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Chapter 4: Surprise!

"Sir, we've found something!" A voice sounded. Kaidan looked over to see soldiers slowly starting to move rubble from one of the housing complexes that had been blown up. Kaidan wouldn't lie, this scene before him had shaken him. He knew the Batarians were ruthless but to take only the children and kill the rest was something he couldn't stomach. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted Nihlus looking over the rest of the carnage and a large lump grew in his throat. It wasn't that he didn't like Nihlus; he just didn't want to get on the bad side of a Spectre plus, even though he was doing a really bad job of it, he didn't want Shepard or Vixen to be angry. As he thought of Vixen he felt his body stiffen. Her multi-coloured eyes, one green one blue, they were enchanting and her hair. The deep almost blood red with ash white coloured ends, everything about her was unique but he hadn't seen her smile. He'd seen her smile that said 'I'll punch you in your face so hard you'll see stars for a week' but he hadn't seen her true smile and he wondered if he ever would. He had also heard many things about the Commander, how she was ruthless but kind. How she survived Akuze but the skin of her teeth. He had heard all the good things but also a lot of bad things too, like the fact that she was just in the Alliance for the money or glory or whatever. But when Kaidan saw her leaning over the railing on the Citadel, gazing at the Normandy for the first time, he knew that she was the one for him. Unfortunately she had been avoiding him at every turn, she would assess his work but if it got personal her face would almost turn her stone and those eyes he loved would go black, she would walk off without another word to him then the next day she would act as if nothing had happened.

Kaidan sighed as he ran his gloved fingers through his short black hair. Walking over he saw the recruits had moved more rubble away to revile a woman, her long black hair splaying across the stone and glass. Her tanned skin marred with cuts and soot, her body looked sickly thin which was odd for someone living on a colony.

"Sir, she's alive" a soldier by the name of Jenkins spoke out, his voice seemed haunted almost strained. Kaidan nodded and canned her with his Omni-tool, readings of life spun to the screen, heart rate was good and her brain wasn't damaged.

"Right let's get her back to the Normandy so that Chakwas can take a look at her" Kaidan ordered and the men sprang into action. Carefully they moved the woman's body onto a stretcher that had been placed besides them moments ago when suddenly a sound escaped her lips and her hand moved to her head. Kaidan stood in awe at the woman but quickly knelt down as the most beautiful pair of brilliant baby blue eyes opened up and focused on him.

"What…Happened?" The woman spoke. Her voice was a rich as honey even as it cracked from just waking up. Kaidan softened his face as he took the woman's hand; she seemed to almost back away from him as he did but allowed her to do so.

"I'm Lieutenant Kaidan Alenko of the Alliance. I'm sorry I don't know how to tell you this…"

"No not mom…NO!" The woman started crying hysterically as she clawed at her eyes as if to gouge them out just to rid herself of the images. Kaidan tried to place his hand on her shoulders but then he was knocked back by something he wasn't expecting, a biotic wave. Other soldiers flew back, hitting the burnt out buildings and crumbling structures while Nihlus and the others seemed to stay back away from what was happening.

"NO!" the woman screamed more as her biotics started to flow from her body uncontrollably. Kaidan felt his own biotics shudder to come out but he bit his tongue to keep them in check. With more effort than he liked, he slowly began to stand up and make his way towards the girl. Her raven black hair flying about in the biotic wind, that raved round her like a protective shield against everything. Kaidan struggled forward, his body feeling like it was being crushed by the force of the wind but his focused remained on the girl. Her baby blue eyes seemed wild and unfocused but for some reason Kaidan felt like she was watching everything, every little detail in his movements and each breath he took. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the familiar shape of Nihlus ordering the rest of the soldiers and personnel out of the area, at least others of the Normandy would be out of the way. Kaidan returned his sight to the girl in front of him and was shock by what he saw. Her eyes shone with biotic power, her face still as finely sculpted stone. She was frightening beautiful and the power she radiated, Kaidan wished that Vixen was here. Before he knew it he stood in front of her, he grasped her shoulders and looked into her deep biotic swirling eyes.

"Listen, we're here to help you." Kaidan spoke but his words fell on gritted teeth and snarling features. Suddenly Kaidan found himself flying backwards through the air from an unbelievably strong shockwave, his back slammed into the remains of a housing complex making pain shoot through his back.

"Get away from me!" The girl screamed and the biotics intensified. Suddenly the girl jerked and the biotics died, she fell to the ground with a thud and when Kaidan looked up Nihlus stood behind her with a pistol in hand. Kaidan jumped up (even though pain caused his muscles to scream in protest) and charged at Nihlus.

"You killed her?" Kaidan almost shouted, leaning over the girl. That's when he noticed, there was no blood. Kaidan's eyes narrowed at Nihlus but Nihlus just seemed to growl and grab the girl by the waist and sling her over his armoured shoulder.

