Hello dear readers. Another update, just to make you happy. Things in real life demand attention so I'm not sure how frequent other updates will be.
Okay, things are um, 'heating up' between Garrus and Dani next chapter, just to give you a warning in advance. Nothing too explicit (yet) but um, yeah... There's some snogging ahead. This chapter though... well, the title says it all. Things don't end well for... someone.
Virmire
Several emotions coursed through her simultaneously. Garrus was either getting ready for Virmire or was already there and he wanted to talk once he got back. For once, she didn't need to think hard to understand the meaning. Her mouth ran dry, her legs felt wobbly. It was the thought of her friends, all of her friends, soon to be in danger that finally propelled her into action. Dani hurried to her shared quarters to grab clean clothes and made a wild dash for the showers. It took her less than ten minutes to finish up and she hustled to the bridge, her wet hair piled up and pinned down.
All battle specialists, engineers and marines were on full alert.
"Jeff," she called out breathlessly before she dumped herself into the co-pilot's seat. "What's the status?"
"Good morning to you too, sunshine. Where you been? You missed a lot of action!"
Dani groaned in disgust. She would never forgive herself. "Don't ask. I'm not in the mood for 'I told you so'."
"I told you so? Wait, what . . . ? Oh!" Joker smirked. "Hey Dani. . ."
"What?" she asked reluctantly.
Joker waggled his eyebrows at her. "I told you so!"
"Dammit Joker!"
"All right, just, tell me – things finally settled between you two?"
"No. I don't know. He left me a message, said we have to talk when he gets back."
"Don't worry, Dani. The Commander will make sure they all get back in one piece."
Dani just nodded. "Who went with him?"
"All squad members are down at the salarian base camp. And we are grounded for the moment."
"Why? What's going on?"
"Well, turns out the salarian infiltration team asked for reinforcements. Captain Kirrahe told the Council to send a fleet. Unfortunately, the message was all garbled up and unintelligible so they sent us instead. Apparently, we just found Saren's base of operations and every AA gun within ten miles has been alerted to our presence. Shepard managed to take down one grid though otherwise I wouldn't have been able to reach the base camp."
"Saren?" Dani breathed. "He's here?"
"Not according to Kirrahe. His geth are here everywhere though and they've intercepted some comms referring to Saren. This is his facility there's no doubt about that."
"So, what will they do now?"
"Still waiting for orders. Commander is down there discussing strategies. Wrex nearly got himself shot by the way."
"Do I even want to know?" Dani managed to ask.
"Seems Saren found a cure for the genophage. You know, the decease the salarians inflicted on all krogan so only one in a thousand babies survives birth? Yeah, he was using that to create himself a nice little krogan army."
"Good God!"
"Yep. An army of geth worshiping the Reapers is bad enough, but add to that a krogan army? The galaxy would be overrun in a matter of years.
If not months. And these krogan follow Saren. Basically a lose – lose situation. In other words, the facility and all its dirty secrets needs to get destroyed.
Wrex didn't see it that way."
"Oh Wrex!" Dani sighed. "How horrible he must feel. Choosing between helping his people or the Commander."
"No. He has to choose between his people or the rest of the entire galaxy," Joker corrected her.
"Yes, of course. How did he take it?"
"Well, he stopped shooting with his shot gun. That's a good sign. I think the Commander managed to talk some sense into the guy. Though a head-butt might have been better if you ask me."
"Joker, this is shore party. Come in."
"Normandy to shore party. What's up Commander?"
Dani got out of the co-pilot's seat and went to stand right next to Joker.
"We formed a plan of attack. The salarians are converting their ship's drive system into a giant nuke. Dropping the nuke from orbit is a no go, but we will need the Normandy to drop off the bomb at the far side of the facility."
"What, you're going in on foot? That's crazy!"
