Hey guys, here is the next update. Hope you enjoy. As usual, tell me if I have made any mistakes. I have proofread it, but sometimes silly little errors get past me. Hope you enjoy!
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Chapter 13
Vega grit his teeth against the pain in his side, a sharp, hot sting throbbing just under his ribcage where a bullet had grazed him in his retreat. He hated himself for leaving Shepard. He should have been quicker, should have been faster. The Commander trusted him to have her back and he failed her. God only knows how many times Shepard has saved his ass, then when it came to him, he ran like a coward. He mentally cursed himself. He didn't deserve to serve by her side. He flinched as the doctor pressed on his wound, hissing through gritted teeth as pain surged through his side, bandages stained with blood lay beside him on the table, a mountain of red and white covering the silver metallic surface.
Doctor Chakwas had made quick work of the wound, expertly cleaning and stitching the deep laceration within minutes. Even with the Medi-gel his side throbbed as if it had its own heartbeat, a painful sensation that he was no stranger to.
"Don't frown so hard Mr Vega. You're going to get wrinkles" The doctors voice broke through his thoughts, bringing his attention back to the present. He sighed as he slipped off the bed, putting on his shirt with a throaty groan. The Doctor placed the dirty bandages into on orange plastic sack, then removed her red stained gloves, placing them in the bag as well.
"Something on your mind Lieutenant." She asked firmly, moving towards her desk. James rubbed the back of his neck before answering.
"It's my fault Shepard got taken. I said I had her back and I didn't." The doctors' stern face softened as she looked back at her patient, a look of worry in her pale green eyes.
"You cannot blame yourself James, I am certain the Commander will not blame you either."
"But I should have at least tried to help her!" James clenched his fist at his side, sharp nails digging into his rough palm "If I didn't run away...I-"
"-would have been captured alongside Shepard and then we would have to come rescue both of you"
Karin's stern tone was back again, her brow creased in a frustrated scowl. Vega sighed, knowing better than to argue with the doctor.
"We will drop the colonists off at the Citadel, then we will mount a marvellous rescue mission to go save our fearless leader." Karin said with a wink. James smiled half-heartedly, his fist still clenched beside him. Sensing his doubt Karin placed a soft hand on the marine's massive shoulder, squeezing gently.
"This is Shepard we're talking about. I am sure she is fine. She's probably giving her captors a hard time as we speak...you know that woman is as stubborn as mule." Karin smiled once more, a small upturning of her lips that seemed to put the solider at ease.
"I guess your right Ma'am" James sniggered softly, white teeth showing behind thick pouting lips. "Wouldn't surprise me if she has taken out the base already and is on her way home." Karin chuckled at the comment, it certainly wouldn't surprise her either. She watched as the young man made his way out of the medical bay, her smile faltering as her face fell into a worried expression.
"Don't worry commander" she said to no one in particular, her hands wringing nervously In front of her. "We're on our way"
Ashley paced the elevator as it ascended towards the captain's cabin, her heart beating so hard in her chest she could almost feel it slam against her ribcage. She clenched and unclenched her hands as the elevator took its time to reach its destination, her palms sweaty as a million thoughts ran through her head.
Traynor had informed her that Admiral Hackett had requested her personally on vid-com, the young Lieutenant Commander thought she had misheard the com-specialist and as she made her way into the elevator, she couldn't help but feel a sickening tingle of fear in the pit of her stomach.
As the doors of the elevator opened, Ashley stepped out, pausing outside the Commander's doors. She took a deep breath before waving her hand over the glowing green lock, her anticipation only growing as the doors hissed open, revealing Shepard's personal quarters. The light was off, but the glow of the fish tank brightly illuminated everything in the room. Soft music played somewhere by the bed and Ashley could hear the faint sound of tiny paws crunching on sawdust. She turned and smirked at the fat hamster that currently stuffed food pellets into his mouth, its cheeks protruding outwards in a humorous manor. As she moved towards the desk, she could hear the rodent scurry back into its house.
