Regarding the last chapter…the "offending object" is left up to your imagination! Anyone want to guess what it was? The right answer gets you a cookie…LOL
Chapter Begin
As the group reached the shuttle and found their seats, Shepard turned to the spokesperson and said, removing her helmet, "Ok, someone want to tell me what happened in a little more detail?"
The turian pulled her helmet off and Shepard tried not to stare, but a female turian was unusual for her. She had a smaller cowl and lacked the fancy fringe that Garrus and other males sported. Forcing her attention back on what the female was saying, Shepard heard,
"Just what I said, really… we answered a distress call and ended up running into a Cerberus ship. They opened fired and we returned, suddenly all power went out and we were dead in space. It was short work then; they boarded and started shooting anyone they could catch. We fought back, and the Captain managed to get a distress call off; then they left…."
Shepard exchanged a look with Garrus and then said, frowning,
"They just left? Did anyone hear any radio chatter? Anything that might explain why they just left?"
The female turian, Scorpio shook her head and said, "No. Nothing, and trust me, Commander, we've gone over it again and again, trying to see if any of us know anything. They just stopped, turned around and left."
Garrus shrugged at Shepard's look and said,
"That doesn't sound like Cerberus… but maybe something scared them off?"
Shepard made an exasperated sound and said, "Just what we need… something else that doesn't make sense."
One of the turians, a young male that Shepard doubted had been out of boot camp longer than a year spoke up, "Preafectus Vakarian?" Garrus met the young male's gaze and nodded, the turian replied, "Is there news from Palavan? We've been out of contact for a week or so…."
Shepard exchanged a look with Garrus and muttered, "Praefectus? Something I should know, Garrus?" Her mate shot her a resolved look and said,
"Later, okay?" To the other turians he said, "Yeah, the krogan are on the ground and beating the reapers back… there is still a lot of fighting and dying, but there is hope."
Another turian, the other female, said, "I can't believe the krogan are fighting for us…."
Garrus shook his head and said, "They're doing a hell of a job… and you are?"
The female straightened up and said, firmly, "Immunis Accalia Chromin, sir."
Garrus nodded, "Immunis Chromin…" raising his eye ridges, he gestured for the others to speak up as well.
"Immunis Balbus Corphers."
"Immunis Caecilia Tarian."
"Centurion Merrius Proterea."
"Immunis Corvin Teacus."
The turian furthest from them had been sitting silently until this point; now he raised his head, removing his own helmet and said, "Centurion Gracchus, Flavius Gracchus… hello Garrus."
Garrus started, his mandibles wide as he said, "Flavius? Spirits, it's been years! I thought you were leading one of the colony barracks."
The quiet turian nodded, his plates were pale, and his colony markings were a vivid, human blood red and shaped almost like a spider. "I was… until the reapers came. Have you heard from your family, Garrus? I remember your mother's mauch ballah… it's one of best recipes that I've ever eaten."
Garrus' mandibles drooped, his shoulders slumping as he said, quietly, "I haven't heard from my father or Solana… but mother died before the invasion… Corpalis."
There were several sub-harmonic keens that Shepard had learned was a sympathy sound and Shala, who was sitting on Garrus' other side reached over and squeezed his forearm gently. Shepard frowned as Shala left her hand on Garrus' arm longer than she thought was proper. Flavius said, his voice quiet, but the soft keening sounded sad,
"I'm sorry, Garrus… I know how close you were to your mother."
Garrus nodded, seemingly to ignore Shala's touch as he said, "Yeah… it was difficult. She had some success with a new salarian treatment, but the condition was so far advanced by the time she got the treatment, that it only bought her time."
Shepard reached over and rested her hand on Garrus' where it sat on the bench between them and smiled to herself as he turned his hand and gripped hers, firmly. The rest of the ride to the Normandy was silent.
Chapter Break
Shepard rolled her shoulders and sighed as the elevator reached the loft of the Normandy. All she wanted right now was a hot shower and her mate, not necessarily in that order. It had been three days since they had rescued the crew from the turian frigate, and to her immense surprise, the crew included not one, but two female turians. She shouldn't have been surprised, but she hadn't seen many female turians, though turian females were trained and fought beside the males. Her door opened and Shepard walked in, glancing around the quarters for Garrus. He'd been off duty today, so she expected him to be here, waiting when she got off duty. Frowning at the empty quarters, she said, "Edi… where is Garrus?"
