Your reviews really helped to improve, thanks for that.
Actually changed many things because of them, and trying to change more.
Of course, can always use more...
The team of 6 had squeezed themselves into a small cargo elevator.
It was very uncomfortable.
"Good thing we didn't bring Grunt with us", Garrus joked.
The joke had all in the elevator chuckling, even the cold Miranda smiled.
When they were nearing the top floor, Shepard spoke:
"We are nearing the top. Everyone get ready", he begun, his voice holding a steely tone, hiding his nervousness.
"We must surge through the door immediately after they open. They could be waiting for us the same way we had been waiting for them. Seek cover immediately"
"Tali, you see anything?"
"I can't detect any lifesigns at the elevator's immediate vicinity", she answered, tapping her omni-tool"
Shepard nodded, feeling slightly better.
Of course, they could be blocking their signals.
The elevator beeped, and the doors opened.
The whole team surged through the door, seeking cover wherever they could find it.
Shepard kept waiting for the gunfire to began, but none started.
"Jacob, Garrus, scout the room, the rest of you, sit tight", he ordered over the radio.
Garrus and Jacob dove from their respective covers, and began scouring the room.
After a moment, they signaled an all-clear.
The rest of the team got up, and began wandering the large room. At the far-end of it was a closed door. Both Garrus and Jacob had their guns pointed to it.
"Everybody, form up", Shepard ordered, pointing the door.
The team took their positions around the door.
"Tali?"
She immediately began working on the panel. Minute later, she stood up, looking embarrassed.
She turned towards Shepard "I...uh... it won't open"
"Oh", Shepard said, surprised.
"Well, we'll get someone else to open it, got plenty of tech guys", he continued, shrugging.
"No, you don't understand. They...uh", she answered, staring at the floor.
Shepard realized what she was struggling with. She was always extremely modest.
"...are not as skilled as you", he said matter-of-factly, completing the sentence for her.
She looked at her squad mates sheepishly, but saw none of them disagreeing. Few of them even nodded in agreement.
"Yes", she muttered, still feeling uncomfortable.
"Well? Get to work", Shepard said, nodding at the door.
"The rest of you, some R&R 'till the door opens. We are, however, going to put up a guard detail on that elevator", he pointed at the elevator.
"Dismissed".
Shepard walked towards Jacob, who was sitting against a cargo box.
"How are you doing Taylor? You took one hell of a beating", Shepard asked, kneeling next to him.
"Still a bit shaky, Commander. Don't know what would have happened if you hadn't shown up", he said, shaking his head.
He looked into Shepard's eyes and continued: "Thanks, Shepard"
Shepard sat down next to him, while answering with a grin on his face.
"What? You'd think I'd just leave you there?"
Jacob didn't answer, so Shepard answered for him.
"You did", Shepard answered, with a little disappointed tone.
"I'm sorry Commander, but it's just...", Jacob paused, looking for words.
"I've worked with the Cerberus so long and you get used to how things are done", he continued quietly, shaking his head.
"Nobody here trusts anybody. Nobody cares. And nobody's gonna watch your back. It's all bullshit.", his tone was scornful.
"I just...", he spoke hesitatingly, the scorn lost.
"I knew about the Torfan and I just thought...", he said apologetically, lowering his gaze.
Shepard sighed.
"Look, Jacob", Shepad lowered his head.
"There's no reason for you to trust me and I'm not gonna hold it against you"
Shepard stood up, now looking at Jacob strictly.
"But I don't leave my people behind, and it insults me that you think I do"
He saw Jacob lowering his head even more.
Shepard sighed again, this time deeper.
"You're a good guy Jacob, and you speak your mind. I appreciate that", Shepard said, the strictness of his voice now gone. He began to turn away.
"Just don't let them get to you"
Jacob nodded, now noticeably in a better mood.
Shepard approached Miranda and Mordin, who were having an argument.
He heard Miranda speak with a strict tone.
"No"
" But would pose no threat. Information not dangerous to Cerberus. Not damaging. Can't understand ", Mordin answered, obviously frustrated.
"It's classified", Miranda retorted with a cold tone.
"What's going on here?", Shepard asked, his brow wrinkled.
"Dr. Solus keeps probing me for information about the Lazarus Project", she answered, her whole face wrinkled in anger.
"Shepard. Information could be vital. Cure many ailments. Help countless people. Why keep it a secret?", Mordin now looked Miranda thoughtfully, his hand scraping his chin.
"Cruelty? No, silly reason. Exclusiveness? No. Too unpractical. Too expensive for large scale use. Profit? Already have a considerable funds. Still..." he paused, inhaling "....most logical conclusion".
