Just a short one this time around - I didn't think it needed to be dragged out. This is yet another "straight from the game with embellishments" chapter for which I apologise. We'll get back to original content soon!
I OWN NOTHING! YOU HEAR ME? NOTHING.
5. Grounded
The ship is quiet.
From his station, Kaidan has been concentrating less and less on fixing the drive relays and more and more on the Commander's movements. His brown eyes follow her across the crew deck as she stalks towards the bridge for what must be the fiftieth time that day since they got the message from Udina.
Grounded.
Was the man insane? Did he want Saren to succeed? Kaidan frowned, his brow furrowing in thought as he turned over the last mission in his mind, anger and disbelief creeping into the corners of his brain. He had been there, standing behind her, covering her back like always, when that thing had spoken. A chill runs unbidden up his spine at the memory. How could the council not take her seriously? After all she has done before now?
There's a clanking of steel-capped boots on metal and the Commander stalks back to her locker, no doubt politely having been told to get-the-hell-off-my-bridge-you're-killing-the-atmosphere by the acerbic pilot. He turns back to his console, attempting to concentrate but there's a large "thump" followed by a string of bilingual cursing. He sighs, powering down his omni-tool, and quietly moves to intercept her.
Commander Shepard turns at his soft footsteps and seems to deflate. Her shoulders slump and she lets out a breath in an explosive sigh. Arianna slams her back into the locker that has apparently fused shut and sinks to the ground, dejected and defeated.
"Commander, are you alright?"
In spite of herself, she laughs and there's a distinctly bitter edge to it. "Not especially, no." Her voice is dripping with wry amusement.
Kaidan smiles back, his face still creased with worry. He moves to sit down next to her, his long legs stretched out in front of him, his back against a locker.
"I'm sure there's a way to appeal." He continues, "we're under Alliance authority after all, not the council."
She sighs, resting her head in her hands, "Official channels are closed, Kaidan, they were quite clear about that."
Kaidan blinks and is suddenly angry, at the council, at Udina, at the Alliance, he's angry for her since she is determined on sounding defeated. "Closed? And we're supposed to accept that?" He waves his arms expressively in front of him, "So where do you think the best view will be when the Reapers roll through? If we have to sit it out, we may as well get a good seat."
Arianna looks over at him, frowning. She's never seen this side of him before, never seen him lose control of his tightly reined in frustration. He's always been the voice of reason on their ship, the unshakable rock of calm. To see him mirror her feelings so perfectly is a bit jarring. She's not entirely sure she likes it.
"We're out of the game for now," her eyes are pleading, "I need you to be there while I figure things out."
He huffs out a breath and raises a tired hand to his head, rubbing a temple ruefully and closing his eyes. She watches him fight to regain control.
"I'm sorry Commander. You can count on me, or any of the crew. You know that."
She frowns, "Come on Kaidan, I can get a salute from anyone on this ship."
"Commander, this makes no sense." He doesn't seem to have heard her, "Are we the pride of the fleet or not? Are we valued assets or just… peons?"
There's a small pause and Arianna looks up at him, a small smile twitching at the corners of her mouth, "You can't just pull out a good old fashioned 'It'll be alright' can you?"
He laughs, "Hah! It's that easy is it? Ok then." His voice softens, "Everything'll be fine Shepard, you'll figure it out."
"Much better." She smiles.
"You know, there's a bright side to all of this." Kaidan muses, pushing himself off metal flooring, "We have some downtime to work things out. What we are." He extends a callused hand to her to pull her to her feet.
She pushes herself up off the ground just as he pulls her up and their combined, unexpected force launches her upwards a little too quickly. She overbalances and Kaidan catches her, strong arms encircling her waist. They freeze. Kaidan can feel her breath on his face, her mouth close, her green eyes fluttering closed. He leans forward and…
"Sorry to ah… interrupt Commander, got a message from Captain Anderson."
Their faces are matching shades of beet red as the spring apart. "Joker! Were you spying on us?"
"No Ma'am."
Kaidan sighs as she touches his arm briefly, apology clear in her vividly green eyes, and walks slowly back to the bridge. They'd figure it out eventually.
The ship is quiet.