Ok, so I realize this is a bit late but I thought I should better explain my story thus far,
just to clarify a few things that could be misunderstood or missed entirely.
Character: Erin Shepard, infiltrator. Ruthless, but the difference is that she grew up
to a certain age with both of her parents. So yeah, she's ruthless but she had parents. Also, thank you to
everyone who's written reviews and is following the story. You have no idea
what it means to me, thank you!
Also, I hope you'll all forgive a few inconsistent or redundant parts of the story.
I don't have a beta as of yet, and I'm having to rely on myself to read, re-read, and read over
again myself to check for errors. But I do still miss stuff, if you see anything let me know!
Ch.2: Dodging Bullets
The doors to the tech lab hissed open, Erin could hear the rapid fire beeping of holo-keys being clicked for Mordin's research and tests. Papers were scattered everywhere, along with dozens of crates that she had no idea what kind of crap was in them. As far as she could tell Mordin must have thought there was order in chaos. She smiled for someone so analytical he sure was unorganized 'the measure of a person can often be difficult to discern.' indeed. As she stepped further into the lab, Mordin glanced at her then quickly back to his work.
"Shepard, how can I help?" She walked over to stand in front of his work table. 'If anyone can solve this it's Mordin, if for no other reason than he'll just never give up till he gets it right.'
"I have a challenge for you Mordin." He quickly finished typing and looked up at her, walking around to stand at the edge of the table.
"Yes, Shepard?" She could see the excitement in his eyes, maybe they hadn't known each other long but one thing she knew was that Mordin loved a challenge.
"The assassin, Krios, the one we recruited today. He's dying of something called Keprals syndrome, have you heard of it?" Mordin clasped his chin between two of his fingers, apparently in a quick paced deep thought.
"Hmm, have heard of it yes. Thought of several different possible solutions. No drell to test, no way to run proper DNA compatibility tests. Possible solutions left unexplored, other than theories. Why do you ask?" She smiled, somehow it didn't surprise her that he already had possible solutions. You don't end up a part of salarian special tasks group and get put on a genophage modification project by being just ok. Mordin was excellent, and she knew she had the right person for this particular job.
"I'd like you to see if you can cure Krios. He's assured me that his illness won't interfere with the mission, but if it can be helped I don't want anyone on my crew terminally ill. You think with him on board you can manage it?" He actually smiled.
"Yes! Will need a few things from the Citadel. Solutions. Temperature control devices. Seper-" Erin raised her hands in mock defeat and early surrender.
"Whoa, spare me the details, when we get to the Citadel just go find what you need and com-link with me via your omni-tool. Just let me know how much it is and I'm sure we have plenty of credits to cover it." She decided to go practice some old dance routines in the hangar for a while; she was tired, but not sleepy and had too much on her mind to sleep anyway.
Later:
As she was walking to the mess hall to refill her water bottle, Erin bumped into Garrus.
"Shepard, I'm glad I caught you. When do you want to leave to recruit the justicar? I was going to do some calibrations and I don't want to be stuck running diagnostics if you plan to bring me on the mission." He noticed she looked slightly sweaty and flushed. "Working out again?" Erin nodded as best she could while taking a sip of water.
"Yeah, I couldn't sleep so I was just boxing a bit." Erin still hadn't told anyone about her dancing, for all the crew knew (the credit for which was flawless acting on her part) she couldn't dance. "I'm going to suit up now, go ahead and run your calibrations. I'll bring our new assassin and Massani for this one." Garrus shook his head in mock dismay.
"I still don't see why in the world you get along with him, too mouthy." Erin smirked.
"Look who's talking." Miranda came walking up from her office."I can't remember how many times Shepard has looked over at me in the middle of a fire fight and mouthed 'Scratch one!' just as you spoke." Erin laughed. Despite all odds, she liked Miranda. Yeah she was a bitch, plus she occasionally had a little problem with remembering who was in charge, but she always spoke her mind and Erin respected that. She didn't need to agree with it to appreciate an honest opinion. Garrus didn't seem as amused, but he was a good sport about it.
"How else would Shepard know how bad I'm beating her score?" he flashed his patented turian grin as Erin narrowed her eyes.
"Dream on Vakarian, don't think I've forgotten how I had to keep pulling your ass out of the fire from charging krogan on Korlus. What's the point of that sniper rifle if you always have to get right in the heat?" Miranda laughed while Garrus shrugged.
"Call me a...what's that human phrase? Ah yes, call me a dare devil." Now it was Erin's turn to laugh.
"Oh I can see that catching on, 'Dare Devil Vakarian'" she waved her hands in the air like a banner, then shook her head. "Nope." Miranda nodded in agreement.
