"Oh come on Bourne, it isn't that bad."
He glared at Shepard in response. "Don't you have someone else to hurt?"
"You've had worse."
He winced slightly as he shifted his arm, giving her a better view of the giant bruise. "Honestly, the one time- the one damn time!- I don't check the restraints, and you turn the goddamn Mako upside down!"
"I thought that the hill was smaller than it was."
"It was a sheer 90 degree cliff! It is physically impossible to drive straight up a wall! Gravity is a fundamental universal force! And when you do get put in that position, the correct thing to do is NOT hitting the jets! All that does is send the tank flying and spinning, and tossing anybody inside into everyone else! Wrex is not soft!"
Shepard shook her head, giving Bourne a moment to calm down. "Is it going to keep you out of commission?"
"If it does, it shouldn't be for long. I'll just go easy on it for the day."
Shepard shrugged. "At least we took down all the bases in this sector. And now Tali has a pilgrimage gift. Garrus even seems to be less angry with you now."
"It's a start. But I get the sense Garrus can hold a grudge."
Shepard turned and left the medbay, activating her Omni-tool. "Joker, what's our ETA to the citadel?"
"With that little side stop, we're about 4 hours out."
"Contact the Alliance medical corps when we get there. The sooner Alenko can get some real help, the better."
Joker's end suddenly cut out.
She couldn't blame him. She was just grateful that Kaidan was still alive.
She sighed and went to grab her gear from her locker.
(You liar. You aren't hurt that badly. Not enough to keep you from going with her.)
)Duh. But I'm not risking the chance she'll decide to take that death trap on another mission. Now I can just wait until Noveria.(
*She isn't that bad of a driver.*
(And you say I'm the crazy one.)
)Hero, the only way she could be a worse driver is if she were drunk! And that might actually make her a better driver somehow!(
*I always drove like that!...wait, why the hell didn't Iron?*
)…Because I thought it'd be kinda ironic if the most insane version of Shepard I'd ever made was the least insane driver.(
I thought about sneaking away to my cabin, but if looks could kill, Chakwas was like a basilisk. She was still annoyed about the last time I'd been in here.
*I told you that it was a bad idea.*
)Talking to the team was more important.(
(Why? You didn't really tell them anything important.)
*Like he said, telling them that they don't actually exist in his world might not be the best strategy. It certainly threw me for a loop when I found out.*
(Maybe.) Iron grudgingly admitted (But sooner or later, they might figure it out.)
)The only way they could ever find out is if I told someone, or if they got it out of my head. And since Liara already got the info about Illos from Raptor, I think we're in the clear.(
*Yes, but….*
(Spit it out.)
*If you were to meld with the Asari counselor, then they might act.*
(No.)
*I was asking him, not you.*
(You really want any of those morons in our head?)
)MY head.(
(It should be mine. If the goody-two-shoes hadn't tricked me, I'd still be calling the shots.)
)No, Sovereign would be calling the shots.(
There was a satisfying silence, and I felt Iron withdrawing.
*You know that he's just going to scheme?*
)What can he do? He screws us over, he screws over his revenge on Saren. Besides, now I don't have to deal with him for a while.(
*True.*
I settled in for a long wait, pain killers kicking in.
*There's just one thing I don't understand.*
)Only one?(
*Why is that Iron can't use singularities when he takes over, and I couldn't charge, yet you can do anything either of us can?*
)Huh, never really thought about it. Maybe it's because you two were actually trained, but I was self-taught slash don't remember being trained?(
*Maybe.*
)I mean, I've yet to Reave like you or use Warp Ammo, Shockwave, Dark Channel, Flare, or a lot of other abilities from later on. The only real thing I can do that 'shouldn't' exist yet is the biotic combos, but that's not a matter of training.(
Hero was silent a moment, mulling it over. *Reality warping again?*
)Or my mind set up blocks. Or… I don't know. Could multiplayer have anything to do with it?(
*How?*
)Maybe my mind created barriers? Like it wants to do what I'd done most? I preferred the Engineers or Sentinels in multiplayer compared to all my biotic Shepards. But even then not as many of them were adepts because the main strategy there was combos, so there wasn't as much replay value as smashing into stuff…no offense.(
*None taken. I actually like having braincells.*
)I guess when I think about, it's amazing I'm capable of doing all that I can already, considering...(
*What you've been through would have broken most people.*
)For all we know, it might have. Not like I can remember.(
She was silent a moment. *That doesn't diminish what you've accomplished.*
I pointedly glanced at Kaiden. He'd finally woken up earlier, but he was asleep now. I was glad Raptor and I had been out in the Mako when he came too. If he had been anything like what I'd heard, I might have revealed everything. The sooner he was out of my life the better.
