Lazarus Project: Mass Effect 2 (Shenko)

Chapter 72

Milky Way/Krogan DMZ/Normandy SR-2

Earth year: 2185 CE --- November

Callie had just sent her letter to Kaidan and was now pacing the floor of her cabin. Had she said the right thing? Should she have told him she still loved him? That she would love him for the rest of her life?

No. She argued for the hundredth time. She didn't want him feeling guilty or beholden to her. He'd paid enough for her mistake. He deserved to be happy and to move on with his life. Then why had she said it all? Because he deserved to know, he reminded herself. If not for her, he would have known how she felt two years ago and that she had felt the same for him then.

Tears brimmed in her eyes, threatening to spill down her cheeks as she thought how badly she had hurt him. She'd made such a mess of the most wonderful thing that had ever happened to her that she found it hard to breathe.

"Commander?" EDI's voice came over the comm.

Swiping a hand over her eyes to brush the tears away, Callie took a shuddering breath.

"What is it EDI?"

"It's Jack. She's been pacing the cargo hold for the past hour. Her bio-metric readings are starting to spike. I believe she is upset."

"Shit."Callie swore, smacking her hand to her forehead. She had completely forgotten about Pragia. "Understood EDI. Tell Joker to plot a course for Pragia and notify Jack. I'm on my way to the CIC."

Sighing, she headed to the bathroom to splash water on her face. It wouldn't do much to hide the sadness she saw in her eyes, but it was better than nothing. On the ride down to the CIC she regretted she couldn't blow up the Illusive Man. Blowing up a former Cerberus facility would have to do.

----xxx----

"EDI." The Illusive Man called on his private link with the Normandy.

"Sir."

"I've been monitoring Shepard's messages. She has just cut ties with Commander Alenko. I want any and all further correspondence from him blocked from this point on. We can't afford to have Shepard distracted. She's committed to the mission now and I want her to stay that way. Inform me immediately if anything changes."

"Setting the blocks now." EDI confirmed, feeling strangely conflicted as she fulfilled his request.

"Good. Continue to monitor Shepard's emotional state. I want her fully focused on the mission. No distractions."

"Understood." EDI confirmed.

"Good. End transmission."

----xxx----

Milky Way/Nubian Expanse/Dakka System/Pragia

"This was a mistake Shepard." Jack said, fidgeting in her seat on the shuttle.

"This was a Cerberus facility right?" Garrus asked from his seat across from them.

"Yeah." Jack snorted. "Landing pad's on the roof. Vegetation would cover it in a few otherwise. Built it to last. Assholes."

"It'll be fine Jack." Callie assured her as they stepped out onto the roof into a deluge of rainfall.

"Right. Yeah." Jack agreed, shaking herself. "Let's go find my cell and plant that bomb.

Readying weapons, they traipsed down the stairs from the roof to the entrance. Local plant life had found it's way inside and was coming up through the floor. Trees were growing out of control, while huge vines stretched down from the ceiling where it had broken through the roof. Broken walls and furniture littered the interior making progress difficult.