Author's Note: Wow, this is a week late in posting. Sorry everyone. It comes on the back of some good news, at least I hope it is good news, and some not so good news. So the reason this chapter was delayed in coming out is that my friend and sounding board looked at the originally structure of this chapter and told me that it was "poorly constructed" and "confusing". My jaw dropped to the floor and we talked about it for a while. In the end I agreed with her (damn you logic!) and had to make some major changes to the chapter and some later scenes.
So here's the bad news first: For all of you that have read this story before, most of this chapter is going to seem old hat. Pretty much everything I wrote as supplement has been removed.
And here's the good news: The new stuff has been removed from this story and will appear in another one! Most of what I added was back story for Shepard. Her life and struggles before she was frozen, something that I have throughly enjoyed writing. I was struggling to find ways to put it in this story and have things progress in an easy to read manner. So I just decided to give it it's own spotlight. I have yet to decide if I will post it concurrently with this story or afterwards. Thoughts?
So yeah, new story coming your way. So, be on the look out for "The Soldier"
Disclaimer: Bioware owns all the characters you know an love. We'll see if you love mine at the end of the story.
** The Shepard - Preconceptions **
Religion is a crutch. It rises from the hearts of people who need to place order where there is none and explain the unexplainable. The asari ventured out from our world and found a alien universe and yet it was known to them. So our Goddess become united and all encompassing. The turians required honor and their spirits of their ancestors lived on in their ranks.
No one knows what caused the Collapse, but humanity's world was suddenly full of war and death. It is only logical that they would turn to a goddess, burning with fire and passion to protect them in their hour of need. The Shepard was everything that humanity lacked, personified in one perfect figure. - The Collapse, by Dr. Velera Aziz
Oma Ker - 2186 CE
Liara glanced up from her omnitool, desperately trying not to stare at the human, but failing horribly. She couldn't get over the fact that there was a human not five feet from her. Her eyes were inherently drawn to the similarities and differences between her preconceptions and the reality that was Shepard.
Theories about human society had centered around a peaceful culture of explorers and scientists. The Citadel had been central to this theory and the easy of asari colonization had cemented the idea that humanity had not feared invasion. The writings they had found and the technology discovered had been centered around mass effect fields and their application in exploration. What little they had discovered about the Collapse never prepared her for this.
It was clear the Collapse had been a turbulent time for humanity. This was agreed on by most scholars. A popular theory was that some internal conflict had brought war to the peaceful civilization that they were unprepared for. The few military bases they had found, like those of Oma Ker, were small in comparison to the massive structures of the turians. When studied in the context of current societies, it was easy to believe that the humans had an underdeveloped military and relied heavily on their technological advances.
Ilos had solidified that idea for her.
Row upon row of scientists were preserved there to wait out the end of the war and then rebuild society. Scientists and civilians, not soldiers. It had been a desperate move brought on by a people overwhelmed by the brute force of the Reapers, something she could sympathize with. Never in in her wildest dreams had she believed that humanity had developed weapons and armaments.
Yet here she was, looking at a paragon of military prowess.
Shepard knelt over the corpse of the turian, removing his armor and guns in a methodical manner that spoke of years of training. Her hands searched for pockets and claps, raiding his body for supplies and information. There was little to no hesitation as the woman inspected elements, as if she had seen each and every one before. She had already demonstrated her skill at hand to hand combat and now she handled a pistol like it was second nature to her.
Every movement was practiced and precise, it made Liara question every text she had ever read on the Shepard. Stories that had once caused debates among the academic community suddenly made sense. She believed she understood what had happened to humanity in the Collapse once the Reaper's involvement had been revealed; they had fallen quickly to the synthetics. Looking at the new information in front her she realized how much she had missed. Humanity had not gone quietly. They had fought to the last man and they were still fighting.
