Knocking back her second flute of champagne Jane waited on the veranda of the gallery, down two flights of stairs there was an impressive expanse of windows that slid open to allow the outside and inside of the property to become one. Here is where she waited for the confirmation that James, Liara and Jack had managed to complete their part of the mission and commandeered the security room. Looking out over the gardens were some impressive sculptures, some were features of modern art created by a hanar artist, you couldn't really tell what they were supposed to portray but they were beautiful all the same. The sun was starting to dip low in the sky casting a wonderful glow, its shades rippling across a large pond in the middle of the garden that housed a large water feature in the middle. She sat elegantly on the pond edge and just admired its beauty, if this was another time and she wasn't surrounded by enemies she would have enjoyed this place. Garrus was currently keeping an eye on the inside to alert Vega's team if anything was heading their way, while Kai Leng was mingling though Jane wondered if he was secretly just admiring the art. She let a small fond smile form at that thought, she did hate the man he had become but in the deepest depth of her heart there was a warm spot for the boy in her memories. Really other than the small trickles that came back from her previous life all she remembered with vivid clarity was her time on the streets. She had met Kai as an orphan at ten years old, a girl who had ran away from her foster home yet again and the abuse of her foster father. She had just shoplifted from a store for her food and the clerk had caught her, Kai had distracted the man letting her run away and then later caught up to her. He was the same age but he was a runner for a local gang and offered her a place, the gang accepted her and she was taken in under their protection. Five years later they had become closer, constantly relying on each other for companionship, and Kai on her birthday had sneaked her into The Met in New York. He was very adept and agile even then and no one spotted them as he dragged her around all the halls quickly explaining each piece of his favourite art. So it came to no surprise to her that he was in his element at this Art Gallery, he had been her first kiss that night and then had been her first for others things as well in the months to come. Then however the memories stop being as clear and Kai went down a very dark path, one that she was worried she wouldn't be able to get over once her full memories returned.
"Why the long face beautiful?" A husky female voice made her jump and she turned her head to see an Asari with two flutes of champagne giving her half a smile. Unlike the other Asari at this function she wore a long black one piece with tight fitting pants, and several cut outs in the fabric along her waist and hips, covering it with a small white leather jacket with long sleeves. Everything about her screamed confidence and power, and she seemed to hold an aura of dominance that the other Asari at the party had lacked.
"Oh sorry, I just find all this scenery remarkable, probably even more mesmerizing than the art." She joked in a friendly manner and the Asari cocked an eyebrow up at her in intrigue. She passed Jane one of the flutes and she smiled back at her in gratitude, "Thank you, um sorry we haven't introduced ourselves?" Jane queried. The Asari sat herself across from Shepard and sipped at her drink while frowning quizzically at her, as if she hadn't expected the question.
"How about you go first?" She insisted and Jane pursed her lips before lightly chuckling at the woman,
"Okay then. I'm Rachel Red, as you can see I'm not very enthusiastic about art but my fiancé is." She stated confidently, finding it easier and easier to pretend to be somebody she wasn't. Her answer made the Asari's bewilderment deepen and Jane frowned at that,
"I'm Aria T'loak, the Queen of Omega…but you would know that." She breathed and offered a friendly but clearly confused smile. Aria offered her a hand and Jane gladly shook it with a slight squeeze,
"So Aria, what brings you from Omega?" Jane asked in a conversational manner as Aria seemed to carry on staring at her intently.
"I came to show my support in the Art Gallery. Any sales made today will go to victims of the Reaper war and repair effort. Shepard helped us all and I just wanted to remember her in some way. Show my respect." She said plainly but the knowing smile she was giving Jane was starting to rock her confidence, "I assume your Fiancé is the Turian you came with?" She asked and Jane frowned at her, she thought it had been pretty obvious to anyone Garrus was her bodyguard.
"No, Why would you think that?" She questioned but then Vega's voice drifted over her ear piece,
"Mission success, currently got eyes and ears on everything Commander." Vega informed her sounding a little out of breath, she wondered if it had been more difficult than they'd bargained for gaining control of the security room. "Shit Commander, Are you talking to Aria?" Vega questioned and Jane smiled at Aria trying to hide the fact she was currently listening to someone in her ear and not completely ignoring her response to her question.
