''Sir. You asked to see me?'' he stood to attention, hands behind his back, his black hair hanging over his face as he lowered his eyes to the floor.
''I have a mission for you. It normally wouldn't be something I look into, but I see an opportunity. A human woman and a Turian,'' he spat the word, ''have made their relationship public.'' He puffed on his smoke, his inhale loud in the small room.
''Sir?'' he asked, confused as to why this would peak his boss' interests.
''We received a message a while back, outlining their relationship. As disgusted as I am that human has turned to an alien for a relationship, it's all about who the alien is at the end of the day. He's connected to the Primarch. Now, I don't go around killing every traitor to our species, frankly I'd never have the time to kill all of them, but this human's death could open doors for us.'' He said.
''You wish for me to eliminate her?'' he asked.
''Yes, but make it look like an accident. Like the Turians were involved. Spin a story after she's dead, implicating the Primarch in her death. Humans will be in an uproar and hopefully this will get the ball rolling in securing human domination.'' A large cloud of smoke wafted over his face and he smiled.
''I will do as you ask.'' He said and gave a small nod.
''I've put out feelers across the galaxy, even one hint of her, will come back to me. Thessia, Sur'Kesh, Tuchanka, Khar'shan, Rakhana and even the hanar home world… all of the worlds you could think of, is where I have planted my spies, and each planet associated with their homeworlds will let me know if they see or hear about her. Each planet has their difficulties or at least something they want. We'll know soon enough where she is.'' He smirked at his subordinates raised eyebrow.
''Don't fail me in this Kai Leng. Take care of it.'' He said, watching the man's sword glint as he walked away.
Days seemed to blur before Shepard's eyes. She had fallen into a routine so simplistic she wondered how her life had suddenly gotten so… boring.
Get up at the ass crack of dawn; make food for her and Umi.
Argue with Umi about said food and clean up afterwards.
Taking the four mile walk to collect water from the stream with the other women, trying to keep an eye on Umi who insisted on dive bombing into every puddle of mud she clapped her little eyes on, and making the journey back to camp with litres of water in both hands and a grumpy,tired toddler clinging to her legs.
Chores were the bane of her existence, the monotonous sewing of clothing that had been ripped, learning to cook properly and cleaning. She had made 'friends' with a few of the women there but she struggled to make any connections that went deeper than that. It didn't bother her much as Umi kept her busy enough when she wasn't napping or irritating the hell out of her. Maybe she would be more tolerant if it was her own child Shepard wondered. Did she even have a maternal bone in her body? Any idiot could take care of kids but did she enjoy it? Was she supposed to enjoy it?
Not like she could ask her own mother about it…
Shepard had been on Tuchanka for two weeks now and while she couldn't say that her body had changed all that much, she was well on her way to entering the end of first two months of pregnancy. She couldn't avoid going to the doctors anymore and technically she knew she should have gone earlier but things had just become so busy here that she kept finding excuse after excuse. She had called Dr Chakwas last night and had arranged to meet her on Illium within the next two days for her first check-up. Shepard looked down at her body, first noticing the weather beaten trousers she was wearing, covered in all manners of mud and dirt from Umi.
All the clothes Nihlus had left behind for her… Shepard didn't even want to wear them for fear of ruining them forever. Her stomach had started to protrude a little bit but nothing too noticeable unless you looked closely and while she wouldn't say that her breasts had gotten bigger, they definitely felt more sensitive. Thankfully, the nausea had seemed to be less severe and the only cravings she could think of would be for endless cups of coffee, which was something they didn't have or drink on this world. Should she even drink coffee whilst pregnant? Shepard shrugged subconsciously; it seems she would have a few more questions for the doc than planned.
Having dropped Umi off at Bakara's – so that she could watch her while Shepard travelled to Illium- she had a quick shower, towelling herself off and jumping on her heels to pull on a pair of jeans- which she would swear blind- fitted her perfectly when she arrived. Managing to do the top button with a lot of grunting and straining she added a black hoodie to the mix, before slipping on her shoes. Maybe she should buy a mirror when she was there? It's been a while since she had seen more of herself other than a reflection in a glass or water. Patting her hair down she nodded in self-acceptance, she wanted to be as comfortable and as prepared as possible for her trip. She picked up the PADD Nihlus had given her and went to sit on the step outside. Ten minutes later a Tomkha came screaming into the camps and swerved to stop outside her home.
