42Please don't kill me for being unreasonably late.
The door opened to show a tired Chakwas removing her gloves. The Doctor turned her chin up to see the two expectant faces of the Commander and Chief. Ashley had an expression of furrowed brows and a frown, while Jane had one of calm yet concerned. Although if Chakwas had a say the look the Commander had on was merely a facade. She knew in reality that the Commander wanted to show her concern at full throttle, but it wasn't an option. As Commander and an N-7 soldier she had to show she was strong, steady and unshakable. It was the same with Williams, but that was something that the Chief wasn't yet proficient at. Concealing her emotions. As a woman of poetry she had a hard time doing so. (This she knew from her files that had been uploaded to the ship's database)
Blinking once or twice she shook herself out of the train of thought she had and back at the two woman that stood anxiously before her. Ah, I must have been lost in thought for a little longer than one usually would. Seeing them as they were Chakwas decided to take things at an even pace. Hmm let's take things slowly.
"Commander Shepard, Gunnery Chief Williams." She greeted.
"Chakwas."
"I'll try and not beat around the bush. First I'll be giving you an update on Lt. Alenko's current status." At the sound of the man's name she immediately saw small changes in both of the women's postures. It ranged from a clenched jaw to a striaghtened spine. Even a frown managed to grace the Commander's lips. Karin's eyes narrowed. This behavior was odd to say in the least. From what she had gathered the Chief and The Commander hadn't even known the girl for an entire day. So why were they already so attached to her? Strange indeed, but back to the matter at hand. She returned her attention to the imposing figures before her.
"It seems that from the Lt.'s past and current behavior there was something that triggered such a strong reaction. From what little tibits of information the two of you had told me of before hand, this was both a physical trigger and mental trigger." A heisitant pause. "And this was only a small scale reaction."
Jane ran a hand through her short hair while Ashley sharply exhaled. This was better that she expected. She thought with how they were acting that they'd both explode in a rage of some sort.
"Duely noted." Came a bland response.
"Since the Lt. is not fit for talking I am letting him rest for the moment and by my order as this ship's Head Medical Chief give him a two days of recovery."
"Dr. Ch-" Jane had started to only be stopped by a raised plam.
"If you have any objections please take it up with Captain Anderson." The air was growing more and more tense as they continued. "Commander. Now I believe that you'll be wanting to know the condition of young Ms. Anderson?" That had gotten their attention.
"Of course." Ashley blurted out. Jane looked at the Chief at out of the corner of her eyes seeming strangely displeased.
"Follow me." Dr. Chakwas smoothly turned on her heel and quietly re-entered the medbay, Ashley and Jane in tow.
They walked in to the cold metal room to find Kristen laying peacefully on one of the beds with her arm in a sling. She was sleeping. Jane walked closer and found on a closer inspection she saw just how ragged the girl was. The brunette looked smaller than she already was with a blanket wrapped around her petite frame. Dark bags that formed under the girl's eyes made her tanned skin look a few shades lighter. Small little scratches that would heal on thier own freckled the girls otherwise clear skin. For all she's been through she must be terrified out of her mind. Poor girl being chased all of a sudden by unknown synthetics and running for her life with probably no kind of training what so ever. Also adding the disturbing images being forced into her head by some ancient alien technology only to have it explode and get embedded in her body...dear god I hope this girl isn't traumatized. This is all on top of the fact that she had just gotten patched up hours ago (despite the fact she wasn't fully healed she was up and walking) and now to be assalted by Alenko...
The red haired commander wanted to bring the girl some sort of comfort, but now wasn't the time. Her train of thought was derailed as Dr. Chakwas's voice brought her back to attention.
