OMG this is getting easier and easier to write even though I'm playing the game as I write to get the Dialog LOL!

~Enjoy

Disclaimer: I do not own Bioware of any of the characters.

Shepard guided Thane through the upper deck of the Normandy introducing him to Joker, Kelly and Mordin before showing him the debriefing room. As they entered Mr. Jacob Taylor was waiting for them,

"I've heard impressive stories, Krios. Sounds like you'll be an asset to the team… That is, if you're comfortable with an assassin watching your back." Jacob remarked although this didn't affect Thane,

"I've accepted a contract. My arm is Shepard's."

"Uh-hu. Don't know about you, but I'm loyal to more than my next paycheck."

This slightly annoyed Thane; he was doing this for free. Was Jacob merely trying to irritate him?

Thane opened his mouth to reply but was interrupted by Shepard, what she said brought a slight smile to his face and a silent purr to his throat.

"Obviously he is, too. He's doing this mission gratis. What's your concern?"

Thane grinned to himself as Jacob tightened his hand into a fist for a moment.

"I don't like mercenaries. An assassin is just a precise mercenary."

"An assassin is a weapon. A weapon doesn't choose to kill. The one who wields it does." Thane said pausing for a moment, "Where shall I put my things? I'd prefer someplace dry, if anything is available." He said watching as the table lit to life by a speaking blue ball of data.

"The area near the Life Support plant on the third deck tends to be slightly more arid then the rest of the ship." A disembodied voice rang.

"Ah. An AI? My thanks." Thane said half-bowing before he turned towards the door. He stepped out letting it slide shut but stood there for a moment more to listen,

"He seems quite civil." He heard the AI say before logging out.

"We need all the help we can get. He's not what I expected in an assassin. He may surprise you." Shepard said though Thane wasn't sure if it was a compliment or if Shepard disapproved of him.

"Yeah. And he may not." Jacob replied. This brought a grin to Thane's face.

Oh Jacob, this was going to be fun.

Thane made his way to the elevator ignoring all the stares he got from the crew but caught bits of a conversation as he passed Shepard talking to Kelly,

"I don't know if I find him scary or sexy." Kelly said and Shepard laughed a bit,

"A lot of women like bad boys." Shepard said with a casual shrug.

"A lot of women? Like you?" Kelly suggested and Shepard blushed a bit.

"I live a dangerous life. Dangerous men fit right in." Shepard replied as Thane felt a shiver run down his spine. What was Shepard suggesting?

"I like you more and more each day Shepard." Kelly said as the two girls laughed at their petty gossip.

Thane continued to the elevator and as he stepped in he selected the third floor. When the doors slid open he stepped out looking around for a moment before heading off to the right towards Life Support. As soon as he stepped in he felt immediate relief. The AI had been correct. The two years on Illium had really worn his lungs out and they burned constantly but they felt relaxed with the dry air that he now breathed in. He took a moment to look around the small room and he immediately felt, safe. Though who was he kidding, would he even live long enough to see the mission through? He hoped so.

Thane placed his bag on the table provided and began to set his things up, setting his guns and equipment on the shelves and his laptop on the table. Next to his cot he discreetly set a frame with a photo of two Drells under his pillow though he looked at it for a moment. One Drell was dressed in a radiant bright color splashed dress; her sunset colored eyes matched the gown perfectly. She was hugging a smaller Drell, a young child who looked a lot like her with a darker blue pigment to his skin. The child and woman looked very…happy. Thane felt his stomach twist into a knot and it took him all his strength to not slip into memory. He dropped the pillow as the doors to Life Support unlocked and opened he looked up to see who is visitor was, Shepard. He felt warmth rush through him and he quickly took a seat at his table smiling to himself as he noticed a second chair sitting across the table. No, it was too soon he thought as Shepard walked in and stood next to him looking down at him.

"Do you need something?" he asked as he stared at the Drive Core.

"Have a few minutes to talk?" she asked softly.

"Certainly. We haven't had a chance since I joined."

"When we met you, you said you were dying." She said crossing her arms.

"Yes, I thought you'd want to know more. You don't have to worry about the rest of the crew. My illness is not communicable, even to other Drell. It's called Kepral's's Syndrome." Thane explained to her.

"Is there anything we can do here? Normandy has a state of-the-art medical bay." Shepard said trying to offer her hand. Thane felt, gracious.

"No, thank you. It's being attended to. If the finest minds in the Hanar Illuminated Primacy can't solve the problem, I doubt your ship's medic could." Thane took a brief pause as he thought about his words before continuing, "Thank you for your concern. Trust me. This won't affect my performance." He settled on and sighed heavily as she nodded and left the room. As soon as the silence enveloped the room he wish that she had stayed longer to talk more but, he knew she was a busy person.

Thane didn't quite know how to describe Shepard or the word's to use in that case. She was very, eccentric with everything she did. She always seemed to try her best to be kind and offer help when needed. Most of the time he saw her she was smiling and laughing and appreciating…life. Other times though, when certain individuals forced her hand she was scarier than a Varren with a bad case of rabies. Even though he never saw Shepard perform violent acts, he preferred not to and instead kept the smiling image of Shepard embedded into his perfect memory. It also seemed to his observations that even though they were in the middle of building up a team for a suicide mission she always seemed to find time to help certain crew members find the…closure they needed to focus on the mission ahead. Maybe, just maybe, she could help him set his life straight and even help him reconnect with... Thane held the frame carefully in his hands for a moment. A tear rolled down his face and dripped onto the glass as he gazed at the young Drell with a smiling face, Kolyat. His son.

Yeah, I know I didn't do much with this chapter. Just wanted to get Thane settled and start the rivalry between Thane and Jacob :D

Next chapter I swear will be longer as soon as I figure out whose loyalty/recruitment mission I want to do. Perhaps, Jacobs loyalty mission?

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R&R