Liara watched as Shepard found the soldier's stashes of ammunition and in one fluid movement she had removed the magazine and ejected the round from the chamber. It flew through the air and she snatched the small bullet before it hit the ground. Their eyes met and Liara saw the distrust and suspicion there. The audible click of a new heatsink starteld the asari and she felt the threat lingering in the simple movement.
Shepard would shoot her if this was a trap.
Liara's heart sped as her eyes darted to the gun held tightly in the human's hands and then back down to her omnitool. Any and all potential translations fell from her as the woman stared her down. Her mouth went dry and her fingers trembled over the holographic keys, as her mind scrambled for purchase.
Say something. Anything!
Her commlink crackled with an open channel and Garrus' voice was low in her ear. It made the asari jump.
"All clear and the shuttle is on its way. You can bring Shepard now."
"Alright." She whispered, her voice cracking.
"You alright Liara?" He asked.
She nodded and then realized he couldn't see it. "I am. I'm just...overwhelmed."
Overwhelmed by this situation. Overwhelmed by this war. Overwhelmed by this woman.
Garrus' warm laughter echoed over the comlink. "I bet. Just don't go trying to dissect her brain."
A metallic click let Liara know that Shepard had just chambered the first round. Her gun was primed and ready. Dissecting the human's brain was the last thing on the doctor's mind.
"You don't have to worry about that Garrus." Liara said. "We're on our way."
She knew she was shaking, but Liara walked past the woman with the gun and the steel eyes and headed towards the shuttle. While the woman didn't trust her, Liara trusted Shepard. She trusted that Shepard would follow because it was the only choice she had.
The shuttle ride was bumpy. It was cramped. Everyone was staring at Sherpard and with the adrenaline wearing off, the weight of everything came crashing down - physically and mentally. A bullet to the gut felt worse, but that was of little consolation.
Sitting there in her skivvies, wet and cold, Shepard tried to take her thoughts off the last few hours. Each time she tried to focus on something else - the shuttle, her companions, her physical state - it only caused her mind to wander back in a circular and destructive spiral: humanity was gone.
Everything she had fought for, had been willing to die for, was gone.
Yet the war continued. Another cycle, another species on the brink of total annihilation, and her.
Her hands shook from where she grasped them in her lap, perhaps from nerves, perhaps from the systematic shock of being cryogenically frozen, but it was an outward sign of weakness. Glaring at the offending limb, she clamped her other hand on it to hide it from view to both the aliens and herself. Acknowledging her fractured psyche would only lead to tears and she would not cry in front of these strangers, these 'allies'.
Allies.
That word left a bad taste in her mouth. Anderson had been her ally, her friend, and he had betrayed her. He hadn't even given her the choice. He forced this on her. For the first time since Eden Prime Shepard felt small. Unconsciously her hand reached up for her dog tags.
There were three hanging from the silver chain, one for each Shepard.
She closed her eyes and took a sobering breathe. Her mother's words floated to the forefront of her thoughts in a comforting embrace: "Chin up. You are a Shepard. We fix things with tools not tears."
Emotions would have to wait.
There was still a war going on, and she was still a soldier. It wasn't much, but it was enough. It had to be.
The Intrepid - 2186 CE
"Commander Vakarian," Tarquin Victus saluted as the shuttle doors opened, "There is a message from..." His voice trailed off as Shepard stepped off the ship. Dressed as minimally as she was, she still exuded an air of command and confidence. It was as if this whole situation didn't phase her. As the lieutenant stared at her, she stared right back with an eyebrow raised in question.
Nihlus shook his head and pushed past them, "I'm going to take a shower. You know where to find me if you need me."
Garrus nodded. He could tell that his friend was still upset with the events of mission, but he would calm down. The current issue was the young lieutenant, and it was less of an issue and more of an amusement.
"Tarquin, you can close your mouth now."
The turian snapped his jaw shut audibly, "Umm, sorry sir. I just...What...? Who...?"
