I don't own the Mass Effect.

Chapter 7: The Servant

I managed to get a hold of Trisren before Aethyta could, my fingers flying across the keyboard to setup the connection before the Matriarch managed to setup a link. I didn't have time to go in detail about what had happened with Voya's mission, instead warning my friend about the conversation that I'd just had.

Her blue skin had paled as I'd spoken, and she'd thanked me with the solemnity of the condemned before cutting the link.

Afterwords I just kind of slumped over in my chair, sipping at my tea and trying to just focus on breathing. If Aethyta was fired, what the fuck would we do then? I didn't have any personal loyalty to the Asari government, they'd never really done anything for me. Well, they'd paid me, but that was just money. Aethyta had been the one to give us information, who protected us, who gave us productive means of finding out just what had happened on Illium.

Stewing for a while, I eventually found myself glaring at the bottom of my now empty cup.

Groaning, I pushed myself back to my feet and shuffled over to where my cane was leaning against the wall. With my weapon slash walking stick once more helping me to move, I headed back out into the living area. It proved to be empty, which probably meant that Illyan had taken the kid down to the second floor. Or that she was ripping her clothes off for him in their room.

Either way, it left me alone with my thoughts.

Making another cup of tea didn't distract my brain in the slightest from replaying all of the crap that was going on. The T'Ravt business was shit, but Aethyta's fury aside there really wasn't anything that could be done about it at this point. Backing out of an agreement with a Terminus Warlord was something like suicide, except she probably wouldn't let us pick the manner of our own deaths.

Besides, it was really Tris who was out in the storm. All we had to do was modify some light armor with materials that showed up at our doorstep. Not exactly dangerous. Or difficult.

I grimaced at the idea, shuffling back to my bedroom before shutting the door behind me. I needed to talk with Trisren again, when we actually had time. Her people would probably need full workups on their gear before the operations began, as well as another supply run. Fuck, maybe even two.

"That's something to do at least. Once I get Aethyta's fucking report done anway."

Trying not to grimace as I belatedly realized I'd just spoken aloud to myself, I went back to the console and got started recounting the last day's activities while it was still fresh. I could move on to the meeting with T'Ravt after that. And then work out the supplies that Tris would need once that was done.

"And then I realized how much fucking paperwork I have to do."

Shaking my head and wincing, I forced myself to focus on what I was typing.

Reliving everything that we'd just gone through wasn't exactly fun, but it did help me zone out for a few hours. I was getting to the part where we had arrived at the gang's makeshift stronghold when I heard shuffling in the hall, followed by the bedroom door opening to admit Rane and Voya.

"Welcome back." Flicking the report closed, I turned the chair around so that I was facing them. "How'd it go?"

Voya made a gesture in front of her helmet.

"That well?"

"Two dead flotilla Quarians, one of whom was the doctor." Rane confirmed, her voice thick with exhaustion as she tilted her head politely in greeting before starting to work on her armor. "The other was a client and stupid enough to shoot back at her."

I grimaced. "No choice in that?"

My lover blinked apologetically my way once she had removed her helmet. "He had a hand cannon, Carnifex model. We ran his omni-tool after the fact, he was apparently exiled for arranging Pilgrims to be sold to the Collectors."

"No real loss then." For a moment I puzzled over the familiarity of what she'd said, but when it didn't come to me I mentally shrugged and moved on. "The doc?"

"She knocked on the door, he opened it, she shot him."

Said Quarian crossed her arms somewhat defiantly.

"Thanks Voya."

She gave me a little shrug before pulling her omni-tool up. You kept your word. I should be the one thanking you.

"You know you don't have to."

Still. I suppose I can stick around for a while longer. You are paying me after all.

Snorting, I pushed myself out of the chair and moved to help Rane get her equipment off. "How kind of you."

It is, isn't it?

I could only shake my head in bemusement, starting on the lowborn's legs while she focused on her heavy chest and back plates. "I already called in what happened to our boss. She took the T'Ravt thing about as well as you would expect."

There was a long sigh through sharp teeth. "Are we still employed, my Reyja'krem?"