"Doesn't quite roll off the tongue like Archangel." Both Miranda and Erin chuckled at that before Erin brought the original point back up.
"Anyway, don't worry about it. Go ahead and do your calibrations, I'll make do with Massani and Krios." Garrus nodded an affirmative and headed for the main battery. Erin turned her attention to Miranda.
"So what's up XO? Or were you looking for me?" Miranda suddenly seemed slightly uncomfortable.
"I was, I have a favor to ask Shepard. It's not something I want to burden you with, but I need your help." Erin raised an eyebrow. Miranda never asked for help.
"What's the matter?" Miranda wrung her hands together.
"Perhaps we could speak in my quarters, this isn't something I want to share with the entire crew." A small plea shone through her eyes, Erin nodded, wordlessly following her to her office. Once the door hissed shut, Miranda turned abruptly.
"Normally I don't like discussing personal matters, but this is important."
"It's ok Miranda, what's on your mind?" Erin tucked her thumbs into the waist band of her shorts.
"You remember I told you about my father and his ridiculous dynasty?"
"Yeah" She nodded.
"That's not the only reason I went to Cerberus, I needed protection. Not for me, my genetic twin Orianna. My father is still hunting her, but she's been safe…until now. She's been living a normal life here, with her new family completely unhindered by him. That's why I'm asking, I want to take care of this while we're on Illium and avoid back-tracking." Erin nodded, it did make sense.
"Alright, you said she's been safe until now, what's happened?"
"My sources tell me my father has found her. I've tried to keep her hidden without impacting her life, but he's too close and I'm out of options. I need to relocate her."
"Does Orianna know anything about any of this, or her family?" It struck Erin as odd that Miranda had moved her sister around without said sister noticing. If she was anything like Miranda, then Erin found it hard to believe that she wasn't suspicious of something.
"No, her and her family are completely normal Shepard, they know nothing. I've told Cerberus and they've come up with a way to positively move the family." Miranda rested her hand on her hip, her classic confident 'yes I have this figured out' look.
"Alright, what time is the move?" Miranda's face lit up in complete surprise.
"You'll help me?"
"You're on my crew, Miranda, of course I'll help." Erin understood all too well the importance of family, even if she hadn't liked Miranda she'd have offered to help.
After she left Miranda's office, Erin made her way down to the engineering deck. The yeoman had said something the evening before about Jack wanting to talk, and she needed to tell Massani to prep for their upcoming mission anyway. She walked down to the sub-deck and saw Jack hunched over in a corner.
"Shepard, I got thoughts...like...little bugs crawlin' around in my head!" Erin repressed a sigh, Jack's habit of being overly intense and dramatic could be annoying at times. She spoke her mind just like Miranda, but it always had some negative edge or shocking lack of modesty, which could be hilarious...in small doses.
"I'll listen to whatever you have to tell me Jack." Erin leaned against the wall of the sub-deck as she crossed her arms, waiting.
When Jack finished her rant about wanting to blow up an old, and likely abandoned building, Erin made her way to the port cargo. She stuck her head in and talked as fast as she could.
"Hey, suit up Massani, I'm leaving to recruit the justicar and you're coming." To anyone else that might have sounded rude, but she highly doubted the bitter old bastard cared.
"Alright Shepard, hey wait just a minute!" Erin ground her teeth together 'Why the hell does everyone want to talk so bad right now?'she wondered to herself as she turned back toward the merc.
"I wanted to thank you for your help with Santiago, still wish I could have gotten the bastard but you were right, those people didn't deserve to die because of that piss stain." Erin smiled.
"Don't worry about it, if we come back from taking down the Collectors, I'd be happy to help you hunt him down." His eyes widened, 'Oh, shocked you have I? That must be a first.' she thought to herself.
"I appreciate that Shepard." He nodded solemnly, it was the most sincere emotion she'd ever seen on his face that wasn't rage. She couldn't help but smile as she made her way back to the elevator, yeah he was a bitter old bastard but he reminded her of her favorite uncle back home on Earth. One of the few family members she still had. Salty, brusque, verbose and deadly with just about anything you put in his hands. Tac on the fact that he always yammered on about pretty much anything he could find relevant to any missions he'd ever been on and he was a piece of home away from home.
The elevator opened up onto the crew quarters deck and Erin turned towards the life support bay, poking her head in quickly like she'd done with Massani. "Hey, grab your gear and be ready at the airlock in half an hour. We're going to pick up a justicar and I'd like to see how you handle more than just three guards and one paranoid, conceited business woman." Thane turned at the waist in his seat and smiled politely.
"Very well Shepard." he nodded. Before she left she smiled back, after the door closed she thought 'Why did I smile? I'm not trying to flirt with him!'