"This is Shepard," He gestured behind him. She stood with belied ease - three steps behind and one to his left: the same distance she had been since their shaky truce. It was just far enough for her to escape his reach and produce and effective counter. Still on the defensive. Not that I blame her. "She's the last human. I'd introduce you to her, but unfortunately she doesn't speak any language recognized by the translators."
"Oh." The lieutenant still hadn't looked away.
Shaking his head, Garrus slapped the turian on the shoulder, "You had a message for me?"
"Yes!" Tarquin said, finally pulling his attention from the woman, "Councilor Sparatus has asked us to report to the Citadel immediately. He refused to tell me why but wanted you to call as soon as you got back."
Interesting. "EDI?"
"Yes commander?" Came the synthetic voice.
"Tell Lieutenant Neros to set course for the Citadel."
"Yes sir."
"Oh, and EDI?"
"Yes?"
"I want you to make a translation program your top priority. As amusing as it is, I would like another way to communicate besides bullets."
"Of course. I will start to compile all texts concerning the translation of the human language. What would you like me to do with the data that Dr. T'soni uploaded to my databases from the planet?"
"Take a quick look through it. If you see any thing related to the Catalyst tell me immediately, otherwise hold off. Most of it will probably be useless until we get a proper translation protocol in place."
"Are you sure?" Liara asked from beside him, "There are some notes I have from some lesser known digs. I will get Glyph to start pulling all references from my Shadow Broker database but there is no telling what we have misinterpreted over the years. An accurate translation algorithm could take a very long time."
"EDI, how long do you think it will take?" Garrus asked.
"Basing it on other language algorithms will cut a significant amount of time. I should have a basic program in a few hours."
"Good. In the meantime," Garrus glanced back at his newest crew member, "Find her some living quarters and a change of clothes."
EDI interjected, "There is adequate space on the engineering deck in the starboard cargo hold."
"And I have some extra clothing that should fit," Liara added.
Garrus nodded and nudged Tarquin who had gone back to openly gaping at the human, "Come on Lieutenant. We have a councilor to call."
Taking a deep breath Liara turned on the human. The threatening air around the woman had dissipated the second the turians and shuttle had come into view. It was as if Shepard specifically didn't trust her. It made the asari uncomfortable.
One of many things actually.
Shepard wasn't the only on edge. It was hard to think around the human. Her mind splintered in twelve different ways. Everything from curiosity to fear and every spectrum in between. Her whole being was consumed by the mystery that was Shepard.
And Liara was attracted to mysteries.
Scantily clad as she was, Liara could see the ripple of muscle under Shepard's skin as she moved. It was hypnotizing. Her skin was fair and reminded her of the spring flowers on Thessia, no other living thing had the same coloration. And her head, the fringe was a different color, paler than her skin but caught the light like water caught the sun.
Her lips were red, and her eyes were...staring right at her and the edge was back.
"We should get you some clothing," Liara muttered hurriedly, embarrassment seeping into her very core.
Perhaps clothing would help both of them calm down.
Shepard watched as the blue alien fumbled around the bathroom, showing her how the water worked, where the towels were and soap. She tried not to show it, but Shepard was incredibly relieved that they still used water for showers. All she wanted to do was soak in a hot shower and wash the cryogenic residue from her skin.
The other woman put down some clothing by the sinks and began talking rapidly again, fumbling in what Shepard could only call embarrassment. Nerves translated across species and the purple tipped ears helped.
Watching the woman there was an air of awe around her. It was surprising giving the novelty of their relation, but Shepard had seen it before. 50,000 years ago. This woman wasn't the first to sneak glances in her direction and struggle for words. She had seen many privates and servicemen look at her with that wide eyed look.
Logically, it shouldn't have surprised her. The others looked at her in shock, but this look was different. This woman looked at her like she knew Shepard. It was just another reason to keep a close eye on the alien.
The alien that could pin her to the wall without even touching her.
Shepard closed her eyes and could feel the energy drifting over her skin, burning where it exerted pressure against her arms. It reminded her of the feeling of passing through the relays, like her body was accelerating even though she wasn't moving. She had never seen anything like it before.
