"So, welcome aboard!"
I said this with a wide grin, as I had invited this guest as soon as the secrecy was lifted from my status. She just needed some time to settle her affairs and arrive at the ship.
"John, I'm so glad to see you..."
Dr. Karin Chakwas took a couple of steps toward me and hugged me. I couldn't respond to that hug with anything but my own embrace.
"Karin, I'm very glad to see you too. Do you want to see the ship or go straight to your domain?"
"What do I care about the ship?"
She waved her hand carelessly.
"All that concerns me is the medical bay. Take me there and give me time to figure out the equipment; I might have to buy some extra things, and after that, I'll be ready for any circumstances."
"As you say."
We still had to break the hug, after which we went to the medical bay, where EDI was already present—or rather, her civilian body.
"Karin, let me introduce your assistant to you."
I pointed a hand at the AI.
"EDI, the Normandy's Artificial Intelligence. Besides this body, she has a fairly large server, as well as a combat platform. But this specific one is assigned to you as an assistant."
"Ri-i-ight..."
Dr. Karin Chakwas looked at EDI with slight doubt, then walked through the section.
"I already see what's missing."
"All critically important equipment is in place."
The ship AI's voice was dry and even somewhat displeased. She was clearly trying to show that Dr. Karin Chakwas didn't belong on the ship. And she did this not because she hated Karin specifically, but because for her, all the equipment already on board was already sufficient.
"EDI... Sometimes critical equipment isn't enough. For example, severe traumas—with this equipment..."
She gestured around the section with her hand, as if suggesting a look around.
"—treating them will be quite problematic. Not impossible, but still... if we supplement the equipment a bit, it will be better for us."
"Tsk... you meatbags are so delicate..."
"Yeah..."
Dr. Karin Chakwas nodded sarcastically.
"Are you saying your repair station doesn't include a bunch of other equipment besides a hammer and a screwdriver?"
"That's different!"
EDI turned up her nose.
"Of course, of course..."
Dr. Karin Chakwas nodded mockingly.
"Alright, Karin, will you have a list of everything necessary by the end of the day?"
"Of course, but regarding finances..."
"Forget it."
I waved my hand.
"Finances aren't a problem right now, so order everything you deem necessary."
"Damn..."
Dr. Karin Chakwas shook her head.
"—I'd already forgotten how pleasant working on the SSV Normandy was because you fought for everything necessary for the medical bay."
"And I still consider it inefficient."
EDI said this, but it was clear from her voice that it was more of a grumble than real displeasure.
"Karin, shall we get together for a cup of tea this evening?"
I looked inquiringly at the medic, and she, thoughtfully scanning the section with her gaze, nodded.
"Yes, I'd be glad to have a glass."
The smile on Dr. Karin Chakwas's lips let me know she was truly glad for my offer, so I soon left the medical bay, leaving the kind Aunt Karin and her assistant there.
Reaching my cabin, which doubled as my office, I set to work—specifically checking documents, as well as selecting the missing crew members. On one hand, it might seem that my landing party is more than large, and with more biotics in it, working will be safer than when we deployed from the first SSV Normandy. But that only seems so. Because this time, everything will be harder. Much harder.
Even though Aria T'Loak, at my expense and the Council's expense, is sending shuttles through the Omega-4 Relay with very powerful explosives—mostly old ones being decommissioned from warehouses because they've become too unstable—the Collectors' ships continue to arrive. And they arrive not only through this relay but through others as well, showing that we know lamentably little about this method of travel.
However, it was at least heartening that in the nearly two years since my "death," my colonies had become much more protected. Especially Eden Prime, where humans and representatives of other races are simply in shock at the speed with which everything is developing.
Also, a Prothean underground bunker was found on Eden Prime, and although I didn't want to open it—since in canon the Protheans were quite the racists, and there was a living representative of that race there—Liara believed it still needed to be done, so the shelter was being carefully opened. And so far, everything suggested there was some energy left. I would say very little energy.
Time flies when you're working, and now evening had arrived, and I reached the crew lounge, where Dr. Karin Chakwas was already sitting; Jane, Liara, Tali were also there... in short, the entire past and present composition of the landing party... to put it simply, the entire crew of the SSV Normandy had gathered on this level, and everyone, broken into small groups, was drinking and discussing something.
"John, you're just in time..."
Dr. Karin Chakwas waved a hand welcomingly, and I approached the ladies' circle—and currently, the landing party gathered around our doctor consisted only of girls, well, except for me. Jane, Chifuyu Orimura, Rebecca Lee, Tali, Liara, Lissi, Missi, Samara, EDI, and Jack. Ten girls for just one of me! And considering they were now gathered around Karin, that made eleven!
"You haven't started yet?"
"We're waiting for you."
Dr. Karin Chakwas answered me with a slight smile, and I, producing a couple of bottles of brandy—the very same one she had let slip to me once while we were traveling on the first SSV Normandy.
"Oh... you're quite the ladies' man! You remembered exactly which drink I like..."