No, the sooner I'm out of his life the better.
Reality bending or not, what I said to Raptor or not, I'm still the one responsible.
*Are you really? You could just as easily say that it was Iron's fault for revealing himself to Saren and keeping you from getting on Board in time. You could say that it's the Reapers' fault for bringing us here in the first place.* Though the conversation was purely thought, it was like her voice lowered.
*And if I had woken up sooner, I might have helped you avert this.*
)Iron I can handle shifting the blame on. But considering you're the reason it's my fault and not Iron's, I owe you.(
*Debt doesn't change whose at fault.*
(Oh will you two shut up? I swear, if you keep being encouraging, I'm going to puke.)
)Don't you somewhere else to be insane?(
(I might be crazy, but at least I know that you and Ash are an exercise in futility.)
)What the hell do you mean by that?(
(Horizon. Can't exactly skip that. And that's assuming you won't just kill her later.)
I pushed Iron away, realizing a moment later that I had blocked out Hero as well. Guess I have to take the insane with the good. I shrugged. Still, better than when it was just Iron. My gaze roved around the room, but as it had for the last several hours, it landed on the team-mate I had crippled.
I began a new game of solitaire, but I couldn't keep my mind on the game.
Looking at Kaidan was just too hard.
I swung myself out of bed, and was met by Chakwas' hard stare.
"What?"
She looked at me for a moment, but then she turned back to Alenko.
I decided not to question it. Better than having to put her in stasis again.
I walked out into the mess hall, flexing my injured shoulder as I did so. I winced for a moment before I managed to put it out of my mind. It wasn't like I hadn't had worse.
But it seemed prudent to beat Shepard over the head with it before someone did get hurt badly. I had overheard Tali and Garrus talking while working on it, and they were almost out of Dextro headache medicine. I made a mental note to restock when we were on the Citadel.
And Raptor could use some better armor. If I hadn't pulled her out of the way, that Geth Sniper would have punched right through her heart…Come to think of it, my right shoulder is also a patch job. Saren did a number on it. Plus having to repair the sheath for my knife…
The doors slid open, and I went to don my armor and restock the few knives that I'd lost in the fighting.
"Hey Ash."
Her response was to focus herself even more on what she was doing. "Sorry, can't talk right now Bourne. Shepard wanted me to take a look at her sniper rifle before she heads out again."
Yeah, like she ever lets anyone else touch her guns. The one time I grabbed her sniper rifle to install a better mod, she literally ripped it out of my hands and beat me over the head with it!
Iron proceeded to break out into maniacal laughter at the memory.
)Iron, I swear to god-(
*You want to make an issue over it, or get some advice from someone that might actually be able to help you out?*
(What? There's a fourth person in here?)
*Oh be quiet.*
He suddenly was quiet.
)I assume that's your doing?(
*You're welcome.*
I leaned against the wall, trying to look like I was just observing the going-ons. I turned my attention inward.
)So what's your advice?(
*Chocolate and Flowers go a long way.*
)Hah hah. But seriously, why is she mad?(
*What?*
)What did I do to piss her off?(
*For crying out- You lied to her about almost everything! You kept secrets from her, and you didn't' trust her!*
)I had to!(
*Don't get defensive. She's the one that's mad, not me. I'm just attempting to enlighten you slightly as to how a female's brain works.*
) … So how do I get back on her good side?(
*Have you tried talking to her about it?*
)She's been avoiding me the last couple days. She only went out in the Mako the time I didn't because I had to rest the biotics. Wait a minute, Iron was doing something then, wasn't he?(
*Probably.*
)I swear I'm going to kill that son of a bitch.(
(Wouldn't that be like Suicide?)
* My advice would be to apologize.*
(My advice is to shoot her.)
)Wow, you aren't even trying to be sane today.(
( I didn't say kill her, I said shoot her to get her attention.)
I forced them away and managed to mostly block them out.
"Ash?"