Intense disgust was spread over his face, as he watched Miranda.
Shepard was slightly surprised to see such a reaction from Mordin. The doctor was always extremely calm and collected. Some would even call him cold.
He did not know Mordin very well, but had already gathered that inside his cold exterior, he genuinely cared about people.
"We need funds to operate", Miranda answered crossing her arms, her voice extremely cold.
Miranda. Some people called her cold, emotionless.
But Shepard could see through her. He saw that under the mask of coldness, was an insecure and lonely woman.
Shepard thought it was pathetic, but he could relate.
He was very lonely.
There were only two people who had never abandoned him.
Tali and Garrus.
Others, even Anderson, had turned their backs on him.
He could understand that. He was dead and it had been two years. People moved on.
That did not make him any less angry.
When Anderson told him that he had send Ashley to spy him, Shepard was stunned.
Denial.
Then he had punched him to the face.
Anger.
Anger was good, so Shepard had not even given Anderson a chance to explain himself. He just left.
Liara.
She was so wrapped up inside her pitiable obsession.
Everyone always had their damn problems, and they always ended up dumping them on him.
Ashley.
He did not even want to think about that, since it always made him want to punch someone.
He had saved all of their lives a countless times. He had dragged them to glory.
Shepard felt disgusted with his pathetic self-pity,his mind returning to the task at hand.
"Trading lives for money. Unethical. Unaccepta--"
"Shut up, both of you!", Shepard shouted suddenly and both of them looked at him, surprised.
"Find something better to do with your time", he muttered, turning away.
Dealing with the Cerberus' lackeys made his mood extremely bad, so he decided to visit Garrus, who had taken the first watch.
He was sitting against the wall, his assault rifle between his legs.
"Shepard", he greeted, giving him a very sloppy salute, not standing up.
Shepard already felt his mood rising, and started to grin.
"That's the way they guard in the turian army? No wonder we kicked your asses"
Garrus' mandibles started to flicker as he retorted
" We were just about to counter-attack", his tone was amused.
"Well", Shepard began to answer, crossing his arms "Your plan seemed to involve a lot of countering, and very little attacking"
Garrus chuckled and couldn't find a good counter.
"How's your shoulder?", Shepard asked, now with a concerned tone.
"Not too bad. Luckily the shot went right through"
Shepard sat down next to him, now more serious.
"You did pretty good at there Garrus. Three on three, and they had some serious firepower"
Garrus snorted, looking at the floor.
Shepard knew that he was thinking about his team.
"Have you found him yet?", Shepard asked, meaning Sidonis.
"No. But I will"
His voice was very determined, mirroring his thoughts.
"I'll be there when you do", Shepard said, slapping Garrus on the shoulder.
"I know", Garrus answered, still looking at the floor.
They said there for a while in silence, ending with Shepard speaking.
"I should go see Tali"
He got up, and started walking away, when Garrus spoke quietly.
"I wish you'd been there Shepard"
Shepard turned his gaze at the turian.
"So do I"
Shepard arrived at the elevator, where Tali was feverishly trying to open the door.
"How's it going?", Shepard asked, leaning at the wall near the elevator.
"Fine", she muttered, clearly annoyed at the distraction.
"Any ide--", his question was interrupted, when Tali snapped to him.
"Shepard! This lock is extremely delicate and one false move could jam it completely. Please, let me work"
Shepard felt a large grin spread over his face, before speaking.
"As delicate as your moaning?"
Her hands froze immediately, her mind trying to process the question.
He had heard.
"Y-you...you heard wrong",she stuttered, not moving her gaze from the panel.
"Really?", Shepard asked teasingly.
She could feel her face burning, but still tried to get out of it.
"I-it...it was a g-gasp...a yelp even. Y-you were very heavy"
But it was not working.
"Oh?", he asked, moving closer
"That's..." he continued quietly, putting his finger on her shoulder, moving it towards her arm "...disappointing"
It felt extremely good, but she still slapped his hand away.
"Stop that!"
Shepard took a step back and crossed his arms, still grinning.
She wished nothing more than for him to stay, but she had to work.
"I really need to work. Please go"
Her thoughts betrayed her voice.
"Sure. This time", he answered teasingly, still staring at her.
"Stop staring!", she snapped, her hands still not moving.
Shepard turned away.
Her mind was distracted for a whole minute, before she could continue.
Did he...want her?
She...she would like that.
No. She would want that.
She wanted him to be happy.
But did not know if she could make him.
Shepard began to walk away.
Then the thought struck him.
What the hell was he doing?