Dr. Karin Chakwas said this and erotically licked her lips.
"Fuck... I thought you were fucking these..."
Jack nodded at Jane, Liara, and Tali, who were sitting next to each other.
"—but you're with this ol—"
Meeting Dr. Karin Chakwas's gaze, Jack froze.
"Jack, you will come to me in the medical bay for an examination, won't you?"
It was said in such a voice that everyone felt sorry for Jack, despite her being a big thorn in the side and having managed to step on many people's toes.
"I... I don't know, I have, like..."
"John, will you direct this girl to me for a medical checkup? I need to collect all the data on her so that if she gets wounded, she can be—"
quickly put them back on their feet."
"Of course."
I nodded and, opening the first bottle, poured the drink into the glasses.
"Just a second..."
Karin stopped Jack, who was already about to drain her glass in one gulp.
"...to your landings going as smoothly as possible, and to you ending up in my care as rarely as possible."
"I'll drink to that."
After my word, we all clinked glasses and drank, after which I refilled them.
"Don't just drink it all right now!"
Liara caught Jack's hand with biotics.
"We didn't gather to drink ourselves into a stupor—though that is a possible outcome of our get-together—but to sit and talk."
"Listen, you guys are all so vanilla here..."
Resentment crept into Jack's voice.
"...it makes me feel uneasy. So I'll probably go."
"Sit down, girl..."
Samara spoke in a perfectly calm voice.
"...we are your comrades-in-arms, and in battle, you will have to trust us with your back, just as we trust ours to you. So you'd better stay and just sit with us."
Jack grimaced.
"Yeah... comrades... first they bought me like merchandise, and now..."
She shrugged.
"Well, let's assume if you had been bought like merchandise, you wouldn't be sitting here."
Tali said this with a light mockery. For her, I had specifically brought disposable sealed glasses from which she could drink the contents using a special straw.
"Oh, really?"
"Jack, do you really think a Spectre..."
She nodded casually in my direction.
"...doesn't have access to contraband? To get a high-tech slave chip from the warehouses, deliver you here in a frozen state, and then you open your eyes and find you can't disobey a single order from John."
Jack shuddered.
"So you are quite free and even entered into an agreement with John to help us, and in return, we will help you."
"By the way, I've already found information about the facility."
At Liara's words, Jack perked up.
"Where?"
"Pragia, in the Dakka system, in the Nubian Expanse. That's where the facility is located, and we'll need to head there early..."
"Early? To the ladies, so that you remain just as beautiful regardless of what awaits us next."
I asked the question, then proposed a toast. We clinked and drank, but this time we didn't finish the glasses. Even Jack took only a few small sips, for which she clearly had to make an effort.
"And why is that?"
"It's simple: someone has been gathering mercenaries to go there. There's a chance that either the facility is going to be destroyed, or someone wanted to use it as their own base. I don't think either case suits Jack very well."
"You're thinking right."
Jack closed her eyes.
"I'd like to destroy that facility personally."
"Well, what's stopping us from going there?"
Rebecca asked this with a light smirk.
"To having gallant men in our group!"
With a slight smile, I clinked glasses with the girls and finished mine this time, then began pouring the drink again.
"Of course, the SSV Normandy isn't in perfect condition yet, but for a first flight..."
She shook her head.
"John?"
Jack looked at me, as did everyone else; in Jack's eyes, I saw a plea, almost a prayer, though her face showed almost no emotion.
"I don't mind."
I had to answer her question with a shrug.
"I think we can leave tomorrow morning."
"Do you think Joker will be in any condition?"
EDI nodded toward our pilot, who was sitting at the bar counter sipping drinks.
"Well... as far as I know, Jeff isn't a fan of very strong drinks, so we should warn him. Or we'll fly out the day after tomorrow."
"Fine, I will send a warning to all crew members."
EDI smirked with a sarcastic grin, as the party for everyone was being cut short.
"Karin, do you have..."
"I'll order medicine and IVs from the colony, so in the morning, in a couple of hours, I'll put those without whom the ship cannot move back on their feet, as well as the landing party. And then, during the flight, we'll fix up the rest. So everything will be fine."
"Excellent. EDI, then there's no ban on alcohol right now, but there is a request to keep in mind that tomorrow morning everyone will have to undergo accelerated treatment, so let everyone watch their own limit."
"Mm-hmm, but my idea to spoil everyone's fun was more interesting."
The AI said these words with a touch of sadness that she wasn't allowed to ruin our rest.
"I need to..."
"Stay..."
Samara didn't let Jack stand up.
"...believe me, right now it's better for you not to be alone. So sit with us, have another drink."
"Been in situations like this before?"
"Well, I don't know your situation, but I can say I've been in many. And I see in your eyes that you might do something foolish, so believe me, it's better for you to be here right now. And when it's all over, it's also better to be in company."
Jack exhaled through tightly clenched teeth, while I poured a bit more alcohol.
"To everything turning out well for Jack and her vendetta!"
Samara proposed this toast, after which we clinked and drained our glasses in one gulp.
***
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