Re: FemShep/Mordin - Fragile 2/?
anonymous
December 1 2012, 13:41:23 UTC
Shepard’s head ached from where it had connected with the shuttle. The lights and alarms only made the pain throb in time with the ship. A groan escaped her as she lifted her head from it’s current resting place against a console. She tentatively put her hand to her head and found a large bump already forming.
“Shepard-Commander are you functional?”
She turned her head to find Legion standing between her and the pilot.
“Ugh not so loud Legion. I’m in one piece...I think.”
Jane looked at the pilot, she could see a faint movement of his chest but that was the only indication he still breathed. By the time she had freed herself from her harness, Mordin had already moved up to tend the wounded man.
“Well, now we know it was a trap,” Jane muttered angrily as she turned the ship’s warnings off.
“Can stabilize him for now, but will need more medical attention than currently able to provide here. We need to get him back to the Normandy and soon or else it will be too late.”
“Right do what you can and then we need to prepare for our welcoming committee. Legion, find some vantage point to watch from. Keep us posted.”
“Acknowledged Shepard-Commander.”
The geth dropped out of the shuttle prepping his rifle as he went. A glance out the shuttle door and it became clear that the vessel had landed in a rocky gully. The report she had received on the planet stated that it was classified as having a breathable atmosphere, but just barely. Any indigenous life was only in the micro stage thankfully. But that meant at least she wouldn’t have to try and force her throbbing head into her helmet.
“Shepard, help me move him into the back,” Mordin asked.
Jane nodded and moved beside him, together they lifted the man out of the seat and into the back of the shuttle as gently as they could. Mordin knelt beside the man even as his omni-tool was already busy scanning his body. Shepard watched as he abruptly stood and began rummaging around the shuttle.
“If you tell me what you are looking for, I can help.”
“Medical supplies, blankets, anything of use.”
Jane joined him in the search but the only useful items they found were some water bottles and a few military rations for both chiralities.
Mordin let out a frustrated huff, “He shouldn’t have taken this much damage. Hypothesize that Cerberus didn’t maintain the same standards on the pilot harness versus the troops. Your armor and implants are the only reason you are not in the same condition as him.”
Jane shook her head in disgust, “I can see Cerberus being more interested in making sure their troops were alive after a crash versus the pilot. And it would be too much to ask for if medi-gel would help him, right?”
“Medi-gel useless, he suffers from internal injuries and swelling of the brain. He needs the med-bay.”
Legion’s voice came through their suits comm system, “Shepard-Commander, three vehicles are on an intercept course with the shuttle.”
“Anyway we can funnel them towards us Legion?”
“Quickest avenue would be directly down the gully. Access is possible from the sides, however we are stationed to minimize that threat.”
“Excellent. Keep the ridge line clear, force them into the gully where we can finish them off. This rock has no legitimate inhabitants so I won’t bother talking to any of the bastards. But try and spare their vehicles, we will probably need them for at the very least parts.”
“Acknowledged.”
“Mordin, we need to get ready. I’ll try and keep a singularity going where they will be coming at us so we can pick them off easier.”
Mordin nodded even as he filled his pockets with heat sinks. Jane followed his example as she struggled to keep a grimace of pain off of her face. Final preparations made they exited the vehicle. The sun was already beginning to dip towards the horizon, in a few hours it would be dark and the temperature would begin to drop.
Re: FemShep/Mordin - Fragile 2.5/?
anonymous
December 1 2012, 13:44:30 UTC
Jane and Mordin found outcroppings they could take shelter behind for at least some protection. The low whistle of the wind was drowned out by the rumble of the arriving vehicles. Jane pulled up her barrier and prepared to break cover to throw the first salvo when the crack of Legion’s sniper rifle rang across the area.
“What the fuck?” one attacker screamed out.
“We got geth!” another shouted.
“Dammit, this was supposed to be Shepard’s ship.”
Jane grinned over at Mordin, her mind already racing on how to use this to their advantage.
Activating the comm unit she spoke low into it, “Legion, make that noise like you are talking to more geth. We want these assholes to think they got a ship full of geth to deal with.”
