All characters and main plot belong to BIOWARE - I own nothing. No copyright infringement intended. This is purely for entertainment purposes. All writing is my own.
The Normandy was deadly silent as commander Elise Shepard made her way down to the mess. She tip-toed as best she could, trying not to wake any of the sleeping crew members who were enjoying a good night's rest. She knew she had to be quick as the ship-wide morning wake up alarm would go off to wake everyone up. She wanted the best of the food before the morning rush. As she mixed and matched the food from the mess area, she smiled at the thought of a certain Cerberus operative asleep in her bed.
The beautiful goddess was wrapped up in the warm sheets of the commander's king size bed, resting silently after last night's work out. Elise never thought Miranda would feel the same way, but her feelings came out last night and shocked the commander slightly. Helping her with her sister just seemed to help Miranda define and realize her feelings for the commander. Elise knew that she couldn't let this go.
She grabbed the remainder of the food and tip-toed back up to her cabin. She hoped the hissing of her cabin's doors wouldn't wake the sleeping goddess in the bed as she entered. She continued lightly over to her desk space next to her private terminal and put the tray down as silently as possible. She then took a second to peep around the wall and admire the sight that was in front of her. Miranda was just as Elise had left her ten minutes before, wrapped up in the sheets in a deep sleep.
"Elise?" a voice came from the bed, snapping Elise out of her daydream.
"Hey" she said as she walked over to the bed.
Miranda moved over slightly so that the commander could slide back into the bed. Elise automatically slipped her arms around Miranda and held her tightly. The Cerberus operative buried her face into the crook of Elise's neck to feel comfort, her idea of safety.
"Off" She said as she tugged on Elise's shirt.
She watched the commander smile and wrestled herself onto Elise's hips to gain control. The commander did exactly what she wanted and took off her shirt. She kissed her softly on the lips before returning to the commanders side. She then made her take the rest of her clothes off so that she was completely naked again.
"Now that I'm naked, again. How was your sleep miss Lawson?" She played with Miranda's hair in between her fingers.
"Rewarding" she buried her head further into Elise's neck.
"How?" she held her slightly tighter in her arms.
"I never knew you felt the same way. I guess I just had to realize it." she sighed.
"What's wrong?" Elise already became automatically worried.
"It's just that I'm scared" she squeezed Shepard's shoulder tighter as she said it.
"Of what?" the commanders fingers moved their way from Miranda's hair and onto her shoulder, now caressing it gently with the tips.
"Of starting this now. I mean, we have the whole important issue of the mission that we might not come back from. What if one does and one doesn't?" shivers went down Shepard's back as Miranda caressed her neck with her hot breath.
"We're going to do it. Don't think like that. I'd rather focus on the things that really matter to me and that I can come home to." Miranda smiled at Elise's reassurance.
"And what are those things that your focusing on?" Miranda traced the commander's shoulder.
"This..." Elise kissed the top of Miranda's head. The operative felt a spark of happiness come to life within her as she felt the warm touch of the commanders lips on her head.
Kasumi flashed a wide grin at the commander as she entered the room. The commander had a certain spring her step that Kasumi noticed almost immediately. Elise sat on the couch next to the petite thief and gave her a confused look.
"What?" Kasumi tried to hold back a laugh, but failed and blurted it out.
"Nothing, just that you seem to be 'glowing' this morning Shepard" she held her glass tightly.
"How do you mean, 'glowing'?" Elise pressed.
"Well, I've seen it many a time before Shepard. Most of the time the glow is caused by someone who has experienced an incomparable night of passion and, how do you say, intimacy." The thief set her glass down on the small end table next to her. Elise sighed and slouched down into the couch, giving up.
"Ok, am I really that obvious?" She looked over to the hooded woman.
"What do you think I'm going to say Shepard? Of course you are! Your practically skipping around the ship with that walk of yours. It's pretty hard not to notice. Anyway, tell Miranda I said hi." Kasumi shouted as Shepard got up to leave.
