A/N - Many, many thank yous to the people following along and to those who left me reviews on the prologue chapter. I know it was only short, but it did introduce us to the dark world of the evil asari and Spectre Kaidan. FFnet has been broken half the times I've tried to respond to reviews for this fic, so apologies if you're one of the people I didn't get a chance to reply to! I did read and LOVE your reviews!

The Normandy was a thing of beauty, all clean lines and gleaming silver. Sierra Shepard couldn't help but reach out and touch the bulk head as she toured the ship, trailing her hands along the smooth interior walls, literally getting a feel for the ship. Various junior officers and marines nodded to her as she passed, and she nodded back without smiling. A few of them knew her by reputation and tried to engage her in conversation, but she made her excuses and moved on. Forming close relationships with people was too fraught with danger, the few friends she had were carefully chosen and knew enough about her not to pry into her life.

"Shepard." The Normandy's new pilot, Jeff 'call me Joker' Moreau, nodded to her as she entered the cockpit, and Captain Anderson turned to look at her, his scarred visage a thing of nightmares.

The grizzled veteran had lost half his nose and an eye during the Batarian rebellion years earlier when a turian sympathiser had slashed his face with a knife. The asari had allowed him medical treatment so he'd lived despite his injuries, but they hadn't bothered reconstructing his face and the resulting scars had made a monster of him.

"So, Spectres huh?" Shepard crossed her arms over her chest and cocked a hip as she watched Joker run through the pre-flight checks. "Have you met them yet?"

Anderson nodded. "They briefed me when they came on board; Spectre Alenko is a human and Spectre Kandros is a turian. They seem professional enough, as far as Spectres go."

"Spectres? Professional?" Joker scoffed. "I've worked with Spectres before and I can tell you that if one thing is guaranteed to send a mission FUBAR, it's a Spectre. They're about as professional as the asari are kind and benevolent."

Shepard started to chuckle but checked herself as an icy touch crept along her skin a moment before footsteps approached from the hallway behind. The prickling feeling spread over her skin, and she shivered, fighting not to wrap her arms around herself. Biotics always made her feel like this, as though her skin was about to crawl off her body. No one else ever seemed to feel biotics the same way she did, but it was the only reason she'd been able to stay alive during the Rebellions. She'd felt those biotics coming for her and had been able to locate them even when they were keeping to cover.

"Spectre Alenko." Anderson straightened respectfully.

"Captain."

The voice was smooth, pleasant, and noticeably Canadian. Shepard forced her face into a neutral expression and turned to face the monster that they'd been forced to take on board. Her mind was full of images of the last biotics she'd fought; their snarling expressions, cruel laughs, and the way they'd toyed with her before they'd tried to kill her. But the man she turned and faced looked nothing like they had.

The first thing she noticed was how tall he was, easily over six feet and broad in the shoulders. His black Spectre armour gleamed and she dragged her eyes up to meet his, having to fight the natural instinct to look away. His skin was a healthy tanned colour and his jaw was dusted with stubble, as though he perpetually had a five o'clock shadow. He was handsome, she noticed, with a firm jaw and good cheekbones, but it was his eyes that caught her attention.

They were a deep amber colour, almost the colour of old fashioned pennies on earth, and were fixed on her in a penetrating stare that almost brought a flush to her cheeks. Dealing with Spectres when they looked like monsters was one thing, dealing with a monster who looked like a fucking male model was quite another, and Shepard shoved the part of her that found him attractive to the side. Whoever this man was, he was a predator and a killer, and his presence on the ship was going to make it hard for her to do her job.

"Commander Shepard?" The Spectre held out his hand and smiled at her, a small quirk of the lips that set her pulse racing. "I'm Spectre Kaidan Alenko," he introduced himself.

She hesitated for a moment and then reached out and shook his hand, thankful for his armour's gloves that provided a barrier between his skin and hers. Without it, touching him would have been painful; she was certain of it. His hand hesitated around hers, his fingers tightened, and then he drew back and gave her a narrow-eyed stare. Had he been able to feel that pulse of power too? That low prickling wave that had swept up her arm?

"Walk with me, Commander." The Spectre didn't wait for her to acknowledge his order and strode off, leaving her gaping after him.