The weird mechanical noise that geth used to communicate with each other echoed in the wash. Legion’s voice had the desired reaction of causing further confusion in the merc’s ranks. The hurried steps of someone heading towards the shuttle forced Shepard out of hiding. Her body lit up by her biotics she cast a singularity at the man. As he was lifted into the air he managed to give a single shout of alarm before her pistol put an end to him.
At least one of his squad had spotted her because the shouts now changed to pinpointing where she currently hid. Of course, they also speculated on how she had managed to forge an alliance with the geth. Jane would have laughed if they weren’t being pressed so hard by them. Legion did his part keeping them from coming at Shepard and Mordin from the sides.
Stubbornness kept her going past when she should have stopped using her biotics. Not hearing any more footsteps she leaned against her rock. She was just grateful that none of these bastards had a tactical cloak. The blood trickling from her nose she idly wiped away while she caught her breath.
“Shepard-Commander, only one enemy is unaccounted for. He is currently out of our sight, you should prepare for him.”
“Right, got that Mordin? One left.”
Mordin nodded, he glanced over to where she was resting when he heard the weariness in her voice. Dread pooled inside of him when he noted the wavering of her barrier and the blood that still flowed from her.
“Shepard, drop your barrier and stop using your biotics,” he hissed urgently into the comm.
“As soon as we finish this last one Mordin.”
Whatever retort he would have made was drowned out by the bellow of the krogan crashing towards them. Mordin stepped out of cover and a push of a button on his omni-tool he sent an incinerate towards the merc. The krogan’s barrier fell to the blast but did little damage to the krogan himself. Shepard flung a barrier in front of herself forcing the krogan to crash against it. Mordin could only fire his pistol at the merc even as he pushed closer and closer to Shepard’s failing barrier. The krogan gave an ugly laugh when he smelled the blood that flowed even more freely from the woman he had been paid an exorbitant sum to bring in dead or alive. A few seconds more and her biotics would fail and she would be at his mercy.
A part of his brain registered the click of a fresh heat sink being applied to a weapon before a red hot muzzle of a gun was pressed against his head and then he knew nothing as bullet after bullet tore through his brain. Jane watched as Mordin took out the krogan, the salarian bravely shooting him at point blank range. Her barrier dropped and her eyes rolled back into her head as she collapsed.
Re: FemShep/Mordin - Fragile 2.5/? - OP
anonymous
December 1 2012, 14:58:26 UTC
Yay, an update! I loved how confused they were by encountering geth and got a bit worried there when the krogan charged her! I wonder what will happen next! :)
Re: FemShep/Mordin - Fragile 2.5/? - OP
anonymous
December 1 2012, 15:08:34 UTC
A!A - As I was writing this, I got to thinking that the galaxy mostly has no clue about the differences between the heretics and geth and what mercs would assume when they spotted Legion. And then I had fun with it. Glad you are enjoying this so far!
Re: FemShep/Mordin - Fragile 3/?
anonymous
December 5 2012, 14:09:21 UTC
Mordin swore under his breath as Shepard crumpled to the ground. His warning had come to late. The signs of biotic burnout had been there but he had failed to notice it until it was too late.
“Legion, Shepard has collapsed. Must move her into the shuttle,” Mordin spoke rapidly into the comm unit.
A loud metallic thunk behind him announced the arrival of the geth from a precipice above them. Legion knelt beside the fallen woman and with an unexpected gentleness he gathered the woman up and carried her back towards the shuttle. Mordin quickened his steps to keep up with the geth, his brain racing through all the possible scenarios.
Legion gently laid the Commander down beside the pilot. The gentle glow of orange from Mordin’s omni-tool illuminated the space while he scanned the unconscious woman. Mordin rocked back on his heels as he went over the results he had collected. He rolled Shepard’s head away from him allowing him to see the back of her skull.
There he visually confirmed what the scan had already told him. He had failed Shepard. If he had taken the time to check her before the fight maybe he could have prevented the implant from shorting out or at the very least warned her about using her powers.
Taking a deep breath, he turned his attention to Legion. The geth had stood silently at his side while he had worked.
“Must contact Normandy. Need an immediate evac.”
“Acknowledged.”
Mordin turned back to his patients before Legion had even made it into the cockpit. He cursed the fact that no one had seen fit to check that Cerberus had stocked any sort of emergency gear in the shuttle. An oversight he would be personally addressing if they made it back. No, when they made it back.