"Sorry Aria, I didn't quite hear you, my mind constantly drifts these days." She lamely excused and Aria's expression turned irritated,
"I was just merely being observant of the two of you, he seemed to linger near you a fair bit." Aria said, and Shepard cocked her eyebrow at her words clearly not believing that was the real reason for her thoughts behind Garrus being her fiancé.
"Scars where you at?" Vega snapped over the radio sounding more than a little annoyed. Jane's mind was darting between the two conversations but was getting the bases of it, Aria was someone from her past who clearly knew her. So who was she to Shepard and how did Jane become associated with a criminal? Jane wondered to herself.
Jane heard heavy footsteps and looked to see Garrus storming over, his face obscured by the mask but his body radiating agitation. Jane looked on confused at the exchange between Aria and Garrus and noticed the Asari smirk in a smug fashion,
"Aria, what are you doing here?" He snapped, cementing the fact that Jane should know her. Jane furrowed her brows at the other women who gestured to Jane innocently and sipped on the flute elegantly,
"Having a pleasant conversation with Rachel here. She looked remarkably like someone I used to know, who I wonder?" She drawled with sarcasm, rolling her eyes she glared at Jane. "How foolish do you think I am? Rachel Red really?! I would know that face anywhere." She glowered then looked at Garrus as they fell silent.
"Aria…" Garrus began and rubbed the back of his armoured neck in anxious habit. Jane saw Aria tense her jaw in annoyance as this was clearly trying her patience,
"Aria is it?" Jane began and again Aria looked irritated and bewildered at her words but nodded all the same. "I've got some severe memory loss, so yes, you may have slipped being one of the few things I remembered." Jane explained and the woman's eyes went wide,
"No way! The Great Commander Shepard defeated the Reapers, saved the Galaxy only to no memory of doing so." She breathed out then chuckled rather inappropriately, "Well ain't that a bitch." She then downed the rest of her drink in one gulp, the situation demanded doing so.
"We would appreciate your discretion. I'm currently on a mission." Jane said quietly and Aria snorted at her causing Jane to glare back.
"No shit really? You're not just role playing with your own Turian vigilante?" She remarked again sarcastically and Jane was about to retort when she continued. "Tell me what it is and I'll tell you if its worth my discretion?" She demanded and Jane leaned away from her in anger. Her face contorting into an unpleasant sneer.
"Who do you think you are?" Jane snarled and Aria let out a loud rumble of laughter, earning even more of Shepards ire. When she finished laughing she moved into Jane so their faces were centimetres apart, Jane refused to move not willing to be cowed.
"Hone,y if you remembered me you wouldn't be asking that question." She whispered her sweet smelling breath ghosting over Janes plump lips. Arias eyes flicked down to them briefly and she smirked before cupping her cheek and moving marginally away, "But…for old times sake I'm willing to assist in this matter. But, I want to know who's your target? I can guarantee I have more contacts than you do-"
"Doubt that-" Liara snapped over the radio,
"-And they might be able to be of some help?" Aria offered and Jane mulled it over, she glanced at Garrus who shrugged in a very indecisive way and Jane sighed heavily.
"Doctor Simon Ettlemen? Do you know him?" Jane offered and subsequently asked. Aria nodded and frowned in thought,
"Yes, actually I do." She paused for a moment before sending something to Janes omni-tool, "He's throwing a very quiet event tomorrow night. Has a product he's wanting to introduce to the black market…only the very best of the best are going. Very hush, hush." Aria explained. "He's meaning to show up hear tonight but so far I haven't seen him. Whatever you're wanting to do just send me a message. I'm allowed a plus one so you would have an in." She offered and Jane was momentarily stunned by the offer.
"Why are you being so helpful?" she asked suspiciously and Aria chuffed out an annoyed laugh while moving to stand.
"I came here because I owed you, I owed you a lot more than I'm willing to admit. I thought this was a nice way to honour your memory…you know by giving a shit load of credits to charity. Would make my conscience feel a little better." She paused then gave Jane her first real smile, "But now I've got the opportunity to repay the favour, and maybe spend less on making myself feel better." She chuckled at her small joke. "Anyway regardless of my reasons my offer stands, just let me know before 7 tomorrow morning and I'll arrange for it to happen." With a curt nod she left them quickly before offering so much as a goodbye.
