Adult-FanFiction.org : Games

Mass Effect 3: Aftermath	By : Royality Category: +M through R > Mass Effect Views: 3529 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Mass Effect, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 3
- 4
- 5
“Shepard?” Kaidan’s voice cracked slightly just at the thought of going down that road again. “But Admiral, you know as well as I do that’s not possible. We spent weeks looking in the Citadel, moving through all those bodies and testing human remains for DNA matches. We spent even more time than that just combining through London and for what? Whatever Shepard did, he saved us all…and now he’s gone.”
“Do you really believe that, Major?” There was a small sigh as Kaidan looked away. A hand moved to cover his mouth before sliding upward to rub the pair of tired hazel eyes.
“I don’t have a choice. None of us do.”
“We didn’t then, Major, but this may be our last chance. If nothing else, we need to know what’s going on. We can’t afford another surprise attack, am I understood?” Kaidan remained silent for the few seconds he rubbed the inner corners of his eyelids before answering his superior.
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. Major, I’m putting you in charge of Sergeant Takashi and the experiment. Keep them safe. I’ve also contacted the Normandy.”
“The Normandy? Is Joker still flying?”
“Let’s just say he was more than happy to get out of the classroom and back into the pilot’s seat. Rendezvous in four hours at the dock. Hackett out.” The transmission was cut, leaving Kaidan in silence with the others.
“I should have left when I had the chance,” he mumbled before turning to his newfound crew. “Get your gear together and let’s head out. All of you. This is no place for kids to be alone and we could use some technical help.”
“We’re taking them?” Even Kyo had to question the Major’s decisions to bring a pair of young Quarians along.
“Stop hassling me, Sergeant. Gather up your dead body over there and let’s move out.”
“I keep telling you he’s not dead…” Lifting the limp companion off the bed was a bit of a hassle. “First thing we do when you’re awake is put you on a diet, Shiro. You’re getting heavy. Don’t worry about the Major either. He’s just a bitter old Biotic. We both know you’re not really dead.”
“Would you stop talking to that thing? You’re creeping me out.”
“See. Bitter old Biotic.”
“I’m not old!”
“That salt and pepper hair of yours says otherwise.”
“That’s just a sign of maturity!”
“And old age.”
“Would you two stop it already?! Sounding like a couple of bos’hetts! Come on, Chekov. Let’s head back to the surface.” Being told off by the young woman was embarrassing to both of the Human soldiers, who then decided to bury the hatchet for now. Adjusting his frame, Kyo slipped Shiro’s arms around his neck to carry the body piggyback style again as Kaidan was the last to leave the apartment. The Major’s omni-tool locked the door behind them, but he then went in the opposite direction of the tunnel from which they came.
“This way, we’ll take the elevator to the docks.” Another hidden panel opened a few feet down from where the group was standing that led to a cramped-fit as technically five people squeezed inside. The awkward silence and slow ascend was interrupted by a soft-spoken, but strong singing voice. Turning their heads in unison, everyone stopped to look at Kyo in the back of the elevator, who was off staring into nowhere until he noticed that he was being watched. Abruptly, the singing stopped.
“…What?” Wide-eyed, Kyo returned the stares with an eyebrow raise of his own as if he had just accidently offended someone. After cracking a corner smile, Kaidan only shook his head before returning his eyes towards the elevator doors.
“You’ve got a set of pipes on ya, kid.”
“Oh,” the Sergeant responded without any sort of surprise. “Yeah, sorry. Habit.”
“Singing in elevators is a habit?” The teasing question came from Leliah.
“Not just elevators. You should hear me in the shower.” Her inquiry was answered with a teasing wink which both startled and flustered the young woman at the same time.
“Well…if you insist…” This was to be the first time that Kaidan finally eased off the seriousness of his nature since meeting the Sergeant as Chekov tapped away at his omni-tool in order to both answer a question of his and to occupy himself. After finding what he was looking for, the smallest of the party spoke in a monotone voice.
“Kyo Takashi, lead singer of the Earth pop duo, Otherside. Number of Earth hit singles: five. Number of Galactic hit singles: four. Tickets for live concerts range from three-hundred to fifteen-hundred credits.” At this point, Kaidan had broken out in laughter.
