Chapter 21

Sam couldn't remember how often she had come last night, but it definitely had been an extraordinary experience. She grinned at the memory and snuggled closer into Jennifer's body.

"I'm too late for my shift, for sure..." Sam sniggered on her shoulder, but she didn't care at all. The only ones, she could blame were right next to her and she made no move to do so or to get out of the bed.

"No... you changed your shift with Thomson and besides we are docking at the Citadel." Jennifer said.

"I changed my shift?"

"Yes you did...Captain's order..." Jane grinned and sniffed her neck. "What's the perfume?"

"It's Lavender..."

"Hmm...it's good...Don't change it!" The redhead muttered and nestled nearer to the specialist's back.

"Yes Ma'am." Sam answered automatically.

"Ma'am? You didn't say that last night. Say my name, say Jane." she caressed Sam's cheek with her fingertips. "I want to hear it from you when you're not groaning in pleasure." Jane whispered in her ear.

"Yeah, say our names." Jennifer insisted.

Sam looked at both, she had avoided addressing them directly with their forenames, except for last night but that had been a special situation. She didn't know why but It felt wrong to do it, like a taboo. They still looked eagerly, waiting for her to say it.

"...Jane...?" Sam spoke hesitantly then felt wet lips touching her nape. Jennifer tilted Sam's chin to find her eyes.

"...Jennifer...?" Sam said and felt a kind of odd sensation, but Jennifer smiled and kissed her. "Say it again..."

What's the deal with the forenames?

"Jane, I'm sorry for the interruption, but I received an urgent request from the asari councilor. She wants to see you immediately." EDI's voice filled the room.

"Oh for what reason?" Jane's question sounded a touch bugged.

"She didn't particularize, but I intercepted the asarian channels of communication and the asari high command reported reaper scouts in the Athena Nebula." the AI told.

"Oh too bad..." Jane smirked. "Blue is getting in trouble."

"Now they get scared shitless..." Jennifer laughed.
"What's so funny?" Sam didn't understand.

"Samantha, we were telling them about the reapers for two years. No reaction, they only stultified us. We asked for support for earth and she told us that they couldn't send help, because as long as the reapers are occupied on earth, they have time to prepare themselves." Jennifer explained while stretching her body.

"Tell her, we are dealing with more important things." Jane ordered with a grin.

"And what would that be?" Sam carefully asked.

Jane sat upright. "Miranda couldn't gain more information from Brooks, yesterday. We sent her to prison at the Citadel. C-Sec will take care of her. I want that fucking bitch off our ship!"

"Aren't you afraid she could tell about the clones?" Sam argued.

"No she won't, she would endanger the clones and cerberus's whole plan. Besides C-Sec should not inquire but rather arrest her. Braddock can arrange the transfer." Jennifer suggested then changed topic. "Did you make progress in encoding the data?"

"Unfortunately not. The code of Brook's tool wasn't for that. We have to wait, I'm sorry." Sam felt a little bit sad by telling no good news. She thought the information gained from the device would be useful for the encryption of keeper's research, but it turned out to be a program written for the translation of an unknown language or graphic characters.

"No matter, as long as it's running, we can do something else. We'll go and meet an informant." Jennifer explained the plan.

"And later we're going to the shooting range and doing some training in a simulator." The redhead decided and playfully slapped the specialist's ass.

"Simulator?" Sam didn't want to go for training, combat programs in real time would be stressful, for sure.

"Yeah, this will be fun..." Jennifer smiled in anticipation.

...

Sam left the lift to relieve Thomson and felt guilty. She could swear everybody was looking at her with curiosity. Should she lie and give a good excuse?

"Traynor, do you feel better now?" The Lieutenant greeted her.

"Ähh, yes, thank you..." Sam answered, not knowing the `official` reason for her malaise.

"No problem, just inform me earlier when you feel sick, next time." He smiled and left.

So I felt sick...

She didn't have time to start her work, because EDI's body showed up to her right, next.

"Jeff wants you to visit him in the cockpit immediately." the AI informed Sam.

…

Two minutes later she stood next to Joker. "Hey, what's...?" Sam started but was interrupted by the Flight Lieutenant. "Sit down, Sam!"

"What...?"

"I heard something happened yesterday in war room." he lost no time and got into the subject.

Sam knew he referred to Jane's possessive kiss action and groaned.

