NABC [Book One] Chapter 16: Difficult times
[Book One] Chapter 16: Difficult times
[Book One] Chapter 16: Difficult timesChapter 16: Difficult times
The return to the Normandy has been uneventful if not boring. Rick had carried Benezia all the way back to it with no problem. Shepard’s team had actually encountered Kaidan’s. Apparently the latter coming back from the hot labs and killing the rachnis were attacked by the guards who, as Rick had guessed, were told by Benezia to get rid of them. Those morons hoped that the rachnis would do the job. They were wrong. Kaidan’s team, instead of reaching the secure lab like Shepard’s did, went through the guarded area with all the rest of the guards and drones. That took time but they dealt with every single one of them. They had been dejected to learn how Shepards and the rest “sneak” past everyone. In the end, everyone was more than happy to leave this planet and hoped to never go there again.
Currently Shepard was having a long awaited talk with Rick in her quarters. She wanted answers and had been patient until now. No more. She was blunt and went straight to the point.
“How do you lose a Mass Relay?”
“With a supernova.”
“I was hoping for a more detailed answer.
“Four thousand years ago, give or take. A star near the Mu Relay went supernova. The relay was sent off its orbit as indicated by the lack of debris. That’s where it’s interesting; the supernova covered it with hot gas and stellar dust basically camouflaging it to all radar and scans. The only way to find it was to visually look for it. Which the Rachnis apparently did. They had the time, the resources, and the genetic memory to keep up with the search generation after generation after all.”
“Okay.”
“No other questions?”
“Well you already answered the one I had about the queen knowing the location, soooo... How come you became an expert on rachnis between our first encounter with them and now?”
“Extranet on the tram.”
“So that’s what you were doing.” she said in realization as she remembered him fumbling on his omni-tool.
“You’re good then?”
“No, I’ve got two more. The first is: How do we find the conduit in the cluster that the relay will send us to?”
“I don’t think we have any other choice but to search every planet. For now.”
“Alright, I thought so too. My second question is: What did you use to knock Matriarch Benezia out?”
“Anti-Thorian gas.”
“What?! Really?”
“Yes. When we were on Zhu’s hope, before we left, I went to see the scientist you rescued to know more about it, she directed me to her mother who told me that, the gaz do not actually have a direct effect against the thorian’s spores but somehow put to sleep the part of the brain they have an effect on. Since that part is asleep no command could reach. It’s a bit more complicated than that but I think that’s enough to understand.”
“So far, yes. That’s what happened to her too? That part of her brain went to sleep?”
“I believe so. I mean, two instances of brainwashing; it was worth a try. Though the method is different, the thorian’s way was organic, what Sovereign did... I think it’s synthetic, like sound waves?”
“Sovereign? Not Saren?”
“Yes.”
Rick began to talk about his thoughts on the vision the Eden Prime gave both of them. His understanding and his deductions from what he saw and what he didn’t. Bringing forward the theory that Sovereign was actually a reaper and Saren just a puppet indoctrinated. Shepard listened attentively, making the connections between the elements of the visions bit by bit, led by Rick’s way of explaining.
“So a reaper is already here and the conduit is definitely not a weapon. I know that it was an option that had been almost discarded but now you’re sure.”
“Yes, pretty much. If it was a reaper weapon, they would have put it in a safe place and Sovereign would already have it. If it was a prothean weapon, they would not need it.”
“So while it doesn’t confirm your idea of a way to go from somewhere to another place, it’s still the best explanation we have for what the conduit does. But why would both Saren and Sovereign want it in that case?”
“I don’t know and that’s what’s driving me mad. I’m missing something, not in my analysis but in what I know.”
“I see.” replied Shepard who began to think about the whole ordeal. “We’re going to the citadel for R&R, and to see if there is any lead on Saren.”
“Have you decided on what to do with Benezia?”
“For now, we’re keeping her sedated. I didn’t warn the council about her survival, only that she had been brainwashed by Saren and was defeated.”
“Oh?” He exclaimed in surprise. That was not the way she usually goes about things.
“You were right. It could be dangerous both for everyone and for Benezia if it was known she’s still alive. I would share the information in Anderson but no one else which includes the council.”
“Finally fighting against authority, huh? I’m so proud!” he said in a joking manner.
“Nothing like that or at least I don’t think so.”
“Had you told them she was alive they would have found a way to blame you. The same if she was dead.”
“I figure. When I told them I let the queen go, the turian councilor was worried she would start a new war. I get the feeling he would have blame me for genocide had I done otherwise.”
“Probably.”
