A/N: I was really stuck on the next chapter, then I realized it was because I hadn't finished this one properly. Yes, the beginning is the same, but there is more to it. Feel free to skip to the end if you don't want to read it all again. I'll have the next chapter up by then end of this week, so you'll have something new by then. Thanks for sticking with it, and reviews are greatly appreciated.
"So, what do you think of our newest recruit?" Shepard casually leaned against the terminal in the mess, her eyes never leaving the screen in front of her. She was afraid of what she may see otherwise. Though she had no right and no claim, there was a small kernel of jealousy taking hold deep within her chest. Asari were renowned throughout the galaxy as the most beautiful and lusted-after species; their newest guest was certainly beautiful, as well as surprisingly innocent. That was more than most people could resist.
"Dr. T'Soni? She seems nice enough, if you're into the bookish sort." Lt. Alenko answered carefully, neither his voice nor choice of words giving anything away.
Shepard spared a sideways glance his direction. His face was just as carefully neutral as his voice and words were. Only his eyes betrayed any intensity as they focused on Shepard's face, but the look was indecipherable. She turned back to the terminal, feigning interest in the task before her. It was the only way she could muster the courage to ask the question hanging between the two of them.
"Any intentions there, Lieutenant?" Shepard asked as offhandedly as she could muster.
The question filled the room, silence feeding it until it was practically a tangible cloud over her head. Unable to bear it any longer, she turned towards the man at her side, prepared to face the brutal truth.
Alenko's careful mask melted away in relief as their eyes locked, leaving behind a warm smile that immediately dissolved all the unease and apprehension that'd filled the room.
"None, Commander; I prefer more… adventurous women." Alenko stepped closer as he spoke until they were less than an arm's length apart. His biotics pulled at hers in the close proximity, the warmth crawling up and down her skin.
"Is that so?" Shepard asked through a crooked smile. "How adventurous are we talking?"
Alenko's warm amber eyes lingered on her lips as she spoke, igniting a tingling feeling deep in her core – one she'd long considered dead and gone.
"That depends. How adventurous are you willing to be?" Alenko stepped even closer, his eyes never leaving hers. He leaned in, close enough to make his intentions known, yet far enough away to leave it up to her.
"Try me." Shepard whispered against his mouth. A small spark arced between their lips, leaving them tingling and desperate for more.
Kaidan mouth twisted into a hungry, almost predatory smile and he lurched forward, unable to hold back any longer. The momentum pushed them backwards into the wall, but his arm around her neck protected absorbed the impact, protecting her head. His mouth pressed against hers softly, but desire took over almost instantly. Their kiss deepened, each small taste only making them hungry for more. Frantic hands worked along her waistline, pulling her shirt free and slipping underneath, his warm, calloused fingers sliding along her taut torso on a journey north.
"Commander"
Unwilling to pull back, to break contact, Shepard cracked one eye to find who the interloper was.
The dark stillness of her cabin filled her vision, only broken by the faint glow of the clock on the small table next to her. Her quarters were quiet and empty. She was alone.
"Shepard, this is your wake up call. I know you can hear me." Joker's voice filled the room.
Shepard sighed heavily, frustration and disappointment causing a physical ache within her. "Damn it, Joker. You interrupted the one good dream I've had in months," Shepard snarled into her pillow as she clenched it over her face so hard her fingers blanched. Getting that little tantrum out of the way, she was finally able to greet him with a somewhat pleasant attitude. "What is it?" she snapped. Well, not entirely pleasant.
"Oh, what's that?" Joker laughed.
Instantly awake, dread pooled in Shepard's gut.
"What kind of dream are we talking?" he pressed eagerly.
Fear and embarrassment coursed through her, deepening the blush pounding in her face and ears from the warm edges of lust not fully dissipated. She stammered, not wanting to say anything to make the situation worse… but that was as good as a full admission to Joker. He giggled with glee and ran with it.
"Was it a sexy-time dream… possibly involving anyone I know? And if so, what was she wearing. I want details. I need details."
