(Untitled)

[bioticsentinel]

Vakarian? Vega? Do you copy?

This isn't the Normandy, and this isn't Earth. [ The man on the screen looks no worse for the wear, if a bit weary. He's been through a lot but he's gotta keep pushing through. ] I don't remember getting my butt kicked by Cerberus tech again. So what happened? Where am I, really? Because I'm already fighting a war

Comments

[renegadeparagon]

private video

[A little smirk is on Shepard's face. Most of his bruises are gone, though there's a little yellowing to some of his skin, the rest is just paler than usual.] Major. It's... it's good to see you.

[bioticsentinel]

Shepard. [ He breathes the name out, his heart stopping for miliseconds. ] You're--

[renegadeparagon]

I'm okay. Mostly. I'll be there in about ten minutes, sit tight.

[bioticsentinel]

No. I'm coming to you. Where are you?

[renegadeparagon]

Kaidan... [Sigh.] I'm on the Normandy. The... phone you have, it'll have a map. The Normandy is dry docked at the space port.

[bioticsentinel]

The Norman--well I'll be damned. I'll be there as soon as I can.

[renegadeparagon]

I'll be on the CIC. I'll see you soon. [And he hangs up. When Kaidan arrives, Shepard will be where he said, leaning on his crutches.]

[bioticsentinel]

[ It takes Kaidan a while to get there, but he gets there as soon as he can, pausing as he enters the Normandy. Its empty and silent, not even the familiar hum of the engines in the background.

Its eerie. And seeing Shepard on his crutches doesn't help it in any way. He stops in the doorway of the elevator, just... staring. ] Shepard...

[renegadeparagon]

[Shepard gives him a much brighter smile as he sees him, making his way over and leaning the crutches against the wall, reaching out to grip his shoulder.]

I'm alright, don't look at me like that. [He doesn't even hesitate when he hugs him.]

[bioticsentinel]

[ Kaidan grabs at him, clutching at his shoulders and holding him right. ] I thought--

[renegadeparagon]

It's alright. We won. I'm alive. [He curls a hand in the back of Kaidan's hair, sighing softly against his cheek.] We're stuck on an alien planet, but we're okay.

[bioticsentinel]

As if we've never been stuck on an alien planet before. [ The joke is weak -- Kaidan is worried, and obviously so, closing his eyes and nuzzling slightly at Shepard's forehead. ] You're okay. That's the important thing.

[renegadeparagon]

The ship won't fly. We're stranded. [He keeps his voice low, and he smiles lightly at the bit of nuzzling he gets. It's a rare moment for the two of them, but they damn well deserve it.] I got myself patched up. I'm still not walking right but it's good enough for now.

[bioticsentinel]

What happened? [ He pulls away but only a little, not enough to put any sort of significant space between them. He's more worried about hurting Shepard in this case, concerned with taxing a body that's injured. ]

[renegadeparagon]

On the Citadel, or here? [He opts to just answer both, and finally pulls away from him, gesturing for Kaidan to follow him, while he makes his way with his crutches towards the elevator.]

On the Citadel, I found the way to destroy the Reapers, and I did it. Every synthetic in the galaxy was killed, including the geth... and EDI, probably. My insides took a beating too. Here, we've been recruited, for another war. No signs of hostile activity yet, but it's only a matter of when, not if.