EDI frowned. She'd been doing so for the last few minutes and was having difficulty reconciling why she was doing it. Once more she was having trouble focusing, but it was unlike the feelings of loss with the death of Legion. This was different, just as powerful but remarkably different. She had analyzed it as best she could alone, Shepard was elsewhere and so EDI couldn't ask her about what may be causing such feelings.
Turning her head, EDI regarded the pilot seat and it's occupant and found no help there either. It wasn't occupied by Jeff, the Commander had almost frogmarched him off the bridge so that he could rest for the mission to come, she'd even threatened him with sedation if he didn't go and try to sleep. Instead, she regarded Flight Lieutenant Cortez. She didn't know him well, though she had watched him as much as anyone else, so EDI found she felt uncomfortable speaking to him of her inability to focus.
It felt as if something was missing for her, that a key part of her systems had gone silent. There was also a new algorithm that had appeared since altering her self-preservation codes. It made her feel...wobbly? Was that it? EDI shook her head but could find no other way to describe it. Was this fear? Was she afraid? It made a logical kind of sense. She had made herself more predisposed to sacrifice, that would end in her termination. Although she would do so willingly for Jeff, there was also thoughts that she would rather not expire.
How did organics deal with such feelings? How did they continue to function when their doom could come at any moment? With the Normandy heading towards the Cerberus base, and Shepard announcing that once Cerberus was brought to it's knees, the next stop would be Earth, EDI had noticed the distinct change on all of the crew. They were, at least worried about what was to come. And so EDI turned her attention to them to see how they coped and prepared for what might be their final few hours.
In the mess, Dr. Michel shared a quite meal with Engineer Adams, the two had become friends over the course of the trip, cementing their friendship during the Tutchanka mission. Their usually cheery debating was missing, replaced with quiet, somber conversation about what is to come. Dr. Michel sounded scared. Her biometrics confirm it, though she still laughed softly when Adams's joked about how quiet it was.
The shuttle bay is a hive of activity, much like it always is, but the activity was insular. Lieutenant Vega reassembled his assault rifle. He cleaned and tested the mods for it, finally satisfied that it is at peak working efficiency. This is the third time he's done so in the last hour. EDI has watched him each time, stripping it down, muttering to himself while he did it, before reassembly...only to be unsatisfied and repeat the process. EDI noted that the Lieutenant seemed a little lost without the presence of Lieutenant Cortez, their natural banter seemed to soothe them both...but not today.
Liara spoke with Samara via her Shadow Broker links. EDI found it odd for Doctor T'Soni to be conversing with the Justicar. Liara has been guiding her to where the fighting has been thickest, even though it would mean that there is a good chance that the Justicar would die...and with Thessia gone, EDI couldn't help but think that each asari should not throw their lives away so rashly. However, each engagement the Justicar had taken part in was met with success. It had been reported she had bolstered the line and inspired the troops. When EDI looked closer at the theaters of war the Doctor had directed Samara too, they have been heavily populated by asari troops, or home to asari colonies. Now it made sense. The Doctor seemed calm, much like she always is, her preparations complete and yet she still has much to do.
Light laughter was coming from the starboard cargo bay, it was Reporter Allers. She laughed at the story Specialist Traynor wass telling her. They were sharing some batarian shard wine, just a glass each as they talked in the Reporter's room. EDI had watched Specialist Traynor pursue Ms. Aller's affections, although she did so subtely, through conversation and friendship. EDI also suspected that the Reporter knew what Specialist Traynor was aiming at and didn't spurned her advances, nor actively encouraged them either. They sat close and talked of the crew and the mission, or their lives before this all happened and what their hopes for the future had been. They talked and smiled and laughed at how naive they had been when they were younger, but nothing more than that before Specialist Traynor had to return to her duties, they said their goodbyes and parted company.
Engineer Donnelly and Daniels redressed in silence, they seemed to have nothing to say to each other after their latest bout of almost frenzied intimacy, but EDI wasn't so sure. She noticed Engineer Donnelly grinding his teeth and casting furtive glances at Engineer Daniels. He wants to say something but he just can't seem to manage it EDI thought. This mission had them both scared...attacking not just any Cerberus base but THE Cerberus base. The hub of The Illusive Man's operations. This is as big as it gets when taking on Cerberus. EDI understood their apprehension as they were both Cerberus Agents once, and the organisation wasn't known for it's tolerance with defectors. They are worried they'd be killed in this action, despite the fact they wouldn't be taking part in the assault. Engineer Daniels finished and made for the door.
'Will you marry be Gabby?' Engineer Donnelly suddenly blurted out.