Mortified, Shepard covered her face, despite the fact that the room was dark and nobody else was there to see it. Such was her level of embarrassment. At least this didn't happen where he could actually see her reaction. There would be no denying and no getting out of that situation – especially if this came up around other people too… especially certain people. Fortunately, she could hide behind an easy lie of omission from within the safety of her dim room. "Shut up, Joker. Any dream not a nightmare is a good dream."
"Whatever. I don't buy it, but if you're going to be like that…"
"Just telling it like it is, Joker." Shepard interrupted, just for good measure.
"Anyway… I woke you up to let you know we're an hour out from Feros, just like you asked me to do. So you have nobody to blame but yourself for your ruined sexy-fun-times dream."
Shepard glared at her ceiling long after the line went silent, but her mind began wandering back to the dream. Her sleeping brain had taken the mostly innocent conversation from the night before and ran wild with it, not that she was complaining. The feel of his body on hers, the energy flowing between them as they kissed… a shudder crawled down her spine as she gazed at her jumbled sheets longingly, but there was no time for that. A hiss of frustration tore from her lips as she finally got up to take a shower – a very cold shower.
As they had arrived well ahead of schedule, none of the other crew was up and about yet. That was good, since that meant nobody was in the mess to see her act like a fool from just laying eyes on the dark console just outside her quarters. As soon as the silly little piece of equipment came into view, her heart sped up and her fingers tingled slightly with a small, albeit unnoticeable, flare. Sometimes she felt like the only person with a worse poker face than hers was Joker, but that really wasn't the case. Most people didn't pay close enough attention to notice her little tells, so it just felt like she was waving a bright, flashing sign over her head.
Shepard grabbed a tray and tucked herself into a corner. Just to cover all her bases, she buried her nose in OSDs while she devoured her food. There was no sense risking an obvious reaction to any particular person's arrival if she still happened to be around – which she had no intention of being. This would give her precious time to temper her response. It was a solid plan. Rather, it would've been, if she hadn't gotten distracted when she saw Emily Wong's byline. The article on Fist and all his unscrupulous dealings painted a vibrant picture of a spit-shined turd, and she felt a twinge of regret that the slimy jerk slid through her fingers… and that was without delving into his dealings with Saren. All of that was being kept closely under wraps until he was safely put away or dead. The article captured her attention so fully she ended up lingering well past the time she intended to flee.
"Excuse me, Commander. I hate to interrupt, but may I sit here?"
Shepard glanced up from the grayscale text on the screen in front of her to find the timid blue features of their newest recruit staring back at her expectantly. A quick glance around the mess assured her there were plenty of other seating options, but Shepard couldn't think of any legitimate excuse to leave the seat open without admitting she was hoping someone else would fill it. Anything less would be outright rude, as well as less than professional. That was clearly no way to start out a fragile new working relationship.
Shepard smiled faintly and nodded her head. It was time for her to get ready for the mission anyway, so it really didn't matter. There were only a few bites left on her tray, and the swill at the bottom of her coffee cup was long-since cold, but just standing to leave now would send the wrong impression. She slammed the cup back with a grimace and popped the rest of the food in her mouth as she gathered her possessions. Just as she began to rise, Liara reached out and touched her hand.
A blush rose in the young asari's cheeks, making them a vibrant violet. "I apologize, but I was hoping we would have a few moments to speak. I was in poor shape when you brought me on board. I never properly thanked you for saving me from the geth. If you hadn't shown up…"
Shepard cocked her head and regarded the young woman, who seemed to be doing everything within her power to avoid eye contact. "It was my pleasure. I'm just glad we got to you in time and you're no worse for wear." Shepard smiled encouragingly as Liara practically beamed up at her.
"I appreciate that. I've seen the way your crew looks at me. They do not trust me."
Shepard glanced around the crowded mess at that revelation. Alenko caught her eye first, raised his cup in greeting, and turned back to his tray. They'd already discussed the new recruit and knew exactly where they stood in the issue. Everyone else, on the other hand, turned quickly to avoid her gaze. They'd all been caught staring – every single one of them – and were eager to appear otherwise occupied, but they all failed. It wasn't exactly surprising, based on the circumstances, but to have them be overt was a little disconcerting.