Her eyes trailed over the woman looking for any signs of the blue energy but the bumbling alien was no threat right now, too absorbed in whatever she was talking about. Shepard didn't understand the smooth lyrical words anyways and the shower beckoned her softly from the back. Truthfully she wanted the alien gone. The day had worn her thin.
The woman continued to talk and Shepard reached the end of her patience. She started to strip, placing the black bra on the sink next to the other clothing. The small squeak she heard behind her indicated that the alien probably wasn't as comfortable as she was with open shower stalls. Basic training and ship life had effectively removed the awkwardness of public showers.
Still...
Shepard glanced over her shoulder at the blue woman, her whole face purple and her azure eyes wide.
It would help if she didn't stare.
An eyebrow raise and a small cough finally got the alien's attention and she turned abruptly, muttering something to herself. Shepard almost felt bad for a moment and wondered if the other two aliens would have been more composed.
Somehow, she felt like this was all the privacy she was going to get so she finished get undressed, placing her underwear and hair tie with the bra. Shaking the tight bun from her head, her hair fell awkwardly, crinkling under her hand due to the residue from the cryopod.
Stepping under the spray, Shepard instantly felt more human. The dirt washed away and for a moment she could forget; forget the alien by the door, forget the fate of humanity, forget how much time had passed.
The door opened and closed with a hiss. Shepard turned surprised, but not unpleasantly so, to find the alien woman had left. Finally alone, she let herself relax, as much as she could with the day's events.
The water beat down on her stiff muscles and she rolled her shoulders feeling a few knots melt away. The soap the woman had let for her was sweet and unlike anything she had ever smelt before.
Alien.
Frustrated with her swirling thoughts Shepard slammed her hand into the wall. The impact that ran up her arm was sobering. Turning off the water with a furious twist she ran a tired hand through her wet hair.
Get your head on straight.
There were more important things to think about: how far along the Reapers were, where to get armor and guns, and how the hell she was going to talk to this crew.
Quickly she prioritized a list in her head, starting with getting dressed. She reached over for her skivvies, but they were gone. So was her hair tie. All that was left was a green and white dress and no bra.
Perfect.
Location Oma Ker - 2186 CE
Brutus Kuril stared at the dead turians at his feet with disgust. It had been a simple mission: retrieve information on the Crucible. The information was locked, but they found a key: The Shepard. Something about it had caught Saren's attention and he wanted it, badly.
This 'Shepard', whatever it was, apparently had attracted someone else as well.
Kuril opened a line to Saren, "It's me," He said, kicking the soldier over. The head rolled to the side awkwardly and the glowing eyes stared back at him, "It's not here."
"And the data?" Saren's voice drifted over the line.
The turian glanced over dead terminal, "Gone."
The growl that answered him spoke of promise. "Find it."
"I will." Or else.
The Intrepid - 2186 CE
"Councilor Sparatus," Garrus said with hands clasped tightly behind his back. The two of them didn't have the best history together - years of distrust, political posturing, and hiding evidence - but with the start of the Reaper War they created a begrudging respect for one and other.
"Vakarian," He nodded, his blue form shimmering over the the QEC. "There has been a development with the Salarians."
"What kind of 'development'?"
"Dalatrass Linron wants to hold a peace summit. She won't admit it, but salarian interests are being lost. It's only a matter of time before the Reapers turn their attacks on the Sur'Kesh."
"So she's looking for help now?"
"Yes."
Garrus shook his head. Allies are only allies when they needed something from you, "What do you need me to do?"
"The Primarch has made it off Menae, barely," The councilor growled, "The ship arrived heavily damaged and they are in need of a new one. The Intrepid is the fastest ship in the fleet and with your stealth capabilities it's the safest. You will host the summit."
That's not all. "What aren't you telling me?" Garrus pushed, crossing his arms over his chest.
