Shepard – On-board the Normandy
As she stood looking down the hallway leading to the CIC one way and the cockpit on the other she could finally take stock of the events of the past couple of days.
"What have I gotten myself into." She muttered to herself as she made the turn towards the cockpit before she could even finish walking Joker spoke up.
"I heard what happened to Captain Anderson. Survives a hundred battles only to be taken down by backroom politics. Just watching your back, commander things go sideways here and you could be next on the chopping block." This was not exactly the words of encouragement she had hoped to receive from the crew but she couldn't say he was wrong.
"Saren's out there somewhere and we're going to find him."
"Everyone on this ship is behind you, one hundred percent commander. I'll open the intercom for you anything you want to say to the crew now is the time." With a careful flick of the wrist Joker opened the intercom. Great she thought now I must come up with a speech on the fly, if there was one thing she hated more than being shot at it was having to improvise. Taking a deep breath, she addressed the crew.
"This is Commander Shepard speaking. We have our orders, find Saren before he finds the conduit. I won't lie to you this mission isn't going to be easy on us. For too long our species has stood apart from the others, now it's our time to step up and do our part for the rest of the galaxy! Time to show them what humans are made of! Our enemies know we are coming, when we go into the Traverse Saren's followers will be waiting for us, but we WILL be ready for them too. Humanity needs to do this not just for our sake, but for the sake of every other species in citadel space. Saren must be stopped, and I promise to each and every one of you here today, WE WILL STOP HIM!"
"Well said Commander the Captain would be proud." Joker responded as he turned the intercom off.
"The Captains not here anymore I am in charge now. Joker time is wasting get this bird in the air." Perhaps that last section was said with a bit too much authority she thought as she turned away from the cockpit, oh well it was done now she just hoped her speech had put the crews mind at ease while also galvanising them for the challenge ahead. As she walked down the CIC the crew either saluting her as she went or hard at work she finally felt a sense of ease. "We can do this." She said as a smile appeared.
Charles – Inside the Mako.
It was surprisingly simple to enter the Mako, with a press of a button the doors opened and I had been allowed to enter, I guess they never suspected those on Normandy would try and steal it or perhaps just a horrible security lapse. Regardless of the reason the relatively small space and isolation was welcome after what transpired at the range.
The thick metal walls of the Mako kept the outside noise to a minimum I finally felt like I had somewhere to collect myself away from the suspicious glances of the crew or hushed rumors about me that had begun doing the rounds among them.
"Now I am not one for needless luxury but surely you could have found a better place to enjoy yourself than this death-trap?"
"Where the hell have you been?" I immediately asked Alexandra as she made herself known in her usual abrasive fashion. The absence of the three Shepard's since my hospital stay had been bugging me and with the 'ghost' for a lack of a better word of the Salarian from earlier had me questioning what was real and what wasn't.
"Oh, you know took a sabbatical on Thessia taking in the sights have a great time and then I was so horribly dragged into some dude's head."
"I was starting to think you didn't exist, that I was crazy you know considering the whole being haunted by ghosts' thing, I am assuming you saw that."
"Yea that was a thing, I mean the three of us have seem somethings, Reapers destroying whole cities, husks ripping people apart right in front of us, even those horrible Asari abominations what were they called? Wight's? no that's not right… Banshees! That's the one."
"Are you…drunk?" Her words seemed slurred and she was articulating each word much slower than usual but could she even get drunk? And oh what?
"What? Don't be stupid I am not organic anymore I was speaking like that so that maybe you could understand me clearer." And just like that any thoughts of concern I had for her vanished and was replaced with my usual annoyance towards her. "But if you killing less people than I used to on a Saturday night causes you to flip out and start seeing things maybe you start drinking helps those with a weak constitution like yourself." And with that she retreated into my head.
"Bitch." I muttered to myself
"Yea that's not the worst thing she has been ever called, but she does care in her own unique way."
"What are you all going to come one at a time to belittle me now? Or are you just bored with whatever you guys were up to while I had to struggle my way through the trial?"
"Aletta will come and talk to you later, but perhaps you don't give us the credit we deserve. Don't you think that the council was a little quick at letting you go?" And as quickly as he showed up Sovereign he was gone.
