Finding a Way: Mass Effect 1

Chapter 16

They spent about a week jumping from planet to planet in the Armstrong Nebula clearing out Geth bases. She was standing on the bridge behind him and Joker getting ready to finally move on to Noveria when an incoming message from Admiral Hackett delayed their jump again.

"Shepard, we got your report on the Geth situation in the Armstrong cluster. Looks like it was a bigger operation than we thought."

"Nothing my team couldn't handle, sir," she replied.

"We're increasing patrols in the area so they can't establish another foot hold. Well done, Commander."

"Thank you, sir."

"I know your search for Saren is top priority, Shepard, but if you can, there's one more matter I'd like you to look into."

"Of course, sir."

"An espionage probe from the First Contact war just popped up in the Voyager Cluster. We need you to recover it...discreetly. These things carried nuclear payloads, about the size of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima back in WWII. It was supposed to be a fail-safe to keep the probe out of enemy hands, but now that nuke may be in those hands."

"Understood, Admiral."

"You know, if we have to keep running errands for Alliance brass then we'll never get to Noveria, ma'am," Joker griped once the transmission was cut.

"I know, Joker," she said. "But this is what happens when you're good at your job. Change course for the Voyager Cluster."

"Aye-aye, Commander," he said.

Once they arrived at the planet indicated by Admiral Hackett, he, Garrus and Shepard followed the signal of the homing beacon attached to the probe, which led to the entrance of an abandoned mine.

"This can't be right," Garrus said, "How the hell did the probe land inside a mine?"

"Easy. Someone put it in there," she replied.

"Meaning, this is a trap," he finished her train of thought.

"Exactly," she said with a look of grim determination on her face.

"Then they've already lost," he said, remembering her words from Chora's Den and earning a smile from her as she pulled her rifle out.

They approached the entrance with their weapons ready.

"Scan for any and everything," she ordered, "and move slowly and carefully."

Garrus took point and he brought up the rear. Shepard came to a stop not far inside and, at first, he thought Garrus might have paused in front of her, but he saw the light from his omni-tool continuing to move. It was then he noticed that her fist was clenched at her side and she was taking slow, calming breaths. He moved up next to her and found her with her eyes closed and jaw locked tight.

"Hey," he said, sliding his hand into hers without a second thought to comfort her, "you alright, ma'am?"

Her eyes shot open in surprise, but then she visibly calmed as their eyes met. "Yeah.... I just hate being underground," she explained.

Spending two days buried in rubble on Mindoir when she was a kid, he could definitely see why she felt that way.

"It always takes me a minute to adjust, but I'll be fine," she said, squeezing his hand in reassurance.

"Uh, Shepard, I got some bad news," Garrus said from ahead of them.

"What is it?" she asked, releasing his hand and moving forward.