They watched in silence as the cryo gas that kept the prisoner asleep erupted from the newly opened cell filling the room. When it started to clear it revealed a human female chained around her neck, wrists and legs to the pod.

After what felt like an eternity, Grunt was the first to speak up.

"So, that's Jack huh?" Grunt grumbled.

"The dangerous-crazy-powerful-shit-scary-criminal…is a half-naked-bold-human, covering in tattoos?" She paused to soak it in. "I feel like I'm in a slapstick comedy." Shepard mocked, her face un-amused.

Garrus noticed the female's hands start to move and her eyes started to blink open. "Uh, Shepard…" Garrus stuttered slightly stepping away from the glass.

Shepard watched the Biotic woman wriggled free of her restraints, concentrating her blue energy to burst out of them. As soon as she landed on the ground, two heavy mechs entered the cell.

"Oh great! Hey! Don't touch my stuff!" Shepard yelled through the glass pounding on it.

Jack conjured a wave of biotic energy and threw it at the mechs before launching for one and tearing it's head off with her bare beautifully glowing hands.

Shepard watched bemused before Jack disappeared into the new opening she had made with the corpse of the fellow mech.

"Well, I'm impressed. Guess we'd better go help her." Shepard shrugged before heading for the exit towards the main cell units.

The alarms were sounding over the sound of an automated female voice repeating. "Security breached. Security breached."

Shepard and her team followed the trail of destruction left behind the blazing Biotic as she ran ahead.

"Thankfully she can't get far...unless…" Shepard paused as they were running down the red blinking hall.

"Unless she takes over our ship with a biotic sneeze?" Garrus finished her sentence with a measure of humor in his tone, noticing her pace picked up and followed suit.

"Some thoughts are better left unsaid Garrus…" She grunted as they came to an opening in the wall, sheared metal still beating with a biotic glow.

Though her attention was struck elsewhere as the familiar sound of a 'problem' echoed from across the large open room.

"ONLINE!"

"OH-FOR-FU-" Shepard rolled into cover narrowly evading a missile before activating her cloak.

Whipping out her sniper she aimed steadily at the heavy mech's head and fired, it took down it's armour just in time for Grunt to throw a grenade and take the bugger down.

"Woo-hoo!" Shepard cried out as she throw a fist in the air, her cloak dissipating to re-charge.

"I've got the target!" One of the guards called from behind some of the barricades.

Shepard barely had time to react before she was bombarded from the side and thrust to the floor into some cover on the bridge.

She grunted, looking up to see Garrus' face hovering over hers, opening her mouth to say something clever before he beat her to the punch.

"Celebrate later, we've still got guards to clear!" He called over the sound of gunfire before crouching off of her and cocking his rifle.

Shepard popped up with ease and smirked in his direction as her visor pinged over her left eye.

"We're going to talk about you battle-ramming your commander later Garrus." She teased before aiming from her cover to take down the last of the guards.

Grunt growled from below...almost from the other side of the room… Shepard cocked her brow as she stood from cover.

"You know for a turtle, he's surprisingly fast…" Her voice full of humour, yet a genuinely surprised look on her face.

Grunt scowled up at her. "You Pyjaks done kissing up there! The crazy female is getting away!"

Shepard and Garrus shared a glance before they darted over to Grunt and followed the trail of mass destruction through the levels of the prison.

They peggd it to the room that lead to the docking bay, Shepard ducked as a bullet flew past her head, all three of them crouching into cover.

"Shit! I'm so sick of dodging bullets...remind me to ask the Illusive man for an upgrade...I want bullet proof skin…" She grumbled before leaning out of cover, only to pop back in as she was fired at.

"Damn you Shepard! I could have sold you and lived like a king!" Warden Kuril bellowed from his little fort in the far corner of the room.

"But your too much trouble!" He continued, firing recklessly at her cover.

"Aww, I'm so sorry to be such an INCONVENIENCE FOR YOU!" shepard cried out from her cover her face turning that shade of red that Garrus knew meant...she was beyond pissed.

"At least I can recapture Jack and get rid of you!" The Warden bellowed before activating a shield generator.

Shepard popped out of cover hearing a pause in his fire and aimed her rifle at his position, only to see a blue field bubble around him.

Her body slumped and let her rifle drop in her hand as her mouth fell open. "Oh come on! That's just unfair!"