She looked at Anderson. "Sir?"

"Go with him, Shepard. You know better than to keep a Spectre waiting." He nodded reassuringly, but there was doubt in his eyes and it sent a shiver down her spine.

Alenko was waiting for her in the hall and he led her towards the meeting room where he closed the door behind them, presumably to give them some privacy. Her skin tingled as he shut her in the room alone with him, and she fought hard not to show her nervousness as she turned to find him watching her. Slowly, as though not wanting to startle her he moved closer and removed his gloves, laying them on the conference table in front of him.

"I want to shake your hand again," he instructed and held his out.

Shepard froze. "Sir?" she asked, swallowing hard and rubbing her palms on her legs. "I don't understand?"

"You don't need to. You just need to shake my hand." He held his hand side-on to her and raised his eyebrows, seemingly amused by her reluctance.

Stay away from the asari, Sierra. Stay away from Spectres. Don't look at them. Don't touch them. If they ever come for you, you are to run away? Do you understand? Don't let them know that you can feel them. Stay hidden.

Her mother's words the day they had left her at the orphanage floated through her head and Shepard shifted her weight on her heels. She knew her parents had abandoned her as a child rather than let the asari take her away from them, just as she'd always known she was different. She wasn't a biotic, she knew that, but she could feel them. Sometimes the feeling of having biotics around her made her skin feel as though it was going to burst from her body, as though there was something inside of her trying to get out, but she always swallowed it down.

"Is there a problem, Commander?" His tone was sharper and his eyes had hardened, and Shepard gasped as she felt a curl of his power reach out and slide against her. It was an almost physical sensation, one that roused a strange feeling inside of her that felt like hunger.

Alenko used that moment to step forward and take her hand, and it was as though a live electric current jumped between them. Shepard's legs buckled as his warm fingers slid around hers and his biotics smashed into her like a freight train. She wanted to scream but couldn't even draw breath, and she whimpered as the buzzing power filled her body, sent speckles of light in front of her eyes, and drowned out all of the sound in the room. Desperately, in the back of her mind, she scrambled to find a way to break free.

It wasn't painful, but he was draining her.

Feeding from her.

Killing her.

She was sure of it.

With one last effort she tried to break free of him, and with that mental shake his power seemed to change, soften somehow, and Shepard froze as the energy abruptly seemed to seep into her; not hurting, not draining, but filling her with a dizzying warmth. It felt so reassuring, so wonderful and pleasant that she forgot herself. She stopped fighting and leaned into the power, drinking it in. How long she lay there, drunk on energy, Shepard wasn't sure, but the power slowly faded away and she drifted back to herself.

She had fallen to her knees and, incredibly, she found herself cradled against the chest of the Spectre. His free arm was around her waist, holding her against him, and his other hand was still wrapped around hers, their fingers laced. He knelt above her with eyes that blazed with blue light and curls of biotic power danced over his skin like azure flames.

He's beautiful, she thought dazedly.

It seemed perfectly natural to lean towards him, as though she were being drawn, and he likewise dipped his head to hers. The movement was instinctual, not conscious, and their lips met with a slow tingling rush of biotic energy. Shepard moaned in the back of her throat, eagerly pulling him close. The kiss was innocent at first, a brush of the lips, merest hint of pressure, but it was as though the energy between them craved more flesh to flesh contact, and she found herself wanting to be closer; to feel more of his skin against hers.

She pushed eagerly against the Spectre, caught in the thrall of their biotics and helpless to stop herself as she opened her mouth to the kiss, wanting more of that delicious energy. Alenko responded in kind and his tongue slid against hers; delicately, teasingly, as though he were just as caught up in the wave of wanting as she was. He deepened the kiss hungrily, swirling his tongue around hers, and Shepard had a deep and unshakeable suspicion that he was as starved for affection and human contact as she was as his fingers dug into her shoulders and he clutched her close.

He's lonely, she thought, and somehow she knew it was fact. This man, this Spectre Kaidan Alenko, was just as lonely and starved for human affection as she was. He was a perfect stranger to her, but being in his arms felt more right than anything she'd ever felt before. She could feel the press of his biotics, the weight of his need and loneliness, and how deeply and desperately he wanted someone to be with; just as she did.

