hand through her mane of fire. She had so much that she wanted to say. She wished she had time to speak with each of the crew individually. So many she had barely gotten to know. But time was gone. Yet even with their faces containing the mixture of emotions they each felt, El'Jaid knew that she was still their Commander.
"Thank you." She said warmly. "Without you, the collectors would never have been stopped. Without you, none of the great and good things that we have done would have been possible."
She watched as her words caused the crew to look around at each other, and then back to her.
"But I don't need to tell you of the horror that is coming. You have seen it. Experienced it for yourselves." She leaned forward, her shoulders again becoming heavy with burden. "It is because of that horror that I destroyed a star system. That I killed many innocent people so that the Reapers would be delayed in order to buy for many more innocent people."
"No! You didn't have a choice!" One serviceman called out from the crowd. The shout caused even a greater stir of support for her.
El'Jaid raised her hand for quiet and silence was restored. "But I fear that time is slipping away from us faster then any of us could anticipate, and the Galaxy still does not see the darkness that is coming. This crew has stood fast with me through all this time. Again I cannot thank you enough." She said again warmly. "I have no doubt that when the Reapers do come that this crew will continue to distinguish itself. You will continue to do the impossible."
Shouts of hurrah and celebration lit up the congregation and then ebbed away as all waited with bated breath for their Commander to continue.
"A Specter, a Human Specter along with an Alliance Dreadnaught has been dispatched to hunt down the Normandy. Their aim is clear. But I will not allow that to happen. I will not allow the Alliance, or the Council to have the satisfaction."
Quiet displays of defiance waved through the collective.
"I will also not allow the Galaxy to become embroiled in a needless, wasteful war when annihilation comes to our doorsteps. Our true enemy will show no quarter, no remorse. They will consume all like a horde of locusts and leave this galaxy bare again. We have to open the galaxy's eyes." She looked across the mass of people looking into each of their eyes in turn. "I have to open their eyes. I have to answer for the horror that I have done. I have to explain to the Alliance, to the Galaxy why I had to burn Bahak. It is the only way that we can warm them of the Reapers arrival, and I need you at my side for this final flight. After which, Miranda Lawson will be Commander of the Normandy and she will report directly to Dr. T'Soni."
Surprise filled the CIC. Miranda straighten her stance and gave El'Jaid a simple nod. El'Jaid could also sense the grimace that lines Liara's face, though she was silent.
"Fuck that!" stormed Joker. "That is an order, I will not follow." He pounded the banister with his hands as Miranda tried to console him, and he gruffly shoved her off. "No!" His voice cracked with pain and guilt. "Commander, I have followed you through hell and back. I have put up with your shit. I will not let you go again. I let you die once, but not again." He seethed.
El'Jaid stood down from the podium, and she made her way over to her Pilot. It was true, he was the best helmsmen in the entire Galaxy. She stood barely a foot from him and he stood as straight and as tall as he could. Defiance burned on his face, but his eyes spoke only of loyalty, of friendship, of a bond deeper than friendship.
"Joker. I need you to helm the Normandy. I need you here to guide her through the stars when I can't be here. I need you to be ready to pick me up when shit hits the fans."
She bore down to him. He in turn looked right in to the vista of the Titan in turn, knowing he was as much as one as she was. He may not have know how to properly fire a gun, or had any biotic power; but he had wings, blistering speed, and shadow to cover him. It wasn't a contest of wills. Not a fight of power, but a coming to a mutual understanding.
"When we get there. If the dreadnaught opens fire do I have permission to return fire?" He asked deathly.
El'Jaid straighten her stance, her eyes shinning a little lighter with red. "You have my permission to make an example of how the Normandy fares in combat. I want that dreadnaught jammed as soon as we get close enough. I want you to sneak up on them and scare the hell out of them."
"Will you be ready when the Reapers arrive?" He asked.
"I will be waiting for you." She responded.
"Will you lead us?" He asked.
"To hell and back." She responded.
He stood a little taller, and looked around at the assembly.
"I want all crews at their stations on fully combat alert ASAP. EDI, I want that ship jammed as soon as we are in range and the Thanix cannon primed and ready to deploy without notice." He ordered as he turned and quickly returned to the cockpit.
El'Jaid turned towards the crew. "You heard the man! Lets play flying Dutchman and make the Alliance think twice about sending one dreadnaught after the Normandy. Dismissed!"
"Yes Ma'am!" The chorus sounded as all around her crashed in to organized chaos for the final flight.
El'Jaid made her way over to Liara and deftly wrapped a reassuring arm around the Asari's waist as she watched the Normandy jump to FTL for the closest relay.
So began the greatest gambit ever known.
Author's Note: I hope you have enjoyed this last frame work piece to Sea and the Rose. Now to turn my full attention to working and completing that work. To finally give El'Jaid Shepard the ending she really deserves.