With nothing more to say Rick stood up from his seat and made his way out but was interrupted by Shepard.
“By the way, I got an answer from Admiral Hackett about your and Tali's project. The alliance is interested in your designs, both of them, especially the one for the sniper rifle. The one for the shotgun too but for more elite soldiers. I know N7 wants a prototype very soon.”
“That’s great. Did they agree to our terms?”
“Yes. They do have a condition though.”
“Testing themselves our prototypes, I’d gather. Vids could have been modified.”
“Yes, that’s why Admiral Hackett and a few other important people will be on the citadel when we arrive.”
“I’ll get Tali into the loop, she need to steel her nerves for that meeting.”
Shepard nodded and Rick reached the door but instead of leaving stopped and turned his head.
“I won’t get arrested right? Because it smells like a trap to me.” he said, making Shepard laugh a bit.
“No. Not that I am aware anyway.” she replied as he walked away seemingly satisfied with her answer. She didn’t say it aloud but if it was a trap she’d use her authority as a spectre to bail him out. He was too important to the mission at hand to let the alliance catch him.
____________________________________________________________
Rick directly went to the med-bay to have a look at Benezia and spend some time with Liara. Her mother was still alive but her condition was nothing to be happy about. Entering the room, she saw Chackwas reading something on her terminal while Liara was looking at her sleeping mother, holding her hand.
“Any news?” he asked the doc.
“Yes. I did a brain scan of Matriarch Benezia and the results are... not good.” at her answer Liara’s face became full of distress.
“You see that part of the brain here?” Karin pointed with her finger at an area of the image of the brain displayed.
“Yes. It doesn’t seem healthy.”
“It isn’t. Those dark spots there? I believe those lesions may be responsible for her... brainwashing?”
“Can anything be done?” and hopeful Liara asked.
“I don’t know. The brain is the more complicated and delicate of the organs. Some things, it can heal from, some it can’t.”
“How do those lesions work anyway?”
"I don’t know either."
Everyone in the room stayed silent. Chackwas was studying the results more, Liara looked after her mother and Rick began to think. There was something for him to find. Clearly those lesions were the source of Benezia submissiveness to Saren but how would they engrain it in the first place? Lesions are just damaged tissues. Damaged tissues don’t work properly. From that, it was impossible for them to have a direct effect, no the information to obey the turian must come from healthy neurons which must have been reprogrammed. That gave Rick an idea of what was going on.
“Liara, would it be dangerous for you to meld with her? To see if you can reach her.
“I don’t think it would be dangerous but a bit harder because she’s not awake.”
“Want to give it a try?”
“I suppose so, it’s not like I have anything to lose anymore.” she said with resolution.
She moved from her position by her mother’s side to be above her head. Leaning her forehead against hers she began to meld. For a few minutes Karin and Rick looked at the two asari, waiting in anticipation for what Liara would find. At the five minute mark Liara straightened up.
“She’s there! She’s still there!” she exclaimed in joy.
“Excellent!”
“She’s weak but she’s holding on.”
“Did you have a... How should I say this...A look around?”
“You mean if there was someone else with her? Like a mind imprint? Then no.” she replied after seeing Rick nodding at her questions.
“But there are whispers. Like records of commands. Mother said that it was the effect of indoctrination.”
“Does she have any idea on how to make them stop?”
“Sadly, no.”
“Doc, would the lesions heal themselves with time?”
“It’s possible but I wouldn’t count on it.”
“I see... In that case last idea; Liara do you think you could rewrite her memories? I mean, those whispers they’re just information, stuck in her mind that plays over and over right? If we can’t make them stop, probably because the part of the brain that could, is the part damaged, then maybe we can change the message?”
“You want my mother to still be brainwashed but just differently?” Liara asked dumbfounded.
“If we can’t undo it, that’s the only thing I can come up with. Something like “‘Be your usual self?’ maybe ?”
“There is merit in the idea. She’d still be brainwashed, yes but to be herself. In that case can we really say she’s brainwashed?” Karin thought out loud.
“Food for thoughts for later. The objective here is to get her out of Saren’s control.”
“I... I’ve had to ask her about this. I’m not even sure if what you’re thinking of is possible.”
“Well, if that green asari could transfer the cipher into my mind, meaning actually writing the information into my own neurons, by melding, then you could do that too. She was a few centuries older than you though, so perhaps that could be an important factor?”
With this last bit of information, he wished her good luck and left the med-bay to speak with Tali in the engineering area. As usual he had bumped her hip with his to get her attention.
“Are you ready to swim in credits?”
