"Where to?" Jane asked as they left Liara's office. Jane had stopped by after Melody was about to depart. It was plenty of hugging and Jane apologising for not coming with John. Liara eventually waved them off, promising to meet us on the Normandy later if they were still docked.
"Dantius Towers, tower one," John smirked, rounding the corner with Miranda. "It'll just be the few of us. Mel, return to the ship and check the supplies we got please."
"On it." Melody smiled and saluted before heading back to the Normandy.
A few hours had passed off her counting their supplies and making lists of stock for the crew. She got her report to Jacob; who was in charge of the ammo packs we got in and some mods. She had already sent her file to the Mess Sargent on the food and cleaning supplies. She was heading down to Kenneth Donnelly to talk about some capacitors.
"Aren't you a sight for sore eyes, Mel," Kenneth called out from his monitor. "Gabby and I missed ya."
"You just missed her looks," Gabriella teased and jabbed him with her elbow. "Do you have what we asked for?"
"About that," Melody sighed. "They're currently being held at the dock by customs, and I figured you might want to go check it for me, make sure their scanners won't ruin the tech."
Kenneth made to get up from his workstation.
"Oh, not you, Ken." she put a hand up. "Gabby is better at dumbing down the tech for folks so I'd appreciate if your charming ass stayed here and watched her post too."
Kenneth scowled as Gabby exited the room, a proud grin on her face. Melody turned to Kenneth, focusing on the task at hand. She had noticed Ken slacking a bit, and every time she asked about what was up he'd dismiss it, but she saw red threads flashing to Gabby.
"Ya always ruin my fun," Ken grumbled, crossing his arms, turning back to the monitors. "Now I can't flex my mechanical muscles at the thugs holding my precious-"
"Cut the crap, Ken." she pulled up next to his monitor. "I know you'd just be trying to show off for Engineer Daniels."
His cheeks turned a little pink, masked by the glow of the monitor, but there was no mistaking the red flash to the lady who had just left the room.
"I'm a show-off," he smirked cockily, covering up he winked at her. "It's my brand, it's my-"
"I know it's more with her," she said.
Kenneth's eyes widdened slightly, and he looked back to the monitor.
"Yeah right..." he scoffed. "We're friends, nothing m-"
"I know how you feel," she said. "Your heart races with her when she laughs, you feel proud when she gets a little jealous, you-"
"You don't know me that well, missy." he snapped, apparently not liking being called out like this.
She was satisfied that he was getting pissed. Gabby had feeling for Ken too, but she wasn't sharing either. Maybe he would ask her if she bugged him enough, like in high school.
"It's written in your eyes..." she headed to the door. "I won't pry...Just know that aboard Shepard's ship unless it compromises the mission that she doesn't mind fraternisation."
She swore she heard a sigh as she closed the door, heading up to check if Shepard had returned yet.
As she exited the elevator on the crew deck, she noticed something odd. The life support room was unlocked.
She rolled her eyes, headed over and knocked. Suspecting some crew members had run in for a quick romp.
"Enter." a low, gravelly voice said. She was surprised it had two tones, one regular, the other vibrated and was coarse.
She opened the door and was shocked to find a green-skinned Drell. He blinked at her in surprise as well, blinking two sets of lids. They had expected a new crewmember, but not the drell sitting on the bunk in the life support.
"Who are you?" she said, pulled her gun out. The alien didn't flinch or change his stance
"Thane Krios." he said, bowing his head slightly, respectfully. "You must be the Second-In-Command, Lieutenant-Commander Milan?"
She glared, the name provided was the one on file that Jane had given her, she just hadn't expected another non-human species to be recruited by the Illusive Man.
"Allow me to confirm your identity before I confirm mine." she flicked open her omni-tool and used the voice command to vid-call Jane up. The drell simply nodded.
"Jane, is Thane Krios a drell?" she asked the woman, who had an ice-pack held to her cheek.
"Yess..." she said slowly, sounding a little concerned.
"The one in front of me?" she turned the omni-tool so Jane could see.
"Hi, Thane." she rolled her eyes. "Yes, Mel. You were busy talking with Kenneth, so I didn't call you to the meeting. It was a quick one."
She sighed and holstered her firearm. "Thanks Jane. A quick 'New assassin crewmember in the life support room' would have done it."
Jane stuck her tongue out and ended the call.
"Sorry for the hostility." she extended her hand for a handshake. "I am, Lieutenant-Commander Melody Milan, I hope Miranda didn't give you an ear-full, so to speak."
"Like the Commander said, it was brief." he chuckled at her joke, as Drell's didn't have visible ears. He stood and shook her hand. "Are you here for formalities?"
"Not at all actually." she smiled. "I saw the light on and assumed the crew was fooling around in here."
"Ah." he chuckled again and sat down at a small table over-looking the drive-core. "I see, well no one is slacking in here. Unless this counts."
"No," she raises her brow. "I was hoping you could clear up a small question I have, however."
He nodded and pointed to the chair opposite him. "If you will allow me a question in return."
She nodded and sat, "I can't help but ask; do you have a restrictive diet?" she pulled out a data-pad. "We have both dextro and levo food aboard. I am unsure of drell's amino-acid base."
He chuckled leaning his chin on his interlaced fingers. "Drell's are levo, Melody Milan." he gave her a tiny smile. "Did you fall asleep in alien-biology class?"
"No." she smiled apologetically. "It's been a while since I've crossed one of your species, so I've filled my brain with other knowledge."
"Alright then Melody, allow me my question."
She nodded, bracing herself, sending off her report for Mess Sargent Rupert as a reminder.
"Why do you smell like a turian?" he tilted his head a little like a dog. "It isn't the crew-member aboard that you are mated to is it?"
She blinked in surprise, he could smell Julius on her. This was surprising to her as only Garrus and Krogans so far had smelt it. Yet another thing she had forgotten about Drell's she presumed.
"Oh," she laughed it off. "Garrus isn't my boyfriend, and not who you're smelling. I do have a turian boyfriend, but he lives on the Citadel, back home."
"Ah," he raised his hands. "I apologise. If you need someone to talk with feel free to speak with me."
She furred her brow.
"You are surprisingly warm for a steeled weapon." she narrowed her eyes at him.
"My body is the weapon, my soul is free from the blood I shed." he smiled kindly. "I know not all see like that when they take a life, but my soul is at at peace."
"I can empathise with that." she sat back in her chair. "I feel like I'm just a tool sometimes, but my mind and body are in harmony when I am given a task."
He hummed thoughtfully.
"I'll let you be with your thoughts." she sat up.
"Of course." he smiled. "Please return later when I gather up something to say."
She nodded as she left the room.
Author's Note:
I apologize for the long pause between chapters and for the briefness of this chapter, it is definitely the weakest one yet. My muse left me for a while and I was focused on my other story.
For those following me as an author, I want to thank you for pushing me to keep working on my labours of love.
I would also like to thank all the loyal readers who have given this story over 4000 hits. In all my years writing for fun, this has been my most successful story and it's all thanks to you wonderful readers. To those who have things to say or ask; I do have a twitter that I posted on my profile that I constantly check, I also do read and appreciate reviews and criticisms.
Keelah sa'lai,
Melody vas Normandy