Jane stared off at her retreating back feeling more than a little confused before looking to Garrus who cleared his throat. She smiled up at him unsure of herself after the encounter with Aria,
"It's very disconcerting to speak to people and not have any knowledge on whether you know them or not." She breathed out sadly she stood and Garrus discreetly grabbed her hand, not allowed to do more under their rouse.
"Jane, it'll get better." He reassured, and she wished she could see his face or even just have him hold her.
"Ettlemen has just arrived at the entrance." Jack mumbled over the radio and Jane went back to business. They quickly made their way back inside where they found Kai Leng waiting for them at the bottom of the stairs.
"Enjoying your evening?" He said snidely and Jane flashed him an annoyed look, coming to stand in front of him.
"Yes actually, rather been enjoying myself till now." She snapped, he snorted in response to that so she carried on "where is Ettlemen? we need to keep him in sight so the recon team can do their job unperturbed." She explained, Kai motioned for her to follow and the three of them went up the stairs to the main hall. She caught sight of the doctor standing by the door having just entered, he had two guards with him but looked fairly relaxed over all. Ettlemen was an attractive middle age man and for all intense purposes you'd just assume he was a mild mannered man, not the despicably power hungry lunatic he was.
"I scouted a few places that are suitable to track his movements." Kai said quietly and gently took her arm, leading her to the corner of the main hall. A large statue of a fallen Reaper hid them from view and Jane peered over the plaque in intrigue. 'The fallen Reaper, Rannock. Defeated by Commander Shepard herself on foot in single combat.' It read and Jane smiled proudly. Garrus chuckled at her expression and she responded in kind,
"What? Clearly I was a bad ass, I fought a Reaper on FOOT!" She exclaimed feeling rather giddy and also a little daunted at the terrifying thought. Garrus shook his head indulgently.
"It didn't feel all that great at the time." He muttered and Jane shrugged, excusing her past self's actions
"Wouldn't have done it unless it needed doing" she reasoned with a raised eyebrow, challenging him to disagree with her. Garrus didn't and actually conceded his agreement,
"No, no. The benefits definitely outweighed the risk…as much as that pains me to admit." He's voice sounded solemn and she almost regretted bringing it up. Suddenly a band began to play rather eloquent sounding music and Jane watched intrigued as some of the guests moved to a section of the hall cleared for dancing.
"Shepard, we're in Ettlemens estate. From what I've managed to pull up from a console we've got schematics for a vast underground bunker, we're heading there first, if he's got anything here it'll be down there." Tali's voice informed her over her ear and Jane touched her radio to respond,
"Great good work, keep me informed. I don't want you taking any unnecessary risks so if you think somethings wrong, leave." Jane commanded and was happy when she gave an affirmative.
A human waitress came by and offered Jane another glass of Champagne and she accepted, having left her last flute outside by the pond. She glanced across the hall and saw a man asking Aria T'Loak for a dance, the Asari snarled something low at him and bodily pushed him turning away, one of her Turian guards standing up behind her to make her point clear. Jane smirked at the exchange then turned her attention back to Ettlemen, he wasn't making an effort to speak to anyone but was merely viewing the art works.
Kai Leng pulled up by her side and observed from over the fallen Reaper sculpture with her, Garrus standing just behind as guard.
"Busy making a Shepard army yet still has the time to come to social events?" Leng uttered to himself and scratched the side of his jaw. Jane then noticed how different he looked tonight, his jet black hair had been cut and was slicked backwards showing off his defined Jaw and cheek bones. He was wearing a dark grey shirt with gold cuff links, and black suit pants with a brown leather belt and matching shoes. He didn't wear a tie instead favouring for the first few buttons to be undone, but did wear a black blazer which he also wore unbuttoned. On his wrist was a smart silver watch and Jane pursed her lips at that,
"See something you like my dear?" He whispered in a suggestive manner and Janes green eyes darted to his brown ones to see he'd noticed her staring. She blushed and shook her head at him, turning back to look over Ettlemen,
"Where did you get your outfit? I never saw that back on Aeia?" She stated, ignoring the way her nerves felt more than a little shaky at being caught admiring him. Was that what she was doing? She thought to herself in shock. Well it wasn't his looks that she ever had an issue with, it was his questionable morals and subsequent abduction of her person. Scowling at her musings she listened to his reply,
"Your pilot, Cortez? Maybe missing some items from his inventory." Kai admitted with a casual shrug and Jane shook her head in disapproval. Looking back to Garrus she saw he had moved further away to survey their surroundings, "can't deny I scrub up well." He said in arrogance with a raised eyebrow and Jane snorted at him in annoyance, he playfully elbowed her side and she was reminded of their young selves. "You didn't deny it? So I'm willing to take your silence as a yes." He smiled showing white pearly teeth and Jane folded her arms over her chest in annoyance. "Though, if I'm honest. You look absolutely beautiful tonight Janey." He spoke softly and the kind earnest look in his brown eyes screamed of a more familiar time. She felt a lump form in her throat and swallowed around it as heat rushed to her cheeks. She coughed awkwardly and moved further away from him, turning back to watch Ettlemens movements, he was again inspecting another piece of art and Jane huffed in boredom.