She had never been in Shepard's cabin before, but as she glanced around the meticulously tidy desk, she could not help but notice the two photo frames that sat next to her computer, one of them holding a picture of her and Liara, and the other containing a smaller version of the picture they had taken at her apartment. Ashley smiled fondly at the memory.
Moving her head towards the other side of the desk, Ashley's eyes regarded the Star of Terra that sat inside a glass frame. The shining silver medal causing a shiver to run down her spine. She turned back to the photos, noticing another laying face down behind the computer. She frowned, reaching for the damaged frame, curiosity getting the better of her. The frame sparked to life, a flickering, grainy photo of a smiling family staring back at her. A tall man with greying hair stood towering over an athletic auburn haired women, a small boy clinging to the man's white lab coat, smiling at the camera with a toothless grin. A young red haired girl with freckles glanced towards the camera, her face pink with embarrassment as the older woman pinched her cheek. Shepard looked so much like her mother.
Once again, Ashley felt as if she were intruding. Putting the photo back where she found it she smoothed out her uniform. A sudden beeping directed her attention towards the vid-screen. Ashley took a deep breath, before answering the call. Standing at attention, she gave a strong salute as Admiral Hackett appeared on screen.
"Sir"
The Admiral acknowledged her salute with a nod.
"Lieutenant Commander Williams." He greeted, Ashley still found it strange when people said her title out loud, having chosen to stay on the Normandy, she was used to people either calling her by her first or second name. Shepard had only ever used her rank once since the end of the Reaper war
"I trust you know why I asked to see you?"
Ashley shook her head. "Not really sir."
"With Shepard MIA, it's your job to take command of the Normandy. I trust you are up to the task?"
Ashley's heart stopped.
"Excuse me sir?"
"If we are going to find Shepard and put a stop to whatever the hell Cerberus is up to now, the crew is going to need a leader. As of now, you are in temporary command of the Normandy."
Ashley couldn't believe what she was hearing. She had no experience commanding a ship.
"With all due respect sir. I don't think I am capable of commanding a war ship."
Admiral Hackett's eyes narrowed and his lips thinned.
"Commander Shepard seems to think otherwise. We have it in writing that if anything happens to her, you get Command of the Normandy. Her wishes. This is not up for debate Williams. Find Shepard and Stop Cerberus. Hackett out."
The conversation was over as quickly as it started, the vid-screen tuned off, leaving the room dark once more. Ashley took a deep breath and steeled her expression. She had to admit, she was very surprised that Shepard believed she could command the Normandy. She was flattered, exited and terrified all at the same time.
"I can do this." She whispered to herself, staring at her distorted reflection in the glass.
"I hope…"
Liara watched the screens with an uninterested expression, her eyes absent-mindedly scanning the information that skimmed at impossible speeds across the twenty screens in front of her. A cold pain had settled at base of her chest and it had refused to move ever since she had spoken to Shepard. She did not mean what she said. How could she? Shepard was so attentive, so caring, always putting her mate's needs before her own. Sure she had kissed Alex, but so what, it was just one kiss. Liara sighed, knowing that it was not just one kiss. There was something more behind it, but that does not mean that what she had said to Shepard had been fair. She had seen the pain cross the humans features, could see the hurt in her eyes, even though Selena had tried desperately to hide it. Even though Shepard was in the wrong, Liara couldn't help but feel guilty.
The young Asari rubbed her eyes tiredly, sighing as she rose from her seat and started towards the door. A nice cup of tea would go down nicely. As she made her way towards the kitchen, she glared at the young women that sat at the table, the dark haired human staring at the laptop that rested in front of her. She looked as if she had been crying. Her eyes were puffy and her nose was red. Liara fought the urge to ask what was wrong, this woman did not deserve her sympathy.
She smiled faintly as she rounded the corner, nodding towards James as he sipped from a coffee cup.
