Chapter Text
Jane Shepard hangs from the ramp of the SR-2, her heartbeat drowning out the sounds of enemy fire and explosions at her back. That was too close. She had barely closed a jump from the crumbling platforms that comprise the quickly collapsing Collector Base. The form of the Commander seemed suspended in air, bullets, blasts and shrapnel blazing past her, arms reaching towards the ship. Her grasping fingers clutch the side of the ramp as she makes contact, and offers a wan smile towards her two companions who had successfully boarded moments before.
Joker retreats a few steps while providing covering fire, as Miranda and Garrus haul her inside.
“Go, Go, GO!” The door slides shut as they all race towards the cockpit, dodging debris and the exposed wiring of the damaged Command deck. “Get us out of here, Joker!” The ship punches forwards as they race towards the relay. Behind them, the base explodes, allowing the assembled bunch a singular glance of the flare as they hit FTL speed into the relay.
Another close call. That shockwave was right behind us.
Shepard nods and makes a mental note to check in with Donnelly and Daniels ASAP, although the overclocked Tantalus drive core seems to have survived largely intact. As they race towards the Omega nebula, Shepard assists the crew in clearing out the Command deck and sub-tasking assessment of damage and delegation of repairs to Miranda.
Miranda, as unflappable as ever, quickly and efficiently takes inventory of affected property and people, eventually conscripting a stricken Yeoman Chambers into service of the afflicted. Shepard makes eye contact with Garrus, holding up one armored hand and mimicking the universal sign for a gun as her thumb flicks forward in a firing motion.
“I'll get started on those calibrations right away, Shepard.” His mandibles twitch outwards. Even now, in this dire situation, he could find time to make her laugh. She struggles to maintain composure as she regards her teammate, not for the first time.
Is this the turian version of flirting? A grin? Maybe a smirk. Damn. I don't know how to deal with this shit right now..
Shepard rakes armored knuckles over her forehead and her fingers slide into her hair, smearing blood from her scalp wound and the arterial spurts of the enemy into her rich red locks. Bits of hair clump together, sealed in a smattering of different hues of hematoma. Purple. Red. Blue. Her thighs clench together involuntarily. “Garrus. We have a saying on Earth: if it's not broke, don't fix it.”
Despite all of the advice and recommendations to address her current state of mind, it hadn't been an issue for her. The great Commander Shepard. She bites down on her lower lip to stifle an inappropriate bark of laughter.
She had went in full throttle to deal with Saren and without a physical or emotional connection. Kaiden's advances were unwanted, unwarranted, and in her mind, unacknowledged. Also with Kaidan came the memory of Ashley. And with Ash came guilt. And with guilt came an inability to accept or deal with the emotions that situation engendered. Much easier to ignore the whole dog and pony show.
Kaiden had made his thoughts clear enough on Horizon. Forget the dog and pony show. This is now a circus.
She had only briefly considered a fling with the man on the SR-1, despite all the Alliance training and instincts screaming at her to abandon the pursuit. The man was ultimately concerned with his own status, and insecure to boot. I dodged a bullet. What a clown. Even with Liara clawing at my heels..
Something intercedes in the seconds she's mulling to pull her from her thoughts. An aroma. Gun-smoke and clove. It's heady and intoxicating. Her pupils dilate slightly.
He's standing so close to her. She never quite realized how piercing his eyes were. Or how blue. Still, she feels the physical pull towards the other being. Her face is inscrutable. Her ears unable to hear the cacophony of sub-tones pleading his case. He settles for a firm hug instead, very briefly resting his forehead against hers. The thrumming from his core threatens to rattle her teeth, but it's not unpleasant, given that she can't hear it. Feeling this, she grips his shoulders and gives him a soft kiss on his injured mandible.
The bandage just came off last week.. I need to be gentle.
“Hmmmm..” The accompanying thrum from the turian is finally audible. In addition to being felt, shooting like electrical pulses to her core.. Garrus gently wraps his arms around his Commander, somewhat awkward due to their armored bodies. The translator lags and stutters across parts of his exchange. “Shepard, I've gone all the way. We all have. We've crossed the finish line. Further adjustments occur at your discretion, of course.”
She shakes her head and tries to keep a straight face. She fails, cracking a smirk at the ordeal of explaining human idioms to Garrus. Her cheeks warm. The possibilities could quickly spiral out of hand. Even without demonstration.
“I'm dedicated to the task of guarding your six. I will never rest if you're exposed. You can do this, Shepard. Look at what you've accomplished already.” Shepard blushes. I need to reign this in.. it's right after this big mission, it probably means nothing, just get on with it, just keep moving forward. No distractions, right?
His arms tighten around her. “I'm looking forward to seeing what you're going to do next. Spirits, Shepard...”
She shakes off the glove of her left hand and raises her fingertips, tracing the uncovered damage mapped out on his mandible. His breath hitches at the sudden and intimate contact, but he doesn't turn away. The scars left by the rocket were stark; they were a ley-line and a testament to his strength of character. And stubbornness, if she was being honest. Her mouth quirks upwards in a small smile. Garrus Vakarian. She returns the hug fiercely and feels her heart twist while her stomach drops.