"This would have been miles more interesting if he was the life and soul of the party." She exclaimed and grabbed her flute of champagne back up from where she'd placed it on a small table. Downing it she felt her stomach growl and put her hand to her stomach, "I'm starving." She uttered to herself in irritation shooting a scathing glare at Ettlemen for she felt he was to blame.
"Shep…" Kasumi's troubled voice came over the radio and Jane felt her muscles tighten in response.
"I hear you Kasumi, found anything?" Jane asked as Garrus returned and he and Kai also listened with trepidation.
"I thought you said Ettlemen started the new Project Jane around the same time we rescued you?" Kasumi queried and the question caused dread to trail through her body.
"From the footage that's what he insinuated yes, why? What is it?" Jane pushed the urgent note in her voice becoming stronger.
"Well Shep…it's just, Project Jane seems a little further along than we anticipated." Tali's voice wavered over now and Jane shared a worried look with the two men.
"How much further along?"
Silence was met after her question, a bone crushing air rendering sound of nothingness.
"Goddam it Boss…let's put it simple. I'm staring at a fucking copy of you now, and what looks like more models of you in the…uh making I guess." Zaeed rumbled over and Jane felt herself rock on her feet. She closed her eyes and steady her breathing, she needed to remove herself from how personal this situation was.
"What do you mean in the making?" She asked again and turned her gaze back to see Doctor Ettlemen walking over to the food and drinks table. She wanted nothing more than to go up behind him and slice his throat but the place was too open for that.
"Well different stages of gestation, we've taken footage of what we've found. We're going to head back now, we don't want to push our luck any further." Tali uttered clear discomfort in her voice. Jane nodded in agreement at her words but didn't confirm too engrossed in staring at Doctor Ettlemen with deep enthralling hatred.
"We read that Tali, get your group out of there." Garrus answered instead.
Jane lost sight of Ettlemen as he moved out of view amongst the dancers, finding a pretty young woman as a dance partner. She needed to get closer to the man, she grabbed Garrus arm and tugged him but he stayed rooted to the spot,
"I need to get in there, come on we tangoed once together didn't we!? Let's dance big guy?!" She reasoned and Garrus chuckled with mirth but shook his head.
"I'm your guard tonight Shepard." He reminded her and before she could complain Leng looped her arm in his and lead her towards the floor. Jane bristled at the unwanted contact but she found herself on the floor before she could say anything.
"What are you doing?" She hissed through tight lips and felt her body go ridged as he moved her hand onto his shoulder and he griped her waist, using his other hand to clasp her spare one. He smiled with deadly charm and began to slowly move them around,
"Dancing, you need to get closer to him…I'm giving you the opportunity." He said simply like the act of dancing with him wasn't grossly inappropriate given everything that had happened between them.
"I can't dance." She snapped as he twirled her around awkwardly.
He laughed at her jerky movements and pulled her back to him, "relax, we're currently on a mission. Ignore me, ignore the angry Turian at the side…" sure enough Garrus was brooding in the corner, his whole body screaming displeasure. "And just focus on Ettlemen." He breathed in her ear and Jane tensed again. She saw sense in his words and despite how much she hated being pressed up against him, she had a mission and that was to track his movements until the recon team were safe out of the Ettlemen estate.