With nothing more to do but wait for Shepard to awake on her own, he moved over to check the status of the pilot. The scan revealed failing life signs, just as he knew it would. He could do nothing for the poor soul now but stand watch while his life faded away. The sound of footsteps brought Mordin out of his reverie. The willingness of the geth to work with the crew of the Normandy had been unprecedented but now the humans survival depended on the two of them cooperating.
“Message sent?”
“Negative. We will attempt to salvage the necessary components from our opponents vehicles. Will Shepard-Commander remain functional?”
“Expect her to survive. No, must survive,” Mordin declared hurriedly.
“Acknowledged. We will inform you when we successfully contact the Normandy.”
Mordin closed the shuttle door before Legion had completely disappeared into the dusk. The condensation of his breath in the night air signaled another set of problems. Pushing the panel to open the cockpit did nothing, had something shorted out? The emergency release latch was pulled and he pushed the door open.
His eyes flitted from console to the floor and back again. A groan escaped him as he surveyed the cockpit while he rubbed his damaged horn in frustration. The metal cover that housed much of the shuttle’s electronics was now on the floor while the wires and modules that once ran the shuttle now littered the area.
Re: FemShep/Mordin - Fragile 3.5/?
anonymous
December 5 2012, 14:10:10 UTC
He stripped off his coat as he returned back to the cargo area. He tucked it carefully around the pilot, perhaps it would help him hold on long enough for a rescue. Moving to Shepard’s side he pulled up her arm with the omni-tool and began running diagnostics on her armor. He needed to know how long her suit would be able to maintain her temperature inside the cooling vehicle.
“Please tell me you aren’t searching for my secret porn stash.” Shepard groggily asked.
“What? NO! Needed to see status of your equipment,” Mordin exclaimed.
A weak laugh from her made him realize she had been teasing him. His fingers found where he had stashed the ration bars earlier and he pressed the lot of them into her hands.
“Eat, all of them.”
Jane weakly pushed against the floor trying to force her body erect. Before she could quite master that maneuver, Mordin’s strong arms were around her and with his help she managed to get into one of the troop seats. The ration bars had fallen from her grasp during her transition to the seat but she never even got the chance to say anything before they were pushed back into her hand.
Numbly she looked down at the small pile.
“Mordin, these are all the rations aren’t they?”
“Yes. Now eat.”
“But I know salarians have to eat frequently as well. You should have some of them.”
“No. Biotics require more calories than we currently have. Who is the doctor here?” He asked, one long finger poked in her direction.
Jane ripped open the first one and took a bite. It tasted like old cardboard but it would at least give her body the calories it needed. One of the bottles of water, already opened, was next put in her hands.
She gave Mordin a weak smile, “Thanks. How long was I out?”
“Twenty-five minutes. Legion is attempting to find parts to get the radio working.”
“The pilot?” Shepard asked, her voice soft.
“Dieing. Made him as comfortable as I could,” Mordin replied sadly.
“How long does he have?”
“Few hours at most,” Mordin replied with a sigh.
Jane hesitantly patted at Mordin’s shoulder, not really sure if salarians did such things. “It’s okay, you did what you could for him.”
“My fault Shepard,” Mordin declared.
“Bullshit Mordin, don’t think you set this trap for us. Remind me to have a ‘chat’ with Miranda when we get back. I can’t believe she would let the shuttle be maintained like this,” Jane waved her hand about angrily.
“I failed you, Commander,” Mordin replied getting to his feet. He paced about the small space. “Should have checked you before the fight. Would have seen implant was not operating at full capacity. Could have stopped you.”
“Whoa, whoa there Mordin,” Jane interjected. “We had three trucks coming at us. I wouldn’t have done anything differently. We needed to take them out as quickly as possible if there was any hope of saving our pilot. I’m in charge, it’s my ass that is responsible for everyone.”
Her voice sounded different somehow, fragile and unsure and he began to see that the weight of the galaxy was wearing on her. He stopped mid-stride to glance over where Shepard sat, eyes closed and head resting against the wall of the shuttle. Just as the weight of the genophage had begun to pull him under, the much larger danger of the Reapers was her’s to bear.
He slipped into the seat next to her. Mimicking her earlier gesture of compassion to him, he reached out and gently patted her leg. “Not alone Shepard. Crew, believe you and follow you. Together we will stop them.”
