Work Text:
Out of the edge of his vision, Charles Pressly sees the Normandy's XO heading down from the bridge, and then spins around in alarm when she suddenly unholsters her pistol. She quickly holsters it again, taking a step forward before suddenly unholstering an impressive-looking sniper rifle. She suddenly spins around 180 on her heel, before holstering it again and suddenly pulling up her omni-tool to read something.
He'd never worked with Shepard before, but he knew of her. After Riley (it was hard to get better than the Hero of Elysium), she was often considered one of the best N7 operatives in active duty. But there were also stories about her… oddities. That she didn't always seem in control of her actions.
He'd brushed it off as just tales. But now he was starting to get just a notion that there might be something to it.
Not that he was trying to judge. After going through something like Akuze, she was probably entitled to a few oddities. And if Captain Anderson had picked her to serve as XO of the Normandy, that was good enough for him.
She finally stops looking at her omni-tool, and turns back toward him. Suddenly she pulls out a grenade and tosses it onto the ground by her feet.
"Commander!" he yells, but she just stands there until it explodes.
What's left is a very scorched deck plating and a very confused-looking Commander Shepard flat on her ass. She slowly gets up, rubbing her head, and then finally notices him.
"Commander, are you hurt?"
She stands there for at least a minute, barely even blinking as she stares at him.
"What do you know about the stealth systems?" she finally asks.
He doesn't know much, admittedly—just that it hid the Normandy from sensors. After he finishes speaking, Shepard stands there for another half-minute before speaking again.
"I'd better head down and see the captain."
But then, two seconds later, she taps him on the shoulder.
"Anything I can do for you, Commander?" he asks, doing his best to mask his confusion.
"Carry on, Pressly."
She once again spins on her heel, unholsters her pistol, and walks away.