“Wait…wait. Pop singer? You’re a freakin’ popstar?”
“Well, yes,” Kyo answered what he expected to be an insult as if there was really no point in denying that fact. “Everyone had a life before the Reapers, except for you maybe.”
“Well, I’ve always been a soldier. Still, if we run into any bad guys then maybe you can put them to sleep with a lullaby or something? You know, since your aim isn’t worth shit.” Smirking, Kaidan felt as if he had just one-upped for the salt and pepper comment earlier. The Sergeant could only glare in response until a datapad was held in front of his face.
“Could I get an autograph print? I love your band,” asked a newly overstimulated young lady next to him.
“I…um…sure?” Reaching out, Kyo tapped the pad which caused Leliah to squeak a bit in excitement.
“Don’t know why I didn’t recognize you earlier? I guess it’s been a long time since I really sat down and listened to some good music.”
“Ah great, now we’re going to have every teenage girl chasing after us…” Continuing his snippy comments, Kaidan held the slight smile that he had made from earlier as the elevator doors opened and allowed for the crew to finally wiggle out of the small, white, steel box.
“I’m going to head to the shops for a while to gather some supplies. You three…er...four, wait here until I get back. “
“Yeah, yeah.” Bitterly, Kyo just walked off to head towards the guard railing in order to watch some ships fly in and out. Leliah looked to the back of Kaidan’s black and white armor as the older man walked off before taking in a deep breath of her own. She was relieved that the tension had at least died down, though sensed a great deal of pain in both soldiers. Despite the war being over with the destruction of the Reapers, there was still a great deal of work to be done. Rebuilding broken ships and buildings were one thing, but the humans were nearly entirely harvested. The Bartarians were all but extinct as well. Both were a surprisingly rare sight, spread thin across the galaxy. Everyone had taken heavy losses. Looking to her little brother, she smiled, who returned the favor. Despite their helmets, the Quarians were very much attuned to each other’s feelings. It was all about mood and body language. Losing their parents only strengthened that bond and need for family. Standing alone, Kyo seemed to be quietly carrying out a full conversation with Shiro. He wasn’t sure when that had turned into a normal thing, but there he was, doing it anyway.
“Look at that, Shiro. Another human cruiser. You don’t really see enough of them now and days, do we?” The empty starry sky was comforting after the Reaper invasion. “I use to watch ships like this back in Tokyo with my brother. We’d climb on top of the jungle gym together, talking about how we’d own one of those someday. Well, we weren’t really brothers. We were in the orphanage together, you know. No one wanted us, so we made up our own family. He had bright blonde hair, so it’s not like people would really believe that we were really related anyway right? Well, no offense. Your hair is a funny color too, sorry.” Shifting his weight again, Kyo had to readjust the body before his shoulders went numb. “You know, you’re not that fat. Must be all those implants or something? Dead weight, I guess…not that you’re dead. Don’t listen to what Major Asshole says. I know you’re alive. I can feel your heartbeat pounding against my back. You’re also breathing in my ear and it kinda tickles. Thank God you don’t snore.”
The conversation continued as if two old friends were catching up as the siblings on the other side of the dock took up in a corner to clean off their ball-sized droids and dig through the extranet for entertainment. Kaidan’s private time was spent in deep thought as he picked up medi-gel packs, extra thermal clips, and food rations for the trip. Walking past a glass window, he stopped to look at his own reflection. Sure, he now had a few more strands of white hair amongst the combed back black waves, but it was the weariness of both the war and losing Shepard that showed up the most in his tired eyes. For months, he believed that Shepard was still alive. He was first to volunteer for the recovery team in London and even spearheaded the effort to go through the remains of thousands of bodies that were left in various places around the Citadel. The only thing he managed to find were Shepard’s blackened N7 dog tags that were now around Kaidan’s own neck. Pulling the chain out from behind the polished black and white stripped chest piece, he cupped them in his palm as a thumb gently caressed over the name.
‘What happened to you?’
- 3
- 4
- 5
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Mass Effect 3: Aftermath