***Author's Note!***
Please read!
First of all: I am SO terribly sorry for the complete lack of activity this past month. I've had so much crap to deal with and so many distractions! This chapter had lingered around UNFINISHED for the better part of a month!
Secondly: Again I am sorry. The shortness of this chapter was not planned, I know I normally write shortish chapters, but I was going to make this one long to make up for my absence. I promise I'll make the next one long :)
Thirdly: Shit's about to go down in the world of this story ;)
A big massive thank you to Gamer072196 for the well of patience and the such :)
Reviews and the such are so very much appreciated :D
Chapter 34 - Out of the frying pan...
"I'll forward it to the comm room."
Without a second look at anyone, Shepard left the med-bay. His head was hung low making his hair fall about his face is a matted curtain of blood and sweat. Liara wouldn't have changed him though.
She began to gently hum to herself as she stabilised the injured man beside her. His face was swelling and his shallow breathing was ragged. She was certain he would survive until the Citadel...hopefully. She liked to think of Kaidan as a dear friend. He had stood by her when she first boarded the Normandy all those years ago. Defended her when Ashley felt the need to vent her anger toward aliens at her. Gave her the advice she needed when she had confided her feelings toward Shepard. In return: she had helped him with his biotics, honing his skills, helping with the migraines he often got. And now he was lay beside her, fighting for his life. He was lucky his helmet hadn't caved under the robots onslaught.
The robot in question had been slammed onto a table nearby by the large human male. He had shrugged and left, leaving the charred metal woman to lay in stasis. It's body made little clicks as the metal cooled. The open eyes of it stared her down, blaming her for its fate. Its mouth was slightly open. It was too human.
Liara shuddered delicately and double checked her readings on Kaidan before leaving the med-bay and following Shepard up to the comm room. No doubt he would need her by now.
Sure enough, as she passed through the doorway, his deep voice mentioned her name.
"...and Liara are analyzing what we recovered."
The portrayal of Admiral Hackett had his finger to his chin, the angry red scar stretching from his eye to his lip "What have you learned? Was it worth the effort?"
She nodded "Preliminary evidence suggests the data is a blueprint for a Prothean device." Words did not describe how excited she was. But now was not the time.
"Device?"
Liara pulled up her Omni-tool, tapping gently at the tabs she needed. She could feel Shepard watching her. She passed the data over to the QEC, Hackett would be able to see the blue-prints too. A rounded figure with an appendage at its head spun slowly for them to see. It would be massive. "A weapon, massive in size and scope, that's capable of unquantifiable levels of destruction."
"Send me the data. We'll do our own analysis. If Liara's instincts are right, this might be the key to stopping the Reapers." Liara pushed him the data.
"I hope so." He sounded tired as he leaned on the barrier of the QEC "Major Alenko was critically injured. We're taking him to the Citadel."
"Sorry to hear that, Shepard. But we both know this is just the beginning. Talk to the Council. Show them what you've found. With luck, they'll give you all the support we need."
"And if they don't?" There was a hint of a chuckle laced in his voice.
"Do whatever it takes to get them on board." They exchanged serious salutes, mutual respect to each of them. "I'll be in touch soon. Hackett out."
The room went dark for a moment as the Hackett hologram blinked out. Now was her chance to speak to him. Speak to him like they used to on the first Normandy, before everything got so big.
It didn't go how she hoped, however. She couldn't stop her mouth from speaking about the device, or the Reapers, or the war. She tried, she tried so hard just to ask him something normal. And even when he looked away, so defeated and hurt, she couldn't ask him if he was alright.
He had walked away, leaving her in the war room amidst the blinking blue and orange lights.
The feel of the Normandy coming out of FTL would never get old for Shepard. He relished the feeling of the ship beneath his feet, its hull hugging him and protecting him. The familiar smells of engine grease and eezo, unfamiliar faces of the unlucky people who had been working on the ship when the Reapers had invaded, and then there was Joker. The complete constant for the Normandy. Its only pilot. The only pilot. With his snarky grin and clipped jokes, his unshaven face, and his stupid cap he never let leave his head. Shepard had only just realised how much he had missed him.
