blackaeronaut Wrote:*Reads GL's new fic on ff.net*
*Dissolves into hysterical screaming laughter. Multiple times.*
omg... omFg... Gregg... this one takes the cake.
Want MORE!!!
Sure.
*************
“So give it to me straight, Pressley. Did Joker actually
manage to break the damn ship?”
The bald man chuckles, shakes his head, and ducks under a loose
pipe, and continues walking through the hallway as he considers
Kaidan's question.
“No, Alenko. The term we use is
structural compromise.
Joker's stunts
structurally compromised the Normandy. Which
was never designed to, say-”
“Pull dime turns in an atmosphere, dodge an angry mechacthulhu
and run through a canyon that's barely big enough for a fighter.”
“So you saw the tapes?”
“Ash insisted. She brought popcorn.”
“So it's
Ash?”
A choke on the other end. Muttering.
“
I hate you so much. So how long until the Normandy's
repaired?”
Walking down the neck of the Normandy's CiC, Pressley taps the green
circle and the door opens. At the pilot's seat, as always, is Jeff
Moreau.
“Adams said a week,” Pressley responded, “They need to take
out everything, flood the ship with omnigel to reinforce the
structure, and then put everything back in. That's at least how he
explained it to me, but it's not beyond the realm of possibility that
Bill's full of shit.”
“Yeah. And you're supervising?”
“Someone has to while Shepard does the galactic hero thing. And
look on the bright side, now you have
two Shepards to stare
at.”
“
Hate. All my hate, Pressley.”
“Love you too. Pressley out.”
The link closes, and Pressley taps open his console and turns over
to Joker.
“C'mon baby,” Joker says, tapping the transparent screen, “You
know I'd never hurt you. What's the safeword?”
A red warning sign appears on the screen. Joker leans back in the
seat.
“That's my girl.”
-
-
Chapter
5:
Breather
-
-
This is Tali Zorah vas
undecided nar Rayya. She is currently
confused. And perhaps a little flustered. She has also realized
that she may be most responsible for killing an ancient machine god
from beyond the galaxy, but that is something a bit too big for her
to take in, right now.
What is important is that she is in the FTL comm room, alongside
Kal'Reegar, who is standing ramrod straight, puffing out his chiseled
chest, tightening his weaponized buttocks, jutting out his most
likely pronounced chin underneath his polished, pockmarked helmet
which has seen battles like she can't imagine and
warning body
temperature rising would you like cold water circulation?
Ancestors, yes.
And on her other side is Commander Jane Shepard, also standing
ramrod straight, hands folded behind her, puffing out a bust she
wishes she had, standing with a self confidence she wishes she had.
She isn't sure if she has a crush on her or if she wants to
be
her. Because she can talk to the man currently standing as the
flickering blue hologram in front of them without flinching.
“
...though I am curious how your shuttle managed to crash land
on Therum,” Admiral Rael'Zorah vas Rayya nar Idenna says,
“
Reegar, have you gone over the logs?”
“What we could recover, yes,” Kal responds, “Seems we
got some sort of virus. We're going over it now, but we're guessing
we got an electronic attack by the Geth fleet that was in orbit at
the time.”
“Understood. Also, I've looked over your request. You wish to
be temporarily assigned to Shepard's crew?”
“Think it's a good idea,” Kal responds, nodding, “Shepard
and I talked it over. Think of it like a cultural exchange. I'm
going to take five of my boys, we're going to work with Shepard and
her crew” Stands a little straighter. More official. “The
seven of us can provide tactical information on the Geth, and in
return we get to study ship designs and tech we can bring back to the
fleet. Like a sort of extended, second Pilgrimage.”
Rael nods. His gaze centers on Tali.
“
I see.”
“They've both been a big help,” Jane chimes in, “Reegar helped
us with a Geth attack on Therum, and,” she gestures to Tali,
“Tali's the one who found the weakpoint that took down Sovereign.
Also, she's been helping Engineer Adams in maintaining the Normandy's
drive core, and has contributed to boosting the efficiency overall of
the ship.”
Rael makes a sound. She isn't sure if it is an approving sound.
“
Understood.”
“Also, have you gone over the proposal I had Reegar send over?”
Rael nods.
“
Explain to me exactly what you want to do.”
“I'm going to be encountering a lot of Geth,” Jane says, “So I
thought we could send back inert parts. Weapons, cores, tools, which
we would leave at drop off points for the Fleet to pick up. I figure
it could help you study how the Geth have evolved, and maybe develop
a countermeasure or communication protocol with them.”
Rael nods. Beneath his helmet, he furrows his brow.
“
A good idea. If we can study them...yes. Perhaps. It could
give us an advantage if we go to war with them.”
“Or if you want to talk to them.”
“
Yes. Help appreciated, Commander Shepard. Rael'Zorah out.”
The image flickers, and disappears. Tali's shoulders slump, half
turning her head as Kal salutes the both of them.
“Ma'ams. I'm going to go to the men and pick a squad. The rest
will be shipping out later today.”
He walks out, door hissing closed behind him. Tali slumps her
shoulders, and quickly straightens up whens he realizes Jane has
turned to her.
“That went well,” Jane says, “So, what's your plans?”
Tali blinks. She glances from side to side.
“Plans?”
“We've got about eighteen hours before the Kilimanjaro's ready to
launch,” Jane responds, leaning against the railing, finding it
tilting again, “Damn it. Anyway, Kilimanjaro's staff is going to
transfer our things over, so we have shore leave. What're you going
to do?”
She blinks again. She glances from side to side, again.
“So,” Jane says, “Who's your friend? The one who got us
Sovereign's weak point?”
“Mahrek?” Tali asks, “He...um...he's a friend. I take classes
on the extranet. He's a classmate.”
Jane nods.
“I...” Tali fidgets, lacing her fingers together, twisting them
together, “Well, he tells me he lives on the Citadel. I
think...maybe...well, I'm going to see if I can meet him.”