"What did I tell you about the commanders?" Joker brows rose, he looked at her like a bad teacher, telling the poor kid that it had done wrong.

"It's not your business." Sam shortly answered.

"I told you I know the commanders and their story. You walk on thin ice, playing the toy for some loopy freaks."

"Oh, I thought you would like the imagination and would ask for some video material." Sam countered.

Joker's face faded to a smirk. "I wouldn't say that this isn't a quite hot scenario, but..." his face changed back to a serious expression. "...you are not Kelly or any stupid bitch, Sam."

"Why do you care?" She crossed her arms.

"Well, I have a smaller sister... call it the big brother instinct or something else, I don't feel well seeing you getting engaged with them. You're not the girl for playing games."

"It's different." Sam explained with a firm voice.

"You think so? We are talking about the Shepards, the ruthless bloody commanders.

"You don't know, it is different!" She accented.

He waited then continued to quiz. "Hmmm... You didn't sleep in your pod last night."

"Oh piggy, do you spy on me?" She became pissed. It can't be true, he was snooping at

her back.

"No, Gabby asked me at breakfast on your whereabouts and spoke of an admirer and a silly toothbrush. I put two and two together." he proudly told.

Sam didn't answer and sighed. On the one hand it was kind of sweet that he cares for her, but on the other hand he intervenes with things he couldn't understand.

"You stayed there, the whole night?" he shot another question.

"Yes." Sam answered.

He scrutinized her with surprise then murmured. "Hmm...Kelly always came back, she never..."

"Moreau! I'm sure you have a job to do!" A loud voice barked from behind. When both turned, they spotted Jennifer with a angry face. "Traynor, return to your post, now!" she ordered.

Sam jumped on her feet and left the cockpit.

…

She waited about 20 minutes until Jennifer left the cockpit, again. Sam felt bad for Joker, according to the commander's face, he received a thrashing. Should she go and check on him? It wasn't her fault, he was meddling in the subject by his own. She would do so later, she decided. For now she could take a small break and get some tea. When she left the elevator on the third floor she spotted the med-bay. Actually she just wanted to visit kitchen, but she could take the chance and pay a visit at the doc's.

Chakwas was busy writing medical reports and didn't notice her at first.

"Dr. Chakwas?" Sam carefully asked.

The gray haired woman rose her face to greet Sam, setting the reports down. "Samantha, what can I do for you?"

Sam mumbled. "Well, I'd like to ask about something. Maybe you could help me..."

"Take a seat." The doc pointed to the chair next to her desk and Sam sat down.

"What is it?" She spoke with a kind of maternal voice, giving Sam a good feeling. She had wondered who to ask about the thing with the names. She knew Liara and EDI called them by their first ones in private, but they weren't good references, EDI was an AI and the asari would be too nosy for sure. Chakwas was in one respect like a mum and she could presume to call them by their forenames, even shout at the bloody Commander Jane and she called them ' kids'.

"I know that nobody calls the commanders by their first names, except for you, EDI and Liara. They insisted that I do so, too, but it feels strange and disrespectful."

Chakwas smiled at her last sentence. "I see you finally got things started, I had feared they would screw it up."

Sam blushed and muttered. "Ah, I think so, but they have been so... odd."

"Samantha, you know about the batarian raid?" the older woman looked at her and waited until Sam nodded then went on. "Since that day, nobody was allowed to call them by their forenames. They refused to give any reaction when they were addressed like that. It has something to do with the death of their parents. So everybody just said Shepard. There are only a few people who are allowed the use of their real names. Myself because of our long history, I stitched them together so often, I can't remember how many times. If they want you to call them their first ones, it means they trust you completely." The doc noticed her insecurity and put her hand on Sam's to confirm her words. "Sometimes they behave like kids, it's a lack of socialization, but don't be put off. You have been come further than Kelly, that's good. They care for you, I can see it."

"You seem to know them very well..." Sam said.

"I was at the medical rescue team, when they were found on Mindoir at that time." The doc stopped for a moment, she looked like she remembered that day. "If you have problems or questions, come to me at anytime. Don't be afraid to ask."

…

Back with a fresh cup of tea, Sam returned to her position next to the map. The commanders had already left the ship to meet the mysterious informant and had told her to wait for a message to get the time for training. It lasted two hours then her tool reported an incoming message.