She takes an immediate step back, breaking their connection.
His brow plates furrow slightly. "I- I need to check on the others." She shakes it off; there are much more pressing concerns with better odds of addressing in the moment than whatever that was. At least we all pulled through.. A curt nod towards Garrus and she's on the move again.
Shepard assists Jacob in quickly securing the armory. She is subsequently chased out of the Tech Labs by an irate Mordin Solus. Order and investigation drives the man; it was evident in this space. Now that safe haven lay in a state of entropy.
“Shepard. Please. Assistance is not required. Inhibitive. Please return later. Organization is now Imperative.” While ushering the Commander towards the door to the hallway, the salarian hums to himself in a sing-song manner. “The degree of this destruction is just an interruption.. ” The sealing of the chamber severs further serenading. Shepard shakes her head in irritation, but she soon finds herself grinning at the interaction. Never change, Mordin.
She approaches the Communications Room nestled between the two sub-sections of the deck as the ship drops out of FTL speeds. EDI's personable and professional voice pipes into the corridor.
“Shepard. I have a call from the Illusive Man inbound.”
Shepard grimaces and moves towards the intact mahogany table, pushing aside the detritus barring her way. She steps into the familiar circular matrix as the form of The Illusive Man manifests across the room.
The Illusive Man taps at his perpetually lit cigarette and regards the Commander, clearly irate.
“Shepard. You're making a habit of costing me more than time and money.”
Jane scowls and folds her arms, shifting her weight to one side as she cocks her right hip towards him. “And yet we've returned with your investment, largely intact. After TWO jumps through the Omega 4 Relay.”
The Illusive Man sits, reaching for his glass. He swirls the whiskey in the tumbler and does not break eye contact with Shepard. “We both know the destruction of the base was not necessary. You're testing the limits of my patience, Commander.”
Jane tosses her head back, sending clumps of blood-matted hair over her pauldron. She raises one armored glove to the side of her head, cupping her ear. “I'm sorry, I'm having trouble hearing you. I'm getting a lot of bullshit on this line.”
From his seated position, The Illusive Man stares across the table for a few uncomfortable seconds. When he does respond, his voice is clipped. “Don't try my patience. The technology from that base could have secured human dominance in the rest of the galaxy. Against the Reapers and beyond.”
Jane raises an eyebrow. If she didn't know better, she'd suspect the man was almost angry. “Human dominance, or just Cerberus?”
The flickering image of the Illusive Man rises from his seat and advances towards the Commander, cigarette in hand. “Strength for Cerberus is strength for every human. Cerberus is humanity.”
He jabs his cigarette towards her in an accusatory fashion. “I should have known you'd choke on the hard decisions.” He pauses to flick at the side of the filter, ash falling out of sight in the projection.
“Too idealistic from the start.” His strange eyes flash.
Jane grits her teeth and drops her arms to her sides, fists balled. “I know what you are, and the price of dealing with you. We do things my way from now on.” She raises her right hand and points to the ghostly image opposite her. “Harbinger is coming. And he won't be alone.”
Her arms fall to her sides and she squares up, forming a stiff stance as involuntary as breathing. Head held high, arms clasped behind her back. All those years with the Alliance still held some sway in her comportment. “I'm going to make sure we're ready when they get here. You can fall in line or step aside, but don't get in my way.” Her voice ratchets up in volume, booming in the small room.
The Illusive Man only offers her an odd grin as he takes a seat for the second time. It's unsettling; the expression doesn't reach those piercing rings of glowing blue.“You're sure that's what you want? You're taking a hell of a risk, Shepard.”
Jane's head snaps forward and she does her best to avoid snarling at the intolerable figurehead. “I don't think so. I'm going to stop the Reapers, but I won't sacrifice the soul of our species to do it.”
The Illusive Man laughs. It is an eerie sound. Derisive and empty. A vessel. “Don't turn your back on me, Shepard! I made you. I brought you back from the dead!”
Jane gives him a blistering smile, all teeth. “And I thank you for that much. Joker, cut the link. I'm done with him. With Cerberus. For good.”
Shepard walks out of the room as the comm link splutters and dies. The Illusive Man sits, taking a long drag on his cigarette, regarding the brilliant display of flickering blue flames that form the surface of Dholen. He taps his omni-tool, bringing up a small display directly opposite his seated figure.
“What a shame. Service to humanity would have been mutually beneficial to fixating our place above the Council. Certainly less degrading.” His eyes light up as he allows himself a smirk, regarding a blinking indicator on the screen in front of him. “I suppose Shepard will have to settle for servicing the Council races and their hangers-on with what time she has left.” The indicator flashes red and disappears from the screen, an execution. A pleasant, feminine voice of an AI offers confirmation and certainty in three words or less.
“Initiating Project Atonement.”