Chapter 1: Barbeque
"You're too tense, just relax." Mal suggested while gently rubbing his wife's back as they both strolled across the sidewalk in a familiar neighborhood nestled in a quiet corner of London.
"That's easy for you to say." Tess nervously replied while tightening her grip on a large bowl of potato salad that she was carrying. "This is my first time on Earth and it'll be my first time visiting the Shepards' house. I'm still not completely okay with this Mal."
"I'm not either but I promised Ethan I'd come. I don't plan to exchange more than a few pleasantries with Shepard and his wife before avoiding them altogether. Just because I agreed to show up doesn't mean I'm ready to get all chummy with the admiral. We can stick with Ethan and the others during the festivities." Mal sternly explained.
"You know, you've talked about him a lot over the years. Ethan Shepard. You have a lot of love for him, don't you?" Tess asked while smiling at her husband.
"Damn it Tess, not this again." Mal replied in exasperation. "Why do women have to-"
"Fine, you care about him a lot." Tess specified in annoyance. "Admitting that you love your friend doesn't compromise your masculinity."
"I'm ignoring you." Mal quipped causing her to scowl at him before he finally relented. "Ethan and I go way back. I told you that before. He was the first human friend that I ever made. This may come as a shock but I was a pretty awkward teenager. I'd spent my whole life surrounded by mostly aliens and combat. I was terrified when Zaeed dragged me to Allie's eighteenth birthday party. I didn't have a clue how to act around other teenagers and practically zero experience. Ethan was the first one who reached out and we've been tight ever since. Even when I turned my back on everyone after that Citadel mess and disappeared in the Terminus Systems, I couldn't forget about him and I never stopped thinking of him as a friend." he fondly explained.
"And he never forgot about you either. He fought to clear your name and even stood up to his own father for you. I think I could grow to like him." Tess admitted.
"Good. Shepard aside, I'd really like it if you could get along with Ethan, David, Hannah and Will. You already seem to have some kind of rapport with Allie. I'm not even gonna pretend I understand how that happened but I'm glad. It'll make things easier when it comes to Angelica." Mal added in relief.
"Even if I still hated Allison Shepard, I'd never let that get in the way of you being there for your daughter. I could never be that petty or cruel." Tess replied earnestly while gazing at her husband. "And I love you too much."
"Well that's good to know. Just keep all of that in mind when I take David and Isaac out for their big sendoffs." Mal joked.
"Don't test me tough guy." she warned him.
A few minutes later, they made their way to the front door of a fairly large house that Mal recognized quite well. "Still brings back memories." he quietly reminisced as several recollections from his youth swept over him. Visiting Allie, getting into trouble with Ethan, giving in to Hannah's childish demands for a 'date' with her at the local ice cream parlor, covering for Will when he wrecked Shepard's sky car and giving David pointers for his training-It all gave him a warm feeling that he'd almost forgotten.
"You okay?" Tess anxiously asked after he paused in front of the door.
"Yeah, just…let's head in." he replied brusquely before ringing the doorbell.
A few moments later, the couple was greeted by one of the people that Mal had been eager to see the most. "Daddy!" Angelica beamed.
"An angel actually answered the door!" Mal cheerfully remarked before lifting the little girl into his arms. "I think we have the wrong house Tess, we were looking for the Shepards not the gates of heaven." he joked while hugging her.
"You still know how to lay it on thick." Zoe teased after appearing in the doorway herself in tank top and shorts.
"Casual clothes, nice. I'm sure Ethan's eager to wrap this little get-to-together up so you two can slip away-"
"Shut up!" Zoe cut in while punching him in the arm after growing flush. "Speaking of Ethan, he's been waiting for you all afternoon. He's with David and Will in the backyard if you want to say hi." she informed him. "Oh, is that potato salad?! Mal, you shouldn't have! I can't wait to dig into this later!" she excitedly added before snatching away the bowl from Tess and disappearing inside.
"What the hell was that about?" Tess irritably demanded.
"I would, uh, cook sometimes when nobody was home for, um, Allie. Zoe used to pick up the ingredients for me and she'd try whatever I made before leaving so that…Anyway she developed a taste for my recipes." Mal sheepishly explained.
"Candlelit dinners, huh?" Tess quietly seethed.