She heard heavy footsteps and guards started to flood into the room, activating her cloak, she dove into cover and started to aim for the generators that fed the field.

"Take those generators down! I can't get a clear shot!" She called to the others as she focused her fire to clear out some of the guards.

Garrus fired a concussive round taking one of the generators out whilst Grunt just charged the other firing everything he had at it.

But it worked, the shield dissipated and Shepard was in position to fire, aiming her rifle she pulled the trigger but heard and empty click.

"God-dammit!" Holstering her rifle she pulled out her missile launcher, seeing she only had one left since her mission on tuchanka…

"Balls…" She groaned.

"Do you really think you can stop me Shepard! If not me! Then someone else will just continue my work!" The Warden started to rant again, Shepard waiting for the right time to shoot...whilst making a mimic mouth with her hand as he continued to spew his nonsense.

"I do the dirty work that no-one else bothers to do! I do it for the good of the Galaxy!"

She popped out of cover when she heard a pause, seeing him reload his clip, she aimed the missile.

"You poor deluded creature." She mumbled to herself before firing the missile, watching as it hit him square in the chest.

Everytime she killed someone, it seemed to happen in slow motion, taking in the details… their expression, the way their bodies are thrown from the shot like a ragdoll. It created a small pit in her gut that made her hope each time was the last.

There was a thud of his armour hitting the floor, before the whirring sound of the alarms flooded past the calm of the kill that muted her mind.

"Shepard! She's getting away, let's go!" Garrus called from the exit to the docking hangar.

She started after them, finally reaching the bay the Normandy was docked at, seeing the illuminated psycho pacing in the runway.

Jack grunted, fuming, raging, tossing and turning as if something had crawled inside her head. Until her attention turned to the three armed figures standing close enough for her to flay them alive with a snap of her wrist.

"Who are you? What do you want?!" She hissed.

"I'm Commander Shepard, I'm here to recruit you for a suicidal mission-" Shepard started hearing Garrus mumbling behind her.

"Probably shouldn't start with...suicidal mission, Shepard."

"Shit, you sound like a pussy!" Jack snapped.

"Charming…" Shepard said flatly, cocking a brow.

"You're with Cerberus, I'm not going anywhere with you!"

Shepard crossed her arms and cocked her hip. "Listen, you've got two choices. Stay here with nowhere to go. Or, jump on the only ship docked here and we'll get you some clothes." She smirked.

Jack scowled, her skin glowing with a biotic readiness. Garrus was feeling slightly anxious about Shepard rattling this one's cage…

"You want me on that ship, you gotta do something for me." She hissed.

Shepard just nodded.

"You work with Cerberus, I want access to their files and go through everything have on me. You hear me, everything!"

Shepard kept her cool even whilst she was being pointed and hissed at. "No problem."

"You better to straight with me."

Shepard just started for the hatch without another word, this one was going to be fun to be around…

Garrus came up to Shepard's side clearing his throat. "So - Shepard, missile to the chest? Was that really necessary?"

Shepard just cocked a brow at him. "I ran out of ammo…" She shrugged punching the airlock panel to open the door.

Grunt just chuckled throatily.

"Heh-heh...That was fun! When do I get one of those?" Grunt roared, bouncing and thrusting his fist into his palm.

Garrus and Shepard shared a glance before simultaneously answering.

"When you're older."

Shepard groggily walked out of the com room after dealing with Miranda and Jack, rubbing her temples as she walked into the Labs.

"Ah-Shepard!" Shepard almost winced at the sound of someone needing her attention. But it was Mordin and she rather liked talking to him.

Her head snapped up with a welcoming smile that clouded the pain on her face, feeling her brain fall apart like wet cake…

"Mordin, how can I help you?" She chirped walking over to his desk.

"Hmm, eyes not fully open, pupils dilated, skin red from constant rubbing on temples, signs of possible migraine or headache - suggest taking this." Mordin walked over handing her a pill in one hand whilst the other was behind his back.

"That obvious huh…?" Shepard shrugged and took the pill without arguing, knocking her head back to let it slide down her throat.

"Probably should've asked if it - OW! Hey!" She winced feeling a pinch in her forearm where he was holding a needle injector.

When he pulled it away, she rubbed her arm. "Wha-Why-GAH! Mordin that stings like a bi-"

"Pill just distraction to inject suitable pain relief for side effects." Mordin explained with a proud smirk.

