Hey all! Just in case you haven't yet, you need to go back and read chapter one of this story. I changed some stuff for those you who read the chapter the veeery first time I posted it. its alot cleaner now, thanks to my Beta reader SECT1ON, who alerted me that the storyline was rushed.

Anyway, chapter three. Lemme know your thoughts. Any ideas on where this is going? Where would you like to see this story go? I would love to hear your opinions. Unlike my other stories, this one is just coming out as i go along with only a vague idea of what might happen next.

Enjoy, ciao!


Her day started with a message from Admiral Hackett telling her that his ship – the SSV Rainer – was about to dock into the Citadel in a few hours.

Kiran groaned and rolled out of the bed ... wait, not her bed...

She growled lowly. Nihlus. She had forgotten she would spent the evening with him. Though it would appear she has spent the night at his place as well.

She wondered if they had... done other things, but quickly discarded that notion. He'd made it quite clear he wasn't interested in that. And aside from the fact, she was still fully clothed.

Kiran stilled herself and listened for a moment. It sounded like she was the only one in the apartment.

She snorted to herself, wondering where he might have gone. She stood from the bed and grabbed her pistol's holster and coat from the chair in the corner of the room. It seemed like Nihlus has thought she would be uncomfortable sleeping with the gun on.

If only he knew.

For such an exceptionally stoic and serious Turian, Nihlus really was quite the gentleman. Kiran wasn't sure what to make of that.

Upon entering the main living area, Kiran found that her suspicions were correct. Nobody else was present in the spacious apartment suite. A datapad lay on the coffee table, its power light blinking with a message. It was oddly out of place in the otherwise spotlessly clean living space.

The datapad probably was safekeeping a message for her. With a quick motion, she picked it up. Kiran huffed. That Spectre really was an odd one, and that definitely said something about him considering that she was the Queen of oddities amongst Turians.

With the flick of a talon, Kiran turned on the datapad to view the message.

You drank quite a lot last night and I'm not sure how much you remember, but we went to the shooting range after you got wasted at the bar. You're actually quite a good shooter even when you're drunk. But you wouldn't leave the shooting range so I had to take your gun from you.

You followed me home after that and fell asleep on the floor, you owe me a big one for this. I also followed you around Zakera all night and kept you out of trouble.

Anyway, I'll see you around I suppose. I'm being sent to evaluate the recruits in this next training cycle. The council wants me to see if any of them have what it takes for Spectre candidacy. You seemed quite reluctant to join the IMEP program when we talked about it, but I think you should consider it. It could do you a lot of good. If you do decide to go, then maybe I'll even see you on Palaven.

This time Kiran growled out loud. She took back what she has thought about him being a gentleman. What a snarky bastard. The hell she owed him! And he was crazy if he thought she would do well on Palaven.

Kiran threw the datapad and let it slid haphazardly across the table and stormed out of the apartment. She only slowed her furious pace when she realized that she was on the wrong Ward.

Kiran's apartment was on Zakera, and she had just passed a sign that told her she was on Kithoi. Kiran's scowl deepened and she resumed her furious march. She had to get to the Presidium soon. Hackett would be arriving soon and she absolutely reeked of alcohol.

It would have been an easy matter if she has been on Zakera, she wouldn't have to worry that much. But since she was unfamiliar with Kithoi, she had no idea where the rapid transit terminalwas in order to call for a skycab.

And because of that, fifteen valuable minutes of her life were wasted wandering aimlessly.

As soon as she managed to touch down on Zakera, Kiran walked as quickly as she could in the direction of her apartment. She slowed down as she approached her apartment block. There was already an Alliance registered skycar parked off the walkway in front of her building.

Hackett was here. Great. She was moody and she knew she looked awful. She wasn't sure if Hackett would pick up on that, but she was sure that he would notice the overwhelming stench of alcohol on her body.

She fortunately found a semi-translucent window to do a quick fix of her clothes to avoid looking even more pathetic than how she already was. Then, she stepped into the elevator.

Hackett was standing with his back to her when she entered her apartment. Kiran wasn't surprised that he was there. Though she did wonder how he managed to break in.

"Chief Velar." Hackett said, not looking at her. "I was wondering when you would show up."

"My apologies Admiral. I was on Kithoi and Imiscalculated the time needed to get back here."

Hackett gave a noncommittal hum in response. "Have you given any thought to my proposal?" He turned to face her.

Kiran took in a breath.

"Before you say no again, I want to re-iterate that I believe that this is the best course not only for the Alliance, but for you as well."

Kiran huffed in annoyance, Hacket didn't seem like he has finished, and so she kept her mouth shut.