"Good Afternoon Lieutenant." She greeted, Vega turned to her, unable to meet her eyes.
"Afternoon Doc."
Liara ignored the man's nervous disposition, reaching towards the top cupboard for her special Asari tea. She was glad no one else drank it but her. The humans always complained it tasted too much like drinking a tree…whatever that meant.
Pouring the boiling water onto the bright purple leaves, she let the beverage stew for a while, inhaling the pleasant sweet smell of the herbs as they infused with the water. She turned to Vega, suddenly hesitant.
"Have you seen the Commander? Her and I need to have a talk?"
James's glass froze midway to his mouth, his eyes looking towards Alex. Liara frowned and looked over her shoulder, Alex seemed to have been staring at her since she walked in.
"What is the matter? What has happened?"
Vega placed his cup on the table in front of him, rubbing his neck. His eyes were to the floor as he spoke.
"I thought you knew doc."
"Knew what!" Liara asked, fear suddenly rising in her throat. "Is Shepard okay? Where is she?"
There was a long pause as Liara searched the crew deck, playing close attention to the medical bay. Her eyes grew large as she once again, turned her gaze towards James.
"We don't know." Vega replied with a stutter, the hulking man suddenly seeming so small and timid. Liara could sense his discomfort as he spoke, but she could also see the expression of guilt and sadness behind his eyes. She had no time for over emotional humans. She needed to know where her bond mate was…now.
"What do you mean you don't know?"
Vega rubbed his neck once again, unable to answer.
"She got captured. By Cerberus. The distress beacon was a trap.." Alex's voice suddenly spoke from behind her, quiet but firm. Liara turned to the human, then back to James.
"What?" The Asari stuttered, unable to process the information.
James looked down at the floor, unable to meet Liara's eyes.
"She tried to help a colonist. But then she got pinned…told us to leave her."
Liara's mouth opened and closed, her eyes widening at the man's comment.
"And you did!"
"We had no choice. She was surrounded and we were about to get overrun!" James argued, his hands moving up, palms facing outwards in a defensive gesture.
"You could have at least tried. Who knows where she is now!" Liara paused, a sudden realisation hitting her like a ton of bricks. "Who knows what they are doing to her."
"I did try doc. She ordered me to go!"
Liara sighed, turning away from the young Lieutenant. He could see the tension in the young maiden's shoulders, the anger in her eyes and an expression of worry cross her flawless features. The Asari sighed, her shoulders sinking as shining tears threatened to fall from her eyes. Alex watched her from where she sat. She knew those feeling all too well. She felt them now…just as she had all those years ago.
"How do we find her?" Liara asked suddenly, her expression suddenly a mask of determination. James shrugged.
"That's what we are working on." A new voice suddenly entered the conversation. Liara turned, watching as Ashley walked towards them, followed closely by Miranda.
"Miss Lawson says that there are at least fifteen Cerberus bases on Sylar. To search them all would take weeks if not months. We don't have the time, the man power or the resources to carry out such a mission." Ashley said, standing much like Shepard did when she gave a speech.
"So, our best shot is to find Daral." Miranda interjected.
"Find Daral, find Shepard." Ashley continued.
Vega cleared his throat from behind Liara.
"That's a great plan, except for one thing. That Pendejo we have in integration isn't saying a thing. Not even when Shepard threatened to throw him out the airlock."
The room was silent once more, the realisation of the situation suddenly dawning. All eyes moved towards Liara as she broke the silence, her voice holding a venomous note as she spoke.
"Then we are going to have to turn that threat into a reality." She did not utter another word as she started towards the elevator, leaving four confused humans behind her. Ashley broke the silence first.
"What exactly does she mean by that?"
Alex watched as the three soldiers quickly followed Liara. Maybe that Asari wasn't so bad after all.
Well there you have it. Next chapter should be up soon. Hoped you enjoyed this one. Please leave a review and tell me what you think. Thanks. :)