Chapter One. Pregame.
Garrus entered the Macedyn-Nights hotel suite he rented out for his week and a half of shore leave. He wanted nothing more right now than to take a nice long bath after the workout he just had. The Turian could barely feel his arms.
Damn, think I overdid it with the chin ups. He thought.
Lieutenant Vega had taught Garrus about this human exercise called chin-ups back on the Normandy. Garrus would go down to the armory to mod or clean his Mantis, and always noticed Vega doing something weird with a metal bar latched high on a stand. Eventually Garrus got curious enough to stroll over and ask. After the Turian learned the technique, he put it in his own workout routine.
Garrus painfully made his way over to the kitchen and grabbed a drink wanting to quench his thirst. He heard a door close in the distance then footsteps. Seconds later, a Quarian walked in the kitchen and greeted him.
"Hello handsome" said Tali with a smile that beamed through her mask.
Garrus nodded his head at her, "Hey".
Tali hugged Garrus then pulled back and took in his face with the palms of her hands. She eyed a closer look at him and frowned. "Keelah! you look exhausted, why were you gone so long?".
The Turian shrugged "I can never get a great workout on the Normandy, found a great gym not far from here and maybe overdid it a little".
Tali stepped back hoping Garrus could see her eye-roll through her mask. "Working out on shore leave? Garrus isn't that counterproductive?".
"No".
Tali made sure he saw her glare, which made Garrus pause and rethink his answer.
"Ok maybe, but like I said, workouts on the Normandy aren't really efficient."
Tali shook her head and started her exit from the kitchen. "If it was up to our brilliant Commander there wouldn't even be a Normandy for you to do anything anymore".
Garrus chucked and followed the Quarian to the main room of the suite.
"You're still mad at him?".
Tali whipped her head around yelled "17 entire engine filters changed!, re-aligning the drive core synchronizers, full security diagnostics of the ENTIRE SHIP! Oh and cleaning up the CIC? me as well...broken monitors! hundreds of thermal clips everywhere! And...".
"TALI!" Garrus was amused but heard enough.
"You're really going to blame Shepard for his clone almost stealing the Normandy? How could he have prevented something like that? you know it's not his fault".
Tali let out a sigh and sat down on the couch, "yeah I know".
Garrus sat down next her and tilted his head back, body still aching in pain. Tali looked over at him and started to worry over his exhaustion again. "Garrus you really should rest".
A thought came back to Garrus, "Did you get the Whirlpool 3000 going?".
Tali immediately turned stiff "Uhhhh".
Garrus sighed and looked at her "Tail! I sent you a message before I left the gym asking you to have the hot-tub ready for me".
"I'm so sorry Garrus! Ashley and Liara vid-called me right when I got your message and we started talking non-stop and I kind of...forgot".
Garrus wanted to cry.
"But don't worry! fancy expensive hot-tub bath coming right up!" Tali smacked his knee and sprang up from the couch making her way to the bathroom.
Garrus started to curse himself for taking up the Primarch's offer. Victus insisted Garrus on an expensive hotel suite that would be free of charge for his shore leave duration. The Primarch had connections with the owner of the Macedyn-Nights hotel chain, a Turian of course. Normally Garrus stayed in hotels located in less crowded areas than Sliversun Strip, but free was free right?
Except when your damn hot-tub was so expensive it has a 14 minute charge requirement before it functions.
I'd take a bath in Omega at this point. He thought.
Garrus willed his strength and got up from the couch, his muscles feeling like they were slowing being ripped apart. He made his way to the bedroom and threw down his gym bag and plopped himself on the bed. His eyes started to drift close until Tali walked in the room.
"Awww" Tali sat on the bed next to Garrus's head and softly rubbed it.
"Garrus no more workouts during shore leave OK? I don't like seeing you like this, your even more mopey than usual".
Garrus raised a brow plate "I'm mopey? I'm am not!".
"Right...," said Tali deciding to concede.
Tali patted him on the back then stood up "The bath should be ready soon. Do you want me to make you something to eat?"
Garrus struggled himself on his side and looked at her "No thanks. I have plans with Shepard later, don't want to ruin my appetite".
"Liara...anything out of the ordinary?," said Ashley as she entered Liara's room with two Alliance ensigns by her side.