She pointedly ignored me.
"Look, I know you're mad, and you have good reason to be."
"Yes, I do." She turned to me, and I could see that she seriously mad. "Why? Why all the lies? If I can't trust you with your own name, how can I trust you about anything else?"
I didn't need Hero to know I should tread carefully. "I didn't know at the beginning, and there wasn't a good moment later on after Iron showed up. By then I was just trying to think on my feet and avoid looking like an escapee from a nut house."
She crossed her arms, but I could see I had scored a few points. "Maybe."
"I'm sorry. But as time went on, it just seemed better to keep it under wraps." I sighed. "More questions than ever, and I still don't have all the answers."
She looked at me oddly.
"But…if there's only one thing I've said that was completely honest…it's how I feel about you."
*Nice job Romeo.*
)Was that sarcasm or-(
*A little bit, but it was actually probably a good thing to throw in.*
"You know, you've changed a lot from the annoying 'ex-merc' you were when I first met you."
I raised an eyebrow. "I've changed? You were keeping an eye on me like you expected me to be a Geth. You only softened up once you saw how funny and charming I am." I grinned.
As expected, she slugged my shoulder, but thankfully not the bruised one. "You ass." But she was smiling as she said it.
"Chief, did you just call your superior officer an ass?"
*Did you just rip off-I didn't think it was possible, but I think I just facepalmed without hands or a face.*
(I know, right?)
"No. I'm calling my maybe-boyfriend an ass."
"Can we at least downplay it to 'jerk'?"
She rolled her eyes. "At least you're honest about it."
I shook my head.
"Okay, I guess I forgive you this time." She said after a moment.
I cleared my throat. "You know, I was going to pick up some guns, ammo, that sort of thing, but since you're the one that actually maintains them-"
"Are you seriously asking me out on a date to the markets?"
I shrugged. "Well, I was actually thinking we could do that first and make it look like we're working, then grab dinner somewhere."
(Seriously, how do you even wonder if you're a virgin?)
)Friday, Friday, gotta get down on-(
(Okay! I'll shut up!)
*It isn't that bad of a song.*
)…((…)
*I was kidding.*
(Oh thank lord.) )Don't scare me like that!(
I pushed them away. "Just offering. But if you're still mad… ." I spun back towards the elevator.
"Wait!…maybe I am still a little mad, but that happens. At least you were smart enough to apologize about it. If you'd waited any longer, I'd probably have just punched you in the face and never talked to you again."
I sent a long stream of thanks to Hero. "Glad I'm not completely hopeless with this then." That, or the reality warping just saved my ass again.
*I'm betting the second one.*
(Yeah, same here.)
She turned to her locker. "Alright, it's a date…as long as you're buying."
Huh, I should probably double check how much cash I actually have.
She turned to me. "One thing though… if you don't know your real name…"
"I might as well stick with Jason Bourne." I smiled. "Besides, I've gotten used to hearing it."
(It's maybe the one name you ever gave anyone that was normal.)
*Hero is a real name…just a very uncommon one.*
(Did he want to give you an uncommon name, or a weird one?)
)Weird one.(
(Told you.)
*At least my name can be a normal one. You're named after a type of metal.*
(Yeah, the difference being I was a street rat and came up with it myself…you had parents who hated you enough to give you the name.)
*…at least my face doesn't look like it's being held together by-*
)Both of you. Shut it. Or else.(
(…yes sir.)
*What?*
(He's using the scary tone of voice. The one he uses when he's considering watching a Disney movie.)
*…you think we'd feel it if he got drunk? Because I really wish I was right now.*
)I'll see what I can do.(
It was lucky I had swallowed my mouthful of beer, or I would have spewed it all over the table laughing.
"She rammed his head into a freaking tree?"
(You already knew that.)
Ashley smiled. "Didn't have a scratch on her."
I shook my head. Hearing it in person made it that much funnier, even if I had heard it before. "She's definitely your sister. Note to self, never, ever piss off Ash or her relatives."
A flash of movement to my right caught my attention, but it was just a serviceman passing out from one too many drinks. Jeez, did the entire crew decide on Flux?
(Quit being so jumpy.)
)I've been in two bar fights in here already. Not eager for a third.(
(You'll excuse us if we don't entire believe that.)
