Chapter Text
9th: Today I Learned
2186. Earth. Prelude to the final push.
Ashley Williams, Systems Alliance Major, Citadel Council Spectre, Granddaughter of General Williams the Great Surrenderer, lay on her cot with a smile. Resting on her chest was a datacard, display face down to keep the orange backglow from lighting up the room. There wasn’t anyone else in the room with her, but there also wasn’t a door, courtesy of the heavy fighting that Major Coates had done in the months previous. The lack of privacy wasn’t a big deal, but lately she’d felt like she had to keep up a serious façade around those who’d been in the thick of things for the last few months.
“Still up Major?” came a velvety voice with an accent that somehow made her heart drool.
“Just reading some mail from home,” she replied, keeping her eyes up on the plain ceiling.
“Anything good?” Coats’ voice was even, with how widespread the war was in just a few months.
“N-, well, yes. Sort of.”
The fact it wasn’t an outright ‘no’ meant there was far more to the story. Coats stepped through the open doorway and leaned against the far wall. Ashley sat up and turned on the cot to face the grizzled Major. “It’s good news, really, just late to getting to me. Or declassified.”
Coats nodded at Ashley to continue, “go on, don’t be afraid to share good news.”
She frowned at the broad-shouldered veteran. She patted the empty half of the cot. “It’s from one of my sisters. Abby is a part of something called the Andromeda Initiative.”
“Not sure I’ve heard of that.”
He sat on the cot, leaving a respectful space between them. “Neither had I really. She attached some brochures and public documents about it. The gist of it is exploring the Andromeda galaxy on big colonization ships.”
The British Major considered her words for a second. “I hope the expedition isn’t delayed by the Reapers.”
Ashley laughed softly. “That’s the thing. They launched last year. I just found out that my baby sister left us all, and by the time they arrive in Andromeda, this galaxy might be dust. We certainly will be, one way or another.”
"So it's good news, but it isn't."
"I never got the chance to say goodbye," Ash said. "It's different than if she suddenly died."
"Dying puts the guilt on the survivor," Coats nodded. "Easier to deal with because it's on us." "But she'll be the one who survives no matter what. I hope she doesn't feel guilty over it."
"If she's anything like you Williams, then she'll be able to make the most of it, and not let it hold her back." His words sparked a glimmer in her heart.
"It's been one of her strong suits not to be like me. She thinks things through, has a flair about her, makes the ordinary seem amazing."
"Then I think there's nothing to worry about."
"Not quite a poet, are you."
"Never found any good poems in primary school that didn't get me ten lashes," Coats laughed. "But then I was always ready to cause some trouble."
"I hope you're still ready."
"I'm eager to see what Shepard brings tomorrow, and add to it with my own particular soldiery brand."
Ashley smiled at him, a warm and genuine smile. "Thanks Major, for helping me make sense of this.
"Anytime." He stood, and looked at Ashley again. "Have a good night Major."
"Ashley," she corrected. "Call me Ashley."
"Chester."
Coats departed, leaving Ashely to lie back on the cot and reread the letter from Abby. All that echoed through her mind was Chester.