Adrenaline coursed through Kaidan’s veins as his heart pounded in his chest. His hands gripped so tightly against the restraints holding him in place that his knuckles turned white. He clamped his eyes shut and tried to focus on his breathing, finding it more difficult than normal after what had just happened. He was clearly still in shock.
Panic gripped him, overtaking the guilt he’d felt as he left the woman he loved behind. The feeling was only heightened when an alert began to sound from his omni-tool. The noise filled the silence of the escape pod and he finally opened his eyes to glance down at his wrist as he activated the bright orange display.
He couldn’t stifle the groan that escaped him as he read the vitals that flashed across his screen. All eyes were on him. The air became thick with worry as they all waited to know what had drawn the troubled sound from him, fearing the worst.
“Don’t tell me…” Chakwas mumbled bitterly.
Kaidan’s eyes moved from the display to meet her gaze as she sat in the seat across from him. The doctor had survived enough dire situations to know when not to expect a miracle, even after working with Shepard.
Commander Shepard was truly a force to be reckoned with, but was it possible for even a hero of that caliber to escape such a brutal attack? The other ship’s gun had cut through the Normandy’s shielding like butter. They’d never stood a chance.
“It’s the commander. Vitals are… Erratic. Heart rate’s through the roof, oxygen level’s dropping. Something’s not right,” he muttered slowly as he watched the screen. His eyes moved to meet with Chakwas’ again, his heart dropping as he saw the grim expression on her face.
This couldn’t be happening.
“I’m sure she’s fine, Kaidan. We’ve been through this many times in the last few months,” Liara’s soft voice assured him from a few seats down. He couldn’t see her from where he sat but could just imagine the gentle expression on her face as she refused to believe what he already knew was happening.
A few of the crew members nodded their heads in response, clinging to the hope that Shepard really could beat any odds. Kaidan quickly closed the display in front of him and activated his comm unit, hearing only static in return.
“Nat?? Jeff?? Can you hear me?” Kaidan asked, his voice revealing more of the desperation he felt than he’d wanted it to. The moments crept by as he waited for a response, his heart hammering in his chest the entire time.
“Kaidan, I’m so sorry!” Jeff’s voice was hoarse as he spoke, the defeat he felt was obvious even without seeing him.
“No! Jeff, you better tell me she’s safe!” Kaidan responded harshly, the sound of static growing.
The comms cut out as the escape pod entered the atmosphere of Alchera.