)Fine, I'm not eager for a third while I'm on a date.(
*That's a little more honest.*
I looked around, and it seemed almost half the crew of the Normandy was here. But Shepard and Liara were noticeably absent. Shepard had finally been really hit by what happened to Kaidan.
According to rumor, his last words to her before leaving were that he wished things could have gone differently.
The Alliance would pay for his rehabilitation and disability pay, but his life would still be much worse.
I heaved a sigh without fully realizing it.
"Jason?"
"Sorry Ash, I was just thinking."
"About Alenko?"
I nodded.
"It wasn't your fault. You know that."
I accepted her words without comment, figuring that the attempt at reassuring might at least make her feel better. But I knew them as lies.
The club's music was suddenly drowned out by loud booming laughter from Wrex. I was amazed that even he could drink so much Ryncol and stay somewhat sober.
The way my luck's been going, I wouldn't be surprised if he got drunk, started shooting up the bar, and I had to be the idiot that stopped him.
(Emphasis on idiot.)
*Do you insult him after every thought?*
(Not every thought. Only 99.9999999999999999-)
)We get the idea.(
(-99999899 Percent. Rounded down.)
I decided to change the subject. "Wait, is that who you were talking to comm channel that one time?" I smiled. "You know, the one that called me 'cute'?"
"I thought we agreed to never speak of that again."
"I don't remember any such thing. And my memory is almost perfect."
"It was a nonverbal agreement."
"Uh-huh."
She rolled her eyes. "So how about you talk for a bit?"
"What?"
"You've been just listening to me for the past half hour. Anything interesting about yourself?"
I laughed. "I wish I had some boring story to tell you." My smile faded.
Her smile faded as well. "Oh. Right."
There was a pungent silence.
(Wow, way to break the mood Romeo.)
)Says the guy that suggested I shoot her when she was refusing to talk to me.(
*He has a point.*
(I'd like to give him a point. Right in the eye.)
)…Is that what I sound like when I say stuff like that?(
*No. With you it's even worse.*
I blocked them both out.
Ash shrugged with an awkward half smile. "Guess that sort of killed the mood."
There was suddenly a loud crash as Wrex passed out on the floor.
We stared at him a moment.
"I don't care what Shepard says, someone besides me is carrying him back."
"Is that so Bourne?"
Oh you have got to be kidding me.
I turned to see Raptor standing behind me with a small smirk.
"Well, he's heavy enough when he isn't full of beer." I said, trying to backtrack.
She sighed and sat down. "Well, Krogan can heal from a lot. Maybe he'll be back on his feet by the time we leave."
I laughed. "You assume anyone will be able to walk by the time we're leaving."
*You even think about getting super drunk…*
(Oh relax a little. He's had two beers, including that one. That's barely enough to get a normal person drunk, and he's got like a super anti-alcohol liver.)
*Oh? Do you want him spilling all our secrets, then Cerberus or someone captures him and dissects him to figure out how we tick?*
Iron went quiet.
I frowned and pushed my drink a little farther away. "Huh, now I think about it, wonder what my tolerance for the stuff is. With all the modifications and whatnot. I mean, if a black death barely get me buzzed, and one could probably kill a normal human…you think Wrex was kidding about Ryncol being the stuff I got stabbed with?"
"I would not recommend risking it Bourne." Liara's voice startled me as she sat next to Shepard.
Okay, maybe I should just cut myself off now. Last thing I need is to be surprised by some assassin or something...meh, fuck it. I'm going to do my best to get completely wasted.
I laughed. "I could say the same about you two. Because I just know that Joker would film it and there's nothing even Shepard could threaten him with to-" I cut off as Shepard hit me full on with her death glare.
"Geez, tough crowd." I muttered, trying to wave a waitress over to order something stronger.
(Oh, oh, ask her if Liara like being on top or bottom! It's not like she can be any more pissed at you.)
I didn't even bother telling him to shut up.
"So, what were you two doing?" Shepard asked.
Ash shrugged. "I was just telling him about one of my sisters."
"I SAID GET ME A DRINK!" A familiar voice said. I turned, already sliding a knife from my pocket on instinct.
*You have got to be kidding me. What happened to be avoiding a fight?*
Sure enough, it was the same Batarian as before- though this time he wasn't so quiet.
)I guess he didn't get the lesson the first time. ( I sighed. "I'll be right back." I said, pushing away my chair.