"Officer Vakarian is in the starboard lounge speaking to Centurion Scorpio." Shepard frowned, ever since they'd gotten the Talia's survivors back to the Normandy, the female gunner seemed to be hanging around Garrus all the time. A surge of jealousy flamed through her and she growled to herself; she had never been jealous before she'd met Garrus; but then, she'd never felt love as deeply about anyone as she did about Garrus. Not that she doubted Garrus' commitment to her; and she knew that Garrus was enjoying having the other turians aboard. Especially Flavius whose family was close to Garrus'; the two males had been raised near each other and maintained a friendship over the years.
But Scorpio, that turian, Shepard could do without. Thinking about the Centurion reminded Shepard of a question she had for Edi. "Edi… can you tell me what some of the turian ranks are? Their human equivalents, maybe? like… Immunis… Centurion… Praefectus?" Shepard thought Edi might have hesitated, but then dismissed that thought. Why would the AI hesitate about a simple question of turian rank structure?
"Of course, Commander… Immunis would be somewhere between Private and Corporal, depending on the level. The turian rank structure is similar to the ancient human romans; though the translations are, of course, not completely accurate, it is the closest approximation. Centurion would be lieutenant, or perhaps lieutenent commander." Shepard waited, but when Edi didn't continue, finally said, frowning,
"And Praefectus?" There was a definite hesitation now, and Shepard couldn't help but wonder why.
"The closest equivalent for Praefectus would be General… or perhaps Admiral." Shepard considered what Edi had said, and was quiet for a few minutes as she changed out of her uniform into her hoodie and civvie pants. Then she said,
"Are there levels of Praefectus?"
"Yes… much as human's have stars for their Generals or designations such as rear admiral… there are four stages in the turian Praefectus rank."
Shepard considered that, and then said, "Do you know where Garrus stands in the rankings?"
"Yes." Again, Shepard waited, but when no further comment was added, she grew irritated and snapped,
"Edi… dammit, why the reticence? Usually you're all for answering questions in depth, but on this I feel like I'm pulling teeth… just spit it out already." Shepard thought she heard hesitation as well as humor in Edi's synthetic voice as she said,
"Even though I have now acquired a body, Commander, I never the less lack both teeth and saliva, so…" Glaring at the ceiling now, Shepard snapped,
"Edi… just answer the question; what rank is Garrus Vakarian in the turian military and why are you so hesitant to answer me?"
"Praefectus Vakarian currently carries the military rank the equivalent of a four star general, placing him one rank beneath the Primarch and in the line of succession." Shepard reached out and leaned against her desk; that was unexpected. She thought back to the day that Garrus had rejoined the Normandy and she'd teased him about being the Primarch; she'd had no idea how close to reality she'd been.
"Wow… so why the reticence to tell me, Edi?"
"Officer Vakarian ordered me to not call him by his turian military rank and not to volunteer the information unless directly asked." Shepard frowned,
"Why the hell was he hiding that?"
"I do not know, Shepard… but I believe he was concerned about your reaction to the news of his rank." Shepard shook her head again, glaring at the hologram of her and Garrus that adorned her desk,
"Dumbass turian idiot…. You said he was in the starboard lounge, Edi?"
"That is correct, Shepard…" Still irritated, Shepard left her quarters and headed down to the crew level.
Chapter Break
"Are you KIDDING? You really killed a Reaper on Rannoch? And that was on top of Sovereign? No wonder they gave you the promotion!" Garrus shook his head, moving slightly to the left, away from the female turian who sat next to him as he said, "Naw, that was Shepard. I was just watching her six…" Across from him, Balbus, the youngest of the turians, stared at him with an almost worshipping expression on his face.
"But still…" before he could finish, the doors opened and Garrus saw Shepard walk in. His mandibles widened as the rest of the turians surged to their feet, saluting the Commander. Garrus didn't notice the slightly sluggish movement of Shala to his side as he grinned at his mate. His smile faded, though, when he saw the look on her face. Standing up as Shepard said,
"At ease… I appreciate the thought, but we're a little less formal here on the Normandy… you don't have to snap to attention every time I walk in the room when you're off duty."
