Chapter 12

The next day Sam went to her shift and she spotted a new face entering the Normandy. The evening in Purgatory hadn't been too long. She didn't get drunk, the company of her 'friends' had been a good distraction and she found out Gabby was a nice girl too, apart from her activities in the shuttle bay. She should go out with them more often. For now she focused on the newcomer, making her way through CIC.

Did they hire a whore?

She looked stunned at the women coming along with a handbag and suitcase. Brown long hair, wearing a permissive white skirt, high heels and rich lipstick. She looks like a whore from one of the exclusive establishments on the Citadel.

The `Lady` walked through the cozy interior, curiously looking around while most of the present staff, primarily the men, watched her with joy. Sam carefully examined her face, she felt a familiar memory, she had seen this `Lady` before, but she couldn't place her.

"Specialist Traynor, report to the med-bay!" EDI announced.

She growled and went for the lift, asking herself what Chakwas could want from her now.

...

"You didn't return for a check up after the mission. I'm used to it from the commanders, but you have to come, especially when you have problems." Chakwas welcomed her.

"I don't have problems." Sam negotiated.

"Hey dear, don't be afraid I'm not going to acknowledge you any psychological damage." She offered her a chair and Sam took seat.

"I heard about your petition and the appearance in CIC, yesterday." The doc told her.

Sam dropped her head in shame, why does everybody have to know.

Chakwas started to scan with her tool. "If you really want to leave this vessel, I could declare you to not be fit for duty. You get a temporary attestation, can leave immediately and after 1 month you'll be back in charge somewhere else without any remarks in your personal file, or if you don't feel capable to go on missions I can give you a sick note. The commander will be angry, but I have the final say..."

Sam thought about her offer, it was compelling and would solve a lot of problems, but on the other hand she didn't want to run away.

Am I a coward if I do so? Am I?

"I think I can handle it... going on missions, I realized killing is necessary. That is not the problem..."

Chakwas became curious and didn't give up. "OK, then tell me what is the problem?"

Should I tell her?

"Samantha, whatever you tell me will remain in this room. No matter what. Medical secrecy, don't be afraid."

Sam considered her options, what would happen if she told her, she wouldn't get in trouble, or not? Chakwas gave her a look of compassion and she decided to tell her.

"It's about the constant advances of both commanders. I'm not a baby, I can defend myself and struggle, but it's getting annoying."

"Are you talking about sexual harassment?"

"Yes." She shouldn't reveal any specific details.

"Did you indicate your consent on that behavior in any way?" Chakwas asked objectively.

"No! Of course, not." Sam lied.

To be honest she should have been more vehement expressing herself, when they started. If she would have made a clear point on that, maybe things would have gone differently, but the events at the shooting range and in the lift yesterday, didn't make the situation better. If they didn't realize her arousal then they would be idiots. It was her own fault and she has to deal with it.

Chakwas opened a window on her tool and quickly wrote a message.

"I don't want any trouble and I won't write an official objection on that... I'll get along." Sam added.

The doc looked at her with concern, not agreeing with her opinion but finally accepted her decision. "I understand...but promise me if there is anything you need to talk about you'll come to me."

Sam nodded to confirm. In the background, the door opened and both commanders turned up at the doorstep.

"Chakwas pointed behind Sam, her face transformed to a expressionless countenance. "Sit down, kids!"

She faced Sam and smiled. "Have a nice day, Samantha. We'll see later." then turned back to the 'kids'.

Sam dropped her face when she passed the twins and left quickly.

...

She was dealing with the galaxy map, incorporating the last updates as Jennifer approached. "Traynor, go to the shuttle bay in two hours. You have an appointment for sparring with my sister." She said.

"Sparring?" Sam asked flabbergasted. "You need to improve your skills in close combat, as long as you are unwilling to use your weapon." the commander said with a devilish grin.

Shit...

"Yes Ma'am."

"Wear something nice...and Traynor... don't go squealing!" Jennifer finished and left.

...

