Liege Lord: Well, whatever happens I hope you'll enjoy it. ;)
Kachie Takahashi: Well I know it could've been dirty sounding, but it's much too early for that. We'll have plenty of chances to make it dirty if you want, don't worry. ;) Anyway, thanks for keeping up- I was worried about you for a bit there, having kept from reviewing. ^.^
Hopelessly Blue: Wow, you're not wasting any time jumping the gun on what Adel's passing out thing meant… Not that I blame you! And I thought Vetrali meeting EDI would be somewhat fun to write, and it was, so I added it to the chapter. And I love Chakwas (I can't say her name without smiling) so much I couldn't resist mentioning her/ making fun of her name! XD
P.S. *gasps* You're my 42 as well, HB! I love you lots!
Hound Akragth: Nah, I'm fine- thanks though. And you should have prickling suspicions! I wrote it that way. Cool, huh? XP
A/N: Hey, sorry I'm late again, been working nonstop since I got out of the hospital. (Finally!)
"Oh, hello. Are you Vetrali?" an older woman asked, looking up from her terminal after the AI woman entered.
"-Yes. I believe you have such things called 'cookies' for Raega?" she answered, not wasting any time. The human smiled and stood, grabbing a container that sat next to her. She then approached the green-haired woman and gestured to the door.
"Wasting no time I see. Let's go then." She said, leading the way back out of the med-bay. Vetrali followed, growing confused.
"I was not informed of your accompaniment." She said, catching up to the human doctor. Said woman laughed in humor, not pausing in her stride.
"Nor was I informed you talked like an AI!" she remarked, still chuckling. Vetrali frowned, furrowing her brows.
"I am an AI." She muttered, seeing the doctor continue, not noticing she fell behind.
Ridding her mind of deeper thoughts, Vetrali rejoined the doctor Chakwas.
…
"… And then she passed out." Miranda finished, irritated at having to explain herself so many times in one day. The Princess looked down at the unconscious woman for a few moments, saying nothing as Shepard contemplated on the end of the bed.
"So it starts…" Raegas muttered, taking a few moments to inspect the necklace around Adel's neck. Whatever it was, it was beautiful…
Shaking her head to rid herself of such useless thoughts, Miranda shifted on her feet, her arms crossed. The frown, prominent on her face, told of her growing impatience. She just wanted to leave and get to her work before it piled up. Not that it wasn't already.
"Permission to leave?" Miranda asked, still using her formal language reserved for superior officers. Shepard looked up at her then to Raegas, her brows drawn together in question. The Princess looked back up and set Adel's necklace back down. Her gaze turned to the stiff Cerberus officer searchingly, her eyes narrowed slightly.
Miranda still didn't like her. From the moment they net more than six months ago she'd been a thorn in her side. Every time she finished something Raegas would go and finish two things. Every time she looked for a better way to regenerate Shepard's body, Raegas would just heal her like it was nothing. Every time she was sent on a mission Raegas went with her.
After what Raegas said in the eating hall about Orianna Miranda had her guard up.
"Ko, take Miranda to the Normandy; your mapping system should be up by now." Raegas said, her gaze lifting from Miranda's as suddenly as it had come. The Cerberus officer looked to the hovering bot that floated over from the doorway, a frown on her face still.
"Certainly! Right this way, Ms. Lawson." The bot's voice said, as if smiling. How strange.
Even so, Miranda followed, glad to finally be away from irritating people such as Adel and Raegas.
…
"Do you know what happened?" Shepard asked, looking to Raegas.
"I have an idea but I don't want to say anything unless I'm sure. She'll be fine tomorrow morning anyway." She answered, the look in her eyes as she regarded the still sleeping woman strangely deep. Shepard didn't know what it was but she did know she'd have to watch both Adel and Miranda closely in the future.
"Either way, we have a couple of ships to get ready. Why don't you check out the Normandy while I get an update on preparations for the Slayer's Fate?" Shepard furrowed her brows at that.
Raegas never told Shepard what she should do. Nor did she seem to like to be away from the Commander; the feeling was mutual. So what was she planning? Was there something she didn't want Shepard to know?
The Commander shook her head slightly as she stood up to get rid of such stupid thoughts. Raegas wouldn't keep something from her if it was important.
"Sure. But keep a channel open on your comm." Shepard said, stepping to Raegas as she too stood from her spot by Adel.
