Shepard was quiet the entire time she was being looked at by Chakwas. Thane was by her side, refusing to leave her for even a second. "Commander, I need to know the full story. You have some sort of nerve agent in your bloodstream."
"They drugged me," she mutters. The crew was made aware of the Bahak relay being destroyed, rumours were already floating around as to what possibly could have happened. Thane stared at her, trying his best to not hold her tightly, she needed to get her tests done. "I got Kenson out, turns out it was something to do with the Reapers," she explains looking at Thane as his eyes watered. "They were two days out from arriving in the Milky Way."
"Siha, are you sure she was telling the truth?" Shepard nodded, rubbing her hands together. She was battered and bruised.
"She had proof, an artifact." She looks to Chakwas, "she took me to it, I expected her to have taken the correct procedures to shield themselves from indoctrination, but I couldn't have been more wrong."
"And was the artifact the same as the ones we found during our hunt for Saren?" Chakwas asks. Shepard shakes her head, Thane has seen the artifacts. Most were Prothean that did nothing to all that touched it, but it gave Shepard visions when she made contact with it. She had two in her cabin, both behind glass cabinets so they don't cause her issues.
"It was massive, a big terminal with the Reaper legs sticking out emitting some sort of signal. Kenson was fine before we got to the station, she explained the plan to destroy the relay once the colony of over three hundred thousand Batarians was evacuated." Shepard remembered grimacing at how Kenson was able to even get it done, the Batarians hated humans, she doubted they would have trusted any when being told to leave their homes. "She turned on me once we got to the artifact, she tried to kill me but I was able to hold her forces back."
Thane wished he was there, he'd turn back to his old self if anyone attempted to harm his Siha, and his hands were clenched tightly together just thinking about it. "How did they get this toxin in you?" Shepard scratched her head trying to remember.
"I think the artifact emitted some sort of pulse that knocked me out. I woke up on a table in just my uniform. The countdown that said two days was now at two hours." Chakwas looked at her datapad, it confirmed her suspicions.
"They used a toxin to keep you in a deep coma, however, your implants drained it out quicker than a normal human body can. I am guessing they were shocked when you woke up?" Shepard smiled slightly and nodded. She saw Kenson's assistant crap herself running off as Shepard woke up. "Your body will flush the rest out itself, all your other readings are fine. I'd like you to stay just slightly longer. Admiral Hackett will want a report soon," she adds, walking off.
"He's going to kill me," Shepard whispered. Thane raised his brow ridge at her, she looked up, shaking her head as he wondered of her words. "I went there to help get his friend out and I killed her then a whole damn colony and destroyed a relay."
"Did you destroy the relay yourself?" Shepard nods.
"Kenson tried to cut me off from doing it, but the Reapers were only thirty minutes away once I'd finally got it on a collision course. I tried to warn the Batarians, but she cut all the comms." Thane placed a hand on her knee.
"You did what you could, Siha," he says. "Kenson is to blame for their deaths, not you." Shepard looked down at the plain metal floor, not believing his words. Chakwas had returned, her gaze set on Thane.
"Mordin wishes to see you, Thane." He didn't move, Chakwas smiled at him. "Shepard will be fine, she will still be here when you're back."
Thane pulled her chin up to look at him, "will you be okay, Siha?" Shepard gives him a small smile, nodding.
"Yes," she mutters. He nods, pulling her head down to kiss her forehead before he strolls off. "Can I get some rest?" she asks looking over to Chakwas.
"Of course, Shepard. I will be at my desk if you need me," Chakwas replies. Shepard lays down, closing her eyes in the hopes of trying to forget the horrid few days she's had.
Thane walked into the labs, they were a state. Mordin had datapads on just about every surface and he was running around like a madman. "You asked to see me, Doctor?" Thane announces as he stands by the door, not sure where to go or stand.
Mordin shot his head up, "ah! Thane. Yes, come, come," he quickly says, waving his hands. Thane walks over to him, sitting down on the stool next to his workbench. There wasn't a free surface to even rest his arms on, he chose to keep them neatly on his lap. "I have good news. Well! I hope good news," he says with nearly no breath between words. Thane could keep up with Mordin, but sometimes it was exhausting doing so. The Salarian acted like he drank ten coffees an hour and never slept.
"Please share," Thane says as Mordin starts to get distracted with a scan on his omni-tool.
"Ahh, yes," he loudly declares. He turns to face Thane, smiling at him. "May have found a way to cure... not cure. Help Keprels Syndome. Tried a few different ways, most ended with you dying." Thane was still getting used to Mordin's honest opinions and wordings of stuff.