To: {Specialist Samantha Traynor}
From: {Commander Jennifer Shepard}
subject: shooting range
Unfortunately, meeting lasted than longer expected, we have to cancel. Vega will do an alternative session in handling weapons. Report at shuttle bay 17:00 ZT.

Sam was relieved, no shooting and no running and jumping across the simulator.

Thanks goddess!

She knew it was all for having a better chance to survive in combat. Her accuracy of fire was still medium, she had to improve and her movement in battle was too slow, too uncoordinated. Breath control on firing had become better, but she wasn't doing it automatically, she had to concentrate yet. She needed to train, but the truth was she lacked the get up and go for this, she doesn't belong in infantry. Weapon training with James was OK, it couldn't be so bad at all.

…

The rest of her shift, she spent her time with updates for the galaxy map and checked the status of the encoding in Liara's office. It hadn't finished yet, cerberus had made a huge effort for protecting that data and the asari hadn't had anything new to tell either. She met Kira at her terminal and they chattered for a while when the commanders finally returned to the ship. Kira caught them at Sam's post. "I wondered why you changed your mind, commander. Did you commit her to the alliance?"

"What do you mean?" Jane looked puzzled at the XO.

"Brooks, Ma'am." Kira answered.

"Why should we change?" Jennifer questioned.

"Well, you stopped protocol and prisoner transport before reaching the jail. C-Sec informed me about the canceling and abort of paperwork, two hours ago."

"We did what?" The commanders motions stopped abruptly and they faced Kira with a surprised expression.

"You took her away in person, they told me." Braddock added.

Jane and Jennifer staggered looking to each other.

"Did I say something wrong?" The XO questioned unsure.

Sam realized that there was absolutely something wrong. Jane ordered, "Braddock,

Traynor to conference room, now! EDI, tell Miranda she should move her ass there, too!"

…

"Traynor, check any ship, that left Citadel in the last two hours... Miranda what identities or alias did Brooks use in the past?"

Lawson worked her tool then said. "I know three. Hope Lilium, Rasa and Angela Channing."

Jennifer turned to Sam. "Match the passengers lists of each ship with those names."

"What's going on, here?" Kira asked confused.

Jane took a breath then started to explain about the clones, while Sam contacted Citadel flight control for information by her tool. The face of the XO went pale by the explanation of the case. The news that apparently the clones rescued Brooks and could escape without problems led to high tension in the room. All members waited for Sam's results. She found 21 vessels which departed the station, mostly military ships that had been docked for service and refilling supplies. Four were civilian transporter and two private ships. They won't be on a military vessel, Sam thought. For detailed information, she needed a spectre code otherwise she wouldn't gain access to the lists. "Ma'am, for matching I need a spectre authority."

Jennifer grabbed her arm and entered her personal code without hesitation. Lawson shot her a defiant look and addressed Jane. "Shepard, if you would give me your spectre code too, I could accelerate a few things and..."

"No Miranda!" The commander said and crossed her arms.

With Jennifer's authority Sam could call up the lists of the six civilian vessels. She didn't find the names Hope Lilium or Rasa, but she got a hit on Angela Channing. The private ship `Nartea` received a passenger with that name just before departure. "I've go her, Angela Channing, it's the Nartea, it left one hour ago."

"What target?" Jane asked directly.

"They named exodus cluster,Terra Nova in Asgard system." Sam described the information.

"Who's the owner of the ship?" Jennifer inquired.

Sam checked again and sighed. "It's the securerB inc..."

"Bloody hell!" Jane hit the table and Jennifer cursed. "Fuck! Why didn't they check the damn spectre code?"

"They said you äh... I mean your clones had been very impatient and pressured them to hurry." Braddock muttered carefully.

"We don't need to follow. The target is fake. Check the other names!" Jane ordered.

Sam did as ordered and found two other persons joining the ship at the same time. "The two who joined with her are: Danielle and Hannah Baker."

Jennifer's expression stiffened and Jane freaked out, shouting. "Out! Get out! All of you!"
Scared on the outburst of rage by the commander, Braddock, Lawson and Sam cringed then turned to the door. The last thing Sam noticed when she left were the red spots in their eyes.

What the fuck is wrong?

Sam hurried pass the security check. Reaching the CIC, Sam and Braddock stopped, Lawson disappeared in the lift.

"Do you know what just happened?" Kira's asking face looked at the specialist, but Sam had no idea. "I don't know..."