Liara didn't face Ashley, eyes dead-set on her terminal. "Everything so far is checking out normal, but it will still take some time to be a hundred percent sure nothing was compromised."
The Normandy was still in repairs and maintenance, and Liara wanted to come down to check her resource terminals for any bugs or viruses that Shepard's clone might of planted. As XO, Ashley was responsible for overseeing the Normandy's maintenance and decided to tag along with the Asari if she needed any help.
"How long we talking?," Ashley asked, hoping for a good answer.
"Glyph? what is the ETC of the systems diagnostic?" Liara questioned.
A small white drone appeared from behind the terminals and flashed. "Expected time of completion, approximately three hours and 53 minutes".
Ashley folded her arms and let out a sigh, "This won't be boring at all!".
Liara sent a smile Ashley's way "Ashley you really don't have to be here. I really only needed you to get access into the Normandy, Glyph and I can take it from here".
Ashley turned her head to the two ensigns "leave us".
"Yes ma'am!" the two ensigns saluted and walked out with the door closing behind them.
Ashley regretted her sarcasm "Sorry Liara, I didn't mean to say being here with you would be boring. I also want to help. Shepard and I feel responsible for letting all this happen to the Normandy. This is our home."
Liara stepped away from the terminal and sat in her chair "Neither you or Shepard could have predicted something like a clone. Logically I should be the one to blame if anyone. I'm the Shadow Broker and even I had no idea Cerberus cloned Shepard."
Liara immediately saw Ashley face form with anger at the mention of the terrorist group.
"I am so tired of their crap," said Ashley while shaking her head. "If not for the Reapers, the Illusive Man would be on the very top of my to kill list. I bet The Council would give me an assignment to hunt that bastard down for good without a second thought too"
Liara leaned back thoughtfully in her chair, crossing her legs. "They probably would, Cerberus has reached a level of infamy they can't return from after the attack on the Citadel".
Liara returned her gaze at Ashley with determined eyes.
"I wouldn't worry about it though Ashley. I have a feeling before this is all said and done, Shepard is going to make Cerberus answer for everything they've destroyed. They have been too involved with trying to derail our plans for the Crucible, and they are going to slip up because of it".
Ashley walked over and pulled up another chair and sat across from Liara.
"Do you think the Illusive Man is indoctrinated?" said Ashley.
"Shepard seems to think the Reapers may be influencing Cerberus somehow. We don't know the specifics yet" said Liara.
Ashley's face looked disgusted "How do you fight something that can crawl into your head?".
"According to multiple reports, Indoctrination is something that doesn't happen overnight. It only takes effect if the subject is around a Reaper signal for a long period" Liara scholarly explained.
Ashley shook her head again "If that happens to...".
"It won't Ashley" Liara forcefully blurted out.
"None of us will be indoctrinated and we'll finish this fight".
Ashley was a little taken back, then she grinned and folded her arms "well well my friend. What makes you so confident?".
"Shepard" Liara said simply.
The grin Ashley was wearing faded.
"We have Shepard, and I believe he's going to lead us through. Look at what he's done so far. Curing the Genophage, saving the Citadel...again, ending a 300 year conflict between the Quarians and the Geth" Liara paused in thought then continued "It all can't be for nothing".
Ashley was quickly filled with pride making her smile, she nodded her head agreeing.
"You're right...Shepard".
Liara switched on her Omi-Tool and summoned Glyph. "ETC?".
"Three hours and seven minutes" chimed the drone.
Ashley got up from the chair stretching out a few cracks from her back and neck.
"Well, I'm gonna take off Liara" All the talk about Shepard made Ashley start to miss him.
"Glyph and I will be here. We'll update you if we find anything" smiled Liara.
Ashley hugged her friend good-bye and headed out.
*Open* Nope. *Close*
*Open* Nope. *Close*
*Open* Nope. *Close*
Where the hell are they? I swear if she ate them.
Shepard was rummaging through the kitchen cupboards in his new apartment that Admiral Anderson generously gave him. He had a taste for some honey roasted cashew nuts but somehow the bag grew legs and walked away.
The Spectre continued the search then paused when he heard the front door of his apartment wisp open. "Ash?".