"Don't worry, Liara. I trust you, and I know you won't let me down." Shepard spoke slightly louder than necessary to send a clear message to the eavesdroppers.
"That means a lot to hear you say that, Commander. Thank you. I know you took a chance bringing me aboard, but I will do whatever I can to help you stop Saren. I understand you must prepare for the mission ahead," Liara gestured to the OSDs Shepard had piled into her arms, and continued, "and I would like to offer my services. I have familiarized myself with our destination, and I feel I can be of use."
"I thought you were a scientist, not a commando…"
"While that is true, I am a highly trained biotic – much like yourself. I looked into your history and know what you did during the Blitz. Using your biotics for so long and under such straining circumstances… A lesser biotic would not be able to achieve what you did."
"My biotics were never mentioned in any stories of the Blitz. The Alliance was very careful and thorough in that matter." The neutral mask of Commander Shepard slid into place as she spoke. It wasn't that she minded anyone knowing she was a biotic – almost everyone did these days. Liara was witness to her using them during their first encounter, so it clearly wasn't a secret. The thing that made Shepard uncomfortable enough to slip into 'Commander mode' was the fact that Liara had obviously been doing some rather deep digging to find real accounts of the Blitz.
"I may have gone a little deeper into your history, beyond official press releases," Liara admitted as the violet blush crept up her cheeks once more.
"For future reference, if you want to know anything about me, just ask. There is no need to go behind my back." Though her face was still neutral, she was not quite able to keep the crispness from her speech – a fact she instantly regretted as the young asari flinched.
"Yes, of course, Commander. I apologize. I find you fascinating and simply wanted to know more. You were touched by actual working Prothean technology!"
"Just give me a heads-up if you plan on dissecting me. I have a few things I want to accomplish first," Shepard deadpanned. There was nothing like a little humor to lighten the mood. It was an old habit – something she often hid behind when she felt uncomfortable or wanted to break tension.
Unfortunately, Liara didn't understand Shepard's sense of humor. "What? No! I wouldn't… I didn't mean…" A look of horror shot across Liara's face as she stammered. "I simply meant you would be an interesting specimen… no, that's even worse…"
"Relax; I'm just messing with you," Shepard chuckled as she laid a reassuring hand on the asari.
Liara visibly relaxed at the touch. She cleared her throat, a soft, dainty sound emanating from behind her closed fist, as she gathered herself once more. "I hope you will still consider me for this mission, despite the misunderstanding and my error of judgment. Not only am I a trained biotic, but I am also a Prothean expert, and Feros is built upon a Prothean megalopolis. I feel my presence will be beneficial."
Liara had clearly done her homework and made a strong argument for inclusion on the mission, so Shepard felt inclined to agree. In fact, she seemed capable of digging up an extensive amount of info, which could be beneficial. Granted, she had not assisted in the battle at Therum, but that was easily explained by the exhaustion and dehydration. She was an unknown variable, but there was really only one way to vet her. Heck, it seemed like an opportune moment to see Tali in action as well. They weren't relying on the Mako or shuttle for transport, so the ground team could include everyone if she was so inclined. That way they would be able to cover for any weaknesses the two untested members may have and still be safe.
"Go see Williams about weapons after you're done here."
Shepard didn't wait around for a reaction – there wasn't time. There was still much to be done before the mission, and breakfast had taken twice as long as planned. The soft ding of the elevator announced its arrival, so she bolted through the mess, tossing her refuse on the way. The doors began to close as she rounded the corner. She didn't have to time to wait for the lift to make a round trip, since it was possibly the slowest piece of technology ever, so she threw herself at the doors, turning her shoulders to slip into the narrowing gap unscathed.
"You could've just asked me to hold the elevator." A warm grin greeted her sudden arrival.
