-Chapter 16-

Life From Now On

The door to Shepard's cabin whirled open much quicker than the rest, as if even the machinery followed Shepard's command to a T. His hand was tightly gripped on Jared's shoulder as he ushered him into the room, the tension between the two thick in the air.

The cabin itself was minimally decorated: an uncomfortable looking bed laid against the back wall with a cramped desk on the adjacent wall. A terminal was open on top of the desk, soft lights blinking embedded around its holographic edges with the message Shepard sent out to everyone on display in the middle. The words seemed to call out to Jared as he was sat by Shepard on the edge of his bed, they still stung a bit.

Shepard's boots rapped against the floor heavily as he paced in front of Jared, attempting to compose himself as well as his thoughts. He stopped abruptly in the dead center of the room.

"Please explain to me why you ran from the mess hall to the bridge, bumping into multiple personnel, and collapsing at my feet in a shivering heap." Shepard uttered, attempting to keep composed.

"I-"

Shepard threw up his hand, stopping Jared. "And please, give me the truth this time."

Jared looked at him, attempting to fake a quizzical look.

Shepard sighed, "Look, I don't know about this psychic stuff. It could be the truth, but I have no way of proving that. What I do know is that I took a chance on you, I took a chance bringing you here aboard this ship."

"I kno-"

Shepard stopped him. "No you don't seem to know or you would know that every move you make reflects on me. Whether that be good or bad."

He continued to pace about the tiny room as he spoke, leaving very little room between him and the opposing walls. "This crew: I don't know how they feel. I've known them for a while but I just took over for a very well liked Captain with almost zero notice. I can't afford any screw ups, not now."

Shepard made a tight military about face toward the door, before looking back once more. "Dinner for first shift is due in thirty minutes, breakfast for the second due in sixty. Don't neglect your duties."

The door slid open and shut in what seemed like a single moment, the now empty cabin humming with the ship's anticipation. Jared sat on the edge of Shepard's bed, gripping the rough sheets. He breathed in the recycled air heavily, attempting to stifle a sob deep inside him.

Not now. Not here. Please, not now.

He dragged himself to his feet, standing where Shepard stood before, feeling the weight of his body bear down on his ragged legs. Planting a hand on the nearest wall, he attempted to steady himself and regain some composure. The day had caught up with him, it was wearing him down like a belt sander, but he knew he had a job to do. And he wasn't about to disappoint Shepard again.

The door to Shepard's cabin complied with Jared's hand on its panel, giving way to the second deck of the ship. He stuck his head out and glanced around for any nearby crew members, and when none presented themselves, he took a cautious step making sure his boots didn't plod against the steel floor. Slowly, he made his way to the small kitchen that was placed on the other side of the cabin. It wasn't much: a fridge, range, and several cabinets that stored various pots and pans, but it was enough to make a basic meal.

Jared was worried the appliances would be much more advanced than what he was used to, and he was fortunate to be wrong. The fridge did not contain any extra features or panels outside of temperature control, and the interior was sorted in a natural way. The range was similar: a touch interface for stove top burner control as well as several options for preheating and temperature for the oven. Everything was as it should be as he felt a wave of relief encompass him.

I'm used to this, I know this, finally it's something normal.

He leaned against the small island that flanked the fridge and range, attempting to concoct a recipe in his head. Something that was quick, simple, and nutritious. While he wanted it to be tasty, he imagined that food in any kind of service wasn't too great if the C-SEC cafeteria was anything to go by.

You can't go wrong with chicken and vegetables.

He opened the fridge and grabbed what seemed to be a pack of chicken breasts wrapped in plastic. The label read: "Synth-Chicken: As good as the real thing!"

I doubt that.

Jared also grabbed what seemed to be broccoli and carrots, each carrying unique characteristics that made him doubt his judgment. Off coloring, longer roots, still, he figured it would taste the same chopped and steamed.

Methodically, Jared laid the chicken breast bare on a baking sheet, using a package labeled "CAJUN SPICE" he found in a cabinet to season. After setting the oven and putting it in there, he began chopping the vegetables on the island. Slowly, but surely, the cooking chicken began to create an intoxicating savory smell throughout the galley, driving Jared's stomach into a frenzy. He was starving, his body craved anything that would fuel it, yet he controlled himself as he poured the chopped vegetables into what seemed to be a steamer basket

As he set the burner, he lowered the vegetables into a pot of water, watching the steam rise up and fill the ceiling of the galley. He covered the pot and laid against the island once more, watching the crew's dinner cook. A small grin creeped on his face as he closed his eyes, before he knew it, the oven's timer went off and the Synth-Chicken was ready to serve. He cut the breasts horizontally to hopefully have enough and placed them into a serving tray he had found. Before long, the vegetables gave the appearance of being ready and he quickly did the same for them, grabbing some plates and plasticware to set aside each of the trays and some tongs for cleanly portioning. What laid before on the island brought him to a smile. A semi-professional looking meal cooked for a hard-working crew, he couldn't help but feel proud. The familiarity of the task grounded Jared, gave him respite where he had found none so far.

He glanced at the digital clock adorned above the stove, it had been about twenty five minutes since Shepard's reprimanding. The words still hung in his mind flurried about with the thousands of thoughts that raced by them. He still wasn't sure why his body failed him on the bridge, was it from exhaustion? From fear?

Now's not the time, I have a meal to serve.

He shook the thoughts from his mind as he gazed about the mid-level of the ship. No one was about, it was quiet; save for the hum of the ship. The galley tables and seats were empty and spotless, the floors gave off a faint cleanly glow, the only movement Jared could see was out of his periphery: Dr. Chawkwas idly moved about the medical wing, gathering and sorting files while appearing to talk to herself. As her lips moved, he noticed lights flash on a monitor that was attached to the wall, logging her thoughts for later. A few seconds later, she walked over to the monitor and tapped a few buttons on its screen, finishing up her notes and heading for the exit.

