Chapter 9; Of N7 Spectres and Psychic Assassins
Slowly getting to her feet, Inara hated leaving Jessie like this, but she planned to return the first chance she got as she went out of the comms room only to be greeted by Mal, Garrus, and River waiting for her. "Disturb her and you won't be waking up tomorrow."
River knew Inara was far from bluffing and wasn't even there for Jessie or her anyway, River had simply been passing by. Still, she wasn't about to do anything to provoke Inara and quickly went down the stairs to the Crew Deck, wanting to talk to Simon and Kaylee. Mal wisely kept his more sarcasm heavy comments to himself. "I didn't plan on any such thing Inara. Just was worried about you and her was all since you've been sealed in there for a good hour and a half. I won't ask what happened since I know you won't tell, but is she going to be alright you reckon?"
"I really don't know...give it time and she might be. Mal, unless she brings it up to you, never talk about Jessie's personal life again. Do I make myself clear?" While Inara tried to come off as intimidating, it was the almost pleading look in her eyes that caught Malcolm's attention.
"I ain't a complete backbirth. We all have our demons, I know that better than anyone. Just...let me know if there's anythin' I can do to help..." When he occasionally acted mature and took things seriously, Inara knew from past experiences that Mal meant everything he said, the good and the bad. Protecting those he deemed to be his crew, even the ones he didn't particularly like was the core example of his more thoughtful side. Inara knew that while he probably still didn't trust this Alliance as far as he could throw them, the fact he was offering his aid to one of them spoke volumes.
"Just be there for her if, when she needs you, and not just you, that goes for all of us. Returning to her homeworld would have been bad enough under the best circumstances, but going there while it's being attacked by Reavers? This is the first time she's seen them besides that data we let her see. Our usual run and hide tactic won't happen anymore, Mal. This Alliance actually tries to help their people where they can and we signed on to be right in the thick of it without even realizing it." Inara didn't know if she was trying to convince Mal or herself about staying to fight, but Mal silenced any worries she had as he spoke up again.
"Bit late to back down now though ain't it? Ah hell, I wouldn't if I could now. I may have taken' a liking to a few of these Alliance types, especially to Shepard. And no, not in the way you're thinkin'. Wouldn't be right to have them face a ruttin' abomination such as Reavers without someone who's actually fought them and lived to talk about it." As much as he was scared of Reavers himself, they bled like anything else with a pulse, once you shot them enough. He'd have to be sure and warn them about just how much punishment Reavers could take before they got planetside. They were unable to feel or they were completely immune to pain, either way it made them extremely dangerous even without their homicidal and cannibalistic tendencies. "Guess it's time to call these unlucky gorram people together then."
"I'll get everyone from below. You handle the top decks." Garrus offered, needing time get his own thoughts together anyway after everything he'd heard already. Something about using the intercom for something like this seemed wrong to the former C-Sec officer. News like this needed to be delivered face to face. Heading to the elevator after descending the curving stairs, Garrus was glad for once that the elevator ran so slowly. It would give him a chance to gather his thoughts and alert the crew without scaring them needlessly. Besides, with River down here he didn't want a stray thought hitting her either, so it surprised him to no end to see her waiting at the bottom once the doors opened.
"We're going to where it began. And Garrus? You could just ask me you know." Garrus could do nothing but look dumbfounded as she walked away. So much for containing his stray thoughts. To his credit, he recovered quickly and stopped the Reader with a hand on her right shoulder.
"It's...I'm sure you know what I'm going to say but I just feel like I'd be taking advantage if I tried to pursue anything with you. I mean you're only eighteen, that's still fairly young for humans right? I have no problem with you being a psychic if that's what you're worried about. I just...by the spirits I guess I'm more worried about screwing this up like any normal couple." He wanted to slap himself as soon as that last bit was out of his mouth, but River didn't seem offended in the least.
"Couple?" River smirked at the completely embarrassed turian, who started shuffling from side to side. "You're twice my height, we aren't able to eat the same food, and your knees might bend the wrong way, but we're still the same where it matters. It's not me I'd be worried about getting approval from though Garrus. Simon has been a part of my life since day one; he'll likely get overprotective, but I'm legal in human terms and I'm old enough to know what I want, not to mention sane enough." That last bit had been said more to herself and while Garrus had heard it, he didn't comment on it since in his mind, it wasn't important. What was important was hoping he didn't make a fool of himself in either her or her brother's eyes.
"That's not a problem, I'll ask your brother for his permission to court you before we start...dating I guess? I'm a fairly persuasive guy, he'll love me." River wasn't convinced but she'd let him figure it out for himself just how nuts her brother could get when it came to her overall health and safety. She'd have to make him see that she was able to take care of herself now...even if it meant doing something drastic to Simon to prove her point.
River rolled her eyes at Garrus's level of naivete. It was charming but it was going to get him into a lot trouble before this was all over. She didn't have to be a psychic to know that. "Dating, yes. Asking my brother...not so sure that's going to work as well as you hope."
"Oh come on, Dr. Tam?! Your brother, what's the that human term...wouldn't hurt a fly." Garrus crossed his arms in disbelief and put on a smug grin. River still wasn't buying it.
"You might want to ask Jayne to confirm that assumption." Both River and Garrus about jumped to the roof of the cargo bay when they heard Simon's voice from the door to Engineering. River was pale as a ghost and Garrus was wondering if the look on the man's face was simple surprise or something...less friendly since he kept his feelings hidden well. That and he had one of those faces that made it easy for Doctor Tam to do it too.
"Um, hello Dr. Tam. I was just talking with your sister about a delicate matter and-"
The odd look on Simon's face seemed to disappear as River looked towards her brother. Something in her eyes made him wonder if he should be worried as he had been the day she had punched him in the throat. Still, that didn't stop him entirely from being more than a little upset with what he had heard. "Maybe we should speak in private? Let's go to the med bay."
"I have a message for the rest of the crew down here first...but yeah, we can talk Dr. Tam." Garrus was suddenly getting the idea that maybe he should have listened to River when he had the chance, but his honor dictated he see this through to the end. "Just give me a few minutes Doctor, I'll meet with you and River there shortly." Simon nodded as he and River walked towards the elevator where she told him what was going on. It gave him something else to consider, but only for a few minutes as his thoughts wandered back to what River and Garrus had been talking about when the turian entered the med bay.
"Sorry for the delay Doctor, the two of you will probably want to attend this mission briefing as well after our...discussion..." The temperature in the med bay was noticeably colder to Garrus and again he wanted to be anywhere but there as Simon finished giving River one of her weekly injections. It had once been a daily routine, but since Miranda, she had been getting increasingly better and didn't need the meds nearly as often. Garrus however was far more worried about the fact that Doctor Chakwas wasn't anywhere to be seen.