"You can't seriously be mad about this! It was years ago before we even met!" Mal said indignantly.
"Let's go Angelica. I think your daddy and I need a little time apart." she calmly replied before grabbing Angelica and elbowing her husband in the ribs. Afterwards, she stormed off across the house and into the backyard.
"I hate my life sometimes." Mal muttered while rubbing his midsection.
He then crossed the dwelling himself while stopping here and there to enjoy the occasional pleasant memory before finally opening the door to the backyard. After catching sight of Ethan and his brothers in the backyard, he eagerly made his way over and joined them at a picnic table full of refreshments.
"Mal! You actually made it!" Ethan exclaimed.
"Calm down, I told you I'd drop by didn't I?" Mal pleasantly replied.
"To be honest, we had our doubts." Will admitted.
"I didn't." David added. "You've never broken a promise since I've known you."
"Good old David." Mal mused. "I'm definitely going all out for your party."
"Mal about that, I've been talking to Sophie and-"
"Blah, blah, blah. She'll be fine and it won't be too scandalous. I'm overseeing everything after all." Mal cut in dismissively.
"I can't wait for this!" Will excitedly added. "Have you decided where it's going to be?"
"We were thinking about Omega but with you guys being soldiers and SPECTRES, we decided against it. So I'm going with Mason's original suggestion and holding it on Illium. We shouldn't have too much trouble and I can have a few of my guys handle the security now that we've got an office open there." Mal explained. "The only thing left to handle is the guest list. We need to know how many people are gonna be partying in our turf."
"Well, all of my brothers obviously." David replied hesitantly. "And Terrence would never let me hear the end of it if I left him out. Let's see, Eli, Bryce-
"Don't forget about Darryl and Isaac. Part of this party is for our youngest future brother-in-law after all. Oh and Gabe, he'll love this. Plus all the old guys and Dad." Ethan reminded him.
"Seriously? Well it's official. The party is over. Dead before it could even get started. RIP fun." Mal humorously lamented.
"You don't have much faith in Dad, do you?" Will joked.
"Let me think-Hell no." Mal casually replied. "I may as well turn this into a children's party."
"Mal it'll all be fine, trust me." Ethan assured him.
"Alright Ethan but if the old man ends up getting his panties in a bunch, it's on you." Mal warned.
"So I hear you're the one who took out that Aries asshole." Jack brusquely stated while eyeing Tess. They were sitting with several others at a table in a small corner of the yard that was shaded beneath a large oak tree.
"I just took my shot when I saw it, Mal and the others were the ones who softened him up." Tess replied modestly.
"I still wish I could've been there." Hannah grumbled. "Instead of meeting up with Mom and Dad."
"That battlefield was no place for you or Isaac. We were lucky we managed to get out ourselves. And we still lost a few people…" Allie quietly lamented.
"Sorry about your pilot." Tess said bracingly.
"And I'm sorry about your vorcha friend." Allie reciprocated.
"The truth is I didn't know him that well. Losing him was harder for Mal and our newer members. They spent months fighting together on Heshtok and in the Nemean Abyss. He was also close to Pyre and I know how much Mal respected him. My tough guy doesn't like losing people, especially friends and family. That's pretty much why he rushed headfirst down to Sur'Kesh in the first place." Tess explained.
"So I guess he hasn't changed that much." Allie mused.
"Pardon my intrusion but I find myself curious about your plans for the future. Your overall losses in the Sur'Kesh campaign were minimal and we've heard that the Terminus Wolves have already opened an office in Nos Astra on Illium." Miranda curiously inquired.
"Keeping an eye on us? I'm touched." Tess casually replied before glancing at Liara. "Your local info broker is quite the busybody."
"You're expanding your operations in the area where I conduct the bulk of my business. Consider my observations an exercise in precaution. The Eclipse mercenaries of Illium won't take kindly to your presence and should the two of you clash, I'll be forced to take certain measures to ensure the safety of my contacts." Liara calmly explained.
"Then maybe you should start making the arrangements. Those prissy little bitches have already made a few thinly veiled threats and I plan to personally make them pay for every single one. It's bad enough I have to put up with the whore who leads the bunch on Omega whenever she throws herself at Mal but the loony tramp running things in Nos Astra is a headache I don't plan on tolerating." Tess replied in a cavalier manner.