"For now." My lips twisted a bit, fingers pausing before working at a buckle. "But avoid the Warlord's name if you have to talk with anyone. Or do any paperwork."

"That will not be difficult." She punctuated her words with a long yawn, gratefully handing off pieces of armor to Voya as the latter flicked her omni-tool off before moving to help us. What followed was essentially what the pair of them had done to me ten or so hours prior, with Rane quickly being devested of her armor before being pushed into bed before she could even attempt to protest.

Well, she did mumble something that was either a protest or thanks, but just touching the bed apparently had been enough to push her exhaustion past the critical point. I was pretty sure that she was out before Voya and I turned the lights off and closed the door behind us.

Brushing one of the Quarian's arms before she could head off to her room, I leaned heavily on my cane with my other hand as I spoke. "How are you feeling?"

I'd be better if you had let me take my time. The glowing eyes behind her helmet narrowed slightly. They deserved it.

"Probably."

The arm not holding her glowing omni-tool promptly shot forwards, her tiny fist smacking me in the chest. Fingers promptly banged out a new message before I could do more than take a step back and out of her reach. You are so FRUSTRATING sometimes. If you think they deserved it you should have let me make them pay for what they did to me!

"They did pay." I grimaced, reaching up to rub at my ribs. "They are very much dead and you are not."

Don't make me hit you again, you know what I meant.

"Can you really blame me for being uncomfortable realizing that I condoned you torturing people to death?"

I watched as her eyes blinked again before her stance shifted slightly, her frame stepping closer to me as she tilted her head back to keep looking at my face. If the Matriarch who attacked you was here now, with a biotic nullifier on her neck, and was bound and totally at your mercy... what would you do?

Demand to know just what she'd done to me for starters. Follow that up with demanding why she'd done it.

But if I didn't like her answers... what would I do then? Would I kill her? Probably. I knew I was capable of that. Was I capable of... worse?

No... I don't think I was. But Voya could. And if I asked her to do it for me, and stood aside... fuck, I'd just proved that I was capable of that. I'd even more or less told her to go ahead and make it slow and painful after we'd found Jarick and Shith's sex slave.

I bowed my head slightly, feeling the sinking feeling in my gut at the thoughts.

A moment later, a three fingered hand carefully pressed against my chest, drawing my attention back to my companion and her new message. You are still frustrating, but I'm starting to become fond of you

"I think that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me."

Fingers curled before the tiny hand hit my chest again, though softer this time. Don't get used to it bosh'tet. No go away so I can sleep.

"Need your armor first, so we can repaint it."

Her omni-tool snapped off, arms crossing her chest while eyes narrowed.

I could only sigh and shake my head, "You're going to be stuck inside until it's done."

One of her feet started slowly tapping on the floor, and the glow from her eyes was little more than slits.

"I'll make Illyan do it."

Hands were working at her armor almost before I was done with the sentence, trying to get the heavy pieces off of her suit. Shaking my head, and knowing better than to help without her asking, I started accepting the pieces as she handed them to me. It took a bit longer with only her working at the equipment, but eventually her hands worked her helmet free, shaking her head a bit in relief.

She barely waited for me to have taken it before she turned to her bedroom, vanishing through the door with a very long yawn and leaving me with a pile of armor to try and move downstairs.

Muttering a few things that I'd probably not say to her face, I grabbed what I could before heading for the stairs.

"Boss." Illyan's voice greeted me as I finished navigating my way down to the second floor, the Asari glancing over from where she was sitting at her workbench. "That Voya's?"

"Yeah." I glanced around, finding Jarick carrying paint canisters to the Asari. "Figure we can get three sets done now, and do Rane's later."

The Asari glared at me. "I'm not doing hers boss."

"Yes you are."

Arms as thick as my neck crossed themselves in front of her. "Or you can do hers, I can do yours, and the kid can do mine."

"Jarick is doing yours, but I'm doing mine and you're doing hers."

She actually growled a little, making the kid wince a little and edge himself a little away from the large alien. "I was your friend first boss, I don't get why you keep taking her side."

Shaking my head, I could only sigh as I responded. "I don't always take her side. Case in point, you still have a crest on your head. It's also not burned. Nor does your console blast krogan pornography whenever you turn it on."