"Thank you for coming so quickly Mr. Vakarian... oh as long as you're here...mind if I do Dr. Chakwas a favor and give you this immuno booster?" Simon held up a small injector. "She was just preparing it for you before she left for the briefing." There was no safe way for Garrus to leave without either appearing rude to Simon, and botching any chance of getting through this with his honor intact, or looking cowardly in front of River.
"Sure Doc... should I take off a piece of my armor or-" A nervous Garrus relaxed as Simon just smiled, shook his head, and gently pressed the device to Garrus's neck. Before River could begin to react as her brother's intentions became loud and clear, it was too late to stop him. Garrus felt his limbs go numb almost immediately although he still had perfect awareness of his surroundings as he watched Simon turn towards his sister next who was still stunned at how he had fooled her. Garrus hit the deck but he didn't notice the pain in the slightest, having been equally taken by surprise by this quick turn of events.
"Good night River. Eta Kooram Nah Smech!" Before she knew what happened, Simon put her out with the trigger phrase the resistance back home had taught him 'in case something happened' and gently took her in his arms before laying her down on a nearby bed. Then he leveled his gaze fully on Garrus who was sprawled out on the floor where he had fallen. "You might want to remember that phrase Mr. Vakarian. It might save your life one day. Don't worry, the paralysis is only temporary, and there really was an immuno booster in that shot. Only I added something more to the injection so we could have this nice little talk. I spent two years and my entire fortune to get River out from the Academy where she was being tortured and turned into a weapon. I could threaten you, I could even, hypothetically, kill you right now. But River obviously cares a great deal about you, and that would upset her. So please don't upset her in any way and I'll be able to sleep well at night."
Garrus mentally flinched when Simon knelt by his side and rolled him onto his back so he wasn't on his arm as he had been before. It seemed that even when 'not threatening' him with bodily harm, Simon was a doctor first and foremost. The point had been well and truly made by then. There was no way in Hell that Garrus would risk Simon's wrath if this was what he did when he was merely upset. This put all those first date horror stories he had heard to shame, but instead of the overprotective father, it was the brother he should have been terrified of. At the same time, Garrus respected that Simon was clearly a man of honor since he was still breathing at least. Note to self, NEVER underestimate River's brother again.
"You don't know turians very well Doctor. Honor and duty are at the foremost of our beings. Even a 'bad' turian won't lie if asked a direct question, and...as freaked out as I am right now by your rather ingenious play here, fooling both of us couldn't have been an easy feat. Almost the first time I saw her...I would have been the last person to believe that love can happen at first sight, but something seemed to click, at least for me anyway. The point is that I'd rather take a bullet for River than ever her hurt." Simon didn't doubt his sincerity, especially given his current predicament. As much as it revolted him to even think about it, maybe there was something to the writings of Shan-Yu? He just hoped that Garrus didn't have to fulfill that promise and ended up dead in the foreseeable future.
"I really hope you don't have to Mr. Vakarian. I do apologize for the drastic measure, but I wanted to be perfectly understood in my intentions. Just make sure you come back everytime you go out there." Garrus planned to even if he didn't have feelings for one of the crew already, but now that he had a real reason to return to his new home, he planned to fight all the harder. Simon hoped that it'd be enough as he helped Garrus to his feet once his paralysis had worn off.
"I plan to Dr. Tam. Of that you have my word, whenever I can pull it off." Garrus replied, glad that the worst was over for the moment. He respected the doctor a great deal, respected and feared him if he was being honest with himself, but respect was the foremost in the turian's mind as their eyes met. He would probably be the same way if he had been in Simon's shoes. No... if someone was trying to court his sister Solona, he'd be the exact same way.
"Good... I don't want River to lose anyone else she cares about." Simon almost whispered, and Garrus hoped it never came to that for any of their sakes. They didn't have to say anything else since she had been through far too much already. Garrus didn't want to add to her misery.
"We should go... your scoundrel of a captain and my commander wanted to brief everyone together." Garrus pointed out to the distracted young doctor.
"It'll give me time to rearrange my brother's face." River said from right behind Simon, having snuck up on her brother without either of them being the wiser. Both Garrus and Simon about jumped through the hull when they realized too late that the psychic had woken up. "I told you I hate it when you do that Simon...but it's alright. I know you were just worried about me...just don't ever do that again, please."
"I promise...unless it's an emergency." River nodded since she didn't expect anything less. In such an emergency, she'd rather have one of her few weaknesses used against her so she didn't end up hurting or killing someone by accident while she was out of control. To show she forgave him though, she hugged Simon and smiled warmly up at him, glad that he and Garrus seemed to be getting along now.
"Um... I'll just leave you two- UMPH!" Garrus could barely breathe as River let go of Simon and crushed him in a hug next. The knowing smile on Simon's face was more than a little embarrassing as she squeezed the life out of him. Then she froze up though and looked where Inara had left Shepard. "What's wrong?" Garrus was the first to ask, having started to pick up on her habits.
"She's starting to wake up...we're gonna be walking on razorblades around her." Garrus and Simon knew not to discard her advice out of hand since she hadn't been wrong yet. "Just know that she's hurting, hurt animals are the most dangerous, but she'll heal...if we're careful in the meantime." River had an idea or two to that end, and she'd get some much needed exercise in the process if it panned out the way she hoped, but she'd let Jessie be for a while. "Garrus...maybe we should delay this briefing?"
"That's starting to look like a good idea." Garrus said and Simon nodded since he'd rather wait until Jessie was in a better mood before pushing her into her usual role anyway. They were sure that the others would understand as well, once they put their recommendation on the table anyway. "Alright, hopefully Inara's dealing with the Commander by now so we can call this get together off."
Inara had intercepted the Commander while she was still in the Comms room. Jessie was silent as the grave, but she had looked up when she had sat down beside Jessie so she wasn't completely lost in the woods at least. She knew not to ask if she was alright though, given the conversation they had had almost an hour ago now. "Thanks...for being here Inara...not even David...not even Captain Anderson knows..."
"You were able to finally share your burden... that's the important part, Jessie." Inara gently cupped Shepard's face between her hands without even thinking and made her look the Companion in the eyes. "You cannot continue to carry this alone, and I think a part of you knew that. The fact you shared it at all says a great deal, most of it good, Jessie. You don't have to fight alone anymore. You don't have to be alone anymore." Inara saw a few tears fall from the woman's eyes, but they stopped almost as soon as they started as a ghost of a smile appeared on her face. Inara wasn't about to take it at face value, but she hoped that Jessie was starting to find her way out of the dark at long last.
"That...that means a lot to me Inara..." Shepard felt herself drawn to the Companion in a way she had rarely felt, even before Mindoir had changed everything. She found herself leaning closer to Inara, their lips almost touching, before she realized what she was doing and jerked back as if she'd been shot. "Oh Hell...I'm sorry...I" Before Jessie could finished apologizing, Inara pulled the women to her lips and firmly kissed her. Silencing all her protests, doubts, and fears at the exact same time. When she finally came back up for air, Jessie's head was spinning in a not so unpleasant way. "That was...wow...ok...that was definitely...new."