And then the Citadel was inbound. Its great arms called to him, beckoning for him to come and reacquaint himself. He had friends there.
"Commander..."
"...Joker."
"I hate to say it...but I missed you."
"I missed you too."
They were the only words they exchanged as the ship came into dock at the Citadel. And then there was the rush of people transporting Kaidan to a medical facility.
"Barely got a pulse here!"
"Move 'em out!"
"Where are you taking him?" A turian turned to answer his question and Shepard's heart stopped for a beat. Would Garrus be here?
"Huerta memorial. Best care on the Citadel." And then they were rushing away.
James and Liara stood by his side, James huffing as he went to follow "We're not going with?"
"We need to see the Council." I don't want to see the Council.
"Right." A long, strained pause filled the air as his team waited for his answer. "Looks like they might be coming to see you."
Shepard blinked and tilted his head to show he had heard, turning slowly to face the new threat.
"Commander Shepard. Got word you were arriving."
"Captain Bailey. Good to see you again."
The Captain grinned and shook his hand. He looked no different from the last time he had seen him. His aging face and crew cut hair was exactly the same. His eyes seemed more haunted than usual though.
"Uh, you too - though it's 'Commander' now."
"Congratulations?" Awkward.
Bailey groaned and stepped back onto one foot. "Thanks. Now half my job is dealing with political bullshit and escorting dignitaries around." he paused and grinned. " No offense."
"Ha, none taken. So, you're here to bring us to the Council?" They began walking out of the Normandy's docking port toward an elevator that would take them to the Presidium.
"I'm here to tell you the Council is expecting you, but they are dealing with their own...problems. With the war and everything. They apologise for the inconvenience, and blah, blah, blah...Meet them at Udina's office. They'll be ready soon enough."
"All right...I need a new Omni-tool first. Mine kinda got confiscated..."
Bailey chuckled. "You might have time to go by the medical center, if you want to check on progress over there. And to get yourself a new tool."
"Thanks, I might do that."
"You go on ahead. I'll head up to Udina's office." Liara said as she passed by. She had a small smile of confidence that Shepard was sure wasn't there two years ago.
"One of my men can show you the way." Bailey waved over a young officer who met Liara by the elevator. Bailey turned to James then, looking him over with a critical eye "You?"
"I'm just a tourist today. I'll try not to get in any trouble."
Bailey nodded before putting his fingers to his ear. He frowned and shut his eyes with a sigh. "I'll be right there." He lowered his hand and began to walk away. "The other half of my job...I'll see you around, Shepard."
"No doubt." And then he was left alone.
He made his way to the Presidium, his feet leading him to Huerta. The Citadel was so peaceful, he couldn't believe that people were casually sitting in cafes and restaurants, laughing with their friends. Gossiping about the small things in life whilst millions of people are dying every day across the galaxy. How can they be so blind!? Children ran across his path, bumping into him before laughing and tearing away on short legs.
The elevator up to Huerta was a peaceful respite for a couple of minutes. No people were here to gossip, or laugh, or smile. Even when he stepped into the hospital, everyone was serious, dealing with things that mattered. Healing the wounded and curing diseases. They knew the war was a very real thing. They knew what would happen to this place eventually if the armies failed.
He stepped up to a kiosk and ordered a new Omni-tool and a nurse came and implanted it ten minutes later. She looked hurried, her face held a tightness as she coped with the daily troubles of such a busy hospital. He pulled it up, grinning at the familiar orange, and began changing its settings to the way he wanted. Sending out his new address to the addresses he knew by heart; his mother, Garrus, Marie, Thane, Liara, among others.
He was about to purchase a few things for the ship when a laugh echoed around him.
"Shepard!" He turned and caught a tiny ball of excitement, her laughs and she gripped him around the waist were contagious. "I can't believe you're here! Kaidan said you were on your way but-"
"Marie." He stopped her talking as he squeezed her back, leaning his cheek against the top of her head. "Kaidan...he's-"
"I know...I saw him." She spoke quietly as she pulled away to look at him. "Oh man, you look awful." She grinned to soften the blow.
