If It Meant Living: Mass Effect 2

28: Blowback

31 days since Resurrection    ||    2 months, 4 days until activation of Omega 4 Relay

Shepard stared at the Illusive Man in disbelief.  Not that she should – she already believed him capable of just about anything.  Nonetheless, somehow she hadn’t believed him capable of this.

“You set this up!”

“No, Shepard.  I simply created a set of circumstances conducive to attracting the Collectors’ attention.”

She shook her head and chuckled bitterly.  “You risked the life of my friend, my crew, and the entire colony, just to lure the Collectors there.  How dare you.”

"I suspected the Collectors were looking for you or people connected to you.  Now I know for certain.  I told you I wouldn't sit idly by while the Collectors and the Reapers gathered strength.  Besides, they would have hit another colony eventually.  Without a way to predict which one, they would've abducted everyone.”

He paused, leaned back in his chair, and took a drag.  She glared at him with undisguised contempt.  “Shepard, I'm devoting all resources to finding a way through the Omega 4 relay.  The important thing is that your team be strong. There's no looking back. The same goes for you.” 

He tilted his head a bit and his holographic eyes looked directly into hers.  “Can I assume you've put your past relationships behind you?"

Did he really just…the arrogant, deceitful, manipulative son of a bitch.

Her face lost all expression as she gazed back into his holographic eyes.

“This conversation is over.”

“Shepard – “  She slammed the disconnect button then stormed out of the briefing room and to the cockpit.

“Joker, take us to the Citadel.”

“But Commander, I thought we were going – “

“I. Said.The Citadel.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She looked up through the overhead view windows as they accelerated to FTL and the stars sped to a blur.

“So…um…Commander…Alenko…was he…?”  Joker couldn’t seem to figure out how to end the question.

She just shook her head faintly.

“Bastard.”

That made her chuckle the slightest bit.  She gave a sad smile to Joker.  “No…”  She sighed.  “Just a reminder that I’ve lost more than time.”  She whispered to herself.  “A lot more.”

Joker looked away uncomfortably.  “Understood, ma’am.”

She looked back up through the windows at the blur of stars surrounding the ship before turning to go.

“But…it’s kind of tragic that you don’t have anywhere to call home.”

“I don’t mind.  Really.  My home is…out there…the entire galaxy.” 

For the first time since the day she joined the Alliance, she felt the absence of a place to call home.

Her next stop was the Port Observation Room.  The bar.  Kasumi was already there, settling back in after the mission.  Shepard didn't even glance at her as she went behind the bar, crouched down and started rummaging.  After a moment she came up with a nearly-full bottle of Tennessee whiskey.  She had never been to Tennessee but had been assured that their whiskey was top notch. She grabbed it by the neck, started back around the bar, and found Kasumi blocking her path.