"Well we better wait until they cool down." The XO suggested. "I'll go and hide myself in my office." she said and left. Obviously she was as shocked as Sam on that sudden outburst, but Sam had seen more. Those red points in the eyes had made them dangerous and scary. She had to find out, at the moment she would not like to share the the same room with them.

Chakwas... Yes

She made her way to the med-bay. The doc was surprised to see the specialist again.

"Samantha, you're back. Are you alright?" she asked with concern.

"Yes, but.. you said I can return whenever I have questions.." Sam started.

"That's right, make yourself comfortable and tell me what happened." Chakwas told her with a warm voice. She's really like a mum, Sam noticed. The friendly tone and her maternal care gave Sam a feeling of ease. "We had a briefing and there were two names mentioned and then they freaked out." Sam explained, she wasn't sure if she could talk about the clones.

"Does that briefing has something to do with the clones?" Chakwas asked and looked at her.

OK she knows...Of course...Stupid Sam

There was no need to restrain the information, Sam realized. "Yes, they freed Brooks and fled. When they joined a ship they used the names Danielle and Hannah Baker. I told the commanders and then..." Sam stopped her comment, meanwhile Chakwas face had stiffened too and Sam didn't finish the sentence. The doc muttered. "Oh, that's very crude."

Sam waited for the doc to continue, Chakwas sighed before she explained. "Only a few people know, Hannah Danielle Baker is the full respectively birth name of their mother." Chakwas said.

"Oh...I didn't know..."

"I guess they need some time to cool down, don't worry." The doc suggested.

"Hmm OK. I have another question..when they got angry, their eyes turned into red points, like in a horror movie."

The doc noticed that the specialist was intimidated by that fact and apparently was pondering about her answer. "Listen Samantha, what I tell you now is classified, but I think it's OK when I do so, for their sake... It's a reaction of their mental status, the scars in their face and the implants of iris can change on the frame of mind."

"Iris implants?"

"Yes, when cerberus rebuilt them, they couldn't restore all physical functions and substituted the absentees with cybernetics. It's about 30 %. When they were resurrected, the process of rebuilding wasn't finished, the scars remained and the iris for example, is still reacting on their mood."

"30 % cybernetics?" Sam's eyes grew wide. "Really?"

Chakwas nodded. "Yes, but don't be afraid, they are no robots, they are human. The implants are replacing missing parts of the skeleton, supporting the limbs and several bodily functions."

"Uhhhhh." Sam murmured, she didn't know why, but she thought about EDI and her voice.

…

Punctual at 17:00 Sam appeared in shuttle bay, she found the heavily muscled soldier doing his ordinary exercises on floor. "Ahh our junior marine." James greeted her and stood up.

"Hey James. I have order to report for a ...session?"

"Yes, the commanders want me to condition you for combat, but your outfit is wrong."

"My outfit? I thought we were dealing with weapons, handling and such stuff..."

"Oh nono, you have to become fitter, your physical condition is not the best, you better go and change clothes." he answered.

My physical condition?

Sam was disappointed, she had been delighted to play with the weapons, nothing including physical exhaustion. She went back to the crew's chamber and put on her alliance short sport dress and returned ten minutes later.

They began with stretching for 5 minutes then James wanted her to run 6 rounds for warm up in the bay. Sam remembered the last time Jane shooed her around the area, not a good memory, this time was better.

"We start with push ups." James said when she finished and then dropped to ground. He waited until Sam joined him and started. "20 for beginners, 60 for me..." he ordered and set a high pace. Sam gasped heavily while trying to comply. James finished his part before Sam had done her last one, he really was fit, she thought. Sam would had liked to have a break, just a little one but `Hulk` showed no mercy, he proceeded to do the next one.

He showed her the right execution while speaking. "Put your feet together, hands on hips. Left one big step forward and drop your knee and back to basis." Sam nodded in understanding and started. She realized after doing a few lunges that this exercise was very hard, her pulse ran high and fast.

"You'll get a nice ass when you do this every day..." James said and monitored her moves.

What's wrong with my ass?

"Is there something wrong with my ass? Am I too fat?" Sam asked with a sweat covered face, but James didn't answer. Now she got an evil idea, did they order the session, cause they thought she was too fat? Did they decide her body wasn't pleasing enough after last night? Of course, she couldn't keep up with their buffed bodies, but she would assesses her figure to be normal, not too much and not too little. Or could it be a punishment for telling the names in conference room, but it wasn't her fault, the clones were to blame.

