[Book Two] Chapter 19: Girls night

[Book Two] Chapter 19: Girls nightChapter 19: Girls night

Half the team were waiting nervously and in worry, sitting at the dining table on the Crew Deck. All were looking at the opaque windows of the maid bay. Samara’s presence, which usually created an atmosphere of calm and peace, didn't help at all.

Tali was fumbling with her hands dying of worry and full of fear for her best friend's life. Garrus was next to her, impassable but the taping of his talon on the floor revealed what he was feeling. Samara was praying to the goddess in her meditative position on the ground in the middle of the room. For her part, Miranda was writing a report on a portable terminal she had brought out of her quarters but if one paid attention they would have noticed that her head was elsewhere as the report has been blank for the past three hours and she still had Rick’s blood on her hands. Jack was the most active of them all, walking back and forth in the back of the area, her mind a mess of confusion, anger, worry and fear. Even Joker, thanks to EDI, was looking at the scene from the screen on his side from his cockpit. Finally, Shepard was removed from the rest and rested against the wall. Her eyes focused on the med-bay door trying to burn holes into it to see what was happening inside. She was subconsciously opening and closing her fist, murder in her mind. Murder of the Illusive Man.

“No”

“Dudette.”

“You bitch!” the ex-convict said to Jane sitting on her left.

“Everyone’s getting a turn.”

“Dudette?” inquired Kasumi not understanding.

“That’s... I don’t want to talk about it. And I’ll shoot anyone who tries to explain.” she said with a tint of red on her face.

“I have to say, he’s right, you’d look good with hair Jack.” Jane said.

“We’re not talking about me anymore, Carrot top.” was said in a very threatening manner.

“Alright, alright, who’s next? Samara? You spent four years with him, I’m sure you got one.”

“Majesty.”

“Majesty, really? I guess that fits. I never heard him call you that though.”

“It lasted a couple of months, afterwards he was using my name.”

“Anyone else?”

“I rarely talk to him but a few times he just called me Gabby like everyone else.”

“He just calls me doc, most of the time or Karin on occasion.”

“I know from councilor Anderson that he calls the asari and salarian councilors Gorgeous and Hoodie, respectively. To their face of course.” divulged the redhead. Making Samara chuckled.

“Count on Rick to not give an ounce of care about social status and call anyone anything he wants. Even when facing the representatives of two of the most important species in the galaxy.” stated the asari in an amused tone.

“Not just call but do also. From some rumors I heard, the turian councilor was in fact not assassinated by the geths during their assault on the citadel.” Miranda said.

“Now that’s going a bit too far doesn’t...” At the sight of a drinking Jane and an extremely uncomfortable and fidgeting Tali, Kasumi didn’t finish her sentence.

“No way! It’s true?!”

“Wait! It is?!” exclaimed Miranda.

“He’s a madman.” Jack said laughing.

“Officially councilor Septimus was done in by the geths, Kasumi, the geths.” commented Shepard.

“And in reality Rick did it? Why?” Miranda pressed on for the truth, forcing Shepard to take a deep breath.

“Oh who cares anyway, there is no proof and it’s not a very well guarded secret since there are rumors about it. Apparently the turian councilor tried to run away when it was proven true that yes, the geths and Saren were attacking the Citadel and had already infiltrated the presidium. Rick shot him in the head, putting an immediate stop to the panic spreading idiot and took control of the council and the situation.”

“Wait, wait, wait. Rick took control of the council?” Asked Miranda feeling the heat beginning to rise at her core.

“He ordered them around. Put Varlen on civilian’s evacuation and protection and put Tevos in charge of coordination of c-sec and the mercs that Rick had hired along with Anderson and the alliance's soldiers under his command. He even told her that it was time for her to ‘Pull out your commando leather from your closet.’ then left Anderson in charge. No one protested. Because they were scared to end up as Septimus or because Rick seemed to know what he was doing, I don’t know but they fell in line. I think it was the latter though because they offered to make him a spectre after the battle. Scariest moment of my life that time.”

“Rick could have been a spectre? Why isn’t.... Oh goddess, he declined? Worse he said or did something and the councilors changed their mind?” Samara wondered aloud.

“Right on both accounts. I freaked out when they gave him the opportunity and felt immense relief when he refused. Then he began to list out loud the pros of being a spectre. Like starting a war with the Alliance, Killing the turian primarch and putting the blame on the council. Thank god for him voicing his thoughts because the council retracted their offer on the spot. I still remember the face of ambassador Udina. He was apoplectic.” Shepard ended her tale with a laugh.

“He’s... completely insane.” Kasumi said.

“He just enjoys riling up people and the chaos born from change. I’m perfectly certain he was joking about what he would do. I wouldn’t have traveled with him for years if he was a bad person.”

“Enough about Dickhead! At this rate the next topic would be how he’s fucking cheerleader over here.”

“Hey!”

“You two are...” began Kasumi but was interrupted by Shepard.

“Jack is right! Let’s talk about something else! It’s a girls night not a Rick night!”

“Anyone have a new topic to share?” asked Miranda.

“From my studies, women often talk about their sex life or love life during girls night.”

“EDI? You were listening?” asked Jane.

“Yes. It is girls night after all.” replied the AI

“But... aren’t you...” Kasumi didn’t quite know what to say.

“I guess that’s our new topic of conversation.” said Tali.