Tried a story with these two characters, didn't like the way it was going so this a new one.

Disclaimer: Mass Effect is owned by Bio Ware and EA, any use of characters is purely fan made.

Illium

Grand Hotel Gym

0600

Ashley panted heavily at the target in front of her. Her muscles were burning with pain and her legs felt like they were being tied down by bricks. Wearing a black tank top and shorts she felt like her body was on fire as sweat continued to run down her body. While Ashley's opponent was the punching bag, what it represented was the struggles of her past.

"I'm sorry Williams but I can't accept your request to Space Duty." Her CO told her with his hands under his chin.

"What!" A young Ashley exclaimed. "I can out run, shoot, and perform any male marine on this planet!" Ashley said her arms slammed on the CO's desk.

Ashley started to throw jabs at the punching bag while moving around.

"That might be true, but with your "family history" there is no way I can approve this." her CO paused for a second a slight smile curving on his face. "However, there might be other ways we can work something out." Her CO said rising from his chair.

He had a creepy looking smile on his face as he walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder.

Ashley started to put some more power to the bag as she started combining her jabs with straights.

Ashley knew what this guy was thinking and didn't like it. She turned to face and put her arms around his neck.

"Oh sir, if you say so." Ashley said going in for a "kiss".

Before Ashley got close to his face she brought her knee up to his groin...hard.

Her CO went to the the ground grabbing his balls and wincing in pain.

"Disgusting pervert, next time I'll break both your nuts." Ashley said as she left the office fuming with rage.

The punches Ashley was throwing at the bag grew with more intensity. She threw a rapid pace of uppercuts with such force it almost felt as if the whole room was shaking with her fury. Finally after about a minute of this intensity, she collapsed on the floor.

Her lungs were on fire and she felt like she could no longer move. She decided to just lay on the floor for awhile to catch her breath and try to relax.

"They always wanted something extra." Ashley said looking at the ceiling.

Ashley had been thinking about her past problems when it came moving up the ranks while in the Alliance and the few chances she had always included some type of extra service. While Ashley was a loyal Marine, she was no slut who was going to fuck her way to the top. She knew people, some who did it, and considered them the lowest of the low.

It was funny reflecting on it because she never thought she would be where she was now.

"Spectre Ashley Williams" Ashley thought to herself with a slight giggle inside her.

She never thought she would be a Spectre. Never thought she would help save the galaxy. Never thought she would have served with the great Commander Shepherd.

Shepherd... greatest leader I ever met, I hope you found peace. Ashley closed her eyes as she said a small prayer for her late Commander.

They never found his body, but seeing as it's been over a year since the Reaper War everyone just assumed the worse. While the Reapers were help rebuilding the galaxy, and peace remained though most of the systems, it didn't mean this female Spectre's job was done.

Since the Asari world's took most of the damage and the fact that the cat was outta the bag that they had Prothean technology for centuries, well it rubbed some alien species the wrong way. Illium, while still a very expensive place to live, still had a hotbed of white collar crime.

So the Asari Councilar wanted Williams to live there for while to keep the peace and protect the Asari worlds from "reprisals".

Speaking of which, one of the elite businesswomen of Illium was set to give a speech later today and was also being targeted by some a supposed Batarian hitman. Though since Ashley has been here they have mostly been fanatics and small level thugs, too easy for someone with her skills.

"It would be nice not having to do all this crap alone." Ashley out loud.

While her expenses here were all paid for, thanks to the Asari Councilor the constant need to protect all the important people on this place could take a toll. Outside of working or going to the range, she didn't have much of a social life here.

Ashley glanced at a nearby clock and looked at the time. Spectres don't get to rest for long. She managed to pull her self up and got ready to make her way back to her room and into the shower.

As she washed her self she went back to her thoughts.

"Maybe something interesting will happen today." Ashley as she turned the water off.


Jacob was relaxed, breathing calmly as he looked down the scope. He extended the target to almost 1000 meters out, as far as the machine would let him go. He didn't need his biotics for this shot, for it was a shot he made countless times.

Jacob squeezed the trigger of the sniper rifle and felt the immediate kick back of its buttstock hitting his shoulder.

The target flew off the screen and a short ding sounded off hinting that he hit it center mass.

Jacob stood up and looked down the target lane and smiled. He still had it, and most of all didn't need to use his biotic powers.

"A little target practice can do the mind wonders." Jacob said picking up his sniper rifle and looking at it.

Jacob had been spending more time in the range as of late. Honestly the range or gym was all he could afford on his free time while out here at Illume when he wasn't protecting some Asari big shot.

Jacob didn't mind it though, since it was Illium he knew the higher ups here would pay good money for good protection. And what good money it was. Jacob was making more bank here then he ever did when he was at Cerberus. Unlike human employers, the Asari always made sure to pay there people good and didn't try to short change either.

It also helped that Jacob was damn good at his job.

Since coming to Illium not that long ago, he has made somewhat of a name for himself as one of the best body guards in the Athena Nebula. It even earned him the compliments of a few Justicars on a couple occasions.

"Gotta see if I can adjust the cooldown on this bad boy." Jacob said examining his Sniper rifle and placing it in his duffel bag.

Jacob left the range and headed back to his apartment near the upper section of Illium. This type of apartment would normally be out of his pay range, but he helped the landlord when some mercs were out for his head. As thanks he gave Jacob a discount that allowed him to live here.

When Jacob entered his room, he checked his computer monitor for his next job offer. An important Asari was giving a speech later today and wanted Jacob to make sure some Batarian didn't come to harm her. Jacob took a second to look over what her payment was going to be and nodded his head.

"Looks good." Jacob nodded his head with what he saw.

"100,000 credits is real good.' Jacob said again with a slight grin.

Jacob got his equipment ready and prepared to make his way out to the location where the speech was supposed to take place. As Jacob got ready to leave he thought to himself for a moment. This type of work while it did pay well, could get tiresome at times, though it did help to forget the uncomfortable things about his past.

"Wonder what dad would think about this." Jacob said as he left his apartment.

Note: in this Story Jacob never met Brynn Cole.