Jarick turned red at the last, while Illyan merely made a disgusted sound. "I barely do anything back at her."

Which was a complete and total lie, she just wanted me to list off everything that she'd done, or tried to do.

"Illyan... just do it all right? I'm not in the mood to deal with your rivalry right now." Metal and ceramic clattered as I dropped the equipment near her area. "We can talk about all this later."

For a moment the same worried expression she'd worn when she'd confronted me in the living room appeared, vanishing as she nodded. "Sure boss, sorry."

"It's fine. Let's just get this crap over with."

Turning around, I headed back upstairs to get the rest of it. Thanks the steady ache returning as I went up and down the stairs, and my resultant need to use my cane, I ended up needing yet another two trips to bring the rest of Voya's, plus mine, down. During that process I caught glimpses of Jarick standing next to Illyan, his youthful features focused as she walked him through how to properly apply the matte black.

For the most part I let the muscled Asari do the talking as we separated the sets out, letting him setup in Rane's neatly organized area. He was incredibly attentive, seeming to hang on every word that she said, occasionally repeating things quietly as if intending to memorize it perfectly.

I waited until we were all quietly working before starting to pry. "Kid, didn't get much of a chance to talk with you earlier."

"I'm sorry sir, I was just overwhelm-"

"One, stop it with the sir crap, I thought we already said that. Two, that's part of what I wanted to ask about. How long have you been a slave?"

"Um." Glancing over, I saw him biting his lip as he thought about it. "Since I was a child I think. My first master was a Turian, she was rather nice actually. Taught me how to cook and clean, and how to properly respect people such as yourself sir."

Something twitched in my cheek but I restrained the urge to snap at him. "What happened to her?"

"She was old when I was young sir. Passed away peacefully in the upper spires."

Illyan grunted. "Must have been a seriously wealthy bitch to live up there. What happened to you after that?"

"Her children had no desire to own a slave such as myself." My fingers tightened as he actually glanced downwards in apparent shame. "I was sold at auction to a human. He was... not a pleasant master."

"He abuse you?"

"N-no, he..." His voice trailed off as he looked up, finding both of us starting at him flatly. "He struck me, occasionally, but never worse than that. I wasn't there long, he sold me to a Batarian. But he ended up killed for cheating someone else, that's when the Turian bought me."

I grunted. "How old are you?"

"Eighteen sir."

Another twitch. "So you spent most of your life with the Turian, being taught to act all... respectful?"

"Yes sir."

"Kid." Illyan's voice lowered. "I know this is going to be rough on you, but please stop calling him that. He doesn't like it."

"I... I don't know if I can, ma'am."

Oh yeah, this was going to be fun. "You can and you will. I'm not your master, neither is she. We don't own you, you're an employee."

His bald head lowered again, starting at the armor his hands were still absently painting. "I've never been an employee sir. Or had money. I don't... don't know..."

"What do you enjoy doing kid?" Illyan tossed a curved shin plate aside, grabbing Voya's armored helmet before glaring at it. "Besides cooking and cleaning?"

"I... I like cooking more ma'am. Seeing my mistress and the other slaves enjoy my food made me feel good." He bit his lip slightly. "She... she did let me read from her library. I liked that."

"Boss?"

"Erana has all of my novels." I reminded her, leaning down to inspect my chest plate before nodding slightly. "Ask her to send whatever ones she finished on the next supply run. He can buy his own once we get back to Illium."

And his own clothes. And his own food. Fuck, despite his actual age it was going to be like having a very young child around. He wouldn't be able to properly take care of himself right away, especially on Illium. The shopkeepers would eat up his naivete and throw what was left of him into the gutter when they were done.

"Y-you d-don't have to...to..." He quieted as I stared him down, his eyes quickly returning to his task. "Thank you sir."

"See kid? He is a good guy beneath the asshole exterior." My glare intensified as I shifted it to her. "Oh lighten up boss. Wait, Rane's asleep isn't she? Word of advice kid, whenever you want something, make sure to ask right after the two of them have-"

"Illyan."

"Just trying to be helpful boss." She stuck her tongue out at me when I kept on glaring, momentarily looking like a much larger version of Trena as she did so. "Anyways kid, anything you want to know about us?"

