Author's notes:

First of all let me welcome you warmly to this fan-fiction. You, my dearest reader, are probably eager to skip my ramblings and dive into the story that follows you, alas, there are few things I need to say before I let you to it. I ask for your patience in this matter as in some others.

First of all, you should probably be aware that English is not my first language and thus you will most probably encounter spelling and grammar mistakes as well as maybe awkward expressions. I run each chapter through spell and grammar check so that should eliminate some of them, but with great sadness many still remain, I am sure. If any of you, kind readers, would be willing to help me with this fiction, please be my guest. Help would be cherished.

Secondly, I feel the need to say few words about the story that follows:

First of all, the story before you is second part in the compilation that I named The Ocean of Time. First part is Shimmering Stars (you might want to read that one before this one, if you yet didn`t but it`s not strictly necessary, you will just simply miss on few things.)

That said, I wish you happy reading. Keep in mind that the reviews are food for any writer and makes us write even more, update more often etc. and as such are greatly desired.

Disclaimer:

Base story, character names, other names, locations etc. are rightful property of Bio Ware and Co. as stated on the Mass Effect 1, Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3 packages.

Other stuff is from my crazy mind.

How to read and some info of importance:

As said, Creeping Black is a sequel to Shimmering Stars and thus would be recommended that you read that one before this one.

Shimmering Stars, first story in a compilation named The Ocean of Time has a time stamp of 2146 – 2183.

Creeping Black, second story in a compilation named The Ocean of Time has a time stamp of 2183 - 2185.

Creeping Black is divided with chapters, as usually, but is furthermore divided also in two other segments as follows:

Part 1: Aspiration (Shepard & Alenko)

Part 2: Meditation (Krios)


CHAPTER 1: Stargazer

Aspiration: Part One

The Citadel, colossal deep-space station, located in Serpent Nebula, served as the capital of the Citadel Council. The gravity on it was stimulated through rotation, and it was a comfortable 1.02 standard G` on the Wards and a light 0.3 standard G's on the Presidium Ring. It's total length when in opened status was 44.7 km, it's diameter 12.8 km with gross weight of 7.11 billion metric tons. The population number was differing between 13 to 13.2 million residents of all civilized races, the humans included. Nobody knew who build it, nor when exactly was built, but all agreed that it is an ancient construct, kept functioning perfectly by the keepers, a strange spider-like creatures who didn't communicated with anybody, scurrying around and keeping the station in order, adjusting it when needed, without ever being asked to by the occupants. All that the asari, the turians, the salarians and all other races knew was, that when they found this space station the keepers were already there and not hostile, even-more, they promptly adjusted it to accommodate the new-comers.

It was a year of 2183 by the human`s count when Staff Commander Shepard found herself once more on the Citadel. She had 10 hours to kill before she would be officially introduced to her new crew and Captain from whom she would be taking orders.

The Alliance didn't offered her any details what-so-ever and she hated being in dark, but at same time she understood it completely. By this time she was already used of secrecy and she figured that this is probably just another one of the classified missions she is being sent on. Nothing new. But from some reason she felt somewhat nervous and it bugged her that she didn't know why. There were always good chances that something would go wrong on her assignment, actually it always did, and she was ready for it.

Angel Sun Shepard pushed the dark thoughts somewhere deep and decided that she would rather use her free time to grab a drink. She had no intention of getting drunk, no, that was not her style. She was just in need of a little distraction, a little relaxation. She felt she deserves that.

Shepard switched her Alliance outfit for a cosy pair of jeans and somewhat shabby looking t-shirt. She let her long brown hair to fall loose over her shoulders and looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her lips quirk in small half-smile. It wasn't often for her to look as civilian so she cherished this rare moment of it.

She left the small one-room apartment that the Alliance rented for her in this occasion and headed to the Blue Moon Bar. She liked that bar. The music was not so loud as elsewhere in the Citadel, the lights were dim, the settings were far enough from each other to give a person a sense of privacy and there were no asari dancers to be found anywhere. This latter was something that Shepard cherished the most. She didn't had anything against the asaris, besides thing that they are self-centric narcissistic creatures, but she didn't appreciate having their asses and breasts invading her eye-sight at every turn. The second thing she appreciated was that nobody here called her "Shepard". She knew the owner of this fine establishment in person and was thus known only as "Angie". It was not her real name, of course, but Mr. Honeysuckle gave her such nick-name and she simply didn't object. It gave her a little anonymity when joined with the fact that she didn't look like a soldier that she was, nor as she looked on those darn Alliance's recruitment posters that she had to pose for.