"Thanks, Pyjack." They stood for a moment, just taking in the fact that they were there. She looked well but tired. Her thinness wasn't unhealthy anymore, her hair was a little longer (at Thane's request, he bet), her eyes were bright with happiness as she did her own checks on him. "How's Thane? He's still..."
"He's well." Her smile grew wider. "Really well, actually. He's still here recovering from his transplant an-"
"He got the transplant!? When!? How is he? Can I see him? Is he awake?"
She laughed "Yes. Two months ago. He's fine. Yes. And yes. He's with Kolyat at the moment though, so maybe we should give them a couple of minutes?"
"Oh, yeah. Uh, do you know where they put Kaidan?"
She frowned and nodded, gesturing with her hand to follow her. She led him through a set of doors that opened into the long stay patients ward. some of the nurses and doctors nodded at the small woman in front of him as she walked confidently down a corridor, stopping by a door. "He's in there."
Shepard took a deep breath and smiled at her before putting his hand to the door and opening it up. The smell of disinfectant filled his nose, forcing him to hold his breath as though he had been hit by a krogan. Bleeps and pings filled the room as they monitored Kaidan who lay beneath a white sheet.
"Hey, Kaidan." It was hard to look at him. Bruises covered his face and torso, his face was pained but lax through the force of the pain relieving drugs. "Don't know if you can hear me, but since you can't tell me to get the hell out, either...I'm going to take my chances."
Marie stepped forward and placed a small hand on Shepard's shoulder, twirling a piece of hair that rested there.
"Don't die, Kaidan. You've got to fight. We need you in this. You seem like a hell of a soldier..." A doctor entered the room then with a busy data-pad in his hand. Shepard suddenly felt very awkward, stood in a room talking with a comatose man and a small woman who was known to hang around with a regular drell patient. He coughed a little and powered through. "The Alliance could sure use you. I could use you." Marie patted him and turned to leave, passing the doctor with a gentle nod, Shepard followed close behind. "You need anything, doc, let me know."
He left the hospital room and met Marie a short distance down the corridor.
"So, what have you been up to?" She shrugged and began leading him deeper into the hospital.
"Oh, this and that. Odd jobs, keeping an eye on Thane and Kolyat. Not that they need it..." Her voice went quiet as she walked toward a room. "Do you want to see him?"
"Yes." He was whispering too, though he wasn't sure why.
She nodded and pressed her hand against the lock. The door opened with a hiss and admitted them to a semi-dark room. A dim light came from one machine or another that connected up to a sleeping Thane. Shepard assumed he looked healthier but he couldn't really tell through the lighting.
"Commander Shepard?"
"Ah!" Shepard jumped and spun to a corner of the room.
Sat on a low couch was Kolyat, his brow was cocked with a small frown which quickly turned to a scowl at the noise Shepard was making. Marie hushed both of them, perching delicately on Thane's bed as he shifted in his sleep.
"What are you doing here? I thought you were on Earth."
"I...uh..." Kolyat stood and crossed his arms like a petulant teenager.
"Marie?"
"What's the problem, Kolyat? Your dad and I worked for him for months, I'm sure Thane wouldn't mind."
"How do you know? You both nearly died working with him!" He hissed and stepped toward her. Shepard moved an arm out to stop him. "What? You think I'd hurt her? You humans are all the same, thinking that just because I am a man I could hurt her...pathetic." The teenager's throat darkened.
"Kolyat..." A quiet voice came from the bed making them all turn to face black, sleepy eyes that stared up at them all with a flash of annoyance. "It's fine. The commander is a good friend."
Kolyat stepped back, his spine stiff and fists clenched at his sides. "Fine, I need to go anyways. I need to feed Basil..." And with that, he swept out of the room in a flurry of leather and storm clouds.
Shepard winced. "Basil?"
"His snake."
"He has a snake?"
Thane smiled and curled into Marie's back as she gently held his hand. "Yes, he spent hours choosing one."
"How come he's so...argh..?"