Shepard blinked up at the large vehicle and watched in mild shock as someone jumped from the top of the thing down to the floor in one graceful move. Eyes widening at the sight, she gasped when she recognised the Krogan to be the one who head-butted Nihlus when they had been boarded. She warily got up from the step and folded her arms across her chest, doing her best to show that she wasn't afraid of this grey-silver beast who had a sly grin plastered to his face when he approached her. Before she could take her next breath, the krogan enveloped her in a hug and she gave a startled squeak causing him to boom out in laughter, placing her back down on the ground when she wiggled.
''Uh... not that I don't appreciate the warm welcome…'' Shepard trailed off, quirking an eyebrow and demanding a silent explanation.
''Shepard, on the off chance that we run into Nihlus on Illium, I will take great, great pleasure in the look on his face when he smells my scent all over you.'' He rumbled and placed his large clawed hand on her head and ruffled her hair. Shepard swatted his hand away and glared at him, trying to smooth down it all again as he continued to chortle.
''I see. This… childishness, has it been going on long? Between the two of you I mean?'' she asked with a slightly exasperated tone to her voice.
''For as long as I can remember.'' He grunted and she scoffed, clicking her tongue at him.
''You just want the chance to head-butt him again don't you?'' she asked and he nodded enthusiastically.
''Makes my day every time I have good enough reason to do it. Getting him jealous is something I've never tried. Should be fun.'' He shrugged.
''Ugh, fine. I doubt he will get jealous though. Now if you tried it with Gar..,'' she shut her mouth and her eyes grew sad. ''anyway, wrong Turian to try and get a reaction from.'' She simply said and walked towards the Tomkha and he followed her quietly.
''Your mate… does he know you're with young?'' he asked and noticed her jaw clench as she blew out a breath.
''Well I did tell him two weeks ago when we first got to Tuchanka, but I'm not sure whether he heard me or not,'' she hummed as he helped her into her seat, boosting her up with two hands on her waist. ''But thanks to you guys blocking my comms when we first arrived… and since then I just haven't called him again.''
''Why? Surely in the last two weeks you could send him a message or call him?'' he asked as he started the engine, the loud roar of the vehicle making her jump as her seat vibrated and the metal shook from the force.
''Yes, but will you understand if I tell you that I just really don't know what to say to him?'' she asked, her voice rising in order to be heard over the noise of the Tomkha as they sped away back to the space port.
''No, not really.'' He shouted back and swore as he came upon a klixen roaming the roads, giving a whoop as it burst under the vehicles wheels, a ball of fire erupting as Shepard turned to look through the rear window.
''Well anyway, the thing about my baby's father is that he is rather unpredictable at the best of times. I try and go into hiding and what does he do? He gives an interview and plasters my name all over the news. If I tell him I'm pregnant he could very well drop out of the Spectre program to come and find me and then we'll be even more screwed than we already are.'' She said, rubbing her small bump.
Grunt watched how her eyes lit up as she talked about her mate, how they softened at the corners when she directed her gaze to her stomach and he sighed. Love, huh?
''Well, you won't find me giving you shit about it. If you feel it's best not to tell him, then don't. Anyway, the moment your young is born, I have asked Wrex for the pleasure in kicking your ass around Tuchanka and getting you battle-ready.'' He roared and she laughed.
''I hardly think I'll be going in to 'battle' any time soon Grunt.'' She snorted as he rolled his eyes and leaned back into the seat, one hand on the wheel of vehicle.
''Shepard, from what little I was told about your situation… you need all the help you can get. I'll get that scrawny human ass in shape and soon you'll be butting heads with the best of them.'' He rumbled.
''Not that I'm particularly thrilled at the thought of all the concussions you plan to give me, but yes, I suppose a little more training wouldn't be a bad thing.'' She said and turned her gaze to watch the jungle views pass by in a blur.
Reaching the docks a little while later, she grinned when she noticed Grunt had jumped out first and was waiting for her on the other side, arms in the air, so that he could help her down. She gave a small jump and felt his arms wrap around her as he helped lower her to the floor.
''You're a big softy inside aren't you Grunt? All that bravado and you're really just a puddle of fluffiness and goo when it comes to women.'' She teased and he pretended to head-butt her, making her jump back on instinct. He roared with laughter and grabbing his gun from his back, he checked the surrounding area, nose in the air as he sniffed for trouble.