"LISTEN TO ME YOU STUPID TWO EYES!" The guy was yelling so loud I barely even had to try to be stealthy to get behind him. The Waitress looked terrified, for good reason.
"DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?"
I whistled, startling him, and he spun around. I smiled. "Remember me?"
"BACK OFF HUMAN! THIS DOESN'T CONCERN-" I cut him off with a kick right in the fork of his legs. He made a very satisfying groan as he doubled over.
(Dude! That's just cold!...and if you were going to do it you should have used biotics!)
*Why did it have to be me getting stuck here? Why couldn't it have been Matrix?*
(Uh, because her name is even dumber than ours?)
I crossed my arms. "Word of advice. Next time you fight a Spectre, don't piss him off. Because then he'll hold a grudge."
He looked up, tears welling in the corner of all four eyes. I saw recognition dawn on his face.
"You." His voice was low, but filled with more anger than it had been before. "You're the one that ruined me. My reputation is gone. I'll kill you!"
He went for his gun, but I planted a knife in his arm before it even got close. He yelled, his arm now hanging uselessly at this side.
"Uh huh. Tell you what. If you give up now, I'll just have C-sec arrest you. If you keep fighting, I'll beat you senseless, then have C-sec arrest you." I said, cocking my head to the left.
He growled and went to do an eye gouge, but I just slapped his arm away. Geez, this guy is totally out of it. I barely pushed him and he stumbled back.
*Like I said, if you ever get that drunk-*
) I don't think I even can get this drunk. Also, we have to go to Noveria tomorrow, so why would I be dumb enough to risk a hang-over?(
(With you, it wouldn't surprise me.)
"My turn." I said, flaring my fingers out.
Getting hit in one eye would hurt. Getting hit in both eyes would be excruciating. But when a guy gets hit in four eyes with four Biotically powered fingers- turns out he screams really, really loud.
He fell to the ground, clutching at his face.
I actually felt sorry for him. So I lifted him off the ground with my Biotics, then slammed him head first into the ground, knocking him out.
I wiped my hands together like I was cleaning mud off of them. "That was almost too easy."
"Then maybe you'll have more fun with me." A new voice behind me said. I rolled to the side, already drawing my pistol. I narrowly avoided a Headbutt from the giant Krogan, in the same style of armor as the Batarian. Why are Krogan always trying to kill me!? Why can't it be something less hard to kill?! Like if every Salarian ever had a death wish against me, that I could handle!
*You said it was easy. That's just asking for trouble.*
)...Yeah, good point.(
I flared my biotics. "Back off unless you want to end up like him."
"You killed my younger brother last time this idiot came in." His eyes bored into me. "I hated his guts, but you'll going to die for that."
"You sure act confident for a guy with a hole in his head."
His face twisted in confusion. "What hole?"
My gun flew up, and I fired at the side of his plate, just above the eye, making him stagger back. "That one. Want another?"
*Okay, that was actually a decent line.*
(You've definitely had worse lines. Way worse.)
He just laughed, and ran at me. I barely even had to aim, and my explosive rounds tore through his head. His corpse stumbled to the ground inches from my feet.
"Moron." I muttered.
I noticed a group of different species, also in blue suns armor. I glared in their direction, stopping a few in their tracks as they got up.
"Listen up. I've had a long day. I'm not in the mood to fight. And if I do fight, you'll end up like him- or the group of you idiots that fought me last time. But if you think you're tough enough, I'm more than happy to prove you wrong." I flared my Biotics for emphasis. Most of them scrambled for the door or sat down hurriedly and tried not to make eye contact.
A few didn't, but they were clearly drunk. I shook my head and holstered my gun.
"You really shouldn't have done that." I turned around, biotics forming a barrier around me.
What does it take to keep this guy down?
(No idea, but you have to give him credit for persistence…or being able to drink alcohol until he's this stupid.)
The Batarian was holding his hand over three of his eyes, clearly still in pain. He glared at me with his remaining eye, though it was still swollen half shut.
"If you have any brains at all…well, if you did, you wouldn't have done a repeat of last time. But if you don't want to end up just as dead as him, I suggest you give up now."
He laughed. "That's the nice thing. I don't have anything left to lose." He sprinted over to the bar, leaping over the counter. My gun flew up, but he was moving too fast for me to hit. He grabbed the waitress, pushing her head into the counter and pinning it there with his gun.