"That was your first kiss?" The red glow to the woman's cheeks revealed far more than that and Inara felt blessed in a way she hadn't considered possible. It wasn't often she got a chance to help a virgin. Fess Higgins had been the last to fit that particular bill, but Inara didn't think that she'd ever find a female virgin in her life, especially one as incredible as Commander Jessie Shepard. "It's nothing to be ashamed of Jessie. I can guide you down this path, if you want me to."
"You're an extraordinary woman...Inara. I just...never would have guessed this would happen to me, finding someone like you out here. Is there...anything I should know in advance? You're a Companion, that's not something I'm familiar you can guess." Jessie was nervous but she was willing all the same. But she wanted to do this by the Companion's rules if she could.
Inara smiled at her clearly nervous question. "Normally there is a small greeting ceremony between Companion and client. Tea is prepared and shared and talk is often exchanged before...business is begun. Since I think of you more as a friend than merely a client, I think we can dispense with the technicalities Jessie..."
"I don't know, a cup of tea sounds good right about now." Jessie's teasing smile just made Inara chuckle before she grew serious again. "Thank you though...for being here at my lowest Inara Serra. I don't think I could have pulled through...without someone to guide me back out of myself. I think I'm starting to see why Companions were so respected in your universe if any are half as good as you are." It was Inara's turn to blush since it wasn't often she had such praise heaped on her. Slowly getting to her feet, Jessie still had a blush on her face but it started to disappear as she helped the Companion up a moment later. "Mal isn't going to let us hear the end of this is he?"
"I imagine not, but if he knows what's good for him, he won't bring it up." Jessie didn't miss the implied threat in the woman's voice and just smirked. She would hate to have Inara as an enemy, especially with her skillset. Jessie was a dangerous woman, but she wasn't the subtle kind of dangerous which Inara embodied, and in her mind, that made the Companion the more dangerous of the two. At least with Jessie, you knew what to expect. Inara could essentially stab you in the back and you'd never know. Depending on how it was played, one might even welcome the stabbing, which was more than a little scary to consider, but thankfully Inara didn't seem the sort to pull such a feat without a very good reason.
"It's just...I know the two of you care about each other. I wouldn't want to screw that up." Jessie meant well but Inara wasn't so sure if she wanted to risk the heartache even if they did somehow get past their issues.
"I can't afford to get attached...Jessie, and Mal has never made it a secret about what he thinks about my profession. On the other hand, he seems to understand the need for what I do and accepts it, even if he doesn't agree with it." She replied, earning a solemn nod from the Commander.
"Alright...I won't press but someday, I do hope that you at least try Inara. I know he has to be a pain in the ass, but he's a pain in the ass who obviously loves you, even if he's too stupid or stubborn to admit it easily. I...just wish I had told Steven that...back before Mindoir was attacked. We were the same way you and Mal are. Doesn't matter, I can't dwell on the past forever. It won't be easy I know...but you got me this far, and I can never thank you enough for that." Jessie had started to look at the ground but Inara gently pulled her head back up with just her thumb and forefinger on her chin.
"Show me the way to your cabin, Jessie. Let them say what they will. A Companion never kisses and tells, so they can assume all they like, only we will know the truth." Inara was used to the effect she always had on those around her, but seeing Shepard so drawn to her brought out an odd feeling of guilt in the Companion. In her own way, Jessie was so captivating at times that Inara realized she had been under her spell as well. Until the woman had broken down in her arms, she had forgotten that Jessie was only human at the end of the day, with the same needs and desires as anyone else.
Mal was just passing by the Comms room door when the door opened and he and everyone nearby stared in shocked silence as they watched Inara and Jessie make their way to the stairs, most likely towards the Commander's private quarters if he had to guess. Williams and him had been talking about trying to make a modified six shooter for Mal, only to have their plans derailed by the very unusual sight. "Am I going crazy or did that look like Jessie and Inara looking all serious like?"
"Looked to me like...stress relief. Can't say I blame the Commander, she needs to relax more than most with what's coming. You didn't see the vids of the Mindoir attack. Believe me, it's pretty harrowing, and she was in the middle of it. Why do you think I waited until she was out of earshot to mention it?" Ashley finished, and Mal didn't have to press further to know she had taken the right course as they wandered off back down to the cargo bay.
"I have a fair idea...that's why I ain't makin' an undue fuss over it. If it was anyone else...I might have had a few choice words, but she's one woman I ain't looking to tangle with...ever." She made the Operative look like a drunken backbirth. He would've been dead in three seconds if he'd ever had to deal with her. Knowing more or less what Shepard had gone through, well, he could think of much worse people that Inara could be 'helping' on the ship. "I honestly hope that Inara can help your boss there Chief, she's far more deservin' than most folk I've come across as a 'transport' capn'."
Ashley hadn't expected Mal to be supportive of what the Companion did, and despite her own mixed feelings about it all herself, she too agreed with what Malcolm had said. "The power of love, it's a curious thing. Make one man weep, make another man sing...kind of like you and Inara. I pay attention, same as anyone else on this ship, and I ain't blind."
The playful smirk on her face made Malcolm chuckle before he managed to say anything in return. "Huh...I didn't rightly know you were a mushy poet Williams... who wrote that?"
"Actually, you can thank Joker for forcing me to listen to his ancient music collection. He has a thing for old movies, songs, even TV shows. Not to mention his ridiculously vast stash of extranet porn. Guess everyone has to have a hobby around here. Me, give me a big gun and I'm happy, although yes I do have a thing for poetry. My father had me record Ulysses for him several times." Having since gotten on the elevator, Mal and Ashley were heading down to the cargo bay while the captain pondered what he'd been told so far. She was just full of surprises, to say the least.
"Never heard of that one, though nothing much is left from Earth-That-Was, least ya'll still have one. But, gotta agree on the gun part, although as I've said before, I prefer speed over sheer power. Jayne's our heavy weapons expert, just don't get him talkin' about Vera and we'll all be shiny."
"He names his guns? Huh...I'll have to introduce him to Winona, best pistol I ever had. Got me through more than a few scrapes back in my early days as a Marine, and saved my ass on Eden Prime. Took a geth round though and I haven't been able to salvage her, damn walking toasters." Mal had a feeling she was upset over more than the loss of her favorite pistol. He recognized the look that passed over her face since he had worn a similar one for years after the Battle of Serenity Valley. He still did if he wanted to be honest with himself.
"How many men did you lose down there Chief?" At the somewhat surprised look that appeared on the woman's face, Malcolm knew he had been right in his guess about what had happened down there as he put a hand on her shoulder just as the elevator door opened up.