Shepard moved across the room toward Garrus, who had stood up. She hadn't missed the fact that the female turian corporal was sitting very close to Garrus and had her hand on his leg; nor had she missed the slightly disrespecting slowness of Shala's move to attention. This was definitely something she and Garrus would have to discuss at the very least. Forcing herself to keep a pleasant, professional face, she walked over toward the group and continued, "With having different species onboard, we try to keep things more relaxed and honor the traditions of all our crew."
There were looks exchanged through the group, then Shala, with a turian smirk, said, "So… you know that turian vessels have a bit more… err… fraternization and such?"
Moving to sit on the arm of the sofa next to Garrus as he resumed his seat, glancing at her with a concerned look in his eye as he picked up his glass and took a drink, Shepard smirked right back at Shala and said, "I know that turian commanders ride their subordinates harder than humans do… and blowing off steam is encouraged…." Taking a drink as Shepard spoke, Garrus began to choke, the turian whiskey burning its way into his airway rather than his gizzard. Shepard pounded him on the back a few times and laughed as Shala turned to him with a strange look on her face. Shepard smirked as she continued, "As long as it doesn't endanger the ship or crew, and things are kept professional, I have no issue with keeping certain turian traditions alive."
Flavius widened his mandibles and said, "A wise commander knows when to indulge her crew, Commander… I think you're definitely living up to your press…." Shepard smiled at the turian; she honestly liked him; and most of the others. Shala was the only one she had a problem with, and that was personal, not professional. Standing up, Shepard smiled at the assembled turians and said, "Garrus, mind coming with me? I have something to discuss with you…." Still wheezing a bit, Garrus stood and said,
"Of course, Shepard…" the two left the room and Shala laughed out loud. The others were talking among themselves, and either ignored or just glanced at Shala, but Flavius spoke up,
"Mind yourself, Scorpio… hasty decisions lead to bad career moves." Shala tightened her mandibles against her cheeks, making a sound in her sub-harmonics that was basically irritation as she said,
"What are you talking about, sir? The Commander just said she runs her ship like a turian vessel… and since Garrus has been the only turian onboard, it's obvious that he's unattached…."
The other female, Accalia, said, "I wouldn't be too sure about that, Scorpio…Vakarian and Shepard seems pretty close…" Shala huffed, chuffing as she said,
"Riiiiiggghhhhttttt…. a Vakarian with a HUMAN? Don't you know who Garrus' father is?"
Accalia shrugged, her mandibles snapping closed with an audible sound, "Whatever, Scorpio… just don't get your plates twisted if he shuts you down…."
Shaking her head, Shala stood and headed out of the room, calling back over her shoulder, "Whatever, Chromin… don't wait up for me."
Flavius shook his head and shared an exasperated look with Accalia as he said, "That young female is going to get herself in a world of hurt one of these days…" Accalia nodded, and the two turned back to the conversation in the room.
Chapter Break
Shepard led Garrus out of the lounge into the elevator and pressed the button for their quarters, all without saying a word. Garrus glanced at his mate, concerned with the expression, or rather the lack of expression, on her face. There was obviously something on her mind… but she spoke not a single word until they reached their quarters and the door closed behind them.
"Edi… lock the doors and do NOT disturb us unless we're being attacked, spaced or we are crashing… and turn off all recording devices and cameras in my quarters."
"Of course Shepard… is there anything else?"
"No."
"Logging you out, Shepard." Garrus followed Shepard down into the bedroom area and to the couch, watching her sit down and raise her eyes to his. When she didn't speak after a minute or so, he cleared his throat and said,
"Is there something wrong, amica?" Cocking her head to the side, Lia said, calmly,
"You tell me, Garrus… what's with Scorpio?" Garrus frowned, that was not what he was expecting. Shaking his head, he moved to sit next to his mate and said,
"What do you mean?" Shepard gave him a strange look, as though he were missing something extremely obvious, but merely said, mildly,
"She seems very… enamored with you." A moment went by as Garrus absorbed that, and then a self-satisfied turian smirk crossed his face as he said,
"Lia, are you jealous?" Glaring at him, Shepard sat tensely, even as Garrus wrapped his arm around her shoulders and tried to cuddle her rigid body close to him. Chuckling, Garrus went on, gazing down at her irritated face, "Amica… you are the only female that has my interest. You're my bondmate, my love and my wife… besides; Scorpio just has a case of hero worship… I can't help it that my stylish manner has little turians in awe of me." Shepard couldn't stop the grin from crossing her face, even as she rolled her eyes at his words.
