Ear shattering screams echo through the landscape as the deep baritone of the reaper dreadnought reverberates above the terrified victims. Red fire consumes the victims as they run for their lives. Mothers watch their children impaled upon spikes, turning them into the very demons hunting them. Horror fills the air as the scent burning flesh, blood and decay attack the senses, while the sounds of death and chaos haunt those who remain. A shimmering red hologram appears, it is a reaper, it is Sovereign.
"You cannot stop us human. Organic life is nothing but a genetic mutation, an accident. Your lives are measured in years and decades. You wither and die. We are eternal, the pinnacle of evolution and existence. Before us, you are nothing. Your extinction is inevitable. We are the end of everything."
Defiant in my reaction, I do not cower nor do a back down, I am my father's daughter this is certain. "Just watch me motherfucker! You're just a fucking machine. Advanced true enough, but a machine none the less. Someone made you. You can and will be destroyed. Just because you have some sort of fucking God complex you think you can scare me. You can't scare me. I and every other organic will fight to our last breath and we will end you. So fuck your goddamn cycle. WE WILL END YOU!"
Abruptly I wake, sweat covering my upper body, heart thumping, lungs burning as I catch my breath. Quickly I calm down as I smile at the site before me, my beautiful sleeping bondmate. It was only a dream, a nightmare to rival any horror movie I have ever seen. Must be the beacon. It is well before sunrise, the time I often choose to wake when hunting. My preferred time of day for a hunt is either dawn or dusk. Not wanting to extract myself from bed, I lightly stroke Lenea's back as she quietly sleeps. Her head resting upon my breast, arms circling my waist, I bend slightly to kiss her crest. A small sigh of contentment escapes her lips as she begins to stir, eyes fluttering.
"Good Morning," I say softly, voice barely above a whisper.
"Goddess Shea, I could lay like this forever. You smell wonderful. Must you go hunting today?" She asked softly, embrace tightening as she nuzzles my neck.
"I don't know when I'll have another chance to hunt. And I am quite sure everyone will appreciate having fresh meat. Anyway, you need your rest today anyway babe. Doc said you need to get more sleep. We'll be back before you even get out of bed." I said, drawing small circles along her spine. "I'll even make you breakfast. Promise."
Lenea shifted, moving to straddle my hips as her eyes meet mine, hunger shown in her gaze. "I love you Shea."
"I love you too." I said, capturing luscious blue lips in my own, tongues caressing. Separating for air , I gasp "As much as I'd like to do this all day, I really need to get up and get going so I can be back in a couple of hours. We'll definitely finish this later." I add, punctuating the statement with a playful slap to Lenea's backside. "Come on, let me up."
Pouting, "I'll hold you to that rain check Shea." Lenea said as she pulled the covers up to cover her naked form.
Fully dressed, I knelt before Lenea, kissing her passionately before exiting "I'll be back in a few hours, you get some sleep."
Exiting the survival shelter, I head toward to the portable kitchen area to make some coffee. Aria and Shiala are already in the field kitchen eating their breakfast.
"Remind me again why in the fuck I agreed to get up at 4:00AM!" an irritated Aria complained.
"You know why. Dawn's the best time to hunt." I answered.
"Shea is correct Aria. The low light of dawn will work to our advantage and aid us in a successful hunt." Shiala said.
"Pfff. What the hell are you wearing?" Aria pointed to my outfit, consisting of black cargo shorts, under armor shirt and tach vest.
"Yea well its hot, didn't feel like wearing all that damn armor. Besides, I plan on scaling one of those trees so the antelope or whatever the hell those things are won't see me anyway."
"Your just taking your bow and the one rifle?" Shiala asked, referring to the weaponry currently in their holsters upon my back.
"Got my knife too but yea. Shouldn't take much to take those things down, and if I can skin them right I might try to preserve the hides, see if I can take them to a taxidermist on Illium and get them tanned. If those things are anything like herbivores on Earth, the hide should make good leather. That's why I just want to use the bow, less damage to the hide. But enough of that. I need some damn coffee. I didn't get much sleep last night." I said as I pulled out the portable coffee pot and grounds.
"What is this 'coffee' you speak of Shea?" Shiala asked.
"It's hard to describe, but the best way I can put it is it is like a nutty version of a strong Asari tea. Similar amounts of caffeine, and brewed right its divine!" I said. "Would you like to try some?"
"Yes, please. thank you."
"You Aria? You want some too?" I said before starting the brew.
"Yea, make me some. You got sugar right. That stuff NEEDS sugar or its bitter as hell." Aria said to Shiala.
"Try this," I said, pulling out a small bottle of coffee liqueur I had stashed in the camping provisions. "Just go easy on it, it's not even sunrise yet." Setting the brewer to make the full pot, I pulled out the large thermos, pouring a few shots of the liqueur into the carafe as well as a few sugar packets. Coffee brewed, I filled the thermos in addition to the mugs for the three of us. "Shiala, everyone likes theirs different, so I'll let you decide how you want it." I said, handing her the creamer and sugar.