Jared immediately shaped up, correcting his posture and standing alert in front of his makeshift buffet. Dr. Chawkwas looked over and gave a faint smile as she began walking toward him.

"Good evening Dr. Chawkwas." He blurted. "Would you care for some dinner?"

She perused what lay on the island. "Chicken and Vegetables hmm? Quite a nutritious dinner. Good to see our new cook has our crew's health in mind."

Jared's face involuntarily turned red as he chuckled. "Yeah, I figured it would be best for everyone!" His ego had been revived.

Dr. Chawkwas smiled as she grabbed a plate and plasticware and doled out modest helpings of each item with the tongs. As she put them back down, her smile turned to a frown. "Do you have some portions for our dextro-based comrades back there?"

That didn't last long.

Jared turned around and flung the refrigerator doors open. His eyes scanned the packed shelves that were stocked with months of food. He parsed aside odd looking bags and packages of meat to find a few packets of Dextro-Safe nutrient paste. Pulling them out, Jared looked back toward his buffet of food, unsure of how to prepare and display a "paste." He skimmed the packaging and settled on the words: "Edible as is." and, being satisfied with that, gingerly laid them beside the trays.

"I have them right here." Jared gestured to the packets. "Just hadn't put them out yet."

Dr. Chakwas looked at him, skeptically, but resumed her kind smile "Well I'm glad you were prepared then.

"Of course." He knew she caught him but preferred not to drag it out. "I hope you enjoy your dinner."

"Thank you young man."

Dr. Chakwas gave a slight bow before taking a seat at a nearby table. Jared watched anxiously as she took her first bites of the food. Her face remained stagnant as her mouth moved, slowly chewing her food. After swallowing, she reached down for her plastic fork and took another helping.

Great! It's edible!

Jared sighed with relief as he relaxed against the cabinets, keeping his eye on the stairs as well as an occasional glance at Dr. Chakwas. After several minutes, the sound of boots and idle conversation began echoing down the staircases. Jared was surprised to see, what seemed to be, all of the first shift congregated in one group. They all instinctively began a line near the island, moving slowly, taking conservative portions to their chosen seats. It didn't take long till all the food was gone, and every member of the first shift was sitting with a full tray in front of them. The group ate methodically, taking their time with each bite as if trying to absorb every nutrient available. Not only that, they all had chosen smaller portions than Jared expected, as if trying to save the rest for the person behind them. It was odd, not something he was used to, but Jared shrugged.

Guess that's just Alliance conduct.

The first shift finished after ten minutes, each stacking their plates on the island and tossing their plasticware in a nearby respitacle. They all sat back down and resumed their conversations from before, bouncing between things like galactic politics and even the latest biotiball standings. Jared listened in as he idly washed the dishes and prepared the second shift's meal. He decided on eggs and bacon, or at least the closest representation he could find, considering this shift would just be waking up. The conversation helped him focus, the way the crew could speak with little fear of what the future held, it was comforting, some normalcy that helped balance out the bizarre.

As Jared was frying the "bacon" over the stove top, Dr. Chakwas spoke from behind him. "Thank you for the meal Jared, it was quite delicious."

"It was no problem Dr. Chawkwas." He poked the bacon with some tongs. "It's why I'm here after all."

"Well, I look forward the what you will serve in the future. I for one will be heading for the sleeper pods, it's been quite the day/" She chuckled slightly before walking further down the hall.

"That's an understatement." Jared muttered as she stepped away.

He ably switched between the pans as the rest of the first shift gradually joined Dr. Chakwas down the hall, waking their relieving members and setting themselves into the pods. As the members of the second shift began to enter the galley, Jared had finished up preparing a similar display for their food as the nutrient paste laid untouched from before. The movements of this group surprised Jared; despite just being awoken, they moved with similar vigor as those from before, the military discipline showing in their actions and gestures. Many of them grabbed the same average coffee he had had earlier to enjoy with their meals, and, after roughly twenty minutes, the second shift had finished up and headed to the top deck, and Jared was alone once more.

The hum of the ship reverberated throughout the galley, accompanied by the squeaks of clean dishes and rushing water from the sink. Jared methodically went through cleaning the dishes once more, making sure the dull gray plates shined. With his tasks coming to an end, he began to feel the day's burden upon him. He felt his shoulders droop with each passing plate, his eyelids further falling over his eyes. Finally, as the last plate was placed within its respective cabinet, he dragged himself away from the kitchen, not before placing the nutrient paste packets back in the fridge.

I guess Tali and Garrus eat whenever they want.

It didn't matter anymore, what mattered was rest. He stepped onto the stairs separating the pods from the galley, looking back one final time. The dining area remained as small as before, the kitchen now showing signs of use with the occasional grease stain or unidentifiable spot, and the tables and chairs laid all neatly tucked into rows. Jared trudged further to the end of the hall, to the only remaining empty sleeper pod. After a few seconds fiddling with the control panel, the pod door opened with a small mechanical groan. Reaching out, he felt the smooth leather interior with his hands, rubbing the sides and testing the comfortability. Though there really wasn't any other choice. He grabbed the edges and hoisted himself in, nestling into the frame. The door began to close, most likely being triggered by his weight, as the pod's interior lights dimmed followed by the doors glass that tinted itself automatically. The feeling of sleeping upright was unusual and he didn't feel entirely comfortable but that mattered little when his fatigue fully set in. His eyes began to shut slowly as his last waking thoughts remained on the galley, on the Normandy, on this microverse, on what he begrudgingly saw as his new home.