The last mouthful of the bar was shoved in her mouth before her hand dropped down to cover his.
Re: FemShep/Mordin - Fragile 4/?
anonymous
December 11 2012, 18:38:09 UTC
She chewed the last bite slowly and carefully swallowed it down. But it eased the pounding in her head only a little. She bit back a groan when her head rolled back against the hull of the ship. She shifted trying to find a more comfortable position when deliciously warm and gentle fingers massaged her temples easing some of the tension from her body. It was all she could do not to make a bigger fool of herself by moaning and pressing against those heavenly fingers.
“Need to relax. No pain medication available, tightening muscles only makes more pain.”
“Don’t mind me, I’ll just turn into a puddle over here. Bad guys show up and it’s your fault that I can’t fight back.”
His gentle laugh warmed the silence of the ship. If she scooted just a little bit closer to him, surely it was only to make it easier for him to maintain the connection between his hands and her skull. Mordin cocked his head at her in confusion when a soft laugh escaped her.
“Ticklish here?”
“No, just thinking that as shitty as the situation is now it could have been worse.”
“Laughter seems an unusual response to that.”
“I was thinking that rather than having a doctor and a geth with me. I could have been trapped here with Miranda and Jack.”
Jane opened her eyes at his snort to find Mordin’s face crinkling in amusement.
“That would uh, be problematic.”
“Having those two in the same star system is problematic, same ship, that’s just suicide.”
“Excellent choices for a suicide mission then!”
Jane laughed and then groaned at the pain it caused. “Ugh, don’t make me laugh Mordin.”
“Sorry Shepard. Will try to keep levity to a bare minimum.”
Jane just smiled as his fingers never stopped the gentle caress of her temples and when he began to hum, it shouldn’t have surprised her that sleep claimed her. Mordin took that opportunity to closely study her while she rested. The horrible scarring she had when they had first met had faded and in sleep she looked much younger than should have been possible for such an accomplished soldier. Another reminder that she would hopefully have many years before her while he, at most, would only have a few. It was to late to ponder what might have been.
He slowed and eventually pulled his fingers away from her. He waited a moment and when she failed to awaken he slipped from his seat. A quick check of the pilot revealed the man still lived, thankfully still unconscious. Unable to do but the most rudimentary things for his patients irked him to no end. He had worked before with limited supplies but this time he had none. Tracking the length of Legion’s absence only irritated him more, he couldn’t even pace for fear of disturbing those he was supposed to be caring for. Nothing more for him to do but wait.
He eased back into the seat next to Shepard hoping to pass the time more quickly by sleeping. Shepard stirred slightly and he held his breath waiting to see if she would wake. His hands moved of their own accord preparing to ease her passage back into sleep when instead her head found a place to rest on his shoulder. Her warm breath tickled the side of his neck but oddly, it wasn’t unpleasant. Leaning his head against hers, he found that her hair made a rather soft and pleasing pillow for him. His last thought before he fell asleep was trying to place what the pleasant scent of her her was.
Re: FemShep/Mordin - Fragile 4.5/?
anonymous
December 11 2012, 18:40:31 UTC
Thirty minutes later, Mordin’s eyes opened when his omni-tool vibrated an incoming message. The emergency lights barely illuminated the inside of the shuttle but he could see enough that Jane was still asleep and that the pilot still breathed. He didn’t want to disturb either of them but the transmission could be good news from Legion.
“Legion, ETA on arrival of rescue?” Mordin blurted out as quietly as he could.
“No data available. These vehicles were insufficient for our needs. We are currently en route to their ship. Will appropriate it for our use. We will update further.”
Shepard leaned off his shoulder to murmur into his omni-tool, “Legion, don’t take any chances. Come and get us if it looks to be to many guarding it. Understood?”
“Acknowledged Shepard-Commander. We were unaware you were mobile.”
“She isn’t, but I am. I will provide backup if needed,” Mordin interrupted.
Mordin shut off the call and found Shepard narrowing her eyes at him.
“No arguments. One small nap will not restore you to full capability. How are you feeling though?”
“Better but if he needs our help, I need to go.”
“Shepard, unacceptable to expose you to another gun fight,” Mordin stated, his hand shaking at her in his agitation.