Satisfied with the small amount of cream and sugar added to her cup, Shiala took a sip of the strong human beverage. "This is quite good. Thank you."
"Yea, it's good when Shea makes it. Just don't drink it when Asana makes it. Hers is like mud." Aria said as she took a sip of her own doctored beverage.
Coffee finished, we quickly cleaned up the kitchen area and set out for the morning hunt. Approaching the plateau we encountered the day before, we were pleased that the herd was still in the clearing east of the tree line.
Pointing toward the narrow greenbelt close to the rock face I said "If we flank them we should be able to get clean shots before they even know we're here." I whispered "I'll take post up in one of these trees. You two take positions along the perimeter and we'll box them in as best we can."
"How are you going to climb those trees? The lowest branches are three meters off the ground." Aria whispered in response.
"Biotics, how else. Just use a lift and put me up. I've got repelling rope to get down." With a nod and flick of her wrist, I was wrapped in purple as Aria's biotics lifted me into position atop the tree. Silently, the three of us took position. Surveying the heard, I picked out four large bucks that were well suited for my hunt. Rifle in hand, I engage the silencer and took aim, awaiting the right moment. Whispering into my communicator I call the strategy "You see those four large bucks near the water hole. If I do it quickly I can take out two with head shots, but I'll need you to take the other two. I'll take the two furthest away. Aria you take the one in the middle, and Shiala the one on the end. Fire on my mark." Taking aim "Fire." quickly the four beasts are brought down silently, there falling bodies alerting the herd, causing them to run in the opposite direction, away from the two Asari. Once the herd has left the area, I quickly descend from my tree top to meet my hunting party at our kill.
"Not bad. Looks like we got meat for a few months at least." I said as we approached the killsite. "It's going to take me some time to dress these, can you too manage to bleed them properly while I dress them. You can use the trees behind you." I said as I went to work quickly dressing the first kill.
"Your awfully quick with the knife Shea. Remind me never to piss you off." Aria said.
"Hey, I thought you said the rule was DON'T FUCK WITH ARIA, why would you be worried about pissing me off?" I joked.
"I'm not, just don't feel like being filleted like...well like that." She said pointing at my handy work as I quickly become covered in blood from the field dressing.
"No worries big sis. Oh, and I think you're going to like this hide by the way. Its softer than the leather you normally wear." I said as I began working on the second kill. Two hours later, after the four antelope were properly dressed and wrapped, we headed back to camp. The signs of early morning evident as the crew emerges from their camp dwellings.
"You have certainly been busy this morning." Antayla said as we approached the camp, kills in tow. "I see your hunt was a success."
"It was a fruitful hunt. We certainly have acquired an abundance of meat for the coming months. The ships cook should be quite pleased." Shiala said.
"These will have to be aged a few weeks still before we can cook it." I said, looking at Antayla"Antayla can you please have the crew put this in the cold storage room? That should work as meat locker for now, the temperature is certainly cold enough. Thanks. I'm going to go take a quick shower, get this crap off me. I'll make breakfast when I'm done." I said to the four crew members at the kitchen area.
"Guess we don't have to cook then." Masi said, pleased that the human has decided to cook breakfast for the group.
Tossing my bloody clothing in the refresher, I wrapped myself in a robe, grabbing my toiletry bag. "Good morning again angel." I said to Lenea as I leaned over the bed, kissing her on the forehead. "I'm going to take a shower...want to join me?" I asked, arching my left eyebrow as I looked at her with my best seductive grin.
"Well, when you look at me like that, how can I possibly say no." Lenea said as she got up from bed, putting on her own robe.
Smiling, Lenea followed me toward our shower. Many of the portable structures included their own bathrooms, ours being one of them. Turning the faucet on, I was surprised to find hot water flowing through the showerhead.
"Solar water heaters" Lenea said as she pulled the belt loose on her robe, as well as my own.
"Luxuries of space travel, camping at its finest I suppose."
Wishing to get the blood and grime off me, I quickly work up the lather on my poof, cleansing my body as Lenea indulges in the soothing flow of the water as it cascades down her beautiful form. Myself now clean, fresh poof in hand I slowly caress every curve and nuance of Lenea's body as I wash her. Paying extra attention to the swell of her abdomen, I revel in of the lives growing within her.
"I can't believe I'm going to be a daddy." I whisper, as I work the lather up Lenea's legs, head at eye level with her stomach. I look up, steam billowing around Lenea as our gazes meet. "You are so beautiful. How did I get so lucky?" I said as Lenea ran her fingers through my freshly washed hair.
"It is I who is lucky Shea. I love you with all of my being. You, we are going to be wonderful parents." She said, voice low with want.
Slinking my way up, I pull Lenea close, kissing her passionately as her hands tightly grasp my locks. Losing ourselves in the moment, blue hands sliding over tanned skin. Not wanting to wait till were out of the shower, I kneel before Lenea again, prompting her to drape a leg over my shoulder as she braces herself against the shower wall.
"Your fucking gorgeous. God I could just bury myself in you. I can't get enough." I say as I lean forward, sliding my tongue along her heated folds, tasting the slick not from the shower.