Sparatus stared him down, but finally crumbled, "Fedorian," He hissed, "Wants to include the krogans in the summit."
That surprised Garrus. The salarians and krograns never got along, unless you counted Grunt and Mordin, but that didn't always go smoothly. "Really?"
"Yes, and the strongest clan has responded to his request - Clan Urdnot."
Ah, there it was. "Wrex."
"Yes. Urdnot Wrex . Keep him under control."
Garrus smirked, "You don't keep him 'under control.'"
"I don't care Vakarian." Sparatus snapped, "Whatever happens we need salarian support. The asari have already backed out. They heard about the krogans. If the Dalatrass wasn't so desperate she wouldn't even been coming."
"I'll do my best."
The councilor nodded. "Good. The Primarch is counting on you. We all are."
Liara looked over some of the texts that EDI had pulled for the translation program. Some she agreed with, but many had been debunked years before. Her language professor would probably laugh at her for considering some of the books, but with an actual human here...what if everything they knew was wrong?
Tarquin sat down across from her, holding onto a warm tisane and clearly a bit uncomfortable. She looked at him over the top of the data pad patiently waiting for him to say something. He opened his mouth once, but then promptly shut it again.
Putting down the pad and crossing her arms Liara softly asked, "How did the talk with the councilor go?"
"I wasn't...I mean...well. It went well. I guess."
Liara sighed. He was a good soldier, but still a bit uncertain, especially after the incident at the Chatti Outpost. She had heard all about it - his father raised him to Lieutenant and gave him command of the 9th platoon. His record was strong, but many people questioned his ability to lead saying that his father had advanced him too soon. Then the 9th platoon went to investigate the Collector attacks in the Terminus System, but couldn't protect both the civilians and the intel. He had to make a choice.
He chose the intel.
Looking over the report Liara agreed that had been the right decision, but Tarquin clearly questioned himself, especially since Garrus took down the Collectors before the intel had been of any use. He had been a strong leader, but losing so many for basically nothing had undermined his confidence in a serious way.
"Was there something I could do for you," She pressed as he continued to fidget.
"The human - Shepard - she...it...well," He paused and breathed deeply, "I was surprised she was so...well like you."
Liara smiled. So was I. "What had you been expecting?"
"Collectors."
"Ah." She hadn't actually seen them, but she knew what they were - slaves to the Reapers born from eons of forced experimentation on humans.
He sighed and stared at his drink, "I know it's stupid, but when you first brought her on board and Commander Vakarian said she was human...well, I couldn't really process it. Humans and Collectors are different, I know, but I hadn't really been able to separate them in my mind after..."
"After you found out what the Collectors really were." Liara finished. Tarquin nodded. "What did they look like?"
"Much flatter," He smirked, "Bare heads, not that shiny fringe. All tall with more muscle. And no eyes just...blackness."
Liara shivered, "That sounds..."
"Terrifying?"
She nodded.
"And nothing like Shepard...right?"
Smiling she nodded again, "Right. Shepard's not particularly terrifying, well, unless you're Nihlus. I think she might have scared him a bit."
"Liar," Came the deep dual tone voice from behind. Liara turned and smiled innocently up at the turian in question as he came to sit next to her. Gone was the heavy armor from earlier and in its place was a set of practical civilian clothing. Being a Spectre he didn't have a uniform like the rest of the crew, but he still opted to wear something besides blood stained armor around the ship, per Garrus' request actually. Apparently his Spectre status in combination with all those bullet holes made some of the crew uneasy.
"She's only human and bleeds like the rest of us." He said crossing his arms and glaring playfully at the asari.
"Are you sure? With those skills we might never know what color blood she has"
Nihlus smirked and leaned in closer to her, "Do you want to know? I'd be happy to get you a sample." Liara smiled and pushed him back, "Where is she by the way?"
"Still in the shower," she said blush rising to her cheeks. And I just stopped thinking about that too.