"When we last spoke you mentioned that you believed that the Turians would single you out. And you're right. Which is why I've asked Commander Shepard to be the Supervising Officer for Alliance forces while they train on Menae." Kiran frowned.

"Admiral I don't understand how this would make me change my mind. You want me to go to Palaven and somehow prove a point to the Turians, yet you're sending a babysitter with me."

"We've been very careful about selecting soldiers who lean away from xenophobic tendencies. But we cannot expect the same from the instructors and other recruits on Menae." Hackett explained.

"My answer is no Hackett. I'm not risking my neck any more for the Alliance." Hackett watched with a glint of care as Kiran seemed to grow cold and distant once again. "They just keep on taking and there comes a point when I refuse to give it anymore." Kiran stepped aside and gestured that Hackett should leave.

The Admiral nodded and paced toward the door. He paused in the threshold as the door slid open.

"Chief, you know that it's not about that. I know you're afraid. But what have you got to lose?"

With that, Hackett exited the apartment and the door swooshed closed behind him.

Kiran stood for a long time. At first, she struggled through the fog in her mind. But as she slowly came back to herself, she began to recall things that have long remained buried.

She recalled the time when her foster parents had told her about where she came from. That was the first time she has felt truly alone, when the coldness had crept over her and she had been helpless to stop it. Since then, becoming disconnected had become a natural part of her life. Something that simply came and went, but she couldn't stop it.

Because it was her who tormented herself. She was the main reason that she slowly slid away from society.

Since then, she had lost count of how many times she has faded away from the world, and in the aftermath, she just wanted to just disappear completely. When she joined the military, the basic training instructors made her life a living hell. Kiran snorted and moved into her kitchen to make some food in hopes that it would cure her hangover. Whatever the Alliance Instructors had thrown at her, it would be ten times worse on Palaven.

When Kiran had graduated basic, her name hadn't even been called at the ceremony. She has faded then too. The worst of the incidents had been the first time she has interacted with other Turians. After basic, she had been in transition, waiting for orders on Arcturus station.

And when the Reapers attacked, Kiran has been shuffled away and was forgotten. She had wasted so much time moving in and out of that damnable fog, trying to fight the feeling of being useless to everyone. Kiran sighed and her mandibles tightened in a deep frown. She pulled her pan off the stove and scooped its contents onto a plate.

She finally realized that she didn't have to wait for orders to help the fight, and she boarded the next shuttle she could find that would take her to Menae. The fighting had been heaviest there, and nobody would second guess a Turian on Palaven's moon.

In all these instances it was like Kiran had faded from the world. Like she had departed from the very galaxy itself, and every time she came back less of her returned.

You have nothing left to lose. Hacketts voice echoed in her mind.

Kiran set down her plate. Hackett was right. She didn't have anything to lose. She was tired of fighting her way through the fog that had been choking her all her life. She thought about last night. When Nihlus has thanked her for saving his life. She hadn't gone cold like she expected to. In fact, for the first time since she could remember, she thought she might even have felt some warmth.

Kiran wanted to experience that feeling again. She wanted something in her life to change. And if taking a risk and flying to Palaven meant she could do that, then she would.

It had only been about fifteen minutes since Hackett had left. Takeoff protocols took at least thirty. She could make it if she ran.

Kiran laughed out loud as she ran for the SSV Rainier's docking bay. She ignored the looks she got. She was going to Palaven to join IMEP. And she was going to be the best marine there.

Hackett raised an eyebrow at her as she dashed breathlessly into the hangar bay.

"Sir," she said to him with an exhausted salute. "I've-hah, I've changed my mind. I'm going... to Palaven." She began to laugh.

Hackett barely suppressed a smile. "That's good to hear Chief Velar. I'll send you the information packet via Omni-tool. The shuttle leaves Arcturus in three weeks. I'll see you there."

Kiran stood up straighter and saluted properly this time. "Yes sir."

Hackett turned to leave but paused as something occurred to him. "Chief?" He asked.

"Yes sir?" Kiran replied candidly.

"Did you run, all the way here?"

Kiran blinked. "Yes... yes I did sir."

Hackett chuckled. "You couldn't take a skycar?"

The Turian scratched a mandible in embarrassment. "Well sir, in retrospect... the shuttle might have been the better choice. I'll see you in three weeks sir."

Kiran began the walk to the nearest rapid-transit terminal. Her Omni-tool beeped, the info from Hackett. She grinned and a couple of humans in the vicinity gave her a wide berth as she passed. She was sure to them she looked like she was about to chomp someones face off.

She wasn't sure what would happen on Palaven, or whether it was even a good idea. But she was going to be the best damn marine in the program... she was also going to be the craziest.