Elise stopped and turned. She gave Kasumi a death glare just as the doors to the observation room in which she occupied hissed closed. The commander gave a sigh of relief before slowly walking back down the hallway. As she stood in the elevator she thought about that brief encounter. She would have to occupy herself in another way. The doors suddenly opened, revealing the CIC deck. She stepped out and headed for Kelly Chambers, her personal assistant.
"Hello commander, you seem to be happy and fullfilled this morning" Kelly regretted saying it as soon as she saw the commander roll her eyes are the remark.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to-" She was interrupted mid-sentence by the commanders hand.
"Don't worry Kelly, everyone's been doing it." The commander leant against the rail by Kelly's work station.
"Ok, what do you need this morning commander Shepard?" She resumed her normal conversation.
"Is there anything I should know regarding the crew?" Shepard crossed her arms, yawning.
"Jack would like to see you down in her hidey-hole on the engineering deck and Samara has requested to speak with you in her observation quarters. Is there anything else commander?" Kelly smiled when she saw the commander stand up straight.
"That's all Kelly" Elise got ready to leave.
"Ok, have a nice day Commander. Send Miranda my regards." Elise watched Kelly turn around and return to her computer terminal.
She puffed out a sigh of frustration as she walked back over to the elevator. Next stop - engineering.
Elise prepared herself as she made her way down the metal stairs that led to Jack's secluded little hole in the bowel of the ship. It was kind of peaceful, but Elise still preferred her private quarters up on the top deck.
"What's up commander" Jack didn't look up from her gun that she was examining.
"Hey Jack, you wanted to see me?" Elise stood completely still as she watched Jack stand up. The biotic walked over to her and handed her a fistful of credits.
"The crew had a betting pool going on for quite a while. It kept growing every week. It finally happened I see." Jack sat back down on her bed and looked at a confused commander Shepard.
"What for?" Elise held the credits tightly.
"You and the Ice Queen. We knew you'd get together sometime, it was just a matter of time. We bet that you would hit it off, and if you didn't the bet would grow every week until you did. And when you did, we would give you half of the credits. And don't go asking questions why, but for some reason Jacob came up with that stupid 'good will' idea. He's such an idiot. I would have been rich but I had to spilt it so that you got half." Jack explained.
"How did you all know though?" Elise tried to make sense of the situation.
"Word travels fast, especially on a ship like this. Just know that every probably knows already, you won't find anyone who doesn't." Jack smirked.
Miranda paused her typing and checked the time. Lunch. Her stomach growled as she stood up and made her way to the elevator door. She travelled down to the mess to try and feed her stomach's hunger pain. If she didn't she wouldn't be able to focus on filling out the millions of reports growing on her private terminal.
As she appeared from around the corner, some of the crew members sat at the main canteen table looked at her curiously. As she prepared her lunch she felt the stare of many eyes burn on her back. When she had finished, she pucked up her tray and turned to face the crew members sat in the mess that were looking at her. As she was Shepard's second in command she had the power to order other crew members around. Perfect.
"All of you stop looking at me and get back to work" They stopped looking and did as she said. She smiled as she walked away and made her way back up to the top floor to continue her work.
Elise walked straight out of the elevator and down the hallway to the observation deck that Samara occupied. She wanted to avoid the crew members in the mess as quickly as possible as she knew they would stare at her all of the time that she was in there. The doors hissed open to reveal a peaceful asari in deep meditation. For a second, the sight of a deeply focused asari made her want to leave and come back another time as to not disturb it. But, she stood there for a few seconds, and sure enough, Samara slowly and gracefully came out of her meditation, the biotic globe in her hands fading into thin air.
"Shepard, I have been meaning to talk with you" She stood up slowly with a grace only she possessed.
"So has everyone else." Samara could sense annoyance in Shepard's voice.
