A/N: So, I know this took forever to come out and for that I apologize, but I have the next chapter written and I am working on the one after now! I felt like I was writing myself into a hole and didn't want plot holes or anything to be forgotten, so I decided to take a break and write as much as I could. I am actually posting this a little earlier than I planned. I hope everyone likes it.

Please review and tell me what you think!


"What has you so upset my fair maiden?" Shawn asks me once he has caught up to walk beside me. Oh Maker, here we go.

"Kroger hasn't said anything in three days," I whisper and he frowns. "He hasn't said anything since I confronted him about the abomination. I can't tell if that is a good thing or if it is as disquieting as it seems." I steal a glance at Kroger who is just watching his feet as we trudge through roots and plants on the forest floor.

"You should not fear him. I keep a watchful eye out for him by keeping my eyes upon you. I guess that makes me your Guardian Angel," he winks at me and gives me a charming smile.

"Haha," he receives a strained laugh from me but he doesn't read into it. Shawn has been more and more flirtatious every day. He talks like a knight trying to win the Princess' hand. I am so confused that I just go with it. It isn't normal and he is probably making fun of me.

I gasp as something catches me eye.

"Naryk! Davix, look!" I exclaim pointing to an old wrangled tree. "I know that tree!" Indeed, it is my favorite climbing tree.

"So do you-" Naryk starts and I finish.

"Yes, I know the way from here!" I take off running and everyone follows. I know Naryk and Davix will soon be pleased when we run past the-

"The bathing pool! Yes, yes, know the way now. Let's hurry!" Davix enthusiastically says and he and Naryk speed up now that they know where they are going. They quickly overtake my slower place. Man, my legs are too short to keep up with their long ones. Shawn runs up beside me, but Kroger stays just a pace behind. To keep an eye on me.

"Come Princess, we mustn't lose them!" Shawn exclaims and tries to take my hand, which I quickly evade.

'Princess?'

"I know where we are going Shawn, we aren't going to lose them," I remark. He merely winks and we keep running. For the record, I hate running but this planet demands that I participate in this activity. I smile to myself when I see the rock that Davix and I jumped from to get away from the two headed beast.

I duck, weave, and jump over roots and branches, my body remembering the path I had often taken. There were a few surprises though, of new growth. My cheek stings as a new, longer branch nicks my face.

I smell a familiar scent and it brings a smile to my face. Normally I hate the smell of the ocean but this time it is welcome. I break through the tree line and run through the sand with a cry of victory!

"Wow, this place is trashed," Shawn huffs out as we all catch our breath.

'Oh, our shelter.' He is totally right. Our shelter is toppled over and strewn all over the sand. Anything left outside was destroyed. 'Probably in that storm.'

"Are you positive you have any supplies left? Or was this just a giant waste of time?" Kroger asks, talking for the first time in three days.

"Of course we have supplies left," Naryk answers and moves toward the escape pod. It doesn't seem damaged, which is a blessing.

"Oh, thank God," I whisper out. We had put all of the important items into the escape pod. It all seemed fine in the fortified pod.

"Smart," Shawn whistles and moves inside to help Davix.

"Melody, you take care of the medigel, Kroger you take into account the food. Davix and Shawn will carry the tech and I'll take stock of weapons," Naryk orders and everyone follows them.

Davix and Shawn breakdown the distress beacon and packed it up. It would be used for parts to replace anything that went wrong with the other one.

I sit by myself, packing up all the medigel carefully when Naryk comes up to me.

"I found this pistol. It's yours," he hands it to me and I happily take it. Kroger glares at us, but doesn't say anything.

"Thanks."

"I also found this," he hands me a small bag with a sheepish smile and I curiously open it.

"My cellphone and keys! There you are Perry," I laugh and look upon my Perry the Platypus keychain. "I had wondered what happened to them. I thought they were taken from me before I arrived on the ship or lost it, or that it was somehow destroyed."

"That is a lot of possibilities," Naryk says giving me a raised brow. "We found them in your pockets when we landed and forgot to give them to you. Davix says they are incredibly old," Naryk looks like he is expecting something.

"Yeah, well my house is full of stuff like this." See? I'm honest.

