Author's Note: Hey guys, thanks for all the views this week! Let's keep the ball rolling. Got a fun chapter for you today.
As always, read and Review please!
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Hock steps over to a side bar as Shepard takes a seat, her back to him as she admires a large fish tank he has set in the wall. It is filled with fish of every type and color darting around through the water. "What can I get for you, Ms. Gunn?"
"Please, it's Allison." Shepard smiles at him coyly, "I'll take a whiskey, neat."
"A woman who knows her drink." He raises an eyebrow, "I'm impressed."
She turns back to watch the fish. "I am an arms dealer after all, have to be tough, right? It's a good thing I enjoy it as well."
This surprises a laugh from him, a deep throated laugh. "You like fish do you?" He asks, noticing her watching the fish. Coming around the couch he hands her the drink.
"I have an extensive collection myself." She nods toward the fish, "Though not quite as colorful."
He takes a seat next to her, close to her she notices, "Tell me," He practically purrs in her ear, it is all Shepard can do not to shudder in disgust.
She can't even remember the last time a man flirted with her, let alone one so repulsive as this one. "Tell you what?" She has to force herself to match his volume and tone, that low flirting purr.
"I can tell, just by watching you. It's been sometime since you've had a, partner we'll say."
She can't help raising an eyebrow. This guy is so forward it's embarrassing. "And that kind of partner would be?"
He reaches out and softly, slowly brushes a lock of her hair back behind her ear, "Come now, let's not play games." He takes her drink and sets it on the table, He cups his hand around her cheek, his other he places lightly on her leg.
She has to fight harder than ever to not cringe or flinch. This is the absolute last thing she would ever want to happen. She tries to turn her sigh of frustration into one of, she hopes, longing. Out of the corner of her eye, she doesn't miss seeing the glasses disappear, good job Kasumi, she thinks to herself. Glad Kasumi is getting the DNA and fingerprint she needs. Seeing her distracted Hock catches her off guard as he abruptly kisses her.
This is no soft peck on the lips either, his kiss is hard and forceful, her reflexes and instinct kick in full force, memories from Mindoir flashing through her mind. Her hand flies up, shoving him hard off of her, followed by a swift punch across his temple.
He barely has time to be shocked, before her punch knocks him out, he slumps back against the couch.
Kasumi reappears and looks between Shepard and Hock, amazement and shock on her face. "Damn Shep. Remind me never to surprise kiss you."
Shepard quickly wipes her mouth on the back of her hand. Ignoring Kasumi's comment, "Do we have what we need?" Shepard grabs both whiskies, that Kasumi had put back, and knocks one back after the other. "Because I sure as hell am never doing that again."
Kasumi claps her on her shoulder, "Rest assured, we've got all we need. Let's go, before he wakes."
"Wait." Shepard looks around, "You got anything to knock him out for longer, I don't know if he'll stay out long like this. And after he wakes? We're screwed."
"I might have something, wait here." Kasumi heads to the door and uses her cloak as she leaves.
Shepard grinds her teeth, "Great, babysitting…" Shepard stays seated on the couch, watching Hock as he lies unconscious.
After long minutes of Kasumi being gone she finally returns, rushing over to Shepard, "I've got a sedative here. Should keep him out for awhile."
Shepard takes the sedative and stabs it hard into the side of his neck, that'll leave a nice reminder for him. She just grins at Kasumi's shocked look before standing. "Alright, let's get to that vault, I'm ready to be out of this party."
"More excitement than you're used to?" Kasumi jokes with her.
Shepard merely glares at her as she goes to the door, Kasumi vanishes again as Shepard opens the door and steps out quickly. She smiles at the guard who looks quizzically at her leaving alone, "Ran out of booze." She smiles wide and quickly walks past him. Once out of sight, she makes a beeline straight for the stairwell down to the vault.
The door to the vault room opens at Kasumi's touch. Behind the door is an antechamber and what is inside causes Shepard to raise an eyebrow, "That is my 'gift' to Hock?" She looks over the solid gold, or gold plated, statue of Saren standing in a strong, authoritative pose.
Kasumi grins, "What you don't like it? I'm hurt!" she kneels down and presses a hidden control, the bottom facing slides out. A hidden drawer, "You might like this better." Inside is all of Shepard's armor, weapons, and gear.
"Much better." She crows as she grabs her armor and the under armor suit. "Turn away so I can change."
Kasumi laughs, "Yes Commander." she chuckles some more as she turns to the gate and begins to hack the controls to open the doors to the vault proper.
Shepard quickly changes, depositing the dress into her pack as she gathers her gear and weapons up. She steps up beside Kasumi, "How's it going?"
The controls beep once as the door seal changes to green and slides open to reveal a lift beyond. "Swimmingly." She jokes, stepping into the lift. "Coming?"
"I didn't go through all that just to stand around." Shepard scoffs, following Kasumi into the lift.
Kasumi presses the controls to take them down, "You act so traumatized. It was just a kiss."
Shepard scowls, not willing to tell Kasumi the real horror of it, "Yeah, sure. Just a kiss." Shepard looks to the closed doors of the lift, effectively ending the conversation.