'Yes you are.' a small part of her brain argued.
'No I am not!'
'What's so wrong with that?' the small part persisted.
'Because he's on my crew!"
'And your point is?'
'I…it's…he's a drell! We're not even the same species!'
'You didn't seem to care when he was smiling at you just now.'
'But…I….he….SHUT UP!' Erin felt like banging her head against the elevator wall. 'Next thing I know Miranda will have Chakwas checking my mental stability if nonsense like this keeps up.' Shaking her head (temporarily) clear of all thoughts Thane, she slid into her under-armor suit then began strapping on the metal pieces.
When she was done she made her way off the Normandy. Miranda, Thane and Zaeed were waiting for her just outside the airlock and followed her as she began to talk, still walking "Ok, Miranda, you go find your contact and keep me up to date on the time. Krios, Massani, we're going to get the justicar." They all nodded. "When we're done, we're going to help out Miranda so we need to be as quick as we can."
"Something you couldn't take care of by yourself sweetheart?" Erin gave Zaeed an agitated look, she liked the old war horse (or maybe a troll in his case) but Garrus was right about one thing, he could be mouthy. Miranda didn't seem at all off set, likely too focused on her current goal.
"I'll meet you at Eternity, my contact is waiting for me there." With that Miranda walked off in the direction of the club, not even acknowledging Zaeed's comment. The trio set off for the main law station after speaking with migration officer Dara, as Liara had suggested the day before. They took a cab to go meet with district detective Anaya and passed an anxious looking volus as they approached the station, but Erin was too pressed for time to be doing side charity work. He was muttering something about how absurd it was that the local security wasn't letting him, something about a murder and business shipments. She made a mental note to keep an eye out if they found anything to help while on their mission. After speaking with the detective they walked over to the crime scene entrance. The two officers at the door warned them of the Eclipse mercs in the area. Erin readied her M-6 assault rifle.
"Alright boys, I want to get in and out of here as fast as possible. We've got bigger fish to fry than hunting down one asari justicar all day." Thane nodded mutely while grabbing his sniper rifle and checking to make sure the heat syncs were reloaded.
"This might take a bit if we have to fight Eclipse mercs." Zaeed said.
"Just make sure you can keep up Massani." Erin smirked as he laughed. As they rounded the corner, Thane spotted the first merc, aimed and shot the first merc in sight before Erin was even behind cover.
"One falls." was all he said, with a cold look in his eyes, and then took aim for the rest. Erin looked over at Zaeed and he just shook his head in bemusement.
"Well I won't have an assassin showing me up!" and he blasted off a stream of bullets as he pushed forward, cover be damned apparently. They fought their way through the rest of the mercs. Coming up on what Erin hoped to be the last corridor when it opened up to a bridge. It made her feel uneasy to be out in such an open area but there wasn't another way around, not without retracing their steps. And there wasn't enough time for that. Halfway across a gunship flew up from under the bridge. Zaeed dashed into cover easily but Erin was too busy trying to get the particle beam strapped to her back. Thane grabbed her arm and yanked her to the side, putting both of his arms on either side of her to get her out of the path of the streaming shots that the gunship fired where she had been standing not a moment before. The smell of bergamot, leather, and another spice she couldn't name engulfed her as she stared up into his eyes. He was looking to the side, waiting for the gunship to cease firing. If he was aware of how close he was to her, he gave no sign. But that didn't mean Erin was unaware of how his chest was almost flush against her own.
'See?' that small annoying part of her mind gloated and she blinked rapidly trying to control her suddenly racing heart that had nothing to do with how close she'd just come to being shot to death by the gunship. 'Get it together Shepard!' she chastised herself. Finally the shots came to an end. Thane lowered his arms after a moment's hesitation and stepped back to let her take aim as he and Zaeed sprayed the ship with bullets. The next few minutes were a constant and dangerous dance. Dodge, wait, shoot, take cover again, wait. Each time Erin fired the particle beam she could see more and more of the gunship set ablaze. She rolled out onto the center of the bridge and took aim one last time, shouting "EAT THIS!" this time the gunship began to fish tail and the engine blew. She smirked and turned to smile at Thane, who was standing just to her right, and saw the ship begin to spiral out of control…straight for Thane. She shot into a mad dash to reach him before it crashed on top of him Reaching him just before it passed within inches of his head and sliding them both to the ground and out of the way.
Erin was taking huge heaving breaths, relief washing over her like a wave. She looked over to Thane and he was already standing up and dusting himself off. He held his hand out to help her up, she took it.
"My thanks Shepard." He smiled and the grip he had on her hand seemed to hold a warmth that she couldn't explain. His hand held hers a fraction of a second too long before releasing it. She smiled back and waved her hand to the side in a 'think nothing of it' gesture. Zaeed came walking up beside them.