What did he mean by that I wondered to myself as I shuffled around on the cold hard floor of the Mako, perhaps I should sit on one of the rear seats come to think of it why did I choose to sit on the floor?
Shepard – Mess Hall
The crew were either hard and work of loitering around the mess, while the those off duty tried to get her attention she decided that she should perhaps retreat to her office and begin some of the more tedious workloads of being in command PAPERWORK. While there wasn't much for her to do currently if she left it, it would surely begin to pile up faster than she could handle it, imagining that was how university students felt brought her down.
"I joined the Alliance to protect people not fill out forms." She muttered to herself as she made her way past some crew-members and headed towards her office.
"Commander, may I have a moment." So much for starting on that paperwork, she thought as she turned to answer Chakwas.
"What can I help you with Doctor?" it wasn't strange for the ships doctor to need to talk to the captain about problems of supply or general health concerns, but her CO's had always dealt with that, I guess this was going to be another part of the job she would have to get used to.
"Sorry to bother you with this, but when I was inserting the tracking device into Charles earlier I forgot to go through with him the paperwork required for his medical care in the event of well you know. I have been looking for him for quite some time now and no one has seen him and I can't find him." That was not what she had expected to hear.
"Can't you just use the tracker?" It would be the most logical course of action.
"I have been, but it's not designed for exact location it has a him pinned down to the kilometer or two, so we can say he is on the ship unless someone spaced him but beyond that It can't help us." Chakwas shrugged her shoulder as he explained. "You didn't space him, did you?" She added with a wicked grin.
"No, I did not space a crew member." She responded giving the doctor a slight smile in return. "I will go look for him."
"Thank god I was worried for a moment there. And my oh my already considering him crew that was quick. Well when you find him give him these files to fill out and make sure he will." With a few presses on her Omni-tool she sent the files to her and headed for the med-bay.
"Well probably best start in the training room, if no one has seen him that's my best bet. Lord knows crew members avoid that place like the plague outside of required training sessions."
"Apparently, he tore them apart like it was nothing, they had to mop up bits of his victims." A crew member said under hushed breath to another.
"I know, I am thinking about lodging a complaint. We shouldn't have to worry about if he is going to snap and attack some of us." Another added.
"He should be on restricted access." A third chimed in. She didn't much care of ship gossip but this was going a bit far, the crew and the ground team must work together, vile rumors can't be allowed to spread. One of the crew members noticed her listening in and promptly threw up a salute.
"So, who are you all chatting about?" She asked making her presence known as she placed her hand on one of the crewmen' shoulders.
"Just about well how do I put this."
"Was it Charles? nah no one on this crew is that stupid" She leaned in over the crewmen's shoulder. "I mean he is pretty powerful and not too bad with a gun either. It would be really stupid to be talking behind someone like that's back." She watched as they grew clearly more anxious as their eyes started darting around the room and they fidgeted on the spot. "Because that would be really stupid." She added just a fade hint of venom in her voice before letting her grip go. "Now if you will excuse me I have to go and give some documents to Charles." And with that she headed into the elevator and headed for the training room.
"As expected." As she stepped off the elevator the training room was a ghost town. Anderson had been strict enough to make sure the crew performed the standard amount of exercise for a ship perhaps a change was in order? This mission was going to push everyone to their limits, going after a Spectre and his army of Geth is not a standard operation. "Doubling the training regimen should suffice."
As she made her way around she quickly noticed a familiar looking pistol on the floor.
"Somehow I don't think he would just leave this here. Just what are you up to." She picked it up it seemed fine, no damage to it strange. "Charles, you here?" Her voice reverberated off the walls. Nothing.
"Charles? I got something for you where, are you?" Speaking into her omni-tool, his little game of cat and mouse on the Citadel had at least given her a means of communication with him. After an awkward few moments of waiting for a response it was obvious he wasn't listening. She didn't want to get the crew involved on this, not while the current attitude towards him was toxic among the crew. "I just want to talk Charles. Let me know when your free?" After a few more moments, her omni-tool lit up.
"Come to the cargo hold. Mako." And just like that it cut out.