"And I hope this way doesn't... kill me," Thane near asks. Mordin nods quickly.
"Won't kill you! See you regected lung transplant." Thane looked down, he was offered it the same day he was diagnosed with Keprels, but was accepting any death at that point he said no. That was nearly two years ago. Mordin clicks his fingers, "issue. No longer viable for transplants," he explains as he pulls a datapad from one stack. "Scans show lungs too damaged. But!" he shouts, startling Thane. "Can use stem cell growth to make new tissue on lungs!"
Thane looked at him as if Mordin was expecting him to just understand what he was talking about. "I need a better explanation, doctor."
Mordin nods, "tissue can replace damaged areas of lung. Lung improvement will not help with symptoms, however, will give a good chance of body accepting new lungs for transplant." Thane finally understood him, beaming at the possibility they might have a cure for him.
"What are my chances of survival for this?" Mordin scratched his chin, calculating the numbers quickly.
"New lungs have a seventy percent chance of being accepted. If accepted, eighty percent chance of body naturally fighting Keprels." Thane could live with those odds, it was his best chance and gave him more time with Shepard and Kolyat.
"Okay, where do we start?"
Shepard was awakened by Chakwas nudgeing her. "Commander, you have a visitor." Shepard rubbed her eyes, squinting to adjust to the bright lights of the med bay.
"Who?" she grumbles as she sits up. Her eyes fly open as she sees Hackett standing by the door. "Sir," she quickly says snapping a salute to him, he waves her hand to dismiss her.
"At ease, Shepard. I just came to see how you were doing. Dr. Chakwas sent me a debrief, sound like it turned to hell down there." Shepard sat back down, letting her shoulders drop in defeat.
"I tried, sir," she whispered. "Kenson was indoctrinated. She drugged and attacked me. I was out for two days, I had no choice. The Reapers were just minutes away from arriving." Hackett nodded, he knew the full details, but the Alliance brass wasn't happy. "How are the Batarians taking it?"
"Not good, they refuse any aid from us and want blood. They have put a large price on your head, Shepard. The brass needs answers." The door opened behind Hackett, Thane walked in. He instantly went stiff when both men locked eyes. "Ah, Thane Krios," the older man says.
"What business do you have aboard this ship?" he growls at him. Shepard rushes over, standing between them both.
"Thane, don't," she sternly warns. "He's here to listen about what happened." She turns to Hackett, "I did what I did, I tried to warn them. I didn't have any other choice."
"I know, Shepard. If it was up to me, I'd give you a damn medal." Shepard didn't want a medal or any sort of gratitude for killing many innocents. "The brass wants you back on Earth to answer for this. They need to hear it from you."
Thane was by her side, not believing the words Hackett spoke. "We are in the middle of a war, Admiral," he reminds.
"I know, but all I can do is hold them back until your mission is complete. After, you must come and answer for this, Shepard. When Earth calls, you show up in your dress blues." Shepard didn't argue, she nodded in agreement to his order.
"Yes, sir." Hackett gives her a stern nod, then looks at Thane.
"Is your son safe?" he asks. Thane raised a slight brow ridge in question as to why the Admiral cared.
"Yes," he simply answers. Hackett nods again, turning to leave.
"And, Commander," he says just by the opened doors. "I know you joined Cerberus to protect humanity, but remember what they did those years ago, make sure you have a way out." He does not wait for a response but leaves in haste.
Thane waited for the door to shut, "are you okay, Siha?"
Shepard stared at the ground, "yeah, I guess. I at least know what I need to do when this mission is over, that's if we survive."
Chakwas had returned knowing Hackett finally left, "you can go now, Shepard. Just rest and tomorrow you should feel the effects of the toxin worn off."
"Thank you, Dr Chakwas," Thane answers for her. He motions Shepard to go with him out the door, he leads her straight to her cabin.
Thane had helped Shepard out her clothes, bathed her, and got her into one of his larger t-shirts. "I want you to sleep now, Siha." She didn't try arguing with him, getting tucked under the covers with a small smile on her lips.
"I'm sorry for arguing with you before I left. I shouldn't have said those things to you." Thane smiles at her, brushing her wet hair from her face.
"Don't be sorry, it was me who caused you distress. I apologise for that." he got himself dressed down to just some boxers and climbed into bed next to her. "Now sleep, Siha." She yawns again, moving further into the bed so she can rest against his chest.
Thane stroked her back, it didn't take long until her breathing leveled out and a small snore left her lips. "Thank you, Arashu for bringing my Siha home safe," he whispered as he drifted off himself.