''Why are you acting like we're about to be attacked?'' she asked, scanning the docks herself.
''Clan Urdnot has dominance here, but that doesn't mean that we don't have enemies Shepard. A few scattered clans are all vying for leadership. Having you here, goes against a lot of their beliefs about aiding aliens. It never hurts to be prepared.'' He said, a hand on her lower back as he walked with her to the ship docked in the distance, his gun aiming from side-to-side as he kept watch.
Once they were safely on board their small cargo ship, she breathed a sigh of relief as the tension drained from her body and Grunts expression turned back into a mischievous, boisterous one. Luckily they were only a few jumps away from Illium and Shepard settled herself in to one of the chairs and watched Grunt and his small crew shove and needle each other as they talked. She flicked through a few news articles on her PADD, not seeing anything of significance and couldn't stop herself from returning to Garrus' interview, which she had bookmarked. She swiped a thumb longingly over her Turians picture and brought up her messages, intending to send him some sign that she was still alive.
'I love you Garrus. We're okay. Please don't worry.'
She quickly typed out and sent it to him before she could change her mind. There was no reason she couldn't keep in contact with him now and then, as long as she was careful. As long as she didn't give in to the overwhelming need to tell him where she was, as long as she didn't tell him anything that could land them both in more danger… she frowned as a thought crossed her mind.
Was she being cruel by sending him these cryptic messages?
Surely he would rather receive messages from her saying she was still alive, than not receiving any at all? She didn't understand all that much about the soul tie but from what little she managed to glean from the extranet, it was pretty damn serious. Her mind betrayed her again as Nihlus' moan of ecstasy in her ear replayed through her memories. She winced and shook her head. No, no, she's been over this. No guilt remember! She slapped both hands to her cheeks to get her head in order.
''Shepard! You hungry?!'' Grunt shouted at her from across the room.
''Yeah, I could do with some grub.'' She shouted back and he pointed his finger to the mess hall. She made her way over to the kitchen and watched him rattle about inside the fridge, his moans at the lack of proper food apparent in the disgruntled tone of his voice.
''What? No varren leg for you to chew on?'' Shepard huffed, hiding a smile.
''Watch yourself Human. Nothing wrong with varren. Plus, it's not like you can talk, what do you think you've been eating since you arrived?'' he asked and Shepard gagged.
''Oh god, I thought you guys at least had the equivalent of chicken or beef or something on your planet.'' She felt sick. It was like eating a dog. She shivered.
''I don't suppose you have any vegetarian options in there?'' she asked hopefully as she leaned forward to stick her own head in the fridge along with his. He shoved her playfully away and she hissed in a mock-glare.
''Your child needs meat Shepard. Protein! In order to grow strong and healthy!'' He boomed and a nearby Krogan shouted in agreement.
''Yes, but my child also needs vegetables. To nourish the brain and all that.'' She waved a hand as Grunt snorted.
''Who needs brain when you have brawn that comes with a shotgun in hand?'' he laughed.
Throwing her hands in the air, she turned around to take a seat with the Krogan who was munching happily away on a juicy, bloody piece of meat. She swallowed down her bile at the site and cleared her now blocked throat.
''Just give me what you got, but don't tell me what it is. I don't need to be throwing up all over the table.'' She said.
Grunt placed a plate in front of her full of various cuts of meat and some purple thing which she assumed must be a vegetable. She turned a bit green at the sight of the undercooked meat, but decided not to ask him to fix it. She didn't want to push her luck so soon in their 'friendship'.
''Eat.'' He said.
''Yeah, yeah. Give me a minute. My stomach is misbehaving.'' She replied and watched him sit down, his larger, armour covered body making the chair creak in protest.
''You know where were going once we get to Illium? I love surprises usually, but I'd hate to go back to Wrex and tell him I got you killed because I didn't plan security properly.'' He said, now watching her play with her food.
''Uh-huh, yeah, just to the hospital and back… Might get ambushed by a seriously pissed of biotic while were there, but other than that, hopefully no one will know I'm there.'' She said with a hand over her mouth as her jaw worked overtime in chewing the piece she had just braved to eat.
''Huh. I hate Asari's. All biotics and no brute force.'' He grumbled.
''You realise I'm a biotic right? The only reason I haven't used my power is because I don't know what effect it would have on my baby.'' She said again, her jaw aching and she fingered a tooth with her thumb as she bit into a bone.
