Events of the chapter: Shepard is alive, the crew of the Normandy assess their situation

Author's note: At first I couldn't figure out why only some of the crew appeared to be on the Normandy during the crash landing. Weren't they supposed to be fighting on Earth? Since the addition of the squad rescue scene (the beam run up in London), I can only assume that the Normandy managed to pick up its remaining crew in anticipation of the Crucible being activated.

Note: This chapter was revised on 04/07/2023. Updated for prose and POV inconsistencies, story and dialogue remain unchanged.

PART I
Chapter 2: In the Weeds

The end of the Reaper War, 2186
The Citadel

HUUH...

A short, sharp breath disturbed the dust saturating the air. In a mountain of rubble, a heart had kicked its way back to life—stubbon, warm, and invulnerable.

I'm cold, Garrus.

A shiver pulsed through Shepard's body. The only other feeling she had was of something blunt pressing into her lower back. She tried to listen for a sound—any sign of what might be happening around her—but all she could hear was own ragged breathing.

Why is it so quiet? Admiral Anderson?

Shepard's eyes opened, her eyelids still heavy. She winced as she lolled her head forward. Squinting at the bleary shapes in front of her, she could make out the blackened remains of her armor clinging to her upper thigh. Beyond that, only ashy slabs of concrete. She tried to move her legs—even wiggle her toes—but nothing happened.

Weary, Shepard closed her eyes again and let her breath take over. She laid in the cold, in the dark, not remembering what she had done.

Joker's fingers flicked across the controls as he flew the Normandy away from Earth. An inexorable beam of energy surged at its tail, the beam nearly swallowing the ship whole as the FTL drive kicked in. The ship blinked away. Knocked off course and far from the fleet's rendezvous point, the Normandy was careening towards a verdant planet with a thick atmosphere; Joker was flying blind.

The ship yawed erratically as the crew hung onto whatever bolted fixture they could find. Joker quickly regained his bearings, trying his best to make a smooth landing, but the size of the Normandy and lack of automatic functions made for a turbulent descent. The ship jerked to a halt in a lush swath of jungle.

"Shit, what just happened?"

Kaidan, who had fallen from the steps of the bridge, limped into the cockpit with a hand bracing his thigh. "Joker, what's our status? Where are we?"

"I'm not sure, Major. Navigation is offline and comm buoys are silent. I don't think we got very far, maybe a dozen light years at most."

Kaidan gaped at EDI slumped over in the secondary cockpit chair. "My god, what happened to EDI?"

"I don't know, she stopped responding before we jumped. I didn't have time to find out..." Joker turned toward Kaidan. "She's gone offline. I had to pilot with manual controls."

Kaidan waved a hand in front of EDI's face. Absent their sensory functions, her sharp eyes had turned vacant and sterile. Whatever life was inside them had been locked away in a labyrinth of pathways.

"Maybe that beam from the Citadel has something to do with this? I'll send someone to the AI core," Kaidan promised. "I'm sure we can get her back online."

Joker mustered a faint smile.

Kaidan paused. "How long do you think until we get this bird in the air again?"

Joker scrutinized the systems panels and shook his head. "I don't know, that's hard to say. We'll need an assessment from Engineer Adams. I'm not getting a good read in the cockpit."

"Mmm, ok. Let me know when you have an estimate."

Joker turned to EDI again. He looked away, pressing his lips into a taut line.

"...And like I said, I'll get someone to the AI core right away," Kaidan repeated. "She'll be ok."

Joker wanted to believe him. But EDI had never been offline for any length of time, not even when she had been cut-off from the Normandy during shore leave. Now, both the ship and her mobile platform were absent their operator.

Jokers' eyes widened as he slapped his knee. "Welp, I say we just hang out and enjoy the sun. Not much else to do...," he said bleakly, and made a half-hearted drinking gesture. If there was anything left in the lounge liquor cabinet, he'd be the first to find out.

"Yeah….it's a little soon for me..." Kaidan's voice trailed off as he caught a glimpse of a blue figure behind him. Liara, who had been standing in the threshold of the cockpit, looked back at him, eyelashes quivering. Kaidan pressed a hand to her shoulder as they exchanged a knowing glance.

"We should talk to the rest of the crew and give them an update. Let's make a plan, just in case we're grounded for any length of time."

"I don't know how you can be so cool right now, Kaidan," murmured Liara.

"There isn't much else we can do. We just need to get back and find out what happened."

"Yes, of course."

Liara gathered the team in the conference room, with Kaidan taking the lead. Without Commander Shepard aboard, Kaidan was the highest-ranking Alliance officer on the Normandy. While he technically outranked her, he had never felt uncomfortable under her command. He only wished she were the one standing at the head of the table right now, not him.

Kaidan rubbed a hand on the back of his neck. "Ok everyone, here's the deal. We're not sure where we've landed, but Joker estimates we're at least a dozen light years away from Sol. Our nav system is down, comm systems are out too. The ship is grounded for the time being. We'll have an estimate on a repair timeline after Engineer Adams reports back."

