Chapter 3: Losing it All

Donnely was ecstatic when Shepard returned with the couplings, he finally would get more free time. Although he had been lonely. Gabby Daniels, had contracted the Hades Flu and was in quarantine all week. Dr. Chackwas looked sadden to tell Donnelly the news although there was something off on how she was acting, she kept fidgeting when telling Ken. In the end he figured it was just the shock of someone having the Hades Flu, part of her job as chief medical officer was to make sure this does not happen. So EDI explained that she was confined to The XO cabin for the remainder of the week.

Hades Flu was super contagious unless you possessed a certain gene that made you immune. A gene that Miranda Lawson possessed. In fact, most of the crew had the vaccine, but all the alliance “add-ons” have not received the vaccine because the agency in charge of making sure the vaccine is safe had not approved it. Cerberus rarely gave a damn what governments thought. They gave it to all their members. However, because they wanted Shepard as close to being the same person, they did not give her immunity as they were afraid it would add another variable to the already Herculean task of bringing back someone from the dead.

So Miranda oversaw her care. EDI gave Dr. Chackwas updates on the condition and treatments she was receiving.

Dr. Chackwas was impressed, Miranda knew what she was doing, at hopefully she would only be quarantined for a week or two depending on if she pulled through, but Miranda was not doing anything different that she would. She had the vaccinated always keep her company so she would not succumb to the madness that is associated Hades Flu. EDI reported her condition was right on schedule.

Gabby being gone meant Ken was about to have a bunch of free time and he was eager to take some of these Cerberus punks to the cleaners. All week the Cerberus lifers were making condescending remarks about the weakness of the Alliance “addons” they were working with. So earlier in the day Donnelly walked up to some of the Cerberus crewmates and said, “Hey you Dollywanker, I hear you talk a lot of smack about us ex-alliance folk, Shepard is ex-alliance so is the entire engineering department. If you really are feeling all uppity, what says, you and I go, a few rounds of Skillian Blitz.” Donnelly said grinning ear to ear.

“Skillian Blitz eh? Well, I don’t have to shit to do tonight, what say you Tony?”, Carl answered

Tony was not paying attention to the conversation and uttered back a non-sensical reply. “Oh no. I had my turn last night.”

“What the fuck are you talking about Tony I am talking about our work shift.” Carl said, clearing his throat giving a knowing glare back at Tony.

“Oh, you mean after work. No, I aint got nothing plan. Why? What ya thinking? “Tony quickly replied.

“Our little prissy Alliance dandy thinks he can beat us in Skillian Blitz.” He says grinning ear to ear.

Ken was confused for a minute but then realized they were talking about their work shifts from the night before.

“Oh, does he, what does he want to play for Carl, what are the stakes.

“I dunno depends on how cocky he feels.” Carl said looking back at Ken.

“Well let’s play for 500 credits, winner takes all.” Ken said smirking.

“Woo, too rich for my blood. But there are other things to play for than money.”

“What? Us alliance softies too tough for you yellow doggies” Ken said.

“What did you say?” A big Cerberus grunt from the back got up from his seat at the cafeteria. He walked right over to Ken who he towered over.

“Oh Jericho, he thinks he is tougher than us.” Carl said standing back to let the absolute behemoth of a man get closer to Ken.

“No hard feeling lad, it’s just there has been a lot of talk about us ex-alliance fellas being softies, I was just saying we settle over a game of Skyllian Blitz.” Ken said, trying to sound confident.

“What are the stakes?” Jericho bellowed.

“500 but your mates say that is too steep” Ken said with a smirk.

“You’re that engineer down on deck 5 aren’t ya?” Jericho said with a serious face.

“Yes” Ken said quickly.

“Gabriella spoke about you when I covered my shift with her?” Jericho said.

“Oh, you have seen her is she alright?” Ken asked intently, interested.

“She is fantastic!” Jericho said with a happy smirk on his face.

“Yeah, she is the best” Ken said.

“The best” Jericho agreed.

“Carl, you are the captain in charge of who gets to spend time with Gabriella, can we see to it that Ken here gets to see his Alliance mate. So, he can see how we treat alliance under our care” Jericho asked hopefully.

“I don’t know Jericho he is not vaccinated for the Hades Flu” Carl said with hint of concern in his voice.

“Well, I have an extra inoculation we got from that Exogeni lab I was stationed at a way back” Jericho said in a hopeful tone making eye contact with Carl as if he was referring to something more.

“Oh, that concoction, I don’t know, I do not think Ken here will let us administer that vaccine to see his workmate, especially since he is ex-alliance and they are stickler for following the rules?” Carl said with a note of concern in his voice.

“Wait you have a vaccine for the Hades Flu?” Ken asked.