"She, on the other hand… If you don't want to see her die, drop the gun."
*Okay, just stay-* )GODDAMNIT FUCKING SON OF A BITCH!( *-…calm.*
"I SAID DROP THE GUN!"
I swore, but I lowered the gun, and kicked it across the floor.
"Now, stay right there. And if I see any Biotics, I paint the bar with her brains."
I narrowed my eyes, but I kept my Biotics in check. "And if you do, I'll force feed you a singularity. I'd like to see you bounce back from that."
He laughed, and I got the feeling that he had gone totally nuts. I had dealt enough with Iron to recognize symptoms.
(Oh come on, I would never do this! I would have killed her way before now. Actually, I would have started killing everyone by now. Probably do them in order, maybe tallest to shortest. Or by age. But then I'd have to do all the Asari first or all of them last, and then I'd look racist. But I'm not, I like killing all races equally.)
…So he wasn't nearly as crazy as Iron, but he was still a threat.
"Didn't you hear what I said about having nothing left to lose? But if I can beat you, I get my respect back. I get my life back. So, here's what's going to happen. You're going to use your Spectre Status to procure a ransom for her. " He laughed harshly again. "Oh, you are just pathetic. You are completely in my power now."
)Wow. Having a hostage really goes to a guy's head.(
*Will you focus?*
)What the hell can I do? Knives are useless at this range without Biotics, and he'd see me grabbing one anyway.(
*Adapt. If you can distract him, maybe you can throw a glass or something at him.*
I nodded, still trying to figure a way out.
"Oh, you are so weak. I don't know how-" His words were cut off by a sudden explosion of blood and brain matter originating from where his head used to be, and by the waitress' scream. I followed the trajectory back to my table, and to Shepard.
"That's why he has me as backup." She commented, holstering her pistol.
The Waitress looked at the corpse and passed out.
"Hey, he wasn't looking right at you." I justified, biotically retrieving my pistol. "And why'd you have to kill him?"
"I would have liked to avoid it, but only wounding him would have been-"
"No, I mean that I wanted to kill him. That bastard was starting to get on my nerves."
She groaned. "Why can't I just have one night without you getting in a fight?"
"You're the one that joined us, not the other way around. You could have gone to Chora's den instead."
She glared at me.
"Wow, I didn't even think about it that time. But it's not like the girls in here are dressed much differently than the Asari over there."
"You're just digging yourself deeper."
"I'll shut up now."
Shepard sighed, while Bourne laughed at his own joke.
"Bourne, that isn't even remotely true."
"That's why it's funny!"
"I just want you to know that I realize you're a little buzzed, which is why I'm not punching you for saying it."
"Geez, don't you ever crack a smile?"
"Not from your jokes."
He held his hand to his chest. "Oh, Shepard, you wound me with your cruel words."
"You should probably have Chakwas look at that then." Ash said with a smile.
Bourne laughed even harder at that, and Shepard fought back another sigh.
Ashley and Bourne were clearly… Shepard couldn't quite think of what it was. Not that they didn't seem to love each other, but something said that Bourne was hesitant about it somehow. Shepard didn't understand how that could be, considering how Bourne seemed to broadcast it to the squad.
Maybe it's because of the rules against that sort of relationship? But that still didn't seem right. Bourne wouldn't care about something like that. Privately, Shepard had never understood the rule. Knowing that you could rely on someone so deeply had probably saved lives. Shepard had seen it a few times.
But on the other hand, the loss that could happen… Shepard often had nightmares about losing Liara. God, she had nightmares about almost everyone she'd lost, and she hadn't been in love with them.
I guess that's just the life of a marine.
"Earth to Shepard. Or I guess, Citadel, to Shepard. You still there?"
Shepard rolled her eyes. "What, I can't think about something without you butting in?"
"Depends on what you were thinking."
"Bourne, if you crack one more joke like that-"
"Wow, two unintentional jokes in one night. That must be a record."
"If you keep talking, You'll set a record for most bones broken in one minute by a friend."
"Well with a friend like you, who needs enemies?"
"And yet you've gotten into a fight every time you've been in here."
Bourne scowled, but he didn't argue.
"And come to think of it, you were actually the one that started this fight."