"Commander, while I was treating her injuries Ms. Anderson woke up for a breif moment and she looked consumed with fear." Dr. Chackwas stated. "Commander, Chief Williams I need you both to tell me what happened. I'll have to type up a report to put in the ship's medical log, but most importantly this must be sent to Captian Anderson immediately." With a flick of her wrist Dr. Chakwas lit up her onmi-tool and hovered her fingers over the interface, ready to start typing. The Commander and Chief exchanged a glance and wordlessly nodded. Shepard would speak first so she took a step forwards.
"I was in the lower deck and finished cleaning my gear until I had gotten a bit peckish and headed to the elevator. Then as approached I realized that my interaction with the crew was rather limited and went to talk with Williams." The emerald eyed woman stopped and gave herself a moment before continuing. "So I went in and once the doors opended again I saw standing with 's back facing me and was in deep thought. I went and tapped her shoulder while asking a question. In a second I found it amusing when she twirled around completely startled. I don't remember much beyond that as I fell unconscious from hitting my head on the ground after we both fell as Anderson lost her balance." With her part said she took a step back while Ashley moved one step forward, Jane giving her a nod to start.
"As for me, I had been walking by when this occured. I was in close proximity when I was also caught in by one of their arms in the back of my head. This resulted in me being knocked out with the other two."
This time Jane stood beside Ashley as she spoke once more.
"When I came to, it took a few seconds for it all to come back. I glanced to my side to Ashley already starting to get up when I heard my name, but it had been cut off almost as quick as it came with the sound of a slap." With each word that Jane spoke her face was slowly becoming devoid of emotion. The anger she felt was bubbling just below her skin.
"Looking in the direction we heard yell, we could see...Lt. Alenko stra-pinning her down on the deck and a bruise already starting to make an appearence on her cheek. We sprung into action. Ashley had gone to restrain The Lt. while I went to check on Ms. Anderson." The Commander's voice was flat but her glare had intensified as she was now looking over at Alenko's medbed. With the Commader's attention momentarily away the doctor took this time to compose a question. This time directed to Ashley.
"Was there any kind of strange behavior beforehand?" Dr. Chakwas typed at an impressive speed as she spoke, logging as she went.
The question caused the Chief to frown. Reason being was that she had no idea if she'd seen anything that would be classified as out of the ordianry, considering she had been nowhere the boitic. After the emergency evacuation on Eden Prime both the Commander and Kristen had been hastely transported to the medbay for damage control. And because she wasn't an official crew member she had gone to speak to Captain Anderson to sort out her information and filling out forms to join the crew when he offered her a position on the ship. It was priority number one that she got this done right away. When she was excused she boarded the elevator and put her gear into her newly assigned locker after doing a maintenance run and headed to the showers. Then all of this happened as she walked by hours later.
"Hey Shepard." Asked Ashley.
"What is it Chief?" She questioned as she turn her head back to the woman.
"As to the doctor's question I wanted to ask if you seen anything strange about the way Alenko or how Kristen were acting."
"That...I'm not sure. I'd been allowed out of the medbay a few hours earlier than when Kristen had. The first thing I'd done was going to talk to Captain Anderson and you know the rest." It occurred to Jane that she hadn't seen Alenko or Kristen after she left the medbay. She lifted a hand to her chin as she silently sifted through everything she'd done after she left the medbay.
Karin slowed her typing as the two women's conversation dropped to a stop and flexed her sore fingers before retuning her hand to the interface.
"Is that all? Do either of you have any farther questions or observations?" She asked bluntly. Jane inwardly cringed at how strident the woman was.
"Not at this moment no."
"Same here for me."
Nodding to herself the doctor typed in a few additional notes in her onmi-tool and dismissed it with a flick of her wrist and let her hand drift back to her side.
"Thank you for your time Commander, Chief Williams. That is all I'll need for the time being the report will be sent to the Captain momentarily. If there is anything you may want to add please report it directly to the Captain."
"Understood."
"Now I understand that you both want to visit Ms. Anderson. She should be awake within the hour if you wish to speak to her. You may visit her now as long as you both remain and speak quietly. We don't need her to wake up earlier than she needs to." She stared at them sternly as they nodded in union. There was no argument needed.