"Not any more," Tarquin mumbled over the tisane he had raised to his lips. The ceramic cup sat there as his eyes widened at the sight. Liara and Nihlus turned to see her, still slightly wet but dressed.
And apparently angry.
As soon as she got to the table she started gesturing and talking fast. Liara blinked, but couldn't focus on the words. She was in awe of Shepard's fringe. It had changed shape and was down around her shoulders. The woman kept running her hands through it to keep it from her face as she gestured to other regions. She had thought it was hard likes the turian's and asari's, but it most certainly was not.
Was it as sensitive as theirs?
Tucking some of the still dripping locks behind her ear, Shepard's display finally ended with an annoyed look.
"I think I'm going to be sick," Tarquin said. Liara glanced at him and saw his eyes firmly fixed on the constantly changing head of the woman. Bending a turian's fringe in anyway was excruciatingly painful. No wonder he was a bit perturbed.
But she was fascinated.
Looking back on the next few minutes, Liara had to admit it had been stupid. Incredibly so. She had seen what Shepard was capable of planetside and their current truce, as fragile as it was, gave her no right to touch the soldier, but she did. Liara reached over to touch the limp locks curiously. There weren't any other species that she had ever seen with such flexible structures, and like everything else concerning Shepard, she seemed drawn to them.
As her finger brushed them, Shepard's hand darted out and grabbed hers. The sharp twist brought Liara to her knees in a fast and painful movement. Ligaments strained and tendons pulled, but only to the breaking point and not beyond. She gasped in shock and pain, barely registering the clipped words coming from the human.
It had been an instinctual reaction. The blue alien had moved in the corner of her vision, reaching out and touching her hair. Anything moving in her peripheral vision in a hostile environment was automatically a threat, especially if it was moving towards her. Reflexes like that were what kept her alive this long.
Not a good way to make friends though.
Before she could register an apology the spiked alien with the white markings had moved. He grasped her wrist and pulled her off the blue one and she let him. It wouldn't do well to start a fight now with so many uncertainties.
At least that was what her logical mind had said. Her pride however said something completely different as he pulled her towards him, twisting her wrist as he spoke. She had no idea what he said, but from the way his grip tightened on her wrist she knew it was meant to be intimidating.
But she was Commander Shepard and she would not be threatened.
Stepping forward she rose her knee quickly with every intention of kneeing him in the gut, but the dress got in the way inhibiting her movements. She stumbled forward a bit and he took advantage of her clothing malfunction and pinned her to his chest.
If any of her old crew could see this...God, Joker would have a field day.
They were face to face and Shepard stared back at Nihlus, her eyes narrowing as he smirked. The dress had gotten in the way and though most people hadn't noticed it, he certainly had and took advantage of it. The hold he had on her was tenuous at best and he moved to readjust and finish the battle but Shepard clearly wasn't in the mood. Dropping down, the dress bunched around her thighs and she swept a leg forward catching Nihlus' ankle causing him to stumble backwards. As he fell she twisted under his arm and righted herself. With a firm pull her hand was free and Nihlus was on his ass - again.
I hate her.
Shepard looked up from the spiked alien who was clearly angry over her handling of the blue lady. He was protective of her. Interesting. She would have to be cautious. He was fast and clearly well trained. That combined with a quick temper could be explosive.
Hair had fallen in her eyes and she glared softly at the offending locks. This wouldn't of happened if the blue one hadn't taken her hair tie. Or her underwear. God she hated this dress.
Crossing her arms she stared at the alien on the floor daring him to make another move.
He's not that stupid.
No...wait. He was.
I hate her.
I hate her.
I hate her.
It had become a mantra as he glared at her from his position at her feet. Every bone in his body told him to stop, to let it be. It was clearly a miscommunication that would be rectified in the morning. All the threat he had witnessed the moment before had gone from her body and now she was focused on him with a condescending stare.
His pride yelled for him to get up and kick her ass. Garrus wouldn't approve of his XO's behavior. He wouldn't have approved of his behavior, but all logic was driven from his mind with the half smirk Shepard gave him.