He kept scowling, and Shepard realized he was looking behind her.
Shepard then turned and saw the floating drone, and the annoying woman standing nearby.
"Did I miss something?" Ashley said, looking between the two.
"Short version: She pissed me off when she interviewed us. So I punched a hole through her camera. Actually, both of her cameras. If she comes over here…"
As if summoned by the unfinished threat, the reporter turned their way, and recognition dawned on her face.
"Why did I have to go and jinx myself like that?" Bourne muttered.
"For the record Bourne, as long as you don't kill her, I'm probably fine with it." Shepard said, remembering how the bitch had gotten to her. Shepard had only frozen like that a handful of times, but never in the public eye.
"I'll keep that in mind."
"It also can't be too permanent."
"I can still work with that." Bourne shrugged, seeming to resign himself to having this conversation.
"Khalisah Bint Sinan al-Jilani, westerlund news."
"Yeah, I know. Is that a new camera?" Shepard said with a small smile. Her eyes though, were saying "Back off before you get hurt."
Al-Jilani glanced at Bourne, who seemed to be bored. Shepard could tell he was really just trying to keep from punching her or worse.
"Yes. But that's in the past. I'm more curious about what happened just now. Could I have a few words?"
Bourne chuckled. "I'll give you two words. Get lost."
"Now now Bourne, that sounds like censorship to me."
"No, I'm just being uncooperative. Censorship would be… well, it's complicated, but let's just say it would hurt you more than me. Well, actually, it wouldn't hurt me at all. Unless I'm somehow allergic to your blood. Theeeeen I might get hurt."
She backed away a few steps.
Shepard sighed. "I'm willing to answer a few questions, but when I decide it's over, it's over."
"Yeah, see how long that lasts." Bourne muttered. "Just tell me when you want me to-"
"Bourne…"
"Fine, fine. Offer stands though."
She activated the camera, zooming in on Shepard's face. "Commander, less than an hour ago, you and your partner each shot and killed people that appeared to be innocent bystanders. Is this the sort of response the Alliance can expect from Spectres?"
Shepard glanced at Bourne. His eyes were glowing, and almost locked onto the reporter's face like he wanted to punch it in. Not that Shepard could really blame him.
"Might want to check your facts there." Bourne said, faking a smile, and somehow looking like he didn't want to kill her. "First off, I'd dealt with that same Batarian before. I warned him last time. His fault for not learning his Lesson. As for the Krogan, he attacked me."
"So you feel justified using lethal force for such small matters."
"Oh cut the crap. We all know you're just trying to make us look bad as revenge for last time." Bourne said, losing the fake smile.. "How you even still have a job there is beyond me."
"Bourne, you aren't helping." Shepard hissed.
"Relax, her camera's been off since she got over here."
"What?" Everyone at the table echoed.
"There's a switch on the side to turn it off. I have biotics. Do the math."
"That's easy enough to correct." The reporter sneered, turning the camera on.
"Whatever."
Bourne's eyes glowed again, and this time Shepard caught the subtle movement on the side of the machine.
But Al-Jilani noticed as well. Glaring at him, she activated the machine.
"You know I'm not going to give up so easily?"
"Lady, you're talking to the king of being stubborn."
"I see. Am I also speaking to the king of lack of restraint?"
"Depends on the day." He deadpanned.
"Well, considering the double murder you just committed-"
"A, since I was exercising my authority as a Spectre, not murder. B, I only killed the Krogan. Shepard's the expert shot that brought down the other one."
"Oh, is that true commander?"
Shepard rolled her eyes. "Obviously. Bourne can barely hit the broadside of a cruiser."
"That's why I have the Biotics." Bourne said with a small smile, though he was still glaring at bit.
"No, that's why you have me to watch your back."
"By my count, I've saved your life just as often."
Al-Jilani snapped her fingers, getting their attention. "If I can get back to the interview: What do you have to say about the rumors that you two are in a relationship?"
Both Spectres just stared at her, then at their respective girlfriends.
Then they looked at each other, seeing their shock mirrored on the other's face.
Then they started laughing, Shepard doubling over, and Bourne slamming his fist on the table.
"So is that a yes?" She asked smugly.
They both went instantly to glare mode, her eyes burning purple, and his glowing blue.
"No." She said in a tight voice.