"A distraction? So...what was the pill?" She grumbled still rubbing her arm, though not admitting her head felt better already…

"Food supplement pill - no side effects." He nodded.

Shepard rolled her eyes, her face a little more relaxed due to the horrid ache behind her skull wearing off.

"Did you want to talk to me, or did you just call me over to stab me?" she grumbled.

"Wanted to speak with you - wanted input for possible research that could help Turian and Human physiology."

"Oh? Alright, what do you need me to do?" Her voice slightly reluctant.

"Would appreciate - if you logged your - ahem - sexual experience with Turian co-worker."

Before Shepard could even react, Mordin continued.

"Turian and Human have similar stress relief remedies - would be useful for future possible pairings that need medical advice."

Shepard didn't realise her mouth was hung open and her eyes were dry from not blinking until he'd finished his rant.

Her eye twitched slightly before taking a shaky breathe. "Mordin, thank you for your interest. However - I think you've been slightly misinformed about...whatever it is you're suggesting." Her lips pressed into a thin line and her eyes wide as she tried to get her point across as pleasantly as possible without her biotics fluctuating.

Mordin raised his hands. "No mistake Shepard - have been taking readings whilst both are conversing with each other. Clear signs. Mandibles fluttering, pupils dilating, heart rate increasing, erogenous zones heating - " Modin was cut off when Shepard put her hand over his mouth.

"Y-you did not...just say that." Shepard exhaled trying to keep calm.

"I-I need...tea...do you want some tea? I want some tea, let's go get some tea." Shepard withdrew herself from him as she hurried her way out of the labs and towards the elevator, she needed Tea and a cold shower.

She noticed Chambers trying to catch her attention but just smiled and waved as she repeatedly pressed the button for the elevator.

Shit-shit-shit-come-on-come-on-come-on! She chanted to herself before hearing the sweet sound of the elevator doors pinging open and backing herself into it, still waving and smiling at Chambers ignoring her questions about her mental well being.

She sighed heavily as the doors closed and rubbed the bridge of her nose.

"Aw-man…" she groaned.

"Rough day, Shepard."

"GAH!" Shepard bounced turning to see Garrus stood behind her, leaning against the back wall of the elevator.

"Wha-Garrus? What are you - I mean were you in engineering?" She stuttered, taking a couple steps back until she was leaning against the doors.

"Yeah, Donnelly wanted to see me about some alterations I made to the main gun's power systems. You ok? You look like you've had a rough couple of hours." Garrus's eyes evaluating her, his visor reading her like a book.

"I'm fine, Mordin just - gave me something for a headache...then made it worse." She smiled awkwardly.

Garrus' brow plates rose. "Do I want to know?"

"No."

There was a small moment of silence, almost as if reading each other's minds, Garrus felt he may have known what Mordin had spoken to her about...since only a couple night cycles ago, he had asked him the same thing. Garrus cleared his throat.

"Tea?"

"Yes! Please!" She moaned pleasantly.

That sound - the same strange moan she made when she ate ice-cream. Must be a Human thing…

The elevator stopped, Shepard stumbled a little as the doors opened but was caught off guard when Garrus softly grabbed her wrist and tugged her back to alignment.

"I may need something stronger than tea…" She grumbled, slightly embarrassed.

"A sedative?" Garrus teased, raising a brow late.

Shepard looked flatly at him. "Hmm...something in between tea and a sedative…that doesn't end with me in the med-bay."

"I know just the thing." Garrus smirked letting her wrist go with some confusing reluctance before heading for the lounge, Shepard following intrigued behind him.

They entered the lounge and to Shepards surprise, Garrus went behind the bar and started grabbing bottles.

She sat at the bar on the other side, watching silently as he picked up a mixer and started to talently pour colorful liquids, along with some ice - into the mixer before shaking.

Shepard smirked. "There's a story behind how you handle your bottles Garrus." she teased.

Garrus rose his brow plate analysing her before chuckling shortly in his throat. "Not really, I used to help out at a bar back on the citadel - in return I got free drinks." His mandibles fluttering gleefully at the memory.

"Uh huh. Totally not because you were a C-Sec officer who could shut them down or give a bad review?" She leant her elbows in the bar and her chin on her palm.

"Heh - I'll have you know I was actually very good at it...and who cares - I got drunk for free." Garrus rumbled gleefully.

