This is a work of fan fiction from all Mass Effect games owned by EA and Bioware. I do not claim any ownership of the characters or the Mass Effect universe. My thanks to Bioware and EA for creating an amazing story with characters we have all come to know and love.

Chapter 14: Alpha or Omega

Jack threw her cards angrily across the table and shouted, "What the hell kind of bullshit is this?"

"The kind that makes me happy." Shepard said, gathering up her winnings.

Garrus tipped back in his chair, watching the chaos unfold. "She was bound to win sooner or later."

"Well fuck, I was counting on later." Jack punched Shepard's shoulder. "Thanks for taking the shirt off my back."

Donnelly said, "Thank you, for putting it up on the table. At least I didn't win it."

"Oh I don't know, Kenneth." Gabby said, "Seems like red may be a good color on you."

Ellure held up the bright fabric more closely related to a swim top in her opinion.

Garrus kept his attention on the cards as he gathered them up. "I think she should try it on."

Jack said, "Hell yes. That would at least make the loss bearable."

"I thought you weren't into chicks, Jack." Ellure waited expectantly for the puckered face of hate.

Jack delivered it as if right on cue. "We've already discussed this."

Donnelly said, "Well, I wasn't present. Please, feel free to tell us every detail."

Gabby animatedly smacked Donnelly in the back of the head as Thane entered the mess-hall. Clasping his hands behind him and straightening, he said, "She should wear it for our mission."

Ignoring the drell behind him, Garrus felt at odds over the attention Krios had been giving to Shepard lately. More disturbingly, she didn't seem to shy away from his forwardness with her.

"Maybe I will." Shepard said, winking to Krios.

Jack said, "I plan on being first to see this."

As Samara walked in, Shepard said, "Guess I need to get ready for my big debut then."

Jack followed. "I'm going to help you with this. I have a feeling you may have some difficulty."

"What could be so difficult about putting on a damn shirt?"

Jack sat on the desk, swinging her feet and waiting for Shepard to dress in her bathroom. "So, who's going on this one?"

"Samara, of course. Thane volunteered, and Garrus too."

"Garrus?"

"Samara put him on edge with her explanation about Morinth's abilities. Spooked me too in all honesty. After what we found out this morning, I don't mind the extra backup... Crap. This is ridiculous." The bathroom door slid open and Shepard leaned against the entryway topless with one arm to cover her. Her free hand dangled a mangle of red off the end of her finger.

Jack wrapped her arms around her stomach and doubled over in laughter.

"Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up." Shepard said, "Are you going to help me or not?"

"Can't breathe. One second." Jack jumped down and took the tangled shirt from her. "Shepard... Okay, turn it this way first of all. Now put both of your arms up and slide the whole thing over. Leave this band here for support. Stick your arms through here and here, so it's like a giant X over your chest. Gotta keep the girls covered."

"You're such an expert with that."

"You know it!" Jack stepped back, eyeing her up and down. "Shit. You can't wear those pants."

She looked down at her legs. "What's wrong with them?"

"They don't work. You need something tight and sexy. Something that says, I'm available and ready for action. Those are just the plain damn cargo pants you wear any other day."

Ellure sighed as Jack sifted through her locker, abandoning drawers in shambles with a few Cerberus shirts scattered across the floor. She caught a pair of black leather pants aimed at her head. Holding them out in front of her, she said, "Where did these come from?"

"Who fucking cares? Put them on." Jack propped a shoulder against the wall and waited.

By this point, all modesty and personal pride was gone as she stripped down in the hall and wiggled into the pants. Jack looked over her thoughtfully and said, "Your hair. It's long enough now you should do something with it."

"Like what?" Jack spit in her hand and moved toward her. She backed away, blocking. "I may not be the hottest thing to hit Afterlife, but you are not just going to spit in your damn hand and touch me. Have the decency to get some water, at least."

Jack sighed with exasperation, wet her hands in the sink, and returned to slick the stray frizzy pieces down. The front fell in loose waves around her shoulders as Jack used her fingers to force the longer layers to fall back. "There we go. Gotta loosen it up a bit, Shepard. No ponytails, buns, or brushing it. Let it flow."

"When did you become a hairstylist?"

