The Captive

Disclaimer: Bioware owns all.

Chapter 4: Targets

Shepard curled her body against the wall. It was cold in the holding cells. And lonely. She had made a full recovery from the incident with Saren and was moved to their "brig" of sorts.

At least she wasn't chained up anymore. The bed was huge, it was made for a Turian, so she slept quite comfortably in what would be uncomfortable for their species. She heard the door open to the room. Shepard looked out the bars, trying to see down the hall who it was.

It didn't really matter, she would recognize that voice anywhere. She smiled. Garrus. The Turian appeared in front of her. He looked slightly awkward and was holding something behind his back. Shepard backed away cautiously.

"Haven't come to execute me, have you?"

Garrus visibly relaxed and grinned, "No, not yet."

It became quiet again while Shepard studied him. He started, "I-I uh, figured you could use something to entertain yourself."

Her eyebrows raised, Garrus slid a book in between the bars. Her eyes latched on to his as her hands grabbed a hold. "Garrus-"

He cut her off, "It's just a book on Turian customs and their language and things. I-I uh, just remember what you told Nihlus- about wanting to learn, uh, us."

Her eyes were wide and adoring as her hands rubbed the soft leather covering. "I haven't seen an actual book in years. Where did you get this?"

Garrus held his arms behind his back, "An antique store on the citadel, they take some of the modern works and make them look old, for keep sakes mostly."

Shepard grinned, "You like antique stores?"

"Only if they're classy." He rebutted.

The woman looked down at the book, a small wonderful teasing feeling began in her stomach, when she held the gift to her chest. She spoke sincerely, "Thank you Garrus, you have no idea how much this means to me."

Garrus wouldn't admit it, but he felt a strong sense of pride at having made her smile like that. The look of wonder in her eyes was unmistakable and absolutely endearing. "You're welcome." Before he could leave, he felt her hand clasp his through the bars.

She spoke softly, "Can you tell me what the Citadel is like?"

His heart roared at the simple touch. It was almost ridiculous, the fire that started in his toes and worked it's way up, heating him and teasing him. He felt clammy and weak, and had a stupid grin that wouldn't leave his face.

"Sure."

Shepard sat on her bed crossed legged near the bars. Garrus pulled up a chair. He told her of it's massive size, how when it opens it looks like what she called a "star." That at night it lit up like the night sky.

He told her of the population of different types of aliens, the council, and the presidium. Each time he looked into her eyes, she saw a look of complete hunger and wonder at all the information. He loved it. Garrus was the one getting her excited and happy, and nothing could ever make him feel more wonderful than that.

Where have you been?" Nihlus muttered as he threw a Turian trainee over his back.

Garrus shrugged, "I was with Athe- Shepard. She wanted to know about the Citadel."

The other Turian stood up, a look of questioning on his face. "For two and a half hours?"

If it had been possible, Garrus would have blushed. He shrugged, "Well, the Citadel is a big place."

"Righttttt."

Garrus glared at him, he went to the weights when he felt Nihlus snag him and throw him down on the ground. "Nihlus!"

"Come on, lets spar. I'd like to hear more about your little "chat" with your hostage. If that's what she is."

The Turian threw a punch, "Are you trying to insinuate something?"

Nihlus ducked, "Oh no, I'm just curious about your evolving relationship-"

"She's my prisoner and that is all, Nihlus."

"Oh, sure. And the little gift?"

Garrus felt a pit of humiliation and anger rise from his core. He grabbed Nihlus and threw him to the ground roughly, "I just thought-"

He jerked back as the Turian laid in a good punch, "-she could use some entertainment."

"I bet some of your other hostages from before could have-" The darker colored Turian jumped out of Garrus' reach. "-used some entertainment."

Garrus tackled Nihlus to the floor, "She's different."

The Turian shoved him off, his green eyes peering at the defensive blue ones, "How so?"

"We don't plan on executing her. We-"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. We aren't. That doesn't mean the Turian hierarchy isn't. She's a high value prisoner, and she's killed several Turians."

Garrus felt as if he had been punched in the gut. "Turian hierarchy has always left it up to me."

"Yes, this is a little different. You captured Commander Shepard. Commander Shepard. Just because it's war, doesn't make her offenses any less than that of a war criminal."

"That's not right." Garrus sputtered. He felt as if he had been thrown in the middle of a blizzard. His mind roared angrily, and his heart shook.

"That's only because you've developed feelings for her. You've gotten too close."

Garrus growled, "I have not developed feelings for her. I just didn't think they planned on executing her."

Nihlus shrugged, "Not yet anyway. I've been trying to hold them off with the information she gave you. As long as they think she might be of use, she'll live."

"You'll let me know when that changes?"

Nihlus nodded his head, "Yes, I'll let you know as soon as I possibly can."

"Thank you." He muttered.

The darker Turian slapped him on the back, "Come on. She isn't a target yet."

Yet.

Shepard curled up against the corner of her cell, her nose in the book Garrus had given her. There was so much to their species! She was surprised to learn how relaxed the Turian military was on rules of fraternization and such.

It later described the life style of the average soldier in the Turian Military, and she wasn't surprised they were so lax. They ran them so hard, and such long hours. It really was no wonder humanity was getting their ass handed to them. She heard the whirring of the door opening down the hall.