She changed clothes to an alliance sport dress. Jogging pants and T-shirt, no tank top or shorts, no exposing of her dark skin, secretly she hoped she looked boring and ugly. A small comfort was the location for the sparring, she thought to herself. In the shuttle bay theres normally a few people, including Steve, were around and she would not be alone with her crazy commander. She went down and left the lift with less enthusiasm, Jennifer had leaked that they knew about her conversation with Chakwas, not a good initial situation for a workout.

"Traynor you are overdressed. You are going to sweat very much..." Jane said in greeting.

The commander wore red shorts and a tank top with the insignia of N7, exclusive collection. First time Sam could see the skin under the uniform. She considered carefully the noticeable scars on her shoulder, one distinctively ran from her left cleavage over the scapular to her blade bone, the rest was smaller and distributed on her upper body, but although succinct. That combined with the well-toned body made her look even more dangerous. The commander grinned when she realized her look intimidate Sam. "For start, you need a warm up. 15 laps around the bay."

"15 laps?"

"Yeah, I said so. Is that a problem?" Jane tilted her head.

"No Ma'am..." and Sam started to jog in a sedate pace. Jane made herself comfortable on a box and clocked. When Sam passed her the second time, Jane asked with a smug smile. "Traynor, how often do work out?" Sam didn't answer and ran on. The fourth round passed and Sam still was hopeful that she'd make it without any problems. On the six she began to transpire and cursed herself for choosing the thicker version of alliance sport dress. Meanwhile Jane had gotten a bottle of water and slowly drank a sip as she ran by her seat. On the eight one, she realized that mental exercise and sex alone, didn't keep you fit. When she hit the tenth, she tried to suppress her loud panting as she passed the commander. Jane bit an apple and grinned, certainly aware of Sam's trouble. Steve shot her an encouraging look when she fought with herself on the twelfth one, while Jane watched amused at her efforts to keep up the speed. On the second to last one she couldn't hide her agonizing face, she was blushed and sweating like a pig, the commander smiled and fumbled at her bottle of water again. The last one was the hardest, but she she pulled herself together. She was out of breath and covered in sweat when she finished. She supported her hands on both knees and dropped her crimson head down. A bottle of water appeared in front of her eyes and Sam took it gratefully. "Fine Traynor, now you are warm we can start to work on your combat skills!" Jane decided, while Sam drained the whole bottle in one gulp. She had to accept that her body was nonathletic, she was tired and dead by the legwork, what would come up next? Jane offered her a pair of gloves. "Boxing?" Sam's eyes became wide, she had hoped Jennifer made a joke when she mentioned sparring. She put on the gloves, gnashing her teeth. She didn't have experience in fist fighting. Back in the day she always had been the one who was pelted by other kids on the playground. "We don't have to work on your ability to sneak, as we both know you can do well if you want to." the commander explained, winking an eye and positioning herself with clenched fists. Sam was pissed off, being permanently reminded of that damn evening.

"Traynor...hit me!" Jane ordered.

Sam didn't want to punch, her muscles were weak and heavy, besides she fights with her mind and never stroked a punch to someones face.

"What's up?...You need motivation?... Tell me, who is thebitch?" Jane grinned and danced casually around.

Sam bit her lower lip, obviously Jane wanted to tease her, but she wouldn't loose control this time. She lowered her fists to make clear she wouldn't play this kind of game.

"Traynor what is better? Being a bitch or being a squealer?" Jane's eyes met her own.

Oh what the fuck had Chakwas done?

"Problems? Do you want me to call your mum?" Sam reached back to swing a first punch, but she was too slow. Jane ducked down and went on dancing.

"Oh the fire is back..." Jane smiled. Sam threw another punch, but missed her commander again. This was absurd and senseless, she would never hit her commander, as she was an untrained novice. What was the reason for this stupid farce. She didn't pay attention when Jane gave her a little shove and Sam lost her balance. She staggered backwards and fell on the ground, her shoulder absorbed the minimal impact and Sam let out a painful cry. "Ouch!..." She remained on her back, unable to move, a sharp pain, she couldn't breathe and wheezed desperately for oxygen, her face blushed on her fear to suffocate. Jane stopped her moves and knelt down beside her. "Lift your arms!" She grasped her wrists and held them up. Sam felt a little ease in her chest. "Relax...try to breathe slowly..." She pulled her torso in an upright position and Sam heavenly wheezed on. After a few seconds pasted, her lungs loosened and she could feel the air filling her chest without pain, again. Jane stroked her back carefully. "...I'm sorry..." She admitted.