As soon as she stepped inside, she looked around for familiar faces and found none. Shepard was at same time disappointed and relieved. She would welcome a friendly banter, but at same time she just wished for some peace. She found a setting at the bar and ordered herself a Deep-space cocktail. The dark-blue looking beverage was nicely cold and the explosion of subtle tastes on her tongue brought a smile to her lips and she let out a satisfied sight. Yes, this was exactly what she needed.

Shepard was completely lost in her thoughts when the seat beside her was claimed by a human male who ordered the same drink as she did.

"Who would thought... only six people in the whole galaxy ever order Deep-space cocktail and now two of them are her at same time. The mathematical possibility for such occurrence is... small," Miss Matilda, the bartender said to the newcomer and around Shepard from her thoughtfulness.

"Oh, really? Who," the man asked.

Miss Matilda nudged her face towards Shepard: "Our Angie here," she smiled.

Shepard raised her glass in mock salute, grinning: "Cheers."

"Cheers, ma'am," the man drawled and raised his glass in response.

Their attentions returned to their glasses then, but Shepard nevertheless observed the man with a corner of her eye. She concluded that he is not a bad-looking guy, at least he didn't seemed to be. The lightning was dim enough that the details of his face got somewhat lost. She briefly considered trying to entangling him into conversation, but he seemed to be somewhat lost in thoughts and she decided not to. She took another sip of the drink then started to mule around her new assignment again. It was really bothering her that she wasn't given any information of it at all besides the time frame.

After a while a deep, soft male voice broke the train of her thoughts: "Do you come here often?"

Shepard looked at him rather abruptly: "What?"

"I... um...," he seemed to be taken little aback. "I just... I don't remember seeing you here before," he said bashfully. If the light would be better, she would see a slight red creeping to his cheeks, but she could guess it just as fine.

"Oh," she sighted. "I'm sorry, I was lost in thought there," she smiled.

"Yea, I noticed that," he chuckled, relaxed.

"As per your question, I guess not. I come here when I find a time, though," she answered his initial question.

"Living on the Citadel or," he asked. Shepard raised her eyebrow and he quickly amended: "I mean... if it's not to personal to ask... ma'am."

Shepard hazard a guess that he is probably a soldier between assignments, just as her and from the looks of it, he wasn't used of addressing strangers either. She briefly considered having fun with the guy and make him sweat a little more, but then decided that it would be too cruel and he did seemed nice, so she decided to go easy on him.

"Nah, I'm not from the Citadel. You," she asked.

"No, just passing by. I'm an earthling," he answered.

"Earthling," she laughed. "I never heard anybody calling himself that. I think I like it."

"Are you from Earth also," he asked.

She raised an eyebrow playfully: "Do I look like an asari to you?"

He appraisingly looked her up and down and spoke slowly: " No blue skin. Check. Not wearing too tight and too revealing clothes. Check. Having actually hair. Cheek. Addendum: they look nice. Hm, well, nope, I don't think you an asari and thank god for that," he laughed.

"Damn, I thought I could fool you," she chuckled. "And no, I'm not an... earthling myself. I'm a star-gazer."

"A star-gazer," he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yea... well... space-kid sounds a little to childish and a spacer reminds me more of being spaced...," she explained.

"I get it," he nodded smiling. " A star-gazer. I think I like the sound of it. Ever been to Earth," he asked.

"Yea, few times actually. Didn't had much time for sight-seeing though, I was... let's say on business." She didn't want to say that she was training at the Vila Militar. It was nice being just a civilian for a while.

"A business," he raised an eyebrow curiously.

"Um...yea... I can tell you all about it if you wish, but I warn you," she leaned towards him, pretending as to divulge a secret, whispering: "But I would have to kill you afterwards." She pulled herself away from him again and added a little louder: "And that, sir, I believe would be a shame."

He chuckled: "Ah, an agent on a top-secret mission. I get it, truly I do." He leaned towards her in much the same way as she did before, almost whispering: "Same here, you know. But I think I wouldn't be able to end you afterwards."

Shepard laughed: " I see we have only two options then. Either we don't speak of... our line of work or... ah no, that would be... nah..."