"I don't need, I mean, you're..." He swallowed heavily. "I wasn't allowed to ask my masters things like this."

"Take your time kid." Illyan's voice lowered from its usual rumble, becoming something smoother. "Don't force anything. You don't have to look at us when you ask if it helps, try acting like we aren't here."

Jarick sucked in a long breath, firmly starting at his hands before he hesitantly spoke up. "Is... is the boss all right? He holds himself so stiffly, like everything hurts."

I don't think Illyan had meant for him to speak quite in that fashion, but at least he'd gotten the words out.

Said Asari glanced at me, waiting for my nod and permissive gesture before speaking. "He's spent a lot of time with Batarians, had to learn to hold himself and move like they do. Also he's probably hurt somewhere and just doesn't want to tell us, but mostly the first part."

"Oh." The back of his neck turned red. "And he and Miss Rane'li are... together?"

"They're very together kid. They won't even let me join them in the bedroom, which is massively un... wait," She leaned forwards slightly. "Are you blushing? Goddess, don't tell me you've never?"

He seemed to hunch back in on himself.

"Athame'a ass. Boss, can I?"

"No."

"But look at how adorable he-"

"No." I exhaled. "You cannot drag him to your room and have sex with him right now."

There might have been a squeaking sound, and Jarick very much looked like he wanted the floor to swallow him whole.

"You're not any fun boss. Maybe later Jarick."

"I... you... I..."

"Goddess." Setting my painting tools aside, I reached up and pinched the bridge of my nose. "Illyan, I don't think he's ready for casually being dragged to your room. Or able to talk openly about it like this."

"But he looks so cute right now. Kid, what kind of women do you-"

"Jarick." I cut her off before she could keep going. "How much sleep did you get after we left you?"

He was apparently too confused, or embarrassed, or flustered, to say anything, because he could only hold up a shaking hand and hold two fingers close together.

"Forget about the painting, you should get some rest. We'll get the rest of it done later, when everyone's awake."

The kid quickly set his tools aside, fleeing with his tail between his legs up the stairs.

"Illyan."

"I can't think he's cute? And it's been a few months boss, remember?"

"By the... the old fish is looking into getting you back to Illium for a little while, if she manages it, please, for the love of Athame, grab Trena and Ghai and just work it out. He's a freaking kid who's been a slave his whole life, I don't think he could handle even something simple."

She blinked at me stupidly. "You really asked her if I could go back?"

I blinked back at her, wondering why that part was what she'd fixated on. "I said I would, didn't I?"

"And she said yes?"

"She said she'd try. Apparently there's a lot of crap going on there."

Illyan kept right on starting at me. "Do I have paint on my face or something?"

All I got was even more blank staring.

"You're seriously creeping me out, mind coming up for air and actually saying something that makes sense?"

There was a long exhale. "Boss... Cieran. You doing this for me or for my sister?"

Shaking my head, I turned back to my armor. "You know Erana is my favorite T'Donna. You're a distant third at best."

"We don't have another sister boss."

"Second favorite is reserved for Erana's hypothetical firstborn."

I heard another low growl. "Really boss? Here I was, getting all emotional at what you're trying to do for us, and then you go and say crap like that."

"Here I was thinking you got my message about not trying to seduce the former slave that we now have living with us."

Her chair skidded slightly on the floor, "Yeah, but you know how I feel about Erana and the idea of her... Athame's azure, I'm not even going to think about it."

"Think about what? Erana making out with a maiden in Eternity?"

The stench of ozone was my only warning before I felt myself being dragged backwards and off of my stool, the singularity vanishing while I was still partially airborne, resulting in my body slamming heavily into the ground.

I wasn't alone long, Illyan sliding to grab me with her massive arms before I could try and get up. Wrestling with her fairly was something close to suicide, so I promptly tried to jab at the pressure point that Asari had just under their armpits.

Her growl was something I could feel in my chest as she used an elbow to protect her side, making me hiss in pain as my hand smacked bone instead of muscle. The chuckle my pain drew cut off into a yelp of her own when I kicked a foot into her calf.

