Samanthas Ramp Scene

Samanthas’ Ramp Scene

SSV Normandy SR2, Low-atmo, Earth:

Communications Specialist Samantha Traynor stood at her station in the CIC of the SSV Normandy SR2 gripping the console mounts and listening raptly to the chatter of the ground team on Earth. Even though she had to hold tight to her station while Joker danced the Normandy through some incredible twists and turns, she found her eyes continually wondering over to the small platform in front of the galaxy map where she watched Hope Shepard stand while the commander decided the next destination of the Normandy so many times.

The next right move. The next mission that would save some, sacrifice others and hopefully save trillions.

Samantha agonized over the pressure her lover was under so many times. Seeing her stand there clutching the rail, her shoulders sinking under the weight of the galaxy and that blonde pony-tailed head bow. It broke Samantha’s heart and it took everything she could muster within herself to keep from stepping up there and giving Hope the hug and love she needed.

However, Alliance regs usually frowned on that kind of thing in the CIC.

But Shepard did it. She united the galaxy no matter the cost to herself. The entire galaxy was here on Earth. Krogan, asari, turian, salarian, human, volus, geth, quarian, batarian, hanar, drell, elcor, vorcha and even a prothean were here. The scope of it awed and humbled Samantha. And to think it was her commander, her lover, who had brought them all together.

But hundreds were dying below them in London every few minutes now as Task Force Hammer made its push toward the Citadel beam. Samantha saw the reports crawl across her screen from every fleet from above earth and on the ground.

The SSV Shashta took a direct hit from a reaper but luckily the reflective armor Shepard found during her mission to destroy the collectors re-directed the immense destructive energy of the reaper weapon off the ship and into empty space. Less luckily, the SSV Yorktown was lost with all hands as a reaper dreadnaught simply crashed through the ill-fated ship on its way to London.

Samantha listened desperately as the ground team started their mad dash to the beam. Her comms channels were lit up with commanders urging their soldiers forward, trying to maneuver them into some route that would provide cover from the deadly reaper beams that sliced through their ranks with ease. More calls were coming through now though, soldiers pleading for help, support and medevac. The task force was being decimated, the number lost already staggered Samantha and she felt the first tears well up in her eyes as she struggled to maintain the one comm-link that mattered to her. The one to Shepard.

Her heart ached knowing that Shepard would be out in front of the assault. Leading the charge right down the middle and making herself a target for that damn Harbinger reaper. "Please let her be safe…" Samantha whispered to herself.

“Normandy, I need a medevac now!” She heard Shepards’ voice commanded over the channel and she was moving before she knew it. Samantha found herself in the elevator. She knew Joker would get the Normandy to Shepard, but it wasn’t until the lift opened in the shuttle bay that she knew what she herself was doing.

She dashed across the shuttle bay past wounded Marines who were limping into the uncertain safety of the Normandy. Without thinking she ran straight to and paused at the top of the open ramp. Even the occasional stray bullet pinging around the bay did not faze her. Samantha gaped and her hands flew to cover her mouth when she saw Shepard half-drag a battered and bloody Garrus Vakarian onto the ramp. “Here, take him!” Hope ordered, and Vega turned to take the wounded turian from her.

The turian balked. “Shepard, I can still fight!”

Shepard gave him that crooked, half-mocking grin that always made Sam want to kiss her. “You’ll just slow me down, Vakarian. I got this. Just have the drinks setup when I get back…”

Another crimson energy beam lashed into a Mako tank outside destroying it and bathing the interior of the shuttle-bay with harsh yellow-red light as it exploded. Shepard was pushed forward a bit, but steadied herself as she grasped the big turians’ forearm. “And please, tell Samantha…”

“NO!” Samantha yelled surprising herself and the three people in front of her.

Shepard jerked back and saw Traynor standing there for the first time. “Samantha, what are you…MhphF!” Before she could say more Sam had covered the distance between them, wrapped herself around the commander and pressed her lips to Shepards’.

Samantha untangled herself and tried to drag Shepard back onto the Normandy. “You can’t stay!” She pleaded desperately. “There’s nothing but death here and I bloody well wont have you dying on me!”

Shepard gathered Samantha in her arms and placed a loving palm to her cheek as she wiped away the tears flowing from those deep brown eyes. For a few brief moments, as they gazed into each-others’ eyes it was only them, no war, no reapers, no death. “Samantha,” Hope whispered, “I have to do this.”

Samantha drew herself up and Shepard saw her eyes light up with inner fire. “Then I’m staying too!”

Shepard smiled at the love and stubbornness in Samantha. She marveled at how courageous her lover was and it warmed her heart. “No Sam. You know you can’t. You have to stay on the ship and I have to stay here and see this is taken care of.”

“Nononono….” Samantha pleaded.

Hope placed a gentle finger to Sams’ lips. “Yes, I do. For everyone, but especially for you. I have to know you will live through this or it means nothing to me.” Hope pulled Sams’ lips to her own and brushed them tenderly, feeling the thrill and the love they shared again.

Samantha melted into Shepard, knowing this could be the last time she would ever hold her lover again. She knew the truth of it in her heart. The price Hope would pay for her and galaxy if she was asked to. Her breath hitched as love and dread swelled within her breast. “I…I love you, Hope.” She said with her lips still on Shepards’. She pulled back a bit and looked into those deep green eyes again. “I’ll be waiting for you…”

She saw Hopes’ face soften, the love in her eyes, and the tenderness of her touch. “You give me strength and a reason to live, Samantha. You are everything to me.”

With a last kiss, Shepard stepped back. The two lovers slowly separated, until they were only holding hands. Finally, grudgingly they looked in each-others’ eyes again and let go.

Samanthas heart felt as though it were in her throat and she watched Hope smile at her sadly, step back and say, “I love you.” before turning and running down the ramp into hell again.

Sam stood there feeling her heart break, her world grow darker, as the ramp started closing and the Normandy gathered its strength to leave. Samantha let her legs fold underneath her and she sat cross-legged on the hard, cold deck plates. She buried her face in her hands as her tears flowed freely and her heart broke.

“I love you too.” Sam whispered.