"Of course not, I only hit her over the back of the head to knock her out! She was out of control and what you were trying to do was having no effect" Nihlus told him, the limp body of the woman swaying with each step Nihlus took. Kaidan stood stunned, he was trying to calm the girl down and in hindsight maybe it wasn't the best or quickest way to do it but still he didn't want to injure the girl.

"I was trying to make her understand that she was safe…"

"And by doing that five of your men got biotic burns and a few broken bones." Nihlus told him. Kaidan couldn't believe he had been so blind, one of the things N5's should do was to keep his fellows safe from harm yet, that girl had captured his attention and kept him enraptured. Kaidan shook his head and sigh, he needed some shore leave sometime soon and getting drunk sounded really good round about now.

"Let's get back to the Normandy and get this girl checked out" Nihlus told him with a calmer tone in his flanging voice. Kaidan nodded mutely and silently followed Nihlus back to the ship, mentally beating himself up.

Nihlus looked behind him for a moment, watching Kaidan with his sulking features and dragging steps. He couldn't help but sigh and sharply turned his head away, maybe Saren and Vixen were right.

)_)

Nihlus walked into the room that Anderson had placed him and Vixen, placing the body of the girl down on his bed he looked over her condition and scanning her with his Omni-tool. Everything seemed normal and Nihlus was satisfied that she would be alright; the cuts on her face were always starting to fade.

"You can wake up now" Nihlus told her and watched as the girl's mouth twitched into a full-fledged smile.

"You sure you don't want to keep scanning me? I could have internal bleeding" The girl teased as she arched her back as she stretched her arms. Nihlus shook his head with a chuckle.

"Come on Vix, you know I didn't hit you that hard" Nihlus poked the girls cheek with his gloved talon and as the girl opened her eyes, he was met with multi-coloured eyes. As Nihlus watched with interest, the girl's skin turned from tanned brown to pale pink and her long raven black hair seemed to sink down into her scalp and change to a brilliant blood red with ash white ends. What Nihlus now learnt to be breasts (instead of huge swollen mounds of flesh) slightly shrank while everything about the girl found on Mindoir melted away and the image of Vixen took her place. Nihlus smiled as he reached out and tucked a bit of Vixen's hair behind her ear.

"I know, but it still hurt" Vixen pouted. Nihlus chuckled while tracing the line of Vixen's jaw. Vixen's bright and playful expression suddenly faded as she looked into Nihlus' eyes. He was consumed deep in his thoughts, remembering the first time he watched her change. He was stunned, what was the human expression? Gob-smacked even. Vixen just suddenly changed her appearance right before him and he was still trying to wrap his mind round it.

"It still creeps you doesn't it" Vixen's voice pulled him from his thoughts. Nihlus snapped his eyes to hers and smiled as he cupped her cheek in his hand.

"No Vix, I just can't get used to it that's all. Those nanites in your body…I'm amazed is all Vix" Nihlus told her but Vixen's eyes went distant as she bit her lower lip.

"You know they weren't my choice Nih" Vixen spoke softly, grinding her teeth on her lip. Nihlus cringed at the thought of her teeth cutting through the flesh like a knife. He reached up and used his talon to pull her lip from her teeth and brought her eyes to his.

"It's what you do with them that counts" Nihlus told her. Vixen smiled and pressed her cheek into his palm; Nihlus smiled and used his thumb to brush along her cheek bone. They stayed like that for a time, the silence of the room engulfing them. The slight hum of the computers in the room suddenly vibrated through the air and the dim lighting from their screens light the room in a soft blue hue. Nihlus and Vixen both sat silently, looking at each other. Slowly they moved closer, Nihlus bringing Vixen's lips towards his own plated ones while his chest vibrated with a soft growl.

Vixen felt her heart pound in her chest; Nihlus' growling sent shivers down her spine. It wasn't like Saren's snarl, where his was sharp and commanding Nihlus' was calming but its own strength behind it and it made Vixen weak at the knees. Vixen's eyes connected with his everlasting green orbs and Vixen was taken back to the first time she had seen him. He was power, a total flirt and something about him awoke Vixen in the wrong way. She fell for those green eyes surrounded by red plated skin and somehow they've haunted her ever since. Even Saren's cybernetic blue eyes couldn't hold a candle to Nihlus' eyes. But Vixen knew this was wrong, she knew that in her heart of hearts, and placed her hand gently over his lips. Nihlus looked at her confused making Vixen give a small smile.

"Nihlus, we can't…you know me better than that" Vixen sighed before she broke her eyes away from his and looked towards the floor. Her heart still pounded in her chest, remembering the way he used to touch her. How his talons would glide across her skin sending a tingle throughout her body. The way he would almost worship her body like a temple virgin made her mind race. God why had she left him for Saren? That right, he was getting too close…she didn't want anyone too close, people got hurt when they got close. She got hurt when she let people get close. But Nihlus was already too close and there nothing she could do about it. It scared her to much she ran into the arms of another man…another Turian. Nihlus still stood by her even though she crushed him and she was…she didn't know what she was besides happy that he didn't hate her.