My moment of triumph lasted until strong hands twisted me around, my breath hissing out as my back slammed once again into the floor as she shifted to straddle my waist. And of course she made sure to put all of her not inconsiderable weight onto me, my breathing turning to gasps as I tried to keep my lungs working.

"What was that boss? You weren't ever going to say tides-damned crap like that again?"

A hand weakly tapped the ground as I nodded.

Her weight shifted to her legs as she lifted her ass off of my stomach, sweet air making my eyes roll back as I groaned. "Bitch."

"You sure you want to call me names?" Hands fell onto either side of my head, her grin growing to Vorcha like levels as she shifted to hover over me. "Pretty sure you're at my mercy right now."

I narrowed my eyes as I stared up at her. "Illyan."

"Need something Cieran?"

"For you to get off of me."

Her lips pursed into a pout. "Oh come on boss. Not even a little kiss?"

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

Rolling her eyes, she pushed herself back, keeping her weight on her knees as she glared down at me. "How about this. You kiss me once. If I don't manage to get you to like it, I swear to Athame I'll stop. I'll even go to Afterlife or a club and 'work it out' if the old fish doesn't let me go back home."

"Tempting... not. Illyan, seriously. Why are you so obessed with getting into bed with Rane and I?"

"Because it'd be fun? And relaxing? Also fun." She finally pulled a leg up and over me, working her way to her feet before offering me a hand.

Rolling my eyes, I took it, letting her haul my upwards. I expected her to jut pick me up as she usually did, what I didn't expect was for her to use the leverage to yank my smaller, slimmer frame up against her while one arm snapped around my waist.

"You sure boss?"

I exhaled heavily, trying very hard not to notice... quite a few things. Yes, I was with Rane, and I had absolutely no complaints about her. But I was still a guy, and Illyan was exceptionally attractive. Especially when I was pressed tightly against her front. "I'm sure. Mind letting me go now?"

The steel limb around me relaxed, letting me stagger back as she grinned. "You're going to give in Cieran. Sooner or later."

I narrowed my eyes at her, not dignifying that with a response before I turned away and limped back to my workbench. I spent about five minutes being irritated with her, trying to think of what I could con Trena, or even Erana, into doing to her if or when she headed back before a new thought occurred to me.

"Illyan. Was all of that you trying to distract me from all the crap going on?"

Her voice was a bit sheepish. "I thought it'd take you a little longer to figure it out boss"

I stared at my mostly black armor before sighing. "Thanks."

"None needed boss. Told you, you're a good guy. Even if you won't kiss me." Growling, I grabbed a paint covered rag and hurled it at her.

And thus our second brawl of the hour began.

Next up is Chapter 8: The Rogue

Well, everyone is back, the doctor is dead, and Voya is apparently going to stick around. Time will tell if killing the people who hurt her actually helps her state of mind, but it didn't seem to help Cieran's all that much. Illyan at least is doing her best to keep him cheered up, even if he could do without some of what she probably would like to do. Next chapters will be more personal between the group and the people they know, as they try and work through everything that's going on.

Please read and review, criticism is welcome, flames not so much, as usual. Reviews are my lifeblood as a writer.. every-time my email goes off with a review it makes me want to write more, so please take the time to leave one. Guests can leave them as well, and it only takes a minute, so please. Even if it's as simple as "I enjoyed it, please continue."

Thanks, Kat

Review Responses:

Tusken1602 - She probably could, but I think she'd knife anyone who tried to get her to go.

5 Coloured Walker - There's going to be a lot going on involving Aethyta, and her relationship with Cieran, in the near future.

envy34 - Well... yeah, I do tend to torture him a bit, don't I?

BladeRy - She is, at least for now.

BJ Hanssen - I'm... too flattered for words? Seriously, what I have on here is all I've ever really written, I'm hardly a professional as much as I might like to be someday.

Ranger Station Charlie - What the Matriarch did is going to remain under wraps for a while, but it will be revealed, promise.

ST1NK T00TH - I was originally going to have two short side-stories, one for the Chosen One and one for Trena, but in the end I decided that focusing on Ronin was a better use of the time I have. Glad to hear from you and that you're enjoying the series so far. :)