"My whole damn unit." Ashley looked away for a moment before continuing. "The Commander tried to let me think it wasn't my fault, but I know better. It's kinda hard to miss giant walking flashlight heads, ya know?"
"Way I hear tell, those walkin' toasters hadn't been seen outside their space for near three hundred years Chief. You can't have been prepared for what they bring with em if you ain't never seen em before. Hell, the fact they used those spike things would freak me out something fierce-" Malcolm wanted to kick himself in the gorram ass; some of her friends ended up on those spikes from what he had heard around the ship.
Despite the fact she didn't need to be reminded of what she had seen down there, she knew from his guilty look Mal hadn't meant any ill will and honestly, he was right anyway. There was no way they could have been ready for what the geth brought to bear against them. Maybe the Commander was right and Ashley shouldn't be beating herself up over it? It still hurt, but that would never change probably even as the sting behind the loss became a little easier to bear.
"Well, I'll let you get to work Chief. I'll be sure to stop by later, see if ya whipped up any ideas for a proper firearm-" Before an embarrassed Mal could make good on his retreat Ashley grabbed his arm.
"Wait Mal, thanks...you gave me something to mull over and maybe you and the Commander have a point. Doesn't mean I'm not going to be ready for anything in the future though...but maybe I have been too hard on myself over what happened. I never lost men before now so that probably made it worse, but thanks... for trying to help. I hate to ask but how many did you..." It was Mal's turn to look away since he didn't like talking about the war, but in her case, he was willing to make an exception since she wasn't being an ass about it like most folk had been back home that had brought it up.
"Honestly...I don't rightly know. Didn't bother counting after I got to fifty. Out of my own platoon though, only me and Zoe got out of that valley...some could safely argue we never left." Mal walked away before Williams could even think about apologizing to him for asking. She's a good soldier, like Zoe, but I don't need her gorram pity. Getting that from Shep was bad enough.
"You don't want to bring that up again Chief." Ashley about jumped out of her boots when she got off of the elevator and heard Zoe's voice to her immediate left before seeing her a moment later. "I know you meant no ill, but that's a subject that's still mighty raw for any Independents that fought in the war, even after seven years." The look in Zoe's eyes was scary enough, but her tone of voice had Ashley wondering if she'd get to her workbench in one piece. Thankfully I hadn't meant my question as an open insult or I have a feeling I'd be dead on the floor by now.
Jayne was just trying to have a decent meal while ogling some of Shepard's finer looking women folk crew members, before he found himself the target of an unwanted annoyance a short while later in the mess. It seemed Lt. Boyscout wanted a few words with him. "Your eyes are stuck boy." The menacing growl he put into his voice held no sway over Kaiden, much to Jayne's further annoyance.
"My eyes are just fine. It's your open stares that are making me twitchy and putting me off my lunch. Why don't you just pay attention to your food and stop leering at my crew mates?" Kaiden's statement sounded a lot more like an order than a question.
"What do ya plan to do about it boy if I don't? You ain't Mal and you sure as Hell ain't your Commander, so why should I listen to ya in the first place?" His right hand started to slowly work its way down to the knife he always kept in his right boot, but Kaiden wasn't ignorant and had a feeling Jayne would try to get the drop on him.
"I'm going to enjoy my meal...and you're going to sit there until I say otherwise." Jayne started to laugh at the man's threat, and then found that he couldn't move a muscle. "Never bring a knife to a biotic's table. You might hurt yourself. Oh and thanks for a free helping of seconds, gotta keep my strength up." Kaiden had since slid over a lightly glowing Jayne's half eaten tray of food and started helping himself to both. His Commander might have had a few choice words for both of them, but she wasn't anywhere to be found and someone had needed to put the big man in his place.
"Hello Mr. Cobb, Lt. Alen- Keelah! What are you doing?! Release him this instant or I will Overload your amp!" Tali had already pulled up the appropriate program on her omni-tool and was one button press away from making Kaiden's head hurt for hours. He didn't hesitate in releasing the Stasis field he had dropped on the mercenary and Jayne was only held back by the quarian's presence, otherwise he'd have jumped the table and wrapped his hands around Kaiden's neck. Maybe gutted him too for good measure.
"Just...demonstrating how Stasis works-" Kaiden thought Jessie was scary when she was angry, but Tali was quickly showing that she was capable of holding her own as she verbally tore down his defenses with ease.
"Don't give me that line of bullshit, you lying bosh'tet!" Jayne hadn't expected such a fiery side to the otherwise innocent and prim alien girl. She had proven capable in a fight with her fancy tech hacking, and she favored a shotgun which had won Jayne over instantly, but seeing her defending him with such spirit was just making him like her all the more. "If the Commander had seen such childish behavior, I'm sure she'd have had a few choice words for you, Lt Alenko."
"Yes ma'am...I'm sure you're completely right ma'am!" If Tali hadn't been so angry already, Jayne would've been laughing his head off, seeing the Alliance type getting his balls handed to him by the young girl behind Jayne's side of the table. Instead he simply grinned at Kaiden, who gave him an evil glare but wisely held back anything that would draw Tali's attention towards him. Mainly because she still had her finger dangerously close to putting him in the infirmary. He flinched as Tali moved a finger over her omni-tool, and then proceeded to shut it off, much to Kaiden's immense relief.
"I believe you're sitting in my seat Lt." Tali had only been kidding, and felt slightly guilty as Kaiden bolted up from the table.
"Yes I believe I am ma'am." With a final glare at Jayne, Alenko made sure to grab both of their trays off the table. Right before he left, he grabbed a meal tube for Tali since he figured it couldn't hurt to try and get on her good side again. He wasn't leaving the food that he and Jayne had been 'sharing' though, he drew the line there as Tali watched Kaiden go a moment later.
"Bosh'tet didn't even know I was joking, still, at least I got a free meal out of it." Jayne couldn't hold back any longer and busted out laughing at last, earning an amused look from the quarian even he could see through her visor.
"I didn't think that there kid could run so fast from ya. You sure you ain't no gorram stinkin' violent merc? What did you threaten him with anyway?" She had had him convinced, and Jayne was usually the one that was Mal's intimidation expert. No one questioned that Jayne Cobb was someone you wanted to screw around with, but there had been something about Tali's way that had made even him a tad nervous.
"I was just going to Overload the implant in the back of his neck a little...oh Keelah! I forgot that he gets terrible migraines! If I had done that..." Tali put her head in her hands and Jayne got the impression she was embarrassed and a little ashamed of herself for not thinking about it before.
But he couldn't help himself all the same as he opened his mouth again. "It woulda been mighty hilarious?" He figured he'd be getting a death glare right now if not for the odd looking visor which covered her face. "Suppose I should thank ya for putting that ruttin' little whelp in his place. Didn't have to steal my gorram lunch though before he scuttled off."
