The moment Alex left the elevator her victorious smirk turned upside down and now looked pretty sinister. It was quiet down here.
"Too quiet if you ask me," muttered Shepard and tiptoed inside Main Engineering.
She knew the silence would break off eventually, she just didn't expect it happen so quickly, thus the only thing she could do at the moment was to squeal like a cute little piglet. The impact of the noise was surprisingly effective because several seconds later Shepard bumped into Ken Donnely, his face gleaming with enthusiasm.
"Glad you came by, Commander! I am too weak and excited to watch it alone!" blurted out Scotsman and made Shepard a sign to follow him.
"I need to talk to Gabby. And Tali. And Jack," said Alex trying to keep up with her engineer.
"Aye, you'll have your chance soon enough, Commander," grinned Ken.
They rushed downstairs where large metal boxes were scattered across the floor like oversized children bricks. Some of them were floating in the air in a shape of triangle. Jack was sitting cross-legged on the table in the middle of the room, her hands glowing with biotics and her face glowing with mischief. Gabriella Daniels was standing right in front of her, hands on her hips and indignation in her eyes. Tali'Zorah was sitting on the stairs not far from Gabby with one of her hands covering the part of her mask where usually one could find a forehead.
"This is unacceptable, Jack! This is an advanced human warship not a sandbox! We are trying to fight the greatest threat in the Galaxy while you…" Propulsions Engineer was trying hard to remain calm but her voice kept cracking with fury.
"You seriously need to get laid, Daniels," smiled Jack crookedly. "Trust me, you'll feel better right away."
"I…You…That does it!" Gabby's face turned red.
"I'm sure your Highlander will be more than eager to aid you in this matter, precious."
As Jack said it another metal box got off the ground and merged with the others forming smiley in the air.
"We need to concentrate on work," butted in on two girls Tali, "and keep it professional. I have enough sleazy comments coming from Engineer Donnelly to make me all jumpy."
"Hey, he was just trying to clear the air!" defended her partner Gabby. "Otherwise we would simply be bored to death here."
"Calling my legs "chicken legs" and making some indecent comments about my hips?! I can hardly call it funny!" now Tali's voice was cracking with fury.
"I love it when girls fight over me," said Ken in a very low voice while he and Shepard were hiding behind a crate watching the scene. "Three furious women in one room, why it makes me so excited, Commander?"
"I'm going to make it four, Ken, but I'm afraid your excitement will vanish pretty soon, because the only three hot things you're going to monitor tonight will be Tantalus Drive Core, Extended Fuell Cells and antiproton thrusters," grinned Alex and pointed the way to the Main Engineering deck to rather disappointed Ken. "Have fun!"
Shepard sprang out from her cover just in time to stop Tali from turning into Mr. Hyde.
"Hey, what's up?" said Alex with quite artificial smile on her face.
"Your bucket-headed friend has a freakin' funny reaction when people complement her figure," chuckled Jack making a halo over Shepard's head with her floating boxes.
"Tali, if only you knew what people tend to say about operative Lawson's…er…assets every time I take her with me on a mission then you'll be screaming of joy, praising Keelah for sending you only one lewd dog who also happened to be Scottish and one of the best engineers humanity can offer," said Alex patting Quarian's back. "But something's telling me that even he won't be bothering you anymore," winked first human Spectre.
"And can we also make sure that a certain tattooed crazy woman will behave herself and stop playing with high-priced equipment and driving me out of senses," said Gabby, her arms crossed.
The floating boxes formed an evil face in the area behind Gabriella's back.
"Shit, the last thing I need here is some pathetic group therapy! Next you tell us to form a circle and sing these sappy Asari ballades holding our hands?!" grumbled Jack rolling up her eyes.
"Actually I have a better idea…" Cheshire cat grin returned to its legal domicile on Shepard's face.
Five minutes later Shepard was hopping cheerfully towards Starboard Observation room where Samara was stationed. Convincing Gabby, Jack and Tali to join her party was easier than she had expected. "Probably free booze," Alex thought to herself. "Or they all want to get their hands on my awesome sound system." Well, whatever the reason was the result proved it all right and the only loose end left was meditating behind the door right in front of her. Shepard breathed in as much air as she could stuff in her lungs and stepped inside the quarters.
Alex liked this area of the ship: it was always quiet here, great place to ponder over important things or jerk around and nobody could be indifferent to the magnificent view. Now she envied Samara. She envied her every time she visited her. Shepard neared glowing Asari Justicar who was illuminating the room with her soft blue biotics and sat down next to her. Alex was fascinated by her species, so much wisdom, power and mystery and yet somehow they contrived to wear all these uber-fetishistic and sexed up suits that made them the main target of wicked teenage fantasy.
"I get the feeling you want to ask me something, Commander," said Samara, her eyes shining brightly.
Alex smiled sadly. Two years ago another gorgeous Asari used to ask her exactly the same question every time Shepard came to visit her. God, she missed Liara and her cute awkwardness.
"Dead on. Always wondered how Asari can be so perceptive?"
"You won't be wasting your time here and looking at me like a curious doe for no special reason. Your species usually want either to talk to us or to make love to us. You know my lukewarm attitude towards the latter, so the answer is quite clear I believe," smiled Samara.
"Oh." Shepard was impressed by Justicar's sound logic.
A minute of complete silence passed by.
"How are you feeling?" Alex felt herself really awkward asking this question but she couldn't bring her real agenda right away.
"Relaxed."
"Good."
Another minute of eerie silence passed by.
"Is your agenda somehow linked to the general excitement triggered by the ship's female personnel heading towards your personal quarters at this very moment, Commander?"
"Um. Yes."
"And as far as I understand you are here to convince me to join this meeting?"
"Well, it's more of a friendly chill out session actually…"
"Interesting."
"With spirits, smoking pipe and girls-only talks."
"These are the means of relaxation one cannot abandon without thoroughly considering. There are many ways to open your mind to the Universe, Shepard. I am glad you have chosen the sprightly one." Samara looked at Alex with her fathomless light blue eyes.
"I'm not that foolish to mess with one Asari Justicar I have an honor and pleasure to work with," chuckled Shepard.
"You are a good friend, Shepard, but a very slow one. We shouldn't keep the rest of your companions waiting," Samara's eyes shone with warm smile.
Alex was showering in triumph and joy. The evening looked ever more promising.