Sam brows rose in surprise, her eyes starred doubtfully at her superior. For the first time since she had met the crazy sisters, the commander apologized, that was definitely new.

"Go and see Chakwas, just to be on safe side." She ordered then averted her face and finally added in a low voice. "We are not going to harm you. I promise..." then she left.

Sam eyes were fixed on her back until she vanished into the lift, now she was totally confused. For a millisecond she caught herself thinking about getting involved with them, but she quickly suppressed that silly idea.

-o-

"Nice performance." Jennifer said and shut down the vision of the `captains TV`.

"Did you enjoy?" Jane asked and went towards the desk to open a bottle of water.

"Yes ...but you hurt her..." Jennifer said.

"I know, I didn't want to..it just happened...sorry..." she sighed and took a deep sip from the water.

"Hmm..."

"Any news from Hackett?" Jane changed the topic as she settled down next to her sister.

"No, but he received another objection."

"What is it this time?" Jane twisted her eyes.

"Improper conduct." Jennifer smiled.

"He is a creative one...We should tell the Major, we know."

"No, that's no fun...Let's focus on more important things." Jennifer responded playfully and pulled off Jane's sweaty top, sliding one finger over her abs with a smug grin. " You need a shower."

Jane smirked. "No objections."

-o-

The next morning the Normandy left the Citadel with an unknown target. Sam and the other squad members received a message to participate at briefing at 09:00, two hours later. Sam hit the road at the designated time, curious about what was going on.

The war room was filled with the ordinary staff, except for James and the turian primarc. Jane waited until everybody was ready and began. "We are arriving at Khandar point in 8 hours. Officially it's a colony outpost, but we know cerberus has a laboratory down there."

"Cerberus? What do you expect to find there? Why should we go there?" Alenko asked.

"Shut up, Major. I didn't ask for your opinion." Jane shot back and Alenko ran dry.

"After analyzing the data from the salarian research, we know the cure can be finished, but we need someone special for the task." Liara explained.

"Mordin Solus, a salarian scientist." Jennifer added.

"A salarian? You want to put the cure into the hands of a salarian? Shepard, you are kidding me?" Wrex was beside himself, he hit the handrail with his fist.

"He is the best for the job, he did research on it before. He is trust able, we know him." Jennifer crossed her arms, but Wrex wasn't convinced.

"Unfortunately he is a `guest` of cerberus down there. So we have to pay them a nice visit." Jane went on holding a promising grin.

If Jane talks about a nice visit, she means shooting, killing and blowing things up, Sam reminded herself.

"As we are understaffed, because of Vega's absence, we're changing the squad combination." Jane's remarks made Sam's concerns become true. "Team RED this time will be myself, Liara, Garrus and Traynor. Team BLACK consists of my sister, Wrex, EDI and Alenko."

Sam sighed, this time she has to `unlock` the doors for the redhead, of course.

The Major was satisfied and gave a crooked smile to Jennifer, no objections. Sam looked at him with aversion, he really had an obsession with the commander. She was glad she hasn't had to deal with him since the shooting range, he kept away from her and whenever their paths met, he disappeared quickly. She wondered if he was given orders to do so.

"We don't have much information about the area, so be attentive. Expect everything no less. The base will be small, but nevertheless troops will be on site." Jane added.

"We will drop down and see. The entrance is hidden somewhere in the electric utility. We'll infiltrate the power station, search for an entry and check the basement. Main goal is to rescue Mordin Solus, alive." Jennifer finished the explanation.

"Any questions? No...Fine...Go and prepare yourselves!" Jane ordered.

...

