|| Sunrise Gray ||


6.


Crew glance over as Braith and Anderson collect their coffee from the heated carafe on its burner. Unworried nor bothered, Braith ignores the looks and possible murmurings…She and the captain leave.

As they ascend the stairs with their aluminum mugs steaming coffee, both black and without any sweetener, "…We'll be in the conference center," Anderson informs her, raising a question in the commander's eyes, "…Having wider space to move around," he makes a gesture to roll his explanation along, "…helps evoke the mind to open more, which will be easier on you." He gives her a face that tells her he went to his own cabin last night thinking about their talk, and expressing his regret for a number of things…

Perhaps not having pressed her on the matters involving her brother's death…Being too distracted by his own investigations into his work and the ship's missions from brass, his "personal" obligations…

Not having been around much to take care of her even after she had been removed from incarceration—for floating a recruiter upside-down over a desk in the embassy on Illium.

"I've…invited," he adds with some reluctance, "…Doctor Chakwas to join us…She'll be there waiting when you go inside…"

Braith stops on the staircase, holding her mug up…She lowers it, and Anderson can see the sudden distance.

The wall goes up…"Shepard, Karin's trained for this sort of thing." He gives her a stern look that is only lifted by a half-hearted grin, his attempt to ease her sudden distrust. "She's there to give me an expert opinion, a professional one…after she hears what you have to share…It won't be—"

"Are you putting me on the record," she asks, her voice harsh.

"You could be sharing things that may require some counseling…I need Karin there."

"Is it going on my record," she repeats. Anderson hates the voice of the girl from sixteen coming out.

"No," he finally relents with a sigh. "It's for me, personally—so I know what I'll have to do with you afterwards will be for the best of us, the crew…You."

Braith nods her head in a wooden manner. "Thanks…It would mean a lot if you could keep this between myself, Karin, and you, Big Paw."

They continue up to the bridge. Silence between them.


"No matter what we learn, Braith," Karin Chakwas settles into her seat, one point among the circle of chairs in the conference center so that each of their positions—if joined together by edges—would create a triangle, "…You will not be judged by your captain nor myself. This is strictly a personnel matter on this ship alone…We will get through it together, not involving anyone outside of these walls."

She smiles and offers to Braith with a turn of her palm…Take it now.

Braith pulls in a breath. How to start…She blinks her eyes as if clearing through a haze of her mind, and sits more erect in her seat. She looks at both…Then as if that's too much for her to do, lowers her gray eyes and focuses on the diamond pattern in the flooring of the conference center.

"I am known in some circles," she pauses…This could be the end of your career, she thinks.

"Go on, Shepard," Anderson's voice commands she continue.

No going back, and yet here we are—doing just that…

"My name is Braithlyn Anne Shepard." She looks up, making eye contact with Anderson…This is going to piss you off, you've vouched for me all these years…I'm sorry…

"I was a daughter of the Red Suns, and my name…was Sunset…Sunset Red."

"Sweet Jesus," Anderson's murmur.