“I... don’t know, I never thought about doing that. What’s this about?”
“Gingerbread upstairs said that the Alliance was interested in our work. They will be on the citadel for a live demonstration.”
“That’s... Great!” she said in excitement.
“Yes, but there will be a lot of higher ups, will you be okay with that? I mean they’re military old people. Chances are, some of them won’t be very nice to you if not down right xenophobic.”
“I’m a quarian Rick; I’m used to people looking down on me.”
“You shouldn’t be.”
“Not everyone is as open minded as you are. So no, I’m not worried about their attitude towards me. I’m more worried about what you’ll do to them in that case.” Tali joked, though she was probably right.
“I guess I’ll have to give you my weapons before the meeting then. Accidents can happen in demonstrations like those.” he joked back as he left for the cargo bay.
He joined Ashley who as usual was cleaning weapons. He just leaned against the lockers next to the workbench and watched her doing her thing. They intended to find a room and not exit it until the last minute of their R&R in the citadel. Their quick tryst in the shower has been an exception as Ashley wanted to respect as much as she could her place of work. They both needed to vent, especially after Noveria.
“There’s been a slight change of plan.” Rick’s announcement made her stop what she was doing for a few seconds before she started back.
“Define slight?”
“Tali and I are supposed to present our prototypes to the big wigs in the Alliance. I’d gather it would take half a day at best, to answer questions, the demonstration and the negotiation. Then perhaps some sort of celebration with the crew later in the evening.”
“Alcohol then? Not quite as good as sex but I’ll take it.” she said with a smirk.
“What are you going to do in your new found free time?”
“Good question. I’ll have to think about it.”
“Want some advice?”
“Why not?”
“You should use it to buy a good deal of lube.” he said nonchalantly before walking to his makeshift bed to take a nap, leaving a slack jawed Ashley frozen in place.
The implication behind his words made her mind reeling. She wasn’t a stranger to anal sex but with the right mood and the right partner. Rick was way bigger than everything she had there. The idea terrified her as much as it exited her.
____________________________________________________________
At their arrival on the citadel, Anderson himself was there to welcome them. The meeting would take place in one hour for now, in one of the c-sec academy shooting ranges. The time was short for them to be presentable but not impossible. Shepard was surprised that she was asked to be present.
“You’re the one who tested the prototypes and forwarded the information, they want you there.” as the answer Anderson gave her.
She went back to the ship to change her clothes to her official uniform. Meanwhile Rick looked at Tali and without actually saying it decided to stay the way they were. They just waited for Shepard to come back all dressed up and weaponless.
“Are you both ready?” Anderson asked the two tech experts.
“To bleed dry the alliance?Ab-so-lutely.” Rick replied which earned him a smack on the head from Tali who chose to speak up.
“As ready as we can be, sir. I did work on the appearance of both prototypes to make them more presentable so we’re good on that part and we have the blueprints at the ready.”
“Good. I’m still surprised you got your patents accepted so fast.” the captain said.
“Me too. I didn’t quite believe him when Rick said he could get one in a day.”
“I’m going to be blunt. Is what is written on those reports true?” Hannah Shepard asked her daughter and Anderson, waving a datapad in her hand.
“Yes, Ma’am.” replied the man.
“Then my assessment of him was completely out in the field. That man is dangerous, we should not let him be free.”
“He’s useful.” replied the Captain.
“And he didn’t do anything illegal, we can’t arrest him like that.” chimed in the commander.
“Hacking the secure database of the alliance is illegal. Murder is illegal, a commanding officer at that! He’s a threat! He should be dealt with immediately.”
“I’m surprised you know that murder is illegal.” Jane replied in a jab.
“Watch it, I’m still your superior officer, mother or not.”
“Enough.” Hackett intervened calmly. He had been watching on the side for a while now.
“Wald is dangerous, yes. A potential threat? Undeniably, especially since he’s not really supportive of the alliance.”
“That’s an understatement, Admiral!”
“But he never acted against it, that CO aside, which honestly is a service he did for us, and like Anderson said, he’s useful and has a thirst for vengeance on Saren. We can and will use that. The commander is doing a pretty good job about it already. Once Saren is dealt with, we will re-evaluate what to do with the man, understood?”
“Yes, sir.” the Rear Admiral said not agreeing in the least, but orders were orders.
“Good. Now commander, you said that you had problems with him and the problems came from you, what did you mean by that exactly? You’re an excellent commanding officer and yet you can’t handle him? That worries me.”
“Sir, I don’t think anyone could handle him, not without being equally smart, or smarter.”