Shepard watched as he poured the one he was mixing into her drink, before he started on a different one for him.

Her eyes were drawn to the soft blue liquid in her glass, before her eyes darted - watching a purple liquid poured skillfully into his own.

She went to reach for it, but was batted away by a gloved hand.

"Hey!"

"Not yet." He said softly before taking out an orange and cutting a thin slice of peel and hovering it over the glass before holding something else to the peel.

There was a soft click and a flame appear and the lighter ignited at he stroked the flame against the peel, softening it, watching it bubble slightly before he squeezed. The juice set alight as it hit the alcohol before he dropped the peel in her glass.

His talons pushed the glass towards her and leant on the bar his eyes on her as he nodded.

"Now you can drink it."

Shepard rose her brow at him cautiously lifting the glass and watching the orange peel sizzle in the bubbly alcohol.

"This better not have me end up in my quarters unconscious...I know how you work Vakarian."

"Just shut up and drink it." He grumbled.

Lifting the glass to her red lips she took a small sip - her pupils dilated under her hooded lids and before she knew it, it was gone.

Licking the alcohol gloss from her top lip, she placed the empty glass down and sighed heavily.

"Now that's - an orgasm in a glass…" She chuckled, watching Garrus' mandibles flare.

"And that's probably the best compliment I've received." He mumbled picking up his own glass.

"Cheers." He grunted before downing it in one and shaking his head slightly.

"Ah- Well the foods not amazing on this ship, but the drink is good at least. I didn't even have to improvise…" He mumbled softly, examining his empty glass.

"Yeah, remind me to pick up some food supplies when we go back to the Citadel." She sighed, feeling better already.

"So, who's next on the 'Galaxy's-Nut-Jobs' list." Garrus asked picking up bottle to mix another drink.

Shepard leaned on her palm, her other hand slowly running the pad of her finger tip along the rim of the glass.

"Let's see, we've got the invisible-thief on Citadel, that shouldn't take too long. After that, it's off to Illium to recruit the Assassin and the Justicar." She explained casually, watching Garrus's hands as he poured the alcohol into the mixer before shaking it.

"Still hoping Tali will join when she's done with her super secret mission. It would be nice to have more familiar faces around." Her smile faded slightly, the still fresh memory of Kaiden on Horizon sent a harsh sting in her chest.

Garrus' eyes glanced to her as he poured her another drink, he remembered the moment on Horizon when Kaiden practically tore their loyalty and friendship into shreds because if his ignorance.

He did the same again, squeezing the peel to set the juice alight before dropping it in the red alcohol.

He pushed the glass to her and leaned on the bar, his mandible fluttering in the momentary silence they sat in - unsure what to say to comfort her.

"So, what do you call this drink then, I don't think I've had it before." Shepard finally broke the silence leaning on the bar, her face not far from Garrus'.

"Oh uh…" Garrus looked down at the drink he'd poured her and cocked his head to the side.

"I actually kinda just made it up." He stuttered, looking into the blue liquid watching the orange peel sizzle.

"What about, a Paragon." He said softly.

Shepard chuckled throatily and smiled warmly. "Hmm...I love it."

Garrus' mandibles fluttered at the word she used, it wasn't something turians used to describe things, at least not lightly.

"Garrus listen. I just want to say thanks - Even knowing that I've had to team up with Cerberus...against my will...literally. You're still here." Shepard slid a subtle hand and cupped his around his glass - her eyes up at him in the soft glow of the bar lights.

Garrus could have sworn his plates just shivered, he cleared his throat and slid his hand from her lifting his glass.

"Uh - to just like old times." He stuttered slightly, seeing the nano second of hurt in her face dissipate as she lifted her glass to clink with his.

"I'll drink to that." She said softly before downing her drink.

"Well, I'd better go. I wanna be prepared when we meet the rest of this 'team'." She quote-marked before standing from the bar stool.

"Thanks for the drinks Garrus, we'll have to do this again soon." She said softly heading for the door.

"Anytime, Shepard." Garrus nodded casually.

"I'll hold you to it." She said softly before the doors slid closed behind her.

Garrus stood still, looking down at the empty glass with the orange peel at the bottom and her lipstick on the rim, hanging his head for what felt like hours.

He could still smell her, hear her… he couldn't understand it, this strange clenching under his carapace. He sighed heavily.

"Oooh you're in trouble Vakarian...big trouble."