"Yeah, Shepard's not my type. The weird glowing purple eyes are sort of a-"
Raptor cut him off "Excuse me, did you seriously just say "Weird glowing eyes?" Because that's seriously hypocritical."
"No, I said 'weird glowing Purple eyes.' My weird glowing eyes are blue. And I make it look gooooood."
Ashley laughed, then tried to hide it with a cough.
"Would you care to comment?" The reporter asked, shoving a microphone in her face.
The microphone promptly turned blue and hit her in the eye. She stumbled back cursing.
Shepard turned the full force of her death glare on her fellow Spectre. "Bourne…"
"It was not me that time."
"You'll forgive me for being skeptical."
"If I didn't know better, I'd be blaming me too."
"Who else could it be?"
Bourne suddenly seemed very interested in his drink again. And he seemed to be deliberately not looking at… The only other Biotic at this table.
Shepard couldn't help it, she looked at Liara, who seemed to be trying to hide a smile that was both guilty and triumphant.
But the bitch noticed it too. Still holding her rapidly blackening eye, she turned to her, focusing the camera on her.
Shepard felt a cold hand grip her stomach. She wasn't embarrassed about being with Liara, but many people weren't quite so accepting. She was one of the people humanity looked up to, but how would mothers react to their children admiring… well, Bourne was right about that monogendered explanation being total BS, though she'd never admit it to him.
"You seem awfully quick to defend Shepard. Care to comment?"
"Not to you, no." Liara asked in a voice surprisingly strong.
"It seems too strong to be coincidence that you were also with Commander Shepard during the last interview."
"If you're trying say something, just say it." Shepard growled.
"Well, I've heard from a few inside sources that you're in a relationship with someone on the ship. And since it isn't Bourne..." She trailed off, smiling in satisfaction. "Imagine how the Alliance will take this."
Bourne chuckled.
"Would you like to comment Bourne?"
"I turned your camera off again when she smacked you with that microphone. But just turning if off is getting Boring."
His gun was in his hand in an instant, blowing apart the camera with an explosive shot.
"There, that's better. Me three, cameras zero. But if you want to have a rematch sometime, just let me know." He holstered his gun, turning back to his drink.
"You son of a bitch!" She yelled, drawing back a fist, and sending towards Bourne's face.
He just grabbed it one handed, then brought his other hand underneath her armpit as he stood and pivoted, throwing her to the ground over his shoulder.
"Bourne, normally, I'd yell at you, but I can make an exception for her…also, are you actually drunk or-"
"Jury's out on that one." He stood up, towering over the still in pain reporter. "I normally don't hit women. But I make an exception for reporters. And Hypocrites."
"Excuse me?" She gasped, still on the ground.
"You heard me." Bourne said, lifting her into the air Biotically.
"What are you doing?"
"You clearly didn't the message last time." He said, watching her float slowly towards the ceiling.
"Bourne…" Shepard said, standing up and putting her hand on his shoulder.
"You said nothing permanent physically." He said as she began to fall. She screamed as she fell, and Shepard felt her adrenaline kick in.
"But you never said anything about mental." Bourne said, stopping the Reporter only inches from the ground.
He lifted her in front of him again. "I hope you get the message this time."
He let her fall, sending her falling on her ass. "But in case you didn't, let me be perfectly clear. You threaten my friends, you threaten me. And threatening me, is the worst and probably last mistake you'll. Ever. Make."
"I'm making sure your career is over. Someone here would be willing to testify."
"I'm a Spectre. Even the best Asari lawyer wouldn't be dumb enough to touch that case. And besides…" He trailed off, laughing. "Well, let's just say I know I could get a certain vid from the Shadow Broker that would ruin your own career. Hypocrite."
"You're bluffing."
"You really want to try it, go ahead. Worse comes to worse, I can always go with plan B and just shoot you."
The reporter blanched. "You're insane."
He casually looked at his hand as he flared his biotics around it. "Who's really the insane one here? The biotic Spectre making threats, or the stupid reporter ignoring the threats?"
She got up, and brushed herself off. "You might have won this round-"
"Will you just get lost before I decide to just shoot you? Cause that's starting to seem like a better option all the time." He sighed, sitting back down. "God, I need a drink."
"You've had Twelve already." Raptor commented.
"Yeah, and I'm already back to being almost completely sober! I got screwed over with that!"
