Two Heads Are Better
Chapter 83
Two Heads Are Better
We're low on people and experience in this search. Maybe Shepard knows someone who can help us? 71%
Dash rolled out of the bed, her hooves wobbling for a moment as she hit the ground. “I'm going to see the commander first. I'd like to come, but I can't leave Shepard hanging either.” Glancing at a bed at the back of the room that was obscured by some privacy screens made her feel slightly nauseous. She knew exactly who was laying there
“He's up in his private quarters, but his mood is terrible right now,” Shining informed Dash. She had a good idea why that'd be the case.
“I'll keep it in mind. See you in a bit.” Dash strode towards the door unopposed, glancing back at the turian just before the doors slid shut and feeling the full force of his words hit her square in the face.
Fluttershy fell for him?! That can't be… He's not even a pony!
Even though she'd already been told that Shy had gotten a coltfriend, actually meeting him was still more of a shock than Rainbow would care to admit. The elevator quickly went up to the commander's quarters' deck, and Dash found herself in the hallway before the inner door.
“Commander, are you in there?” The door didn't immediately open as she approached, so Dash made the reasonable assumption Shepard had locked it from the inside, not that this was going to stop Rainbow as she pounded on the door. “Commander, I want to speak to you!” The door suddenly slid open, Shepard standing on the other side and sternly looking down at Rainbow who shrank a bit under his gaze. Relaxing his stance Shepard sighed and turned to walk back into his quarters, motioning for Dash to follow, and sitting down at his desk. The commander's room was essentially divided into two parts, a small desk area where the commander could work and a lower section where his large bed stood.
“Let me just start that I'm simultaneously proud and a bit disappointed in you. You went along as quickly as you could to support me, Miranda, and Jacob when I ordered you to investigate Mordin's second location. That was more to protect you from the firefight than to get information on Fluttershy, understand?” Dash gave a slow nod as she processed this new information. “Good. Not that I'm not glad you did. You might have saved Jacob with your actions, and I'm proud of you for that. What I'm disappointed at though is what you did immediately after. Just rushing into the fray which had my squad pinned was horrendously stupid and could have had you seriously hurt. Now I hear from downstairs that this wasn't completely your fault, but that doesn't change the fact that if you didn't have as much of a temper, you probably wouldn't have rushed forward.”
Dash had already opened her mouth to rebuke the last statement as she realized that this was exactly what the commander had meant. Swallowing her words Dash looked down at her hooves shamefully. She'd have to try harder to keep a grip next time. “I know, sir. It won't happen again… I don't like losing control like that…”
“That's something I can believe without a doubt,” Shepard said with a soft smile. “Now you were here for a reason. What did you want to talk about?”
Breathing a sigh of relief at the change of topic Dash looked back up at the commander. “I assume you already know about Shining's lead?”
Shepard nodded. “The captain informed me at the first opportunity he got. Also, if this is about you leaving the Normandy, permanently or temporarily, I won't have any objections. Your mission is to find Fluttershy. If you think that's better served with you off of this ship, then I won't stand in the way.”
Knowing that the commander wouldn't hold it against her if she left took a major weight off her back. “Alright, awesome. I was actually wondering if you know anyone else who could help us out with the search? We're still just two ponies and a hoof full of people looking in a galaxy of billions.”
Shepard sighed and rubbed his head. “I'm sorry, Dash. I've already asked everyone I know who'd be useful to keep an eye out for her. I simply don't know any more people who could help.” Dash sighed in frustration.
“I get it. Guess we'll just continue the way we've been doing…” Dash fell silent as she now had a choice to make.
Might as well get it out of the way now…
I'm here to find Fluttershy first. We can hook back up with the commander later. 15%
Without Jacob, Shepard is going to be really low on squad members, and it's better to be split up to cover more ground. 14%
“Commander, I’m going with Shining to look for Flutters,” Dash stated, although she didn’t like the idea of leaving the commander with too few people to run his mission. “Vakarian also said he was going with Shining.”
“I already feared that,” Shepard admitted, running a hand over his head. “Don’t worry about me. I’ve got that salarian from Garrus’ squad, Vortash, as replacement for Jacob in the armory and a mercenary squatting in one of the cargo holds.”
Dash snorted as she detected a slight edge in Shepard’s voice when mentioning the mercenary, she filed it away as something she’d ask about later. “I’m going to tell Shining that I’m coming too.”
“Yes, we should be arriving at the Citadel very soon now. I have business on Illium as well, so we’re likely to see each other again. Hopefully with Fluttershy safe and well.”
“If I have anything to say about it, then it won’t be long before we find her!” Dash said with a confident smirk and saluted the commander with a wing, heading off to see Shining and give him a heads up as well before their arrival at the Citadel.
Dash followed Shining out of the docking bay of the Citadel and into one of the wards. Garrus was following behind with a duffle bag slung over his shoulder. He apparently still had a small apartment on the station where he and Fluttershy had lived for a while and where he could ditch the stuff. They would have another couple of hours before the transport to Illium would take off, and Shining had already told her that he was going to spend that time picking up some things he ordered at various shops. Dash on the other hoof had other things on her mind. Shepard had suggested she’d visit a surgeon to get a biotic amp, something that made Dash’s skin crawl.
I can’t believe people here let somepony else just open them up like some experiment to place these devices into them!
Rainbow already got nauseous just thinking about it. The omni-tool was put there by Mordin’s rash actions, but this…
1. Go with Shining. I wonder what he ordered?
2. Go with Garrus. I should try bonding with him more. Find out if he’s good for Shy.
3. Go off on my own. They both have things to do without me there as extra weight.
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