Disclaimer: Don't own anything but the slightly off personality of my Shepard.
Note: The personality of my S. Shepard is based on two people; one is the sheer insanity that is Captain Jack Sparrow (not that my writing will ever be that good), and the other a close friend of my aunt who despite all the real horrible hardships in her life had managed to keep a cheerful disposition and a happy outlook on life. I love her to bits!
Also, if such combination of characteristics in a person is not to your liking better turn back now :)
Note #2: English is not my mother language so I shall immediately apologize for any grammatical and/or spelling mistakes made. Mind you some of it is quite deliberate.
Uncharted
Segment I ~ Here be Dragons
*ch1.
Normandy's armory could seemingly account for time of its own. Whenever a need arose for one of the squad members to personalize their weaponry, or just clear their minds, this was the place where they would come. And surprisingly enough, encounters between them coming and going were a rare thing. Perhaps that was reason enough as to why he was a deck up and not in the life support despite the fact that the air there soothed his lungs and made drawing breath easier.
This, as he had quickly learned, was not to be a single mission, planned and executed – but a string of minor, often violent confrontations, and Shepard has already proved a demanding commander. Thane rarely made mistakes, but under his new employer's command there was even less room make one. At least, from what he had witnessed so far, when it came to missions' trials and tribulations she gave as much as she took. And Shepard took as much as she could from her recruits.
His eyes turned to the side at the sharp hiss of the door.
Shepard.
She walked in, with clicks of her heels drumming against metal surface and faintly humming, datapad in one hand and a cup of coffee in other - always a different mixture he noted through smell, to accompany her mood though as of yet he couldn't discern which one went with which.
"Mr. Krios," she greeted him with a half-smile and twinkle in her eyes. Today she was in a good mood. It showed so well it was unmistakable.
"Shepard," he returned watching her for a brief moment put down her items before she picked up her personal pair of guns.
"Tinkering, tuning or just playing?" She asked placing heavy pistols before her. This pair was custom made for Shepard specifically, even if by looking at them one would not differ their design from any other. Before many a mission she'd come down here and tinker with them, improving, making them deadlier.
Thane nodded at her oddly framed question, "Our confrontations as of late have become more frequent and unpredictable. It is good to be prepared."
"Perhaps less subtle than what you're used to?" Shepard cocked her head slightly, her hands dismantling her guns with precise expertise; her eyes even had a sleepy look to them as she worked.
"Yes," he answered slowly. Assassins were solitary creatures and he had little experience when it came to team-oriented full-blown warfare. Fortunately, Sofia Shepard seemed to excel in the field. "Meticulous preparation was necessary before any assignment. Location layout, target's habits… One does not simply rush into it."
"The advantage of dealing with the unknown is that you can let your mind wander," she murmured and glanced at the faintly glowing schematics spread on the table, various parts accompanying them, and then at the weapon in his hands. M-97 Viper sniper rifle. Shepard found the name oddly appropriate given who was using it.
"You are making good use of our host's upgrades, I should hope."
"Generously so," he inclined his head running his hand over the sniper rifle.
Cerberus wasn't holding back when it came to researching, purchasing or recovering any new technology that would prove useful against the Collectors and necessary to make sure Shepard's team was always equipped with deadliest choices of weaponry; and Shepard had even less problem to, in her own words, 'milk them dry'.
"When in Rome…" she murmured with a satisfied smile. Her fingers played, going over her own choice of upgrade specifications. Thane did not reply and comfortable silence settled between them as they worked, passing materials between each other. Upgrade schematics for their respective weapons giving off soft glow from surrounding consoles.
A light spin of datapad across smooth surface of the table, to point out at a weak spot in their shields; slight, if unorthodox, improvement on targeting systems; old school knowledge solidified with experience. Small movements, quiet one-two word conversation, wisdom explored, advice shared – one of few times her calmer, serious nature would surface. It was surprisingly easy atmosphere given their quiet comments revolved around most efficient ways to kill someone.
She had shared one of her specialties, cryo ammo with him and the rest of her team. It was an excellent way to keep enemies still as she moved close in for the finish. She liked using it in combination with her newly acquired inferno ammo. He himself had a practice of coming in close contact with his kill but Shepard had taken that to a new level. Her way was dangerous and reckless – and had a very high success rate.