He pushed her away and twirled her back and she ended up with her back to him, she ignored it the best she could as she watched Ettlemen whisper into his young dance partners ear, seeming to make the woman uncomfortable. Kai Leng put his hands on her hips and moved her body with his in beat of the music,
"Doesn't look like his companion is enjoying his sweet nothings." Kai whispered, his lips caressing the shell of her ear and she flinched away from him with a small scowl. There was only so much she would put up with for the sake of the mission,
"No, she doesn't. But I can empathize with the feeling of having a lecherous man fawning all over you." She drawled harshly and twirled back round to face his smirking face. He looked far too pleased with himself and the content look fitted so much better on his features than the constant scowl that was ever present. She smiled despite herself as Kai pulled her back before swaying with her again as the melody slowed,
"Not enjoying your lecherous fiancé right now Miss Red?" He joked and she laughed, the feeling of being back in the past all too easily making her feel nostalgic, like the fifteen-year olds they used to be.
"I believe Mr Steel maybe forgetting the reason we're here." She uttered quietly and looked back over to see Ettlemen leaving the dance floor. She jutted her head towards the subject, "And the reason why we're hear is departing." She stated and tried to pull away but he held her close. She glared back at him and he gave her the warmest smile she had ever seen grace his face.
"I've missed this." He said with a serious tone and Jane felt everything around them go silent at the sad look in his eyes. Then a pain bloomed in the back of her brain,
"I missed you! What took you so long!?" Kai shouted from the sofa in their quarters the gang had given them. She smiled at him and bounced over before joining him, he hooked his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into him.
"The Turian I had to steal the package from just didn't want to leave his home! I waited for hours before I eventually had an opening to break in." She explained and buried herself deeper into his warm side. "What we watching tonight?" She asked as he began to rub circles into her arm,
"Cooking show." He said simply and Jane huffed in annoyance and groaned,
"You're such a dweeb." She mocked and he pinched her side tickling her slightly, she wriggled away from him before looking into his warm brown eyes.
"I love you." He uttered seriously and Jane felt her breath leave her body. He'd not said that before, she didn't know what to say, she was too young to be in love surely, she thought to herself. So she did the only thing she thought and pressed her lips to his.
Screeching back into reality Kai looked at her with concern and she pulled away abruptly, this wasn't okay, he was her enemy, he had betrayed her, he was the reason why she was in such emotional turmoil now. She spun around and marched over to wear Garrus was, ignoring his look that she couldn't see but could feel burning into her side.
"Recon team. How's your evac going?" She asked over her radio. Scanning the room and finding Ettlemen at the exit,
"leaving the estate now." Zaeed said and Jane breathed in a sigh of relief. She couldn't wait to put this night behind her, she just needed to put some distance between herself and that damned assassin.
"Good, we're leaving now. Jack, Vega, Liara. Get yourself scarce. I'll hail a cab for you." They gave a affirmative to her order and Jane grabbed a passing attendant and asked for them to grab her shawl and purse from the coat room and quickly left to wait by the exit once Ettlemen had departed. Garrus came up and joined her tentatively, Kai Leng seemingly disappeared for the moment.
She looked up at him and gave a small pathetic smile grabbing her arms as the doors opened for some guests and let in a minor chill.
"You okay?" He asked with clear worry and Jane gave an emotionless laugh. Shaking her head she bit back the tears,
"No, Garrus. I'm not. This, all of this is so unfamiliar. I'm supposed to be this great Commander Shepard but all I really remember is my life with that bastard on Earth. I feel in my bones that I should hate him, I know I should…but I DON'T remember what he did so wrong. I DON'T remember why he's my enemy!" She had to lower her voice as it began picking up with the heat of her words. She felt her body tremble and Garrus just stood beside her, allowing her to vent to him even though the words weren't something he probably wanted to hear.
"Your shawl and your purse." A grumpy sounding woman snapped and Jane turned to see Aria pushing the items into Garrus's arms. "You-" She pointed at him "-Should know better than leave items unattended here. These were both bugged. Lucky for you, I'm here." She said before giving Jane a stern look also. "Message me if you want to take me up on that invitation." She reminded her of Ettlemen's black market event.
"Thank you Aria." Jane spoke earnestly and gave a polite nod. Aria merely grunted in means of a response and left via the exit. Garrus placed the shawl gingerly around her shoulders and squeeze her arms reassuringly,
"Lets get you home Jane." He whispered calmly in her ear and Jane felt a warm familiar feeling back in her heart at his closeness.
Thank you for reading, I do hope you're enjoying it :)