Kristen Pov
She was awake but didn't open her eyes. She knew if she'd have to adjust or her eyes would simply squint until they shut as it had done many times in the past. It's quiet and it smells sterile. I guess that I'm in the medbay yet again...as the small brunette trailed off she began to flex whatever muscles that she could feel-the sedative they used on her hadn't worn off yet- and grimaced as she could still feel the burn of the recent incident. A small whine slipped past her lips as she resumed her thoughts. Damn game information. I don't even remember there being anything this bad concerning Kaidan's implant. As far as I know there should only be medium to intense migrains but nothing that could amount to something this severe!
Then again...I dont really remember much of the game to begin with...weird. I just finished the game a few days ago. Kristen's expression twisted into one of confusion as she tried to bring up the memories that were supposed to be as fresh as a spring breeze. It's... kind of fuzzy. Maybe Kaidan just hit my head too hard granted that wasn't really his fault. I must've done something to tip him off.
With her eyes closed everything felt far away. Like everything was irrelevent. Huh? Her ears perked at the sound of voices approaching the door. The door slid open and whoever came in began to speak. It didn't take long to identify the three women. Still feeling tired she decided to zone out most of the conversation.
"Now I understand that you both want to visit Ms. Anderson. She should be awake within the hour if you want to speak to her. You may visit her now as long as you both remain and speak quietly. We don't need her to wake up earlier than she needs to."
It's a little too late for that now Chakwas. Kristen twitched her finger. That pretty much summed up the full range of motion she could do. Twitch a little here and there. She'd look demented of she moved to much. Well if they ask if I'm awake one twitch means 'yes' and two means 'no' She thought drily to herself.
"If she wakes up please notify me at once. There are a few more things I'd like to check on. Now if you'll excuse me I'll be head off for dinner." With a nod from the Commander the doctor left swiftly leaving the three alone.
A few seconds went by and now the remaining two walked to either side of her bed. Kristen minutely squirmed in discomfort. She could feel them staring at her and it continued on for a while. You know maybe I should just try and open my eyes so they could stop. It's geting kind of creepy. Just before she had a chance to try a slim but stong feeling hand came to rest on her forehead. Kristen froze at the what she felt, a blush was starting to stain her cheeks. Her hand is so warm. It made her feel safe. As much as her body allowed Kristen nuzzled into the warmth and a pleased sigh slipped out. A slightly husky chuckle coming from her right told her that the hand belonged to Jane.
Jane Pov
After Cr. Chakwas left Jane took this as an opportunity to study the facial features of the young woman (if she was even old enough to be called a woman) in front of her. Now she was able to see the brunette in detail once more. Her face was more mature than she previously thought, but still obviously young. A quick scan of her eyes over any visible skin showed her that it was for the most part unmarked, save for the injuries she sustained from Eden Prime. Shepard's gaze eventually settled on the coller of Kristen's form fitting shirt and stared. What is that? The Commander's well trained eyes spotted something just barely visable above the opening of the shirt. What she saw was the very tip of a scar but with the little to nothing to see she couldn't tell what caused the scar.
Jane flicked back to Kristen's face. Hmm... she dosen't look anywhere near her adult years and she can't be anywhere near older than 20. Maybe in her early teens. She noticed a sign of distress on Kristen's face and placed her hand on her forehead to an effort to calm her down. Jane couldn't help but chuckle when she heard a contented sigh escape the girl. How cute...wait a second. There was no time to ponder when she saw Ashley appear on the opposite side of the bed and threaded her fingers with Kristen's followd by sidelong glance to the Commander.
Jane couldn't fathom why but she felt a prick of irratation. Why am I upset? There's no reasonable explanation.
That ends this chapter. I don't update often so I was wondering if you guys wanted to suggest an average amount of words I should type per chapter.