-o-
"She needs more training..." Jane dropped the pad and watched the virtual window with concern.

"Yeah...the fights coming up will be harder and more dangerous." Jennifer sighed.
-o-

Sam had enough and would like to quit the training. She was full of sweat and her arms and legs were already hurting. To make matters worse, Sam spotted Miranda Lawson strolling to James workplace.

Oh no, Miss I'm so perfect...

She shot an amused look at Sam when she saw her sweating and panting then faced the marine. "Mr. Vega, I came for the weapon modifications..."

James promptly stopped and went to desk to get the guns.

"Ahh...I see...hard job, being a groupie..." Lawson said very quiet that only Sam could hear her words.

Groupie? I'm not a groupie, bitch!

Sam grunted back, it wasn't fair. She was genetically modified and didn't need to train for keeping her figure or fitness. But Sam couldn't understand why everybody said that ass to be perfect. In her opinion it wasn't, however she could see James appreciated the curves, he was starring at Lawson's buttocks while doing the poser show to impress the former cerberus officer. She seemed to enjoy his admiration and easily leaned over the work desk then started some banter about weapons. James was distracted and didn't care for Sam, so she stopped the exercises and grabbed a bottle of water to drink. James noticed her actions and ordered. "Go and run six rounds then finish...That's it for today."

Sam was grateful and hurried to finish the last task. When she strolled to the lift she spotted James and Lawson still talking at Vega's workplace. He fumbled at a machine gun and seemed to explain the weapon. She twisted her head and hurried for the shower. 25 minutes later she was back in crew's chamber, tired and ready to crawl in her bunk. Her omni-tool prevented her from doing so when it peeped twice.

-incoming chat-

JENNIFER: …...Would you like to come upstairs?...

SAM:...I would rather stay in my pod tonight...

JENNIFER: …...Is something wrong?...

SAM: …...No, I'm just tired...

JENNIFER: …...You can rest here...

-plopp- -JANE joined chat-

JANE: …...You'll sleep better here...

SAM: …..I'm not sure...

JENNIFER: …..why?...

SAM: ...Maybe you need your time to calm down..

JANE: …we did...

JENNIFER: ...yeah...we won't shout...

SAM: …...Sure?...

JENNIFER: …Yes...

JANE: ...You talked to Chakwas?...

SAM: …...Yes...don't be angry...

JANE: ...We are not...Come upstairs...

SAM: ...I really want to sleep...

JENNIFER: …It's okay...

JANE: ...You can sleep...

SAM: …...OK...

-chat closed-

Sam put on her sweat pants and the T-shirt from the deluxe edition then grabbed her wash bag and moved to the lift.

…

Both commanders sat on the couch, each one dealing with a data pad. They looked at her with ease and Sam perceived the red spots were gone.

Good...

"The bed is yours, we still have some work." Jane pointed left. "EDI, dim the lights over the bed."

Sam strolled into the dark section of the chamber, she doffed the pants and remained in T-shirt and shorts then slipped under the covers. The bed was nicer than the sleeping pod, indeed. She stretched herself looking at the stars above the bed then shot a question towards the couch. "Can you see in the dark?"

"Yes we can..." Jennifer said and shot a provoking look.

"Hmm...Are there special advantages of all this... cybernetics?" Sam asked innocently.

Jane smiled and answered with an amused voice. "I thought you were tired and needed to rest..."

"Yes, of course..." Sam turned and snuggled with the pillow, a few minutes later she had fallen asleep.

…

She woke up when she sensed the presence of two other bodies next to her.
"You are wearing too many clothes..." Jennifer purred while letting her fingers slide along the seam of Sam's shorts.

"Definitely..." Jane agreed and fumbled with the specialist's t-shirt. Both had taken off all their clothes, she noticed.

"Hmm, I feel a little cold." Sam answered then smoothly shoved their hands away.

"Cold?" Jane repeated uncomprehending. "EDI increase the temperature by four degrees..."

Sam grabbed the cover and pulled it up to the level of her breasts then yawned and closed her eyes again. The sisters looked confused to each other.

Notes: Coming up next "Civil mission".

Thanks to ScarletBones for `improving` my English.

And thank you for reading so far.