It might have been funny if he wasn’t so serious.
“Mordin,” Shepard started to say.
“Doctor, my job to preserve lives. Brain damage possible consequence if you use your biotics before your implant has been replaced, that is an unacceptable risk.”
“Crap that bad?”
“Yes, scan showed it was damaged and not working properly. Cerberus design so unsure of exact parameters but with others I have worked with catastrophic failure has resulted in brain damage and even death.”
“Alright then, I promise my biotics are the absolute last resort. That do?”
“Acceptable. Shepard, Legion is a highly capable synthetic, infiltrated the inactive reaper solo, a few mercs should hardly be a problem.”
“Yeah but it’s hard waiting. I had you figured for being twitchy without any experiments to do.”
“Keep self busy by going over all possible results of the tests currently running back on the Normandy. Can share if you would like?”
Jane gave a soft laugh, “I think it would take you longer to explain everything to me, but thanks for the offer. I, uh, hope I didn’t break some salarian protocol when I fell asleep on your shoulder.”
“Yes, wanted to discuss that with you. Totally inappropriate, part of sacred mating ritual. You will have to dance naked around the shuttle three times in order to appease our gods.”
Jane chuckled, “Now I know you’re having me on. But that was a good one Mordin.”
“Shepard-Commander are you functional?”
She turned her head to find Legion standing between her and the pilot.
“Ugh not so loud Legion. I’m in one piece...I think.”
Jane looked at the pilot, she could see a faint movement of his chest but that was the only indication he still breathed. By the time she had freed herself from her harness, Mordin had already moved up to tend the wounded man.
“Well, now we know it was a trap,” Jane muttered angrily as she turned the ship’s warnings off.
“Can stabilize him for now, but will need more medical attention than currently able to provide here. We need to get him back to the Normandy and soon or else it will be too late.”
“Right do what you can and then we need to prepare for our welcoming committee. Legion, find some vantage point to watch from. Keep us posted.”
“Acknowledged Shepard-Commander.”
The geth dropped out of the shuttle prepping his rifle as he went. A glance out the shuttle door and it became clear that the vessel had landed in a rocky gully. The report she had received on the planet stated that it was classified as having a breathable atmosphere, but just barely. Any indigenous life was only in the micro stage thankfully. But that meant at least she wouldn’t have to try and force her throbbing head into her helmet.
“Shepard, help me move him into the back,” Mordin asked.
Jane nodded and moved beside him, together they lifted the man out of the seat and into the back of the shuttle as gently as they could. Mordin knelt beside the man even as his omni-tool was already busy scanning his body. Shepard watched as he abruptly stood and began rummaging around the shuttle.
“If you tell me what you are looking for, I can help.”
“Medical supplies, blankets, anything of use.”
Jane joined him in the search but the only useful items they found were some water bottles and a few military rations for both chiralities.
Mordin let out a frustrated huff, “He shouldn’t have taken this much damage. Hypothesize that Cerberus didn’t maintain the same standards on the pilot harness versus the troops. Your armor and implants are the only reason you are not in the same condition as him.”
Jane shook her head in disgust, “I can see Cerberus being more interested in making sure their troops were alive after a crash versus the pilot. And it would be too much to ask for if medi-gel would help him, right?”
“Medi-gel useless, he suffers from internal injuries and swelling of the brain. He needs the med-bay.”
Legion’s voice came through their suits comm system, “Shepard-Commander, three vehicles are on an intercept course with the shuttle.”
“Anyway we can funnel them towards us Legion?”
“Quickest avenue would be directly down the gully. Access is possible from the sides, however we are stationed to minimize that threat.”
“Excellent. Keep the ridge line clear, force them into the gully where we can finish them off. This rock has no legitimate inhabitants so I won’t bother talking to any of the bastards. But try and spare their vehicles, we will probably need them for at the very least parts.”
“Acknowledged.”
“Mordin, we need to get ready. I’ll try and keep a singularity going where they will be coming at us so we can pick them off easier.”
Mordin nodded even as he filled his pockets with heat sinks. Jane followed his example as she struggled to keep a grimace of pain off of her face. Final preparations made they exited the vehicle. The sun was already beginning to dip towards the horizon, in a few hours it would be dark and the temperature would begin to drop.