"Commander," Joker's voice cut through the silence of the armory, "we'll be reaching the Collector ship in fifteen minutes."
"Information is appreciated very much Joker," she replied softly eyes and fingers still on her guns.
Ah, that must be the reason why she had come at this time to the armory. She was to head out again. Shepard was always the one heading out.
"I had not expected any confrontation with the Collectors aboard their ship so soon," his voice rasped suddenly, his hand rested on the muzzle before sliding gently down to trigger guard. "The trip to the Omega 4 Relay would seem almost redundant now."
"Hardly," not looking up at him Shepard responded to sense of remorse in his voice. "It's still a ship, not their base. Even if by any stretch of boundless imagination we could end all our problems today, we still don't have the firepower to take it out of commission. At best, further information is all we're going to obtain." Her eyes snapped up to his. "Are you interested in volunteering for an exciting stroll aboard a ship of as of yet unknown race that had plundered and pillaged humans for better part of two years with no one noticing and could lead to an almost certain death?" She punctured her rapid question with a raised eyebrow.
Thane blinked. Twice.
If he were to be completely honest with himself, listening to Professor Solus and Commander Shepard speak in tandem – as he had heard them on a, fortunately, lone occasion – could account to one of most confusing moments of his life. It was heavily headache inducting as well.
"Certain death is why I am here, Shepard," was his simple, true answer.
Shepard cracked a smile, question still in her eyes, along with amusement. "That one-way trip is yet to come," she said with mirth.
He pondered the offer.
"This is to be information gathering only?"
Sofia rubbed the underside of her chin thoughtfully barrel of her loaded gun pressed dangerously close to her cheek, eyes glazing over in rapid deliberation. "Preferably yes. Probably not. I need not put a strain to my mind to imagine many things that could, would, will go wrong."
Door hissed open once more. Shepard didn't even look up with her mind hastily at work. That did not prevent her from speaking up first.
"Miss Chambers, what unspeakable horrors do you carry there?"
"Technical evaluations from engineering, professor Souls' urgently marked notes, Dr. Chakwas list of medicinal chemicals that need replenishing and a message from councilor Anderson," yeoman listed almost enthusiastically, and sorted datapads before her on the table, duties their commander would have to bash her head against some time later. "Nothing much."
"'Nothing' she says," Shepard clicked her tongue. "Your 'nothing' will send me to second death sooner than the Collectors will."
"Cerberus would certainly cut my paycheck were I to do that commander."
"Cerberus should also explain to me in plain words for what purpose do I have a secretary and a second in command, when all the paperwork still finds a way to my desk."
"You would have to ask Illusive Man that, commander," yeoman answered in a practiced secretarial manner. A professional trait of her personality which surfaced easily despite her generally informal character. "Also, Garrus would like to see you in the main battery room. He looked all fired up."
"All fired up, you say? I sense a wasted opportunity for a hug there? For shame Miss Chambers, for shame."
"Should I file that order for future reference, commander?" Kelly asked, all false innocence even if light blush did color her cheekbones.
"Provided you corner him in such fashion that would not result with a premature hole in ship's hull while he performs a mad dash for safety – snuggle away." Sofia waved her hand in dismissal.
Thane observed the interaction between two women with detached interest. Shepard certainly had some peculiar ways of driving her flock, so to say. Not the strangest way by far – in his work as an assassin he had witnessed some truly uncharacteristic methods in running personnel. He, though, had never expected to be tangled into one as such. At least Shepard kept away from more physical means of 'encouragement'. So far he could tell.
"Right away commander," yeoman presented a mock salute at such a prospective order before practically bouncing away. She even managed to send a rosy smile in drell's direction before disappearing.
Shepard cocked her head watching the woman leave, red hair brushing against her shoulder, "Well, I guess she had settled on her opinion of you." Her eyes turned back to him, lips spreading to a bonnie version of cheesier smile, "Memorize the location of vents around the ship well, Mr. Krios. They just might come in handy in the near foreseeable future."
His expression remained unchanged, save for the barely noticeable uplift of eyeridges. "I'll be sure to take it into consideration, Shepard."
Shepard chuckled and packed her guns. "Rendezvous at the shuttle, yes?" She asked but didn't really wait for an answer before she turned on her heel and strolled out of the room.
Thane returned his attention to his weapon. With Amonkira's blessing his aim with it will be true.
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