"Nah, that would've been too easy." Shepard returned the grin with one of her own. Sharing such close quarters with Alenko so soon after the incredibly vivid dream made her slightly dizzy and nervous she was being obvious, so she turned to face the closed doors. She had to suppress a shiver as a low hum filled her mind from their nearness.
"Any idea what's waiting for us down there?"
Shepard shook her head without looking away from the doors. "Hopefully Joker will have something for us to go on by the time we land. Right now we should prepare for anything."
"So… the usual."
Shepard glanced at the Lieutenant as the doors slid open, unable to hide the wide smile that spread across her face instantly. "Yeah, pretty much."
A short time later, Shepard stood before the full ground team in the comm. room. That seemed like the best place to address them all without clogging the flow of traffic to any other part of the ship.
"Ok, guys. We don't know much, so here's what we do know: This is a young colony built on massive Prothean ruins. We don't know what Saren wants here, but Joker said there's a heavy force of geth based on the readings and nobody's responding to our hails. We need to expect the worst and prepare for a lengthy mission." Shepard paused to let it all sink in, and proceeded once everyone nodded. "Williams and Wrex, I need you to stay behind to protect the ship and crew. Hopefully you won't be needed, but be prepared for anything. Everyone else, you're with me."
The large ground team had just left the ship when they noticed movement at the end of the dock. The familiar hum of Lt. Alenko's biotics filled her head as his barrier sprung to life, the others in the team following suit in their own way. Shepard held up one hand as a human male stepped forward.
"I thought you said there was no response," Alenko whispered to Shepard, his voice low enough to avoid detection.
"There wasn't," she answered as the man approached. "Keep your guard up, just in case."
Shepard greeted the man, and he responded in a somewhat rational manner, but he kept an almost uncomfortable amount of distance as they spoke. Things just felt… off – especially once every question she asked was answered with the same response: "You should speak with Fai Dan."
"Hey Shepard, I wonder who you are supposed to speak with…," Garrus leaned over and muttered into her back.
"Yeah, I'm not clear on that. I wish he would just tell me."
"I believe he said you are to speak with Fai Dan," Liara earnestly responded. Shepard bit her cheek to keep from laughing, but Garrus was not deterred.
"Huh, I think he's trying to tell you something. I'm not sure, but I think he wants you to speak with Fai Dan."
"You think? I'm not sure, either. Maybe I should ask again." Shepard grinned mischievously as she turned back to the colonist, but he was suddenly gone in a bright flash. The team dropped behind cover as pieces of the colonist rained down on them.
"I don't think he's going to answer, Commander." Garrus yelled as he took out the responsible hostile. The rest of the crew joined in and decimated the small geth incursion with ease.
"I think we need to speak with Fai Dan." Shepard filled the fresh silence, her voice hard as adrenaline ebbed and anger took its place. All traces of humor had evaporated with the man. Wiping the sweat and gore from her face, she pushed forward. The lingering sounds of gunfire echoed off the crumbling walls of Feros' docking bay, the young colonist's haunting death cry joining the cacophony as it slowly died out, his last sounds fading slower than his life. Or maybe that was just tinnitus. Shepard wiggled a finger in her ear and shook her head as she led the way to the colony. The attack had been sudden and taken them off guard, but the fresh silence in the aftermath was equally jarring, and now they knew danger was lying in wait around every corner. She needed all her senses in peak condition.
The ruins served as their guide, the collapsed tunnels and fallen remains leaving only one possible path. Unfortunately, that which is helpful can also be a hindrance, as the hostiles knew their course and had plenty of places to hide. Dust and debris rained down on them as they entered a stairwell off the docks, the fine cloud shimmering in the light filtering through the cracks. While it was possible it was nothing more than a result of their little skirmish – the explosions and gunfire rocking the ancient structure and knocking things loose, they couldn't bank on it. Something lying in wait may also be the source of disturbance. Shepard held up a hand as she neared the blind corner.
Rapid, almost animalistic-sounding clicks echoed off the crumbling walls as they eased forward. "Local fauna?" Shepard asked hopefully, knowing full well that was not the case.