This is madness! He tried to feed from you!

Shepard jerked away as the thought burst through her mind, and just like that the spell was broken. The Spectre let her go, and her momentum sent her sprawling to the floor where she looked up at him with wide frightened eyes. His armour reflected the lights and it gave him an unearthly air, as though he were some horrible spirit come to take her away. The look on his face was one of surprise; his jaw was clenched, his eyes were wide and his hands were frozen as though he were still holding her.

"What the hell was that?" she asked when the silence stretched, unsure if she should leave or if he was waiting for her to speak. Her face burned at her wanton behaviour; she'd wanted to do far more than kiss him.

"That was me trying to test your powers," Alenko admitted. His biotics died down, the power drawing back inside of him and draining away until his eyes returned to that burnished copper and his skin no longer glowed with light. "I'm not sure what happened at the end there." He got to his feet and stretched a hand down, a faint smile crossing his lips when she hesitated. "But I wasn't trying to hurt you and won't do it again, I promise. I was just … curious."

Shepard slowly reached up and took his hand, his skin tingled against hers, but this time there was no searing pain or roar of power. He pulled her to her feet and when she almost fell forward he put a hand on her waist to steady her. She shivered and looked up into his face, her body almost clenching with need as she watched him. He made her feel frightened and off balance, but hungry, incredibly hungry, and the way his power hummed along her skin was intoxicating.

"Are you okay?" He seemed concerned and the hand on her waist tightened slightly, his thumb rubbing gently in small circles that sent frissons of excitement over her skin.

What was wrong with her? Why was he making her feel this way? Like she knew him and wanted to be close to him; it was madness!

"Yes." Shepard mumbled and stepped back, feeling the loss of his touch keenly. She'd never felt this drawn to anyone before, and it terrified her.

"Well." He crossed his arms over his chest, looking ruffled and a slightly uncertain. "You're clearly a biotic, though your powers haven't quite manifested properly. But you were strong enough to stop me feeding on you-"

"No." Shepard interrupted, swallowing hard as panic tightened her throat. "I'm not one of you."

He tilted his head and that insufferable half-smile danced over his lips again. "As the old adage says, it takes one to know one. And you're a biotic. It's interesting that you weren't picked up as a child-"

"Commander Shepard was abandoned as a child." A duel toned feminine voice interrupted them and Shepard spun around, feeling trapped as she noticed the female turian standing just inside the doorway. She cursed herself for not detecting her presence earlier and watched nervously as the second Spectre approached them, a predatory look in her eyes. "It's likely that she slipped through the cracks in the system if her biotics were not encouraged to manifest."

The cold manner in which spoke and the way she said the word encouraged sent a shiver down Shepard's spine and she fought harder not to shrink in on herself. "My past isn't your business," she snapped, sounding far braver than she actually felt. "And I'm not like you."

The female laughed. "Not yet, but you will be."

"What does that mean?" Shepard looked from her cold eyes to Alenko's. "What the hell is going on?"

"Nyreen." There was a warning in Alenko's tone as he frowned at her. "Let me handle this."

She made a turian noise of contempt and stepped back. "Fine, you explain what's going on to your new pet but be quick about it. We've picked up a distress call from Eden Prime. There is trouble with rebels attacking the Spectre training facility and the Council want us down there to investigate. You should bring her along, see how well she does when she's working with Spectres instead of killing them."

The Spectre spun on her heels and strode from the room so abruptly that Shepard suspected the door would have slammed behind her if it had been able to. She wasn't sure why the turian was so prickly but she had the distinct impression that she didn't like her, and even more strangely that she hadn't liked finding her in Alenko's arms.

"Pet?" she asked as she turned back to face him, ignoring the low thrum of power that seemed to connect them

To her surprise, he blushed. "Ignore Nyreen, she's being facetious. But we do need to talk about why I'm here and you may not like what I have to tell you." The Spectre rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly and smiled. "You can start off by calling me Kaidan."