"I know Vix, I know." Nihlus pressed his forehead to hers and Vixen felt her chest explode. She pressed back lightly and suddenly the once soft growl was replaced by a soft humming purr.

"I'm sorry; I'm a bad influence…" Vixen chuckled out before moving away. Nihlus watched her lean back into her cot before he smiled and chuckled. He stood only to sit next to her and nudge her with his armoured shoulder.

"Not a bad influence, more like a bad temptation" Nihlus told her. Vixen looked up to him and leant against him shaking her head.

"Then you're the bad influence" Vixen told Nihlus.

"I can live with that" Nihlus chuckled.

A few moments of silence made Nihlus worry, usually Vixen would have at least punch his shoulder or arm but nothing came. Nihlus looked down towards Vixen, her hair covering her face but her breathing was slow and deep, her body relaxed and still. Nihlus moved carefully to move some strands of hair away from Vixen's face to find her sleeping against his shoulder. Nihlus sighed with a smile and a shake of his head. He should have expected this, she used too much biotic power during Kaidan's test and it must have drained her of energy. She always went over the top.

"Silly Vixen" Nihlus lay her down on the cot before placing a kiss on her forehead. Retreating, he needed to give his evaluation to Anderson about Kaidan's failure; Nihlus left the room in total darkness so that Shepard could sleep.

)_)

Hands grab her arms and pin her down.

Her hair flies across her face as she struggles against the hands.

Wet, something wet runs along her stomach and hips.

Sharp, scratch, pull…bleed.

Screams tear from her throat as she hears laughter and shouting. She feels her blood run down her arm while her head begins to feel funny. Already blurred images became blotched colours in a bright light. Sounds muffled by distance, words only became muffled songs of doom and fear. But touch, she could still feel. The slab her naked body was placed upon like a glorified chuck of meat, made her feel small and weak. Hands ran along her legs and stomach, across her flat chest. Then something wet again ran along her stomach while another sharp scratch broke her skin.

She wants to scream. Somebody to save her. Her protector to come for her. But no one is coming, she knows this but she still wishes.

"Help…me…please…"

Vixen jolts awake as her biotics flare inside the dark room. Her breathing rapid and shallow, her eyes darting round the enclosed dark room.

"Not again" Vixen leaps off the cot and starts to pound her fists on the metal walls.

"Let me out!" She screams and pounds her fists more against the metal. Dulled pangs and bangs created familiar music and surrounded her in a veil of fear. Her heart sped up, her eyes wide; she needed to get out of that room. Vixen started to slam her fists onto any surface, some were soft, and a lot were hard. Her skin split and bled but the pain was numb. She felt her fist smash something and the shards sliced and embedded themselves into her hands. She screamed she didn't want to be trapped again. Not again.

Then light flooded the room and suddenly she couldn't move, her body felt frozen to the spot but she wasn't hit by anything. Then her body was pressed against the wall, her breasts crushed against the unforgiving metal. Cold melted into her body like venom flowing through her veins.

"Calm down" A voice sounded, she didn't know this voice. Slowly she was turned and she was faced with a man who she seemed to know. His dark hair was neatly done but Vixen focused on his eyes and she hated them. They were wide, like he had just realised who she was and the blow glow that surrounded him faded rapidly.

"Commander, I'm sorry I…" She didn't let him finish she was on him. Vixen tackled the man to the floor, she could tell she knocked the wide out of him but that wasn't enough. He could be one of them. They landed to the ground and she grabbed his neck, her nails digging into his flesh as she gripped tight. The man struggled for air, his lips turning a shade of purple she found pretty.

"Vix!" A voice cried out. She turned and saw. Nihlus stood at the door with his expression hidden in a stone wall. Her heart dropped as what she was doing and where she was kept to her mind as if a missing part of data was finally uploaded. Vixen looked down at the man and Vixen realised it was Kaidan, his lips purple and his eyes rolled back into his head while her nails dripped with his blood. Vixen took her hands from around Kaidan's neck like he had burnt her, seeing the blood drip from her hands she ran back into the small dark room.

The door opened then closed and suddenly she was encased in Nihlus' arms. Vixen clung to him as her body shook. Images again flew through her mind's eye. She wanted to shred her nails along her arms to get rid of the sharp scratching sensation but Nihlus held her tight, so tight she couldn't move.

"Nih…Nih I don't…" Vixen didn't cry she ground her teeth into her cheek but her body shook violently. Nihlus pressed her head into his neck and purred softly. The smell of his musk and the feel of safety started to blanket her and Vixen felt her body start to calm.

"It's alright Vix, it's just a memory." Nihlus soothed.

Yes a memory of some of the hundreds she'd like to forget.

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