//------------------------------// // Engineers // Story: Mass Effect: Element of Kindness // by CommanderApplejack //------------------------------// Chapter 109 Engineers Dash, Fluttershy, Gabby, and Garrus had said goodbyes to the three ponies that were staying behind on the Citadel and were flying over to the Normandy in a shuttle. The stealth vessel hadn’t docked with the Citadel as that’d have taken more time than just a quick shuttle run. Fluttershy was sitting at the front of the shuttle and looking out at the stealth ship in awe. “She really looks like the old one...” Fluttershy whispered as the ship hung in the nebula in front of them. “She’s a beauty of a vessel, yeah,” Garrus said from beside her. Gabby too was looking out of the window in wonder, only she was fascinated by all of the ships floating around in the void. A few minutes later the shuttle set down in the hangar of the Normandy and allowed its occupants to head out into the ship. “Good to see the three… four of you,” Shepard corrected himself as he noticed the griffin at the back of the group. “I heard about Shining but I hadn’t been informed of this. I take it more ponies came through?” “Yeah, there were… It’s good to see you, commander,” Fluttershy said with a beaming smile. Shepard chuckled as he lead the newcomers to the elevators. “Glad to be here, death sucked,” Shepard smirked but turned serious immediately after. “I take it you’re informed about the collector attacks on human colonies?” Fluttershy nodded. “There’s an attack going on right now on a colony on Horizon, we were on Tuchanka when we got the call so we had to go past the Citadel regardless. Might as well pick you guys up on the way. Sorry to ask, but I really could use your help on this one.” “You can count on me, commander. Always,” Fluttershy told him with a smile. “Thank you Fluttershy. All of you feel free to look around and meet the crew which you may or may not have met. I need to get some things ready for the briefing, I’ll call everyone in over the intercom when I’m done.” Shepard proceeded to take off into the CIC, and left the group to their own devices. “I’m going to check up on engineering, need to plan in new poker sessions with Kenneth and Gabby,” Dash smirked as the griffin among them perked up. “I meant a human Gabriella, Gabby,” Rainbow snickered. “Oh, ok.” “Mind if I come along, Dash? I want to help you with some of the basics for biotics before we head out on the mission,” Fluttershy told her looking over at Garrus with a questioning look to see what he was going to do. “Vortash should be on board too, I’m going to check in on him before checking out the other newcomers,” He told them, stepping out of the elevator. “See you in a bit at the briefing.” The elevator door closed between them and the elevator descended back towards the lower level of the ship. Dash leading the two others as they weren’t familiar with the layout of the vessel yet. “Hey, Ken, Gab!” The two engineers turned and smiled, at the sight of the pony. “Rainbow! Ah good to see ya found yer friend.” “Ken’s been itching for another round of Skyllian Five ever since you bailed,” Gabriella chuckled, “So I take it you’re miss Fluttershy?” “Just Fluttershy is fine, good to meet you two,” Fluttershy smiled as she stood up on her hind legs and held out her foreleg to shake. “And who might that little lass behind ya be?” Kenneth asked as he spotted the grey ball of feathers and fur behind the two ponies. “H-Hi I’m Gabriella, nice to meet you two!” Gabby said a little nervous but smiled as Ken snorted. “Oh my, Ah’m gonna have ta find a good nickname for ya to keep you two apart,” Kenneth chuckled, “So you just touring the ship with them two or are ya in need of somethin’ else?” “Nah, just showing them around. Though we do need to set up another poker night after Horizon,” Dash pointed out. Gabby in the meantime had proceeded to investigate the displays where the two human engineers were working. “What do all those numbers mean,” she asked as she tried finding a pattern in the numbers on the screen. “Well they’re the current status on all of the power in the ship, I keep the load balanced out so no system accidentally blows out and everything stays running efficiently,” Kenneth explained, as Gabby picked up the pattern in the numbers. “Ohhh, and if one system suddenly draws more power you redirect those reserves into it! That way the balance is maintained!” Gabby exclaimed pointing at a string of numbers, Kenneth raising an eyebrow as Gabby’s observation got pretty close to what would indeed happen in layman’s terms. “Yeah, that’s right… Say, if ya give me a hand, or claw, with resetting the FBA power couplings and I’ll explain how the power systems work, deal?” Gabby looked back at Fluttershy with a pleading expression as if asking permission. “Hey, don’t look at me. If you really want to then go right ahead,” Fluttershy chuckled to the griffin’s delight. Gabby squeed and followed Kenneth as he lead her down to the maintenance area, starting to explain the ‘basics’ of how the Normandy operated. “By the way, make sure Ken stays in check. Gabby is still a kid,” Dash deadpanned to Gabriella. “I’ll try but no promises,” Gabriella said, shaking her head. “Thanks, see you later. Gonna beat your flank at Skyllian this time!” Dash exclaimed as she and Fluttershy walked out of engineering.  “They seem like a nice pair of humans,” the yellow pegasus said as the door had closed shut behind her. “Yeah, they’re cool. Ken has a bit of a habit to start rambling tech though, he’d get along perfectly fine with Twilight,” Rainbow chuckled. “So anyone you want to see, or should we just see who we run into?” “Well, I know doctor Solus is on board and I’d like to see doctor Chakwas too...” 1. Go see Mordin. 2. Go see Chakwas. 3. Wander around, there’s bound to be other new crew members. [Vote link]