Ashley walked and made a beeline for the kitchen. "yeah what's up?".
Shepard turned towards her with a glare and leaned on the kitchen counter arms folded.
"Did you eat my cashews?".
Ashley put her hands behind her back and slowly walked up to him.
"Cashews? I don't have the slightest idea what you're talking about" she replied, practicing her acting skills.
Shepard's glare didn't fade.
"They were in the cupboard yesterday when I put them there, I know there wasn't a bit left but you could have at least asked" said Shepard.
Ashley ignored his ranting and softly laid her chin on his chest beaming those beautiful brown eyes into his.
"Give me a kiss" she said in her dainty voice.
Shepard's glare didn't fade.
But nobody was more stubborn than a Williams.
Ashley puckered her lips and attempted to kiss Shepard but he turned his head and she was awarded with nothing but cheek.
She smiled and her normal voice returned "Really Skipper?".
Ashley backed away and took her hands from behind her back. She sprang forth a new bag of honey roasted cashews she picked up on her way back from the Normandy. "take your stupid cashews, I did eat them but I knew you'd get all whiny so I bought you another bag" She shoved the bag in his chest then went to the fridge to grab a drink.
Shepard's glare immediately faded.
"Well..thanks.." Shepard sheepishly said.
Now he had to be nice.
Shepard opened the bag and started his feast, then he took a high stool from the middle kitchen table and sat down. "So how'd everything go in the Normandy?".
Ashley swallowed her water, "Liara said everything is normal and she doesn't expect any surprises".
"That's good," Shepard replied while chewing.
Ashley grew a grin "You don't have anymore clones running around here right?".
Shepard shook his head "Hardy har!" he rolled his eyes and tossed another cashew in his mouth.
Ashley smiled "just checking".
Ashley walked back to the fridge to put her water back. Just then,Shepard looked down at his wrist when his Omni-Tool pinged. He raised it and saw it was Garrus vid-calling him. He pushed answer.
"You ugly son of a bitch!" Shepard greeted with a smile.
Garrus laughed "Wait is this the real Shepard? Get up and dance, it's the only way to confirm it".
Shepard burst with laughter "Whatever...man I'm never gonna live down these clone jokes am I?".
Ashley walked back over rolling her eyes at Shepard "That your boyfriend?".
Shepard smiled at her "Jealous?".
Garrus able to hear both of them added, "Ash you should know looks aren't everything."
Ashley quickly got irritated by their willingness to gang up on her. "Screw you guys".
Garrus chuckled then turned his focus back on the reason he vid-called in the first place.
"Shepard are we still on for later?" asked the Turian
"Yeah I'm still on if you are" Shepard replied.
"Where are you guys going?" said Ashley being nosy. Poor thing couldn't help herself.
Garrus clued her in "There's this restaurant Shepard found that specializes in both levo and dextro barbecue, supposed to be really good."
Ashley for some reason got slapped with jealousy and looked at Shepard. "And you didn't even think to ask if I wanted to go? how considerate Skipper".
Shepard was confused.
"Ashley, Garrus and I do things together all the time without me telling you. How come you weren't upset when I told you about our shooting match?".
Garrus cleared his throat "which I won by the way".
The Turian was ignored. "Shepard, going to go shoot some stupid bottles is different than going out somewhere nice to eat, don't you think that's something your girlfriend would like to be invited to?".
Garrus was saddened by her insult of his idea. "What? those bottles were not stupid...they were hard to hit"
The Turian was ignored "How the hell am I supposed to know what to invite you to and what not to? do you have a list hanging around here somewhere? I'd take one" said Shepard.
Ashley rolled her eyes "Well too bad, I'm coming with you".
Ashley moved closer and grabbed Shepard's wrist and shouted in his Omni-Tool "And Tali is coming too!".
Garrus was stunned "...you guys know about me and Tali?".
Shepard and Ashley's face both appeared on Garrus's vid-screen. Then Shepard spoke up.
"yeah we've kinda figured that out a while ago buddy".
"Tell Tali I said she's going Garrus, it will be a double date! I'm going to go get ready" said Ashley. She gave Shepard a quick peck on the lips then scurried off upstairs to pick out some outfits.
Shepard turned back to his Turian brother "What the hell just happened to our night?".