Alenko and Vakarian shook their heads in unison. "Not unless they've evolved to jam scanners." Vakarian's flanged voice answered first.
"Yeah, I'm jammed too." Alenko fiddled with his scanner as he spoke. The clicks stopped as suddenly as they began, replaced by a sharp whoosh that sounded suspiciously like a blade slicing the air. Alenko's head jerked up at the sound and he turned to look Shepard in the eye as he shook his head slowly. "That isn't an animal."
"Geth – at least six, but I can't get a precise number since there is hopper or two." Everyone turned towards the quiet, slightly accented voice from the rear. "That's what's making that sound. Their movements are too fast to track on the scanners, see…" Tali held up her 'tool as proof, gesturing towards the red dots jerking across the screen. All eyes turned towards her in a mixture of shock and disbelief.
"Wha... how did..." Alenko stumbled over his words as he and Garrus exchanged looks of confusion, amazed that the young quarian managed what they could not.
"Good work, Tali." Shepard shot a genuine grin at the young quarian as she stepped closer to study the screen for a moment. It took just a glance to memorize the stationary figures on the scanner. Armed with that knowledge, Shepard broke away from the group and took up position just outside the stairwell. If the look in Vakarian's eyes and the slack-jawed shock on Alenko's face was any indication, the things were about to get ultra geeky and she had neither the desire nor skill to participate. Her time was better spent doing what she knew best, and they could pass the time as they saw fit until there was another attack or she gave them specific directions. They were all experienced enough to know when they were needed.
Closing her eyes, Shepard concentrated on the metallic swooshing within the stairwell until that was the only sound in her world. While organic life is chaotic by nature, machines are not – and the sound was definitely caused by machines. She concentrated, willing the sound to speak to her – to reveal a pattern. Then it clicked. A sly, predatory smile spread across her face as she opened her eyes and turned back to the group. They were watching her intently, all tech-geekdom pushed aside for the sake of the mission – for now, at least.
"Liara, I need you up here," Shepard gestured to the vacant space by her side. A subtle violet blush spread across the asari's cheeks as their eyes met, but Shepard chose to ignore it. There was no sense embarrassing Liara, and she was certainly not going to encourage such a reaction by acknowledging it, either. This was all business. "When I say go, unleash a singularity against the far wall of the stairwell. Everyone else, pick a stationary target and give it hell."
Everyone took their positions as Shepard closed her eyes to focus on the rhythmic clicking of metal on stone, taking just a second to pick out the pattern once more. Swish, click, one-two-three, swish, click the cadence pulsed like a song in her mind. The hum of her biotics joined in to create unique music only she could hear, the faint blue wisps dancing across her skin to the beat as she prepared for attack. As if called to action, the biotics on either side followed suit immediately; their different pitches and frequencies clashed against one another in her mind, creating a discordant hum that mingled with the staccato rhythm of the geth to create a noise not unlike the crappy fusion music an old boyfriend would pull out every time he felt superior to everyone else. She'd disliked that noise when they were dating. She loathed it now. The only benefit to such racket was the blissful silence once it was gone, and there was only one way to end it.
"Now," Shepard barked as she sprang forward and hit the closest hopper with a lift.
Alenko's biotics raised the hairs along Shepard's arm as they shot out immediately and tossed a stationary geth over the stairwell railing to the dark depths below. Gunfire erupted as Liara's biotics surged forward and pulled the other hopper into a swirl of dark energy. Shepard's hopper floated harmlessly next to Liara's, leaving both dexterous machines twisting awkwardly in the air in a dance of futility, flailing about for footing that was not there. Bullets rained down, the sounds of ripping metal and mechanical shrieks bouncing off every surface finally drowning out the dissonant hum in her mind. Pulling her sidearm free, Shepard stepped forward. A few shots in rapid succession put an end to the flailing, leaving the geth twitching slightly as their processes shut down just before collapsing to the ground in sparking heaps – mirroring the stationary geth littering the stairs.
"Good work, everyone." Shepard holstered her weapon and stepped over the twisted metal, mentally preparing herself for whatever awaited at the colony.