"Don't worry, we'll work around that. Kirrahe is dividing his men into three teams to hit the front of the facility. While they bear the brunt of any geth attention, I'm gonna sneak a small team in the back. We'll secure the drop zone."
"All right Commander, sounds like a plan."
"Good, send out marines to help the salarians with the load up. Shore party out."
"Wait, Commander Shepard, please wait!" Dani cried out, roughly pushing Joker aside.
"Ouch, watch the arm!"
"Dani, I'm surprised to hear you over the comm. You with Joker?"
"Yes sir. Yes I am. Sorry for interrupting you."
"No, it's okay. You need something?"
Dani's throat suddenly felt very dry and she could feel herself shaking.
"Yes," she breathed. "Please, can I – can I speak to Garrus for a moment?"
"Garrus?"
"Commander, I –"
"Hey, don't worry. Let me patch him through."
The comm went static for a moment.
"Dani, you okay?" she suddenly heard Garrus' voice. He sounded so clear, so close, it choked her up.
"Yes. No. I mean yes. I don't know actually."
He chuckled lightly.
"You ah - you got my message?" he asked quietly and Dani had to strain her ears to pick up what he was saying.
"Yeah, I did," Dani said, equally quiet.
"Okay. Well ah – I'll see you then when this is over. Don't fret too much. We'll be back before you know it."
"Garrus," Dani breathed. "I . . . um – Damn, can't think straight. Tell Tali and Liara I'll be with them every step of the way. And with you. Watch the Commander's back like I know you can and please. Please! Be careful!"
"Will do. . . Dani?"
"Yeah?"
"I ah, I'll see you soon, okay?"
"Yeah, okay."
And that's all she would hear from him until this mission was finally over. If he made it back. No. No purpose in thinking like that. He would come back. And they would talk. Damn it, what was happening to her?
"Sorry about the arm, Jeff," Dani said before slinking back to the co-pilot's seat.
"A little warning next time?" he grumbled. "Hey, you okay? You look a little green round the gills."
"I'm not a drell, Joker. I'm not green and I don't have gills."
"Right, we'll have to work on your grasp of figurative speech. Or lack thereof. I meant, you look a bit ill. Like you're about to hurl all over the control panels.
Not a good idea by the way."
"Oh. What does that have to do with being green and having gills?"
"Never mind. Let's try this again. Are you okay? You look a bit – overwrought."
Dani smiled at Joker's playful tone, it quickly faltered though and soon it ceased to be completely.
"I have a bad feeling about all this. There is – I don't even know how to explain. It's like it's almost tangible in the air. I can't shake this feeling that something bad is going to happen."
"No doom-thinking in the bridge, Dani. It's bad luck."
Both Dani and Joker kept vigilant in their places. Joker monitored the comm activities and every now and then comm chatter between the ground team members bled through.
"Comm check. Do you read me, Commander?"
"Loud and clear."
"Good. We'll start our push. We'll try to make it to the AA guns, but it might be up to you to finish the job. And Commander? If you see any way to undermine their defenses, we could definitely use the help."
"Captain Kirrahe," Joker simply stated.
"Shadow is on the ground. Repeat – Shadow is on the ground."
"Have you picked up something about squad line up?" Dani asked after a while. She had not been able to concentrate on all conversations, her mind too often wandering off to Garrus, Tali, Garrus, Liara, Garrus . . . Ugh, she had to stop!
"Yeah, Alenko and Liara are going with one of Kirrahe's teams. Ashley and Tali should be aboard the Normandy by now, working on the nuke with a couple of Kirrahe's men. And Garrus and Wrex are with Shepard."
"Lieutenant Alenko, with Aegohr team! Dr. T'Soni, support Jaeto team. Aegohr, Mannovai, Jaeto teams, move! Time to get some attention!"
Dani hugged her knees to her chest, wrapped her arms around them and took a shuddering breath. Please, be safe!
For a while all they heard were strategic pointers over the background noise of fighting, weapons firing. Sometimes the few words Dani heard, gripped her heart with ice cold fear.