“Yes, that is why we are allowed to be stationed in her room. How else do you think she gets her injections and treatments when Miranda is on the bridge and on a mission?” Jericho explained.

“And this vaccine, I take it and I can see her?” Ken asked.

“Well that is up to Carl, and I am not sure I want to part with that vaccine,” Jericho said crossing his arms.

“Wait why did you mention that then?” Ken asked indignantly.

“Well, you were talking about stakes, I bet you want to see your friend pretty bad, you have a crush on her even I bet. So, if you are willing to bet 500 dollars I can put the vaccine in the pot, Deal? “Jericho said thinking about the offer.

“We can all pitch in 100 credits but that is the most we are willing to go, we have shore leave to think about.” Carl added.

“I’ll do 100 and I know Cassie will do a hundred and possibly Edgar”

“Ok 100 credits and if you win you get the vaccine, but no one can know we have it, it is Jericho’s so he will be the one to administer it.” Carl said.

Later that night in the Game Room.

“Ok gentlemen and lady” Carl said addressing the group which included the lovely blonde Cassie.

“I brought some awesome libations for everyone except Kenzie over here, as you will not be able to take the vaccine if you have any alcohol in your system.” The group laughed openly when Carl called Ken Kenzie.

“Well shit, but thems the breaks I guess lads, you want to deal first Carla since you are the ranking officer here?” Ken said smirking.

“Carla huh, you are a funny man, see if you are still laughing when this is all over.” Carl said with a grin on his face as he took the cards and started the deal.

The game was a lot tougher than Ken was expecting. As the night went on Ken learned a lot about the crew that agreed to this game. He found that Cassie was not into dudes which was a shame because she was sexy as hell even with her golden hair being cropped. Jericho and Ken kept going back and forth about who was tougher between Cerberus or the Alliance. Carl kept his serious demeanor, and his face was completely immutable. Overall, Ken figured out the group he was playing with was with Miranda for almost 7 years even before the Lazarus Cell. They all had tales to tell how much of a badass she was, and it was evident to Ken that these people would all have her back.

“Fuck damnit I am out!” Jericho exclaimed.

“Ah I guess all that muscle and body mass does not make you as tough as you thought you were. Because you just became my bitch Jerry” Ken said winking at Jericho.

“All right, all right, you beat me, fair and square don’t let it go to your head.” Jericho said as he downed a beer and waggled his eyebrows. Tony cashed out next, not that it mattered he did not talk much and seemed to be waiting for something to happen which is probably why he lost.

Cassie on the other hand, was flirting with Ken, which was odd because she said she was not into dudes. “Well, if you were on the other team and were my bitch Ken, I have you looking fucking fine as hell as I walked you through your paces” Cassie said smacking her lips as she did so.

“My my is that so, and if you played for the other team, I would ask you out and take you out to dinner and give you a night you shan’t ever forget” Ken said waggling his eyebrows as he slammed down his cards.

“Won again, and I believe you are out Cassie, “Let me know when you want me to take you to dinner” Ken said gloating.

“You are good, I’d admit that, but you still have to beat the Captain and he is good too, just know that you brought this all on yourself” Cassie warned before sitting down and pouring herself a drink.

Carl while lasting longer, did not stand a chance against Ken who was much more calculating and aggressive, eventually Carl lost. Ken continued to gloat, which forced an awkward silence as Ken counted his winnings in front of his latest victims. Jericho had left awhile back but returned with a syringe in his hands.

“Now Kenzie just let me know if you are afraid of needles ok, I know your ex-alliance types need mama to kiss your boo boos” Jericho said in a playful mocking voice.

“Fuck it, I just went a game night without drinking do your worst Jericho” Ken said playfully as he rolled up his sleeve exposing his arm.

“Oh, I intend to sweety.” Jericho said winking at Ken.

Before too long the needle entered Ken’s arms. Jericho then produced eight more syringes and said that he would need to inject all of them.

“What kind of fucking vaccine is this? “Kenneth said as he looked at the needles.

“The kind that is illegal in Alliance space.” Jericho remarked flatly.

“Last chance is this what you want?” Jericho asked.

“Yes, go ahead and get to it you muscle bound windbag” Ken said in his heavy Scottish accent.

Jericho injected one after the other after the other. About a one minute after the last injection the drugs were starting to work as Ken passed completely out and fell limp in his chair.

“Good let’s move him to the crew quarters in the back, and make sure we put that night covering down so no one notices” Carl said stoically.

“Jericho since this is your play, and your idea really, you will be the one to greet him when he wakes up.” Carl said.

“Cassie, do you want to accompany Jericho in case he needs help with the umm side effects of that Exogeni compound he just took.

“Abso- fucking- lutely Captain! Can I bring my toys?” Cassie said with palatable excitement with a grin on her face from ear to ear.