There was something about Shepard which Kaidan couldn't seem to get out of his head. It was as though when he'd tried to feed on her some small part of her had wriggled under his skin and stayed there, forcing his thoughts to flick to her every few moments. He'd tried everything to try and distract himself, but it seemed to be useless, and it was even harder when they were in the same room with each other; her presence called to him.

The desire to be closer to her, to feel that cool prickling power rush along his skin was almost irresistible, and he understood now why the asari tried so hard to pair up biotics of a similar species, and why biotics paired together so often ended up mated and married. Nyreen he understood and could read in battle; he knew her moves and what she would do almost before she did. But it wasn't the same feeling that he'd felt in that instant when he'd held Shepard and had felt her power shift along his.

He'd felt connected.

The sensation of her energy mingling with his, so tentative and faint, had been beyond anything he'd ever felt. It was as though their biotics called to each other, as though they were two different songs that harmonised perfectly when put together. When her legs gave out and she fell into his arms it had been second nature to catch her, to hold her, to make sure no harm came to her. The way she made him feel was addictive, and he couldn't get her out of his head.

"She really got to you, didn't she?" Nyreen asked as she watched him work out, her eyes following his movements as he did pull ups.

He glanced over as he dropped to the floor and stretched, easing blood into cramped fingers. "She wasn't what I expected."

"I thought you'd met her before?" She began to stretch beside him, graceful and flexible. "You made it sound as though knew her when you spoke to the council."

Kaidan shook his head and finished his stretching, then dropped to the floor and began a set of push ups. "No. I saw her a few times during the fighting on Elysium and a few times afterwards. She was impressive but we never spoke." Nyreen snorted and he glanced up as he did his exercises. "Well, she was impressive for a human."

"Only, she isn't a human, is she? At least, not a normal one." Nyreen began a series of controlled martial arts movements. "What was it like?"

"What was what like?"

She came to a stop and tilted her head towards him in a knowing way. "You know, touching her power? What was it like? You seemed very in tune with each other."

Kaidan finished his set off and shrugged as he got to his feet. "I don't know. It felt strange, not normal, but not unpleasant. Why are you so interested?"

"Just curious." Nyreen said casually. "You know what it's like when you click with another biotic. Sometimes it just happens."

"Like with your old partner?" He asked. "You and Nihlus were that close, weren't you?"

She froze and her head snapped around to look at him, her eyes flashing. "We were going to bond, until-" Nyreen clenched her hands, her rage obvious. "Until he met with his accident."

Kaidan nodded and didn't say anything else as his partner returned to her exercises. There wasn't a Spectre in service who hadn't heard of Nyreen and Nihlus and what had happened to them. Aria T'Loak had taken a special interest in Nyreen, and when the turian turned her down to stay faithful to her partner, he'd met with an accident and been killed in action. Of course there was no proof that Aria was behind it, and as she was a member of the High Council nothing would have been done even if she had been, but it had a subtle warning for all Spectres.

The asari owned them, and to deny them what they wanted would cost you what you most cherished.

The room wasn't big enough for two people to work out comfortably in, and Kaidan gathered his towel and headed up to shower, deciding he'd done enough. The Normandy would be arriving at Eden Prime tomorrow, and they planned to take Shepard with them when they investigated the rebel activity. It might turn out to be nothing, but the High Council was worried and it was their job to treat it as a potential threat.

Kaidan pushed the button for the elevator, wondering where Shepard was at this moment. She hadn't reacted well to being told the truth about their presence on the Normandy, nor had she been pleased to discover that the High Council had been deliberately exposing her to Eezo. He couldn't say he blamed her either, but the Council were in need of Spectres to police their Empire, and any potential candidate couldn't be allowed to have their potential wasted.

He hesitated as he heard Shepard's voice coming from the mess as he moved to the male shower room, and his feet almost changed direction to take him towards her, but with a will of iron he forced himself to keep moving to the bathroom. Forcing his presence on Shepard might encourage her biotics to manifest, but it wasn't going to endear her to him.

And if he was honest, he wanted her to like him just as much as he did her.

A/N - I hope you enjoyed it! I know Nihlus isn't canonically a biotic character, so you'll have to bear with me twisting that details for this mirrorverse fic. Now, we get into the meat of the story in the next chapter - hopefully you'll enjoy it. Review are much loved.