"I didn't always have mine like this ya' know." Jack smiled as she did a final check. "Wear some boots with that and you're set."

"I feel trashy."

"You're supposed to be. You want to stand out to draw this asari's attention. Just don't dance, and you'll be fine."

"Thanks."

Garrus, Thane, and Samara were already at the air lock as Jack jogged up beaming, gesturing her hands to Shepard, proudly showing off her work. "She's ready and raring to go."

Ellure meandered up with her newly Jack-approved style. Her boots laced up to her knees, her pants were tighter than she ever thought possible, and her torso was well-exposed along with her scars.

She felt her face turn hot as she witnessed everyone's curious stares. Samara appeared to approve of it, or was she laughing? It was then she realized her face must be visibly blushing. Great. At least it will match this getup.

Jack said, "The next time you guys are going to Afterlife for a mission, I want in on it."

Joker swiveled around in his chair to give her a swift wink-and-the-gun. "Nice."

"Okay... Time to go." Rubbing her fingers over her forehead, she squeezed past her squad and out the airlock.

To help avoid suspicion, Samara linked with Garrus' arm and she held to Thane's as they rehashed the plan while passing through Omega's streets. Ellure would be playing the part of bait, Samara would stay outside of Afterlife to trail them, Garrus was to be incognito at a nearby table incase anything got out of hand, and Thane would be going solo. He had requested to work alone.

"Thank you, Shepard, for doing this. Do you remember everything we went over after our investigation?" said Samara.

"Yes. Hallex, Forta, Vaenia."

"That is correct." Samara said as they halted. "I will remain here. Once she takes you to her apartment, I will give time to drop any suspicions. Try not to let her pull you into her deception too quickly."

She took a deep breath as Garrus passed through the doors into the VIP area and Thane followed behind him. She gave Samara one last look before stepping inside.

Immediately upon entering, she spotted the Samara look-alike and her nerves took the liberty of making her feel more apprehensive. A few raised eyebrows were directed her way as she took a seat at the bar.

Knowing full well she didn't fit into the atmosphere of a club, she decided to warm up by chatting with the bartender and convinced the man to give up a round of drinks. For morale, of course.

Morinth glanced in her direction.

After finishing her drink, she scoured the crowd. Jealousy was abundant as she saw Garrus idly kicking back in the corner. She laughed to herself as she remembered Jack's earlier statement and tipped the bartender before she left.

Trying to appear like she knew what she was doing, she found her target and weaved through the bright lights, bodies, and thumping music. With good placement, Garrus and Morinth would both be able to see her. "Hey." she said.

The lone asari looked her up and down skeptically. "Hey."

"Wanna dance? Watch this." She waved her arms in the air and tried to keep her boots in time with the music as she moved her legs to the beat.

After viewing the presentation, the asari dancer stopped dancing. With a palm over her forehead she interrupted, "No thanks. I'm happy with just me and the music." The woman gracefully dipped to the floor and with a wave of her hand strutted off alone.

Ellure pinched the bridge of her nose. Morinth was paying her no attention now. She needed to come up with something and fast.

Garrus couldn't help but laugh as he sipped on his cold beverage. Shepard tousled her hair nervously, looking out of place, but he knew well enough not to get involved. His job was to keep an eye on Morinth, and that was a very hard thing to do as he watched the light trickle across her skin. His mandibles tensed and he set down his beer. What did Krios think he was doing?

Deciding to take matters into his own hands, Thane pushed off the wall and weaved through the Afterlife assembly. Out of the shadows and into the array of revelry, he walked up behind her and lowered over her ear. "You seem to be in need of rescue out here. Perhaps you would honor me with a dance?"

Obviously startled by his quiet intrusion, she said, "I doubt there is much you can do, but I'm dead in the water out here."

Thane took her hands in his and chuckled as he examined her. "I noticed." Placing her arms over his shoulders, he brushed aside the hairs covering her face till they obediently fell behind her ear. Running his hands down the soft curvature of her sides to rest on her hips, he said, "Be calm, Siha. You are trying too hard."

"Aren't you dancing rather slow for this music?"

Holding her against his body, he tried to guide her. "The music is not what is important. Trust me."