"Hm... I'm very interested in hearing the other option," he said, then added laughing: "Do not make me use my interrogation skills!"

"Would they include you dragging me somewhere private," she asked sultry as she felt playful even if she usually wasn't.

He caught, slightly embarrassed: "I... um... well... yea, ma'am."

"Sounds promising," she chuckled.

He relaxed then: "So, the other option?"

"You won't let it loose, will you," she sighted, dramatically.

"Nope, I won't," he laughed.

"Oh well... the other option is that we divulge the secrets and then steal a nice little ship and just fly away together, get lost in deep space," she said laughing.

"I like the sound of that," he chuckled.

"Oh you do," she playfully raised an eyebrow.

That got him to stammer again: "I... um... well... yes, ma'am."

Shepard found it adoring cute.

"Perhaps some other time then," she said a tiniest bit more seriously, then added with a laugh: "I just need to save the galaxy first."

He sihted, dramatically: "Damn... me too," then laughed.

Little did either of them knew that there will come a time when that will be exactly what they will have to do or at least attempt to do.

"Copy-cat," she nudged him.

"Another drink," he smiled, asking.

"Sure, why not," she nodded and called Miss Matilda to mix them another cocktail.

They kept chatting for an hour or so, masterfully evading the paths of discussion that would lead towards revealing what they do for life. They didn't speak of anything meaningfully, just some random things, laughing a lot and flirting here and there. It was... nice.

Shepard's omni-tool beeped and she looked at it: "Oh darn," she muttered.

"Something bad," he raised his eyebrow.

"No," she said then paused before continuing: "Or yes... depends how you look at it. It's just that it's time for me to leave and get ready for... well..." she frowned.

"Mhm, to doing classified things," he laughed, but his laughter had a slightly sad taste to it.

"Exactly..."

He looked at the time: "Believe it or not, but I have to get ready also."

She raised an eyebrow: "Seriously..."

"No, really," he cast a smile at her. "It's somewhat funny."

"That it is... Anyhow... it was nice meeting you. I hope your... classified stuff... goes well," she stood up and pulled a credit-chip from her purse.

"Let me... please," he stopped her and promptly paid the bill.

"Why thank you, I thought gentleman's went instinct," she said playfully.

"Nah, we didn't really, but it takes a real lady for us to reveal ourself," he chuckled.

"If you say so," she laughed. "As much as I hate to go so promptly... but I must... so take care."

"Yea... you to, miss," he answered. She turned around to leave but was stopped in track by him: "Hey... I never... caught your name..."

Shepard turned back to him. She briefly considered revealing who she was, but went against it. It was nice few hours and if he was an Alliance soldier as she thought, then things might become somewhat... tense, as they usually did. "Angie," she said,: "You can call me Angie."

He tilted his head a bit. Somehow it didn't seemed exactly truthfully, from what-ever reason. "I'm... Kai," he told her. It wasn't exactly his name either, but if she felt the need to... well... he would also.

Shepard raised an eyebrow: "If you say so... Kai."

She was just about to leave when his voice stopped her once more:" Angie!"

"Yes," she asked.

"Will I... will I see you again," he had to ask.

Shepard quirk a smile: "Perhaps. The Universe is a small place after all, isn't it."

"I guess so," he grinned. It was not a -yes-, but it wasn't a -no- either and he figured he could work with it. "A year from now?" He wasn't sure how long his next mission would take, nor if he would have time then, but somehow it seemed right to say.

"A fan of old movies, are you," she chuckled, then straightened up: "You have a deal, sir. A year from now. Same place, same time." They would both forget it, she was sure, but well... why not.

He flashed a big smile at her and she suddenly wished that the lightning would be better so that she could actually see the details of his face: "We have a date then."

She simply nodded to him and smiled back, then she turned around and left him. She vaguely thought that he seemed somewhat familiar, but she was unable to pint-point it, and so she let it rest. It wasn't important anyhow. It was time for her to get her meagre gear and head to the dock where her new Captain would be waiting for her.

As he watched her leaving, a strange sensation got over him. She seemed... familiar from somewhere. It was to dark to actually truly see her face, and it was partially obscured by her long hair. He found himself standing and lamely staring after her when he suddenly rushed towards the door. He hopped that he would be able to see her for one last time, in the light. That would probably jog his memory into remembering, but when he got out he, with disappointment, discovered she is already gone. He sihted and left. His shore-leave came to and end.