"Your skin is a really pretty shade of blue." Liara almost jumped out of her seat, having been poring over the information that Simon had been asked to share with the doctor in regards to what they were heading towards, and what had been done to River Tam, his sister. Commander Shepard hadn't looked happy about the need to share it anymore than Simon Tam had, but it was a necessary evil, one that Liara was regretting agreeing to now as the Miranda message finished playing on her private terminal. In a way, she was glad of the distraction as she turned and saw that it was the young human, Kaylee, that had interrupted her rather dark research.
"Well...um...thank you? I am not used to receiving compliments that often, actually, I'm usually alone quite a bit and...now I'm rambling. I do that when I get nervous or excited, sorry. You must be Kaywinnet Lee Frye, it is a pleasure to meet you. I was...just looking over the information that your captain brought with him. I find it incredibly hard to imagine such a monstrous act, if I might be frank. I am glad you interrupted me when you did..." How she wasn't puking her guts up Liara wasn't sure, but maybe the shock of what she had just seen hadn't caught up with her yet?
Kaylee didn't have to hear much more to know what Liara was talking about as her smile disappeared, something that rarely happened. "I lived it...and I still find it hard to imagine. If the vid is bothering you so bad, I could just tell you the story if ya like. I'll be sure to leave out the worse creepifyin' parts, although it ain't much better to be honest."
"I would... appreciate that Ms. Frye." Liara was surprised that Kaylee was taking all of this far better than she was, after all the young mechanic had seen some of these horrors in real life and not just from a simple recording.
"Geeze! Ain't never had anyone call me 'Ms. Frye' 'cept when I went to this party where the Capn' got into a duel with a piece of go se nobleman who wanted Inara all to himself." Kaylee realized that Liara was just staring at her blankly by this point. "The gorram point is, please call me Kaylee, everyone does. Ms Frye just makes me sound like a crotchety ol lady."
"Of course Ms. Fr- Kaylee." She couldn't be sure, but Kaylee was pretty convinced that Liara was blushing right about now. She felt her smile returning though and Liara was able to relax since she had already gotten the impression that the universe got a little darker if Kaylee wasn't happy.
"Well where should I start? OH! I know! How about when we first met Simon and River? Now that's a funny story...although I ended up gettin' shot over it. Eh, at least Simon was there though, patched me right up in no time flat." Liara could only blink in surprise since normally being shot at shouldn't have been met with such an excited smile that was clear to see on Kaylee's face. Still, the asari found it rather amazing that someone so sweet could be so strong as well, which became quickly apparent as the prothean researcher was told a great deal about life back in the mechanic's Verse.
"So River...how many times do you think Inara can make the Commander's toes curl?" River about spit out the hot chocolate she had been drinking all over the console in front of her when Joker asked that question. "And are we talking screaming orgasms here or just regular ones? I like to have as many details as possible."
"You're such a boob Joker. Besides, even if I did know, which I don't since I've been trying to stay out of that, I wouldn't tell you anyway. Some things are better left in the dark." Besides that, River valued Inara's need for privacy when she was 'working' too much to invade it if she could help it.
"You're totally right... I don't see Shepard being one to leave the lights on, just in case someone stumbles in on them, you know? Not that that would ever happen. Excuse me, gotta go take a piss real quick. Good thing I keep this bottle handy. Oh...forgot it was full, guess I gotta risk snapping shin bones after all" River gave Joker one of her patented 'seriously' looks as he hobbled away to empty both 'bottles'. She knew better since he planned to try to sneak a peek at Inara and Jessie, but he would be sorely disappointed since the door was heavily locked down per River's passing recommendation.
"Even I could have come up with a more devious plan than that...like... We're under attack! Please get to the the bridge as quickly and naked as possible. Too much?" Half the crew behind Wash was startled by his shout, while the others started glaring at him.
"No dear, that's just the perfect amount of disrespect for the woman who took us in." River smirked while Wash slowly turned his head and blushed as he saw Zoe standing right behind him. "At least you have more class than Joker, that's about the only thing saving you from an ass whuppin' right now."
"Hi honey! Didn't see you there...as you snuck up behind me. All ninja like and such. Have I told you exactly how beautiful you are today my warrior goddess?" Zoe just lifted an irritated eyebrow at his lousy sweet talk. "Okay, I'm righteously humped...aren't I? River, you were supposed to warn me before I opened my mouth and swallowed my entire foot."
"Don't look at me, I'm not the boob here. Good luck, I need to make sure Joker doesn't end up a smear on the deck." River just giggled, especially when she saw the tiniest of smiles flicker across Zoe's face as she started to leave the cockpit.
"Well, on the plus side at least he might get to see Heaven before Shepard sends him to Hell." Zoe just shook her head and glared at the man she loved, even if she didn't understand why that was at the moment. "What?!"
"Do I need to bring out the duct tape Wash? Because you know I will. You'd be better off seeing to the way your mouth is moving before I help you fix it." Zoe might appear tough to most people, but when it came to Wash, she was almost a completely different person. Before she had met him, she had only the war and the loss keeping her up at night, but now, she had so much more thanks to him. Still... I'm going too easy on him these days...
"Ouch!" Wash felt blessed, the whack to the back of his head was less than what he'd been expecting from his better half. Most people that upset her usually wound up shot and in a puddle of their own piss and blood, he was lucky though and only got the occasional playful smack or verbal lashing from his Zoe. "No making fun of our hot patron's sex life. Got it. If only I wasn't still on strict bed rest from the good doctors, I'd see about making you all shades of red."
"Honey, I'd be more worried about surviving the night once I get my hands on you again." Zoe was chuckling despite her 'threat', making both of them grin since it was just how they were, and Wash wouldn't have had it any other way.
"Work, work, work." Was his simple but effective reply as Zoe laughed a little before they realized they had company. Namely the horny pilot on crutches who was doing his best not to interrupt them.
"Don't stop now! You were just getting to the good stuff!" Joker had since hobbled back into his seat, River right behind him. Sitting back down, the pilot rubbed at his right ear as he glared at the Reader. "Damn it though River, you didn't have to drag me off like that though."
"It was for your own good Jeff, believe me. I'd rather not have to mop you off the ceiling thank you very much. He really did try to sneak up to Shepard's cabin, the boob." Wash and Zoe somehow didn't doubt what River said in the least since Joker seemed the sort to see how far he could go before he went too far. He was a harmless jokester though, and never crossed the line on purpose if he could help it, which was just as well most likely.
"Fornax would have loved the footage! We'd have made a small fortune off of those two...on the other hand I wouldn't have been around long enough to enjoy it though...damn." Joker felt his humor die off rather quickly as he saw Zoe's glare that was leveled solely on him.
"You're getting to be a bad influence on our prodigy Joker. Keep it up and you won't have to worry about your Commander getting her hands on you." Zoe said as River bit her tongue at the horrified look that crossed Joker's face while Wash didn't bother to hide his laughter.