"If you mean the news about you and Operative Lawson, you are wrong. I would like to talk to you about a personal matter" She hugged Elise before turning to view the stars through the observation window. Elise joined her by her side.
"Thank you. What would you like to discuss" Elise looked out into the dark abyss.
"As you know, I am bound by a code. I am concerned for one of my daughters. Her name is Morinth and she is an Ardat-Yakshi." Samara held her hands behind her back, making her look majestic.
"What's an Ardat Yakshi?" Elise didn't know what the hell it was, she had to ask to know what she was dealing with.
"It's a rare genetic defect that compels an asari to destroy their partners mind during sex. I have found that my daughter is becoming more and more dangerous by the second. I need to stop her Shepard. She is a serial sex murderer and I need to put an end to her bad deeds. That's why I come to you with the deepest faith, hoping that you will accept my offer and assist me in putting an end to her sins." She turned to a serious Elise Shepard who was caught up in thought.
"Ok, where do we start?" Elise turned back to Samara, snapping out of her thought.
"Back on Illium I followed a lead, but she escaped on a ship that was headed for Omega. I have gotten word that she is there, prowling the streets and clubs for her next victim. I don't know where she is exactly in Omega, but I know she is there. Will you help me Shepard?" Samara was sincere, Elise admired that.
"Yes. I will. I will get Joker to set a course for Omega first thing tomorrow morning, but tonight I need to rest. It's been a long day." Elise massaged her temples with her fingers.
"I know Shepard. Come and talk to me whenever you need too. I am always here to offer peace and serenity. Try some meditation, it may help soothe your soul every once in a while." Samara hugged Shepard once more and watched her leave her peaceful quarters.
Elise made her way to the elevator to go up to her cabin. She needed to rest. Plus, she couldn't wait to see the hard working woman that was filling in reports at the captains own private terminal, in her cabin. She smiled at her thoughts as the door hissed closed.
The commander watched the elevator doors breeze open. She made her way across the small floor space to the main door of her cabin, which hissed open as soon as they recognized the commander. Elise smiled when she saw the black-haired, black cat-suited woman sitting down typing away. Elise hoped that she hadn't heard the doors hiss open as she entered. The commander tip-toed over to the Cerberus operative and affectionately put her arms around her neck from behind. Miranda smiled and held onto both of Elise's arms, kissing her hands.
"Hey" She said, looking away from the screen.
"Hey, I missed you." Elise said as she looked past Miranda's head to the busy looking screen. She then looked over to the area around the desk. There was an empty food tray and various food wrappers scattered around it. Miranda looked at the mess.
"Have you been up here doing this all day?" Elise asked, still looking at the mess.
"Yeah. Sorry, I had to get them done and I'm almost finished." Miranda turned her head away and looked at the screen in front of her.
"Ok, but one thing first" the commander ever so slightly held Miranda tighter in her arms.
"What's that?" Miranda squirmed as she felt the commander kiss the top of her head.
"This." Elise was blunt, and pulled the Cerberus operative up out of the seat she was sat in. She spun her around and moved her hands down to her waist, pulling her close to her body. Miranda automatically put her arms around the commanders neck and kept them there secure. Elise kissed her with a raw passion that Miranda had never felt before. She loved every second of it. As Shepard moved her lips down to Miranda's neck, she tried to stop her, trying to push her away and failing as the strong arms gripped even tighter to her waist.
"I've got to finish these reports, then we can have some personal time." Miranda chuckled as Elise tried to kiss her.
"Ok, just one more" Elise tried to bargain.
"Ok, one more and that's it" Miranda then kissed the commander once more as promised. Elise kissed her again. "Hey, I said one!" Miranda laughed as she pushed the commander away, finally succeeding. Elise gave her a hurt, saddening look."Later!" Miranda said as she sat back down to continue her work.
"Ok." Elise said, kissing the operative on the head once more and then moving further into her cabin. She pondered on what to do, then had an idea.