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“What the fuck?” one attacker screamed out.
“We got geth!” another shouted.
“Dammit, this was supposed to be Shepard’s ship.”
Jane grinned over at Mordin, her mind already racing on how to use this to their advantage.
Activating the comm unit she spoke low into it, “Legion, make that noise like you are talking to more geth. We want these assholes to think they got a ship full of geth to deal with.”
The weird mechanical noise that geth used to communicate with each other echoed in the wash. Legion’s voice had the desired reaction of causing further confusion in the merc’s ranks. The hurried steps of someone heading towards the shuttle forced Shepard out of hiding. Her body lit up by her biotics she cast a singularity at the man. As he was lifted into the air he managed to give a single shout of alarm before her pistol put an end to him.
At least one of his squad had spotted her because the shouts now changed to pinpointing where she currently hid. Of course, they also speculated on how she had managed to forge an alliance with the geth. Jane would have laughed if they weren’t being pressed so hard by them. Legion did his part keeping them from coming at Shepard and Mordin from the sides.
Stubbornness kept her going past when she should have stopped using her biotics. Not hearing any more footsteps she leaned against her rock. She was just grateful that none of these bastards had a tactical cloak. The blood trickling from her nose she idly wiped away while she caught her breath.
“Shepard-Commander, only one enemy is unaccounted for. He is currently out of our sight, you should prepare for him.”
“Right, got that Mordin? One left.”
Mordin nodded, he glanced over to where she was resting when he heard the weariness in her voice. Dread pooled inside of him when he noted the wavering of her barrier and the blood that still flowed from her.
“Shepard, drop your barrier and stop using your biotics,” he hissed urgently into the comm.
“As soon as we finish this last one Mordin.”
Whatever retort he would have made was drowned out by the bellow of the krogan crashing towards them. Mordin stepped out of cover and a push of a button on his omni-tool he sent an incinerate towards the merc. The krogan’s barrier fell to the blast but did little damage to the krogan himself. Shepard flung a barrier in front of herself forcing the krogan to crash against it. Mordin could only fire his pistol at the merc even as he pushed closer and closer to Shepard’s failing barrier. The krogan gave an ugly laugh when he smelled the blood that flowed even more freely from the woman he had been paid an exorbitant sum to bring in dead or alive. A few seconds more and her biotics would fail and she would be at his mercy.
A part of his brain registered the click of a fresh heat sink being applied to a weapon before a red hot muzzle of a gun was pressed against his head and then he knew nothing as bullet after bullet tore through his brain. Jane watched as Mordin took out the krogan, the salarian bravely shooting him at point blank range. Her barrier dropped and her eyes rolled back into her head as she collapsed.
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“Legion, Shepard has collapsed. Must move her into the shuttle,” Mordin spoke rapidly into the comm unit.
A loud metallic thunk behind him announced the arrival of the geth from a precipice above them. Legion knelt beside the fallen woman and with an unexpected gentleness he gathered the woman up and carried her back towards the shuttle. Mordin quickened his steps to keep up with the geth, his brain racing through all the possible scenarios.
Legion gently laid the Commander down beside the pilot. The gentle glow of orange from Mordin’s omni-tool illuminated the space while he scanned the unconscious woman. Mordin rocked back on his heels as he went over the results he had collected. He rolled Shepard’s head away from him allowing him to see the back of her skull.
There he visually confirmed what the scan had already told him. He had failed Shepard. If he had taken the time to check her before the fight maybe he could have prevented the implant from shorting out or at the very least warned her about using her powers.
Taking a deep breath, he turned his attention to Legion. The geth had stood silently at his side while he had worked.
“Must contact Normandy. Need an immediate evac.”
“Acknowledged.”
Mordin turned back to his patients before Legion had even made it into the cockpit. He cursed the fact that no one had seen fit to check that Cerberus had stocked any sort of emergency gear in the shuttle. An oversight he would be personally addressing if they made it back. No, when they made it back.
With nothing more to do but wait for Shepard to awake on her own, he moved over to check the status of the pilot. The scan revealed failing life signs, just as he knew it would. He could do nothing for the poor soul now but stand watch while his life faded away.
The sound of footsteps brought Mordin out of his reverie. The willingness of the geth to work with the crew of the Normandy had been unprecedented but now the humans survival depended on the two of them cooperating.