''No shit?'' he said and saw a gleam in his eyes. ''I can't wait till your young is born. Wrex will want to train you up on Biotics. You know how to reave?'' he asked and she shook her head.
''Well imagine this… there you are… faced with a terrifying enemy... no heat sinks left… when all of a sudden… BAM… he's on his knees screaming like a little girl in absolute agony….'' He wiped an imaginary tear from his eye. ''It was the most beautiful thing I've seen in a long time.'' He smirked.
''You're a special brand of weird aren't you Grunt?'' she muttered as she sipped her drink to take the taste of blood out of her mouth.
''Aw, thank you for the compliment Shepard.'' He said and she snorted into her drink.
''Take a nap or something after you eat,'' he pointed to the room across the hall, ''we'll be there soon and you need to have your guard up and be prepared.'' He said in all seriousness, standing up to slap her gently on the back as he walked past her and left her to her breakfast.
''Thank you for the food!'' she shouted at him and heard his tell-tale laugh.
Nihlus looked down at his arm as the chime started to get on his nerves. He scowled as the batarian in his grip wriggled and he tightened the hold he had on the creatures neck, slamming him into the wall with a deafening crack to his skull. The man screamed in pain as Nihlus' talons drew blood and snarled in his face. Deadly sharp teeth shining as he smiled.
''Sorry about this, I don't suppose you could give me a minute?'' he asked the batarian who looked shocked and beaten, blood oozing from the corner of his mouth.
Nihlus activated the message with his voice, only to punch the man in the stomach when he tried to get away, he lifted the scumbag off the floor so that his feet kicked the wall as he struggled.
''Seriously, I need to read this message Dar'faan. Don't make me kill you. '' he drawled and the batarian trembled. Glancing down, he saw the message was from Grunt.
'Heading to Illium with your human. You know she really is soft and squishy all over. Heh heh heh.'
Nihlus growled in his irritation and Dar'Faan squealed as he was dropped unceremoniously to the ground, landing in a heap.
''So, this is unfortunately, a bit of a bad thing for you. I am now highly irritated… tell me where Astor is?'' he hissed.
''N-no… I wont. He'll kill me!'' Dar'Faan shouted.
''He'll kill you?! Stupid boy, I'll kill you if you don't tell me what i want to know.'' He said, giving a swift kick into the guys stomach.
Crouching down so that he was on eye-level with him he asked again.
''I'm asking very nicely… Where is he?'' he snarled grabbing the batarian's chin to turn his head upwards as he stood.
''I think he was going to I-Illium. There is a s-shipment that needs to be collected t-there.'' He whimpered, coughing up blood in his hand.
''Ah, finally. Thank you Dar'Faan.'' Nihlus smiled at him, delighting in his wince.
''Y-you're not going to kill me?'' he asked the Turian who had backed away from him, gun still in hand as he looked around the room.
''Well not unless you want me too? Come on, I'm not a monster, you gave me what I wanted and so I'll let you live. However, if I see you again or hear your name mentioned in any more of these 'child smuggling' schemes… well, let's just say you will have missed the chance of a quick and painless death compared to what I'll have in store for you.'' He grinned; tongue running over his sharp teeth.
Nihlus left his 'victim' in the room, locking the door then shooting the mechanism. Someone would find him. Eventually. He had no love for people who profited from children's misery. If he starved to death, then so be it. Exiting the way he came, stepping over the various bodies lying dead on the ground, he hummed in agitation as he re-read Grunts message.
How the hell does he know that she's soft and squishy? Surely he wasn't touching her… Surely…
''I'll fucking kick his ass.'' He spat as he realised that he was being goaded into a fight. Pfft, nice try Grunt. Shepard would rather die than fuck you.
He closed the doors of the complex behind him and signalled for his pilot to come pick him up, he walked to the clearing in the fields, breathing in the fresh air and his mind drifted back and forth over the mission and Shepard. He would get to see her again. It was too soon, he knew. He should stay away from her till his feelings calmed down but he would go to Illium and let whatever happens… happen. If he bumped into her then he bumped into her, if not... then he would be disappointed but most likely grateful in the long run. Either way, he had a job to do. Astor that Batarian dickwad was the local 'manager' on Illium, when it came to their trade in slavery. He would put a bullet right between that fucker's eyes and smile over his corpse once he had gotten the information he needed.
Seeing his ship drop down and land, he wandered over and sat through decontamination deep in thought, planning his next move.