Charles
"You know getting all of working how it's supposed to is actually really quite difficult." Aletta's voice cut in as I finished my brief message to Shepard. "We can't get replacement parts, this is top line stuff even in my universe. I mean if I got the raw materials I could run myself through your neural link and make it myself but applying it to ourselves would require surgery that is a quite a bit harder, suppose you are the only one left with pain receptors so we could knock you out and operate I mean it would hurt quite severely." Aletta's mind was clearly running a hundred miles an hour not pausing for breath just spewing words at a frightening rate.
"Aletta. English please?"
"I mean it we could add to the implants and try and run through a self-replicator of some description of course we would have to remove a kidney to make room for it, but a quick adjustment to some of the metabolism governors could compensate for the loss." It was as if I hadn't even there.
"Aletta!" This time I interjected with more force in my voice. "English!"
"All those years training you, wasted." Aletta sighed. "The damage to the implants is not repairable. Despite my best efforts and they are THE BEST EFFORTS, your body will not be able to perform up to standard. While you will be physically and mentally more impressive than most people, all the knowledge we gave you, biotic control, technological knowledge are all but gone."
"Hang on, I have used biotics just fine up till this point?"
"No, no you have not been 'fine' YOU haven't been using the biotics, Alexandra has been doing it you think it she does it. It both inefficient and more power intensive than if you were doing it naturally! I mean really you are no better than a puppet for us to use currently."
"Wait does that mean you can all read my thoughts? Puppet?!" With that depressing thought placed into my mind she took her leave from my mind as the door to the Mako popped open.
Shepard slowly climbed her way into the Mako, first looking towards the drivers' area before turning to me sat on the floor at the other end.
"Charles, you know this is a military vehicle not a rest area, right?" Shepard's voice was as calming as usual, it was always a welcome sound.
"It feels kind of nice, less noise and no traffic."
"I won't argue with any of that." Shepard shut the door behind her and rotated the gunners seat to face me before taking a seat. "So, I am going to assume you know about the rumors and that's why you are really here isn't it?" She didn't even try and ease in to it straight through the front door.
"You don't mince words do you Shepard?"
"Always best to go straight to the source of the problem, storm the front if you will." She paused for a moment perhaps thinking of how to proceed. "But it seems that is not your way of problem solving. I mean after that little song and dance you had me perform on the Citadel and now shying away from words."
I didn't really know how to respond to that I just don't see the point in creating conflict among the Normandy's crew it was the ground work that was really going to matter.
"Well technically I am a prisoner, I will help you with your mission after that." I found myself biting my lip as I drew a blank. Just what exactly will happen to me? "After that."
"You are not a prisoner here Charles."
"So, what is the tracking device in my neck for then?" I snapped at her but quickly caught myself before I said anything I would regret. The silence hung in the air for what seemed like forever. "It seems all I am useful as is a tool for people with real power. Just another cog in the machine and I think, I am going to have to find a way to make peace with that thought."
"You are more than that here, maybe the crew and even yourself hasn't realized it but the sooner you and the crew realize that the easier this will be." Shepard pulled up her omni-tool and quickly send something to me. "Chakwas gave me some forms for you to fill out, medical things allergies the standard medical form for servicemen and women, that may fall under Alliance medical care." Shepard arose from her chair and opened the door to leave. "Tomorrow we will arrive at our first destination, you will be with me on the ground team. You will need this." She quickly tossed something towards me and I caught it on reflex.
I froze, it was my pistol I quickly dropped it as I recoiled away from it. My breathing pattern picked up and I could feel my heart pounding against my chest.
"Charles?" Shepard's voice was fading as I felt myself slipping away and another presence filled my mind.
"Sorry Shepard, this thing almost blew up in my face at the range earlier, was just a bit worried when I caught it." It was my voice but it wasn't me I didn't care I just wanted to get away from here.
"Well get it checked before we head out tomorrow, ETA is twenty-two hours before we arrive. Get some rest and consider that an order. If you need me I will be in my quarters, Good night Charles."
I am back...I know its not Christmas but the end of my year and start of this one was VERY shitty and made motivating myself to write very hard. But Its up and I hope you don't all hate me for the delay.
As for the Chapter it's self I think it came together alright I never feel good about what I write but we will see...Next Chapter Therum which means lava - Geth - Krogan and Dr Tsoni. All systems go and I hope to have it ready in a more acceptable time frame!
CASTOR OUT