"Goddess Shea." Lenea gasped, eyes swirling black as she begins the meld. Left hand holding Lenea's backside firmly in place, I plunge my tongue into her wetness, pulsating up and down causing her to push my head further into her thighs in response. I smile, getting the reaction I want. I continue my motions, losing track of time and space as I focus on bringing Lenea to climax. Feeling the echo of my own movements as well as the tightening on Lenea's grip and inner walls, I add two fingers. Curling upward along Lenea's inner wall as I suckle the swollen bud is her undoing. Loud cries of ecstasy carry throughout our shelter as we both climax. Legs becoming weak, Lenea leans into me as the aftershocks ripple through us.
"I told you I wasn't finished this morning." I smiled as I licked Lenea's juices upon my lips.
"Goddess Shea, that was amazing." She stammered.
"You're amazing. I love to make you come like that. The way you shake, how you scream my name. Fuck just the thought alone makes me so hot. I love you." I said as I stood up.
"And I love you. Now you said something about making me breakfast my dear Shea?"
"Yes ma'am. Pancakes and bacon." I said as we quietly dressed and headed toward the camp kitchen.
Several days later, having set in place the EMP bombs brought to sabotage Saren's future actions on Virmire, we began to pull up camp in preparation for departure.
"Did you enjoy Virmire babe?" I said as we walked hand and hand along the lagoon close to the camp
"Yes, this is such a beautiful planet. Hopefully our actions will prevent its future destruction. I would like very much if we were able to come back and possibly build a home here." Lenea said as she lightly bumped me.
"Well, we've got plenty of places to go before we can think about that. But we'll see. Maybe we can talk the Asari Republic into funding a colonization effort. I'm sure Delaney and Aria can talk them into it. Hell, even Shiala could be helpful, she does after work for Aethyta's bondmate. And if my prior experience has told me anything about Aethyta, she certainly is much more progressive than other Asari. We just have to convenience the rest of the Matriarch's Aethyta is correct about building a secondary mass relay network."
"All in due time my love, all in due time. We have more than a century to get the groundwork laid to defeat the Reapers. Let us go back to the others, I believe Stacy wanted to capture some family pictures before we depart."
"I created a monster." I chuckled.
"What monster?"
"It's a human phrase. Essentially means that I have birthed an obsession for family pictures in my little sister. Guess it runs in the family." I smiled as we returned to the camp area. The crew had already completed loading all of the gear back onto the ship, leaving only those lone crew members who wished to take part in Stacy's photo session.
"Shea! Over here!" The young Asari bellowed excitedly toward her sister. "I want to get a shot of everyone with the beach in the background."
"Hey Stacy, Aria, Shiala, Asana. Guess we're bout ready to get going, so let's make this quick." I said, lightly rubbing Lenea's stomach as she leaned back into my embrace.
"You two make such a lovely couple." Shiala said as we took our positions for the picture.
"Shea, I want to get a few of just you and Lenea too." Stacy added. Running through various poses, Stacy captured several halos of us, the family, as well as those crew members who had become like family. Despite the seriousness of this trip, it still had a feeling of a family vacation, which brought a smile on my face as we boarded the Tevura.
"We'll be in our cabin for a few hours. I'll make dinner around 1500. Let me know if anything comes up Asana. Aria, Shiala let me know if you guys need anything." I said as Lenea and I retired to our cabin.
Having completed the mission reports requested by the Matriarch, I shut off the terminal and sat in my lounge chair, looking at Lenea as she sat in the chair we received at our impromptu baby shower.
"Do you want to watch a vid before dinner?" I asked.
"Yes, I would like that." She said as she put down the book she had been reading.
"I see you found my stash of books babe? Which one is that?" I asked as I pulled up our vid screen, putting in a cheesy family vid, Mrs. Doubtfire.
"This was one of your Stephen King books. I will say human literature is quite disturbing if this Shining is any indication."
"Stephen King really isn't fine literature. He writes horror or suspense. It's supposed to be scary. It isn't real though."
"I will take your word for it. Asari literature does have its horror stories as well, so I do suppose I cannot judge human literature based on one author. I will say it does not surprise me that you find these types of novels interesting, considering the vids you watch."
"Yea, well it isn't all I watch. I watch comedy and other stuff too. Not just blood and guts." I replied as we sat down to watch the vid together.
AN One day I'll get better at the smut scenes. As always, please review, let me know how I'm doing. I should have more by the weekend, depending on my workload this week.
AN 2: Currently installing Ubuntu 12.04.1 on my trusty ol' laptop. Had it since 2005 and its worked great so far. Since I am not getting a new laptop anytime soon (brand new gamer desk top so i didn't see the need to buy a new laptop) I decided to breath new life into this old laptop of mine that's been collecting dust among other things the past few months. Hopefully with this latest addition to my technical arsenal, along with the droid tablet I plan on buying in the near future, updates to this and future stories (right now I plan on doing at least two more, but who knows) will be more frequent. I would like to sincerely thank EVERYONE who has supported this story, from your faves, follows, reviews and PMS. Thank you.