"You know, I might actually end up not hating you." Jack stated earnestly.
"Good, I guess." Tess replied dismissively. "Nice tattoos by the way."
"You got any ink yourself?" Jack inquired.
"My wolf brand like everyone else in our pack and a Terminus Hunter stamp." Tess replied in a blasé manner.
"What's that?" Hannah curiously asked.
"A special mark in a special place reserved for my husband." Tess replied while smiling causing everyone but Jack to grow wide-eyed.
"You sure he's worth it?" Jack asked seriously.
"I was sure of that the day we first met and sure enough to give him my mark in return. It's in a place only I'll ever see." she continued before casually stretching.
"Congratulations. You've now successfully gotten all of us to picture your husband naked while we ponder where your brand is hiding. Though I must admit, I don't mind." Miranda mused.
"Why would you put that image in our heads?" Allie asked indignantly while flush.
"I won't be able to look at him without thinking about…" Hannah sighed in embarrassment.
"Okay, I really don't hate you now!" Jack laughed while handing Tess a drink.
"Isaac, you've been avoiding Shepard all day. You're gonna have to face him at some point." Darryl advised his friend as they sat by the swimming pool.
"Hawkins is right, kid. Better to get it over with now instead of later." Garrus quipped while lounging in a seat nearby.
"I still can't believe you actually had the balls to propose. Was it the whole life and death situation?" Will humorously asked after swimming over from the center of the pool.
"Loco hasn't gone loco yet, that's a good sign." Vega added while splashing over.
"I'll have a serious discussion with him later but not here." Isaac nervously explained.
"Now seems like as good a time as any. Especially with Darryl and Mal here to distract him." Will joked.
"Maybe…" Isaac pondered.
"So FYI, my people have reverse engineered your gun and developed a few offshoots from the technology. In the future, particle weapons are gonna be standard issue for all of the Terminus Wolves. Only the best for the best." Mal casually explained while shooting the breeze with Javik and several other guests on the outskirts of Linus the Kakliosaur's field.
"I already noticed, Hunter. It is a wise decision. This cycle's reliance on these 'thermal clips' is a mystery to me."
"It wasn't always like that. Modern firearms used to just vent heat and cool down. After the whole geth attack on the Citadel though, everybody adopted their heat sink technology and here we are, slaves to thermal clips." Jacob humorously explained.
"So you allowed the machines to dictate how you fight? Pitiful." Javik scoffed.
"To be fair, the reasoning was that you could get more rounds off faster with a detachable heat dispersal source. Kinetic barriers are the biggest obstacles in a firefight. The faster you can shred them, the closer you are to killing your enemy. The problem is you end up relying on an external resource that could end up running short in a lengthy military campaign where replenishing supplies could become an issue. My Wolves and I have had good results with the Protheans' hardware, so we're sticking with it." Mal explained frankly.
"You gearing up for another battle already?" Wrex mused.
"I'll always be ready for a fight, Wrex. Just like the krogan." Mal replied while smiling causing Wrex to do the same. "Council still stonewalling you?"
"For now, but one way or another they'll get off their asses. I'm tired of my people cleaning up the rest of the galaxy's messes and having nothing to show for it. This is the last time. We aren't the Council's attack varren that they can call and dismiss on a whim and it's about time they realized that." Wrex replied gruffly.
"You're preaching to the choir buddy." Mal agreed. "As far as I'm concerned, you guys earned a seat on the Council during the Reaper War. But that's just my opinion and I happen to be a merc and a dangerous outlaw as far the politicians are concerned. What the hell would I know?"
"Enough to conquer Heshtok and the Nemean Abyss." Grunt answered. "What's your next move gonna be?"
"The same as usual. Take care of my people and ready myself for the next fight." Mal replied seriously.
"A few krogan from some of the smaller clans have made it clear they want to join you. Are you still recruiting?" Wrex inquired.
"My Fangs could always use skilled recruits. But only if they're good enough. I don't accept trash, Wrex." Mal replied sternly.
"And I wouldn't send any garbage to the Mercenary King of Cartagena. It's common courtesy, right?" Wrex mused.
"I'm glad we understand each other." Mal replied before folding his arms in satisfaction.