The power station was located outside the colony, 7 miles away from its center. The team had no trouble in approaching the target and to slip inside. They moved forward in two squad columns led by both sisters and Garrus was her guardian, again. At the beginning they spotted only a few workers and Sam was glad they stunned and fettered the harmless victims. No killing of innocent employers, but that was probably related to the fact that the colony was addicted to a function able electric utility. Her job was to analyze and scan the area for unusual values to discover the hidden entrance to the alleged cerberus base, a boring, but safe job. They slowly made their way through the electronic devices and she had given up hope when she detected a shielded sector.

"Commander, I have found an unusuality. A spot is blocking any signals and scans." She reported.

"That's it, for sure... Where is it?" Jennifer asked.

"It's located 45 meters ahead." Sam answered by checking the values on her tool.

"Fine...let's start the party!" Jane happy rushed forward, pointing at the rest to follow.

They moved until the corridor ended at a locked door. Jane used a tactical sign to crouch down and waved Sam nearer.

"Traynor, start to impress me!" She ordered with a broad grin and pointed at the lock. Sam sighed at her facial expression. Why couldn't she give her just an order without any offensiveness. She hated that grin, it made her nervous and the commander knew it. She knelt down and started the hack software, that door was no challenge for her skills and the lock opened 3 seconds later. She forced a weak smile. "Mission accomplished, Ma'am." Jane smiled. "Indeed that's really fast." She shot a glance to her sister. "Impressive, isn't it?" Jennifer shot back a consenting smile.

Oh stop doing that...

Sam quickly turned around and went back to Garrus to crouch behind his position. For one thing, she couldn't manage those suggestive statements from the sisters anymore, it made her feel uncomfortable. For another thing, to be honest, she never liked any compliments at all, they were untrue and lies. People only make compliments if they want to exploit you, they never were in earnest. Receiving it from the commanders now, after they had been so mean confused her more and more. Besides she remembered Jane's last words yesterday. For some mysterious reason, they had changed their tactic.

"Jen, your team, me and Liara go inside. Garrus stay here and take care of Traynor." Jane explained the plan. The team prepared, checking their shields, made ready the weapons and gave sign for finish then Jane hit the door button shouting "Go!"

In lightning speed the squad entered and charged the room. Garrus moved forward and closed the door. About 4 minutes passed, Sam could hear gunfire, two small explosions, probably caused by grenades and several loud screams, then it was over.

The door opened again and Jennifer appeared. "Come in. It's clean."

"Garrus, Wrex, Liara, EDI take position, make the area safe!" Jane ordered and the four split up and remained in observation pose. She turned back to the rest of team. "There must be an entrance, keep your eyes open."

Sam looked around, she observed an ordinary factory hall, bigger than the others they transited before, 4 dead bodies on the ground, a few terminals but no other door. The only distinctive spot in the hall was the company logo on the back wall, 'securerB inc.'. Scans wouldn't work in this area, a disturbing signal prevented any chances for a clear results. Her eyes roamed the the environment carefully, but she couldn't find anything, it seemed they had reached a deadlock. She turned back to the logo, somehow, it was strange to her. The name of that company reminded her of something, she was sure. In the meantime, Alenko and the commanders walked around, investigating the area without any results. Sam went forward to the wall and sat down for better concentrating.

"Traynor, are you nuts?" Alenko barked when he saw her dropping down.

She didn't answer and ignored his words, still focused on the lettering. There is something wrong with it, she thought.

I just have to find out...

"Commanders, she is crazy. This is unacceptable!" Alenko stepped towards Jane and pointed to the preoccupied specialist.

Jane put him off and both commanders moved to her position, watching staggeredly at her behavior. Sam muttered different words, still forgotten about the world around. She tried to piece the single letters together for a new name, to reveal something she knew, she was so sure. Jennifer knelt to her left asking quietly "Traynor, what are you doing?" Sam still didn't answer, her eyes were fixed on the logo. In her mind she tested the different variations for a new meaning.

I'm so near...

"The bitch had lost her mind." The Major slandered in his best bad ass manner.

Jane rose a hand. "Shut up, Major. Be quiet!"