"What is this?" Kroger asks and I try not to die of shock from his casual curious tone.

"It's collectibles. My family has these. I was going to show a friend when I was… taken," ok now I am not being honest.

"Hmm," Kroger merely says and walks away. The others quickly gather while I explain what the dead phone and keys did.


"Ok, so we have a good small stash of medigel and a trip's worth of food," I say as I survey out rations. I feel pretty good about the medigel. Like I said before it isn't much but it is something.

"Nobody get hurt on the way back. We can't use any of the medigel," Naryk says and everyone nods.

We all decide to camp out in the escape pod and then set out in the morning. For now though, we just want to bathe and clean our clothes. Kroger obviously didn't argue as Davix and I left as partners for this task. Washing our clothes now, I finally get to bring up the interesting topic of a traveling companion.

"You said he was chivalrous, not a giant flirt. Though his style isn't really normal anyway," I casually accuse Davix, truly wondering why he brought Shawn along.

"Have never seen him act so. Truly a mystery. Wish I had an answer for you," he replies and seems befuddles himself.

"So he isn't usually like this?"

"No. Well, has always treated women with chivalry and gentleness. May be small 'flirt' as you say, but not on this scale. He thinks you are challenging. You do not respond as he predicted."

"Pfft, of course not. The whole flirting thing has always been a foreign language to me. Like I don't understand and I can't respond. I've never flirted with anybody, I have no idea how. Besides no one has truly been interested and I think it would be too forward to just… start it," I say brightly as I scrub the last bit of dirt from my extra pair of pants. Davix just looks at me with a silly grin and I raise my eyebrows in response. "What? I've said I'm awkward and only had one boyfriend. Poor guy, dating a girl who didn't… doesn't know how to flirt," I say deadpanned.

"Has Shawn made any untoward advances upon you?" Davix asks concerned.

"Oh heavens no," I almost laugh but am touched that he is looking out for me.

"Didn't seem to be his goal just likes to be overdramatic and I had to ask."

"Thanks Davix," we pack our things and make our way back to camp. I suddenly stop as a thought pretty much slaps me in the face. 'Kroger isn't here!'

"Wait! Do you-"

"No!" Davix interrupts. "Naryk must hear your explanations as well. Would not be right for you to explain to me and him not be party to such information."

"You can tell him," I argue.

"Tell me would you rather hear important information from a second party or from the source?" He asks with a critical eye. I remember times where I heard from a second friend what was happening in the life of another. I had always desperately wished he would tell me himself.

"No. It sucks hearing from a second party," I mumble out and he grins. We start walking again.

"Yes. Have not seen anything that calls for a rushed explanation. We will continue to wait….or hmmm. Maybe we should make situation where we are alone? Get Kroger out of the way?" Davix starts talking to himself but I am stuck with what he said before.

"You two have been watching me? Keeping an eye on me?" my voice comes out strained.

"Of course!" Davix exclaims and it feels as though I have been struck in the chest. My heart clenches, my throat constricts, and I blink rapidly to keep away the sting of tears.

"I thought you trusted me," I whisper out. He turns to me again and I quickly school my features. Now I just look surprised instead of distraught. I hope. I feel like a big baby, but I am stressed! Anyway, no need to announce my emotions and have everyone else think I am irrational.

"We do trust you, but not blindly. Also, watching you means false accusations can be defended against. Merely observing. You must understand."

"I… yes I understand. Of course I do," I give him a small smile stuffing all emotions away. I really do understand their actions. "Have you noticed anything?" I ask cautiously.

I honestly don't know if I want to know the answer.

"Only when you sleep. Dreams seem incredibly active. Sometimes talk in your sleep," he says and I stumble. What have I been saying? I don't ask this question. "Guards have not noticed I think. Do humans often talk in their sleep?"

"Some. Others grind their teeth or snore, or even walk and do stuff," I pause for a second, "I haven't done that last one have I?"

Davix laughs, "No."

We have arrived back at camp by now and Shawn immediately grabs my stuff.

"I shall take this to our quarters milady," he says smoothly and I just mumble out a 'thank you.' I've gotten used to him 'carrying my burdens'. I stopped protesting when he picked me up once when I wouldn't give him my things. It had been very awkward and now I let him do what he wishes, just to avoid it.