"Welcome to my world...it's utterly terrifying isn't it? But so exciting!" Wash was quick to add in, just to add insult to injury which earned him a nervous chuckle from Joker while Zoe and River glanced at each other, sighing since they didn't know how they were able to put up with the two pilots.
"Did you hear something...?" Inara asked, looking up from the small table that was tucked against the right wall of Shepard's quarters. Despite her earlier wish to skip the pleasantries attached with being a Companion, Jessie had insisted since she appreciated Inara's concern, but she was curious about what a Companion did to their fullest.
"That would be Joker, I'm guessing. Good thing I took River's advice...and a good thing I talked you into the whole tea greeting ceremony you told me about, otherwise I think there'd be some interesting conversations going on later." Jessie chuckled, earning a playful smile from Inara since she had a point. "I do appreciate this though Inara, even if you don't consider me a 'client', it's still a rare chance for me to just enjoy the small things in life. Military life doesn't offer many chances to relax."
"I've tended to soldiers and officers before while they were on leave. They all had told me similar things and the rest I can only imagine. Even so, you take what time you can get to unwind and enjoy it to the fullest." Jessie nodded since it was more or less accurate. Didn't matter what part of the military you were a part of, everyday was often dangerous and could be your last, especially if you were on the front lines as they were in a sense. No one wanted to truly admit it, but Jessie knew this was the beginning of a war. She didn't need the prothean beacon's images to tell her that.
"Wow...this is actually pretty good. Never really been a tea drinker myself, usually coffee." Inara noticed the slight shaking of Jessie's cup as she set it back down. The tea ceremony was used more to gauge the client's reactions than a means to relax and prepare for what usually followed, and seeing the minute tremor in the Commander's hands told the Companion that sex was the last thing on her mind most likely. Inara was nothing if not incredibly patient, so she instantly decided to change the course of that night's events.
"Come here Jessie." As she sat on the end of the room's small bed, Inara patted the spot next to her.
Shepard wasn't exactly feeling confident when she finally replied a few moments later. "Yeah...sure... um should I get undressed or-" With a single finger over her lips, Inara shook her head gently, slowly since that wasn't what was going to happen tonight.
"No Jessie. Not tonight, not until you're ready and not simply trying to get over your fear as you are now. You've made great strides today, but I don't want to press too fast and hard and have you go back rather than forward. You don't have to prove anything to me, Jessie." Inara barely kept a smile off her face as Jessie's look of nervousness turned to mildly surprised disappointment. "You wouldn't be the first person to make that mistake, and I'm sure you won't be the last."
"Gee thanks." Jessie managed a small smirk despite the sarcasm she put into her voice since she had been trying to psych herself up, and Inara had seen right through her attempt to force herself to go all the way. "Never would have thought I'd be afraid of...something like this. I've charged enemy lines so many times I've lost count. I can do that, but this is...something else entirely." With a quiet huff she sat down next to the Companion, far more relaxed now that she didn't have to prove herself. She had always been afraid during those battles, but Jessie had never let it stop her, yet this had held her up for some reason.
"Some view their first time as a means to become a true man or woman. It's merely a symbol, it means what you want it to mean, nothing more. Just know that it is something which should be enjoyed and cherished, not an obligation or some kind of rite of passage into adulthood." A sense of deja-vu went through Inara's mind but it only made her smile as she continued to measure the Commander's responses, to see if she was having a positive impact rather than a negative one.
"This is starting to sound like my high school sex-ed class Inara..." Jessie couldn't help the slight thrill that went up her spine at the Companion's gentle laughter.
"Sorry, well Ms. Shepard, this is what's going to happen. You're going to get some much needed rest, and I am going to be right here next to you when you wake up. No one will hear about any of this from me, and you can tell people whatever you want if they ask about tonight."
"So I was the best lover you ever had then? Really, seven times? No...better make that twelve." Inara and Jessie shared a good laugh at that, but the Commander grew serious a moment later as she looked at the floor between her feet. "Thank you, truly. I don't think I can say that enough for what you've done for me. I've carried that...that memory without anyone really knowing the details for thirteen years...until you came along out of nowhere with Mal and the rest of them. Whatever happened to bring you here, now, I'm glad it brought you along when it did. I...I don't know if I could have gone on for much longer otherwise..."
"You would have found a way Jessie, you're the strongest woman I've ever met. It never hurts to help ease another's burdens though, or to allow someone to ease yours, Jessie. Even the strongest people need help getting back up after they've fallen, it's the asking for aid that takes true strength since it means admitting that we're not infallible. Even though so many people might look up to you, you're only human, Jessie, same as everyone else on this ship." Technically not all of the crew were human, but the point remained the same as Inara's words had the desired effect as Jessie slowly looked up once more.
"Have I mentioned I'm glad you're not an enemy? You'd make a very dangerous one with the way you read people." She meant it as a joke and while she smiled, Inara also knew that Jessie was right as well since Saffron had proved how dangerous a rogue Companion could be more than once before. That was trouble she hoped never visited the Normandy. "I appreciate the offer Inara, but you don't have to stay just to-"
"Yes I do, how else am I going to make sure you actually get some sleep?" Even Shepard knew some battles just weren't worth fighting at the determined look on Inara's face. "Fine...but I feel like a kid having a sleepover here." As Jessie settled in bed, Inara softly pressed against her back as she pulled a blanket over both of them. God help me if Joker ever hears about this, I'd never live it down. Oh no...is Inara actually singing to me! Well...at least she has a nice voice.
Whether it was the fact she had spilled her guts out to the Companion or she was more tired than she had thought, Jessie couldn't really complain about the rather unusual...arrangement as she felt her brown eyes start to slowly drift shut of their own accord as Inara's song softly filled her ears. "Take my love, take my land, take me where I cannot stand. I don't care, I'm still free. You can't take the sky from me."
Whatever the song was supposed to be about, Jessie didn't hear even half of it before she was out like a light. For once in almost fourteen years, Jessie Shepard didn't have a single nightmare about the attack on Mindoir, or visions of death from the prothean beacon. Nor did she have to take a shot of the scotch she kept locked away in her desk for really bad days either...
Cargo bay.
Two days away from Mindoir...
Surprisingly enough, there was very little gossip over Jessie and Inara's night together among the crew. Mainly because nothing had really happened, and Jessie had been able to share that much with the them without blushing like a maniac. She didn't mention however that they had indeed just shared a bed together, since that would have been pushing the limits of some people's imaginations given how truly beautiful the Companion was. They would have wondered what was wrong with Jessie if that had gotten out. The only person that was still ignorant was Joker, mainly because Jessie had felt it appropriate to torture him for all the trouble he normally gave her. I let his mind run wild for a few days, before I give him the crushingly disappointing news.