"Cerberus." Sam finally said and looked at her commanders with a smile. "The entrance is behind that wall!" She pointed a finger at the logo.

"Bullshit Traynor!" Alenko shot immediately.

Sam stood up and faced him with an arrogant expression. "'securerB' is an anagram for cerberus." she said in an overly didactic manner.

Bollox!

She had solved the riddle and was so proud of herself, this idiot wouldn't spoil her victory. Both commanders looked impressed and considered her stunning then Jennifer went to the company logo. "She is right, this wall is hollow." She laughed and nodded when she knocked on it.

Jane smiled. "Fine, Traynor. Well done." Sam was so pleased at Alenko's reaction, he grimaced and growled scarcely audible. She would have loved to protrude her tongue at him, his stupid comments were annoying, but she shouldn't push her luck.

"There is no slit or opening." Jennifer noticed when she slid her fingers along surface. "We have to find a mechanism to open it."

"If we don't find it, we'll blow it up!" Jane decided impulsively. Jennifer smiled on that announcement. "Oh yes..."

That would be absolutely stupid, Sam thought to herself. They didn't know what was located behind that wall. She better make a suggestion before they start their crazy explosive games. Encouraged by her latest success, she began to speak. "Ma'am. We don't know what's behind there. Maybe a lift, maybe a tunnel or a staircase. If you blow it up, we could blockade the only way down."

"Shut up, Traynor! Keep focused on your nerdy stuff!" Alenko was pissed. No matter what she ever says, he would shoot bad comments at it, Sam was sure.

"Perhaps she is right. As much as I enjoy a good show, if you do so.." Jennifer gave her sister an sly glance. "...we better look out for another option, first."

And so they went on searching for another clue. The commanders exterminated the walls, while Sam's attention was engaged by the control terminals. She started to operate the system in hope to tap some useful data. She only found cable diagrams, power analyzes and remote codes, everything about the power supply system of colony, nothing unusual. She switched to another terminal, repeating the procedure. This one was different, it was separated from the system, no data on power supply, just encrypted data files, although it was fully active. There was no reason for its activity, no sense if it would be a storage unit, that made Sam very distrustful.

"Ma'am...This terminal seems to be offline. It's disconnected from the rest of the plant, but it's still active." She reported.

"Step aside, Traynor!" The Major roughly shoved her away to work on the terminal. Sam watched pissed when he started typing on the console. If this was going to be helpful in any way, it had been her discovery and her credit, but she didn't want to make trouble, especially with that guy. He was driven in jealously too far, so she stayed behind and waited until the wall slid apart and exposed a huge lift.

"Major, I didn't know you were so talented..." Jane sarcastically said.

"I'm capable of a lot of things..." He answered, smiling at Jennifer, who averted her face stressfully.

"Well, Major, maybe you are not useless after all." Jane stopped his enthusiasm." Well done Traynor." she added afterwards.

His face changed back to a grim expression. Sam decided it would be better to stay away from that guy, she had to be careful because of his mental condition. The last comment by Jane made him really angry and she was the poor trigger. She quickly walked forward to take a look at the new 'door'.

The elevator was tagged with an intricate lock, analyzing with her tool revealed a minor change to crack it. That won't be easy. EDI left her position and joined her for assistance, but after a few seconds, the AI indicated her failure. The security arrangements for this base must be immense. "It's very complicated..." Sam muttered in a low voice and took a look at both sides where she discovered a card slot to the right. She thought a while, as commanders monitored her movements attentively.

There must be a card somewhere...

Her gaze went to the ground, checking the dead bodies, then she knelt down to examine the pockets of the dead staff. She didn't find any key card but she got an another idea. One of the dead had an ID card fixed onto his chest. She stripped off the plastic device and went back to the slot. This could work with a little luck, normally those cards were not meant to be used as a key, but this facility was strange and full of riddles, It wouldn't surprise her if that was going to work. She inserted the card and the doors opened directly. Jane and Jennifer grinned in satisfaction and EDI assessed. "Very well, Samantha."

"Let's join the party!" Jane announced meaningfully and the team gathered in the lift.