We all crawl into the escape pod that night and luckily it is not too cramped. It is nice not having the wind sweeping upon us at random times during the night.


We all wake up the next morning ready to go back and praying that when we do return, there is a rescue party. That would be fricking fantastic.

Right now though I am seriously cursing my bad luck. My head hurts and we don't have anything to get rid of it. Right now, it's just a constant pressure, but I fear it will turn into a throbbing handicap that will make me incredibly ill. I dread it.

I don't say anything though. No one can do anything about it and we need to get back. I'm just praying we don't run into anything on the way. I don't know how I will fight. Yeah, I can handle physical pain for a time, but I can't handle being sick or an inside aliment. I suffer on in silence.

Naryk however, wasn't. Our leader has been snappy all morning with an apologetic, yet suffering look upon his face. I even heard him growling sometimes. He has a headache apparently and it is a doozy. Everybody has been really quiet and while I wonder if my headache effects Timult in any way, I don't try to speak with him and see. It hurts my head too much to try.

For three days I suffer this headache as has Naryk. Davix was afflicted two days ago with one. Naryk can walk straight though. Shawn and I have to keep Davix going. The poor Salarian is dizzy from his pain and weak, but he wants to get to the colony. A'cria is on high alert with so many of us incapacitated.

I can't eat and I can hardly sleep, my headache is so violent. I can't reach Timult either. I'd try again, but I only see green when I try. I don't understand.

I have Davix's arm around my shoulder and my foot catches on a root.

"Aaah!" We both call out and fall. I manage to curl under so Davix lands on me, not wanting him to hit the hard ground and then we just lay there once he rolls off. I see Naryks knees fall before my face.

"I can't do this anymore," I groan out.

"Davix. Davix!" Naryk bring the Salarian in front of him.

"What is wrong with him?" I cry out trying to sit up. Oh maker, my eyes can't handle the light and talking feels like a banging drum in my head.

"He's passed out. We need to hurry," Naryk worriedly says and tries to stand up, bringing Davix with him. Shawn is helping me stand while Kroger just watches on.

"You can hardly walk Naryk. I can't- eek!" Shawn has picked me up bridal style and it makes me dizzy.

"What's wrong with you?" Naryk seems even more worried and I silently applaud myself for my 'I'm fine' act.

"I have a headache too."

"She hasn't slept or eaten in two days," Shawn is upset by this fact as he relays it to Naryk.

"What?!" Naryk turns to me again, anger and concern warring in his features.

"I'm too ill to," I simply answer as it is the truth. "This whole thing just doesn't feel normal. I mean, the three of us…"

"Nah, you think?" Naryk growls out and I want to roll my eyes.

"We need to keep going," Kroger says and I look at him desperately.

"Then help us please," I beg him. Before he can do or say anything, we all hear the underbrush move, sticks cracking, and I recognize that growl.

"Two headed beast," Naryk growls out a confirmation, still on his knees and places Davix behind him. Shawn places me on the ground and brings up his omnitool, ready to fight. Kroger and Naryk bring out their guns and Naryk starts giving out information on the beast. The creature bursts forth and lets out a deafening roar.

I clutch my head in pain and Naryk almost drops his gun as he falters from the sound. Davix wakes up and claws at his head.

*Melody* I hear a blessed voice.

'Timult!' I bring out my newly acquired pistol and fire at the creature. All this noise makes my head feel as if it will burst.

*I am so sorry, this wasn't supposed to happen*

'What?' I almost scream out loud.

Shawn shocks the creature and it stumbles.

*It wasn't supposed to take this long or create headaches*

'This is your doing?' I am starting to get angry. The beast bites at me and I shoot into its open maw. The head falls, officially killing that one. The other one is still attacking and A'cria is doing everything she can to defend the helpless Davix.

*No… yes… the effect is from the tainted eezo and I modified, well finally finished modifying it to your body*

'What does that even mean?' I freeze when I hear and feel something huge running from behind me and it leaps from the trees. 'Abomination…'

Shawn screams and leaps out of the way. Kroger curses and A'cria crouches, ready for a viscous attack.

'We are so dead.'