Still breathless from the maelstrom they had withstood, the crew stood silently as they hung on Kaidan's words.

"Also, EDI is currently offline. We're going to need someone to inspect the AI core and see if we can get her running again."

Traynor interrupted eagerly. "I can give it a go. Tali, would you mind coming with?"

"Of course. I don't know how much I can help—EDI is quite different than Geth—but I'll try," Tali hesitated.

"Thanks, ladies," said Kaidan.

Javik uncrossed his arms and straightened his posture. "Major, I wish to express my concern for our safety on this planet. We do not know who its inhabitants are or what we may find here. I suggest we have a few members of the crew posted outside the ship. I volunteer."

"Good thinking, Javik. Um, anything else?" asked Kaidan.

"I'll check my last transmissions. Maybe I can find some relevant information that will help us understand the situation," said Liara.

Kaidan nodded.

James cleared his throat and addressed Kaidan. "Someone should let Garrus know. He's still in medbay with the doc. He got hit pretty bad when we made a run for the conduit...that Mako nearly made a turian pancake out of him."

"Mmm. Would you mind, James?"

"Sure thing Major," he replied.

"Ok, if there's anything else you know where everyone is. I'll let you know if there are any updates. I suggest we get some rest and we'll reconvene later."

As the crew shuffled out of the conference room, Steve caught sight of Liara lingering at the observation window. She pressed her forehead to the glass as she gazed at the immense heart-shaped leaves of the jungle outside. The landscape was silvery and pristine.

"Hey, Dr. T'Soni. Everything alright?"

"Hello, Steve," Liara replied. "I'm just—I'm appreciating how green it is here. Well, wherever here is. The last few months have been so...gray. I wasn't sure I'd see something like this again. It's nice."

"Yeah, I hear that. It's been tough. But life will come back, it always does," said Steve.

"Perhaps you're right." Liara swallowed and closed her eyes.

"Is there something else, Liara?"

"No...no, I'm fine. Thank you Steve."

Dr. Chakwas swiveled her chair toward the door as James walked into the medbay. "Mr. Vega—can I presume we're dead in the water?"

"Yup. Not sure where the hell we are either."

"I suppose that's no surprise. That was one hell of a landing." Dr. Chakwas tsked to herself. "Let's just hope we get back soon—they'll need plenty of help with casualties on Earth. So, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I just need to talk to Garrus. How's the old man doing?"

"Some fractured ribs and a minor concussion, but he'll be right as rain soon enough. He's also had some light sedatives—he was quite upset after you dragged him into the medbay."

A faint groan could be heard from behind the privacy screen in the corner of the room. "Old man, huh? Better watch yourself, Vega," Garrus gibed.

"Heh, hey Scars."

"Ah, you're awake Mr. Vakarian," said Dr. Chakwas. She walked to Garrus' bedside and looked him in the eye, then scanned his vitals with her omnitool.

Her bedside manner had always been practical, laconic; it's what Garrus liked most about her. That and her perfectly styled coif of white hair. He always did have a thing for human hair.

"How are you feeling?", asked Dr. Chakwas.

"Like I could outrun a pack of rabid varren," he answered sardonically.

"Very well, Garrus. It seems you'll make a quick recovery. Just make sure to take it easy for the next few days, lest you end up back in that bed."

"I'll try."

"Why don't I step out for a moment so you two can talk. Maybe I'll make the rounds and see if anyone needs attending to." Dr. Chakwas gave the pair a curt smile and exited.

Sitting up, Garrus swung his legs slowly over the side of the bed. "Any news? What's going on?"

"We've made an emergency landing, location unknown. We're stuck without navigation, and EDI's gone offline. No active comm buoys either. It's a damn mess. I don't know what that weird beam did, but we're far from the rendezvous point."

She activated the Crucible. Maybe there's a chance... Garrus didn't waste any time laying out his other concerns. "What about Shepard? Did we hear from her before the jump? We must have heard something..."

James crossed his broad arms and shook his head. "Nada. We're dark on information from Earth. I'm sorry."

"Ah, got it."

"So I'll let Kaidan know you're ok? He's in command for now."

"Naturally," said Garrus. "Thank you, Vega." Garrus braced his hands against the bed, his eyes fixed to the floor.

James offered his sympathy with a quick nod and left Garrus alone with his thoughts.

Garrus sat motionless at the edge of the bed, his head thick and swirling from the concussion. Even if it helped his headache, the silence of the medbay felt wrong. After months of noise encroaching on every moment—the shrill screaming of alarms, the beeping of his omnitool, the click of weapons, Shepard mournfully moaning in her sleep—it was wrong, no sound. Not even the muted hums of the Normandy's drive core.

Is it this quiet where you are Shepard?

Mandibles slack, Garrus dragged the talons of both hands over his fringe and let out a low, undulating wail.

Song: "U-235" – Mogwai (instrumental)