"Worried I might do something reckless again?" she smiled, wrapping her arms around Shepard's neck. The Commander circled her own around the woman's waist, smiling in her own sly way.
"Well, there is that… But I want to be able to hear your voice even when we're apart." She replied, leaning in close.
"Careful there, slick. You might get just what you wish for." Raegas muttered, planting a kiss to Shepard's cheek.
"I hope so." She quietly replied, resting her forehead against Raegas' for a few moments. "I'll see you tomorrow morning at launch." She smiled, reluctantly releasing her love and stepping to the door.
"Maybe so." The Vertoakan princess smirked, watching as the Commander left.
…
"You wanted to see me, father?" I asked, looking to him as his figure shone in the windows of the nebula. He then turned to me, his expression serious.
"Yes. Because of this new mission you find yourself jumping to, I find myself wandering over scenarios of what is to come. Whether you lose yourself and kill those close to you or lose a member of your crew due to your own stubbornness… I care not. What I do care about I making sure it does not happen in the first place." He stated. I clasped my hands behind my back tightly to keep from making fists.
"I know you have an attachment to this human…" he said, sitting at his desk as a hologram of Shepard from the waist up appeared above it. "Though the nature of this attachment is unknown to me, I couldn't care less. Her dual leadership- you on the Slayer's Fate, her on this Normandy- may also bring you to the brink of an inner battle for superiority. Because of this, I have asked Karamu to accompany you on your journey." His words made a shock of adrenaline to go down my spine. Karamu stepped into the room then, looking to me almost knowingly.
"I will continue as your mentor and trainer for now. I will also act as you advisor." The large Brogul stated, the permanent frown on his face made of stone. I didn't know what he was thinking but his tone was practically neutral. What had father said to him?
"And for added security, to keep you in check…" Father said, getting my attention once more. "I have asked Lord Rissara to join you as well." Another shock went down my spine then- this one out of anger.
Rissara stepped into the room and joined Karamu at his side, smirking at me almost condescendingly.
"I'll be watching you and sending back reports to the King. So don't do anything stupid." She sneered, making me clench my teeth.
"I have nothing more to say. You are dismissed." Father's deep voice rumbled. His words would have cut me if I wasn't so used to it by now.
"Yes father…" I muttered, turning and exiting the room quickly.
Who was I kidding? I'd never get used to it.
…
Adel awoke with a start, jumping up to a sitting position immediately. Her gaze scanned the room quickly, showing her she was in Raega's quarters aboard the Grey Star. But when did she…? Memories of the past day flooded her mind, causing uneasiness to form in the pit of her stomach. If she remembered correctly… and what happened yesterday did in fact happen… then she was already in a pit.
What happened yesterday meant only one of two things: either she was feeling the effects of an oncoming Rage and her body automatically shut down (it was a failsafe that only activated occasionally) or… she had lost her sanity and encountered the one thing that would complicate her life inexplicably.
"You're finally up, huh? Come on, we've got a ship to launch and a crew to brief." Her gaze fell to Raega as she came into view from the upper landing where her desk was. Adel furrowed her brows at her cousin in confusion, wondering how long she's been asleep. Surely she hadn't slept so long into the next day that she failed to awake for the preparation of the Slayer's Fate?
"Before you freak out, let me explain. I got the crew and the ship fitted and ready to go for launch; along with your belongings- they're in your own quarters now. Father already told me to watch myself and such, so you won't have to worry about fighting with him over me, okay? Oh, and my two brothers are coming as well. Jasin is still with Liara at Hagalaz, no need to worry. Still, after we launch, we need to pick up the last of our crew from an Alliance station called Arcturus. Questions?" she said, speaking so quickly that Adel could barely keep up in her stupor.
"I-"
"Great!" she smiled, helping the woman up without even letting her speak. "Now change into some clean attire. Meet me in the docking bay in an hour." She ordered, patting Adel's shoulder warmly before rushing out of the room.
"I have not a clue as to half of what she said." Adel muttered, finding herself walking to the bathroom.
She shook her head, frowning as she continued to contemplate what happened.
A/N: Yea, how was that? Boring, I know, but in the next chapter we're finally leaving the Citadel! Whoo! Get excited for what I have lined up!
VOTE ON MY NEW POLL OR YOU SHALL NEVER SEE NEW ROMANCES BUD INTO LIFE! I might even break off some old ones for fun.