Shepard lowered the book as a Turian she didn't recognize entered. He was a sludge gray color all over, tall, and held an air of command around him. He bright, cat-like yellow eyes, and off white tattoo's all over his face.

Another thing she had learned from her book was that a bare-faced Turian was considered untrustworthy. She noted that Saren had been bare-faced.

"I am General Adrien Victus. I understand that you are Commander Shepard?"

Shepard raised her eyebrows. General Victus. "What does a General want with me?"

Victus chuckled. "You don't realize how well known you are. Everyone in the Turian Military knows of you. The fact that you are a hostage now has been an enormous moral boost to our soldiers." He looked off towards the doors, his talons clasped behind his back.

"Especially after you caused that disruption on my ship. A Spectre and our top hand to hand specialist had a rough time with you I understand."

His ship. Fuck. Shepard repressed the urge to grimace. She didn't have time to formulate a reply when Victus spoke again. "As soldier to soldier, I would like you to join me for lunch."

Shepard stood slowly, her mind racing at his request. Play nice, Shepard. "I- well, certainly, I'd love to."

She did her best to remain polite. He was a General after all and he was in charge of this ship. He could be her ticket to escaping her inevitable execution.

Shepard was led from her cell grate by Victus towards the mess hall. Two Turian's escorted her side by side. She couldn't really blame them, she had caused quite the scene last time. Shepard's eyes roamed the mess hall with interest. The roar of chatter in the room seemed to quiet down upon her entrance.

She felt their eyes all turn to her, burning her, staring into her. Her body started to heat up with panic- she never was good with large crowds of people who were her enemy. A plate of food was delivered to her. They had been feeding her what they call 'Asari' dishes. She supposed the Asari were relatively similar in body structure to humans.

Shepard would love to meet one in person though. She just wanted to explore the Galaxy, see all there was to see. Victus was studying her with his yellow beady eyes, she spoke slowly, "Something you'd like to ask?"

His mandibles twitched, "You humans are a curious species?"

Shepard nodded her head, "Mostly. That's what brought us through the relay initially. Though, curiosity gave way to those that just wanted war."

"You don't like the war?"

"No. Don't get me wrong, I serve my people with the utmost honor and loyalty I can deliver, but I believe and hope for peace. The senseless killing of each other is doing either side no good."

Victus rubbed a talon along his mandible, listening intently.

"When I was a child, I used to dream of other civilizations in space. I used to think that when we ever met, it would be enlightening, we would share our technology." Shepard gave a distant chuckle, her eyes held a far off look. She returned her gaze to Victus. "Child naiveté I suppose."

The General nodded his head. "Your species is very diverse. I heard an Asari speak of your kind. You have many languages and cultures?"

Shepard nodded her head. "Our planet is very split. We have Asians, Germans, Mexicans, Arabians, Americans, Canadians. There are just too many to name, we have many countries which resemble a home world for each of your species. Each has their own government. We have formed alliances between each country, and it seems like we can't go even half a century without war breaking out."

"How is it you have a functioning military which such division?"

"The Alliance is it's own military, any country, any race can be in the alliance military. With space exploration, it really has brought our planet together as one species."

"I find your species incredibly interesting." Victus murmured.

Shepard chuckled, "I find your species incredibly interesting General. I'd never admit it to anyone else, but I'd take a Turian squad over any human squad any day."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, Turian's are so driven for the mission. You aren't guaranteed that in humans."

"You've done pretty well with your human squad. Taken out a fair many of my Turian squads."

She nodded her head, "Sometimes, all it takes is a good leader to get humans motivated. Once a person is driven for something, few things will stop them. I'm sure that's the same for any race."

Victus smiled. Suddenly a voice spoke out, "Shepard?"

She turned to see Garrus staring at her and Victus in shock. The General nodded his head, "Vakarian. The Commander and I were just having a little chat. I'd like to see you incorporate her into training regiments with some of our squads. Might as well give her something to do and learn in her stay here."

Shepard's eyes widened with delight. Train with the Turian's? Fuck yes.

The General stood, "I need to return to my duties. Nice talking with you Commander."

"Pleasures mine, General."

Garrus sat down beside her, his mind appeared to be processing the information. "What did you tell him?"

Shepard had the biggest shit eating grin on her face. "That's for me to know, and you to find out, huh?"

He stared at her as if she had grown two heads. "How did you go from hostage to guest?"

Shepard muttered, "Kidnapped." Before she continued teasingly, "I don't know, maybe because I am the amazing Commander Shepard."

"We'll just see about that." A feminine voice spoke from off to the side. Her talons were on her hips as she eyed Shepard suspiciously.

Garrus muttered, "Shepard, this is Vitani. She's the top ranked hand to hand specialist besides me." His mandibles quirked in a grin.

Shepard turned to Vitani, she was eyeing Garrus with a look of pure lust. Her stomach ruptured with jealousy and envy. It was obvious the two had something between them, and nothing angered Shepard more than that. What the hell was wrong with her? She didn't own Garrus. He was a Turian for fuck's sake.

He was her captor. Nothing more. The sooner she realized that, the better.

Thank you to all for reading and reviewing! I hope you enjoy the chapter!