"Fire is coordinated on Mannovai team. We can't reach the geth turrets. They're out of range!"
"They'll be fine, don't worry," Joker said tersely, though even he couldn't keep the concern from his voice.
"Something scrambled their targeting. We've got a shot! Lt. Alenko, take the heat off Mannovai!"
"Ha!" Joker would have jumped from his seat had he been able to. "I'll bet you anything that's Shepard's handy work!"
Time crept by way too slow. Every minute ticking away just made Dani feel more agitated.
"They're calling sat-strikes! Jaeto, watch for comm stations! Alenko can you see anything?"
If Kaidan replied, Dani didn't hear it.
"Flight Lieutenant Moreau, the drive system has been successfully converted into a functional ordnance. Your technician Tali'Zorah nar Rayya did an admirable job. Will proceed informing Gunnery Chief Williams about detonation sequencing."
"Thanks for the heads up."
"Aircraft heading to perimeter stations to recharge. Bunker up before they come back!"
"That was Kaidan!"
"Yeah, I heard it Dani. Looks like the geth are playing hard to get."
"I wish we could use the Normandy's guns to blast those damn geth away."
"I know. We just wouldn't get very far with those AA guns shooting at us the moment we lift off."
"The Normandy should be retrofitted with a tactical cloak. I'm so gonna work on that when all this is over!"
Joker smirked with glee. "Nice!"
"Air threat has not materialized! We may be getting some help from Shadow."
"Go, Commander Shepard!" Joker cheered.
The tension inside Dani eased just a bit. Things seemed to go well thus far. No reports of casualties. The teams were good, Shepard was kicking ass.
"Shadow team must be getting close. Hold the line, men! Hold the line!"
"Joker. . ." Dani tensed up again."That was Kirrahe. He's under heavy fire!"
"They'll be fine, Dani! You heard the man, Shepard is getting close. Just a little bit longer, then we get to nuke this joint and you get to cuddle up with Garrus - just for a little while though – I want that tactical cloak and you promised me an upgrade for my – Oh my . . . Look at that!"
Dani looked out of the Normandy windows. A big hulking warship loomed in sight.
"Is that . . .?" she whispered.
"Yeah, Sovereign. Saren's little toy."
"Doesn't look so little."
"Nope, sure doesn't. Commander? We got trouble." Joker hailed Shepard.
"Hit me, Joker."
"That ship Sovereign? It's moving! I don't know what you did down there, but that thing just pulled a turn that would shear any of our ships in half. It's coming your way and it's coming hard! You need to wrap things up in there – fast!"
Shepard didn't respond and for quite some time, heavy silence descended in the bridge.
"That turret could punch some nasty holes in the Normandy."
Dani heard the unexpected but oh so welcome voice of Garrus. She breathed a heavy sigh in relief.
"See Dani, he's still alive and kicking. Now, wasn't it good to hear his voice?" Joker practically cooed.
"Joker?"
"Yes, Dani?"
"Shut up!"
Joker smirked and gave her a thumbs up.
"Good work on the gun, Shadow team. Now it's our turn."
"Sounds like we're up soon, Dani!" Joker said tensely. "Shepard disabled the first AA gun, now we just need Kirrahe to disable the other one."
"That's it. We need to clear the geth and set those charges."
"Stand by everyone, we're up in a moment."
"Charges set! Everyone bunker down. Bunker down!"
Dani barely had herself strapped in tightly when they heard a loud explosion.
"All right!" Joker whooped. "Nice work. That's one less thing to worry about. Commander I'm bringing us in. I'll get as close to the site as I can."
Joker took off, the transition was seamless. He cleaved the Normandy through the air and in no time at all he was settling her down as close to the drop zone as possible. Dani excused herself with Joker and hurried down to Engineering. The marines were standing by and hustled into action as soon as the large cargo bay doors opened. Ashley and Tali oversaw the nuke being transported off the ship. Shepard guided them to the place he wanted the nuke set up.