Ellure laughed as she tried to see past his shoulder. "Let's turn a little bit. I want to check out our audience." As he complied with her request, she spied Morinth now watching with more intensity.

Trying not to over think the movement of her feet, she skimmed to Garrus. His composed yet uneasy expression illustrated his concern about their cover being blown, and she resolved to step up her game. Ellure refused to fail this one because of her own insecurities. Though she had to admit, she was actually beginning to enjoy this. At least she wasn't on center stage alone.

Not being prone to bouts of strong sex appeal, she massaged the back of Thane's neck with her fingertips and said, "You come here often?" Thane laughed through his nose and pushed closer as they moved in unison. His fingers caressed the small of her back, and he buried his face against her almost affectionately. He knew how to give a good performance.

Leaving one wrist over his shoulders, Ellure trailed her hand to reach under his jacket and rest against his vest as his breath paced over her skin.

Garrus tossed back the last of his beer. As the waitress passed, he ordered one - scratch that - two shots of turian brandy. Growling deep in the pit of his chest inaudibly, he tried to stop watching to no avail. The way she was pressed against the drell, it was all he could do to keep from shooting the green bastard right here and now. Lucky for Krios, he hadn't brought his rifle. Breaking away only to check on Morinth, he prayed to the Spirits that asari would make a move soon.

Thane pulled back from her warmth and leaned his face nearer to hers. With barely an inch between them, he focused on the pastel shades in her eyes. "It would appear you just needed a better partner." He squeezed her sharply and took her hand from his chest, dipping her back slowly and inspecting Morinth's smile out of the corner of his eye. Cinching their success, Thane leaned down and kissed the base of her neck.

Ellure tried to steady her breathing as Thane gathered her back up into his arms. She rested her cheek against him to see Garrus surveying Morinth. As she examined his captivating presence, she ached with a longing that he'd been interested in her, but all signs pointed to a big fat negative on that one. Rejection wasn't the end of the world, right? She wasn't going to push him on this. His friendship meant everything to her. The last thing she wanted to do was loose him over her silly human assumptions.

Her thoughts began to stray. Thane wasn't perfect at first glance, but in the few weeks she had had to get to know him, she sensed that she'd only scratched the surface. Closing her eyes, trying to calm her nerves, her awareness heightened and she took notice of things she normally wouldn't.

His scent brought an image of the sea to her mind. Envisioning the two of them together in the early morning light, it didn't matter where or when to her. The more Thane's body melted against hers, the more her thoughts would drift.

Thane whispered against her ear, "I believe you have a new admirer."

Ellure looked up to see his dark eyes direct her attention.

Morinth waved her over.

Ellure glued herself to Morinth's couch, hands sweating as she crossed her legs and leaned one elbow on the black leather arm rest. She continued discussing her love of power and murder as Morinth scooted closer to her.

By the time the asari sat on her lap, she yearned desperately for backup. Morinth's eyes darkened, and the severity of her situation was deepening. Hearing the doors hiss open, she didn't even bother to look. "Nice try." she said, standing and backing away as Samara entered the apartment.

"Morinth."

"Mother."

"Don't call me that!" Samara biotically lifted Morinth and pressed her against the window.

Glass screeched and crackled, but an unrelated noise overhead briefly stole her attention.

Crying out, Morinth powered back causing Samara to fall and slide across the floor. Morinth collapsed to the ground, scrambled past, and held out her glowing arm to hit her mother again. "I am the genetic destiny of the Asari!"

Quickly returning to her feet, Samara replied, "You are a disease to be purged, nothing more!" With a fierce stance, Samara threw up a barrier against Morinth's torrent of biotics.

The two locked in a stand still. Pieces of furniture and fragments of glass swirled in the biotic fields around them. Both mother and daughter fought to convince her of their own reasoning, but the choice was hers.

Ellure seized up. She cared for Samara, but how did killing Morinth make them any better than her? It was a bitter form of justice. Who was she to make the choice?

She felt a touch on her shoulder as Thane said, "Tell me." This wasn't her burden or his. She grabbed Morinth's arm to drop her guard.