She planned to make him sweat for another day since it had happened or rather not happened two days ago now. Grinning as she put a few new mods onto her pistol and her SMG, having cleaned and prepped the weapons before then, she didn't know River had snuck up on her until the young psychic was at her side. "Waah! Sheesh, I hate it when you do that!" A biotically glowing Jessie quickly deactivated her powers. "Don't do that again! I might have hurt you dammit!"
"I would love to see you try, Shepard." River smirked, earning an amused chuckle from Wrex who was standing a little ways off from the two of them while Ashley just shook her head.
Shepard laughed at River's not so subtle invitation. "Wait...was that a challenge? Sorry but no, I don't get a thrill out of humiliating young girls." When all she got was one of the young woman's patented glares that said how stupid she was being for even asking, Jessie just laughed again and had to honestly wonder how strong River truly was. "Just because you took down thirty Reavers with a couple of rusty blades doesn't mean you can keep up with me 'little albatross'."
"Don't worry, Karin and Simon will take good care of you." Shepard's laughter died away at River's ominous statement, now the girl was starting to irk her. "Inara too." That was getting a little too close for comfort, as far as Shepard was concerned.
"I suggest you stop talking Ms. Tam...I'd hate to upset your brother by teaching his loud mouthed little sister a lesson." I should just walk away before-
A kick aimed at Jessie's head ended any further debate on her part as Jessie ducked and had since spun away from the workbench, putting some space between her and River. "Ashley, I think we're overdue for another 'fight night'. Tell Joker, I'm sure he'll be ecstatic that I'll be putting our local pint sized 'genius' in her place." Despite the sarcasm that was thick in her voice, River didn't have to be a mind reader to know that Jessie was actually glad for the chance to blow off some steam against an apparently very capable opponent, even if said opponent was half her size and almost as young.
"Wait...what now? Cat fight! Yes! My prayers have been answered!" Jessie wasn't surprised in the least as Joker's voice came over the intercom, making everyone in the cargo bay laugh or just shake their heads in amusement at the pilot's enthusiasm. "Just don't go putting the Commander in traction for too long River, otherwise go nuts...well, you know what I mean."
"Joker, I can always come up there and put you in traction instead. All I have to do is hug you." An audible grimace could be heard as Joker promptly shut up after River's playful threat to his health. Jessie couldn't do anything but bite her tongue as the conversation went on between her and Joker.
"Gah...talk about killing someone with kindness. ...A lap dance might be worth it. Just remember, if I do kick the bucket because of you, I had Tali program your porn stash links to go to your brother's extranet mailbox."
"You...I...he's kidding!" River was rarely flustered, but Joker was one of the few people that could manage it on a regular basis and she had yet to find a way to counter his successes.
"As Inara would say..." Jessie did her best impression of the Companion as River glared at her. "There's no shame in having those desires River."
"Exactly how would-" River stopped herself before she could say another word, Inara would probably poison her in her sleep if she finished that sentence. They might be close as sisters, but there were some things even River wouldn't do if it meant angering the Companion by divulging anything of a...sensitive matter. "...You like to do this, soon-to-be-med-bay-patient Jessie Shepard."
"I figure the same as Kaiden and Zoe's match, that is if you can win a fair fight." She honestly wasn't sure if River could turn off her psychic abilities or not, but even if she couldn't, Shepard figured there had to be a way around it. There always was a way, far as she had ever figured.
River shook her head at Jessie's rules. "That won't end well Shepard."
"Well then I guess you should just apolog-" Jessie never got a chance to finish as River interrupted her.
"For you. You can use your biotics all you want since you'll need every advantage you can get, Shepard. I want this to be a fair fight...if we're going to bother." Wrex had since started to laugh from deep in his belly again at the fight that was about to take place even as Jessie shot daggers at River. This looked to be a great deal more promising than the last fight, that was for sure.
"This is insane! No one is going to stop them?! Really?" Simon couldn't believe what he was seeing. Didn't these people realize how dangerous River was? "Okay... that's it. I'm putting a stop to this madness, right now. Eta Kooram- " Before he could say another word, in particular the 'safe word' he had promised he wouldn't use unless it was an emergency, River stopped right in front of Simon and promptly punched him in the throat as she had once before. Everyone winced as she promptly kicked him in the face, knocking him out cold before he hit the deck.
"Damn, a little harsh there River. Does anyone else want to try to stop us? No? Didn't think so. Dr Chakwas, please see to Simon would you?" Jessie said, but she couldn't blame River in the least given what she had heard about Simon's overprotective streak. Him paralyzing Garrus had since reached her ears, and she had yet to have a proper discussion about it with Simon. After the fight, Jessie planned to give him an earful about needing to let up.
"Alright, if you two are done dancin' about, let's get this show started folks. River, you ready little darlin?' Mal asked, earning a cheerful smile from her before he turned to Jessie next. "I ain't gonna even bother askin' since I know your answer by now. Alright, clean fight from both of ya, biotics allowed from what I understand. Tap out or knock outs will decide a winner. Ready, set, let the fightin' commence!" Malcolm barely had enough time to get out of the way as Jessie and River closed to melee range about the same time he took several steps back, barely avoiding a spin kick to the face from the little albatross. Jessie had heard that River loved to dance, but she had never expected the level of grace she was seeing now as River seemed to be everywhere at once with her attacks.
Okay...so she can fight. Good, I won't feel half as guilty this way. Jessie was no slouch as she got past her initial surprise and started to actively fight back, her N7 close quarters combat regime coming to the front as River found herself up against an equal opponent for once in her life. To everyone else watching the fight, it was like watching two professional martial artists trying to gain the upper hand since every move was countered, blocked, or stopped long before it could begin while three more were lined up in the time it took to breathe.
Their fighting styles were completely different from each other, but they were still able to come together with bone crunching blows again and again with no one gaining the upper hand as far as they could see. River was a creature of extraordinary grace, and her muscle memory was beyond normal human levels, meaning that while she had no official training under her belt, she was still able to stand toe to toe with someone that did. The hours of conditioning at the Academy had provided River with combat routines that helped improve her already substantial grace, and it showed.
Shepard was coordinated and precise with her movements. She didn't waste any unnecessary energy in her attack and defensive measures as she and River continued to 'dance' around the cargo bay. Simon had since come around right about the time that Jessie and his sister broke away again only to clash a second later. He was appropriately stunned into silence as Garrus gave him a look that said he'd do more damage now if he tried to stop her again. Besides, he was captivated just as everyone else was by what was happening anyway. Is she the same River? Is this the side of her that was able to kill close to thirty Reavers? Simon had seen the aftermath, but not the fight itself and he wondered if he had been given a mercy in that since seeing her as she was now was frightening in a way.
How could they pervert such grace and elegance into this? Simon wasn't the only one a little taken aback by River's skill since Ashley and Garrus both were wondering the same thing in their own way.