Dani raised her hand in greeting at Tali and Tali quickly shot up her hand as well. It was all Dani could see before the large ramp was pulled in again and the cargo bay doors shuddered closed. She could hear the hum of the Normandy's drive core pitching up. A light tremor shot through the ship. The Normandy had taken off again, en route to the designated rendezvous point.
Dani rested her hands against the large doors. At least she'd seen Commander Shepard and Tali alive and well. His face had been set in grim determination though and he'd looked tired as hell.
Soon, she thought. Soon this would all be over and they could all laugh about her nerves and worries and they would tease her mercilessly and she would laugh about it too because she would be too damn happy that they were all well. God, she hoped it would turn out that way. A violent shiver rocked through her again and for some stupid reason her eyes welled up with tears. She gruffly wiped them away with the sleeve of her tunic. Just one last push, she told herself.
She made her way up to the bridge again and flopped down in the co-pilot's seat. Joker wore an awful mask of repressed despair on his face.
"Jeff?" Dani asked, the coil of nerves in the pit of her stomach coming to a full broil.
"Nothing. It's nothing. Just –" Joker swallowed hard. "Just spotted a troop ship inbound to the drop zone. "
"Damn! It's a close enough call as it is! Ashley and Tali need time to finish arming the nuke. Shepard better keep those geth off their backs!"
"They're on their own, Dani."
"WHAT?"
"Before we took off for rendezvous point, I picked up some comm chatter. Jaeto team is underway to rendezvous point. But, Aegohr team – Kaidan – the geth got them pinned down on the AA tower. They were taking heavy casualties. Shepard went to them for assistance otherwise they'd never make it in time."
"Are you telling me, that Tali is down there with Ashley and just a handful of marines, arming a nuke with a troop ship inbound that will bleed geth all over the bomb site?" her voice pitched higher with each word she spat out.
"Yeah, that about sums it up."
"And we can't –"
"No," Joker groaned. "No, we can't."
"They'll make it." Dani tried to put up a brave front. "Shepard will pull out Kaidan and what's left of the team and they will unite forces to help out Ashley and Tali. And they will all make it to rendezvous point."
"Gunnery Chief Williams to Normandy. Come in." Ashley's voice crackled in over the comm.
"This is Normandy to Gunnery Chief Williams. Hit me, Ashley."
"Change of plans. Meet us at the bomb site. Commander's orders."
"Aye, aye. Normandy out."
Not another word was spoken between them as Joker kicked the Normandy into action again, hurrying back to the bomb site. As soon as they touched down Joker punched in the command to extend the ramp. Dani jumped out of her seat, saw the different teams scrambling towards the Normandy through the window, and headed straight down to Engineering.
The moment she got off the elevator she saw Shepard marching towards her, carrying Ashley over his shoulders. Dani searched the crowd for familiar faces.
A handful salarians muddled about but she quickly spotted Liara among them. But only when she laid eyes on Garrus supporting Tali, she could finally heave a sigh of relief. She quickly hurried over to them avoiding the tracks over which the ramp got reeled in. When Tali and Garrus averted their eyes Dani finally realized something was wrong. Something utterly, horrifyingly wrong.
"Everybody hang on!" Joker warned over the comms. The sudden FTL jump made her lose her footing and sent her falling. An arm shot out and grasped her waist. Instead of hitting the floor, Dani crashed against Garrus' armored chest. He held her close to him for a short moment, before releasing her to support Tali on their way to the elevator. Their movements were sluggish and cumbersome. Even though he didn't flinch or wince, Dani could tell every move was painful.
One level up, everybody filed out of the elevator and wordlessly followed Shepard into the briefing room. When the door closed behind them, it finally hit Dani that Kaidan was not among them.
Her legs gave out and with a sob she slid down the wall.