EDI watched her stop and turn slowly, an incredulous look on her face. She stared at Engineer Donnelly, her mouth open but saying nothing.
'I mean, when this is over.'
Still no response.
'Or...' EDI could see he's grasping at straws. '...if you'd prefer, we would ask Shepard do it before she leaves. She's pretty much, technically Captain. Do you think she'd...'
Engineer Daniels crossed the space and stopped Donnelly's talking with a kiss. Parting to simply tell him that he if keeps talking, she'll say no instead of yes. It takes a moment for the realisation to set in and he grins, embracing his new fiancee and kisses her again. EDI smiled, glad they have finally found each other.
In the Forward Battery, Garrus and Tali were eating. They'd made something of a picnic for the two of them to share. EDI has noticed that Garrus has learned from his mistake with the turian chocolate, and made sure that everything has been sterilized for Tali. And so they sat together and talked of when they had technically been working for Cerberus once themselves, and how the removal of the Pro-human group might affect the galaxy. In the end, they were sat side by side, Tali snuggled against Garrus, his arm around her shoulder and they pondered on how they could be intimate, and how they missed Mordin and his advice on cross-species sex. In the end, EDI left them enjoying what physical contact they could through an enviro-suit, marvelling at their ingenuity to the problem at hand.
In the stillness of the Port Cargo Bay, Javik sat in quiet repose. EDI suspected that this was how he was preparing for the end, but she couldn't be sure. The prothean was a rather harsh character and had argued with EDI on a number of occasions, same with the rest of the crew. But he was a skill soldier and EDI couldn't doubt his mettle. But that wasn't to say that she liked him either. She could logically draw a few comparisons between herself and Javik, much based around the fact they were alone in the galaxy, but it didn't endear him to her in any real way. He had been studying the Normandy's schematics and the history of the ship and those aboard. He had told Shepard this and commented upon it, the conversation ending with the fact that Shepard had confessed that she would gladly suffer and face death for those she loved, especially Major Alenko. The prothean had finally decided that such an act may be noble and could possibly win the war against the Reapers. He had gifted the Commander his Memory Shard after peering back into the past himself and had dismissed her so he could prepare. The Commander had complied and went to The Loft.
The Loft was quiet, but for the muted sounds of it's two occupants. The two were in bed together. An open bottle of whiskey sat on the table in the small seating area, two glasses beside it. Pieces of uniform were in a distinct heap to one side of the room, where they'd been thrown upon their removal. The Commander was lying on her back, her legs wrapped around the narrow hips of the Major, her hands almost clawing at his back, leaving red lines on his tanned flesh. The Major had gone up to The Loft to check on the Commander, to make sure she was alright after all of the trails that she had been through...especially after Thessia and over the course of Horizon...although he had later confessed that he hadn't come up to merely share a drink with her. EDI had thought it was a gutsy confession to make, especially when he had denied Shepard when she had come searching for the exact same thing. But it seemed that the affection they had for each other overrode any such pettiness and so they shed their uniforms and retreated to Shepard bed. EDI watched as the Major flexed his hips and bit down softly on Shepard's neck and made the Commander moan and throw back her head. They had been through a lot and EDI couldn't deny them their moment of peace in each others arms.
EDI nodded, believing she understood what she had seen. It made sense.
'Please excuse me Lieutenant.' EDI said politely. 'I shall be gone for a few hours but will be back before we arrive.'
'Ok EDI' was all she received in return.
EDI found she paused for a moment, much like Shepard did before she entered a room containing Major Alenko. It made EDI smile at the comparison, although it was not done deliberately. She now understood the hesitation the Commander felt in such situations, it was unnerving and yet exhilarating at the same time. She hit the button to open the door of the crew quarters and stepped inside.
Author's Note: Just to inform you that there will probably be a delay over the next few chapters. I'm going on holiday next week, which will seriously cut down on my writing time as well as my ability to post. But I'll do my best to keep things going as best as I can.
Another reason for the delay will be the Extended Cut content (us poor souls in the UK only received it today)...so I need to integrate this into my Brain Theatre and see what it spits out for EDI based on the original choice my FemShep made.
There may also be a bit of a shift in the writing style since we're heading to the end and it's all action, action, action. I will try to keep it as true to the current style as I can, but it's not easy thinking about relationships when you've got Cerberus troopers and Reapers trying to blow you up...so just wanted to give people the heads up in case that does actually happen.
And once again, I'd just like to thank everyone for taking the time to read my story. I've love writing it and I'm always glad to hear you're enjoying reading it. Reviews, comments and criticisms are always welcome!