River's inhuman stamina beat out Shepard's will as the young girl handed a blow to Jessie's jaw, then landed a kick to her ribs. It was a second of dizziness, but it was all River needed as she spun to the right after her kick to the left, her other foot sweeping Shepard's legs out from under her before River finished her combination with an overhead drop kick to the Spectre's stomach.
Damn...no more nice Marine little girl. Jessie fumed, as she primed a Barrier before River could get another kick in. River yelped in pain as it felt like she had slammed her foot into a brick wall. The Barrier dropped and the Reader couldn't get a defense up in time as she was Thrown across the cargo bay and right into her brother's lap. Instead of landing on her ass though, River had managed to get her hands underneath her and flipped herself over Simon without ever touching a hair on his head as she landed on her feet in the back of the cargo bay. Jessie didn't get halfway towards her before River had jumped back into the 'ring' and they were at it again.
Shepard purposely waited for River to throw the first punch, before once again putting up a Barrier. Jessie internally flinched at the unmistakable sound of River's right wrist snapping against the dark energy shield she had created. That had to hurt...I better end this before I severely hurt her. "Sorry River!" Shepard grinned despite herself and had since dropped her Barrier before charging the psychic down, tackling her to the floor before slamming her head against the young woman's own. The sudden charge and subsequent tackle had closed off any possibility of her using her speed and grace, as well as stopped River from getting a chance to counter effectively. The head butt had just been a means to knock her out before she could recover. Damn, her head is almost as thick as mine. Before Simon or Karin could get close however, Jessie had Pulled the older Tam close and had since pushed him against the side of the Mako. "We need to talk, now, and you are going to listen. Chakwas, tend to River please, fight's over."
Jessie quickly dragged a terrified Simon over to the hangar bay door. "Little privacy would be nice." Mal and the others didn't have to be told twice as they dispersed, some of them heading down to Engineering while the rest went back up the elevator. "Move it Wrex." She didn't have to look to see that Wrex was hanging around.
"Fine...I was hungry anyway." The krogan, who definitely wasn't intimidated by Shepard at all, muttered to himself before heading to the elevator as well.
"Alone at last Doctor. Mind telling me why you think it's alright to assault one of my crew?" Jessie had waited too long to address this issue, but she was doing it now, especially since Simon had tried to step in yet again.
"I'm sorry...isn't that what you just did to my sister? Or did I miss something?" As much as she loved that about Simon, that he was so determined to protect River, there was a fine line between being overprotective and a safety risk for Jessie and her crew. He was starting to cross that line.
"Just...just listen to me alright? I understand your need to protect River, far better than you know. But you can't endanger my crew for her sake, no matter how deeply you care about her. Do you want the honest truth as to why I agreed to spar with her? Because I had hoped that your seeing her able to fend for herself would help prove my point. Did it, Simon? Because if it didn't I can have arrangements made to leave you at Arcturus Station if you continue to interfere anytime you feel you have to, and I truly hope I don't have to do that." Jessie cared about her crew's safety first and foremost, which made Simon think of Malcolm since he was the same way. That meant he didn't doubt her threat in the slightest, even though she clearly hoped it didn't come to that if the look on her face was anything to go by.
"Shepard..." Simon hung his head in despair. "She's all I have left...I know you understand that. I also understand that you and Mal...you're a lot alike. You both seek the safety and security of your crew, and you're willing to do whatever it takes to see it through. At least you...you don't seem the type to space someone or shoot them out of hand."
"Well I'm glad you have such a high opinion of me Simon..." Shepard's voice reeked of sarcasm, before being more sincere. "You're wrong about one thing though, River isn't all you have. You're a part of this crew now, and you have Kaylee as well as your friends. I'm sure that any of us would put ourselves in front of a bullet for her...except maybe Jayne. The point is, you don't have to be the only one to keep an eye on her anymore Simon. You only live once, and in the days to come, our days might very well be numbered, so enjoy what you have while you have them."
"Well, at least that didn't sound incredibly grim." Simon chuckled to himself in an effort to relieve some of the tension in the air, and it worked as Jessie managed a small smile of her own. "Thank you...Commander Shepard, I know you mean well so that does make this easier."
"And no more 'friendly chats' with Garrus, okay? I'm positive your sister can handle him." Simon had to laugh at that one since that had been a little much he had to admit even to himself. "I would have done the same thing, just for the record, although I might have held up my sister's potential love interest over a cliff."
"Hmm...sounds like you've read Shan-Yu" Simon replied, earning a puzzled look from Shepard since she had never heard the name before. It was probably just as well.
"Who's Shan-Yu? Some kind of writer from your universe?" Now he wished he hadn't mentioned the name since Shepard was wanting to know about the insane madman that had written far too much about torture in the doctor's opinion. "Wait. You know what, I probably don't want to know do I?"
"Not really, no. As with most things from my universe, he was twisted and warped into something that only others like him could ever appreciate." Jessie didn't need to hear more than that as she shook her head at the little bit that Simon had given to her to think about. His whole universe was screwed up if anyone were to ask her opinion.
I can't believe Shepard is actually working with goddamn outlaws and those disgusting aliens. At least the money's good, unlike the shit pay I was getting before that agent found me back on the Citadel. Alliance pension, and wages, what a fucking joke, and they get people to die for them. Idiots. I'd have been better off with Cerberus. Expanding humanity's influence, showing we're capable of bigger and better things, give me a fucking break. WE should be the dominant force in the galaxy. Not begging for scraps from those that think they're better than us just because they were there first, already sitting in the seat of so called 'galactic power'. Fucking aliens, not a damn one of them worth-
"Hey, quit daydreaming and keep an eye on the power transfer levels. We're pushing the drive core pretty hard to get to Mindoir as fast as we can, and I'd rather not end up stranded out here." Chief Engineer Adams said to the man in question.
"Yes sir, sorry sir." The meek reply hid far more than anyone in Engineering could have ever imagined as the man's gaze fell on Tali'Zorah nar Rayya. If anyone had seen the look on his face, they'd have shot him then and there...
I could definitely have some fun with that one...too bad she wouldn't last long without the suit. I only need her for ten minutes or so anyway since as soon as the order comes in, the Normandy won't be going anywhere ever again. Until then, I just have to bide my time. Engineer Second Class Gregory Archer couldn't help the smirk on his face as he kept an eye on the power levels, just like the 'good little soldier' he was still pretending to be. They'd be in for quite a surprise soon enough...
Closing Notes; O.O Oh no! We have trouble on the Normandy and not even River knows about it! There's a reason for that, which will be explained soon enough but for now, hope you all enjoy this chapter of Effect of the Verse! We didn't use any Chinese phrases this chapter but we will again, promise. As for the 'villain' already onboard the Normandy, yes, it was inspired by my partner in crime on this project lol. We had a playful argument and I threatened to kill him off in a horrible fashion. We'll see if that holds true soon. :P