"It's more than hero worship, Garrus… she is hoping to get in your pants…." Now Garrus laughed out loud, chuffing in amusement as he said,
"Amica… she's just a kid who is enamored with my reputation… that's it. Besides, I have all the female I could ever want, or handle, right here on this couch with me. Don't you trust me?" Though his voice was light and teasing, Shepard heard the thin line of worry in it and sighed,
"Of course I trust you, Garrus… with my life and my heart. But trust me; a woman knows when some other female is making eyes at her man…." Now it was Garrus' turn to roll his eyes as he snuggled her closer to him, and widened his mandibles as she moved up and swung her leg over his, perching in his lap. Garrus rested his hands on her hips, his mandibles wide and relaxed as he huffed in amusement and shook his head at her. Lia rested her hands on his cowl, leaning forward to nuzzle his face as she said,
"Laugh it up, Vakarian… but when she makes a pass at you, then you'll owe me." Nuzzling her back, his rough tongue moving out to trace the whorls of her ear, nipping her lobe gently as he said, his hands sliding up to her waist, whispering,
"And what about when she doesn't? What will you owe me, amica?" Shepard caught her breath, moaning as his tongue and mouth traced her ear and continued down her neck. Her hands went up to his fringe, stroking and caressing him with one hand, while her other hand rubbed the area beneath his fringe. Now it was Garrus' turn to moan as she returned the favor and turned her head to lick and suckle his mandibles and the skin beneath them. Her voice breathless and filled with desire, Lia whispered,
"Fine… when she makes a pass at you… you buy me the new ammo mod for my Mantis…." Garrus chuckled, it was expensive, but since he had no intention of losing, he agreed with a smirk and a few more breathy nuzzles of her ear. She was rubbing herself against him now, her hands busy on his fringe and beneath it as his hands worked up beneath the hoodie to cup her breasts.
"Fine… and when she doesn't, you buy me that stabilization mod for my rifle. Deal?" Moaning in earnest now, as his hands caressed her; Lia nodded. One of his hands was still cupping her breast, the other slipping into her pants to fondle her. Lia pushed his shirt wide and kissing his chest plates, dragging her tongue between his plates as one of her hands slid down his body to his pants, dipping inside. Garrus moaned, then moved his hands to grip her ass as he stood, taking her with him as she giggled. Garrus smiled and strode to the bed, whispering into her ear, "Bets on, amica… now, clothes off!"
Chapter Break
The next morning Garrus exited the elevator on the crew level, he was making happy chuffing sounds in his sub-harmonics. The night had been spectacular, and his mate was just as happy as he was. They were due to meet up with Miranda in a couple of hours and Shepard had gone to the war room to prepare. Chuckling at his mate's very happy and satisfied expression as she'd kissed him goodbye when she exited at the engineering level, Garrus didn't notice the silence as he walked toward the main battery. He had gotten a new program that he wanted to install and calibrate on the cannon, and he was hopeful that it would increase both the accuracy and damage. He triggered the door to the Main battery and walked in, not paying attention as several members of the crew hurried over to the door to listen.
Intending to go directly to the panel, he barely glanced to the right at the cot that still sat in the battery; though it was never used anymore. As his eyes fell on the cot, he froze, eyes wide, mandibles opened in shock and horror, all color draining from his face. He muttered, "Damn it… that be damned mod is going to take an entire weeks pay… and hours to install…."
Shala Scorpio sat on his cot, naked, eyes narrowed at him as she whispered, just loud enough for him to hear, one of her hands caressing her own body, the other reaching for him,
"Hello there, Garrus… I've been waiting for you…."