“Explain.” her mother ordered.
“I guess it’d be better if I begin with my report of the mission on Noveria”.
____________________________________________________________
“Good day, Ma’am. Can this one help you with anything?” asked the hanar clerk as Ashley entered the shop.
“I... I’ll take a look around first, if you don’t mind then come back if I need help.”
“Certainly, please do know that using any products is forbidden.”
“That’s... do people really try them?!” she asked bewildered.
“You have no idea ma’am. This one caught plenty doing so. You’re using it, you’re buying it.”
Ashley nodded in understanding and went through the store. It was an old one. Nowadays, stores were just a booth with a clerk presenting a catalog of booths or a simple terminal where people would pass commands and wait for what they had bought to be delivered. However considering the nature of the shop and its location it was no surprise that it had aisled and products on display. She quickly found out what she was looking for and took a moment to choose the one she would buy.
“Strawberry, blueberry, cherry, banana.” she read out loud the flavor. There were even some flavored from alien fruits.
After a moment of thinking she took the strawberry one and turned around towards the cashier. Along the way she found three more items that interested her and took them, though the third one was not acceptable for her and intended to ask the hanar for another model.
“Do you have a bigger size?” she said blushing as she showed the big jellyfish the object she wasn’t satisfied with.
“This one does. What size are you looking for?”
“The size of my friend, so about this?” She said, indicating a length and a width with her hand.
“Krogan size then.”
“I don’t know about that, I’ve never been with a krogan. My friend is human.”
“By the enkindlers! A Human?”
“Eeeeh.... Yes?”
“Nevermind. You’ll find what you are looking for in the dildo’s aisle, in the krogan section. Three aisles on your right, end of the aisle.”
“Thank you.” Ashley replied before going.
“A human...”
____________________________________________________________
They all have a different reaction to the young redhead report. Hackett was sighing out of understanding, her mother was frowning in displeasure and Anderson was waiting impassively for the advice his superiors officers would share. He had his own of course but he wanted to wait it out.
“The problem doesn’t lie entirely with you. It lies on his shoulder too.” Hackett began.
“I insist you should have reprimanded him.”
“He’s not a member of the navy, it would have gone over his head and he wasn’t wrong to do that. Only the way he did it was.” Anderson commented.
“That’s correct. At least this time you both hashed it out in private. It shows that he’s ready to work with you but you’re not ready to work with him.”
“That’s what I realized, as well.”
“That’s nonsense, you’re the commanding officer, what you say goes. You can’t have any of your subordinates usurp your authority.” Shepard senior said.
“That’s also correct but your situation is unique and has never been seen before. He is and isn’t your subordinate at the same time. He’s more like a colleague or a partner. And to be fair to you, it’s not something you’ve done, it’s just who you are. You were right when you said that probably nobody could handle him if they’re not at least as smart.” the admiral said his piece.
“So the only way is to meet him halfway and trust him? I mean I already do, for most things, but acting in my stead... It doesn’t feel right.”
“That’s because you don’t know him enough.” Anderson gave his two credits.
“What kind of man is he at the core? You know what he is; smart, cunning, competent, honest but who is he as a person?” he explained.
Shepard junior, took a moment to think about it.
“A good man. He’s always doing his best for others, fiercely loyal to the people he acknowledged and would not mind dirtying his hand for them. He was ready to shoot anyone who would have made a disparaging remark to Tali’Zorah back at the meeting, deal or no deal, Admiral or not. That’s why he gave you his weapons, Captain, because the deal mattered to her and he wasn’t about to ruin it.”
“Ah! So that’s why you were armed.” interjected Hackett.
“He’s also compassionate in his own way. He didn’t have to save matriarch Benezia but...”
“Wait a minute! The matriarch is still alive? You said he defeated her.” her mother intervened.
“Yes, from my understanding, he gassed her.” added Hackett.
“He used the anti-thorian gas from Feros. Basically he believed that since the comportment of the matriarch was the same as Zhu’s hope’s colonists, it would knock her out. He was right on that.”
“So he saved her for the Dr. T’soni?” Anderson asked.
“Yes, they are friends.”
“That was a dangerous decision to take that wasn’t his to begin with.”
“Yes, but he was right to do so. The matriarch was, is, brainwashed but he apparently found a way to make a normal again.”
“A way to reverse Saren’s indoctrination?!” Hackett inquired dumbfounded.
“No, more like reroute it?”
Shepard began to explain Rick’s idea. How it was possible because Benezia still had a part of her mind intact and how it happened in the first place by comparing the indoctrination by the thorian and rachnis’s way of communication.