"So, are you interested?" Tess asked while nibbling on a chicken leg as she and Tali stood beneath a patio umbrella in a secluded corner of the yard.
"You're serious, aren't you?" Tali asked in a mild state of awe.
"Yeah, I am. We've got plenty of natural resources and in a few years we'll have a few fuel refineries and depots too. But right now we could use some scrap. Decommissioned ships, outdated cannons, derelict satellites, basically anything you guys were planning to dump on Korlus." Tess replied before setting her plate down on a nearby table. "We're prepared to pay generously and negotiate a deal for using our fuel depots in the future once they're completed." she continued.
"You do realize that we don't throw anything away, don't you? It's a habit that we've kept since our flotilla days." Tali stated placidly.
"No, but you do buy new resources more frequently since you resettled your homeworld and colonies. We know the quarians have a surplus of junk Admiral and the Terminus Wolves wouldn't mind taking it off your hands." Tess explained.
"Why come to us?" Tali asked suspiciously.
"You're joking, right?" Tess laughed. "You're a Non-Citadel race who resides outside of Citadel Space. The quarians are an independent nation and we'd prefer to conduct as much of our business as possible outside of Citadel channels. So what do you say? Us outsiders have to look out for each other."
"I'll have to discuss it with the other admirals but if your offer is genuine and the payment is sufficient, I think we might be able to work something out." Tali acquiesced.
"Good, I'll let Mal know later." Tess cheerfully responded before picking her plate up and turning to leave. "By the way, tell the thief that it's rude to eavesdrop." she slyly added before departing.
"She's sharper than she looks." Kasumi mused while observing Tess' exit after decloaking next to Tali.
"They all are. It would seem that my people are no longer alone in claiming the darkest reaches of space as home." Tali thoughtfully replied while observing her future trade partner saunter off towards her husband.
"Having fun so far?" Mal asked after placing an arm around his wife.
"Actually, I am." Tess replied earnestly.
"Glad to hear it. But I'm afraid we're gonna have to leave a little earlier than expected. Something's come up back at home and we should probably head back before it's too late." Mal cautiously advised.
"What is it?" Tess anxiously asked.
"Nothing serious." Mall assured her. "The babies I recovered are almost ready to be born." he elaborated while smiling.
"That's great news! How many were there? Are they all healthy?" Tess excitedly questioned him.
"Calm down." Mal chuckled. "There were thirty in addition to the two dozen malnourished kids who were marked for death that we picked up from all of those Equinox facilities." he quietly added while clenching his fist in a rage. The thought of what the children he'd rescued must've suffered still angered him.
"Mal, it's alright. You saved them and we won't allow anything to hurt them now that that they're with us." Tess assured him while taking his hand.
"What about the embryos that we found? Taya said it might take years for them to mature and we have no idea how healthy they'll be. The smallest one is barely hanging on as it is." Mal quietly lamented. "I killed them, I slaughtered every remnant of Equinox that I could get my hands on and annihilated every base and military installation they had left but it still doesn't feel like enough. Their remaining soldiers have all surrendered to the Alliance and Aria has wiped out all of their backers and robbed them blind. But it's just not enough. I want to make it up to those kids, Tess. I want to avenge every loss of life and indignity they suffered. I know I can't erase the pain they've had to endure but maybe-"
"Just stop." Tess interrupted him. "Mal, you've done enough. You've ensured that those kids will have a future. They'll have a home now, a real one. A home full of mercenaries, smugglers, shady entrepreneurs, freelancers, political dissidents from every corner of Citadel and Alliance Space and soldiers of every stripe but still a home. A place where the Terminus Hunter and his Wolves will keep them safe." she fervently explained.
"Maybe you're right." Mal sighed. "It looks like our kids will have more friends to play with." he happily added.
"And I couldn't be happier." Tess cheerfully replied before tightening her grip on Mal's hand. "They'll have lots of company for the coming centuries."
"Tess…"
"Let's get going. We should say our hi's and goodbyes to Shepard and his wife before we leave. It's the polite thing to do, right?"
"Actually, the polite thing would've been to greet them when we first got here before we started eating their food." Mal joked. "Let's go."