"If the two of you are going to make it a habit to have to save each other, don't think I'm going to make it a habit to pull you both out when you get in too deep." Erin laughed at his comment, completely aware that it was only a joke. A harsh joke yes, but then again he was a harsh person.
Once they reached the justicar, Erin learned her name was Samara. And she was searching for the name to a ship which someone she was hunting had taken off Illium to escape her. Erin, Thane, and Zaeed went to find the ship name for her. Along the way they found a ship cargo manifest that Erin thought must have something to do with the volus that they saw outside the detectives head quarters and kept it. After Samara returned to the precinct, bound to cooperate with the local authorities for one day, Erin and her squad left to find her information. They fought their way through dozens of mercs, killing one that was hiding in a side room and found out that the crime that the volus was accused of was murder. But the merc they'd found was responsible, not the volus. After finishing off the rest of the mercs, and getting the ship information. They returned to tell Samara, and give detective Anaya her evidence in the volus' case. Erin linked her omni-tool with Miranda's.
"Miranda, we're done here. Update on your sisters situation." Erin always said as little as possible over comm's. She hated talking any other way but face to face, but the way the galaxy was meant it couldn't always be avoided.
"Ori and her family haven't left to move yet. It'll be another few hours, maybe 2 or three. I'll keep you posted." Miranda said, and Erin nodded.
"Ok, Shepard out." Erin closed her omni-tool and turned towards Zaeed and Thane. "Well, we have some time before Miranda needs us, you two go ahead and go tour around a bit. I'm going ahead down to the bar." Zaeed nodded.
"Don't think I'd mind a nice cold beer before we go struttin' into whatever mess little miss tart has waitin' for us." He spoke without any real edge to his words, but still it sounded harsh.
"What exactly is your problem with Miranda, Massani?" She honestly wanted to know.
"I don't trust women who are THAT beautiful, met one too many. Honestly she'd be alright, if she weren't so god'dam perfect." Erin laughed at that. It was true; the woman was damn near perfect. But that wasn't her fault, she didn't ask to be genetically tailored.
"I shall go and see what upgrades are available at the kiosks. I shall join you once I am done." Thane bowed as was his typical farewell then started off in the direction of the main market. Erin watched him walk away and reminded herself that she still wanted to thank him for saving her from that gunship at the bridge. And her thoughts instantly turned to how close they'd gotten when he pulled her out of the line of fire on the bridge. The smell of his skin and coat. His intoxicating presence, surrounding her.
"C'mon Shepard, drinks are on you!" Zaeed batted his hand against her shoulder, snapping her out of her thoughts. She shook her head, chuckling at his joke and her own ridiculousness. Erin and Zaeed sat down at a table and ordered their beers, talking about people they'd known. Old relationships, favorite missions and other things. Zaeed had much more interesting material than she did as far as she was concerned.
"I swear, I've never seen a woman who looked so god'dam sexy holdin' a shotgun. Or one who I trusted less for that matter. Lawson comes close, but I haven't known her as long as I knew that bitch." He laughed and finished off his fifth beer. Erin chuckled and shook her head at how exuberant Zaeed could be, even at his age. Before Zaeed could order another beer, Thane walked up and sat down with them. Apparently empty handed.
"No interesting upgrades?" Erin asked politely, Thane shook his head.
"Yes, a new scope. My current scope has no targeting laser attached, but this does." He pulled the scope out of his pocket, and pulled it from the small paper pouch it was wrapped in. "It should cut down on the weight." Zaeed eyed the part with mild interest and then shook his head.
"Whatever happened to gettin' stronger to carry the best weapon? Used to never matter how heavy it was." He sighed. "Nothin' stays the same." He turned the empty beer bottle over in his hand, seemingly lost in his own thoughts of 'the old days'. Erin held her hand out in silent question to Thane for the scope, He passed it to her and as she turned it over in her hand she realized she recognized it.
"I have this on my Viper rifle, it's a great scope." She smiled and handed it back to Thane, their fingers brushing lightly. Her fingers felt like she'd just brushed lightning. 'Ok, ok, so he's gorgeous. No need to get my panties in a twist just because of that. I've met plenty of handsome men before and never once fell in love with a one of them. It's just aesthetic beauty and attraction. That's all.' The denial sounded like a lie even as she thought it, but that's what she kept telling herself. What was the alternative? Admit to having feelings for someone she had only just met, barely knew, and who was a completely different species? She was known for walking that line between crazy genius and just plain crazy, but she wasn't sure which side of that line this particular situation fell on. She tried to focus her thoughts as she turned her head to see Miranda walking over to their table.