“Brainwashed into her normal self then. That’s... an interesting idea he came up with. A shame it seems only possible for an asari matriarch but that does give us some leads on how to fight against it.” Anderson stated.
“We don’t know if they will succeed.” Shepard senior said.
“No, but the proper measures will be taken if it fails I gather?” asked the admiral to which Shepard nodded then added more.
“Why have you phrased it that way in your report?”
“He advised it actually and I agreed. Matriarch Benezia is powerful with many friends. We couldn’t let people know she was still alive while we were working on... fixing her. Certainly not the council.”
“You should have killed her then. Much less work.”
“That’s your answer to everything.” replied the youngest Shepard with a scowl.
“It works.”
“Ladies!” intervened Hackett before the argument could escalate. He was well aware of the state of their relationship. It wasn’t something very well known but not that secret either.
“You did well in that regard, commander. That can give us an advantage and if not we lose nothing. Now, I think you were talking about who you thought Rick Wald was.”
“Yes. His attitude, words and actions are cold but in hindsight it’s anything but. No matter how logical or rational his actions are.”
“Do you think you would be wrong with trusting him with your life or the life of someone important to you?” asked Anderson.
She took a moment to think about it.
Would he do his best to do so? Would he try to think of the best course of action to save innocent lives? To save mine, despite his negative feelings towards me?
“No.” she replied
“Then you have your answer. Trusting is never easy, we all know that here but you just have to...”
“““Follow your guts.””” all her superiors officers said in unison. She looked at her mother in surprise.
“I don’t like it, I don’t like what I read and heard about him. I don’t like him. But if your guts are telling you to trust him then trust him.” Shepard senior said.
“My advice to you commander, is to talk about a mission beforehand. Share what you hope for and what your intentions are, the results you want to achieve in detail. That way you will not be surprised when he acts on his own or very little.” spoke Hackett.
“I’ll do that, sir. Thank you.”
“Is there anything else we should talk about? Something you didn’t say in your report?”
“Actually... yes.”
____________________________________________________________
“Rick, I live in an enviro-suit! I don’t need clothes!”
“Nonsense. Just because you do, doesn’t mean you can’t wear clothes above it.”
“True, but there is no point!”
“The point is for you to look pretty, to feel different and good about yourself. You don’t need to limit yourself to what’s necessary anymore, centerfold.” he said, entering a clothing shop while dragging his quarian friend by the hand
____________________________________________________________
“So he believes Saren’s ship is actually a reaper? That’s worrying.” said Anderson.
“Is he sure?” Hackett inquired.
“Yes.”
“We need to prepare, especially if one is already here.” Hanna said.
“You believe me?!” Shepard asked in surprise, making her mother frown. She had not expected that from her.
“Of course I do. Everything in those reports point to it being true, no matter how unbelievable it is.”
“The question is, why does it need the conduit if it’s a prothean creation?” wondered Hackett.
“Rick doesn’t know. He said that he’s missing some information to understand the big picture. Information that Saren has since he’s searching for the conduit.”
“Then the mission did not change. You need to find Saren and stop him before he finds the conduit.” the admiral declared.
Raising up from their seats everyone made their way towards the office’s exit. The Rear Admiral however grabbed her daughter by the arm and held her back a moment.
“Be careful with that man.”
“If I did not know any better, I would think you care.”
“I do care. I already lost a child, I don’t want to lose another.”
The answer from her mother triggered her anger unexpectedly. She blew up on her, letting go of everything she had held back for the past thirteen years. She let her mother have it.
“Don’t you dare! Don’t you dare talk about him! You have no right! You never care for him! You didn’t even raise him! I did! So don’t you dare say that you cared about John! You never did!”
“That’s not true!”
“It is! How long did it take you to notice he was gone? How long?”
“Too long. I admit, I wasn’t much of a mother to him but that doesn’t mean I never cared or loved him. Everyday, I curse myself for what I did, for what I thought of him and people like him, how I wish I could go back and punch myself in the face and do something differently. Every. Day. For the past thirteen years. You don’t need to lecture me on what wrong I did. I’m perfectly aware. He was my flesh and blood, my son and I failed him like no mother should have.” her mother replied in a mix of shame, sadness and dejection, cutting off her daughter’s momentum and onslaught.
“Be careful, please? And I know I don’t say it often but... I’m proud of you and I love you.”
Hannah Shepard took her daughter into her embrace and kissed her on the cheek before leaving.
Alone in Anderson’s office, Jane Shepard had tears rolling down her cheeks. She had a lot to think about.