"Listen Admiral, Hannah and I are getting married and the sooner you deal with it, the better." Isaac announced in an uncharacteristically forceful tone while facing his future mother and father-in-law who were standing near the grill.
"I think he's got your number, Skipper." Ashley joked while observing the young man.
"If this turns ugly, I can back you up before I leave." Mal quipped after approaching with Tess.
"Mal? You're leaving already?" Isaac asked in confusion.
"Afraid so, duty calls." Mal casually replied. "This was a pretty good spread, Shepard. I'll be back for our bowl." he humorously added.
"Mal, you'll always be welcome." Shepard replied earnestly.
"Maybe someday I'll actually believe that but for now, I'll be showing up for Ethan, Angelica and everyone else." Mal replied seriously. "Don't let the old man give you a hard time, Isaac."
"Shepards." Tess calmly added before turning to leave with her husband.
"Mal, that potato salad was amazing! I guess you picked up a few new cooking skills in the Abyss." Zoe announced after sprinting over.
"I made the salad." Tess irritably corrected her.
"You?! Seriously?!" Zoe spluttered.
"Yeah, me. Is that a problem, Taylor?" Tess challenged.
"Goddammit." Mal muttered in exasperation before quickly grabbing his wife and hoisting her over his shoulder. "We had a great time everybody! Hope to see you again at the next one!" he quickly exclaimed before promptly walking off with his irate spouse who was already in the middle of exchanging curses and insults with Zoe who was being held back by Ethan. "Well, it could've been worse." he thought to himself after departing the gathering.
"I know you probably can't hear me and that you don't have a clue who I am. But, I'd like you to listen if you can. Don't give up. Life is hard for everyone and yours won't be any different. Actually, it'll be even harder for you and everyone like you. That's just the way it is for us. Equinox pretty much screwed us over from the start. We have to carry their stain for as long as we live but we don't have to let it determine who we are. I guess I'm babbling now but I want you to remember what I said. Life really is hard and this galaxy is a brutal place but there are people here waiting to greet you. You won't have to face it all alone, I promise."
After Mal made his vow to the tiny embryo that was suspended inside of a nursery tank within one of the labs that rested below his headquarters on Cartagena Station, he slowly turned to discover a gentle face admiring him.
"I'm sure the little one heard you and understood." Taya assured him.
"Maybe I'm just deluding myself." Mal quietly pondered. "I knew what the chances were when I decided to take them. The infants and children were one thing but these guys…do they really have a chance, Taya?"
"Yes, they do. I would never lie to you, Mal. They will mature more slowly than ordinary human fetuses but they will grow. It is simply a matter of time. Sadly, we don't have any idea how or why Equinox delayed their natural development. And this tiny one…I won't give up on her." she promised.
"Her? How do you know it's a girl?" he asked curiously.
"I simply have a feeling, that's all." she replied warmly.
"Well once she gets here, I plan to cherish every moment we get with her. She's already a miracle as far as I'm concerned." he replied earnestly.
"Cherish…yes, I agree. If it's alright with you, I would like to personally care for her once she fully develops." Taya quietly requested.
"So now you're in mommy mode too?" Mal joked. "It's fine by me, Taya. That little girl couldn't hope to have a better mother." he added earnestly.
"Thank you, Mal. I may not have reached my matron stage yet but I'll do my best." she vowed.
"I guess this is a bad time to bring it up but how's our other project going?" Mal asked seriously.
"Zade is still coordinating the science teams but I'm afraid we're woefully lacking in specialists of the caliber required to perform what you're proposing." Taya informed him.
"I figured as much. It's a good thing we're on good terms with ExoGeni and Synthetic Insights. I'm sure they wouldn't mind sparing a few scientists and engineers, especially when they hear what we're doing." Mal mused.
"Mal, this plan-"
"We've already been over this and we all agreed that this was the best way to handle it. I don't know how long we have but this is already gonna cost us too much time. We have to get finished within two decades at the very least. After that, I'll see this through." he said resolutely before approaching her and placing his hand on her cheek. "You worry too much, you know that?"
"How can I not? The man I love is always casting himself into chaos with no regard for my feelings or anyone else's." she quietly responded before resting her head on his chest.
"Yeah…he sounds like a real asshole." Mal lamented before wrapping his arms around her.