“Message sent?”
“Negative. We will attempt to salvage the necessary components from our opponents vehicles. Will Shepard-Commander remain functional?”
“Expect her to survive. No, must survive,” Mordin declared hurriedly.
“Acknowledged. We will inform you when we successfully contact the Normandy.”
Mordin closed the shuttle door before Legion had completely disappeared into the dusk. The condensation of his breath in the night air signaled another set of problems. Pushing the panel to open the cockpit did nothing, had something shorted out? The emergency release latch was pulled and he pushed the door open.
His eyes flitted from console to the floor and back again. A groan escaped him as he surveyed the cockpit while he rubbed his damaged horn in frustration. The metal cover that housed much of the shuttle’s electronics was now on the floor while the wires and modules that once ran the shuttle now littered the area.
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“Please tell me you aren’t searching for my secret porn stash.” Shepard groggily asked.
“What? NO! Needed to see status of your equipment,” Mordin exclaimed.
A weak laugh from her made him realize she had been teasing him. His fingers found where he had stashed the ration bars earlier and he pressed the lot of them into her hands.
“Eat, all of them.”
Jane weakly pushed against the floor trying to force her body erect. Before she could quite master that maneuver, Mordin’s strong arms were around her and with his help she managed to get into one of the troop seats. The ration bars had fallen from her grasp during her transition to the seat but she never even got the chance to say anything before they were pushed back into her hand.
Numbly she looked down at the small pile.
“Mordin, these are all the rations aren’t they?”
“Yes. Now eat.”
“But I know salarians have to eat frequently as well. You should have some of them.”
“No. Biotics require more calories than we currently have. Who is the doctor here?” He asked, one long finger poked in her direction.
Jane ripped open the first one and took a bite. It tasted like old cardboard but it would at least give her body the calories it needed. One of the bottles of water, already opened, was next put in her hands.
She gave Mordin a weak smile, “Thanks. How long was I out?”
“Twenty-five minutes. Legion is attempting to find parts to get the radio working.”
“The pilot?” Shepard asked, her voice soft.
“Dieing. Made him as comfortable as I could,” Mordin replied sadly.
“How long does he have?”
“Few hours at most,” Mordin replied with a sigh.
Jane hesitantly patted at Mordin’s shoulder, not really sure if salarians did such things. “It’s okay, you did what you could for him.”
“My fault Shepard,” Mordin declared.
“Bullshit Mordin, don’t think you set this trap for us. Remind me to have a ‘chat’ with Miranda when we get back. I can’t believe she would let the shuttle be maintained like this,” Jane waved her hand about angrily.
“I failed you, Commander,” Mordin replied getting to his feet. He paced about the small space. “Should have checked you before the fight. Would have seen implant was not operating at full capacity. Could have stopped you.”
“Whoa, whoa there Mordin,” Jane interjected. “We had three trucks coming at us. I wouldn’t have done anything differently. We needed to take them out as quickly as possible if there was any hope of saving our pilot. I’m in charge, it’s my ass that is responsible for everyone.”
Her voice sounded different somehow, fragile and unsure and he began to see that the weight of the galaxy was wearing on her. He stopped mid-stride to glance over where Shepard sat, eyes closed and head resting against the wall of the shuttle. Just as the weight of the genophage had begun to pull him under, the much larger danger of the Reapers was her’s to bear.
He slipped into the seat next to her. Mimicking her earlier gesture of compassion to him, he reached out and gently patted her leg. “Not alone Shepard. Crew, believe you and follow you. Together we will stop them.”
The last mouthful of the bar was shoved in her mouth before her hand dropped down to cover his.
“Thanks Mordin. I appreciate that.”
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“Please tell me you aren’t searching for my secret porn stash.” Shepard groggily asked.
Hahaha! You always manage to put something funny in, and I love it. :D
I also like Mordin taking charge, and that part where Legion picked her up and took her to the shuttle - aww! :)
Can't wait to see what happens next!
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“Need to relax. No pain medication available, tightening muscles only makes more pain.”
“Don’t mind me, I’ll just turn into a puddle over here. Bad guys show up and it’s your fault that I can’t fight back.”