With a snarl Nihlus barreled into her driving the two of them to the floor. His spurs got tangled in the fabric of the dress, but it also helped to keep her legs confined. He pulled back an arm to punch her in the face, but it sailed right as she dodged it and connected hard with the floor.
In the back of his mind he could hear Liara's protests, but he was too focused now the woman below him and his wounded pride.
The crack of fist against the metal floor was loud in her ear. It grazed her cheek and she could feel the raw skin redden with inflammation. If he didn't want to end this, then so be it. Clearly he needed a good beating and she was in the mood to give one.
Her hands were free and she grabbed the sides of his head holding it in place as she head butted him right between the eyes. His face was harder than hers and it sent her skull ringing for a moment, but a broken nose was always worse. He cursed and pulled back as blue blood spurted from the injury.
His distraction was her advantage and she shimmied the dress up, willing herself to focus on the fight and not the fact that she was going to give everyone watching a show. Her legs now free flexed and bucked her hips up and him off of her. She jumped up and grabbed him - one arm on the cowl and the other on his arm - hauling him to his feet and towards the wall.
A load roar caused her to pause just enough for another person - the spiked alien with the blue markings - to pull them apart.
"ENOUGH!" Garrus bellowed, peeling the two away from each other. He had already been heading towards the mess hall when EDI informed him about the altercation between Nihlus and Shepard, but whatever he had been expecting it wasn't Nihlus about to be thrown through the med bay windows.
Glaring at both of them he snapped, "What the fuck is going on here?" He shook Nihlus slightly as the other turian stared at him through tear filled eyes, but said nothing. Garrus turned his piercing gaze at the human but relented when he realized he would get nothing out of her.
"Don't think you're getting out of this just because you can't understand me," Garrus snarled at Shepard as he let her go. The woman cocked her hip and crossed her arms not even trying to look innocent.
"It was my fault," Liara spoke up, "I was just curious about her fringe. It's so...flexible."
"Disgusting is more like it," Tarquin murmured to her right. Garrus shot him a look that shut him up immediately.
Liara continued, "She lashed out at me and Nihlus intervened. I don't think she would have hurt me."
"How do you know?" Nihlus spat.
"That's enough!" Garrus roared still holding his friend tightly by the cowl. The other turian finally relaxed and turned his gaze downward; a sign of submission, "Until we get that translation program up and running, do not touch the human."
Liara stepped forward, "But Garrus-"
"No buts Liara. You're lucky she didn't break your arm, or worse your neck. She's a soldier, not a pet or experiment."
"I wasn't..."
Garrus finally let go of Nihlus and tossed him one of the Mess Sergeant's cleaning rags, "And get her out of that dress. I don't think it's helping to make her feel comfortable."
"What do you want me to get her?" Liara said annoyed, "I don't have anything else that will fit her, she's smaller than me and that won't do with armor."
"Nihlus," Garrus said turning, "Clothing."
"What? Why?" The other turian protested, pulling the now blood soaked rag away from his face.
"Consider it a peace offering. I have a feeling that if I let her she would have smashed your face through the med bay window. She still might. Spirits, I still might." He snarled. Nihlus glared for a moment and then pushed past him for the crew quarters.
Garrus stared back over his shoulder at Shepard, whatever information she held better be worth all of this.
Shepard stared at herself in the mirror.
She had been surprised when the alien with the white markings (and broken nose) handed her a new set of clothing. His mandibles had flared and he bared his teeth with a hiss, but nothing more under the watchful eye of his commander.
The clothing fit horribly, but if she rolled up the sleeves and the pant legs, they would do. The large opening for their head and cowl meant that the neck was enormous, but if she angled it just right, it drapped off a shoulder and didn't show much cleavage. Not bad but not great and still better than the dress.
Now if she could just get a bra.
"Apparently," She lamented to her reflection, "In this cycle there is no underwear in outer space."