Marie laughed then and shook her head. "He feels like it's his duty to watch over us. We told him about the mission and he flipped. Ugh, the brooding went on for days."
Shepard grinned as the two shared a small laugh before the door opened. Shepard spun, the adrenaline and tension from the day still hadn't evaporated.
"Okay...Thane, Marie, and..."
He knew that voice. The one that was normally on the Normandy, chiding people over medicine and proper sleep.
"...Shepard?"
He stepped forward and wrapped the doctor in a tight hug. Gods, how he had missed this woman. Her graying hair and steely eyes, strong words laced with a tender tone.
"Chakwas..."
The doctor raised an eyebrow and pointedly looked toward Thane and Marie who in turn watched on in mild amusement.
"Please, Shepard, wait outside."
"What?" The penny dropped. "Oh! Oh, yeah, sure! Uh...I'll just be out...there."
Shepard fumbled with the opening of the door, earning a laugh from Marie as she tried to hide it in her hand. He rolled his eyes and finally was out of the room and in the quiet corridor.
The view from the windows that lined the corridor was amazing. Ships buzzed here and there, the artificial setting sunlight glinted off the well-kept buildings. And even though the window stopped the sound reaching him, he could imagine the bustle coming from the streets below him, the roar of engines, the laughter of the people who lived in denial. Were people laughing like this all over the galaxy? Laughing their days away as Earth burned? He didn't know. A part of him didn't wish to know. He didn't want to know if his friends, who were now scattered to all corners of the galaxy, were laughing, or crying, or dying. He didn't want to know if Garrus...
His feet had led him further away from Thane's room and nearer to the main in-patients ward. It was quiet as the night cycle rolled in over the Citadel. Though people were still around. It was like an unspoken rule that everyone knew about but nobody commented on. When the night comes, so does the silence.
He stood aimlessly to one side, his weight in one hip and his arms crossed. Hopefully saying to those around him "I don't want to talk." It seemed to work as people walked around him without meeting his eye or even glancing at his still bloodstained attire and tired face. Good.
He heard someone approach him. Quiet steps that he had heard many times before. Of course she would have come to find him, he did just leave them without saying anything.
"Dr. Chakwas. You're here?" He had meant to ask her before she had kicked him out of Thane's room.
She came to stand before him. She seemed cheerful enough, given the state of things. "I'm working at an Alliance R and D lab down in Shaita Wards, coordinating closely with Admiral Hackett." She frowned then, eyes glinting in anger. "I heard you escaped Earth in the Normandy, and that someone was critically injured. I came as fast as I could."
Shepard pulled at his hair as he felt the weight of the doctor's gaze. She made him feel twelve again. "We had a run in with a Cerberus synthetic on Mars. Kaidan took the worst of it. How's he doing?" Damn that gaze, making me yammer on like a kid caught with the cookie jar...
"Very well, all things considered. I'm impressed with Kaidan's resilience, as well as Dr. Michel's expertise." She took a small breath. "I wish I could've been there to help on Mars."
His thoughts were running a million to the mile. Why is she on the Citadel? This isn't right! A lab? Pfft. "Your place is in Normandy's med bay, not some lab!"
She smiled then. back to her old self. "I couldn't agree more. You say the word, and I'm with you."
"The Normandy wouldn't be the same without you, Doctor. Get your things. Docking Bay D-twenty four."
"Yes, Commander. And thank you."
He laughed. "Don't thank me so soon. Remember: Joker is still aboard."
"And I'd be surprised if he's been remembering his medication."
He watched her leave with a grin. Finally, something had gone right today!
"Shepard?"
He turned and saw Marie approaching.
"I suppose you want your old post back, hmm?"
She smiled a sad smile at him. "No. I'm staying with Thane until he's well enough to move around properly. Maybe then, we'll both join you. I just thought you'd want to know something."
Her voice had an edge to it. Something he hadn't heard from her in so long. The slight lilt of worry and fear. "What is it?"
"Garrus...I, uh, haven't heard from him in a while..." He stopped hearing.
Shepard felt his heart drop into his stomach.
Again, I apologise :(
Review and stuff!
-Sophus x