Samara didn't hesitate and knocked Morinth away. She gallantly strode to her daughter and knelt over her. "Find peace in the embrace of the Goddess." One motion and Morinth's body became lifeless.

Thane's hand slid down to lightly squeeze her arm.

With tortured anguish in her crystal eyes, Samara passed. "I am ready to leave this place, and get on with my life."

Stepping out onto the crew's deck, Ellure said, "You going to be okay, Samara?"

"Thank you for your support, Shepard, but the life of a justicar is a difficult one. I will be returning to my quarters should you have need of me."

"Perhaps you would like some company." Thane said to Samara, "I have yet to complete my own meditations for the day."

"I would very much like that." Samara smiled kindly and left for the starboard observation.

She touched Thane's arm as he started to leave. "Thank you."

He cocked his head. "I'm afraid I don't know what you're thanking me for."

She shrugged. "For coming with me, helping with Morinth at the bar, and for going to stay with her tonight."

He bowed slightly. "All of these things were done without an expectation of gratitude. However, I will accept it coming from you."

"All right, Mr. Krios." She snorted and shoved his shoulder playfully. "Make me feel like a simpleton then."

"That was not my intention."

"I know. That's what makes it so much worse."

With a throaty laugh, Thane said, "Then you're welcome."

"There we go. Much better... Goodnight, Thane."

"Shepard."

Ellure shook her head at his roguish smile and left for the kitchen, passing Jack on her way. She paused. "Are you reading?"

With her combat boots propped up on the chair next to her, Jack said tersely, "So what if I am?"

"Nothing. Just didn't take you for the type." She grabbed herself a bottle of water from the fridge and opened it. While quenching her thirst, she heard weighty footsteps approaching behind her.

"Have fun tonight?" he said, stopping to lean against the kitchen wall.

She closed the door to the cooler and answered, "I wouldn't call that fun, Garrus."

"I wasn't talking about Morinth."

Catching Jack's brown eyes peering over her datapad, Ellure lowered her water and rested her hip back against the counter. He appeared angry, but why would he have anything to be angry about? Her mind struggled to recount the night's events.

"No answer?"

"About what? Fill me in a little here. I'm beginning to think you weren't at the same mission as I was." Smelling the brandy on his breath, she could only assume this was a side effect. He was prone to mood swings since Omega.

"You and Krios gave everyone an eyeful out there."

"Why exactly would you care about that?" Ellure slapped her bottle down on the counter and stepped closer to him.

Garrus waved his hand toward life support. "I just don't think you need be attaching yourself so closely to someone like him."

Now, she was livid. Maybe Thane was right. His concern for her safety was going too far now. She stood on her toes to stretch taller and jabbed her finger into his chest. "Who do you think you are? My fucking bodyguard? I'm a big girl, Garrus." She was tired of the way everyone seemed so distrusting of Thane on this ship.

"Yeah... You've made a few choices that I'm still having trouble understanding."

She nodded, unsure of what choice he was referring to. Sidonis? The kiss in the shuttle bay? "Well, I'm sorry you feel that way, but I have my reasons."

Boots thumped into the mess-hall, and she turned around to see Jack cringe as the executive officer stormed out of her office. "Fucking shit." Jack said, tossing her datapad up onto the table to watch the show.

Miranda ignored Zero's evil stares as she wheeled around and tunneled her focus onto Vakarian and Shepard. "If you two are going to have a bloody lover's quarrel, do it in the shuttle bay where no one else has to hear it."

"Let's go then. I'll kick his ass this time." Shepard narrowed her eyes.

Garrus shook his head in disgust and lumbered toward the main battery, muttering under his breath, "Lover's quarrel..."

Ellure felt the urge to hit something as he walked away. Kicking the counter base, she said to Miranda, "If I wasn't so angry right now, I'd thank you for getting rid of him."

"Duly noted. When you get the chance, I wanted to speak with you about something." Miranda glanced to Jack. "In private."

"Let me get changed and I'll be back down." A flash of red flew across the room to hit Jack as she left the mess-hall with an arm to cover herself. "You can keep this thing. It's not a good fit for me."

Jack gave a cynical smile. "Thanks, Shepard, for the shirt... and for reminding me why I like it better under the engineering deck."