His gentle laugh warmed the silence of the ship. If she scooted just a little bit closer to him, surely it was only to make it easier for him to maintain the connection between his hands and her skull. Mordin cocked his head at her in confusion when a soft laugh escaped her.
“Ticklish here?”
“No, just thinking that as shitty as the situation is now it could have been worse.”
“Laughter seems an unusual response to that.”
“I was thinking that rather than having a doctor and a geth with me. I could have been trapped here with Miranda and Jack.”
Jane opened her eyes at his snort to find Mordin’s face crinkling in amusement.
“That would uh, be problematic.”
“Having those two in the same star system is problematic, same ship, that’s just suicide.”
“Excellent choices for a suicide mission then!”
Jane laughed and then groaned at the pain it caused. “Ugh, don’t make me laugh Mordin.”
“Sorry Shepard. Will try to keep levity to a bare minimum.”
Jane just smiled as his fingers never stopped the gentle caress of her temples and when he began to hum, it shouldn’t have surprised her that sleep claimed her. Mordin took that opportunity to closely study her while she rested. The horrible scarring she had when they had first met had faded and in sleep she looked much younger than should have been possible for such an accomplished soldier. Another reminder that she would hopefully have many years before her while he, at most, would only have a few. It was to late to ponder what might have been.
He slowed and eventually pulled his fingers away from her. He waited a moment and when she failed to awaken he slipped from his seat. A quick check of the pilot revealed the man still lived, thankfully still unconscious. Unable to do but the most rudimentary things for his patients irked him to no end. He had worked before with limited supplies but this time he had none. Tracking the length of Legion’s absence only irritated him more, he couldn’t even pace for fear of disturbing those he was supposed to be caring for. Nothing more for him to do but wait.
He eased back into the seat next to Shepard hoping to pass the time more quickly by sleeping. Shepard stirred slightly and he held his breath waiting to see if she would wake. His hands moved of their own accord preparing to ease her passage back into sleep when instead her head found a place to rest on his shoulder. Her warm breath tickled the side of his neck but oddly, it wasn’t unpleasant. Leaning his head against hers, he found that her hair made a rather soft and pleasing pillow for him. His last thought before he fell asleep was trying to place what the pleasant scent of her her was.
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“Legion, ETA on arrival of rescue?” Mordin blurted out as quietly as he could.
“No data available. These vehicles were insufficient for our needs. We are currently en route to their ship. Will appropriate it for our use. We will update further.”
Shepard leaned off his shoulder to murmur into his omni-tool, “Legion, don’t take any chances. Come and get us if it looks to be to many guarding it. Understood?”
“Acknowledged Shepard-Commander. We were unaware you were mobile.”
“She isn’t, but I am. I will provide backup if needed,” Mordin interrupted.
Mordin shut off the call and found Shepard narrowing her eyes at him.
“No arguments. One small nap will not restore you to full capability. How are you feeling though?”
“Better but if he needs our help, I need to go.”
“Shepard, unacceptable to expose you to another gun fight,” Mordin stated, his hand shaking at her in his agitation.
It might have been funny if he wasn’t so serious.
“Mordin,” Shepard started to say.
“Doctor, my job to preserve lives. Brain damage possible consequence if you use your biotics before your implant has been replaced, that is an unacceptable risk.”
“Crap that bad?”
“Yes, scan showed it was damaged and not working properly. Cerberus design so unsure of exact parameters but with others I have worked with catastrophic failure has resulted in brain damage and even death.”
“Alright then, I promise my biotics are the absolute last resort. That do?”
“Acceptable. Shepard, Legion is a highly capable synthetic, infiltrated the inactive reaper solo, a few mercs should hardly be a problem.”
“Yeah but it’s hard waiting. I had you figured for being twitchy without any experiments to do.”
“Keep self busy by going over all possible results of the tests currently running back on the Normandy. Can share if you would like?”
Jane gave a soft laugh, “I think it would take you longer to explain everything to me, but thanks for the offer. I, uh, hope I didn’t break some salarian protocol when I fell asleep on your shoulder.”
“Yes, wanted to discuss that with you. Totally inappropriate, part of sacred mating ritual. You will have to dance naked around the shuttle three times in order to appease our gods.”
Jane chuckled, “Now I know you’re having me on. But that was a good one Mordin.”
“Payback Shepard, payback,” Mordin replied laughing.
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